Some Links for You

Two links noted here for your reading enjoyment:

- The Marshall Artists Series has one last show for the 2006-2007 season, and it hits the Keith-Albee stage in just a few days. You can learn more about the show "Forever Tango" in this story from today's Herald-Dispatch.

- First Stage Theatre offers a scholarship each year to high school seniors going into a performing arts program in college. For more information about the Jim Stone scholarship, go here (it's named after the local actor who was also a heck of a great guy).

First Stage Announces Lineup for Next Season

Some of this is old news to readers of this blog, but the bit about "Children of Eden" is new. Here's a press release that went out today:

The First Stage Theatre Company has announced its lineup of performances for the Fall 2007 / Spring 2008 season, which marks the 18th season for the children’s theater. Two shows will be staged: “Disney’s High School Musical” in Fall 2007 and “Children of Eden” in Spring 2008.

“Disney’s High School Musical” will take the stage in November 2007. The musical is based on the popular Disney film. The directing team includes director Chuck Minsker, music director Mark Smith, assistant director / choreographer Amy Browning and producer Jeanette Rowsey.

“Children of Eden” will be presented in April 2008. The musical is based on The Bible’s book of Genesis and features music by Stephen Schwartz, who created “Wicked,” “Pippin” and “Godspell.” The directing team includes director Jack Cirillo, music director Mark Smith, choreographer Mary Smirl and producer Clint McElroy.

Auditions for “Disney’s High School Musical” will be held July 21 and 22 at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church at 5747 East Pea Ridge Road in Huntington, W.Va.

“Children of Eden” auditions will be held in early 2008.

The First Stage Theatre Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an educational, developmental experience for young people through the performing arts. Based in Huntington, the organization draws on young performers from the tri-state area - West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.

Is that cool or what?

"High School Musical" Auditions

Yep, here's the big announcement - auditions for the First Stage production of "Disney's High School Musical" will be held Saturday, July 21 from 10:00am to 3:00pm and Sunday, July 22 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church.

Two months ahead of time is a bit early for the announcement, but I've been inundated with people asking about the auditions - so this should give everyone plenty of time to make plans. Rehearsals will start when school starts in the fall, and the show is scheduled to take the stage in November 2007!

Oh, and I should say that the show is contingent on the final approval of our contract, which seems to be going along swimmingly. We'll have some more announcements about this soon - including one that's going to get a lot of attention. But we'll save that one for now.

If you're wondering what's required in an audition, go here for more information. And as always, if you have any questions, email me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

Big News - Tomorrow!

OK, there's a big announcement just around the corner about First Stage's production of "High School Musical!" (Loyal readers may remember that I'm directing the show this fall - assuming we get the final details worked out.)

Sometime in the next 24 hours I'll have at least one (and maybe more) big announcement(s) about that show - stay tuned!

Marshall's Next Season

Marshall University's Department of Theatre has announced its upcoming schedule for the 2007 - 2008 season, and it looks like a good one. Here are the four shows they're presenting:

"Little Shop of Horrors" - Oct. 3 - 6, 2007
It's great to see MU tackling musicals, and this one is a lot of fun - I can't wait!

"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" - Nov. 14 - 17, 2007
This one I've never heard of, so let's ask the Internet to tell us more:

<< An ingenious and wildly comic romp which enjoyed a long and critically hailed run both on and Off-Broadway. Poking antic fun at the more ridiculous aspects of "show biz" and the corny thrillers of Hollywood's heyday, the play is a non-stop barrage of laughter as those assembled (or at least those who aren't killed off) untangle the mystery of the "Stage Door Slasher."

"...Bishop gives us a nakedly silly and relentlessly convoluted murder-mystery plot, with twist piled on twist till you have to give way and start laughing at the silliness...it's hugely enjoyable." --Village Voice.

Note: This is not a musical, but a comedic murder mystery. >>

Sounds good!

"The Seagull" - Feb. 20 - 23, 2008
Ah, Chekov - some serious dramatic territory here. Once again, let's get some info from our friend the Internet:

<< "The Seagull" questions the sensibilities and examines the trivialities of art, family relations and even life itself - with surprising results. Contrary to popular belief, "The Seagull" is full of action. Not a moment passes without conflict in this masterpiece.>>

"The Merry Wives of Windsor" - April 23 - 26, 2008
By our pal William Shakespeare, of course.

An excellent lineup, and one that will entertain and enlighten theatre-goers. Order those season tickets now!

"The Diary of Anne Frank" - The Review

I was lucky enough to catch the final performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” last Saturday, so this review is way overdue (and not much use to those who were trying to decide whether or not to see it) - but even though I’m late (what can I say, it’s been a crazy week), I have to take a moment and congratulate Marshall’s Department of Theatre on one of the most outstanding dramatic productions I’ve ever seen.

The play is based on the writing of the title character, a young woman whose family (and four friends) managed to hide from the Nazi invaders in Amsterdam for two years - from 1942 to 1944.

The play did an amazing job of capturing the claustrophobic difficulties of so many people living in such a small space. As always in Marshall Theatre productions, the set and costumes were amazing. The directing team did a fantastic job of bringing all the elements together - of course, Gene Anthony is one of our finest directors, and he flexes his creative muscles to great effect here.

But the actors have to bring these characters to life, and they did a terrific job. Playing the title character was Autumn Seavey in her last performance as a student at MU. I’m completely prejudiced where Autumn’s concerned - she started out acting with First Stage Theatre, and I’ve enjoyed her performances in shows like “Schoolhouse Rock Live” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” and numerous shows for Marshall, including “Hair.” I was lucky enough to be her director in “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” and as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to singing or acting, she ranks among the best performers from this area. As Anne Frank, she managed to play a young woman and be utterly convincing in the role. Anne is an intelligent, willful teen, but she’s also a playful child, and Autumn brought all those qualities (and more) to life. I hate to see Autumn leave, but at least she went out on a high note.

I don’t want to slight any of the other performers in the show - they were all excellent! I was very impressed to see how well these students portrayed older adults - it’s not an easy thing for any young actor, and the performances here were absolutely convincing. Leah Turley, Courtney Susman, Jeremy Plyburn, Caitlin Haught, Adam Paul and the always-excellent Nick Reynolds played characters much older, much more tormented by the life they are forcved to lead, and all delivered great performances.

Also portraying young people in the show were Sean Watkins as the son of the Van Daan family, an awkward child who learns to cope, thanks to Anne Frank; and Shay Hannon as Anne’s older sister Margot, who bears every burden with quiet strength.

Special kudos to Adam Stephens, who was amazing as Mr. Frank. Through his experiences we feel the anguish of the ordeal the family went through. Much of the show hinged on his performance, and he was perfect - I truly believed he was that character.

We’re used to seeing great performances at Marshall, but few can match the emotional depths of this story. Outstanding work by all involved, and another jewel in the crown of Marshall’s Department of Theatre!

What's Opera, Doc?

My pal Mark Hayes sends along this plug for the upcoming production of "Carmen" in Charleston (though he has an ulterior motive, which you'll discover in the last sentence). He writes:

Glad to see you mentioned the upcoming performance of "Carmen", brought to you one night only (May 19 at 8:00 pm) by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

The classic opera will be performed at the Clay Center for the Performing Arts in Charleston, and tickets are available at www.theclaycenter.org, www.wvsymphony.org, or by calling (304) 561-3570.

This production includes dozens of the finest singers in the Charleston area, and stars nationally-known soprano Christina Nassif (website: www.cristinanassif.com) in the title role. Nassif has performed to stellar reviews with the Virginia Opera, Washington National Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, among others, and has appeared several times in concert on the Carnegie Hall stage.

Her website's biography lists these accolades: The Washington Post's Mark Estren noted, "Nassif's voice has range and power, and the positions from which she can project it are amazing - stretching, sitting, even lying down." The Washington Times' T.L. Ponick remarked, "Add this impressive performance to her heartbreaking portrayal of Violetta in last season's Virginia Opera production of La Traviata, and one begins to wonder why the Met has not been knocking at her door."

Only one performance! For anyone that loves opera, or simply loves impressive performances and symphonic music, this should be a 'must see.' Besides, anyone who has listened to classical music (or watched cartoons) in their lives will recognize many of the songs featured in "Carmen." Here's a sample:

Maria Callas signs "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" ("Habanera"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BysvxpzzxtM

Franco Pomponi signs "Votre toast" ("Toreador Song"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DATrSyQADG8

Agnes Baltsa and Jose Carreras sing "C'est toi! C'est moi!" ("Duet and Finale"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pZMQUf4TEY

And for the cartoon lovers, here's Tom & Jerry in "Carmen Get It!": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmAJk1UrO4

And, yes, I'm in it - however, I have a non-singing role (unidentified soldier) so unless I accidentally trip Carmen I don't think I'll affect the show one way or the other!

