Theatre--Auditions

Acting Unlimited, Inc. and Wanderlust Theatre Co. are holding open auditions for WOLVES IN THE WALLS, the original adaptation of Neil Gaiman's award winning children's book that will be produced this summer on Saturday, May 5th from 1-4 pm and Monday, May 7th from 7 to 8:30 pm at Theatre 810 .

The cast will consist of 5 "humans" and as many as 28 puppeteers, who will learn various forms of puppetry, ranging from shadow puppetry to a modified form of Japanese bunraku puppetry.

The auditions will consist of cold readings from the script, and physical exercises.

For more information, check the announcement of the show here or email actingunlimitedinc@gmail.com.

Theatre--Review (AUI/UL-Lafayette/Festival International)

Kaleidoscope begins with an accident: a spaceship hauling lumber across the cosmos explodes, sending a handful of its passengers hurtling through space. They’re a small brace of survivors – it’s suggested there were others who died in the crash, but only these six escape – and they are connected only by radios that are soon to run out of power. All that’s left of their pre-crash lives are the voices of their fellow shipmates, and each is hurtling outward into his own oblivion.

The play is an adaptation of two radio plays by Bradbury also called Kaleidoscope, done by the show’s director, Nathan Gabriel. The adaptation is smart – just the beginning of a slew of smart choices made by Gabriel across the production – and it cleverly honors both the piece’s radio beginnings and its new stagebound life. This isn’t an easy feat, but Gabriel has found a way to make the play’s aural landscape as evocative as its visual one.

The ensemble of actors do fine work across the board. Their relationships with each other, and ultimately their relationship with their inevitable ends, are clear and fleshed out. The stakes are high, and no one (thankfully!) reaches or showboats with their limited time on stage. Two performances are particularly effective. Vince Barras, as Hollis, has the show’s biggest role and serves as its de fact conscience. He’s genuine, warm and affecting, particularly in his final moments.

The show’s standout performance was Chris Matochi’s as Stimson, the one survivor who’s not handling his end with grace. The part is small – although he lasts longer than some of his companions, Stimson isn’t given a lot of text – but Matochi fills it with a rich energy that’s deeply affecting. His death is the most painful to watch, and his departure was the only one I felt in my gut.

What’s impressive about Kaleidscope is its restraint. Gabriel wisely chooses to hold back from unnecessary theatrics and bold, overstated gestures. His touches are small, quiet and powerful – small lights going out on each of the actor’s costumes signaling their demise was my favorite – and his artistic team followed suit. Brady McKellar’s costumes were simple yet evocative. Travis Johnston’s lighting design was spot-on. And the show’s music (Max Richter), sound design (Jack Klotz and Gabriel) and video design (Lisa Marie Patzer) were impressive and understated, honoring the show’s 1950s science fiction sensibility without resorting to camp.

The whole enterprise is impressive, and it’s encouraging to know that folks like Gabriel and McKellar, both newish faces on the UL Performing Arts faculty, are helping to steer local theatre into its future.

Kaleidscope invites us not only to consider the vastness of the universe but also the uncharted distances between people. In that distance, the play seems to say, our inability to connect honestly and completely with the people around us keeps us untethered, alone. And the play seems to say that it’s not our joys but our regrets that keep us company once all the lights are out. And once the silence is descending, with whatever courage we have left, we should send those regrets out into space, as a fevered cry in the dark. 

---Cody Daigle

Kaleidoscope continues its run at Theatre 810 through the remainder of Festival International, beginning at 7 pm every night and will also run May 3-6, again at 7 pm.

Theatre--Performance

The Daily Advertiser has rehearsal pictures of the AUI/UL/Festival International production of Ray Bradbury's KALEIDOSCOPE in the online edition of today's paper.  Check them out here.

The show will open tomorrow night at 7 pm at Theatre 810 and run Thursday through Sunday (April 26-29) at 7 pm, and Thursday through Sunday of next week (May 3-6), also at 7 pm.  Tickets can be purchased online or reservations can be made by calling (337) 484-0172.

Theatre--Announcement

ACTING UNLIMITED and WANDERLUST THEATRE CO.

With University of Louisiana at Lafayette Performing Arts Department

Presents

NEIL GAIMAN’S

WOLVES IN THE WALLS

Based on the book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (c 2003)

Adapted for the stage by Cody Daigle

July 26 – August 5

Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday at 3 p.m.

Burke-Hawthorne Hall (on the UL Campus)

Acting Unlimited (AUI) and Wanderlust Theatre Co. are teaming up with the UL-Lafayette Performing Arts Department to present an exciting addition to the summer theatre calendar: WOLVES IN THE WALLS, a world premiere adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s award-winning children’s book “The Wolves in the Walls.”

