Editor's Note

I am going to be taking a break from this blog for a while.  If I return, it won't be for a while.

Thanks to those of you who have been faithful followers, and I hope that some of you have been able to benefit from the information that I published here.  Please continue to support local theatre.

Theatre--Review (IPAL)

A small respite in rehearsals recently has allowed me to become reacquainted with my television set, and the AMC channel was playing A Christmas Carol with the incredible George C. Scott in an emmy-nominated turn as Scrooge. Nearing the end of the show as he stared at his own name etched in marble, he asked pleadingly, “Tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!” It was an indelible piece of acting in what has become a Christmas tradition. Many local theatres have embraced, sometimes rather restrictively, adaptations of the Dickens classic, and they are legion. Last year, the Eunice players put on the hysterical The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol, a spoof of the work with only five people playing all the parts. Baton Rouge Little Theatre puts on its annual version of the play with no changes except in casting. I know of another spoof titled A Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts, where a wretched acting company is putting on their fifteenth annual farewell performance of the play. In a few days time, The Compound will present their adaptation of Dickens’ masterpiece, and last weekend, the Iberia Performing Arts League (IPAL) in New Iberia opened A Carol for Tiny Tim, directed by Donna Berard. It was a welcome change on the old theme, made even more memorable by the return of a beloved veteran on IPAL’s stage. A Carol for Tiny Tim will play four more times, this Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Call 364-6114 for tickets.

John R. Carroll’s A Carol for Tiny Tim explores the whole Scrooge situation some fifteen years later. Jacob Marley (Fred Comeaux), still wearing chains but fewer than before, still roams the earth, but now bemoans what has become of Tiny Tim (Ryan Berard), now a dissolute, deceitful young adult. Once Scrooge (an eager Chuck Rogers) saw the error of his ways, he spoiled little Tim rotten, who at first did not take advantage of Scrooge’s guilt, but under the tutelage of an unscrupulous worker Farthingate (Seth Derouen) Tim learns to get everything and anything he wants. In the next fifteen years, he practically bankrupts poor Scrooge, and Tim’s parents (Michael Durand and Faye Tarantino) also coddle and protect him from any serious strain or work. The only one who sees through Tim’s guise is his sister Martha (Alyssa Porche) who would dearly love to expose her little brother’s farce. It’s the perfect set-up for Jacob Marley to appear to the three ghosts of Christmas to come and cause a reversal in the fortunes of Tim. The Ghost of Christmas Past (Allyson Gary) reminds Tim what he once was and how he transformed into the wanton young lad he has become. The Ghost of Christmas Present (Paul David, with a booming voice) shows Tim how his friends really feel about him and how Tim has reduced his benefactor Scrooge to a pauper eating porridge alone in his house on Christmas Eve. Every year, Scrooge eagerly awaits Tim, who always finds a reason not to show. The Ghost of Christmas Future (M. Craig Colwart) shows Tim what will be: Scrooge’s business will close because to support Tim, Scrooge failed to pay the insurance on his brokerage which went up in flames. It’s enough to scare anyone into seeing the errors of their ways and repenting, and naturally, it works. By the end of the play, Tim has spent a day digging ditches so he could earn money to buy gifts for all the people who have supported him those last fifteen years.

In many ways, I felt nostalgic during the production. Five years ago, I had the privilege of playing Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge and Marley: A Christmas Carol, and some of the people involved in that play resurfaced in this one. Fred Comeaux, now playing Jacob Marley, was the director who chose me to play the seminal part, and I’ve never thanked him enough. It was only my second play at IPAL and not only was the experience richly rewarding, it was a financial success for IPAL with its huge cast. Opposite me playing Jacob Marley was Craig Colwart, who traded in all those lines from long ago to not saying a word at the Ghost of Christmas Future. I even remember chasing poor Justin Judice off the stage for singing Christmas carols.