Auditions and an Interview with Michael Cerveris

I have a couple of notes for you, dear reader:

Huntington Outdoor Theatre will be holding its last round of auditions for its July production of "Oklahoma" Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The auditions are for adults (ages 15 and up) and will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church - enter from the 11th Street side. Good luck!

Also, there's a great interview online at Broadway.com with Huntington's own Michael Cerveris - it talks about his latest production, "LoveMusik," and also looks back at some of his career highlights.

A Long Dry Spell

That's what local theatre fans are in for, as the only local show until July is the Marshall Artists Series production of "Forever Tango" in 12 days. Oh, you could travel to Charleston to see "Ragtime" this weekend or "Crowns" the next weekend or "Carmen" May 19 - but in Huntington, you'll have to get your entertainment checking back here and seeing just how I manage to find things to talk about.

Which is probably a good time to tease the fact that we have some interesting announcements coming up soon. In the meantime, hang in there!

A Good Question

Commenting on a post from a month or so back, Gina writes to ask:

"Any news on dates for auditions for High School Musical? Please let me know. Thanks."

Great question! We have a few final details to work out, but we should be making that announcement very soon - within the week, with any luck at all.

Keep watching this space, Gina - and thanks for asking!

Last Chance To See "The Guys"

Like the headline says, tonight's the last performance of "The Guys." Unfortunately, family commitments have kept me from seeing it, so perhaps one of you can send along some comments - I've heard great things about the show.

Here's the basic info: "The Guys" is playwright Anne Nelson's true story of New York City and its people in the aftermath of 9/11. It stars Broadway veterans Jack Cirillo and Beth McVey. It's being staged at the Francis Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center on the campus of Marshall University. The show begins at 8:00 p.m., and tickets are $25.

On Stage Tonight - "The Guys"

The Marshall Artist Series production of "The Guys" continues tonight at 8:00 p.m. - you can read more about it and the reaction of local firefighters who saw last night's performance in this excellent story by Antwon Pinkston.

The page also has a link to the photo galley, with photos (like the one at right) by Lori Wolfe.

Fair warning - tonight and tomorrow are your last chances to catch this show!

The "Symphony Idol" Lineup

My pal Mark Hayes sent along a complete list of the "Symphony Idol" competitors. They are (in alphabetical order):

Micah Atkinson, 17, junior at Capital High School and member of the show choir.

Ryan Hardiman, veteran of numerous music theater productions in Huntington and Charleston.

Cary Lantz, physician and veteran of productions in Charleston.

Jessica Liston, 24, two-time winner in the adult division of "Wal-Mart Idol" competition.

Liz McCormick, 15, freshman at Capital High School.

Sarah Pauley, 15, freshman at Capital High School and veteran of the Children's Theater of Charleston.

Tanner Sigman, 7th grade student at Poca Middle School and member of Appalachian Children's Chorus.

Angela Szbak, lyric soprano from New York.

Jonathan Tucker, violinist with Charleston Neophonic Orchestra and junior at West Virginia State University.

Should be lots of fun!

Who Will Be the Symphony Idol?

Congratulations to local performer, terrific singer and heck of a nice guy Ryan Hardiman - he competed in a "Symphony Idol" competition two weekends ago at the Clay Center, and was one of nine finalists chosen to sing with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra next season.

He'll perform at a February Pops concert, and audience members will select one finalist to be the Symphony Idol.

About 50 West Virginia residents (and some out of state singers) auditioned before three judges, including Larry Groce, the host of Mountain Stage, and opera singers Mariel van Dalsum-Boggs and Randall Reid-Smith, who is also commissioner of the state Division of Culture and History.

Local theatre fans remember Ryan from "Hair," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Into the Woods," among many other performances, including quite a few shows in Charleston.

If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on Ryan!

On Stage Tonight - "The Guys"

Well, since tonight's performance of "The Guys" stars two friends - Jack Cirillo and Beth McVey - I was going to do a write-up on it, but the Herald-Dispatch's Dave Lavender has already done a great job, and you can read it right here.

Here's the basic info about the show: "The Guys," is playwright Anne Nelson's true story of New York City and its people in the aftermath of 9/11. It's being staged at the Francis Booth Experimental Theatre in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center on the campus of Marshall University. Shows are at 8:00 p.m. today through Wednesday, May 2. Tickets are $25 (which isn't bad for the chance to see a performance by Broadway veterans).

A Busy Weekend

Well, I had several posts planned for this weekend, but events kept me on the move, so I'll try to catch up over the next couple of days. To recap:

- I saw "The Diary of Anne Frank" on Saturday, and what an amazing and moving production it was. I'll have a full review soon, but I'm so glad I got to see it - not just because it was an outstanding production filled with great performances, but also because it may have been my last chance to catch the wonderful and talented Autumn Seavey on a local stage - she's graduating!

- Don't forget that the Marshall Artists Series production of "The Guys" starts up tomorrow and runs through May 2 at 8:00 p.m. at the Francis Booth Experimental Theatre. It stars two local professional actors - Jack Cirillo and Beth McVey - and promises to be a powerful presentation.

- Marshall's Dept. of Theatre has also announced its lineup for the upcoming season, and it includes "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

- I wanted to thank my pal Mark Hayes - he let me tag along as we made a trip to Columbus today to catch the touring show of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," a terrific show I reviewed right here.

Hope you had a great weekend, too!

Good Friends and Fun Shows

So it's been about a year ago that my good friend Denise Duellman-LaCara wrapped up her final Huntington production. She was the vocal director and assistant director for "Les Miserables: The School Edition," put on by First Stage in March 2006. (The director was some guy with a white beard.)

By the end of the summer, she and her talented family had relocated to Zanesville, Ohio, as husband Len became the editor of the local newspaper. Great for them, though we were all sorry to see them go.

Denise is such a talented director, vocal coach, costume designer - the list goes on and on - and had done lots of great work with young people in our area. I'm glad to see she's not resting on her laurels - she's already directing shows in Ohio! You can read about her latest production - "Aladdin, Jr." - right here. There's also a photo link on the same page.

We miss the LaCaras, of course - and thankfully, they still visit Huntington every now and then (we saw them at one of the "Cats" shows) - but it's good to see that Denise is still guiding young people through the joys of being a part of live theatre.

And Then the Drought

Here we are at the end of April, and the chances to catch a community theatre show are going to be mighty slim very soon.

But you have lots to choose from this weekend (and early next week):

You can catch "The Music Man" at Huntington's City Hall Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

You have one last chance to see "The Diary of Anne Frank" at Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

Then you can see the Marshall Artists Series production of "The Guys," also at the Performing Arts Center Monday, April 30 through May 2 at 8:00 p.m. This show offers a rare chance to see a couple of local theatre pros at work - but I'll have more about that tomorrow.

Same blog time, same blog channel!

On Stage Tonight - "The Diary of Anne Frank"

I haven't had a chance to catch it yet, but my pal Stephen has seen it and says:

I saw (The Diary of) Anne Frank last night in preview. It was remarkable and beautiful. I could go into great detail of how wonderful this show was, but I expect you to do that later this week. So, I will burden myself with the task of being a huge fan who tells everyone he meets to go see the show. The direction, production, and ensemble were terrific. Prepare to be taken to another place.

Actually, Stephen, I'm not going to get to see the show until Friday or Saturday, so feel free to send along more comments. Sounds like a great show - I'm really looking forward to it!

“The Music Man” - The Review

It’s a classic story - shady guy meets sweet girl, guy chases girl until she catches him, and then... but wait, I don’t want to give away the ending. Suffice to say that there’s a good reason why “The Music Man” is considered by many to be one of the all-time great musicals.

For proof, you just need to pay a visit to the City Hall auditorium this weekend to see 5th Avenue Theatre’s version. It stars local theatre veteran Bil Neal, who plays the part of Professor Harold Hill, the fast-talking traveling salesman who has hit on the perfect scam, as he sells musical instruments and band uniforms to small-town folks and then moves on before the people realize the kids haven’t learned how to play the instruments. Neal does a terrific job in a very challenging role - his character is in virtually every scene, usually singing, dancing, or fast-talking his way out of trouble - and Neal’s great at all three.

Playing the part of his love interest, Marion the Librarian, is Jennifer Scott, and she is terrific! She makes Marion sympathetic but tough, and what an incredible voice she has! Even more amazing is the fact that she joined the show late in the rehearsal process - but you’d never be able to tell. She’s a great performer - a natural on the stage, and a real talent.

