Providence, an original work by local playwright Cody Daigle (which was presented in a staged reading at Cite Des Arts, followed by a full production by the Eunice Players), is getting a staged reading at New Jersey Repertory in Long Branch, New Jersey on March 1st. The reading will be followed by a Question & Answer session. NJ Rep's staged readings are the selection pool for the company's upcoming season, and NJ Rep is one of New Jersey's prominent professional companies.
The New Jersey Repertory Company, is a non-profit corporation in New Jersey, dedicated to bringing professional quality , yet affordable family theater to the community.Many of the Company's performers and alumni have appeared or are currently appearing on Broadway, television and in numerous commercials and print ads. Others have been seen in major films, the Radio City Christmas Show, Atlantic City or have traveled throughout the United States and Europe with professional touring companies.
Showing posts with label The Eunice Players' Theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Eunice Players' Theatre. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Theatre--TV
As part of the Eunice Players' Theatre's 40th anniversary season celebration, KATC Channel 3 will be on hand Thursday, January 28 to feature the theatre during a live remote broadcast. Good Morning Acadiana anchor Tom Voinche will return to his old stomping grounds to host the show from the EPT stage. Voinche is a former EPT actor and board member.
EPT president David Manuel is pleased to announce that the theatre will be featured several times during the entire morning show's broadcast from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. Although the hours are early, he is inviting EPT supporters to come to the theatre and be a part of the live audience. "We welcome anyone who has worked on a show, has a season ticket, or wants to experience EPT for the first time. "
During the broadcast, Voinche will interview current board members, review pictures of EPT from days gone by, and reveal the magic behind the scenes that comes from the lighting and sound booth, the makeup counter, and the dressing room.
Manuel notes that the KATC show will be the springboard into the Irving Awards to be held Saturday, January 30. Invitations have gone out to current season ticket holders, as well as former members and performers who helped build EPT and keep it successful over the past four decades. Still, anyone with a connection to EPT who hasn't received an invitation and wants to attend the invitation-only event should call Manuel at 337-546-0163 or Debi Crawford at 337-457-2156.
"This is a time to celebrate the legacy left by the founders and the contribution that EPT has made to Eunice and the surrounding area," Manuel stated. "Join us in supporting live local theatre by coming out Thursday morning, and all season long." Season tickets will go on sale the night of the Irving Awards and can be purchased from any board member in the following weeks.
EPT president David Manuel is pleased to announce that the theatre will be featured several times during the entire morning show's broadcast from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. Although the hours are early, he is inviting EPT supporters to come to the theatre and be a part of the live audience. "We welcome anyone who has worked on a show, has a season ticket, or wants to experience EPT for the first time. "
During the broadcast, Voinche will interview current board members, review pictures of EPT from days gone by, and reveal the magic behind the scenes that comes from the lighting and sound booth, the makeup counter, and the dressing room.
Manuel notes that the KATC show will be the springboard into the Irving Awards to be held Saturday, January 30. Invitations have gone out to current season ticket holders, as well as former members and performers who helped build EPT and keep it successful over the past four decades. Still, anyone with a connection to EPT who hasn't received an invitation and wants to attend the invitation-only event should call Manuel at 337-546-0163 or Debi Crawford at 337-457-2156.
"This is a time to celebrate the legacy left by the founders and the contribution that EPT has made to Eunice and the surrounding area," Manuel stated. "Join us in supporting live local theatre by coming out Thursday morning, and all season long." Season tickets will go on sale the night of the Irving Awards and can be purchased from any board member in the following weeks.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Theatre--Performance
The Eunice Players’ Theatre is pleased to announce the third play of the 40th season, Moonlight and Magnolias, written by Ron Hutchinson. This two act comedy, directed by Debi L. Crawford, will open in early November.
Moonlight and Magnolias is set in 1939. Famed Hollywood director David O. Selznick shuts down production of his epic movie, replaces his director with Victor Fleming and calls in the wonder boy of screenwriters, Ben Hecht. It is only left to the imagination what happens in that locked office for five long days and nights as the three Hollywood power houses rewrite the script for one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With the Wind.
The cast of Moonlight and Magnolias has a mixture of veterans and a newcomer to the theatre. Playing the role of the producer, David O. Selznick, is Wesley Saunders of Pine Prairie. An experienced actor of the Eunice Players’ Theatre, he has starred in several shows, including The Cemetery Club and The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Michael Sanchez, of Eunice, will debut in his role as screenwriter Ben Hecht andis excited about this challenging role. The part of Hollywood director Victor Fleming will be played by Brett Faulkner of Eunice, another veteran of the stage. Brett has starred in several shows from playing a really bad Elvis impersonator in Bathroom Humor to the butcher in Fiddler on the Roof. The role of the diligent secretary to Mr. Selznick is being played by Amy Rider of Eunice. She also has several shows to her credit, most recently in Bathroom Humor.