I must make this chastising note. I’ve recently noted a disturbing trend that I hope to dispel because it is disrespectful to authors everywhere as well as to publishing companies. I have two programs from the Christian Youth Theatre, and in neither of those programs (Beauty and the Beast Jr. and The Sound of Music) did the company give ANY credit to the author or the lyricists, as if they were unnecessary by-products. John R. Carroll composed the play A Carol for Tiny Tim, and while I don’t know if his name appeared on the poster, his name did not appear anywhere in the IPAL printed program. He has composed more than half a dozen plays and receives royalties for his contribution to the arts. The Dramatic Publishing Company has the rights to license this play and they have this disclaimer printed on all their booklets: “On all programs this notice should appear: ‘Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.’” This, too, was omitted from the program, unless I missed it somewhere. Both Carroll and the Dramatic Publishing Company should have received mention in the program; it’s a legal requirement that CYT and IPAL should observe.

Overall, the production was nicely staged with multiple levels and it served as a pleasant diversion. Ryan Berard cut an absolutely rubbery figure as the young Tim, and Chuck Rogers looked positively forlorn as the eager Scrooge waiting for Tim to show, knowing full well he most likely will not. But more than anything I was delighted to see Fred Comeaux back on the stage. As one of the founding members of IPAL a dozen years ago, he has directed and starred in many shows, and his absence has been sorely missed. While acting in Scrooge and Marley, I remember Fred took one of the smaller roles of a corrupt man purchasing Scrooge’s stolen merchandize after his demise. He was delightful, and I had asked him then why he didn’t act more. His answer was poignant: he feared he could no longer remember lines like he once did. None of that was on display as he draped across the stage in deathly gray makeup and haunting visage, and his splendid acting made the material seem better than it was. Let us hope we have not seen the last of Fred Comeaux.
---Vincent P. Barras

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

The UL Opera Theater auditions for Grand Pre will be held tomorrow (December 8th) from 5 to 8 at the Ducrest-Gilfry Auditorium at Angelle Hall.

Theatre--Auditions

Cite Des Arts is announcing auditions for a play called Taste, to be directed by Regina Sullivan. Production will be Feb. 24-March 4th.
.
Set in the Bywater on the eve of carnival season,, Taste tells the story of six young New Orleanians, some locals, some transplants. While cooking a meal in a house that may be under construction or may be under demolition (only time and money will really tell), new friendships sizzle, old ones scorch, and dinner is ultimately served.

They are  looking for four males, white, black, and extraterrestrial, between the ages of 18 and 35.  They are  also looking for two females, white and black, between the ages of 18 and 35.


Actors may bring a monologue, or be prepared to cold read from the script.

Auditions will be Dec 11, 12, 13 from 5:30 - 7pm at Cité des Arts 109 Vine Street, Lafayette, LA

Theatre--Performance

Hub City Theatre and Storytelling Festival 


Acadiana Center for the Arts:

     Wednesday, December 7:  
      7:00 pm  OPENING RECEPTION

      8:00  Evening Show $5

         • 8:00  Portrait of An Artist as Santa Claus- Ken Waldman

         • 8:30  Willie & Me, A Reading - Kimberly Nagle
     Saturday, December 10:

     7:45 Evening Show $10

         • 7:45  From Lafayette To The Northern Lights - Ken Waldman

         • 9:15  Match, A Production -Wanderlust Theater, New Orleans

Cite Des Arts:

Thursday, December 8:  
     7:00 pm Evening Show $10

         • 7:00  Silk Flowers, A One Woman Show - Jack Sorensen

         • 7:45  The American Way, A Reading - John Fiero

         • 8:15  Street Corner Medley, A Reading – Austin Sonnier

Friday, December 9:  
     7:00 pm Evening Show $10

         • 7:00 pm Match, A Production - Wanderlust Theater, New Orleans

         • 8:00  The American Way, A Reading -John Fiero

         • 9:00  Portrait of An Artist as Santa Claus - Ken Waldman

Saturday, December 10:  
     2:45 Afternoon Show $10

         • 2:45  Silk Flowers, A One Woman Show - Jack Sorensen

         • 3:30  Night Fears, A Reading - Keith Dorwick

         • 4:00  Willie & Me, A Reading - Kimberly Nagle

Theatre--Auditions (OLT)

 OLT is calling all talent to audition for the chance to be in the area's biggest annual talent show, Showcase 2012. What is Showcase? It is a show that allows the local townsfolk to show off their particular talent for the community to enjoy. It may be singing, dancing, acting, comedy, or any sort of live on-stage performance that you're good at, well this is your chance to shine.  There are almost no age limits and and all are welcome to try out for the chance to fill a slot on the program.

