On Stage This Weekend

   No musicals on tap for this weekend, but you have three amazing plays to choose from! 

   Here's the rundown:

- As You Like It by William Shakespeare - Arts Resources for the Tri State (ARTS) present the classic play at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 29, 30 and Feb. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

- The Belle of Amherst - The Paramount Arts Center presents the play based on the life of poet Emily Dickinson. It’ll be presented on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for students.

- Moonlight and Magnolias - Jenny Wiley Theatre presents the play on Jan. 26, 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 4, 5 , 6 at 7:30 p.m. at 218 2nd Street in Pikeville, Ky. Tickets are$16 for adults and $12 for students.

   So get out there and support your local theatre!

"As You Like It" Interview with Dylan Clark

   There are just two more days until the premiere of the ARTS play As You Like It - and here's our final (so far) interview with the cast.

   But it’s a good one, as the incredibly funny and talented Dylan Clark checks in with his comments about working on one of Shakespeare’s finest shows:

Q: Tell us about As You Like It.

Dylan: It's a story about a bunch of people falling in love in a forest. 

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

Dylan: There's some kissing, I think! 

Q: Tell us about the character you play.

Dylan: I play Silvius, a shepherd deep in the throes of unrequited love. 

Q: What's your background in theatre?

Dylan: I got myself a shiny BFA in theatre at Marshall University.

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Dylan: A ragtag group of misfits that band together against all odds. 

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

Dylan: Easy. The doublets.

Q: Why would you recommend this show?

Dylan: It's funny and looks neat.

Q: And how do you like it?

Dylan: I don't like it... I LOVE it!

   Thanks, Dylan!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

Auditions for "Junie B. Jones The Musical" This Weekend

   The beloved book starring Junie B. Jones takes to the stage this Spring in a musical - and local kids can be part of the show!

   Auditions for First Stage's production of Junie B. Jones The Musical will be held on Saturday, January 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church at 5747 East Pea Ridge Road in Huntington.

   Auditions are open to young people from 8 years old through seniors in high school. The cast size will be approximately 30.

   Please prepare 32 - 64 bars (or 1 - 2 minutes) of a musical theater song (NOT a pop song). An accompanist and CD player will be available. You may bring sheet music or a karaoke track- but please, no a cappella auditions. Actors should be prepared to learn a short dance.

   The show will be staged April 7-17.

   Don't miss Junie B!

"As You Like It" Interview with Robert Hutchens

   We’re four days away from the first performance of Shakespeare’s As You Like It (slightly delayed by the onset of Snowmageddon) - luckily we have more interviews with the cast to share!

   Today, let’s hear from the talented and dynamic Robert Hutchens, who plays Jacques - and has a great story to share:

Q: Tell us about As You Like It.  

Robert: I first saw As You Like It in Stratford-on-Avon in 1973, performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. A well-known British actor named Richard Pasco played Jacques, the part I'm now playing. A few years later,  I was playing Jacques myself, but not Pasco's Jacques.  I was Jacques de Boys. (Apparently, Shakespeare was not oversupplied with French names.) I was also doing props for the play, and one day, the director got a strange notion. She turned to me and said, "Can we get a dead deer?" I stared at her with incomprehension. "I'm not a hunter," I said. "Yes, well, but... can you get one?" This deer was to appear in one minor scene, a scene which our director, Mike Murdock, has cut. That's how necessary a dead deer was. The director couldn't be talked out of it. She'd had a vision of the foresters trudging back to camp bearing a deer carcass, and she wouldn't let go of it. So, I went off in search of a corpse. When I called the wildlife management administration, they jumped on me with paranoid suspicion: Why? Who was I?  Where was I? How could I be reached? (Arrested? I wondered.) I was a wreck.  After several days of grabbing people's lapels and demanding, "Where can I get a dead deer," one of the cast members said, "Well, I've got a stuffed head." And another said, "Well, I've got a stuffed rump!" (?!?) It was a start.  I took the head and rump to a taxidermist, who, as luck would have it, had four deer feet in his freezer. (?!?) These various parts were arranged to  project out of a burlap sling attached to a pine branch. No hunter has ever borne home the spoils of the hunt with greater satisfaction than I did carrying the remnants of three (at least) different animals into the theatre. My satisfaction was short-lived. To their delight, our merry band of foresters discovered that if they walked jauntily enough , they could expose our trick, and mercilessly they did so. The bouncier they trod, the more rigid the deer parts appeared, the more fixed and glassy was its stare. The magic of the theatre was sacrificed for a low - and I may say cruel - joke.   

