Tag Archives: Footlighters

URINETOWN The Musical to Open at Footlighters, Inc.

FLI_Urinetown logoThe Footlighters will open Urinetown, The Musical on May 3rd, 2018. This production, directed by former Showbiz Players’ President Bunny Arszman, will take place at The Stained Glass Theatre, 802 York Street, Newport, Kentucky. A hilarious satire that earned three Tony Awards, Urinetown is set in a Gotham-like city where a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he’s had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be, Urinetown catapults the comedic romp into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.

This production marks the first time that Bunny Arszman has directed outside of Showbiz Players. Ms. Arszman ran Showbiz Players for almost 30 years up until last spring when the group performed their last show, the critically acclaimed The Civil War. Footlighters is ecstatic to have her sharing her directorial vision and talents for their production of Urinetown. Longtime Footlighter Gary Rogers is also reprising his role as Officer Lockstock, for which he won the 2006 Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Performances: Thursday-Saturday, May 3-5 at 8pm, Sunday, May 6 at 2pm, Thursday-Saturday, May 10-12 at 8pm, Sunday, May 13 at 2pm, Wednesday- Saturday, May 16-19 at 8pm.

Tickets: $22 each, and are available at (859) 652-3849 or FootlightersTickets@gmail.com.

The Footlighters, Inc. has been producing quality community theater shows in the Greater Cincinnati area for over 54 years. The group was established in 1963 by a small group of community theater volunteers who wanted to bring theater opportunities to the west side of Cincinnati. In 1987, the group bought the Salem United Methodist Church in Newport and transformed it into The Stained Glass Theatre. The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Kentucky landmark. Learn more at our website www.footlighters.org or become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Footlighters-Inc/287519888305.

For more information, please visit www.footlighters.org

***

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

The 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE to Open at Footlighters Inc

FLI_Spelling Bee logoFootlighters will open The 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE on March 1st, 2018. This production directed by Nick Horton will take place at The Stained Glass theater, 802 York Street, Newport, Kentucky.

An eclectic group of six-graders arrives at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. Sweet and shy Olive brings only her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; bold and hyperallergic speller William Barfee uses his “magic foot” to propel him to greatness; former champion Chip is struggling with his burgeoning puberty; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre only wants to impress her gay dads. In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition.

With an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its “perspicacious,” “jocular,” and “effervescent” spellers

Performances: Thursday-Saturday, March 1- 3 at 8PM, Sunday, March 4 at 2PM, Thursday-Saturday, March 8-10 at 8PM, Sunday, March 11 at 2PM, Wednesday- Saturday, March 14-17 at 8PM.

Tickets: $23 are available at (859) 652-3849 or FootlightersTickets@gmail.com.

Footlighters, Inc. has presented performances in the Greater Cincinnati area over the past 53 years. The group is noted for producing quality community theatre productions of primarily musical comedies and bought its own facility in 1987. The Stained Glass Theatre, a former church, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Kentucky landmark.

Join us for our 2017-2018 Season that roots for the underdog.  Season includes Jekyll and Hyde, The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical, The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, and Urinetown. Learn more at our website www.footlighters.org or become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Footlighters-Inc/287519888305. For more information please visit www.footlighters.org

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

Auditions Announced for GREASE at Footlighters Inc.

fli_logoAuditions for GREASE at Footlighters
Footlighters is proud to announce auditions for the first show of the “Seeing Stars” Footlighters 2018-2019 Theatre season, GREASE!

Directed by Arlene Borock-Balczo
Produced by Jim Curtis and Amie Marmer
Vocal Director: Alan Masters
Stage Manager: Janet Wisner
Choreographer: Amanda Emmons Shumate

SIGN UP FOR YOUR AUDITION TIME BY VISITING THIS LINK: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0448aeae2babfc1-auditions

Show Runs September 20, 2018 – October 6, 2018

Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as “Greased Lightnin’,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” “Alone at the Drive-In Movie” recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation. An eight-year run on Broadway and two subsequent revivals, along with innumerable school and community productions place Grease among the world’s most popular musicals.

Tuesday, March 20 – 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 22 – 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
If needed, callbacks will be held on Saturday, March 24 – 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

SIGN UP FOR YOUR AUDITION TIME BY VISITING THIS LINK: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0448aeae2babfc1-auditions

Stained Glass Theatre
802 York Street
Newport, KY 41071

For additional information, please contact Arlene Borock-Balczo at arleneborock@gmail.com

Please prepare a full song (5 minute maximum) that will showcase your vocal range and acting ability. An accompanist will be provided. Callbacks will consist of cold readings from the script and a dance combination.

We welcome anyone between the ages of 16 to mid-30s to audition for the high school roles. No roles have been precast.

DANNY ZUKO: Male (Range: tenor, D4–B5)
The leader of the Burger Palace Boys; good-looking, strong and confident, with an air of easy-going charm

SANDY DUMBROWSKI: Female (Range: Soprano, A3–F#5)
New girl in town; sweet, wholesome, naive, cute, and innocent

BETTY RIZZO: Female (Range:Alto A3–C5)
Leader of the Pink Ladies; tough, sarcastic and outspoken but vulnerable

FRENCHY: Female (Range: Alto, A3–D5)
A dreamer; good-natured but not too smart, she is heavily made up, fussy about her appearance, particularly her hair. She can’t wait to finish high school so she can be a beautician

MARTY: Female (Range Alto, C4–C5)
The ‘beauty’ of the Pink Ladies; pretty and looks older than the other girls, but betrays her real age when she opens her mouth. She tries to act sophisticated.

