Sunday, June 28, 2009

Theatre--Classes

Early registration for 2009-2010 acting classes with Acting Up (in Acadiana) is starting. The professional company is very excited and ready to go as they have been off working and studying in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York and have lots of new things to share with each other and our students. The following classes will be offered:
Monday from 4:30-6 pm: 11-13 year olds (junior high)
Monday from 6:15-7:45 pm: Company Class (by audition/interview or invitation only)
Tuesday from 6-7:30 pm: 14 year olds-beginner adults
Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 pm: 7-10 year olds
Acting Up will also facilitate a monthly Artists' Salon.

If you would like more information or a registration form, please contact Amy Waguespack at (337) 739-4273 or amy.waguespack@lusfiber.net

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Theatre--Master Class/Workshop

Studio pictures from Caroline McGee's classes in New York City. McGee's master classes begin on July 27th.



Theatre--Review

John Patrick Bray's Hound, which made its world premiere in Lafayette, is finishing a New York City run. The show is reviewed very favorably on the website nytheatre.com. The review can be found here.

Mentioned in the review is local actor Blaine Peltier, who made his own New York debut in the show.

Congratulations to both John Bray and Blaine Peltier.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Theatre--Master Class/Workshop

Master Acting Workshop July 27-31, 2009

Taught by Caroline McGee in Lafayette, Louisiana

Lee Strasberg: “The Method is simply what all actors have done when acting well.”

The Workshop will be 3 hours’ long per day and conducted for five days at ULL, Monday-Friday July 27-31, 2009, time of day TBA. Cost is $500 total for the week-long session with a limited number of partial scholarships available.


Workshop to include:
• Warm up exercises
• Focus and concentration
• Imagination and creative games
• Creating atmosphere on stage
• Emotional memory and emotional awareness
• Partner interaction
• Stage improvisation

Based on Lee Strasberg’s legendary Method technique of actor training, this class will mirror the famed Strasberg program for young actors in New York City, where Caroline served as Director for both their Professional and New York University BFA Acting Programs from 2006-2009. (www.strasbergny.com for more info)

From Angelina Jolie, Adam Sandler and James Dean to Marilyn Monroe, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, the great actors have studied and applied Strasberg’s exercises to invoke a sense of truth and an original interpretation devoid of clichéd and dull expression. Beyond specific actor training, the Method inspires the personal growth of each student in developing self-discipline, concentration and creativity.

Caroline is looking for imaginative, curious and committed students. Beginning to advanced levels are encouraged to apply since the exercises are individually oriented. Enrollment is limited; apply asap to guarantee a place.

To reserve a place: send form and mail $100 check deposit (paid to the order of Caroline McGee), to Caroline McGee at 442 W. 57 St. #3H, NY, NY 10019.

Workshop Application July 27-31, 2009
Taught by Caroline McGee in Lafayette, Louisiana


Name:____________________
Phone Number:____________
E-Mail:___________________
MailingAddress:_______________________________________
Education/Degrees:_____________________________________
______________________________

Brief description of your training/experience:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

What you know about Lee Strasberg’s “Method” Actor Training Technique:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

What specific “tools” do you hope to develop by studying the Method:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________

July 27-31 availability Daytime hours available:________
Evening hours available:____________________________________

If available, please mail or e-mail a picture and resume, or a short bio.
caroline@stonestreet.pro

Would you or your parents be interested in the additional discussion regarding auditions/interviews for Drama, Film & Music Theatre programs, ie. NYU Tisch, Juilliard, Yale Drama School?__________

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Theatre--Performance





Dorothy Meets Alice

Walk by the Eunice Players’ Theatre on any given week night and you’re likely to hear the cast rehearsing the upbeat songs featured in Dorothy Meets Alice, the theatre’s summer offering. The family-friendly musical, directed by Angie B. LaCalle, follows the adventures of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and Alice, from Wonderland, as they unscramble their friends who have become mixed together by an unwitting young lady in modern times.

In addition to the show itself, LaCalle has planned a three hour workshop on Saturday, July 11 beginning at 9:00 a.m. for children ages 8-12. The workshop will include singing, acting, and games designed for children to learn the basics of the performing arts. Registration fee is $10, which also allows the child entrance to the Sunday, July 12 matinee performance. Space for the workshop is limited so interestedparties should register soon.

Regular performance dates for the show include July 8, 9, 15, and 17 at 7:00 p.m. and July 12 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Turning Point and David‘s Ltd. Hair and Nail in Eunice. General Admission is $10 for adults and children over age 5, and $5 for children age 5 and under.

The dinner performance is scheduled for Thursday, July 16; tickets for dinner plus the show are $20 for adults and children over 5; $15 for children age 5 and under. The dinner menu consists of catfish bites and popcorn shrimp with french fries, and brownies and ice cream for dessert. This show is not on the season ticket so anyone wanting to see the show will need to purchase a ticket.

For more information about the play or the workshop, call 337-457-2156 or 337-580-2567. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Visit us at euniceplayers.blogspot.com. Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase.

Theatre--Auditions (cancelled)

The auditions scheduled by Josh Coen for Saturday, June 27th have been cancelled until further notice.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Theatre--Auditions

The newly formed Acadiana Repertory Theatre is holding a second round of auditions for its core company on Saturday, June 27th at the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra building. Auditioners need 2 monologues, one classical and one contemporary, each about a minute to a minute and a half long. They also need a song, to be sung acapella, 16 to 30 measures long. . To reserve your audition spot, or for more information, please call one of the managing artistic directors (Blaine Peltier at 337-212-4471 or Steven Landry at 337-849-0687).

Theatre--Auditions

Joshua Coen is holding open auditions for two short plays for the Salute Your Shorts ten-minute play festival scheduled for the second weekend in August at AOC on Lee Street in Lafayette. The auditions will be held from from 8:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, June 27th at AOC.

All auditioners should be prepared with two contrasting monologues if possible. If the auditioner cannot prepare the monologues, they will be given a monologue/cold read to study for five minutes and then perform. Auditioners may also be asked to read with other actors so be prepared for that as well.

Each short requires three actors- two men and one woman, from 16 to 30, and the same 3 actors will be in both plays.

The two shorts are entitled The Philadelphia and Words Words Words, both written by David Ives. Coen is also working on an original short play that may or may not be in the actual festival, but would include the three people cast in the Ives shows.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Theatre--Auditions (IPAL)

IPAL is holding auditions for Moon Over Buffalo on Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23rd at 6 pm at the Essanee Theatre in New Iberia. There are a number of characters in the show; character descriptions are below:

GEORGE HAY--Egotistical head of the theater company, in his 50's, quite the ham, with a tendency to drown his sorrows when the going gets a bit bumpy. He is husband to Charlotte, father to Rosalind, and son-in-law to Ethel. He has had an illicit relationship with Eileen that has borne unexpected fruit.

CHARLOTTE HAY--Ambitious, flamboyant actress, who feels she never quite made it to the top tier of her profession, though she feels she deserved that. In her 50's, she is wife to George, mother to Rosalind, and daughter to Ethel. She is admired by Richard, who would love to steal her away from George. She is flattered by the attention, but is loyal to George - at least until she learns about Eileen.

ETHEL--In her 70's, actress and wardrobe mistress for the theater company. Hard of hearing, but sharp of tongue, she is mother to Charlotte, grandmother to Rosalind, and (most pointedly of all) mother-in-law to George. She has some of the funniest lines in the play.

ROSALIND (or ROZ--Bright and attractive, in her 20's or 30's, she is daughter to George and Charlotte and granddaughter to Ethel. A former actress in the company, she now yearns to leave that life behind and lead a "normal" life with her newfound love, Howard. She and Paul used to be an item.

HOWARD--Late 20's, very good-natured and quite good-looking. He is Rosalind's fiance and terribly nervous about meeting his future in-laws. In awe of show business, he likes to think he is part of that profession - even though he is only a TV weatherman.

EILEEN--Young and very beautiful, she is the current ingenue of the theater company. Enamored with George, she has had a brief fling with him that has produced (forgive the euphemism) a plot complication.

PAUL--In his 30's, good-looking in a rough-and-ready sort of way, and very likeable. He is Company Manager for the theater group, as well as one of the actors. He used to date Rosalind, but she ditched him because he refused to give up the theater.

RICHARD--Good-looking, quite lovable, 50's, dresses in a conservative suit and tie. He is the Hays' lawyer and represents every major star in Hollywood. He is constantly making a play for Charlotte.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Theatre--Master Class/Workshop

Caroline McGee, an alumna of ULL, will be offering a July 2009 workshop based on Lee Strasberg's legendary Method technique of actor training. This class will mirror the famed Strasberg program for young actors in New York City, where she served as Director for both their Professional and New York University BFA Acting Programs from 2006-2009.


Caroline McGee

From Angelina Jolie, Adam Sandler and James Dean to Marilyn Monroe, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, the great actors have studied and applied Strasberg's exercises to invoke a sense of truth and an original interpretation devoid of cliche and dull expression.

Beyond specific actor training, the Method inspires the personal growth of each student in developing self-discipline, concentration and creativity. Caroline is looking for imaginative, curious and committed students. Beginning to advanced levels are encouraged to apply since the exercises are individually oriented. Ages 13 and older are considered; an interview and application are required. Enrollment is limited. Classes will be held at ULL from July 27-31, 3 hours per day, times TBA.

In March 2009, McGee was promoted to the position of Director of the Professional Program at New York University's Stonestreet Studio which specializes in Acting for Film & TV for the Tisch School of the Arts Undergraduate Drama and professional students.

Current projects at Stonestreet Studios include a workshop with the graduates of the famed Moscow Art Theatre Training Program, where modern actor training techniques by Stanislavski originated in concert with the plays of Anton Chekhov; a film series in collaboration with The Anne Frank Foundation's Independent Thinkers Series; and work on the new play by Edward Albee Fellow, Lindsey Ferrentino.

She offers a noted career in teaching, managing and administering professional and MFA and BFA acting programs, including the MFA Acting Program at The Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC, as Director and Associate Professor from 1997-2004.

Her training includes a Master's Degree from the University of California at Berkeley in Directing, Theatre History, Literature & Criticism; actor training with Robert Lewis at The Yale School of Drama; a 2-year acting certificate at the Conservatoire Nationale in Strasbourg, France, on a CODOFIL scholarship. She studied acting professionally in New York City with master teachers William Esper, Michael Howard, Stella Adler, Wynn Handman and Elaine Aiken(the Strasberg Method). She has performed at Yale Repertory Theater, Williamstown Theater Festival, NY Shakespeare Festival, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and in films by Woody Allen and Norman Jewison, with Gregory Peck, Gina Rowland and Gregory Peck, among many others. She is a member of all three actor unions, Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and AFTRA.

Caroline's work in the theatre encompasses directing, having toured original pieces nationally and internationally. She performed her one-woman piece, Lache pas la Patate, at ULL's Bijou Theatre for the 300th Anniversary of the French in Louisiana. Woman Bomb/Sade, her latest play, written with Allan Graubard, was recently featured in the HotInk International Play Festival in New York City. It explores the world of female suicide bombers questioning the reasons women follow such a violent path of self- destruction.


A still from McGee's production of Leonce and Lena

Caroline's parents are Sylvia and Dean McGee, farmers in the Richard area; 4 siblings, folklorist and local historian Dr. Donna McGee Onebane, Advantage Wealth Manager Gary McGee, Liz McGee Smith, mother of six, and Joseph McGee, a medical courier, all of Lafayette.

For an application and more information for the July workshop, send an e-mail query to: Caroline@stonestreet.pro

Theatre--Review (Omni Artiste)

Ray Blum's review of the Omni Artiste production of Fabulation, or the Re-education of Undine appears in the Friday, June 19th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Theatre--Performance

Jon Maran's insightful play Old Wicked Songs is being presented by the UL Lafayette Opera Theater. This is a two-person play about a young American prodigy's journey to Vienna to study piano and rekindle his passion for playing, but discovers he is being made to take voice lessons for three months with an old world Viennese voice teacher who has issues of his own. The play tells the story of an inspiring summer and deals with issues of acceptance and healing, and Robert Schumann's beautiful music of his song cycle "Dichterliebe."

The show stars Shawn Roy as the professor and Jared LeBlanc as the pianist. It was directed by Cody Daigle.

There will only be three performances on Father's Day weekend:
June 19 at 7:30pm
June 20 at 7:30pm
June 21 at 3pm

It will take place in Fletcher Hall on the ULL campus.
$15 general admission and free for UL Lafayette students, faculty and staff.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Theatre--Audition

Auditions for the IPAL production of The Importance of Being Uncle Roscoe will be held on September 28 and 29 at 6:00 pm at IPAL (the old Essanee Theater in New Iberia, La.) For more information, call Donna Berard (the director)at (337) 229-6919.

Theatre--Audition

The Iberia Performing Arts League will hold open auditions for Ken Ludwig's backstage farce, Moon Over Buffalo, on Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23 at 6 PM. The auditions will be at the Essanee Theatre, located on Iberia Street between Main and St. Peter. They need 4 men and 4 women varying in age and including one grandmother. This play is not suitable for children.

For more information, please call IPAL at (337) 364-6114.

Theatre--Performances

The Acadia Players are presenting Steel Magnolias starting tonight and running through the weekend.

The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic buy humorously revealing verbal collision, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength -and love- which gives the play, an its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

Shows are at the Crowley Rice Theatre. The Friday and Saturday night performances will begin at 7 pm and the Sunday show is a matinee starting at 2 pm. Tickets are available at the Crowley Flower Shop, at the door or online from the website.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Theatre--Performance

The Dixie Swim Club enters its final weekend of performance at IPAL.


Susan Clark, Gladys Chapman, Stephanie Judice, Joyce Case, and Donna Berard in The Dixie Swim Club.



Top row (from left to right): Donna Berard and Stephanie Judice
Bottom row (from left to right): Joyce Case, Susan Clark and Gladys Chapman

For more information, or for tickets, call IPAL at (337) 364-6114.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Theatre--Performance

This June, some of the young students from Lafayette's Firelight Performing Arts Academy are traveling to New York to perform A Thousand Paper Cranes, a one-act play honoring not only Sadako, but all victims of leukemia – both those who have survived and those who have fallen. In addition to the younger performers, 5 of the older students will perform a re-enactment of a
1950's radio show, Candy Matson, P.I.: The Cable Car Murder.

Prior to the troupe's departure to New York, they will perform A Thousand Paper Cranes and Candy Matson locally-- at Cité Des Arts on June 8th and at Acadiana Open Channel on the 9th. Both presentations will begin at 7:00 p.m. Admission to either show is one paper crane.

For more information, please call (337) 232-4434

Theatre--Benefit (Cite Des Arts)

The Mystery Dinner Theatre, a benefit for Cite Des Arts, has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 18th. The organizers apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. The location will still be at Baileys Restaurant on Johnston St.and the assistance of guests to deal with an IRS agent who may be in attendance is still necessary. Proceeds from this event go towards helping Cité des Arts continue to provide the quality programming that the community has come to expect. Once again the event will be held Ema Haq and his crew at Bailey’s will provide a wonderful dining experience, including steak with all of the trimmings. Special arrangements can be made for those who would like something different.

Guests never know who is involved and they are an integral part of solving the crime.

Title: Who Trusts the IRS?

Roger Reese, renowned consumer advocate will be the guest speaker for this community gathering. He will be discussing certain questionable tactics of some IRS Agents. This information will be particularly useful for the affluent and charitable citizens attending the dinner this evening who need to be prepared to respond to the more "irregular" demands of some IRS agents. It is rumored that one of these agents, an IRS supervisor for the Gulf States regions, will be in attendance. Woodie Woodruth has recently been shadowing Mr. Reese, attempting to intimidate him into silence. Mr. Reese is not easily intimidated and remains determined to alert the public to the scams of such agents. This is despite the frequent fireworks that accompany their confrontations.

WHEN: Thursday, June 18th; Cash bar at 6:30pm; Dinner and Show at 7:00pm.
WHERE: Bailey’s Restaurant, 5520 Johnston St., Lafayette
COST: $65.00, Proceeds go to help Cité des Arts.
For tickets and additional information, please contact Cité des Arts at 337-291-1122.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Theatre--Performance

Omni Artiste Productions, Inc opens its next production, Fabulation or, The Re-Education of Undine by Lynn Nottage, at Cite Des Arts on Friday, June 12th at 7:30 pm at Cite Des Arts in Lafayette.

Ths show is a social satire about an ambitious and haughty African-American woman, whose husband suddenly disappears after embezzling all of her money. Pregnant and on the brink of social and financial ruin, Undine retreats to her childhoold home in the projects.

The show will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 12th until June 21st. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 pm and Sunday shows will start at 3:00 pm.

For more information, or for tickets, please call Cite Des Arts at (337) 291-1122.

Theatre--Performance

Back by popular demand is Eulalie And Grosbecs, two Cajun one-acts by Clayelle Dalfreyes and Stuart Stelly starring Sandra Broussard and Shane Guilbeau. The show will be presented on the Second Stage at Cité Des Arts on Saturday June 6th at 7:30PM. Tickets are $12. For reservations, please contact Cité at 337-291-1122.

The Miracle Worker remains the Main Stage production this weekend.