Sunday, April 30, 2017

photos - HIR - Stray Cat Theatre

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through May 13th








 
   

 
 


photos by John Groseclose

audition notice - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Arizona Young Actors' Alliance - May 27


The Arizona Young Actors' Alliance will be putting on a full length play this summer (in addition to our regular cabarets, to be announced later.)

She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen is an exploration of death, life, love and family through the lens of Dungeons and Dragons. After the death of her sister, Agnes Evans discovers more about her sister than she ever did in life whens she finds Tilly's Dungeons and Dragons notebook.

Auditions: May 27th, starting at 4pm

Auditions will take place at Fountain Hills Youth Theater (11445 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268), where the show will also take place from July 28-30. However, rehearsals will be spread out between Fountain Hills Youth Theater and a TBD location in Chandler/Gilbert in order to facilitate a broader reach of youth actors and actresses in the Valley!

Age range: 13-21
Directed by: Mackenna Goodrich

Callbacks will take place immediately following auditions on the 27th.

To receive an audition packet, please send an email to mackenna.azyoungactors@gmail.com.

review - THE PRODUCERS - Desert Stages Theatre

Rob Dominguez, Matthew R. Harris and Cast
Photo by Dana Butcher
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 May 7th.

"Fifteen years before Hamilton took Broadway by storm, the Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan 2001 musical comedy The Producers was the hottest ticket in town...Desert Stages Theatre presents a scrappy and small, but smart, production that features talented leads and results in a virtual comic frenzy of fun.
... the story focuses on down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock who once was "The King of Broadway." Accountant Leo Bloom is sent to audit the books for Max's latest show, which closed on opening night, and notices that Max actually raised $2,000 more than the show cost, so he actually made money on the flop. Leo speculates that "a producer could actually make more money with a flop than a hit." Upon hearing those words, the wheels in Max's head start to turn and he concocts the ultimate scheme to make it rich on Broadway. If they can guarantee the show will flop—by finding the worst play ever written, hiring the worst director, and casting the worst actors—and raise $2 million dollars, twice as much money than they actually need, when the show quickly closes they will both be rich. Of course, in typical Brooks comedic fashion, things don't go at all as planned.
...DST's production, under the confident direction of Mitchell Glass, has a cast who throw themselves headfirst into the insanity. Matthew R. Harris and Rob Dominguez make a winning twosome as Max and Leo. They both have clear, rich singing voices and good comic timing that, when combined with expert facial expressions and humorous body movement, deliver heightened and hilarious performances. ...Tim Paul Fiscus is a hoot as the "worst director" that Max and Leo hire, Roger DeBris.....Danica Rocha is a knock out as Ulla, the sexy Swedish actress who gets pulled into the action....As Franz Liebkind, the author who has written the worst play Max and Leo find, which is a musical all about Hitler, Eric Bond makes every moment he's on stage pop with hilarity....The Producers ....is comedy satire at its best ..Desert Stages production has excellent leads and impressive direction and is a worthy production of this classic comedy hit." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

Saturday, April 29, 2017

audition notice - CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Desert Stages Theatre - May 14

Seeking fame and fortune, Frank Abignale, Jr. runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer - living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. But when Frank’s lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl, Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

Directed by Lisa Barton-Figueroa

Auditions:
Ages 12-20 with guest actors
Sunday 5/14 at 5:00pm
Dance auditions will be held the same day from approximately 7:30-8:30pm

Come prepared with 16-32 bars with sheet music, accompanist will be provided, and dressed to dance.
Register at http://desertstages.org/audition_information

Call backs:
Saturday Saturday 5/20 from 10:00am-12:00pm

Rehearsals begin May 22nd

Show dates and times are:
June 30 - July 30, 2017
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm

FINDING THE REAL - Desert Foothills Theater - May 28

Desert Foothills Theater
Presents

FINDING THE REAL
A Cabaret
With Mason Reeves
Featuring: Mark Foreman, Ali Whitwell & Zach Zupke

Finding the Real is a DFT Cabaret with Mason Reeves and features Ali Whitwell and Zack Zupke. Accompanied by the incomparable Mark Foreman, this intimate piece features stories by Reeves and music from Broadway's Golden Era (and more!)

Having grown up on the Desert Foothills stage, Mason Reeves grew up on the DFT stage and is currently studying at the University of Michigan in their acclaimed musical theater program.

When: Sunday, May 28, 7:30PM (Doors open at 6:30)

Where: FCF-Holland Cabaret Theatre
              33606 N. 60th St.
             Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Tickets: $25 (Price includes appetizers and soft drinks!)

