A Glorious Windbag

The cast for KCCT's production of A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum had a meeting last night to get scripts and discuss the schedule.  Rehearsals don't start until after the first of the year.

You should come check out the show, which opens February 15, 2008.  It should be a good show. 

Courtesans & Eunuchs

I was cast last night as Miles Gloriosus in KCCT's upcoming production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.  I would have loved to have had the opportunity to play Pseudolus, but I'm happy with the role.  It was my second choice.

The show opens February 15th.  Put it on your calendars now. 

The Joy of Directing

I am currently directing my 6th Production for KCCT. Prior efforts were All My Sons, The Foreigner, It's a Wonderful Life:Radio Show, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (for Children's Theatre), and Brighton Beach Memoirs. I think I'm a decent Director, but I have discovered that I don't really enjoy doing it. I am just not too much of a details oriented person. I'm good at seeing the "Big Picture" and having a vision for how I want a show to be, but I'm not great at the administrative stuff that goes hand-in-hand with Directing. Or at least with Directing at KCCT.

I have a little more help on the peripheral stuff for this show than I did for Brighton Beach Memoirs, but there's still to many minutiae for my tastes.

Brighton Beach Cast

And here's one of the cast after the final show.

Brighton Beach Set

Here are a couple of pictures of the set from Brighton Beach Memoirs, which closed today.


This is the living area with a view of the bedrooms on the second level.


This is a closer view of the bedrooms.

The Lights are Bright

I mentioned in the last post that I'm running the light board for KCCT's Brighton Beach Memoirs. I'm pretty proud of the lighting design, even if it is somewhat basic. I've never designed the lighting for a show before. I'm still very much a novice, but I think I did a decent job using the lights to help tell the story of the play.

Come to the Beach

I Directed Brighton Beach Memoirs for Kaufman County Civic Theatre. We opened Friday, have a matinee tomorrow at 2pm, and run for two more weekends. You can leave a comment here and let me know you're coming (I'm also running the light board—It is community theatre after all), or you can call the theatre at 972-563-8991 and leave a voicemail for reservations.

Tickets are $12 ($10 for Senior Citizens).

If you come, I'll go have a drink with you after the show. Terrell has a really great place to get a Margarita! If you're under 21, you can always come along and get a Dr Pepper. ;)

The show is rated PG-13 for language and some adult discussions.

Please come. I think you'll like it.

Children's Theatre, Day Two

We had a pretty good day on Tuesday. We did a couple of more acting exercises, and I taught the kids about character development. After that, we held auditions for this year's show. Letting everyone read who wanted took a long time. Especially with some kids who can barely read, or who cannot read at all.

On the technical side, I discovered that the reason I couldn't get the stage lights to come on was because the breaker switch for the dimmer packs was off. Also, I figured out how to record on my computer using an external microphone, so we'll be able to do some things that I wasn't sure we'd be able to handle.

Today, we start blocking the show.

Children's Theatre, Day One

I am teaching the Children's Theatre camp at KCCT this summer. Burning about a whole week of vacation to do it, too. Missing a chance of a lifetime as well (although it might not be gone completely). Today was the first day. If my brain hasn't completely lost its functioning, I believe I have 26 kids ranging from Age 6 to 16.

We had a pretty good first day. The attention spans of some of the younger ones leave a little to be desired, but I guess that's to be expected. I've been a little spoiled. My #2 daughter is the youngest camper, and she behaved exceptionally, so I think the other kids should, too.

I am exhausted. It's time for a shower and then to bed. I am working half-days and teaching the camp in the afternoons, so I have to get up and drive downtown again in the morning.

Dream Shows/Dream Roles

I would love to see what shows & roles people are dying to do.  Please use comments to share yours.

If you aren't a performer, you can list shows you would love to see staged.

