On Stage This Weekend: "Arabian Nights" and "Cup of Cheer"

   There are two shows on stage this week you can check out:

- The Arabian Nights - The Marshall Theatre Alliance presents this play based on the classic tales of Scheherezade. It runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center in Huntington.

- A CUP of Cheer - Curtains Up Players presents a holiday concert Nov. 16, 17 and 18 at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center. Admission is $10, but free admission is also available with the donation of a gift to NECCO.

   So get out there and support your community theatre!

CUP of Cheer

   This weekend Curtains Up Players is partnering up with NECCO to provide entertainment and charity to kick off the holiday season.  

   CUP will present its annual Holiday Concert, A CUP of Cheer, Nov. 16, 17 and 18 at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center.  

   Admission is $10, but free admission is also available to patrons who donate a gift to NECCO.

   NECCO is an area foster care agency with locations throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia. Gifts will be distributed to the children in NECCO’s care this holiday season.  

   Patrons are asked to bring a gift of at least a $10 value for boys and girls age 18 and under.   

   A CUP of Cheer features Ryan Hardiman and Lara Donahoe and Master of Ceremonies Paul Neace.  The show is directed by Holly Maynard and Kaitlin DeSpain and features a dozen area performers presenting holiday favorites old and new.  

Theatre Links on the Web (Kanawha County)

   Continuing our look at Social Media and local community theatre groups, here’s a look at some of the sites being operated by groups based out of Kanawha County: 

- Charleston Stage Company operates a website, though the main page seems to be acting up - but here’s the link to their shows for the upcoming season.

Website: http://charlestonstagecompany.com/?page_id=68


- Children’s Theatre of Charleston is one of the more media-savvy groups around. They operate a website, a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a Flickr page.

    Website: http://www.ctoc.org/home.html

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Theatre-of-Charleston/130905103358

   Twitter: https://twitter.com/CTOC_WV

   Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80015190@N08/

- Charleston Light Opera Guild has an excellent website and a Facebook page.

   Website: http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org

   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charleston-Light-Opera-Guild-Inc/189678760106?v=wall

- Kanawha Players has a website with the latest on their season.

   Website: http://kanawhaplayers.org

- Charleston Youth Arts Company has a website with a rundown of their upcoming season.

    Website: http://cyac2001.com/WELCOME.html

- Alban Arts and Conference Center is one of the newest groups around. They have a website and a Facebook page.

   Website: http://albanartscenter.com

   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alban-Arts-and-Conference-Center/146490819399?fref=ts

- The LimeLight Theatre Company is the newest group around. They promote their first season their Facebook page and their drama camps on their website.

   Website: http://www.stromstudios.com

   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLimeLightTheatreCompany

   As always, let me know if we missed anyone!

Theatre Links on the Web (Huntington edition)

   The world of Social Media has exploded in recent years, with community theatre groups creating web sites and Facebook accounts (among others) to help spread the word about upcoming productions and projects.

   It's not easy - most groups are run by volunteers, so time and resources are limited to manage those sites. Still, if you know where to look, you can stay up to date on the shows coming up. It certainly helps me keep track of local groups for this blog.

   Just to make things easier for you, gentle reader, I thought I'd compile some of those links, grouping them by city or area (as always, if I've missed anything, let me know and I'll add it to the mix).

   Since we're based out of Huntington, let's start there:

  - First Stage Theatre Company operates two social media sites, focusing on its upcoming production of Scrooge:

     Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Stage-Theatre-Company/151408134941398

     Website: www.firststagetheatre.org

- ARTS has been focusing on its excellent Facebook page (while its website is under construction), rolling out information (and posters) about its upcoming season, its audition schedule and much more. 

   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artstristate

- Curtains Up Players - operates two social media sites (you'll find lots of info about its concert coming up this weekend):

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Curtains-Up-Players-Inc/128258443910260?fref=ts

Website: http://www.curtainsupplayers.org

  - 5th Avenue Theatre Company manages a website in conjuction with the City of Huntington Foundation:

Website: http://cityofhuntingtonfoundation.com/pages/aa-theater.html


- Huntington Outdoor Theatre operates a website that kicks into gear in the spring when they start auditions for each summer's show:

http://www.hotwv.org

   - Marshall Theatre Alliance has the most impressive website of the bunch (which includes videos  and recently added a Facebook page:

   Website: http://www.marshall.edu/cofa/theatre/

   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/111137362277538/

   
- Murder and Merriment, which hosts murder mystery events, has a Facebook page.