Purchase at: http://www.dftheater.org/cabaret-series

Doors open at 6:30PM. Performance starts at 7:30PM.

photos - OLIVER! - Arizona Broadway Theatre

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through May 21st


  

 



 






photos by Scott Samplin

Friday, April 28, 2017

audition notice - ensemble, swing and understudy parts - BARE - Nearly Naked Theatre - April 28


NEARLY NAKED THEATRE   will be holding supplemental auditions for
Bare
 
by Damon Intrabarrolo & Jon Hartmere  
directed by Damon Dering  
music direction by Curtis Moeller  

A group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school faces issues of sexuality and personal identity. As they struggle to come to terms with who they are, and who the world thinks they should be, they seek answers from their Church, their friends, and ultimately, from within themselves. Its rich, vibrant score draws on many styles of contemporary music.    

1 WOMAN  aged 17-25 (plays 17-18) with strong vocal, acting and movement abilities, for the role of
TANYA (female 17-25, plays 17/18, MEZZO/ALTO) Lucas’s girlfriend, into the party scene and not the most “responsible” girl in the group.  BECAUSE THIS ACTRESS WILL UNDERSTUDY THE ROLE OF “IVY”, she must have strong acting and vocal abilities, must have a strong “belt”, must have a “convential high school All-American pretty” look, and be comfortable showing her midriff and being in her bra.   We prefer an actress 18+, but must be at least 17.
Tanya is a choral role that performs in the show everynight, she has a lot of solo lines and stuff to do!

1 AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN aged 35+ (MEZZO/SOPRANO/GOSPEL BELT) to UNDERSTUDY the role of  SISTER CHANTELLE  A nun; wise but no-nonsense , with an almost “too street to be a nun” attitude.

1 MAN aged 18-25 to UNDERSTUDY the role of
JASON (male 18-25, plays 17-18, TENOR with strong male “belt” top note G) Handsome, athletic, basketball-type; he’s the golden child of St. Cecilia’s senior class. THIS ROLE REQUIRES PARTIAL NUDITY.

AUDITIONS
will be held on am indiviudally scheduled basis ASAP. Please email us you afternoon and evening availability the the rest of this week (4/28) and ALL of NEXT WEEK (4/30 - 5/6)

PREPARE
We will send you sides from the score, and you will come in and sing them, ss well as read sides from the script.

REHEARSALS BEGIN  
The show is currently in rehearsal. Must be available to start immediately.
The show runs 5/26 - 6/17    

APPOINTMENTS  
are made by emailing your headshot and resume (or photo and brief summary of experience/training) to castingcouch@nearlynakedtheatre.org Please include your FULL NAME and PHONE NUMBER and AVAILABITITY (see above) in the body of the email, NOT just on your attached resume. (Volunteers monitoring email account do not open attachments and thus cannot see your name and phone if you do not put it in the email). RESUMES are not required, but a HEADSHOT or ANY PICTURE OF YOURSELF is REQUIRED. Even a candid.    

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! BREAK A LEG!

Thursday, April 27, 2017

promo photos - URINETOWN - Mesa Encore Theatre

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs from May 19th to May 28th




Photos by: Pam Pershing
Poster design by: David Chorley
Actors: Nicholas Gunnell, as Bobby - Taylor Moskowitz, as Hope

cast announcement - SEUSSICAL, JR. - Musical Theatre of Anthem

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs May 11th to May 14th

Bird Girl 1: Mary Davis

Bird Girl 2: Hannah Baldwin

Bird Girl 3: Ashley Bragg

Circus Animals: McKenna Carlson, Jack McHatton, Ava Mitchell, Jadyn Momeyer, Stewart Neal, Tor Christian Tjorhom

Citizens of Whoville: Abby Chazan, Cate Finn, Rosalia French, Isabelle Johnson-Heston, Megan McCrory, Emily Severson

Fish: Abby Chazan, Cate Finn, Rosalia French, Isabelle Johnson-Heston, Megan McCrory, Emily Severson

Gertrude McFuzz: Grace Davis

Horton: J.R. Momeyer

Hunters: McKenna Carlson, Jack McHatton, Ava Mitchell, Stewart Neal, Emily Severson, Tor Christian Tjorhom

Jojo/Boy: Julia Hughes

Jungle Citizens: Ava Mitchell, McKenna Carlson, Jadyn Momeyer, Jack McHatton, Stewart Neal, Tor Christian Tjorhom

Mayzie LaBird: Alexis Rosenbaum

Mr. Mayor: Jack Maplethorpe

Mrs. Mayor: Emma Suttell

Sour Kangaroo: KyLeigh Montgomery

Young Kangaroo: Kennedy Weitekamp

The Cat in the Hat: Savannah Foy

The Grinch: Emily Severson

Vlad Vladikoff: Ava Mitchell

Wickersham Brother 1: Stewart Neal

Wickersham Brother 2: Jack McHatton

Wickersham Brother 3: Tor Christian Tjorhom

Yertle the Turtle: McKenna Carlson

reviews - NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS - Hale Centre Theatre

Tom Endicott, Eric Mitchell, and Josh Hunt
Photo by Emily Woodward-Shaw / Lighting by Jeff A. Davis
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 May 13th.

