Give credit to the Charleston Light Opera Guild - they not only sent out a press release about the cast for their upcoming production of Legally Blonde - the Musical, they also sent along a photo! CHARLESTON LIGHT OPERA GUILD ANNOUNCES CAST OF LEGALLY BLONDE
Micah Atkinson will star as Elle Woods when the Charleston Light Opera Guild presents the musical Legally Blonde July 27, 28, August 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 29 and August 5 at 3 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre. Mrs. Alex Schoenbaum and Brooks Run Mining Company, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources, sponsor the production.
The large youthful cast includes Matthew Bryant as Emmett Forrest, the law student who takes Elle under his wing; Allison Plants as Paulette, the hair stylist with a heart of gold; Cameron Vance as Warner Huntington III, Elle’s conceited ex-boyfriend; Toni M. Pilato as Vivienne Kensington, Warner’s new Harvard girlfriend; Rudi Raynes-Kidder as Brooke Wyndam, the exercise queen and Michael D. Gore as Professor Callahan.
Elle’s Delta Nu sorority girlfriends are led by Allison Whitener as Margot, Ashley Showen as Serena, Madeline Southall as Pilar and Jessica Cooper as Kate with Megan Sydnor, Lindsey Duvall and Kristin Showen.
Jeannie Matras and Tim Whitener play Elle’s Mom and Dad and Steve Brannon is the UPS guy, Kyle. Harvard students are portrayed by Paul R. Isaacs Jr. as Aaron, Danae L. Samms as Enid, Afsheen Misaghi as Padamadan and Sarah Williams as Whitney.
Bill Rainey and Cameron Burford play Harvard officials. Rounding out the cast is Caroline Chamness Rainey as the Judge, Carly Thaw as Brooke Wyndam’s step daughter Chutney, Austin Thomas as Carlos, Tyler Lee as Grandmaster Chad and Erin Murphy, Joshua Price and Mark Worlledge.
Nina Denton Pasinetti is the director and choreographer, Bobby Hodges, Jr. is musical director and Mark Scarpelli is accompanist. Thomas P. Pasinetti is the tech director and Paul Shannon is the assistant to the choreographer.
The Box Office for Legally Blonde opens Monday July 23 at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre. Box Office hours are Monday thru Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and 1 hour before shows. All seats are reserved at $20. Call 304-343-2287 or send a message to charlestonlightoperaguild@gmail.com. Don’t miss this feel good musical!
Check out the Guild on our web page at charlestonlightoperaguild.org
The show is an energetic singing, dancing fun fest with contagious music that leaves a smile on your face.
It's my tremendous pleasure to announce the cast for Crimes of the Heart at ARTS.Now it's over to Brian Cook, who sent out this announcement:
I was impressed by the talent of all who auditioned, and encourage all of the folks whose names aren't on the following list to keep coming back. I'd love to see you all on our stage at some point, and wish I could've done it this time.
Terri Tagmeyer will be our CHICK
Amy Browning will be our LENNY
Amy Knell Carlson will be our MEG
Jamie Mathis will be our BABE
Jason R. Kretzer will be our DOC
Dylan Clark will be our Barnette
I'm also delighted to announce that our Stage Manager will be Leann Haines.
Personally I am humbled to have these talented folks commit to this project, and a little overwhelmed by the work load ahead of each of us. I hope you'll each plan on seeing the results of our labor in August.
Here Lies Alan Chase...
Cast List:
KATE - Joanna Berner
MAGGIE - Brittainy Quillin Shaw
TAMMY - Sarah Diamond Burroway
MRS. CHASE - Nancy R. Jackson
BILL - Len Trent
LES - Jonathan Maynard
JACK - Jim Maggard
MR. X - Gregory Picklesimer
Stephanie Cook will be Assistant Director.
Jason McAllister will be Set Designer and Sound Engineer.
Jesse Riggs will be Audio-Visual Designer.
Kenny The-Bearded will be Poster Designer and be in charge of refreshments.
Performances will be Aug. 2, 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. at Hillside Church in Ashland. Admission is $5.
The Spice Girls gave fans what they want — what they really, really want — Tuesday, reuniting onstage to announce the details of a musical based on their songs.
Producers stress that the stage show "Viva Forever" isn't a biography of the band, but there are plenty of real-life resonances for the 1990s "Girl Power" group in its tale of female empowerment and friendship tested by fame. The show opens in London in December.
"We're going to be introducing a whole new generation to 'Girl Power,'" said Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, who attended a media launch alongside Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm and Melanie Brown — also known as Baby, Ginger, Sporty and Scary Spice.
"Viva Forever" aims to tap the same vast female fan base as world-conquering ABBA musical "Mamma Mia," which has been produced in 14 languages and spawned a hit film starring Meryl Streep. The Spice Girls show tells the story of four friends whose bond becomes strained when their band enters a TV talent show.
