Theatre--Auditions/Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

AUI/AURA will present Lerner and Lowe's musical fantasy, Brigadoon, in repertory with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Performances will be held the last week of July and the first two weeks of August.

Open auditions for all roles in both shows will be held from 1-5 PM on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13 at Cite Des Arts (corner of Vine and Buchanan in downtown Lafayette). 

For Brigadoon, auditioners will be asked to sing a ballad of their own choosing, do a movement audition and read a scene from the script. Auditioners are welcome to use music from the show and sheet music suitable for auditions can be acquired upon request.

The leads are Tommy Albright, an American (Baritone) and Fiona MacLaren, a Scots lass (Soprano). Second leads are Jeff Douglas, Tommy's American friend (non-singing comic role) and Meg Brockie, a Scots Gypsy (Mezzo).  Third leads are Charlie Dalrymple, a young Scotsman (tenor--believe it!) and Jeannie MacLaren, Fiona's sister and his fiancee (non-singing dance lead with a lot of lines).  Principle supporting roles are Harry Beaton, Jeannie's scorned suitor (non-singing dance lead with lines), Mr. Lundie, an older schoolmaster, Andrew MacLaren, Fiona and Jeannie's father, Archie Beaton, Harry's father and Jane Ashton, Tommy's American Fiancee (one scene, but a good one).

There is also one role for a dancer with no lines which will be cut if no one auditions for it. Most chorus have some solo moments and lines.

The leads should all play late teens to mid-thirties; the supporting roles play forties or older. Chorus can be any age from 6-90. Jane Ashton is the same age as Fiona and Tommy. Jeff can be older than Tommy.

If you have any questions or you need music, call Walter Brown at 337-235-6284 or email 
wfj5552@cs.com. 

A Midsummer Night's Dream will require 15-20 actors, including those with special skills as dancers, singers, acrobats or musicians.  Actors of all ages, sizes and levels of acting experience are encouraged to audition.

Interested actors should prepare a 2 minute monologue from any play by Shakespeare (comedies preferred, not Midsummer). Some actors will also be asked to do cold readings from the script.  Interested singers may prepare a 30-second a capella vocal piece. Interested dancers, acrobats and musicians should be prepared to discuss their previous experience and training.

For questions about the Midsummer audition (or help with choosing an audition monologue), email actingunlimitedinc@gmail.com.

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

This weekend (August 12th through the 14th) is the closing weekend for the AUI production of Bat Boy: The Musical at Cite Des Arts (109 Vine Street, Lafayette).


Bat Boy is the Lucille Lortel- and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning re-imagining of the story of the eponymous Weekly World News star. This high-energy, emotionally complex show brings to life the story of the Bat Boy, dragged out of his cave and taught by a veterinarian's family how to act like a human. When he innocently attempts to fit in with human society in the economically crippled town of Hope Falls, the desperate people turn on him. This darkly comic and hysterically tragic musical examines what it is to be human, what it is to be civilized, and how the past never leaves us, while never ceasing to amuse, entertain, and touch its audience.


Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors and are available at the door.  Reservations can be made by calling Cite at (337) 291-1122 or online at the Cite website.

Theatre--Fundraiser

Acting Unlimited, Inc., the company producing Bat Boy: The Musical, will be holding a fundraising book fair at Barnes and Noble in Lafayette from June 19th- through June 25th. During this book fair, AUI will receive a percentage of everything purchased at the store (with the use of a voucher with the AUI number on it) or online with the use of the voucher number 1028634.  

And to thank you (in advance!), the cast of Bat Boy: The Musical is preparing two numbers from the show for a special preview performance at Barnes and Noble on Johnston St. The cast will perform at 6 pm on Saturday, June 19th and 2 pm on Sunday, June 20th.

The book fair itself, where you can make purchases and donate money to AUI, lasts from the 19th to the 25th whenever you can buy books (so 24 hours online, during store hours at the stores).

This is a quick and easy way to help support the company and the show, and get a taste of the musical itself.

Theatre--Workshop

The production team of Bat Boy: The Musical has scheduled an auditioning workshop for Friday, April 9, at 3pm, at Cite des Arts downtown!  Cite is located at 109 Vine St., directly off of Jefferson.