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?  

Robert: For those who idealize nature, it creates a picture of an idyllic existence in the forest. For those who like to laugh, there's a parade of clowns and buffoons and country bumpkins. For those who like sexual tension and naughty innuendo, there's a gender-bending romance. And the most famous speech of the play - "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players" - is as beautiful a poetic expression as exists in English.  

Q: Tell us about the character you play.

Robert: I'm very lucky to play Jacques, the Jacques who speaks the immortal lines above. I have great fondness for him. He longs to be a fool, not realizing he is one.  He is vain and temperamental and childish - at least that's the way he is going to be in this production. It's an interpretation quite different from others I've seen.  Jacques is famous in literature as "the melancholy Jacques," and that's the way Pasco played him, and the way a very wonderful actor named Jay Doyle played him in the "stuffed-rump" version. Those actors played him with a stateliness, which is perhaps more in keeping with his moment of unparalleled eloquence.  Mine is not so much a melancholy Jacques as a bi-polar Jacques, a Jacques for the Prozac Century. 

Q: What's your background in the theatre?

Robert: I started doing community theatre when I was a teen-ager. Later, I majored in theatre at the University of Tennessee. I was able to earn a living by acting and directing in regional theatre for a few years, and spend several more years in arts administration. 

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Robert: I'm a newcomer, so perhaps I'm allowed to say this when others cannot: the breadth and depth of talent here (encountered in a very brief acquaintance) is extraordinary. That can be said with no exaggeration. And ARTS is able to attract and hold members and to inspire their devotion to a degree I've only seen once or twice in a lifetime of association with such groups. The concept of having a "company" is very smart, I think. Typically, theatres hold auditions for a play, and those not cast disappear, maybe never to be seen again. Membership in the ARTS company keeps you close to the group, whatever your assignment. This is a very accomplished cast. I'm thoroughly intimidated.

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

Robert: As I started out by saying, I have had a long familiarity with this play, and I have coveted the role of Jacques for decades. Twice I tried out for it and didn't get it.  To be able to speak, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players..." is a privilege for which I'm deeply grateful. You just don't get to say more beautiful words than these.  I'm an old Jacques - as Jacques's go, but I can't believe there was ever a time in my life when I was riper for speaking these words.  

Q: Why would you recommend this show? 

Robert: This is a lovely and delightful production. I suppose the setting would be called environmental. The audience is surrounded by scenery, accosted by actors, and the story is laid right in their laps - figuratively and maybe literally. The play begins in a stark winter that passes into spring. Given the temperatures outside, I'd think the audience would be glad to be reminded that spring will come again... sweet and new, as it always does.  

Q: How do you like it?

Robert: Sold out. 

   Thanks, Robert!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

"As You Like It" Interview with Nora Ankrom

   This winter storm we call Snowmageddon may have closed down As You Like It for its opening weekend, but that just means we have more time for interviews!

   Up next is our conversation with the lovely and talented Nora Ankrom:

Q: Tell us about the show.

Nora: As You Like It is Shakespeare's comedy of all 

emotions: love, loss, betrayal, lust, anger, 

longing, cheer, and melancholy.

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

Nora: Whether young or old, in love or out, polished 

or savage, male or female, everyone can find a 

relatable character in the Forest of Arden, where 

nothing is too serious for too long. 

Q: Tell us about the character you play.

Nora: I play Phebe, a self-absorbed, flirtatious, lusty shepherd lady. Phebe is one-third of an ill-fated love triangle... with a twist.

Q: What's your background in theatre?

Nora: This is my third year as part of the ARTS Resident Acting Company. Last year, I performed 

in Medea (Glauce), Into the Woods (Baker's Wife), and Company (Amy). 

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Nora: In the large cast, audiences will find familiar, favorite faces as well as some newcomers to the area and the ARTS stage. 

   Thanks, Nora!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

"As You Like It" Canceled This Weekend

   ARTS has canceled tonight's performance of As You Like It, and has announced new performance dates - the show will now run on Jan. 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 5 and 6.

