Theatre--Performance

Aquila Theatre Company, an internationally known theatre company, kicks off the next PASA in the Park with their presentation of The Comedy of Errors, a free outdoor performance offering from the Performing Arts of Society (PASA). This performance is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 30 in Parc International in downtown Lafayette. Gates open at 6 p.m.

The evening event on October 30th is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted but not required. For more information about all upcoming Performing Arts Society of Acadiana presentations, visit www.pasa-online.org or call (337) 237-2787.

Theatre--Review (Teche theatre for the Performing Arts)

Franklin’s Teche Theater for the Performing Arts chose Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as its 2008-2009 season opener. According to cast-member Ed Verdin, “We always choose deep, challenging, thought-provoking dramas that showcase acting talent.” And this they did. Ably and passionately directed by Allison Jones, the classic came to life in the hands of a talented and dedicated cast. The drama takes place in one day, and involves the terminal diagnosis of Big Daddy, and the reactions of his wife, sons, and in-laws to the situation. Underlying the story are the concepts of truth, love and lust of various kinds.

Act I belongs to Maggie, and in this case LaDaisha Bowles was more than up to the challenges of the role. Seductive, determined, yet hurting, her sensitive performance let us know exactly who is the cat on the hot tin roof and that she wants to get off. With a near-perfect accent, catlike movements, and full of sexual tension she firmly established the sexuality inherent in the story. Brick, played by Ed “Tiger” Verdin was indeed confounded by the cat he shared his life with. His “Brick,” the alcoholic older son of Big Daddy, was well done. Never over-reacting, never showing spunk, despite the pleading of his wife, the taunts of his brother and sister-in-law and the “mendacity of life,” he finds his consolation and hiding place in the bottle. And therein lays his problem. Through Verdin’s performance we see Brick’s weakness and frustration.

Act II, of course, belongs to Big Daddy on a talking jag, as Brick comments. Foul-mouthed and irascible, as the patriarch of the family Big Daddy provides the philosophical underpinning of the plot. “Ignorance of mortality is a comfort,” he notes, but “A man can’t buy back his life, once his life is finished.” Larry Deslatte’s Big Daddy was aristocratic, feisty, powerful, and confident. He confessed to playing the southern gentleman, but admitted to being anything but. In his performance on-stage he smokes a cigar and the aroma filling the auditorium only added to the characterization. With a face like Burl Ives, but a smaller frame, he nonetheless filled the stage. High point in the entire drama was the confrontation between Big Daddy and Brick ending Act II. The dramatic intensity was overwhelming as Brick finally reveals the problem in his relationship with youthful friend Skipper. Bravo to Verdin and Deslatte for an exhilarating moment at the theater!

Act III finally brings the entire family together in the resolution of the story and the conflicts that have been built up. Big Mama, played by Denise Hodge, finally has her chance to show her stuff, and despite her world collapsing around her she does so with real spunk. She roars, she cries, but she goes on. Ricky Pellerin as Gooper and Erin Segura as Mae are perfectly matched as the frivolous, greedy, catty “younger sibling family.” And their children are … obnoxious. The fertile family provides the little “comic relief” in the story, and is to be commended for supporting, but not overwhelming, the efforts of the four central characters. The rest of the cast, Tyra Yarber (Rev Tooker) and Christian Glorioso (Dr. Baugh) and a staff of five servants admirably did the job of bringing the time, place, and family life to the stage.

The set designed by Tyra Yarber and constructed under master builder Brett Casselman was a wonder. We could feel we were in a plantation, where the rich and successful confronted real life. A slightly raked bed made the bedroom scenes easy to see and follow.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof plays only four performances, and regrettably half are already over. Only Monday, October 20 and Tuesday, October 21 are left. The show is long (over 3 hours plus 2 intermissions), but if you are interested in serious theater, is well worth the trip. A big “Bravo” to director, cast, and organization for such an ambitious undertaking.

--Don Voorhies

Theatre--Review (Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts)

After watching the Pollitt family celebrate the patriarch's birthday in Tennessee Williams' classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, you will go home and clasp your own dysfunctional family to bosom with gratitude. Infidelity, homosexuality, alcoholism, chicanery and children in need of domestication--this play has it all spread out among a cast with names like Gooper, Sister-Woman, Brick and Maggie The Cat.

The plot basically consists of the struggle to inherit Big Daddy Pollitt's vast estate. Like all the best tycoons he has made no will and clearly favors one son over the other. It's people like this that keep Dear Abby in business. Well, Big Daddy has terminal cancer, his favorite son is a lush and probably gay. The other son is a responsible lawyer with a wife and five and a half children. Guess who isn't getting bupkis if Big Daddy DOES sign a will.

Brick is laid up in his room (at Daddy's house) with a broken ankle and no visible means of support. His sole comfort is a well-stocked liquor cabinet which insulates him from the demands of his frustrated wife, Maggie (the cat of the title). Maggie wants love, money and a child and all that stands in her way is a feckless husband who can't seem to get past the fact that Maggie tried to commit adultery with Brick's best friend Skipper. This resulted in Skipper telling Brick that he couldn't have sex with Maggie because she was the wrong half of the couple. Brick pitched a fit, Skipper died and Maggie spends all of Act One thinking over the wisdom of THAT plan.

Brick and Maggie's bedroom is Ground Zero for the rest of the family who traipse in and out without bothering to knock. This probably has an inhibiting effect on Brick's libido but it's not the worst of his problems. Eventually Maggie tells Big Daddy a big fib. She claims to be pregnant--by Brick--and ends the play by pouring out Brick's alcohol and propping him up in bed while she lays down the law.

This play is VERY tricky for a number of reasons. In the first place there really isn't ANYONE you would care to know personally. They range from annoying to repellent and the moral center of this universe is a drunk.

Second, the entire first act is a virtual monologue by Maggie as she has to enlist our sympathy while laying out the whole plot and psychoanalyzing every character who matters, living or dead. All this while putting on stockings and makeup with the aim of getting a rise out of her surly husband who barely speaks to her. That's pretty much the first act.

In the second act we find out, along with Brick, that Big Daddy has no problem with homosexuality. It worked for him and he sees no reason it shouldn't work for Brick. Big Daddy points out that Brick is his own worst enemy and Brick gives Big Daddy a bit of news in return. Big Daddy is going to die of cancer, sooner rather than later. Big Daddy takes it like a man--he has a tantrum.

In act three everyone concedes that nice guys finish last, though nobody in this play actually knows one. Still, the gloves come off and finally Maggie and Brick, who have prided themselves on honesty if nothing else (and they're right about that), connive in lying to the rest of the family about Maggie's pregnancy. Apparently, the thinking is that sex got them into this mess and sex can get them out of it again.

Despite a cast of thousands, the play is really a three-person drama. It rises and falls on Maggie, Big Daddy and Brick. Brick has the miserable job of being the reactor to everything that happens. He never initiates anything but his responses are vital to the performances of the other two. He needs to be able to hold our interest by saying and doing virtually nothing. Maggie has to hit notes other than sex and Big Daddy has to get past being a crude narcissist.

You can see a handsome production of this staple of the American Theatre at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts in Franklin on Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, at 7:30.

The production, directed by Allison Jones, looks great and features some fine acting. Ladaisha Bowles is a commanding Maggie and Larry Deslatte Jr., a blustery Big Daddy. As Brick, Ed Verdin makes art of surly silence which is capable of abrupt explosions. Erin Segura is a pretty and sympathetic Mae and Ricky Pellerin makes you sympathize with Gooper. Denise Hodge is a "smother" for the ages as Big Mama. The no-neck monsters are little horrors and the guests and servants look appropriately uncomfortable at the shenanigans going on around them.

Put a little extra aside for the baby-sitter, though. The production runs over three hours. Language and thematic material make this a PG (PG-13?) evening.
---Walter Brown

Opera--Performance

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and the UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre have announced their joint production of The Marriage of Figaro. Dates for the performances are April 30th (7:30 pm), May 2nd (7:30 pm) and May 3rd (tentatively scheduled at 3 pm). The May 3rd production will feature the student cast. There will also be 2 performances for area schools on May 1st (at 9 am and 11 am). The opera will be performed in English and directed by Shawn Roy and conducted by Maiusz Smolij accompanied by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra.

All performances will be at Angelle Hall's Ducrest-Gilchrist Auditorium on the UL-Lafayette campus. Tickets can be purchased from the Acadiana Syphony (412 Travis Street in the Oil Center).

Theatre--Performances

This is from The Rocky Horror Show production team:

Remaining Hedwig performances (all at 8 pm): 10/23, 10/25, 10/31

Remaining Rocky Horror perforamnces:
10/18(TONIGHT!) at 8pm and Midnight
10/24 (8 pm and Midnight)
10/31 at Midnight (almost sold out)
and 11/1 at 8 pm

Reactions have been great...Audiences have been large
Come join the fun
Reserve your seats TODAY!