     Auditions are to be held at the Opelousas Little Theatre building in South City Park, just behind the Central Fire Station in the Donald Gardner Stadium parking lot. There will be two auditions held on Thursday (12/8/11) from 6 to 8pm and on Saturday (12/10/11) from 2 to 4pm.  Be prepared with an example of the type of performance that you are seeking to perform. 

     Showcase 2012 will be performed at OLT during the last two weekends of January of the new year.  So, if you want to be involved in our local community theatre and learn the ropes involved in putting on a live show, don't miss out on your chance to express yourself and have a whole lot of fun while doing so.

     For more information please visit www.opelousaslittletheatre.com , become a fan on Facebook, or call 337-351-3822.

     

Theatre--Review (Wanderlust Theatre at Burke)

A good number of high schools assigned William Faulkner’s masterpiece The Sound and the Fury, a dense tome that somehow my school forgot to assign. The tale is told on four different days spanning almost twenty years and from four different points of view, frequently jumping from one to another. Its non-linear style requires particular focus on the part of the reader, and my friend John Maraist lent me his copy that had wonderful notes detailing which day was which. Unfortunately I never got very far before I was lost and gave up on the affair.

Marc Chun’s one act play Match employs a similar narrative style to The Sound and the Fury. Five unnamed characters are sitting on the stage in dissimilar chairs and deliver small sentences, sometimes longer monologues, frequently switching from one character to another. At first, they are all mumbling “I’m sorry” interspersed with other nonsense, but eventually they stop to begin explaining their lives. It’s obvious these five souls are connected somehow, and in the course of the swift fifty minutes, it’s clear who they are and how they are tragically related to one another. Just enough clues are given to start matching up the characters and how these people, who normally might not know each other and never meet, cross each other paths. The revelations are also nicely paced, leaving the audience with curiosity as to why character one is even part of this production, but the tantalizing hints pay off in the end. Chun’s play requires focus on the audience, rather than just being passive receptacles of information. It was a thought-provoking evening that left the audience dwelling on the randomness of life.

To reveal the plot would rob the play of its significance, especially if it is possible for the reader to attend the play. Match, a Wanderlust production, will perform for the Hub City Theatre & Storytelling Festival at Cite Des Arts on December 9th, 2011 at 7:00 pm as well as at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on December 10th, 2011 at 9:15 pm. Suffice it to say that the play revolves around character number three, who is in need of a blood marrow donor—a match as implied by the title—and the other four characters are tied to his struggle. There’s a girlfriend to character number three, a Hollywood star, her press agent, and an apparently random fifth character whose connection is not explained until nearly the last fifteen minutes of the play. Each character has a rich background to share, and the audience appreciates their quirks, their hopes, and their disappointments. There are two very dramatic moments in the play, and one action in particular by character five is quite unexpected but utterly believable. I can’t say things work out in the end; most things in life don’t, but it adds an authentic quality to the play.

Director Elsa Dimitriadis has assembled five actors well-suited to their roles, and to save time I will subsequently refer to the five characters by the actors playing their parts. As character three, M. Brady McKellar gave a sympathetic portrayal of a man waiting for that all perfect match, not only for the blood marrow, but also in his soul-mate, character four. With his thumbs punching through the ragged holes of his sweatshirt, McKellar’s appealing believable as a man who dreams impossible dreams but has the courage to chase them. Jarin Schexnider played character four, Brady’s geeky intelligent girlfriend, and gave the most compelling physical performance. From her hunched shoulders to the position of her feet in those impossibly bright sneakers, one believes she’s a researcher who has doubts about her relationship with Brady. Character two is the Hollywood star who’s a potential match for Brady, and Elizabeth Satterly has the looks to carry off the part and yet look like an actress who can’t get a positive review. David Huynh is character five, the Hollywood star’s press agent, who manages to be both repugnant for his constant manipulation of his star’s career and yet sympathetic because he obviously cares for her, more than she will ever know. It’s his sudden reversal that strikes you most, and yet you understand why he did it, and why humans are perhaps the most complicated creatures on earth. The character who seemed out of place for the longest time was character one, played by Bobby Bender. (I still remember performing with Bobby in Lafayette Community Theatre’s production of Our Town over twenty years ago.) At first, I felt annoyed with Bobby’s portrayal until I understood how well his character is somebody we probably all know and go out of our way to avoid. This unlikable person who intersects the other four lives represents a true person, and not the stereotypes we often see in both movies and plays. It was a fine display of acting.