The dates for the production of Moonlight and Magnolias are set for November 7th through the 15th and single tickets for this comedy will be available in late October. For more information, please call Debi L. Crawford at 337-457-2156 or log on to the Eunice Players' Theatre website.
Moonlight and Magnolias is set in 1939. Famed Hollywood director David O. Selznick shuts down production of his epic movie, replaces his director with Victor Fleming and calls in the wonder boy of screenwriters, Ben Hecht. It is only left to the imagination what happens in that locked office for five long days and nights as the three Hollywood power houses rewrite the script for one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With the Wind.
The cast of Moonlight and Magnolias has a mixture of veterans and a newcomer to the theatre. Playing the role of the producer, David O. Selznick, is Wesley Saunders of Pine Prairie. An experienced actor of the Eunice Players’ Theatre, he has starred in several shows, including The Cemetery Club and The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Michael Sanchez, of Eunice, will debut in his role as screenwriter Ben Hecht andis excited about this challenging role. The part of Hollywood director Victor Fleming will be played by Brett Faulkner of Eunice, another veteran of the stage. Brett has starred in several shows from playing a really bad Elvis impersonator in Bathroom Humor to the butcher in Fiddler on the Roof. The role of the diligent secretary to Mr. Selznick is being played by Amy Rider of Eunice. She also has several shows to her credit, most recently in Bathroom Humor.
The dates for the production of Moonlight and Magnolias are set for November 7th through the 15th and single tickets for this comedy will be available in late October. For more information, please call Debi L. Crawford at 337-457-2156 or log on to the Eunice Players' Theatre website.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Theatre--Performance
The Baton Rouge Advocate ran this article about three Acadiana community theatre shows--Moon Over Buffalo at IPAL, Prescription: Murder at the Evangeline Players, and Greater Tuna at the Eunice Players' Theatre--on September 11th. All three shows are still running through this weekend.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Theatre--Performance
Tickets are now on sale for Greater Tuna, the first of two fall offerings in the Eunice Players' Theatre's 40th anniversary season. The play runs September 12th, 16th, 17th, and 19th at 7:00 pm, and September 13th and 20th at 2:00 pm. The dinner theatre performance is September 15 at 6:00 p.m. Dinner consists of barbeque chicken and fixin's with apple pie for dessert. Tickets are $10 (additional $15 for dinner) and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon, 204 S. Second St., Eunice, or by calling 546-0163.
Directed by Ching Wasmuth, and written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, the play stars Kevin Miller (above left) and Van Reed (above right). Each actor portrays 10 different characters: strange men, old women, children, even Yippy the Dog. Quick costume changes and a variety of characterizations showcase the talents of these two veteran actors whose names are synonymous with high quality comedy.
The play itself, about a day in the life of the odd citizens of Tuna,Texas’ third-smallest town, has won rave reviews as a sure-fire hit on Broadway and in community theatres across America. Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 2 shows, reservation rights for seating, and an invitation and voting privileges for the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.
Additional information can be found at the Eunice Players' Theatre website.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Theatre--Performance
Bertha and Charlene Bumiller, as portrayed by Kevin Miller and Van Reed respectively, share a special mother-daughter moment as they discuss the recent cheerleader tryouts. These are just a few of the characters to take the audience through a day in the life in Tuna TX as the Eunice Players' Theatre presents Greater Tuna September 12th through the 20th at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Information about tickets will be available soon.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Theatre--Performance
The Eunice Players’ Theatre is pleased to announce the return of Kevin Miller and Van Reed in Greater Tuna, the side-splitting comedy featuring the citizens of Tuna, Texas' third smallest town. The long-running off-Broadway hit written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard features the two actors bringing twenty characters to life through quick costume changes and a variety of characterizations. You’ll come to know Arles and Thurston, disc jockeys from the local radio station, OKKK; Hank and Bertha Bumiller and their children, Stanley, Charlene, and Jody; Didi Snavely, owner of Didi's Used Weapons ("If we can't kill it, it's immortal"); Reverend Spikes, president of the Smut Snatchers of the New Order; Yippy the Dog; and more.
Performance Dates/Times:
Saturday, September 12th at 7:00 pm.
Sunday, September 13th at 2:00 pm.
Tuesday, September 15th at 6:00 pm. (Dinner theatre is $15 additional)
Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00 pm.
Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, September 19th at 7:00 pm.
Sunday, September 20th at 2:00 pm.
Performance Dates/Times:
Saturday, September 12th at 7:00 pm.
Sunday, September 13th at 2:00 pm.
Tuesday, September 15th at 6:00 pm. (Dinner theatre is $15 additional)
Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00 pm.
Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, September 19th at 7:00 pm.
Sunday, September 20th at 2:00 pm.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Theatre--Performance
The cast and crew of Dorothy Meets Alice are ready to open the show at the Eunice Players' Theatre! The lively musical is fun for all ages and promises to have children squeal with delight at the sight of some of literature's favorite characters. The actors do a fine job in portraying the well-known characters from The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, but the makeup and costumes are what bring them to life. The colors are bright and the makeup is authentic. Against the backdrop of the woodsy scenes, complete with bits of Oz and Wonderland, the actors sing and dance their way out of the confusion brought about by the dream of a modern-day girl.