   We have some more interviews with the cast to share, so stay warm and mark your calendars!

"As You Like It" Closed for Tonight

   Wisely, ARTS has decided to conceal tonight's performance of Shakespeare's As You Like It at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntington - the heavy snowfall has made traveling conditions a bit too treacherous out there.

   They'll post their revised schedule (including whether or not there will be a Saturday performance) tomorrow. More news as it develops!

On Stage This Weekend (Maybe)

   With a big snowstorm threatening, we haven't received any word about shows being canceled - yet - so here are the shows taking the stage this weekend (and if we hear otherwise, we'll post updates here).

- As You Like It by William Shakespeare - Arts Resources for the Tri State (ARTS) present the classic play at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

- The Belle of Amherst - The Paramount Arts Center presents the play based on the life of poet Emily Dickinson. It’ll be presented on Jan. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for students.

- Moonlight and Magnolias - Jenny Wiley Theatre presents the play about the struggle to write the screenplay for the movie “Gone With the Wind.” The show will be presented at 218 Second Street in Pikeville, Ky, on Jan. 22, 26, 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 4, 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m.

- The 39 Steps  - Actors Guild of Parkersburg presents the play at 724 Market Street in Parkersburg on Jan. 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., and Jan. 17 and 24 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for senior citizens and students.

   And that's it! Stay safe out there!

"As You Like It" Interview with Mike Murdock

   Just two days to the premiere (the Bard laughs at your talk of snow!) of Shakespeare’s As You Like It! 

   And we have more interviews to share - so let’s hear from the director of the play - the multi-talented Mike Murdock! 

Q: Tell us about As You Like It.

Mike: This is one of Shakespeare’s better known comedies, and one of the first to have a female character dress up like a man. Rosalind is banished from court by her uncle, Duke Frederick, who has usurped the throne from her father, his own brother, Duke Senior. Rosalind and Duke Frederick’s daughter, Celia, and the court jester Touchstone, go off on an adventure to the Forest of Arden to find Rosalind’s father.  Along the way, there are all sorts of appropriate (and inappropriate) comedic mishaps. Music, dancing, puppets, goats, giant trees, tiny sticks, love, lust and much, much more.

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

Mike: Shakespeare is universal. The locales may be different. The clothes might be different.  The language might be more verbose, but, ultimately, the stories are the same. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Girl dresses up like man to go to the forest to find her lost father with her best friend and a fool with a puppet. Girl finds boy. Boy thinks girl is boy. Girl plays trick on boy to see if boy really loves girl. A different girl falls for girl dressed as boy. Original boy’s brother falls in love with original girl’s best friend. Fools falls in love with a goat-herder. The God of Marriage shows up and they have a dance about it. You know, just like real life.

Q: Tell us about your work on the show.

Mike: I’m the humble director of this incredible version of Shakespeare’s timeless classic, brought to beautiful life by one of the best theatre companies in the state. Super humble.

Q: What's your background in theatre?

Mike: I’ve done a lot of theatre, both professionally and for free. I’ve also done a lot of Shakespeare across this fair globe of ours, and I have loved every minute of it.

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Mike: The cast is brilliant, funny, poignant, honest and so great to watch every night.  I can’t get enough.  My wife, Joanna Murdock, who I consider one of the very best actresses in the Tri-State (even before I married her, so it’s not just a husband doting on his wife – but I’m certainly doing that, too) plays Rosalind, switching seamlessly between tenderness and toughness, fragility and strength – it’s astounding to watch her work, and Kate Morris, another of my favorite females actors around these parts, plays Celia, finding the joy in the character, the fun, and at the same time, the anguish, loss and love. These two women are forces to be reckoned with, and seeing them finally work together is a dream come true for me. I love seeing them play with each other and find new things every night.  Great actors are so fun to watch.

