Nunsense Auditions

High Point Community Theatre will hold auditions for the final production of our 2009-2010 season, NUNSENSE on Monday, March 29 and Tuesay, March 30, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the HPCT office and rehearsal hall, 305 North Main Street, Suite 322, High Point, NC 27260.

NUNSENSE tells the story of five of the remaining few Little Sisters of Hoboken (the others perished due to a tainted vichyssoise prepared by their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God). Faced with the necessity of raising money to pay for the burials of their deceased sisters, the nuns decide to mount a musical variety show to cover the costs. The performance—featuring songs such as “The Biggest Ain’t the Best,” “Tackle That Temptation With a Time Step,” “The Dying Nun Ballet” and “Nunsense is Habit-Forming,”—is slightly unorthodox, and entirely hilarious.

Casting will be done for the five Sisters; The Mother Superior Mary Regina, Sister Mary Hubert, Sister Robert Ann, Sister Mary Amnesia and Sister Mary Leo. Those auditioning should prepare a song and bring sheet music in the proper key. A short dance combination will be taught

NUNSENSE is being directed by Bobby Bodford with musical direction by Michael Dougherty and choreography by Cara Kiser and will be performed May 13, 14 & 15, 2010 at 7:30 pm and May 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm at the High Point Theatre.

For further information, call 336-882-542 or email jblevins@hpcommunitytheatre.org.

Note: An ensemble of postulants and nuns will be included for pre-show, intermission and company numbers. An informational meeting about this ensemble will be set after Easter. Auditions on the 29th and 30th are for principal roles only.

High Point Enterprise Review

HPCT Puts on an Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph Rosenblum

For its second production of the season, HPCT has moved to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church to stage its energizing performances of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The venue is ideal not only because of the church’s beauty and great acoustics but also because each of the two acts supposedly begins in a Sunday School class before moving to ancient Canaan and Egypt.

The work is unusual even for a musical in that every word is sung. As narrator/Sunday School Teacher, Mary Lea Williams sings many of the numbers, and she does so beautifully. Her dance moves are also first-rate. Travis Vernon’s Joseph is equally impressive with his fine voice.

Brandon Lloyd Hicks (Gad) shines in the country-western “One More Angel in Heaven,” supported by a great square dance routine by his brothers and their wives. Jim Shover (Reuben) in “Those Canaan Days” delightfully imitates an Edith Piaf style song from the 1950s, and Dave Wils (Asher) gives a true Jamaican flavor to “Benjamin Calypso.” The brothers’ chorus in these two pieces is effective, and their dancing in the latter is perfection.

The brothers’ voices blend well in their all choral selections, as do their wives’, and their choreography throughout is equally impressive.

They are well supported by the Ensemble, which, like the brothers and wives, assumes a variety of roles, all of which everyone handles expertly.

Trey Cameron as Pharaoh provides a delightful Elvis imitation. He has the king’s moves and voice down pat. The twenty-seven children add immeasurably to the audience’s delight with their singing and dancing.

The orchestra never misses a beat, and the costumes designed by Jennifer Ackland and Georgann Schultz convey an air of authenticity

This is one of the best productions HPCT has staged. It is a happy-making show. Performances continue this week-end and next at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. There are no Sunday matinees.

(Joseph Rosenblum teaches English at Bennett College for Women,
Greensboro.)

Joseph Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday Rehearsal

Tuesday's rehearsal for Joseph will be held as scheduled (7:00 pm at Wesley Memorial) with the exception of the ending time. The children's ensemble will be released at 8:30 and the rest of the cast by 9:30. Should the road conditions worsen we will change the ending time.

Please remember we are doing photos so wear a solid colored shirt - no white or black.

See you at 7:00.

Remaining Rehearsal Schedule

Sat 27 - OFF

Sun 28
6:00 - 7:00 - Choreo Benjamin Calypso - (Brothers, Joseph, Ensemble, Wives)
7:00 - 8:30 - Stage- Who’s the Thief? – ALL
8:30 - 9:30 - The Brothers in Egypt- (Narrator, Brothers,Joseph,Ensemble,Wives)
9:30 - 10:00 - Those Canaan Days- (Brothers, Jacob)

March
Mon 1
7:00 - 10:00 - Staging - Children released at 9:00
Joseph All the Time- ALL
Jacob in Egypt- ALL
Any Dream Will Do- Finale- ALL

From this point on - all activities are at Wesley Memorial and for ALL cast members from 7:00 - 10:00ish unless otherwise noted.

