Education, Participation and Appreciation of the Arts Art Center of Citrus County 2644 N Annapolis Ave. Hernando, Florida 34442 Box Office: 352-746-7606 Email: artcenter@tampabay.rr.com
It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays.
Velukutty was born in the Indian state of Kerala which has been described as the ‘ Gods Own Country’ by the visitors. He moved to the U S A in 1975 and has been living in Citrus County for the past 34 years.
He is a self taught artist. He used to draw from a very young age. Velukutty took up oil painting seriously after his retirement as a physician. He has been trying to paint almost every day for the past 4 years. Painting is very relaxing, fulfilling and liberating affair for him.
He loves to paint the rolling waves with the splatter when it meets the rock in the evening light. Many mornings he is intrigued with the fleeting colors of the morning light over the clouds. He wants to paint it, but not always successful. He loves the fall colors, the mountain streams, the small waterfalls, and wants to paint the ripples of the waves which breaks up the reflections of the nature above.
He wants to bring a sense of reality in a convincing way in his creations. When he takes up the brush he is in a different world. “Not all of my work turns out to be acceptable.”
“I am still a student. There is lot of ground I have to cover in the field of art. My style is still evolving. I want to create visual poetry which appeals to the emotions rather than the intellect.”
The classic American musical, “The Music Man” will open next Friday, July 12, for a three-weekend run at the Art Center Theatre in Citrus Hills.
The play features the lovable con man Harold Hill, who travels around the country selling musical instruments to create youth bands, and then skips town without delivering on his promises.
But in the town of River City, Iowa, he meets his match in the young music teacher, Marian Paroo, who sees through his con but is conflicted because her younger brother has taken a liking to Harold.
Featuring beautiful music such as the classic “Till There Was You” and “Goodnight My Someone,” the musical also has the upbeat songs of “76 Trombones” and the famous patter in “Trouble (in River City).”
Directed by Karrie Bailey and Sharon Harris, with musical direction by Danielle Flury-Downey and choreography by Lori Kohan, the play features Chris Patti as Harold Hill and Ainsley Harker as Marian Paroo.
Mary Ellen Craver is Marian’s mother and Caleb Namey is Winthrop, her younger brother.
Other featured roles include Ira Wolf as Mayor Shinn, Sharon Vetter as his wife, Eulalie and Emma Baumer as Zaneeta Shinn, Zack Johnson as Zaneeta’s boyfriend Tommy Djilas and Eayn Flanagan as Harold Hill’s friend Marcellus Washburn and Philit D’Agati as Charlie Cowell, the salesman trying to expose Harold Hill as a fake.
The 30-member cast is supported by a 15-member orchestra led by Flury-Downey. Dianna Haynes is the stage manager and Glori Jardinella is the assistant stage manager. Lisa Peterson is the assistant choreographer.
The play is performed on a set designed by Sharon Harris and built by a construction crew led by Gary Boesch. Set mural painting is by Sharon Harris, Pat Doerr, Dianna, Laura and Hannah Haynes. Costuming is by Karrie Bailey, Danielle Flury-Downey and Missy Mullens
Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Tickets are $21 and are available through the box office located on the Art Center campus at 2644 N. Annapolis Ave. in Citrus Hills or by calling 352-746-7606.
