On Stage: HMS Pinafore

Here's a show I can't wait to see - it's a Gilbert & Sullivan classic, it's part of a big birthday celebration, and it starts next weekend in Charleston!

Here's the story from the Herald-Dispatch:

The Charleston Light Opera Guild begins its 60th anniversary year with HMS Pinafore, the first musical produced by the group in 1949.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Jan. 30-31 and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Charleston Light Opera Guild Theatre at 411 Tennessee Avenue on the west side of Charleston.

One of the most loved theatre pieces of the English speaking world, HMS Pinafore was the fourth collaboration of Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan and opened in May 1878 at D'Oyly Carte's Opera Comique where it ran for 571 performances and became a huge fad in England.

The popularity of HMS Pinafore lay in its infectious tunes, mirth and silliness and its gentle satire of the Royal Navy and the British obsession with social stature. The show's popularity spread to America where it was copied illegally by dozens of performing companies as well as by Gilbert & Sullivan and D'Oyly Carte themselves. The comic operetta is more in demand today than a century ago - proof of the lasting brilliance of Gilbert & Sullivan.

This wonderful, seafaring musical romps through some of Gilbert & Sullivan's best loved tunes as it tells the story of two young lovers, Josephine and Ralph who are denied the one thing they most desire - marriage! Can a proud Captain's daughter marry the lowly sailor she secretly loves?

Meanwhile, the Captain arranges for his daughter to marry the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Joseph Porter. The lovers, separated by the obstacles of class, dastardly plots and the British Navy, search for happiness while Sir Joseph Porter, Head of the Queen's Navy (and a man who has never gone to sea) struggles to control his Cousin Hebe and numerous other female relatives.

The veteran cast includes Joe Romagnoli as Sir Joseph Porter; Roger Lucas as Ralph Rackstraw; Eva Vidavska Kumar as Josephine; Mark Hornbaker as Captain Corcoran; Leah Marie Heater as Little Buttercup; Roger Wolfe as Dick Deadeye; Bill Rainey as Boatswain's Mate Bill Bobstay; Tim Harper as Carpenter's Mate Bob Becket; Erin Kishpaugh as Cousin Hebe. Portraying Able Seaman are Evan Buck, Mark Felton, Rick Fleenor, Greg Garner, Bob McCarty, Jared Morgan, Mark Parsons, Richie Robb, Tim Whitener and Chris Williams, and Sir Joseph's Sisters, Cousins and Aunts will be performed by Jessica Cooper, Alina Cuadra, Liz Falstreau, Courtney Fint, Jeanne Matras, Johanna Meisner, Toni Pilato, Caroline Chamness Rainey, Shirley Romagnoli and Tiara Sanders.

HMS Pinafore is fully costumed and staged with an orchestra. The show is directed by Nina Denton Pasinetti and musical director Ron Neal. Box Office hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, January 14 at the Charleston Light Opera Guild Theatre at 411 Tennessee Avenue or by calling 304-342-9312. All tickets are $15 for festival seating.

The Cast for "Lil Abner"

My pal Stephen Vance sends along this cast list for the upcoming production of Lil Abner at Huntington High School. It's a fun musical based on the classic comic strip, and it runs February 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Here's the cast list:

Lil Abner - Mark Radford
Daisy Mae - Julia Galloway
Mammy - Kinsey Mason
Pappy - Cody Verbage
Marryin' Sam - Adam Porterfield
Moonbeam McSwine - Lauren Simms
Evil Eye Fleagle - Drew Sowards
Appasionata - Josefine Landgrave
Phogbound - Michael Parker
Earthquake McGoon - Sam Garton
Available Jones - Clark Lewis
Stupefying Jones - Ashley Davis

Stephen adds: "Of course there is a very talented ensemble consisting of a blend of both stage veterans and rookies."

The play is being directed by Helen Freeman, choreographed by Kerri Easter, and music directed by David Chenoweth.

The No Pants Players Need More Players (and, Presumably, More Pants)

This message arrived courtesy my pal Tony Slack:

So here it is everyone. Constant badgering has finally paid off. On January 17th and 18th from 5 til 7 p.m. at the KP Playhouse, your No Pants Players will be holding auditions for new troupe members.

I know what you're saying: "Am I ready?" "Can I do it?" "Will the glare from my untanned wintery legs blind people from the stage?"

Well, the answer to all these questions and more is: you won't know know until you come on down to 309 Beauregard St. on January 17th and 18th from 5 til 7 p.m.

(Note: in all seriousness if you truly want to be a part of the NPP I suggest coming to both afternoons of auditions. The better sampling we have of your abilities and cohesiveness with us the more comfortable we will be in selecting you to be a part of WV's premiere improv comedy troupe).

Hope to see everyone there!

The Passing of Two Favorites

Sorry to hear about the deaths today of two actors who turned in lots of wonderful work in their careers: Patrick McGoohan, 80, and Ricardo Montalban, 88.

McGoohan was already famous as the star of Secret Agent Man, but achieved cult status when he took the same character (without actually saying so) and moving him over into the surreal TV series, The Prisoner. One of my all-time favorite shows.

Montalban was the classic gentleman and someone who seemed to be having a great time with every part he tackled. He's best known for his long run as the mysterious host on TV's Fantasy Island, but I'll always remember him as Star Trek's greatest villain, Khan, who dueled with Capt. Kirk in the second Star Trek film (which was also the best of that series).

Both fine actors who will be missed.

Laura is Elle Again!

Kentucky's own Laura Bell Bundy is back in a familiar role. According to Playbill, she's appearing as Elle Woods - the role she originated on Broadway - in the touring show of Legally Blonde: The Musical.

She's stepping in for an injured actor:

Tony nominee Laura Bell Bundy will return to the role of determined Harvard Law undergraduate Elle Woods in the national tour of Legally Blonde, which will next be seen at East Lansing's Wharton Center.

Bundy will step in for the tour's current star, Becky Gulsvig, who suffered a broken toe backstage Jan. 8.

During Gulsvig's recovery Bundy and understudy Lauren Zakrin will alternate in the role of Elle Woods for six weeks, beginning Jan. 13 in East Lansing, MI. Bundy is expected to remain with the tour through Feb. 22.

The Cast List for "Alexander" and "Charlotte's Web"

The cast list for First Stage Theatre Company's spring shows were posted earlier today at that group's website, and as promised, I'm printing the list here, as well:

Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going To Move

The Cast List

ALEXANDER - Drew Edwards

ANTHONY - Justin Hesson

NICK - Drew Goodall

PAUL - William Beverage

AUDREY - Mary Stevenson

SWOOZIE - Kate Colclough

RACHEL - Meg Barber

THE ROONEY GIRLS - Sarah Bryan, Catherine Dennison, Kylie Magner, Taylor Perdue, Melody Chalvin

--------------------

Charlotte's Web

The Cast List

Fern Arable – Abigail Turner

John Arable – Zach Davis

Martha Arable – Sarah Stevenson

Avery Arable – Jonathan Ross

Homer Zuckerman – Jonathan Lamp

Edith Zuckerman – Caroline Hunter

Luray – Rachel Geiger

Wilbur – Samantha Young

Templeton - Jack McGee

Charlotte – Sarena Johnson

The Narrators – Leslie Collins, Rebecca Craig, Chloe Donahoe

Farm Animals:

Goose - Brooke Alexander

Gander - Kathryn Booth

Sheep - Emily Bannon

Lamb - Kennedy Magner

Chorus Members - Cassie Bowen, Karenann Flouhouse, Madalein Jackson, Hannah Kirby, Shelby McKeand, Emily Underwood, Angel Yarussi, Stephanie Yuhasz

Baby Spiders/Chorus Member - Nathaniel Fornash, Morgan Hush, Maria Vance

Auditions in Ashland for "Alice"

Auditions are being held next week in Ashland for young people, as you can read in this story in the Herald-Dispatch.

