Monday, January 30, 2017

WEEK AT A GLANCE - January 30 - February 5

Click on any show title to get more information on that production

And Click Here for a complete day by day calendar of what shows are playing.


CLOSING:

OPENING:
STILL PLAYING:

review - THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES - Hale Centre Theatre

Rebecca Bryce, Gina Kim, Jessie Jo Pauley, and Melissa VanSlyke
Photo by Nick Woodward-Shaw 

highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 18th.

"...The Marvelous Wonderettes, which features four fun and engaging characters and over two dozen songs, is the female equivalent of Forever Plaid,...Full of quirky yet lovable characters and many well known songs, and featuring a stellar cast, The Marvelous Wonderettes is receiving a lively production at Hale Centre Theatre. The creation of Roger Bean, The Marvelous Wonderettes starts in 1958 when a female quartet has been asked to sing at their high school prom..Bean's script gives us plenty of details about these women. From their romances to their dreams and jealousies, we learn all about these four high school girls in the first act. The second act is set 10 years later at their high school reunion where the group has been asked to perform again and we discover what happens to them after high school. Featuring familiar songs ranging from "Mr. Sandman" to "Son of a Preacher Man," The Marvelous Wonderettes is very effective in how it not only finds a way to present songs from two different decades, due to the decade span across the two acts, but also in portraying how these four characters change over that 10-year period as well....Hale's cast and direction are superb in bringing the lovable ladies and familiar songs to life. Cindy Lou, played by Rebecca Bryce, is the bossy group member we discover is also spending time with the boyfriend of her fellow Wonderette Betty Jean. That creates tension in the group, with Melissa VanSlyke's layered portrayal of the spirited and joking Betty Jean, showing moments of sadness and hurt beneath the fun-loving exterior. Gina Kim is a hoot as Missy, who tries to hold the group together and also has a secret crush on someone close to the group, while Jessie Jo Pauley's gum-chewing Suzy is spunky and a little clueless. All four are talented actresses and have voices that excel on their many solo and group songs. Lincoln Wight's music direction achieves some stunning blended harmonies by the foursome ...Director-choreographer Cambrian James does exceptional work in several ways. He makes sure the foursome deliver believable characters; creates moments of physical comedy that are organic; and provides more serious scenes that resonate without being too cloying or unrealistic. James' choreography offers period perfect steps that change across the decade span of the show ...Hale Centre Theatre continues to produce some of the best non-professional musicals in the Valley and their The Marvelous Wonderettes is a simply joyous and joyful experience. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

cast announcement - LEADING LADIES - Fountain Hills Theater


CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs March 10th thru March 26th

Leo-Terry Gadaire
Jack-Roger Prenger
Meg-Morgan Ottersbach
Doc-Darryl Poenisch
Duncan- Dan Marburger
Audrey-Alexia Lorch
Florence-Donna Georgette
Butch-Karl Perry

STEEL MAGNOLIAS - February 10 & 11, 2017

Broadway comes to Mesa as the Mountain View High School Theatre Department will present Steel Magnolias as a fundraiser for their theatre program with a cast of guest artists from the Broadway productions of WICKED, LES MISERABLES, JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and more!

This two-night-only event will take place in the Mountain View High School auditorium on February 10 & 11, 2017. Mark your calendars now so you do not miss this event that is sure to sell out!

Written by Robert Harling and set in Louisiana in the 1980’s, Steel Magnolias is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming.

At Truvy’s beauty shop, the motto is: there’s no such thing as natural beauty – the women are all sass and brass. Through clouds of hairspray and over the buzz of blow dryers, six southern spitfires gather each week to chat and support each other through thick and thin. But those bonds are about to be tested when M’Lynn and her daughter Shelby face a life-changing crisis. Infused with heart and humor, Steel Magnolias is a hilarious story that touches on love, loss and enduring friendship.

The cast includes Broadway veterans and AriZoni Award winning ladies such as: Joy Bingham Strimple (Ouiser Boudreaux), Beka Burnham (Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie), Kelli James (Truvy Jones), Maren Maclean (M’Lynn Eatenton), Tregoney Shepherd (Clairee Belcher), and Lana Shumway (Annelle Dupuy-Desoto).

