A Interview with "Will Rogers"

Here's the first of (hopefully) several e-interviews with the cast and crew of the Will Rogers Follies, which starts Friday night at the Renaissance Center in Huntington.

We kick off with some comments from my pal Stephen Vance, who plays the title role (that's him on the right in the photo above, and my pal Jim Lamp is on the left):

Q: For those who aren't familiar with the show, tell us about Will Rogers Follies.

A: This show is a modern take on the follies style show that was popular in the roaring twenties. The show tells the story of an ordinary man in an environment of opulence and spectacle. Everything about the show is extravagant. Beautiful girls, elaborate costumes, dazzling technical aspects, and then right at the core is a character with whom everyone can connect.

Q: Tell us about your character in the show.

A: Well, I play Will Rogers. For those who don't know, Will was a normal fella from Oklahoma who loved to travel. He became famous for his rope tricks and insightful humor and has become one of America's most quotable people. He never met a man he didn't like and was always wanting to meet new people. He wrote a regular column, spoke frequently on the radio, and became so popular with the American people that President Hoover asked him to speak after his radio address in the wake of the depression. At the time of his death, Will Rogers was one of if not the most popular people in America.

Q: Why did you want to be part of this show?

A: The people. I've worked with so many talented and hardworking people throughout my brief history in community theatre. I wanted to have that opportunity again to play every night with talented, fun and dedicated people. Ever since the first read, I couldn't wait to get back to the theatre every night. Maybe it's the show, maybe it's this cast, but the sense of family is very strong with this group. I'm flattered just to be called a part of this cast. Each of them are so skilled at what they do. Not enough time can be spent talking about how impressive the quality of the work is that they do every night. I'm tempted to go through and name every single member of this team and brag on them but I'd have to start my own blog. Everyone uses superlatives when describing their current project, and I'll avoid doing that on purpose, but I can say that I will never forget this experience. It's not just lip service. Each and every one of them are brilliant.

Q: What's the most challenging thing about the show for you?

A: It's going to seem like a silly answer, but honestly, the costume changes. The other stuff like music, lines and rope tricks we have had a decent amount of time to work on, but this past weekend we received the majority of our wardrobe. I believe I have 14 changes, and I know Jocelyn has around 20, and everyone else is changing a lot, too. The costumes are great and they bring so much life to the show. It's worth all of the challenges when you walk out on stage.

Q: Why would you urge our readers to attend?

A: I think they'll love it. I can't speak for everyone, so I'll just list the reasons I would come if I weren't already in the show. Beautiful show girls, great humor, rope tricks, a fantastic set, a great venue, free kid's tickets with paying adult and really just a wonderful evening of theatre.

"Will Rogers Follies" Photo Gallery

If you're looking for a preview of the upcoming show Will Rogers Follies, be sure to check out this Photo Gallery at the Herald-Dispatch's online site.

It's loaded with cowboys, pretty gals and even a few sidekicks. Who could ask for more? (I hear the show's awesome, too!) More on that in the days ahead...

Children's Theatre of Charleston's 2010-2011 Season

Hey, I got busy with a rush of shows and never finished previewing the upcoming seasons for local theatre groups - so let's pick up with a group that kicks its season off this weekend, the Children's Theatre of Charleston.

That organization has three shows on tap, and they'll all be presented at the Civic Center Little Theatre.

- Alice in Wonderland - takes the stage this weekend - Oct. 15 at 7 p.m., Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for children (ages 3-13) and $12 for adults. Tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office or at the door. Call 304-346-0164 for more information.

- Oliver! - the beloved musical will be staged Dec. 3 - 5.

- Beauty and the Beast, Jr. - the "Junior" edition of the Disney musical will be staged March 11 - 13.

