Stage Nine Theatre Cultural Arts Center Announces Summer Workshops & Camps
Stage Nine Theatre, 717 Sutter Street, Folsom, California
The program includes acting, musical theatre, visual and creative arts and a two-week summer camp culminating in the production of the original musical "Once Upon a Daydream" by Tom Farmer with music and lyrics by Mike Shields. Registrations may be made by calling (916) 353-1001.
Acting Workshops for Ages 7-18
Instructor: Allen Schmeltz
Instruction in Acting Techniques, Scene Study, Improv, Theatre Games
Two Opportunities: June 15-19 & June 22-26
Monday - Friday:
Session 1 - Ages 7-10
9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
Session 2 - Ages 11-18
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m.
Musical Theatre Workshop for Ages 7-18
Instructors: Susan Mason, Connie Mockenhaupt
Instruction in the fundamentals of Musical Theatre, Dance & Stage Movement geared to performing in Musical Theatre or just having fun.
Two Opportunities: June 15-19 & June 22-26 - Monday - Friday.
Session 1 - Ages 11-18
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Session 2 - Ages 7-10
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Visual Arts Workshops for Children through Adults
Instructor: Mike Jimena.
Students will produce a drawing demonstrating perspective, shading and light. There will be an introduction to oil painting and students will complete one or two oil paintings depending on their experience.
Sessions are self-paced with individual attention a high priority. This is a great program for parents to do with their children.
Two Opportunities: June 15-19 & June 22-26, Monday through Friday
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Creative Arts Camp for Ages 5-7
Instructors: Mike Jimena, Connie Mockenhaupt.
Students will experience painting, drawing, and basic dance, movement and music skills.
Two Opportunities: June 15-19 & June 22-26.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - Noon.
"Once Upon a Daydream" Performing Arts Camp for Ages 10-18
Director: Connie Mockenhaupt. Instructors: Allen Schmeltz, Mike Jimena, Susan Mason, Mike Shields, Colin Hoyt
July 6-17 - Two week session - Monday through Friday.
Time: 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break.
Join us for a two week intensive summer arts program for ages 10-18. Participants will study several disciplines involved in putting on a Musical Theatre Production including Acting, Scene Study, Dance, Music, Set Painting and Lighting. This will be done as they rehearse an original musical "Once Upon a Daydream" by Tom Farmer with music and lyrics by Mike Shields.
INSTRUCTORS
Connie Mockenhaupt - Artistic Director. Ms. Mockenhaupt holds a degree in Music, Dance and Drama and has a Lifetime California Teaching Credential. She has appeared in many musical productions from New York to California and has directed, choreographed or musically directed over 350 shows. She was awarded the National Outstanding Dance Educator of the Year and was the Founding Coordinator for the Natomas Charter Performing & Fine Arts Academy.
Mike Jimena - Managing Director. Mr. Jimena's paintings, murals and set designs have been featured locally, regionally and nationally. He is a multi Elly Award winner for Set & Lighting Design and has designed & built over 20 gold medal award-winning County Exhibits for the California State Fair. Mr. Jimena was Sacramento City Unified School District's ROP Teacher of the Year and winner of the Wilkerson Fellowship Award.
Allen Schmeltz - Artistic Associate. Mr. Schmeltz is a director, actor, producer, and instructor. He is currently Artistic Associate with the Young People's Theatre of Folsom and was formerly founder and Artistic Director of the award winning Garbeau's Acorn & Oak Theatre for Young People. His productions for young people have been nominated for over 100 Elly Awards for excellence in theatre. He has received Elly Awards for excellence in directing and technical achievement. Mr. Schmeltz instructs children, teens and adults in the theatre arts and many of his students have been featured in leading roles.
Susan Mason - Artistic Associate. Mrs. Mason holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts in Music from California State University, Sacramento. She also has a California Teaching Credential in Music and has taught in public and private schools from kindergarten to college age. Mrs. Mason has worked as a Musical Director, Vocal Coach or Dialect Coach in Oregon and California with Foothill Theatre Company, University of Oregon, Los Altos Conservatory Theatre, Lord Leebrick Theatre, Kern Art Theatre, and Grand Olde Melodrama and Vaudeville. Her performance venues include the Oregon Festival of American Music, University of Oregon Symphony, Willamette Repertory Theatre and other companies including the Stage Nine Theatre.
Click the title of this post for contact information.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Auditions for Big Idea Theatre
BIG IDEA THEATRE GENERAL AUDITIONS:THE QUEEN OF BINGO and SOME GIRLS
When: Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m.
Call Backs: Sunday, April 5 at 5 p.m.
What to Bring: Headshot and Resume.
Roles: THE QUEEN OF BINGO:
2 Males - An Irish Priest and Bingo Caller
SOME GIRL(S): 4 Females ages ranging from 25-45
Location: Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815.
If you have questions email Wade Lucas (wade@bigideatheatre.com) or call 916-960-3036.
When: Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m.
Call Backs: Sunday, April 5 at 5 p.m.
What to Bring: Headshot and Resume.
Roles: THE QUEEN OF BINGO:
2 Males - An Irish Priest and Bingo Caller
SOME GIRL(S): 4 Females ages ranging from 25-45
Location: Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815.
If you have questions email Wade Lucas (wade@bigideatheatre.com) or call 916-960-3036.
Audition Announcement for "Pippin"
Open to all school students in El Dorado County ages 13-18
A “Quad School Musical”
Sponsored by Studio 81 Boosters
El Dorado High School
561 Canal Street, Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 622-3634
Presented at the Carl Borelli Amphitheater
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, the creator of “Wicked”!
Directed by Paul Tomei (Elly award winner)
Choreography by Beverley Stewart (Elly award winner)
Musical Direction by David Taylor (Elly award winner)
Open to all school students in El Dorado County ages 13-18
Auditions at Studio 81,
El Dorado High School:
Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30 p.m., Vocals
Please prepare 16-32 bars from a contemporary musical, bring sheet music or CD
Wednesday, April 15th, 7:30 p.m., Dance & Cold Readings
Thursday, April 16th, Callbacks if needed
Performance dates:
July 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 at 8 p.m.
--------------------
A “Quad School Musical”
Sponsored by Studio 81 Boosters
El Dorado High School
561 Canal Street, Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 622-3634
Presented at the Carl Borelli Amphitheater
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, the creator of “Wicked”!
Directed by Paul Tomei (Elly award winner)
Choreography by Beverley Stewart (Elly award winner)
Musical Direction by David Taylor (Elly award winner)
Open to all school students in El Dorado County ages 13-18
Auditions at Studio 81,
El Dorado High School:
Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30 p.m., Vocals
Please prepare 16-32 bars from a contemporary musical, bring sheet music or CD
Wednesday, April 15th, 7:30 p.m., Dance & Cold Readings
Thursday, April 16th, Callbacks if needed
Performance dates:
July 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 at 8 p.m.
--------------------
Friday, March 27, 2009
EDMT Offers High School Musical 2
News from EDMT
Performing: April 10 - 26
At Jill solberg Performing Arts Theater on the campus of Folsom High School
Tickets
From $16 - $20
Group rates available (call to book)
Special Preview performance April 10th at 10:00 a.m. for only $10.
Special Girl Scout troop discount to selected performances
Purchase online at http://www.edmt-tickets.com/ or call (916) 941-SING
Teachers! Bring your class to a school field trip on Wednesday, April 15th at 10:00 a.m. Student admission is $8 and teachers are free.
At Jill solberg Performing Arts Theater on the campus of Folsom High School
Tickets
From $16 - $20
Group rates available (call to book)
Special Preview performance April 10th at 10:00 a.m. for only $10.
Special Girl Scout troop discount to selected performances
Purchase online at http://www.edmt-tickets.com/ or call (916) 941-SING
Teachers! Bring your class to a school field trip on Wednesday, April 15th at 10:00 a.m. Student admission is $8 and teachers are free.
Join the East High gang as they get summer jobs at the Lava Springs Country Club owned by Sharpay's family. It's been smooth sailing for Troy and Gabriella since their star turn in Juliet and Romeo, but Sharpay vows to win Troy's heart this summer--by any means necessary.
For more information, please call the Box Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
EDMT Summer Shows. . . .
Disney's Mulan, Jr. will be a Rising Stars show and will run June 19-28 at Oak Ridge Theater in El Dorado Hills. Eligible ages: 6-13.
Les Miserables will be a Mainstage show and will run from July 3-12 at the Jill Solberg Performing Arts Theater in Folsom. Eligible ages: 13-20.