There are far too many people in the cast for me to mention everyone, but I have to include C.E. Wilson, who provides the comedic heart of the show as Mayor Shinn. He steals darn near every scene he’s in and more than once had me howling - he has the art of the double-take down to a science. Also wonderfully funny is his wife Eulalie Shinn, played by community theatre pro Jane Morse. The two of them are hilarious, and worth the price of admission alone.

Special kudos also to: Kenny Harbolt, who plays Hill’s sidekick Marcellus and leads the show-stopping “Shapoopie” song; Kenny Duthie, Mark Near, Dave Richards and Adam Mottesheard, who make up the (Barbershop) Quartet and provide several great numbers and quite a few laughs; Dylan Clark, who plays a funny anvil salesman who has a grudge against Hill; and Lydia Waybright (Amaryllis) and Franklin Norton (Winthrop), two young actors to watch for in the future. Heck, all the actors in the show do a great job!

I also have to give credit to the terrific orchestra put together and led by Ron Short (who we usually see on stage) - the musicians are always the unsung heroes of a show like this, and they deserve a huge pat on the back for their fine work here.

And the other hidden heroes in this show is the Tech Crew. “The Music Man” is a challenging show because of the large number of scene changes - that means a lot of work for the backstage crew, and they did a great job of keeping things moving. Hats off to Stage Manager Brittany Hazeldine for her fine work backstage - especially considering she took this job in addition to starring in “Cats” and “Cinderella.” How does she do it?

There's a good reason why “The Music Man” has become a classic - it’s a funny story about love and business, and what happens when the two mix.

You have three more chances to see this show - don’t miss it!

This Week's Activities - Shows, Auditions and Breakfast

Lots of theatre stuff going on in the week ahead, including:

Marshall's Department of Theatre presents "The Diary of Anne Frank," which starts tomorrow and runs through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. As you'd expect from MU, the advance word on this show is that it's terrific!

Starting Friday you can see 5th Avenue Theatre's "Music Man," which runs at the Huntington City Hall Auditorium on April 27 and 28 at 8:00 p.m. and April 29 at 2:30 p.m. (I caught Sunday's performance and hope to have a review posted by tomorrow - but here's the Reader's Digest version: it's lots of fun!)

This weekend Huntington Outdoor Theatre will begin holding auditions for the July production of "Oklahoma" and the Pre-Show. The auditions will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church - enter from the 11th Street side. Saturday, April 28 will be auditions for the Pre-Show from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 29 will be auditions for adults (ages 15 and up) from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with additional auditions for adults May 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Good luck!

And, if you're looking for a fun activity to enjoy with your kids, try the Annual Character Breakfast at the Huntington Museum of Art. Presented by the Junior League of Huntington, there are two sessions starting promptly at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. - tickets are $15.00, and proceeds will support the proposed new playground to be built in Ritter Park, as well as both organizations. The event includes breakfast while children are greeted by their favorite superheroes and cartoon characters. Children then enjoy jumping castles, arts and crafts, story time, photo opportunities, museum tours and other activities. You can learn more about the event by visiting www.characterbreakfast.org.

The 2007 Outer Critics Circle Awards

The awards season for theatre is upon us (the Tony nominees will be announced in a few weeks).

The 2007 Outer Critics Circle Awards were announced today. Disney's newest Broadway musical, "Mary Poppins," earned 11 nominations, and Tom Stoppard's three-part epic, "The Coast of Utopia," earned nine nominations.

Of interest to local theatre fans is the nomination of Michael Cerveris as Outstanding Actor in a Musical for "LoveMusik."

The complete list of nominees follows:

Outstanding New Broadway Play
The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Frost/Nixon
Radio Golf

Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Curtains
LoveMusik
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Outstanding Off-Broadway Play
Exits and Entrances
Indian Blood
The Pain and the Itch
The Scene

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
In the Heights
Evil Dead: The Musical
Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky
Gutenberg! The Musical!

Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Curtains
In the Heights
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
Talk Radio
The Voysey Inheritance

Outstanding Revival of Musical
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade

Outstanding Director of a Play (Lucille Lortel Award)
Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
David Grindley, Journey's End
Melly Still, Coram Boy
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia

Oustanding Director of a Musical
John Doyle, Company
Richard Eyre and Matthew Bourne, Mary Poppins
Thomas Kail, In the Heights
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening

Outstanding Choreography
Rob Ashford, Curtains
Andy Blankenbuehler, In the Heights
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary Poppins
Carol Leavey Joyce and Graciela Daniele, The Pirate Queen

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brían F. O'Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of Utopia
Carla Gugino, Suddenly Last Summer
Alison Pill, Blackbird

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raúl Esparza, Company
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Ashley Brown, Mary Poppins
Kristin Chenoweth, The Apple Tree
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia
Boyd Gaines, Journey's End
David Greenspan, Some Men
Stephen Kunken, Frost/Nixon

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Robin Bartlett, Prelude to a Kiss
Jill Clayburgh, The Clean House
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia
Lily Rabe, Heartbreak House

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Jason Danieley, Curtains
Daniel Jenkins, Mary Poppins
David Pittu, LoveMusik
Bobby Steggert, 110 in the Shade

Oustanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Charlotte d'Amboise, A Chorus Line
Rebecca Luker, Mary Poppins
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Karen Ziemba, Curtains

Outstanding Solo Performance
Daniel Beaty, Emergence-SEE
Ed Harris, Wrecks
Jay Johnson, The Two and Only
Nilaja Sun, No Child…

Outstanding Set Design
Bob Crowley and Scott Pask, The Coast of Utopia
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Ti Green and Melly Still, Coram Boy
Derek McLane, The Voysey Inheritance

Outstanding Costume Design
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Judith Dolan, LoveMusik
Martin Pakledinaz, The Pirate Queen
Catherine Zuber, The Coast of Utopia

Outstanding Lighting Design
Neil Austin, Frost/Nixon
Paule Constable, Coram Boy
Howard Harrison, Mary Poppins
Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner & Natasha Katz, The Coast of Utopia

John Gassner Award
Daisy Foote, Bhutan
Bob Glaudini, Jack Goes Boating
Bruce Norris, The Pain and the Itch
Nilaja Sun, No Child…

The Outer Critics Circle is an organization of writers covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway.

The winners will be announced on May 14, and the awards ceremony will be held on May 24.

On Stage Today - "Nunsense" and "Music Man"

A quick reminder that you can catch the last performance of "Nunsense" this afternoon at the Renaissance Center. If you've already seen it, you can also see "The Music Man" this afternoon at Huntington's City Hall - but it'll also be playing next weekend, if today doesn't work for you.

Like I always say - get out there and support your community theatre!

“Nunsense” - The Review

“Nunsense” is a show that’s ingenious in its simplicity - it tells the story of five nuns who are trying to raise money by putting on a show. It requires little in the way of sets or props, and the costuming is pretty basic - five habits is all it takes.

But don’t let that “simplicity” fool you - what it lacks in glitz it more than makes up with laughs and some great songs. I always suspect that, since I’m a Protestant (Methodist by way of the Presbyterian church), I may be missing a few of the jokes - but the ones I do get are hilarious.

The cast may be small, but (as Spencer Tracy once said), they’re choice. Mother Superior is played by Mary Olson, and her second-in-command, Sister Hubert, is played by Linda Reynolds - and around here, they’re both theatre royalty. They’re wonderful singers, terrific actors, and they’re two of the funniest ladies to take the local stage. I'd walk over hot coals to watch them in a show.

Playing the Bronx-born Sister Robert Anne is Leann Haines, and what a terrific talent she is - she shows off her wonderful voice in a couple of songs, and she gets plenty of chances to cut up, too.

The comedic heart of the show is Sister Amnesia, and it’s a part Terese Kirby was born to play. As the bumbling and forgetful Amnesia, she keeps the show rolling with jokes, songs and her sweet personality.

The youngest member of the Abbey is Sister Leo, played by the radiant Angela Hunt. As the nun who aspires to be a Ballerina, she has to learn to balance her ambitions with her vows. Luckily, the show gives her lots of chances to sing and dance, and she's terrific at both!

Kudos also to the unsung nun, Sister Helga, who doesn’t really get much stage time - but someone has to deal with the props!

Director and Musical Director Eddie Harbert did a great job bringing the show together - and he even plays accompaniment during the performance! I half expected to find him in the lobby selling concessions at intermission. Hats off as well to Choreographer and Assistant Director Connie Anthony for her usual outstanding work. Like the actors, the directing team may be few in number - but they're choice!