Theatre--Performance

The Evangeline Players are proud to present their Christmas show, It's A Wonderful Life. Based on the beloved classic starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, this adaptation by Doug Rand from the screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling, has kept all the magic of the original movie. George Bailey, played by Steven "Smitty" Smith, Jr., receives a wonderful gift: the ability to see what his life would have been like had he never been born, and the results are life-altering. All the rich characters are there: the loving wife Mary (Stephanie Judice), the congenial drunkard Uncle Billy (Milton Resweber), the despicable Mr. Potter (Bob Sidman), and the angel in training Clarence Oddbody (Vincent P. Barras). A cast of twenty actors under the direction of Vincent P. Barras brings this Frank Capra masterpiece to life. The cast includes Joyce Case, Kristyn Champagne, Ivy Fauntleroy, Isabelle and Peyton Florsheim, Kayla Heintz, Jacob and Justin Judice, Keith Laperouse, Sarah Leonard, Chris Parich, Will Perry, Jesse Schexnayder, Mac Stearns, Audrey Thibodeaux, and Dr. Daniel Wiltz.

The play opens at the DuChamp Opera House in St. Martinville on Friday November 7th and runs until Sunday November 23rd, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be obtained by calling the DuChamp Opera House at 394-6604 or Shamrock Office Supply at 394-5574.

Theatre--Review (UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre)

Ray Blum reviews the UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre production of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know in the October 17th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Performance

Rehearsals are underway at the Eunice Players' Theatre for Providence, the final production of the season. This two-act play written by local playwright, Cody Daigle, was produced off-off-Broadway earlier this year and was deemed a critical success. Jody L. Powell, director of the show, is proud to announce an outstanding cast, composed of theater veterans and returning favorites.

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 has recently been playing on various stages in Acadiana including Abbeville and Lafayette. Eunice audiences may remember her roles Cherie in Bus Stop and Nicki in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.

Joining the cast as Mark, Gabe Ortego is fast becoming a Eunice staple as he was cast earlier this year as Joe in The Last Night of Ballyhoo and last year as 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 returns to the EPT stage as Sara, after having appeared in Woman and The Sound of Music, and running the lighting for If the Shoe Fits.

The show will open with a matinee on Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Monday, November 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include November 5, 6, and 8 at 7:00 p.m., and the play will close with a matinee performance on Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Season ticket holders should call 866-856-3653 to make reservations. Individuals without season tickets can purchase tickets by calling Louis Wright's Store at 337-457-3330. Tickets are $10; dinner (steak, sides, dessert) plus ticket is $25. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.

Theatre--Performance

The Theatre League of Louisiana presents The Pajama Game at the Heymann Center on Wednesday, October 15th at 7:30 pm.

From Music Theatre International:

The dangers of a workplace romance are explored to hysterical effect in this romantic comedy from the creators of Damn Yankees. Conditions at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory are anything but peaceful, as sparks fly between new superintendent Sid Sorokin and Babe Williams, leader of the union grievance committee. Their stormy relationship comes to a head when the workers strike for a 7½-cent pay increase, setting off not only a conflict between management and labor, but a battle of the sexes as well.

Bright and brassy, this unconventional, fast-paced Broadway favorite is every bit the embodiment of legendary director George Abbott at his very best. The energetic score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross is brimming with songs and dances, which have become popular and musical theatre standards (among them “Hey There,” “Steam Heat” and “Hernando’s Hideaway”) and features plenty of splashy, fun production numbers, including a comic “dream ballet.” For solid, classic musical comedy, it’s hard to beat The Pajama Game.

For more information, ccontact the Heymann Center.

Theatre--Peformance

Aquila Theatre will perform the classic drama The Iliad in a daytime performance for junior high and high school students at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday October 29 at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Admission for the student performance is $5 per person through advance registration with PASA. Interested principals and teachers can call the PASA office at (337) 237-2787 for more information.

Theatre--Master Class

On Wednesday, October 29, PASA and Acting Up!, the professional theater company at the Acadiana Center for the Arts (ACA), will host a master class with members of Aquila Theatre. The class will be held at the ACA from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

" This master class is a theatrical training opportunity for actors in our community to connect professionally with and learn from Aquila Theatre Company, a highly respected acting troupe known for staging original and innovative performances," says PASA Executive Director Jacqueline Lyle.

Company members from Aquila Theatre will teach an advanced physical theater master class that gives participant a chance to experience the requirements and discipline of working and performing in a physical theatre company. It focuses on ensemble acting and participants will explore the imaginative and physical resources that the company uses in order to create its own unique theatrical style.

The master class fee is $10 and, due to space limitations, registration in advance is required by calling (337) 233-7060.

For more information about all upcoming performance of Performing Arts Society of Acadiana, visit www.pasaonline.org or call the PASA office at (337) 237-2787

Theatre--Performance

Lafayette (La) Acadiana residents have the opportunity to experience a comedy classic and flex their acting skills when the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA) hosts a variety of community activities leading up to Aquila Theatre's performance of The Comedy of Errors on October 30, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

Aquila Theatre headlines PASA's annual free performance at Parc International in downtown Lafayette on October 30th, 2008 at 7:30pm. PASA in the Park is an annual event sponsored this year by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, FM Bank, E Bell Designs and Centennial Wireless. This performance is also supported in part by grants from Southern Arts Federation, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and additional grants as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

The first event is a community discussion led by ULL's Dr. Susan Nicassio at the Iberia Public Library main branch on Tuesday October 21 at 6:00 p.m. that will focus on The Comedy of Errors, a classic Shakespearean comedy that is considered by some to be a brilliantly encrypted message to a deeply divided Elizabethan England. Others consider it is a hilariously entertaining comedy written by one of literature's greatest dramatists.

Aquila Theatre returns to the Parc International stage exactly 3 years after they launched the very first PASA in the Parc. In 2005, PASA was set to present Aquila Theatre's Hamlet at the Heymann Performing Arts Center but due to the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Heymann Center became unavailable due to the housing of storm evacuees.

After deciding to go forward with the performance, PASA decided to move the show to Parc International and was such a hit that PASAthe Park became an annual offering

The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare's most well known comedies. The plot of the story involves two pairs of identical twins in the same household separated by a devastating shipwreck and a hilarious case of mistaken identity. But as the comedy unfolds, all is not what it seems.

The New York Times says: "No one who sees the rousing production by the excellent Aquila Theater Company will forget a whit of it."

The Aquila Theatre's imaginative production of Shakespeare's classic comedy is a "must-see" for newcomers to Shakespeare and current enthusiasts alike. The company has won international praise for their innovative presentations of classical drama and their unique staging of classical comedy. Aquila has also received prestigious international awards and high praise from audiences, critics and scholars. Some of their accomplishments include representing the National Endowment of the Arts at the White House and performing Shakespeare for the President and First Lady and, in the summer of 2007, making their Edinburgh Festival debut.

"This is a great night of fun for everyone come out and see theatre in best way possible at Parc International under the stars with family and friends," says PASA Executive Director Jacqueline Lyle, "The best part is that it is free so everyone will have the chance to experience a fantastic theatrical production."

In addition to the performance, audience goers are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costume and compete for a variety of prizes, including tickets to upcoming PASA performances. The contest starts at 6:30 p.m. and costume categories include: most creative, scariest and cutest costume. This is an all ages contest and everyone is invited to participate.

Limited bleacher seating will be available and PASA in the Park-goers are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Beverages and popcorn will be available for purchase and picnic dinners are welcome. However, no ice chests or pets are allowed.

The evening event on October 30th is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted but not required.

Theatre--Contest

PASA is sponsoring a contest to choose a local performer in the 100 Years Of Broadway show. Winner will sing a solo part in the finale! Runners up will sing one chorus number with the stars of the 100 Years of Broadway Show at the Heymann Center on Thursday November 13,2008. All runners-up and winners will receive a pair of tickets, and a free show CD.

Audition Today!

To submit an audition: You must be 15 years of age or older. No purchase necessary. Winner must be available at the Heymann Performing Arts Center by 1 PM on the day of the performance for sound check and rehearsal. Entries recieve an automatic 15% discount on tickets to the show. You can upload your audition using MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.

MySpace: Submit a friend request to Singing With the Broadway Stars.
Facebook: Become a fan of Singing With the Broadway Stars.
YouTube: Add Singing With the Broadway Stars as a friend.

No video camera? No problem!

Acadiana Open Channel will video auditions and assist applicants with uploading the video to the contest website for free! Interested applicants should call AOC at (337) 232-4434 ext. 201 to schedule an appointment.

For more detailed information and how to submit your audition go to: www.singingwiththebroadwaystars.com.

Contest Ends: Friday, October 31 at 5 pm

Questions? Visit us online at www.pasaonline.org or call (337) 237-2787.

