Friday, February 29, 2008

Theatre--Performance

The Theatre League of Louisiana, in conjuction with the Heymann Center, will present the national tour of The Producers on March 8th at 7:30 pm.

Bialystock and Bloom! Those names should strike terror and hysteria in anyone familiar with Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film. Now as a big Broadway musical, The Producers once again sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor. It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony® Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night.

The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive “Springtime For Hitler”), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.

Theatre--Performance

The Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts presents Ain't Misbehavin', opening on March 7th and running March 8th, 9th, 11, 12th and 13th. All performances except March 9th will be at 7:30 pm. The March 9th performance is a matinee, and will begin at 2 pm. Admission is $10 and tickets will go on sale at the Fads starting March 3, 2008.

The outrageously prodigious comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem lives on in this rollicking, swinging, finger-snapping revue that is still considered one of Broadway’s best.

The inimitable Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to international fame during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club, honky tonk dives along Lenox Avenue, rent parties, stride piano players and that jumpin’ new beat, Swing. Although not quite a biography, Ain’t Misbehavin’ evokes the delightful humor and infectious energy of this American original as a versatile cast struts, strums and sings the songs he made famous in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood and concert stages in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is one of the most popular, well-crafted revues of all time – sometimes sassy, sometimes sultry, with moments of devastating beauty. Ain’t Misbehavin’ is simply unforgettable.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Theatre--Performance



Cité des Arts’ production of Driving Miss Daisy opens this Thursday, February 28th at 7:30pm. Sponsored by AT&T, the 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Alfred Uhry and directed by Duncan Thistlethwaite, will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm for three weeks ending on March 15th.

Set in the 1960s, a white Southern matron develops an unusual friendship with her African-American chauffeur, based on trust, respect and companionship. It covers over twenty years of the pair's life together as they slowly build a relationship that transcends their differences. The production, directed by Duncan Thistlethwaite, stars Acadiana theatre veterans Jenny Felder as Daisy, A.D. Dugar as Hoke and Duncan Thistlethwaite as Boolie.

WHEN: February 28th, 29th, March 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette, between Jefferson St. and Third St.
COST: Ticket prices are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for Senior Citizens, 65+ and Students of any age.
For additional information and reservations, please call Cité des Arts at
337-291-1122.

Theatre--Article

The Times of Acadiana has an article about Acting Up (in Acadiana)'s No Teacher Left Standing in its February 26, 2008 issue.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Theatre--Performance









The IPAL production of Little Shop of Horrors opens to the public on Friday, February 29th at 7:30 pm. For more information or tickets, contact IPAL.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Theatre--Performance

TheatreworksUSA, in conjuction with the Heymann Center, will present Freedom Train on March 3, 2008 at 10:00 am.

Freedom Train tells the thrilling story of Harriet Tubman, the Moses of her people, in a fascinating series of highly theatrical scenes that use dance, dialogue, and music of the period. Songs include "Follow the Drinking Gourd," "Steal Away," "Wade in the Water," "Good News, the Chariot's A-comin'," and many others still sung today. Freedom Train is the story of self-sacrifice, dedication and survival, laced with warmth and a sense of humor that celebrates the human spirit -- a universal story for all(approximately one-hour in length).

For tickets or more information, contact TheatreworksUSA at 800-497-5007 or on the internet at http://www.theatreworksusa.org.

Theatre--Performance

The Lafayette Parish High School Arts Academy will perform Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece,Waiting For Godot on March 7th and 8th at the N.P. Moss Annex Auditorium at 8PM. Admission is free to the public. Donations, however, are graciously accepted.


The storyline evolves around two men waiting for someone – or some thing – named Godot. Vladimir and Estragon wait near a tree on a barren stretch of road, inhabiting a drama spun from their own consciousness. The result is a comical wordplay of poetry, dream-scapes, and nonsense, which has been interpreted as a somber summation of mankind’s inexhaustible search for meaning. His play remains one of the most magical and beautiful allegories of our time.

Theatre--Performance

The Iberia Performing Arts League will present its production of Little Shop of Horrors beginning on Friday, February 29th and running Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays thru March 16. Performances will be in the Essanee Theater on Iberia Street in New Iberia. Ticket or other information can be obtained by calling the theater at 364-6114 or by e-mailing littleshop@cox.net . All seats are reserved and are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The show is not recommended for children 12 or under due to mild violence and language. Strobe lights and other special effects will be used.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Theatre--Article/Reviews

Cody Daigle has written an article in the February 20th issue of the Times of Acadiana on his personal response to watching the Off Off Broadway production of his show Providence.

