That's the phase we're in right now at Playhouse on Park with our third season rapidly approaching. Last Wednesday we held open auditions for "Enemy of the People" on stage at Playhouse on Park October 12th through October 30th.
Actors arrived at the playhouse before their scheduled audition to fill out our audition form. They returned that form along with their head shot and resume to the front desk and waited to be called.
For past auditions, I was the one at the front desk greeting the hopefuls, however this time I walked people in to the theatre for their audition, introduced them and handed their information to the director, Kyle Fabel who then introduced the actor to Darlene Zoller, Artistic Director and Dawn Loveland, Director of Education. Darlene used her laptop to take notes on each audition. Dawn served as a reader.
Actors young and old came prepared with audition sides or a monologue. Some stood in place reading the character side they chose. Others moved about the stage as though they were speaking to the other character.
The audition phase continues with open auditions for all the shows in our third season on August 29th and August 31st from 5:00 - 11:00pm both days. Actors will audition in front of the directors for all our shows this season. In five minutes actors will have the option of performing any combination of monologue or song. A pianist will be on hand. Call 860-523-5900 x 10 to schedule your audition time, but hurry slots are filling up fast.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The Wow Effect
Carolyn Cumming or Hillary Ekwall singing separately is great. When they sing together, that's when you get the wow effect! Fresh off their performances in "Chicago" and "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" respectively, these two best friends appeared together at Falcetti Music in Blue Back Square last Friday evening with Emmett Drake on the piano, for the debut of Falcetti Music's Cabaret Series.
Tables, chairs and a stage were set up in the middle of Falcetti Music, surrounded by an impressive array of pianos. Carolyn and Hillary sat on stage belting out song after song, some solos, most were duets. "We always try to have as many duets as possible, because we find duets are interesting to watch and we love singing them." Says Ms. Cumming of their song choices.
Their choice of songs worked quite well as the songs and the melodious voices behind them caught the attention of passersby, many of whom strolled in to hear more, and enjoy some snacks.
Amazingly Carolyn and Hillary pulled off a fantastic show with little time to rehearse. No problem for these two talented playhouse favorites who have been performing together for about eight years. "We like similar styles of music and have such a high mutual respect for one another as people and artists." Ms. Cumming says when asked why they have such great chemistry together. She also credits their pianist "Emmett sight-read about eighty-five percent of that music and still sounded fabulous."
The Falcetti Music Cabaret series continues this Friday, August 19th and next Friday, August 26th from 5:00 - 7:00pm at Falcetti Music in Blue Back Square. Stop by to see who will take the stage next, or to buy a piano and release your inner Piano Man.
Tables, chairs and a stage were set up in the middle of Falcetti Music, surrounded by an impressive array of pianos. Carolyn and Hillary sat on stage belting out song after song, some solos, most were duets. "We always try to have as many duets as possible, because we find duets are interesting to watch and we love singing them." Says Ms. Cumming of their song choices.
Their choice of songs worked quite well as the songs and the melodious voices behind them caught the attention of passersby, many of whom strolled in to hear more, and enjoy some snacks.
Amazingly Carolyn and Hillary pulled off a fantastic show with little time to rehearse. No problem for these two talented playhouse favorites who have been performing together for about eight years. "We like similar styles of music and have such a high mutual respect for one another as people and artists." Ms. Cumming says when asked why they have such great chemistry together. She also credits their pianist "Emmett sight-read about eighty-five percent of that music and still sounded fabulous."
The Falcetti Music Cabaret series continues this Friday, August 19th and next Friday, August 26th from 5:00 - 7:00pm at Falcetti Music in Blue Back Square. Stop by to see who will take the stage next, or to buy a piano and release your inner Piano Man.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Dinner And A Show
At A.C. Petersen Farms Restaurant you can have a delicious dinner. At Playhouse on Park you can see a great show. Put the two together and you have the best combination since peanut butter and chocolate, that is until Playhouse on Park performers began singing at A.C. Petersen Farms last Monday night.
Unsuspecting customers were pleasantly surprised when the first of four performers took the microphone and began singing their favorite show tunes. Carolyn Cumming, Keisha Gilles, Will Macke and Jamie Morano circulated the restaurant and began cozying up to the customers, some of whom sang along, others danced and everyone was smiling. "It was so much fun getting to interact with the patrons." Said Keisha Gilles who played Matron "Mama" Morton in Playhouse on Park's production of Chicago last month.
The fun will continue this Monday night from 6:00 to 8:00pm and every Monday night in the month of August. Performers and song genres may change, but the fun to be had by all involved will only increase as the venue and the talent work out minor logistical issues.
Certain to perfect the issues, all involved hope this entertaining idea continues in to September. "I would love for it to continue, so I can come back." adds Ms. Gilles who is unable to attend the remaining August performances.
A.C. Petersen Farms offers a variety of menu choices not available anywhere else, for example, two kinds of lobster rolls. A Connecticut lobster served warm dipped in butter and a Maine lobster served cold with mayonnaise, both come with Cole slaw and the choice of another side order.
Playhouse on Park is gearing up for its third season with a production of "Around The World in 80 Days" September 14 to October 2, followed by "An Enemy of the People" October 12 to October 30.
Come celebrate your passion for food and music with A.C. Petersen Farms and Playhouse on Park Monday nights, August 15, 22 & 29 from 6:00 - 8:00pm, you'll be glad you did.