For me:

MUSICALS 

City of Angels (Buddy Fidler)
A Year with Frog and Toad (Toad)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (I should get the chance for this one next spring)
The Music Man (Would love to play Harold Hill, but would be happy as Marcellus)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Chicago (Billy Flynn or Amos Hart)
Cabaret (Would love to play the Emcee if I ever get thin enough, if not, then Ernst)
1776
The Producers (Max Bialystock, but would be happy with a number of roles)
Avenue Q (Brian)
SPAMalot (Sir Robin, King Arthur, or Patsy)
High Society

PLAYS

Mr. Roberts
Teahouse of the August Moon
Inherit the Wind
Death of a Salesman
Proof
The Glass Menagerie
The Importance of Being Earnest
Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Barefoot in the Park
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Noises Off

SPAMalot

My wife and I went to see SPAMalot last Thursday.  All in all, it was a good show.  The sound/acoustics in the Fair Park Music Hall may have been the worst I've ever experienced.  Several of the lines were difficult to hear, but thankfully, I knew most of what was being said from familiarity with the Cast Recording and the source material, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I laughed more at The Producers, and overall, Wicked is a better show, but SPAMalot is worth seeing.

Closing night

We closed Hello, Dolly! today at GSM. In all, it was a good run. We had a full house (about 720) today. Lots of GSM alums were there because of the 25th Anniversary celebration after the show. On that front, I am pleased to say that I met Mr. Peppermint, Jerry Haynes.

A few folks were lobbying Buff Shurr and Patty Granville to do a particular show next season, but I'll leave it at that for now.

What a Difference it Makes

I have been having fun with Dolly rehearsals at GSM. However, I had been a little bummed about it because I thought I was just doing singing and a little "choreographed movement." Tonight, I found out that I actually have lines. Yea!!!!

I've always considered myself and actor who can sing, so it's nice to be able to use those talents.

Well Hello, Dolly!

I started rehearsals last Monday for Garland Summer Musicals' production of Hello, Dolly!. Things are going well, so far. The music's not that tough, and the singers are being used in more of the choreography than we were last year in Kiss Me, Kate. Only a handful of folks are returners from last year, so I've made some new friends, too.

All is not Well in Sweet Apple, Ohio

KCCT's production of Bye Bye Birdie has seemed to be cursed from the start. We've lost two Mrs. MacAfees already. Our Director is having to play Rose Alvarez, and tonight I just found out that we lost our Albert Peterson. There's an emergency meeting of the KCCT Board tomorrow night to discuss what to do.

12 Angry Men

One of my best friends bought tickets to go see 12 Angry Men, which is running now in Dallas as part of the Broadway Contemporary Series of Dallas Summer Musicals. This production features Richard Thomas, best known as John Boy on The Waltons, and George Wendt, best known as Norm on Cheers.

My friend offered to take me, and, thankfully, the Director of Bye Bye Birdie at KCCT gave me Sunday afternoon off from rehearsal so I can go.

Garland Summer Audition

I'll be auditioning for Garland Summer Musicals on April 7th at 10:25 in the morning. Returning actors auditions are actually scheduled for Monday the 9th, but that will be crunch week for Bye Bye Birdie so I'll have to go to the general call. At least this year, I don't have to embarrass myself by trying to do the dance call.

Shadowlands

I'll be catching Shadowlands at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas tomorrow night. A good friend of mine, Jessica Wiggers, is in the cast. Jessica just took home the Column Award for Best Actress in a Play (Non-Equity). This will be the first show I've seen at CTD. I've heard great things about the company, so I have high hopes.

Run Away

I went this morning and got my tickets to see Monty Python's SPAMALOT at Dallas Summer Musicals. Local radio station 98.7 KLUV was onsite at the DSM Box Office with show-related games to play. I pinned the limb on the Black Knight and won an Official SPAMALOT cap.

Rehearsals start tonight

We have our first "rehearsal" for Bye Bye Birdie at KCCT tonight. It's really more of a "meet your fellow castmates" kind of thing. We'll be watching the ABC TV version of the show. Tomorrow night we start vocal rehearsals.