Scored to Spice Girls hits including "Wannabe," ''Spice Up Your Life," ''Mama" and the title track, it was written by comedian Jennifer Saunders — co-creator of celebrity-skewering sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" — and produced by Judy Craymer, the woman behind "Mamma Mia."
Craymer called the musical, with its focus on female friends and mother-daughter relationships, "a heartwarming family tale" that touches on the role of media and celebrity in the modern world.
"There's just something empowering about women's stories that interests me a lot," Craymer said.
Saunders — who once spoofed the Spice Girls in a mock band called the Sugar Lumps — said the show aimed to catch "the joy that they brought, their energy and their positivity."
The Spice Girls said they were delighted with the show, which was unveiled for the press in the grand neo-Gothic hotel where the video for their 1996 breakthrough hit "Wannabe" — in which the band promised to "tell you what I want, what I really, really want" — was filmed.
"Sixteen years ago when we were writing the words 'zig-a-zig-ah,' we could never have imagined they would be in a West End show," Halliwell said, quoting the catchy if confusing refrain of "Wannabe."
Added Chisholm: "It's better than we could ever have imagined."
"They sing it better than us," said Brown.
The band's outsized personalities and Halliwell's Union Jack dress made the Spice Girls icons of 1990s "Cool Britannia," and they sold 75 million records around the world. Halliwell left the group acrimoniously in 1998 and the Spice Girls effectively split a decade ago. The five members have not appeared together since a 2007-2008 reunion tour.
Since then, several have released solo records, and Beckham has become a fashion designer and part of a celebrity power couple with her soccer-star husband, David Beckham.
Despite their past differences, they appeared in good spirits as they joked and praised one another Tuesday.
Halliwell said her band mates "individually and collectively, they're really lovely."
"She's only saying that because she left!" said Chisholm.
True, Halliwell conceded, "but they took me back."
"Viva Forever" begins previews Nov. 27 and opens Dec. 11 at London's Piccadilly Theatre.
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Online: http://vivaforeverthemusical.com/
Dear Edwina, Jr. opens this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at ARTS (the old Huntington High School).
Tickets are $5. Come see this dancing and singing extravaganza! Its a lot of fun and the kids (at the ARTS drama camp) have worked very hard.
It is a great way to spend the evening with your family and is very kid-friendly.
Proof will be presented June 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m., and June 24 and July 1 at 2 p.m. at the Alban Arts and Conference Center at 65 Olde Main Street in St. Albans
Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students and Seniors.
On the eve of her 25th birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father's who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father's madness — or genius — will she inherit? This show contains strong language.
Directed by Adam Bryan, the cast includes:
Robert: John Johnson
Catherine: Courtney Gleason
Claire: Jessica Smith
Hal: Patrick Felton
The Contemporary Youth Arts Company proudly announces the return of Dan Kehde and Mark Scarpelli's original nostalgic musical, NORMAN ROCKWELL's AMERICAN PARADISE, an endearing look at the nation in simpler times through the eyes of the beloved American painter, illustrator and creator of hundreds of iconic covers for the classic Saturday Evening Post.I saw the show the last time CYAC staged it and I loved it - highly recommended!
Relive the golden years of America as nearly 40 singers, dancers and actors of all ages bring to life 28 of Rockwell'’s best known, best remembered works of art covering five decades of 20th century Americana, including The Four Freedoms, The Right To Know, Saying Grace, Disciplinary Action, The Check-Up, The Plumbers, The Barbershop Quartet, and many more. With songs shadowing the musical styles from the '20s to the '70s, NORMAN ROCKWELL's AMERICAN PARADISE conjures the comfort and simplicity of the America of our parents and grandparents.
This show is family friendly, and is suitable and entertaining for all ages, children through grandparents (and great-grand parents).
Show run at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 21- 23 at the WVSU Capitol Center Theater at 123 Summers Street in Charleston.
Tickets available at the door - $6.00 for students and seniors and $10.00 for adults.
Call 342-6522 for reservations or more information.
It’s not nice to laugh at people’s mistakes, right?
Well, this weekend, it’s more than OK to laugh “with” and “at” the beginning dance class at ARTS Renaissance Center as Arts Resources for the Tri-State puts on the dancepacked comedy, Stepping Out. Molded by the dynamic duo of Coni Anthony (choreography) and Gene Anthony (directing), Stepping Out, Richard Harris’ laughout-loud comedy about eight students’ journey in a beginning dance class, runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 15-16 and June 22-23 and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays, June 17 and 24 at the Renaissance Art Center, 900 8th St., Huntington.