   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Murder-and-Merriment/188552984513967

  Next up: Charleston!

Murder and Merriment in Hurricane

   Murder and Merriment presents the interactive murder mystery, “Fashion Runway: Murdering Divas!” this weekend - Nov. 16-17 at the Greenhouse of Teays Valley in Hurricane, W.Va. at 7 p.m. 

   Guests will view the Season Finale of “Fashion Runway” hosted by Heidi Klam. Guest judges Simon Powell and Nicole Richley join her as they choose from five final contestants who will be selected as this season’s Fashion Diva. Competing are Charlana Costa, Christophe Alonzo, Scarlett Pepper, Dmitry Lenin, and McKenna Sangaria. 

   Everyone is dying to find out who will be crowned. Detective Horace Cain will be on hand to help guests solve a mystery which will unfold that evening. 

   A catered buffet dinner prepared by Joe Reckard and his staff will be served. Guests correctly solving “who dunnit?” can compete to win a valuable prize at the end of the evening. Tickets are $40 per Guest.  

   Performing in this murder mystery are: Ashley Bond, George R. Snider III, Allison Plants, Alex Bannerman, Tara Phares-Pauley, Mandy Jane Petry, Kevin Michael Pauley, Nicole Michaelis and John Eric Booth.

   Reservations are required. Call 304-397-6316.

CUP of Cheer for the Holidays

    A special holiday show is coming up later this month - here's the press release from CUP with all the info:

    Curtains Up Players, Huntington’s newest theatre company, is partnering up with NECCO to provide entertainment and charity this holiday season.  Curtains Up Players will produce its annual Holiday Concert, “A CUP of Cheer,” November 16-18 at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center.  But this year, CUP is shaking things up by offering free admission to patrons who donate a gift to NECCO. 

   NECCO is an area foster care agency with locations throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia.  Gifts collected by CUP will be distributed to the children in NECCO’s care this holiday season.   

   Patrons are asked to bring a gift of at least a $10 value for boys and girls age 18 and under.   Holly Maynard, one of the show's directors, said, “We are thrilled about this wonderful opportunity to take a bigger role in our community. Now, more than ever, it’s so important for our community to support the arts; but we, as artists, can in turn support our community through our work.”   

   “A CUP of Cheer” features Ryan Hardiman and Lara Donahoe and Master of Ceremonies Paul Neace. The show is directed by Holly Maynard and Kaitlin DeSpain, and features a dozen area performers presenting holiday favorites old and new.   

   Tickets are $10 each or patrons can bring a gift of equal or greater value to gain free admittance.  

“A CUP of Cheer”

At the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center

1030 4^th Avenue, Huntington

Friday, November 16 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 18 at 2:30 p.m.

On Stage This Weekend - Three Shows!

•    There are three performances this weekend you should take in: 
  - The Arabian Nights - The Marshall Theatre Alliance presents this play based on the classic tales of Scheherezade. It runs at 8 p.m. Nov. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center in Huntington.

• - Marvin’s Room - Company of Dreams presents the dark comedy about a woman’s commitment to caring for her family, even in the face of personal tragedy. It will be staged Nov. 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church in Ashland, Ky.

- Amahl and the Night Visitors - MU Opera presents a concert featuring the JM Sanctuary Choir at Johnson Memorial Church Nov. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.

   So get out there and support your community theatre!

Youth Orchestra Auditions

   Sorry for the short notice, but I just got this message about youth orchestra auditions: 

   The Tri-State Youth Orchestra will have auditions Thursday, Nov. 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at ARTS Renaissance Center.   

   The orchestra has openings for flutes, clarinets, tenor sax, trombones and percussion. There is also room for more string students.   

   Audition requirements include scales 3 flats to 3 sharps, an etude or solo and sight reading from the orchestras current repertoire.   

   For more information contact Ron Caviani at tsyo@aol.com or 304-743-7425.

On Stage This Week: Marvin's Room

   For one weekend only in Ashland you can pay a visit to Marvin's Room.