Plays like this one constructed as they are make it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the director. There is precious little blocking or movement, except subtle shifts in chairs, and I find it hard to differentiate the line between the author’s intent and the director Elsa Dimitriadis’ imput. Every character is talking to either a single person, or in Satterly’s case, a talk show audience, which depending on where you’re sitting robs the audience of some facial expressions; only veteran Bobby Bender used his expressions for the fullest effect. Dimitriadis needs to slow some actors down, particularly Jarin Schexnider, whose verbal responses to her counselor near the end are too quick to have allowed someone to say anything to her. And as much as the gold watch fits David Huynh’s press agent, I would find something not so reflective to the stage lights. At various moments, I thought a white moth has fluttered onto the stage. I would also suggest changing his chair to fit the circumstances of his situation, and while I won’t reveal what situation that was, he would never be sitting on a stool to do what he was doing. There were a couple of moments when the interchanging dialogue suddenly stopped, and it was obvious someone had not jumped on their cue, but those were blessedly few.

Still, those are minor faults in an overall well-constructed play. I look forward to seeing what Dimitriadis does with a more conventional play for tonight she orchestrated a good evening with Marc Chun’s Match. I might even attempt to re-tackle Faulkner’s masterpiece.
--Vincent P. Barras

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Open auditions for the UL Lafayette Opera Theater's spring production of Cody Daigle and Roy Bertucci's musical, Grand Pre will be held in the Auditorium at Angelle Hall on the UL-Lafayette campus on Thursday, December 8th from 5 pm until 8 pm. Production dates are March 8 - 11, 2012. Bring a musical theatre selection and you will cold read from the script. Rehearsals are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays from 5:30 - 8:30PM and Fridays from 2:30 - 5:30 PM starting January 4.

Theatre--Performance

Christmas is here in New Iberia ...


The Acadiana Symphony has provided beautiful music and the Christmas Parade has drawn crowds to wonderfully decorated downtown New Iberia, Now it is time to come to IPAL's Christmas presentation A Carol for Tiny Tim by John R. Carroll.  This sequel to Dicken's A Christmas Carol is entertainment suited for the entire family and is sure to be a highlight of your holiday season! The wonderful show runs  December  1 through December 11 at the Essanee Theater in downtown New Iberia.


Evening performances (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) begin at 7:30 P.M. with Sunday matinees at 3:00. Advance tickets in New Iberia are available at Delaune’s Pharmacy, Paul’s Flower Shop, or Accentrics on Main Street and tickets will also be available at the door.  Information can be obtained by calling the theater at 364-6114, e-mailing ipal@cox.net, or by visiting the IPAL website. All tickets are $10.00 (General Seating).


This performance is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.

Theatre--Performance

IPAL's production of A Carol for Tiny Tim opens Thursday, December 1st.  

Theatre--Performance

Theatre--Performance

CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Adapted by members of The Compound

Directed by Alicia Chaisson

Lafayette:

Opening Night Event: December 10 @ 8 p.m.

Regular Performances: December 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23 @ 7 p.m.

Sunday Matinee: December 11 @ 2 p.m.

Theatre 810

810 Jefferson Street, Lafayette LA

Admission: $10.00 may be purchased online at carol.eventbrite.com Phone reservations (which begin December 5, can be made by calling The Compound at 337-247-7028.

Opelousas:

Two Performances ~ December 18 @ 5:00pm and 7:30pm

Delta Grand Theatre

120 S. Market Street

Opelousas, LA 70570

337-407-1806

Admission: $10.00

Tickets on sale now at:

Sebastian-Dupre Fine Jewelry *822 S. Main Street, Opelousas*337-948-4367

Wanda’s Florist – 1224 Creswell Lane, Opelousas*337-948-4459

www.deltagrandtheatre.com

THE PLAY

Charles Dickens' classic tale of humbuggery, hoary apparitions and holiday cheer bursts onto the stage this Christmas season in an all-new theatre adaptation by The Compound.

