NETC NEWS

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on Roald Dahl’s popular children’s book, will play from October 30 through November 18 at the new Leddy Theater on Ladd’s Lane in Epping, NH.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Elaine Gatchell, is a story familiar to most and beloved by many.  It exposes human nature, with its good and evil tendencies, but cloaks it with magic and sweetens it with chocolate.  It is a must-see for everyone!  So bring the children, the grandchildren, and the grandparents…But most of all, bring imagination…and hope … and dreams.

Showtimes are Friday evenings at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm.  Tickets are $18. and $16.  Shows for area schools during the day are on November 4, 10, and 18.  For ticket information and reservations, call Leddy box office, Monday through Friday, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at 603-679-2781, or go on line to order tickets, 24/7, at www.leddycenter.org.

Mark Tuomanen of Kensington stars as the mythical, and perhaps mystical, Willy Wonka, who launches a contest which awards the winners (only 5) a tour of his top-secret chocolate factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate.  The winners of the contest and one adult , (A.J. Pratt of Epping as Charlie Bucket, Dr. Henry Ferrell of Exeter as Grandpa Joe, Colin McCarthy of Hampstead as Mike Teevee and Tammy Mahoney of Kingston as Mrs. TeeVee, Brooke Gatchell of Epping as Violet Beauregard and Kevin Murphy of Epping as Mr. Beauregard, Amy Soraghan of Hampstead as Veruca Salt and Eric Savage of Stratham as Mr. Salt, Brandon Mahoney of Kingston as Augustus Gloop and Stephanie Johnson of Epping as Mrs. Gloop) arrive at the factory on the appointed day with high expectations and, in the case of most of them, dollar signs in their eyes due to an opportunity to reveal one of Wonka’s biggest secrets to a devious competitor, Arthur Slugworth, Warren Cleary of Fremont.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is sponsored by Ben Franklin/Ace Hardware of Raymond, NH, Exeter Hospital, Foy Insurance/Mt. Washington Assurance, and Interventional Spine Medicine.  It is sponsored in part by Seacoast Coca-Cola Bottling Company and THE SHARK at 102.1 and 105.3FM.  Leddy Center is a non-profit NH Arts and Education organization.

in Leddy Center's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Leddy Center's new theater on Ladd's Lane in Epping, NH, October 30- November 15.

Great Fall Classes for Teens and Adults! Call 508-432-2002 x11 for more information!

Teen Acting Workshop
with Maura (Mo) Hanlon
Grades 9-12
Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 pm.
Runs 12 weeks beginning October 13th.

Ever wanted to stretch your acting muscles? Become someone else for a day? Spend your winter creating characters through myriad of acting styles and techniques.

From text analysis, various acting methods, scene study, improv exercises and so much more, you will enhance your actor’s toolbox and gain power and depth as a performer.
Fall Classes for teens and adults at HJT!

Dracula, Blood of the Vampire stars David C. Wallace and HJT alum Emily B. Murray runs Friday, Oct.9- Sun. Nov 1, 2009. “An eerie and amazing production that hits all the marks!”

Private Coaching for Musical Theatre
Diana Toscano Gross • Grades 4-adult
Tuesdays 4:00 -6:00.
Minimum of 6 classes

Diana is the music teacher at Harwich Middle School and has been training voices for over 20 years. Diana believes in an athletic approach to singing, one in which the body is strengthened as a vehicle for resonance and styalistic nuance. For an appointment call 508-432-2002 x11.

Adult Classes for 2009

Marie Oldenbourg and Josh Coleman starred in HJT’s summer production of Beauty and the Beast by Cape Playwright Stephen Russel

fairy tales for adults
Barbara Johnson• Ages 18 and up
Wednesdays 7:00-9:00 pm.
Class runs 5 weeks beginning Oct.14

Fairy tales offer meaningful clues to our personal stories of making wishes, performing the heroic three tasks, encountering the wise old woman or man, and coming across animal helpers or scary challengers along the way. This workshop series constructs a theatre troupe to explore favorite and not so favorite fairy tales through enactment and entering the enchanting realms of self-discovery. Led by expressive arts facilitator, B.E. Johnson

dream theatre
Barbara Johnson• Ages 18 and up
Tuesdays 7:00-9:00 pm.
Class runs 5 weeks beginning Oct.13

Dreams inform our waking journeys; Einstein dreamed the “theory of relativity”; Thomas Edison napped for “ideas” from his dreaming self. This workshop enacts individual dream explorations through expressive arts and pshchodramatic techniques. Led by expressive arts facilitator, B.E. Johnson

Classes are listed on HJT’s website www.hjtcapecod.org

Call 508-432-2002 ext. 11 for registration information

The Un-Common Theatre Company is delighted and excited to announce it’s 2009-10 season of Improv Soup Shows

Improv Soup, the Un-Common Theatre Co’s improvisational comedy troupe, is made up of teenagers from all over southeastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island. Improv Soup was started in 1998 by Christa Crewdson, who remains the Soup director to this very day.