   The play will be presented by Company of Dreams at 8 p.m. nightly Nov. 8-10, 2012, at Hillside Community Church in Ashland, Ky. Admission is $5 at the door. 

   Marvin's Room is a dark and mordantly funny comedy by Scott McPherson, which centers on a woman's commitment to caring for her family first, even in the face of personal tragedy. 

   Marvin's Room is heralded as "unquestioningly, one of the most beloved, critically acclaimed and significant new plays that the off-Broadway season has seen in years." 

   And it helps a good cause - a portion of proceeds from this production will benefit Golden Kidz, a nonprofit organization for families of children with cancer. 

On Stage This Week: Arabian Nights

   The Marshall Theatre Alliance is doing something unusual with its latest show, The Arabian Nights: it's running for two weeks!

    Marshall unusually limits its shows to a single week, but happily they're giving audiences more chances to catch the latest production.

   Here's more info about the play, which runs at 8 p.m. Nov. 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 26 and 17 at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center in Huntington.

   Here's the description of the show: 

The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman 

And the nights over Bagdad were whiter than the days; the nights over Bagdad were white… 

The award winning adaptation weaves tales of wonder into a poetic testament to the transformational power of storytelling. King Shahryar marries, loves, and then kills a young woman each night – until he encounters Scheherazade. For one thousand and one nights, he delays her murder as he eagerly awaits her next tale of love, betrayal, courage, ingenuity, human folly and physical sensuality.

Dracula the Musical

   Today's your last chance to catch Dracula the Musical!

   The final show is being presented at 2:30 p.m. by Curtains Up Players at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center  at 1030 4th Avenue in Huntington.

   The show features a great cast, including Jon Lamp in the title role - and what a terrific job he does, tackling both the European accent with ease and the soaring songs with great power.

   He's joined by Lara Donahoe as Mina, who has a wonderful voice and great stage presence (she needs to do more theatre) and Jane Modlin as the tragic Lucy, who steals a few scenes and provides several outstanding solos, as well.

    The surprise in the show is Alison Smith who plays Van Helsing, a role traditionally played by an older man - but she manages it (and his tragic song) with great skill - an excellent performance!

   The show, of course, is based on the original Bram Stoker novel about the mysterious Count who decides to move to England at the end of the Victorian Age - he is, of course, looking for a new start and some fresh blood.

   Time's running out to catch this final treat for the Halloween season - don't miss it!

  

On Stage in November

   Hey, it’s November - and here are the shows taking the stage this month:

• Dracula: the Musical - Curtains Up Players offers the musical based on the novel by Bram Stoker. It will be presented at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center at 1030 4th Avenue Nov. 2, 3 and 4.

• Scrooge - First Stage Theatre Company presents the musical version of the classic Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol. It’s being staged at Huntington’s City Hall Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.

• The Arabian Nights - The Marshall Theatre Alliance presents this play based on the classic tales of Scheherezade. It runs at 8 p.m. Nov. 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center in Huntington.

• Hello, Dolly! - Charleston Light Opera Guild presents the enduring classic musical at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on Nov. 2 and 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.  

• The Woman in Black - Portsmouth Little Theatre presents the mystery Nov. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth Little Theatre at 1117 Lawson Street in Portsmouth, OH. 

• Marvin’s Room - Company of Dreams presents the dark comedy about a woman’s commitment to caring for her family, even in the face of personal tragedy. It will be staged Nov. 8 - 10 at 8 p.m. at Hillside community Church in Ashland, Ky.

   So get out there and support your local theatre!

ARTS Announces Its 2013 Season

   ARTS in Huntington announced its upcoming season today, and it's a great selection of classic and exciting shows - a mix of musical and non-musicals. Here's the press release:

   Arts Resources for the Tri-State today announced its exciting theatrical season for 2013. The schedule features three musicals and three non-musicals, with something to satisfy every theatrical appetite.

   The six shows will kick off with the musical “Cabaret” by Kander and Ebb. ARTS resident director Gene Anthony will direct “Cabaret,” which will be presented February 1-2 and February 8-9, 2013. Open auditions for “Cabaret” will be held November 25 at 2:00 pm and November 26 at 7:00 pm at ARTS.

   Another of Shakespeare’s works will show on the ARTS stage in the spring of 2013. ARTS resident director Mike Murdock, who just directed the successful production of Macbeth in October 2012, will direct “Julius Caesar” on March 15-16 and 22-23, 2013.

