Up on the Stage

Laughter in Row H

2010-01-22T18:58:00.003-06:00

My good friend, Lonny, and I ventured up to Addison's WaterTower Theatre to catch their latest offering, Laughter on the 23rd Floor. The ensemble cast was terrific, and the show garnered a multitude of laughs from the nearly full house on Wednesday evening. I have seen very few plays by professional companies over the years, (The Odd Couple at Theatre Three, Shadowlands at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, and A Christmas Carol at Dallas Theatre Center when I was in high school) and they have all been excellent, but this production stands out from the crowd. The pace was popping, and the set, staging, and lighting were all top-notch.

The show runs through February 7th. Even if you aren't usually a huge Neil Simon fan, you will regret it if you miss this show.

The Streak is Broken

2009-04-20T15:30:00.002-05:00

My high school's spring One Act Play my freshman year had been the last time I had auditioned for a play or musical and failed to get cast. My string of thirty-three straight successful auditions finally came to an end. The Director for Garland Summer Musicals, Buff Shurr, had called me a few weeks ago and asked me to come read for him for the role of Max Detweiler in Sound of Music. He called me Friday to let me know he had cast another actor.

Hope to Catch

2009-04-01T14:07:00.001-05:00

I really am hoping I make it up to WaterTower Theatre's production of The Glass Menagerie. One of my favorite actresses, Jessica Wiggers is playing Laura.

Upcoming Show

2009-04-01T14:05:00.001-05:00

I will be opening Barefoot in the Park at Kaufman County Civic Theatre on April 17th. I play Harry Pepper, or as I call him, Phone Dude. I hope you can make it.

The Joy of Community Theatre

2008-12-06T23:03:00.000-06:00

I got a phone call at 6pm from the guy who plays one of the Wickersham Brothers in our production of Seussical. He said he had been throwing up all day and wouldn't be able to make tonight's show.

Well, we don't actually have a Stage Manager (whose problem it should have been), so I had to handle it. For those not familiar with the show, there are supposed to be three Wickersham Brothers, so it shouldn't be that big of a problem. You just shift a little placement. Maybe make sure some lines in songs are covered.

BUT, we only had 2 Wickersham Brothers.

It's really tough to make many things work with only one of them.

The only solution (because we are teen/adult male deficient in the chorus as well) was for me to step in. This is on top of already portraying General Schmitz and Yertle the Turtle.

So, I had to learn the dances to 2 songs (thankfully VERY easy steps) and the music on one of them.

Normally, this wouldn't have been a big issue, but I've been fighting a cold for about a week and a half. I nearly lost my voice completely during my big solo as General Schmitz, but I soldiered through and managed to get everything out all the way to the end of the show.

A show you should see

2008-11-20T17:35:00.003-06:00

Tonight begins the final weekend for Rover Dramawerks' production of Veronica's Room. If you can get up to Plano to see it, you really should. The members of the small cast (Terrie Justus, Taylor Granlund, Joe Porter, and Abel Flores) all turn in excellent performances

The show carries a warning for language and adult themes. Please take that warning seriously.

Curtain is at 8:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, & Saturday.

Avenue Q

2008-07-11T14:57:00.003-05:00

I trekked over to Bass Hall in Fort Worth with my good friend, Lonny, to see Avenue Q last night. We sat in the Upper Gallery Center section, and although I did have to hold onto the railing to prevent a mild case of vertigo, I must say that those "nosebleed" seats are far superior to the third balcony at the Music Hall in Dallas.

There were a few sound problems in the first few minutes (either the mics weren't set at the right level, or the actors weren't loud enough), but other than that, the acoustics were great. I know the cast recording frontward and back, so I couldn't judge based on the songs alone, but I was able to understand all of the dialog. I would have liked to have been closer to see some of the actors' facial expressions, but overall, the seats were fine.

We got a couple of the understudies (Kate Monster, Christmas Eve, & Gary Coleman), but other than one obvious flubbed line, that didn't seem to be an issue. The cast worked very well together. Being so familiar with the original cast recording, I found Nicky's voice to be a little off, but that's not to say the actor did a poor job. He just didn't sound that much like the original character. The Bad Idea Bears were also a little tough to understand at times, but that may just be the nature of the high, squeaking voice that is used. The guy who did both Nicky and Trekkie started to lose his voice late in the show. I can imagine that Trekkie Monster's voice takes it toll over time.

Two songs had been shortened, "Schadenfreude" and "The Money Song," but unless one is familiar with the cast recording, there's nothing about the changes that would stand out.

The "George Bush" line (those who know the music or have seen the show know what I'm talking about) got much bigger applause and laughs from the $24 seats around me than it did from the more expensive seats on the floor.

I wondered how the material would play around here, but there was no noticeable exodus at intermission, so people must not have been too offended. The light applause at the end of "My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada" was the biggest indication of any audience discomfort.

My friend, Lonny, did not know anything about the show going into it. He told me at intermission that when I mentioned that the show included puppets as we walked into the building, he thought "Oh crap!" But, he ended up thoroughly enjoying the show as well.

Now that I've seen the show, it is much more understandable how it beat out Wicked for the Tony. Wicked is probably the better show, but Avenue Q is hilariously entertaining.

Running and Upcoming Shows

2008-06-30T12:02:00.009-05:00

There are several shows currently running or coming soon that I really want to catch. I probably won't be able to see them all because of time and money.