Theatre--Review (UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre)

Secrets Every Traveler Should Know is inspired by the Fodor travel guide of the same title. This revue, which ran for 900 performances on Broadway, is packed with useful information and suggestions. Uzbekistan is a place to get away from it all--from it ALL. You can have a hot time in Martinique. The William Morris Travel Agency will do for your travel plans what is has done for Paris Hilton's career plans. Dark pleasures and heartaches await those intrepid enough to actually wait for the next operator.

Originally performed with only four actors and a small combo, this production has expanded the cast to 14 singers and dancers accompanied by a piano and bass. This presents no problems and creates the opportunity to see an additional ten talented young people on the stage. Although not all of the performers are Vocal Arts majors, all of them have experience singing and dancing on stage. It shows. The clever lyrics are clearly enunciated and the dances are fun to watch. There is even an audience participation line dance taught by the cast at the end of the intermission!

A revue is just a collection of skits, songs and dances, usually humorous and satirical. Secrets is genuinely funny and the cast has a wonderful time presenting the material. It would be hard to pick a favorite performer although Jared LeBlanc has "star" written all over him. Martha and Ruth Diaz and Jenee Luquette are perfect as Barbie Doll stewardesses. Sasha Massey is a torch-singing Carol Burnett. Nick Manzo brought the house down with a rubber glove. Kristina Marshall can dominate a stage just standing there--although she does considerably more than that in a Carmen-Miranda getup backed by a male chorus right out of Vegas. Lindy Waldmeier is a martini-swilling beauty on a cruise to ennui with Brandon Breaux who may be the incarnation of Noel Coward's id. Evan Melancon can milk an audience sleeping in a chair! Nathan Abbot brings Rat Pack savoir-faire to a scene about what we leave behind when we leave home. Kevin Credeur looks like Ratso Rizzo as he sweats through customs. Alex Hollerman is a hoot as a small-town girl with a big city heartache who has a bus ticket and isn't afraid to use it. Stacy Broussard shows us why Star Search will never go out of fashion.

The whole cast just sparkles playing a variety of characters in the thirty or so songs and skits. Music Director/Pianist Marcus McCullough gets some great lines in a salute to the Salzburg Mozart Festival. Marcus is worth watching anyway. This man lives his music. He also has the best musical joke in the show as he tries to extricate himself from the last few bars of a Mozart concerto. Robert Nash, on bass, has some great expressions.

The costumes are witty, especially the stewardess outfits and the costume for NAKED IN PITTSBURGH which was a clear audience favorite. HOT LAVA puts the emphasis on HOT. I have to say it was my favorite number for staging, costume, performance and all-round pizzazz. But really, any number would be someone's favorite and they all deserve it. Check out Ruth Diaz and Evan Melancon in orthotic devices singing and dancing like Astaire and Rogers--in body casts. What's not to love?

Small pieces moving on and off the stage combined with a clever backdrop let the show move along smoothly and quickly and supply all the visual reference we need. Sound and lights are smooth.

You could see a production of this show that spent more money, but you won't see a better production.

Smart Traveler Secret # 100--This show is about to close. Catch it tonight. Secret #101--Director Shawn Roy is a local treasure. Tell him so.

Secret #120--The acoustics in the room are fine unless you sit right next to the piano, as I did. Leave a little space so that you can hear the singers better. The show is not amplified so the singers have to hold their own with the musicians. They can and do, but they're more successful when they are closer to the audience than the musicians are.
---Walter Brown

Theatre--Review (UL- Lafayette Opera theare)

Don’t miss the boat! Secrets Every Traveler Should Know, the UL- Lafayette Opera Theater Guild’s presentation at Fletcher Hall, is a winner. Full of humor, great music, enthusiastic performances, and recalling Everyman’s travel experiences, it provides two hours of pure fun, joy and pleasure! Based on Wendy Perrin’s Fodor travel guide of the same name, it presents in song, dance and skit the mishaps, pitfalls, and pleasures every traveler has experienced … whether by plane, boat or bus. It also deals with a few “closer to home” experiences.

A “Revue,” rather than proper “book musical,” Secrets presents a series of vignettes related to travel and travelers. There are the archetypal stewardess types, car rental agents, customs officials, and of course tourists--tourists who have lost their luggage, tourists seeing America first, tourists with “Montezuma’s Revenge,” tourists at the buffet. A running joke everyone in the audience will identify with is the frustrated customer on the other end of an automated service call. Whether dealing with a travel agent or a credit card company, everyone can empathize with the man trying, and trying, and trying to get a hold of a live person! The music ranges from Latin dance numbers (two of them), to a French cabaret song, to a take-off (pun intended) on the Salzburg Music Festival. Much of the music, though, reminds one of what might have been heard in the nightclubs in Vegas, New York, or maybe Monte Carlo in the 60’s and 70’s. With songs and sketches by a group of thirteen writers, the show is hip, nostalgic, irreverent and clever. There is never a dull moment.

In a traditional musical, one has the luxury of meeting and following the characters. By my count over sixty “characters” are introduced to the audience during this show. And the cast numbers but fourteen! Let’s see, my travel computer tells me that’s about 4 characters per cast member! And every character was distinct, every one was perfect. Through marvelous costuming, a quick-change set, and outstanding acting we meet ‘em all. (Hey, if you travelled you met ‘em all and maybe even did it all before!). The singing is outstanding, as is par for a Shawn Roy production. Whether in individual numbers, duets, or choral singing, every (unmiked) word and note were crystal clear! In this show even the pianist had lines, and both pianist and bassist had a costume change. And the audience, well, at one point half of them were dancing on the stage. It was that much fun!

A revue, by definition, is a true ensemble endeavor, so I won’t even attempt to pick out the best among them. I had my favorites, and others had theirs. Suffice it to say that every one of these performers was wonderful. Ranging from college graduates, to current UL students, to community members, these fourteen young performers would make anyone proud they are in our area!

The finale of both the first and second act is the song “See It Now.” And you better! The remaining performances are Friday and Saturday night (October 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday Matinees (October 11 and 12 at 3:00 p.m.). Tickets are only available at the door. Don’t miss the boat! You’ll regret it.
---Donald Voorhies

Theatre--Article

Cody Daigle has an article about The Rocky Horror Show in the Friday, October 10th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Workshops

Acting Up (in Acadiana) invites the public to take part in free, open to the public sessions exploring the collaboration of actors, musicians, and writers.

Observe a process which will generate a contemporary story exploring issues of our time and the potential for music to heal. Observe the creative process. Talk with artists. Offer feedback during the development sessions.

Each Monday, October 13th - December 8th.
6:00 - 7:45p.m.
Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA)
101 W. Vermilion St. in downtown Lafayette

Each Monday will highlight a new musician!

October 13 Carol Fran
October 20 Chris Stafford
October 27 Henry Gray

November 3 Chris Courville
November 10 Bernard Pierce
November 17 Henry Gray
November 24 Bernard Pierce

December 1 Chris Courville
December 8 Chris Stafford

Please contact Paige Krause at (337)513-5106 with any questions.

These workshops are sponsored in part by the Acadiana Arts Council and the Louisiana Division of the Arts.

Theatre--Performance

Acting Up (in Acadiana) voices its patriotism in The Patriot ACTs II, a series of short plays, video & song. Taking an often humorous look at the state of our political system as the 2008 Presidential Election approaches are fisherman in a boat without a paddle, a mother, a daughter and their socio-political generation gap, an oilman with an environmental conscience and a boss without one, a diverse cast of characters waiting in line to vote, and more.

The show features contributors from Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Houston & New York City. Actors include Hannah Briggs, Ricky Briggs, Lian Cheramie, Brian Crutchfield, David Guarisco, Kara Guarisco, Megan LeBleu, George Saucier, andCissy Whipp. Writers include Vince LiCata (Caribou X-ing), Steven Cooper(Currents), Cindy Childress (Brick Walls Talking Again), Dennis Ward (Lowered Expectations) and Kimberly J. Wescott (Museum Peace). Highlights are Walter Pierce appearing as a musician/songwriter with The Middle Class Squeeze, and Joseph Lymus’ Stimulus Check music video. Amy Waguespack directs, Marla Kristicevich leads the carnival and Paige Krause choreographs.

The Patriot ACTs II will take place at The Blue Moon Guest House and Saloon (215 E. Convent Street) on October 16th, 17th, and 18th at 7 pm. Come early and stay late for the ‘carnival’. All tickets are $10 and are available at the
door. For more information call (337) 309- 4964 or (337) 739-4273.

Tickets for the two performances of the Lafayette Ballet Theatre's upcoming production of The Nutcracker (7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Heymann Performing Arts Center) are available now. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets may visit the Heymann Center box office Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4p.m. and on weekends during scheduled events, or they may call (337) 262-8686 to reserve tickets by phone. Tickets are also available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including online at www.ticketmaster.com. They are priced according to seat location, as follows: front orchestra, $37; back orchestra, $32; first balcony, $27, second balcony, $22. Prices listed do not include Ticketmaster fees. Reduced rates are available for large groups and students.