Tue 2 - Run - ALL

Wed 3 - OFF

Thur 4
6:00 - 7:00 - Costume Fitting for wives & female adults
7:00 - 10:00 - Run - ALL

Fri 5 - Run - ALL

Sat 6 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Load In
1/2 cast other than children's ensemble
Sign up for load-in shift

Sun 7
10:30 am - Performance for Wesley Memorial Worship Service "Jacoob & Sons/Joseph's Coat - All Available Cast Members including children's ensemble
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Load In
1/2 cast other than children's ensemble
Sign up for load-in shift
6:00 - 10:00 - Tech Rehearsal

Mon 8 - 6:30 Call for Tech Rehearsal

Tue 9 - 6:30 Call for Dress Rehearsal

Wed 10 - 6:30 Call for Final Dress Rehearsal

Performances March 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
6:30 - Call
7:00 - Warm-up
7:30 - "Curtain"

Wed March 17 - Brush -up rehearsal to be announced.

Monday, Monday

Tonight’s tba rehearsal is a full company call at 7:00 in the rehearsal hall to review all choreographed numbers. The children will be released at 8:15.

Support Your HPCT Friends!

Several HPCT family members are in Gallery Players' upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast. Tim Brown is Lumiere, Donna Nottoli is Babette, Lisa Pfuhl is a plate and Gary Stirewalt is Cogsworth. Hope you get a chance to see them in this wonderful production.

Gallery Players
Paramount Theatre Burlington NC
Reservations 336-222-TIXS
http://www.galleryplayersonline.com/ for more info!

Show Dates:
February 19, 20, 26, 27 at 8PM
February 20, 21, 27, 28 2PM

As always, this is YOUR blog. Feel free to share upcoming productions that you are involved with or any news that you would like your fellow HPCT company members to know.

Monday's Rehearsal

Hi All,

We will have Monday's rehearsal as scheduled in the rehearsal hall. Wear layers!

The heating co was there this morning and we hope they have resolved the problem. If it is still too cold, we can move downstairs to the Arts Council office again (where it will be too hot).

Mon 15 - 7:00 - 10:00 - Act I Work-Thru- ALL - Children released at 9:00.

Joseph Rehearsals through February

All Rehearsal times are 7 – 10 with the children being released at 9 unless otherwise noted. All of the rehearsals below are at the HPCT rehearsal space.

TBA = To Be Announced = Assume that you have rehearsal.

Fri 12 (Adults bring measurement sheets if you have not done so)
Stage - Close Every Door- ALL EXCEPT BROTHERS (Children released at 8:00)
Potiphar- (Potiphar, Ensemble, Narrator, Joseph, Mrs Potiphar)
Go, Go , Go Joseph- (up to Dance) ( Joseph, Ensemble, Baker, Butler)

Sat 13 - OFF

Sun 14 (Bring your Valentine to rehearsal)
Choreograph- Go, Go, Go Joseph- (Dance…starts after Baker) - ALL
Start Song of Kings (if time allows)

Mon 15
Act I Work-Thru- ALL (Mallory at 8:00)

Tue 16 - OFF

Wed 17
Finish One More Angel in Heaven – Hoe-Down – Brothers & Wives

Thur 18
Stage- Pharoah’s Story (Narrator, Children, Ensemble)
Poor, Poor Pharoah (add Pharoah, Wives as Egyptian dancers)

Fri 19
Music- All

Sat 20 - OFF

Sun 21
Stage- Pharoah’s Dream Explained- (Pharoah, Joseph, Ensemble, Wives)
Stone the Crows

Mon 22
Choreography- Review TBA (with Cara)

Tue 23 - OFF

Wed 24 - OFF

Thur 25
Choreograph/Finish - Song of Kings & Song of Kings Reprise- ALL

Fri 26
Choreograph- Benjamin Calypso- (Brothers, Joseph, Ensemble, Wives)

Sat 27-(2-5pm) Finish Choreography if needed TBA

Sun 28
Stage- Who’s the Thief? – ALL
The Brothers in Egypt- (Narrator, Brothers, Joseph, Ensemble, Wives)
Those Canaan Days- (Brothers, Jacob)

Tell The World!

Dear Friend,

If you love HPCT then tell the world! You have an exciting opportunity to help HIGH POINT COMMUNITY THEATRE INC make even more of a difference in our community. GreatNonprofits is conducting a campaign to find the top-rated nonprofits enriching your community through the arts. Those non-profits will be listed in a special section of Guidestar (the go-to website for information about non-profits).