Tickets are $10. Call 304-733-ARTS for tickets or get them at the door.
Corralling the eight beginning dancers for the past three months, and tacking on a good 2 1/2 weeks of tech rehearsals for the show has been a labor of love for the theatrical couple.
Gene Anthony, veteran TV and film actor (”All My Children,” “Blues Brothers,” “Law and Order”) and retired Marshall University theater professor, said he had a nice two year break from theater after retiring from Marshall.
“I’m such an avid reader I had to get two Kindles that year because there are that many great books out there, “ he said. “And then that year turned into two... and also even more rewarding than all of my years as a professional artist is the fact that I have 10 grandchildren that hang on me like Christmas ornaments.” But when Bil Neal became a new leader at ARTS he persuaded Anthony to jump back in to direct a show.
Anthony said he had fallen in love with Stepping Out”years ago but that the show with such varying characters of different ages, never felt quite right at Marshall.
Like the Bad News Bears of a dance class, the eight dancers are a pack of awkward clashing personalities that include the bashful geek and only male, Geoffrey (played superbly by Michael Naglee) to the spastic, one-step behind Sylvia played by theater veteran Jane Modlin who gets tangled up in the curtains and who has the classic quip, I can't move and think at the same time — it’s not natural. Taught by a former show-girl, Mavis (played by Amy Browning), this once-a-week community tap class learns how to tap in the course of the play, and the play ends with the group doing a public, costumed performance for a charity event.
Anthony said Stepping Out”is packed with great dialogue, movement and a true to life sweetness that shines through.
They all have personal baggage, and all of these dancers are not good dancers but as their dancing improves so do their lives and that is the sweetness of the play,” he said.
Linda Reynolds, who plays Rose, said it was like taking a master class in dance to get to take tap from two of the best theater and dance teachers in the region.
Andrea Parkins, well known all over the region as a Celtic dancer, has been driving in from Ripley, W.Va., for the opportunity to work with the Anthonys.
Parkins, who last starred in ARTS’fall production of Jekyll and Hyde, said she did not know the show and had never performed in a comedy but knew she wanted to work with the Anthonys.
They have this way of telling you exactly what they want and then give you freedom to try it for yourself in a way that they really pull it out of you,”said Parkins, who plays Dorothy.
For more information, go online at www.733arts.org.
You can see some coverage of First Stage's first-ever Summer Theatre Camp in today's Herald-Dispatch, including a gallery of photos by Lori Wolfe (like the photos above and below).Young actors and actresses are honing their craft this week during the first of two weeks of theater camp offered by First Stage Theatre Company.
First Stage Theatre Company was founded in 1990 and has staged more than 50 theatrical shows starring children from the Huntington area.
Theater camps help young actors and actresses prepare for auditions, learn the 14 basic dance steps, prepare proper monologues and discover what songs are best suited for each audition, as well as instructions on the basics of theater performance, dance and auditioning skills.
The first camp, which runs through Friday, June 15, is open to students in grade six through 12. The second camp, which will be held July 9-13, is open to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Younger performers will learn about auditioning and staging dramatic and musical numbers and what it takes to produce a show from start to finish.
Camps are held under the direction of Mary Smirl at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church. Cost is $100 per camper.
For more details about the July camp, email marysmirl@yahoo.com or call 304-525-2557.
The Tri-State was well represented at last night's Tony Awards, as native sons - one from Huntington and one from Ashland - were nominated for two major awards.
Huntington native Michael Cerveris (left) was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his work in Evita. That award went to Michael McGrath for Nice Work If You Can Get It. Cerveris is also a regular guest star in the TV show Fringe.There may have been a small lapse of quiet from area stages, but the region’s bevy of theater companies were only rehearsing and reloading.
Here’s a look at some upcoming productions.
So you think you can dance, tap-style?
The dynamic theatrical couple Coni and Gene Anthony have teamed up to teach some tapping, and they’ve got the comedy musical to prove it.
Although the professional TV and movie actor is retired after 20 years of teaching at Marshall University, Gene Anthony’s been lured back into the fray as director of Stepping Out, Richard Harris’ comedy about eight students’ comical journey in a beginning dance class.
More than 50 folks got a sneak peek at this smash of a show on Thursday night during a free preview that featured a couple scenes from the rollicking comedy starring Mike Naglee, Jane Modlin, Andrea Parkins, Linda Reynolds and others in their hilarious roles as awkward beginning dancers. Presented by Arts Resources for the Tri-State, Stepping Out runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 15-16 and June 22-23 and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays, June 17 and 24 at the Renaissance Art Center, 900 8th St., Huntington.
For reservations and more information, call 304-733-ARTS.
‘New Works’ on the way
Jack Cirillo and the Marshall University Theatre Department have been an incubator for playwrights with the annual New Works Project, the annual June workshop now in its sixth season.