Cast List for "Will Rogers Follies"

I've neglected to post the cast list for next weekend's production of Will Rogers Follies (and a talented bunch it is!) - so let me correct that oversight:

Will Rogers - Stephen Vance
Betty Blake - Jane Modlin
Clem Rogers - Jim Lamp

Ziegfeld's Favorite - Jocelyn Knapp

The Follies Girls

Jordan Clark
Jillian Clark
Laura Ptakowski
Natasja van Dijk
Abby Willis
Andrea Runge

Wiley Post - Jon Lamp

Stage Manager - Justin Carlson

The Cowboys

Jake Benson
Tom Ross
Remington McClure
Daniel Phillips


Will Rogers, Jr. - Sam Smittle
James Rogers - Jacob Welch
Mary Rogers - Shelby Easter
Freddy Rogers - Hunter Easter

Chorus

Tera Grasser
Cindy Stowers

On Stage This Weekend - "Saturday, Sunday, Monday"

You only have one show being staged this weekend, but it's a good one - Saturday, Sunday, Monday runs tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Joan Edwards Performing Arts Center.

You can see photos from the show (including this one by Lori Wolfe) at this Photo Gallery on the Herald-Dispatch's website.

Here's a description of the show:
Brooklyn, 1985. As Mama Rosa prepares her celebrated sauce for the ritual Sunday meal, she recalls her own Mama’s lessons. “To make ragu, my Mama used to say, takes patience.” And love. Family tensions simmer during the Saturday preparations. On Sunday, smoldering antagonisms fuel misunderstanding and harsh words. Pasta plates and wine classes are abandoned on the table as the party breaks up, but on Monday morning, “Nothing gets put away until it is counted,” including the family’s abiding love for each other.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for MU Faculty and Senior Citizens, and Free to full-time Marshall students with valid ID.

For more information, call the Marshall Theatre Box Office at 304-696-2787.

Will Rogers Follies Brings a Legend to Life

My pal Bil Neal sends along this press release about the upcoming musical comedy production of The Will Rogers Follies:

"Will-a-mania" is back with local cast and crew of the critically acclaimed Will Rogers Follies.

Spotlighting the glamour of Will’s Ziegfeld Follies days, this spectacular revue encapsulates the straightforward wit and wisdom of America’s favorite son! Winner of six Tony awards and the Grammy award for Best Musical Show Album, you won’t want to miss this extraordinary show about an ordinary man.

The Will Rogers Follies chronicles the life of Will Rogers and his time with Florenz Zeigfeld and his Follies.

The Will Rogers Follies had 33 successful previews before it opened on Broadway at the Palace Theater in 1991 where it ran for 981 performances. After the success of its Broadway run, The Will Rogers Follies moved onto many national tours.

In 1991, The Will Rogers Follies was given 11 Tony® Award nominations and ended up receiving six of the awards including; Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design.

The talented cast for the ARTS is led by Bil Neal as Director, Leann Haines as Assistant Director, Produced by Harriett Evans, Choreographer by Kerri Easter-Stambaugh with Musical Direction by Tawny Burdine and Technical Direction from Shane Ross.

The famous role of Will Rogers is held by our leading man, Stephen Vance. You won’t want to miss your chance to see Stephen as America’s favorite son! Jane Modlin will star as Betty Blake, with Jim Lamp as Clem Rogers, and Jocelyn Knapp as Zeigfeld's Favorite and in the roles of Rogers and Blakes’ children, Sam Smith as Will Jr., Hunter Easter as Freddy, Jacob Welch as James, and Shelby Easter as Mary.

The talented supporting cast includes Justin Carlson, Tom Ross, Jacob Benson, Remington McClure, Tera Grasser, Cindy Stowers, Andrea Runge, Abby Willis, Natasja VanDijk, Laura Ptakowski, Jillian Clark, Jordan Clark and Jon Lamp as Wiley Post.

The Will Rogers Follies opens October 15 at the ARTS Renaissance Theater and is located at 900 8th St. formerly the old Huntington High School. Tickets are available by calling 304-733-ARTS (2787). The production schedule is the second and third weekends of October 15, 16, 22 & 23 at 8 p.m. On October 17 & 24 we will host a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices are $30 which includes dinner and show, and $15 for show only. Children 12 and under, accompanied by a paying adult, will enjoy our show free of charge. For more information regarding the 2010 season line-up and ticketing, please visit us online at www.733arts.org.

On Stage Today - "Saturday, Sunday, Monday"

The Marshall Theatre Alliance is presenting a unique show this week.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday runs tonight through Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Joan Edwards Performing Arts Center.