Won’t you help us participate in the campaign by posting a review of your experience with us? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes!

Go to: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/high-point-community-theatre-inc

Be sure to choose "Arts Appreciation Campaign" from the drop down menu of campaigns in the review template.

With your help, we can gain greater visibility in the community.

Thanks,

Jennifer

GroundDog Lola

If Lola sees her shadow, does that mean 6 more weeks of Winter?

Joseph Friday Night

Hi All,

We’ve been back and forth all afternoon but with the new forecast showing that it is not supposed to drop below freezing until much later in the evening, we will have rehearsal tonight from 7 – 9 in the rehearsal hall for the full company. Please be very careful – drive slowly. There is a much greater risk in hydroplaning tonight then there is in sliding on the ice. Please let me know if you don’t think you can make it.

Jennifer

P.S. The adult MEN in the ensemble do not need to come to rehearsal on Sunday – just the women. So Sunday’s rehearsal is…

Sunday’s rehearsal will be:
2:00 – 3:30 for Choreography for Mrs. Potiphar Dance- (Mrs. Potiphar, Wives & Female Adult Ensemble)
3:30 to 5:00 for Angel In Heaven Hoedown – Dance Break (Brothers and Wives).

Rehearsal for next week…

Mon Feb 8 - Blocking
7:00 - 8:00 - One More Angel In Heaven- (up to dance break) (Brothers, Wives, Jacob)
8:00 - 9:00 - Poor, Poor, Joseph- (Narrator, Brothers, Joseph, Ishmaelites (Wil & Anthony))
9:00 - 10:00 - Joseph’s Dream-(Narrator, Brothers, Joseph)

Tue 9
7:00 - 10:00 Stage Joseph’s Coat & Jacob & Sons - ALL
(Children finished at 8:30p)

Wed 10 OFF

Thurs 11 OFF

Fri 12
7:00 - 8:30 - Close Every Door- ALL (Children finished at 8:30 pm)
Followed by Potiphar- Potiphar, Ensemble, Narrator, Joseph, Mrs Potiphar
Followed by Go, Go , Go Joseph- (up to Dance) Joseph, Ensemble, Baker, Butler

Sat 13
2:00 – 5:00 – Possible make-up rehearsal To be announced

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Sheri Masters receives a couple of her fans, Beverly Biel and Ariel Forgette, following Thursday's performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Twin City Stage. Seussical's Savannah Lee Mumford also appears in the show and both received rave reviews. The production continues through this weekend. Don't miss it!

Photo by another fan, MaryAnn Luedtke

Joseph Info

Hi All,

What a great rehearsal tonight! Thanks to all who slogged through the cold rainy night to get there.

It looks like we will have most of the brothers so we are adding a rehearsal for them tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8:30 pm in the choir room at Wesley Memorial.

Next rehearsal will be Friday from 7 – 10 for the full company in the rehearsal hall. It’s our last music only rehearsal so please make every attempt to get there. IF this next wave of winter weather hits we will adjust the schedule accordingly. We will also set the “corn dance” on Friday with Tiffany Carlson, Tori Galloway, Synthia Green, Cara Kiser, Morgan Kivett and Caroline Patterson.

Sunday’s rehearsal will be:
2:00 – 3:30 for Choreography for Mrs. Potiphar Dance- (Mrs. Potiphar, Wives & Male & Female Adult Ensemble)
3:30 to 5:00 for Angel In Heaven Hoedown – Dance Break (Brothers and Wives).

Children’s Ensemble – please check http://jenhpct.podomatic.com/ for podcasts of the most difficult sections of your music. The unison parts are not on there nor are the sections that you have down cold. But tracks for the divided sections (high and low parts) are on there. Music only – no vocals. This should be a good tool for you to rehearse your music with. You can listen to them on the website or download them to your computer or ipod.

I have a couple of things to confirm with Bobby tomorrow and I will send next week’s schedule then.

Be safe and warm!

Jennifer

Tuesday's Rehearsal is On!

Rehearsal for Tuesday - Music
7:00 - 9:00 - Full Company
9:00 - 10:00 - Solos if the weather allows us to stay.

Come if you feel that you can get there safely. Please email me at jblevins@hpcommunitytheatre.org if you don't think you can make it.