Set for June 14-16 in the Frances-Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center at Marshall, New Works is where both national and regional playwrights come to present works and developing works of everything from full-length plays, musicals and screenplays, to TV pilots and shorts. This year, Marshall University Theatre Alliance and Lunar Strategem, the new company started by playwright Matthew Earnest and MU professor and actress Nicole Perrone will collaborate for the 2012 New Works Project.
Their play, “Dead Letter Office,” will open at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14 and run through Saturday, June 16 in the Experimental Theatre. There is a $5 suggested donation for admission.
“Dead Letter Office” takes place in an underground bunker in an unnamed, postcapitalist city, where three anonymous Baroque figures are charged with deciphering and re-routing the world’s undeliverable mail. As the only ones on earth still adept with language, their job has been solid for over two centuries. But today the tables will turn: These cloistered and oblivious epistolographers will learn that the Enlightenment ended decades ago, and that their services are no longer needed.
For more information call the Marshall University Theatre box office at 304-696-2787.
‘Legally Blonde’ announces lead and dates
There will be one hot blonde hanging out in Ritter Park Amphitheater this July. Huntington Outdoor Theatre has announced the cast for its 19th season - a production of “Legally Blonde.” Headlining this year's cast as “Elle Woods” is Kathryn Davis, who in a quirky twist of fate is in fact a young attorney practicing at Huddleston Bolen LLP in Huntington.
Also featured is local anchorman Kennie Bass in the role of Callahan.
To view the whole cast and to obtain more information visit www.hotwv.org.
“Legally Blonde” will be presented July 6-8,13-15,20-22,and 27-29 at Huntington’s Ritter Park Amphitheater.
Shows begin at 8:30 p.m. with the Children’s preshow beginning at 7 p.m. and a community preshow at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for picnicking. Tickets may be purchased at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena or at the gate on the nights of the show. Ticket prices are general admission $15. Seniors 65 and older and children ages 5-12 are $13 while ages 5 and under are free.
Group rates are available. For more information call 304-412-3393.
Hardiman starring in Charleston
Huntington resident Ryan Hardiman, who is singing in August with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra, will be on stage later this month with Emily Capece when the Charleston Light Opera Guild presents “Next To Normal,” the emotive family drama that won three 2009 Tony awards and a 2010 Pulitzer Prize for drama.
As part of the 10-day FestivALL Charleston, “Next to Normal” will run at 7:30 p.m., June 15-16, and 22-23 and at 5 p.m. June 17 and 24 at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater. Call the Guild box office at 304-343-2287 for tickets. Box office hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
A murder mystery, bluegrass style
The Cosmopolitan Club in Ashland, will be presenting the latest Murder and Merriment interactive murder mystery “party, “Post Time for Murder!” at 7 p.m. June 15. Tickets for the horse race themed murder party are $47 and can be reserved by calling 606-329-0746. Tickets include a gourmet dinner, entertainment, two glasses of wine or two bottles of domestic beer or non-alcoholic beverage of choice, and a chance to win a prize for correctly solving the mystery.
Performing in the mystery are Ashley Taylor, Barry Daily, Sarah Diamond Burroway, Kat Bryant, Scott Black, John Eric Booth, Ashley Bond and Jason Kretzer. George R. Snider III will be performing the role of Detective Columbus. Guests are encouraged to dress for the races, and the ladies can wear their favorite Derby hats.
First Stage Theatre Company Looking for Alumni for Benefit Concert
The First Stage Theatre Company has put hundreds of young actors on stage over the past two decades - and now that group is looking for graduates from the children’s theatre to be part of a Benefit Concert Sept. 22, 2012, at the Keith-Albee Theatre.
The organization is inviting veterans of past shows to take part in this concert to help the organization build a new home for the next generation of performers.
The group is holding its first major fundraiser to finance capital improvements to its new home. First Stage President Chuck Minsker said, “First Stage recently purchased a small warehouse near downtown Huntington. The space is already being used for storage and set construction, but with some improvements, it will eventually be used a small theatre space, for rehearsals and drama classes.”
The Benefit Concert will star alumni who appeared in a First Stage (or Musical Arts Guild-Children’s Theatre) show. Minsker said, “This gives us a chance to recognize some of the amazing performers who grew up on stage in Huntington - and it’s a great chance for them to ‘Pay it Forward’ to the actors of tomorrow.”
The Benefit Concert will be directed by Minsker and musical director Mark Smith.
Performers interested in taking part can email firststagewv@gmail.com for more information.
The First Stage Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing an educational, developmental experience for young people through the performing arts. Founded in 1990, the organization has staged more than 50 theatrical shows starring children from the Tri-State area.