Here's a description of the show:

Brooklyn, 1985. As Mama Rosa prepares her celebrated sauce for the ritual Sunday meal, she recalls her own Mama’s lessons. “To make ragu, my Mama used to say, takes patience.” And love. Family tensions simmer during the Saturday preparations. On Sunday, smoldering antagonisms fuel misunderstanding and harsh words. Pasta plates and wine classes are abandoned on the table as the party breaks up, but on Monday morning, “Nothing gets put away until it is counted,” including the family’s abiding love for each other.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for MU Faculty and Senior Citizens, and Free to full-time Marshall students with valid ID.

For more information, call the Marshall Theatre Box Office at 304-696-2787.

Looking for Elves for a Children's Pre-Show Performance

My pal Eddie Harbert sends out this message: he's looking for elves!

WANTED: ELVES, ELVES, AND MORE ELVES FOR A HOLIDAY PRE-SHOW!

The City of Huntington Foundation, Inc. and the 5th Avenue Theatre Company are proud to present Irving Belin's White Christmas. Show dates are December 3-5 and 10-12 with a school show on December 9.

Pre-show auditions for children ages four years to ten years of age will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2010 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium in City Hall located at 800 5th Avenue.

Children need to have a holiday song ready to sing onstage with or without music. A piano player will be provided as well as a CD player. Children should also be prepared to read out loud on stage. If you are not a reader, we will have something else for you to do.

For more information about the pre-show or with any questions, please call the City of Huntington Foundation at 304-696-5522, Stacy Bond at 304-633-4210, or Eddie Harbert at 304-412-8738.

More About Marshall's New Season

Here's another story about Marshall's new season of theatre, which begins with the play Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

Hee's the story from my pal Angela Henderson-Bentley:

A mixture of comedy, drama and music will make up the 2010-2011 Marshall University Department of Theatre schedule.

"We've been able to cover all tastes during the season," said Sam Kincaid, project coordinator for the MU Department of Theatre. "It's a little bit of something for everybody."

The season kicks off with Saturday, Sunday, Monday, a comedy by Eduardo De Filippo, which runs at 8 p.m. Oct. 6-9. It follows a large Italian family over a weekend as they prepare for a traditional Sunday dinner.

Kincaid compared the play, which is set in 1985, to the movie, Moonstruck.

"It's a nice, big ensemble comedy," Kincaid said. "There are a lot of different personalities."

A unique aspect about the play is that the actresses actually prepare the meal on stage.

Next on the schedule is The Good Doctor, which runs 8 p.m. nightly Nov. 10-13. The play was written by Neil Simon, based on the writings of Anton Chekov.

"It invokes people from all walks of life," Kincaid said. "It's made up of vignettes, so it's several plays in one."

Dead Man Walking, which runs at 8 p.m. Feb. 23-26, is an adaption of Sister Helen Prejean's nonfiction book about her personal experience with a death row inmate. The play is written by Tim Robbins, who also wrote and adapted the film of the same name.

"It's a great challenge for the student actors because it's such a serious subject matter," Kincaid said.

Closing out the season is Working, based on the book by Studs Terkel, which featured interviews with people about their jobs.

"One way or another, we're defined by our jobs," Kincaid said. "This takes everyday experiences we all share and turns them into a musical."

Working will be presented at 8 p.m. April 20-23, and at 2:30 p.m. April 24.

Individual tickets to the four shows are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $7 for children 12 and under. Marshall University students are admitted free to each show with a valid ID.

The department is also presenting a bonus show this season - A Christmas Carol. But Kincaid said this is not your traditional production of the holiday classic. The play will be done in a one-man format with Jack Cirillo, a member of the Marshall faculty, playing all the characters.

"It's really fascinating to watch," Kincaid said. "It really blows you away."

The show will run Dec. 2-4. Tickets are $12 for adults.

Season tickets are also available up until the first show. Kincaid said that even if patrons miss the first show, they can still buy a season pass and save money. Season tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday by calling the box office at 304-696-2787 or Kincaid at 304-696-6395.

