Interview with Greg Morris - "Glengarry Glen Ross"

  ARTS gets 2017 off to a terrific start next weekend with the play Glengarry Glen Ross, an intense and powerful play.

   We have some interviews with the cast coming up, and let's start with talented theatre veteran Greg Morris - his answers and short and to the point:  

Q: Tell us about Glengarry Glen Ross.  

Greg: It's about men. Manly men. Very disturbed, manly men, with no sense of humor.

Q: Why did you want to tackle this show?  

Greg: See answer to question above.

Q: Tell us about the character you play.  

Greg: James Linqk, the manliest of all men. Except for the others.

Q: What's your background in theatre?  

Greg: These days I prefer a painted cloth or draperies.

Q: This is an adult show - what's the most challenging thing about it - the language or the subject matter?  

Greg: Staying awake during the Director's notes.

Q: Why would you recommend this show?  

Greg: Who said I would recommend it? Ok, it's shorter than most two-act plays. Also, it's a night out, and, by god, we all need a little of that these days. Plus, it's also the only play I've been in twice (although in different roles), which goes to show just how much fun this play can be. For the actors.  I don't know about the audience. 

 Q: Thanks, Greg!

   Glengarry Glen Ross is a play by David Mamet that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. The play shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts to sell undesirable real estate to unwitting prospective buyers. It will be presented in the Renaissance Theatre Ballrooom at 900 8th Street in Huntington on Feb. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Dinner and Show are $30 each (reservations required - call 304-733-2787.  Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Show only tickets are $15 each. Also, the Feb. 9 (Thursday) show offers 2 tickets for $20. Visit www.artstristate.org for online tickets.

The Cast:

Owen Reynolds as John Williamson
Robert Hutchens as Shelley Levene
Dylan Clark as George Aaronow
Michael Naglee as David Moss
Greg Morris as James Lingk
Len Trent as Richard Roma
Simon Woods as Detective Baylen

**THIS PLAY CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE**

On Stage This Weekend: "Barefoot in the Park"

   The quiet days of January roll on to the final weekend, there only one show taking the stage - but it's a great one!

- Barefoot in the Park - The Actors Guild of Parkersburg present the comedy by Neil Simon on Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at 724 Market Street. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for students and senior citizens. 

   Enjoy the show!

Auditions at Marshall University

   The Marshall University School of Theatre announced its 2017 Tuition Waiver Scholarship Audition / Portfolio Review. 

   The date is Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at the Joan Edwards Performing Arts Center on the campus
of Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. 

   An audition is required if you wish to be considered for a Tuition Waiver Scholarship. Not an actor?
Those interested in backstage production should bring your portfolio for review. 

   More details are on the website: http://www.marshall.edu/theatre/theatre-scholarships/ 

Beauty and the Beast Cast List

   There are actually two productions of Disney's Beauty and the Beast being staged this year, and HART in the Park has announced its cast for this summer's production at Ritter Park, along with the cast for Nunsense 2 and the Preshow. (The Paramount Players should announce its B & B cast list soon.)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CAST
Directed by Mary and Tommy Smirl
Producers - Sheena Neal, Courtney Eastone
Assistant Director - Angie Jolicoeur
Vocal Director - Jennifer Londeree
Choreographer - Sarah Navy

Beast - Levi Kelley
Belle - Megan Creasy
Maurice - Chris Wellman
Gaston - Eric Wilson
Lefou - Wesley Boggs
Mrs. Potts - Tamara Meadows
Chip - Christian Garnes
Lumiere - Owen Reynolds
Cogsworth - Michael Board
Babette - Rileigh Smirl
Madame De La Grande Bouche - Bethany Himes
Silly Girls - Cyndi Mac Wilson, Ashley Plybon, Laura Melvin
Monsieur D'Arque - Dave Owens

