Theatre--Master Class/Workshop

 Caroline McGee (see biographical information below)is coming home to Louisiana for another acting method acting workshop scheduled for December 29th through January 5, 2011at Cite des Arts in downtown Lafayette.  The workshop will focus on exercises, improvisations and scene and monologue work from the modern classics---Chekhov, Williams, Albee, Sam Shepard, Mamet and others.  

The class will be designed to suit all actors from beginning to advanced, and ages 7 through adult are welcome to apply.   When applying, please be sure to include availability during the days/evenings of the workshop. This winter session includes five workshop days for 3 hours each.

On a personal note, former Method Workshop member Savannah Des Ormeaux has been accepted into the NYU Tisch School of the Arts BFA acting program.  Congratulations to Savannah!

Bio:

Director Caroline McGee's recent production, "Revolting Women/Woman Bomb," for the United Solo International Festival, Theatre Row, NYC, won the Best Acting Award for Jelena Stupljanin's portrayal. Caroline's training includes: Yale Drama, Stella Adles, Wynn Handman, Bill Esper, Michael Howard, Robert Lewis, and the National Conservatory in France. She has served as Associate Professor/Director, Catholic U. MFA Acting Program, Director/Producer for NYU TischDrama/Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, the professional program at NYU’s Stonestreet Studio for Film & TV, and, currently teaches at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Art in Film & TV. She has produced and performed theatre extensively in the US and Europe, and appeared in films with/by Gregory Peck, Woody Allen, Gena Rowland and others. Her theatre reviews have appeared in Slavic & Eastern European Performance and Western European Stages.Since 1997, she has been a panelist for the New York State Council of the Arts, Individual Artists awards. Caroline is a member of all 3 actor unions, AEA, SAG and AFTRA.

Theatre

This is not technically about Acadiana theatre, but it is a very sad story about one of Louisiana's theatre institutions, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre having to cancel the rest of this season and lay off employees.  Local theatres need everyone's support--all local arts do.  Perhaps that can be one of the New Year's Resolutions that theatre lovers make for 2011.

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA) has announced the appointment of Shanna Higginbotham as its new executive director.

Higginbotham, a native of Lafayette, assumes the leadership role currently held by Jacqueline Lyle on January 3, 2011. Her professional experience includes over 18 years in various leadership roles with Cox Media, and most recently as the owner of Professional Consulting Partners.  As a consultant Shanna has focused on helping numerous companies in Louisiana and Texas markets identify problems, make recommendations and help with organizational development efforts. Her most recent appointment was as an internal consultant with Bizzuka, Inc.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead such a tremendous organization,” says Higginbotham.  “The tradition of PASA, and the many years of great performing arts in the community, is something I hold very dear.  My goal as executive director is to preserve what has been built by Jackie and her team, but to also begin to build a new and different organization that will continue to grow and solidify Lafayette’s reputation for its tremendous capacity for the arts.  I am so pleased and thankful that the board has allowed me this honor and look forward to serving the community for years to come.”

Higginbotham will be the second Executive Director in the organization’s history. Lyle, who is departing PASA to pursue personal interests, was a founding board member when the organization was founded in 1988.  In March 1989, she assumed the role of executive director and launched PASA’s first fundraising drive and its first season in July 1989.

 “Jackie has brought PASA from its earliest days as fledgling organization to the influential, respected organization that it is today.” says PASA Board President Don Johnson.  “Under her leadership, our community has enjoyed 22 years ofgreat performances.”

The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana is a non-profit organization that presents live entertainment at the Heymann Performing Arts Center and other local venues, creates in-school arts activities, offers daytime performances for students and, initiates outreach programs such as the Hill Bonin Jr. Scholarship, PASA Stageside and Play It Again, Lafayette. PASA presents annual performances of opera, dance, drama and a variety of musical acts

 “Since my earliest memory, I have loved performing arts,” says Lyle. “I can’t imagine a better way that I could have spent the majority of my professional life.”

Opera--Auditions

The UL Lafayette Opera Theater will hold auditions for its spring production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, The Mikado.  The auditions will take place in Angelle Hall (room TBA) on January 14th beginning at 3 pm.    Appropriate audition material would be any song by Gilbert and Sullivan, a light operatic aria, or a classic, lyric musical theatre piece.  Try to keep it comic if possible. 

Auditioners may also be asked to do a cold reading.

 

Rehearsals will be Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 – 8 pm with 4 performances from April 14th through the 16th in Ducrest-Gilfry Auditorium in Angelle Hall on the UL Lafayette campus. 

 

The cast have 5 females and 5 males with a chorus.  The role of the Mikado is pre-cast.