   Speaking of great actors, Robert Hutchens as Jaques is doing a simply marvelous job as the melancholy lord who believes all the world is a stage. Jonathan Maynard plays Touchstone, the fool, with a mischievous and uninhibited fervor that I truly enjoy. John Campbell does double-duty as both brother Dukes, and his transformations are delicious. Michael Naglee is back in his element as a true Renaissance man, carrying the role of Orlando on his awesome shoulders as he fight for love and to find his place in this world. Simon Woods finds previously untapped sweetness and more in his star turn as Oliver, Orlando’s brother. Todd Green, Rick Walker, Cameron Knight and Dylan Clark all bring hilariously wonderful moments to this show. And let’s not forget all the people in the show that have never done Shakespeare before, or, at least, not with me: Becky McClelland (who built us a $%*#@!% AMAZING tree) is killing it as Le Beau, Kristina Richins is terrific as Amiens and sings beautifully with the incredibly talented duo of Ashby Foutch and Lara Donahoe (with some original music by Lara as well), Tyler Bradley nails Corin, Cyndi Mac Fuller has created some amazing props for us (GOATS, I SAY!) and is wonderful as Audrey, Andrew Surber is the perfect Hymen, God of Marriage, lyrically and poetically showing a wonderful mastery of the language of the show and Nora Ankrom is transcendent as Phebe, bringing another famous Shakespeare character and famous monologue to life in an exceptional and passionate way from the first time she steps on stage.

   This cast is simply incredible. I can’t say enough about them. And we got it up in like four weeks. So, try to catch up, literally everyone else.

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

Mike: I love Shakespeare and I love doing new things at ARTS.  This show is both!

Q: Why would you recommend this show?

Mike: There’s something for the whole family to enjoy. We’ve transformed the ballroom space into a forest (and the Duke’s Court). The costumes that Anna Baker and Becky McClelland built, mainly from scratch, are so @#%^$#@ good.  Everybody needs to see the show, so we can show you the power of community theatre and how you don’t need $100,000, rented sets and rented costumes in order to have an amazing show. The set is cool. Nathan Bradley's lights are good. Michael Sullivan's sound is good. Sometimes getting creative is better. Also, if you have $100,000, we’ll take that, too. Obviously. Don’t be a jerk.

Q: And how do you like it?

Mike: I like it so well. And so will you.

    Thanks, Mike!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

"As You Like It" Interview with Joanna Berner Murdock

   Just three days to the premiere of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and here’s our fourth interview with the cast and crew!

    Today’s interview is with the lovely and talented Joanna Berner Murdock, who plays two roles - Rosalind and Ganymede.

Q: Tell us about Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Joanna: As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s comedies. It’s a play about exile, about forests, about fools, about poetry (good and bad), and about love.

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

Joanna: I think the show relates to modern audiences because it’s a timeless story. Boy and girl meet, they like and then they love. Who doesn’t like to see multiple pairs of lovers in love? It’s like a live action Hallmark movie times 10!

Q: What's your background in theatre?

Joanna: I developed an interest in theatre when I was a kid, started doing all the local theatre I could and I never stopped. I liked it so much I majored in it in college - I have a BFA in Acting from UK. I have been in the ARTS resident company since 2013.

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Joanna: The cast and crew of As You Like It is made of wonderful, special, talented people that I love. This show would not have been possible if not for the talents of every single person involved.

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

Joanna: This is my second experience performing As You Like It - I played Phebe almost 8 years ago (yikes - time flies). I auditioned for ARTS production because I was interested in doing the show again - but maybe from another character’s prospective.

Q: Why would you recommend this show?

Joanna: I recommend this show because I think there’s something in the show for everyone. Also because it’s less fun to perform for empty seats.

Q: And how do you like it?

Joanna: How do I like it, you ask? I like it the most. I also like it well done, with sprinkles, and with the salad dressing on the side. J  

   Thanks, Joanna!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

"As You Like It" Interview with Anna Baker

   Just a few more days until the first performance of Shakespeare’s As You Like It - so let’s share another interview with the cast and crew!

   Today, we hear from Anna Baker, who designed the costumes for the show:

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

Anna: It's a love story with four branches. Love triangles, deceptive disguises, unrequited feelings... it's what we all experience at one time or another. It's the kind of thing I love to watch, that's for sure!

Q: Tell us about your position on the crew.

Anna: I am the costume designer for this classic piece. Though I've costumed shows before, this was the most challenging and enjoyable show I've ever worked on. (Director) Mike Murdock knew exactly what styles he wanted, and let me run free with fabrics and trims and "creative juices." It was an absolutely huge endeavor to build all of these period costumes, and I am so thankful that Becky McClelland was there to help. We got to use a lot of brocade and thicker upholstery fabrics, which we got to pick out. We've had a blast, and it reminded me of how much I love creating the wardrobe for so many different characters and personalities.

