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Bread and Circus and Buckeye Youth Theatre are having a fundraising Yard Sale

The sale is this Saturday at the Harmony Artistic Center, 3979 Parkway Lane in Hilliard (behind Tim Hortons off Cemetery Road)! The sale is between 8 and 1.

Selling items including set pieces, furniture, costumes, and various bric-a-brac that we don’t really need, but maybe you do! Stop by and see what you might find!

Rosebriar Shakespeare Company seeks a costume designer and a set/props designer for the upcoming production of The Taming of the Shrew.  Both designers must be able to work within a strict budget.  Costume designer oversees design, but does have use of an assistant for construction.  Rosebriar also has some costume pieces that may be appropriate in storage.  Set/props designer handles design and construction, but does have access to Rosebriar’s stock of set pieces and props.  Modest stipend available for both positions.  Email for more information about production design concept, schedule, or to set up an interview.  Resumes welcome.

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The Evolution Theatre Company (ETC) has joined the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) as a resident arts group. As such, future ETC productions will be presented in CAPA theatres beginning with the 2009-10 season opener, The Agony and the Agony. The Ohio premiere of Nicky Silver’s dark comedy about life in the theatre will appear in Studio One of the Riffe Center Theatre Complex September 30 - October 17.

CAPA currently holds 21 local arts organizations in residence including Available Light Theatre, the Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO), The Phoenix Theatre for Children, The Ohio State University Department of Theatre, and Columbus Children’s Theatre.

“We welcome Evolution Theatre to the CAPA facilities and look forward to a long, successful relationship presenting and promoting the theatre arts in Columbus,” stated CAPA Board Chair Michael Petrecca.

“CAPA has long been a supporter of local arts organizations, and we believe tapping into their expertise and enthusiasm for local theatre is a positive step towards ensuring the continued success of ETC,” said Mark Phillips Schwamberger, ETC Executive Director.

by  Krista B. Threadgill

To say that I’ve grown up with a “colorful” religious background is something of an understatement:  I had an Episcopalian mom, an agnostic dad, and in my quest for a spiritual home I have run the gamut of Southern Baptist, Catholic, evangelical Christian, and Methodist churches– with a Pentecostal revival thrown in there just for good measure.  Anyone who grew up regularly attending church services will find something  recognizable during this 65-minute production one act, which includes music, testimonials, the laying on of hands, and even some interpretive dance.  Available Light Theatre’s production of Young Jean Lee’s Church prayerfully dissects religious stereotypes.

Under the strong direction of Matt Slaybaugh, Lee’s personal experience of a church service becomes both universally moving and completely irreverent, beginning in total darkness with a sermon broadcast by a disembodied voice overhead.  Throughout the performance you’ll hear laughter from some parts of the audience, although this reviewer felt herself moved nearly to tears by certain portions.  Satirical of religion in general, Church challenges every person’s notion of the line between the familiar and the unacceptable.

The ensemble cast truly delights.  From the initial get-to-know-you handshake greetings with the crowd, to the final bows, Watts, Duncan, Papaleonardos, and Short keep the audience riveted.   Reverend Kate (Kate Watts) tells  her story of childhood trauma and finds release in a beautiful song, accompanied by Reverend Casey (Acacia Duncan) and Reverend Eleni (Eleni Papaleonardos).  In Watts’s amazing testimony scene, she draws the members of the audience in and leaves them questioning what is reality and what is a fantasy in the poor young woman’s mind.  Duncan’s cheerful acceptance and placidity would convince anyone to buy whatever brand of religious dogma she’s selling.  Papaleonardos tells her story of a fallen woman reborn through faith convincingly and with authentic feeling.  Reverend Jose (Ian Short) leads the rousing sermons and pontificates on the untrustworthiness of mummies.  Short’s performance is solid and captivating—yet another charismatic young cult leader wandering among us, drawing us in with his charm and magnetism.

Supporting the engaging cast, Slaybaugh’s production crew provides a technically polished and artistically focused backdrop for the action.  The stage setting is simple—a black backdrop, a couple of pew benches, and a podium.  The only colors are the lovely jewel tones provided in the ladies’ dresses, constructed by stage manager and costume designer Michelle Whited.  Danielle Mann’s music direction and Karl Rogers’ choreography add an energy and liveliness to this production.  Ryan Osborn’s lighting is stark and beautifully orchestrated.

This play has something for everyone, faithful and skeptical alike, and needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.  It’s showing through this weekend, so now is the perfect time to go.   Available Light Theatre presents Church at Studio 2 in the Vern Riffe Center, 77 S. High Street, Columbus, August 19-22.  All performances are at 8:00 p.m. except for August 19, which will be at 5:30 and includes dinner at Barcelona (an additional $25).  On Friday, August 21, there will be a 12:00 p.m. performance with lunch provided by Tip-Top ($30 for play and box lunch).  Reservations are recommended for the lunch show.  All regular performances are pay-what-you-can and include talkback after the show.  For more information, please visit Available Light’s website or call (614) 558-7408.