Have Seen:

Avenue Q (National Tour) at Bass Hall

Definitely Going:

A Year With Frog & Toad at Dallas Children's Theatre *Going July 11th

Will Rogers Follies at Garland Summer Musicals

Singin' in the Rain at Rockwall Community Playhouse

The Wish List:

The Oldest Living Graduate at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

Facts of Life: The Lost Episode at Uptown Players

Zanna, Don't at Uptown Players

A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at WaterTower Theatre

Tommy at Dallas Theater Center

All My Sons at Mesquite Community Theatre

A couple of more Reviews

2008-06-25T22:30:00.002-05:00

Elaine Liner gives a mixed review in The Dallas Observer. The only mention of my performance gets this line, "The men's voices blend nicely on the miles and miles and miles of 'Heart.'"

We also got reviewed in EDGE Dallas, a GLBT publication. It only talks about the performances of the leads, but it's an overall positive.

Damn Yankees Review

2008-06-23T14:52:00.001-05:00

We got our first review of Damn Yankees over at pegasusnews.com. I don't get mentioned, but the review is positive overall.

Opening Night for Damn Yankees

2008-06-21T01:18:00.003-05:00

Tonight was our first performance of Damn Yankees at Garland Summer Musicals. It went well. Especially for being the first time we have run the show without stopping at least once. We had to re-position in one of the dance numbers at the final Dress Rehearsal, and we had a dancer pass out after a particularly strenuous dance (coupled with the fact that he hadn't eaten much if at all Thursday and he hasn't been getting enough sleep because of rehearsals and his job duties).

I had a couple of people with whom I performed the past two years at GSM tell that they never knew I had such a great voice. I guess in the ensemble, we all blended together.

After all the hard work, it does seem a shame only to do six performances, but that's all GSM ever does.

I hope to see you at the show.

Damn Yankees opens in a week

2008-06-14T00:11:00.002-05:00

Garland Summer Musicals production of Damn Yankees opens Friday June 20th. I play the Catcher for the Washington Senators baseball team, Smokey. I am featured in two songs, "Heart" and "The Game," and I also dance in "Shoeless Joe" and "Two Lost Souls." Our wonderful cast includes Joshua Doss as Joe Hardy, Morgana Shaw as Lola, and John Garcia as Applegate. The rest of the cast is tremendous, too.

The show should be a blast, so please come check it out.

You can order tickets by calling the Box Office at 972-205-2790. If you use my name (Marty Scott) when ordering, you will receive a $6.00 savings off the regular price of $25.00, so you will pay the cast price of $19.00 plus a $1.00 service charge per ticket.

Performances are June 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, & 29. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

New Head Shot

2008-05-07T22:05:00.004-05:00

I went this evening after work and got my first ever professional Head Shot done by Mark Oristano. I think he did an amazing job.

KCCT's 35th Anniversary Season Announced

2008-04-29T09:54:00.003-05:00

Kaufman County Civic Theatre has selected the shows for its 35th annual season starting in September 2008. KCCT has been providing quality live theatre for Kaufman County since 1973. This year, KCCT has selected shows the entire family can enjoy. The season will open with the delightful story of a man and his best friend, an invisible 6' 3 1/2" rabbit named Harvey. Following that is the zany fun of Seussical: The Musical. Coming in the spring will be the family-friendly Cheaper by the Dozen (the original, not the dreadful remake with Steve Martin). Closing this historic season, KCCT will present the Neil Simon classic, Barefoot in the Park.

Up from the Chorus

2008-04-11T14:36:00.002-05:00

The past two years, I have been part of the Singing Ensemble for Garland Summer Musicals. This morning, I returned a call to the Director, Buff Shurr. He offered (and I accepted) the role of Smokey in Damn Yankees. It feels good to move up into the realm of Featured Performers.

2008-04-07T14:01:00.001-05:00

I am coming out of a long string of theatre work. Starting with last summer at Garland Summer Musicals, I've been involved pretty much non-stop and won't be getting a break until The Philadelphia Story closes April 19th. After GSM, I taught Children's Theatre camp at KCCT. Following that, I directed Brighton Beach Memoirs, directed and acted in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, played Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and finally played the lead role of Mike Connor in The Philadelphia Story.

I am the most burned out on theatre that I have ever been. I have my audition for GSM tonight, but I am looking forward to the period from April 20 until rehearsals start for GSM. I should be looking at a little over a month's respite. That's assuming I even get cast for Damn Yankees.

After that, we're taking a family trip to Michigan in July. Then, I may do whatever musical KCCT is doing next season (it's still not decided but we are leaning toward The Music Man), but I'm not planning on directing anything or doing any other shows in the near future.

Of course, that doesn't mean I won't wind up involved in a show. Just that I'm not planning anything right now.