But it's a little bit different from most Community Theatre - here young people are apparently auditioning for a show and signing up for a class at ACTC at the same time:

Third to ninth grade students are invited to participate in the Ashland Community & Technical College Children’s Theatre production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.

The production is a lifelong learning enrichment course for youth who want to learn theatre techniques and get on-stage experience. Roles will be determined in auditions held Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 20 and 21 at 4:30 p.m. in the J. B. Sowards Theatre at the College Drive Campus.

More than 24 roles are available. Those auditioning will be required to sing and read from the script, with no advance preparation. Additional information for parents will be given during the auditions.

This fast-paced stage adaptation of Alice in Wonderland features updated dialogue and new arrangements of such classic Disney songs as “I’m Late,” “The Un-birthday Song” and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

The production is based on the 1951 Disney film Alice in Wonderland and the novels by Lewis Carroll.

Karen Curnutte will be the Musical Director and Production Director. Edward Figgins, Director of Theatre, will produce and also be in charge of scenery and lighting.

Rehearsals will be held from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and performances will be given Feb. 19-22.

The course fee is $100. Enrollment is through ACTC Lifelong Learning, 606-326-2072, 800-928-4256 ext. 62072 or email: as_LLL@kctcs.edu.

One More Day...

The cast for both Charlotte's Web and Alexander, Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move will be announced tomorrow afternoon - it'll be posted first on the First Stage Theatre Company website, which is: www.firststagetheatre.org.

I'll also post it here tomorrow evening, if you can stand to wait that long.

One thing I forgot to mention yesterday is that I never cease to be impressed by the high quality of the talent in our area. There were so many really impressive auditions this weekend, including excellent singers, outstanding dancers, and impressive actors.

And above all, I'm always impressed by the courage it takes to stand up in front of strangers and try out, in hopes of being part of a production. I could never have done that when I was that young. (Yes, I was once young - hard to believe, I know.)

Of course, I've long been an advocate for kids taking part in community theatre - it helps build the self-confidence every young person needs, and they'll make life-long friends along the way. And they have lots of fun!

That's what we call a "win-win" scenario!

The Audition Aftermath

Whew! The ol' scout here is tuckered out, as today we wrapped up the auditions for two First Stage Theatre Company shows: Charlotte's Web and Alexander, Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move.

Like most auditions, we had a good turn-out, though we could always use more - especially more males (there's always a shortage of guys in community theatre, no matter what age group you're talking about).

Still, the casts are taking shape, and the line-ups will be announced on Tuesday. Then we start getting ready for rehearsals, and both shows take the stage in March!

Auditions This Weekend for "Charlotte" and "Alexander"

Auditions are being held this weekend for two spring shows in Huntington: Charlotte’s Web and Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move.

The shows are part of the 19th season for the local children's theatre, the First Stage Theatre Company.

Auditions for both shows will take place at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church at 5747 E. Pea Ridge Road in Huntington on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Young actors can audition for the show of their choice, or they can audition for both shows at the same time. There is no charge to audition.

Auditions are open to performers ages 9 to seniors in high school. Those auditioning for both shows will be provided scripts to read aloud. Those auditioning for “Alexander” should be prepared to sing a 30-second song selection. There will be a pianist, but you may use an accompaniment tape or CD (with no vocals). Wear comfortable clothes for dance.

Charlotte’s Web is based on the popular children’s book by E.B. White. The show will be presented at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington, W.Va., March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15, 2009. The non-musical play tells the story of a girl named Fern who saves a runt pig named Wilbur, and how his life in turn is saved by a clever spider named Charlotte. The play will feature a cast of about 35 young performers and will be directed by Amy Browning and produced by Jeanette Bills.

Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move is a musical comedy based on the popular book by Judith Viorst with music by Shelly Markham, and is the sequel to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which First Stage presented in 2002.

"Alexander" tells the story of a young boy and how he reacts when his parents tell him the family has to move to a new town. The show will be presented at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center in Huntington, W.Va., March 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29, 2009. The musical will feature a cast of about 15 performers. The directing team is: director Chuck Minsker, producer Jeanette Rowsey, music director Mark Smith, choreographer Melissa McGuffin, and assistant director Eric Newfeld.

The First Stage Theatre Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an educational, developmental experience for young people through the performing arts. Its website is www.firststagetheatre.org.

Dark Days on Broadway

My pal Shirlee recently wrote:

Chuck... just got back from NYC. Can not tell you how eerie it was to see half the theatres closed. I know a lot of new shows are going to be opening up but a few rumors have put the hold on some of them.... I hope Broadway figures out where they are going or we will see a lot of local, talented people, who want to be there out of work before they even begin!

.. And now this from Broadway.com:

Nine productions said good-bye to the Great White Way on January 4: 13, Boeing-Boeing, Dividing the Estate, Grease, Hairspray, Liza's at the Palace, Slava's Snowshow, White Christmas and Young Frankenstein.

Of course, some of those shows are tied to the holidays and were planning to close anyway.

But that's not the end of it - other shows (like Spring Awakening) close this month and in February, though quite a few shows will soldier on, of course.

New shows will take their place eventually, and many are in rehearsals now - but for the moment, the lights are shining a little darker on Broadway.

Remembering "Charlotte" and "Alexander"

With auditions coming up this weekend for both Charlotte's Web and Alexander, Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move, my thoughts have been turning back to the first time I encountered each show (well, sort of).

First Stage tackled Charlotte's Web back in 1998 (if memory serves). The show actually had two directors - Jerry Morse and Sarah Chupp - and it was the first show (that I'm aware of) that used double-casting. In other words, there were two different casts, one for each director. (That allowed us to cast more kids in the show, although it was very difficult to coordinate.)

The casts took turns performing the show, using the same set. I saw every performance because I helped run the sound on that show. If I remember correctly, my oldest son Justin worked backstage on the tech crew, and it was one of the first appearances on stage by my youngest son, Evan, who played Young Spider #2.

It was a wonderful show, with lots of great parts and a funny and touching story. I look forward to seeing it again (although this time around, First Stage will only use one cast).

As for "Alexander," the second show I directed (back in 2002) was Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - and I ended up directing it almost by accident.

For my second directing effort, I thought it would be fun to tackle "Alexander," which was based on a popular children's book - but for some reason, I thought it was a non-musical. Imagine my surprise when the script arrived and I realized I had a musical on my hands! (The lesson is: always read the fine print.)

What a great experience that show was! It was a fun, creative story that used a variety of performers, with the younger actors playing Alexander and his friends, and the older teens playing the grownups.

I smile every time I think of the "parents" in that show - Michael Moore played the Dad, and Emily Asbury played the Mom. Michael got huge laughs, not only for his comedic ability, but also because of the fake moustache he wore. Emily was so convincing, one kid who saw the show asked her if she was really "Alexander's" Mom - I think she was 16 at the time, not much older than the young man playing the title role - Chuck Herndon - and what a terrific job he did! All three actors are now studying drama in college, and doing incredibly well - it's a tribute to the talents. I'm so proud of them! (And no, I don't take any credit for their accomplishments - they've done that entirely on their own talent and initiative - but I knew 'em when!)

The cast was perfect, the show was a hoot, and with each performance, the crowds got bigger, until finally, at the last show we literally had standing room only!