Q: What's your background in theatre?

Anna: I started out at ACTC in Ashland after I saw Hairspray on a trip to NYC when I was 15. I got a taste, and couldn't put the bottle down. Paula Krepsik, the costume designer there at the time, taught me everything I know now. She's definitely a big influence in my community theatre life.

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Anna: The cast is a fun one. We have a new company, so we've welcomed new, exciting people who bring so much joy and excitement to the theatre. Robert Hutches (playing Jaquis) is a new company member. His attitude and talent are so enjoyable and add to the dynamic of the show on and off stage. Kate Morris let me put her in a corset, so she is definitely a trooper. She has such a calm, pleasant air that calms even the craziest of us (mainly me) down. Lara Donahoe and Ashby Foutch are also some newish faces in our company. They're so fun, and sing like angels. This cast is a great one. They've handled my costume rules well, and that's all you can really ask for, ya know?

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

Anna: I wanted to get back into costuming more classic pieces. I helped costume shows like A Christmas Carol for four years straight with Paula. We did shows like Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc. Getting back to such a structured, gorgeous, forgotten style is a dream for any costumer. I think moreso, it helps people engulf themselves in a character because most of these women don't wear corsets, or renaissance ball gowns on a day-to-day basis. And the men don't wear leather pants everyday...which is a shame in my eyes.

Q: Why would you recommend this show?

Anna: 1. Great cast 2. Great Director 3. Great show 4. Great costumes

Q: And how do you like it?

Anna: I like it well - especially if the cast only has hard candy and water around my costumes!

   Thanks, Anna!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

"As You Like It" Interview with John Campbell

   For our second interview with the cast of the ARTS play As You Like It, let’s hear from the talented Dr. John W. Campbell, who handles two roles in the show.

Q: Tell us about Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

John: Good guys / bad guys, good girls / bad girls, nobles and fools, courtiers and commoners, even a Greek god, all thrown together as love conquers all. It is a comedy, but not without some very deep moments. The language is elegant, the slapstick funny, and the characters recognizable on today's streets, which segues nicely to the next question.

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

John: Shakespeare's brilliance lies in part in his ability to portray humans that stand outside any one era. The words are from his time, and yet the characters can be seen in Kroger’s. Love, loyalty, treachery, friendship: these are found in every era, in every culture, quite possibly in each of us. Then there is the continued influence of his language, his ability to turn a phrase, on our use of English in the 21st century. We continue to be in his debt.

Q: Tell us about the character you play or your position on the crew.

John: I have the privilege of playing two characters who are brothers. As the play opens, Duke Frederick has usurped his brother Duke Senior. The elder duke has chosen exile in the Forest of Arden, and in relinquishing power finds freedom, while the younger duke finds himself slave to his position of power and distrustful of all. Some of the fun for me, and hopefully for the audience, is in jumping from one duke to the other in back-to-back scenes.

Q: What's your background in theatre?

John: I've been privileged to be involved in several shows at ARTS in the past couple of years, and was active in community theatre in the Lexington, KY, area before moving here.

Q: Tell us about the cast.

John: It's big. It's bold. It's funny (except maybe Duke Frederick). While we all take Shakespeare seriously, we have a lot of fun exploring his humor in the situations he has contrived. 

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

John: First, because it was Shakespeare. Second, my friends at ARTS were the ones doing it. Third, it was an opportunity to be under the direction of Mike Murdock.

Q: Why would you recommend this show?

John: We are surrounded by too much that is trite, that celebrates crassness, that pulls down the human spirit. Shakespeare holds out a reminder that there are things in this world that are noble, that call us to richer lives. How often does modern pop culture "Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything?" Yes, Shakespeare can be bawdy, with the sensibilities of a different era, and yet even then it is not at the expense of others. It is worth the (quite low) ticket price just to hear Robert Hutchens' delivery of "All the world's a stage," easily the most familiar passage from this play. Take advantage of this timeless literature, memorably presented, right here in Huntington. You'll have a good time.

Q: And how do you like it?

John: I like it very well. 

   Thanks, John!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

"As You Like It" Interview with Becky McClelland

   Coming up next week is the first show in the new season for ARTS - and they’re kicking off with a classic comedy, William Shakespeare’s As You Like It!

