Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

Dennis Ward is extremely happy to announce the cast of his new musical comedy, The Roadkill
Diner:
Cast of Characters
1. Annie Lu Nutt- A knocked up, back woods beauty who sings like a sparrow.
Jessica Jouclard
2. Connie Coffee- The feisty Roadkill Diner waitress whose tongue is an AK47.
Rose Cormier
3. Ima Nutt- Pretentious, power hungry, a grand dame only in her own mind
Stephanie Broussard
4. Aunt Ophelia Nutt-The heart of gold owner of the Roadkill Diner.
Kathy Martin
5. Teena Nutt - A lascivious criminal sister(possibly a drag role)
Mario Contreras
6. Teeta Nutt- A lascivious criminal sister (possibly a drag role)
Ryan Rogers
7. Dubbly Nutt- A heterosexual, drag queen husband of Annie Lu Nutt
Rick Rowan
8. Sam Goodman- A kind lawyer who helps the defenseless.
Joey Collins
9. Preacher Tubbs-A country preacher
Rudy Eisenzopf
10. Sheriff Jones- A country sheriff
John Bess
11. Encyclopedia salesman-A innocent teenager
Andrew Vincent
12. Wendell Sockett-He has a collection of shrapnel in his brain.
Bisquita Stevens

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

A pop culture phenomenon comes to the musical stage! The Emmy Award-winning 1970's Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever, tuneful songs is lighting up the stage at the Eunice Player's Theatre. Schoolhouse Rock Live! is now in rehearsals. Performance dates are scheduled for Wednesday, July 27th, Friday, July 29th, Tuesday, August 2nd, Thursday, August 4th and Saturday, August 6th at 7:00pm. There will also be two matinees on Sunday, July 31st and Sunday, August 7th at 2:00pm.   Make sure to mark your calendars and save the dates.

Director Angie B. McBride is very proud to have an extremely talented cast, who are working very hard to provide a top notch show! Cast members are Deborah D. Ardoin, John Christian Lyons, Gabe Ortego and Jeanne Sonnier of Eunice, Kristi and John Burleigh of Ville Platte, Duncan and Angie McBride and Taylor LaCalle of Lawtell and Andy Doucet, Jersten Seraile and pianist, Debbie Bertinot from Opelousas.

Also again this year, Mrs. McBride will hold the theatre's annual Children's Workshop, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd.

Theatre--Auditions

Eavesdrop Theatre will hold auditions for Snuff Flick, Pawn's Gambit and Getting Rid of Horace, three hysterical one-act comedies by local playwright and retired UL English professor John W. Fiero.

Auditions are Saturday, July 9th and Sunday, July 10th from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Cite des Arts, 109 Vine Street, Lafayette, Louisiana.  Roles to be cast include seven males, ages 18 - 80 and three females ages 18 - 60.  Auditions are open and all interested  are encouraged to attend.  Auditioners will be asked to perform a cold reading from the script.  Please bring a headshot and resume if available.

The production will be directed by Daniel Ladmirault.  Performances are August 12-14 and 19-21 at Cite des Arts.  For audition-related questions, email danny@danielladmirault.com.

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

AUDITIONS FOR:  IN HIS GRACE

an original musical comedy

by:  Jane Martin Billeaudeaux & John Verly Richard

based on a wayward Preacher and his 2 crazy cousins.

 

AUDITION SCHEDULE:

Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., Lafayette, Louisiana
Thursday, July 14th - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

& Saturday  July 16th from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals begin the week of July 25th, 2011.

Performances are Sept 29 & 30, Oct 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14 & 15.

 

NEEDED:  5 male Actor/Singers. 8 female Actor/Singers. ages 18-40 (flexible)

We also need a Narrator (strong southern accent)  and several Choir members.

(cast info below)

 

REQUIRED: Please be prepared to give a cold reading of a short dialogue from the play.

and sing a short simple song.  You are welcome to bring a short (one minute) monologue and a song of your choice.

 

EXTRA:  You are also welcome to bring a resume and head shot if you have them, but it is not required.  We are also

seeking volunteers for back stage - crew, costumes, makeup, set construction etc.