Fond memories! Now I look forward to making new memories with these new shows!

Auditions for the No Pants Players

If you've ever wanted to try improv comedy, the group called the No Pants Players is a great place to start - and they're getting ready to hold auditions for new performers.

Tony Slack writes:

Just wanted to pass along to everyone about the No Pants Players auditions coming up soon.

They will be on Saturday, Jan. 17, and Sunday, Jan. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kanawha Players building. Tell all your family and friends, and also anyone else that you think might want to give it a shot.

Check our website for all the juicy details at www.nopantsplayers.com.

Also, this Saturday, Jan. 10, there will be an improv workshop at The Book Exchange at 1588 E Washington St. (Next to the dog park.) Time will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will be a good chance for anyone who wants to give improv a try before actually auditioning.

The "Phantom" Returns!

Here's a story I almost forgot to share - some recent information about plans to create a sequel to the longest-running show ever on Broadway - Phantom of the Opera!

Here are the details from our pals with the Associated Press:

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber says the long awaited sequel to Phantom of the Opera should be ready at the end of 2009, with a possible simultaneous opening on three continents.

Lloyd Webber told The Times of London that he hopes the new musical, to be called Phantom: Love Never Dies, will open in New York, London and possibly Shanghai or another Asian city.

He said the locale of the celebrated musical will be switched from the Paris Opera to New York's Coney Island. The sequel will be set about 10 years after the original, which has been seen by approximately 80 million theatergoers in 124 cities worldwide.

Coney Island? Really? That Andrew - what a maniac!

Auditions for "Alice, Jr."

Yesterday I mentioned the auditions this weekend for Charlotte's Web and Alexander, Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move, but there's another show with auditions coming up, according to this message from someone named Elphie3-15. She or he wrote:

Auditions for ACTC's Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr. are Monday the 12th, and Tuesday the 13th at 4:30 p.m.

Auditions are open to children from third grade to ninth grade. There will be a cold sing and read from the script, no preparation needed.

Thanks for the info, Elphie!

Auditions Next Weekend for "Charlotte" and "Alexander"

Auditions are coming up next weekend for the two spring shows being presented by First Stage Theatre Company: Charlotte’s Web and Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move.

Auditions for both shows will take place at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church at 5747 E. Pea Ridge Road in Huntington on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Young actors can audition for the show of their choice, or they can audition for both shows at the same time.

Auditions are open to performers ages 9 to seniors in high school. Those auditioning for both shows will be provided scripts to read aloud. Those auditioning for “Alexander” should be prepared to sing a 30-second song selection. There will be a pianist, but you may use an accompaniment tape or CD (with no vocals). Wear comfortable clothes for dance.

Charlotte’s Web is based on the popular children’s book by E.B. White. The show will be presented at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington, W.Va., March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15, 2009.

The non-musical play tells the story of a girl named Fern who saves a runt pig named Wilbur, and how his life in turn is saved by a clever spider named Charlotte. The play will feature a cast of about 35 young performers and will be directed by Amy Browning and produced by Jeanette Bills.

Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move is a musical comedy based on the popular book by Judith Viorst with music by Shelly Markham, and is the sequel to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which First Stage presented in 2002.

"Alexander" tells the story of a young boy and how he reacts when his parents tell him the family has to move to a new town. The show will be presented at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center in Huntington, W.Va., March 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29, 2009. The musical will feature a cast of about 15 performers. The directing team is: director Chuck Minsker, producer Jeanette Rowsey, music director Mark Smith, choreographer Melissa McGuffin, and assistant director Eric Newfeld.

The First Stage Theatre Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an educational, developmental experience for young people through the performing arts. Its website is www.firststagetheatre.org.

A Blast From the Past (And Into the Future)

Just over a year ago First Stage Theatre Company staged Disney's High School Musical, and it was a tremendous success.

Playing the part of the dizzy drama teacher, Ms. Darbus, was my pal Debbie Wolfe - but these days she's moved on to bigger things. In November her husband, Kim Wolfe, was elected Mayor of Huntington, so Debbie's now the First Lady of our fair city!

A few weeks back she emailed me with a special request - she was planning the inauguration and wanted to see if some of the cast of the original "HSM" could reassemble at the event and reprise the song "We're All in This Together."

How could I say no? I contacted Assistant Director / Choreographer Amy Browning, and she agreed it would be a fun reunion, and she offered to re-teach the choreography to our returnees. Then I called Music Director Mark Smith, and he agreed to work with the cast to brush off the rust - and he also agreed to play at the event.

I emailed the cast and invited them to gather for a "brush-up" rehearsal (which was going to be a challenge, since it was during the holiday season), and last Tuesday about eight of our actors gathered to refresh their memories on the song and dance steps.

Then Friday afternoon a dozen cast members (including virtually all the lead actors) gathered at City Hall for another brush rehearsal - and then they performed as the final act at the inauguration - and I must say, they did an amazing job!

They weren't the only members of First Stage involved - Debbie's son John Wolfe, who starred in quite a few First Stage shows and now attends school and performs at BYU, sang a song at the inauguration, and board member Clint McElroy appeared in character as Collis P. Huntington, the city's founder.

All in all, it was a lot of fun - a real family affair! Congrats to Kim, Debbie and the entire Wolfe pack!

Coming Up in 2009

It's good to see that 2009 will offer a lot of different shows for theatre fans to enjoy!

Lots of theatre groups haven't decided on their summer or fall shows yet - for example, I haven't heard yet what shows 5th Avenue Theatre Company, ARTS, Huntington Outdoor Theatre or ACTC's Theatre are planning to tackle this year.

Here are the ones I've been able to track down so far. As always, let me know about any I've missed and I'll add them to the list - just send in a comment to the link below or email it to me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

Now, on to the shows of 2009:

Only one show is taking the stage in January, but it's a good one - Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore will be staged Jan. 23-25 and 30-31 by The Charleston Light Opera Guild. It's their diamond anniversary performance of this comedic opera - it's the first production the guild ever did!

On February 2 the Clay Center will present the touring show of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It's a terrific show!

The Marshall Artist's Series has a great lineup this spring, including Sweeney Todd on Feb. 5, Golda's Balcony on March 7, Blues Journey on March 9, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on April 28.

First Church Dinner Theatre will present the comedy Bitsy, Boots...and Ida at the First United Methodist Church in Huntington on February 13 and 14.

Marshall University's Department of Theatre will present the madcap comedy Charley's Aunt February 25-28.

Also in February, the Charleston Stage Company will present Doubt, which is John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, which is now also a film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep.

The Kanawha Players will present Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage February 6-7 and 13-14 at the Kanawha Players Theater.

The Children's Theatre of Charleston will present The Secret Garden on March 5-7.

The First Stage Theatre Company will present two shows in March: the non-musical Charlotte’s Web, based on the classic book by E.B. White, will be presented the first two weekends in March; and the musical comedy Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move, which is based on books by Judith Viorst, will be presented the last two weekends in March.

Mark Twain's classic tale, Tom Sawyer, comes to exuberant musical life in an adaptation of America's favorite book. It will be presented by the Kanawha Players April 3-4 and 11-12.

In April Marshall's Dept. of Theatre will present Epic Proportions, the story of two brothers who go to the Arizona desert to be extras in the huge Biblical epic - but get much more than they bargained for.

The classic musical South Pacific will be presented in May at the Civic Center Little Theater by the Charleston Light Opera Guild.

The Jenny Wiley Theatre has a full schedule this summer. including the Elvis-centric All Shook Up in July, the popular Smoke on the Mountain from June to August, The Legend of Jenny Wiley in August, and Broadway Kids through July and August.