Audiences will enjoy a magical experience as talented artists, dazzling stage sets, spectacular special effects and Peter Tchaikovsky’s delightful musical score bring this engaging E. T. A. Hoffmann tale to life before their eyes! An Acadiana tradition, this full-length classical ballet featuring local dancers and principal guest artists from the Pacific Northwest Ballet sold out in previous years, so organizers are advising patrons to purchase tickets early to ensure availability.

For more fun and to further support Lafayette Ballet Theatre--a nonprofit ballet company and arts education outreach organization--Nutcracker fans of all ages are encouraged to attend the annual fundraiser “Land of the Sweets.” This social event immediately follows the Sunday, Dec. 7 matinee Nutcracker performance (about 4 p.m.) at Iberiabank Tower (200 W. Congress St. in Downtown Lafayette). Attendees may enjoy coffee or soft drinks while sampling hors d’oeuvres and sweets from area restaurants. Stars of The Nutcracker will be on hand for autographs as well as photos, so don your dressy apparel!

Tickets for “Land of the Sweets” are $15 in advance or $20 at the door and are only sold by Lafayette Ballet Theatre. For more information or for tickets to “Land of the Sweets,” call (337) 262-0444 or visit our web site at www.LafayetteBalletTheatre.org.

Theatre-Performance

The UL Opera Theatre production of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know opens Thursday, October 9th at 7:30 pm. Performances will be Thursday, October 9th; Friday, October 10th and Saturday, October 11th at 7:30 pm. There will also be 2 matinees: Saturday, October 11th and Sunday, October 12th at 3 pm.

Tickets are available only at the door. For more information, call 482-6012.

Theatre--Performance

Cody Daigle as Hedwig

Hedwig And The Angry Inch continues its run at Cite Des Arts on Thursday, October 9th and Saturday, October 11th.

For times, reservations or more information, call Cite at 291-1122.

Theatre--Performance

Dr. Frank-n-Furter

The DiscoProdutions presentation ofThe Rocky Horror Show continues its run at Cite Des Arts on Friday, October 10th.

For times, reservations or more information, call Cite at 291-1122.

Theatre--Review (The Abbey Players)

The Abbey Players are currently presenting a thoroughly delightful production of the Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts musical revue, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. It's a series of skits, mostly comic, about relationships between men and women. The views expressed are nothing new but that does not mean that they are shallow or untrue. As in real life, some relationships are wonderful, some are OK and some are failures. There are some sharp comments and some racy dialogue so you may want to leave the younger kids at home. However, nothing in the show is offensive.

The score is the kind you will forget even while you are listening to it, but the clever lyrics more than compensate.

Staging is elegantly simple with a bare stage graced by a bandstand and a few tables and chairs plus a rolling platform which becomes a bed and a sofa. Changing the arrangement of furniture, adding a few hand props, evocative lighting and a few slide projections are more than enough to set each scene.

The accompaniment is two keyboards played by Jason Pennington and Rebecca LeBlanc. They support the singers admirably. Accompanying is a rare talent and a good accompanist is a godsend in live performance.

Act One concerns getting to the altar and ends with a wedding; Act Two concerns what happens afterwards. Each performer gets a chance to shine. J. Larry Blount is wonderful in "Shouldn't I Love You Less" which is a Valentine to successful, long-term relationships. When he and Jill Stewart, as his wife, connect for a moment at the end of the song it is as true and affecting a moment as you will ever see on stage.

Scott Meddows uses his impressive size and a complete personality makeover to portray a prisoner who literally frightens a mismatched couple into new lives. Jessica Quinn is funny, heartbreaking and admirable as a divorced woman trying to keep her dignity while rebuilding her life in "Rosie Ritz's First Dating Video". And Jill Stewart is hysterical in "Always a Bridesmaid".

But, to be honest, they are all wonderful as characters ranging from lounge lizards to nerds to sophisticates. Director Diane Moss has a dream cast and she has showcased them beautifully. This is a cast which glows with the joy of live performance on the stage. Their enthusiasm is infectious!

The choreography by Rebecca LeBlanc is simple and sparse but very clever. I particularly loved the opening number and "On The Highway Of Love" which is performed entirely in chairs!

It's hard to imagine a better production of this show. If you are looking for an entertaining evening with a little bite and a lot of heart, be sure to catch I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
---Walter Brown

Theatre--Reviews

Ray Blum of the Daily Advertiser reviews That's the Spirit (an IPAL production that recently ended its run) and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (the Abbey Players' currently running production) in the Friday, October 3rd edition.

Theatre--Performance

Discoprodutions and Cite Des Arts presents The Rocky Horror Show, opening October 4th at 8 pm at Cite. Performance dates are October 4th, 10th, 18th, 24th and 31st and November 1st. October 4th through the 24th and the November 1st performances are at 8 pm. On October 18th, 24th and 31st there will be midnight performances. All tickets for The Rocky Horror Show are $15.

For additional information and to reserve tickets, please call Cite des Arts at
291-1122.

Event

UL-Lafayette and Cité des Arts presents the Second Annual Banned Book Reading Event. This event celebrates the American Library Association's Banned Book week--a week celebrating books that have been banned or challenged around the world. The reading will be Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 7:30pm in Cite des Arts. It will feature English Department faculty and graduate students from ULL sharing their most beloved banned books. Some of the works include the Bible, Harry Potter, Leaves of Grass, and Lolita. General admission is $5.00, and for students with proper ID admission is $2.00.

Theatre--Auditions

Omni Artiste Productions,Inc will hold auditions for the upcoming November production of Spirit North by Leslie Lee. This is a story of a black defense attorney who brilliantly wins successful acquittals for his clients that place him in profound conflict with his wife and family. It will be directed by Dr. Alex Marshall. The show requires two African American males (one in his late 30s to early 40s and one in his 70s) and two African American females (both in their 30s to early 40s). The audition will also require reading excerpts from the script.



WHEN: OCTOBER-11--2-4PM
OCTOBER 12--4-6PM
OCTOBER--13--6-8PM

WHERE: CITE DES ARTS

Theatre--Review Addendum

The first paragraph was accidentally left out of the review of Hedwig And The Angry Inch. The second paragraph is in response to comments about this review which I think do deserve to be addressed.

Cody Daigle is one of the few performers in Acadiana who can sell tickets on his own name regardless of the project or the venue. If you don't already know why this is the case, his performance as Hedwig is a convincing demonstration. I would particularly recommend aspiring actors pay attention to Cody's use of his voice which encompasses virtually his entire vocal range from top to bottom; all of his dynamic range from pianissimo to fortissimo and a variety of tempos from slow to fast. Very few American actors use their voices as adroitly. When delivering lines by more than one character he makes each person vocally utterly distinct in accent and tonality.

Mea Culpa: I have a hearing impairment and it may be that my difficulty understanding the songs is a purely personal problem. Also, in response to complaints about my remark that there are really only two reasons to see the show let me add two more reasons. This is a genuinely unique theatre piece and we may not get another chance to see it live on stage. Sure, you could rent the film--but it's not the same thing.
---Walter Brown

Theatre--Performance

Mac Stearns, the director of the IPAL production If It's Monday, This Must be Christmas!, has announced the cast and crew of the show:
Harry Monday... Mike Berry
Titus Harrigan... Donald Voorhies
Loretta Mondello... Carmen Nicholson
Scarlet Kloontz... Erin Segura
Trixie O’Brien... Blythe Bull
Louie Grandville... Michael Durand
Carson Page... Travis Guillory
Penny Harrigan... Sarah Leonard
Mildred Wolensky... Kristin Anderson
Harold... Matthew Lasseighe
Opaline Lampbert... Martha Gilfoil
Polly Brogan... Isabell Gilfoil
Lieutenant Brogan... Mike Boroto
Stage Manager... Matthew Dugan

Theatre--Audition

Auditions for Oklahoma!, this season’s IPAL musical presentation, will be held at the Essanee Theater in New Iberia on Sunday, November 2nd from 2-5 p.m., and Monday, November 3rd from 5:30-7 p.m. The production will be directed by Don Voorhies. Auditions for all parts are open, and those wishing to obtain materials in advance may call Don Voorhies (364-1975), IPAL (364-6114), or e-mail the production team at ipaloklahoma@cox.net. Audition material is also available at the Essanee Theater on October 6th-9th between 6 and 7 p.m.

Theatre--Review

Fearless, cool, ferocious are just a couple of words that passed through my mind after seeing this thrilling show. From the opening chords to the final notes, I was hooked. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a bold piece of theatre that has understandably drawn comparisons to The Rocky Horror Show. I don’t want to give too much of the shows plot away because I believe it is best to be ignorant about certain plot points before seeing it so I’ll be brief. Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the story of a young boy from East Berlin who moves to the U.S. after a botched sex change and a quickie marriage to an American G.I. (You’re hooked already; I can feel it.) Hedwig‘s marriage quickly dissolves and she finds catharsis in rock and roll. She even mentors a young kindred spirit to rock superstardom. Lonely and bitter, the “internationally ignored” Hedwig tells her story in a serious of flashbacks through the course of the evening. I think this is all I will say about the plot so you can be just as surprised by the developments in Hedwig’s bitingly funny story as I was when I saw it.