 

Please come and try out for this entertaining and amusing escapade.

For more information email..

tsejohn@msn.com or janebilleaudeaux@gmail.com

call Cite at (337) 291-1122.

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CAST INFO:

Narrator: Animated, smug showman, strong southern voice. (singing not required)

Young & Older Lester: Called to the Lord to preach but runs into temptation (the temptresses)  along the way.

The 3 Temptresses:  Power, Lust & Greed.  The audience sees them, the characters do not.  Power is the leader.  Lust & Greed have a bit of comical rivalry

                              between them.  They are sexy, lurking between stage & audience.

Young & Older Sonny:  Curly headed, wiry.  Instigator, lover, full of himself.

Young & older Buck:     Quiet, country boy.

Leona Sumrall:  Plain faced ghostly appearance - Audience sees her, characters don't.  (voice important)

Prostitutes 1 (Candy), 2 & 3:   very animated

Melvin - Well known Minister in New Orleans.  Older, gray hair, horn-rimmed glasses.  (singing not required)

Peewee - Black, bar room musician - music mentor to the 3 cousins. 

Ruth:  Lester's girlfriend, turned wife.  Shy and demure (at first) and then becomes Ruth-less

Choir/townspeople -

Sonny's Girlfriend - pigtails, lollipop (singing not required)

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

AUDITIONS FOR: THE ROADKILL DINER
a musical comedy
by Dennis Ward

AUDITION SCHEDULE: Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., Lafayette, Louisiana
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday, June 23, 2011, 6:30pm-8pm

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals begin the week of July 11, 2011, Performances begin September 16th, and run through the 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, and 25th

CAST BREAKDOWN:
1. Annie Lu Nutt- 20-35, a Southern waitress with a strong voice and southern accent
2. Connie Coffee, 30-50, a feisty Southern waitress, singing ability a plus
3. Ima Nutt, 30-50, pretentious, a grand dame only in her own mind, strong voice and so accent
4. Dub Nutt, 20-35, straight drag queen husband of Annie Lu, singing ability a plus
5. Aunt Ophelia Nutt, 50-70, heart of gold owner of the Roadkill Diner, singing ability a plus
6. Sam Goodman, 30-50, a kind lawyer who helps the defenseless
7. Teena Nutt, 20-35, lascivous criminal sister, part can be played by a man or woman
8. Teeta Nutt, 20-35, lascivious criminal sister, part can be played by a man or a woman
9. Preacher Tubbs, 30-60, a Southern country preacher
10. Sheriff Jones- 30-50, a country sheriff
11. Encyclopedia salesman- An innocent teenager

For more information, call Cite at (337) 291-1122.

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Abbey Players is pleased to announce auditions for their fall production, The 2005 Tony Award winning The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  Auditions will take place July 16^th at 2PM and July 18^th at 6PM with possible call-backs that week.  All ages are welcome to audition.  Rehearsal will start promptly after the show is cast.

This audience-participation show is most simply, a spelling bee. All the "kids" are played by adults. This show is very comedic, and with audience members onstage, improvisation is a necessary task for Panch and Peretti, but useful to all cast members.

The music has pop influences and the female characters should have a strong belt/mix voice. Minimal dance.  Auditions at the Abbey Players Theatre, located at 200 South State Street, Abbeville, LA.  Show runs from September 23rd to November 5th (14 performances).  Flexible rehearsal schedule.  See http://www.abbeyplayers.comfor more details.

Please come to the audition with 16 bars from a Broadway musical number, but be prepared to sing the entire number. Cold readings will be done from the script of The Bee. 

Cast Of Characters

The Kids:

Marcy Park (Mezzo) speaks 6 languages, good at everything. Acrobatic Dance in "I Speak Six Languages"  - playing the piano & doing “the splits” a plus! Leaf Coneybear (Tenor) 2nd runner up in the school bee, he shouldn't even be here. He thinks he's "not that smart."  Comedic Role. William Barfee (Baritone) spells with his foot, chronically congested. Olive Ostrovsky (Soprano) feels abandoned by her parents, her best friend is her dictionary. Chip Tolentino (Tenor) last year's champ. Arrogant until an unfortunate mishap results in his early elimination. Logainne Schwartzandgrubennierre (Mezzo) has a lisp. Youngest competitor, with 2 stage fathers who force  her to be a perfectionist.