Lucy is hearing strange noises in the walls  – noises she believes to be wolves. No one believes her… except her puppet, Pig. Then one night, Lucy discovers that the wolves in the walls are real. And they’re coming out to play…


Adapted for the stage by local playwright Cody Daigle, WOLVES IN THE WALLS will feature  a spectacular puppetry design by Brady McKellar and Elsa Dimitriadis, artistic directors of Wanderlust Theatre, incorporating a host of puppetry techniques. The show will be a visual theatrical event filled with puppetry, pandemonium and the dark fantasy world of Neil Gaiman.

“The show’s designed to be something local audiences have never seen,” said Daigle, the production’s playwright. “We want to dazzle audiences with puppetry and theatre magic they’ve never seen before, but we also want them to be emotionally swept away by the story. It’ll be a really unforgettable evening.”

Gaiman and McKean’s “The Wolves in the Walls” was first published in 2003, and it won awards for the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2003), the IRA/CBC Children's Choice (2004) award and the British Science Fiction Association award for Short Fiction (2003).

This production has the blessing of Gaiman and his team, and it will be the only time this version of the show will performed anywhere.

The production also marks the first collaboration between the two lead producing companies. AUI has recently produced David Ives’ Lives of the Saints and the first post-controversy production of Mike Daisey’s The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs in the country. Wanderlust Theatre Co. has delighted audiences with their production of Match and Shylock, which receives a production in the DC Fringe Festival this summer.

“AUI and Wanderlust Theatre Co. both have reputations for delivering exciting theatre work,” Marie Diaz, lead producer, said. “This collaboration is a natural fit. We look forward to bringing Gaiman’s world to life for local audiences.”

WOLVES IN THE WALLS will run July 26 – August 5 at Burke-Hawthorne Hall on the UL Campus. Curtain on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is 7:30 p.m. Curtain on Sunday is 3 p.m. For more information, call 484-0712.

Theatre--Auditions

Auditions for the play The Rehearsal, 17th c. comic satire by George Villiers,  will be at Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St. Lafayette, LA

Auditions May 9, 10 (Wed, Thurs) 7-9 pm (Cité des Arts) and May 12 (Sat) 12 noon - 3 pm

The Rehearsal is a light and funny play-within-a-play which boasts a lavish display of period costumes of original design. The comic farce features silly players who galumph and posture their way through the play, making sport of the social conventions of the time. Nothing makes sense, or does it?

The Rehearsal is about a playwright who believes he is savvy to the newest trend in everything, including his newest play. When he invites two young men to sit witness to his “future hit,” they find it to be cockamamey and utterly absurd.

The Rehearsal, performed first in 1671, penned by the infamous wit, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and the play is 60 years post-Shakespeare and just past the Cavalier/ Musketeer period in history. Importantly, it is probably the very first example of the Theatre of the Absurd. Mel Brooks is said to have based his work The Producers on this funny play.

A platoon of gifted volunteers is launching this project under the direction of Lauren Greene Whyte, a long time participant in Lafayette theatrical efforts. Your support for The Rehearsal’s creative group -- seamstresses, marketing people, prop builders, et al --is needed, and any contribution will be gladly received. Please see
our site on Kickstarter.com and enter “The Rehearsal” under projects. We sincerely appreciate your consideration; it is our aim to entertain you.

Performances will be performed at Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St. Lafayette, LA 


Performances July 19, 20, 21,22, 26, 27, 28 and 29

Theatre--Showcase

This year, for the first time, IPAL will hold a Youth Talent Showcase!  Several young people came to the IPAL Board and requested such an activity ... and they readily agreed. Young people involvement in the Arts is certainly something we encourage. This first year is a "test drive" and we hope to expand in future years!

 

The very first Showcase will be held Sunday, April 29, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Essanee Theater. Included will be vocalists Elizabeth Shensky, Taylor Delcambre, Addison Migues, Lauren Duhon, and Kassidy Rae Monroe along with stand-up comedian Jordan Blankenship. Included will be Broadway songs, popular songs and lots in between! Kassidy will sing material from her just-released CD which was highlighted in the Daily Iberia this week.

 

Admission is $2.00 and all proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of New Iberia.

Theatre--Auditions

Pandemonium Theater Group will hold auditions for Barely Heirs on May 6 at 2 pm at the Crowley Art Gallery at 222 North Parkerson Avenue, Crowley, LA. The play calls for 4 men and 3 ladies. the director is casting only those mid 20's or older. It's a comedy and can be found at www.hitplays.com. They are in particular need for the character Paul and the police officer. I am also very interested in getting understudies for each part as we are interested in taking this show on the road. So having multiple people for each part is very appealing and much desired. This show will be onstage the second weekend in August at the Grand Opera House of the South in Crowley. There will be practice Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons beginning in mid June. However, those cast will receive scrips in May so that they will come to practice already knowing lines so that they can solely concentrate on blocking. This play will turn around in less than 8 weeks. For those who have never been on stage before, but would like to get involved,  being an understudy is a great way to start. 


For more information, or to get answers to questions, please don't hesitate to message the director at machellebooty@yahoo.com.  Please forward this information to anyone who might be interested!!!