Auditions for both shows will be held May 2.
Watch for further information on our website at http://www.edmt.info/.
******
Join EDMT for a group sailing to the Mexican Riveria August 2, 2009!
If you haven't planned your summer vacation yet, this could be it. Cruising is always more fun with a group! This 7-day cruise on Carnival's new ship, Carnival Splendor, leaves out of Long Beach, California, and stops in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan. EDMT's new High Voltage Touring Company will be performing Evolution of Rock and we'd like to bring some of our own audience along! The cost of the cruise is approximately $800-$900 per passenger for inside cabins (less for the third and fourth passenger per cabin, and less for bunk arrangements). Fun for the whole family is in store! The young people will take over the teen disco and have fun participating in the cruise's talent show. We will all plan to caravan down to Southern California together. If you're interested, please email jeanettecaruso@edmt.info for more information.
For a virtual tour of the ship, click here:
http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_splendor/default.aspx?shipCode=SL
Donations Welcomed
EDMT is a 501c3 non-profit organization that relies on charitable giving and sponsorships to thrive. Ticket sales and tuition alone only cover 60% of annual expenses. Donations may be directed to the Scholarship Fund, Building Fund, or general operations. Thank you for your generosity. (Tax ID: 80-0001275)
El Dorado Musical Theatre is an award-winning, regional youth theater with a
mission to build confidence for life through excellence in theater performance.
EL DORADO MUSICAL THEATRE · 5011 GOLDEN FOOTHILL PARKWAY, UNIT #4 EL DORADO HILLS, CALIFORNIA 95762-9649 PHONE 916-941-SING (7464) · FAX 916-941-7465
Forward email
El Dorado Musical Theatre 5011 Golden Foothill Parkway, Suite #4 El Dorado Hills CA 95762
Man of La Mancha rides into Placerville
Man of La Mancha opens this weekend at Imagination Theater on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, Friday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday shows are at 2:00 p.m. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors. The box office opens half an hour in advance to purchase tickets at the door. 530-642-0404
Man of La Mancha
March 27 to April 19, 2009
Friday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. – All seats $9
Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m. No show Easter Sunday Thursday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. – All seats $9 Friday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Adults - $16
Seniors (Age 55+) - $13
Children/Students - $9
Group Rates available
__________________________________________________________
El Dorado County Fairgrounds , 100 Placerville Dr .
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
530-642-0404
www.imagination-theater.org www.itplacerville.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
“The Carsino Show”—Johnny Carson meets the Mafia
Paul Greisen gives what for to Stan BautistaPhotographer: Allen Schmeltz Productions
So what would have happened if the old Johnny Carson show had been taken over by the Mafia? According to Stage Nine in Folsom, the result would be funnier than ever—and blossom with musical memories from the forties to the sixties.
The show is the inspired creation of Stage Nine’s owners, Mike Jimena and Connie Mockenhaupt. He wrote it and plays the title role; she directed and choreographed the production, as well as playing femme fatale Reno O’Leary. With a cast of 12, ages 15 on up, but mostly up, the show’s bubbly charm is captivating from beginning to end.
“The Carsino Show” continues through April 11 at The Stage Nine Theatre, 717 Sutter Street in Historic Folsom. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m. (No performance on Easter Sunday) Tickets are $15 to $22. Call (916) 353-1001 for tickets and reservations. See also http://www.stageninefolsom.com/.
For a complete review see this week’s Village Life of El Dorado Hills. You can also find the review on line at http://villagelife.com/story.php?id=692.0.
A sturdy but grim “Six Degrees of Separation” by Falcon’s Eye
From left: Dennis Beck, Anthony M. Person, Bonnie Antonini. Photo courtesy of Falcon's Eye Theatre. “Six Degrees of Separation” made its Broadway debut in 1990, promptly winning a bouquet of awards for its quirky playwright, John Guare, and its sensational production. One of the play’s peculiarities is that it’s a literal dramatization of a real-life story but with the names of the characters changed.
The real-life yarn revolves around David Hampton, a young African-American and Harvard graduate who posed as the son of Sidney Poitier. As a con artist he wormed his way into upper-crust New York society. After a short term in prison for bilking his victims, Hampton, with appalling effrontery, sued Guare for a cut from profits of the play based on Hampton’s escapades but lost the case.
For Guare art carries a tension between imagination and the real world. "Does the playwright elect to keep that kitchen sink to soothe the audience? Does the playwright dismantle the kitchen sink and take the audience into dangerous terrain?” he asks. “How the playwright resolves this tension between surface reality and inner reality, how the playwright restores the theater to its true nature as a place of poetry, song, joy, a place of darkness where the bright truth is told, that war against the kitchen sink is ultimately the history of our theater."
In “Six Degrees of Separation” he finds a way to resolve the conflict, uniting imagination and kitchen sink. The title of the play is taken from a controversial formula that tells us how each of us, through six people of our acquaintance, is connected to everybody else in the world. In the play Ouisa Kittredge, the matronly wife of Flanders Kittredge, a New York art dealer, finds the formula “extremely comforting, that we're so close, but I also find it like Chinese water torture that we're so close because you have to find the right six people to make the connection.”
In the original production Stockard Channing played Ouisa, and reports indicate that she was very funny as the pretentious wife of a successful art dealer, and as the foil of Paul, the canny black con artist who turns out, in the end and after a brief spell in jail, to be a kind of poor man’s messiah. Ultimately she defies her husband and welcomes Paul back into their home.
In the current production she’s played by the skillful and experienced Bonnie Antonini, but the character interpretation is straightforward rather than comic. Thus Ouisa’s late epiphany, as interpreted in the current production and apparently endorsed by Director David Harris, seems unmotivated and meaningless.
Harris–producer of Falcon’s Eye Theatre of Folsom Lake College, where he’s an assistant professor–has assembled a high-level cast of 17 on the spare stage at Vista del Lago High School, pending construction of the college’s theater. Despite the ponderous interpretation we get a fast-paced drama with crisp delivery. Anthony M. Person is Paul, Dennis Beck is Flanders, with Brent Bianchini and Amanda Bremer as a pair of ill-fated lovers. A comic Dr. Fine (Kevin Cooper) brings a brief touch of levity to the proceedings.
(The play, incidentally, may be a treasure chest of insider jokes. Because Paul/Hampton attended Harvard, the name “Kittredge” may be a sly allusion to the late George Lyman Kittredge, the university’s distinguished Shakespearean scholar. When asked why he’d never earned a doctorate, Kittredge famously answered, “Who would test me?”)
“Six Degrees of Separation” continues through April 5 in the new Studio Theatre at Vista del Lago High School, 1970 Broadstone Parkway, Folsom. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 general, $10 students and seniors. Call (916) 608-6800 for reservations.
The real-life yarn revolves around David Hampton, a young African-American and Harvard graduate who posed as the son of Sidney Poitier. As a con artist he wormed his way into upper-crust New York society. After a short term in prison for bilking his victims, Hampton, with appalling effrontery, sued Guare for a cut from profits of the play based on Hampton’s escapades but lost the case.
For Guare art carries a tension between imagination and the real world. "Does the playwright elect to keep that kitchen sink to soothe the audience? Does the playwright dismantle the kitchen sink and take the audience into dangerous terrain?” he asks. “How the playwright resolves this tension between surface reality and inner reality, how the playwright restores the theater to its true nature as a place of poetry, song, joy, a place of darkness where the bright truth is told, that war against the kitchen sink is ultimately the history of our theater."
In “Six Degrees of Separation” he finds a way to resolve the conflict, uniting imagination and kitchen sink. The title of the play is taken from a controversial formula that tells us how each of us, through six people of our acquaintance, is connected to everybody else in the world. In the play Ouisa Kittredge, the matronly wife of Flanders Kittredge, a New York art dealer, finds the formula “extremely comforting, that we're so close, but I also find it like Chinese water torture that we're so close because you have to find the right six people to make the connection.”
In the original production Stockard Channing played Ouisa, and reports indicate that she was very funny as the pretentious wife of a successful art dealer, and as the foil of Paul, the canny black con artist who turns out, in the end and after a brief spell in jail, to be a kind of poor man’s messiah. Ultimately she defies her husband and welcomes Paul back into their home.
In the current production she’s played by the skillful and experienced Bonnie Antonini, but the character interpretation is straightforward rather than comic. Thus Ouisa’s late epiphany, as interpreted in the current production and apparently endorsed by Director David Harris, seems unmotivated and meaningless.