The Adults:

Mitch Mahoney (Baritone-Tenor) ex-con serving community service hours as a "comfort counselor" for  the kids who are eliminated. Rona Lisa Peretti (Soprano) one time winner of the bee, now officiating it. Comedic improvisation. Douglas Panch (non-singing) Vice Principal. Infatuated with Rona. Comedic improvisation.

Theatre--Review (Cite Des Arts)

Exile

Music by Valerian Smith

Book by Maureen Brennan

What's more important to leave behind: accomplishment or love? That's the question that sits at the heart of the new musical Exile, now running at Cite des Arts.

On what will be the last day of his life, Napoleon sits in his quarters on the Isle of St. Helena, attempting to write his memoirs. He wants a record of his political legacy, and he furiously tries to write against the coming end. He's interrupted, however, by a mysterious figure called The Shade – part conscience, part grim reaper – and an insistent chorus of voices echoing his inner thoughts. The Shade pushes him to confront faces from the past, and Napoleon struggles to reconcile his political legacy with the emotional wreckage he's inflicted on the people he loved.

It's pretty juicy stuff. But Exile adds another intriguing layer – when this show sings, it sings in the voice of gospel, blues and R&B. Not only are we watching a man's emotional reckoning, but we're also watching an interesting clash of culture and history.

That Exile doesn't quite add up to a satisfying evening of theatre is, in no uncertain terms, a disappointment. There's a lot of interesting material at play here, and the show bristles with some really compelling ideas. At this stage, though, it hasn't quite found the way to harness them and shape them into an evening that packs a mighty punch.

On the performance end of things, a few cast members deliver memorable work. Erica Fox lands the evening's biggest vocal moment as Marie Louise – quite a voice on Ms. Fox – and I wished she'd have gotten more stage time. Ian Bonin has an affecting moment as Napoleon's son, and Stephanie Broussard has some fire and flash as Napoleon's mother (although I was disappointed that she didn't get a chance to sing). Most impressive is A.D Dugar as The Shade, finding some humor in the show's more serious scenes and offering some emotionally resonant vocal work as well.

But Exile falters in the storytelling. At the heart of the show seems to be an exploration of what an individual's legacy really is and how one holds oneself responsible for what we leave behind. Exile's Napoleon wants desperately to be remembered for his brilliant (if historically maligned) military and political career, but what haunts him are the emotional disappointments, the betrayals, the personal failures and, in the show's nicest musical moment, his absence as a father. The show hasn't quite located this as its heart yet, so scenes that should play as explosive emotional confrontations instead meander around philosophical, speculative talk. When the show does hit the heart of its intentions (as in the lovely duet between father and son and Ms. Fox's farewell vocal moment) the show works like gangbusters. But it doesn't yet do it consistently and it doesn't do it over the full arc of the evening.

I also came away from the show wishing for a more radical exploration of the show's intriguing culture clash. Valerian Smith's score contains some truly lovely things, and it was at it's most interesting when it played with gospel and the blues. I left wondering if there's a show here that explores the final days of Napoleon through the lens of the African-American experience, a show that makes this culture clash more text than subtext, a show that looks at questions of legacy, family, accountability and regret through the filter of the black experience in America. It seems that all the parts are there in Smith's score, and it was the quiet undercurrent that kept me thinking about the show on the way home from the theatre.

There's a powerful, challenging and exciting musical in Exile.  And if this production isn't quite the full expression of that musical now, there's still enough here that's worth experiencing. There are some committed and engaging performances, some thought-provoking ideas and a lovely score here. And it's the work of homegrown writers. Lafayette has slowly developed a thriving scene of new work, and Exile is the latest entrant in that world. Support it, so that other new theatre pieces will take root and bloom here.

--Cody Daigle

Theatre--Auditions

The Iberia Performing Arts League (IPAL) will be holding auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace at the old Essanee Theatre, located at 126 Iberia Street, on June 14 and June 15 at 6:00 pm. The show will be directed by David Arceneaux.  Performances open August 18th and run for 2 week-ends for a total of 8 performances. 