Theatre--Auditions

Acting Unlimited, Inc is announcing open auditions for two shows to be run together in performance in June under the title THE COMPLETE WOMEN OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.  The auditions will be held on Sunday, May 6th from 1-4 pm and Monday, May 7th from 6 to 7:15 pm at Theatre 810.

The show will run June 8-10 and 15-17 at Theatre 810.

For more information, call Acting Unlimited at 873-1548.  You will receive a return call.

Synopses and cast lists follow below:
     Second Best Bed:

One of the most fascinating mysteries dealing with William Shakespeare is the fact that he left his wife, Ann Hathaway, nothing but his "second best bed." This odd bequest has puzzled biographers for centuries. The play opens as several gossipy neighbors visit Anne's cottage. They already know of the bequest and are anxious to see Anne's reaction when she hears the news, which is about to be delivered by Shakespeare's two daughters, Judith and Susanna. The women are cheated out of their amusement by Anne's fierce faith in her husband, even though his wealth has been left to others. However, the bard was never one to leave things as they seem and by curtain time Anne has discovered just how greatly Will loved and needed her. It's a surprise ending that catches not only Anne unaware but the audience as well. A delightful romantic comedy, extremely simple to stage. About twenty minutes.
     Dorothy - Anne's Maidservant
     Virginia - Neighbour, gossip
     Nell - Neighbour, gossip
     Prudence - Neighbour, gossip
     Marchette - Lawyer's Sister
     Anne Hathaway - Shakespeare's Widow
     Judith Shakespeare - Youngest Daughter
     Susanna Shakespeare - Hall - Eldest Daughter

     When Shakespeares' Ladies Meet:
Imagine the fun when six of Shakespeare's heroines get together to discuss the universal topic—love. That's what happens in this thirty-minute playlet. Juliet has just fallen in love with Romeo and the other ladies of the Bard's imagination convene to enlighten her on the best method of conducting a romance.
     Portia - (Merchant of Venice)
     Katharine - (Taming of the Shrew)
     Ophelia - (Hamlet)
     Desdemona  - (Othello)
     Juliet - (Romeo & Juliet)
     Cleopatra - (Anthony & Cleopatra)

Theatre--Review (Eunice Players' Theatre)

A night of laughter is always a good thing. Recently I was playing bridge with my regular Friday night group, and these ladies always have these hysterical stories that bring us to the point of tears and side-splitting pain. Eunice Players Theatre is no stranger to nights of laughter, usually beginning every season with a rousing comedy. (Think Barefoot in the Park in 2011 and What the Bellhop Saw in 2010.) Their 43rd season
began in that rich tradition with a truly funny The Murder Room, a Jack Sharkey comedy expertly directed by Jody L. Powell.

Authors like Jack Sharkey and Ray Cook generally drive some theatre people crazy, for their plots and characters are often interchangeable and indistinguishable. If I see another Ray Cook script, I may gag, but there’s something about The Murder Room, when expertly cast and directed, that’s rewarding. The intense word-play, the comedic timing, the physical interactions, all blended rather well in this production. Jody L. Powell, no stranger to farces, has assembled all the pieces skillfully, and though there were minor complications the night I saw the production, it was an overall wonderful evening, well-paced and surprisingly character-driven, something usually lost in farces.

Speaking of characters, the six actors on stage nicely created the cast who go through the most incomprehensible events. Glenn Mentel, Jr. is a likeable Edgar Hollister, though his British accent wanders in and out. (I’m still trying to process that this is the same actor who played a terrorist in What the Bellhop Saw.) A new face on Eunice’s stage, Catharine Arceneaux plays Susan Hollister as the loveable but dim daughter, who isn’t all she seems, capable of playing with guns and just not comprehending what is going on around her. As the gold-digging American wife Mavis, Mattie Guidry looks spectacular with an array of outfits worthy of supermodels. Deborah D. Ardoin brings a veteran’s touch to the role of the housekeeper Mrs. Lottie Malloy, enunciating the best and locking the accent more than anyone. Andy Doucet hits the
funny lines and delivers a good Texan accent, but the dumb, good ole Texan gets a little old by Act II.

And then there’s the special category for Shane Guilbeau, playing Inspector Crandall for at least the third time. I saw him do this play at Cité des Arts some time back, and I’ve known Shane for … a number of years. I recently enjoyed Angela Lansbury, on stage in Gore Vidal’s The Best Man in New York City, who earned a solid laugh with a mere look; Shane is a master of such looks. No one can match his ability to
stand stock still and act with only his face and those wonderfully shifting eyes. He times his pauses masterfully and can even make people laugh with the way he answers a phone. If we could only get him to not break character, which really happened only once during the production, and nail his accent—at present, it’s from some indescribable European country—he would be unstoppable. But I laughed when he broke, for it was funny.

