2016-17 SEASON
On the Stage
Sweeney Todd
August 26 – September 11, 2016
An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up, and the carnage has only just begun!
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by Dr. Patrick Jacobs
Cast
Sweeney Todd / Benjamin Barker – Cory Olson
Mrs. Lovett – Lesley Roberts
Anthony Hope – Jackson Henson
Johanna Barker – Elizabeth Bemis
Judge Turpin – Richard Coarsey
Beadle Bamford – Gene Murrell
Lucy Barker – Kate Lotito Arrington
Pirelli – Kathleen Hewitt
Tobias Ragg – Lee Smith
Ensemble –
Peter Arbaczauskas, Alisha Britnell, Shanarrous Briggins-Pollard, Brandon M. Caten, Kirk Corley, Anna Fillingim, Justin Gipson, Sarah Grizzle, Charles Harrison, Victoria Johnson, Savannah Litton, David Loftin, Cailey Mize, Kate Nichols, Joey Parragone, Kaylee Pulliam, Alexis Reeves, Ann Sands, Mary Beth Sheffield, Lauren Stevens, Rainey Tanner, Shadoe Valentin
The Producers
November 4 – 20, 2016
The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive “Springtime For Hitler”), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Directed by Eric C. Browne
Auditions: August 29 – 30, 2016
Chapter Two
January 13 – 29, 2017
Recent widower, writer George Schneider, is encouraged by his younger brother Leo to start dating again. Which sends George into even more depression after a series of bad matches. Then Leo comes up with Jennie Malone and she’s a keeper. Still, it’s a bumpy trip on the road to Dreamland for these not-so-young lovers.
Written by Neil Simon
Directed by Cathy Bouler
Auditions: November 7 – 8, 2016
Much Ado About Nothing
March 17 – April 2, 2017
Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most imaginative and exuberant comedies, contrasting two pairs of lovers in a witty and suspenseful battle of the sexes. Love is in the air when Don Pedro’s army, drunk with victory from the war, descends upon Leonato’s country estate in Messina. Accompanying Don Pedro are two of his officers: Benedick and Claudio. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato’s daughter Hero. Meanwhile, Benedick and Leonato’s lively niece Beatrice hide their mutual attraction behind a volley of witty insults.
The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for a marriage. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Don Pedro, with the help of Leonato, Claudio and Hero, attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to trick the two into falling in love. But their world is shattered when the villainous Don John, with the help of his allies Conrade and Borachio, plots against the happy couple, using his own form of trickery to try to destroy the marriage before it begins. Claudio, influenced by a scheming malcontent, levels a shocking accusation at Hero. A linguistically challenged guard and his sidekicks uncover the plot, casting a beam of hopefulness in this tempestuous landscape of love.
Directed by Joe Fuselli
Auditions: January 16 – 17, 2017
Benedick: Mike Green, Beatrice: Whitney Upton, Don Pedro: Mark Wyatt Claudio: Ryan Peacock, Hero: Amanda McAdams, Leonato: Don Bloom, Antonia: E.A. Keeble, Margaret: Kim McKenzie, Ursula: Susan Vinson, Don John: Cory Olson, Balthazar: Blake Robertson, Borachio: Kirk Corley, Conrade: Terri Jackson, Dogberry: Bill Watts, Verges: Lisa Burnett, Messenger: Raymond Peyton, Friar: Melissa Hales, The Sexton: Brett Martin, The Watch: Sierra Patrick, Samantha Young, Savannah Teague
Rock of Ages
June 2 – 18, 2017