As for the fall, the only show being planned that I've heard about is First Stage Theatre Company's production of Into the Woods.

And that's all I have for now - but isn't it great to have so many outstanding shows in our future?

EDIT: Here's one I missed somehow: CYAC will present Scarpelli and Kehde's Lincoln in February, just in time for the birthday of one of our greatest presidents!

EDIT #2: My pal Stephen Vance tells me that I missed another one - Huntington High is doing Li'l Abner the first week in February!

Auditions for "Bitsy, Boots... and Ida"

Just got this note from my pal Jon Joy about auditions coming up for his next show:

First Church Dinner Theatre is now casting my new full length comedy - Bitsy, Boots...and Ida.

Auditions will be held Sunday, Jan. 4 at noon and Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Huntington. There are roles available for four women and two men. Rehearsals will start mid-January and the show will be performed Friday and Saturday, February 13 & 14.

FCDT began its annual dinner theatre celebration in 1991. Through the years, they have used the event to raise over $30,000 to support community projects and to aid in national and international relief efforts. This will be the 17th play that FCDT (headed up by Jane and Jerry Morse) have presented to Tri-State audiences.

It is my second consecutive year working with them. Last year, they produced Bitsy and Boots in February and we had a great response. I've been working on the sequel for a few months now and I will be finishing it up just in time for rehearsals to begin.

For more info on the organization and the original play, click on the Herald-Dispatch link to this story from last February. http://www.herald-dispatch.com/life/x1596894020

The sequel revolves around the same set of characters with one new addition. Ida is a relative of Bitsy and Boots who has overstayed her welcome on a recent visit and whose presence threatens to interrupt the wedding of Tommy and Katherine.

Adios, 2008!

Happy New Year!

It’s been interesting, surfing the web today - I see lots of sites bemoaning how bad 2008 was. I guess I’m the eternal optimist - there were certainly some bad things about last year, but there were lots of good things too - you know, just like ever other year in living memory.

So let’s focus on the good and look back at the some of the theatre shows that stood out in the past year. Since this is my personal list of shows I saw and liked, please forgive me if your favorite show isn’t listed - I didn’t get to see every show last year, so there will be some omissions.

Feel free to send me your list of favorites, and I’ll post them here - you can send them via the comments link at the bottom of this post, or you can email them to me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

Anyway, here’s my list (in no particular order):

The Marshall University Department of Theatre continues to be a class act for local theatre productions, including two important productions - The Seagull in February and The Glass Menagerie in November. Then it added a terrific musical for good measure with George M! in October. All terrific productions - you should really make it a point to see all the shows MU stages each season - they’re outstanding!

I’ve admitted being prejudiced about the production of First Stage Theatre Company, but I think anyone would have to be impressed by the top caliber of talent on display in the two shows it presented this year. Back in April the group staged the excellent Children of Eden, an outstanding and moving musical about families and love and forgiveness. It was exceptional!

The other show from that group was the amazing Peter Pan in November, which included great songs, terrific performances, a stunning set, excellent costumes, and flying actors - who could ask for more?

ARTS has also staged some excellent shows this year, including The Odd Couple (Female Version) in March, which flipped the genders of the original play (male to female, natch), and it was just as funny - and perhaps funnier - than the original!

Just a month ago ARTS also presented The 1940s Radio Hour, an outstanding musical with terrific talent and lots of wonderful songs - if you missed this show, you missed a great one!

I usually don’t include touring professional shows in my list, but two were so good, they deserve inclusion: both The Producers and The Wizard of Oz were presented at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center this year as part of the Marshall Artists Series, and both were amazing.

As long as I’m talking about professional shows, I saw Jersey Boys in Chicago this year, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorite Broadway shows - I recommend it highly!

As proof that a show can be a lot of fun without a huge cast or a flashy production, I really enjoyed the premiere of Bitsy & Boots in February. It was a comedy written by Jonathan Joy and staged by the First Church Dinner Theater. Very funny, and the good news is, a sequel is in the works!

If there was an award for courage in theatre, it would go this year to Huntington Outdoor Theatre for its production of Romeo & Juliet in July. The classic by Shakespeare was edited and had modern songs added - some loved it, some did not - but it was a brave thing to attempt, so kudos to HOT!

Another original production took on an intense subject, as Scarpelli and Kehde created a musical based on the story of Jack the Ripper in October. The excellent 9and intense0 production featured a terrific cast and excellent songs.

Local theatre doesn’t get much more intense than The Pillowman, a drama produced by the Charleston Stage Company in February. Featuring a great cast, including K.C. Bragg and Ryan Hardiman (who was also the star of Jack the Ripper), it kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

Another intense production centered around a series of murders. Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None was presented by the 5th Avenue Theatre Company at the Huntington City Hall Auditorium in October, and the terrific cast brought the classic murder mystery to life. A excellent production!

So it was a great year in theatre - and again, there were many other excellent shows that I didn’t get to see, and I apologize for any omissions.

So what does 2009 hold in store? That’s what we’ll talk about tomorrow!

A Free Show Tonight in Charleston!

My pal Ryan Hardiman sends along this news about a free show for New Year's Eve (which is, like, tonight). He writes:

I've been insane busy and I didn't have time to get this to you until now, but if you readers are looking for something family-oriented to do on New Years Eve, and don't want to be out too late, here's the FREE ticket! I'm performing two 45-minute mini-concerts as part of Charleston's GoodNight 2008 New Year's Eve arts celebration tonight.

There are performers all over the city at different venues doing shows running at 6, 7, 8, and 9 p.m. I've put together a collection of songs (most of which I've never performed before), focusing on appreciating the ones you love and living each moment to the fullest. I want it to be a positive, inspiring experience to ring in 2009!

Here's the info:

Cost: FREE
Times: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Venue: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Boulevard East
Easy directions: If you take the Virginia Street exit from I-64, turn right onto Virginia St, Take the next right to Kanawha Blvd and turn left on Kanawha Blvd. Follow Kanawha to Elizabeth St. Trinity Lutheran is at the corner of Kanawha Blvd and Elizabeth St. (2 blocks fom the State Capitol)

Here's the setlist:

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Someone To Watch Over Me
Always On My Mind
Wind Beneath My Wings / You Raise Me Up / The Rose (Medley)
Out There (from Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Corner Of The Sky (from Pippin)
A Bit of Earth (from The Secret Garden)
In Whatever Time We Have (from Children of Eden)
I'll Be Seeing You

For more information on GoodNight 2008, including the full schedule, call 346-2494 or 346-7832.

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

More About Broadway's Woes

Talking about Broadway's recent rash of shows closing, my pal marshallmark said in a comment posted earlier today:

I think Gypsy probably has just run its course, and Hairspray announced its closing before the economy tanked so Spring Awakening and 13 might be the only ones that can be attributed to the lack of pocket money.

I don't know about Spring Awakening, but it appears that the audiences just weren't interested in 13. Playbill lists the percentage of tickets sold and 13 routinely hovered around the 50 percent mark. No show is going to stick around with that record.

Harvey Firestein noted in an article I read today in USA Today that the tickets to Broadway shows are overpriced. He pointed to the popularity of Hairspray's discounted tickets and, when you see that 13's tickets STARTED at $111 each, its easy to see why audiences are starting to slide.

I think your comments are right on the money here, Mark. With a few exceptions (Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Jersey Boys), shows have a limited life span, and it could be that those shows had either run their course (Spring Awakening, Hairspray, Spamalot), never built up the kind of following it needed (Young Frankenstein) or just never caught on in the first place (13).