JAN: Female (Range: Alto, A3-C5)
Funny, loud, compulsive eater and awkward member of the Pink Ladies. Loud and pushy with the girls, but shy with boys

DOODY: Male (Range: Tenor, D4-A5)
The youngest of the guys; small, boyish and open, with a disarming smile and a hero-worshipping attitude towards the other guys. He also plays the guitar.

KENICKIE: Male (Range: Tenor, C4–F5)
The second in command of the Burger Palace Boys; tough-looking, tattooed, surly and avoids any show of softness. He has an offbeat sense of humor.

SONNY LATIERRI: Male (Range: baritone, G3–A5)
A member of the Burger Palace Boys; funny Italian-American, he is a braggart and wheeler-dealer who thinks he’s a real lady-killer

ROGER: Male (Range: Tenor, D4-A5)
The anything-for-a-laugh stocky type of boy; a clown who enjoys winding people up, he is full of mischief and is always dreaming up half-baked schemes and ideas

VINCE FONTAINE: Male (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible)
A typical ‘teen audience’ disc jockey; slick, egotistical and fast-talking. He is also a veteran ‘Greaser.’

CHA-CHA, aka CHARLENE DIGREGORIO: Female (Range: Alto, C4–C5)
The best dancer at St. Bernadette’s; a loud mouth, she wins the dancing competition with Danny.

EUGENE FLORCZYK: Male (Range: Tenor, A3–E5)
The class valedictorian; physically awkward, with weak eyes and a high-pitched voice. He’s a typical ‘apple-polisher’ – both smug and pompous, but gullible.

JOHNNY CASINO: Male (Range:Tenor, G4-E5)
All-American, rock-star “greaser” student at Rydell High, whose real name is Clarence

MISS LYNCH: Female (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible)
A no-nonsense, serious, loud, English teacher

PATTY SIMCOX: Female sure-of-herself, but can be given to bursts of disconcerting enthusiasm. She’s a bit of a pain and unpopular with the Pink Ladies, and can twirl a baton.

TEEN ANGEL: Male (Range: Tenor, E4–F5)
Frenchy’s suave and slick guardian angel, who encourages her to stay in school.

THE PINK LADIES: Ensemble(SATB)
The club-jacketed, gum-chewing, hip-swinging girls’ gang who hang around with the Burger Palace Boys.

THE BURGER PALACE BOYS: Ensemble (SATB)
A super-cool, DA-haired, hard-looking group of high school wheeler-dealers… or so they think.

Radio Voice: Male, Age Flexible (Rage: Tenor, A3–C5)
A Radio Voice

Leave a comment

Filed under Auditions

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Runs March 1-17

FLI_Spelling Bee logoTHE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Footlighters Inc.
March 1-17
Stained Glass Theatre [Newport]

Directed by Nick Horton

Cast: Rick Hunt as Chip Tolentino, Megan Hudson as Logainne Schwartzandgrunierre (Schwartzy), Justin Stallkamp as Leaf Coneybear, Evan Blanton as William Barfee, Elizabeth Molloy as Marcy Park, Claire Northcut as Olive Ostrovsky, Deb Schubert as Rona Lisa Peretti, Bill Geraghty as Douglas Panch & Tony Bergman as Mitch Mahoney

An eclectic group of six-graders arrives at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. Sweet and shy Olive brings only her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; bold and hyperallergic speller William Barfee uses his “magic foot” to propel him to greatness; former champion Chip is struggling with his burgeoning puberty; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre only wants to impress her gay dads. In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition. With an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTMAN COUNTY SPELLING BEE causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its “perspicacious,” “jocular,” and “effervescent” spellers.

  • Thu-Sat, March 1-3 at 8pm
  • Sun, March 4 at 2pm
  • Thu-Sat, March 8-10 at 8pm
  • Sun, March 11 at 2pm
  • Wed-Sat, March 14-17 at 8pm
    *Sign language interpreted on March 2nd & 11th

Official page |

Leave a comment

Filed under On Stage

Cast Announced for URINETOWN at Footlighters

FLI_logoFootlighters is proud to announce the cast for our final show of this season, Urinetown, which runs May 3rd -19th! Tickets are already available! www.footlighters.org! Check out this FANTASTIC cast!

Directed by Bunny Arszman

Gary Rogers – Officer Lockstock
Sherry McCamley – Penelope Pennywise
Robert Breslin – Bobby Strong
Katie McCarthy – Hope Cladwell
Jeff Richardson – Caldwell B. Cladwell
Rebecca Mactaggart – Little Sally
Matt Hook – Mr. McQueen
Tony Bergman – Senator Fipp
Matthew J Schiesl – Officer Barrel
Jerry Wiesenhahn – Joseph “Old Man” Strong/Hot Blades Harry
Amanda Marasch – Soupy Sue/Caldwell’s Secretary
Laura Petracco – Little Becky Two-Shoes/Mrs. Millenium
Mary Puetz – Josephine “Ma” Strong/Old Woman
Paul Wesley Henkelman – Dr. Billeaux/Tiny Tom
Karl Bolinger – Robby the Stockfish
To be announced in January – Billy Boy Bill
Monica Weber – Ensemble/Rebel Poor
Caitlin Brown – Ensemble/Rebel Poor

Leave a comment

Filed under Cast list