Character driven comedy drives the show rather than an abundance of songs, and there's enough action (running and hopping and falling down, oh my!) to keep even very young children entertained. The story is simple and easy to follow, with plenty of wackiness, corny jokes, and larger than life villains - including a (not-so-scary) monster. Audience members won't pay attention to their watches, until the show ends and they'll wonder how the time passed so quickly.
In addition to the show itself, LaCalle has planned a three hour workshop on Saturday, July 11 beginning at 9:00 a.m. for children ages 8-12. The workshop will include singing, acting, and games designed for children to learn the basics of the performing arts. Registration fee is $10, which also allows the child entrance to the Sunday, July 12 matinee performance. Space for the workshop is still available but limited so interested parties should register soon.
This show provides a refreshing change from TV, video games, and the boredom of summer so bring the children, the grandchildren, and even the neighbor's children. You'll be glad you did!
Regular performance dates for the show include July 8, 9, 15, and 17 at 7:00 p.m. and July 12 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Turning Point and David‘s Ltd. Hair and Nail in Eunice. General Admission is $10 for adults and children over age 5, and $5 for children age 5 and under.
The dinner performance is scheduled for Thursday, July 16; tickets for dinner plus the show are $20 for adults and children over 5; $15 for children age 5 and under. The dinner menu consists of catfish bites and popcorn shrimp with french fries, and brownies and ice cream for dessert.
This show is not on the season ticket so anyone wanting to see the show will need to purchase a ticket. For more information about the play or the workshop, call 337-457-2156 or 337-546-0163. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Theatre--Performance
Dorothy Meets Alice
Walk by the Eunice Players’ Theatre on any given week night and you’re likely to hear the cast rehearsing the upbeat songs featured in Dorothy Meets Alice, the theatre’s summer offering. The family-friendly musical, directed by Angie B. LaCalle, follows the adventures of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and Alice, from Wonderland, as they unscramble their friends who have become mixed together by an unwitting young lady in modern times.
In addition to the show itself, LaCalle has planned a three hour workshop on Saturday, July 11 beginning at 9:00 a.m. for children ages 8-12. The workshop will include singing, acting, and games designed for children to learn the basics of the performing arts. Registration fee is $10, which also allows the child entrance to the Sunday, July 12 matinee performance. Space for the workshop is limited so interestedparties should register soon.
Regular performance dates for the show include July 8, 9, 15, and 17 at 7:00 p.m. and July 12 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Turning Point and David‘s Ltd. Hair and Nail in Eunice. General Admission is $10 for adults and children over age 5, and $5 for children age 5 and under.
The dinner performance is scheduled for Thursday, July 16; tickets for dinner plus the show are $20 for adults and children over 5; $15 for children age 5 and under. The dinner menu consists of catfish bites and popcorn shrimp with french fries, and brownies and ice cream for dessert. This show is not on the season ticket so anyone wanting to see the show will need to purchase a ticket.
For more information about the play or the workshop, call 337-457-2156 or 337-580-2567. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Visit us at euniceplayers.blogspot.com. Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Theatre--Review (Eunice Players' Theatre)
Ray blum reviews the Eunice Players' production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in the Friday, May 15th edition of the Daily Advertiser.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Theatre--Performance
From Jody Powell, the director of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?:
“Pow! You’re dead” is the line Blaine Peltier delivers to Deborah D. Ardoin as Gabe Ortego and Bonnie Pitre watch in fear in one of the many unsettling moments of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, being staged at the Eunice Players’ Theatre. The gun Peltier holds has a history uniquely tied to the play, as well as the subsequent movie. This is no ordinary stage prop; there are only a few of its kind in existence. Known as The Virginia Woolf Gun among stage prop rental houses, this particular one was actually used in the movie and handled by Richard Burton as he aimed it at Elizabeth Taylor.
Playwright Edward Albee conceived a gun with an unusual discharge, then set about to have it fabricated by Centre Firearms in New York City in preparation for the Broadway premiere in 1962. By the time the play closed in 1964, a movie version was in the works and the gun was sent to Los Angeles where Burton used it during filming. It later made its way back to its creator in the heart of Manhattan where it remains today. As Joe DeCunzo, owner of Center Firearms, explained to Jody L. Powell, director of the local play, “We only rent it out about twice a year now. Over the past 40 years, the play’s popularity ebbs and flows.” He’s proud to state that his shop has the original gun, even though certain parts have needed to be replaced over the years.