I've been stuck in the ensemble because the Director says she needs someone with the talent and flexibility to play multiple roles. We almost weren't able to get this show off the ground, so I was willing to go ahead and agree to step up to the plate.

Is there a future for Community Theatre?

I've been having an e-mail discussion with a friend of mine. I have posited the theory that in areas in and close to major cities, such as Dallas, the concept of "Community Theatre" may be past its time. The folks who used to be the backbone of such endeavors have become too busy with other things, e.g. their kids' soccer games & practices, their kids' baseball or softball games & practices, their kids' piano/ballet/karate lessons, activities related to church, etc. We've heard stories about the "over-programming" of our children's lives. What seems to be lost in many of those discussions is the necessary result of leaving adults with very little time to pursue hobbies or interests of their own.

Maybe there is still room for the Community Theatre. However, in order to survive, I believe they can't demand an inordinate amount of people's time. It's a double-edged sword. If you use local talent, it really takes more rehearsal to put up a good show, but those folks are the ones who don't have the time to commit to several week's of rehearsal. If you start using more of the regular theatre talent, you lose the nature of being a Community Theatre.

I may be completely wrong about the futility of Community Theatre in big cities and their suburbs. I'm not usually pessimistic about anything, but I'm pretty firm in my opinion on this. I'd love to hear some theories or explanations to the contrary.

My Picks for The Column Awards

I'll be voting for the following nominees for The Column Awards. I don't have picks in every category, so I'm open to worthy suggestion.

Best Musical of the Year – Equity

URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL – Water Tower Theatre

Best Musical of the Year - Non-Equity

NUNSENSE – ICT Mainstage

Play of the Year – Equity

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS – Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

Play of the Year – Non-Equity

HARVEY – Repertory Company Theatre

Best Director of a Musical – Equity

Mark Mullino – CITY OF ANGELS – Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

Best Director of a Musical - Non-Equity

David Schmidt – NUNSENSE – ICT Mainstage

Best Director of a Play – Equity

Mark Mullino – BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS – FMPAT

Best Director of a Play – Non – Equity

Marianne Galloway – ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES – RIT

Best Music Director of a Musical – Equity

Sheliah Walker – URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL – Water Tower Theatre

Best Music Director of a Musical – Non-Equity

Pamela Holcomb-McLain – NUNSENSE – ICT Mainstage

Best Choreographer of a Musical - Equity

Paula Morelan – URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL – Water Tower Theatre

Best Choreographer of a Musical - Non-Equity

Nancy Slater Roberts – NUNSENSE – ICT Mainstage

Best Stage Manager of a Play – Non-Equity

Alan Hanna – DANGEROUS LIAISONS – Richardson Theatre Center

Best Actor in a Musical - Equity

Joshua Doss – URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL – Water Tower Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical - Equity

Stacey Oristano – URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL – Water Tower Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity

Libby Bogart – NUNSENSE – ICT Mainstage

Best Actress in a Play - Non-Equity

Jessica Wiggers – ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES – RTI

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Equity

Andy Gosnell – SINGIN' IN THE RAIN – Garland Summer Musicals

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Non-Equity

Dane Hoffman – GUYS AND DOLLS – Lewisville Community Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Equity

Allison Rogers – SINGIN' IN THE RAIN – Garland Summer Musicals

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play – Equity

Linda Leonard – BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS – FMPAT

Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Equity

Chris Robinson – CITY OF ANGELS – Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

Best Featured Actor in a Play – Non-Equity

Josh Hepola – HARVEY – Repertory Company Theatre

Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Equity

Sara Shelby-Martin – URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL – Water Tower Theatre

Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Non – Equity

Delynda Johnson-Moravec – ONCE UPON A MATTRESS – ICT Mainstage

Best Featured Actress in a Play – Non – Equity

Heather Walker – HARVEY – Repertory Company Theatre

Best Costume Design of a Musical - Non-Equity

Suzi Shankle – GUYS AND DOLLS – Lewisville Community Theatre

Chita Rivera Dance Award- Male

Carlos Gomez – THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS – CTD

Chita Rivera Dance Award – Female

Joi Jackson – AIDA – Uptown Players

KCCT Votes to Pay Directors

For the first time in its thirty-five year history, Kaufman County Civic Theatre will be paying the Directors for its shows in the upcoming 2007-08 Season. The Board of Directors voted tonight to approve the payment of Stipends to the Directors who will be selected by KCCT's Production Committee. The shows for KCCT's 2007-2008 Season can be found HERE.