This weekend showcases only two opening productions, so get over the Columbus State Community College and check out its production of Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive.  Ongoing productions include Cirque de Soleil’s Saltimbanco in its final weekend in Columbus and the critically acclaimed Church performed by Available Light Theatre, also in its final weekend.  Actors’ Theatre continues its run of As You Like It, and MadLab continues its showcase of Quintissential Roulette, with MadLab also adding its late night 3 in 30, featuring three short pieces exploring the theme “Rush.”  For more information about these performances, see Columbus Theatre Calendar.

Rosebriar Shakespeare Company seeks Education Director.  Ideal candidate is highly organized, self-motivated and has experience teaching theatre arts to youth and adults.  Candidate should also feel comfortable working with educators, parents, and businesses; understand and enjoy Shakespeare; and  have some experience with maintaining computer databases and web site maintenance.  Rosebriar Shakespeare Company is Central Ohio’s only year-round Shakespeare company, and the Education Program dedicates itself to fighting “Shakes-fear” in children and adults.  Modest stipend.  Please send resume and/or questions about this position to educationdirector@rosebriarshakespeare.org

Emerald City Players will be holding auditions for…

“On Golden Pond”

By: Ernest Thompson

Director: Tina Gleason

Performances: October 9 – October 24, 2009

Auditions:        Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 7:00 PM

Monday, August 24, 2009 - 7:00 PM

Auditions will be reading from the script.  In addition, a prepared monologue is required.

Norman Thayer, Jr.- A witty, blunt, loveable man in his late 70’s. Very

aware of his own mortality. Showing signs of early senility, but covers it

up with a strong personality. He appears rude and grumpy, to hide his fear

of physically not being able to do all the things he did when he was

young.

Ethel Thayer- Norman’s wife. In her late 60’s. A spunky woman full of

energy and optimism. She notices and appreciates every detail of life.

Charlie Martin- In his 40’s. Has known the Thayer family for years. Has

had a crush on Chelsea for many years, but always too quiet, or awkward to

pursue anything. He is a heavy, cheerful man, who is comfortable with his

surroundings.

Chelsea Thayer Wayne- Only child of Norman and Ethel. In her 40’s. She

carries years of resentment toward her parents in different ways. She has

never felt love from her father and although she has similar personality

traits, she will fight to never become like him.

Bill Ray-Chelsea’s boyfriend. Mid to late 40’s. Respectful, trusting  and

kind, yet stands up for what he holds dear.

Billy Ray- Bills son.  A restless, angry teenager. Does and says what he

can to get a reaction. Loves his parents, though resentful of their

divorce. Is constantly bounced around and untrusting as a result.

Bring Headshot and Resume if Available (not mandatory)

Auditions will take place at the

Emerald City Theater, 6799 Dublin Center Dr,

in the Dublin Village Shopping Center.

Seeking stage manager, props manager, and costume coordinator. Gallery Players is looking for tech staff for this fall’s production of “Tally’s Folly”. We need a stage manager, properties master and costume coordinator. Mark Mann is directing; the show auditions August 25 & 26; it opens October 17. If you’re interested, contact Jared Saltman at 614-559-6248 or jsaltman@columbusjcc.org or Pam Scheer at 614-231-3401 or pscheer@columbus.rr.com . For more details, go to the Gallery Players website www.jccgalleryplayers.org

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RUN AWAY WITH CIRQUE DREAMS- ILLUMINATION

Holds Local Casting Call to Make a Lucky

Performer’s Dream Come True

Created and Directed by Neil Goldberg

Presented by Broadway Across America-Columbus at the Palace Theatre

September 29-October 4, 2009

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Columbus, OH DREAMS COME TRUE…CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION and Broadway Across America-Columbus have teamed up to offer one lucky dreamer the chance to “Run away with Cirque Dreams” and perform in a feature role when the show performs at the Palace Theatre September 29-October 4, 2009.

The creative team from Cirque Dreams will hold a citywide casting call, limited to the first 100 dreamers, on Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 11:30am-2pm at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing (5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Dublin 43016), and encourage aspiring performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers, singers and anyone else with a special talent who has ever dreamed of performing in a Broadway show, to audition for their chance to perform with the internationally renowned Cirque Dreams company.

Each participant will have up to 2 minutes to impress the cirque experts with their skills. Performers requiring music should bring their own CD. In addition, performers from CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will be on hand to give a sneak peek of the show. The winner of the “Run Away with Cirque Dreams” competition will be trained locally by the Cirque Dreams design team for their debut performance in CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION and will receive 6 complimentary tickets to their debut performance.