Newest Full Resume

2008-03-08T19:17:00.002-06:00

Sound of Music, Kurt, KCCT
A Christmas Carol, Collector, KCCT
Medea: A Noh Cycle Based on the Greek Myth, Chorus, THS
The Wizard of Oz Private/Ensemble, KCCT
Years Ago, Mr. Sparrow, THS
The Actor's Nightmare, Sir Henry Irving, THS
Under Jekyll's Hyde, Inspector Seek, KCCT
Macbeth, Macbeth, THS
Loving Molly, Pookie, UNC
My Fair Lady, Butler/Ensemble, KCCT
Twelve Angry Men, Juror #4, KCCT
You Can't Take it With You, Ed Carmichael, KCCT
It's a Wonderful Life, Sam Wainwright, KCCT
Crazy for You, Bobby Child, KCCT
The Odd Couple, Roy, KCCT
To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr. Gilmer, GCT
42nd Street, Bert Barry, KCCT
All My Sons, Chris Keller, KCCT
Anything Goes, Elisha Whitney, KCCT
Little Shop of Horrors, Voice of Audrey II, KCCT
Annie, Bundles/Fred/Servant/Harold Ickes, KCCT
Rumors, Ken Gorman, RCP
The Odd Couple, Oscar Madison, RCP
Kiss Me, Kate, Cab Driver/Priest/Ensemble, GSM
It's a Wonderful Life, Radio Show, William Keighley/Ernie Bishop, KCCT
Broadway Lights, A Stroll Through Life:A Revue, Ensemble, KCCT
Hello, Dolly!, Chef/Ensemble, GSM
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Bob Bradley, KCCT
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Miles Gloriosus, KCCT
The Philadelphia Story, Macauley "Mike" Connor, KCCT

KCCT=Kaufman County Civic Theatre (previously known as Kaufman County Community Theatre)
THS=Terrell High School
UNC=University of North Carolina
GCT=Garland Civic Theatre
RCP=Rockwall Community Playhouse
GSM=Garland Summer Musicals

Pics from Forum

2008-02-24T23:48:00.007-06:00

Here are a few pictures from KCCT's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Pretty much from Act 2.

Click a picture to see it full-size.

A Glorious Windbag

2007-12-20T11:04:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-11T09:28:00.001-06:00

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

2007-10-31T10:39:00.001-05:00

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

2007-10-16T01:17:00.001-05:00

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

Brighton Beach Set

2007-10-14T21:05:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-01T00:51:00.000-05:00

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

2007-09-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-11T05:45:00.001-05:00

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

2007-07-09T20:39:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-02T08:54:00.001-05:00

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

2007-06-24T22:18:00.001-05:00

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

2007-06-04T23:36:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-05-29T13:51:00.000-05:00

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

2007-03-15T22:20:00.000-05:00

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

2007-03-01T17:59:00.000-06:00

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

2007-03-01T15:21:00.000-06:00

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

2007-02-28T19:18:00.000-06:00

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

2007-02-23T09:57:00.000-06:00

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

2007-02-20T18:21:00.000-06:00

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?

2007-02-19T15:33:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-28T23:32:00.001-06:00

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

2007-01-22T21:25:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-19T18:39:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-18T21:26:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-10T09:38:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-08T10:42:00.000-06:00

"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

2007-01-08T10:34:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-08T10:18:00.000-06:00

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?

Updated Resume

2006-11-24T15:27:00.000-06:00

Sound of Music, Kurt, KCCT
A Christmas Carol, Collector, KCCT
Medea: A Noh Cycle Based on the Greek Myth, Chorus, THS
The Wizard of Oz Private/Ensemble, KCCT
Years Ago, Mr. Sparrow, THS
The Actor's Nightmare, Sir Henry Irving, THS
Under Jekyll's Hyde, Inspector Seek, KCCT
Macbeth, Macbeth, THS
Loving Molly, Pookie, UNC
My Fair Lady, Butler/Ensemble, KCCT
Twelve Angry Men, Juror #4, KCCT
You Can't Take it With You, Ed Carmichael, KCCT
It's a Wonderful Life, Sam Wainwright, KCCT
Crazy for You, Bobby Child, KCCT
The Odd Couple, Roy, KCCT
To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr. Gilmer, GCT
42nd Street, Bert Barry, KCCT
All My Sons, Chris Keller, KCCT
Anything Goes, Elisha Whitney, KCCT
Little Shop of Horrors, Voice of Audrey II, KCCT
Annie, Bundles/Fred/Servant/Harold Ickes, KCCT
Rumors, Ken Gorman, RCP
The Odd Couple, Oscar Madison, RCP
Kiss Me, Kate, Cab Driver/Priest/Ensemble, GSM
It's a Wonderful Life, Radio Show, William Keighley/Ernie Bishop, KCCT

KCCT=Kaufman County Civic Theatre (previously known as Kaufman County Community Theatre)
THS=Terrell High School
UNC=University of North Carolina
GCT=Garland Civic Theatre
RCP=Rockwall Community Playhouse
GSM=Garland Summer Musicals

Shows I don't Like

2006-11-20T14:18:00.000-06:00

I've been listening to tunes from AccuRadio, and I've discovered that no matter how much I like Bernadette Peters, I cannot stand the soundtrack for Annie Get Your Gun. I also don't like Gypsy, which once again featured Peters in the 90's.

Leon Rabin awards

2006-11-17T21:36:00.000-06:00

I had a good time attending my first ever Dallas Theatre League, Rabin Awards. It was great seeing some of my friends in the Dallas Theatre community. Personal re-connections included Patty Granville, Buff Shurr, Paula Morelan, Steve Beene, Linda Frank, Linda Leonard, Lindsey Holloway, Alan Hanna, Carlos, Gomez, Blake Davidson, Jackie Lengfelder, Amanda Durbin, Delynda Moravec, Tony Martin, & Christine Cunningham. Thanks to Shannah Silverman for sitting with me so I wouldn't feel alone.

I was sorry none of my fellow singing ensemble members from Kiss Me, Kate were there.

Highlights of the evening were the numbers from WaterTower Theatre's Urinetown, and Uptown Players' Pageant and Tommy. Blake Davidson did a great job on "Where is That Life that Late I Led" of course.

The Orchestra is Tuning

2006-10-02T11:04:00.000-05:00

I am curious. Am I the only one who is a fan of musical theatre who absolutely loathes Overtures? Could someone who knows a little more about theatre history explain the purpose of the Overture?