Theatre goers have a chance to view this iconic piece of Broadway and cinematic history when EPT opens its production with a matinee beginning Sunday, May 3 at 2:00. Other evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday, May 6 - 9 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances are $10 and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon on Second St. or by calling 546-0163. Dinner theatre is Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Nick's or by calling 457-4921. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Visit their website.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Theatre--Performance
After weeks of rehearsal, the cast of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is ready to open the show. The three-act peek into the fictional lives of George, Martha, Nick and Honey, written by Edward Albee and directed by Jody L. Powell, is the first show of the Eunice Players' Theatre's 40th anniversary season.
Written and set in the early 1960’s, the play focuses on George and Martha, played by Blaine Peltier and Deborah D. Ardoin respectively. Despite how deeply they care for each other, events have turned their marriage into a repetition of insults fueled by alcohol. When Gabe Ortego’s Nick and Bonnie Pitre’s Honey stop in for a drink one night, they are unable to escape being used as pawns in their hosts’ psychological games. While the storyline may sound distasteful, it does make for an entertaining night at the theatre - TV dramas and reality shows don’t get any better than this! Despite the show’s len gth, the actors’ snappy banter keeps the action moving and the audience will find sharp humor in many of the sequences.
The cast has jelled to a point where they bring out the best in each other as actors. Rehearsals have bred familiarity, adding believability and realism to the characters. Audiences will witness daring performances, enhanced by period costumes and hairstyles, a set design conveying realism, and specialized lighting and sound effects. Considering the subject matter, and the brief amount of smoking on stage (with stage prop cigarettes), this play is intended for mature audiences.
The play begins with a matinee on Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Eve ning performances are Wednesday through Saturday, May 6 - 9 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances are $10 and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon on Second St. or by calling 546-0163. Dinner theatre is Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Nick's or by calling 457-4921. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Visit the website: http://euniceplayers.blogspot.com.
Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.&n bsp;
Written and set in the early 1960’s, the play focuses on George and Martha, played by Blaine Peltier and Deborah D. Ardoin respectively. Despite how deeply they care for each other, events have turned their marriage into a repetition of insults fueled by alcohol. When Gabe Ortego’s Nick and Bonnie Pitre’s Honey stop in for a drink one night, they are unable to escape being used as pawns in their hosts’ psychological games. While the storyline may sound distasteful, it does make for an entertaining night at the theatre - TV dramas and reality shows don’t get any better than this! Despite the show’s len gth, the actors’ snappy banter keeps the action moving and the audience will find sharp humor in many of the sequences.
The cast has jelled to a point where they bring out the best in each other as actors. Rehearsals have bred familiarity, adding believability and realism to the characters. Audiences will witness daring performances, enhanced by period costumes and hairstyles, a set design conveying realism, and specialized lighting and sound effects. Considering the subject matter, and the brief amount of smoking on stage (with stage prop cigarettes), this play is intended for mature audiences.
The play begins with a matinee on Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Eve ning performances are Wednesday through Saturday, May 6 - 9 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances are $10 and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon on Second St. or by calling 546-0163. Dinner theatre is Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Nick's or by calling 457-4921. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Visit the website: http://euniceplayers.blogspot.com.
Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.&n bsp;
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Theatre--Performance (postponed/rescheduled)
From Jody Powell, director of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, the upcoming production of the Eunice Players' Theatre:
The show must go on! Such is the cry of many a director when faced with an unexpected turn of events that threatens to derail a production. And such is the attitude of director Jody L. Powell as she announces a new cast member and new dates for Eunice Players’ Theatre’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee.
“Despite the need to make a change at this late date, we’re fortunate to have the very talented Blaine Peltier assume the role of George,” Powell stated. With a BFA in Theatre, Peltier has over 20 theatrical productions and 2 films under his belt. Peltier is currently the head of the Theatre Arts Department for the Lafayette High School Performing Arts Academy and he is a co-founder of Acadiana Repertory Theatre, Inc., a non-profit, professional theatre company. A quick study, Peltier is up to the challenge of taking on George, a role he’s been waiting for the chance to play. “I know the character; he’s complex and fascinating. Just reading his lines in the script and feeling his mood shifts puts me in the right mind set,” Peltier commented following his first rehearsal with the cast.
As Peltier becomes acclimated to the local stage, the cast and crew breathe a sigh of relief that their show will go on, albeit a week later.
The play will now open with a matinee on Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday, May 6-9 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances are $10 and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon on Second St. or by calling 546-0163. Dinner theatre is Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Nick's or by calling 457-4921.
Season ticket holders who made reservations should call the answering service to reserve a new date. Patrons who purchased individual tickets or a dinner ticket may exchange them for a different night by returning to the point of purchase. The Board of Directors regret any inconvenience this causes.
Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.
The show must go on! Such is the cry of many a director when faced with an unexpected turn of events that threatens to derail a production. And such is the attitude of director Jody L. Powell as she announces a new cast member and new dates for Eunice Players’ Theatre’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee.