This workshop will be an introduction to auditioning for the musical theatre, or a refresher course for those who have auditioned before but for whom it has been a while.  They will go over the basics of how to audition for a musical, what the auditors will be looking for, tips and tricks, as well as recommendations and suggestions from the show's own auditors.

Again, attendance at this workshop is NOT required to be cast and will NOT be taken into consideration when casting is underway.  It is simply an opportunity to hone skills and have some fun.

Please RVSP by e-mailing the production team at yourbeastinside@gmail.com, so the team will know how many people to expect.

Theatre--Review (AUI)

Ray Blum's review of AUI's production of Life is a Dream is in the Friday, January 15th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Weekend

This weekend features the continuation of Life is a Dream (AUI at Cite Des Arts).  There are also more auditions.  The UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre has a second day of auditions for The Mystery of Edwin Drood on Friday (with a special dance audition following the singer/actor audition), and Jim Phillips and Christy Leichty are holding auditions for The Lawyer Who Stopped Talking at Cite Sunday afternoon.

Support local theatre--come see a show or audition for one!

Theatre--Weekend Roundup

Today (Saturday, January 9th) is a busy one for local theatre.  Omni Artiste is holding auditions for its upcoming production of Indigo Blues at Cite Des Arts and Firelight Enterprises is holding auditions for its upcoming musical production of Oliver! at its theatre.  Two companies are continuing their runs of newly opened shows, and the word of mouth about the shows is that both are excellent.  Unwrap Your Candy (Ovation TheatreWorks at The Center for Acadiana Film and Media) and Life is a Dream (Acting Unlimited, Inc. at Cite Des Arts) both begin at 7:30 pm.  There is also a special one time performance of Lovesick Blues: An Evening with Hank Williams, Jr. at the historic Liberty Theatre in Eunice.

Even though the weather is cold, support local theatre!  Audition for or go to a show!

Theatre--Performance

In 1635, Pedro Calderon De La Barca rewrote an earlier script for La Vida Es Sueno (Life Is A Dream) to strengthen the themes and plot lines. The result is one of the gems of Spanish literature. Calderon's play tackles themes of free will, corruption, spirituality, existentialism and... the difficulty of knowing what is real and what is illusion.


Acting Unlimited, Inc. is presenting Life Is A Dream in a modern English translation by playwright John Clifford. The production has been conceived and designed by Artistic Director Danny Povinelli and is co-directed by Walter Brown. It stars Kayla Smith as Rosaura, Martha Diaz as Clarin, Danny Povinelli as Segismundo, Milton Resweber as Clotaldo, Jenny Felder as Estrella, Steven Cooper as Astolfo and Walter Brown as Basilio with Scott Bailey as the King's attendant and Nick Dooley and Aaron Dufrene in multiple roles. The music is arranged by Apiyo Obala.

In an imaginary Poland, the king, Basilio, is dying. He wants to right a terrible wrong. When his son, Segismundo was born his horoscope predicted that he would bring violence and revolution to the Kingdom. To prevent this, Basilio had Segismundo secretly locked into a tower where he has only one visitor--Clotaldo who is both jailor and tutor to the Prince. Now, Basilio wants to bring Segismundo to court to test him as a Prince and discover if the horoscope's warnings can be circumvented.

The play resonates with the problems people in general but young people in particular have in defining themselves and their place in the world. It's a struggle to create an identity and a code of ethics or morals. How can anyone be sure of the choices they have made? Are we tools of our genes and culture or can we step away from those constraints to make ourselves as we wish to be?

The whole theme of Life Is A Dream revolves around the idea of accepting what you are given and then transcending it--taking the cards life gives you and bidding a winning hand. Segismundo symbolizes this awakening to one's own possibilities through his imprisonment, his false start as a prince and then his successful revolution against the past. The revolution itself is a symbol of the struggle of the psyche to be its own master.

WHEN:
     Fridays and Saturdays (January 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd) at 7:30pm
     Sundays (January 10th, 17th, 24th) at 2:00pm

WHERE: 
     Cite des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette between Jefferson St. & Third St.

COST:
     $15 for Adults, $12 for Senior Citizens (65 and older) and students. Student and Senior prices for the Sunday matinees will be $10.

For reservations please contact Cite at 337-291-1122.

