Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Village Players is on stage with Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs."
Village Players director Oliver Sprague said he was drawn to Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" for its ability to show "the internal mechanics of a family, and how families work, and how they pull together to get things done." The show features a cast of seven: Vince Evangelista (Eugene Morris Jerome), Isabella Fraraccio (Laurie), Hal Granholm (Jack Jerome), Jonathan Hogsett (Stanley Jerome), Sara Horrocks (Nora), Denise Mesina (Aunt Blanche) and Theresa Miller (Kate Jerome). "I like working in a small ensemble," Miller said. "And the show is so real. The things that happen to us as a stage family could happen to anybody in a real family." Brighton Beach Memoirs precedes Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound in the semi-autobiographical …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Opening in May at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico is the Village Players production of the Neil Simon classic, "Brighton Beach Memoirs."
Actors are in costume for the final days of rehearsals for the upcoming Village Players production of Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs. The show features a cast of seven: Vince Evangelista (Eugene Morris Jerome), Isabella Fraraccio (Laurie), Hal Granholm (Jack Jerome), Jonathan Hogsett (Stanley Jerome), Sara Horrocks (Nora), Denise Mesina (Aunt Blanche) and Theresa Miller (Kate Jerome). The show is directed by Oliver Sprague. Show dates are May 17-18, 23-25 and 30-31. Also, June 1. Doors open 7:30 p.m.; curtain time is 8 p.m. Curtain for the Sunday, May 25 matinee is 3 p.m.; doors open at 2:30 p.m. The theatre is at 506 Fifth Street, north of State Road 60. Regular admission is $14.00. Tickets for students, seniors and military, with …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Director Tyler Hollis talks about Plant City Entertainment's current production, "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood."
Tyler Hollis, with his wife, Angela, are directors of this month's Plant City Entertainment production of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, on stage at the Plant City Entertainment Theatre at 101 North Thomas Street. The show, written by Mary Lynn Dobson, stars Domonic Botto (Robin Hood), Pamela Cawley (Maid Marion), Joe Osborn (Sheriff of Nottingham), Ben Rawnsley (Evil Prince John) and Derek Abbott, as the narrator known as "Town's Guy." Remaining show dates are May 9-11. The curtain rises at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $14 for general admission, $12 for seniors and students (through grade 12) and $10 for Plant City Entertainment members and for theatre attendees in groups of 10 or more. The following Patch Talk interview was …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Next up for the Village Players at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico is the spring production of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs."
The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with the May 2013 production of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs." On stage at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico, directed by Oliver Sprague, the comedy show dates are May 17-18, 23-25 and 30-31. Also, June 1. Doors open 7:30 p.m.; curtain time is 8 p.m. Curtain for the Sunday, May 25 matinee is 3 p.m.; doors open at 2:30 p.m. The theatre is at 506 Fifth Street, north of State Road 60. Regular admission is $14.00. Tickets for students, seniors and military, with identification, cost $12. Group rates are available. For information, call 813-643-8292. Visit the Village Players online.
Monday, April 8, 2013
The first day of rehearsals is April 10 for the 2013 Plant City Entertainment production of "Les Miserables."
Calling it the largest turnout for auditions he has ever witnessed, veteran community director Domin Pazo said 101 people showed up to audition for the upcoming Plant City Entertainment production of Les Miserables. The day-long auditions were held April 6 at the Plant City Entertainment theater, at 101 North Thomas St. in Plant City. "It was the biggest turnout I've ever been associated with," said Pazo, who for years has directed shows for Plant City Entertainment and for Stagedoor Performing Arts in Brandon and the Village Players in Valrico. "It's truly one of the most popular musicals in the world, and especially so coming right off the movie release," Pazo added. "For a lot of us, as performers, to finally be able to stage it is …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Frenzie community theater troupe is back on stage with "a non-musical glimpse at relationships." The four-actor show is on stage at Riverview High School for one weekend only, March 28-30.
The Frenzie is back on stage in the Greater Brandon area with a "non-musical glimpse at relationships" starring four actors, Pedro Amaral, Justin Batten, Kim Davis and Amber McCollum. Appropriately titled, "2 Guys, 2 Girls, 1 Stage," the show is a compilation of one-acts that director and Frenzie co-founder Michael Mercer put together for a unique theater experience on the Riverview High School stage. "The show deals with all kinds of relationships, love relationships, family relationships, some really funny and some are much more serious," said Mercer, who founded The Frenzie Life Theatre, now known as The Frenzie Performance Factory, with his wife, Beverly Mercer, in 2007. In the show "I wanted to spotlight these four particular actors…
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Village Players director Oliver Sprague said he has two roles to fill in the upcoming Village Players production of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs."
Two roles remain open for the upcoming 2013 Village Players production of Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, directed by Oliver Sprague. Still to be cast are Eugene Morris Jerome, 15 years old, and his older brother, Stanley, 17 to 20 years old. To set up a time to audition, contact Sprague by the end of the weekend, at 813-516-4165. Or, via email, at TheatreLife4me@hotmail.com. Sprague said he wanted to direct this show "because of its root in the importance of family." "It also is right down my alley because it is a 'dram-edy,' " he added. "People will enjoy this show based on its subject matter. I believe that audiences will connect with at least one, if not all the characters in this timeless piece." Sprague said he also was drawn …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Plant City Entertainment is one of the first seven theater troupes in Florida set to perform "Les Miserables." Casting dates for the summer production have been set.
Plant City Entertainment (PCE) is set to perform Les Miserables inthe summer of 2013 as one of the first seven theater troupes in Florida licensed to perform the show. According to Music Theatre International, the company through which rights to the show have been secured, troupes granted that permission in Florida also are in Deland, Fort Myers, Ocala and Orlando. In addition, college-level productions are forthcoming at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville and at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. Auditions for the local show are set for Saturday, April 6, from 2 to 10 p.m. at the Plant City Theater at 101 North Thomas St. Rehearsals will start the week after. Show dates are set for July 19-20 and 25-28 and Aug. 1-3. …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Photos and interviews with the Village Players production of "Godspell."
Day by day turned into weeks and months of rehearsals for the 2013 Village Players production of "Godspell," on stage in March at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico. There on opening night, March 8, co-director Lois Green and wardrobe designer Carlton Jones took a break at the fish-fry dinner served before the show's first scene to discuss the Lenten-season production. "Godspell," a modern musical based on the Gospel according to Matthew, has been staged in many different settings and time periods. The local theater troupe opted for the 70's. "Orignally it was done in the 70's but many people bring it up-to-date and do it in very different settings, such as a circus," Green said. "I've seen it done in a child's school yard. I've seen it…
Saturday, March 9, 2013
"The Joy Gets Closer Day By Day" for the Village Players, on stage with their Lenten season production of "Godspell."
The Village Players are on stage at the James McCabe Theather with the Lenten season production of "Godspell," a modern musical based on the Gospel according to Matthew. Remaining show dates include the 8 p.m. staging today, Saturday, March 9. Additional dates are March 15-16 and 22-23. All curtain times are 8 p.m., at 506 Fifth St. in Valrico. The sole matinee show is scheduled for Sunday, March 17, at 3 p.m. The show is co-directed by Gail Pierce and Lois Duncan, who also is the choreographer and set designer. Lights and sound are by Oliver Sprague and there is a live band conducted by Miguel Oquendo. Program is by Ramona Montgomery and Hal Granhole and Kyle Yerdon are the show's stage managers. Carlton Jones attended to wardrobe …
Oliver Sprague
2:18 pm on Saturday, May 11, 2013
Thank you Linda for helping us get the word out! Everyone come see this terrific cast! more ›