   The musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” by Loesser, Burrows, Weinstock, Gilbert, Mead is next in ARTS line-up. ARTS president Bil Neal will direct “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Show dates are set for May 24-26, May 31, and June 1-2, 2013.

   The comedy, “The Man Who Came to Dinner” by Kaufmann and Hart will be presented August 16-17 and August 23-24 under the direction of Gene Anthony. The production will feature Mike Murdock as Sheridan Whiteside.

   “Shenandoah” (The Musical) is scheduled for fall 2013. The show by Geld, Udell, Rose, Barrett will be presented October 11-13 and October 18-20. ARTS resident director Stephen Vance will serve as director for “Shenandoah,” which will feature Bil Neal as Charlie Anderson.

   Rounding out the 2013 season for ARTS will be “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” by Neil Simon. Directed by Mike Murdock, “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” will be presented November 29-30 and December 6-7, 2013.

   Neal said open auditions for the productions will be announced in the new year. “ARTS is pleased to offer a schedule full of variety and award-winning shows that will be enjoyed by audiences young and old,” said Neal.

   All shows will be presented at the Renaissance Center, located at 900 8th Street in Huntington,WV. For more information, call ARTS at 304-733-ARTS.

   Last week, ARTS announced auditions for the first-ever ARTS Resident Acting Company which are set for November 16 & 17 by appointment. Many roles for these productions will be cast from the Resident Acting Company, with open auditions for the community to round out each cast.

After the Hurricane

   My pal Beth Hendricks filed a story today in the Herald-Dispatch about people from the Tri-State who are working in New York City, including Macy Idzakovich, an actress who appeared in numerous local shows. The story is about her experience during Hurricane Sandy.

   Here's an excerpt:

Macy Idzakovich

   From Macy Idzakovich's 16th floor Manhattan apartment, she has a lovely view of New York City's Upper West Side filled with luxury residential towers and Riverside Park stretching alongside the Hudson River. 

   On Tuesday afternoon, that view was marred by a completely submerged park and a construction crane dangling 90 stories in the air after it had collapsed under high winds and rains from Hurricane Sandy. 

   "It has been rather scary actually. Where I am, the lights went off and the sound of the wind was really scary," said the Portsmouth, Ohio, native who moved to New York City five years ago to study musical theater. 

   "You could see what looked like fireworks downtown where the transformers were blowing. Everything was really quiet and very dark." 

   Idzakovich, 23, said many New York City residents are receiving text alerts every 30 minutes or so advising them to stay inside and away from windows, not that there was anywhere to go with the building shutting off its elevator at 7 p.m. Monday, she added.  

   "It's hard just sitting around and waiting," said Idzakovich, who added she stocked up on supplies before the storm rolled in. School and work are closed until further notice. "We have been watching the crane from our window. Apparently it snapped and the arm that normally extends up is dangling down and you can see it swinging back and forth. They've evacuated all the areas around there, afraid that it's going to fall."

The ARTS Resident Acting Company

   ARTS (which is based out of the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington) has come up with an exciting new idea for community theatre - here's the announcement they made last night:

Presenting… The ARTS RESIDENT ACTING COMPANY!

For its 2013 season, ARTS will be attempting something different; something ground-breaking. On November 16-17th (Friday & Saturday), 2012, ARTS will be holding auditions for a resident acting company for its 2013 season.

What does that mean?

ARTS will be presenting six shows in its 2013 season. Each show will have its own audition date approximately 10 weeks prior to the show dates. However, before any of that, ARTS will have auditions to be in the resident acting company. At these auditions, you will need to prepare a monologue (classical or contemporary / dramatic or comedic - it need NOT be memorized), 16 bars of a song to sing (just something so we can hear how you sing), and have an interview with the resident directors for the season. The directors for the current season are: Gene Anthony (2 shows), Bil Neal (1 show), Stephen Vance (1 show) and Mike Murdock (2 shows).

Each audition will take approximately 15 minutes. Those interested in auditioning should call (304) 733-ARTS to get a timeslot reserved on either available audition day, whichever works best for you.

What happens next?

