Musical Theatre Performance Tuesday in Charleston

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History will continue this season’s Collegiate Series with a musical theater performance by Marshall University students titled An Evening of Songs & Scenes at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18. The program will take place in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston.

The Collegiate Series is free and the public is invited to attend.

An Evening of Songs & Scenes is directed by Beth McVey and features Bruce S. Rous on piano. McVey is bringing 12 music and theater students who will perform 13 numbers.

For more information, call 304-558-0162 in the evenings or Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner for the Division, at 304-558-0220.

Coming Soon - "The 1940s Radio Hour"

Here's a press release from ARTS about the group's upcoming show, The 1940s Radio Hour

: December 1942. The country is at war. Economic times are terrible. A small radio station in New York City rallies to help the boys overseas know all is well back home.

Arts Resources for the Tri-State presents a musical Christmas card - The 1940s Radio Hour beginning December 4. The show is a live “Broadcast” from radio station “WOV – The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade.” Featuring some of the most beloved music of the Big Band era, comedic commercials, swing dancing, a big band, and a cast a zany characters, The 1940s Radio Hour is sure to offer something for everyone!

The artistic team is comprised of several who presented George M! at Marshall this past October. According to Bruce S. Rous, Director, “I had so much fun working with Gene and Connie Anthony on George M!, but never imagined they’d agree to work on 1940s. What amazing choreography they have brought to the show. I have never seen so much laughter during dance rehearsals.”

Lang Reynolds is the lighting designer who designed George M! According to Rous, “With Gene and Connie on board, I thought ‘why not ask Lang, as well?’ I mean, the man is an award-winning lighting designer and he agreed to do our little show.”

“The cast is made up of some perennial favorites,” says Rous. “I am really lucky to be working with a group of people this great. 1940s is a very special show to me - this is my fifth production of it, and I think Tri-State audiences will be as thrilled as I am with the talented bunch of people working on this project.”

Shows are Dec. 4-6 and 11-14 at the former Huntington High School, 900 8th Avenue. Tickets are $15, and Veterans will be admitted free, with the appreciation of the company.

For reservations or more information, please call Arts Resources for the Tri-State at 304-733-ARTS. Dinner is available.

"Menopause the Musical" at the Keith-Albee

Here's another reminder that you have one chance to catch a very funny musical this Sunday in Huntington. Here's the story from the Herald-Dispatch:

Menopause the Musical is returning to Huntington at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, 925 4th Ave. It's a 90-minute production that includes 25 re-lyricized tunes from the '60s and '70s.

The musical is set in a department store where four women meet by chance. The musical pokes fun at things such as hot flashes, memory loss, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and eating binges. The show's intended message is that menopause is a normal passage in every woman's life that should not have to be hidden.

The musical encourages a healthy dialogue about issues of aging and women's health and provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness with female audiences.

Recognizing the show's potential to educate women on health issues, writer and producer Jeanie Linders took the show on the road as Menopause the Musical Out Loud: Breaking The Silence of Ovarian Cancer. The 2005-06 tour raised nearly $500,000 for ovarian cancer research and awareness.

A portion of the proceeds from the Huntington production will directly benefit the West Virginia Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

Tickets range in price from $33 to $43.

To purchase tickets, contact Donna May, Keith-Albee box office manager, at 304-696-3313 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

More information is available at www.ovarian.org.

On Stage This Weekend - "The Producers"

There's only one show taking the stage this weekend, and Charleston has it:

- The Producers will be presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

And I should point out that Saturday is the last performance for that show. It's the first local community theatre production of the insanely popular Mel Brooks musical.

A Discount on "Menopause: The Musical"

Hey, if you're looking for a bargain, check out this web site - it's a short ad for Menopause: The Musical, and it tells you how you can save money on your ticket.

The show was a huge success the last time it was in town, with all the shows selling out fast, so don't miss your chance to catch this funny show.

(Oh, and I assure you - the music in the show isn't performed in the chipmunk-style you hear on this website.)

On Stage Tonight: "Oliver!"

Here's a show you only get one chance at, as Oliver is presented tonight at the historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in Huntington.

It's the classic musical about an orphan who falls in with the wicked Fagin, the Artful Dodger, and all the other memorable characters from the story by Charles Dickens. Most of us know the show from the film version, but there's nothing better than seeing the show performed live on stage!