Monday Rehearsal Cancelled with a Change on Tuesday

Hi all,

There is a traveler’s advisory out for ice and black ice tonight when the snow that has melted freezes over again. We have decided to cancel rehearsal but plan to rehearse tomorrow and move tonight's schedule to tomorrow.

Tuesday, Feb 2 - Music
7:00 - 10:00 - Full Company (Children will be released at 8:30)

Jennifer

Remember all rehearsals are in the HPCT rehearsal hall unless otherwise noted.

No rehearsal on Sunday!

No rehearsal Sunday - learn your lyrics!

Monday, Feb 1 - Music
7:00 - 10:00 - Full Company (Children will be released at 8:30)

Tuesday, Feb 2 - Music
7:00 - 9:00 - Full Company except children's ensemble
9:00 - 10:00 - Solos

Wednesday, Feb 3 - Off

Thursday, Feb 4 - to be announced

Friday, Feb 5 - Music
7:00 - 10:00 - Full Company (Children will be released by 9:30)

Remember all rehearsals are in the HPCT rehearsal hall unless otherwise noted.

More schedule coming soon.

Friday's Rehearsal CANCELLED!

With the uncertainly of the start time for the winter storm and the distance that some cast members are driving, we have decided to cancel tonight's (Friday's) rehearsal. Check back here for information about Sunday's rehearsal and next week's rehearsal schedule. Please stay safe and warm - and work on your music!

Blame the Snow on Grayson!

 
Great Job Grayson!

Weather Kid

Grayson Rosser, last season's Gretl in The Sound of Music and a member of our Joseph cast, will appear on Thursday, January 28 as Van Denton's Weather Kid on WGHP-Fox 8's 5:00 pm news. Congrats Grayson!

Rehearsals Next Week

Jan. 24 – 7:00 - Music - Full Company except Children's Ensemble

Jan. 25 – 7:00 - Music - All Brothers

Jan. 26 – 7:00 - 10:00 - Block Act I - Full Company - Wesley Memorial Sanctuary (Children's Ensemble will be released at 9:00)

Jan. 27 – 5:00 – 6:00 pm - Children’s Ensemble & Joseph - Wesley Memorial Choir Room

Jan,. 28 - Off

Jan. 29 – 7:00 - 10:00 - Block Act II - Full Company - Wesley Memorial Sanctuary (Children's Ensemble will be released at 9:30)

Jan. 30 - Off

February's schedule will be available in the next couple of days.

Haiti - Want to Help?

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (our partner for Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) is collecting health kits which will be transported to Haiti by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). If you would like to participate, please pack the objects listed below and bring them to the HPCT rehearsal hall on SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH between 7:00 and 10:00 pm. We will transport them to the UMCOR pick-up site.

The contents of the kits follow:
Please place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:
1 hand towel (15”x25” up to 17”x27”, no kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
Note: UMCOR is purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to the health kits before shipping. Please include $1 for each kit you send toward the purchase of toothpaste.

Important Kit Assembly Information
All items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more. Do NOT include any personal notes, money (other than that listed above) or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

Email me at jblevins@hpcommunitytheatre.org if you have any questions.

Friday's Rehearsal

Hi Josephites! The kids have been working hard this week - now the rest of you get to catch up.

Friday - 7:00 - 10:00 - Full company except Children's Ensemble. HPCT Rehearsal Hall. See you then!

Tuesday & Wednesday Rehearsal

Please don't forget that rehearsal tonight and tomorrow will be held at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in the choir room for Joseph & The Children's Ensemble. Enter through the drive on the left side of the building. The entrance to the music department is about half way down that side.

Tuesday's rehearsal is from 7:00 - 9:00 and Wednesday's rehearsal is from 5:00 - 6:00. We realize that some cast members will have a difficult time arriving at rehearsal at 5:00. If you can get there by 5:30, please join us.

GREAT FIRST REHEARSAL LAST NIGHT!

The Secret Lives of the Joseph Production Team

In case you are wondering what your Joseph production staff does on their time off...

Michael Greene and I are for more refined with our hobby...

Congratulations to the Chownings!

Congratulations to Sarah (Into The Woods' Cinderella) and Jef Chowning on the birth of their daughter, Megan Grace. Big Sister Amanda (3 yrs old) told Sarah that she wanted to help teach Megan words. When asked what the first word was that she wanted to teach her, she replied "hocus pocus."