“Despite the need to make a change at this late date, we’re fortunate to have the very talented Blaine Peltier assume the role of George,” Powell stated. With a BFA in Theatre, Peltier has over 20 theatrical productions and 2 films under his belt. Peltier is currently the head of the Theatre Arts Department for the Lafayette High School Performing Arts Academy and he is a co-founder of Acadiana Repertory Theatre, Inc., a non-profit, professional theatre company. A quick study, Peltier is up to the challenge of taking on George, a role he’s been waiting for the chance to play. “I know the character; he’s complex and fascinating. Just reading his lines in the script and feeling his mood shifts puts me in the right mind set,” Peltier commented following his first rehearsal with the cast.
As Peltier becomes acclimated to the local stage, the cast and crew breathe a sigh of relief that their show will go on, albeit a week later.
The play will now open with a matinee on Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday, May 6-9 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances are $10 and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon on Second St. or by calling 546-0163. Dinner theatre is Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Nick's or by calling 457-4921.
Season ticket holders who made reservations should call the answering service to reserve a new date. Patrons who purchased individual tickets or a dinner ticket may exchange them for a different night by returning to the point of purchase. The Board of Directors regret any inconvenience this causes.
Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Theatre--Performance
Tickets are now on sale for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the first show of the Eunice Players' Theatre's 40th anniversary season, written by Edward Albee and directed by Jody L. Powell. The play begins with a matinee on Sunday, April 26th at 2:00 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday, April 29th through May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances are $10 and available at David Ltd. Hair and Nail Salon on Second St. or by calling 546-0163. Dinner theatre is Tuesday, April 28th at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Nick's or by calling 457-4921. Season tickets may still be purchased by calling 457-2156 or 546-0163. For $20, a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Theatre--Actor's Story (Eunice Players')
Gabe Ortego, a local actor and director, is currently beginning rehearsal for the Eunice Players' production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He has offered to share his experiences from the actor's point of view with this blog. This is Part 1:
I love Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. I have been in love with this play since I saw OLT’s production almost ten years ago. It is one of those plays that will entertain you and make you think all at once. Every time I have read the play or watched the classic movie, I have always walked away with a new view on the strange and twisted events that unfold that night at George and Martha’s house. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me break down the story for those of you who may not be familiar with Edward Albee’s play. The play is set one fateful night at the home of George and Martha. After returning home from a faculty party thrown by Martha’s father, who is president of the university where George teaches, the couple is expecting guests. The guests are Nick and Honey, a new Biology professor (or Math professor if you listen to Martha) and his wife. Once the young couple arrives, they are quickly caught up in the perverse mind games that George and Martha play to help pass the time. When Edward Albee first wrote this play back in 1962, it was groundbreaking because never before had mature subject matter like this been presented in mainstream theatre. Even the movie was considered ahead of its time, it even lead to the institution of the MPAA rating system we have for movies today.
Are you interested yet? Good, I wanted to get you interested. I am hoping that this blog will make you interested enough to make the long trek to Eunice to see our show. I promise you won't want to miss this one.
Let me just tell you about the glorious cast that our incredibly talented director, Jody Powell, has assembled for this production. Deborah D. Ardoin (Debbie to us in the cast) gets to add Martha to the long list of varied character parts that she has portrayed throughout her theatre career. There is absolutely no one who has graced the Eunice stage that can begin to touch Debbie in this role. I really am enjoying watching her build this character and I believe she is bringing things to the role that Uta Hagen ( the original Broadway Martha) herself would have never thought of bringing to the role. Then there is David McGee who is playing George. He wanted this part so bad; you could see it in his eyes at auditions. I believe David has quite a few cards up his sleeve that he is not showing us yet at rehearsal. I can’t wait till he does show them because it will be fireworks for sure when George and Martha perform their exorcism (you will get this reference after you see the show).
The other member of the cast besides myself is the wonderful, Bonnie Pitre. I am so excited to share the stage with her again. I have been performing in community theatre for almost ten years now and I have never acted opposite a more giving actor. This girl never has a “Look at Me” moment. There is absolutely no vanity with her on stage and that is something almost unheard of in the theatre. I have been joking that Bonnie and I will become the poor man’s Van Reed and Kevin Miller (that joke is for the Eunice Patrons who will know who I am talking about) because this is our second play within six months where we play opposite each other. Now instead of being the gay guy and the hippie chick from Providence, we are the sexy younger couple who might have a few secrets of their own. I guess you can’t accuse Bonnie and I of not trying to stretch as actors because trust me our parts in this play couldn’t be more different than the ones we played in Providence. If you don’t believe me then ask Jody because she directed us in both plays.
So far after the first two weeks of rehearsal, we have finally blocked the play. I know that rehearsing this three act monster will bring about new challenges and some fun back stage stories. Next week I hope to have a few to share with you and I will also post some pictures. And maybe together, we can finally answer the age old question: Who exactly is afraid of Virginia Woolf?