Marshall Theatre's New Season Starts Wednesday With "Saturday, Sunday, Monday"

From Sunday's Herald-Dispatch, here's a story by Paul Sebert about Marshall University's theatre seasons, which starts on Wednesday:

Marshall University's Theatre Department is kicking off its new season with Saturday, Sunday, Monday, a comedy/drama about a family gathering in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 6 to 9, at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center on the university's Huntington campus. Other productions this season include The Good Doctor: A Comedy With Music, an adaptation of Anton Chekov's short stories by acclaimed playwright Neil Simon, from Nov. 10 to 13; and Jack Cirillo's one man performance of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol from Dec. 2 to 4.

These productions are a long way from the program's roots, which began in the university's speech program. The department moved to the newly formed College of Fine Arts in the early 1980s and now offers bachelor's degrees in two areas: Production and performance.

Plays, like Saturday, Sunday, Monday are carefully chosen to provide valuable experiences for the students.

"It's a long process," Samuel Kincaid, project coordinator for the Marshall University Theatre Department, said.

"The faculty gets together and decides which plays they will do for the next school year. We need to consider things like how big the cast is going to be and what the cost is to produce the show. The students usually know what we will be doing by next fall. We try to choose a lot ensemble shows so the students have as many chances to perform as possible."

Saturday, Sunday, Monday was written by Eduardo de Filippo and is about family tensions related to preparations for a Sunday dinner in Brooklyn N.Y., in 1985. The show will provide acting opportunities and behind-the-scenes work.

"There are usually about 12 to 18 people working backstage on any given show," Kincaid said. "We have a crew consisting of everything from construction to stage management to lighting. Once rehearsals begin, theater majors start putting in 14-hour days, while stage crew works on the set three days a week. It's long hours, and some very hard work goes into these shows."

General admission to the plays are $20, while tickets for faculty and senior citizens go for $15. Children under 12 can attend for $5. Tickets to A Christmas Carol cost $12.

A season ticket package is available for $72 includes tickets to all four season productions and a copy of the book "Working: People Talk About What they Do All Day" by Studs Terkel. For more information, you can stop by the Ticket Office at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center or call 304-696-2787.

A Guest Editorial and Three Reviews

As always, we encourage guest commentaries and articles at your Tri-State Theatre blog - and here's one now!

My lovely wife Jeanette sends along this essay with reviews of several shows and a comment on the large number of community theatre performances out there:

I noticed in one of Chuck’s recent posts that 14 plays and musicals have been scheduled in the area during October - four in Ashland, five in Charleston, and five here in Huntington — a few touring shows, but most staged by local theatre groups.

As Chuck has been elbow-deep in James and the Giant Peach at the Old Huntington High/Renaissance Center, I took it upon myself to see both Steel Magnolias last weekend at City Hall, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Pullman Plaza. That’s three locally-produced shows that overlapped a single weekend, and on top of that, a weekend when Marshall played a football game at home. I overhead it more than once: "What are these people thinking?"

Before I answer that looming question, some comments on all three shows.

James and the Giant Peach, like most local children’s theatre shows, is near to my heart. The play featured 31 kids, more than half who were appearing in only their first or second show. Jonathan Joy’s directing talents brought the best out of these bright, animated young people, including a colorful troop of six female “insects,” two deliciously evil aunts, three great narrators who helped us visualize the invisible, and the polite and unflappable Samuel Collins as James. Even the main set piece, the Giant Peach, was nicely rendered and magical in its own right. I couldn’t help but notice that even the very smallest children in the audience were captivated by the adventure that Mr. Joy brought to life.

Steel Magnolias was a great opportunity for a “sister-date” last Saturday. As perhaps the lone American woman never to see the full movie version of the story, I got to absorb the full impact of the lives, loves and losses of the gals in Truvy’s beauty shop. I was glad I did. Zach Davis directed a great team of local actresses. I was particularly delighted to see the lovely Kyle Fisher (the mom of one of my best high school friends), in her first substantial role, and she cracked me up, as did the always-wonderful Loretta Hetzer. The entire cast brought believability and lots of heart to the story.

