Theatre--Audition

Auditions for IPAL’s Guys and Dolls will be held Friday, November 20th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 21st, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Essanee Theater, 126 Iberia St. in New Iberia. Parts are available for all ages from high school up.  Audition materials can be picked up in advance at the Essanee Theatre on Sunday, November 15th between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m..


Guys and Dolls is an award-winning musical from the Golden Age of Broadway which has enjoyed numerous Broadway revivals and was made into a movie starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. Guys and Dolls is based on writer Damon Runyon’s humorous tales of gamblers, hustlers, gals, and various denizens of New York in an earlier era.  Great songs, costumes, and staging will make this another memorable IPAL musical. The show will have a large cast and orchestra of sixteen and will be presented in March, 2010.

For further information, contact the director, Katherine Caffery, at (337) 256-0604, e-mail ipal@cox.net, or visit the website .

Theatre--Master Class

Caroline McGee will be back in Lafayette holding a Master Class in the Lee Strasberg Method from Monday, November 23rd through Wednesday, November 25th.  Times of the classes and venue will be announced as soon as possible.

Theatre--Performance

Pictured from left to right: Michael Sanchez as Ben Hecht, Wesley Saunders as David O. Selznick and Brett Faulkner as Victor Fleming in the Eunice Players' Theatre's production of Moonlight and Magnolias.

CYT-Lafayette (Christian Youth Theatre of Lafayette) is presenting its first production, Godspell, on Saturday, November 7th (2 pm and 6 pm) and Sunday, November 8th (3 pm) at the Bayou Bijou in the UL-Lafayette Student Union.

Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, and featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz, Godspell boasts a string of well-loved songs, led by the international hit, "Day By Day." As the cast performs "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "All For The Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side," the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life.

Drawing from various theatrical traditions, such as clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville, Godspell is a groundbreaking and unique reflection on the life of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance and love.

Tickets are $8 per person.  For more information, or for tickets, call (337) 258-1130.

Theatre--Performance

The director of IPAL's upcoming show, The Importance of Being Uncle Roscoe, is announcing a cast change: Alex Bonin will be replaced by Robert Lancon.  No other changes to the production are being made at this time.

Theatre--Performance

The Lafayette Science Museum is looking for volunteers for its Museum of Fear exhibit, running through this weekend.  The exhibit has been doing very well in attendance, but needs extra people now.  Those interested should call (337) 257-2908 for more information.

Theatre--Performance

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Performing Arts Department and Alpha Psi Omega present The Birthday Dinner, a play written and directed by Brian Egland on Thursday (October 29th), Friday (October 30th) and Saturday (October 31st) at Fletcher Hall (on the University of Louisiana Lafayette Campus--on the corner of Girard Park Circle and E. Lewis St.).  Admission is free, and tickets are only available at the door.  Please arrive early because seating is limited.

This Show is Suggested For Mature Audiences.

A birthday can also be a time to recognize the change in someone else. A boy becoming a man or a girl becoming a woman. The blossoming of identity or the losing of innocence

Living life, we as people often do not stop to notice or celebrate the changes that has arisen in our lives. We often ignore it or continue to go with the flow, but there is one day when the changes in life cannot be ignored. That day is a birthday. It is nearly impossible to ignore life on that day because it is the anniversary of a person’s emergence into life. People choose to commemorate the day different ways. Some choose to celebrate and then there are those who try to ignore it, but most likely find themselves reflecting on the past or wondering about their future. You cannot ignore your life on its anniversary.

For more information, visit http://playsbybrianegland.blogspot.com/

The cast:
Jasmine Chapman--Jerýline Pete
Hunter Burke--Miles “Mr. Zee” Zeeman
Amandah Baker--Emma Osmond
Jeremy Drewery--Kaden “KC” Channing
Jamel Small--Boris Osmond
Kenny Gabriel--Guy Channing
Kristina Marshall--Judith Channing
Allison Schilhab--Ava Stone

Theatre--Performance

Mayhem and merriment soar this Halloween season at Opelousas Little Theatre with Bats in the Belfry, a two-act comedy by Angela Randazzo, directed by Walter Duncan McBride. Four spinster witches at the Ogilby Conservatory of Music have been keeping secrets from their young ward. When Pamela returns from boarding school with her fiancé, everyone and everything that has been invisible suddenly appear, and the shocking truth becomes as clear as mud.


The audience will get caught in the web of witchcraft and magic with this delightful play that runs October 29-31 at 7 pm with matinee performance on November 1 at 2 pm.

Special events for Halloween night at OLT include Trick or Treating from 5:30-6:30 pm and a costume contest. Come in costume and get 20% off the ticket price. Stay after for the "killer" costume contest because two winners will receive free season tickets for the OLT’s 2010 season.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance from Sebastien-Dupre Fine Jewelery (822 S. Main Street in Opelousas ((337) 948-4367)) or at the door before the show.

Theatre--Performance

Under the direction of Debi L. Crawford, the actors of the comedy Moonlight and Magnolias are romping around the Eunice Players’ Theatre stage as they busily prepare for the opening of the third show of the season.


The year is 1939, and famed Hollywood director, David O. Selznick, has shut down production of his epic movie, replaced his director with Victor Fleming, and called in the wonder boy of screenwriters, Ben Hecht. It is only left to the imagination what happens in that locked office for five long days and nights as the three Hollywood power houses rewrite the script for one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With the Wind.

The dates for the production of Moonlight and Magnolias are set for Saturday, November 7 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 pm. Dinner theatre, which is a steak dinner and dessert, catered by Nick’s on Second St., is set for Tuesday, November 10th at 6:00 pm. The comedy continues November 11, 12, and 14 at 7:00 pm and closes Sunday, November 15th with a 2:00 pm matinee. Single tickets ($10) and Dinner theatre tickets ($25) are available for purchase at David’s Hair Salon or by calling 337-546-0163 or 337-457-2156. The theatre accepts Visa and Mastercard for purchase of tickets.

The director would like to stress to people with peanut allergies that real peanuts and peanut shells will be used during production. Also, this show contains strong language.

For more information, please call Debi L. Crawford at 337-457-2156 or log onto the Eunice Players' Theatre website.

Theatre--Performance

The Opelousas Daily World has an article about Bats in the Belfry, the latest offering from the Opelousas Little Theatre.  The article includes information about special events set up at the theatre for Halloween, including Trick or Treating for children and a costume contest.

Theatre--Article

Ray Blum's column today (Friday, October 23rd)  is dedicated to theatre superstitions in honor of the Halloween season.

Theatre--Performance

The A & E Gallery (335 W. Saint Peter in New Iberia) and Acting Up present Happy Days by Samuel Beckett, directed by Charlee Halphen Swain and starring Sarah Gautier and David Guarisco on October 23rd and 24th at 7:30 pm.

The sun beats down on “another heavenly day” as Winnie, buried in earth to her waist, practices her daily routine with all of her civilized accoutrements: toothbrush, mirror and a pistol. She has lost all logical sense of time. She cannot remember her past, the future does not exist; all she has is the present. Wanting to die but, cannot; she struggles to keep “sadness from creeping in”. And do not forget Willie, emasculated and broken, caring for and answering to Winnie. Speaking to Willie allows Winnie some comfort and happiness in this forsaken wilderness.

In this insightful comedy, Samuel Beckett explores life leading into death and everything in between. Beckett was born in Ireland in 1906. However, he spent much of his time in Paris and wrote many of his plays in French. Happy Days was written in his original language and dialect. It had its American premiere in 1961. Howard Taubman, a reviewer for the New York Times said, “With Happy Days, Samuel Beckett has composed a song of rue that will haunt the inner ear long after you have heard it.

For more information or for tickets, call 337-364-2645 (Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am-3 pm). Tickets are $10.

Theatre--Preview/Fundraiser

The Dream of Les Marionettes is an all original musical (script, music, choreography, with local artists) being presented at Cité des Arts (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) November 5th through the 21st. There will be a preview of the music at the infamous Whirlybird, called “Opelousas, Louisiana’s premiere underground nitespot” by Sugarhill Records of Nashville.  This will be a fundraiser for the Southwest Louisiana Health Education Center/AmeriCorps/Stonewood Foundation partnership and the volunteers who are being trained by the Stonewood Foundation staff as Early Childhood Health Educators and for the exciting Big Red Barn Montessori project in St. Landry Parish.


Although the fundraising effort is ultimately for children, The Dream of Les Marionettes and the preview at The Whirlybird are not events appropriate for children.

When: Saturday, October 24th
Food and Drinks for purchase at 6:00 PM
Show begins at 7:30 PM

For more information, or for reservations, call 337-290-1549 or 337-290-1601.

Film--Extras

(This is again "off topic" for the blog, but it is an opportunity for local people to work in a major motion picture.  Please take note that this is not a paid job.)

Walt Disney Pictures is working with the Lafayette Entertainment Initiative to immediately cast hundreds of Promo Extras in the motion picture Secretariat. It is free to sign-up with the Lafayette Entertainment Initiative as an extra.


Promo Extras should come dressed in their best 1970s clothing and be prepared for audience giveaways, a 1970s costume contest, and more fun-filled filming. Promo extras will receive lunch as well as the chance to win prizes, including TVs, I Phones, and PlayStations.

There are two ways you can sign up to be a Promo Extra in Secretariat.

You may simply log on to http://www.lei-la.org/ and sign up for a reel crew account.

Or you may also send an e-mail with your name, phone number, and e-mail address to TripleCrownExtras@gmail.com.

Theatre--Review

Ray Blum reviews Firelight Performing Art's latest production Every Sunday Night at Seven in the Friday, October 16th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Performance

Mitch Landry, Firelight's own "Ed Sullivan"

Ellen Hebert, Shai Simon and Elaine Kibodeaux take the audience back to a 1950's TV commercial.

Casey Collins and Elaine Kibodeaux "Catch a Falling Star".

The final performances of Every Sunday Night at Seven, Firelight Performing Arts Academy's fall production, are Thursday, October 15, Friday, October 16, and Saturday October 17 at 7p.m. Join them as they sing and dance to the music of the 1950's. For information or tickets call 857-6991 or visit the website.

Dance--Performance

Pacific Northwest Ballet's Kaori Nakamura and Olivier Wevers

Tickets are available to two performances of The Nutcracker by Lafayette Ballet Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 12th, and 2 p.m. Sunday, December 13th, in the Heymann Performing Arts Center.


Tickets may be purchased through the Heymann Center Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets may call the Heymann Center box office at 337-291-5555 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends during scheduled events, or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/ anytime. Tickets are priced according to seat location, as follows: front orchestra, $40; back orchestra, $35; first balcony, $30, second balcony, $20. Prices listed do not include Ticketmaster fees.

This full-length classical ballet in two acts features Lafayette Ballet Theatre professional company dancers, principal guests artists from Pacific Northwest Ballet of Seattle and more than 140 children studying ballet in local academies. Audiences will enjoy a magical experience as talented artists, dazzling stage sets, spectacular special effects and Peter Tchaikovsky’s delightful musical score bring this engaging E. T. A. Hoffmann tale to life before their eyes! An Acadiana tradition, this ballet presented this year by Lafayette Ballet Theatre only has sold out in the past, so organizers are advising patrons to purchase tickets early to ensure availability.

For more fun and to further support Lafayette Ballet Theatre – a nonprofit ballet company and arts education outreach organization – Nutcracker fans of all ages are encouraged to attend the annual fundraiser “Land of the Sweets.” This social event immediately follows the Sunday, Dec. 13, matinee Nutcracker performance (about 4 p.m.) at Iberiabank Tower, 200 W. Congress St. in Downtown Lafayette. Attendees may enjoy coffee or soft drinks while sampling hors d’oeuvres and sweets from area restaurants. Stars of The Nutcracker will be on hand for autographs as well as photos, so don your dressy apparel!

Tickets for “Land of the Sweets” are $15 in advance or $20 at the door and are sold only by Lafayette Ballet Theatre. For more information or for tickets to “Land of the Sweets,” call 337-262-0444 or visit http://www.lafayetteballettheatre.org/.

Theatre--Fundraiser (IPAL)

A benefit dinner for IPALwill be held at the La Triomphe Clubhouse on Friday, November 13 starting at 7:00 p.m. Guest chefs will be Ray Flores and Will Grubbs. The menu for the dinner will be:

Tortilla Soup with chorizo and chichuahua cheese taquitos
Mixed Green Salad with Avacado and Ancho Ranch Dressing
Duo of Braised Chicken and Grilled Beef Tournedos Served with Warm Grit Cake
Granny Smith Applie and White Chocolate Towers.
Cost: $50 per person (with cash bar).

All proceeds will benefit IPAL. For more information or reservations, call Claire Flores (856-1690 or 256-1389) or IPAL (364-6114) or e-mail IPAL at ipal@cox.net.

Theatre--Performance

PASA is proud to sponsor the Montana Rep's return to the Heymann Center with its dramatic staging of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. This classic tale of honesty, integrity and courage is as timely today as it was when it emerged 50 years ago. Set in a fictional southern town, its colorful characters--including the widowed attorney Atticus Finch and the reclusive Boo Radley--are unforgettable.

The show is scheduled for Sunday, October 18th at 7:30 pm.  There is a school performance scheduled for the next day (Monday, October 19th) at  10:30 am.  For more information, or to find out how to reserve tickets, contact PASA at (337) 237-2787 or on the web here.


This presentation of To Kill A Mockingbird is funded in part, by a grant from the Southern Arts Federation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Louisiana Division of the Arts.

Theatre--Auditions

Omni Artiste' Productions, Inc., as part of their 2009-2010 Tribute Season (Judi Ann Mason) will hold auditions for Indigo Blues: A Love Song, a story set deep in the South about two women who love the same man.  The cast calls for 3 people:

2 African American women ages 40-60

1 African American man aged 35-45

Auditions will be held on Saturday, October 24th (2-4 pm), Sunday, October 25th (4-6 pm) and Monday, October 26th (6-8 pm) at Cite Des Arts in downtown Lafayette.

Theatre--Fundraiser (Acting Up (in Acadiana))

Acting Up (in Acadiana), the resident theatre company at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, will have a book fair at Barnes & Noble this week (October 12th-18th, 2009).  A percentage of all sales of books, music, even coffee will go to Acting Up (in Acadiana) if you request a special voucher at the register.

On Sunday, October 18th at 2 PMpm, The company will present excerpts of several productions.

Theatre--Audition

Tryouts for IPAL’s spring 2010 musical Guys and Dolls! will be held at the Essanee Theater, 126 Iberia Street, New Iberia on Friday, November 20th beginning at 5:30 and Saturday, November 21st beginning at 2:00 pm. The audition on Friday is mainly for those interested in a principal singing role (including Sky, Sarah, Adelaide, Nathan, Nicely-Nicely, Arvide, Benny, and Rusty). The Saturday audition will be mainly for the chorus. Those auditioning for the chorus will be expected to sing a verse of the song "Guys and Dolls" and do a minimal dance evaluation. Those auditioning for a principal singing role will be expected to sing a solo for that role. Audition music may be picked up at the theatre on Sunday, November 15 between 4:00pm and 6:00 pm.

They expect to cast approximately 50 people – adults and high school age. The cast calls for a large adult male chorus and several male and female dancers. Performances will be held March 4th-March 21st.

For more information, contact Katherine Caffery, director, at 256-0604 or email at cafferys1@cox.net. Anyone unable to make either audition date should contact Katherine Caffery to make other audition arrangements.

Theatre--Performances

Iberia Performing Arts League (IPAL) will be presenting The Importance of Being Uncle Roscoe by Pat Cook as their Christmas season production. The Christmas comedy, directed by Donna Berard, is suitable for the whole family. The story is :


It's the warm season of Christmas and all should be right. But things are going downhill for the Kendall family. Carl has lost his job, there is not enough money for gifts, and Uncle Roscoe is coming by to visit. But who does appear, but a con man who takes advantage of a mistaken identity, and passes himself off as Uncle Roscoe as he hides from the police. He lends his expertise in solving family problems, along with his partner-in-crime. But then, Merry Christmas! The real Uncle Roscoe appears, but the two lovable con men have already won the hearts of the Kendall family. What Now! You'll love the ending. The Importance of Being Uncle Roscoe is a contemporary holiday confection filled with warmth, humor and a love of living.

 As an added bonus to the show, some community musicians and singers will be sharing their talent with our audiences, through some Christmas music delights, during our pre-show and intermission time.   And don't be surprised if there are a few more surprises in store for the audiences.

Performance Dates:
Friday (December 4th) and Saturday (December 5th) at 7:30 pm.  Come early and enjoy Christmas music provided by community talent beginning at 7 pm.

Thursday (December 10th), Friday (December 11th) and Saturday (December 12th) at 7:30 pm.  Come early and enjoy Christmas music provided by community talent beginning at 7 pm.

Sunday (December 13th) at 3 pm.  Come early and enjoy Christmas music provided by community talent beginning at 2:30 pm.

Opera/Theatre--Performance

Setting the Scene, an evening of operatic and operetta scenes, will be performed by the UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre on November 24th at 7:30 pm in the Ducrest-Gilfry Auditorium at Angelle Hall on the UL-Lafayette campus.  The performers in this production will be Angela Prejean, Brian Sanford, Elise Tudor, Jennifer Andrews, Carolyn Broussard, Alex Hollerman, Nathan Abbott, Jared Price, Kevin Credeur, Jenee Luquette and Lana Carver.  The pianist and director will be Shawn Roy.

Setting the Scene will include scenes from the following operas:
The Magic Flute
The Daughter of the Regiment
La Cenerentola (Cinderella)
Hansel and Gretel
The Old Maid and the Thief
The Tales of Hoffmann

The production will also includes representative samples of the following operettas:
Die Fledermaus
Princess Ida
The Pirates of Penzance
The Mikado
Ruddigore

Theatre--Performance

The entire cast of Every Sunday Night at Seven, the new production of Firelight Performing Arts Academy, which opens Thursday, October 8th at 7 pm.

Meredith Belloni, Sarah Palmintier, Taylor Massey and Juliana Barton rehearsing for Every Sunday Night at Seven.

Laura Blum, Shai Simon and Sandy Landry wait for the Sandman to bring them a dream guy.

Thursday, October 8th is opening night for Every Sunday Night at Seven. It is truly going to be a rocking and rolling good time. Come out and join the fun October 8th, 9th, and 10th  at7 pm. and Sunday, October 11 at 3pm (The Sunday matinee will be a special performance.with a senior citizen (over 60) discount. Tickets for seniors will be $10.00.)  Put your "glad rags on and join 'em hon." Audience members in costume get a free bag of popcorn--andthere will be a costume contest. For tickets call 857-6991 or visit the website at www.firelightenterprises.com/EverySundayNight.html

Theatre--Performance

The cast of the UL-Lafayette Department of Performing Arts' production of Beyond Therapy (directed by Katie Lamson):  from left to right in the front row--Joel Tauzin, Elizabeth Satterly, Clayton Shelvin, Nathaniel Trahan, Amanda Lyon.  Back row--Martin Smith.

Elizabeth Satterly and Clayton Shelvin

Back row--Martin Smith.  Front row--Joel Tauzin, Elizabeth Satterly, Clayton Shelvin, Nathaniel Trahan, Amanda Lyon, Katie Lamson.

Amanda Lyon and Nathaniel Trahan

Beyond Therapy, presented by the UL-Lafayette Department of Performing Arts and directed by Katie Lamson, opens on Thursday, October 15th and runs through the 17th at Fletcher Hall on the UL-Lafayette campus.  The show does contain strong adult language, and parents should consider the content prior to bringing children.

Theatre--Performance

The Birthday Party, written and directed by Brian Egland, opens later this month at Fletcher Hall on the UL-Lafayette campus.
(Note:  Some mild adult language)