I love Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. I have been in love with this play since I saw OLT’s production almost ten years ago. It is one of those plays that will entertain you and make you think all at once. Every time I have read the play or watched the classic movie, I have always walked away with a new view on the strange and twisted events that unfold that night at George and Martha’s house. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me break down the story for those of you who may not be familiar with Edward Albee’s play. The play is set one fateful night at the home of George and Martha. After returning home from a faculty party thrown by Martha’s father, who is president of the university where George teaches, the couple is expecting guests. The guests are Nick and Honey, a new Biology professor (or Math professor if you listen to Martha) and his wife. Once the young couple arrives, they are quickly caught up in the perverse mind games that George and Martha play to help pass the time. When Edward Albee first wrote this play back in 1962, it was groundbreaking because never before had mature subject matter like this been presented in mainstream theatre. Even the movie was considered ahead of its time, it even lead to the institution of the MPAA rating system we have for movies today.
Are you interested yet? Good, I wanted to get you interested. I am hoping that this blog will make you interested enough to make the long trek to Eunice to see our show. I promise you won't want to miss this one.
Let me just tell you about the glorious cast that our incredibly talented director, Jody Powell, has assembled for this production. Deborah D. Ardoin (Debbie to us in the cast) gets to add Martha to the long list of varied character parts that she has portrayed throughout her theatre career. There is absolutely no one who has graced the Eunice stage that can begin to touch Debbie in this role. I really am enjoying watching her build this character and I believe she is bringing things to the role that Uta Hagen ( the original Broadway Martha) herself would have never thought of bringing to the role. Then there is David McGee who is playing George. He wanted this part so bad; you could see it in his eyes at auditions. I believe David has quite a few cards up his sleeve that he is not showing us yet at rehearsal. I can’t wait till he does show them because it will be fireworks for sure when George and Martha perform their exorcism (you will get this reference after you see the show).
The other member of the cast besides myself is the wonderful, Bonnie Pitre. I am so excited to share the stage with her again. I have been performing in community theatre for almost ten years now and I have never acted opposite a more giving actor. This girl never has a “Look at Me” moment. There is absolutely no vanity with her on stage and that is something almost unheard of in the theatre. I have been joking that Bonnie and I will become the poor man’s Van Reed and Kevin Miller (that joke is for the Eunice Patrons who will know who I am talking about) because this is our second play within six months where we play opposite each other. Now instead of being the gay guy and the hippie chick from Providence, we are the sexy younger couple who might have a few secrets of their own. I guess you can’t accuse Bonnie and I of not trying to stretch as actors because trust me our parts in this play couldn’t be more different than the ones we played in Providence. If you don’t believe me then ask Jody because she directed us in both plays.
So far after the first two weeks of rehearsal, we have finally blocked the play. I know that rehearsing this three act monster will bring about new challenges and some fun back stage stories. Next week I hope to have a few to share with you and I will also post some pictures. And maybe together, we can finally answer the age old question: Who exactly is afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Theatre--Performance (cast list)
As the Eunice Players’ Theatre opens its 40th anniversary season, Jody L. Powell brings a classic piece of American theatre and cinema to the stage, Edward Albee’s explosive Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Written, staged on Broadway, and brought to the silver screen in the 1960’s, the same decade as the origin of EPT, this drama about the complexities of human relationships and the games we play with ourselves and each other tells the tale of marital warfare between George and Martha. Rarely does a playwright seek to entertain with such a caustic couple, but Albee uses these namesakes of American history to draw the audience into their harrowing descent, just as they do the unsuspecting couple of Nick and Honey who appear on their doorstep for a late-night drink.
Stage veteran Deborah D. Ardoin of Eunice gives us Martha, daughter of a college president, who still struggles for her father’s acceptance. Debbi is no stranger to difficult roles, having played Chick in Crimes of the Heart and Annie Wilkes in Misery, for which she won the Best Actress Irving Award, and Yente in Fiddler on the Roof for which she also served as music director. Debbi has also directed several plays at EPT including Agnes of God, ’Night Mother, and the musicals The Fantastiks and The Sound of Music.
Former EPT actor David McGee returns to Eunice to play George, a history professor at Martha’s father’s college. Now living in Jennings, David has been active in their community theatre as an actor and set builder. EPT audiences may remember him in the roles of Bo Decker in the original Bus Stop and Bill Sikes in Oliver. He also sang his way through many of EPT’s earlier musicals including Guys and Dolls, L’il Abner and Damn Yankees.
The role of Honey, a plain, sickly woman disillusioned by marriage is played by Bonnie Pitre, a Eunice native who returns to the stage following her Irving Award-winning performance in last season’s Providence. Bonnie appeared in several plays at LSU while earning a minor degree in theatre; she has also been seen on the EPT stage in Woman and The Sound of Music. She also ran the lighting for If the Shoe Fits.
Rounding out the cast as Nick, the college’s new and ambitious biology teacher, is Gabe Ortego of Opelousas. Gabe was previously seen on the EPT stage in Never Get Smart with an Angel, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Fiddler on the Roof. Gabe has many credits from Opelousas Little Theatre, including director of Monky Business and The Last Five Years.