Created in rehearsal by members of the Compound, under the direction of Alicia Chaisson (William and Judith), this adaptation faithfully recreates the winding road to redemption for the sour Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghostly apparitions that teach him the meaning of Christmas. A small, versatile cast -- and one busy narrator -- portrays Dickens' cast of familiar characters in a pared-down, fast-paced audience interactive staging.

Everything you know and love about Dickens' classic tale is here... and a whole lot more.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is the perfect theatre evening for the entire family and a holiday experience you won't forget!

THE CAST

Ebenezer Scrooge.....................................................Duncan Thistlethwaite

Narrator........................................................................Cody Daigle

Bob Crachit, Young Scrooge, et. al..........................Steven Cooper

Jacob Marley, Fezziwig, et. al....................................Aren Chaisson

Christmas Past, Mrs. Crachit, et. al........................Sarah Gauthier

Christmas Present, Belle, et al...............................Martha Diaz

Mrs. Fezziwig, Boy, et al............................................Alicia Chaisson

Get your tickets early and see you at the show!

Theatre--Auditions

Auditions are Monday, November 28 from 6pm – 8pm at The Delta Grand Theatre (120 S. Market St. Opelousas)  Several teens are needed as well as a few adults.  For more information, call 337-407-1806.

Theatre--Performance

The Compound's Submission Smackdown has been postponed indefinitely.

Theatre--Auditions

This Friday, December 2, 2011 at Cite des Arts,  The Tea Sippers

are holding open auditions for Almost an Evening by Ethan Coen from

4:00 to 7:00pm.

No preparation is necessary.

Theatre--Performance

The Iberia Performing Arts League will present its annual Christmas show Dec. 1 through Dec. 11 at the Essanee Theater in downtown New Iberia.  Entitled A Carol for Tiny Tim by John R. Carroll, this “sequel” takes place fifteen years after the miraculous transformation of old Ebeneezer Scrooge. But this time (it is the no longer Tiny Tim), now a spoiled young man, who needs the help. This warm and wonderful show is suited for the entire family. Evening performances (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) begin at 7:30 P.M. with Sunday matinees at 3:00. Advance tickets in New Iberia are available at Delaune’s Pharmacy, Paul’s Flower Shop, or Accentrics on Main Street. Information can be obtained by calling the theater at 364-6114, e-mailing ipal@cox.net, or by visiting the IPAL website www.iberiaperformingartsleague​.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. All tickets are $10.00 (General Seating). Supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.

Theatre--Performance

Wanderlust Theatre Company presents the REGIONAL PREMIERE of MATCH, by Marc Chun

Fri/Sat, Dec 2 & 3 at 7:30 pm at BURKE HAWTHORNE HALL THEATRE, ULL campus. $5 admission at door

MATCH then moves to the Hub City Theatre and Storytelling Festival:
Fri, Dec 9 at 7 pm at CITE DES ARTS
Sat, Dec 10 at 9:15 pm at ACADIANA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Hosted by the Hub City Theatre & Storytelling Festival
(tickets and weekend passes available at door and at the Cite and ACA websites)


Match, by Marc Chun, tells the stories of five ordinary people, that by extraordinary chance, are woven together to tell one tale of life, death, love, deceit and coincidence.

"...gently but profoundly querying..." NY Times
"Innovative and gripping!" Backstage
"...achingly honest and profound work...must-see theatre!" nytheatre.com

FEATURING:
Bobby Bender
David Huynh
M. Brady McKellar
Elizabeth Satterly
Jarin Schexnider

DIRECTED by:
Elsa Dimitriadis

Theatre--Review (Evangeline Players)

It’s always amazing when we are searching desperately for something, how we often find other things for which we weren’t looking, but which often warm our heart.  I recently was looking for a certificate but instead found a framed picture of Lafayette Community Theatre’s last play, The Diaries of Adam and Eve, in which I played Adam.  In 1991, I had first joined LCT in their production of Our Town and found the company delightful, but it always danced on a financial precipice that finally collapsed in 1998.  It was a bittersweet experience watching LCT lose its theatre space, and I’ve seen enough theatre companies open and close to recognize that it’s not only disheartening but extremely bittersweet. I, for one, don’t wish to see any more local theatre companies fold.