In contrast, I had already seen The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in Chicago shortly after its Tony-Award winning Broadway run in 2006, but made a point to see the first local effort of the Pullman Plaza Playhouse. And I must say, the sheer talent and appeal of this cast matched up well against any high-priced touring company. Particular props go to the bombastic and nerd-tastic Mark Radford, the cartoonish frolics of Angela Wolfe-Hunt and Bradley Leonard, and the stellar vocals of Nancy Jackson and Elijah Boyles. Shayne Gue morphed seamlessly from one role to the next. My favorite of all was Alissa Fetherolf, whose emotional performance as latch-key daughter Olive was nothing short of luminous.

So three shows in one weekend, in Huntington, W.Va. – does it make sense? As a one-time co-director and occasional producer of First Stage shows, I know the volunteer effort and shoe-string inventiveness that lifts these shows to opening night. Each one is a labor of love, and it is a shame if small audience turnout doesn’t support the cost of production. There are only so many weekends in prime fall season between the time everyone returns from vacation and the time that holiday plans take over our lives.

But would you ask yourself if the Marquis or Cinemark wasted their money on too many screens, or if the area has too many sports leagues? Of course not! Thanks to the efforts of all these crazy dreamers, theatre is part of Huntington's cultural landscape. We’re blessed with a number of workable venues. And in sheer talent, energy, and “Garland & Rooney-style Let’s Put on a Show” determination — Huntington rivals cities twice its size. With a little more marketing savvy, maybe a few corporate “sugar daddies,” the inevitable maturing of our young audiences, and about a thousand more local adults who are willing to break from the pack and take a chance on a real live show for the same price as a movie night, the possibilities are endless!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Hard to believe, but today marks the fourth anniversary of the Tri-State Theatre blog!

It's been a lot of fun, and many thanks to all of you who have sent in notes and info about local shows - as I've said before, this is our space to talk about community theatre, so let's make the most of it!

So thanks for reading along - I'm still having fun (and I hope you are as well), so I plan to stick around for a while longer. Thanks as always to my pal and editor Andrea Copley for keeping me in line here!

As always, I'd appreciate your comments and recommendations - what would you like to see covered here?

Just for fun, here's a reprint of my first post back in 2006:

Local theatre in an interesting phenomenon, wherein a group of people gather together to “Put On A Show.”

Huntington has a rich history of theatre, both at Marshall University and its outstanding Department of Theatre, and through community efforts, including groups like the Musical Arts Guild, the First Stage Theatre Company, Huntington Outdoor Theatre, Fifth Avenue Theatre and ARTS, to name the ones that leap immediately to mind.

You’ll also find active theatre groups at almost every local high school, and several groups just a short drive away in Charleston and Ashland.

And thanks to the Marshall Artists Series, we even get to see professional theatre groups perform locally.

So if you like live theatre (and we assume you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t), there’s a lot to choose from. In addition to its rich history, Huntington has a bright future ahead, with some impressive shows on the way in the months and years ahead.

In October alone, you can see "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Hair," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Three Musketeers."

That’s why, under the kind auspices of The Herald-Dispatch, we’re launching this theatre blog -- to focus on those local shows, and talk about the shows that are coming up, shows from years past (the ones you loved and the ones you hated), and to take you behind the scenes to see how shows are made.

If you have a topic you want to offer up, drop me an e-mail (at TheMinskers@aol.com) and we’ll get the discussion going. I’ll be offering my own comments, reviews and previews as we go along. Comments are always welcome, as long as they’re civil.

So thanks for stopping by -- we hope you’ll add us to your “Favorites List” (hint, hint)!

Meet "James and the Giant Peach" Director Jon Joy

There's an article in today's Herald-Dispatch about my pal Jon Joy, who's the director for the play James and the Giant Peach, which runs tonight and tomorrow afternoon at the old Huntington High School.

You can read the story right here, or right here:

Huntington native Jonathan Joy spends a lot of time teaching and directing young actors on stage, and that's only natural, since that's where his own career got started.

As a junior in high school he decided to try out for the 1992 production of Alice in Wonderland, which was staged by the new Huntington children's theatre.

He was hooked, and he's been active in theatre ever since as an actor, a playwright and a director.

Now he's back where it all started, with First Stage Theatre Company -- but instead of acting, he's in the director's chair. He's been working for the past two months with more than 30 young actors as they bring to life the stage version of James and the Giant Peach.