Farces require utter perfection in the pacing of words and the timing of actions, and there were a few issues with line delivery. At times, it went fluidly, but sometimes actors stumbled awkwardly with those finely-tuned lines. There were also technical difficulties with tie clips, lighting knobs, and foot-placement (Shane, watch where your foot is supposed to go!). There was one instance where Shane jumped ahead in the script, normally disastrous for a farce, but his attempts to fix it provoked even more laughter. And Catharine did break character in Act II, recognizing the audience’s laughter with a quick but visible smile. The set worked wonderfully for the small stage that Eunice has, but that hand-drawn charcoal portrait of Mavis was distracting and stood out badly.

Did I mention that this was a night of laughter? And in the end, that’s all that counted. The audience loved the pace, especially the confusing twists of words where the characters themselves became confused over what the original question was. Eunice Players will perform this play Sunday, April 22, 2012, and again two more performances Wednesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 26. Visit the Eunice Players on Facebook or the Eunice Blogspot http://www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com/. Of all the local theatres, Eunice has mastered the farce.
---Vincent P. Barras

Theatre--Auditions

Cite Des Arts is holding auditions for The Glass Mendacity directed by Jody Powell May 9 and10th 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Also, they have auditons for The Rehearsal: a Restoration Play by George Villiers, directed by Lauren Greene Whyte, May 9 and10 7:00-9:00pm, and May 16 and17th 7:00-9:00pm

Theatre--Performance

The Murder Room, the first show of Eunice Players' Theatre's 43rd season is set to open Wednesday, April 18.  The comedy-mystery, written by Jack Sharkey and directed by Jody L. Powell, follows the dastardly plot of one money hungry gold digger, Mavis, who is suspected of killing her wealthy husband, Edgar. When Edgar’s imbecilic daughter, Susan, arrives with her fiancé’, Barry, in tow, they unknowingly complicate Mavis’ plot. As the police attempt to solve the mystery of Edgar’s disappearance, his interfering housekeeper, Lottie, gets involved and chaos ensues. With lovably stupid characters and a script that crackles with silly wordplay and confusing questions, the play packs in laughs from beginning to end for a hilarious romp through the murder mystery genre with a resolution that is hard to see coming.

Evening performances will be held April 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 at 7:00 p.m. A matinee will be held Sunday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre (with steak and trimmings) is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. with the performance immediately following. Tickets for the play and season tickets are currently on sale at David Ltd. Salon and Turning Point in Eunice, or by calling David at 546-0163 or Debi at 457-2156 to charge by phone. More information can be found on EPT’s Facebook page or at www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com

Pictured l-r are Shane Guilbeau, Mattie Guidry, Glenn "Jay" Mentel, Jr., Catharine Arceneaux, Andy Doucet, and Deborah D. Ardoin.

Theatre--Performance

Cité des Arts and Gris Gris Productions present Sam Shepard’s award-winning play True West April 13-22 at Cite des Arts, 109 Vine St. in downtown Lafayette.

True West is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a screenwriter, and his older brother Lee, set in the kitchen of their mother's home 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Austin is house-sitting while their mother is in Alaska, and there he is confronted by his brother who proceeds to bully his way into staying at the house and using Austin’s car. In addition, the screenplay which Austin is pitching to his connection in Hollywood somehow gets taken over by the pushy con-man tactics of Lee, and the brothers find themselves forced to cooperate in the creation of a story that will make or break both their lives. In the process, the conflict between the brothers creates a heated situation in which their roles as successful family man and nomadic drifter are somehow reversed, and each man finds himself admitting that he had somehow always wished he were in the other’s shoes.

"I wanted to write a play about double nature, one that wouldn’t be symbolic or metaphorical or any of that stuff,” Shepard explains on his website. “I just wanted to give a taste of what it feels like to be two-sided. It’s a real thing, double nature. I think we’re split in a much more devastating way than psychology can ever reveal. It’s not so cute. Not some little thing we can get over. It’s something we’ve got to live with. True West has ... arguably become Shepard’s signature piece, the leanest, most pointed of his full-length works,” writes David Krasner in A Companion to Twentieth Century American Drama.


The play stars Brock Hoffpauir, Blake Hoffpauir, Dominick Cross and Winnie Daphin-Bacqué and is directed by Bruce Coen. “I’ve been wanting to do this play for a long time because I feel that Sam Shepard is one of our great American playwrights and it’s time to bring him back to Lafayette,” said Coen.

Cite is also offering gourmet meals for Saturday shows from the "Conscious Gourmet" that need to be reserved by Friday by 5 PM.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, April 13-14, 20-21 and 2 p.m. Sundays, April 15 and 22.
This show is based on adult themes and adult language is used at times. Therefore this is not a show for children.

For more information, contact Bruce Coen at (337) 984-0754.