Local Companies

2006-09-26T16:13:00.001-05:00

I added several more Theatre Companies to the sidebar on the right. If your company isn't listed, and it wants to be, just let me know. You can leave a comment.

2006 Leon Rabin Nominations

2006-09-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

I went to the Leon Rabin Awards nominations announcement party last night up at The Arts Centre Theatre in Plano, new home of Classical Acting Company. Had a great time. Caught up with some friends, namely Linda Frank, Carlos Gomez, Linda Leonard, Andy Redmon, Lindsey Holloway, Celeste Rogers, Alan Hanna, and Patty Granville.

A complete list of nominees is available at The Dallas Morning News.

Congrats to all the nominees. I'm particularly pleased at the nominations of Lindsey Holloway, Buff Shurr, Larry Miller, Blake Davidson, Christine Cunningham, Andy Gosnell, and the rest of my cast and crew mates for Kiss Me, Kate.

I didn't see any of the nominated shows except for the two at Garland Summer Musicals, so I have no idea what will or should win.

City of Angels

2006-09-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

I caught City of Angels at Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre last night. I may give a full review later (when I have my playbill in my hands), but for now, let me just say that if you can get tickets to one of the last three performances (Today, Tomorrow, and Sunday), you most definitely should.

I had been waiting for someone to mount this show. This was my first trip to FMPAT, so I was somewhat surprised at the size of the space. In fact, when we first walked in the theatre, I was very worried that the show would never work. I was wrong. I had always pictured this show on a full stage with things flying in and out and full sets. FMPAT's production should be a lesson to all local theatre companies that just about any show can be staged if you use some creativity.

You Say Tomato

2006-08-28T13:15:00.000-05:00

Caught Mesquite Community Theatre's final performance of A Bad Year for Tomatoes. This was my first trip to MCT's Black Box at the Mesquite Arts Center. The space is a bit odd and difficult for staging shows.

The show itself was fine. I had Assistant Directed this play a couple of years ago, but because I also served as Stage Manager, I never really got to see it once we were in full tech and costumes.

In Mesquite, Act 1 lasted an hour and forty-five minutes. I know some of that is just because the Act is written long, but I think the pacing could have been a bit tighter. I saw folks leaving at intermission. I don't know if it was because they weren't enjoying it, or if they just had to get home and were afraid that Act 2 would be just as long. Act 2 only ran 25 minutes, which did make the total time fairly reasonable.

When I was involved with this show, the Director suggested that we move intermission to after Scene 2 of Act 1. That would have made the balance better, but there are costume and makeup issues that would make such a break difficult to pull off. However, it would make more sense because Scene 3 is a couple of months later than Scene 2, and then Act 2 follows Act 1 Scene 3 later the same day. It seems that the entire reason for the Act break is because of the costume and makeup issue.

Grease is the Word

2006-08-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

I managed to catch the final Dress Rehearsal for KCCT's production of Grease. I'll be getting back for a real performance before the run is over. I was told that opening night was Standing Room Only, and chairs were brought in along the aisles. KCCT hadn't had a sell-out since 2003's production of 42nd Street. We came close with Anything Goes and Annie but never quite got there.

Congrats to Sarah, her production team, and the cast for a successful opening weekend. Hope the whole run goes great.

The Draw of the Theatre

2006-07-24T11:37:00.000-05:00

I have friends and family who don't understand why the theatre means so much to me. I've tried my best to explain it, but for some reason, I can't seem to get it across.

It's about passion.

Some people are passionate about sports. Others are passionate about cooking. Or reading, or sewing, or music, or their pets, or any of a number of other things. For me, theatre makes me feel alive and gets my blood pumping. It may not be rational, but then again, passion and reason seldom go hand-in-hand.

For several years, I was not involved in acting. When I look back at those times, I can see that I was drifting in many ways. I filled my days with school for most of that time, but once I finished my formal education, I was wandering aimlessly, without passion for life. Getting back up on the stage brought that passion back to me. I re-discovered my talent and tapped back into my creative side.

To those of us who are passionate about performing, it's not just something we do; rather, it is part of who we are.

Three Down, Three to Go

2006-07-24T08:19:00.000-05:00

We made it through opening weekend, despite some technical problems on both Friday and Saturday. Because of the disjointed rehearsal schedule, there are still parts of the show that I have not seen, but I can hear them through the monitor in the Green Room.

This show has been a tremendous experience. I've made some friends with whom I hope I'll be able to keep in touch after we close next Sunday.

So, to all the Actors, Singers, Dancers, and Crew, see ya Thursday at brush-up. Get some much needed rest this week.

Surviving Tech Weekend

2006-07-17T14:56:00.000-05:00

Saturday and Sunday brought hellacious rehearsals for Kiss Me, Kate. We had to start and stop to work the scene changes and for the lighting and other techie matters. Friday evening, I was already wiped out after the full week of work and rehearsals. Then, Staurday, we rehearsed for 8 1/2 hours. I was completely exhausted by the end of the night.

I didn't get to sleep in Sunday because I had to get up to mow my lawn in order not to run afoul of the HOA Gestapo.

However, today, I actually feel fairly refreshed. Despite the sleep debt I am accruing, I've been pretty chipper.

I'm looking forward to opening night on Friday. More than that, I'm looking forward to next Monday evening.