"It's always been one of my favorite stories," Joy said. "I played the Old-Green Grasshopper at the Phoenix Theatre Circle in Columbus 11 years ago and had a blast. Ever since then, I've talked about doing it again."

The play is based on the classic book by Roald Dahl (who's most famous for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which starred Willy Wonka). It's being presented at the Renaissance Center (the old Huntington High School) at 8 p.m. today, Oct. 2, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under.

The story is all about a young boy named James who is treated badly by his aunts. When a magic spell causes a giant peach to appear, James crawls inside and meets a strange group of friends -- giant, talking insects. They all make their escape and find their way into bigger and wilder adventures.

Joy's been impressed at the skills of the young actors in the play.

"This whole process was remarkably smooth," he said. "We had about 20 rehearsals and many of the performers had their lines memorized after only six or seven of those. It's a very focused, intelligent group and that made for a great experience."

Some of the actors are already stage veterans, but for almost half the cast, it's their first time on stage.

"There are also a lot of kids that are new to the theatre," Joy said. "I like watching them get to experience this for the first time. It reminds me of the shows I did 18 years ago and how much they meant to me."

This is a stage show he recommends highly.

"It's fun, imaginative, funny and, I believe, a show that all ages will enjoy," he said. "It's a classic story with a very talented cast. What more could you ask for?"

Joy said he enjoys teaching young actors because of the many benefits of taking the stage.

"Being involved in theatre is a great way to meet people and make friends," he said. "In addition, it's a great way to build important life skills, such as confidence, work ethic, drive and cooperation."

He speaks from experience, because working in theatre made such a difference in his life.

"I was shy and acting brought me out of my shell," he said. "I had a lot of fun meeting new people and being on stage boosted my self-esteem."

His involvement in theatre has covered a lot of ground since then.

He's the author of 22 plays, including The Princess of Rome, Ohio, The First Day of Summer and Bitsy and Boots. His plays have been performed in 10 states, including stages in New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. His political comedy "American Standard" will make its international debut in Dubai this November.

As an actor, he has performed as Stuart Little in The Adventures of Stuart Little, Lysander in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Crumpet in The Santaland Diaries. Directing credits include Much Ado About Nothing, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and now, James and the Giant Peach.

He's also proud of his work in the classroom. Over the past 10 years he has worked with thousands of Tri-State youth in a variety of theatre programming at the Huntington Museum of Art and the Paramount Arts Center.

Joy has other stage shows in the works, but a lot of his offstage time is occupied at the moment with an even more important project -- he and his wife Rissie are new parents and are enjoying their 6-month-old son Levi -- a true bundle of "Joy."

For more information about James and the Giant Peach, call 304-416-KIDS (304-416-5437) or visit the website at www.FirstStageTheatre.org.

On Stage in October

Lots of great shows on the way this month - by my count, there are 14 shows on the way! Here are the ones I've tracked down - if I missed any, send me a comment at the link below or email me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

- James and the Giant Peach - First Stage Theatre Company presents the classic play Oct. 1, 2 and 3 at the Renaissance Center.

- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Pullman Plaza Players presents the musical comedy Oct. 1, 2 and 3 at the Pullman Plaza Hotel.

- Will Rogers Follies - ARTS presents the musical comedy Oct. 15 - 24 at the Renaissance Center.

- Little Shop of Horrors - Pullman Plaza Players presents the musical comedy Oct. 29 and 30 at the Pullman Plaza Hotel.

- Saturday, Sunday, Monday - Marshall Theatre Alliance presents this play Oct. 6 - 9 at the Joan Edwards Performing Arts Center.

- Hoods - CYAC presents the drama Oct. 1 and 2 at the Historic WVSU Capitol Center in Charleston.

- Nosferatu: The Vampire - ACTC presents the show Oct. 15 - 24 at the J.B. Sowards Theater.

- Superior Donuts - Charleston Stage Company presents the play Oct. 14 - 23 at the Capitol Center Theatre.

- Li'l Abner - Kanawha Players presents the classic musical comedy Oct. 1, 2 and 3 at the Civic Center Little Theater.

- The Art of Murder - Kanawha Players presents the play Oct. 22 - 31 at the Kanawha Players Theatre.

