Monthly Archives: April 2024

Modern Musical ALICE BY HEART Opens at Anderson Theatre

AHS_Alice By Heart

(Sitting) freshman Henry Weddle, sophomore Audrey Mendralski, senior Chad Bowling, sophomore Sydney Ventura, freshman Easton Gliebe, senior Chrisanthi Burch, and senior Ashley Gildenblatt, as well as (standing) senior Olivia Weddle, senior Sam Harper, junior Ben Hartong, junior Callie Ziegler, and senior Sam Chandler.

Anderson High School is entering their seventh decade of spring musicals by presenting “Alice by Heart,” a new musical by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, who won two Tony Awards in 2007 for their musical “Spring Awakening.”

“Alice by Heart” is a poignant and lyrical re-telling of the Lewis Carrol classic through the eyes of a group of teenagers trapped in an underground bunker in WWII London. Alice Stuart uses the familiar tale to distract herself and her best friend, Alfred, who has tuberculosis, from the horrors of their isolation.

As Alice tells the story of “Alice in Wonderland,” the teens and adults around her transform into characters from Wonderland, from the Mad Hatter to the Queen of Hearts. Alfred becomes the White Rabbit, and as he grows weaker the characters explore the ways we deal with grief, loss, and love.

Director and Theatre and Film Teacher Chad Weddle chose this work, in part, “because this generation of young people are still dealing with the pain and loss and isolation of their Covid experience. This musical shows all of us a path forward—a way to use imagination and story to  process emotion and to heal.”

“Alice by Heart” runs April 25-28 at Anderson High School. Tickets are $15 at the door, with special $10 senior and student pricing available in advance through http://www.ShowTix.com. For more information, visit AndersonTheatre.com.

The cast of Anderson Theatre’s “Alice by Heart” includes (sitting) freshman Henry Weddle, sophomore Audrey Mendralski, senior Chad Bowling, sophomore Sydney Ventura, freshman Easton Gliebe, senior Chrisanthi Burch, and senior Ashley Gildenblatt, as well as (standing) senior Olivia Weddle, senior Sam Harper, junior Ben Hartong, junior Callie Ziegler, and senior Sam Chandler. Visit AndersonTheatre.com for information and tickets.

Alice at AHS Tracks:

Anderson Theatre’s “Alice by Heart” runs April 25 through 28. Cast members include (front row) freshman Easton Gliebe, senior Chad Bowling, sophomore Audrey Mendralski, senior Olivia Weddle, sophomore Sydney Ventura, freshman Henry Weddle, and senior Ashley Gildenblatt, (back row) junior Ben Hartong, senior Sam Harper, senior Sam Chandler, junior Callie Ziegler, and senior Chrisanthi Burch.

Alice at AHS stairs:

Students from Anderson Theatre’s production of “Alice by Heart.” The show runs April 25 through 28 at Anderson High School, and tickets are available at the door and by visiting their website, AndersonTheatre.com.

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Auditions Announced for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at Footlighters, Inc.

FLI_logoTHE DROWSY CHAPERONE, directed by Dennis Murphy, will be brought to life at Footlighters’ Stained Glass Theatre this fall, with performances running September 19 – October 6, 2024.

Auditions:

  • Sunday, May 12 6:30-9:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 14 6:30-9:30 p.m.
    Invited callbacks: Wednesday, May 15

Location: The Stained Glass Theatre 802 York Street, Newport, KY 41071

Synopsis:
With the houselights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan, and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight.

Note: We are committed to the safety of everyone involved in this production. Footlighters requires that all production staff, cast, and crew bring proof of their COVID vaccination status to the first rehearsal.

Auditions:

  1. Music: 32 bars of a song written before 1980.
  2. Dance audition: A basic dance audition will be taught at the initial audition. *A tap dance combination for certain characters will be taught ONLY at the callback on Wednesday.*

What to Bring:

  • Resume
  • Headshot
  • List of conflicts between June and September

Roles:

Man In Chair:
Musical theatre aficionado who mourns the end of the Golden Era. He narrates the show as he listens to the The Drowsy Chaperone record on vinyl.
Gender: Male
Age: 30 to 50

Mrs. Tottendale:
The air-headed, proper, and bossy host of the wedding.
Gender: Female
Age: 50 to 60
Vocal range top: Db5
Vocal range bottom: G3

Underling:
Mrs. Tottendale’s savvy butler who is thrifty and stiff yet has an understated sense of humor.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 50
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: Ab2

Robert Martin:
The dashing, ever-cheerful groom; played by matinee-idol Percy Hyman. Must be a strong tap dancer.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: Ab4
Vocal range bottom: C3

George:
Robert’s anxious, dim-witted best man who has Robert’s best interest always at heart. A strong tap dancer is needed.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 50
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: F3

Feldzieg:
Broadway producer who is desperate for his star to return to his show.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: Db4
Vocal range bottom: Db3