Theatre--Performance

Life is a Dream (La Vida Es Sueno), the latest production of Acting Unlimited, will open on Friday, January 8th at 7:30 pm.  The cast and crew are entering the final phase of preparation for opening, finishing the set and getting ready for technical rehearsals.  The pictures below show the last stages of rehearsals.

The set

Walter Brown working on one of the final pieces of set construction

The set

Rosaura (Kayla Smith), Clarin (Martha Diaz) and Astolfo (Steven Cooper).

Astolfo (Steven Cooper) and Estrella (Jennifer Felder)

Rosaura (Kayla Smith)

Segismundo (Daniel Povinelli)

Clarin (Martha Diaz) and Clotaldo (Milton Resweber)

King's attendant (Scott Bailey), Basilio (Walter Brown), Clotaldo (Milton Resweber) and Segismundo (Daniel Povinelli)

Theatre--Auditions

Acting Unlimited will hold open auditions for Calderon de la Barca's 1640's masterpiece Life Is a Dream (La Vida Es Sueno). This is a comedy/drama which explores questions of fate vs. free will, human dignity, feminism, political power and moral responsibility. This version will edit the script for a tighter plot and character structure by trimming some of the longer speeches. No characters will be removed or abbreviated.

The production needs 2 middle-aged to elderly men, 2 young men, 2 young women and 1 man or woman of any age but physically active.

They are also looking for people who like to work behind the scenes as costumers, prop masters, makeup artists, painters, carpenters, light/sound board operators and scenic, lighting and costume designers.

Auditions will be held at Cite Des Arts (corner of Buchanan and Vine in downtown Lafayette) from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday, September 14th and Tuesday, September 15th and again on Saturday, September 19th from 2-4. Performances are January 11th-27th, 2010.

Auditioners do not need to prepare an audition piece--they will read from the script. Familiarity with Classic theatre is not necessary--they will teach you what you need to know. The translation sounds contemporary and the style will be modified naturalism.

If you have any questions, call Walter Brown at 235-6284 or Danny Povinelli at 201-1696 or email Brown or Povinelli.

This is a great play and should be a great theatre experience for any actor, designer or technician.

Theatre--Performance

The local theatre company Acting Unlimited is sponsoring a show to be performed at the Minnesota Fringe festival. The show, featuring local actor Dr. Robert Sidman and Ms. Patricia Drury, is entitled Sex, Lies and Social Security. Embedded below is a "trailer" for the show.



The Fringe's website has a page for each show. The page for Sex, Lies and Social Security is here.

Theatre--Reviews

Theater is alive in Acadiana. To wit …to be at an opening night of a production is an exciting experience. To be at a new playwright’s production is even more exciting. To see that production directed, designed, and starred in by that selfsame playwright is almost unimaginable. Well, I accomplished four out of the five, having missed opening night of Danny Povinelli’s Before You at Cite des Arts. Congratulations to Daniel Povinelli, his cast, and Cite des Arts for an outstanding theatrical experience.

Povinelli’s first play, largely autobiographical, tells the story of life and love in the modern era. In humor, serious conversation, and effective special effects it held the audience’s attention. The set was realistic, and I suspect was a mirror image of Povinelli’s own “digs.” The various characters were entertaining, well drawn, and mirror people whom all of us have met in our daily lives. The ensemble cast did an admirable job at bringing to life characters they had never seen in “another production” of the show. After all, the movie isn’t out yet! If this is Povinelli’s first effort, I can’t wait to see his second! And there’s no monkeying around in that statement.

As soon as Povinelli’s Before You closed, the set was struck to prepare the Cite space for another local playwright’s production. This was Cody Daigle’s Providence. Actually a transplant of the Eunice Player’s Theatre presentation of Daigle’s play, its brief run was successful and attracted good audiences. From the instant the lights came on and the “couples” came into the airport waiting area, I was enthralled. There were interesting people, there was tension, there was conflict – there was theater!

Daigle’s play involved two couples. One was a thirty-something married couple whose marriage seemed “stressed,” to say the least. The other was a non-coupled couple who were deeply and abidingly in love. Played by stage veterans Bonnie Pitre, Gabe Ortego, Andre Andrepont, and Angelle Ballard, the small cast filled the stage with energy and enthusiasm. Gabe Ortego, especially, handled the challenging role of Mark Langer with aplomb. Pitre and Bellard had the unenviable task of being on stage for long periods of time sitting in airplane seats at stage edges. They never went out of character. Andrepont, as close to a “heavy” as there was in the story, was both likeable and hateful. His role is pivotal in his developing relationship with Mark. The change in it is heartening.