Like all great rock gods, Hedwig bears her soul through her songs. And it doesn’t hurt that Hedwig is portrayed by none other than Cody Daigle. He doesn’t just play Hedwig, he is Hedwig. He struts around the stage bedazzled in a sparkly mini skirt. He sings. Oh, yeah, and he does this all in five inch platform heels (to witness this is worth the price of admission alone). But don’t let this fool you into thinking Daigle takes the easy road and plays Hedwig as merely a stereotypical drag queen. Oh, no. He really delves into Hedwig’s psyche and what he is able to do is present a fully formed human being who longs for love and acceptance that has eluded her all her life.(Bravo, Cody). He is joined onstage by Sarah Gauthier as Yitzhak. She was one of my favorite parts of the show. I loved watching all her reactions to the events of the evening. Sarah has probably the hardest jobs an actor can have because she has to stay engaged while saying very little. It takes a true actor to capture and hold an audience with just a look or a gesture (So, Brava, Sarah on a job done exceptionally well). Also to be commended is the awesome rock band that is the cherry on top of the sundae that is this great show. My hat is off to Duncan Thistlethwaite and Cara Hayden for an awesome show. I can imagine all the hard work that was put in on this show and trust me it is on full display. I have never seen a show running as tight as this one was on opening night. If you feel after reading this review that maybe Hedwig might be a little too subversive for you then I should let you know the audience at Friday’s performance was a mixture of all ages and all left singing the praise of this glorious show. Catch this show before it ends its run at the end of October. Please believe me; you will be glad you did.
---Gabe Ortego

Theatre--Performance

The Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts has announced the cast for its upcoming production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (opening October 20th). The cast is as follows:

Big Daddy: Larry Deslatte
Big Momma: Denis Hodge
Brick: Ed Verdin
Maggie: LaDaisha Bowles
Gooper: Ricky Pellerin
Mae: Erin Segura
Rev. Tooker: Tyra Yanber
Dr. Baugh: Christian Glorioso
Lacey: Carolyn Higdon
Sookie: Christina Bertrand
Daisy: Emilie Miller
Brightie: Skyla Guidry
Small: Quenton Johnson
Dixie: Bailey Stovall
Buster: Tate Granger
Sonny: Alex Guidry
Trixie: Rebakah Deslatte

Theatre--Review

Cite Des Arts (located at 3rd and Vine in Lafayette, 291-1122) is currently presenting two cult musicals in repertoire through October 31. They are Hedwig And The Angry Inch and The Rocky Horror Show. Be aware that these shows run on alternating days of the same weekend. Hedwig runs Oct. 2 and 3; 9 and 11; 16 and 17; 23 and 25 and 30 and 31. Rocky Horror runs Oct 4; 10; 18; 24; 31 and Nov 1. The 18th and 24th of October there is an 8 pm performance and a midnight performance and on the 31st of October you can see a double bill--Hedwig at 8 pm and Rocky at midnight.

Lafayette has two genuine cult performers--that is, performers whose personae are bigger draws than the roles they perform. Shane Guilbeau is one and Cody Daigle is the other. There are really only two reasons to see Hedwig And The Angry Inch at Cite Des Arts--you are a Cody Daigle fan and/or you are already a fan of Hedwig. If you are a Cody fan, you already know what you are going to get and you will not be disappointed. If you are Hedwig fan, you will probably want to refresh your memory of the show before attending this production. The spoken portions of the show are fine but the lyrics are lost in a wall of sound. It's very difficult to sing with crisp diction but even if the diction were Gilbert and Sullivan perfect the band is really too loud to hear either of the singers. I would suggest using the projection screen on the set to flash the lyrics in the same way that a karaoke machine works. The lyrics carry the most important messages in the show and if you miss them all you are left with is the plot.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch was written by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask. The show was developed over a period of years through workshops and partial performances at various venues in New York City. During this time it developed a cult standing which was cemented by a successful Off-Broadway run and then a film starring John Cameron Mitchell, the original Hedwig. This is not a slipshod script--it has been honed and polished in front of a variety of audiences. Pay attention--you'll be glad you did.

Hedwig has more on its mind than a blonde wig. It is filled with pop culture references, philosophical debates and puns which range from groaners to bon mots. In fact, I would recommend a quick refresher on gnosticism before seeing the show. Check out Plato and The Symposium on the genesis of human love as well. This is a show with real intellectual heft but you will have to act as your own guide.

Briefly, the story is this. Hansel Schmidt is a young man living in East Germany just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He is desperate to escape to America and the chance comes in the person of an American soldier who will marry Hansel and take him to the US. However--Hansel will have to become Hedwig. The operation is botched and Hedwig is left neither male nor female. Circumstances make it more prudent to assume the female role which Hedwig does for the rest of her life.

In America, Hedwig (Cody Daigle) soon finds herself abandoned by her husband and working odd jobs and odder jobs to support herself. The two jobs which change the course of Hedwig's life are baby-sitting and singing in a local dive. Hedwig begins a relationship with the adolescent brother of a child she baby-sits. She tutors the boy in love, philosophy and rock music. Soon they are performing together and before long they have separated. Using songs he has written with Hedwig, the boy becomes a rock star known as Tommy Gnosis. Hedwig then becomes his shadow, going on her own less successful tour with her band, THE ANGRY INCH. Hedwig performs in dives adjacent to Tommy's concert halls and arenas. Hedwig is accompanied by her husband, Yitzhak (Sarah Gauthier), a former drag queen whom Hedwig forces to maintain a male persona. Eventually, fate reunites Hedwig and Tommy as a car crash literally fuses them into one person again. Was there ever really a Tommy or this all symbolism? Decide for yourself. The ending has generated reams of discussion and the authors are far too smart to explain what doesn't need explaining.

The set is just a performance venue with a couple of microphones, a projection screen and a place for a three-person band consisting of Barry Bihm, Shaun Gachassin and Duncan Thistlewaite (who also acted as musical director). The lighting is evocative and acts both to enhance the mood of each number and to define the purpose of the area. The use of animated sequences projected on the screen to further the story is nice and I wouldn't have objected to seeing a lot more of it. The animation for The Origin Of Love is really appealing and effective.

Costumes and makeup are a matter of personal taste. I thought the Hedwig looked a bit like Divine in one of Madonna's cast-off outfits. This Hedwig is a drag queen, not a woman. The costume for Yitzhak, however, does effectively disguise the fact that the role is played by a woman. Sarah Gauthier looks like every disaffected grunge boy you see hanging around downtown. It's an astonishing transformation visually and her body language and facial expressions never give the game away. Yitzhak is a man, not a woman in drag.

This is just a two person show. Hedwig is clearly the star and Yitzhak functions in a decidedly secondary capacity. He provides backup vocals and some help with costumes and props. His main function, though, is to act as a reverse image for Hedwig. This means that Yitzhak spends most of his time hanging around and not doing anything much. Sarah Gauthier does this splendidly. She never detracts from Hedwig and she never drops out of the moment. Cody may be the diamond but Sarah is the all important setting. The band also provides solid support both musically and visually.

The overall production is under the supervision of Cara Hayden, Cody Daigle's longtime collaborator. Theirs is a well-honed partnership. Cara guarrantees that the show looks sharp and moves at a good pace.

The show is definitely for adults due to subject matter and language. Use judgment about bringing anyone under 16. However--the show is also adult in the best sense. It poses grownup questions about identity, love and meaningfulness. How much do we make ourselves and how much does fate make us? What is the point of Life or Death? And--should blue eye shadow be a felony or merely a misdemeanor?
---Walter Brown

Theatre--Review

Ray Blum's review of All the Great Books, abridged produced by the Eunice Players appears in the Friday, September 26th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Article

Cody Daigle, who opens tonight as the main character in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Cite Des Arts, has written an article about his experiences with the show and with creating the character of Hedwig. The article appears in the Friday, September 26th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Performance

The Abbey Players' production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is opening on Friday, September 26th. This lighthearted celebration of the mating game tackles the truths and myths behind the contemporary conundrum known as "the relationship". A frothy, fun look at the absurdity of love, this clever musical revue reveals the difficulties of connecting with another person, no matter what the age.

The charming concoction, directed by Dianne Moss, scales the dizzying spectrum of romance and its many forms, from dating to marriage, the agonies and triumphs of dealing with in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car, and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, and to those who have put on a brave face, mustered their courage, and dared to ask, "So, what are you doing on Saturday night?"

For more information or for tickets, check www.abbeyplayers.com.

This is an adult musical comedy with adult situations and may not be appropriate for children.

Theatre--Performance

There was an error in the schedule on the right bar of the blog. Hedwig and the Angry Inch opens on Friday, September 26th (which was correctly noted in the post itself) at Cite Des Arts.

Please excuse the error. Again, Hedwig opens Friday, September 26th.