Tickets are $46 and $56. Youth tickets (17 and under) are $27.50, $25 and $22.50.
For tickets or more information, call the Marshall Artists Series ticket office at 304-696-3326.

Back By Popular Demand: Menopause the Musical

Here's a show that slipped under the radar - a return visit from Menopause the Musical, which was a huge success in its visit last season, so the Marshall Artist Series has brought it back for another go.

Here's the story from today's Herald-Dispatch:

Menopause the Musical is returning to Huntington at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, 925 4th Ave.

Menopause the Musical is a 90-minute production that includes 25 re-lyricized tunes from the ’60s and ’70s.

The musical is set in a department store where four women meet by chance. The musical pokes fun at things such as hot flashes, memory loss, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and eating binges. The show’s intended message is that menopause is a normal passage in every woman’s life that should not have to be hidden.

The musical encourages a healthy dialogue about issues of aging and women’s health and provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness with female audiences.

Recognizing the show’s potential to educate women on health issues, writer and producer Jeanie Linders took the show on the road as Menopause the Musical Out Loud: Breaking The Silence of Ovarian Cancer. The 2005-06 tour raised nearly $500,000 for ovarian cancer research and awareness.

A portion of the proceeds from the Huntington production will directly benefit the West Virginia Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

Tickets range in price from $33 to $43.

To purchase tickets, contact Donna May, Keith-Albee box office manager, at 304-696-3313 or visit ticketmaster.com.

More information is available at www.ovarian.org.

On Stage This Week - "Oliver!"

How lucky are we to live in a community where you can see touring Broadway shows? (The answer, of course, is "very lucky indeed.")

Wednesday, the musical Oliver! takes the stage at the historic Keith Albee Performing Arts Center - and you're invited!

You can learn all about the show in this story by my pal Dave Lavender. Here's an excerpt:

When she was 7 years old, Rhiannon West saw a production of the musical Oliver in her hometown of Mobile, Ala.

A year later she was a show orphan herself.

West, who plays the street-wise heroine Nancy in the national tour of the musical Oliver, said the musical has that kind of impact.

Area Broadway musical fans will get to take the music to the streets of Victorian England as the Marshall Artists Series welcomes in a touring production of Oliver, the musical based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, 925 4th Ave., Huntington.

Tickets are $46 and $56. Youth tickets (17 and under) are $27.50, $25 and $22.50.

It's a terrific show, and is highly recommended!

For tickets or more information, call the Marshall Artists Series ticket office at 304-696-3326.

ABOUT THE SHOW: Debuted in London in 1960, the musical made its way to Broadway in 1963 with such songs as "Consider Yourself," "You've Got To Pick -A-Pocket Or Two" and "Who Will Buy."

COMING UP: The next three Marshall Artists Series shows are Wizard of Oz on Tuesday, Dec. 9; Sergio Mendes on Saturday, Jan. 31; and Sweeney Todd on Feb. 5.

ON THE WEB: Go online at www.marshall.edu/muartser

"Peter Pan" Postscript

Peter Pan wrapped up on Sunday, and a terrific run it was! The final shows played to packed houses, and the cast was fantastic!

I've talked in this space about the cast and the directing team, but I should take time to mention the unsung heroes of theatre - the tech crew. They're the ones behind the scenes handling numerous jobs, and they rarely get to take a bow.

They moves the set pieces around, help the actors with props and costuming, they operate the lights, the sound, create special effects, close and open the curtains, make the stars fly in the air - and on and on. They're a key part of the team that puts on a show, and they deserve a lot of the credit for the success of any show. Hats off to them!

After the last performance of "Pan," the set was dismantled and moved back to the storage facility, the costumes were taken away, cleaned and stored, and the actors, directors, tech crew and parents got to return to their normal lives.

But they all get to bask in the glow of having been part of an outstanding performance. They've made new friends, learned new skills, and gained more stage experience and the self-assurance that goes with it.

Now that's what I call a success!

On Stage Today - "Pan" and "Producers"

Two great shows to choose from today - it's your last chance to see Peter Pan and the only Sunday performance of The Producers.

Here's the rundown:

- Peter Pan will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at the Huntington High School Auditorium today at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The shows this weekend have been packed, so you might want to get there a little early to be sure you get a ticket!