 

Cast Breakdown:

 

The Mikado, bass

Nanki Poo,  tenor

Yum Yum, soprano

Koko, baritone (Patter role)

Katisha, mezzo or contralto

Poo Bah,  baritone or bass

Pish Tush, baritone or bass

Peep Bo,  soprano or mezzo

Pitti Sing,  mezzo

 

 

Contact Shawn Roy at 482-5939 or srr3023@louisiana.edu for more information about the auditions or performances.

 

The operetta is being accompanied by the UL Lafayette Wind Ensemble conducted by Dr. William Hochkeppel.  The show is being directed by Shawn Roy and choreographed by Kenneth Jenkins.  Sets are by Duncan Thistlethwaite and Lighting Design by Ken Harrelson.  Costumes are by Malabar Costume rental, Inc. 

Theatre--Presentation

Join members of AcA in their new café at the Acadiana Center for the Arts for their first discussion as participants examine collaboration. Connect with Artistic Director of L’Enfant Terrible, Justin Zsebe, Artistic Director of Acting Up (in Acadiana), Amy Waguespack and Anna Marquardt, educator at Carencro High. The panel will discuss collaboration with theatre in the classroom and the discovery of contemporary themes in the works of Shakespeare.

Coffee + is a series of discussion with artists, educators and community members in opening the dialogue and taking a more in-depth look into the arts. Through conversation, we reach to push beyond art as product and take a closer look into process. 

For more information or to secure a spot, please call 337.233.7060 or email paige@acadianacenterforthearts.org. 

This event is free and open to the public thanks to a generous grant from the Dana Foundation.

Theatre--New Website

Cite Des Arts has updated their website with a brand new look.  Check it out here.

Theatre--Reading

Cite Des Arts is excited to have a first reading
of a new musical by Bill Fontenot called Alrite!
Bill is a well known naturalist in Lafayette, as
well as a former UL professor and former head of 
the Nature Station.  Luckily for all of us, he 
is also a musician and is testing the waters as 
a playwright.  The purpose of a reading/workshop
for a new play is to let the writer hear the 
play aloud and discover things about the script,
and also to get feedback from a small audience
of readers.

Theatre--Performance

Looking for a Seasonal Comedy for all ages? Bring the family to “Rough Night at the North Pole”  brought by the students of Sandra Broussard & Shane Guilbeaux.  A naughty little boy and his reluctant companion come to the North Pole to get even with Santa. Noodle wants revenge because Santa put coal in his stockings.  (He must have been really bad because he was wearing them at the time!)  The kids frame Santa and get him thrown in the North Pole jail.  With Santa out of the way, the boy plans on taking his place and putting coal in everyone’s stockings.  Will Santa get out in time to set things straight and ensure a Merry Christmas for one and all? 



WHERE:  109 Vine Street, Downtown
WHEN:  December 10, 11, 17 & 18, 8:00 pm
December 21 (Tuesday) 9:00 am, 11:00 am & 1 pm
Admission $5.00 for Children, $8.00 for Adults

Theatre--Review (Acadia Players)

Ray Blum's review of the Acadia Players' production of A Christmas Story appears in the Friday, December 3rd issue of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Auditions

The Abbey Players have announced open auditions for their winter production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit.  Auditions will be held at the Abbey Players Theatre (200 South State Street) from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, December 11th and from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday, December 12th.

They need 5 women and 2 men 20's to late 30's.  All are welcome to audition and they are always excited to see new faces.

Auditions are not just for actors.   Each production requires numerous and varied tasks. The Abbey Players are interested in any time or skills you might be willing to give in order to support your local community theatre. 

Theatre--Auditions (Variety)

The Opelousas Little Theatre is holding open auditions for their Showcase 2011 at the Opelousas Little Theatre (behind the Opelousas Central Fire Station, next to Donald Gardner Stadium in the Opelousas South City Park) on Saturday, December 4th from 3 pm to 5 pm.  There will be another day of audition on Saturday, December 11th from 3 pm to 5 pm.


Showcase is the theatre's variety show which invites all local talent to perform--singers, dancers, bellydancers, musicians, actors, poets....This is the place to share talent with the Opelousas community.

Dance--Auditions

Sheridan Productions will hold auditions for solo and demi-solo dance roles Saturday, December 4th at 9:00am.  Auditions for all other dance parts, as well as choir, solo vocalist and acting roles will be held on January 8th, 2011.  This is in preparation for our latest original multi-discipline theatrical production to be presented in March of 2011.  Saturday's soloist audition is for dancers age 12 through adult and the January 8th audition includes ages 9 through adult.  Proceeds from these productions are donated to local charities.  Participation is open to the public.  Auditions are held at the Sheridan Productions Studio, 316 Bechet Road in Carencro.  

For more information, please contact Meghan at www.excellencethroughthearts.com or (337) 896-1874.