The high cost of tickets is probably directly responsible for the low ticket sales many shows are experiencing, but it's a two-edged sword. To provide the kind of high-end theatre experience with amazing sets, costumes and top talent, the producers must spend a lot of money. The only way to recoup that is for the show to have a long, popular run and charge a high price for the tickets.

Sometimes audiences are willing to pony up the money for a theatre spectacle (The Lion King is a good example), but I think audiences are being more selective these days, and that makes it tough on new, untested shows. The new Shrek musical, for example, may be facing some rough times.

It'll be interesting to see which shows survive this downturn, and which will continue to thrive.

A Rough Month Ahead for Broadway

There will be quite a few tears shed on Broadway next month as a number of shows shut down in January, including long-running hits like Hairspray, Gypsy and Spring Awakening, along with shows that barely got off the ground, like 13, which starred a cast of teenagers.

Here's the latest on that closing from Broadway.com:

Jason Robert Brown’s 13 has set a closing date.

The new musical, directed by Jeremy Sams, will play its final performance on January 4, 2009 after 22 preview and 105 regular performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

On the up side, that show may return as a touring show, and in the near future it should be available for community theatre groups.

The post-holiday season is always a tough one for Broadway shows, but the economic problems hitting the country seem to be adding to the problem, forcing quite a few shows to close their doors. But there are lots of other shows in the works, so don't expect Broadway to go out of business anytime soon.

That's What I Call Dedication

For our final holiday video (we'll be back tomorrow with regular community theatre news type stuff), we have an amazing display of house lights set to music.

This family is obviously way into the holiday season, and they've synchronized their lights to "play along" with the song "Wizards in Winter" by the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

Hats off to this display - it's awesome!

Kristin Sings "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

Continuing our holiday video selection (while yours truly enjoys his Christmas break), here's one that actually has ties to theatre.

Kristin Chenoweth is one of Broadway's biggest stars and a heckuva terrific singer. Here's a clip from a recent appearance on the (very funny) Craig Ferguson show, singing a popular holiday song.

More Christmas Animated Clips

We're still enjoying the holidays here at your Tri-State Theatre blog (and we hope you're doing the same), but that doesn't mean you won't get your daily posting!

Here's another holiday video clip - it's a short animated film about "Hardrock, Coco and Joe," and it was a long-running holiday tradition in Chicago.

It's fun, cute, and as my lovely wife points out, a little creepy. Check it out:

Have a Merry Christmas and a Cool Yule!

Merry Christmas! For your holiday enjoyment, here's a short animated video of The Drifters singing "White Christmas," with Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor. The cartoon is by Joshua Held.

I ope you enjoy your animated Christmas Card, and have a wonderful Holiday!

If It's Christmas, Where's Charlie Brown?

I've never understood why there are two stage shows based on the Peanuts comic strip - You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Snoopy - but one hasn't been made yet based on the perennial holiday classic.

It's not Christmas without taking the time to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas - but just in case you missed it this time around, here's a look at the opening to the show, courtesy of YouTube (just think of it as an early Christmas present from me to you):

When Theatre Goes Wrong

The other day we talked about a single scene in the touring production of The Wizard of Oz that came to a brief halt because of a technical glitch, but there are lots of stories about shows where more than one thing went wrong, and the actors had to deal with it.

I just read the story of such a show, a production of A Christmas Carol out in Los Angeles. The story is being told by Mark Evanier, a professional writer who writes an excellent blog called News from ME.

It's a terrific story, and you can read the entry right here. Here's a snippet:

Opening night of A Christmas Carol at the Kodak (Theater), so many things went wrong that the audience couldn't keep from laughing and ultimately, neither could the actors.

Our first inkling that things would be far from perfect came when we sat down in the theater and opened our program books. Out tumbled one of those little slips that told you there'd be a cast substitution. This one was unusually chatty...

It's a funny story, and one to chill the blood of anyone who's involved in theatre. Of course, this is exactly why live theatre is so much fun - anything can happen!

It's a real challenge for actors to overcome unexpected problems and keep the show moving along - though sometimes it's an impossible task.

The Symphony Orchestra Sells Out

It's great to hear that this week's performance of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra was a huge success - a little too successful, actually, since the show was sold out.

You can read the story right here from the Herald-Dispatch's Taylor Kuykendall (the photo below is by Mark Webb). Here's an excerpt:

A Saturday concert featuring a special blend of traditional holiday favorites sold out the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center, leaving a few unfortunate customers at the door.

The show was hosted by the Huntington Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra played selections from "12 Days of Christmas" to "Deck the Halls." The concert was sold out before the event opened it's doors at 7 p.m.

"I would really like to thank the Tri-State for coming out and supporting the arts and helping me sell out my first show," said executive director T. Hogan Haas. "I am thrilled to be in my new position and to sell out my first show."

People who came late tried everything from requesting to stand during the show to trying to buy from ticketholders. The show, nearly two hours long, was filled with guest appearances and numerous holiday selections.

"If anybody can sit through the whole show and not leave in the holiday spirit, they must be some kind of Grinch," Haas said. "It's just an all-American holiday concert."

Review of "Mamma Mia!" (the movie)

My pal John Gillispie writes about movies for the Herald-Dispatch every Thursday, and he recently wrote about the DVD release of a film that has its origins in pop music and a popular stage show.

I'm talking about Mamma Mia, of course. You can read my comments when the film was originally released right here, and you can read John's review right here.

Here's an excerpt from his take:

Movies & More reviewer John Gillispie thinks Mamma Mia, which is rated PG-13 and stars Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan, is a humorous version of the musical that weaves the words of hit ABBA tunes into its plot.

Many, many years ago, I memorized all the words to all the songs on an eight-track tape featuring the chart hits of the Swedish group ABBA. When I was forced to clean and straighten my room as a kid, the music of ABBA seemed to help pass the time.

There really must be something special about the group's music since here we are, all these years later, and ABBA's music is at the center of a great new musical, which was released on DVD earlier this week.

Mamma Mia has already taken the stage by storm, and this summer, Meryl Streep and her co-stars scored a box office smash with the film version of the musical. Last week, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy category.

The Last Show of 2008?

It runs tonight - the classic Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol, being staged by the Kanawha Players at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater at 8 p.m.

So what will we talk about in the space for the rest of the year and into January, which is also mighty lean when it comes to community theatre?

Oh, we'll think of something...

First Stage Announces New Spring 2009 Season

Finally, the decisions have been made, the contracts signed, and here's the press release announcing the two shows First Stage will be presenting in Spring 2009 (note that the auditions for both shows will be held together on the second weekend in January):

The First Stage Theatre Company has a new lineup of performances for its Spring 2009 season, which wraps up the 19th season for the area children’s theater. Two shows will be staged in March 2009: Charlotte’s Web and Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move. Auditions for actors for both plays will take place in January.

Charlotte’s Web is based on the popular children’s book by E.B. White. The show will be presented at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington, W.Va., March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15, 2009. The non-musical play tells the story of a girl named Fern who saves a runt pig named Wilbur, and how his life in turn is saved by a clever spider named Charlotte. The play will feature a cast of about 35 young performers and will be directed by Amy Browning and produced by Jeanette Bills.

Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move is a musical comedy based on the popular book by Judith Viorst with music by Shelly Markham, and is the sequel to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It tells the story of a young boy and how he reacts when his parents tell him the family has to move to a new town. The show will be presented at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center in Huntington, W.Va., March 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29, 2009. The musical will feature a cast of about 15 performers. The directing team is: director Chuck Minsker, producer Jeanette Rowsey, music director Mark Smith, choreographer Melissa McGuffin, and assistant director Eric Newfeld.