Performance--Article

The Daily Advertiser has a photo gallery up of pictures from Cite Des Arts' presentation of Artistic Voices: On the Edge.

Dance--Performance

Elisa Monte Dance opens the PASA Series at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday October 11 with the world premier of Elisa Monte's latest choreographic work, Zydeco! Monte's spirited choreography, set to the vibrant beats of live music by Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, in a unique marriage of modern dance and live music. The program also includes Monte's Pigs and Fishes--commissioned by Alvin Ailey for his legendary troupe--and Run to the Rock, set to Nina Simone's interpretation of the popular gospel song, "Sinnerman".

Pasa and Elisa Monte Dance will also present a performance for students at 10:30 am on October 9th at Angelle Hall on the UL campus.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please contact PASA at (337) 237-2787.

Theatre--Performance

DiscoProdutions and Cite Des Arts have announced the cast list for their production of The Rocky Horror Show, which will begin its run on October 4th.

The cast is:

Blaine Peltier (Frank-n-Furter)
Ryan Broussard (Brad)
Charlee Halphen (Janet)
Andrew Hunter II (Rocky)
Mindy Menard (Riff-Raff)
Sarah Gauthier (Magenta)
April Peltier (Columbia)
Heath Swain (Eddie/Dr. Scott)
Erin Broussard (Narrator)
Erik Schneider (Corsette)
Ashley Culpepper (Corsette)

For more information, call Cite Des Arts at 291-1122.

Theatre--Performance

Cite des Arts is proud to announce its upcoming production of the cult hit rock musical, Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask.

Born a boy named Hansel whose life's dream is to find his other half, Hedwig reluctantly submits to a sex change operation in order to marry an American G.I. and get over the Berlin Wall to freedom. The operation is botched, leaving her with the aforementioned "angry inch". Finding herself high, dry and divorced in a Kansas trailer park, she pushes on to form a rock band and encounters a lover/protégé in young Tommy Gnosis, who eventually leaves her, steals her songs, and becomes a huge rock star.

Through a collage of songs, flashbacks and animation, Hedwig tells her life
story.

Hedwig runs in repertory with Discoprodution’s revival of last year’s hit, The Rocky Horror Show. Hedwig has been called the spiritual heir to Rocky Horror, combining driving rock tunes, androgyny, and a biting sense of humor to craft a thoroughly engaging evening of theatre.

Directed by Duncan Thistlethwaite and Cara Hayden, Hedwig stars Cody Daigle and Sarah Gauthier in the lead roles of Hedwig and Yitzhak.

The show also spotlights a team of five UL animation students and a graphic designer from Southeastern University, who have contributed original animation sequences and still projections to the project. Their efforts lend the production a unique visual component not seen on local stages.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch runs September 26 through November 1, in repertory with Rocky Horror. Contact the theatre for specific show dates in the repertory.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch contains adult language and adult content. This show is not appropriate for audiences under high school age.

For more information, call 291-1122.

Announcement

I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew that comments are always welcome on this blog. All comments are moderated, so that I have absolute editorial control over what gets published. Please feel free to leave whatever comments you want to about the content of the blog, corrections if they are necessary, or information about the posts.

Thanks!

Theatre--Review

Theatre in the last decade has become increasingly difficult to criticize as it has moved from a structured art form to something more amorphous. This structure once involved an argument of some sort illustrated by the working out of a plot. In some cases the argument would be reinforced by the use of a subplot. Dialogue was a tool and not an end in itself. Dialogue which has escaped the prison of formal literary structure must now find alternate means of suppot.

This support now comes from designers who must create an aesthetically coherent vision for the audience and from actors who have to hold the audience's attention by a combination of personality and craft which must be compelling on their own terms without reference to the material of the script. The task of the director becomes largely one of creating mood and rhythm.

The problem for the critic is that any response is highly colored by personal taste. Objective criticism is limited to a discussion of technique and a general reaction to the attractiveness of the cast.

Having laid my cards out on the table, here is my response to the two one-act plays by Austin Sonnier currently playing at Cite Des Arts.

Overall, the production feels rushed. Although the sets work adequately and the set dressing in both cases is quite nice, the overall effect is still somewhat tentative, as if we were seeing a sketch rather than a painting. The lighting design is adequate except that it left Sheryl Ned as the narrator of Heads And Tales to wander about in darkness while the lights drew our attention to a completely unoccupied part of the stage. This is the second production I have seen at Cite which left actors to fend for themselves in murky conditions. If this is a choice, perhaps it should be rethought. Generally speaking, actors benefit from being visible.

On the plus side, however, director Maureen Brennan has assembled a very appealing cast which is long on charm and warmth. She has the good fortune to be able to draw from a cadre of experienced performers, many of whom have worked together before at Cite Des Arts and other local theatres.

Heads And Tales is really more of a short story than a play. The plot, which is a pretty good ghost story, is essentially narrated rather than acted out. This leaves the cast with not much to do, really, although they do it very appealingly. Bria Hobgood and Nyoki McKeith are an attractive couple of roommates who tell a scary story about the haunting of their rented house. Alessandra de Melo Batista and Jack Robertson are infernal bureaucrats and Jack Sorenson is...well, he is literally a two-faced devil. Unfortunately, he also plays audience to the girls' story and it is unclear whether he is listening to his own story or is simply playing a role for which no other actor could be found.

The second play, Greezy Spoon Cafe/Funeral Parlor, concerns just that--a small cafe which seems to double as an embalming room. In any case, a body has been embalmed and is currently being stored in the freezer of the kitchen while the undertaker awaits payment for his services. This could be tricky, since the deceased left his life insurance to his niece as a nest egg to launch her singing career in New York City. This leaves the widow with no money to pay for a funeral. Somehow, the niece must be persuaded to part with the loot against her own interests. This leads to some clever conniving which is resolved far too quickly and easily, resulting in a climax which comes at the midpoint of the show. The rest of the time is filled in with pointed remarks about the damage Katrina has done to the New Orleans music scene.

The cast includes Patricia Cravins as the forceful widow, John Bess as her twin brother (and father of the beneficiary). The chanteuse is played by Erika Fox, who sings "Cold Sunday" like the pro she is. The proprietor of the cafe (and also the undertaker) is played by Paul Batiste and the cook is played by Joshua Broussard. Tasia Riggs rounds out the cast.

Cite Des Arts has made a laudable commitment to presenting Black Theatre on a regular basis. Watch the Cite website for other opportunities to see the many talented Black theatre artists in Acadiana. They are well worth your support.
---Walter Brown

Theatre--Review

Ray Blum's latest review, of Austin Sonnier's Greezy Spoon and Heads and Tales, is in the September 19th edition of the Daily Advertiser.

Theatre--Performance

Tickets to the Acadia Players' production of The Bridge to Terabithia may be purchased now at the Crowley Flower Shop on North Parkerson Ave. Performances are scheduled for Thursday, September 25th & Friday, September 26th at 9 a.m and Friday, September 26 & Saturday, September 27th at 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 28th at 2 p.m. at the Crowley Rice Theater.

Theatre--Production

Theatre--Presentation

Cité des Arts continues with our community arts and education program, Artistic Voices. This program is sponsored in part by the State of Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Acadiana Arts Council. Four artists from contrasting artistic disciplines are brought together in a panel discussion to discuss the creative process.

•Wednesday, September 17th at 7:00pm:
THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND INSPIRATION :
Don Brasseaux (Sophisticated Furniture and Art from salvaged material)
David Egan (Musician/Songwriter)
Trish Ransom (jewelry, fish and other creatures from found objects and recycled material)
and Cedric Watson (Musician/Songwriter).
Facilitated by Herman Fuselier.
COST: $7.00 for Adults; $5.00 for Members of Cité des Arts, Senior Citizens and Students.

•Thursday, September 18th at 7:00pm:
THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND HUMOR
A.D. Dugar (Film/Theatre)
Shane Guilbeau (Theatre)
Annie Hendrix (Hand-Sculpted Clay)
and Jim Phillips (Children’s Education/Music).
Facilitated by Jack Reedy.
COST: $7.00 for Adults; $5.00 for Members of Cité des Arts, Senior Citizens and Students.

Theatre--Performance

Cite des Arts is proud to announce its upcoming production of the cult hit rock musical, Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask.

Born a boy named Hansel whose life's dream is to find his other half, Hedwig reluctantly submits to a sex change operation in order to marry an American G.I. and get over the Berlin Wall to freedom. The operation is botched, leaving her with the aforementioned "angry inch". Finding herself high, dry and divorced in a Kansas trailer park, she pushes on to form a rock band and encounters a lover/protégé in young Tommy Gnosis, who eventually leaves her, steals her songs, and becomes a huge rock star.

Through a collage of songs, flashbacks and animation, Hedwig tells her life story.

Hedwig runs in repertory with Discoprodution’s revival of last year’s hit, The Rocky Horror Show. Hedwig has been called the spiritual heir to Rocky Horror, combining driving rock tunes, androgyny, and a biting sense of humor to craft a thoroughly engaging evening of theatre.