A New Experience

2006-07-06T18:36:00.000-05:00

We open Kiss Me, Kate two weeks from tomorrow. In the community theatre shows I've done, by two weeks before opening, we are usually running the show nightly to polish. Most, if not all, props are in hand. Most, if not all, of the set is built. In this show, we haven't even blocked everything. I know it's gonna all come together, and I'm not nearly as nervous about it as I usually am, but it is out of the ordinary for me.

Having Fun

2006-07-01T01:28:00.000-05:00

Rehearsals for Kiss Me, Kate have been pretty fun. I admit that I've been a little tired this week due to rehearsals going until 11 pm. My drive home is 30 minutes, so I'm not in bed until after midnight.

I've enjoyed meeting lots of new people. The only folks I knew in the cast before we started were the two Davids. I clicked pretty quickly with Josh (we're close in age) and Tyler (who is a fellow Baylor alum). There is a fair amount of "cutting up" during rehearsal. In fact, I have been amazed at how much we get away with.

First Kiss Me, Kate Rehearsal

2006-06-26T22:51:00.000-05:00

Tonight, we got our choral books and the scripts. We learned all the songs in which the ensemble sings.

AND, if things stay as they are now . . .

I have a line.

One whole line of dialogue.

I am a couple of ensemble characters, and one of them gets to speak. I actually didn't expect to have any lines. This is cool.

GSM Cancels Show

2006-06-21T14:36:00.000-05:00

I learned last Sunday evening that Garland Summer Musicals had to cancel the Sunday matinee on the 18th because Andy Gosnell, who plays Cosmo Brown, was injured during his "Make 'Em Laugh" number Saturday night. I have not heard if Andy is okay or what the plan is for the coming weekend's performances.

I do hope he's fine. As I said in my review, his performance was outstanding. It makes it even more impressive if he was fighting through pain for most of the show.

"Singin' in the Rain" Review

2006-06-17T23:45:00.000-05:00

Gotta make this brief before the thunderstorm really gets rolling.

I caught the Saturday night performance of Singin' in the Rain at the Patty Granville Performing Arts Center in Garland. This was the first show of the the two show season for Garland Summer Musicals.

The show was entertaining enough to be worth the price of admission. The sound was uneven at times, but that's partly a function of the performance space and partly the result of the inherent unreliability of body mics. If you've ever seen the movie from which the show was adapted, you know the basic premise. Joseph Jones plays Don Lockwood, the established silent picture star who teams with Lina Lamont, played by Allison Rogers. One evening, Lockwood bumps into aspiring actress Kathy Selden, played by Emily Lockhart, and the chemistry is immediate. Or at least it's supposed to be immediate. I've now seen Jones and Lockhart play romantic leads in three shows at GSM (the other two were 42nd Street and Crazy For You), and I still don't believe them as a couple. Okay, so maybe Billy Lawlor isn't really the romantic lead, but you get my point.

The only time I really paid attention to Jones and Lockhart was when they were dancing together. They co-choreographed the show, and they both are at their best when dancing.

The supporting cast was good, with particular notes of praise needing to be given to Steven Beene as the Diction Coach and Linda Frank as Roz, the head of Publicity for Monumental Pictures. Delynda Johnson Moravec also turns in fine performances in two different roles.

Allison Rogers was strong as the conniving and imminently unlikeable Lina. Some around me had difficulty understanding her lines a couple of times, but she did a great job wih the character. Her song, "What's Wrong With Me" was a highlight of the show.

I cannot think of enough ways to praise the performance of Andy Gosnell as Cosmo Brown, Lockwood's best friend and former vaudeville partner. Gosnell stole every scene in which he appeared and routinely got large applause and cheers after his songs. "Make 'Em Laugh" may have been derivative from the original choreography in the movie, but Gosnell made in enjoyable nonetheless.

The show only runs through Sunday the 25th of June, so if you want to see it, don't delay. It isn't the best show I've ever seen, but it's worth the money.

KCCT People's Choice

2006-06-11T15:19:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it wasn't as soon as I got the information, put congratulations to the People's Choice Award winners from the 2005-06 season at KCCT:

The Foreigner—Clint "Tex" Reese (Ellard Sims)

Nunsense—Cindy Woodrome (Rev Mother)

A Christmas Carol—Jeff Vaughan (Charles Dickens/Ebeneezer Scrooge)

Steel Magnolias—Denise Buckels (Shelby)

Oliver!—Rebecca Lewis (Nancy)

KCCT Awards

2006-06-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

Major kudos to the winners at this year's Second Annual KCCT Awards Gala. I'll be posting the People's Choice winners as soon as I am sent the list.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

Jim Holcomb, Charlie Baker, The Foreigner

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADACTRESS IN A PLAY

Angie Bagert, Truvy, Steel Magnolias

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

David Hasley, Mr. Bumble, Oliver!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Emily Hunt, Fagin, Oliver!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Mark Reynolds, Frederick Dickens, A Christmas Carol

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Elli Rinebarger, Annelle, Steel Magnolias

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Randall Carpenter, Dodger, Oliver!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Contrella Dixon, Sister Hubert, Nunsense

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A PLAY

Clint “Tex” Reese, Ellard Sims, The Foreigner

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Emily Hunt, Ouiser, Steel Magnolias

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Randall Carpenter, Dodger,Oliver!

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Sarah Garland, Sister Amnesia, Nunsense

BEST FEATURED PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A PLAY

Fester Adams, Owen, The Foreigner

BEST FEATURED PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Jan Wallace Summar, Clairee, Steel Magnolias

BEST FEATURED PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Rex Bowers, Noah, Oliver!