The creative team has received numerous AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Theatre in their respective fields and include: Jere Van Patten (Director), Dori A. Brown (Scenic Design), Angel Woolsey (Lighting Design), Jeffrey Sloan (Sound Design) Aurelie Flores (Costume Design), Joe Navan (Makeup & Wig Design), and Angel Woolsey (Production Stage Manager).

Mountain View Theatre Department wishes to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions: Actor’s Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, American Guild of Variety Artists and SAG-AFTRA through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the artists to appear in this program.

Mountain View High School is located at 2700 E. Brown Road in Mesa, Arizona on the NW corner of Lindsay and Brown roads.

Tickets are $35 VIP Seating; $25 Premiere Seating; $20 Prime Seating; $15 General Seating. Choose your seats online: www.torodrama.com/tickets. For more information call (602) 881 – 9514.

Steel Magnolias is rated PG and is recommended for audiences over 8 years old. Please be aware that gunshots, smoke, haze and strobe lights may be used throughout this production.

audition notice - NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS - Hale Centre Theatre - February 11

Hale Centre Theatre will hold auditions for No Time for Sergeants, playing April 6, 2017 – May 13, 2017. The show is produced by David and Corrin Dietlein, directed by M. Seth Reines and casting directors David and Corrin Dietlein. Performances are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and Saturday matinee. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition.

SYNOPSIS
The action in the hilarious military comedy, No Time for Sergeants, centers around a group of extremely diverse World War II draftees who manage to rock the Army Air Corps boat, getting everyone into hot water from lowly recruits to the commanding general. The play by Ira Levin is based on the best-selling book by Mac Hyman, who was inspired by his own experiences in the Army Air Corps to write the novel. The Tony Award-winning play ran for nearly two years on Broadway and launched the career of the popular comic actor Andy Griffith, who was nominated for a Tony Award.

Audition Information: Saturday, February 11th
       The audition will consist of side readings. Sides will be provided. Please prepare 1 side to read.
       Please be familiar with the play.
       Read the breakdowns and bring your best characters to the audition.
       Dance or singing will not be required at the audition.
       The casting directors use Casting Manager during the casting process. Please post your head shot and resume to your Casting Manager profile.

Call Backs
Call backs for No Time for Sergeants will be held Saturday, February 18th at 10:00 AM with the first read through scheduled for Monday, February 11th at 7:00 PM.

Audition Location
Auditions will be held at the theater located at 50 West Page Avenue in Gilbert.

How to make an appointment


Payment
Each adult actor 16 years of age and older will receive a payment of $25.00 per performance. Child actors will be paid $12.50 for each performance.

Other Notes
Runtime: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Auditions are by appointment only. Any questions may be emailed to auditions@haletheatrearizona.com.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

WILL STOCKDALE: (20’s) Happy disposition, good people instincts but very naive. Just wants everyone to be happy. Ozark accent.
BEN WHITLEDGE: (20’s) Will’s best buddy. Very intense, wants to do everything by the book. Ozark accent.
SERGEANT KING: (40’s) Long-suffering Air Force veteran. Willing to break the rules to keep from making waves.
IRVIN BLANCHARD: (20’s) Know-it-all wise guy. Tries to get Will in trouble. Ozark accent.
SEVEN MEN: (20’s) Multiple roles, must be able to play distinct characters. Dialects a must: Ozark to New York
ONE WOMAN: (20’s to 30’s) Multiple roles, multiple dialects.

THREE MEN: (40’s to 60’s) Multiple roles, multiple dialects. Ozark to middle America.

STOP KISS - Mesa Encore Theatre's Black Box Second Sunday Playreading - February 12

A poignant and funny play about the ways, both sudden and slow, that lives can change irrevocably,” says Variety. After Callie meets Sara, the two unexpectedly fall in love. Their first kiss provokes a violent attack that transforms their lives in a way they could never anticipate.

