Stowetheatre.com 67 Main St., P.O. Box 1381, Stowe January 2016 Happy New Year from Stowe Theatre Guild! We are pleased to announce our 2016 season, which will feature a couple of frequently requested shows, a sci-fi cult favorite, and Stowe s first non-musical offering since 2011. We love welcoming theatre-lovers from the surrounding area to support us in bringing great theatre to Stowe. There are opportunities for season and show sponsors, on-stage talent, and behind-the-scenes volunteers or buy yourself tickets to the shows and support us as an audience member! Our season starts with the family-friendly musical SEUSSICAL. The second show welcomes back STG alumni and 2015 scholarship winners to direct and produce the play ALMOST, MAINE. Next up is the hugely popular rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. And closing out our season, the fourth show will be the campy cult classic THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. We are excited to present our 2016 season! I encourage you to audition for one of our shows or get involved backstage. There is always a need for help with set construction, painting, lighting, sound, and all the other jobs that support the people on stage. Join our team for a fun and exciting summer at the theatre! Don Mersereau, president PARTNERS IN THE ARTS We are seeking community partners for each of our four shows this year! If you represent a nonprofit or other community organization and would like to collaborate with one of our shows through a food drive, donation setup or other creative cross-promotion please contact our community affairs chair Kim Anetsberger at jaimemonbebe@gmail.com. Stowe Theatre Guild is proud to be part of the Stowe Arts and Culture Council, an organization dedicated to promoting our community as a cultural destination. Our four shows are also part of Vermont Arts 2016, a year-long celebration highlighting the stunning array of arts events, concerts, festivals, exhibits, and openings that take place all across the state. Learn more at vermontartscouncil.org. 1
AUDITIONS Check out audition and character information for each of our four shows here! Auditions and callbacks, if needed, will be held at the Town Hall Theatre. Updated audition information can be found on our website; check stowetheatre.com and Facebook for the latest info. Mark your calendars for audition dates you may be interested in, and don t forget if you re not cast, or not interested in being on stage, we would LOVE to have you volunteer with us! VOLUNTEER! Stowe Theatre Guild is a small nonprofit that is mostly run by volunteers, including the board of directors so we re always looking for more people to join us in bringing shows to life! Whether you want to build sets, run lights or sound, paint, create costumes and props, or get involved with one or more of our committees in marketing, community affairs, fundraising or more, we d love to have you join our team. Email info@stowetheatre.com and let us know what you d like to help with or learn more about. FIND US Our street address is the beautiful Town Hall Theater on the second level of the Akeley Soldiers Memorial Building, 67 Main St. in Stowe. Our mailing address for all correspondence is P.O. Box 1381, Stowe, VT 05672. You can call us at (802) 253-3961; please leave a message with your contact information. Visit us online at stowetheatre.com for the most up-to-date info, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to take a peek behind the scenes during our summer season. ALUMNI NEWS Congratulations to our 2015 scholarship winners: Mia Angione, who s currently studying communication sciences at UVM; Sarah Espey, who s at the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California; and Sam Smith, who s at the University of St. Thomas. Our two other winners, Owen Leavey (studying musical theatre at the CAP21 professional program in NYC) and Devin Kiernan (pre-law at Elon University) are returning to STG to direct and produce our second show, Almost, Maine! STG alum Oscar Williams, last seen as Colin Craven in 2014 s The Secret Garden, is currently on Broadway in Fun Home, which opened in the spring of 2015 and won five Tony Awards (out of 10 nominations!), including Best Musical. Paul Heesang Miller, whose STG shows included Titanic, A Chorus Line, The Fantasticks and more, is also on Broadway in The King and I, which won four out of its nine Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical. Liana Hunt, whose first show was STG s The Secret Garden in 1998, recently wrapped a run as Nessarose in the Munchkinland national tour of Wicked, and in the past few years has starred in both Newsies and Mamma Mia on Broadway! Bravissimi! JOIN US ON THE WEB! Facebook & Twitter @StoweTheatre Instagram @StoweTheatreGuild #STG2016 2