- Legally Blonde: The Musical - Paramount Arts Center presents the Broadway touring show Oct. 25.

- Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe - Paramount Arts Center presents the drama Oct. 14.

- Clive Barker's Frankenstein in Love - Red Lion Theatre presents the play Oct. 22 - 31 at the KYOVA Tri-State Mall.

- Alice in Wonderland - Children's Theatre of Charleston presents the classic play Oct. 15 - 17 at the Civic Center Little Theater.

On Stage This Weekend - "Peach," "Spelling Bee" and "Hoods"

You have three shows taking the stage this weekend - two in Huntington and one in Charleston!

Here are your choices:

- James and the Giant Peach - The play based on the classic children's book will be presented by First Stage Theatre Company at the Renaissance Center (the former Huntington High School) at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. Directed by Jon Joy, the show includes a cast of 31 young actors from around the Tri-State. Tickets are $10 and $8 for children 12 and under. Call 304-416-KIDS (304-416-5437) or visit www.FirstStageTheatre.org.

- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - The inaugural show for the new Pullman Plaza Playhouse at the Pullman Plaza Hotel wraps up this weekend. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1-2, as well as 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. Tickets are $33 for dinner and the show or $18 for show only. Go online at www.pullmanplayhouse.webs.com.

- Hoods - A new production from Charleston Youth Arts Company, this original drama by Dan Kehde takes the stage Oct. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. at the Historic WVSU Capitol Center at 123 Summers Street in Charleston. Tickets are $9.50 for adults and $5.50 for students. For reservations, call 304-342-6522. For more information, visit the CYAC website.

So get out there and support your community theatre!

Comments About "Spelling Bee" and "Hoods"

I've been neglecting my duties at this blog - I've been so busy, I haven't had time to take in the other shows running this weekend. (Sorry about that!)

I've mentioned James and the Giant Peach several times (a wonderful show for all ages), but I've neglected The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Hoods.

Luckily, my pals Stephen Vance and Mel Larch were able to send along their comments, for which we're grateful. Here's what they had to say:

Stephen on "Spelling Bee" -

I was able to see the Sunday matinee (of "Putnam County Spelling Bee") and I had a great time and so did everyone in the audience. The venue is set up for dinner (but that's not required).

I really like the show and thought it was a great choice for this size venue and environment. It's a fun show with some very sweet moments. This cast is superbly talented and I liked the work I saw. From the very over-the-top moments to the very real moments, there was a great finesse by this ensemble. I love when a cast knows how to connect with an audience.

Congratulations to the Pullman crew for a job well done.

Here's Mel on Hoods -

I did get to see CYAC's Hoods last Saturday. It's a very powerful and ultimately moving story about race relations in late '50s rural Appalachia. Dan Kehde has assembled an amazing cast of young actors.

The sad thing is that the first weekend's audiences averaged about 20 people a night. Even though you won't leave it humming a happy tune, it's a great show that deserves bigger crowds than that.

I hope you and your readers can come out for one of the last three performances this week (8:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Capitol Center Theatre in Charleston).

Thanks, Mel and Stephen! I've heard nothing but great things about both shows, so readers, I urge you to check 'em out and support your community theatre!

Introducing "Theatre Gym!"

I'm running a bit late with this - it's been a crazy couple of weeks helping out with James and the Giant Peach, which wraps up this weekend.

But my pal Bruce Rous sent along this information about a new concept called Theatre Gym, which sounds like a lot of fun!

Here's the info:

THEATRE GYM

"There is no better artistic expression, than that of true collaboration."

"Theatre Gym" is a place to work on your craft as a theatre professional.

It seems we are so often busy getting a show "up" that we don't find time to actually work on our growth as artists. We become a community of "shake-and-stir" summer stock performers, and hope for the best.

"Theatre Gym" is about that missing artistic growth. It is to be a group of like-minded people, all who want to grow as actors, directors, choreographers, dancers, playwrights, musical directors, et al. True artists in the field of theatre, who wish to develop their skills further. It is about exploration and growth.

If you are an actor, there might be a role you'd like to play one day, or a role on which you are currently working. Or a song you'd like to sing. You can work on it here.