The Soupians perform one Friday a month at 7:30 P.M. in the Burrell School auditorium, Morse St. in Foxboro, Ma. Tickets to a night of fabulous improvisational comedy cost a mere three bucks for students and five bucks for adults!

2009-10 Season of Shows:

October 30th, 2009
November 13th, 2009
December 18th, 2009
January 15th, 2010
February 12th, 2010
March 19th, 2010
April 9th, 2010
May 7th, 2010
June 4th, 2010

For more information check the website at www.improvsoup.org or call (508)698-3098

Frans Rijnbout, Associate Professor of Theatre at Regis College in Weston, MA, has compiled a most interesting and challenging report. Although the focus of his study was professional theatre in Boston, the report touches on many areas affecting work throughout the region and across the divisions. Thanks to Frans for this generous invitation to share his research.
During the fall of 2008, 75 theatre artists agreed to be interviewed about the state of theatre in the Greater Boston area. The resulting report “Theatre in Greater Boston,” is a compilation of opinions as voiced by the interviewees. The document concludes with commentary on selected topics. Topics of discussion include: actor training, female/male roles, casting, audience recruitment, rehearsal time, union/non-union, making a living, of productions, professional level of Boston actors versus ‘out of town’ actors, and other issues. To many, the opinions will not come as a surprise. I hope though, that the document will be an invitation to extend the conversation. But more importantly, that it will result in actions to improve what needs to be improved. Anybody interested in the report can find it at: http://theatregreaterboston.wordpress.com/
This will give access to a blog and the document. It is my wish that anybody who wants to respond or add to the report–and offer suggestions for action–will post these entries on the blog.

Music Theatre of Connecticut School of Performing Arts in Westport, CT is pleased to announce new faculty member Sarah Pfisterer for the 2009/10 season of classes. Sarah will be joining MTC co-founders Kevin Connors and James Schilling and returning faculty Marty Bongfeldt, Mary Jo Duffy, Deborah Levy and Kim Porio. These seven MTC faculty members each bring their professional performing arts background to the student, offering an unparalleled educational experience. To register for the 2009/10 season of classes with the MTC faculty, visit www.musictheatreofct.org or or call 203.454.3883.

“I’ve heard such wonderful things about MTC,” says Sarah, a resident of Wilton. “Their involvement in the community, along with their commitment to a quality, positive, nurturing educational environment make me honored and excited to be part of the MTC family.”

Sarah Pfisterer has played over 1000 performances in the role of Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway and across the country. She was nominated for the prestigious Joseph Jefferson award for her portrayal of the romantic heroine. Also on Broadway, she played Magnolia in Harold Prince’s award-winning revival of “Show Boat,” and was seen in “Children and Art” directed by Richard Maltby, celebrating Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday. Off Broadway she played Anna Smith in “Meet Me in St. Louis” at the Irish Repertory Theatre. Regionally she appeared in “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Maria in “Sound of Music” (IRNE award for Best Actress), Julie in “Carousel” (IRNE award for Best Actress), Marian in “The Music Man” (IRNE Award nomination), Anna in “The King and I” (IRNE Award nomination), Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” (IRNE Award nomination), Betty Blake in “Will Rogers Follies,” and Eliza in “My Fair Lady.” A Metropolitan Opera semi-finalist, Sarah has done extensive concert work with conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas and John McGlinn and did a recording of Jerome Kern’s “Oh Boy” in London under the direction of Mr. McGlinn. She has appeared on “The Today Show” and “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” In addition to numerous commercials and industrial films, she is featured in the music video “Beggar’s Waltz.” Sarah has Bachelors and Masters degrees from Northwestern University. She has given Master Classes in voice and acting at high schools and colleges across the country and has taught private voice for a number of years. She is the proud mom of Hannah and Lily.

Fall classes begin at MTC in Westport on September 21. For further information, call 203.454.3883 or visit the MTC website at www.musictheatreofct.org

Leddy Center (Epping, NH) is now taking registrations for all classes and private lessons being offered for their performing arts school year, 2009-2010.

Instructor Jennifer Cardin will be offering Beginning Mini-Musical Theater classes on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:20 for ages 6-8, and Advanced Mini-Musical Theater classes from 4:30 to 5:30 for ages 8-15. Ms. Cardin will also be offering a drama class, “Let’s Get Acting” on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 for ages 8-15. On Thursdays, Ms. Cardin is offering Beginning Mini-Musical from 3:30 to 4:30 for ages 9-15. Mini-musical classes are an exciting combination of singing, acting, and dancing, allowing the child to experience the essence of musical theater!