It’s sometimes irreverent, but never offensive. If you didn’t think nuns could be funny, this show will set you straight.

You have one more chance to catch this funny show - it runs Sunday at 3:00 pm. If you’re looking for a great show filled with good laughs, this is the one for you!

On Stage Tonight

As posted here, there are two great shows taking the stage tonight - "Nunsense" and "The Music Man."

Check 'em out and support your local theatre groups! (If you don't, who will?)

200!

No one cares except me, but this is entry #200 on this blog, which averages out to a little more than a post a day - a bargain at twice the price!

It's always fun to talk about local theatre, and I appreciate the Herald-Dispatch giving us this forum. Remember to send any info about upcoming shows or auditions to me at TheMinskers@aol.com, and I'll post it here.

Thanks for reading!

"Music Man" and "Nunsense"

The weekend is right around the corner, and if you're looking to get out and about, you can choose from two different community theatre shows, both taking the stage tomorrow night.

You can catch 5th Avenue Theatre's "Music Man," which runs at the Huntington City Hall Auditorium on April 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8:00 pm, and April 22 and 29 at 2:30 pm. You can check out some photos from last night's dress rehearsal at the Herald-Dispatch Photo Galleries.

The other show this weekend - and only this weekend - is "Nunsense," a comedy presented by the Renaissance Players at the Renaissance Center. It runs Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm.

Oh, and in your spare time you can visit the Appalachian Film Festival. Lots to do in town, if you know where to look!

Coming up - "Nunsense"

Under the heading of "You Learn Something New Every Day," I submit this wonderful story by Devilish Dave Lavender in today's edition of the Herald-Dispatch. It's all about the upcoming production of "Nunsense" being presented this weekend at the Renaissance Center (say it with me, folks - it's the old Huntington High School). In the story I learned the surprising news that this may be the last show for the Renaissance Players! But take heart - there are more shows planned for the Renaissance Theater (which is managed by ARTS). (And, incidentally, call me Doubting Thomas, but I suspect we'll see more shows from the Renaissance Players in the future. You can't keep a good theatre group down!)

By the way, if you're planning to take part in the dinner offered with Saturday's performance of "Nunsense," you have to get those reservations in today. Call (304) 733-2787 for more info.

Oh, and if you've never seen "Nunsense," you should know that it's a scream - a really funny show, with an awesome cast - highly recommended!

"Joseph" - The Review

Another post from my pal Mark Hayes, who offers his review of the touring show that visited Charleston:

My lovely wife and I attended "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" last night at the Clay Center in Charleston. We also took two of our favorite performers, Sarah and Maggie. Somehow, the girls got to sit in the first balcony, while Loretta and I were relegated to the second one - but there really aren't any bad seats in the Clay Center, so we all had good views.

I thought the performance was interesting - it wasn't a "wow" performance,
but it was very entertaining and well worth seeing. The company was the same
one that performed recently in Ashland at the Paramount, so I had seen some
of the pictures that are on the Herald-Dispatch's website. The costumes were
terrific, and the final scene Joseph's coat (of many colors fame) was awesome.
It almost looked like a colorful disco ball and sparkled throughout the
building.

The Director took the show in a different direction than the
others I've seen - in this production the sets and costumes, other than
the ones that look like they were from the real Joseph's time, were more
modern looking. The Broadway show had a distinct '70s look
to a lot of the costumes, particularly the terrific dance number during "Go
Go Joseph." In this current production, the dancers during that number were
dressed as modern cheerleaders, complete with pom-poms. It wasn't better or
worse, just different and not what I expected. Perhaps that's what the
Director was seeking.

The Narrator was terrific, although the show was a bit lacking technically
because it seemed her microphone was not turned on several times until after
she had started a line of a song. The Pharaoh almost stole the show,
especially when he 'broke the fourth wall' to talk to the audience - yet
another turn I was not expecting. The remaining cast was better than
adequate, but not spectacular.

All in all, a pretty darn good show.

Next Season at the Clay Center

My pal Mark Hayes sent along the following, which is good news for theatre fans in the area:

The Clay Center has announced its 2007-2008 Broadway Series. The upcoming season is excellent, and contains several good shows for anyone who loves musical theatre. Season tickets are on sale now through the Clay Center at www.theclaycenter.org.

Here's the schedule:

Sept. 26: “Annie”

Nov. 6: “Gypsy”

Nov. 27: “Hairspray”

Dec. 16: “Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy”

Jan. 22-23: “Stomp”

March 30: “Fresh Aire: The Music of Mannheim Steamroller”

April 24: “Jesus Christ Superstar”

VT

Words fail in the face of a tragedy like the one that happened Monday at Virginia Tech. Keep the victims, their families and friends in your prayers.

So You Want to Put on a Show... (Part 5) - Casting

After the auditions are over, the real battle begins, as the directing team tries to figure out which actor belongs to which role. The team can be made up of any number of people - as few as one, if you have a really small show, and as many as the show can stand - I think the most on a community theatre show I’ve worked on was six people (though others have had more than that).

Casting is, in my opinion, the most important part of putting on a show. If you get the right people in the right parts, you’re well on your way to putting on a successful show. If you get the wrong person in the wrong part, you’re going to struggle.

What makes it especially tricky is that each part is different. Some have specific requirements in terms of voice, age or appearance - and some are open to interpretation. For example, in casting the leads for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” you’re dealing with two parts - Joseph and the Narrator.

Unless you’re taking the show in an unusual direction, Joseph needs to be a youngish male who has a strong tenor voice. He should have a sympathetic, innocent look about him - the audience needs to be rooting for him from the moment they see him.

The Narrator is another story - the part can be played by a male or a female, the body type isn’t specific - the only requirement is that the actor has a strong voice and a sense of fun about them.

So there you go - two parts, two completely different requirements. And there are dozens of other parts in that show, each calling for different talents.

The directing team has to sift through the crowd of actors who auditioned and match them up with the parts available - and different directors may have different ideas about which actor is right for which part. That’s where negotiation and discussion comes in, as the team weighs the pros and cons of each decision. Sometimes it’s an amiable discussion, and sometimes it gets heated.

The best advice I can give to anyone in that decision-making position is: trust your gut instinct. Your first impression is often the right one. And if it’s any consolation, it’s all guesswork anyway - all you can do in some cases is cross your fingers and home for the best.

It’s also a stressful process for the actors, who must wait for the cast list to be posted. A good friend who spent time as a professional actor once told me that his feelings would get hurt when he wasn’t chosen for a part he knew he was right for - and then one day he realized that there was nothing personal in the decision of the directors - they were just going with the actor that they saw fitting the part.

That’s a tough lesson to learn, because no one likes rejection - but virtually no actor always gets the part they want. Some actors will refuse a part if it’s not the one they want, and that’s certainly their right - but most actors realize that being part of a show is the goal, and every show is a learning experience. It’s also important to remember that you may not like the part you got, but there are dozens of other actors out there who would gladly take your place.

So once the debate ends and the final list is posted, it’s time to move to the next level - rehearsals.

George Carlin and Breaking a String

Blogger and my computer have been feuding, so my nearly two-month long string of posting an entry every day has been broken - let's see if I can break my record in the months ahead.

There are lots of shows coming up this week, including "Nunsense" and "The Music Man" - I'll have more about those in the days ahead.

But in catching up, I wanted to share my thoughts about George Carlin's appearance at the Paramount on Friday.

My lovely wife Jeanette and I had a great time at the concert - even at 69, Carlin has lost none of his edge. I consider him the greatest comedian of his generation.

He talked briefly about how he creates shows - he's on a two year cycle, where he works on a new show, takes it across the country, refining it - and then does another HBO special. Then he starts all over again. Since this show is in the early stages, he actually had a stack of notes with him, that he referred to now and then - a bit unusual for a comic, but we were seeing a master craftsman at work, constantly honing his work.

Of course, this isn't a show for the little ones (and thankfully I didn't see any in the audience) - he's often vulgar, profane and otherwise offensive - but always in service of his comedy or making a pointed commentary. I don't always agree with him (heck, I don't always agree with anyone), but I appreciate his passion and his candor.

Apparently his last tour leaned a little too much on the depressing side - he said he did a 30-minute routine on suicide! So this one he lightened up much more, although there's plenty of the angry ranting you'd expect.

I've always wanted to see him live in concert, and it was great to finally get the chance to catch his act - he's the best there is at what he does!

Lots of Links

Lots of theatre news to go around today on the Herald-Dispatch website.