Directed by Duncan Thistlethwaite and Cara Hayden, Hedwig stars Cody Daigle and Sarah Gauthier in the lead roles of Hedwig and Yitzhak.

The show also spotlights a team of five UL animation students and a graphic designer from Southeastern University, who have contributed original animation sequences and still projections to the project. Their efforts lend the production a unique visual component not seen on local stages.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch runs September 26 through November 1, in repertory with Rocky Horror. Contact the theatre for specific show dates in the repertory.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch contains adult language and adult content. This show is not appropriate for audiences under high school age.

For more information, call 291-1122.

Theatre--Auditions

Auditions for the IPAL spring production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! will be held at the Essanee Theatre on November 2nd and 3rd. For more information call Donald "Doc" Voorhies at (337)364-1975.

Theatre--Auditions

IPAL is having open auditions for their Christmas play, If It's Monday, This Must Be Christmas. Auditions are Monday, September 16th (tonight) at 6 pm at the Essenee Theatre located at 120 Iberia St. in New Iberia. (the block between Main St. and St. Peter St.)

They need 5 men, 6 women and 1 boy and 1 girl about 9 years old. If you are interested but cannot make the audition tonight, call Mac Stearns at 365-8898.

Theatre--Review

Full disclosure--the author of this review is the light board operator for That's The Spirit. He only runs the lights and had no part in any rehearsal or creative decision prior to the dress rehearsal. He had seen no part of the show until two days before it opened.

That's The Spirit is the title of the Tim Kelly comedy/thriller currently playing at the Essanee Theatre in New Iberia. It could also be a rousing cheer for a director, cast and crew that has overcome the trials of Job to put the show on. After surviving the upheavals of actors and crew who left the cast and had to be replaced, director Donna Bernard then had to postpone the opening for Hurricane Gustav. However, the show did open on Friday night despite the weather and will also run this coming weekend, September 19th-21st.

Tim Kelly is a one-man writing factory who creates shows for community theatres. He understands the desires of his audiences and performers for family friendly shows which don't run too long for smaller children to sit through. That's no backhanded compliment--everyone who has been to a play or movie understands the value of finishing the show before young attention spans are exhausted.

Tim Kelly also understands the limitations of amateur casting which usually result in a mix of very experienced pros and complete beginners who don't know stage right from stage left. His characters range from the wacky to the normal and include roles for the skilled and less-skilled actor. In other words, he writes characters that beginners can succeed in playing but he also writes characters that can engage the talents of more proficient actors.

That's The Spirit concerns the murder of psychic Jenny Davenport who owned the Laurel Canyon home of the Great Marvel, a Houdini-like magician of the early part of the last century. Since her murder, the house has been left in trust to her young niece, Irene Lockwood (Carolyn Broussard). Along with the house comes Ruby, a sassy housekeeper with a secret (Barbie Delhomme) and the next-door neighbor, Wayne Hopkins, a self-obsessed television star with a secret (Alex Bonin). And soon enough, Irene is visited by Claire Voyant, a psychic friend of the late Jenny Davenport who has a secret (Leigh Simmons). Claire wants to help the police discover who killed Jenny and she plans to do so by using three other psychics to help her contact the spirit of the Great Marvel. (You may be asking yourself, why not contact JENNY? Well--because the Great Marvel has already left a special telephone which he will use to contact the living (really!) and Jenny has not been so foresighted.)

In due course, the other three psychics appear. There is Bella Donna (Michael Weber), who never makes a move without consulting her adviser Chester, a wooden dummy with a mouth; Anne Boleyn (Amy Price), who channels Henry the Eighth's second wife and has a phobia about axes and lastly, Estelle Slater--The One With The X-Ray Eyes (Martha Gilfoil). Looking at the ceiling, Estelle can see the pile of dirt that Ruby has swept under a bedroom rug. Estelle may have a secret, herself.

And then there is Victoria Greenstreet (Alaina Comeaux)--a sinister rare book dealer who makes house calls at one in the morning and who may hold the key to the motive for Jenny's death.

Trying to bring order to the chaos is Police Lieutenant Chad Prindle (Mile Berry), a policeman with a secret. He is assisted by Detective Bud Frazer (Ryan Berard). Bud is an amateur magician who is enthralled by the legend of the Great Marvel and who has no sedrets at all. Then, there is Scotti Nelson (Kristen Anderson), a park ranger with a secret. And lastly, the area is haunted by Juanette the Hermit (Ivy Fauntleroy)--a homeless person with a secret.

Will all the secrets be revealed? Will the Killer be unmasked? Will the Great Marvel call home from the ether?

The cast has continued to tighten up the show throughout the weekend and it plays pretty smoothly. Leigh Simmons stepped into the leading role of Claire Voyant in a week but you would never know it. I also give her fellow actors credit for reacting to her as if she had always been in the role. It's not easy to adjust to a new actor who will have different timing, different line readings--a whole different feel on stage. This cast is a real ensemble.

The set is well-designed with a very nice job of set decoration. The costumes are witty and appropriate to the characters. All the actors wear microphones, so the audience can easily hear every word.

Shows like this are tricky because it is essential to create a real world which is then invaded by beings from another planet. Everyone loves the scenery-chewing eccentrics, but it is the lower key "real" people who have the harder job. It is very tempting, yet fatal, to go a little over the top. Fortunately, Donna Bernard and her cast avoid this trap. Irene, Ruby and the officers of the law stay firmly on the ground and anchor the over-the-top performances of Juanette and the psychics.

Keep an eye on the team of Mike Berry and Ryan Berard. They have a great chemistry as the old dog and the young puppy.

You'll enjoy the scene in which the killer reveals all. It's a fine bit of psychotic emoting by.....aaauughhhh!
---Walter Brown

Dance--Performance

Joshua Hart of the Elite School of Performing Arts in Lafayette has choreographed and will be performing in a dance performance presented by his company, Cornerstone Dance Company. The performance will benefit the ALS Association of Louisiana.

WHAT: Manic Suppression
WHEN: 5 p.m. Sept. 21
WHERE: Angelle Hall, St. Mary Boulevard, UL campus, with a gala to follow at Petroleum Club of Lafayette
COST: Advance tickets, $15; at the door, $20, benefitting the ALS Association of Louisiana
INFORMATION/TICKETS: www.alsalouisiana.org

Theatre--Performance

There is an article about the Eunice Players' production of All the Great Books, Abridged at eunicetoday.com.

Theatre--Performance

The cast for the UL-Lafayette Department of Performing Arts fall production has been finalized. The cast is:
Kayty Lamson
Greta Trosclair
Elizabeth Satterly
Clayton Shelvin
Michael Cato
David Huyhn
Peter Falcone
Brian Egland
Derrick Turner
Hendrick Mettysen

The show is tentatively scheduled to run October 22nd through the 26th.

Theatre--Review

The show must go on! And it did. Despite the efforts of Gustav and Ike, September 11th saw the delayed premier of two original one-act plays by Austin Sonnier, Jr. Directed by Maureen Brennan, and presented at Cite’ des Arts, the opening night audience witnessed Heads and Tales and Greasy Spoon, two atmospheric and humorous one-act plays written by local musician, author, and playwright. Though a native of Lafayette, Sonnier’s mother is from New Orleans and he is obviously deeply attached to the (once and future) great city. It showed in these two idylls to life in very different parts of that city.

Sonnier’s Heads and Tales is a ghost story of sorts. It is very much in the spirit of stories I heard from older relatives I once visited in New Orleans –stories about Marie Laveau and voodoo, about Delphine LaLaurie and her haunted house, about the door at the top of the stairs in my aunt’s house that I had better not open. Heads and Tales deals with a house on St. Charles Avenue haunted by none other than the devil himself. Presented largely in a narrative expository style, the story involves activities in the house over a hundred year period. As one of the characters says, in this house “If it ain’t strange, it ain’t normal.” Brennan’s direction was quite restrained allowing the Sonnier’s words and story itself to draw the audience into the goings-on. Of particular note was Sheryl Ned, who as the Speaker, interacted with the audience in a series of extensive monologues. The middle of these had the audience applauding her bravado presentation. Jack Sorenson played three characters (Sam/Devil/David) yet successfully delineated each of them.

Sonnier’s The Greasy Spoon tells the story of a very different place … a 9th Ward eatery now reopened since Katrina. In a plot reminiscent of Nunsense, Uncle Roland has died and is stored in the freezer with the chicken and sausage…and needs to be buried. Employees and relatives of the Café’s owner (played wonderfully by Paul Batiste) scheme ways to do so via a plot in “The Jefferson’s Meet Lucy” mode. Here, Brennan’s direction is much more flamboyant and the audience responded by laughing throughout. Erika Fox, as “Sonny,” delivered a great torch song as part of the show adding to everyone’s enjoyment, and Patricia Cravins as “Whale Tail” Watson really caught the spirit, voice, and character of N’awlns. But to me stealing the show was Joshua Broussard, as James “Honeyboy” Smith, restaurant cook and schemer extraordinaire. His characterization was right on, from voice to movements to attitude. His stage “business” … eating out of a plate, searching for a cigarette, charming Sonny Jones … was amazing and always added dimension to his character.