Instructor Ellen Gregg will be offering Morning Stars musical theater on Mondays from 4:30-5:00 for ages 4 & 5. Ms. Gregg is offering a new program especially for home schoolers! Ms. Gregg will be offering Morning Stars Musical Theater on Tuesdays from 10-10:30am, for ages 4-6, and Twinkling Stars Musical Theater from 10:40-11:25am, for ages 6-8. Ms. Gregg will be offering Sparkling Stars Musical Theater Classes on Thursdays from 10:00-11:00am, for ages 9-11, and Shooting Stars Musical Theater for ages 12-17 from 11:10-12:25pm. Leddy Center is proud to be able to offer musical theater programming to our homeschooling community.

Private lessons in guitar and bass with instructor, Eric Turner, are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00pm to 9:00pm. Private voice and piano lessons with instructor, Andrea Crocker, are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Private lessons in brass and woodwind instruments with teacher, Bruce Gatchell, are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:00pm. Please visit our website at www.leddycenter.org for detailed information on instructors and for registration forms, or call or visit Leddy Center box office, 679-2781, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

LEDDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
38 LADD’S LANE
PO BOX 929
EPPING, NH 03042
info@leddycenter.org
603-679-2781

Moss Hart Recipient for 2008
Perform It! Young People’s Stage Company
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(Children and Youth Division)

Professional Division Recognition:
Northern Stage
White River Junction, Vermont
Les Miserables

College Division:
Keene State College
Keene, New Hampshire
The Matchmaker

Secondary Division
Amity High School
Woodbridge, Connecticut
The Boys Next Door

Honorable Mention: Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
Acton, Massachusetts
Cabaret

Community Division
Out of the Box Theatre Company, Inc.
Lewiston, Maine
Medea

Honorable Mention: Arlington Friends of the Drama
Arlington, Massachusetts
Rabbit Hole

Children and Youth Division
Perform It! Young People’s Stage Company
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Honorable Mention: Weston Drama Workshop
Framingham, Massachusetts
A Chorus Line

The winner of the 2009 John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award is
“Faith,” a two-act play by Northampton, Massachusetts native James
McLindon. In this thought-provoking comedy, a teenage boy who is
convinced that he is God’s prophet on earth believes that he has been
given a sign when he encounters a heavenly visitor in a Wal-Mart
parking lot.

There is also a runner-up this year: “Beat Aside Apollo’s Arrow,” by
Matt K. Miller. In this play, a world-famous immunologist on death
row for purportedly murdering his wife and his partner demands to be
released in return for the invention that he and his partner had been
working on – a universal vaccine that can kill all human viruses.

The awards – $1000 for the winner and $500 for the runner-up – will be
presented at the NETC Awards Banquet in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on
Saturday, November 14. In addition, “Faith” will be given a reading
(open to all convention participants) on the evening of Friday,
November 13.

The winning plays were chosen from over 260 entries.

Linda Potter, Director of Theatre at ABRHS is proud to announce that this year’s fall play “OUR TOWN” will be directed by Dr. Maureen Shea, Professor of Theater at Emerson College. “OUR TOWN” is an American classic by Pulitzer Prize winner Thornton Wilder. The production will features two “site-specific” performances starting at the high school and proceeding to the historic Woodlawn Chapel and Cemetery in Acton Center. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts, an Acton based charity that collects, refurbishes and donates household goods and furniture to needy families in Massachusetts. There will be a pre-show photo exhibit titled “Our Town: Through Student Eyes”. Ticket holders please come early to view this special exhibit.

The performances will run Fridays, October 30 and November 6 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, November 7 at 3:00 and 7:30 pm. The “site-specific” performances are Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $14 for regular performances and $35 for “site-specific” performances and can be purchase at: MKTix.com. Seating is not reserved and doors open one-half hour before the show. Check the Proscenium Circus website for more details: ABDrama.org.

From the team that brought you Cabaret and Chicago, comes a lively new musical that is sure to become an instant classic. Curtains is a backstage murder mystery set in 1959 Boston and follows the fallout when the egregiously untalented leading lady, faded film star, Jessica Cranshaw, is murdered on the opening night of “Robbin’ Hood of the Old West!” Can a police detective (who moonlights as a musical theater fan) solve the case and save the show? This fresh from Broadway musical has that old-fashioned Broadway feel.

The UNH Department of Theatre & Dance is thrilled to premiere this new musical in the Seacoast region. Curtains runs October 7 – 10 at 7:00 p.m. and October 10 & 11 at 2:00 p.m. in the UNH Johnson Theatre.

For tickets, contact the MUB ticket office (Monday through Friday between 10:00AM and 4:00PM) at 603-862-2290. You may also purchase tickets at www.unhmub.com/ticket. Tickets are $15.50 for general admission and $13.50 for seniors, UNH ID holders; and groups of 15 or more. The UNH Theatre Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain in the lobby at the Paul Creative Arts Center. For more information and show times or to learn about Season Subscription offerings at a discount, please call the Department of Theatre & Dance office at 603-862-2919, or visit us at www.unh.edu/theatre-dance.

2009 UNH Curtains

Photo by UNH Photo Services:
From left to right: Lauren Paley, Sean Gallerani, Catherine Claus, Kris Coughlin, Randy Blake and Allison Hadwen