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* AUDITIONS THIS WEEKEND
UIS Theatre is holding auditions for the fall production, Wendy Wasserstein's THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. Auditions are SUNDAY, August 29 & MONDAY, August 30 at 7pm in the Studio Theatre at UIS. Roles are available for 5 women & 3 men. Scripts are available on reserve at Brookens Library, and in VPA 62 for a $10 refundable deposit.
Any questions: contact director Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson at mthom1@uis.edu. Go to www.uis.edu/theatre for audition forms and crew applications.
Those interested in working backstage should arrive at 6pm on either the 29th or 30th.
* NOW PLAYING
Theatre in the Park presents DIVIDING THE ESTATE through August 29. Click here for more information: TIP.
The show will feature a full orchestra and a cast of some of central Illinois’ best singer/dancers. CHICAGO will be presented in the L...RS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on August 27-September 5 for 6 performances.
In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap...until he finds out he's been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another "Merry Murderess," Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines with the help of attorney Billy Flynn, ultimately joining forces in search of the "American Dream": fame, fortune and acquittal. This sharp edged satire features a dazzling score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and staging and choreography inspired by the immortal Bob Fosse.
The original Broadway production opened in 1975, starring Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach. While a success, it was overshadowed that year by another hit musical, A CHORUS LINE. It wasn’t until the 1996 Broadway revival that CHICAGO received the recognition that it deserved, in a spectacular production that is playing in New York City, and around the world, to this very day. The hit revival also inspired the major motion picture starring Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zita-Jones and Richard Gere, a movie that won six Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture. The Hoogland’s production will be directed by Doug Hahn and Gary Shull, and is based on their successful 2006 Springfield Muni Opera production of the show. CHICAGO will star Anna Bussing as Roxie Hart, Mary Jo Curry as Velma Kelly, Gus Gordon as Billy Flynn, Lori Ann Mitts as Matron Mama Morton, Joshua Ratz as Amos Hart and Johnny Molson as the Master of Ceremonies. The show also features Julie Ratz, Carrie Schultz, Selina Pritchard, Megan Dowding, Carolyn Otten, Morgan Fishburn, Gina DeCroix Russell, Anthony Cunningham, Brad Loman, Jacob Deters, Damien Kaplan, Marshall Stone, Matthew Vala and T.J. Grasch.
CHICAGO is part of the non-profit Hoogland Center for the Arts 2010 Performance Series. Ticket sale proceeds from this fundraising effort will help pay expenses for the 80,000 square foot community arts center, which is enjoyed by more than 10,000 people each month.
The Gala Event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 27th with a glamorous "Speakeasy" fundraiser, where guests are encouraged to come in formal wear or 1920’s attire. The evening will feature a cocktail hour, dinner, silent auction, cash bar, the show, and a post-performance dessert reception with dancing and music provided by DJ Patrick Russell. Tickets for opening night are $75 per ticket for the pre-show cocktail hour, dinner, the show and the post-show dessert reception. $30 tickets are also available for the opening night performance and post-show activities.
Regular performances of CHICAGO will be presented at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, and 2 p.m. on August 29, the again the following weekend on Friday, September 3 at 8 p.m., Saturday, September 4 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the regular performances are $20 for adults and $18 for children.
All tickets are available by phone (523-2787) and online at www.scfta.org. Performances will be in the LRS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street, Springfield. Free parking is available in the adjacent ramp.
SPONSOR LINKS:
* NEW STC presents the local premiere of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, directed by Edward H. Smith, on October 15-24
Based on the popular 1988 film, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS centers on two con men living on the French Riviera. The first is the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson, who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. The other, a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health.
After meeting on a train, they unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress Christine Colgate, wins and the other must leave town. A hilarious battle of cons ensues, that will keep audiences laughing, humming and guessing to the end!
Here is the cast: Lawrence Jameson - John O’Connor; Andre Thibault - Jeremy Goeckner; Freddy Benson - Matthew Vala; Christine Colgate - Mary Kate Smith; Muriel Eubanks - Dana Ferry; Jolene Oakes - Katie Kauffman; Renee - Kelly E. Basssett; Female Chorus: Megan Francis, Sherry Humphries, Lori Iocca, Kayleigh Johnson and Hannan Siehr; Men’s Chorus: Colton Allen, Rob DeCroix, Douglas Holt, Jacob Deters and Terry Schoppenhorst.
A foot-stomping, roof-raising, musical comedy about a fictitious Christian boy band on the last night of their “Raise the Praise” tour, ALTAR BOYZ features five singing and dancing heartthrobs from Ohio: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. While performing their signature hits including “Rhythm in Me,” “The Calling” and “I Believe,” the Boyz question their loyalty to each other and whether their faith is holding them together. The group comes together to perform a final message of unity, “there is no star as bright as its constellation, no harmony in a single voice.”
Hailed as “high-octane” entertainment by Talkin’ Broadway, ALTAR BOYZ was the winner of the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and the recipient of the Broadway.com Audience Favorite Award in 2006 and 2007. After 2,032 performances spanning five years, the Off-Broadway production closed earlier this year.
John Honnen of Jacksonville will play the role of Matthew, the leader of the boy band. Grant Estes, also of Jacksonville, will appear on stage as Mark, the innocent “bowl of sunshine” who looks up to Matthew. Luke, the “bad boy” who is street-wise but dim-witted, will be portrayed by Jacksonville’s Zach Pickens. Kyle Cummings of Arenzville will be Juan, the “ethnic one” who was dropped on the steps of a church in Tijuana and raised by nuns as Hispanic. Finally, Joel Austin of Springfield will portray Abraham, the Jewish altar boy.
Jacksonville native Kristin Jamison is directing the production with music and vocal direction by Roger Wainwright of Chatham. Jacksonville’s Jessica Manker is serving as the show’s choreographer.
ALTAR BOYZ is will be presented in the LRS Theatre on November 11-14. Call 523-2787 for ticket information.
* IMPORTANT INFO For some helpful tips on how to best audition for musical theater, check out this link: AUDITION TIPS
* SPRINGFIELD THEATRE CENTRE
The Springfield Theatre Centre is a non-profit community theater organization, which operates out of the Hoogland Center for the Arts in downtown Springfield. Information on tickets and auditions will be posted at the STC website: www.springfieldtheatrecentre.com.
* MUNI
Click here for Muni information: www.themuni.org.
* THEATRE IN THE PARK
Visit the TIP Website at www.theatreinthepark.net for more information, or contact Kari Catton, TIP Executive Director at 241-3241.
* SANGAMON AUDITORIUM
Go to their website for more information: SANGAMON AUDITORIUM.
* JACKSONVILLE THEATRE GUILD
Click on the website for more info: JTG.
* UIS THEATRE
For more information, go to their website: www.uis.edu/theatre.
* ILLINOIS COLLEGE
Call 245-3471 for tickets. Click on their website for more information: www.ic.edu/theatre
* DECATUR THEATRE 7
Click here for more info: THEATRE 7.
* LITTLE THEATRE ON THE SQUARE
For a complete schedule and pricing information, visit The Little Theatre On The Square online at LITTLE THEATRE.
* BROADWAY IN CHICAGO:
For more info, visit Broadway in Chicago on-line at: www.broadwayinchicago.com
* ST. LOUIS BROADWAY SEASON:
For more info, visit them on-line at: www.fabulousfox.com