Auditions for both shows will take place at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church at 5747 E. Pea Ridge Road in Huntington on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Auditions are open to performers ages 10 to seniors in high school. Those auditioning for both shows will be provided scripts to read aloud. Those auditioning for “Alexander” should be prepared to sing a 30-second song selection. There will be a pianist, but you may use an accompaniment tape or CD (with no vocals). Wear comfortable clothes for dance.

The First Stage Theatre Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an educational, developmental experience for young people through the performing arts. Its website is www.firststagetheatre.org.

The Importance of Safety on Stage

A tragic story today brings home the importance of being safe on the stage:

CINCINNATI (AP) -- A spokeswoman at a Cincinnati mega-church says a Christmas pageant actor who fell about 25 feet during the show's opening night performance has died.

Crossroads Community Church says 23-year-old Keri Shryock died Thursday morning at University Hospital. A church spokeswoman says Shryock was a graduate student at Xavier University.

Shryock was playing the role of a wise man in a contemporary Nativity story and was suspended by an overhead cable when she fell Wednesday night. A spokeswoman for the church says it's not clear how the accident happened.

The church says it has canceled the 10 remaining performance of the Christmas show.

That's a story that sends a chill through anyone who's worked in theatre, and our hearts go out to the families who lost a loved one in this accident.

That's why we all work hard and must stay vigilant to make the experience a safe one for the actors and tech crew.

Coming Up This Weekend - The Year's Last Show

Yep, as the holiday draws near the pickin's get more slim (as they used to say on all my favorite Westerns).

In fact, there's just one show taking the stage this weekend - and it's the last show for the year. It's the classic Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol, being staged by the Kanawha Players at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater on Dec. 19 and 20 at 8 p.m.

The sad news is, January's not much better - there's only one show in that month, too (as far as I know) - but more on that later.

And we'll have other things to talk about in the weeks ahead, like auditions and rehearsals and the usual community theatre news!

A Mystery Solved!

Hey, I mentioned back in this post that the cast of the touring show The Wizard of Oz obviously had a problem in one scene near the end, as they had to kill time while waiting for the Wicked Witch to make her entrance.

I didn't know what had caused the delay - but now the mystery is solved, thanks to my pal, Dr. Elaine Young, who sent this note:

I heard from the cast of Oz that when the Witch had a delayed entrance, what happened was this: she normally stepped up on the platform to go through the door onto the stage, and then someone handed her the broom - but in Huntington she was handed the broom and tried to make the long step up, but she didn't have a free hand to pick up her skirt. As she stepped up, she stepped on the long skirt and pulled it off! Tech had to help her get her skirt back on - she said that had never happened in all her years in the theatre!

Thanks for clearing that up for us, Elaine!

That's the great thing about live theatre - anything can happen, and you never know when you're going to have to cover up a problem like that!

First Stage's Spring Shows

As I've mentioned before, First Stage Theatre Company had the rights pulled to the two shows it was planning to present in the Spring.

So with Junie B. Jones and the Monkey Business and A Year With Frog and Toad taken away, the First Stage board has scrambled to find two replacement shows.

One has been chosen, and an announcement should be coming soon about the second show. Replacing "Junie" is Charlotte's Web, a non-musical play based on the popular book.

It's a great show, one First Stage tackled 12 years ago (my youngest son played one of the Young Spiders in the show). The director is Amy Browning, and the producer is Jeanette Bills.

Auditions are scheduled for the second weekend in January 2009.

The other show (if we can get the details worked out) will be directed by me - hopefully we'll have an answer later this week. Stay tuned!

Two Great Shows in One Day!

It was a busy Sunday today! I caught the final performance of The 1940s Radio Hour at the Renaissance Theater in Huntington, and then I had to race to catch a performance of The Messiah at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church (my wonderful wife and her sister were singing in the chorus)!

I hope you all got to see "1940s" - what a terrific show! I've long been a fan of the Big Band sound, and it was brought to life on stage by a group of the area's top performers!

I'll write up a full review in the next day or two, but kudos to everyone involved!

The Messiah was awesome, too - so it was a very entertaining day!

Interview With The Actors - "The 1940s Radio Hour" #5

Here's the last of our e-interview with the cast from The 1940s Radio Hour, which wraps up this afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington.

Our question for this entry: Why would you recommend this show to our readers?

Linda Reynolds: Theatre is designed to give you an experience you wouldn’t normally have. Come down and get in our little time machine and we will take you back, just for a little while, to a time and place that most of us have only read about in books or seen in old movies. There is great music, incredible dancing, a cast of characters that make up a funny family, a little pathos and a lot of heart. Great fun!

Joshua Jannotta: It has a little bit of history, a little bit of fun, and some great historic musical pieces that will live throughout the ages!

Stephen Vance: If someone is looking for a walk down memory lane, or even just to have a good time, I think The 1940s Radio Hour is the perfect show for them. The whole gang has had a blast getting this show together. We have had fun just putting this show on stage, and we trust that will translate to the audience. To be honest, if I weren't in this show, I would still be rushing to get in the door. The music and comedy are timeless. The cast is second to none and there really is an underlying tone of respect and honor for our veterans. What better way to kick off the holidays?

David Vickers: I believe that everyone can relate to a character in the show. It's the tale of how working class people with talent did their best to help bring joy and hope to the citizens and soldiers of America. The songs are fun and familiar. There's singing and dancing and a real sound effects table for a radio play. You'll look at your watch at the end and say, wow, that was the fastest two hours I've ever spent. If I weren't in it, I'd see it at least twice!

Amy Knell: I would recommend this show because it really is a sweet, funny, heartwarming piece of theater that will put you in the Christmas spirit, make you proud and thankful to be an American and it is just full of great music that you don't hear anymore. I promise you will leave the theater tapping your feet with a "warm fuzzy" feeling in your heart.

Bil Neal: This play is one of the best directed plays that I've ever been in. The choreography (by Gene & Coni Anthony) even makes an old fat guy like me look like he's got moves worth seeing. The lighting (Lang Reynolds and staff) sets mood and tone like I haven't seen in community theatre in a while. Some of my best friends are playing characters that are honest and endearing. People I had never gotten to meet or work for the first time are better than I heard they were.

If you've served our country, please be our guest (admission is free to any Veteran).

You'll want to meet these people. You'll end up really loving most of them. You'll snicker, maybe groan, and probably tear up. For one evening you may even remember.

Interview With The Actors - "The 1940s Radio Hour" #4

Our e-interviews continue with the cast from The 1940s Radio Hour, which wraps up this afternoon at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington.

Our question for this entry: Is the music challenging or just plain fun?


David Vickers: The music is incredible. It's passionate, fun and very recognizable. I believe everyone will be singing along! I remember my mom singing some of these songs when I was a kid. Because it's so fun, you work through the challenge. The whole cast and the featured vocalists are very good. I watch them while I'm on stage and think, I can't believe I'm surrounded by such great talent! It's very humbling.

Joshua Jannotta: The music is plain fun, although living up to Frank Sinatra's standards has been a little tough.

Linda Reynolds: The music is fun and challenging but I love the familiarity of it. These are songs you hear in old movies, romantic or just plain fun movies made when the country was truly united in fighting for freedom and the very survival of the American way of life. This was the music of my parents’ generation, the greatest generation. I feel quite privileged to be able to help take theatre goers back to such an important time in our history.

Amy Knell: Both, I think it is some of the most fun music ever made, but there are differences in the style as compared to music made today and that can be difficult at first.