   We have some interviews with the cast and crew to share with you in the days ahead - and let’s start with Becky McClelland, who works double duty in the show: 

Q: Tell us about Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Becky: Having never experienced Shakespeare in any way. (Right?! I never read it in high school!) I was expecting a very dry show that no one would be able to understand. I was quite wrong! This show is funny with some beautiful moments.

Q: How does the show relate to modern-day audiences?

Becky: It's very relevant to today! You've got the whole boy-meets-girl-and-falls-madly-in-love thing. The man who hates his brother for no apparent reason (that happens twice!). Women lusting over men. Oh - and the girl who dresses like a guy making the other guy fall for him (her?) before realizing he was a her after all. Simple, right?

Q: Tell us about the character you play or your position on the crew.

Becky: I play the part of LeBeau. I am the attendant of Duke Fredrick who is a complete jerk. As a result, I am not a big fan of his, but I know enough not to let him know that. I do, however, go behind his back to let out a couple of his secrets though. In this end, I feel my character has been lost in Duke Fredrick's shadow for so long she takes full advantage of the attention she gets (when she finally gets some!). Anna Baker, our costume designer, and I costumed this show primarily of costumes we built by hand. We had a great time shopping for fabrics and I have really learned a lot from Anna about the customs and costumes of the time period!

Q: What's your background in theatre?

Becky: Prior to joining ARTS in October 2014 I had done no theater outside of my church where I had the honor of performing in a four-character dinner theater a couple of times. 

Q: Tell us about the cast.

Becky: As always, I believe we have a great cast for this show! One 'bright spot' in this show for me is Robert Hutchens who brings me nearly to tears each time he gives his 'All the world is a stage' monologue.

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

Becky: It's a show at ARTS! Why wouldn't I want to be a part of it?

   Thanks, Becky!

   As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be presented at the ARTS Renaissance Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the show only, and $30 for dinner and show - for dinner, you must make a reservation by calling 304-733-2787.

Coming Up in 2016 - Kanawha Players

    The Kanawha Players is celebrating its 93rd season, and has announced three shows they’ll be staging in the year ahead.

   Here’s the lineup:

- Failure: A Love Story by Philip Dawkins will be presented Feb. 5, 6, 12 and 13. By the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead - expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest. Tuneful songs and a whimsical chorus follow the story of Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty as they live out their lives above the family clock repair shop near the Chicago River, before their time unexpectedly runs out. A magical, musical fable where, in the end, the power of love is far greater than any individual’s successes or failures.

- The Little Theater’s Production of Hamlet by Jean Battlo will be presented June 9, 10, 12 and 13. A sophisticated New York director reluctantly travels to West Virginia to direct Hamlet under the auspices of a grant for “under served regions.” Only six people show up to audition. Gathering in Hattie’s Restaurant, this group perpetrates the most harrowing production of Shakespeare ever mounted. Some amazing costumes and merry mishaps ladle hilarity on top of sincere attempts to tailor Hamlet to this remarkable cast. The play is the thing, and though limp in quality, the production marches forward in tune to very real and deep human spirits bent on accomplishment. The result, a fractured, quixotic play, provides a fine example of realizing the impossible dream.

- Elvis Has Left The Building by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger will be presented Aug. 18, 19, 25 and 26. It’s 1970 and Elvis Presley has disappeared. No one, not even his wily manager, “The Colonel,” knows of his whereabouts. But the Colonel is all shook up because he has racked up a secret debt - and with the King missing, the only way to pay it off is to find an Elvis impersonator within 24 hours. Hijinks ensue as the Colonel takes desperate measures to replace a man who is irreplaceable, all while keeping the prying eyes of a nosy reporter at bay and figuring out what happened to the real Elvis.

   The tickets for each show are $15 for adults and $10 for students and children under 17 years of age.

   Don’t miss these unique shows!

Coming Up in 2016 - Children's Theatre of Charleston

   The longest-running children's theatre in the state, the Children's Theatre of Charleston (CTOC) follows the school year, and has one more show now in rehearsals for the 2015-2016 season.