If you are interested in Directing for KCCT, send a résumé to the Vice President of Production, Marty Scott, at mdscott@classicnet.net. All résumés must be received no later than February 15, 2007.

Rainmaker Poster

Not only is Jeff Vaughan a talented Set Designer, he also is pretty good at graphic design. He designed the poster for KCCT's production of The Rainmaker. KCCT is lucky to have such a talented person helping out.

Oh, by the way, he's also in the cast of the show. Multi-talented guy, that's for sure.

Rainmaker Set Pics

I went up to KCCT and shot some pics of the set for The Rainmaker. The pictures do not do full justice to Jeff Vaughan's wonderful set.

The Rainmaker at KCCT

Kaufman County Civic Theatre will open The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash on February 2nd. I went up to the theatre last night to see how things are going. I didn't see any of the rehearsal because I got there while the Director, Dennis Gullion, was giving notes to his cast. I did, however, see the set. One of KCCT's undiscovered gems is Set Designer, Jeff Vaughan. Jeff designed his own set when he Directed Little Shop of Horrors a couple of years ago, and his use of the space is amazing. I encourage everyone to catch this show if for no other reason than to see Jeff's set.

Major Announcement about The Column Awards

"UGLY BETTY", SAG NOMINEE STAR TO CO-HOST 2007 COLUMN AWARDS GALA

(Dallas Texas) The Board of Directors and the Executive Director/
Producer of THE COLUMN Theatre Awards are extremely proud to announce
this morning that Michael Urie, who portrays "Marc" on the critically
acclaimed, smash ABC Comedy hit, UGLY BETTY has accepted their invita-
tion to Co-Host the 2007 "THE COLUMN" Theatre Awards Gala. The
glittery gala will be held at the Courtyard Theatre in Plano on
Monday February 26, 2007.

Just last week Urie received a 2007 SAG (Screen Actor's Guild)
nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy
Series. The mega hit comedy series also received this month a 2007
Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy Series.

Last week it was also announced that Tony Award nominee (AVENUE Q)
star Stephanie D'Abruzzo will also be appearing at "THE COLUMN"
Theatre Awards Gala as a special guest star.

When reached for comment about co-hosting and coming back to his home
turf of Dallas, Urie replied, "I'm so excited to co-host with John,
and come back to help honor the theatre town that I grew up watching.
I promise to be more Billy Crystal and less David Letterman!"

Executive Director/Producer John Garcia stated, "Talk about wishing so
far out of the box! I really didn't think Michael would have the time
to come to "THE COLUMN" Awards, let alone co-host the event. Never in
my wildest dreams did I think that one of the stars from one of the
biggest hits on TV this season could fit into a tight shooting
schedule an Awards Gala. When he wonderfully accepted, I think I
screamed so loud that I'm sure my neighbors thought I had put a cat in
the microwave."

"After a long drought of bland, humorless TV comedies, along comes
UGLY BETTY to quench that thirst for great comedy. I became an
addicted fan from episode one. But in all honesty, a major reason why
the show is just so funny is due to Urie's scene stealing, hilarious
performance as Vanessa William's back stabbing assistant", Garcia
went on to say.

"Just take a look at the various fan sites, blogs, and magazines that
highly praise Urie's tour de force comedic performance on the show.
From the ice cold glares, to his colorful fashion attire, to that
side splitting wheezing he does-Urie is brilliant on the show."