Theatre--Performance

The OLT is proud to invite you to join us for our upcoming production of Superior Donuts by award winning playwright Tracy Letts. Superior Donuts tells the story of Arthur, a down and out man, running a down and out donut shop, and his relationship with Franco, a young African American man with big dreams, big plans, but also a very big secret. Through Arthur and Franco's conversations, Letts explores a variety of topics such as race, class, social justice, friendship, and living life to the fullest. Joining Arthur and Franco in this tale are a couple of police officers, a grumpy Russian and his imposing nephew, an alcoholic bag lady, and a pair of "debt collectors" who may have bitten off more than they can chew.

Superior Donuts runs April 12-14 and the 19-21 at 7PM. There will also be two matinee shows on April 15th and 22nd at 2PM. Tickets for all shows are $10.00, and can be purchased in advance at Sebastien Dupre Fine Jewelers in Opelousas, or at the door the day of the show. 

Theatre--Workshop/Camp

StoryPalooza, a new, collaborative summer camp between three Acadiana nonprofits, is now accepting registrations for its four one-week camps starting June 4. 

Children and teens ages seven to 17 will participate in stops during the week at AOC Community Media, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Cité des Arts.

Using the organizations’ areas of expertise, The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will conduct both music and art classes guiding the students to prepare music, sound accompaniment and visuals for use in the live performances of the stories. Cité Des Arts will focus on acting and theatre, while AOC will give the campers a hands-on learning experience with animation. Each camper will spend time at each nonprofit experiencing all spectrums of storytelling and developing their own story ideas into shows and productions at the end of each week. 

“This unique summer camp will be all about developing productions from story ideas generated from our students and crafted with guidance from our professional teaching artists,” said Ed Bowie, executive director of AOC.

Students will tell their own stories while learning the skills necessary to write the script and the accompanying musical scores, create visual sets, act on stage and on film, and learn to capture it all visually using equipment of the digital media age. 

Each week-long camp’s tuition is $280 per student with a 10 percent discount for multiple weeks or multiple students in a family. There is a $25 registration fee. The deadline for the full payment of $280 is May 1. The camp will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Students are expected to bring their own bag lunch, and snacks will be provided during breaks.

The camp will run from June 4-8 and June 18-22. Space is limited in each week’s camp. To register your child, call the ASO Conservatory of Music at (337) 232-4277 ext. 2 or visit
http://www.acadianasymphony.org/conservatory/storypalooza. 

For more information about StoryPalooza, contact AOC at info@aocinc.org, ASO at (337) 232-4277, Cité des Arts at (337) 291-1122 or ASO Conservatory of Music at (337) 232-4277 ext. 2. 

Theatre--Performance

Auditions--Theatre (MusicalTheatre)

Auditions for Remember When Again are scheduled April 22 and 23,  2012 for ages 15 and up! NOW is your chance to “get on stage” in a fun production! No special preparation is needed for the audition, but the audition materials can be picked up in advance if you want or from Doc.

Audition Songs will be sung Karaoka style. NOTE – you will not necessarily need to sing the whole song.   You can see “videos” of the songs on You Tube if you are unfamiliar. Here’s what you will do
FEMALE Singing Role– “Stop In the Name of Love” (Diana Ross& Supremes version) or “Downtown” (Petula Clark version)
MALE  Singing Role – “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (B.J. Thomas Version); “For What’s It’s Worth”(Buffalo Springfield version)
If you just want to be in “CHORUS” – “Do You Wanna Dance”(Beach Boy version)
AUDITION MATERIALS May be obtained Wednesday, April 18 between 5 and 7 p.m. or by contacting the director, Donald Voorhies, at 364-1975 or by emailing him using ipal@cox.net .

Audition Procedures:
  After filling in the paperwork, you will have your photo taken, you will do a quick “dance audition” which will be jitterbugging or twisting, then you will have a “singing and acting” audition. This will be privately done on-stage to a small group. You will have the option of auditioning alone or with a partner of your choice. The vocal audition will be done with “karaoke” recordings and the acting audition will be using a brief cutting from the script. The Audition will be SUNDAY, April 22 between 2 and 5 p.m. and Monday, April 23 between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. The actual show runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Matinee) August 16-26. Twenty three songs are in the show.
 If you are unable to make these dates, please contact the director asap.