   Here's the rundown:

- Shrek the Musical, Jr. will be presented at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre on March 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. and March 12 and 13 at 2 p.m. Based on the animated film, the musical is set in a faraway kingdom, where the green ogre Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits, runaways who’ve been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wise-cracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task – if he rescues feisty Princess Fiona from the Dragon-guarded tower, his swamp will be returned to him. But, a fairy tale wouldn’t be complete without unexpected twists and turns along the way.

   Don't miss it!

Coming Up in 2016 - Charleston Light Opera Guild

    The Charleston Light Opera Guild (CLOG) is one of the theatre powerhouses in the Tri-State area, and the organization has announced three big musicals they’ll be staging in Charleston in the year ahead.

   Here’s the lineup:

- Monty Python’s Spamalot is a musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and spoofs everything there is to love about musical theatre. The original 2005 Broadway production won three Tony Awards including Best Musical and received 14 Tony nominations. The show will be presented at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre on May 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21.

- The Wiz is the soulful African American version of the classic Wizard of Oz fairy tale with a modern twist that retells the tale. The show will be presented at the Civic Center Little Theatre on June 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 during FestivALL Charleston 2016.

- Beauty and the Beast brings to life the classic Disney animated musical about a beautiful girl who becomes the companion of a brutish beast to save her father's life. It will be presented on the Maier Performance Hall stage at the Clay Center on July 29, 30, August 5, 6, and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 31, August 7 and 14 at 2:00 p.m.

   It’s an impressive lineup - don’t miss these shows!

Coming Up in 2016 - Marshall’s Theatre Alliance

   Marshall University’s Theatre Alliance has two shows left to go in its 2015-2016 season (which follows the school year, natch). MU always creates amazing work, with top-notch acting and stellar production values - so their shows are always well worth checking out.

   They haven't announced their next season yet, but here are the shows we can expect for the first half of 2016:

- Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck will be presented Feb. 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre. Synopsis: stamp collecting is far more risky than you think. After their mother’s death, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the crown jewel for collectors. One sister tries to collect on the windfall, while the other resists for sentimental reasons. In this gripping tale, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stakes collectors enter the sisters’ world, willing to do anything to claim the rare find as their own.

- Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare will be presented April 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. at The Joan C. Edwards Playhouse. Synopsis: “For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” Considered to be the greatest love story of all time. Shakespeare’s tragic tale of forbidden love played out against a fairy tale backdrop of Verona, Italy.  Harold Bloom argues that “Romeo and Juliet “ is unmatched in the world’s literature “as a vision of an uncompromising love that perishes of its own idealism and intensity.”

   Tickets for each show are $20 each, $15 for faculty or senior citizens, $7 for children 5 to 12, and free to full-time Marshall students with valid ID.

Coming Up in 2016 - First Stage Theatre Co.

   First Stage Theatre Company is the long-running children’s theatre based in Huntington.

   As you’d expect, the group follows the school year - so it has two shows lined up for the Spring of 2016, but hasn’t announced its next season yet, so we’ll have to wait to see what they’ll present in the Fall.

   In fact, the first show will hold auditions on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church at 5747 East Pea Ridge Road in Huntington, W.Va.

   

    Here’s the lineup for the Spring, which wraps up the group’s 26th season:   

- Without Strings - The show will be presented March 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2016, at the auditorium at Huntington Middle School. The non-musical play is based on Carlo Collodi's “The Adventures of Pinocchio” written by Patrick Rainville Dorn. It follows the adventures of a marionette named Pinocchio who is magically brought to life, but who must overcome obstacles and survive an encounter with a monster whale to prove he’s worthy of becoming a real boy. The show is directed by  Zach Davis and produced by Debbie Jackson.

- Junie B. Jones: the Musical - The show will be presented April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 at the Renaissance Theatre at 900 8th Street in Huntington. The show adapts four of Barbara Park's best-selling books. It's Junie B.'s first day of first grade and a lot of things have changed for her: Junie's friend Lucille doesn't want to be her best pal anymore, and on the bus, Junie B. makes friends with Herb, the new kid at school. Also, Junie has trouble reading the blackboard and her teacher Mr. Scary thinks she may need glasses. Throw in a friendly cafeteria lady, a kickball tournament and a "Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal," and first grade has never been more exciting! The show is directed by Amy Browning and produced by Jeanette Bailey.

   It’s shaping up to be another great season for First Stage - don’t miss it!