The story of Province is told in flashbacks, interspersed action, quick changes. The sparse, abstract set fits the story admirably. The necessity to move the play quickly from Eunice to Lafayette and short rehearsal time made some of the transitions between scenes slow, but the intimate feeling and dramatic flow of the play did not suffer greatly.

All involved in Providence and Before You should be commended. As said in the Daigle’s play, “You fill your life with whatever you can fill it with.” We in Acadiana are blessed to be able to fill a few hours of our time with the works of these two local playwrights. Their work can only be an inspiration to others to become involved in theater, to try their hand at new things, and to contribute in some way during our very short lives. Long live the theater.
---Donald “Doc” Voorhies

Theatre--Performance

This is the final weekend to catch the post-modern romantic comedy, Before You, a post-modern romance, (Thursday, January 22nd, Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th at 7:30PM)at Cité Des Arts in downtown Lafayette. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for senior citizens and students. For reservations or for more information, please contact Cité at 337-291-1122.

Before You follows a single, thirty-something scientist named Jason, who is unhappy with his career and devises a "love equation" which he hopes will give him the key to a more fulfilling life. In increasingly surreal and menacing encounters, his boss and a sexy colleague try to thwart his efforts to solve the equation. Jason must rely on his perpetually underemployed best friend and the woman who may hold the key to his future to help him find a solution which may not lie in the realm of mathematics. The elusive solution is both simpler and more profound than he realizes...but will he recognize the answer when he sees it?

Theatre--Review (Acting Unlimited)

Vincent P. Barras is a mathematics teacher at Lafayette High School in Lafayette Parish and an actor in many local community theatre groups.

In twenty years of theatre, I have witnessed only two creations formed by friends. The first was the 2005 production of Grand Pré, a musical collaboration between Cody Daigle and Roy Bertucci. To this date, I still kick myself for not becoming involved with that inspiring piece of poignant history. Now, some three-and-a-half years later, I have observed the second creation, Before You, by Danny Povinelli. While I cannot kick myself for not being involved in this one--there was no role in particular suited for me--I do await what future inventions Danny may deliver. If they are as good and as promising as Before You, I hope he continues to produce more works, in which I may hopefully perform. (Shameless bit of self-promotion, fully acknowledged.)

Without my getting into too many specifics, the play focuses on the intricacies and perils of dating as seen through the eyes of an ivory-towered academic who has been questioning the ethics of his work and where it could lead. Though this topic has been mined for centuries, in Before You it felt bracingly new, unaffected, and honest. These are situations we’ve all lived through, the slips and pitfalls of relationships, and every soul in the theatre wondered how would these five lives resolve their issues. It was a delicate dance, finely choreographed and beautifully acted.

This revelation of a play had a particularly strong cast led by the author himself, who had to assume the lead role at the last minute. The incredibly cerebral Danny seemed apropos for the lead role of an academic who longs for something more. Aiding Danny was a particularly enthusiastic Jack Robertson, a younger college friend with a strong addiction to puns. At first, I thought that poor Bruce Coen had not been given much of a character to play, but with each new scene, I kept thinking that Bruce, in some ways, got the better deal. Kayla Lemaire, the last actress to appear in the play, took an unusual supporting role and made her character at times overtly sensuous and at others achingly appealing. But my true admiration goes to Christy Leichty, whose comedic timing is flawless, especially when she could deliver a line with heart-stopping precision, and then crack a smile to add “Just kidding.” It’s a gift I have not seen displayed in some time, and I appreciated the humor and heart she displayed in this production.

Collaborating with long-time friend Walter Brown, Danny has produced a marvel of a set, an intimate living room of incredible detail, from the books on the bookcases to the chess set that every soul threatened to break as they sat on the coffee table. It contains several surprises, which will not be revealed here as they should be enjoyed by the audience. I did, however, feel acute sympathy for the stage right wall, which suffered the horrendous aim of all five characters hurling darts in its direction. Many missed the dartboard entirely, but I suppose that might form an analogy to the imperfect science called dating. At times, the lighting added an eerie, almost surreal quality to many dream sequences, and the cast wisely utilized the audience area for a pleasant stroll toward a nearby swing.

