Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. children’s theater and the Davidson College theater department present their annual joint children’s production, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” next Friday to Sunday, Jan. 21-23. Also ahead on the local theater scene: Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius will stage Byrony Lavery’s Tony-nominated play “Frozen” Jan. 28-Feb. 13. And rehearsals are starting for Davidson Community Players’ February/March production of Meir Ribalow’s “Masterpiece.” Also, auditions are Jan. 23-24 for the Player’ June musical, “Ragtime.”
Scene from a 2005 production of "Emperor's New Clothes."
‘EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES’
“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a hilarious retelling of the popular tale by Hans Christian Anderson, rewritten by Connie Company founder, Rupert T. Barber. A vain and selfish emperor, two scheming weavers, a kingdom of unhappy subjects and a bolt of “invisible” cloth make for a mighty funny story. Davidson College students make up the cast, and Davidson Community Players’ Artistic Director Melissa Ohlman-Roberge directs.
The play runs Friday to Sunday, Jan. 21-23, at Davidson College’s Barber Theater, in Cunningham Theatre Center. It’s appropriate for ages 4 and up.
The student cast features Nick McGuire as the emperor and Willa Folmar as empress. Also: Tatum Pottenger (Lord Chamberlain), Julie Brylawski (Buckalow), Amelia Lumpkin (Roscoe), McKenzie Roese (Kiedinger), Sarah Little (Croaker/Monk), Chance Ruder (Jasper/Page), Katie Voegtli (Cothem/Page), Sarah Welty (Royal Guard/Trumpeter), Belal Elrahal (guard from another kingdom/Parader), and Paraders Emily Wilkes, Amanda Fink, Lori Pitts.
Performances are Friday, Jan. 21, at 4:30 and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m., and 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 23, at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
All tickets are $7 for the show, which is directed by Melissa Ohlman-Roberge.
Tickets may be ordered by calling 704-892-7953 or online at www.DavidsonCommunityPlayers.org
‘FROZEN’ AT WAREHOUSE PAC
The Warehouse Performing Arts Center will stage Byrony Lavery’s “Frozen” from Jan. 28-Feb. 13.
The "Frozen" cast, from left, Annette Saunders, John Cunningham and Anne Lambert.
Nominated for a Tony in 2004, “Frozen” tells of the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl, Rhona. The play follows Rhona’s mother, Nancy, Ralph, her killer, and Dr. Agnetha, who studies the basis of crime. Drawn together by horrible circumstances, these three embark upon a long, difficult journey that finally curves upward into the light of forgiveness.
Directed by Divina Cook, the play features John Cunningham, Anne Lambert, and Annette Saunders.
Performances are Thursdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays, Feb. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20. Groups and seniors, $15. Reservations may be made via email at tickets@warehousepac.com or box office 704-619-0429.
This play is intended for mature audiences and has some explicit language.
‘MASTERPIECE’ OPENS PLAYERS’ 2011 SEASON
Charlotte director, actor and acting coach Martin Thompson will direct a production of Meir Ribalow’s “Masterpiece” Feb. 24-March 13 at Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theater, 307 Armour St.
“Masterpiece” is a new play based on a 20th century art forgery scandal. It explores questions of reality and illusion, what is great art and who gets to decide, and the relationship between love, passion and truth. The play is based on the true story of Han van Meegeren, a Dutch artist and master forger who created fake Vermeer paintings in the 1930-40s and sold them to the Nazis.
“Masterpiece” was first presented in Davidson in summer 2008 as a staged reading by New River Dramatists.
For show times and ticket information, visit www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.
“Masterpiece” is the opening show of 2011 for the Players. Other Main Stage productions on the calendar will:
- Celebrate America’s jazz roots and its dance rhythms in the musical “Ragtime.”
- Highlight the art of comedy in “Moon Over Buffalo.”
- Feature the art of the written and spoken word in “Love Letters.”
- And culminate with a magical celebration of the human spirit in “Retrieving the Lamb.”
Meanwhile, the 2011 Connie Co. youth program features three classic tales. In January, Davidson Community Players collaborates with the Davidson College Department of Theatre to perform “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” (See above.) In April, enjoy the endearing tale of “Stuart Little,” while November will bring our second annual all-youth musical, “Seussical, Jr.”
Season subscriptions and ticket packages are available for both the Main Stage and Connie Company shows. More information at www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org or call 704-892- 7953.
Davidson Community Players will hold auditions Sunday and Monday, Jan. 23-24, for their June 2011 production of the musical “Ragtime.”
Based on E.L. Doctorow’s landmark book, “Ragtime” is the story of three families at the turn of twentieth century America (upper-middle class Caucasians in New Rochelle, African Americans in Harlem, and Jewish immigrants new to New York). Brilliantly weaving actual historical events with fictional characters, the musical tells the characters’ stories of struggle, independence, search for fulfillment and reliance on each other as the three families’ lives become intertwined in ways that could not have been foreseen. Set to a sweeping, magnificent score (widely considered to be one of the crowning achievements of American musical theatre), Ahrens’ and Flaherty’s masterpiece is simultaneously moving, funny, and tragic, but ultimately leaves the audience filled with hope for the future of the country that we know is to come, and even more so for the world that is yet to be. Originally produced on Broadway in 1998, the musical won four Tony awards, including Best Book and Best Score.
The production will be directed by Melissa Ohlman-Roberge, with musical direction by John Smith and choreography by Felicia Davis. The production will open June 16th and will run thru June 25th. Rehearsals will begin April 26th.
Roles are available for two children (one male, one female) ages 8-13 as well as for young-adults (ages 15+) and adults. Ragtime requires a diverse cast and provides great opportunities for featured and leading roles for African American singers/dancers/actors ages 16+. A detailed cast breakdown is available at www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.
Auditions will be Sunday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m., for children ages 8-13, and Sunday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m., and Monday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. for actresses and actors ages 15 and above. Auditionees should plan to sign in by 8 p.m. and need only attend one session.
Auditions will be held at Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theatre at 307 Armour St., Davidson. All auditioners should prepare 16 bars of a song that shows off their vocal range. Audition pieces should be memorized, and, as “Ragtime” is almost all music (very little spoken dialogue), auditioners should prepare a piece that highlights their ability to act through song.
For additional information regarding auditions, please contact Melissa Ohlman-Roberge, Artistic Director at 704-892-7953 or email melissa@davidsoncommunityplayers.org.