Harris–producer of Falcon’s Eye Theatre of Folsom Lake College, where he’s an assistant professor–has assembled a high-level cast of 17 on the spare stage at Vista del Lago High School, pending construction of the college’s theater. Despite the ponderous interpretation we get a fast-paced drama with crisp delivery. Anthony M. Person is Paul, Dennis Beck is Flanders, with Brent Bianchini and Amanda Bremer as a pair of ill-fated lovers. A comic Dr. Fine (Kevin Cooper) brings a brief touch of levity to the proceedings.
(The play, incidentally, may be a treasure chest of insider jokes. Because Paul/Hampton attended Harvard, the name “Kittredge” may be a sly allusion to the late George Lyman Kittredge, the university’s distinguished Shakespearean scholar. When asked why he’d never earned a doctorate, Kittredge famously answered, “Who would test me?”)
“Six Degrees of Separation” continues through April 5 in the new Studio Theatre at Vista del Lago High School, 1970 Broadstone Parkway, Folsom. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 general, $10 students and seniors. Call (916) 608-6800 for reservations.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Artistic Differences Presents Sacramento Premiere
A deadly affair. A mysterious murder. A crisis of faith. New York stories of lust, greed, faith, loss and redemption are explored in this musical libretto. From the company who brought you Falsettos, Hair, Bare and Assassins, Artistic Differences Theatre Company announces the Sacramento Premiere of See What I Wanna See, directed by Ken Figeroid with Musical Direction by Paul Galloway.
Based on three short stories by the groundbreaking Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa, this unique theatre piece takes us from ancient Japan to modern day New York City with three tales that are sensual, suspenseful, and inspiring. Michael John LaChiusa transformed these stories into a compelling musical journey exploring the themes of power, perception and the truth.
The stories unfold like a classical Japanese screen painting. “Kesa and Morito” tells the tale of two lovers who secretly plot to kill each other. “R Shomon” takes the story that inspired the classic Japanese film “Rashomon” and transforms it to a gritty, jazzy tale of 1950’s New York. “Glory Day” transports us to 21st Century New York, where a priest struggles with his loss of faith.
See What I Wanna See premiered on October 11, 2005 at the Public Theater in an extended run. New York Magazine listed See What I Wanna See as one of the Best Musicals of 2005. The production was nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical.
Artistic Differences continues to bring provocative and unusual theatrical works to Sacramento audiences. See What I Wanna See is no exception.
See What I Wanna See opens April 3rd and runs through May 3rd, 2009 at California Stage (formerly The Space), 2509 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. - Sundays at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets are $18.00 General - $15.00 students/Seniors 65+. Reserve your seat now at boxoffice@artisticdifferences.net or call (916) 708-3449.
www.artisticdifferences.net
Based on three short stories by the groundbreaking Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa, this unique theatre piece takes us from ancient Japan to modern day New York City with three tales that are sensual, suspenseful, and inspiring. Michael John LaChiusa transformed these stories into a compelling musical journey exploring the themes of power, perception and the truth.
The stories unfold like a classical Japanese screen painting. “Kesa and Morito” tells the tale of two lovers who secretly plot to kill each other. “R Shomon” takes the story that inspired the classic Japanese film “Rashomon” and transforms it to a gritty, jazzy tale of 1950’s New York. “Glory Day” transports us to 21st Century New York, where a priest struggles with his loss of faith.
See What I Wanna See premiered on October 11, 2005 at the Public Theater in an extended run. New York Magazine listed See What I Wanna See as one of the Best Musicals of 2005. The production was nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical.
Artistic Differences continues to bring provocative and unusual theatrical works to Sacramento audiences. See What I Wanna See is no exception.
See What I Wanna See opens April 3rd and runs through May 3rd, 2009 at California Stage (formerly The Space), 2509 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. - Sundays at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets are $18.00 General - $15.00 students/Seniors 65+. Reserve your seat now at boxoffice@artisticdifferences.net or call (916) 708-3449.
www.artisticdifferences.net
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Pinocchio Auditions at Stage Nine
Stage Nine Theatre will be holding auditions for "Pinocchio" on Sunday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Stage Nine Theatre, 717 Sutter Street, Historic Folsom. Following is information about the auditions.
Performance Times & Dates: May 2 to June 14 at 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays plus School Shows in the morning on May 6 & 20.
Rehearsal Times & Dates: Evenings, usually beginning at 7:00 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday starting April 5 (no rehearsal Easter Sunday). Adjustments may be made for rehearsal conflicts during spring break.
Director: Allen Schmeltz
What to Bring: Headshot or photo and resume if you have one.
General Information: This is a non-musical. There is no pay for the show. Auditions will be cold readings from the script.. Appointments are not required; just show up at 7:00 on the 29th. For questions email Allen Schmeltz at allen@allensproductions.com or call (916) 646-9459.
Scripts: If you would like to look over the script, I can email you a copy. Send your request to Allen Schmeltz.
Following is a list of characters: Geppetto and Lorenzo are adults, Alberto is the narrator and can be any age--the rest of the characters should be child to early teens.
Pinocchio can be male or female.Pinocchio (M/F) child to early teens, small in stature would be helpful.
Geppetto (M) adult.
Hickory Cricket (M/F) child to early teens, small in stature would be helpful.
Lorenzo (M) adult (will consider older teen).
Also Plays: Coachman Alberto (M/F) adult (will consider older teen).
Also Plays: Puppeteer, Lampwick Macaroni (F) child to teen.
Also Plays: Puppet, Ivana, Blue Fairy, Lefty the Cat, Girl in Land of Toys, Pepperoni (F) child to teen.
Also Plays: Puppet, Lucky Star, Fibber the Fox, Boy in Land of Toys
Performance Times & Dates: May 2 to June 14 at 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays plus School Shows in the morning on May 6 & 20.
Rehearsal Times & Dates: Evenings, usually beginning at 7:00 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday starting April 5 (no rehearsal Easter Sunday). Adjustments may be made for rehearsal conflicts during spring break.
Director: Allen Schmeltz
What to Bring: Headshot or photo and resume if you have one.
General Information: This is a non-musical. There is no pay for the show. Auditions will be cold readings from the script.. Appointments are not required; just show up at 7:00 on the 29th. For questions email Allen Schmeltz at allen@allensproductions.com or call (916) 646-9459.
Scripts: If you would like to look over the script, I can email you a copy. Send your request to Allen Schmeltz.
Following is a list of characters: Geppetto and Lorenzo are adults, Alberto is the narrator and can be any age--the rest of the characters should be child to early teens.
Pinocchio can be male or female.Pinocchio (M/F) child to early teens, small in stature would be helpful.
Geppetto (M) adult.
Hickory Cricket (M/F) child to early teens, small in stature would be helpful.
Lorenzo (M) adult (will consider older teen).
Also Plays: Coachman Alberto (M/F) adult (will consider older teen).
Also Plays: Puppeteer, Lampwick Macaroni (F) child to teen.
Also Plays: Puppet, Ivana, Blue Fairy, Lefty the Cat, Girl in Land of Toys, Pepperoni (F) child to teen.
Also Plays: Puppet, Lucky Star, Fibber the Fox, Boy in Land of Toys
Gingerbread Man Comes to Chautauqua
Clockwise from left—Julia Smythe as Fie-Fie the cat, Richard Fehlman as the fox, Linda Arnold as Winston the dog, and Bob Nannini as the Gingerbread Man
Chautauqua Children’s Theatre will present “The Gingerbread Man” beginning April 11, playing every Saturday through May 2. Performances are at 12:00 noon, and 2:00 p.m. Chautauqua Playhouse is located at 5325 Engle Road, Ste. #110 in Carmichael, CA. Reservations can be made by calling 916.489.7529. All tickets are $7.00
“The Gingerbread Man” is an original script adapted and directed by Marie Raymond, who has specialized in participatory children’s theater at Chautauqua since 1985.
Visit us on the web at: http://www.cplayhouse.com/
Capital Stage Hosts OUT & BOLD GLBT Night April 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Capital Stage, Sacramento's newest professional theatre, is proud to announce the next "Out & Bold" night for the GLBT community on at Capital Stage on Friday, April 17, 2009.