- The Producers will be presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater today at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.

See 'em before they're gone!

On Stage Tonight - "Peter Pan" and "The Producers"

There are two great shows to choose from tonight - one in Huntington and one in Charleston. They are:

- Peter Pan will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at the Huntington High School Auditorium tonight at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

- The Producers will be presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

You can't go wrong with either show - they're both lots of fun!

Last Weekend for "Peter Pan"

The boy who refuses to grow up takes flight this weekend for three more shows at (the new) Huntington High School.

The classic musical Peter Pan will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at the Huntington High School Auditorium at 1 Highlander Way in Huntington, W.Va., on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

The stage show tells the story of the boy from Never-Never Land who refuses to grow up, and his adventures with Wendy, Michael, John and the Lost Boys, as they fight the evil Captain Hook and his band of pirates.

The show includes a cast of more than 80 young actors and features professional flying effects provided by the ZFX company, which allows Peter to soar across the stage.

The performance will also include a pre-show featuring Tinkerbellettes and Little Pirates.

The directing team includes director Mary Smirl, musical director Lara Donahoe and producer Elaine Young. For more information, call 304-416-KIDS (304-416-5437).

The First Stage Theatre Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an educational, developmental experience for young people through the performing arts. Peter Pan kicks off the company's 19th season.

"Junie B.", Where Have You Gone?

I've mentioned before that community theatre groups are at the mercy of the companies that own the rights to the musicals and stage shows.

Usually, there's no problem staging any show that's available to community theatre groups. You sign a contract, send some money, and you get the rights to stage the show you've chosen.

However - sometimes events work against you. Perhaps the show you want to stage is touring with a professional troupe and is visiting your area. In that case, the company won't allow a local group to stage the show. There are other reasons, but that's the most common.

The point of all this (he said, burying his lede) is that the First Stage Theatre Company had announced plans to stage the show Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business in the Spring - but recently found out that the company that holds the rights has decided not to release the rights to community theatre groups. I'm not sure the reasons behind it, but it's a shame - there was a lot of interest in the show, and there will no doubt be a lot of disappointed kids out there.

The point of this post is to invite our readers to suggest other shows they'd like to see fill the spot left by "Junie's" departure. It needs to be a small show, preferably a non-musical - so if you have any suggestions, post them here or email them to me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

Sorry about that, "Junie" fans!

The Directing Team for "Peter Pan"

I keep meaning to write a post about the directing team on Peter Pan and what a fantastic job they're done - but my pal Elaine Young sent me a note that says it all!

She wrote:

Just a note to let everyone know that all the creativeness in First Stage's production of Peter Pan comes from our brilliant director, Mary Smirl. The dancing trees, the flying fairies, the nursery toys, and the antics of Capt. Hook, all came from Mary's ingenious approach to children's theatre.

Mary took on the task of directing 87 children (with a preshow of 15) with fervor and passion. All the details that you will see in this production of Peter Pan came from her never-ending thoughts to make the show "exciting, fun, and interesting." The kids responded to Mary because she made acting fun and gave them positive reinforcement.

Lara Donahoe brought the best out in the cast vocally with her wit and praise while playing in the orchestra AND playing the role of Mrs. Darling. Tiffany McCullough provided challenging choreography which brought everything together.

Add those remarkable directors to an extremely talented cast and we have an amazing production!

Elaine only left out one important person - the producer of the show! It's probably the most thankless of the jobs you can tackle in community theatre, because the producer has to tackle a hundred different jobs, solve a never-ending series of problems, organize the workforce, and keep the production moving forward.

Peter Pan was blessed with an indefatigable producer who worked vitually around the clock to make the show the best it could be. She's done an amazing job. Oh, her name is: Elaine Young. She's my hero!

Election Day!

Finally, Election Day is here!

If you're eligible, get out there and cast your vote for whichever candidates you prefer. It's the All-American, patriotic thing to do!

And remember, if you don't vote, you don't get to complain!

(Well, that's what I was told.)

Shows in November

After having a dozen shows to choose from in October, we move on to November, which is much more manageable - only four shows this time around!

Here's what you have to look forward to:

- Peter Pan will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at the Huntington High School Auditorium on Nov. 7 and 8 at 8:00 p.m. and Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

- The Producers will be presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater on Nov. 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. A
matinee will be presented on Nov. 9 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.