How heartening to see that the Evangeline Players in St. Martinville are alive and well with their recent production of The Bishop’s Wife, adapted for the stage by Dave McGrath. After a tempestuous season with questionable play selections, I feared for the company in which I had been involved for over ten plays in the last nine years, but director Walter Brown allayed my concerns. The Bishop’s Wife is an infectious little tale that works in spite of its jagged design by Dave McGrath, who obviously took the 1947 movie and translated it scene for scene for the stage. Despite the numerous scene changes, the Evangeline Players and Walter Brown have managed a small miracle.

The tale itself is rather old-fashioned and comes from the same era as It’s a Wonderful Life. In The Bishop’s Wife, an angel Dudley (Steven “Smitty” Smith, Jr.) has been sent to solve the problems of Bishop Henry Brougham (Dylon L. Boudreaux) and his wife Julia Brougham (Adel Catherine Comeaux). In the Bishop’s desire to build a new cathedral, he not only neglects his wife and daughter Debby (Mary Gomez), but he also compromises his principles at the demands of a wealthy, petty widow Mrs. Agnes Hamilton (Carmen deMahy Nicholson). Through the interventions of Dudley, all is set right by the play’s end, as usually happened in such Hollywood movies.

The casting is somewhat uneven, but the leads acquit themselves nicely. Both Smitty Smith and Adel Comeaux make welcome returns to the Evangeline stage in roles that suit them. Though her scenes are few, Carmen Nicholson makes the most of her plumy role as the rich widow Mrs. Hamilton, especially in one heart-wrenching scene where she reveals the true love of her life. Even more delightful was Milton Resweber, who enriches Professor Wutheridge with a warmth reminiscent of Monty Woolley. But I’d be most interested to see the future work of Dylon L. Boudreaux, who at seventeen brought a maturity level to his work not usually seen in someone so young. Though he has much to learn—his frustration seemed a tad forced at times and his timing needs further development—he has the potential to be a talented actor in local theatre.

Though thirteen years have passed since LCT shuttered its doors, I can still recall my final lines as Adam in Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve. While standing above a grave, I placed a single rose at Eve’s tombstone, and said, “Wheresoever she was, there was Eden.” Well, the Evangeline Players created a small slice of heaven on the stage, proving that the rumors of its death are largely exaggerated.
---Vincent P. Barras

Theatre--Performance

The Evangeline Players' production of The Bishop's Wife continues through this weekend, running Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Theatre--Performance

The Acadia Players performances of Christmas Belles
December 1-3, 2011 7:00pm
December 4, 2011 2:00 pm
Historic Rice Theater
Crowley, LA

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students with I.D. and may be purchased at the Crowley Flower Shop at 1414 North Parkerson Ave. in Crowley (337)783-1512 or throughwww.acadiaplayers.com.

THE STORY: A church Christmas program spins hilariously out of control in this Southern farce about squabbling sisters, family secrets, a surly Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator.

It's Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas, and the Futrelle Sisters—Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye—are not exactly in a festive mood. A cranky Frankie is weeks overdue with her second set of twins. Twink, recently jilted and bitter about it, is in jail for inadvertently burning down half the town. And hot-flash-suffering Honey Raye is desperately trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb's Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos. But things are not looking too promising: Miss Geneva, the ousted director of the previous twenty-seven productions, is ruthless in her attempts to take over the show. The celebrity guest Santa Claus—played by Frankie's long-suffering husband, Dub—is passing a kidney stone. One of the shepherds refuses to watch over his flock by night without pulling his little red wagon behind him. And the entire cast is dropping like flies due to food poisoning from the Band Boosters' Pancake Supper. And when Frankie lets slip a family secret that has been carefully guarded for decades, all hope for a successful Christmas program seems lost, even with an Elvis impersonator at the manger. But in true Futrelle fashion, the feuding sisters find a way to pull together in order to present a Christmas program the citizens of Fayro will never forget. Their hilarious holiday journey through a misadventure-filled Christmas Eve is guaranteed to bring joy to your world.


For performance information, contact Patty Ronkartz at 581-8507.