For example, you can get a preview of tonight's performance by George Carlin (that's him dressed in black) right here.

Go here and you can learn more about the Paul Blazer High School play taking the stage this weekend - it's called "Have a Nice Day!"

And you can check out Joyce Spencer's Community News column to learn more about making dinner reservations for next week's production of "Nunsense."

So who says there's nothing to do on this cold, rainy weekend?

Dinner and No Gossip

So I went to Chili Willi's the other night to have a dinner meeting with the directing team for "High School Musical," and we had a great time talking over plans and such - we're all ready to start rehearsals right now (but we'll have to wait until after auditions). What a fun show this is going to be!

Before I took my seat I ran into my pal Mark Near, who was grabbing a quick dinner before going to "Music Man" rehearsals. Mark has been in lots of shows over the years, and he's a terrific performer (in addition to being quite handsome).

(OK, Mark, you owe me five bucks.)

Seriously, I tried to get some information from him about "Music Man," but he kept quiet. He said, "If I tell you anything, you'll just put it in that blog!"

Where does he get these crazy ideas?

Mannheim Steamroller

As always, the Herald Dispatch does a nice job of featuring photos from a stage performance - go here to check out photos by Mark Webb from last night's Mannheim Steamroller concert at the Keith Albee Theater.

They also took time at the show to recognize a recent donation to the Keith - you can read more about it right here.

By the way, there is one more show taking the stage this week - comedian and author George Carlin, quite possibly the most influential comic of his generation, will be performing Friday at the Paramount Arts Center. Not really a stage show (although he will be standing on a stage), but a rare opportunity to see one of the best in the business practicing his craft.

Joseph Last Night, Mannheim Tonight

If (like me) you didn't get to catch "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Ashland last night, the Herald-Dispatch has some great photos from the show posted on their Photo Galleries page. Those photos, like the one posted here, were taken by Lori Wolfe.

And don't forget, Mannheim Steamroller takes the stage tonight at the Keith Albee Theater!

I Blame Jet Lag

When I wrote in the last post that Mannheim Steamroller was the only show going on this week, I was somehow overlooking the performance - going on right now as I type these words - of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on the stage of the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland. (Like the title says, I blame jet lag.)

Shame on me, because it's a terrific show - heck, I liked it so much that I directed it when First Stage Theatre Company presented it in Spring 2004. By an amazing coincidence, I'm wearing the T-shirt from that show right now (which is what reminded me of the show in Ashland).

Since tonight's show is a touring version of the Broadway show, I'm sure it's going to be great - if you see it, send along a comment and let us know how it went.

On Stage This Week - Breathe that "Fresh Aire"

There's only one show playing locally this week, as Mannehim Steamroller takes to the stage at the Keith Albee Theater Tuesday night. In case you're not familiar with the group, here's some information from their website (which you can check out here):

<< Fresh Aire: the Music of Mannheim Steamroller is the highly anticipated concert tour created, arranged and produced by Chip Davis. Fresh Aire is the Grammy award-winning series of albums from Mannheim Steamroller composer Chip Davis. In Fresh Aire, Davis created groundbreaking music that is an innovative blend of classical themes with pop elements that he calls, “18th Century Rock-n-Roll.”

The first album Fresh Aire was released in 1974, and the series’ final component was released recently to great acclaim. Each of the eight Fresh Aire albums explore topics; the first four Fresh Aire albums were inspired by the magnificence and distinctiveness of the four seasons, while Fresh Aire 5 through Fresh Aire 8 deal with man’s curiosities about the world in which we live. This performance will feature the famous Mannheim Steamroller videos, multi-media images, synchronized lighting, special effects and, of course, the world-renowned music of Mannheim Steamroller.

Mannheim Steamroller is a group of the most talented and versatile musicians touring the world. The band is an ever-changing consortium of musicians, technicians and engineers using state-of-the-art equipment to create Mannheim Steamroller’s signature sound. The musical performers will be 15 in number including 10 local, professional musicians as orchestral accompaniment. Final casting for the core Mannheim Steamroller band has not yet been announced.

Fresh Aire has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of fans around the world. Mannheim Steamroller has sold more than five million Fresh Aire records. Davis won a Grammy for Fresh Aire 7, and the entire series raised the bar for audio and video production standards.

In addition to Fresh Aire, Mannheim Steamroller has gained international acclaim with its seasonal music: from Valentine’s Day to Christmas and the Fourth of July to Halloween, people around the world celebrate holidays with music from Mannheim Steamroller. >>

It promises to be a great show - but you'd better order your tickets soon. The Artist's Series had to move the shows from the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center to the Keith because the demand for tickets was so strong. Recommended!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, everyone!

I'm still recovering from a cross-country trip (I had training all last week in Portland), so posting will be light today.

However, I wanted to point out the story in today's Herald-Dispatch about the upcoming Mannheim Steamroller concert right here.

So You Want to Put on a Show... (Part 4)

I started a series of entries over a month ago to give you a look behind the scenes at what goes into putting on a community theatre production, and then got bogged down with covering actual productions. Sorry about the extended pause.

In the first three parts we talked about the things you need before you start - namely: money; you need to decide which show you’re going to tackle (duh); and you need to assemble a team of directors. Next, it’s time for what may be the most stressful part of the process, next to the actual performance - auditions.

With few exceptions, the cast for a show is chosen through auditions. It’s stressful for the performers trying out for the show, but also for the directing team, who must decide which of the actors auditioning are right for each part, and which ones will receive the disappointing news that they didn’t get a part in the show. And that's the part that most directors hate - they want to include everyone who auditions, but each play can only use a certain number of performers - so some actors are left out. It's painful but virtually unavoidable.

The process is pretty much the same for any show. The auditions are announced for a certain date and time, and actors arrive and sign up. They're brought back to the audition room either one at a time or in groups.

If it’s a musical, the actor auditioning is expected to arrive ready to sing about 30 seconds of the song of their choice. A piano player is usually provided to accompany the singer (if needed). The directors use that short segment to get a sense of the actor’s vocal range and skills.

If the show includes spoken dialogue (and most shows do), a short selection from the script will be provided for the actor to read. The directors want to see if the actor can put some feeling into the part - in other words, can they “become” the character?

If the show includes choreography (a safe bet if there’s music involved), then the actors usually have to learn a short dance step when they arrive at the audition, or they may be tested to see if they can follow some basic moves.

An audition can take just a few minutes, but in that short time the directors have to evaluate the performers. It’s a common practice to do “callbacks” for the main roles. An actor chosen for a callback will be given a selection of music that’s key to the character he or she is being considered for. They’re given some time to learn the song and then return for a second audition.

As far as I’m concerned, the casting can be the most difficult and the most important part of any show. I’ll explain why... in the next part of this series (which I promise will arrive in a much shorter span of time).

The Keith-Albee Gets a Boost

A money boost, that is. Count me among those who have a lot of affection for the Keith (especially since I spent two years there working as a Doorman when I was in college), so I'm glad to see the community continuing to support the theatre with donations.

You can read about the latest gift right here in today's Herald-Dispatch.

Slim and "Nunsense"

Whoops! I missed a show coming up this month. Stephen Vance sent a comment, but I wanted to post it here in case you're one of those people who doésn't read comments (hey, it's a free country). Stephen wrote:

ARTS is also doing "Nunsense" April 20-22.
Directed by Eddie Harbert, Choreographed by Connie Anthony.
Featuring Mary Olson, Linda Reynolds, Therese Kirby, Leann Haines, and Angela Hunt.

That show will be presented at the Renaissance Center theater (which, as everyone should know by now, is at the old Huntington High School). With a terrific cast and an equally-awesome directing team, this one will be a blast! Mark me down for a ticket (and I may see it more than once - the show is just that funny!) Don't miss it!

Clint Gets Clipped

Work's been crazy so I almost missed this story - it seems my pal (and "Cats" director) Clint McElroy went bald the other day - and all for a good cause!

He agreed to get clipped in return for donations to charity. You can read all about it right here.

Of course, Mother Nature gave me the same haircut years ago, but there was no apparent benefit to that (other than making my barber's job a lot easier). I'm proud of ya, Clint!

Preview of April’s shows

April has some great shows to offer, so let’s get right to the list:

April 10 - The Marshall Artist’s Series presents Mannheim Steamroller at the Keith Albee Theater. They’re a great band and, although I’ve never seen them live, friends tell me they put on a fantastic show.

April 20-22 and 27-29 - "The Music Man," as presented by 5th Avenue Theater, takes the stage at the Huntington City Hall auditorium. They have a terrific cast lined up for this one!