Stephen Vance: For me, the music is just plain fun. The first show I ever saw was Guys and Dolls, so I have a soft spot for any music in that era. Bruce Rous has done a great job teaching us the style and the sound of the era. Gene and Coni Anthony have taught us some wonderful dances that blend so well with the story and song. Whether a big band aficionado or not, I think the audiences will be surprised how many of these songs they remember or have heard.

Bil Neal: The music just about killed me. Now, I'm no stranger to four or even eight-part harmony. There are times when (especially the back-up singers) seemed to just sing notes on top of each other. This has been some of the most challenging stuff since I sang with the Janice Gold as a member of Renaissance. Bruce Rous has done an amazing job with the cast as well as getting 12 wonderful instrumentalists from Marshall to serve up the big band sound. That alone is worth the price of admission in my book. John Galloway is our lead trombone and does a beautiful job in what I think is also his first on-stage role. The stuff he does as an actor is as fine as the sound coming from his trombone. Heck, these kids all impress me.

The soloists? Really great. Mary Olson belting "Old Black Magic." Josh Jannotta crooning "I'll Never Smile Again," - just lovely. Our good friend Stephen Vance is hysterical as the comic who ends up with "Blue Moon." My dear friend Amy Knell tears out my heart each night with "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good." Scott Burner has grown so much over the years that you and I've known him - he really sells "You Go To My Head." And don't even get me started talking about Sarah Hayes as Cute Little Connie Miller singing "Daddy" in pig-Latin and tap-dancing. She's a doll.

The music is familiar, yes, but deceptively tough. The right people make it look oh, so easy.

On Stage This Afternoon - "1940s Radio Hour"

There's only one show on tap today, and it's your last chance to catch the excellent musical, The 1940's Radio Hour, which combines comedy, swing dancing and a Big Band sound.

The show will be presented with a preview at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Renaissance Theater, located at 900 8th St. in Huntington. Tickets are $15 and veterans are admitted free.

The two-hour show centers on a small radio station in New York City in 1942 as the employees rally to help the soldiers overseas know that all is well back home.

On Stage Tonight - Four Shows!

You have four shows to choose from tonight, including:

- The 1940s Radio Hour - (ARTS) at the Renaissance Center in Huntington tonight at 8 p.m.

- Miracle on 34th Street - the final performance is tonight at the Portsmouth Little Theatre.

- The Santaland Diaries - (Charleston Stage Company) the final performance is at the WVSU Capitol Plaza Theatre tonight at 8 p.m.

- A Christmas Carol - (Kanawha Players) at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater tonight at 8 p.m.

Interview With The Actors - "The 1940s Radio Hour" #3

Our e-interviews continue with the cast from The 1940s Radio Hour, which wraps up this weekend at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington.

Our question for this entry: What's it like to work on a period piece like this?

Linda Reynolds: This is some of the greatest music ever! That Old Black Magic, Kalamazoo, Blues in the Night, Ain’t She Sweet, and the others are great old standards that will live forever. I guarantee you will leave the theatre singing some of these songs. The dancing – jitterbug – is quite a workout. It really moves!!!!

Amy Knell: With a period piece I almost think it is easier to transform into a character because you are really taken to another time in history. You get to dive into research and think about situations from a completely different perspective. Being in this show and watching this show takes you back to a time that is so different but yet so similar in ways to where we are today in America.

Bil Neal: The show is placed in the 1940s, and "performed" for the "boys over there." The feeling of sending literally "boys" to fight in a war is brought home in a very understated and poignant way. It made me realize that over 60 years later we're still doing that. It's one of the reasons that ARTS decided that any of our U.S. service people (active or veteran) can see this show with our gratitude. My personal goal is to see the theatre packed with military each night. Naturally, there's also the aspect of character development in dealing with a different period. People seemed simpler then. Some of the humor could seem schmaltzy (is that even a word?), but we always laugh at the humanity. Sentiments are heart-felt, and relationships were more straightforward. These aren't glamorous folk - they almost all have day jobs of their own.

Stephen Vance: As an actor, period pieces are always fun. You have to learn about an era you may not be familiar with and often discover stuff you never knew. We've had a great asset in Charlie Woolcock who is in the show and a veteran. He has been able to tell us about so many of the things that happened and has convey what the attitude of the 1940s was. As a set builder/decorator, it has been a challenge. Finding period set pieces and props are always a bit of a hassle, but thanks to Helga and members of the community, we have been able to recreate an authentic set.

Joshua Jannotta: It's great fun. A show like this is very laid back, and easy on the brain, but nice on the eyes and ears!

David Vickers: Besides the music, it tells you how strong the American spirit really is during times of war. The volunteerism. The unselfishness. The respect for our soldiers. I can only imagine the spirit for World War II being somewhat equivalent to the spirit of America on September 12, 2001. Unified and determined. Having a father who was a veteran and a brother who is currently an active member of the Army for 16 years, it's been a humbling and sobering experience! I am really proud of ARTS doing this for our Veterans!

Interview with the Actors - "The 1940s Radio Hour" (#2)

Here's the second round of interviews with some of the actors from The 1940s Radio Hour, which wraps up this weekend at Huntington's Renaissance Theater.

In this entry we get to learn more about the character in the show. Our question is: Tell us about the part you play.

Linda Reynolds: Ginger Brooks is a waitress by day, a big band singer by night and a ditz all the time. She is very involved in her makeup (“thick and perfect”) and has a thing for Lou.

Bil Neal: Lou is the second banana in a tiny radio station. He's where he wants to be, and enjoys his job and food. He sings backup to just about everyone else, and handles some of the sound effects. (I get to play with noisemakers onstage with Eric Newfeld while eating Hostess SnoBalls and Baby Ruths. If I could figure out a way to work in a ham sandwich it would be the role of a lifetime.)

David Vickers: I play Clifton Feddington who is the producer and chief bottle-washer of the show. He is an overly anxious person who bursts into tirades occasionally and possibly suffers from ulcers from the stress of dealing with his cast. However, when the show hits the air, he becomes a lovable emcee of the show. Radio entertainment is his passion and he sells it out to any sponsor that will flash him a nickel! (I especially enjoy him plugging a sponsor at the conclusion monologue). He sees the radio show cast as an extended family. He is wanting to use the show as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Joshua Jannotta: Johnny Cantone is the featured Vocalist for the radio show. His "real world" problems affect him more and more throughout the show, until he falls apart at the end. He's a hard guy to like, but it's also hard not love him.

Stephen Vance: I play Neal Tilden, taxi driver by day, comic and wannabe balladeer by night. Although Neal has some of the best comedic bits in the show, he always is striving for his chance to be the featured vocalist. He is nearly a Danny Kaye type.

Amy Knell: I play a nightclub singer named Ginny Lee Browne. She is from Kansas City, MO, and she came to NY to follow her dream. She works at the WOV Radio Station as one of her many "gigs." She is a flashy and sassy girl from the '40s and I love getting to play her in this show.

On Stage Tonight - Five Shows!

You have five shows to choose from tonight, including:

- The 1940s Radio Hour - (ARTS) at the Renaissance Center in Huntington tonight at 8 p.m.

- Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach - (Backstage Players) at the Paramount Arts Center tonight at 7:30 p.m.

- Miracle on 34th Street - tonight at the Portsmouth Little Theatre.

- The Santaland Diaries - (Charleston Stage Company) at the WVSU Capitol Plaza Theatre tonight at 8 p.m.

- A Christmas Carol - (Kanawha Players) at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater tonight at 8 p.m.

Make it a Merry Christmas for your community theatre groups - see a show!