Kitty:
Feldzieg’s dim-witted companion who has hopes of being a star.
Gender: Female
Age: 25 to 30
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3

Gangsters:
Ex-vaudevillian gangsters posing as pastry chefs. They are intent on collecting a debt from Feldzieg.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: Gb4
Vocal range bottom: Db3

Aldolpho:
A European self-proclaimed “ladies’ man” who mugs a lot.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: A#2

Janet Van De Graaf:
The glamorous and talented star of Feldzieg’s Follies, giving up show business in order to marry Robert.
Gender: Female
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G3

The Drowsy Chaperone:
Janet’s alcoholic confidante and friend.
Gender: Female
Age: 45 to 55
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: F3

Trix:
The brave and brash female aviator who, by chance, is recruited to perform the wedding.
Gender: Female
Age: 30 to 40
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3

Ensemble:
4-6 cast members playing Staff, Reporters, and Monkeys.

Please contact producer Katey Blood for any questions at katey.blood@gmail.com.

Visit our website for more information, or sign up for an audition slot directly.

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THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR Runs May 3-19

LSC_The Red Velvet Cake WarTHE RED VELVET CAKE WAR
Loveland Stage Company
May 3-19
[Loveland]

Directed by Mark Culp
Produced by Tom Cavano & Jill Gornet

Cast: Peggy Allen as Gaynelle Verdeen Bodeen, Cathy Judge as LaMerle Verdeen Minshew, Jeff Hamilton as Aubrey Verdeen, Lauren Rinner as Peaches Verdeen Belrose, Nancy Rzonca as Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen, Trisha Cooper as Cee Cee Windham, Justin Hanks as Newt Blaylock, Niki Rasmussen as Elsa Dowdall, Tricia Chandler as Bitsy Hargis, Nate Huitger as Sheriff Grover Lout, Charlie Rader as Purvis Verdeen & Linda Roll as Mama Doll Hargis

In this riotously funny Southern-fried comedy, the three Verdeen cousins—Gaynelle, Peaches, and Jimmie Wyvette—could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion. Unfortunately, they face an uphill battle as a parade of wildly eccentric Verdeens gathers on the hottest day of July, smack-dab in the middle of Texas tornado season. Things spin hilariously out of control when a neighbor’s pet devours everything edible, a one-eyed suitor shows up to declare his love, and a jaw-dropping high-stakes wager is made on who bakes the best red velvet cake. As this fast-paced romp barrels toward its uproarious climax, you’ll wish your own family reunions were this much fun!

  • Fri-Sat, May 3-4 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, May 5 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, May 10-11 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, May 12 at 3pm
  • Fri-Sat, May 17-18 at 7:30pm
  • Sun, May 19 at 3pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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DEAR WORLD Runs May 3-19

TDW_Dear WorldDEAR WORLD
The Drama Workshop
May 3-19
Glenmore Playhouse [Cheviot]

Directed by Dennis Murphy
Music directed by Linda Abbott
Produced by Valeria Amburgey

Cast: Lisa Breithaupt as The Countess Aurelia, Jen Drake as Madame Constance, Jody Hart as Madame Gabrielle, Jerry Wiesenhahn as The Sewerman, Christy Carson as Nina, Kevin Rife as Julian, Micheal Kiser as The Prospector, Kent Smith, Robert Weidle & Donald George Huening II as The Presidents, Tim Breithaupt as The Sergeant, Ray Lebowski as The Waiter & Tim Zang as The Mute

DEAR WORLD is a Jerry Herman musical (Hello, Dolly, La Cage au Folles) based on the novel The Mad Woman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux. With beautiful songs, it focuses on the Countesses Aurelia, who deviously schemes to stop businessmen from drilling for oil in the Parisian neighborhood of Chaillot. The forces of idealism, love and poetry win over those of greed, materialism and science.

  • Fri-Sat, May 3-4 at 8pm
  • Sun, May 5 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, May 10-11 at 8pm
  • Sun, May 12 at 2pm
  • Thu, May 16 at 7:30pm
  • Fri-Sat, May 17-18 at 8pm
  • Sun, May 19 at 2pm

Official page |

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THE OTHER PLACE Runs May 3-18

23-24_FTSeason_Final_SocialBannersTHE OTHER PLACE
Falcon Theatre
May 3-18
[Newport]

Directed by Piper N. Davis

Cast: Elizabeth Durham as Julianna, David Levy as Ian, Anna Hazard as The Woman & Ben Dudley as The Man

Just as Juliana Smithton’s research leads to a potential breakthrough, her life takes a disorienting turn. During a lecture to colleagues at an exclusive beach resort, she glimpses an enigmatic young woman in a yellow bikini amidst the crowd of business suits. One step at a time, a mystery unravels as contradictory evidence, blurred truth and fragmented memories collide in a cottage on the windswept shores of Cape Cod.

  • Fri-Sat, May 3-4 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, May 9-11 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, May 16-18 at 8pm

Official page |

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