BEST FEATURED PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Debbie Dominguez, Sister Leo, Nunsense

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Cayman Mitchell, Oliver, Oliver!

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Jennifer White, Widow Corney / Mrs. Bedwin, Oliver!

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Randall Carpenter, Dodger, Oliver!

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Morgan Manuel, Ensemble, Oliver!

OUTSTANDING YOUTH PERFORAMNCE – BOY (UNDER 12 roughly)

Rex Bowers, Noah / Fagin’s Gang / Workhouse Boy, Oliver!

OUTSTANDING YOUTH PERFORMANCE - GIRL (UNDER 12 roughly)

Whitnee Bomkamp, Bet, Oliver!

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

Fagin’s Gang, Oliver!
Brooke Bowers, Rex Bowers, Brady Britten, Nikki Britten, Alex Dixon, John David Hasley, Zachary Hogberg, MaryBeth Johnson, Rachel Kucera, Jessica Lewis, Joshua Lewis, Michael Lewis, Courtney Tadlock, Francesca Willis, Joy Willis, Randall Carpenter, Cayman Mitchell

BEST SET DESIGN

Ron Harris / Jeff Vaughan / Victoria Vaughan, A Christmas Carol

OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT

Amy Thurmond-Bush, Contrella Dixon, Regina Bailey and Bob Brown for Oliver!

BEST DIRECTOR

Amy Thurmond-Bush, Oliver!

BEST SHOW

Steel Magnolias

The Final Curtain

2006-05-28T21:09:00.000-05:00

Today, we closed the run of The Odd Couple. Nine performances. Eight of them pretty good. Last night, we don't want to talk about.

I had fun, and I enjoyed the challenge of carrying a show. Despite all my fears, I never "went up" one time.

I am looking forward to cutting my hair. I had let it grow out to maintain that sloppy look. I think I'm gonna chop it quite short. I have a month before rehearsals begin for Kiss Me, Kate, so it'll have time to grow out.

Congratulations

2006-05-19T15:42:00.000-05:00

I want to wish a hearty congratulations to the new Officers for Kaufman County Civic Theatre.

President -- Lonny Schonfeld
VP Administration -- Dennis Gullion
VP Production -- Jeff Vaughan
Treasurer -- Regina Bailey
Secretary -- Sarah Garland

Best of luck to y'all.

Top 5 Shows I've Seen

2006-05-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

Here are the 5 best shows I have seen in my life:

5. The Crucible - Snyder High School, U.I.L One-Act-Play State competition 1986

Snyder High School was a theatre juggernaut back in the 80's. This was the show that won First Place the year my alma mater made it to state. I mentioned that before here.

4. Cabaret - Watertower Theatre 2005

A good friend of mine, Lindsey Holloway, won a Leon Rabin Award for her portrayal of Fraulein Kost. The female Emcee worked much better than I thought it would. I'd like to do this show someday.

3. The King and I - Dallas Summer Musicals 1982 or '83

Yul Brynner's final tour.

2. The Producers - Dallas Summer Musicals 2005

I haven't laughed out loud as much in a long time. This show is extremely entertaining.

1. Wicked - Dallas Summer Musicals 2005

I don't like the happy ending that seems tacked on, but other than that, this is a wonderful show. The music is phenomenal, and the cast for the tour was terrific. The two leads sang the roles of Elphaba and Glinda even better than Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth did on the Soundtrack.

The Day that the Lights Went Out in Rockwall

2006-05-14T21:09:00.000-05:00

Today, we had a matinee. Mother's Day. Ugh!

Well, I think the idea of having a show on Mother's Day is horrible, but I didn't notice the date when I auditioned for this show. But, being the consummate professional I am, I showed up as required. We were rocking along until about 3 minutes were left in Act One when BOOM! the power went out.

There wasn't an actual "BOOM" noise, but it was instantaneous. Okay, maybe not quite instantaneous. There was a slight power dip, then a surge, then the lights went out. I kept going with my lines. Felix was a little shaken, not knowing whether to plow ahead. He eventually started back up, but after a few lines, the Stage Manager pulled the curtain.

The audience was asked at the premature intermission what they wanted to do, and they all wanted the show to go on. Thankfully, there was enough light from the outside to be able to see on stage.

We did all of Act Two and most of Act Three before the lights came back on with about 3 minutes to go before the final curtain.

The audience was very responsive while the lights were out. I'm guessing that because there weren't many visual distractions, they were paying more attention to the lines than they might otherwise.

Opening Night

2006-05-13T00:05:00.000-05:00

Good crowd. Not quite a sell-out, but close. Good performance.

Bruised the tar out of my left thumb when I slammed my hands down on the table. It's ugly, and it's just gonna be uglier tomorrow. When it happened, I actually thought I had broken my thumb. Thankfully, that does not seem to be the case.

You have to wonder about some people

2006-05-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

Last night, my Director for The Odd Couple told me that one of the audience members at last night's preview show said that she thought I was better than Walter Matthau. I appreciate the compliment, really. But, come on, that's more than just a little absurd. Walter Matthau is Oscar Madison.

All I'm hoping for is to entertain the folks who come see the show and not bore them.

Getting Tea'd Off

2006-05-09T23:33:00.000-05:00

In tonight's preview show for the Board of Directors of RCP, the glass of water that I am supposed to throw in Felix's face was not pre-set, and I had no idea until it was too late. So, when the fateful moment came, I had no choice but to dash all the way across the stage and grab my glass of "Scotch", which was really tea.