Photos of The 1940s Radio Hour

There's an excellent photo gallery of shots from The 1940s Radio Hour right here at the Herald-Dispatch's web site. Did I mention this is your last weekend to catch the show?

The photos, like this one, were shot by Therese Kirby.



Actors (from left) Sarah Hayes, Scott Burner, Eric Newfeld and Mary Olson are in rehearsal.

Interview with the Actors - "The 1940s Radio Hour" (#1)

For the latest round of e-interviews, we have quite a few comments from some of the talented actors who are part of the musical The 1940s Radio Hour, which wraps up this weekend.

I'll be running these posts over the next few days (collect all the interviews in the series!), starting with this question:

Why did you want to be part of The 1940s Radio Hour?

Joshua Jannotta: To have the opportunity to work with Bruce Rous and Gene and Coni Anthony again, after 10 years.

David Vickers: When I heard that ARTS was doing a musical show set in the 1940s and it involved a radio show, I was eager to take part. I love the music from that era and the radio copy is just golden! Then at the first reading I found out that Sarah Hayes and Mary Olsen were involved, I knew it was going to be great, having admiring their work when I was fortunate to be on the cast of 5th Avenue's production of ANNIE 5 years ago. I have just moved back to the Huntington area and wasn't familiar with Bruce Rous but I'm a big fan of his now! He's done a great job! I have also seen Bil Neal in recent productions and welcomed the opportunity to be on stage with him! He's great! The whole cast is!

Linda Reynolds: I love working with Bruce & Coni & Gene and the actors involved are all very talented friends so it was a no-brainer. Wait till you hear Mary Olson sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” WOW!

Amy Knell: The first thing was I love ensemble pieces and this is a great ensemble piece, I love the music from that era and I enjoyed working with Bruce Rous so much during The Odd Couple that I wanted to do it again.

Bil Neal: I didn't want to be a part of the cast - this is the craziest time of year for me in my "day job," and I committed to produce the show. Once we finally got the ensemble together, we were still missing the role of Lou, the Stage Manager. On one hand I didn't want to scratch a project I believe so strongly in, on the other I (selfishly, I admit) didn't wanna miss out on the opportunity to work with these people. I mean, really - getting to dance with Linda Reynolds (and a gigantic boa)? Can you even call that a decision?

Stephen Vance: When Bruce first presented this show as an option about this time last year, we were all a little skeptical because it was an "unknown." After I got my hands on a copy of the script and finished the first read-through, I realized he was really on to something. First of all, the characters are all people we know. Each of them are rushing from their "day jobs" to put on a show. Sound familiar? Second, I love this era. The songs are still in the original arrangements that the big bands played back in the 1940s. Finally, and probably most importantly, I thought it would be a huge opportunity to honor the veterans. With the "show within the show" being dedicated to the boys, what greater thing could we do than honor the boys who have grown up and made our country what it is?

On Stage Tonight - Two Shows

Two shows are getting the jump on the weekend by presenting shows on Thursday night! They are:

- The 1940s Radio Hour - (ARTS) at the Renaissance Center in Huntington tonight at 8 p.m.

- The Santaland Diaries - (Charleston Stage Company) at the WVSU Capitol Plaza Theatre tonight at 8 p.m.

Check 'em out!

One More for the Kids

My pal Mary Smirl, who directed the young performers who appeared in last night's production of The Wizard of Oz, sent this comment along, and I wanted to share it with you, gentle reader:

I have to brag about these Munchkins, Chuck!

They have been such a dream to work with and the cast and crew of OZ thought so too. They went in (Monday) night for their first time with the rest of the cast to be "put in" the show.

They were feeling pretty good about what they had learned and were ready to take the stage when they found out they were to learn new blocking and movement due to stage/set adjustments. Now we know this happens a lot at load-in, but we also usually have a solid week of tech to work out the bugs. Not the case for the Munchkins of First Stage!

They had two hours to re-learn (their blocking) last night and then they were fed a wonderful dinner and sent home. They were to be put in the show, fit for costumes, makeup, hair, and learn curtain call (Tuesday) morning. Their call was 7:15 a.m. with the show starting at 9:30.

They have basically had a full week of tech in about three hours! They adjusted beautifully, as to be expected of First Stage kids, and you could not tell the difference between the local kids and the adult pros, they never missed a beat!

The cast and crew were very complimentary of their behavior both on and off stage and I have to say the same in return for the company itself. They were amazing to our kids! What a wonderful gift The Marshall Artists Series has given this group of kids short in size but long in talent.

It is one I know they won't ever forget:)

Thanks, Mary! Readers, you can see a few photos from last night's show (like the one above) right here on the Herald-Dispatch photo gallery.

"The Wizard of Oz"

I was really hoping to see the touring production of The Wizard of Oz that performed at the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center tonight, but other obligations had me tied up.

Then, at the last second, my plans changed and I was able to go - and I'm so glad I did! It was one of the best professional (touring) shows I've seen locally, with terrific performers, outstanding costumes and set, some amazing stage effects, and an outstanding performance by about a dozen local young actors from First Stage Theatre Company (not that I'm prejudiced or anything).

The production did a great job of re-creating the original movie. There were a few changes made for the stage, of course, and the show even added in one of the songs (and parts of others) that were cut from the original film, including "The Jitterbug."

The local actors managed to blend in with the professionals, appearing as Munchkins and as the Winkies (the guards of the Wicked Witch). It's great that they got the chance to take part in a professional production like this, and the Tri-State can be proud of their work.

On a humorous note, it's kind of heartwarming to note that even a professional production like this can run into problems. In the climactic scene when the Wicked Witch confronts Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, for some reason the witch was delayed and didn't make her entrance on time, leaving the rest of the cast frozen in place. They made a few game attempts at covering, and finally the witch was able to make her entrance (I'm assuming there was a technical glitch forcing them to hold - there were a lot of stage effects in the show). But hey, those are the things that makes live theatre so exciting!

All in all, a fantastic performance, and the virtually sold-out audience enjoyed a top-notch production. Kudos to the Marshall Artists Series for making the production available to theatre-goers in the Tri-State!

On Stage Tonight - "The Wizard of Oz"

The Broadway touring production of The Wizard of Oz takes the stage in Huntington tonight, and if you want to see it you'd better hurry - my sources tell me the show is almost sold out!

You can read an excellent preview of the musical right here in a story by my pal Dave Lavender. Here's a sample:

Just when we need it most, there's a tornado blowing through town to whisk us all away to where skies are blue and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

At least on Tuesday night.

Wednesday, you're back on your own.

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Marshall Artists Series welcomes in the touring Broadway production of the beloved musical adventure, The Wizard of Oz into the historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $55, $50 and $45. Youth tickets (17 & under) are $27.50, $25 and $22.50.

Out since Oct. 23, this tour of The Wizard of Oz has been one whirlwind of a musical love fest for one of America's best road-trip stories, said Chris Kind, the Minnesota native who plays the Tin Man.

"I think it is such a universally loved movie and such a universally loved story that it's very strange to come across someone who does not like The Wizard of Oz," Kind said. "It's wonderful to be a part of any production of 'Wizard of Oz,' but this one in particular, it has been something to see the care they took in getting it right and getting the cast together."

The musical follows the stage adaptation of the blockbuster movie, prepared originally for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and includes that stream of sing-a-long songs such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" and "The Merry Old Land of Oz."

The above photo is courtesy of Joan Marcus, and shows Dorothy and her friends (from left to right: Noah Aberlin, Cassie Okenka, Snickers, Jason Simon, Chris Kind).