Friday, April 30, 2010

"Les Miserables" School Edition Auditions May 3rd and 4th

The Twilight Theatre is proud to announce auditions for "Les Miserables", the School Edition. Auditions are open to ages 8-19, and show dates are July 16, 17, 30, and 31 at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City. Auditions will be held Monday, May 3 and Tuesday, May 4 at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church from 4:30 to 8:30. A large cast of 60-100 is required, and families are encouraged to audition together. Audition requirements and a character breakdown can be found on Twilight's website.

This is not the first time Twilight has mounted a production of "Les Miserables". In 2007, their highly acclaimed production resulted in Twilight being voted Fox 5's "Best Theatre 2007". Alison Chambers, Twilight's Artistic Director and the director of "Les Miserables", says the show is being brought back due to popular demand. "A lot of the kids involved last time said the show changed their lives and made them grow as an actor more than any other they have ever done. We made the decision that we should do this show every three years to give everyone we can the opportunity. It's not often that folks this age get to take part in such a vocally and emotionally demanding show - it's quite a challenge," Chambers states.

For more information on auditions, go to www.TheTwilightTheatre.com

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Atlanta: You’re Hiding the Next Young Michael Jackson and Debbie Allen is Going to Find Him

Debbie Allen, who is directing the Alliance Theatre’s new musical Twist this fall, will hold an open vocal call for Atlanta children this Saturday, May 1. Twist, a hot new musical twist on the Dickens classic Oliver Twist, tells the story of an orphan in New Orleans in the 1920s who finds family in the most unexpected places. The casting call will audition local children for a number of roles in the musical, including the title role of Twist, principle role of Pistol, and a children’s ensemble.

Debbie Allen, award-winning director/choreographer (Fame), returns to the Alliance for Twist, following her hugely successful Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for Best Revival). She previously has directed at the Alliance in the 2000 production of Soul Possessed.

“Debbie is thrilled to see the newest young talent here in Atlanta,” said Jody Feldman, Alliance Theatre Associate Producer. “It’s not often that we get to showcase so many children in a show like this. This is a great opportunity for the talented young actors and actresses of Atlanta.” Twist will open the Alliance’s 2010-11 Season on September 1, 2010.

Auditions will be held May 1 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Alliance Theatre. Sign ups begin at 9:00 AM on the third floor of the Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center. Children will be asked to sing 16 bars of any pop/rock/gospel song at the audition. For more information, call the Alliance Theatre Audition Hotline at 404.733.4622.

Now in its 41st season, Atlanta’s nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre, recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award® and a leading national theatre, creates the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people on two stages for youth and adult audiences. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Susan V. Booth, the Alliance Theatre is a national theatre with a local address, reaching out annually to almost 200,000 patrons and members of the community. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance launched three Tony Award-winning hits to Broadway: Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida and Alfred Uhry’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo. And, in a rare event for a regional theatre, it originated the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The theatre has premiered 60 works including adaptations of Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky. Further evidence of the Alliance’s commitment to new work is found in its nationally recognized Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, a cutting-edge program introducing student playwrights to professional networks while producing the world premiere of the winning student’s work. The Alliance Theatre also offers extensive education and outreach programs such as the Institute for Educators and the Collision Project for high school students. The Alliance continuously brings Atlanta the finest talent and finest art—proving once again that the Alliance is where great theatre lives. 404.733.4650 or www.alliancetheatre.org

The Alliance Theatre is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which also includes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art and Young Audiences.

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Hypnotist Mike Harvey at Southside Theatre Guild

Southside Theatre Guild in historic downtown Fairburn features Hypnotist Mike Harvey on Saturday, May 1st at 8:00 pm for a great night of fun and laughter where the audience watches and stars in this most enjoyable show. Tickets $15. For more info or to make your reservations, visit www.STGplays.com or call 770-969-0956.

Comedy night comes to Southside Theatre Guild for a great night of fun and laughter with the #1 comedy show in the south featuring Hypnotist Mike Harvey. The audience watches and stars in this most enjoyable show. Mike was on Panama City Beach every summer for 28 years , Carnival Cruise Lines 3 years and with the Comedy Zones for 15 years. Show is slightly PG so all ages are welcome.

Mike is a resident of Newnan (Coweta County).

Carrollton High Presents Thoroughly Modern Millie May 14 - 15

Carrollton High School Performing Arts presents Thoroughly Modern Millie Friday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mabry Center for the Arts at Carrollton High School. Directed by Brenda Sue Holcombe. Tickets are $10. Call 770-834-2116 or 770-834-7726 Ext. #5080 for more information or tickets.