Felix's shirt was stained. I do hope the stain comes out because the actor was wearing his own shirt.

Other than that small glitch, I thought it went pretty well. I'm enjoying fleshing out this character now that I feel confident that I know the lines and won't go up completely on stage.

The Last Rehearsal

2006-05-08T18:02:00.000-05:00

Tonight is our final rehearsal proper for The Odd Couple. Starting tomorrow, we have preview audiences every night leading up to Friday night's opening. The show has really come together well in the past week. I finally seem to have remembered all my lines, and most of the previous issues have been resolved. There are always things that could be better, but overall, it's a decent show.

Rehearsal Report

2006-05-01T23:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight went much better. The pace was sharper and I only forgot my line one time, and perhaps even better, it wasn't one of the ones that had been a trouble spot for me before. I got all of those.

The show seems to be shaping up fairly well. I think it may still be a little rough for the Preview shows, but we should be okay by opening night.

Odd Couple Update

2006-04-30T19:13:00.000-05:00

We open in 12 days, and we have preview audiences after only 5 more rehearsals. Some things are going well. Other things are going . . . not so well.

I had spent the past few days fighting a cold, but I focused my attention on firming up the lines when I'm on stage with Felix. Those went okay today, but the poker player scenes fell apart.

I have to admit that this part might be just a little too big for me.

My First Professional Gig

2006-04-28T11:47:00.000-05:00

I got the call from Buff Shurr, the Director for Garland Summer Musicals, earlier this week. He offered me a part in Kiss Me, Kate, and indicated that he was still considering me for Singin' in the Rain but couldn't commit on that one because I have several conflicts with the rehearsal schedule for that show.

I have no delusions of becoming a professional actor anytime in the near or middle-distant future, but getting a slot with this company is a major victory.

My Shot at Redemption

2006-04-16T15:44:00.000-05:00

After doing so poorly at the dance auditions for Garland Summer Musicals, I did much better yesterday at the individual audition. My two songs went fine, and the Director asked me to read some sides for consideration as some supporting characters. I was asked to return for callbacks, but they conflict with rehearsal for The Odd Couple, so I won't be able to attend them.

Brought Down to Earth

2006-04-09T21:26:00.000-05:00

I have never considered myself to be a great dancer. I'm not a "Triple Threat," but I've always considered myself an Actor who could sing and who can dance well enough not to make a fool of myself on stage. Today, at the dance audition for Garland Summer Musicals, I think I failed that third point. I didn't do too terribly on the jazz combination that was being viewed for consideration for both shows, Singin' in the Rain and Kiss Me, Kate. I wasn't anywhere near the best guy there, but I wasn't anywhere near the worst, either.

When the Tap portion of the audition rolled around, I actually felt better going into it than I had starting the Jazz part. BIG MISTAKE! I knew I was in trouble when the Choreographer said he had kept it simple for us, and then I couldn't even get the very first step in the combination right. Now, keep in mind that my tap shoes have been in a bag since the closing performance of Annie over a year ago. I believe that tap dancing is a lot about muscle memory, and my muscles weren't remembering anything. Given a few weeks of rehearsal, I'm pretty sure I could do a passable job with the tap combination, but there was no way I was going to get there after learning it in about 30 minutes.

On the upside, I got a pretty decent work-out from the 3 hours or so of dancing.

My singing audition isn't until this coming Saturday. I am certainly hopeful that it will go better than the dancing portion did.

Thanks to the Moose

2006-04-07T23:08:00.000-05:00

My good friend, Moose, created the title banner for me.

Check out his comic strip at

Odd Couple Read-Through

2006-04-03T15:50:00.000-05:00

We have our Read-through tonight. It was supposed to be last week, but we didn't have any women come out for auditions for the Pigeon sisters, so it had to be delayed until the Director could find two women to fill the roles. We open May 12th, so this is gonna be a short rehearsal period. YIKES!

Death by Highlighter

2006-03-29T12:26:00.000-06:00

I went through my script for The Odd Couple last night and highlighted my lines. All 457 of them.

I know a few people who think it's funny that I count the lines in the plays I do. I don't do it to see how many lines I have in comparison to others. I'm just the kind of person who likes to know that kind of thing.

Anyway, 457 lines is by far the most I've ever had. The next closest would be Chris Keller in All My Sons. If I remember correctly, that role was 304 lines. As Bobby Child in Crazy for You, I had a good number of lines and had to learn eleven songs and lots of dancing, but memorizing songs isn't nearly as difficult as memorizing dialogue. I believe I am up to this challenge, but I have to admit that I'm more than a little frightened by the enormity of the task.

Now, It's Garbage

2006-03-28T20:58:00.000-06:00

I was driving home from the second night of auditions for The Odd Couple. When I got two miles away from the theatre, my cell phone rang. The Director, Darlene Singleton, had told us that she would let us know quickly, but I was surprised that it was that soon. Darlene offered me the role of Oscar Madison. I, of course, accepted. She said if I came back to the theatre, I could go ahead and pick up my script. I thought it was a good idea because the part is HUGE.

None of the folks who appeared in Rumors with me in Rockwall auditioned for this show. I was surprised and disappointed. I'm looking forward to the challenge of this role. We start rehearsals with a read-through next Monday. Rehearsals only run four-and-a-half weeks before we open. It's gonna be intense.

The Odd Trio

2006-03-27T20:58:00.000-06:00

At tonight's first night of auditions for Rockwall Community Playhouse's production of The Odd Couple, only three men showed. No women, either. I sure hope more people come tomorrow night.