April 21 - Marshall University’s Music Department will present a Choral and Orchestra performance - and if you’ve seen one before, you know these are always excellent.

April 25-28 - Marshall University’s Department of Theatre will present “The Diary of Anne Frank.” It’s a powerful show with an amazing cast - and Marshall’s productions are always top notch, so be sure to order your tickets early.

April 30 and May 1-2 - The Marshall Artist’s Series will present “The Guys.”

And after that show the local theatre scene will get very quiet, with just one more Marshall Artist’s Series show before the summer hits - “Forever Tango.” So you’d better catch those shows while you can!

Local Boy Makes Good

A friend (who wants to remain anonymous, shy devil that he is) sent me a link to this story about Huntington native Michael Cervaris, who really deserves some major recognition from Huntington, since he grew up here and has become one of Broadway's biggest stars. You can read about his latest works (and his incredibly busy schedule) in the New York Times - here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/2l8ser.

“Cinderella” - The Review

I finally made it to Huntington High School’s presentation of “Cinderella” today, and I have to say - if you missed this show, you missed a great one! Not only was it the best high school play I can remember seeing (and I’ve seen quite a few), it was among the better community theatre shows I’ve seen.

Of course, it helps to have a great cast - and “Cinderella” had an excellent one. Brittany Hazeldine is an incredibly talented singer and actor, with a wonderful voice and amazing stage presence. She was perfect for the title role, although how in the world she was able to prepare for this show and star in “Cats” at the same time is an incredible feat all by itself.

Playing the part of the Prince was Finley Hammond, and he was born to be on stage. A terrific singer and actor, he made the Prince instantly likable and made the perfect leading man. On a personal note, I’ve been lucky enough to have Finley star in two of the shows I’ve directed, and I can tell you that he’s a great guy onstage and off, and provides the kind of leadership you need from your veteran actors. I’ve never seen him be anything less than excellent and thoroughly professional - and he was all that and more in this show.

Playing “oldsters” like the King and Queen can be a challenge for a young actor, but give a lot of credit to Dylan Clark and Caitlin Irr - they did a great job playing the loving parents of the Prince. Dylan gets my favorite line in the show - “The wine of my country... is beer!” It always makes me laugh.

The villains of the show are the nasty stepmother, played with great energy by Sable Blevins, and the stepsisters - Joy, played by Jynnea Shropshire, and Portia, played by Laura Benson. They’re all three terrific - mean and funny (sometimes at the same time), over the top (in a good way) and in general a scream to watch. Excellent work by all three in difficult parts.

Owen Reynolds is another senior who has really grown up on stage and has become an excellent performer. He provides a lot of the comic relief in this show as the Herald, and steals a few scenes along the way. Owen also managed to do this show while doing a star turn in “Cats” - where do they find the time?

Another standout performance belongs to Josefine Landgrave as the Fairy Godmother - she’s sweet and funny and an excellent singer - her “Impossible” duet with Brittany was great!

I don’t want to slight the rest of the cast, who also did a terrific job, including: Ryan Jackson as the Chef; Elliott Imlay as the Steward, Darrell Johnson, Clark Lewis and Tyler Rice as the Footmen; Max Wilson as a Guard; and Robert Kirby as the Minister. As Townspeople and Guests, we have Megan Akers, April Bennett, Rebecca Chappell, Ginny Davis, Stephanie Fischer, Jessica Nelson, Jessica Parsley, Sarah Price, Katie Rife, Hilary Roush, Tessa Wooten, Sydney Fletcher, Zoe Kauffer, Andy Ryder, Jacob Ryder and Madison Sergent.

I also have to give lots of credit to the set designers for an outstanding job creating so many different settings - the backdrops and set pieces were excellent! Heck, they even created Cinderella’s carriage, which came equipped with running lights! The costumes were also outstanding - many of them were provided by a local historic recreation group - the SCA.

So kudos to the cast and crew, and a special tip o’ the hat to the directing team, especially Director Helen Freeman, Choral Director David Chenoweth, Music Director Melissa Ash, Choreographer Melissa McGuffin and Set Designer Gary Dick - outstanding work by one and all!

As always, it takes a team effort to put on a show like this - and the team behind “Cinderella” did a fantastic job.

On Stage This Weekend - "Cinderella"

You have just two more chances to catch "Cinderella" at Huntington High School this weekend - namely, tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Remember, Jack Welch loved it - so you will, too!

Coming up this week I'll have a preview of the shows you can look for in the month ahead. There are quite a few good ones on tap, and it's the last rush of shows before summer, so enjoy 'em while you can. I'll also have some more behind-the-scenes stories for you - so keep checking back with us. We get lonely without you!

More "Cinderella"

My pal Jack Welch got to see "Cinderella" at Huntington High School last night and called me to give his review. He had nothing but nice things to say - he said it's a great show, with lots of talented young performers. He said the sets were great and the costuming really impressive, and that the band did a great job. He gave high marks to Britanny Hazeldine, who plays the title role (that's her picture on the right), and Finley Hammond, who plays the Prince. He said the stepsisters were hilarious and that the whole cast did a great job. So it's a rave review from Jack - and he can be a tough critic, so take it as a strong recommendation to check out "Cinderella." You can catch shows tonight, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

You can also see a video clip here on the Herald-Dispatch web site.

"Cats" By The Numbers

I just got an email from my pal Elaine Young, one of the producers (along with Loretta Hayes) of the recently-completed "Cats." In the email she ran down the numbers from the show, and it gives a good indication of the kind of work and dedication it takes to put on a show as massive as "Cats."

"We went through 48 individually hand designed/painted costumes, 26 hand painted wigs, 240 tubes of makeup, 500 bottles of water, 164 leg and arm warmers, 300 bobby pins, 6000 miles of travel time by cast to and from rehearsals and performances, 40 ankle wraps, 40 pairs of false eyelashes, 2000 programs, 350 kids at our school show, 3000 people in our audiences, 20 cans of colored hair spray, 250 mic batteries, 220 feet of dance floor, 20 strands of Christmas lights, and 2 fire department visits!!!"

I'll resist the urge to add, "And a Partridge in a Pear Tree."

Oh, and it goes without saying - that's just a partial list. For one thing, it leaves off untold hours on the cell phone working out problems, and the thousands of hours donated by parent volunteers! But this gives you an idea of what goes into the job - it's not one for the faint of heart!

On Stage Tonight - "Cinderella"

My pal Stephen Vance sends along a partial cast list for "Cinderella" (Thanks!):

Cinderella - Brittany Hazeldine
Prince - Finley Hammond
King - Dylan Clark
Queen - Caitlin Irr
Fairy Godmother - Josie Landgrave
Wicked Stepmother - Sable Blevins
Stepsisters - Laura Benson & Jynnea Shropshire
Herald - Owen Reynolds
Baker - Ryan Jackson
Minister - Robert Kirby
And a terrific ensemble!

You can also see some photos from the production at the Herald-Dispatch Photo Galleries.

On Stage This Weekend - "Cinderella"

Here's one that almost slipped past me - Huntington High School will present "Cinderella" starting tomorrow evening. You can get the details right here.
I don't have a cast list, but I do know that the title role is being played by the wonderfully talented Brittany Hazeldine (fresh off a star turn in "Cats"), and the Prince is being played by Finley Hammond, another outstanding performer who has starred in quite a few First Stage shows, including the lead in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." I can recommend it just on their talents alone!

"High School Musical" Update

It's been a while since I updated our progress on this front. For those who came in late, First Stage Theatre Company is planning to stage "High School Musical" in the fall, with yours truly directing. We've been assembling the directing team, and we're very close to a deal that will help make this show truly memorable. I hope to be able to share that exciting news very soon.

But first, I'm thrilled to announce that two more team members signed on this evening. Amy Browning has agreed to be on the team, although we never got around to deciding exactly what her title will be. Until we find out otherwise, I'm assuming she'll be the Assistant Director and Choreographer, and I'm thrilled to work with her. We've worked on several shows together, including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Les Miserables: School Edition" and many others. What can I tell you? She's awesome!

Also joining the team is Jeanette Bills, who'll be heading up costuming. She's another veteran of numerous shows, a longtime board member for First Stage, she's incredibly talented and a heck of a hard worker. I'm glad to have her on the team!

I love it when a plan comes together!

“Cats” - The Finale

A few last comments about “Cats”:

-Kudos to the cast, the directing team and the parents and volunteers who tackled this show - one of the most ambitious community theatre productions in memory. Truly an outstanding job.