"....TV icon Andy Griffith's successful career was launched...with the part of Will Stockdale, a simple-minded hillbilly who gets drafted into the Army. Griffith first played the character in the short TV movie No Time for Sergeants and later reprised the role in both an expanded Broadway version of the teleplay and a film adaptation. The play is receiving a bright and cheerful production from Hale Centre Theatre. While the simple nature of the light comedy and the dated humor of the piece don't exactly deliver an abundance of guffaws it is a charming show with fun characters and Hale's production features a sweet and winning performance from Josh Hunt as Stockdale....Will's clueless nature, lack of social skills, and need to continually say whatever is on his mind, even when it's not appropriate, get him, his fellow soldiers, and their sergeant into a neverending amount of trouble. ...While the piece is fun and lively it does have a bit of a repetitive nature, with Will's actions having a constant and continual outlandish impact on each new character he meets. Hunt doesn't play Stockdale as an ignorant caricature, just a man who is uninformed about the modern world. This makes him both realistic and entirely lovable. ...Hunt is entirely endearing in the role. As the Sergeant King, who often finds himself the victim of the chaos that Stockdale's actions create, Raymond Barcelo is appropriately frazzled and flustered. Eric Mitchell delivers a good, realistic mix of timidity and assuredness as Stockdale's army pal Ben and he also effectively shows Ben's hurt side when he feels his friend has betrayed him. ...The crackerjack ensemble play multiple parts, with Tom Endicott delivering varied portrayals as both Will's ignorant father and an army general; and Jason Hammond is a hoot as an agitated psychiatrist whom Stockdale turns the tables on. ...M. Seth Reines has directed his cast to deliver refined comic performances that aren't too over the top, which adds a nice hint of realism to the piece. ...It may be sentimental and hokey, and even a bit repetitive, but with a great cast and Hale's always excellent production elements, No Time for Sergeants is a fun show that is also filled with heart. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

the ariZoni Awards of Theatre Excellence seek YOUTH Adjudicators for the 2017 / 2018 season

from our friends at the Zonis:

The ariZoni Awards of Theatre Excellence are specifically looking for YOUTH adjudicators for the upoming season.

The adjudicators are the unsung heroes of the ariZoni Awards of Theatre Excellence. Without them, none of the awards would be possible.  And we need a LOT of people to make it all work.

With over 25 theaters, and 13 youth theaters, there are more than 100 productions adjudicated each year that need five adjudicators each. We need qualified people, people who have worked in or studied theater, people who can solidly apply the rubrics to each production and performance they see.

If you are interested in adjudicating for Youth Productions, please fill out an application online. Adjudicator applications are due April 30. Once chosen, you will need to attend a mandatory adjudicator interview /  training session.

Adjudicating is a great way to experience the incredible variety of theater we have in the Valley of the Sun and help ensure the ariZoni's are the BEST they can be!

April 30 - Youth Adjudicator applications due

2017 Training/Interview Dates: (one meeting mandatory for EVERY adjudicator)
Monday, May 8, 7PM, location TBD
Monday, May 15, 7PM, location TBD
May 21, 5PM, location TBD

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

photos - WILLY WONKA, JR - Musical Theatre of Anthem

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through April 30th








photos by Michele Celentano

REASONS TO BE PRETTY - Mesa Encore Theatre - June 2­ - 18, 2017


By Neil LaBute
Directed by Layne Racowsky

A love story about the impossibility of love, Reasons to be Pretty introduces us to Greg, who
really, truly adores his girlfriend, Steph. Unfortunately, he also thinks she has a few physical
imperfections, and when he casually mentions them, all hell breaks loose. A hopelessly romantic
drama about the hopelessness of romance, Reasons to be Pretty is a gorgeous play.

Mitch Tellez as Greg
Brandi Bigley as Steph
Phillip Herrington as Kent
Jillian Walker as Carly

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30

CLICK HERE for more information on this production and to purchase tickets

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

audition notice - SEUSSICAL - Theater Works - May 16 & May 17


Auditions: Tuesday, May 16 & Wednesday, May 17
Callbacks: Thursday, May 18

Director: Chris Hamby
Music Director: James May
Choreographer: Katrina Sanders

We will be casting a very large ensemble for this production.

Please prepare 32 bars (a verse and chorus) of a song in the style of the show. No a capella numbers, please. Auditioners are encouraged to audition with sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. MP3 tracks can be accommodated if necessary.

Please come with any potential conflicts for rehearsal you might have between May 22nd and July 14th. No performance conflicts will be honored.

Performances are July 14-30 2017.

Character Descriptions and Casting Requirements

YOUTH AUDITIONS:
Download Youth Audition Form
Please sign up for an audition time below:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044ea9aa28a46-youth


ADULT AUDITIONS:
Download Adult Audition Form
Please sign up for an audition time below
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044ea9aa28a46-adult

photos - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Limelight Performing Arts

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through May 7th