Out & Bold is an opportunity for members and friends of the GLBT community to meet new people, enjoy a drink, and experience Capital Stage's bold, intimate, live theatre. "Out & Bold" will feature pre-show wine reception at 7:00 p.m. aboard the Delta King, followed by a performance of David Mamet's American Buffalo at 8pm. The regular ticket price of $24 includes admission to the show and the pre-show events. Tickets are currently available at the Capital Stage Box Office, 916-995-5464 or online at http://www.capstage.org/.
In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men's frustration and paranoia intensify. This groundbreaking American play weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance. Capital Stage co-founders, Peter Mohrmann and Jonathan Rhys Williams play the now-famous duo of Donny and Teach and are joined by Capital Stage newcomer, Joseph Baldridge as young Bobby.
The Times called David Mamet "the finest American playwright of his generation" and the New Yorker called Buffalo his "first masterpiece." American Buffalo is directed by Janis Stevens who directed last season's critically acclaimed Capital Stage production, Fool for Love.
American Buffalo contains strong language and is intended for mature audiences.
Out & Bold is an opportunity for members and friends of the GLBT community to meet new people, enjoy a drink, and experience Capital Stage's bold, intimate, live theatre. "Out & Bold" will feature pre-show wine reception at 7:00 p.m. aboard the Delta King, followed by a performance of David Mamet's American Buffalo at 8pm. The regular ticket price of $24 includes admission to the show and the pre-show events. Tickets are currently available at the Capital Stage Box Office, 916-995-5464 or online at http://www.capstage.org/.
In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men's frustration and paranoia intensify. This groundbreaking American play weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance. Capital Stage co-founders, Peter Mohrmann and Jonathan Rhys Williams play the now-famous duo of Donny and Teach and are joined by Capital Stage newcomer, Joseph Baldridge as young Bobby.
The Times called David Mamet "the finest American playwright of his generation" and the New Yorker called Buffalo his "first masterpiece." American Buffalo is directed by Janis Stevens who directed last season's critically acclaimed Capital Stage production, Fool for Love.
American Buffalo contains strong language and is intended for mature audiences.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
1920’S MUSICAL COMEDY COMES TO OAK RIDGE STAGE
“THE BOYFRIEND” Opens April 2nd in El Dorado Hills
Oak Ridge High School will be presenting Sandy Wilson’s “The Boy Friend,” directed by Rodney Franz, April 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, & 18 at 7:00 p.m. The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of 1920's musical comedy. Funny and tuneful, the show has been successfully produced on Broadway twice and is best known for making Julie Andrews an overnight star. A “feel good” musical, it bursts with energy. Natalie Miller is musical director, with Tyler Warren and Ryan Blanning contributing choreography.
With its catchy tunes, period dances (including the inevitable Charleston) and winning sense of humor, “The Boy Friend” sparkles with its playful spirit and memorable characters. The talented cast includes: Maverick Adams, Sean Biggs, Afton Cecil, Alicia Cecil, Alexandra Chavez, Taylor Cross, Alex Curewitz, Amy Foulk, Alexis Garrett, Jacob Goodyear, Rachel Koch, Nick Lawson, Ayesha Maziumdar, Andre Mercer, Ben Pellegrini, Suzanna Rush, Charlie Shaeffer, Mike Swan, Anna Wagner, Jenna Wheeler, and Jeffery Woodward. Luke Rolls will design lights and stage manage.
Tickets are on sale and may be reserved by calling our Ticket Hotline: (916) 606-7453. Tickets are $15 Reserved, $10 General, $8 Students.
Oak Ridge High School will be presenting Sandy Wilson’s “The Boy Friend,” directed by Rodney Franz, April 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, & 18 at 7:00 p.m. The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of 1920's musical comedy. Funny and tuneful, the show has been successfully produced on Broadway twice and is best known for making Julie Andrews an overnight star. A “feel good” musical, it bursts with energy. Natalie Miller is musical director, with Tyler Warren and Ryan Blanning contributing choreography.
With its catchy tunes, period dances (including the inevitable Charleston) and winning sense of humor, “The Boy Friend” sparkles with its playful spirit and memorable characters. The talented cast includes: Maverick Adams, Sean Biggs, Afton Cecil, Alicia Cecil, Alexandra Chavez, Taylor Cross, Alex Curewitz, Amy Foulk, Alexis Garrett, Jacob Goodyear, Rachel Koch, Nick Lawson, Ayesha Maziumdar, Andre Mercer, Ben Pellegrini, Suzanna Rush, Charlie Shaeffer, Mike Swan, Anna Wagner, Jenna Wheeler, and Jeffery Woodward. Luke Rolls will design lights and stage manage.
Tickets are on sale and may be reserved by calling our Ticket Hotline: (916) 606-7453. Tickets are $15 Reserved, $10 General, $8 Students.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Garbeau's Survives! Can now negotiate new contract
Message from Mark Ferreira, CEO of Garbeau's
Thank you to all of you who ran a story, blog, or who even simply mentioned this to a friend. The next step is renegotiation with the landlord, which has already been scheduled for tomorrow. Very ironically, tomorrow is exactly one year to the date of the first email we sent him asking to negotiate our rent in 2008. The email said "we anticipate falling short on rent sometime this year if we don't receive (even temporary) relief." (We managed to still pay rent in full for six months after that email was sent.)
After the negotiation with the landlord, we look forward to planning a free admission party that will include our entire building. Supporters Invited.
Thank you again and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Mark Ferreira
CEO, Garbeau's
(916) 985-6361
http://www.garbeaus.com/
Thank you to all of you who ran a story, blog, or who even simply mentioned this to a friend. The next step is renegotiation with the landlord, which has already been scheduled for tomorrow. Very ironically, tomorrow is exactly one year to the date of the first email we sent him asking to negotiate our rent in 2008. The email said "we anticipate falling short on rent sometime this year if we don't receive (even temporary) relief." (We managed to still pay rent in full for six months after that email was sent.)
After the negotiation with the landlord, we look forward to planning a free admission party that will include our entire building. Supporters Invited.
Thank you again and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Mark Ferreira
CEO, Garbeau's
(916) 985-6361
http://www.garbeaus.com/
At STC: having fun with Shakespeare (abridged)
l to r: Miniaci, Wilton and Campbell. Photo by Hector Navejas
Leave it to the British. They adore live theater the way the Italians love grand opera. So what do they do? They invent “coarse acting” and raise it to an art form. The concept is enshrined in a book: “The Art of Coarse Acting,” by Michael Green.
So what is coarse acting? It’s a parody of bad acting performed by very good actors. With grace and panache they do everything wrong.
And it’s hard to find a better example than “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)," aka “The Complete Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged).” Written by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, it was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987. Not only is the show incredibly funny, but by temporarily kicking Shakespeare off his pedestal it allows us to enjoy him all the more.
The show’s premise calls for three actors to perform all 37 plays of Shakespeare in 97 minutes. And the American cast of Michael RJ Campbell, Miles Miniaci and Aaron Wilton are about as good as it gets. With elaborate costumes by Jessica Minihan they can switch from male to female and role to role in seconds, thanks in great measure to Peggy Shannon’s crisp direction.
The action begins with a pseudo-scholarly introduction filled with misinformation, followed by Romeo and Juliet flashing by. There seems to be no order to the plays, although to meet the cast’s goal the story compresses all plot clichés of comedies into one über comedy. The histories are absorbed into one American football game with the British crown as the football. As for tragedies “Julius Caesar” is reduced to his death, followed by a quickie “Antony and Cleopatra” and a “Macbeth” where all is explained in heavy Scottish accents.
But time is running out and the cast suddenly realizes they have suffered a major oversight—the omission of “Hamlet,” which they declare to be Shakespeare’s greatest work. (Most serious scholars and critics would probably reserve that honor for “King Lear,” which flashes by among the tragedies we see spoofed.) Utter chaos forces the cast to declare an intermission—more like a truce—and promise to devote all of Act II to “Hamlet.”
The second act brings a change of focus: the systematic butchery of a venerated masterpiece step-by-step through the story. Ironically it leaves out the one appearance of a clown, as a gravedigger. But Campbell, as Hamlet, does get a skull to play with. We also get some heavy audience participation, including a big moment when the fair Ophelia (represented by a nervous audience volunteer) is addressed by the rest of the audience. Divided into three groups, each a different aspect of her superego, the customers bellow out messages to her.
The entire performance is played on a single set designed by Myke Kunkel. It suggests a traveling theater company, with a stylized wagon upstage, surrounded on both sides by colored drapes that allow the cast to dart in and out for quick changes of character. As a closing gift to the audience the cast gives a demonstration of versatile dying, with the climax a recitation of speeches delivered backwards.