Set in New York City in 1922, ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ concerns a young girl from Kansas who comes to New York in search of a new life for herself. Her grand plan is to find a job as a secretary for a wealthy man and then marry him. However, her plan goes completely awry. The owner of her dingy hotel kidnaps young girls to sell to the Far East; her wealthy boss is slow in proposing marriage; and the man she falls in love with doesn’t have a dime to his name – or so he tells her. Based on the popular movie, the stage version of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' includes a full score of new songs and bright dance numbers.
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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Tickets on Sale NOW for Mary Poppins!

Performances Begin April 29, 2010 for 3 Weeks at the Fox Theatre

Broadway Across America – Atlanta and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced that Atlanta’s most eagerly awaited stage production will begin performances at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, April 29 for a limited engagement of 3 weeks through Sunday, May 16. The opening night is Friday, April 30 at 8 p.m. The entire original creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the world’s most famous nanny to audiences around North America.

MARY POPPINS, a co-production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006. Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS the stage play features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick. The tour’s creative team includes Tour Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director James Dodgson.

Consistently among the top-grossing shows on Broadway, MARY POPPINS continues in its 3rd smash year at the New Amsterdam Theatre and recently celebrated its 1000th performance – a milestone reached by only a rare few number of shows in Broadway history. The Broadway production has grossed over $­152 million to date and been seen by over 1.8 million theatergoers.

Simultaneously, the show’s popularity grows around the globe. Following a successful three year run (December 2004 - January 2008) at the Prince Edward Theatre on London's West End, a U.K. tour of MARY POPPINS commenced in summer 2008 and concluded its acclaimed run in Cardiff in April 2009. The Australian production of MARY POPPINS will premiere in July 2010 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.

An open-ended run of MARY POPPINS will take residence at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland, outside of Amsterdam. The show will open in April 2010 at the Circus Theatre following TARZAN’S record setting run there. MARY POPPINS will be produced in Holland by Stage Entertainment in association with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh.

In Atlanta, MARY POPPINS will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Matinees will play at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices range from $19.50 to $64.00. Special VIP/Premium Ticket Packages are available for $127.00 at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Beginning Sunday, December 6 tickets will be available at the Fox Theater Box Office, and online at www.Ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets, call 1-800-982-2787. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.

The Atlanta engagement of MARY POPPINS is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across America - Atlanta and is a subscription offering for the 2009-2010 season.

For more information, please visit www.MaryPoppinsTour.com

NCTC Announces Auditions for "Pscyho Beach Party"

The campy comedy “Psycho Beach Party” by Charles Busch will be performed at the Newnan Community Theatre Company this summer. The play is a fun spoof of 1960s beach movies with a slight Hitchcock twist.

Auditions for the show are Sunday, May 9, and Monday, May 10, at the theatre. There are speaking roles for 12 males and females, ages 18-30. Additionally, dancers are needed to perform during set changes and one scene. Auditions will be from 7 to 9 pm. Actors may attend either evening to try out for a role.

"Psycho Beach Party" is being directed by Jeff Allen. The show dates are June 25, 26, 27 and July 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18. Show time is 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturdays and 2:30 on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students/seniors, and $8 for children. “Psycho Beach Party” contains mature content. NCTC is located at 24 1st Avenue in downtown Newnan. For more information about the theatre and other upcoming events, visit their website at newnantheatre.org.

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Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, with Melissa Gilbert as Ma

THE FOX THEATRE IN ATLANTA FROM JUNE 15-20 ONLY!

“We are delighted to present LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL,” states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. “This exciting new show will bring back fond memories for so many of us who loved the books and the hit television series. Having the marvelous actress Melissa Gilbert performing in the role of Ma will add even more fun to the experience. This entertaining show is appropriate for all ages, so we encourage you to bring your families and friends and neighbors to join us at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from June 15-20.”

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will arrive on June 15 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta for a one week engagement. Melissa Gilbert, who rose to fame as a child playing ‘Laura’ in the hugely successful NBC television series “Little House on the Prairie” during the 1970’s, now continues her legacy ‘on the prairie’ by taking on the role of Ma. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL will also star Steve Blanchard as Pa and Kara Lindsay as Laura. Tickets for the Atlanta engagement of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL are on sale now and may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787, at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the Fox Theatre box office. Group of 10 or more can get special rates by calling the Fox Group Sales Office at 404-881-2000.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL with Gilbert, Blanchard and Lindsay, had its world premiere production in August, 2008 at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, where it shattered all box-office records and sold-out 12 consecutive weeks. Initiated for the stage by Adrianne Lobel (Frog and Toad) and Francesca Zambello, the show is directed by Zambello (Disney’s The Little Mermaid), with music by Academy Award® winner Rachel Portman (Emma), lyrics by Donna di Novelli and a book by Tony Award® winner Rachel Sheinkin (The 25TH Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). Michele Lynch is choreographer and Kevin Stites is musical supervisor.