Among the performers who shined in the performance (but whose names were left out of my review last week because I didn’t have a cast list - hey, it’s tough to figure out which actor is which, especially when they’re hiding behind makeup, wigs and a cat suit):

- Macy Idzakovich played Bombalurina, and what an amazing talent! An outstanding singer and dancer, she’s a senior and plans to study theatre - I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see her on Broadway one day.

- Clay McKnight, who played Mr. Mistofolees and Quaxo. I believe someone told me that Clay never studied dancing until starting on this show - which means he must be incredibly talented, because he was doing some amazing leaps in this show.

- Ryan Jackson played Old Deutoronomy, sort of an elder statesman for the cats. He has a fantastic voice and made great use of it.

- Maggie Saunders played Jennyanydots and provided a wonderful turn as “The Old Gumbie Cat” - which is especially impressive since she’s so young!

- Chris Crawford has been in quite a few shows, but turns in what may be his best work yet as Growltiger, with Amanda Harris doing an outstanding turn as Lady Griddlebone.

- Nathan Mohebbi takes a star turn as the bad boy of the stage, McAvity - very impressive!

- Among the other outstanding performers in the dance ensemble were: Scott Burner as Alonzo; Angela Pino as Cassandra; Thomas Rice as Coricopat; Raven Idzakovich as Etcetera; Rachel Spoor as Exotica; Amy Klim as Rumpus Cat; Candace Imperi as Sillabub; Lexi Smith as Tontomile; Alex Bolano as Tumblebrutus; and Caleb Donahoe as Victor.

One of the interesting twists First Stage put on the show was to add a group called The Jellicle Ensemble - a talented bunch that added a lot of skill and energy to several numbers. That group included: Elijah Boyles; Chad Arthur; Bronson Bush; Levi Kelley; Raice and Shane Stevens; Blaine Roberts; Shila Arrowood; Katy, Becky and Betsy Pettit; Madison Perry; Kristin Caviani; Sarah Clark; Nikki Coughenour; Sydney Jacobson, Elizabeth Schmitz, Emily Dennison; and Casey Homonai.

Hope I didn’t miss anyone this time around - the whole cast did a terrific job, and deserves one more bow. Bravo!

March Winds Down

OK, so let's see - I still owe you all a final "Cats" commentary (that'll be coming along later this evening); I'll have a post later this week about what shows to look for in the month ahead (some goodies are on the way); and I managed to avoid watching that terrible "Grease" TV finale last night, but my pal Angela suffered through it and offers a recap right here on her "Stay Tuned" blog. Thanks, Angela! Note that Max won the competition - which just proves that Angela and my pal Denise are much better at picking winners than yours truly. This should surprise no one.

Tuckered Out

The last performance of the First Stage Theatre production of "Cats" was held this afternoon - hope you were part of the sold-out crowd who saw it!

After the show was over, the last order of business (as always) was to strike the set - in other words, tear it down and store away the pieces until the next show. It's a big job, including lots of cleaning and carrying. Somehow I ended up driving the truck to the storage building, but the cast and their parents did most of the heavy lifting - luckily for me and my ever-aging physique.

The show was a terrific success, and I'll have some final thoughts about it - but they'll have to wait 'til tomorrow. I'm too tired to type. (But it's a good tired.)

A Word to the Wise...

I finally got to see "Cats" again, as my wife and youngest son joined me at Saturday night's show. I had hoped to see it again before now, but a battle with the flu kept me away from the public until now.

I am so glad to have seen it again - if anything, it's even better than when I saw the dress rehearsal last week. The minor technical problems have been cured, and the cast is even sharper than ever - just a tremendous achievement in community theatre!

By the way, my family agrees with my assessment - they loved the show! That's also true for the audience - a sold-out crowd roared their approval through the show, and I wasn't sure they were going to let the cast off the stage - the cheers were loud, long and well deserved.

I'll have a complete recap tomorrow, but a word to the wise - don't miss tomorrow's final performance at 2:30 p.m. at Huntington's City Hall - and go early to get your ticket, because this one might sell out, too.

On Stage Tonight - Guess What?

Yep, it's "Cats" again. The show's been getting rave reviews (which should surprise no one who reads this site), and you have two more chances to see it.

There's a show tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Huntington City Hall Auditorium, and the last show is Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Don't miss it!

"Cats" Heats Up The Stage

In fact, things got a little too hot before last night's performance of "Cats," and the fire department had to check it out. Actually, a fog machine apparently set off a smoke detector before the show. Once the all-clear was given, the show went off without a hitch.

To catch the hottest show in town, pay a visit to the Huntington City Hall auditorium tonight or tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. or Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Of "Cats," Video and Seniors

Yes, still more about "Cats," which returns to the stage tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Huntington City Hall auditorium.

There's a nice story about the seniors in the show in today's edition of the Herald-Dispatch - you can read it right here. The story is written by First Stage veteran Sam Yates, who would no doubt have been in "Cats" if not for a scheduling conflict. Also a senior (and planning to study journalism), Sam does a nice job on this story.

You can also see video from "Cats" right here on the Herald-Dispatch website. The sound isn't the best, but you get the idea. Also, there are some nice comments on the video from McKenzie Young and John Wolfe, two incredibly talented young performers from the show who are also seniors.

You can also catch "Cats" Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and the final show is Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

More Singing Cats

Here's another video from the "Cats" DVD. This one is for all the guys out there who think dancing shows are boring. If this number doesn't get your attention, you might want to check your pulse. It's all about Macavity: The Mystery Cat, and it raises the age-old question: why do some girls just like the bad boys? Oh, and Trish, if the video doesn't link for you, here's the site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFPKbg_dKyg.

(Service with a smile, that's our motto.)

Those "Cats" Are Everywhere!

Or at least it seems like it sometimes. I stepped out to "Jim's" for lunch today (always a good idea) and found the place packed with "Cats" performers, catching their breath after this morning's school show.

A school performance is a relatively new addition to First Stage Theatre, where they offer one or two shows during a weekday morning and/or afternoon and sell discounted tickets to area schools. It's a great way for kids who might not otherwise get to see a live stage show to get that theatre experience, and it's great for the performers to get to demonstrate their talents to an audience of their peers.

Tomorrow night, the last group of performances for "Cats" will begin - don't miss it!

What Does a Director Do?

Responding to my recent review of "Cats," the director (and my longtime friend) Clint McElroy wrote:

...let me second your accolades to Mary, Lara, Elaine, Loretta, Travis, Skosh...they along with all the volunteer parents and friends gave the kids a platform on which to perform... and man-oh-man, are they PERFORMING! This is remarkable. One more weekend is all people have to see what is going to go down as one of the most amazing theatrical events ever in the Tri-State. No exaggeration. Me? I did what any good director does: I just got out of the way.

Now, I just can't let Clint get away with that comment. For any theatre performance to succeed, it requires assembling a great team (including directors, producers, cast, tech crew - basically, everyone), and that job starts with the director. (And there's no doubt that Clint has assembled a terrific team for "Cats.")

If each member of the team does their part (from the stars to the actor with the smallest part), then you have a great show. But theatre isn't a democracy - someone has to be the captain of the ship - the one who makes the tough decisions (and there are hundreds in each production), the one who makes sure everyone is doing their part, who gives encouragement when it's needed, soothes bruised egos, offers advice and keeps a hand on the rudder, making sure the show arrives safely at its final destination.

Clint's one of the best community theatre directors in the Tri-State (Lord knows I steal ideas from him all the time), so don't believe him when he says he "just got out of the way." Lots of people deserve credit for a successful show, but don't leave the captain out of the picture.

OK, end of rant.

Lots of Theatre News

Lots of theatre news to be found online today, which is always good.

At the Herald-Dispatch's site, you can read about the boffo opening weekend "Cats" enjoyed right here.

Lots of photos from "Cats" and there should be some showing up soon of Fairland High School's weekend production of "The Music Man" on the H-D Photo Galleries.

To read more about Derek Keeling's unfortunate elimination from "Grease," go here. Also, my pal Angela has a great overview of the show on her "Stay Tuned" blog.

Lots of local reaction to last night's vote on WSAZ-TV's web site.

To get the professional view of who's going to win, check out Paul Wontorek's comments at Broadway.com.

Derek's Run Is Over

Somewhat shockingly (at least to me), Derek Keeling received the fewest votes after last week's show and was voted off the "Grease: You're the One That I Want" show tonight.

I loved the reaction shot as one of the judges, with a shocked look on her face, said, "Wow." Perhaps she realizes they just lost the guy who should have won. (Well, that's the way I'm reading it.)

None of this should hurt Derek, though - the show has at least given him lots of exposure and should provide a good launching point for his career - I'm sure we'll be hearing more from him soon.