My only quibbles are minor. Scene changes have the potential to undermine the momentum of any play, and the inherent difficulties of the Cité stage offer many plays no favors. While the crew worked admirably to create two new scenes in that limited space, it sapped the energy of the well-focused material, and one scene change appeared interminably long, allowing for a particularly difficult costume change. I can only imagine what the Vivian Beaumont theatre in New York would do with entire scenes coming up from the floor or down from the ceiling. The first act, also, seemed a bit long, especially the first scene, where perhaps some judicious trimming is in order. The second act, however, moved briskly from scene to scene with a clarity I respected. While I could appreciate the intricate lighting design, I felt on one occasion the red lighting was overkill in an otherwise perfect second act. Sometimes the props worked against the characters: the guitar in one scene appeared determined to upstage every actor as they attempted to move it out their way to continue the scene. And for someone who has played ultimate Frisbee, Danny has the most peculiar way of sending that object through the air.

I repeat: these are minor foibles of a largely masterful work. I thoroughly enjoyed this production and I highly recommend all walks of life to see it. It will run until January 24th, performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Call 291-1122 for ticket information.
---Vincent P. Barras

Theatre--Review

Ray Blum reviews Daniel Povinelli's original play, Before You, in the Friday, January 16th edition of the Daily Advertiser. The review is not available in the online edition of the paper, but Mr. Blum gives the show a extraordinarily complimentary review, commenting favorably on the writing, cast and direction. The show runs this weekend (Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm) and next weekend (Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm).

Theatre--Review (Acting Unlimited)

Jason, the scientist in crisis at the center of Daniel Povinelli's new play, Before You, is searching for an equation to unlock the mysteries of love. Jason's got all the components figured out, but he just can't quite get them to add up.

Before You as a whole suffers a similar problem. Directors Povinelli and local veteran Walter Brown have all the components right -- a very game cast of talented actors, a smartly designed and executed set and a warm-hearted story of love's redemptive power -- but the whole never measures up to the sum of its sometimes wonderful parts.

In short, Before You follows Jason, a scientist who's just left his job in pursuit of simpler pleasures (namely music). He's pressured by his boss, Marshall, to complete a secret project (of which the details, for me, remained fuzzy). Another colleage, Samantha, has left her husband and is hounding Jason for no-strings romance. But Jason has his eyes set on love with Helen, a girl from the coffee shop, and his pursuit of Helen is spurred on by his one-liner spouting friend George.

As Jason and Helen move towards love, Jason's grip on reality begins to falter, and fantasy versions of the principal charaters start showing up. The play slides back and forth from fantasy to reality,until love finally sets the world right again.

The cast, as a whole, does commendable work here. Bruce Coen and Kayla Lemaire both have tough assignments (their fantasy characters sometimes become nightmarish), and they handle it with panache. Lemaire in particular is fun to watch as the seductive Samantha. Jack Robertson handles the frenetic George with ease, and Povinelli does a good job as Jason under difficult circumstances (Povinelli steppedinto the role a week before opening).

The real delight here is Christy Leichty as Helen. Her performance was charmingly, radiantly real, and I was always eager to see her enter a scene. Her Helen was the kind of girl you'd believe could set a guy's world back on its axis.

The show is beautifully designed by Povinelli (and executed by Povinelli and Walter Brown), specifically a secret entrance I never saw coming. It's detailed and feels authentic-- something you don't always get with community theatre interior sets. The smart lighting design, which plays a major role in the communication of the narrative, is also effective.

But when it comes to the play itself, some elements are still in need of attention. The fantasy sequences, while not hard to figure out,sometimes feel awkwardly imposed on the play. The two worlds never mesh comfortably together, and in the show's final fantasy showdown,things veer tonally into areas the play hasn't prepared us for. The effect, for me, was distancing -- I wanted to connect to these people, but could never get a firm hold on who they were.

This could also be due to the "tell, don't show" quality of much of the play. These characters have a lot to say (a lot of it worth hearing), but there are only rare moments of characters actually behaving. You can see this play out in the directing -- the cast has been given a lot to do, including darts, fiddling with a guitar, and even a game of frisbee, but rarely are they revealing themselves through behavior. Yes, in a play you can make grand pronouncements,but they have to be rooted in real people making real choices.