Music by Stephen Flaherty Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle Based on the works of Dr. Seuss Auditions: Friday, Feb. 12, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Callbacks, if needed, will be Sunday, Feb. 14, 1-4 p.m. Shows (12): Thursday-Saturday, June 16-18, 23-25, 30 and July 1-2, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 19, 26 and July 3, 2 p.m. Director Beth Esmond Music Director Carol Spradling Producer Scott Esmond Choreographer Jean-Marie Mellichamp SEUSSICAL is a musical based on the works of Dr. Seuss, but it isn t just a string of his stories set to music. And it isn t just one of his stories; it s a story that weaves together Seuss s most famous words and characters in unexpected new ways. This is a diverse cast with many opportunities for features. We welcome actors of all ages and encourage families to audition together. The Cat in the Hat Male or female, any age; range: F2-F4 (male) or G3- C5 (female) Our story s omniscient narrator, he is fun-loving and enjoys rhyming. Pops up throughout the story to help the audience. The Cat should be a great mover. Needs to climb up a ladder and into a tree. Jojo Male or female, stage age 8-12; range Ab3-C5 The Mayor s son, he is a Who and is always finding trouble. Bright, creative, imaginative, and inadvertently mischievous. If a female is cast, she would play a boy. Strong, confident singer with ability to sing counterpoint (demonstrating this at auditions will be a plus). Horton the Elephant Male, stage age 20-40; range A2-F4 Our story s main character, he is a compassionate and gentle elephant. He is protective and loving of all creatures in the jungle. Gertrude McFuzz Female, stage age 20-30; range F3-F5 Horton s one-feathered-tail bird neighbor. Gertrude is sweet and timid. Though kind and loyal, she is also self-conscious of her shortfalls. Gertrude must sing sweetly and also belt to a D5. Mayzie La Bird Female, stage age 20-40; range G3-Eb5 The most beautiful bird in all of the jungle. Oblivious to her self-centered ways, she relies on her talent of manipulation, and intoxicating beauty, to navigate her way through life. Must be a belter. The Sour Kangaroo Female, stage age 25-50; range F#3-F5 The leader of the jungle. A caring mother, but unabashedly loud, sassy and soulful. Think Aretha. Bird Girls Female, teens and up Triple threats, in a perfect world. They will act as backup dancers (mostly Latin feel). They sing much of the story in three-part harmony. Each will sing solo at some point in the show. The Wickersham Brothers Male, possibly one female, teens and up Monkeys! Triple threats, in a perfect world; strong dancers and possibly acrobatic. Will sing solo and in three-part harmony. Yertle the Turtle/Who Male, teen and up Low bass. Could double as Grinch or Wickersham. Grinch/Who Male, teen and up Low bass. Could double as Yertle or Wickersham. Mr. Mayor/Who Stage age 30 and up Strong singer. Could also play circus performer or animal. Mrs. Mayor/Who Stage age 30 and up Strong singer. Could also play circus performer or animal. General Genghis Khan Schmitz/Who Stage age 25 and up Strong singer with good comedic timing. Could double as Wickersham. Will also play circus performer or animal. Cindy Lou Who; Who women; Who children Double as circus performers or animals; could be featured dancers. Pre-registration is suggested; contact the director at bethesmond@gmail.com to reserve a spot. 3
A play by John Cariani Developed by the Cape Cod Theatre Project Almost, Maine is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. Auditions: Friday, March 18, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 19, noon-3 p.m. Callbacks TBD. Shows (12): Wednesday-Saturday, July 20-23, 27-30 and Aug. 3-6, 7:30 p.m. Director Owen Leavey Producer Devin Kiernan Assistant Director/Stage Manager Sean Jacobson On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, nothing is quite what it seems in the remote town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hang above the star-filled sky, the couples of this small town find themselves falling in and out of love on a Friday night in unexpected and sometimes hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But everything heals in time almost. Cast of characters: The following 19 characters will be played by just four actors: two men and two women, all in their teens to early 20s. Every scene only involves two actors. Each actor will be assigned at least four characters to play. This means that the actors do not have to fit any specific type in order to audition! Pete and Ginette, a young couple who have been dating for a short time. East, an average repair man, and Glory, an out-of-state hiker. Jimmy, a sad and lonely guy, Sandrine, his ex-girlfriend and a very salty Waitress. Marvalyn, a woman doing her weekly laundry, and Steve, the boy who can t feel pain. Gayle and Lendall, the long-time boyfriend and girlfriend. Randy and Chad, two county potato farmers. Phil, a working man, and his wife, Marci. Hope, a woman who has traveled the world, and a Man, who has not. And, last but not least, Rhonda, a rough-and-tough Maine woman, and Dave, the not-so-rough-and-tough Maine man who is in love with her. Pre-registration is suggested; contact the director at Owen.leavey@gmail.com to reserve a spot. 4