Joseph Partial Rehearsal Schedule - 1st Two Weeks

Jan. 17 – 6:00 pm - Company Meeting w/ cast & parents followed by watching the Joseph DVD- Bring a snack to share! - HPCT

Jan. 18 – 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Children’s Ensemble & Joseph - HPCT

Jan. 19 – 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Children’s Ensemble & Joseph - Wesley Memorial Choir Room

Jan. 20 – 5:00 – 6:00 pm - Children’s Ensemble & Joseph - Wesley Memorial Choir Room

Jan. 21 - Off

Jan. 22 – 7:00 - Music TBA (Not Children’s Ensemble)

Jan 23 - Off

Jan. 24 – 7:00 - Music TBA (Not Children’s Ensemble)

Jan. 25 – 7:00 - Music TBA (Not Children’s Ensemble)

Jan. 26 – 7:00 - 10:00 - Block Act I - Full Company - Wesley Memorial Sanctuary (Children's Ensemble will be released at 9:00)

Jan. 27 – 5:00 – 6:00 pm - Children’s Ensemble & Joseph - Wesley Memorial Choir Room

Jan,. 28 - Off

Jan. 29 – 7:00 - 10:00 - Block Act II - Full Company - Wesley Memorial Sanctuary (Children's Ensemble will be released at 9:30)

Jan. 30 - Off

Wesley Memorial UMC is located at 1225 Chestnut Drive. Both the Sanctuary & The Choir Room are on the left side of the building.

TBA = To Be Announced

Email me with any questions at jblevins@hpcommunitytheatre.org

Joseph 1st Rehearsal

The company meeting and first rehearsal for JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT will be Sunday, January 17th at 6:00 pm at the HPCT rehearsal hall where auditions were held. A parent or guardian of cast members under driving age should attend the company meeting.

All cast members should click here to download a contact/bio form and email the completed form to me.

All cast members except the Children's Ensemble should click here to download a costume measurement form and bring the completed form with you to the first rehearsal. If you need help with measurements, please fill-in the information that you know and we can complete it at the first rehearsal.

Greensboro Country Day hosts a free master class

This Saturday (Jan 9) at 12:15 Greensboro Country Day School will have a Broadway musical director giving a master class in their theatre. Michael Rafter has directed many musicals on Broadway, including the Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The King and I, and Gypsy. He is currently in charge of all of the productions of Jersey Boys. He will be giving a lecture about how to succeed in the musical theatre business as a young performer.

At the end of the presentation, he will audition students for his summer camp called Destination Broadway. At this camp, you are trained for one week in dance, voice, and acting by Broadway professionals. If you are planning to audition for the camp, please prepare a short musical theatre audition song.

The master class is free and no pre-registration is required.

Friends are flocking to WINGS (pun intended)

Elizabeth Gooding wrote her very first check ever (#101) to join HPCT's WINGS! Will you join her by becoming a member of a very special group of friends, the High Point Community Theatre Wings?

Wings is a way for you to show your support for HPCT and help us to continue to bring quality theater training and performances to the people of High Point.

Membership dues:

$25.00 Annual Fee – Adults
$15.00 Annual Fee – Students

Here are the perks of membership …

• Your name in the Playbill and on our Web site, recognizing you as a supporter of High Point Community Theatre
• The chance to attend an open rehearsal and reception during the rehearsal period of each show
• Buy one ticket and get one ticket free* for the Friday night performance (or first Friday performance if there are two weekends) of each show, with an onstage meet and greet and photo with the cast after the show. Adult Wings members get one free adult ticket with their purchase of an adult ticket and students get one free student ticket with their purchase of a student ticket.
• Invitation to an Upcoming Season Announcement Party in late May
• The knowledge that you are making a real commitment to the financial health of HPCT

*The cost of membership is substantially less than the cost of these free tickets!

To become a Wings Member, simply send the information below and your check made payable to HPCT to P.O. Box 1152, High Point, NC 27261

Name (as it should appear in the program):
Address:
City, State, Zip
E-mail:

Adult Memberships _____ @ $25.00 per membership

Student Memberships _____@ $15.00 per membership

For a downloadable Wings Flyer, click here.

HPCT needs you!

Our Heartfelt Sympathy

The HPCT Board of Directors and Staff would like to express our deepest condolences to Bobby Bodford, his wife, Nicole and son, Rhett for the New Year's Day death of Bobby's Mother. The funeral service will be January 3rd at 3:00 pm at Whitaker Chapel UMC in Piot Mountain.

Bobby can be reached at bbodfordjr@yahoo.com