Callie-Tina Khalil
Sara-Janine Colletti
George-Rob Allocca
Peter-Cody Wagner
Mrs. Winsley/Nurse-Heidi Carpenter
Detective Cole-Will Ryczek

Directed by Chris Chávez

Sunday, February 12 at 7:00 pm
Free Event at M.E.T at 933 – Black Box

review - JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT - Fountain Hills Theater

Nick Hambruch and Cast
Photo by Patty Torrilhon
highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 5th.

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat... is based on a fairly simple Bible story, which makes for a short and somewhat slight plot. While it may not be a perfect musical it does feature an infectious mix of fun musical styles. Fountain Hills Theater's production showcases talented leads in a spirited, energetic and delightful endeavor. The musical is based on the Old Testament bible story of Joseph and features a score that ranges from rock to country and calypso. ...The show is also completely sung through, which makes some of the shifts in tone and location slightly confusing, since there is no dialogue to help bridge the gaps between some of the songs. Fortunately, Lloyd Webber's score comprises infectious musical hooks and motifs that you'll be humming for days. ...The production usually includes a Narrator who comments and even participates in the story. Fountain Hills has expanded this to a quartet of four narrators who take turns telling Jacob's story and at times join forces together or in duos to harmonize on their many songs. The talented cast is led by Nick Hambruch as Joseph. His youthful looks and boyish charm combined with a strong voice and well thought out delivery of his lyrics, which are spontaneous and full of insight, make this a very winning performance. Kathleen Berger, Amy Powers, Jennifer Whiting, and Janine Smith share the narrator role and they all excel in the many moments each gets to tell and sing about Joseph's story. As the Elvis-inspired Pharaoh, Alex Gonzalez's powerful voice and charming ways make for a a crowd pleasing performance....director Peter J. Hill ...makes good use of the small Fountain Hills stage to ensure that it never seems overcrowded, at times even bringing the ensemble out into the sides of the audience....with its rousing megamix finale, which is a showstopper and sends the audience out on a huge high, it is a fun, upbeat show. The fact that it also includes lessons about jealousy and forgiveness makes it a musical that everyone can relate to. With a good cast and colorful creative elements, Fountain Hills Theater's production is an engaging, charming and completely enjoyable good time." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

photos - BASKERVILLE - Phoenix Theatre

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through February 12th



















photos by Reg Madison Photography

Saturday, January 28, 2017

photos - LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE - Desert Stages Theatre

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through February 12th









photos by Dana Butcher

cast announcement - DISNEY WINNIE THE POOH KIDS - Musical Theatre of Anthem


CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs February 23rd to 26th

Narrator: Red : Rileigh McDonough
Narrator: Orange: Joslyn Momeyer
Narrator: Yellow: Vanessa McLean
Narrator: Green: Kayden Solomon
Narrator: Blue: Tanis Clizer
Narrator: Indigo: Addison Purvis
Narrator: Violet: Stella Witmer
Winnie The Pooh: Libby Ikesaki
Pooh's Tummy: Vanessa Hughes
Tigger: Jayden Hawley
Rabbit: Marlee Trent
Owl: Lexirose Blanzy
Kanga: Sophie Connor
Roo: Tyler Blanzy
Eeyore: Anora Biggs
Piglet: Marlowe Dockter
Bees: Ameera Neubauer, Laci Noice. Kylee Pelchat. Elliana Bollinger. Louise Herd. Abigail Patton. Madelyn Westerlind
Christopher Robin: Ben Fletcher
Word Chorus: “This” - Mcartney Weisensee, “Way” - Paige Van Dillen, “Out” - Hagen Harris, “Of”
- Simon Weil, “The” - Annika Paluch. “Backson” - Morgan French. “Pit” - Laci Boothe
Mice: Mcartney Weisensee, Annika Paluch. Hagen Harris. Laci Boothe. Morgan French. Paige Van Dillen
Foxes: Jordyn Kautz. Giselle Williams
Ladybugs: Emma Viso. Bella Avdikos. Ella Robson, Payton McCarthy, Sienna Stewart, Shea Kaikala
Squirrels: Simon Weil, Jett Hale, Charlie Watters, Casen Halpin, Beckett Stewart

promo photos -THE HEROES OF OLIM - East Valley Children's Theatre

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs February 9th to February 19th