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Curtain Players announces auditions on February 7 and 8.

A Thousand Clowns
by Herb Gardner
Directed by Michael Fusco
Comedy

The action of the play, set in New York’s Upper West Side in 1962, centers on the very loving, though unorthodox relationship between Murray Burns, a non-conformist and willfully unemployed television writer, and his precocious, wise-beyond-his-years nephew, Nick, whom Murray’s Bohemian sister simply left in Murray’s care 7 years before. Unfortunately, they are about to be visited by a team of very uptight social workers, Albert Amundson and Sandra Markowitz whose mission it is to determine whether permitting Nick to remain in Murray’s care living in the indoor junkyard that is their apartment is in Nick’s best interest. In the process Murray ends up helping Albert and Sandra deal with their problems while coming to grips with his own.

CAST BREAKDOWN
Cast of six: 4 men, 1 woman, 1 teen/boy (to play 12 years old)

Murray Burns
An intelligent, witty writer in his early 40’s who wages a constant war against death by succumbing to conformity and the numbness of routine who is, at the same time, almost irresistibly beguiling.

Nick Burns
A super-intelligent, mature grown-up in the body of a short 12-year-old who often plays parent to Murray and worries that Murray’s unwillingness to face reality imperils their future together.

Albert Amundson
A 30-something, well-meaning but rigid social case worker, sadly self-aware of his shortcomings as a human.

Sondra Markowitz
A 27-year-old (who initially dresses and acts like she’s 40) desperate for love and excitement in her life, who discovers and embraces her inner romantic.

Arnold Burns
Murray’s older brother (late 40’s-early 50’s) and a successful theatrical agent who has come to terms with the life choices he has made.

Leo Herman
Alias “Chuckles the Chipmunk”. Age 42, is Murray’s neurotic, insecure and pathetically-untalented former boss who desperately wants Murray to come back to write his show. Ironically, he represents the solution to Murray and Nick’s problem.

Audition Details
Auditions which will consist of cold readings from the script are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Sunday, February 7, and 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 8, 2010 at Curtain Players’ theater. The casting committee will probably ask those auditioning for the roles of Murray and Nick to sing a few lines from a simple, familiar song such as “Happy Birthday”). In the show, these characters strum ukuleles and sing “Yessir, That’s My Baby”. One need not be able to sing well and we can teach you the strumming.

Curtain Players announces an added audition date for its upcoming production of Hedda Gabler on Sunday, 1/10, at 2:00, at the Curtain Players Theatre. Casting for 4 women and 3 men in Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece of psychological drama. Directed by Matt Hermes, auditions will be readings from the script. Visit this link for show and character information. Performance dates in March.

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Theatre Vault reviewers and writers offer their thoughts on the best theatre they saw in 2009.  Congratulations to all!

Best production:

1. Columbus Civic Theater’s A Doll’s House. Nearly every Theatre Vault reviewer mentioned this production in their top five lists. “Solid production… one of the best dramatic pieces I saw this year.” (Krista Threadgill) “CCT definitely tackled this dramatic juggernaut successfully with great and committed actors” (Tahrea Maynard) “The cast, especially Britt Kline, made this classic come alive, despite the long run time and the cramped MadLab setting.” (Danielle Filas)

2. Into the Woods at Weathervane Playhouse. “I watched this play on PBS nearly 20 years ago and was blown away. Weathervane’s production kept that magic alive for me.” (Krista Threadgill) “Professional performances, and an overall wonderful show.” (Tahrea Maynard)

3. Church at Available Light Theatre. “Dramatic, funny, thought-provoking. This was a play that still comes back to me 6 months after seeing it.” (Krista Threadgill) “The inventive company scored another hit with this incredibly though-provoking show. Thank you for not being afraid to be controversial!” (Danielle Filas)

Best season:

1. Emerald City Players. Reviewers recognized nearly every production by this small community theatre tucked away in a strip mall in Dublin had to offer.

Two reviewers put Doubt in their top five shows of the year. “A gutsy move to produce the play on the heels of an incredibly successful movie release, but they handled it beautifully.” (Krista Threadgill) “Kudos to this quality community theatre for taking risks with their season. This show, above all others, showcased what talent, ambition, and imagination can do some bigger theatres with bigger budgets fail to do.” (Danielle Filas)

Robert Weesner also tagged the ensemble for the company’s production of Jekyll & Hyde. “There were some excellent individual performances, but the ensemble work was ultimately what carried the show. Good group, talented, well directed. As a result, this was definitely the best show I saw.” Weesner also gave a nod to ECP’s Tina Gleason for her direction of On Golden Pond. “Tina is a talented and constantly dependable director…. Some day she will receive a lifetime achievement award for a solid body of work, so let’s give it to her now, while she’s still young enough to profit by it.”

2. Curtain Players. Run for Your Wife got recommended by Krista Threadgill for its “raucous British farce, spot-on accent reproduction, and laughter that carried me through my drive home.” In addition to the company’s wacky rendition of Charley’s Aunt, it ended the year with A Little House Christmas, which featured one of Robert Weesner’s favorite actors of the year. “Cherish Myers in Curtain Players production of A Little House Christmas. To me, this energetic 9-year-old carried the bulk of the show, reminding me of the very best of the “Annies” I’ve seen thru the years.” Weesner also mentioned Rich Bloom from the same production, “Rich is a fine actor, not always getting roles that demonstrate his talent. In Little House Christmas he was in a supporting role that was nothing less than enchanting.”

3. Bread and Circus Theatre Company. Reviewers enjoyed the “dark re-imagining” of Macbeth set in the deep south, the hilarious scripts for Funny Money and Right Ho Jeeves, the elaborate sets, and Robert Weesner said of Major Barbara’s Aerika Brofford, “Ol’ George B might have written the role with her in mind.”

Honorable Mentions:

The Weir with Solstice Theatre Company. A new company, Solstice hit the ground running with strong actors, spot on Irish brogues, gracious staff members, and a dark and creepy story perfect for Halloween.

Raconteur Theatre Company. RTC took the risk of delivering a season of new works, including a weekly series of free script readings that allowed the attendees to give feedback on the new works. Kudos for taking bringing Columbus emerging playwrights!

Joe Dallacqua received recognition from multiple reviewers for his roles in Doubt and in The Weir.

Emerald City Players for the best lobby and best concession stand.

Bread and Circus Theatre Company for the best restrooms.  (What?!  It’s important!)

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We can hardly wait to see what the Columbus theatre community has in store for us next year…

Curtain Players announces auditions for “Hedda Gabler” to take place January 3 & 4, 2010 at Curtain Players. Casting for 4 women and 3 men in Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece of psychological drama. Directed by Matt Hermes, auditions will be readings from the script. Visit this link for show and character information. Performance dates in March.