The show will open with a matinee on Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include April 29 - 30 and May 1 - 2 at 7:00 p.m. Individual tickets for the show are not on sale yet although season tickets may be purchased from any board member. For the price of $20.00, a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase.
Stage veteran Deborah D. Ardoin of Eunice gives us Martha, daughter of a college president, who still struggles for her father’s acceptance. Debbi is no stranger to difficult roles, having played Chick in Crimes of the Heart and Annie Wilkes in Misery, for which she won the Best Actress Irving Award, and Yente in Fiddler on the Roof for which she also served as music director. Debbi has also directed several plays at EPT including Agnes of God, ’Night Mother, and the musicals The Fantastiks and The Sound of Music.
Former EPT actor David McGee returns to Eunice to play George, a history professor at Martha’s father’s college. Now living in Jennings, David has been active in their community theatre as an actor and set builder. EPT audiences may remember him in the roles of Bo Decker in the original Bus Stop and Bill Sikes in Oliver. He also sang his way through many of EPT’s earlier musicals including Guys and Dolls, L’il Abner and Damn Yankees.
The role of Honey, a plain, sickly woman disillusioned by marriage is played by Bonnie Pitre, a Eunice native who returns to the stage following her Irving Award-winning performance in last season’s Providence. Bonnie appeared in several plays at LSU while earning a minor degree in theatre; she has also been seen on the EPT stage in Woman and The Sound of Music. She also ran the lighting for If the Shoe Fits.
Rounding out the cast as Nick, the college’s new and ambitious biology teacher, is Gabe Ortego of Opelousas. Gabe was previously seen on the EPT stage in Never Get Smart with an Angel, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Fiddler on the Roof. Gabe has many credits from Opelousas Little Theatre, including director of Monky Business and The Last Five Years.
The show will open with a matinee on Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include April 29 - 30 and May 1 - 2 at 7:00 p.m. Individual tickets for the show are not on sale yet although season tickets may be purchased from any board member. For the price of $20.00, a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 40th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Theatre--Auditions
Auditions for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? are set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25th and Thursday, February 26th at the Eunice Players' Theatre (121 S. Second St. in Eunice). Men and women are needed to fill roles for characters ages 30-50. People to help backstage are also needed. For more information, call Jody L. Powell at 580-1787.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Theatre--Performance
Following a successful showing last November, the Eunice Players' Theatre is poised to bring Providence to Cite’ Des Arts for a limited run. This two-act play written by local playwright, Cody Daigle, was produced off-off-Broadway a year ago and was deemed a critical success. Jody L. Powell and Deborah D. Ardoin, directors of the show, are proud to announce an outstanding cast.
The play involves Neil and Jo, a married couple undergoing stressful times, and Mark and Sara, two friends at a crossroads as one prepares to start a new phase of life at the other’s insistence. An unexpected life-changing event brings the two men together to form a new friendship based on shared emotions. The story is beautifully told through a blending of current events and personal flashbacks.
Playing the role of Neil is Andre Andrepont of Opelousas. Although Andre is most active at Opelousas Little Theatre, his most notable role having been Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey, he previously amused audiences on the EPT stage as Nick in Over the River and Through the Woods. Appearing as Jo, Angelle Bellard of Opelousas has recently been playing on various stages in Acadiana including Abbeville and Lafayette. She charmed Eunice audiences in the roles as Cherie in Bus Stop and Nicki in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.
Joining the cast as Mark is Gabe Ortego of Opelousas, was previously seen on the EPT stage as Joe in The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Motel in Fiddler on the Roof. Gabe has many credits from Opelousas Little Theatre, including director of Monky Business and The Last Five Years. Bonnie Pitre joins the cast as Sara, after having appeared in Woman and The Sound of Music at EPT.
The show will run January 29th, 30th and 31st at 7:30 pm. Reservations are available by calling 291-1122. Prices are $15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors. The theatre is located at 109 Vine St. in Lafayette.
The play involves Neil and Jo, a married couple undergoing stressful times, and Mark and Sara, two friends at a crossroads as one prepares to start a new phase of life at the other’s insistence. An unexpected life-changing event brings the two men together to form a new friendship based on shared emotions. The story is beautifully told through a blending of current events and personal flashbacks.
Playing the role of Neil is Andre Andrepont of Opelousas. Although Andre is most active at Opelousas Little Theatre, his most notable role having been Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey, he previously amused audiences on the EPT stage as Nick in Over the River and Through the Woods. Appearing as Jo, Angelle Bellard of Opelousas has recently been playing on various stages in Acadiana including Abbeville and Lafayette. She charmed Eunice audiences in the roles as Cherie in Bus Stop and Nicki in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.