But, not anybody TOO good, so I will have a better shot at getting one of the lead roles.

;^)

My Top 5 Favorite Roles

2006-03-27T10:49:00.000-06:00

The roles I've enjoyed most in my acting "career" thus far:

5. Kurt in Sound of Music

My first role. I was in seventh grade at the time. This was the role and show that started my love affair with the theatre. I'm not particularly fond of this show any more, but this part should probably always get a mention in any list of this type.

4. Pookie in Loving Molly

To the best of my knowledge, this play is still un-published. It was written by a local playwright in Raleigh, North Carolina. The play is based on a true story of a woman with multiple personality disorder that was presumably caused by sexual abuse by her grandfather. My character was a family friend who may or may not also have sexually assaulted the main character when she was young. The script never makes it clear whether he really tried to do anything or if the main character had mistaken his actions because of the abuse she was suffering at the hands of her grandfather.

3. Mr. Gilmer in To Kill a Mockingbird

Although this character is a Prosecuting Attorney, like Pookie in Loving Molly, he is very much unlike me. When rehearsals began, I was extremely uncomfortable with some of the language I had to use. The cast for this show was excellent from top to bottom, and I enjoyed branching out to a theatre outside my comfort zone.

2. Bobby Child in Crazy for You

My first Leading Role. I got this part pretty much by default. Nobody else came to auditions who even remotely fit the part. I lost 30 pounds during rehearsals (but it all came back later), and I had to learn to tap dance. 11 songs. Lots of dancing. On stage about 80% of the show. This is the role that prompted my dad to say I moved pretty good for a fat guy.

1. Chris Keller in All My Sons

I wasn't supposed to be in this show. I was the Director. I had to step in when the actor I cast in the role quit about 2 1/2 weeks before we were scheduled to open. I had the pleasure of acting with a good friend, Lonny Schonfeld, who played my character's father. We had some intense scenes.

Hmmm . . . 3 dramas and 2 musicals. Probably 6th & 7th would be roles in Neil Simon Comedies: Ken in Rumors and Roy in The Odd Couple. I do like Drama, but unfortunately, in our little theatre, dramas do not draw in audiences.

Third Spear Carrier from the Left

2006-03-19T00:45:00.000-06:00

I was noticing that my acting résumé doesn't include that many chorus/ensemble roles. I've been fortunate to play mainly featured/supporting roles with a couple of leading roles thrown in for good measure.

One of my entries that may look like an ensemble part was as part of the Chorus in Medea in High School. In most versions of the play, the Chorus is a traditional Greek Chorus, but in the version we did, the Chorus consisted of myself and one other actor, Johnny Wright. We stood on opposite sides of the downstage edge of the stage, and we had a number of unison lines along with some alternating stuff that had to flow as if it was coming from one person, but moving from one side to the other. Really, it may have been one of the most challenging roles I've ever undertaken.

Johnny and I were honored as members of the All-Star Cast at the District One-Act Play competition that year (1984). Our play made it to State that spring, and along the way, every member of our cast received an acting award at some level. Medea was played by Dana Whitehead, who remains one of, if not the single most talented actor or actress with whom I have ever shared the stage (and that includes a few folks who have some professional TV and movie credits). Dana won Best Actress at every level leading up to State. At State, she failed to win Best Actress. Instead, she was honored with the Samuel French Award as the Outstanding Performer in the entire State of Texas in Class 4A.

Dana moved back to our hometown a few years ago, but unfortunately, being a wife and mother keeps her from getting back up on the boards. It's too bad. She really was that good.

Acting Resume

2006-03-15T18:33:00.000-06:00

Here's my entire acting history from oldest to most recent. It spreads over 25 years.

Show, Role, Theatre

Sound of Music, Kurt, KCCT
A Christmas Carol, Collector, KCCT
Medea: A Noh Cycle Based on the Greek Myth, Chorus, THS
The Wizard of Oz Private/Ensemble, KCCT
Years Ago, Mr. Sparrow, THS
The Actor's Nightmare, Sir Henry Irving, THS
Under Jekyll's Hyde, Inspector Seek, KCCT
Macbeth, Macbeth, THS
Loving Molly, Pookie, UNC
My Fair Lady, Butler/Ensemble, KCCT
Twelve Angry Men, Juror #4, KCCT
You Can't Take it With You, Ed Carmichael, KCCT
It's a Wonderful Life, Sam Wainwright, KCCT
Crazy for You, Bobby Child, KCCT
The Odd Couple, Roy, KCCT
To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr. Gilmer, GCT
42nd Street, Bert Barry, KCCT
All My Sons, Chris Keller, KCCT
Anything Goes, Elisha Whitney, KCCT
Little Shop of Horrors, Voice of Audrey II, KCCT
Annie, Bundles/Fred/Servant/Harold Ickes, KCCT
Rumors, Ken Gorman, RCP

KCCT=Kaufman County Civic Theatre (previously known as Kaufman County Community Theatre)
THS=Terrell High School
UNC=University of North Carolina
GCT=Garland Civic Theatre
RCP=Rockwall Community Playhouse

As you can see, the overwhelming majority of my shows have been with Kaufman County Civic Theatre. I love that gang, but I am hoping to expand my horizons a bit over the next few years.

Getting Started

2006-03-15T12:04:00.000-06:00

Just getting this going. I'll give more details about the shows I've done and any more shows I do in the future.

To answer the question of why did I chose the particular URL, I have often thought that if I ever decide to use a Stage Name, I would choose Scott Martindale. The people who know me can tell you why.