"I can't express in words how thrilled the Board of Directors and I
are about Urie coming to this year's awards. Our Gala audience is in
for an amazing, amazing night! But to have Michael as my co-host is a
great honor indeed. He and I have are planning terrific ideas for the
big night!"

Michael Urie is a New York-based actor whose work has taken him from
his home in Dallas to Seattle, San Diego, Washington DC, Austin and
the Berkshires. He has worked off- and off-off-Broadway, and in
commercials and independent film.

The recipient of the 2002 John Houseman Prize for Excellence in
Classical Theatre from the Julliard School, from which he holds an
acting degree, Urie's classical credits include Shakespeare's OTHELLO,
TITUS ANDRONICUS, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for the Old Globe's
Shakespeare Festival; ROMEO & JULIET for DC's Folger Theatre; LOVE'S
LABORS LOST for The Judith Shakespeare Company); Jacobean drama (THE
REVENGER'S TRAGEDY for The Red Bull Theatre and THE ROARING GIRLE at
The Foundry); and comedia del arte (THE KING STAG at Seattle Rep). He
appeared in the world premiere of LOVE AND HAPPINEES at Barrington
Stage in the Berkshires in
western Massachusetts.

His film work includes the star turn as Eric in WTC VIEW, which
premiered on LOGO in fall, 2006.

Urie was playing a bearded geologist and getting blown away nightly
by Mt. St. Helens "volcanic explosion in the off-Broadway production
of Phenomenon" when he was cast as Marc in UGLY BETTY. Worlds away, in
every sense of the word. As a producer/co-director, he is currently
in postproduction on "Two Down," his documentary short focusing on
high school speech and debate tournaments.

THE COLUMN Theatre Awards, now in its 8th year, honors excellence in
theater within the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This year over a 100
theater companies are deemed eligible, while over 300 productions are
in consideration for this year's honors.

THE COLUMN Theatre Awards also serve as a major fundraiser for the
national charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. The Column
Awards organization has now raised over $8,000.00 for BCEFA and is
now part of their Angel Campaign.

There will be a cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, with the awards
ceremony beginning at 7:00pm.

For ticket prices and all other info, please go to their official
website at: www.thecolumnonline.com

The DALLAS OBSERVER named THE COLUMN Theatre Awards as BEST LOCAL
AWARDS SHOW in its 2006 BEST IN DALLAS issue.

GCT announces 2007-08 Season

The Board of Directors at Garland Civic Theatre announced the productions for its 40th anniversary season:

Agatha Christie's WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION-August 23-Sept 15, 2007
STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling October 4-27, 2007
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, November 15 -December 8, 2007
Beth Henley's CRIMES OF THE HEART-January 24 - February 16, 2008
ARE YOU BEING SERVED? by Jeremy Lloyd, David Croft. March 6 - 29, 2008
ALL SHOOK UP-musical. April 17 - May 10, 2008

The theatre's Children On Stage division will also be celebrating a
significant anniversary, its 25th:
TREASURE ISLAND -July 26-August 5, 2007.
THE JUNGLE BOOK -October 31-November 4, 2007
THE VELVETEEN RABBIT- February 27-March 2, 2008.

KCCT Announces 2007-2008 Season

Kaufman County Civic Theatre has selected the shows for its 2007-08 Season:

Once Upon a Mattress

This delightful music will be KCCT's first ever Teen Theatre production. All roles will be cast with actors between the ages of 12 and 19 inclusive.

Brighton Beach Memoirs

Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical look at growing up in New York City is both humorous and poignant.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with the Herdmans, the most unruly bunch of kids you've ever met.

The Philadelphia Story

Find out how the other half lives. The movie version starred Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, & Jimmy Stewart. A classic comedy the whole family can enjoy.

Guys & Dolls

Back to New York for the story of Sky Masterson, Nathan Detroit, & Sarah Brown. What happens when the Gambling world and the Salvation Army collide?