If you are a playwright, you might need actors to read your words.

If you are a director or musical director, you might need some more experience working with performers in a safe environment.

If you are a choreographer, you might need dancers to play with.

If you are a dancer, you might want to explore further your abilities.

This will be a safe environment for you. There will not be a performance. This is not a class, there will not be a teacher, only a facilitator, who will help guide the group in collaboration. You are responsible for choosing your own material, with help from the facilitator, only as necessary.

If this form of artistic collaboration sounds appealing, please email the facilitator, Bruce Rous, at theatregym@gmail.com. A $10 donation is suggested for each weekly group.

Saturday at 1 p.m. is full with a waiting list. There is a new GYM group forming at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. High School Thespians are invited.

Classes will be held at Highlawn Presbyterian Church at 28th and Collis Avenue, just beside St. Mary's.

Sounds like a great idea - thanks, Bruce!

Huntington Music and Arts Festival This Saturday

My pal Dave Lavender sends along this information about the first-ever Huntington Music and Arts Festival:

The hills of the Ritter Park Amphitheater will be alive with the eclectic sounds of live music for the first Huntington Music and Arts Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 2.

Gates open at noon. Music starts shortly after 1 p.m. with some 15 local, and eclectic live music acts to play at the park amphitheater, which will also be filled with local art, food and beverages.

Such acts as Fletcher's Grove (pictured below), The Demon Beat, Jeff Ellis, Sasha Colette, Qiet, Richie Tipton, Adam Bieniek, Sly Roosevelt, Jess Graham and headliners former Jive Records recording artists, American Minor, who are reuniting for one show after a five-year hiatus, are on the bill.



Tickets are $10 advance or $12 at the gate. Kids 10 and under get in free.

The event is alcohol-free. Wristbands are being sold for re-entry during the nearly eight-hour-long festival.

Advance tickets are on sale at Shamrock's Pub, 2050 3rd Ave., or at Happy Camper, 1323 4th Ave., Huntington.

The show is organized by Ian Thornton, who has booked nearly all of these acts at Shamrock's Pub, which is across from Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Thornton said the festival will be a great chance for folks of all ages to come out and see some of West Virginia's best live acts. The acts range from Americana and pure folk to rock 'n' roll of all stripes to such genre-blurring acts as the zesty street band Qiet, a gypsy-souled acoustic act that features guitar, fiddle, upright bass, trombone, a washboard and musical saw.

"All of the acts are from West Virginia or the area, and it's not just rock but folk and country and experimental, there really is no style borders," Thornton said. "It's really a chance for people to come out and see what amazing bands our state has to offer."

Thornton said he's kept the price low (10 musical acts, and five acoustic acts between sets for $10) to make sure anyone could come.

Thornton said he hopes to draw up to 1,000 people out to Ritter Park and to help the area launch what will be an annual festival spotlighting local and regional acts.

For more information about the fest, and a full schedule, videos and contact info, go online at www.hmafestival.com.

Sounds like an awesome event - hopefully it'll become an annual festival!

Best Wishes to Zach, Allison and Aiden

Let's take a break from theatre talk and send our best wishes to some of the members of our extended theatre family: specifically, my pal Zach Davis and his wife Allison.

Their newborn son Aiden recently had some surgery at the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, and we're glad to hear that it all went well and everyone's recovering!

You're all in our thoughts and prayers!

NOTE: Zach sends in (via the comments below) a link to a website where we can check on Aiden's progress - it's right here: www.carepages.com/carepages/ACDJourneytoRecovery .

Photo Gallery for "James and the Giant Peach"

The Herald-Dispatch has posted a Photo Gallery (which you can see right here) of about 20 photos from the play James and the Giant Peach. The photos were shot by my pal Toril Lavender.

The show wrapped up its first weekend today, but if you missed it, the good news is: there are three more shows on tap for next weekend at the Renaissance Center (the old Huntington High School) at 900 8th Street. The shows on Friday and Saturday start at 8 p.m., and the final Sunday show starts at 2 p.m.

The first weekend was a big success, and the young actors were terrific (though I admit I'm prejudiced).

Here's one more photo to tide you over until Friday: