Editor's Note

Just a reminder to everyone:  I am still looking for reviewers for the blog.  Please contact me if you are interested.

Theatre--Performance

The Lawyer Who Stopped Talking, an original play written by Jim Phillips and directed by Christy Leichty, opens at Cite Des Arts on Thursday, March 4th.

The Guru (Barney Fortier)

Her Lawyer (Bob Sidman)

The Detective (Bill Fontenot)

The Stage Manager (Katrina Auzenne)

The Wife (Kayla LeMaire)

The Devotee (Kayla Smith)

TV reporter/Camera Operator (Marsha Sills/Jack Sorenson)

The Herald (Stephanie Broussard)

The Lawyer (Steven Cooper)

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

The UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre is currently in rehearsal for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which will run from March 25th through March 29th with 4 performances in Ducrest-Gilfry Auditorium in Angelle Hall on the UL Lafayette campus.

Theatre--Auditions

Cité has some great plays on its horizons, but a great performance first requires a great cast! These are the upcoming auditions from Cité des Arts:

Les Marionettes

What: Auditions for Johanna Divine and Christy Leichty’s Les Marionettes

When: March 8^th-10^th 6:30pm-9:00 pm

Where: Cité des Arts, located at 109 Vine Street in downtown Lafayette.

      About the Play:

Les Marionettes, Divine and Leichty's original burlesque-inspired musical is back, with the honor of being a part of this year’s Festival International.

      Actors Needed:

Females and males ages 18 and up, who can sing, dance, act, juggle, do tricks, acrobatics, and anything else! Signing may be required for the audition, so have a song at least somewhat prepared.  The production will run April 21^st through April 25^th. 

 In My Shoes


What: Auditions for Katrina Auzenne’s In My Shoes
When:  Saturday, March 20th from 2 to 4 pm and Sunday, March 21st from 3 to 5 pm
Where: Cité des Arts, located at 109 Vine Street in downtown Lafayette.

      
     About the Play:

In My Shoes highlights the battle between sexy and sensible when two roommates are forced to talk in each other's shoes--literally.  As always, it seems that their male counterparts are oblivious to the importance of shoes.  A man couldn't possible understand a woman's shoes--or could he?

The production will run June 4th through the 6th and June 11th through the 13th.


      Actors Needed:
Charise:  female, 20-30 years old.  High maintenance, irresponsible and her looks are everything.  Must be able to walk in high heels.
Edna:  Plus size female, 20-30 years old.  Low maintenance, hard working, Plain Jane type.  Must be able to walk in high heels.
Stuart:  male, 20-30 years old.  Slim or toned build, athletic type.
Charles:  male, 20-30 years old.  Clean cut, caring, white-collar working man.
Cook:  male, any age.  Small but fun part.  Great for a first time actor looking at gain experience and knowledge of the theatre.

Theatre--Performance

Acting Up (in Acadiana)'s production of Unbearably Lo_ely: A Tennessee Williams' Mash-Up opens tonight (Friday, February 26th) and will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until March 13th.  All performances will take place at the Acadiana Outreach Center Brick Warehouse (125 S. Buchanan in Lafayette, Louisiana).  Shows begin at 8 pm--please allow time for parking and dress for the weather.  Tickets are $15.


For more information, visit the Acting Up (in Acadiana) website.

Theatre--Author's Note

(This is an author's note from Jim Phillips, the writer of Cite Des Arts' next presentation, The Lawyer Who Stopped Talking.  The show opens Thursday, March 4th and runs for two weekends (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays).  For more information or ticket reservations, call Cite at (337) 291-1122.)

This is my first attempt at writing a play and the inspiration for me to write the Lawyer Who Stopped Talking came about from my attendance to a local theater festival at Cité des Arts several summers ago.

The Hub City Theatre Festival at Cité des Arts was created as a three-day theatre festival presenting original and published theatre work from local and national writers.  I found it fascinating that anyone who had written a short one-act play could enter.  Here was a theater and organization willing to provide all the elements to make it happen - lights, stage materials for sets, and an organization that would promote, and produce the play.

At the end of experiencing our third one-act play, I turned to Christy and said, "You know, I think I'll write a play and enter it into this festival next summer. Christy's response, understandably, was under her breath, "yeah right."  She knew of my busy schedule and thought just another one of my creative well-intentioned ideas.

Well I did finish it, thanks to Christy's help. I had the kernel of an idea in the form of a short story I had written once upon a long time ago.  I was able to organize one public reading at Cité des Arts and one reading at ACA with Amy Waguespack’s acting group. The readings helped me quite a bit.

I had a great idea for a story, but I have a lot to learn about writing for live theater. With Christy's help, again, I was ready by the following summer. Unfortunately, I had to be out of state during the next festival, and, I wanted to be there when my play premiered, so it hasn’t been produced until now.  We were able to get my play, The Lawyer Who Stopped Talking, scheduled on the Cite des Arts calendar, and I am very excited about seeing my comedy on the stage for the first time.

This show is about a hotshot New York lawyer whose wife has sued him for divorce.  Of course, he would like to get out of the divorce, paying as little as possible to her.  It turns out that she invites her guru into the mediation proceeding, which is a major thorn in the side of her soon-to-be-ex.  The rest of the story is about what happens when the lawyer and the guru start a competitive battle for all the important (but superficial) trophies of macho success.

Christy Leichty is the director. We have some veterans of local theater in the production, and we also have some newbies that will make a splash on the local scene.  The cast is having lots of fun with the twists and turns of the story and the oddball characters, and we believe that they are working hard to bring this play to life.

In the cast we have Stephen Cooper, who is a playwright, actor, and a drama teacher.  He was recently seen as the Ringmaster in the lobby of Cité for The Dream of The Marionettes.  Kayla LeMaire is very well known in this area as a superb actor and comedian, and worked with Christy in the play Proof.   We have Stephanie Broussard Houdek; a local girl who moved away for quite some time and is now back where she can live to the fullest the great loves of her life.  There is Barney Fortier, a transplant from the Big Easy, who has a special take on the guru. Kayla Smith plays the beautiful and seductive devotee.  Bill Fontenot is well known in and out of Louisiana as a leading naturalist, but people are going to find out what a great actor he is - and a funny and conniving detective.   Bill Matthews, of “Proof fame” is returning to the stage and bringing his sharp legal skills with him.  Marsha Sills reports the spiritual revolution happening down in Central Park to the folks on TV-Land.  Jack Sorenson, a stage veteran, brings a lot of theater experience to his characters.  Katrina Auzenne, recently in The Dream of The Marionettes as Annette, is our “Stage Manager”.  Trina has her work cut out for her wrestling with the production’s lawyers and the legalese necessary to make this play pop.

We will be introducing a very special and new character to the Lafayette area, Tuffy the dog.  Penny Daniel is our creative set and costume designer.   And, Erin Broussard is our graphic artist.  She has created some wonderful images and posters for us.

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

IPAL's spring musical, Guys and Dolls, opens to the public on Friday, March 5th at 7:30 pm. 

Sarah Brown (Ruth Diaz) admonishing sinners (Thomas Owens and Travis Guillory)

Fugue for Tinhorns performed by (from left to right) Audie Comeaux, Michael Caffery and Milton Resweber

The Guys and Dolls gamblers, led by Nathan Detroit (Mike Labiche, center)

Sky (Brett LeBlanc) takes Sarah (Ruth Diaz) to Havana

The orchestra, led by Bob Morgan 

For more information or ticket reservations, call IPAL at (337) 364-6114.

New Blog

After talking to some friends, I have started a new blog.  It's called Acadiana Music Performances, and although the title sounds very grand, it was started primarily for providing information about the local music performances that don't get a lot of publicity.

The Times of Acadiana and The Independent both provide invaluable and heavy coverage of the local music scene, which is diverse and amazing, but because of the variety of music available here of necessity neglect some performances from time to time--for example, UL-Lafayette orchestra or ensemble performances.  I hope to be able to provide information about these types of events.

If you have suggestions for Acadiana Music Performances, please let me know by visiting here.

Theatre--Performance

Acting Up (in Acadiana) will present Unbearably Lo_ely: A Tennessee Williams’ Mash-Up, a highly theatrical experience with guest director, Justin Zsebe, who structured the mash-up with excerpts from Williams’ works.

Zsebe explains, “The driving force behind this piece is simple. Explore the work and mind of Tennessee Williams, one of the key players in American theater, while honoring his artistic meaning. It is necessary to liberate his words from the past and allow them to breathe in the theater of today, the theater of now. To approach such an immense body of work the mash-up technique was used, made popular by rogue music artists, sampling years of various material to create a new statement. Acting Up (in Acadiana) is removing past shackles and judgment to welcome all of Williams' words (plays, essays, letters and poems). Creating a piece that reflects not only his artistic spirit but breaches deeply into his thoughts and feelings concerning community, art, education, war, fear, love and loneliness all framed in a theatrical manner suited for 2010. The driving force is simple. The journey is one that challenges heart and head."  The actors in Unbearably Lo_ely include Lian Cheramie, Brian Crutchfield, DavidGuarisco, Kara Guarisco, Erica Hebert, and George Saucier. The design team is composed of Hector LaSala (sets),Chad Trahan (costumes), Brian C. Miller Richard, (lights), and AlexNunez (sound).

All performances will take place at the Acadiana Outreach Center Brick Warehouse (125 S.Buchanan St. Lafayette, LA). Shows begin at 8 PM--please allow time for parking and dress for the weather. For directions, please visit the Acting Up website. All shows will be followed by panel discussions and/or music performances, including performances by the Givers: Acoustic, The Viatones, Rex Moroux, and Machete (details on website). The performance dates are February 25th through 27th, March 4th through 6th, and 11th through 13th. Tickets are available at the door or at the Acadiana Center for the Arts (101 W. Vermilion, Lafayette,LA) on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm (cash and
checks made to Acting Up only, no credit cards). 

For more information, call (337) 309-4964 or sign up for web updates at the website.

Theatre--Audition (Musical Theatre)

IPAL is creating a musical – using the actual songs of the fifties. It will be a fun show designed to be full of singing, dancing and laughing with a dash of nostalgia. Members of the community are invited to audition for this very special show regardless of their age or stage experience. Auditions for the show, titled Remember When – IPAL’s Ole Time Rock ‘n Roll Musical will be held at the Essanee Theater in New Iberia on Sunday, March 28th from 2 to 5 pm and Monday, March 29th at from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. The show will be performed in late August.

            Set in a soda shop that has survived to modern times, the show has roles for men and women aged 15 and up.  There are nine principal roles and a host of bit parts for customers in the shop.  “Imitators” are needed including for 50’s crooners including Bobby Vinton, Doris Day, and of course Elvis Presley.  According to director Don “Doc” Voorhies, “We need singers, dancers, actors, imitators– and any combination thereof.”

            The show originated during an Oklahoma! rehearsal when cast members came up with the idea of “Doing a Show.”  A number of guys were singing a 50’s song during a mike check, the cast applauded … and a show was born! According to Director “Doc” Voorhies, “Jim Wyche created the story line and preliminary script, then Mike Parich and Cindy Hebert came on board as music and vocal directors. Songs will range from “Wake Up Little Susie” to “At the Hop” to “Blue Velvet” and there will be Twisting, Jitterbugging, poodle skirts and a host of surprises.”

              Those wishing to tryout may get audition material (music, brief plot summary) by e-mailing the production staff at ipal@cox.net or by calling Don Voorhies (364-1975).  Tryout materials may also be obtained at IPAL Monday March 8^th or Tuesday March 9 at the Essanee Theater between 6 and 7 p.m.   

Opera--Performance

The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA) concludes its daytime performances for students with the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 8 at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

Porgy and Bess, the distinctively American opera, closes out the daytime student series with a sweeping tale of love, loss and triumph over despair. This opera features the music of great American composers George and Ira Gershwin with a cast of 30 performers and a live orchestra. Performed in English with projected supertitles, Porgy and Bess features a memorable score that includes the well-known songs “Summertime”,” I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”. 

This daytime performance for students is presented by PASA with the sponsorship support of Capital One, the Wilkinson Family Foundation and additional grant support from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

“Porgy and Bess" is a great great production for students to attend," says Jacqueline Lyle, PASA's executive director.  "This is a great opportunity for teachers and principals to extend their students’ learning beyond the books in their classroom.”

Porgy and Bess is probably the most famous and most successful American opera and, at times, it has been the most controversial. Based on DuBose Heyward’s novel, Porgy (and the play that was adapted from the novel), it has long been considered the crowning achievement in the stellar careers of all of the authors. To this day, the story of the crippled beggar transformed by his unexpected and improbable love for Bess, is performed all over the world by theatre and opera companies. Porgy and Bess opened in New York at the Alvin Theatre on October 10, 1935. The landmark 1953 Broadway revival toured for years as a goodwill ambassador on behalf of the U.S. State Department and in 1959 the opera was finally filmed by Samuel Goldwyn. This operatic masterpiece has spawned a string of hit songs that have become international icons of the American tradition.

“A fully staged opera is so compelling and visually stunning," says Lyle.  It engages the audience from the moment the curtain opens to long after the performance ends. This opera is set in South Carolina and sung completely in English, which makes it easy for students to follow and understand.  The story of Porgy and Bess is a classic one sure to engage and entertain teachers and their students.”

In advance of the performance, PASA provides each attending student an informative study guidecalled BackStage Pass. This guide prepares students and teachers with information and activities that will enhance the value of attending the performance and underscores the educational fundamentals that are core to curricula.

Admission for each event is $5 per student or chaperone. Teachers and principals wishing to have their students attend, or seeking more information, should contact the PASA office at (337) 237-2787 or visit the PASA website.
 

Theatre--Performance

Guys and Dolls, IPAL's spring musical, is preparing to open to the general public on March 5th at 7:30 pm.

Keri Judice (top row left) and Erin Segura (top row right), along with some of the children from Runyonland.

Mike Boroto, Matthew Duggan and Charlie Robertson

Renee Judice and Francine Garzotto along with some of the children of Guys and Dolls
(from Runyonland)

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

Theatre--Performance

Omni Artiste opens Indigo Blues: A Love Song this weekend at Cite Des Arts.  Omni Artisté is proud to bring you the work of local native Judi Ann Mason, opening February 19th at 7:30.   Judi Ann Mason, who died in 2009, was a strong player in the writing industry, with such impressive credits as Good Times, Sister Act II, Livin' Fat, I'll Fly Away, and The Jeffersons. Passion and anger run deep in Indigo Blues: A Love Song, a play and a love story set in the deep South about two sisters who love the same man, that runs the weekend of February 19th through the 21st and the next.

Dr. Alex Marshall, Artistic Director

Linda Bernard, Director

Brian E. Taylor, Assistant Director

Bria Hobgood as Clara Boudreaux

Kenny Gabriel as Moses Britton

Jennifer Miller as Muriel Boudreaux

Clara in love

Muriel faces death.

WHAT:   Omni Artisté presents Indigo Blues: A Love Song

WHEN:   Friday and Saturdays February 19th and 20th, 26th and 27th at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees February 21st, and 28th at 3:00 pm.

WHERE:   Cité des Arts, 109 Vine Street, Downtown Lafayette, LA.

COST:    $15 general admission without reservation, $10 with a reservation and for students/senior citizens.

For more info or to make reservations, please call Cité at (337) 291-1122.

 

Theatre--Performance

The Firelight Performing Arts adult group Is opening their spring show, Bell, Book and Candle, next Thursday (February 25). The show will run Thursday February 25th through the 27th and March 4th through the 6th at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are available on the website or by calling (337) 962-0306. Below is a little information about the show.

Greenwhich Village witch Gillian Holroyd (Sandy Landry) has been unlucky in love and restless in life. She admires from afar her neighbor, publisher Shep Henderson (Mitch Landry), who one day walks into her apartment to use the telephone. When she learns he is about to marry an old college enemy of hers, Merle Kittridge, she takes revenge by casting a love spell on him (with assistance from her familiar, Pyewacket), but begins falling for him herself.

Meanwhile, the author of a best-selling book, Magic in Mexico, whom Shep has expressed an interest in meeting, arrives on the scene (thanks to a little magic). Sidney Redlitch (Vincent P. Barras), who is researching a book on witches in New York, acquires an "inside" collaborator when Gillian's warlock brother Nicky (John Bess) volunteers his services--in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. Add a bit of help and mischief from Gillian's Aunt Queenie (Laura Blum) and you have the makings of a spell you won't soon forget.

Theatre--Auditions

(It is a delight to post this from the Abbey Players, who have been on hiatus for some time to finish renovations to their facility.  Welcome back, Abbey, and everyone looks forward to your upcoming performances!)

Abbey Players are holding open auditions for their upcoming spring production of Social Security by Andrew Bergman. It will be directed by Deborah Atchette.

Auditions will take place at 200 South State Street, Abbeville, LA. They are looking for various roles filled for 3 women, 3 men, late 20's through 60's and above. Anyone looking to assist production, in any capacity, are welcomed and encouraged to attend as well! No experience is necessary. For those who have been interested in theatre for years, now is the time to go for it!


Auditions will be held Sunday, February 21st at 1pm - 4pm , and Monday, February, 22nd at 7pm - 9pm.
Production slated to run through April.

Visit the web site, or call (337) 893-2442 for more information.

Theatre--Auditions/Performance

 (This is a new project of Caroline McGee, who has taught several Master Classes in The Method here in Lafayette.  Caroling encourages any Lafayette actor who is in New York to audition for this production--they have already received 700 resumes--and everyone who is in New York for the performances to come and see the show.)

Poiesis Theatre Project is looking for a culturally and ethnically diverse cast for an ensemble production of [The] Ophelia Landscape.  This exciting new creation is an international, cross-disciplinary performance of live theatre and integrates different cultures, disciplines, acting, dance, music, video, and new media.  It takes place simultaneously in the real performing space and in cyberspace, and features a number of distinguished international performers, including  Mira Furlan, star of LOST and Babylon 5.