The producers of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL are Ben Sprecher, Amy Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, Bob Boyett, Jay Harris, William Franzblau, Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman, Peter W. Bezemes, Friendly Theatrical LLC, Jon B. Platt, Wendy Federman, Michael Filerman, Marc Schwartz, Karl Sydow and Nelle Nugent, in association with Bob Reich and Sharon Carr.

The production includes scenic design by Adrianne Lobel, lighting design by Mark McCullough, costumes by Tony Award winner Jess Goldstein, sound design by Carl Casella and wig/hair design by Charles LaPointe. Richard Carsey serves as music director, orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and dance and incidental music arrangements are by Michael Dansicker, with additional vocal and incidental music by Kevin Stites.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL is the uplifting story of an American family forging a new life amidst the mighty challenges, heartbreaks, joys and triumphs that face them in the newly-settled heartland. It is also the story of young Laura Ingalls, as she begins her life as a young woman, finding purpose, and finding love. Above all, it is the celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded – a spirit that still resonates today.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta from June 15-20, 2010. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm & 7 pm. Tickets are on sale NOW at all Ticketmaster outlets, at 800-982-2787 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $25-$65. Special group rates are available through the Fox Group Sales Dept. at 404-881-2000.

Theater of the Stars celebrates its 58th Anniversary as one of the nation’s premier regional theater companies. A civic not-for-profit cultural treasure, Theater of the Stars is dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater. To learn more about our history of excellence, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.

Here are bios for the principal cast and creative team:

MELISSA GILBERT (Caroline “Ma” Ingalls) Theatre: Off-Broadway: A Shayna Maidel (Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards); Regional: Love Letters (Canon Theater, LA); The Glass Menagerie (Chautauqua Theater Company); The Miracle Worker (Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach); Bus Stop and Love Letters (Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville); Little House on the Prairie, the Musical (Guthrie). Television: Series lead in “Little House on the Prairie,” starred in more than 40 movies for television, including Emmy Award-winning The Miracle Worker, and more than a dozen television series, including “Nip/Tuck,” and “Sweet Justice.” Ms. Gilbert served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001–05, and is currently the Standing Board Chair and Spokesperson for the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition. Ms. Gilbert is also a New York Times best-selling author with the recent publication of her autobiography, Prairie Tale - A Memoir, from Simon & Schuster.

STEVE BLANCHARD (Charles “Pa” Ingalls). Broadway: Beauty and the Beast, Camelot, A Christmas Carol, The Three Musketeers; Off-Broadway: Frankenstein, Johnny Guitar, An Oak Tree; National tours: Camelot, Phantom of the Opera, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: Esmeralda; Baltimore’s CenterStage: Sleep of Reason; Charles Playhouse, Boston: The Threepenny Opera; Ford’s Theatre, Washington, D.C.: Hot Mikado, Godspell; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical; Paper Mill Playhouse: Chess; Theatre Under The Stars, Houston: Chess. Film/Television Law at Randado, Rapmaser Ronnie, Warlords 3000, “Third Watch,” “Law and Order,” “Ed,” “Police Story,” “Sunset Beat,” “One Life to Live,” “Guiding Light,” “Another World.”Original cast recordings Johnny Guitar, Sundown, Frankenstein; debut solo CD Northbound Train

KARA LINDSAY (Laura Ingalls). Theatre: Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Quilters; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical; 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle: Lone Star Love; West Virginia Public Theatre:Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Hello, Dolly!; Carnegie Mellon University: Side Show, After Miss Julie, Hello Again, Oresteia. Training B.F.A., Acting/Musical Theater, Carnegie Mellon University