You can read a good recap of the show on Angela's "Stay Tuned" blog - the link is over there on the right.

The real winner tonight is me, because with Derek gone, I no longer care about this show at all and don't have to sit through it again (the things I do for you, dear readers). Sorry, but as far as I'm concerned, it's just an ultra-cheesy version of "American Idol." (Don't get me wrong - I enjoy "Idol.")

"Cats" On Video

In case you've never seen "Cats," here's sample of the opening number from the video of the Broadway performance.

Never Before

Today the First Stage Theatre Company does something that, as far as I know, it has never done before.

Right in the middle of the run of "Cats," for Saturday only, they’re going "dark" (which in theatre talk, means they’re not doing a show tonight). It’s unusual because Saturday night is traditionally a big audience night. So why are they shutting down tonight's show?

Well, it goes back to the fact that First Stage is a children’s theatre, and it was originally started 17 years ago because there were so few opportunities for local kids to get on stage. These days, that’s not the case - schools have show choirs, band competitions, lots of sports events, all-county competitions, dance classes, acting classes, and on and on.

When a show is scheduled, the directors try to take all that into consideration and try to work around the schedules of their actors as much as possible, though invariably there will be conflicts.

When you put on a show you have to choose your performance dates well in advance, and when “Cats” was put on the schedule at Huntington’s City Hall, the directors didn’t realize that the first Saturday performance conflicted with a big Show Choir competition. Because many of the show’s leads are also in show choirs, something had to give.

With the children’s theatre, the rule is simple: School is more important. After all, if a student skips a school event, it can hurt their grade - and First Stage’s goal is to help the young performers, not hurt them.

So the directors of “Cats” did the only thing they could do - cancel Saturday’s performance.

I ran into a similar problem when I directed “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” several years ago. We didn’t realize that the second night of our tech rehearsal, just a couple of days before the first performance, was at the same time as All-County Chorus rehearsal - and once again, virtually all our leads were in All-County. So we did the rehearsal without them (although they arrived later), and the directors - including me - got on stage and served as “stand-ins” so the rest of the cast could prepare. Just one of the hazards of children’s theatre.

At any rate, don’t worry - “Cats” will be back tomorrow (Sunday) and all through next weekend at the Huntington City Hall auditorium. Sunday’s show is at 2:30 p.m., and there are shows next Thursday (March 22), Friday (March 23) and Saturday (March 24) at 8:00 p.m., and the last show is Sunday (March 25) at 2:30 p.m. So you still have lots of chances to see the show.

But if you were planning to go tonight, be warned - your plans are going to change.

On Stage Tonight - "Cats"

Oh good, Blogger is letting me load photos again.

Anyway, "Cats" continues tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Huntington City Hall auditorium. Highly recommended!

Free Publicity for Your Show

This information is from my editor Andrea, who asked me to pass this along to you, dear readers - and let me say, I'm glad to see the Herald-Dispatch reaching out to local theatre groups like this.

ATTENTION THEATER GROUPS

Get extra publicity for your upcoming production on www.herald-dispatch.com by sending in photos of your rehearsals. Yep, it’s that easy.

They’re looking for several photos (at least 10 and as many as 50) that show different aspects to your productions (actors rehearsing, building sets, etc). The photos should be up close and well-lit.

Simply send the photos as high-quality JPG attachments to news@herald-dispatch.com with the subject line “Theater photo gallery” (you can usually fit about 10 photos per e-mail). Be sure to include the production’s basic information (who, what, where, when, how much) and your phone number in case they should have any questions.

Also, thanks to their new calendar database, you don’t have to wait until a couple weeks before your production starts in order to get into the online calendar. As soon as you set the details for your production, send them in to news@herald-dispatch.com! The earlier they get in, the more likely they are to run multiple times.

“Cats” - The Review

First, a full disclosure - I’m a member of the board of First Stage Theatre Company, the group that is staging “Cats” this weekend and next at the Huntington City Hall auditorium. However, my only involvement was unlocking the doors at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church, where the group rehearsed. I’ll try to apply my objectivity to this review - but it’s such a great show, there’s not much there to criticize. On with the review:

I can only offer raves about this production - in fact, “Cats” is one of - if not THE - best community theatre productions I’ve ever seen.

The story (such as it is) is based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot. Andrew Lloyd Webber used that as the foundation and built a show that's become a theater legend. The show ran for 18 years on Broadway, holding the record for longest-running show - until “The Phantom of the Opera” set a new record recently.

There’s not really much in the way of plot, other than a group of cats gathering for a special occasion. But what the show does feature is some amazing songs and brilliant choreography.

The show features the best dancers and singers from local high schools and middle schools - some from as far away as Portsmouth. And the beauty of the production is that it’s an ensemble performance, so quite a few performers get their chance in the spotlight.

It’s especially rewarding to see several of the seniors in the production getting to show off their skills. John Wolfe and Shane Gue have both grown up on stage, playing a number of leads, and in this show they get to demonstrate their considerable talents as both actor, singer and dancer. Allie Harrison and McKenzie Young also get the chance to step into the spotlight and shine. Clint Wilson provides a hilarious turn as a cat with a large appetite, and Owen Reynolds has a show-stopping number that includes the creation of a train on stage.

And the seniors aren’t the only ones out there - there’s a lot more amazing talent, including solos by the incredibly talented Brittany Hazeldine, Jordan Sager and Eric Newfeld - oh, and I can’t forget a great song-and-dance number by Mary Kate Young and Josh Meredith.

One performer who’s impossible to overlook is the incredible Sarah Hayes - dressed all in white, she dazzles with her dancing and her presence - truly impressive.

There are many other great performers in there that I’m overlooking because I don’t have a cast list in front of me, and because of the makeup and costuming, I’m not exactly sure who was doing which number. (For example, the actors playing Old Deuteronomy and Mr. Mistoffelees are amazing.) How’s this: as I see the show again (and I will be seeing it more than once), I’ll make notations of the ones I’ve overlooked and mention them in updates.

Do I have any complaints about the show? The closest I can come to one is that, in a couple of places, I had trouble understanding the words - but that can be attributed to the fact that they were still fine-tuning the audio (remember, I was at a dress rehearsal) and the rapid-fire lyrics Webber is known for. And even that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this incredible show.

Special props go to the set design by Travis McElroy (assembled by a small army of parents and actors), and superhuman efforts to arrange for costuming, wigs and makeup (and a thousand other details) by producers Elaine Young and Loretta Hayes.

My hat is off to the directors, who tackled an incredibly difficult show - one that many theatre groups have tried to stage and backed away from because it’s such a huge undertaking - and created a production that is both excellent and unforgettable. From the music direction of Laura Donahue to the incredible choreography by Mary Smirl and under the direction of Clint McElroy, it’s a real accomplishment in community theatre, and a show not to be missed!

On Stage Tonight: "Cats"

I watched Wednesday night's dress rehearsal of "Cats," and hope to have a complete review posted sometime Thursday, but let me just say: what an amazing show! And what an incredibly talented group of young people in it!

Gotta run, but to sum it up in one word: Wow!

"Cats" Countdown - One Day to Go!

The long wait is almost over, as the "Cats" take over the City Hall stage tomorrow night.

My pal Dave Lavender has a nice preview of the show here, and there are lots of pictures in the photo gallery to tide you over until showtime.

As I've been telling you for months now, it's going to be an amazing show. I hope to have a full review posted ASAP. We'll see if I can get through it without writing a single "Cat" pun.

More "Cats"

OK, I'm still terribly busy but I wanted to point out that you can see some rehearsal photos from "Cats" here on the Herald-Dispatch web site.

These photos feature the actors in costume, but without the extensive makeup (hey, they have to save a few surprises for the performance).

Continuing the "Cats" Countdown

A hectic day for me, so here's today's post: only two days left until "Cats" hits the stage! (Sorry, I'll try to do better tomorrow.)

"Cats" Countdown at 3 days

Don't be so glum, calico! There are only three days left until "Cats" hits the stage in Huntington.

(By the way, this photo is from a practice session where the cast was learning how to apply the full makeup needed - thie finished product is amazing!)

First Stage Theatre Comapny is the first local theatre group to present the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The shows start Thursday at 8:00 p.m. at Huntington's City Hall.

Don't miss it!

Another Vote for Derek

It's always nice to find out you're not the only one - over at the Broadway.com website there's a commentary about last night's showing of "Grease: You're the One That I Want," and the author picks Derek (and Laura) as the ones who should win.

Go here to read the article (you'll have to scroll about halfway down the page).