Gracie Stanley has gotten herself in hot water by promising to deliver her distant cousin, rock star Ziggy Springer, for the high school Hippity Hop at Louise’s Luncheonette. The problem is Ziggy’s manager doesn’t want his client performing anywhere without pay, so Gracie and her friends have to produce a double — and fast! They plan to use a singing soda jerk and have him perform in the dark! It won’t be easy for Gracie to get away with this one with her rival, snooty Muffin Mansfield, waiting for her to flop.
Meanwhile, Louise has her own problems. The building’s owner forbids the dance and plans to turn the eatery into a dry cleaner. With all of this happening, Gracie’s brother is living in terror because he’s smashed up a Harley belonging to Sinbad Gallucci, a bad dude.
This is a one set, easy to stage musical comedy that will have your audiences cheering. Included in the sensational Francoeur fifties score: ’Bop-A-Lu-Bop Dance Party,’ ’Teen Queen,’ ’It’s Tough To Be a Teenager In Love,’ the hilarious ’It Was The Blob,’ and, of course, the toe-tapping title tune.
Comedy by Monk Ferris
Directed by Pam Schreck
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SUMMARY
A happy housewife named Marsha, hopelessly addicted to reading murder mysteries, overhears her loving husband discussing her upcoming birthday surprise with an interior decorator. To her ears, though, it sounds like they are planning to murder her! With the assistance of her next-door neighbor, she tries to turn the tables on them with a poisoned potion. When her own mother shows up for her birthday a day early, Marsha thinks she is in on the diabolical scheme. When her maid’s date, a policeman, shows up to take the maid out, Marsha thinks he is on to her poisoning attempt. Well, finally, just when you would think all this would be cleared up, Marsha’s intended victims discover what she has supposed, and decide to teach her a lesson by actually pretending to be murderers. This is a terrific show for family audiences who like their comedy broad, fast, and nonstop.
3 leading men, 3 leading ladies and a small ensemble.
Ages range from teen to mature.
Please have a prepared piece of music ready for auditions.
During the auditions, you will be asked to read something, and possibly sing a piece of music from the show.
Audition Dates: Sunday, October 9 at 3 pm. In the theater
Monday, October 10 at 6 pm in the theater
Show Dates: January 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 2023
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century, 1930s, 1920s, 1910s / WWI, 1900-1910, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s / WWII
While the cast retain their identities and names throughout the show, they play different characters in different time periods.
DETAILS
SUMMARY
I Love a Piano is the celebration of the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin. It follows the journey of a piano as it moves in and out of American lives from the turn of the century to the present. Along the way, the story comes to vibrant life with over sixty of Irving Berlin’s most beloved songs, including classics such as ‘Blue Skies,’ ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business,’ ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz,’ ‘Cheek to Cheek,’ ‘Always,’ ‘How Deep is the Ocean,’ ‘Anything You Can Do,’ ‘God Bless America,’ and, of course, ‘I Love a Piano.’
Alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, rousing and reflective, I Love a Piano is a fitting tribute to the man Jerome Kern famously said had ‘no place in American music – he is American music.’
Ned Newley doesn’t even want to be governor. He’s terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for… the worst candidate to ever run for office. A timely and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy.
“Funny, timely, and dare we say, entirely possible, The Outsider is a wonderfully crafted, superbly presented show… It is an insightful, witty satire about modern American politics that will appeal to a vast audience.”
Broadway World
“Mr. Smith deserves to go to Washington, and all around our nation, with this inspired satire.”
Green Bay Press
By Nancy Kennedy Chronicle Reporter Apr 30, 2022
Special to the Chronicle
Editor’s note: Every community depends on the resources and support that nonprofit agencies provide people, whether physical, material, or emotional.
The Chronicle’s ongoing series, Nonprofit Spotlight, profiles the nonprofit agencies in Citrus County that exist to help make life better for us all.
To have your nonprofit organization considered for a spotlight, here’s the link to an online form you can fill out:
Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle
https://www.chronicleonline.com/site/forms/nonprofit_spotlight
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton
Plays and concerts, are a place for artists to meet other artists to learn from and gain inspiration and education and hone their skills.
As the cultural center of the county, a campus consisting of two buildings, a modern 200-seat theater, and a 6,500-square-foot Art and Education building, the Art Center offers a variety of visual arts, photography, youth programs, and live theater shows.
The mission of the Art Center of Citrus County is to encourage and promote participation, appreciation, and education of the arts in the community.
“The Art Center strives to provide many forms of artistic expression that bring entertainment and education to everyone in our community,” said Dianna Haynes.
When did the Art Center start?
The Art Center was founded by a handful of artists in 1964; incorporation came in 1973. In 1984 a single, small building was constructed at the current site and has grown to the current two-building campus.
What is the annual budget and how is it funded?
The annual operating budget is $160,000. The Art Center is supported by ticket sales, contributions, and membership dues.
Who’s in charge?
The Art Center is an all-volunteer organization, governed by a volunteer board that serves without compensation, a part-time executive director.
How many volunteers does the Art Center have? Are more needed, and if so, how can people volunteer?
The Art Center has roughly 250-500 volunteers throughout the year involved with the visual arts and theatrical productions.
There are many volunteer opportunities, from box office to acting, scenery, tech booth, the front-of-the-house manager and ushering, to helping with the artistic side of the organization, and social events.
Volunteer time can be anything from a steady three hours a week to just a couple of times a year.
Currently, volunteers are needed for the box office; also needed: a concession stand coordinator and helpers.
For information about volunteering, email: artcenterofcitruscounty@gmail.com or call 352-746-7606.
How has the pandemic affected the Art Center?
Two productions in the 2019/20 season and the whole 2020/21 season had to be canceled. As a result, it hurt the volunteer pool and attendance is 60 percent of what it was pre-pandemic.
What keeps members and volunteers motivated?
“People have been supportive of our organization and they are happy that our doors are open,” Haynes said. “Little by little more people are showing up to volunteer and go to the shows, and the happy smiles keep us going.”
How can the community help the Art Center help others?
“Spread the word about the Art Center,” Haynes said. “If you see us on social media, please share and like our events. Everybody you see on stage, behind the scenes, and in the art programs are all volunteers and can use the community’s support.”
INFO: Art Center of Citrus County is at 2644 N. Annapolis Ave., Hernando.
Email: artcenterofcitruscounty@gmail.com
Phone: 352-746-0924
Website: artcenterofcitruscounty.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artcenterofcitruscounty
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/artcentertheatre
Buy Tickets artcentertheatre.com
Chronicle reporter Nancy Kennedy can be reached at 352-564-2927 or by email at nkennedy@chronicleonline.com