Reviews of Providence in New York can be seen at:
NYTheatre.com,
StageBuzz and
Laurie Lawson of Offbway.

Theatre--Performance

Acting Up (in Acadiana) restages its original production No Teacher Left Standing at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on February 28, 29, March 1, 6, 7, & 8 at 8 PM. The project explores and spoofs the shortcomings in our educational system, particularly the frustrations with No Child Left Behind. The audience is invited to stay for a panel discussion following the show on Friday February 29th. The panel will have former teachers, current teachers, teachers from alternative schools, as well as the actors and the director of the production.

No Teacher Left Standing will feature company members Hannah and Ricky Briggs, Lian Cheramie, Kara Guarisco, David Guarisco, Katie Keator and Katie
Lahey as well as Junior Company members and other professional associates. Paige Krause will develop choreography, and Amy Waguespack directs the project.General admission tickets will be available at the Acadiana Center for the Arts beginning February 18th. All tickets are $10 and will also be available at the door. For tickets call (337) 233-7060. For more information, call (337) 739-4273.

Theatre--Performance Assistance Needed

Donald "Doc" Voorhies, the director of Little Shop of Horrors at IPAL, is asking for production assistance. He needs a strobe light to use in the show, but doesn't have one of sufficient strength. "Doc" can be contacted at docvoorhies@cox.net.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Theatre--Performance Postponed

The dates for Driving Miss Daisy have changed due to illness. Public performances are now scheduled for February 28th, 29th, March 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th at 7:30 p.m., at Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette, between Jefferson St. and Third St.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Theatre--Performance

The Theatre League of Louisiana presents the music of Billy Joel in Movin' Out, a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel, on February 24 at 7:30 pm.

Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of American youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War. The principal characters are drawn from those who appeared in various Joel tunes: high school sweethearts Brenda and Eddie ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"), James ("James"), Judy ("Why Judy Why"), and Tony (Anthony in "Movin' Out"). The show is unusual in that, unlike the traditional musical, it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. All the vocals are performed by a pianist and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the narrative sans dialogue, making the show, in essence, a rock ballet.

This event is part of TLL's 2007-2008 Broadway Series.

For ticket information(prices: $56.50, $46.00, $37.00 plus handling fees), contact the Heymann Box Office at 291-5555.

Theatre--Audition (2nd Post)

IPAL will be holding auditions for their next play, Moon Over Buffalo, on February 18th from 5:30 pm to 7 pm at the old Essenee Theatre on Iberia Street in New Iberia.

Call 364-6114 for information or to schedule an audition date other than tonight

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Theatre--Article

Local playwright Cody Daigle has written an article, published by the Times of Acadiana in the February 13th edition, about the Lafayette Parish High School Arts Academy (including the theatre program).

Friday, February 15, 2008

Theatre--Auditions

The Eunice Players' Theatre is holding auditions for the first play of the 39th season, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, at 6:30 pm on February 18th and 19th.

Two men, ages 20-50, and two women, ages 18-25, are needed for the two act comedy. The Players also need volunteers to assist with set decoration and backstage duties. Production is projected for early April.

Auditions will be held at the theater on South Second Street. For more information, contact Gabe Ortego at 331-0806.

Theatre--Performance

Acting Up (in Acadiana) will restage its original production of No Teacher Left Standing at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on February 28 and 29 and March 1 and 6 through 8 at 8 pm.

Company director Amy Waguespack says that the program explores and spoofs the shortcomings in the educational system, dealing particularly with the No Child Left Behind program. The audience will be invited to stay after the show on February 29 for a panel discussion, featuring former teachers, current teachers, the actors, writers and director among others.

General admission tickets will be available at the Acadiana Center for the Arts or at the door. Prices are $10 per person. For more information, please call 739-4273.

Performing Arts--Scholarship

PASA is currently accepting applications from individuals and non-profit groups for the L.Hill Bonin Scholarship award for performing arts students. The application deadline is March 1, 2008. Interested applicants can download an application as well as scholarship requirements from www. pasaonline.org.

Guidelines for the L. Hill Bonin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award, administered by Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA), are available for high school and college students pursuing short-time educational and training opportunities in performing arts or arts administration as well as for non-profit organizations or groups that propose performing arts productions or activities which involve and benefit high school or college students.

Completed forms and all attachments must be submitted to the PASA office by March 1, 2008 to qualify for the 2007/2008 scholarships. To request scholarship guidelines and an application, call PASA at (337)237-2787. Applications and eligibility requirements can also be found online at www.pasaonline.org

The L. Hill Bonin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to award talented and deserving students of the performing arts with funds for enhancing their talents through participation in advanced study or classes beyond those available in their present study programs. Now awards may benefit groups that provide opportunities to students for enhancing their performing arts talents.

To be considered for an award, students must be enrolled in any high school or college in the parishes served by PASA, be planning to pursue a career or professional training in performing arts or arts administration, be a citizen of the United States and a Louisiana resident, and have an overall grade point average of B or higher on their high school or college transcript. For a non-profit organization or group to be eligible it must propose a production, performance, or activity that involves high school or college students and ensure that the funds will be used for the enhancement of the talents of the students in the performance.

Recipients are chosen by the PASA Bonin Scholarship committee, composed of PASA board members and a representative of the Bonin family. Recipients, after meeting eligibility criteria, are chosen on the basis of the artistic merit of the proposed training or project, planning and design of the proposal, and appropriate request and plans for the use of the funds.

Last year's the Bonin scholarship awarded three recpients including one U.L. student and two 2007 high school graduates. Matthew Couvillon, a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, spent most of the summer at Jacob's Pillow, home of America's longest-running dance festival and a hotbed of choreographic learning and dance. William Moody IV of Lafayette High School and Alexandra Pitre, of Opelousas Catholic High School were the two outstanding high school students selected by the committee. Moody attended "Encore! Ensemble Theatre Workshop in Varbone, France where he studied different acting disciplines. Pitre used her scholarship to attend the prestigious Martha Graham Summer intensive in New York City and the Garth Fagan Summer Movement Institute in Rochester, New York.

Theatre--Review

Ray Blum reviews the Omni Artiste production of A Woman's Journeyin the February 15th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Theatre--Auditions (2nd Post)

Open auditions will be held Wednesday, February 13th at 7 pm and Thursday, February 14th at 6pm at Cité des Arts for an original play by John Patrick Bray. Trickster At The Gate, presented by PASA, is part of The Renaissance of Zora, their spring celebration of the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston.

Directed by Maureen Brennan, the play will be presented at Cité des Arts on April 17 – 26, 2008 and included as a part of Festival International de Louisiane.

Brennan is looking for four actors, two male and two female, of varying ages for this tale which is drawn from African folk traditions and set here in Southwest Louisiana. For further information call Maureen Brennan at (337) 291-1122.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Theatre--Audition

IPAL will be holding auditions for their next play, Moon Over Buffalo, on February 17th from 3 pm to 5 pm and again on February 18th from 5:30 pm to 7 pm at the old Essenee Theatre on Iberia Street in New Iberia.

Moon over Buffalo marked Carol Burnett’s triumphant return to Broadway after 30 years (for which she received a Tony Award nomination). It also starred Philip Bosco and Randy Graff. Subsequent Broadway casts included Lynn Redgrave and Robert Goulet. Moon Over Buffalo later opened at London’s legendary Old Vic starring Joan Collins and Frank Langella, under the title Over the Moon. It was directed on Broadway by Tom Moore, and in London by Ray Cooney.

In the madcap comedy tradition of Lend me a Tenor, the hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950's. At the moment, they’re playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York with 5 actors. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by Charlotte’s deaf old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George’s body.

For 4 men and 4 women. For more information, call IPAL at (337) 364-6114.

Dance--Performance

The hottest young Tango company from Buenos Aires arrives at the Heymann Performing Arts Center heating up the stage with the fire and passion of South America. Featuring ten torrid dancers accompanied by a quartet of brilliant young musicians and one of Argentina's finest singers, TANGO FIRE offers a journey through the history of Tango, the world's most alluring and exciting dance.

Heymann Performing Arts Center
Lafayette, LA
February 10, 2008 5 pm

Friday, February 8, 2008

Theatre--Performance: Season Schedule

CITÉ DES ARTS ANNOUNCES THEIR 2008 THEATRE SEASON
First off, we would like to announce the return of Duncan Thistlethwaite as the Artistic Director at Cité. Many of you know Duncan and have worked with him in the past.

February 21 – March 8 (Thursday – Saturday): DRIVING MISS DAISY, starring Jenny Felder, A.D. Dugar and Duncan Thistlethwaite. DRIVING MISS DAISYis a 1987 play by Alfred Uhry about the relationship that an elderly Southern Jewish lady shares with her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn, over the span of several decades.