Theatre--Performance

Everyone is familiar with Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. For its 2011 Christmas show, the Iberia Performing Arts League will present A Carol for Tiny Tim by John R. Carroll. This “sequel” takes place fifteen years after the miraculous transformation of Ebeneezer Scrooge. But this time it is not Scrooge who is in need of holiday help, but (the no longer Tiny) Tim. Now a spoiled young man, Tim uses deceit to collect sympathy and money from family and friends and has grown to be a thoroughly unpleasant young man. Take care in knowing that Tim will learn valuable lessons and once again be able to bring an honest and sincere message of “God Bless us, Everyone” to audiences young and old. This warm and wonderful show is destined to become a classic in itself.  Suited for the entire family, the show is directed by Donna Berard, and performances will be Thursdays through Sundays, December 1  through December 11 at the Essanee Theater in downtown New Iberia. Evening performances (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) begin at 7:30 P.M., with Sunday matinees at 3:00. Advance tickets in New Iberia are available at Delaune’s Pharmacy, Paul’s Flower Shop, or Accentrics on Main Street. Information can be obtained by calling the theater at 364-6114, e-mailing ipal@cox.net, or by visiting the IPAL website www.iberiaperformingartsleague.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. All tickets are $10.00. 

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Come one, come all (if you are age appropriate to the show) to auditions for The Rocky Horror Show!! This Thursday, November 10th, at 6:00pm.  This year we're changing things up by doing a XXXmas Special! Show Dates are December 15th, 16th, and 17th. Rehearsals will be twice a week... likely Mon and Wed, but that's not set in stone. Be prepared to sing "Rose Tint" for the audition. See you there!  If you need more info, call 337-212-4471 or e-mail apes1398@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

The Iberia Performing Arts League’s production of Chicago - the musical has been cast! The show will star Jessica Jouclard as Velma Kelly and Katelyn Stelly as Roxie Hart - Chicago’s two scintillating sinners of jazz! Supporting these two talented ladies will be Billy Walker as Billy Flynn, Rhonda LeBlanc as Mama Morton, Vincent P. Barras as Amos Hart, and Melissa Bowen as Mary Sunshine. Other members of the cast include Kim Parich, Kaci Beaullieu, Amanda Shackelford, Sydni Hart, Erin Segura, Tiffany Porrier, Malori Heinen, Elizabeth Shensky, Anne Marie Richardson, Travis Guillory, Phanat Xanamane, Nathanael Trahan Jenny Gonsoulin, Lindsey Harris, Doc Voorhies, Mike Berry, Kallie Landry, Ryan Berard, Matthew Dugan, Mike Boroto, Casey Dautreuil, Perry Ledet, Mitch Prudhomme, Will Grubbs, Lynn DeRouen, Michael Caffery, Jennifer Reynolds, Cindy Hebert, Cheryl Mack, and Kristie Trahan. 

The performances will run March 9 - 25, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings with Sunday matinees at the Essanee Theater in New Iberia. With choreography by Marika Mury, Whitney Willis, Travis Guillory, and Kim Parich, musical direction by Bob Morgan and Lynn DeRouen, and director Katherine Caffery at the helm, Chicago is bound to be a razzle dazzle sensation that will raise the standard of community theater! Stay posted for ticket availability and more information as showtime approaches . . . and all that jazz!

Theatre--Performance

The Compound's Submission Smackdown has been postponed until December 4th.  It will still take place at Theatre 810.

Theatre--Performance

Everyone is familiar with Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. For its 2011 Christmas show, the Iberia Performing Arts League will present A Carol for Tiny Tim by John R. Carroll. This “sequel” takes place fifteen years after the miraculous transformation of Ebeneezer Scrooge. But this time it is not Scrooge who is in need of holiday help, but (the no longer Tiny) Tim. Now a spoiled young man, Tim uses deceit to collect sympathy and money from family and friends and has grown to be a thoroughly unpleasant young man. Take care in knowing that Tim will learn valuable lessons and once again be able to bring an honest and sincere message of “God Bless us, Everyone” to audiences young and old. This warm and wonderful show is destined to become a classic in itself. Suited for the entire family, performances will be Thursdays through Sundays, December 1 through December 11 at the Essanee Theater in downtown New Iberia. Evening performances (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) begin at 7:30 P.M., with Sunday Matinees at 3:00. Advance tickets in New Iberia are available at Delaune’s Pharmacy, Paul’s Flower Shop, or Accentrics on Main Street. Information can be obtained by calling the theater at 364-6114, e-mailing ipal@cox.net, or by visiting the IPAL website (www.iberiaperformingartsleague.com). Tickets may also be purchased at the door. All tickets are $10.00

The show is directed by Donna Berard and features a talented cast of 40 actors. In leading roles are Fred Comeaux as Jacob Marley, Allyson Gary as Ghost of Christmas Past, Paul David as Ghost of Christmas Present, Craig Colwort as Ghost of Christmas Future, Chuck Rogers as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Ryan Berard as Timothy Cratchit, Michael Durand as Bob Cratchit, and Faye Tarantino as Mrs. Cratchit.