“The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged” runs through April 5 in the Wells Fargo Complex, 1419 H Street. Performances are Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Thursday at 12:30 and 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$38. Call the box office at (916) 443-6722 or call (888) 4-STC-TIX. For more information click the title of this post.
Sexy Laundry tickles audiences at B Street
Photo courtesy of B Street
When we think of seduction what usually comes to mind are Matta Hari and Delilah, not a middle-aged matron who’s putting on weight. But “Sexy Laundry,” now on the B Street Theatre’s main stage, is a fresh take about the subject. It’s the story of a couple coping with a midlife crisis at a posh hotel, where they try to revive a 25-year marriage with the help of “Sex for Dummies.”
Canadian playwright Michele Rimi offers us little about lust, though, and more about a woman’s need for love. Alice Lane makes bizarre attempts to arouse husband Henry, who is curiously uninterested. Under Buck Busfield’s astute direction, Stephanie McVay captures the role as a late replacement for Kathryn Morison. Rod Gnapp, new to B Street, makes a suitably dour Henry, despite Rimi’s failure to provide him with a convincing motive for his reluctance.
“Sexy Laundry” continues through April 18 at 2711 B Street, behind the Stanford Park Baseball Field. Performances are Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 6:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5 and 9 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22-$30, with student and senior discounts available. Call (916) 443-5300
For a detailed review click the title of this post to visit the El Dorado Hills Newspaper Village Life. Then click “Entertainment,” followed by “columns and reviews.”
Monday, March 16, 2009
FUNNY AND TUNEFUL 1920’S MUSICAL COMEDY COMES TO OAK RIDGE STAGE
“THE BOYFRIEND” Opens April 2nd
Oak Ridge High School will be presenting Sandy Wilson’s, “The Boy Friend,” directed by Rodney Franz, April 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, & 18 at 7:00pm. The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of 1920's musical comedy. Funny and tuneful, the show has been successfully produced on Broadway twice and is best known for making Julie Andrews an overnight star. A “feel good” musical, it bursts with energy.
Natalie Miller is musical director, with Tyler Warren and Ryan Blanning contributing choreography. Luke Rolls will design lights and stage manage. With its catchy tunes, period dances (including the inevitable Charleston) and winning sense of humor, “The Boy Friend” sparkles with its playful spirit and memorable characters.
The talented cast includes: Maverick Adams, Sean Biggs, Afton Cecil, Alicia Cecil, Alexandra Chavez, Taylor Cross, Alex Curewitz, Amy Foulk, Alexis Garrett, Jacob Goodyear, Rachel Koch, Nick Lawson, Ayesha Maziumdar, Andre Mercer, Ben Pellegrini, Suzanna Rush, Charlie Shaeffer, Mike Swan, Anna Wagner, Jenna Wheeler, and Jeffery Woodward.
Tickets are on sale and may be reserved by calling our Ticket Hotline: (916)606-7453. Tickets are $15 Reserved, $10 General, $8 Students.
Oak Ridge High School will be presenting Sandy Wilson’s, “The Boy Friend,” directed by Rodney Franz, April 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, & 18 at 7:00pm. The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of 1920's musical comedy. Funny and tuneful, the show has been successfully produced on Broadway twice and is best known for making Julie Andrews an overnight star. A “feel good” musical, it bursts with energy.
Natalie Miller is musical director, with Tyler Warren and Ryan Blanning contributing choreography. Luke Rolls will design lights and stage manage. With its catchy tunes, period dances (including the inevitable Charleston) and winning sense of humor, “The Boy Friend” sparkles with its playful spirit and memorable characters.
The talented cast includes: Maverick Adams, Sean Biggs, Afton Cecil, Alicia Cecil, Alexandra Chavez, Taylor Cross, Alex Curewitz, Amy Foulk, Alexis Garrett, Jacob Goodyear, Rachel Koch, Nick Lawson, Ayesha Maziumdar, Andre Mercer, Ben Pellegrini, Suzanna Rush, Charlie Shaeffer, Mike Swan, Anna Wagner, Jenna Wheeler, and Jeffery Woodward.
Tickets are on sale and may be reserved by calling our Ticket Hotline: (916)606-7453. Tickets are $15 Reserved, $10 General, $8 Students.
New Production by Celebration Arts
Celebration Arts presents "Having Our Say, The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years," a drama by Emily Mann. Directed by Dr. Melinda Wilson, "Having Our Say" will open on March 27, and show Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through May 3, 2009. There will be no performance on March 29 and April 12. Celebration Arts Theatre is located at 4469 D Street, Sacramento.
The 103-year-old Sadie Delany and 101-year-old Bessie Delany take us on a journey through the last hundred years of our nation’s history, recounting a fascinating series of events and anecdotes drawn from their family history and careers as pioneering African-American professionals. Their stories look not only into the past, but also ahead into the next century.
Ticket price: $15 general and $13 students and seniors. On Thursday night a ll seats are $8. Call (916) 455-2787 for information and reservations.
The 103-year-old Sadie Delany and 101-year-old Bessie Delany take us on a journey through the last hundred years of our nation’s history, recounting a fascinating series of events and anecdotes drawn from their family history and careers as pioneering African-American professionals. Their stories look not only into the past, but also ahead into the next century.
Ticket price: $15 general and $13 students and seniors. On Thursday night a ll seats are $8. Call (916) 455-2787 for information and reservations.
Training Show at EDMT
From El Dorado Musical Theatre:
Don't miss EDMT's Training Show, Maxwell Detective Agency--this weekend only!
General Admission is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 seniors, and $5.00 for children 3 and older.. You may purchase tickets online now by going to www.edmt-tickets.com or by calling 916-941-SING. There will be no reserved seats, only first come first served.
MDA Performance Information
March 19-21, 2009 Drew Cast: Thursday 3-19, 5:30 P.M.Friday 3-20, 7:30 P.M.Saturday 3-21, 3:00 P.M. Hardy Cast: Thursday 3-19, 7:30 P.M.Friday 3-20, noneSaturday 3-21, 11:00 A.M. & 5:30 P.M. Holmes Cast: Thursday 3-19, noneFriday 3-20, 5:30 P.M.Saturday 3-21, 1:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M. Shows will be performed at Pleasant Grove Middle School,
2540 Green Valley Road, Rescue, CA 95672.
Don't miss EDMT's Training Show, Maxwell Detective Agency--this weekend only!
General Admission is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 seniors, and $5.00 for children 3 and older.. You may purchase tickets online now by going to www.edmt-tickets.com or by calling 916-941-SING. There will be no reserved seats, only first come first served.
MDA Performance Information
March 19-21, 2009 Drew Cast: Thursday 3-19, 5:30 P.M.Friday 3-20, 7:30 P.M.Saturday 3-21, 3:00 P.M. Hardy Cast: Thursday 3-19, 7:30 P.M.Friday 3-20, noneSaturday 3-21, 11:00 A.M. & 5:30 P.M. Holmes Cast: Thursday 3-19, noneFriday 3-20, 5:30 P.M.Saturday 3-21, 1:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M. Shows will be performed at Pleasant Grove Middle School,
2540 Green Valley Road, Rescue, CA 95672.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Last Resort Trailer Park Extended
THE UNIQUE THISTLE DEW DESSERT THEATRE E-NEWSLETTER
Thanks to enthusiastic audience demand the hilarious comedy "Last Resort Trailer Park." by Elly Award winning playwright Laura Sheperd, has been extended.
March 13,14, 15
March 20, 21
April 3,4,5,10
Tom, Ellie and Laura
Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre
1901 P Street
Call 916.444.8209 for details and reservations.
Thanks to enthusiastic audience demand the hilarious comedy "Last Resort Trailer Park." by Elly Award winning playwright Laura Sheperd, has been extended.
March 13,14, 15
March 20, 21
April 3,4,5,10
Tom, Ellie and Laura
Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre
1901 P Street
Call 916.444.8209 for details and reservations.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
“Avenue Q”: no easy street for CMT
l to r: Maggie Lakis, Trekkie Monster, David Benoit
Below: Maggie Lakis, Nicky, Robert McClure
There are some shows you either love or hate. “Avenue Q,” the latest offering by California Musical Theatre, is likely to be one of them. When the show opened on Broadway in 2003 it drew raves from the New York Times and the New Yorker. But not quite six years later it somehow comes off dated, despite its dazzling showmanship. Or, to quote that eminent sage Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
The show’s creators—Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty—employed an original conceit: almost all of the characters would be puppets in the hands of actors and singers visible on stage. Thus we get a visible metaphor, a mock equation between the innocence of Sesame Street and the dark sense of failure and cynicism emanating from the locale: Avenue Q, a slum street in an unspecified outer borough of New York.