- Oliver! will be presented by the Marshall Artists Series at the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center on Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The classic musical is based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

- The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams will be presented by the Marshall University Department of Theatre at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center on Nov. 19, 20, 21, 22 at 8:00 p.m.

On Stage This Afternoon - "Pan" and "Clue"

Two shows to choose from on Sunday afternoon:

- Peter Pan will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at Huntington High School’s auditorium today at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and $10 for children age 12 and under. The show will also run next weekend.

- Clue: The Musical will be presented by ARTS at the Renaissance Theater today at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15. It's the last performance for this show.

Recommended!

Thoughts About "Peter Pan"

As often as possible, I try to post reviews of community theatre productions - especially since it's a niche no one has covered since the days Bill Belanger wrote for the Herald-Dispatch.

However, I run into occasional obstacles. As I mention way too often in this space, I'm the president of the First Stage Theatre Company advisory board, so it's hardly fair for me to review our own shows.

So I can't really write a full-fledged review of Peter Pan. If someone out there wants to send in their comments, I'll be glad to include them on this blog - just click on "Post Comment" at the bottom of this entry, or send an email to me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

But if you'll allow me, gentle reader, I will make some comments and observations about the show:

- One of the joys of working with the children's theatre is watching these young people learn and grow. Young actors like Mary Kate Young (Peter Pan), Alissa Fetherolf (Tiger Lily) and Josh Meredith (John) - to use just three examples - have practically grown up on stage, and they've become talented, terrific performers. I couldn't be more proud of them and the rest of the cast.

- I kept howling with laughter at some of the bits of business put in the show. The antics of the "Tree" Amigos, the dancing of the Pirates (the tango being my favorite), Captain Hook ad-libbing a funny cover, the Benny Hill-style chase around the auditorium with the Pirates and the Indians, the running debates between the Lost Boys, the Scooby-Doo chase between Hook, Pan and the trees - I could go on and on. Suffice to say, it's a very funny show.

- The show also has some outstanding dancing sequences, and I like the fact that it gives lots of kids a chance to shine.

- The tech for the show was almost flawless, and that's a major challenge. You only notice the tech when something goes wrong - a mic goes dead, the lights go out, that sort of thing. If it happened, I didn't see or hear it. And the scene changes were amazingly fast.

- As an old community theatre hand, I know how the flying works, I've seen it set up and practiced - but it still gives a thrill when you see characters flying across the stage. Mary Kate is especially good at it - she really seems to be soaring effortlessly.

- I'm always amazed at the high level of talent locally. The singing, the dancing, the acting - it's all excellent.

- It's great to see so many young people getting the chance to perform on stage. Being part of the theatre is such a boost for a young person's self-confidence. I always say, if you can sing and dance in front of a big crowd, you can handle anything.

So those are my first impressions - I'll have more later. I admit I'm prejudiced, but I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this production. You'll walk away from it flying high!

On Stage Tonight - "Pan," "Clue" and "Producers"

Three great musicals on local stages tonight - so don't say there's nothing to do!

- Peter Pan will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at Huntington High School’s auditorium tonight at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and under.

- Clue: The Musical will be presented by ARTS at the Renaissance Theater tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

- The Producers will be presented by The Charleston Light Opera Guild at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

So pick and show and make a night of it!

More About "Peter Pan"

I got to see the opening night performance of Peter Pan tonight - what a terrific show! The cast is wonderful, and the show is filled with fun and exciting moments.

When I have some more time I'll post my comments about the show, but to tide you over, you can read this excellent story about the show in the Herald-Dispatch.

Here's an except from the story written by my pal Dave Lavender:

Loaded up with professional stage rigs and harnesses from ZFX Company out of Louisville and veteran direction, First Stage Theatre Company opens the first of two high-flying weekends of Peter Pan with a youth-infused cast of more than 80 kids.

Mary Kate Young, who plays Peter Pan, went to Louisville to train and learn to be comfortable and to sing better while suspended in a harness.

First Stage also has a dedicated corps of five volunteers who man the rigging for the teen and tween actors jetting off into the night sky of the stage.

The musical, juiced up a bit (more flying anyone?), hits the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Huntington High School Auditorium.