After the audition and interview days are over, the directors will meet to discuss all applicants, and offers will be made to those we would like to see in the resident company. As with any audition, not everyone will be invited to the company that shows up. The directors will choose company members based on how they can best serve ARTS for that season. The directors will have to make difficult, reasoned choices. If you don’t get in the company, we encourage you to still audition for each of the season’s shows as they come up or inquire about working tech, etc., at ARTS. We also encourage you to audition for the company again next year, when perhaps, you might be a better fit for the shows, directors, etc.

“Offers”? What the heck is that?

Resident actors will be guaranteed three roles out of the six possible shows, and be obliged to work tech for one show they are not cast in. They are more than welcome to audition for the other shows as well, or do tech for them, but the offers will only be for four shows, in general.

So I’ll be guaranteed to be acting in at least half of the ARTS season if I’m a company member?

YES.

What do you mean “work tech for one show”?

Along with your acting assignments, you will be asked to work tech for one other show in the season. The exact job will vary depending on your skill set, etc. Perhaps you will be asked to help build a show or strike a show. You might be asked to run a light or sound board. We might need someone to hang posters or sell advertising. We could ask you to be on the running / backstage / front of house crew for a production. There will be plenty for people to do for each and every show.

What else do I get if I’m a company member?

Not only do you get to work on over half of the productions at ARTS for their season, you also get first choice of any classes that ARTS will offer throughout the year. Wednesday nights are education nights at ARTS, and we’ll be adding even more opportunities in 2013. Some of the classes in consideration are:

• Scene Study
• Classics
• Stage Combat
• Musical Theatre Dance
• Basic Tech Theatre
• Intro to Acting
• Singing Audition Workshop
• Audition Techniques Workshop
• A Study of Shakespeare’s Women
• A Study of Women in Contemporary American Theatre
• Voice / Projection / Diction for the stage
• Stage Movement

(Please note that these classes are all in consideration, and that some might not be available during the 2013 season, and others could be added at any time)

First choice of classes? Why does that matter?

Due to the success of Gene Anthony’s “Acting 101” class and the overwhelming amount of applicants, we feel there is a desire with the public to further its theatre education. We all want to get better and learn more, and we are offering chances to do just that. The main difference is that while the “Acting 101” class will remain free to the public, the rest of the classes available at ARTS will come with a cost of $150 per person for the 8- to 10-week course, unless you are a member of the resident acting company. As a member of the company, you are entitled to take any or all of the classes you like at ARTS, FREE of charge.

Classes are cool, but what ELSE?

All members of the ARTS resident acting company will receive free admittance to any ARTS productions for his or her year in residence.

Company members will have a featured profile on the ARTS website, Facebook page and in the lobby of ARTS for his or her year in residence.

As an added bonus, members of the ARTS resident acting company will also receive free show shirts for all of the productions they are involved in, as well as an ARTS Resident Acting Company shirt.

If I don’t get in the company, can I still audition for individual shows? Will there be any roles left?

Absolutely and absolutely. The goal of the company is to have people dedicated to ARTS for a year’s time, while offering them something in return for their time and talents. For those that feel they can’t (or don’t want to), each show will have general auditions approximately 10 weeks before the show dates. All roles not filled by resident acting company members will be available to the public at large, and any roles taken by company members will be advertised ahead of time at each show’s auditions.

So what if I don’t like the offer I’m given?

The ARTS staff will only make one offer. If you don’t like what is offered - no harm, no foul. We thank you for your time, wish you well and hope to see you at the general auditions for each show as they arrive.

The company auditions are for all six shows in the ARTS season. The offers will be made after consideration of your conflicts, your audition and your interview. The directors will create your offer based on how you can best serve the ARTS season. As previously stated, you will be offered 3 roles and 1 tech position out of the 6 available shows. If you turn down the offer, you would be turning down not only that, but also the rest of the benefits of being a company member.

If I'm a company member, can I still audition for other shows at other theatres?

Of course you can - as long as they don't conflict with your responsibilities at ARTS.

What happens if something happens and I can’t fulfill my company commitment?

The short answer is: not much, really. No one is being paid. We’re working on the honor system. We’re looking for people with skills we can use that we hope to completely count on for four projects in our season. In return, we’ll work to improve those skills, and give you a few other cool things as well throughout the year, hopefully making your dedicated time at ARTS worthwhile for everyone involved, especially you. We know that life can sometimes be unpredictable. If, for some reason, you only fulfill three of your commitments, for instance, we’re not going to ostracize you or curse your name to the heavens. We just hope it doesn’t happen because we are going to do everything we can to make each company member a success, which, latently, will make ARTS better.