Unsuspecting customers were pleasantly surprised when the first of four performers took the microphone and began singing their favorite show tunes. Carolyn Cumming, Keisha Gilles, Will Macke and Jamie Morano circulated the restaurant and began cozying up to the customers, some of whom sang along, others danced and everyone was smiling. "It was so much fun getting to interact with the patrons." Said Keisha Gilles who played Matron "Mama" Morton in Playhouse on Park's production of Chicago last month.
The fun will continue this Monday night from 6:00 to 8:00pm and every Monday night in the month of August. Performers and song genres may change, but the fun to be had by all involved will only increase as the venue and the talent work out minor logistical issues.
Certain to perfect the issues, all involved hope this entertaining idea continues in to September. "I would love for it to continue, so I can come back." adds Ms. Gilles who is unable to attend the remaining August performances.
A.C. Petersen Farms offers a variety of menu choices not available anywhere else, for example, two kinds of lobster rolls. A Connecticut lobster served warm dipped in butter and a Maine lobster served cold with mayonnaise, both come with Cole slaw and the choice of another side order.
Playhouse on Park is gearing up for its third season with a production of "Around The World in 80 Days" September 14 to October 2, followed by "An Enemy of the People" October 12 to October 30.
Come celebrate your passion for food and music with A.C. Petersen Farms and Playhouse on Park Monday nights, August 15, 22 & 29 from 6:00 - 8:00pm, you'll be glad you did.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Moving Guam
Last Saturday was the culmination of a project six months in the making, that project was to move Guam. For Playhouse on Park purposes, Guam was a storage area in the ice cream plant behind the playhouse. It was used to house clothes, props and furniture. The real Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean.
No one seems to know how our storage area got the name Guam, but for the past two seasons it has been a convenient place to keep necessary items for our various productions.
Our new location is not too far away, a smaller space off New Park Avenue, near Home Depot. The close proximity made the grueling task of packing and unpacking a little easier, that and a large box truck supplied by Falcetti Music, complete with a driver and an additional helper.
A rallying call was sent out to all playhouse volunteers, asking them to donate as much time as they could between 10:00am to 5:00pm. An impressive array of Playhouse on Park faithful showed up, including Executive Director Tracy Flater. "Incredibly we got the box truck loaded four times and finished in the time alotted." Ms. Flater says of the move. "Now we just have to get organized." She added.
Artistic Directors Sean Harris and Darlene Zoller were also on hand, along with other staff, interns, volunteers, actors, and a board member with her two young sons.
All of us at Playhouse on Park wear different hats. The artistic directors not only determine what shows will be produced, but sometimes direct and appear in those shows. Actors from recent productions also volunteer to usher, house manage and staff the box office. Look closely at the person who sells you a ticket, or helps you to your seat, chances are you've seen them on stage at Playhouse on Park.
Now that Guam has been moved, it's time to focus on other important issues, such as auditions, introducing our new house manager, strengthening the volunteer experience, selling season subscriptions and marketing our amazing line up of shows. More information on all of that will be featured right here in the blog. Check back frequently.
No one seems to know how our storage area got the name Guam, but for the past two seasons it has been a convenient place to keep necessary items for our various productions.
Our new location is not too far away, a smaller space off New Park Avenue, near Home Depot. The close proximity made the grueling task of packing and unpacking a little easier, that and a large box truck supplied by Falcetti Music, complete with a driver and an additional helper.
A rallying call was sent out to all playhouse volunteers, asking them to donate as much time as they could between 10:00am to 5:00pm. An impressive array of Playhouse on Park faithful showed up, including Executive Director Tracy Flater. "Incredibly we got the box truck loaded four times and finished in the time alotted." Ms. Flater says of the move. "Now we just have to get organized." She added.
Artistic Directors Sean Harris and Darlene Zoller were also on hand, along with other staff, interns, volunteers, actors, and a board member with her two young sons.
All of us at Playhouse on Park wear different hats. The artistic directors not only determine what shows will be produced, but sometimes direct and appear in those shows. Actors from recent productions also volunteer to usher, house manage and staff the box office. Look closely at the person who sells you a ticket, or helps you to your seat, chances are you've seen them on stage at Playhouse on Park.
Now that Guam has been moved, it's time to focus on other important issues, such as auditions, introducing our new house manager, strengthening the volunteer experience, selling season subscriptions and marketing our amazing line up of shows. More information on all of that will be featured right here in the blog. Check back frequently.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The Stink Eye Top Ten
Whenever a group of actors are assembled in a room waiting to audition for a role, it's only natural that some actors might give others the "Stink eye". Stink eye is defined as; A facial expression of distrust, disdain or disapproval. It is usually followed by an immediate sizing up of the competition. During this process, some not so nice thoughts might come to mind. In my opinion no one is harsher on each other than women. Below are the top ten things female actors may be thinking about their competition.
#10 Her reality show title: Project No Way.
#9 The Bride of Frankenstein had better hair.
#8 I've seen better make up on a corpse.
#7 Maybe way, way, way, way off Broadway.
#6 Honey you're pants called, they give up.
#5 That outfit is so last minute.
#4 I'll bet she's like life, a bitch.
#3 If the camera adds ten pounds, she should try radio.
#2 So that's what inbreeding looks like.
#1 Two words: Casting couch.
#10 Her reality show title: Project No Way.
#9 The Bride of Frankenstein had better hair.
#8 I've seen better make up on a corpse.
#7 Maybe way, way, way, way off Broadway.
#6 Honey you're pants called, they give up.
#5 That outfit is so last minute.
#4 I'll bet she's like life, a bitch.
#3 If the camera adds ten pounds, she should try radio.
#2 So that's what inbreeding looks like.
#1 Two words: Casting couch.
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