Theatre--Performance

Call it Love Letters, the Louisiana tour. The staged play by A. R. Gurney played recently in February at Theatre 810 in Lafayette, and then again in late March at the DuChamp Opera House in St. Martinville for the Evangeline Players. Vincent P. Barras played Andrew Makepeace Ladd III in both productions, but the first incarnation starred Amanda Newbery, a teacher of talented students in Lafayette Parish, while the second production involved Jody L. Powell, a regular at the Eunice Players Theatre. Now, Jody Powell and Vincent Barras are teaming up again for another round of Love Letters to be performed at the Delta Grand Theatre in Opelousas on Friday (June 8th) and Saturday (June 9th) at 7 pm and Sunday (June 10th) at 2 pm. Call 407-1806 for tickets or check out the link:

“I’ve always wanted to do this play ever since I saw Jack Reedy and Gail Andriano perform it at the Lafayette Community Theatre back in the 90s,” Vincent P. Barras commented, but then he laughed, “I never thought that I would be performing it three times in a span of four months!”

Jody Powell has been enjoying the experience as well. “It’s always a joy to be in a good play, and to be on stage with Vince.” She herself is simultaneously directing the play Glass Mendacity so at times, she’s finding it all a bit overwhelming. “I love theatre… almost as much as Hanson.” (For those of you who don’t know, Jody is a devoted fan to the band Hanson, which regularly performs in Tulsa, Oklahoma.)

This isn’t the first pairing for the two actors. Last November, Jody Powell directed A Nice Family Gathering for the 42nd season of the Eunice Players’ Theatre, and she cast Vincent P. Barras in the role of Carl Lundeen. The show went on to win six Irving Awards—the Eunice equivalent of the Tony—including Best Play and Best Director for Jody Powell. “I loved every minute of that experience,” Vincent recalled. “The Eunice crowd was so inviting, and the cast and director were awesome.”

Love Letters, by A. R Gurney, took a circuitous route to Broadway, first appearing in New Haven, Connecticut in 1988 starring Joanna Gleason and John Rubenstein. It quickly moved to the off-Broadway Promenade Theatre in March 1989 where Kathleen Turner took over the role of Melissa and John Rubenstein reprised his role as Andrew. In October of that same year, Love Letters made its Broadway debut starring Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst, though it ran for only a few months. Since that time, Love Letters has appealed to numerous theatre companies specifically in a fund-raising capacity, and has drawn such talented actresses as Elizabeth Taylor, Julie Harris, Stockard Channing, Swoosie Kurtz, Nancy Marchand, and Elaine Stritch, and actors like James Earl Jones, Cliff Robertson, Richard Thomas, Christopher Reeve, Richard Kiley, and Robert Vaughn.
 
The Acadiana premiere of this play is believed to be Lafayette Community Theatre’s 1996 production starring Jack Reedy and Gail Andriano, an actress who won a Les Masques Best Actress award for her work. Since then, it has been revived numerous times in this area, the latest being a three-weekend run at Cité des Arts involving three different pairings of artists each week: Shane Guilbeau and Sandra Broussard; Ray and Laura Blum; and Cody Daigle and Cara Hayden. Its simple conceit—two characters reading their love letters before an audience—draws the listeners into the chamber piece, and the intimate surroundings of many Acadiana theatres accentuate Gurney’s words.

The play centers on Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, who are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of "good schools." While Andy is off at war Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is really too late for both of them. However Andy's last letter, written to Melissa’s mother, makes it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years—physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.

“So come out and see Love Letters at the Delta Grand,” Jody Powell added. “It’s a lovely space for an intimate evening of good theatre.” And Vincent quipped, “I’ll let you know the next venue for the Louisiana Tour. We’re thinking Monroe or Shreveport.” Call 407-1806 for tickets or check out the link:

Theare--Workshop

The Delta Grand Theatre will host a Summer Camp "On and Off Stage," which will focus on what happens onstage from a performer's point of view, as well as the coordination of responsibilities that must take place behind the scenes to make a production successful. Campers will learn why all members of the production team are equally important and deserving of the same level of respect and courtesy, as well as how to behave as a member of the audience. 

Register at deltagrandtheatre.com or call 337-407-1806 for more information.

Theatre--Performance

CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Adapted by members of The Compound

Directed by Alicia Chaisson

Lafayette:

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

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

Sunday Matinee: December 11 @ 2 p.m.

Theatre 810

810 Jefferson Street, Lafayette LA

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

Opelousas:

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

Delta Grand Theatre

120 S. Market Street

Opelousas, LA 70570

337-407-1806

Admission: $10.00

Tickets on sale now at:

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

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

www.deltagrandtheatre.com

THE PLAY

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

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

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

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

THE CAST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get your tickets early and see you at the show!

Theatre--Auditions

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

Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

Clue the Musical... directed by Walter Duncan McBride

Music by Galen Blum, Wayne Barker, Vinnie Martucci
Lyrics by Tom Chiodo
Book by Peter De Pietro


CLUE the Musical brings the internationally popular board game to life on stage. This is an interactive musical starting with three audience members selecting one card each from three oversized decks and placing it in an envelope marked "Confidential." The envelope is then left untouched until the end of the production. The chosen cards will determine the ending of the show, which has 216 possible conclusions. These card selections also determine some interchangeable dialogue between certain characters which are delivered as the play unfolds. The audience is given clues as the show progresses that they will use to deduce the outcome on a provided game form. So basically, not only do the audience draw cards to decide the secret outcome, they play the game while the Suspects act on stage. Those who guess correct combination of Suspect, Room, and Murder Weapon will recieve a prize for their efforts...

Opelousas Little Theatre is in full swing as the cast of Clue the Musical rehearses and builds the set for this live on-stage version of everybody's favorite 'whodunit' board game. In addition to that a dinner theatre night is in the works with a limited 50 ticket seating. Clue will also feature an 'independent-living set' operated by OLT's finest backstage ninjas.

The cast of Clue is as follows

Mr. Boddy--Eugene Dupre
Mrs. Peacock--Connie Richardson
Professor Plum--Duncan McBride
Miss Scarlet--Kelly Landreneau
Colonel Mustard-- Andy Doucet
Mrs. White--Bradley Credeur
Mr. Green--Nick Blumrich
Detective-- Taylor LaCalle
Piano Accompaniment-- Debbie Bertinot

Show dates:
Sept. 22,23,24 @ 7pm
Sept. 25 @ 2pm
Sept. 29,30 Oct 1 @ 7pm
Oct. 2 @ 2pm
Dinner Theatre: Sept. 28 @ 6pm

All dates to be performed at The Delta Grand Theatre
in downtown Opelousas.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, day of show or
at in advance at Sebastion-Dupre Fine Jewelery 337-948-4367

For more info, visit www.opelousaslittletheatre.com or check out our Facebook fan page. Also, feel free to contact Director Walter Duncan McBride at 337-351-3822.