One scene of the play makes the case. The first scene between Jason and Helen is compelling, warm and honest -- it was my favorite scene of the play. In it, Jason is doing everything he can to keep the conversation going, flirting as best as he can with scientific studies and weird facts. Helen responds in kind, pulling away when he's weird but drawing in when his humanity shows through. Ultimately, the scene sets up the biggest, best and most deserved laugh in the show.

That scene was all about behavior and it was a delight. If the rest of Before You followed that example, the equation would work itself out in spades.

---Cody Daigle

Theatre--Performance

Acting Unlimited presents its first production of 2009, Before You by Daniel Povinelli, at Cite Des Arts on January 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, curtain time 7:30 PM. Call 337-291-1122 for tickets.

This production represents the first major collaboration of Povinelli and Brown (a local stage version of the Coen Brothers ?). Danny started five years ago as a protégé of Walter Brown, arguably one of the most knowledgeable and creative theatre gurus in Acadiana. He served his apprenticeship under Walter as both actor and co-director, and now has evolved into “Resident Playwright” for Acting Unlimited.

Jason, played by Danny, is a research scientist (subatomic physicist?) in a state of torpor and ennui, discontented with his life and career and ready to quit his job.

To complicate matters, Jason is hounded by a senior colleague, Marshall, an ominous Bruce Coen, to finish a secret assignment (perfect his “love” equation?) and hit on by another senior colleague, Samantha, the sensual Kayla Lemaire. These characters sometimes appear in Jason’s dreams in cleverly staged scenes.

The “real” characters are George, a true underachiever played by Jack Robinson, who wants to be a borscht belt comedian and is a master of the groaning one-liner, and Helen, the radiant Christy Leichty, who saves Jason with love.

Danny’s cast are all veterans, some directors, who are perfect choices for the roles. His set is as perfect as it can be for the Cite Des Arts space.

Oh, by the way, Danny also composed the song Before You for the production! Incroyable!

--Robert D. Sidman, Ph.D.

Theatre--Performance

Before You, an Acting Unlimited production, opens at Cite Des Arts on Thursday, January 8th at 7:30 pm. For more information, or for tickets/reservations, contact Cite at 291-1122.

Theatre--Performance

Acting Unlimited Inc., a local theater company founded in 1995 (which has produced over 40 stage productions), presents Before You, an original play, written and directed by Daniel Povinelli and co-directed by Walter Brown. The show opens on Thursday, January 8th and runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (January 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24) at 7:30 pm at Cite Des Arts in downtown Lafayette. Tickets are $15.

Before You follows a single, thirty-something scientist named Jason, who is unhappy with his career and devises a "love equation" which he hopes will give him the key to a more fulfilling life. In increasingly surreal and menacing encounters, his boss, aided by a sexy colleague, tries to thwart his efforts to solve the equation. Jason must rely on his perpetually underemployed best friend along with the woman who may hold the key to his future to help hom find the solution--which may not lie in the realm of mathematics. The elusive solution is both simpler and more profound than he realizes...but will he recognize the answer when he sees it?

Povinelli is a professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is one of the world's leading authorities on animal intelligence. After receiving his Ph.D. from Yale University, he was named one of the "Top 20 Scientists to Watch in the Next 20 Years" by Discover Magazine and his work has been covered by major international media (including Time, Newsweek, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, the Economist, National Geographic, the London Times, CBS News, National Public Radio, BBC Radio, BBC Television, Japanese Public Television, and Spanish Public Television). Povinelli has been writing fiction and poetry for over 35 years. This is his first public production of an original play.

Povinelli has been involved in local community theater for over five years as an actor, director, and set designer for the Evangeline Players, the Iberia Performing Arts League (IPAL), and Acting Unlimited. Povinelli is co-directing Before You with long-time collaborator Walter Brown, president and technical director of Acting Unlimited. Their co-directorial debut was a production of Thorton Wilder's stage classic, Our Town, for which they were awarded "Best Drama of 2006" by local critic, Ray Blum, who described the production as "one of the finest I have ever seen anywhere." The show won the Louisiana Association of Community Theater's Award for Best Technical Production of 2006.

For more information about Before You or for reservations or tickets, contact Cite Des Arts at 291-1122.