May 22 – June 7 (Thursday – Saturday): PROOF is a play by David Auburn. It won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play. The story concerns Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius and professor at the University of Chicago, and her struggle with mathematical genius and mental illness. Catherine had cared for her father through a lengthy mental illness. Upon Robert's death, his ex-graduate student Hal discovers a paradigm-shifting proof about prime numbers in Robert's office. The title refers both to that proof and to the play's central question: Can Catherine prove the proof's authorship? Along with proving the proof, the daughter also finds herself in a relationship with 28-year-old Hal. Throughout, the play explores Catherine's fear of following in her father's footsteps, both mathematically and mentally.

September 4 – 20 (Thursday – Saturday): GREEZY SPOON
GREEZY SPOON is an original play written by local playwright, historian and musician, Austin Sonnier, Jr. This piece is a comedy set at the “Greezy Spoon”, a local diner and funeral parlor and introduces us to the characters that pass through those doors.

September/October
Beginning the end of September and alternating with Discoprodutions production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, through Halloween,Cité presents HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, a rock musical about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by an East German transgender singer. The text is by John Cameron Mitchell, and the music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask. The musical has been performed throughout the world in hundreds of stage productions and has slowly gathered a devoted cult following similar to that of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

Theatre--Performance: Season Schedule

The Opelousas Little Theatre
Presents
2008 Season of Shows

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Opens April 3
A wonderful musical tale of a classic comic we all know and love.
Proof
Opens June 12
The play concerns Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius and professor at the University of Chicago, and her struggle with mathematical genius and mental illness. Catherine had cared for her father through a lengthy mental illness. Can Catherine prove the proof's authorship?
Wit
Opens August 7
Wit is a play by Margaret Edison about a University Professor of English who is dying of ovarian cancer. As she copes with her life-threatening cancer she assesses her own life through the intricacies of the English language, especially the use of wit and the metaphysical poetry of John Donne.
Of Mice and Men
Opens November 6
Whether you read it in school, saw the movie in black and white, or viewed it most recently with Gary Sinese and John Malckovich, this classic will bring your mind back to human kindness.

Season tickets are available for $40; this includes admission into five productions. Individual tickets are $10.00 and are available at:
Sebastien~Dupre Fine Jewellery
822 South Main Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
337-948-4367

For production information call Dana Reed at (337) 948-3284.

Theatre--Article

Ray Blum, in his "Perform" column for the Daily Advertiser's February 8th edition, talks about one of the major figures in Acadiana community (and now UL-Lafayette) theatre, director Walter Brown.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Theatre--Article

The Times of Acadiana is running an article in its February 6th edition about the preview in New York of Acadiana playwright Cody Daigle's original work, Providence.

Theatre--Audition

Open auditions will be held Wednesday, February 13th at 7 pm and Thursday, February 14th at 6pm at Cité des Arts for an original play by John Patrick Bray. Trickster At The Gate, presented by PASA, is part of The Renaissance of Zora, their spring celebration of the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston.

Directed by Maureen Brennan, the play will be presented at Cité des Arts on April 17 – 26, 2008 and included as a part of Festival International de Louisiane.

Brennan is looking for four actors, two male and two female, of varying ages for this tale which is drawn from African folk traditions and set here in Southwest Louisiana. For further information call Maureen Brennan at (337) 291-1122.

Theatre--Performance

Omni Artiste Productions opens its Spring 2008 season with a trilogy of one-act plays entitled A Woman's Journey. These stories depict women at various stages through their personal life journeys.

The one-act plays being presented are Colorless, A Mother's Faith and The Female Being. Colorless was named the winner of “Best Play” and “Best Production” at the 2007 Hub City Theatre Festival. A Mother's Faith describes the journey of a mother who loses her faith in God when her daughter battles a deadly disease and the final play, The Female Being , gives insight into different women with different backgrounds talking about (what else) being women.

Believing that lives are transformed through theatre, Omni Artiste Productions of Lafayette, under the direction of Dr. Alex C. Marshall, brings a unique vision to the performance of informative, entertaining, and original plays. Omni Artiste Productions believes that theatre inspires individuals toward developing a deeper appreciation of the world in which they live.

WHEN: February 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 7:30pm; February 10 and 17 at 3:00pm
WHERE: Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette between Jefferson St. and Third St.
COST: $15.00 for Adults at the door; $10.00 for Senior Citizens; Students and individuals making reservations ahead of time.

For Reservations and additional information, please contact Cité at
337-291-1122.