Of course, a word about the set (by Duncan Thistlethwaite). I went to the lobby at intermission and upon returning could hardly believe it was the same theater! It took a while to realize that the black flats were the same, but a whole new world had been created. With but simple furniture everything was different, but the same.

This was New Orleans, after all.
---Donald "Doc" Voorhies

Theatre--Announcement

There have been a number of mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders issued for parishes in the Acadiana area. The weather in the area is forecast to deteriorate rapidly over the next 24 hours. If you plan to try to attend a play, please call ahead of time to make sure that the theatre is open and the show is still on.

Stay safe.

Theatre--Performance

October of 2008 will forever be known as "Rocktober" in Lafayette when The Rocky Horror Show! opens the lab at Cite des Arts downtown. Performance dates are "Rocktober" 4th, 10th, 18th, 24th, and November 1st at 8PM. Midnight performances are scheduled for Roctober 18th, 24th and on Halloween night following Cite's production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. All tickets for The Rocky Horror Show are $15. Props are FREE!

For additional information and to reserve tickets, please call Cite des Arts at 291-1122. Due to the limited performances of this production, tickets will go fast!
PLEASE DO NOT WAIT. RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW!
(It will be a night you will remember for a very -

l o n g . . .

time!)

Theatre--Audition Update

This is an update with more information about the Acadia Players' production of Contempt of Court. This is an adult production intended as dinner theatre at the Crowley Town Club. Performance dates will be November 8th at 7 pm and November 9th at 3 pm. Admission is $25.00, and advance tickets will be available beginning October 1st at either the Crowley Flower Shop (337-783-1512) or the Crowley Town Club (337-783-1432).

Theatre--Classes

There are still spaces in the classes taught by Walter Brown at Cite Des Arts.

The teen class, which will meet every Monday, begins at 3:30 pm and run until 4:30 pm.

The class for younger children (ages 12 and under) begins at 3:00 pm on Mondays--immediately before the teen class.

The adult class, also to be held at Cite Des Arts on Monday, begins at 6:30 pm and ends at 8:00 pm.

For more information, or to register for the classes, contact Walter Brown by phone at 235-6284 or by e-mail at wfj5552@cs.com.

Theatre--Auditions

Auditions for Contempt of Court to be performed by the Acadia Players are set for September 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th at 7 pm. The show will be under the direction of Bonnie Morgan. For more information on ages for the show and the location of the audition, please call 783-0208.

Theatre--Performance

Cité des Arts presents Greezy Spoon and Head And Tales, two originalone-act comedies, written by local playwright, historian and musician,Austin Sonnier, Jr. and directed by Maureen Brennan.

Greezy Spoon is a comedy set at the Greezy Spoon, a combination local diner and funeral parlor based in New Orleans. The story introduces us to the charactersthat pass through those doors.

Head And Tales tells the tale of a historic home in Uptown New Orleans. The young girls now renting this once palatial home are eager to leave before another Friday the thirteenth unleashes its furies. Little do they know how
close they are to main players in this century old tale…

WHEN: September 11-20, 2008 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette between Jefferson
St. and Third St.
COST: $15 Adults, $10 Senior Citizens and Students

Theatre--Performance

Van Reed, Kevin Miller, and Kevin Courville hit the stage to present "All the Great Books (abridged)by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor at the Eunice Players' Theatre. Directed by Debi L. Crawford, this is the second show of the theatre's 39th season.

The two-act comedy re-educates the audience on their literary knowledge of the world's greatest classics. Who needs The Illiad and The Odyssey when there's The Idiodyssey? The classic, Little Women, is boring until the coach explains it as a play-by-play football diagram. Why should anyone read Charles Dickens' novels when it's presented as a soap opera? No need to read the 1500 page War and Peace when it can be reduced to a 10 minute dramatic presentation. This fast-paced comedy will leave you laughing in the aisles.

Show dates are:
Saturday, September 13 at 7:00
Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 (matinee)
Monday, September 15 at 6:00 - Dinner Theatre*
Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00
Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00
Thursday, September 18 at 7:00
Friday, September 19 - NO SHOW
Saturday, September 20 at 7:00

All seats are $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Louis Wright's Store at 337-457-3330 (Monday through Friday 9:00 to 5:00) or 337-457-2156 Monday through Saturday. All tickets must be paid in advance by check only; no credit cards accepted. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.

*Dinner is served at 6:00 at Nick's Restaurant next door to the theatre. The show starts in the theatre at 7:00. The menu is steak with appropriate side dishes; dessert is served at intermission. Ticket price is $15 in addition to the $10 for the price of the show.

Theatre--Performance

The cast for the UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre's production of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know has been announced. The cast is:

Nathan Abbott
Brandon Breaux
Stacy Broussard
Kevin Credeur
Martha Diaz
Ruth Diaz
Alex Hollerman
Jared LeBlanc
Jenee Luquette
Nicholas Manzo
Kristina Marshall
Sasha Massey
Evan Melancon
Lindy Waldmeier

The show, based on Wendy Perrin's travel book of the same name, is a musical revue style show with songs and sketches and takes a look at different comic situations dealing with travel.

Performance dates are October 9th, 10th, and 11th at 7:30pm and October 11th and 12th at 3PM. The show will be performed at Fletcher Hall, the Art and Architecture building on the UL-Lafayette campus. Tickets are available at the door only--$10 for the general public and free for UL-Lafayette faculty, staff and students.

For more information, call 482-6012

Theatre--Performance Postponed

Due to the aftermath of the hurricane and some cast still being out of area, the IPAL production of That's the Spirit will not be opening this week-end. The Big Brother/Big Sister fundraiser has been postponed as well. The show will open the second weekend of September. All tickets bought in advance will be honored at another showing. Donna Berard, the director, says that the theater did not have power yet.

Any further information will be posted as soon as it is received.

Theatre--Article

There is an article on villeplattetoday.com about the Eunice Players' theatre production of All the Great Books, abridged. The show is scheduled to open on September 13th, although since Hurricane Gustav it would be prudent to check with the theatre before the show.

Theatre--Performance Postponed

The Cite Des Arts' production of Greezy Spoon and Head And Tales, two original one-act comedies, written by local playwright, historian and musician, Austin Sonnier, Jr. and directed by Maureen Brennan, has been postponed. The show will open next weekend instead.

WHEN: September 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th, 2008 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette between Jefferson St. and Third St.
COST: $15 Adults, $10 Senior Citizens and Students

Theatre--Performance

The IPAL production of That's the Spirit is scheduled to run the first 3 week-ends in September. The play is an entertaining, off-the wall, cockeyed, whodunit spoof. The situations are absurd and the characters are bizarre.

There is no new information on whether or not the show will open this weekend.

Dance--Audition

Lafayette Ballet Theatre invites area dancers to audition Sunday, Sept. 7, for its December full-length ballet production of The Nutcracker. Auditions will take place at Angelle Hall, located at the corner of St. Mary Blvd. and McKinley Street on the UL Lafayette campus.
To qualify for audition, a dancer must be at least 8 years old; have completed at least one year of ballet study; and be studying ballet currently in an established dance program. Audition times vary according to the dancer’s age and skill level, as follows:
▪ Beginner and Intermediate Levels, ages 8-10: 1-3 p.m.
▪ Intermediate and Advanced Levels, ages 11-14: 3-5 p.m.
▪ Advanced (no pointe work), ages 15-adult: 5-5:30 p.m.
▪ Advanced Pointe (pre-professionals/professionals): 5:30-7 p.m.
Beginning/Intermediate level dancers should arrive one half hour prior to the start of the audition period listed. Advanced level dancers should arrive at least one hour in advance. All dancers should wear ballet attire and be prepared to stay for the duration of the audition period as listed on the schedule. A $20 registration fee is required of all dancers ages 8 to 17 at the time of audition. Please make checks payable to Lafayette Ballet Theatre or bring exact change.

Lafayette Ballet Theatre—-along with internationally acclaimed guest artists—-will present performances of the holiday classic The Nutcracker Saturday, December 6th, and Sunday, December 7th, at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

For more information, visit www.lafayetteballettheatre.org or call 337-262-0444

Hurricane Gustav

Today is Wednesday, September 3rd and my internet connection has just been restored (along with my phone service). My home still does not have power, although I have seen power trucks in the vicinity, which may or may not mean anything.

What the above means is that I will be late in providing information about this weekend's shows--and if the meteorologists I've seen are right, may have trouble with next weekend's shows as well.

I will try to have updated information posted as soon as possible. If you have information about any show opening this weekend, please forward it to me.

Thanks, and I hope you all came through the hurricane without problems.