With music, singing and dancing, this is sure to be one of the highlights of everyone’s Christmas 2011.

Supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.

Theatre--Performance

AUI/AURA is holding open auditions for David Ives' The Lives of the Saints on Sunday, November 6th (3 to 5 pm) and Monday, November 7th (6 to 8 pm) at Theatre 810. The show will be directed by Cara Hayden. Auditioners will be provided with sides for cold readings at the auditions.

The shows will run for 2 weeks in January (January 12=22).

Lives of the Saints is a collection of short one act plays. Here are the summaries:
THE STORIES: ENIGMA VARIATIONS. Zany hijinks as a pair of lookalikes named Bebe W.W. Doppel-gängler solve an identity crisis with the help of Dr. William W. Williams and his nurse Fifi, who may or may not be Aphrodite the Goddess of Love. Or is she a male gym-teacher in a dress? (3 men, 2 women.) THE MYSTERY AT TWICKNAM VICARAGE. A body on the carpet, three ridiculous Masterpiece Theatre-style suspects and a bumbling Scotland Yard detective solve philosophical quandaries as they investigate: Who killed Jeremy Thumpington-Fffienes? (3 men, 2 women.) BABEL'S IN ARMS. Two blue-collar Mesopotamian construction workers are handed a provocative task: Build the Tower of Babel—or else. How many stones does it take to get to heaven, anyway? (3 men, 2 women.) SOAP OPERA. A washing-machine repairman falls in love with a picture-perfect washer. Should he tell his girlfriend Mabel? Is the washer two-timing him with a dryer? Stay tuned. (3 men, 2 women.) LIVES OF THE SAINTS. A tender and gently comic meditation. Two women preparing a funeral breakfast in a church basement muse on life, death, and the meaning of Polish jokes—and along the way achieve a kind of sanctity. (3 men, 2 women.) ARABIAN NIGHTS. Utterly normal Norman walks into utterly ordinary Flora's shop looking for a souvenir of his travels and together they find whirlwind romance, spurred on by a wacky translator. (1 man, 2 women or 2 men, 1 woman.) CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. A cautionary fable tells how Rob and Laura face a menace in their living room: a television that talks back to them and threatens to swallow them whole. (2 men, 2 women.)

For more information, call Acting Unlimited at 873-1548 or email actingunlimitedinc@gmail.com.

Theatre--Performance

Brett Faulkner, Michael Sanchez, Vincent P. Barras, Deborah D. Ardoin, Angelle Driggs

The comedy, A Nice Family Gathering, has opened at Eunice Players’ Theatre but performances continue this weekend and through next week.  The two-act heart-warming comedy, written by Phil Olson and directed by Jody L. Powell, is a timely fit for the Thanksgiving season.

As the players take the stage, the audience finds the Lundeen family gathered for the first Thanksgiving since Dad died.  His presence, however, is felt by middle son, Carl, as Dad beseeches him to tell his wife of 35 years that he loved her.  The situation gets complicated by Carl’s own feelings of neglect, and when Jerry, Dad’s old golfing buddy, shows up to dinner as Mom’s “date”.

Humor drives the play through family situations that everyone will find familiar - including sibling rivalry and odd dinner fare - but at the story’s heart lies the touching realization that letting loved ones know they are truly loved is a necessity for eternal peace.

Evening performances will be held November 5 and 9-11 at 7:00 p.m.  A matinee will be held Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 p.m.  Dinner theatre (with steak and trimmings) is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following.  Individual tickets for the show ($10 each/$15 extra for dinner) can be purchased over the phone with Visa and Master Card by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163, or they can be picked up at David Ltd. Hair Salon at 204 S. Second St. in Eunice.  More information can be found on EPT’s Facebook page or at www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com.