About “Remember Then Again – A Sixties-Era Musical”
Synopsis:  The show is a sequel to IPAL’s 50’s show, Remember When. The plot revolves around the Mayor of New Berry’s plan to tear down “Ye Olde Malt Shoppe” to put up a parking lot.
Time and Place:  Set  in the 70’s but about the 60’s.
SET: Original Ye Olde Malt Shoppe, a “Jail” set, a “Protest Scene Set” and a “new” Malt Shop called “Sugar Shack Too”
MUSIC: The “Berry Classics” will be back! AWESOME! They are awesome! We’re looking for a 2nd pianist and a saxophone player.
CHOREOGRAPHY: There are quite a few numbers involving “dance” in the show. Be prepared to have fun!
CHORUS: We will need a large song, dance and/or acting chorus and those aged 15 and up are invited to audition.
Want Lines?  You will have the role of customers in the shop who are the friends, children, and grandchildren of the principals and have various lines.  You  are also the backbone of the big song and dance numbers.
Don’t Want Lines? There is still a lot to do.  You will be  non-speaking customers in the shop who are the friends, children, and grandchildren of the principals. You, too, are the backbone of the big song and dance numbers.
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Gary – Male  - Over 50 (or made up so).  Gary is the store owner who is upset because they want to tear down his business… and gets in trouble!
Molly– Female – Over 50 (or made up so) Gary’s wife who tries to help him through the stressful events of the show.
Connie – Female – A younger girl who is “Vee’s” younger sister and has taken over his job at the Malt Shoppe when he went off to college.  Lots of lines for her.
Dave(P)  – Male ---  Over 50 (or made up so).  Content in his married life. He and wife, Samanthan,  have a lot of banter.
Samantha(P)  (aka Sam) – Female -  Over 50 (or made up so)  Content in Married life. Dave’s wife.
George – - Over 40 (or made up so) The lovable gadfly from “Ville Platte” given to smart aleck remarks and comments. He even tries a “pick up” line again.
Jan – Female   -- Over 40 (or made up so) George’s wife and another regular in the Malt Shoppe.
The Mayor –  A new “character” added to the cast.  Over 40 (or made up so). Needs to sing, act, and dance.
Navy Officers – More new Characters. The Navy Base was open in the 60’s … and they came to the Malt Shoppe!
Bob Dylan Imitator – “Times They Are a Changin’”
Petula Clark  Imitator – “Downtown”;Beatles Imitators –  “ Twist and Shout” (modeled after the Beatles performance at Shea Stadium. The 4th one on You Tube.); maybe Joni Collins imitator “Big Yellow Taxi”;
OTHER singers -  We are hoping to enlist “on stage actors/actresses to sing are “Stop In the Name of Love”, “Twist and Shout” “For What It’s Worth”,  “Think”, “Sounds of Silence”,  “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” and “Sugar Shack” and a number of other songs  in the show!!
On Stage Guitarist – We are looking for a guitarist if possible to be on-stage for “Love Me Tender” and “Greenback Dollar” and “Sounds of Silence
Saxaphonist needed also!
Also: Policeman,, Hippies, Mayor’s assistants,  gals and guys in the Malt Shoppe, etc.

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Camelot. The beauty and splendor of the enchanting musical about King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table, will be presented this summer at the Eunice Players’ Theatre.  Auditions for this legendary musical will be held Tuesday, May 1, Wednesday, May 2, and Thursday, May 3 at 6:30 pm at the Eunice Players’ Theatre, located on South Second St.

The director, Debi L. Crawford, is looking for men and women, ages 16 and older, who would like to experience the magic of this musical. For auditions, everyone will be taught a verse of the opening song, "Camelot", which they will sing without background music. She would like to stress that no previous experience is required, just a desire to become a part of this musical. Volunteers for other aspects of the show such as hair and makeup, costumes and lights and sound are also needed, so please volunteer and experience this “brief and shining moment” of Camelot!

The production will open July 25 and run through August 4. For more information about auditions, please call Debi Crawford at 457-2156 or 457-2979.

Tickets are now on sale for The Murder Room, the season opener at Eunice Players' Theatre,  The comedy-mystery, written by Jack Sharkey and directed by Jody L. Powell, follows the dastardly plot of one money hungry gold digger, Mavis, who is suspected of killing her wealthy husband, Edgar. When Edgar’s imbecilic daughter, Susan, arrives with her fiancé’, Barry, in tow, they unknowingly complicate Mavis’ plot. As the police attempt to solve the mystery of Edgar’s disappearance, his interfering housekeeper, Lottie, gets involved and chaos ensues.  With lovably stupid characters and a script that crackles with silly wordplay and confusing questions, the play packs in laughs from beginning to end for a hilarious romp through the murder mystery genre with a resolution that is hard to see coming.

Evening performances will be held April 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 at 7:00 p.m.  A matinee will be held Sunday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m.  Dinner theatre (with steak and trimmings) is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. with the performance immediately following.  Tickets for the play and season tickets are currently on sale at David Ltd. Salon and Turning Point in Eunice, or by calling David at 546-0163 or Debi at 457-2156 to charge by phone.  More information can be found on EPT’s Facebook page or at www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com.

Pictured left to right:  Catharine Arceneaux, Shane Guilbeau, Mattie, Guidry, Glenn "Jay" Mentel, Jr., Deborah D. Ardoin, and Andy Doucet

Theatre--Performance

 The Iberia Performing Arts League is proud to announce its 2012-2013 season. Located in the classic Essanee Theater in downtown New Iberia, IPAL provides live theatrical entertainment to its audiences. It also provides an artistic outlet for actors, singers, musicians, set artists, technicians and many others. The upcoming season will feature a summer youth musical, as well as a five play regular season. In addition, in advance of the season IPAL will hold its annual 2012-2013 Membership Drive and Season Ticket sale.