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Playhouse Productions, currently in rehearsal for The Sound of Music to be presented at the Grand Opera House in Crowley, is looking for three actors.  The parts of Liesl, Captain Von Trapp and the Butler are all open.  For more information, please contact Colleen McMurray at mcmurray8625@att.net

Theatre--Performance

Cite des Arts will present a staged reading of Revolting Women/WOMANBOMB at 6 pm on Friday, July 15.  Tickets for the performance are free and can be reserved by emailing mcgeec50@yahoo.com.

 Awarded “Best Acting” in The 2010 International United Solo Festival held at New York City’s Theatre Row, 42 Street, Revolting Women/WOMANBOMB explores the world of a 17-year old female suicide bomber and those of us left behind to pick up the pieces.

 Local actors Martha Diaz and Christy Leichty will join playwrights Allan Graubard and Caroline McGee to portray the roles of the suicide bomber, a BBC journalist, and two mothers mourning their daughters.
 A woman walks into a public place and explodes. Do we know her? Do we want to? Do we care?  Revolting Women/WOMANBOMB tracks an encounter with a tragic event and how media influences our perceptions of it – when suicide becomes a political weapon….

Theatre--Workshop

During the week of July 11th through the 14th, Cite des Arts will sponsor another session of Caroline McGee’s Master Acting Workshop for actors of all ages and experience.

Ms. McGee recently mentored a number of local students for successful acceptance to top-flight institutions including NYU Tisch Drama, California Institute of the Arts, Columbia and Brown universities, Second City/Chicago, and more.   This session will focus on legendary master acting techniques developed by Lee Strasberg and Michael Chekhov.  Improvisation/exercises will be based on Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill, and Sam Shepard.  For an application and more information: mcgeec50@yahoo.com.

Theatre--Auditions

The Iberia Performing Arts League (IPAL) will be holding auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace at the old Essanee Theatre, located at 126 Iberia Street, on June 14 and June 15 at 6:00 pm. The show will be directed by David Arceneaux.  Performances open August 18th and run for 2 week-ends for a total of 8 performances. 
 
Arsenic and Old Lace is a popular classic which brings hilarity and fun to the stage for all to enjoy. Arsenic and Old Lace is a story of two loving and caring sisters who take in "lonely and orphaned" elderly gentlemen boarders and make them "permanent residents".  Nephew Teddy, who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt,  Mortimer the uptight theater critic, and Johnathon the creepy one, make up only a small part of a colorful cast of characters involved in a who did/who didn't comedic play. Set in the 50's, the play consists of :                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 2 men -age 20's - 30's- approximate 
 5 men -age 30's - 40's approximate 
 3 men-age 40's to 60's approximate 
 2 females -60's approximate                                                                                                                                                                                      
 1 female-age- 20's approximate 
 
Open auditions to all interested. For more information, please call 337-364-6114  and leave a message. Someone will get back to you. We look forward to seeing you there! 
  
  

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

The world premier of Exile, a gospel musical about Napoleon’s final exile at St. Helen’s in the Caribbean, will be on June 9^th at Cité des Arts in downtown Lafayette.  It will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through June 25^th.   All performances are at 7:30 p.m.  This piece is suitable for the entire family.  Tickets are $15, or $10 for students and seniors.  Group discounts are also available.

The music for this piece was composed by Dr. Valerian Smith of Baton Rouge;  the play was written by Maureen Brennan.  Dr.  Smith’s music was produced initially in concert form for Festival International in 1992 , at which time it received rave reviews.   The inspiration was a visit to the tomb of Napoleon, the lyrics the words Napoleon might have uttered as he reached the end of his days. The story brings to life the central characters in Napoleon’s life as they comfort and challenge him.

For more information please contact Maureen Brennan at 337 234-4912 or Cité des Arts at 337 291-1122.  Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.citedesarts.org

Theatre--Review (Abbey Players)

A review of the Abbey Players' production of Rich Is Better appears in the Friday, June 3rd edition of the Daily Advertiser.