Lyrics by Tim Rice Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is presented through an exclusive arrangement with R&H Theatricals and Two Knights Rights Auditions: Friday, Feb. 19, 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Callbacks, if needed, will be Sunday, Feb. 21, 1-3 p.m. Shows (12): Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 17-20, Aug. 24-27, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1-3, 7:30 p.m. Director Scott Weigand Music Director Stefanie Weigand Producer Kathi Kiernan Choreographer Taryn Noelle Jesus Christ, the world s first superstar! Andrew Lloyd Webber s thrilling rock opera takes a sometimes irreverent, always-impassioned look at Jesus last days, with a modern twist. As Judas begins to question the motivations and methods of his friend and mentor, emotion and true belief is put to the test. Propelled by a stirring score by the creators of Phantom of the Opera and Evita, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR illuminates the transcendent power of the human spirit with a passion that goes straight to the heart. Casting will not be gender-specific; all roles are open to men and women. Judas 20s-30s, rock tenor Jesus strategic confidante; dedicated, passionate, conflicted, unshakably practical; torn between an aggressive sense of self-preservation and the ideals of Jesus religious movement. Jesus 20s-30s, rock tenor As much a pop culture idol as a religious leader; driven, charismatic, attractive, sincere; has a greater understanding of the dangers and matters at hand than any of his followers. Mary Magdalene 18-30, folk mezzo Struggles with aligning her worldly past with Jesus message; hopeful, steadfast, fragile, sweet with an edge. Pontius Pilate 30s-40s, rock baritone Roman governor; calculated, thoughtful, adept at handling pressure, not quick to use the gravity of his power. Caiphas 30s-50s, bass High Priest of the Pharisees; at the top of a crumbling system and violently resistant to conceding his place; severe, strategic. Simon 20s-40s, rock tenor Particularly enthusiastic supporter of the anarchist aspect of Jesus mission; reckless, extreme, ready for an uprising. Herod 30s-50s, bari-tenor King of Galilee responsible for determining the fate of its Jewish captives; corrupt, condescending, decadent, charming. Disciples, Priests, Ensemble Teens-50s Must be singers who are at home in pop/rock stylings; sight-reading and musicianship skills a plus. Pre-registration is strongly suggested; contact producer Kathi Kiernan at the_kiernans@yahoo.com to reserve a spot. 5
Book, music and lyrics by Richard O Brien Produced by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. Auditions: Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m.-noon, and 1-4 p.m. Callbacks, if needed, will be Sunday, March 6, 1-4 p.m. Shows (12): Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 5-8, 12-15 and 19-22, 7:30 p.m. Director Patrick Houle Music Director Carol Spradling Producer Judith Mathison Choreographer Taylor Cammer Brad and Janet are an innocent young couple who run into some car trouble and decide to ask the inhabitants of a creepy castle for some help. Little do they know one of those inhabitants, Dr. Frank N. Furter, is bent on world domination and creating the perfect man. They are soon to be dragged into his unusual and nefarious plans in this campy and fun classic rock musical send-up of 1950s science fiction films. Featuring a rock soundtrack, this unique musical will both involve the audience (complete with prop bags!) and whip them into a frenzy. Due to the mature content of this show, those who wish to audition must be at least 18 years old. Dr. Frank N. Furter Stage age 30-45; baritone, D3-G4 Frank is a transvestite scientist from Transsexual, Transylvania. He is brilliant but completely mad, and obsessed with creating the perfect man. He is charismatic and confident, but also menacing. His plans for world domination and his hedonistic lifestyle know no bounds. Brad Majors Stage age 20-35; bari-tenor, Bb2-G4 Brad is a quirky, innocent, naive and classic all- American young man. Although he is more than a bit square and out of his element, he does attempt to put a brave face on in any situation and is very much in love with his fiancée, Janet. Janet Weiss Stage age 20-35; mezzo-soprano, A3-Eb5 Janet is the classic all-american goodie goodie. She is easily frightened and confused. She has the tendency to be emotionally weak and caves into pressure easily. This role requires an actress who has great comedic timing. Riff Raff Stage age 25-45; rock tenor, D3-B4 Riff Raff is a creepy man who resembles a zombie. He has a talent for making normal