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO (Director). Theatre Broadway: Disney’s The Little Mermaid; London: Royal Albert Hall: Showboat; West End: Napoleon; Raimund Theater, Vienna: a new musical based on Rebecca; Seattle Children’s Theatre: Tibet Through the Red Box; Bregenz’s floating stage: West Side Story; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. Old Globe: First Wives Club, Skylight Music Theater: artistic director, 1984-91; Opera: Metropolitan Opera: An American Tragedy (world premiere), Cyrano de Bergerac (with Placido Domingo), Les Troyens; Teatro alla Scala: Cyrano; Washington National and San Francisco Operas: The Ring, San Francisco Opera: artistic advisor; Royal Albert Hall: La Bohème; The Bolshoi: Fiery Angel; Chicago Lyric Opera: Salome; Royal Opera House: Carmen, Don Giovanni; Paris Opera: Boris Godunov, War and Peace, Billy Budd, William Tell; Film War and Peace (ORF), Amahl and the Night Visitors (BBC), The Little Prince (BBC/PBS). Awards: Three Olivier Awards; two Evening Standard Awards for best musical and best opera; two French Grand Prix des Critiques; Japanese Golden Prize; Helpmann Award; Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres; Russian Federation’s medal for Service to Culture; the Palme d’Or in Germany; the Golden Mask in Russia. Education: Colgate University; Moscow University. www.francescazambello.com

RACHEL PORTMAN (Music). Theatre: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. Film: Grey Gardens, The Duchess, Emma, The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, Infamous, The Manchurian Candidate, Oliver Twist, The Lake House, Nicholas Nickleby, Hart’s War, The Human Stain, Life is Sweet, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Beloved, Home Fries, Addicted to Love, Marvin’s Room, Only You, The Road to Wellville, Sirens, Benny & Joon, The Joy Luck Club, Used People, Smoke, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Where Angels Fear to Tread. Opera/concert: The Little Prince, The Water Diviner’s Tale. Awards: Academy Award for Best Original Score for Emma; Academy Award nominations for The Cider House Rules and Chocolat; British Film Institute’s Young Composer of the Year Award.

DONNA DI NOVELLI (Lyrics). Musical Theater/Opera: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical (lyrics); Florida (book and lyrics) Lyric Opera Cleveland, Public Theater’s New Work Now, New York City Opera’s VOX; No God but Yearning (book and lyrics) Public Theater’s New Work Now, Joe’s Pub. Theater: The First Eff (stage play) Mark Taper Forum, Duende Arts. Dance: Twelve Dancing Princesses (text) Los Angeles Modern Dance and Ballet. Commissions: San Francisco Opera; Chanticleer; BBC. Publications New Monologues For Women by Women (Heinemann Press), NuMuse, Brown University. Awards: Manhattan Theatre Club Fellowship, Rockefeller Foundation residency in Bellagio, Italy; National Musical Theater Conference residency, the Mac Dowell Colony and the Atlantic Center for the Arts. Professional Affiliations: ASCAP, Dramatists Guild. Teaching: Bookwriting, Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts; Playwriting, National Theater Institute, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center; Visiting professor, Brown University. Training: M.F.A., Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Ira Gershwin Fellow); A.M., Brown University.

RACHEL SHEINKIN (Book) Recent work includes Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Tony, Drama Desk awards); Off Broadway: Striking 12 (Lucille Lortel nomination), off-off: Serenade. Regional: Guthrie, Little House on the Prairie, the Musical; Center Theater Group, Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Los Angeles Ovation Award); London: Blood Drive. Residencies, fellowships, commissions include: Eugene O’Neill National Theater Center, Baryshnikov Dance Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Manhattan Theatre Club, Deaf West, McCarter Theatre, Playwrights Horizons. Rachel is a volunteer mentor for TDF’s Open Doors program, a visiting instructor at Yale School of Drama, and adjunct faculty member of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.

MICHELE LYNCH (Choreographer). Paper Mill Playhouse: Happy Days. Broadway: The Coast of Utopia (Choreographer), Hairspray and The Full Monty (Associate Choreographer), Urinetown (Asst. Choreographer). Off-Broadway: Everyday Rapture (Second Stage), NYMF: Idaho; Yale Rep: Rough Crossing; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie; Asolo Theatre: Pride & Prejudice; Mark Taper Forum: 13; St Louis MUNY: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Stanford Center for the Arts: Empire; North Carolina Theatre: South Pacific; Ford Center: Leading Ladies; has traveled around the world setting companies of Hairspray and The Full Monty. Film: CAMP. Awards: Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Happy Days at Goodspeed Opera House; Garland Award for 13.

KEVIN STITES (Music Supervision, Additional Vocals, Incidental Music). Broadway: Tale of Two Cities, Color Purple, Titanic, Sunset Boulevard, Pamela’s First Musical, Children and Art, Les Misérables, Threepenny Opera, Fiddler, Nine, Oklahoma!, On the Town. National tours: Color Purple, Martin Guerre, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Titanic. Guest conductor: Grant Park Symphony, Guys and Dolls and Les Miserables at Hollywood Bowl. TV/Film: “Rosie Live,” Reefer Madness and others.
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