How do the time slots work for the company auditions?

Auditions on Friday, November 16, 2012, will begin at 6:00 p.m. – Slots will be every 15 minutes (with an occasional 15 minute break for the directors).

Auditions on Saturday, November 17, 2012, will begin at 10:00 a.m. – Slots will be every 15 minutes (with an occasional 15 minute break for the directors and the possibility of a lunch break for the directors)

Please call (304) 733-2787 and leave a message with your name, phone number and a time slot or block of time that would work best for you and someone will call you back to firm up the schedule.

Why is ARTS doing this?

We believe that to be a true resource for the Tri-State, that we must aspire to something greater. By having a full season of shows: three musicals, three non-musicals – 4 mainstage shows and 2 ballroom shows, as well as having a resident acting company, ARTS continues to grow, forming a community of talented, dedicated, hard-working artisans, striving for the best possible theatre we can create. Together.

This is the first big step. We realize it can sound daunting, but we hope, more than anything, that is sounds exciting. We hope that you want to join us on the ground floor. This is the first of many seasons at ARTS. We hope to see you at the company auditions on November 16 and 17.

The six-show, 2013 ARTS Season will be announced on November 1, 2012. Big things are happening at ARTS. Won't you join us?

Thank you and sincerely,

The Staff of ARTS
900 8th Street
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 733-ARTS
https://www.facebook.com/artstristate

Wrapping Up "The Little Mermaid, Jr."

This afternoon First Stage Theatre Company wrapped up the final show for Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. before a crowd of just under 400 people! 

I was luck enough to be the director on the show, and let me say, it's been a wonderful experience from start to finish, and kudos to our incredibly talented and hard-working cast, the directing team, the parents and volunteers who came together as a team and made it happen! 

(Thanks to my pal Stephen Vance for the photo from "Kiss the Girl!")

Thanks to everyone who came to see the show - awesome, enthusiastic crowds, and that thunderous standing ovation at the end of the last performance made a great capper to an amazing experience! 

I can't wait to see what these talented young actors tackle next!

Last Chance to Catch "The Little Mermaid, Jr."

Here it is, folks - your last chance to catch the magic under the sea as First Stage Theatre Company (and a talented cast) presents the last show of Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr.

The show starts at 2 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre (900 8th Street in Huntington) - tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids and seniors.

It's been getting rave reviews and great crowds - don't miss it!

 

Three "Little Mermaid, Jr." Shows

   Today the cast of Disney's Little Mermaid, Jr. wrapped up its third and final school performance in front of packed houses of students from Mason and Cabell County schools - and tomorrow, everyone else can catch the adventure "Under the Sea."

   My pal Dave Lavender wrote an excellent article about the show in today's Herald-Dispatch, which you can read right here - or right here:

   Huntington is under water again -- and this time it's a good thing. 

   First Stage Theatre Company has scored one of the area's first performances of the hit Disney classic, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. 

   Based on the hit 1989 Disney classic movie, which won Grammys and Oscars for the music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, "Little Mermaid, Jr.," will be presented live on stage as First Stage Theatre Company offers "Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr." at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27, as well as at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, at the Renaissance Theatre, located at 900 8th St., in Huntington.  

   The show features 50 young performers from the Tri-State ranging in age from high school seniors to elementary students who will also be performing three sold-out school shows as well. 

   The show's cast is guided by director Chuck Minsker, music director Mark Smith, choreographer Melissa McGuffin, producer Leslie Porter, assistant director Robyn Welch, set construction director Jack Welch, and costume designer Trish Woods. 

   Minsker said they picked the show to kick off the 23rd season because it's just packed with great songs such as "Part of Your World," "She's In Love," "Kiss a Girl," and of course, the Oscar and Grammy Award-winning song, "Under the Sea." 

   "The main reason we picked it is because it is so beloved by kids of all ages," Minsker said. "It has not been available for stage until very recently, so it was like it was meant to be. The show became available and we hopped right on it. It's just a fun show with great music and filled with really clever and fantastic ideas." 