On a captivating set, representing the tenement that houses the characters, we are in awe as Robert McClure, Anika Larsen, David Benoit and Maggie Lakis manipulate the puppets while belting out the songs. Though we see who’s really singing, our eyes are drawn to the puppets’ mouths.
Yet there’s a striking omission from the playbill—a list of songs. Aren’t the songs a big reason we go to musicals? And in the song titles we discover the stark contrast between the spirits of Sesame Street and Avenue Q. After the opening th
eme, the next three numbers are titled “What do you do with a B.A. in English,” “It sucks to be me” and “If you were gay,” this last sung by two puppets who suspect that one of them, at least, is gay.
The next song defines the core theme of the show, “Purpose,” where the denizens of this world struggle to find out what they want to do with their lives. But the satirical edge prevails with “Everyone’s a little bit racist” and “The Internet is for porn.” This last, with its dig at corruption through technology, is funny the first time around, but the show dulls it with repetition.
The one straight and thoughtful song, also reprised in the second act, is “There’s a fine, fine line,” with its witty observation that “there's a fine, fine line between love and a waste of time.” If the show made more of this thought, along with its central theme of purpose, it would at least express a weltanschauung (a world view) that would give ballast to even the lightest of musicals.
Still, Avenue Q does entertain some heavy-duty German, as in the song “Schadenfreude,” a tribute to the idea of taking pleasure in the suffering of others. It’s hard to avoid mental images of the Holocaust and genocide. Perhaps if the writers took less interest in Lucy the Slut, and the penny tossed off the Empire State Building and rendering her temporarily brain dead, the show might have developed some substance instead of being a collection of cheap shots.
But to be fair, much of Avenue Q’s sense of being old hat is a result of a radical change in cultural values during the years since it first appeared. And the change is mostly among women. Not long ago “Cosmopolitan” emphasized make-up and clothes. But this month’s cover hawks stories like “His Biggest Sex Secrets,” “Is He Normal Down There?” and “An Orgasm Almost Killed Her.”
And if you subscribe to HBO you can sometimes watch Lisa Lampenelli butcher every taboo she can think of. But if you seek tuneful entertainment and an escape from worrying about the world, you’ll get a kick out of the tuneful and often clever “Avenue Q.”
“Avenue Q” continues through March 22 at Sacramento’s Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. with matinees on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16.50 to $61.50, on sale at the Community Center Theater box office; the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street, tickets.com outlets, or online at www.tickets.com. Or call (916) 557-1999, (916) 808-5181 or (808) 225-2277. Call (916) 557-1198 for group orders.
The show’s creators—Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty—employed an original conceit: almost all of the characters would be puppets in the hands of actors and singers visible on stage. Thus we get a visible metaphor, a mock equation between the innocence of Sesame Street and the dark sense of failure and cynicism emanating from the locale: Avenue Q, a slum street in an unspecified outer borough of New York.
On a captivating set, representing the tenement that houses the characters, we are in awe as Robert McClure, Anika Larsen, David Benoit and Maggie Lakis manipulate the puppets while belting out the songs. Though we see who’s really singing, our eyes are drawn to the puppets’ mouths.
Yet there’s a striking omission from the playbill—a list of songs. Aren’t the songs a big reason we go to musicals? And in the song titles we discover the stark contrast between the spirits of Sesame Street and Avenue Q. After the opening th
eme, the next three numbers are titled “What do you do with a B.A. in English,” “It sucks to be me” and “If you were gay,” this last sung by two puppets who suspect that one of them, at least, is gay.The next song defines the core theme of the show, “Purpose,” where the denizens of this world struggle to find out what they want to do with their lives. But the satirical edge prevails with “Everyone’s a little bit racist” and “The Internet is for porn.” This last, with its dig at corruption through technology, is funny the first time around, but the show dulls it with repetition.
The one straight and thoughtful song, also reprised in the second act, is “There’s a fine, fine line,” with its witty observation that “there's a fine, fine line between love and a waste of time.” If the show made more of this thought, along with its central theme of purpose, it would at least express a weltanschauung (a world view) that would give ballast to even the lightest of musicals.
Still, Avenue Q does entertain some heavy-duty German, as in the song “Schadenfreude,” a tribute to the idea of taking pleasure in the suffering of others. It’s hard to avoid mental images of the Holocaust and genocide. Perhaps if the writers took less interest in Lucy the Slut, and the penny tossed off the Empire State Building and rendering her temporarily brain dead, the show might have developed some substance instead of being a collection of cheap shots.
But to be fair, much of Avenue Q’s sense of being old hat is a result of a radical change in cultural values during the years since it first appeared. And the change is mostly among women. Not long ago “Cosmopolitan” emphasized make-up and clothes. But this month’s cover hawks stories like “His Biggest Sex Secrets,” “Is He Normal Down There?” and “An Orgasm Almost Killed Her.”
And if you subscribe to HBO you can sometimes watch Lisa Lampenelli butcher every taboo she can think of. But if you seek tuneful entertainment and an escape from worrying about the world, you’ll get a kick out of the tuneful and often clever “Avenue Q.”
“Avenue Q” continues through March 22 at Sacramento’s Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. with matinees on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16.50 to $61.50, on sale at the Community Center Theater box office; the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street, tickets.com outlets, or online at www.tickets.com. Or call (916) 557-1999, (916) 808-5181 or (808) 225-2277. Call (916) 557-1198 for group orders.
Drama instructor needed at San Joaquin Delta
Employment Opportunity
SAN JOAQUIN DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Drama Instructor – Technical TheaterFine Arts & CommunicationFull-time, Tenure Track Position
Salary Range: $47,773-$97,903/annually
Application Deadline EXTENDED: 5pm, Thursday, April 2, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Under the general direction of the Division Dean of Fine Arts and Communication Division, the primary responsibilities of this position include planning, supervising, evaluating and instructing, Technical Theater, theatre appreciation classes, and one other drama class. Production responsibilities include: Technical direction of at least four productions per year. The Fine Arts and Communication Division includes the Visual and Performing Arts, Radio/TV, Communication, Forensics, Graphic Arts, and Theatre Facilities. Division responsibilities also include the staffing and management of the College's three theaters. The Drama Department offers courses in theatre appreciation, theatre history and literature, acting, voice production, movement, children's theatre, and technical theatre as well as an extensive production program. There are additional opportunities for summer production technical directing.
SAN JOAQUIN DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Drama Instructor – Technical TheaterFine Arts & CommunicationFull-time, Tenure Track Position
Salary Range: $47,773-$97,903/annually
Application Deadline EXTENDED: 5pm, Thursday, April 2, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Under the general direction of the Division Dean of Fine Arts and Communication Division, the primary responsibilities of this position include planning, supervising, evaluating and instructing, Technical Theater, theatre appreciation classes, and one other drama class. Production responsibilities include: Technical direction of at least four productions per year. The Fine Arts and Communication Division includes the Visual and Performing Arts, Radio/TV, Communication, Forensics, Graphic Arts, and Theatre Facilities. Division responsibilities also include the staffing and management of the College's three theaters. The Drama Department offers courses in theatre appreciation, theatre history and literature, acting, voice production, movement, children's theatre, and technical theatre as well as an extensive production program. There are additional opportunities for summer production technical directing.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties and responsibilities may include, but not limited to the following:
Teach technical theater, teach theatre appreciation, and at least one other drama course, i.e., stage craft, sound design, lighting design, set design, etc.
Serve as Technical Director of at least four productions per year.
Assist the Division Dean in the preparation of reports, budgets, audit information and other required data.
Assist in the design, development and evaluation of courses, materials and programs.
Assist the Division Dean in cooperating with campus and community groups to provide information, courses and programs relevant to the needs of the students in the Drama Program.
Assist in marketing and promoting the Drama Program by participating in college sponsored events and by serving on local committees and visiting area high schools.
Participating in Fine Arts and Communication Division activities, including student advisement and committee work.
Participation in professional and community activities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Master's Degree in Drama, Theatre Arts, Performance OR Bachelor's in Drama, Theatre Arts, Performance and Master's in Comparative Literature, English, Speech, Literature or Humanities.
Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Postsecondary teaching experience
History as a Scene Designer, Sound Designer, Lighting Designer with experience in a variety of styles and historical periods.
Demonstrated expertise in teaching drama, including theatre appreciation in the classroom setting.
Demonstrated expertise in technical direction of major productions, plays and musicals.
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in design, building, sound, and lighting.
Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse population representing a wide range of abilities, ages, nationalities, and cultures.
Knowledge of the diverse needs and abilities of nontraditional students and familiarity with materials and methods designed to meet the students' needs.
Demonstrated willingness to put in extra time required to make a program successful.
For complete job description and application, please visit http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/hr.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Urgent message from Garbeau's....
We Need You This Week! Final Deadline and We're Almost There...
Dear Friends, Patrons, and Community,
Our campaign to keep Garbeau's open is fast coming to a close and this week/weekend is literally the deciding factor of whether or not we survive!
We have a final deadline of this Monday, March 16th, to have (only!) $8,000 in our landlord's bank account. If we make it, he has agreed to sit with us and negotiate our rent--what we have been trying to do since March, 2008. If we don't make it, Garbeau's will lose its lease and we will begin a two or three month process of closing (during which we would still be having performances).
Please, if purchasing season tickets or attending one of our productions has been in the back of your mind, this is the week to do it! We only need $8,000 to make it to that table...If we were to base our survival solely on the reservations we have now, we will not make it.
Luckily, Saturdays have tended to be the more popular night for this show and last-minute reservations seem to be common. We can hold our breath for the weekend, but we'd love it if our phones started ringing off the hook, filling our weekend and firmly securing our opportunity to (finally) negotiate with our landlord.
We're almost there! And here's what's going to get us over this hill; call us at 916 985-6361 for help with any of the following:
1) Season passes ($71 - $130). If Garbeau's makes it, 2009 passes are valid forever. If we don't, they will be honored throughout 2009 at a number of other regional theatres.
2) Come to karaoke! Admission is free but a full night where everyone spends $5 - $10 each on drinks or munchies adds up quickly!
3) Attend "I Love You Because." Tickets range between $15 - $23.50 and performances are Fri/Sat evening and Sunday afternoon. A single sold out performance this weekend could potentially get us to that goal on its own!
4) Bring your children to "Johnny Appleseed" Saturday at 12:30! Tickets are $10 for children, $12 for adults. If you have a large group, we're happy to offer a lower rate!
5) Celebrate Ireland Sunday evening! ($15 - $25) It's almost St. Patty's day and Liam Irish and friends are putting on a cozy evening filled with Celtic music, dancing, folk stories, and more. The kitchen will be serving corned beef and other Irish goodies.
6) Tell everyone! Time for another round of blogging, posting, calling your favorite news desk (all phone numbers can be found on websites), and telling them this is the final weekend for opportunity to blossom!
7) Act now. Monday is it--if we don't make it, Garbeau's is closing. If you've been waiting for your "dramatic entrance," the curtain is open, the lights are glaring, and the audience is on the edge of their seats to see what happens. Now's your moment!
We have a note that is very awkward, but which needs to be expressed because of the gravity of this weekend. If we have good (not even great) attendance with paying customers, we will easily make our goal and Garbeau's will continue. If we are sold-out with customers who are redeeming gift cards, we will have a full house with nothing to show on Monday.
Please understand, in the worst case scenario, we will have a month or two of production as we start the process of closing. We would appreciate (but obviously not require) that you hold off gift card redemptions until after this weekend.
We truly are so grateful to all of you who have supported us through this time. Your messages have come at the most opportune times and offered hope and encouragement. We so strongly hope to fill up this weekend decisively and to announce after our meeting with the landlord that we aren't going anywhere! In Anticipation, Anxiety, and Hope, Mark, Andrea, and the Entire Garbeau's Family. We've updated our home page to let people know our final deadline! Click here if you'd like to visit...
Mark Ferreira (CEO) - markf@garbeaus.com.
Andrea Castel (COO) - acastel@garbeaus.com
Scott Johnson (Group/Events) - scottj@garbeaus.com (916) 985-6361.
http://www.garbeaus.com/
Online Calendar - www.calendarwiz.com/garbeaus.
To unsubscribe/change profile: click here. To subscribe: click here.
Garbeau's Dinner Theater, 12401 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova, California 95742
Dear Friends, Patrons, and Community,
Our campaign to keep Garbeau's open is fast coming to a close and this week/weekend is literally the deciding factor of whether or not we survive!
We have a final deadline of this Monday, March 16th, to have (only!) $8,000 in our landlord's bank account. If we make it, he has agreed to sit with us and negotiate our rent--what we have been trying to do since March, 2008. If we don't make it, Garbeau's will lose its lease and we will begin a two or three month process of closing (during which we would still be having performances).
Please, if purchasing season tickets or attending one of our productions has been in the back of your mind, this is the week to do it! We only need $8,000 to make it to that table...If we were to base our survival solely on the reservations we have now, we will not make it.
Luckily, Saturdays have tended to be the more popular night for this show and last-minute reservations seem to be common. We can hold our breath for the weekend, but we'd love it if our phones started ringing off the hook, filling our weekend and firmly securing our opportunity to (finally) negotiate with our landlord.
We're almost there! And here's what's going to get us over this hill; call us at 916 985-6361 for help with any of the following:
1) Season passes ($71 - $130). If Garbeau's makes it, 2009 passes are valid forever. If we don't, they will be honored throughout 2009 at a number of other regional theatres.
2) Come to karaoke! Admission is free but a full night where everyone spends $5 - $10 each on drinks or munchies adds up quickly!
3) Attend "I Love You Because." Tickets range between $15 - $23.50 and performances are Fri/Sat evening and Sunday afternoon. A single sold out performance this weekend could potentially get us to that goal on its own!
4) Bring your children to "Johnny Appleseed" Saturday at 12:30! Tickets are $10 for children, $12 for adults. If you have a large group, we're happy to offer a lower rate!
5) Celebrate Ireland Sunday evening! ($15 - $25) It's almost St. Patty's day and Liam Irish and friends are putting on a cozy evening filled with Celtic music, dancing, folk stories, and more. The kitchen will be serving corned beef and other Irish goodies.
6) Tell everyone! Time for another round of blogging, posting, calling your favorite news desk (all phone numbers can be found on websites), and telling them this is the final weekend for opportunity to blossom!
7) Act now. Monday is it--if we don't make it, Garbeau's is closing. If you've been waiting for your "dramatic entrance," the curtain is open, the lights are glaring, and the audience is on the edge of their seats to see what happens. Now's your moment!
We have a note that is very awkward, but which needs to be expressed because of the gravity of this weekend. If we have good (not even great) attendance with paying customers, we will easily make our goal and Garbeau's will continue. If we are sold-out with customers who are redeeming gift cards, we will have a full house with nothing to show on Monday.
Please understand, in the worst case scenario, we will have a month or two of production as we start the process of closing. We would appreciate (but obviously not require) that you hold off gift card redemptions until after this weekend.
We truly are so grateful to all of you who have supported us through this time. Your messages have come at the most opportune times and offered hope and encouragement. We so strongly hope to fill up this weekend decisively and to announce after our meeting with the landlord that we aren't going anywhere! In Anticipation, Anxiety, and Hope, Mark, Andrea, and the Entire Garbeau's Family. We've updated our home page to let people know our final deadline! Click here if you'd like to visit...
Mark Ferreira (CEO) - markf@garbeaus.com.
Andrea Castel (COO) - acastel@garbeaus.com
Scott Johnson (Group/Events) - scottj@garbeaus.com (916) 985-6361.
http://www.garbeaus.com/
Online Calendar - www.calendarwiz.com/garbeaus.
To unsubscribe/change profile: click here. To subscribe: click here.
Garbeau's Dinner Theater, 12401 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova, California 95742
The Classic Little Women is now a classy musical
“Little Women,” Louisa May Alcott’s ever-popular novel about three girls growing up during the Civil War, is now a powerful and charming musical, winning audiences for the 24th Street Theatre in Sacramento. At the story's center is Jo (Kelly Daniells), who spurns the love of neighbor Laurie (Tristan Rumery), preferring to defy convention and become a writer. The story takes us through trials and triumphs, mainly of women, during this perilous age.
The show continues through March 29 at 2791 24th Street, south of Highway 50, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 and $20, available at (916) 207-1226 or at http://www.runawaystage.com/.
For a detailed review see the entertainment section in today’s Village Life of El Dorado Hills. The newspaper is online at http://www.villagelife.com/.