[The] Ophelia Landscape is based on texts from Shakespeare, Luis Buñuel, Heiner Müller, and others, and will be performed at the Mark Morris Duffy Theatre in Brooklyn, right across from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).

Both male and female actors [ages 18-35] for different roles including Ophelia and  Hamlet  are encouraged to express their interest and send their photo/resume to the email address below.

First rehearsal: March 22, 2010.   Performance dates:  April 22 - May 8, 2010.
Director/Producer:  Naum Panovski  
Artistic Associates:  Caroline McGee & Tony Naumovski
NYC auditions will be announced late February and will be by appointment only.

For consideration, e-mail headshot & resume to: ophelia_auditions@poiesistheatreproject.org

Theatre--Auditions

The Eunice Players’ Theatre will hold auditions for the first play of the 41st season, What the Bellhop Saw on Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. Director Jody L. Powell needs 8 adult men, 3 adult women, and one girl age 10-12 to fill the cast. More people are needed to assist with set decoration, backstage duties, costuming, etc. Auditions for the two-act comedy by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore are open to everyone who wants to get involved with their local community theatre. Auditions will be at the theatre at 121 S. Second St. (between Nick’s on Second St. and Bertrand’s Office Supplies). Production for this play will be in mid April. 

For more information, call 337-580-1787.

Theatre--Performance

Experience the words of Tennessee Williams like never before with Acting Up (in Acadiana).  Their new production, Unbearably Lo*ely, a mash-up of Williams' plays, essays, poems and letters mashed and directed by Justin Zsebe is a theatrical event not to be missed.

The driving force behind this piece is simple. Explore the work and mind of Tennessee Williams, one of the key players in American theater, while honoring his artistic meaning. It is necessary to liberate his words from the past and allow them to breathe in the theater of today, the theater of now. To approach such an immense body of work the mash-up technique will be used, made popular by rogue music artists, sampling years of various material to create a new statement. Acting Up (in Acadiana) is removing past shackles and judgment to welcome all of Williams' words (plays, essays, letters and poems). Creating a piece that reflects not only his artistic spirit but breaches deeply into his thoughts and feelings concerning community, art, education, war, fear, love and loneliness all framed in a theatrical manner suited for 2010. The driving force is simple. The journey is one that challenges heart and head. Please join them for Unbearably Lo*ely.

The show opens on Thursday, February 25th at 8:00 pm and will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm until March 13th.  It will be performed at the Acadiana Outreach Warehouse (125 Buchanan Street in Lafayette).

Theatre--Article

Ray Blum, theatre critic for the Daily Advertiser, gives his take on how to support your local performing arts companies in the Friday, February 12th edition of the paper.

Theatre/Dance--Scholarship

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 5 p.m. on March 1, 2010 to qualify for the 2009/2010 scholarships. To request scholarship guidelines and an application please go online to www.pasa-online.org or call PASA at (337)237-2787.

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.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the L. Hill Bonin Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, you may mail a check to P.O. Box 52979, Lafayette, LA  70505.

Theatre--Performance (IPAL)

IPAL is entering the final weeks of rehearsal for its spring production, Guys and Dolls.  The show opens to the public Friday, March 5th at 7:30 pm.

Ruth Diaz (Sarah Brown), Brett LeBlanc (Sky Masterson) and Milton Resweber (Benny Southstreet)

Mike Labiche (Nathan Detroit) and Kim Monroe (Miss Adelaide)

Theatre--Performance (Firelight Performing Arts)

Firelight Performing Arts has provided video of Bell, Book and Candle, their next production.



Greenwhich Village witch Gillian Holroyd (Sandy Landry) has been unlucky in love and restless in life. She admires from afar her neighbor, publisher Shep Henderson (Mitch Landry), who one day walks into her apartment to use the telephone. When she learns he is about to marry an old college enemy of hers, Merle Kittridge, she takes revenge by casting a love spell on him (with assistance from her familiar, Pyewacket), but begins falling for him herself.

Meanwhile, the author of a best-selling book, Magic in Mexico, whom Shep has expressed an interest in meeting, arrives on the scene (thanks to a little magic). Sidney Redlitch (Vincent P. Barras), who is researching a book on witches in New York, acquires an "inside" collaborator when Gillian's warlock brother Nicky (John Bess) volunteers his services--in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. Add a bit of help and mischief from Gillian's Aunt Queenie (Laura Blum) and you have the makings of a spell you won't soon forget.

The Firelight cast of Bell, Book, and Candle will cast a spell on the audience! Tickets are available at the website or by calling (337)962-0306