conversation seem very awkward and menacing. He is Frank s handyman and even though he appears to serve willingly, his true motives are darker and more sinister. Magenta Stage age 25-45; mezzo-soprano belt, Bb3-Eb5 Riff Raff s sister and Frank s domestic servant. She is insane, alternating from being sweet and comforting to being angry and erratic in a span of seconds. She has a bizarre relationship with her brother. Actress who plays this part must have a menacing presence. Columbia Stage age 20-35; mezzo-soprano belt E4-E5 Columbia is a groupie of Frank s. She is desperately in love with him and with Eddie. Despite being human, she is just as involved in the bizarre happenings with Frank s group as anyone else. Tap dancing is a plus! Rocky Stage age 20-35; tenor, A3-G4 Rocky is the magnificent creation of Frank. He is wellmuscled and very sexy. He is very intelligent in some respects, but like a newborn baby in others. Dr. Everett Scott * Stage age 40-70; baritone, E3-F#4 Dr. Scott is Brad and Janet s professor and Eddie s uncle. He is a crusty old scientist who may or may not have a Nazi past. He has been tracking the actions of Frank and his gang. Eddie * Stage age 20-35; baritone, E3-F#4 Eddie is a deliveryman and one of Frank s ex-lovers. It is implied that Eddie had a substance abuse issue. Once he fell out of favor with Frank, possibly for an affair with Columbia, he became a lab rat for Frank. The Criminologist * Stage age 25-70; non-singing The Criminologist is a very conservative person who pops in to narrate various points during the show. This role could be played by a man or a woman. Phantoms Various singing parts Four to six phantoms will act as ensemble members. These roles require good singers and versatile actors who are comfortable in a variety of different roles. * The roles of Dr. Scott and Eddie may be doubled, and the Criminologist may double as a Phantom. Pre-registration is suggested; contact the director at Patrick.houle@jsc.edu to reserve a spot. 6
TICKETS Tickets are $25 per adult and $15 for patrons aged 18 and under, inclusive of all taxes and fees. Tickets can be purchased online at stowetheatre.com through our ticketing service, or at the door if available. The box office opens two hours prior to showtime, and accepts cash and checks. Ticket reservations, for season ticket holders and family and corporate sponsors, may be made by contacting our ticket manager at tickets@stowetheatre.com or by leaving a message at (802) 253-3961. SEASON TICKETS A four-pack of tickets one for each show is available currently for $70, the lowest price of the year! Season ticket prices will increase beginning February 15, so get yours today! (They also make fantastic gifts!) Season tickets can be purchased via the link at stowetheatre.com, or by sending us a check at P.O. Box 1381, Stowe, VT. Please include your name, contact information and address so we can get in touch! SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING Our shows would not be possible without the support of the amazing individuals, families and businesses that make up our community. We invite you to support us by becoming a family or business sponsor. Family packages start at $125 and include the lowest price on season tickets, preferred seating, and thanks in our season program. Corporate sponsorships start at $750, and include tickets, preferred seating, your logo on promotional materials, a verbal thank-you each night as part of the show s curtain speech, advertisement in our season program and more. Do you own a business that would like to partner with us in a creative way? Restaurant nights, themed specials, ticket packages we d love to hear your ideas! For program advertising, check stowetheatre.com for information on ad sizes and prices. Email sponsorship chair Scott Weigand at scottweigand1@gmail.com, or finance chair Hannah Marshall at hcmarshall@gmail.com, for more information. The Last Five Years Feb. 25-28, March 3-6 Featuring STG alum Matt Bacewicz with Megan Beaucage Essexplayers.com Mary Poppins April 1-3, 7-10 Featuring STG alums including Elizabeth Pattison as Mary Poppins Lyrictheatrevt.com You Can t Take it With You Once Upon a Mattress Deathtrap Twelve Angry Jurors Annual meeting Jan. 30 Lcplayers.com 7
Board of Directors Don Mersereau, president Lynn Baumrind, vice president, founding member Hannah Marshall, treasurer Kim Anetsberger, secretary Molly Atkins Glenn Brown Beth Esmond Barb Pfitzenmayer Matthew Pierce Kristin Silverman Scott Weigand Please contact us if you are interested in joining a committee! Info@stowetheatre.com. Committees Community Affairs Chair: Kim Anetsberger Finance Chair: Hannah Marshall House Chair: Lynn Baumrind Personnel Chair: Matt Pierce Publicity Co-chairs: Jane Harissis and Kristin Silverman Show Selection Chair: Jane Harissis Sponsorship/Fundraising Chair: Scott Weigand Tech Chair: Don Mersereau Tickets Chair: Robin Trowbridge 8