            First up on the stage (July 12-22) will be the IPAL’s Summer Youth Theater Production of Disney’s Mulan.  Young people (ages 10-21) are invited into the large cast, and due to the success of  previous Summer Youth Productions 8 performances will be held rather than the previous 6.

        Opening the 2012-2013 Season will be Remember When Again. A sequel to 2010’s wildly successful Remember When this will be an original "Broadway style" show employing the Folk, Motown, Rock, Hippie and other music of the 1960's era. IPAL’s live band “The Berry Classics” will return and along with the singing and dancing cast will perform 22 songs! The original script, by Jim Wyche, involves plans to tear down a "1950's style" soda shop to put up a parking lot. The show will run August 16-26, 2012

            Lilies of the Field (Oct. 18-28) is an adaptation by Andrew Leslie of the 1963  Academy Award winning movie for which Sidney Poitier received the Academy Award. It is based on a semi-biographical novel by William Edmund Barrett.  A Christmas Story (Dec. 6-16) ,another stage adaptation, is based on the ever popular movie of the same name. By Philip Grecian this show will bring an adult and youth cast together in what will sure be wonderful holiday experience.

            IPAL’s Spring Musical will be Man of La Mancha. With script by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion, this Tony Award winning musical, a dramatic and uplifting production, is based on the Spanish novel Don Quixote by Cervantes and is sure to be another IPAL sellout. It urges us, even now, to "Dream the Impossible Dream." The show will run March 7-24, 2013.

            Closing out the season, May  30-June 9, will be See How they Run by Philip King. A classic British farce set during World War II with multiple cases of  mistaken identities and raucous chases through an English Vicar's house, it is sure to provide lots of laughs.

            Further information may be obtained by contacting IPAL at 364-6114 or via email using ipal@cox.net

Theatre--Performance

Lafayette Parish Talent Theatre Program

Presents

Improv-a-Palooza

The students of the Lafayette High School Talent Theatre program will present “Improv-a-Palooza”, an audience interactive improvisational performance. This family friendly, comical, “Whose Line is it Anyway?”-type show is a student run production directed by Stephanie B. “Improv-a-Palooza” will take place  at Cite des Arts (109 Vine St. right off Jefferson Street) is on Friday, April 20^th and Saturday, April 21^st at 6:30pm with an afternoon matinee at 12:30pm on Saturday, April 21^st. Tickets will be $5 and available at the door. For more information, please call (337) 291-1122.

Dance--Performance

The Daily Advertiser has an article about Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, appearing tonight in Lafayette as a PASA presentation.

Theatre--Articles (Acting Unlimited)

Acting Unlimited's production of The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs garnered national attention during its run for being one of the first productions to deal with the controversy over Mike Daisey's alleged "fabrications".  Because the production was performed by local playwright Cody Daigle, alterations (with Daisey's permission) were made to the script to keep it current with real time revelations.  Mention of the production was made by:
Theatre Communications Group (American Theatre Magazine)
The Huffington Post
Broadway to Vegas
Copious Notes

Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Auditions for Disney’s Mulan Jr. will be Saturday, April 14^th and Sunday April 15^th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Essanee Theatre located at 126 Iberia Street in New Iberia. Young male and female actors, dancers, and singers ages 10 to 21 are welcome to audition. No prior experience is needed, but all auditioners will be asked to sing so we can determine your vocal range. You may also be asked to do a cold reading from the script. Since there may potentially be a large number of tryouts, we are asking singers to limit themselves to one minute of singing. Any song from any Disney musical is certainly appropriate. Any people who are unable to attend these two sessions may contact Vincent P. Barras at vpbarras@aisp.net or 337-519-0865.

The list of characters in Mulan Jr. include the following

• Laozi, Lin, Zhang, Hong, & Yun (5 ancestors who are acting like narrators; male or female, but most likely female)
• Fa Zhou (Mulan’s father; male)
• Fa Li (Mulan’s mother; female)
• Grandmother Fa (Mulan’s grandmother; female)
• A parade of Mothers (female)
• A parade of Young Girls (female)
• A parade of Fathers (male)
• Mulan (female)
• Mushu, dragon (male or female)
• Hairdressers and Groomers (male or female)
• Matchmaker (female)
• Chi Fu, city official (male or female)
• Young Xiao and Young Yi, Chinese men (male)
• General Shan-Yu, Hun leader (male)
• Magyar and Subar-Tu, Hun soldier sidekicks to General Shan-Yu (male)
• Chen and Liu, Chinese soldiers (male)
• Captain Shang, Chinese soldier (male)
• Yao, Qian-Po, Ling, Chinese soldier sidekicks to Captain Shang (male)
• Emperor of China (male)
• Cheongsams Salesperson (male or female)

People auditioning for Mulan Jr. need to know that this play has no solos. All the songs (“Written in Stone,” “Bride Practice,” “Honor to Us All,” “Reflection,” “Keep ‘em Guessin’,” “I’ll Make a Man,” and “A Girl Worth Fighting For,”) are a showcase for many people. Some songs involve the entire chorus, others like “Reflection” are an all-female song with Mulan, her mother, her grandmother, and the ancestors. People auditioning can sing any Disney song they wish but will need to restrict themselves to about 1 minute because there will be numerous people auditioning. People will be notified by email of their assigned roles not long after the audition process is over.