   Adapted from Disney's 2008 Broadway production, Disney's "The Little Mermaid, Jr." tells the love story of young Ariel, a mermaid who falls in love with a human, Prince Eric, and risks everything to win his love. But she'll have to contend with her father, King Triton, and the evil sea witch, Ursula. 

Taken from an 1836 Danish book by Hans Christian Andersen, the story has continued to churn up in children's literature, in operas, movies and TV shows, including a 1960s show featuring Shirley Temple as Ariel. 

   Unlike most First Stage productions, "Little Mermaid," is only one weekend because the kids have three sold-out school performances in addition to the four public performances. 

   "The school shows are great because we get a lot of kids who wouldn't maybe get to see a live performance otherwise," Minsker said. "I think a lot of people don't appreciate how great a live show is until they see these young people up there singing and dancing and doing these amazing shows." 

Minsker said First Stage, the non-profit which has put on more than 50 theater shows since it was founded in 1990, has been able to give area youth an amazing experience as they get to work with such professionals as Mark Smith, who currently is the keyboardist for Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. 

Minsker said that several performers should be commended as they have balanced doing Huntington High School's "Alice in Wonderland" a couple weeks back while also taking lead roles in "Mermaid." 

"Serena Johnson was the lead in 'Alice' and is our Ariel and she's done all kinds of shows and is a wonderful talent and great person," Minsker said. "Chloe Donohoe had a main part in 'Legally Blonde' this summer and then was the caterpillar in 'Alice' and she is our Ursula. She's an amazing talent that has grown up on stage locally." 

   Minsker said seeing that growth of kids blossoming into wonderful performers has been the perpetual gift at First Stage, which recently hosted its first alumni concert to celebrate the legacy of First Stage and its continued crops of performers, some who are performing professionally at stages around the country.
 
   "I think that is the secret here is that there are a lot of opportunities for theatrical stuff between us and Huntington Outdoor Theatre and all the school programs," Minsker said. "There's a lot of our alumni who've gone to college and they say what shows have you done and they have a list of 20 or so shows and these colleges can't believe it. It's not unusual for our kids to be asked to play leads when they are freshman and sophomores because experience really pays off."

   "Little Mermaid, Jr." kicks off the 23rd season for Huntington's long-running children's theatre. Shows coming up this season include the holiday musical "Scrooge" and "The Bully Plays" in spring 2013. 

   For more information, visit www.firststagetheatre.org or call 304-416-KIDS.

"The Little Mermaid, Jr." - First Show

   The first performance of Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. took place this morning as 1000 students crowded into the Renaissance Theatre for one of three school shows!

   They cheered as Ariel sang about wanting to be "Part of Your World," cringed as Ursula hatched her evil plot, and laughed as the seagulls sang about "Human Stuff."

   There are two more sold-out school shows tomorrow, and then the public shows will run this weekend only at the theatre at 900 8th Street in Huntington. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

   You can get a sneak peek at the show in a photo gallery from a recent dress rehearsal - it's on the Herald-Dispatch website right here.

This Week: "Little Mermaid, Jr."

   Let me tell you, it takes a lot to put on a stage show.  

   Eight weeks of rehearsals (learning songs, dances and dialogue), set building, costume making, fund-raising and much more - in other words, lots of hard work by the cast, crew, parents and volunteers.

   And this week it all pays off as Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. takes the stage at the Renaissance Theatre at 900 8th Street in Huntington. Shows will be staged Friday at 7:30 p.m., a Saturday matinee show at 2 p.m., a Saturday evening show at 7:30 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids and senior citizens.

   It's the kickoff to First Stage Theatre's 23rd season, and it's based on the beloved Disney animated film.

   The show features a cast of 50 young performers, ranging from high school seniors to elementary school students, and they're a talented bunch!

   They bring to life the characters from the movie, including Ariel, the mermaid who falls in love with Prince Eric, Ursula, the sea witch, Sebastian, a musical crab, and a host of characters, including seagulls, chefs, sailors, tentacles and assorted sea creatures.

   I admit to being prejudiced - I directed the show, along with a talented bunch of directors, including music director Mark Smith, choreographer Melissa McGuffin, assistant director Robyn Welch and producer Leslie Porter.

   We think it's a special show and hope you'll pay us a visit "Under the Sea."