Joining the cast as Mark is Gabe Ortego of Opelousas, was previously seen on the EPT stage as Joe in The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Motel in Fiddler on the Roof. Gabe has many credits from Opelousas Little Theatre, including director of Monky Business and The Last Five Years. Bonnie Pitre joins the cast as Sara, after having appeared in Woman and The Sound of Music at EPT.
The show will run January 29th, 30th and 31st at 7:30 pm. Reservations are available by calling 291-1122. Prices are $15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors. The theatre is located at 109 Vine St. in Lafayette.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Theatre--Performance
What began as an exercise in non-linear narrative writing is now a full-length play, currently being prepared for showing at Cite’ des Arts. The show was produced in November 2008 at the Eunice Players’ Theatre. Providence, written by Cody Daigle of Scott, LA, infuses a present day storyline with flashbacks that reveal events occurring in the months leading up to the opening scenes of the play. Jody L. Powell and Deborah D. Ardoin, directors of the play, assist the audience in shifting through time by lighting changes, set arrangement, and seamless scene changes.
The story begins and ends with two couples in an airport, with an individual from each couple on the verge of a new beginning. Their futures are uncertain as they take risks that may change their relationships with those closest to them. Unlike traditional plays where the first few scenes are used to set up the plot, this play delivers the main event early on, while the rest of the story has the characters living with the effects.
Having seen a reading of Providence, Powell knew it was a play she wanted to stage one day. “I’ve admired Cody’s work for years and am delighted to share his work with others. It’s a rare opportunity to direct a script written by someone with his talent from this area.” Daigle was pleased to see the play produced by the Eunice institution and is excited to see it brought to his home base in Lafayette. “It’s an honor that my work was chosen when there are so many other options,” he stated.
Daigle’s work is well written, with conversations between the characters so real and honest, that it was chosen by Maeutic TheatreWorks, an off-Broadway company in New York City, to be a part of their 2008 season. The show ran for a month in February and received positive reviews. Byrne Harrison of Stage Buzz Review called it a “a beautiful and touching work of art not to be missed”.
Laurie Lawson, critic for a theatre based website, noted the use of sophisticated and sharp humor to reveal the development of an unexpected, emerging friendship between two men. Their conversations are underscored by the meaning of “providence” as it becomes more than just a destination when the word is capitalized.
This marks the third play Daigle has had produced in New York City, including Life/Play at the International Fringe Festival in 2007, and The Last Night of the World in 2006. His works have also been produced in Lafayette over the past several years.
On the heels of the show’s New York success, Powell assembled a cast of experienced actors she knew would deliver the range of emotions these multi-faceted characters have to display. Andre Andrepont, Angelle Bellard, Gabe Ortego, and Bonnie Pitre fulfill their duties admirably following weeks of character exploration and development that will leave audiences pondering the similarities between the life experiences they share with the characters. Ardoin’ contributions to the set and lighting designs set the mood and enhance the actors’ dialogue.
The show runs January 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are available by calling 291-1122. Prices are $15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors. The theatre is located at 109 Vine St. in Lafayette.
The story begins and ends with two couples in an airport, with an individual from each couple on the verge of a new beginning. Their futures are uncertain as they take risks that may change their relationships with those closest to them. Unlike traditional plays where the first few scenes are used to set up the plot, this play delivers the main event early on, while the rest of the story has the characters living with the effects.
Having seen a reading of Providence, Powell knew it was a play she wanted to stage one day. “I’ve admired Cody’s work for years and am delighted to share his work with others. It’s a rare opportunity to direct a script written by someone with his talent from this area.” Daigle was pleased to see the play produced by the Eunice institution and is excited to see it brought to his home base in Lafayette. “It’s an honor that my work was chosen when there are so many other options,” he stated.
Daigle’s work is well written, with conversations between the characters so real and honest, that it was chosen by Maeutic TheatreWorks, an off-Broadway company in New York City, to be a part of their 2008 season. The show ran for a month in February and received positive reviews. Byrne Harrison of Stage Buzz Review called it a “a beautiful and touching work of art not to be missed”.
Laurie Lawson, critic for a theatre based website, noted the use of sophisticated and sharp humor to reveal the development of an unexpected, emerging friendship between two men. Their conversations are underscored by the meaning of “providence” as it becomes more than just a destination when the word is capitalized.
This marks the third play Daigle has had produced in New York City, including Life/Play at the International Fringe Festival in 2007, and The Last Night of the World in 2006. His works have also been produced in Lafayette over the past several years.
On the heels of the show’s New York success, Powell assembled a cast of experienced actors she knew would deliver the range of emotions these multi-faceted characters have to display. Andre Andrepont, Angelle Bellard, Gabe Ortego, and Bonnie Pitre fulfill their duties admirably following weeks of character exploration and development that will leave audiences pondering the similarities between the life experiences they share with the characters. Ardoin’ contributions to the set and lighting designs set the mood and enhance the actors’ dialogue.
The show runs January 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are available by calling 291-1122. Prices are $15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors. The theatre is located at 109 Vine St. in Lafayette.
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