There may be a few scattered rehearsals in the month of May for the principal lead characters in the play, but they will most likely last 1 hour and will occur between 5 and 6:30, depending on the availability of the theater, which will be in rehearsals for Blithe Spirit. Full rehearsals will begin Monday May 28^th or Tuesday May 29^th at the Essanee Theatre located at 126 Iberia Street. Rehearsals are normally from 1:00 pm to4:00 pm Mondays through Fridays, with an occasional Saturday afternoon rehearsal, depending on how well the rehearsals are going. (There will be no rehearsal on July 4^th, a Wednesday this year. If you must schedule a 4^th of July vacation, I am politely requesting that you schedule it for the weekend before the 4^th instead of after the 4^th. The weekend after the 4^th is too close to opening and puts the overall rehearsal schedule in jeopardy.) There will be full costume and technical rehearsals on Sunday July 8^th (time to be announced) and Monday July 9^th and Tuesday July 10^th at 6:00 pm until we finish. A Family and Friends performance will occur on Wednesday, July 11^th at 7:30 pm. Opening night will be Thursday, July 12^th and the closing performance will be Sunday, July 22^nd. Evening performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will be 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees will be at 3:00 pm.

Theatre--Article (IPAL)

The Daily Iberian had a great article on the local musicians who played in the orchestra for "CHICAGO," They played with the professionals, contributed their services, and did a great job! 

Theatre--Performance

The Eunice Players’ Theatre is preparing to open its 43rd season with a comedy mystery, The
Murder Room, directed by Jody L. Powell. Written by Jack Sharkey, the two-act show is a whodunit
filled to the brim with quick and witty dialogue, inept criminals, bumbling police, and other characters
both scheming and idiotic.

The play follows the dastardly plot of one money hungry gold digger, Mavis, who is suspected of
killing her wealthy husband, Edgar but nobody seems to know where the body went. When Edgar’s
imbecilic daughter, Susan, arrives with her fiancé’, Barry in tow, they unknowingly complicate
Mavis’ plot. As the police attempt to solve the mystery of Edgar’s disappearance, his interfering
housekeeper, Lottie, gets involved and chaos ensues.

Rehearsals are underway and the cast of stage veterans and those stepping on the Eunice stage
for the first time are already creating characters that will have audiences in stitches as they hurl one-
liners, Abbott-and-Costello style, back and forth.

Stepping onto the stage as the suspected murderess Mavis, is Mattie Guidry of Eunice, making her
stage debut at EPT. Despite having not acted since high school in school and Christmas plays,
Mattie’s comedic timing is impeccable and her costumes are stunning.

Returning to the EPT stage following his portrayal of Babu, the terrorist, in What the Bellhop Saw is
Glenn “Jay” Mentel, Jr. of Opelousas. Jay’s gift for physical comedy is proven in the role of Edgar, as
he bumbles his way through the endless cellar steps and the man-eating window seat on the set that
has as many tricks as the plot.

Also returning from What the Bellhop Saw is Shane Guilbeau of Lafayette. Shane plays James
Crandall, a police inspector with a secret of his own. Audiences are sure to remember his portrayal of
the hotel manager who kept audiences laughing with his comedic demeanor, his expressive face, and
his impressive height.

Deborah D. Ardoin, recent Best Actress Irving Award winner for playing Mom in A Nice Family
Gathering, has the role of Lottie, Mavis and Edgar’s housekeeper. Her interfering and gossipy ways
might help the police – or confuse them even more.

Another newcomer to EPT is veteran actress Catharine Arceneaux of Lafayette, playing the
role of Susan with perfect innocence and giddiness. A theatre minor in college, Catharine has
Shakespearean and musical theatre experience.

Andy Doucet of Opelousas is a familiar face to EPT, having been in last year’s Schoolhouse Rock
Live!, for which he won the Irving Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Andy fills the role of Barry,
Susan’s impromptu fiancé’ from Texas, who unknowingly complicates Mavis’ plot.

With lovably stupid characters and a script that crackles with silly wordplay and confusing questions,
the play packs in laughs from beginning to end for a hilarious romp through the murder mystery genre
with a resolution that is hard to see coming.

Evening performances will be held April 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 at 7:00 p.m. A matinee will be held
Sunday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre (with steak and trimmings) is scheduled for Wednesday,
April 18 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Individual
tickets for the show will be on sale soon. Season tickets are currently on sale at David Ltd. Salon
and Turning Point in Eunice, or by calling David at 546-0163 or Debi at 457-2156 to charge by phone.
More information can be found on EPT’s Facebook page or at www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com.