The show continues through March 29 at 2791 24th Street, south of Highway 50, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 and $20, available at (916) 207-1226 or at http://www.runawaystage.com/.
For a detailed review see the entertainment section in today’s Village Life of El Dorado Hills. The newspaper is online at http://www.villagelife.com/.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Urgent Message from Capital Stage
"No, we're not asking for a bail-out! Our goal is to raise additional funds through many small individual donations. We're asking for modest, tax-deductible donations from every individual who believes that the arts play an important role in the quality of life in our community. Specifically, we are seeking 2500 donors to contribute $25 each by the end of our current season. By helping us to reach this goal, you will play a vital role in keeping bold, intimate, professional live theatre alive in Sacramento!
GOAL: 2500 donations @ $25 by August 3, 2009."
Click title of this post for link. Then click "Donate Now" button.
GOAL: 2500 donations @ $25 by August 3, 2009."
Click title of this post for link. Then click "Donate Now" button.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Two New Shows at Folsom's Stage Nine
It opens March 15 and plays through April 11 (no show on Easter Sunday) at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. Call (916) 353-1001 for reservations.
Rumplestiltskin Opens on March 21
This classic Fairy Tale features a little man who can spin straw into gold. See how he manipulates Ralphetta and spins gold for her so the King will not do her harm. But Ralphetta has the last word.
This looks like fun for the entire family. Call (916) 353-1001 now to make your reservations. Group rates are available as are special Birthday Parties.
For more information, click the title of this post.
"All My Sons" comes to River Stage
Winner of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best New American Play in 1947, All My Sons deals with decisions that result in dire consequences--and the question "Are we able to make moral choices?" What happens when lies are exposed and the business/consumer society is laid bare?
All My Sons is presented by River Stage under the direction of Frank Condon. Preview performances start Wednesday, April 15, with opening night Saturday, April 18. The show closes May 17.
Joe Keller and Steven Deever, partners in a machine shop during World War II, turned out defective airplane parts, causing the deaths of many men. Deever was sent to prison, while Keller escaped punishment and became a wealthy man. In this commanding work, a love affair between Keller’s son, Chris, and Ann Deever, Steven’s daughter; the bitterness of Steven’s son, George, who returns from the war to find his father in prison and his father’s partner free; and the reaction of a son to his father’s guilt escalate toward a climax of electrifying intensity.
All My Sons first introduced the themes that run through Miller’s work as a whole: the relationship between fathers and sons, and the conflict between business ethics and personal morality.
Box Office 916-691-7364
Eisenhower's warning about the Military Industrial Complex is eerily reminiscent of Arthur Miller’s play, All My Sons, coming to River Stage.
Click the title to watch the video. For more on River State go to http://www.riverstage.org/.
Capital Stage revives Mamet's "American Buffalo"
David Mamet's breakthrough 1977 tragicomedy, American Buffalo, is about to receive a Sacramento revival at Capital Stage on Friday, March 27, 2009.
Performances for American Buffalo will begin with three previews on Saturday, March 21, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.; and Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m.; and will open on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 8 p.m.. Performances continue through April 26, 2009. Showtimes will be Thursdays to Sundays as follows: Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 7 p.m. ; and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Ticket prices range from: $24 to $32. Discount tickets are available as follows: Preview tickets: $15; Thursday student tickets: $12; Sunday matinees senior tickets: $18; Group rates available for groups of 15 or more. Tickets are currently available at the Capital Stage Box Office, 916-995-5464 or online at http://www.capstage.org/. The Pilothouse Restaurant offers a specially priced menu for theatre patrons; Pilothouse reservations can be made through the box office.
In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men's frustration and paranoia intensify. This groundbreaking American play weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance.
Capital Stage co-founders, Peter Mohrmann and Jonathan Rhys Williams, play the now-famous duo of Donny and Teach and are joined by Capital Stage newcomer Joseph Baldridge as young Bobby. The Times called David Mamet "the finest American playwright of his generation" and the New Yorker called Buffalo his "first masterpiece."
American Buffalo is directed by Janis Stevens, who directed last season's critically acclaimed Capital Stage production, Fool for Love. This production contains strong language and is intended for mature audiences.
Performances for American Buffalo will begin with three previews on Saturday, March 21, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.; and Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m.; and will open on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 8 p.m.. Performances continue through April 26, 2009. Showtimes will be Thursdays to Sundays as follows: Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 7 p.m. ; and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Ticket prices range from: $24 to $32. Discount tickets are available as follows: Preview tickets: $15; Thursday student tickets: $12; Sunday matinees senior tickets: $18; Group rates available for groups of 15 or more. Tickets are currently available at the Capital Stage Box Office, 916-995-5464 or online at http://www.capstage.org/. The Pilothouse Restaurant offers a specially priced menu for theatre patrons; Pilothouse reservations can be made through the box office.
In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men's frustration and paranoia intensify. This groundbreaking American play weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance.
Capital Stage co-founders, Peter Mohrmann and Jonathan Rhys Williams, play the now-famous duo of Donny and Teach and are joined by Capital Stage newcomer Joseph Baldridge as young Bobby. The Times called David Mamet "the finest American playwright of his generation" and the New Yorker called Buffalo his "first masterpiece."
American Buffalo is directed by Janis Stevens, who directed last season's critically acclaimed Capital Stage production, Fool for Love. This production contains strong language and is intended for mature audiences.
"I Love You Because" now at Garbeau's
Photo courtesy of Garbeau's Dinner Theatre
Based on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," though with genders reversed, "I Love You Because" is "a modern day musical love story." With music by Joshua Salzman, book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, it follows a quartet of characters on their rough road to a happy ending. As the play opens, Austin (LaFras le Roux) is dumped by paramour Catherine, who is replaced by the buxom and self-sacrificing Marcy (Norma-Jean Russell), who tries to reunite Austin and Catherine.
Meanwhile Jeff (Aaron Boyer) hooks up with Diana (Meg Masterson), an actuary who reduces everything to numbers. Apt directing by Ed Gyles, Jr. gives us a neatly contrasting pair: a blonde and buxom Marcy with a slender and dark-haired Diana. Mark Ferreira on piano and Alfonzo Portela on drums, as "The Dynamic Duo Band," supply instrumental music to the fine voices of the cast, also including Jessica Larrick and Joshua Brown in several supporting roles.
"I Love You Because" continues through March 29 at Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, in the Nimbus Winery complex on the corner of Folsom Blvd. and Hazel Ave. in Rancho Cordova. Tickets are $15-$23.50, with group rates available. Call (916) 985-6361 or see http://www.garbeaus.com/.
For a detailed review in Village Life of El Dorado Hills, click the title of this post.
Meanwhile Jeff (Aaron Boyer) hooks up with Diana (Meg Masterson), an actuary who reduces everything to numbers. Apt directing by Ed Gyles, Jr. gives us a neatly contrasting pair: a blonde and buxom Marcy with a slender and dark-haired Diana. Mark Ferreira on piano and Alfonzo Portela on drums, as "The Dynamic Duo Band," supply instrumental music to the fine voices of the cast, also including Jessica Larrick and Joshua Brown in several supporting roles.
"I Love You Because" continues through March 29 at Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, in the Nimbus Winery complex on the corner of Folsom Blvd. and Hazel Ave. in Rancho Cordova. Tickets are $15-$23.50, with group rates available. Call (916) 985-6361 or see http://www.garbeaus.com/.
For a detailed review in Village Life of El Dorado Hills, click the title of this post.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
New "High Voltage" group for EDMT
El Dorado Musical Theatre, El Dorado Hills' highly respected musical theater company for youth, announces a new "High Voltage" group. As EDMT's premiere outreach and performing tour group, it will represent EDMT at community events, grand openings, media events, fundraising events, school assemblies, and fairs, both around town and occasionally out of town. Members of High Voltage will essentially become EDMT's performance ambassadors and every member will be showcased.
For details, including audition schedules, go to http://www.edmt.info/HighVoltage/HighVoltage.html or call 916-941-SING.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Snow White extended at Stage Nine in Folsom
Due to sold out performances of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Stage Nine Theatre has added two additional performances; one on Saturday, March 7, at 3:30 p.m and one on Saturday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m.
Stage Nine Theatre is located at 717 Sutter Street in Historic Folsom.
Stage Nine Theatre is located at 717 Sutter Street in Historic Folsom.
Note: for a review, see the February post in the panel at the right.
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