Dancers/Inanimate Objects
Ainsley Meadows
Annie Wolfe
Morgan Smith
Selby Smith
Natalie Eastone
Sophie Eastone
Sheena Neal
Linda LeMaster
Emily O'Neal
Stephanie Jackson
Allison Himes
Cerrinnia Hesson
Anna Felty
Dean Neal
Lindsay McKelvey
Hollyn Tao
Lily McGinnis
Philip Wright
Jeremy Conley
Marsha Lewis
Adaleigh Conley
Alexandra Smith
Kalee Davis
Amanda Conley
Hannah Wellman
Hailey Browning
Parker Runyon
Riley Keller
Faith Young
Sophia Kluemper

Chorus/Townspeople
Charlie Gail McElroy
Betty Craddock
Aileen Conley
Riley Thacker
Annie Thacker
Robert Young
Lily Browning
Megan Smith
Parr Thacker
Delaney Boggs
Emily Himes
Alexis Miller
Reagan Snyder
Daeshine Stewart
Kateri Spoor
Holly Price
Ella Clark
Elizabeth Hesson

NUNSENSE 2 CAST
Directed by Eddie Harbert
Choreographer - Coni Anthony

Mary Olson
Mary Williams 
Linda Reynolds
Jane Modlin
Cindy Westbrook

WISH UPON A STAR: JUNE CHILDRENS PRESHOW CAST
Directed by Levi Kelley

Snow White - Sophie Eastone
Pinocchio - Morgan Smith
Dumbo - Nicholas Copley
Crows - Avery Johnson, Maddy Pratt, Olivia Kathleen Queen, Karley Clarke
Fairy Godmother - Reagan Snyder 
Cinderella - Natalie Eastone
Peter Pan - Dean Neal
Tinkerbell - Bindi Staley
Wendy - Elizabeth Felinton
Michael - Zachary Humphrey 
John - Lucian Epling 
Sleeping Beauty - Selby Smith
Three Good Fairies - Mary Margaret O'Malley, Rylee Plymale, Aileen Conley
Cruella De Vil - Kathleen Stoner
Seven Dwarfs/Mice/Dalmatians/Kite Flyers - Alaina Jackson
Elizabeth Humphrey
Emmaly Damron
Maanasa Miriyala
Chloe Preece
Brandon Mansfield
Cailyn Counts
Keeley Counts
Hannah Wayne
Thomas Miller
Jaclynn Short
Roger Short 
Giuliana Copley
Cambrie Booth
Reagan Spoor
Alyxis Ramey
Molly Blankenship
Suzana Gibson
Hannah Grace Epling
Dylan Adkins
Riley Thacker
Annie Thacker
Moira Boles
Alysia Smith
Jana Aten
Maddie Eastwood

The cast meeting for "Beauty and the Beast" will be held at St Clouds, Monday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

The first rehearsal/cast meeting for the children's Preshow "Wish Upon A Star" will be held Monday, March 6 at 5 p.m. at St. Clouds. 

Oscar Nominations for 2017

    It's time for our annual step away from the stage to take a look at this year's Oscar nominations. 

   There are some surprises in there, and a few omissions (for example, no nomination for Amy Adams in Arrival or for Finding Dory in Best Animated Film).

   Here are the nominees:

BEST PICTURE

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

=============================

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington, Fences

=============================

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga, Loving 

Natalie Portman, Jackie 

Emma Stone, La La Land

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

=============================

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight 

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel, Lion 

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

=============================

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Viola Davis, Fences 

Naomie Harris, Moonlight 

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

=============================

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Kubo and the Two Strings

Moana

My Life as a Zucchini

The Red Turtle

Zootopia

=============================

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Arrival 

La La Land 

Lion 

Moonlight 

Silence

=============================

COSTUME DESIGN

Allied 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 

Florence Foster Jenkins 

Jackie 

La La Land

=============================

DIRECTING

Arrival 

Hacksaw Ridge 

La La Land 

Manchester by the Sea 

Moonlight

=============================

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

Fire at Sea 

I Am Not Your Negro 

Life, Animated 

O.J.: Made in America 

13th

=============================

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

Extremis 

4.1 Miles 

Joe’s Violin 

Watani: My Homeland 

The White Helmets

=============================

FILM EDITING

Arrival 

Hacksaw Ridge 

Hell or High Water 

La La Land 

Moonlight

=============================

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Land of Mine 

A Man Called Ove 

The Salesman 

Tanna 

Toni Erdmann

=============================

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

A Man Called Ove 

Star Trek Beyond 

Suicide Squad

=============================

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Jackie 

La La Land 

Lion 

Moonlight 

Passengers

=============================

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

"Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" from La La Land

Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

"Can’t Stop The Feeling" from Trolls

Music and Lyric by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster

"City Of Stars" from La La Land

Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

"The Empty Chair" from Jim: The James Foley Story

Music and Lyric by J. Ralph and Sting

"How Far I’ll Go" from Moana

Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda

=============================

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Arrival 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 

Hail, Caesar! 

La La Land 

Passengers

=============================

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

Blind Vaysha 

Borrowed Time 

Pear Cider and Cigarettes 

Pearl 

Piper

=============================

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

Ennemis Intérieurs 

La Femme et le TGV 

Silent Nights 

Sing 

Timecode

=============================

SOUND EDITING

Arrival 

Deepwater Horizon 

Hacksaw Ridge 

La La Land 

Sully

=============================

SOUND MIXING

Arrival 

Hacksaw Ridge 

La La Land 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

=============================

VISUAL EFFECTS

Deepwater Horizon 

Doctor Strange 

The Jungle Book 

Kubo and the Two Strings 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

=============================

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

Arrival 

Fences 

Hidden Figures 

Lion 

Moonlight

=============================

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

Hell or High Water 

La La Land 

The Lobster 

Manchester by the Sea 

20th Century Women

"Bitsy and Boots" Return!

   Great news! Bitsy and Boots are back in another new adventure!

   The duo - a couple of (shall we say) seasoned local residents who have starred in a series of plays written by local playwright Jonathan Joy - and now they're returning to the stage in  murderous new production. 

   Here's the press release with all the info:

   First Church Dinner Theater 2017 presents our 25^th anniversary production:

   A Bitsy and Boots Murder Mystery by Jonathan Joy

   Who was murdered, and whodunit?

   The players are sworn to secrecy – you’ll have to attend, to find the answers!

   And then, you’re sworn to secrecy, to keep later attendees in suspense!

   Join us for A Bitsy and Boots Murder Mystery, the seventh comedy in the “Bitsy and Boots” series by our resident playwright, Jonathan Joy. To provide the laughter, we have assembled 

a stellar cast of Dinner Theater veterans and new players:

             

       Bitsy - Jane Morse                 Boots - Loretta Hetzer

                Tommy – Eric Wilson                          Kat -  Jenn Naglee

        Max - Michael Sheets                           Bridget – Cyndi Wilson 

                Bertie Lou – Linda LeMaster                Raul - Michael Naglee 

                 Henry – Galen Morse                           Opal – Noella Morse

   25 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG! 

   The Dinner Theater has been a winter highlight in Huntington since 1991. It is an integral part of First Church’s Mission program, raising more than $56,000 for Mission projects through 24 productions. For example last year’s proceeds helped 10 West Virginia mission projects, the Marshall Campus Christian Center, utility help for a local family, nursery rugs for Ebenezer Outreach, Ebenezer Christmas Angels, and Christmas in Nicaragua.

   First United Methodist Church, 1124 5^th Ave., Huntington

   Shows will be presented on Thursday, Feb. 16; Friday, Feb. 17; and Saturday, Feb. 18

Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.     Show at 8 p.m.

Choice of entrees: Prime Rib au Jus or Glazed Cornish hen, with Tossed Salad, Baked Potato, Green Peas and Pearl Onions, Dilly Rolls, Assorted Valentine Desserts

Dinner plus Show:  Adult - $25   Child under 12 - $8

Show only (as space permits) - $5

Babysitting available on request for all shows (advance notice required)

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL DINNERS

        Call:  304-522-0357 or  740-867-8576 

                                 or e-mail  firstchurchdinnertheater@gmail.com

All profits benefit the Missions of First United Methodist Church