================================================================= P E A H E N P L U S P R E S S Bringing you theatre and music news of interest to young people ================================================================= Volume I. Issue Number 10, December 29, 1999 In this issue: 1. FEATURE STORY -- Maskers present 12 Angry Men 2. WHAT'S HAPPENING? (In alphabetical order, rotating one with each issue) 2.1 Music and Drama Company, Londonderry 2.2 Palace Youth Theatre, Manchester 2.3 Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth 2.4 Acting Loft, Manchester 2.5 Actorsingers, Nashua 2.6 American Stage Festival, Nashua 2.7 First Night 12/31/99 2.8 KidPop! Family Concerts 2.9 Kids' Coop Theatre, Derry 2.10 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Epping 2.11 Majestic Theatre Trust, Manchester 2.12 Maskers, Manchester Central High School 2.13 Merrimack Community Theatre 2.14 MSM Players, Nashua 3. HOW ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? 4. OFFSTAGE 5. ABOUT THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS ======================================================================== 1. FEATURE STORY - Maskers from Manchester Central High present 12 Angry Men ======================================================================== The Maskers drama club from Manchester Central High School is presenting 12 Angry Men, January 6, 7, and 8, 7:30PM at the High School in the Practical Arts Building (newly named McAllister Hall.) Mrs. Jean Heinold is directing. This location is a change of venue from earlier publicity here and elsewhere. The cost is $5 for students and $7 for adults. Manchester Central High is located on Beech Street, near Lowell St. This project is a bold move for these young thespians. The script requires "up front" acting, with no special effects or show-stopping tunes; only solid dramatic performances can deliver this work! The timeless theme of reasonable doubt will appeal to adolescents through adults, but is probably a bit heavy for the youngest of theatregoers. The production makes use of a single set and is presented in three acts. The cast includes: Steph LeBlanc, Meggie McFadden, Pete Chambers, Matt Adams, Jess Cawley, Mike McCarthy, Mike LaPointe, Ben Auger, Becky Comtois, Mike DeNapoli, Megan Teravainan, Andrew McPherson, Laura Healy, Steph Nelson, and Jenn Nelson. Congratulations to the cast and crew for tackling this challenging work. (Ed. Note: No doubt purists would object if this piece were re-named 12 Angry Men and Women?) ================================================================ 2. WHAT'S HAPPENING? ================================================================ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.1 Music and Drama Company, Londonderry ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.madco.org MAD Co. announces OPEN AUDITIONS for a spring production of Cole Porter's romantic comedy Anything Goes. Seeking artists with singing, dancing, and acting ability, ages 16 and up. Auditions are Monday 1/10/2000 and Tuesday 1/11/2000, 7 PM, at the Londonderry Middle School. Callbacks are Wednesday 1/12. Auditioners should bring a prepared song with sheet music for piano, comfortable shoes for dancing, a recent photo, and enthusiasm! For more information check out the web site, or call the MAD Co. hot line at 603 434-2180. You can subscribe to the MADCAPS ONLINE newsletter by sending email to MusicAndDrama@aol.com. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2 Palace Youth Theatre, Manchester +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Palace Theatre Trust is continuing to achieve its vision of developing the Palace Youth Theatre, under Executive Director Peter Ramsey and Technical Director Roger Scruggs. OPEN AUDITIONS for Schoolhouse Rock are scheduled for January 17 and 18, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Rehearsals will begin January 24 for production dates March 24 and 25. Additional projects are in development for April and May in the year 2000. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3 Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Peter Pan is playing at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth from December 15 through January 16. You're not seeing double -- the younger Wendy is played by Lindsey Graham, and the older Wendy is played by Lindsey's sister Jennifer Graham. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4 The Acting Loft, Manchester ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pippin Feb 11-13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pippin is coming to The Acting Loft in February. Production dates are 2/11, 2/12, and 2/13. The cast and crew are hard at work, learning the raucous (bawdy?) songs and Fosse-style dance numbers. Jannel Ouellette is directing, with musical direction by Sally Landis and choreography by Susan B. Horne. COMING to The Acting Loft in the year 2000: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pippin Feb 11-13 Blood Brothers May 19-21 Chess August 18-20 +++++++++++++++++++ 2.5 Actorsingers, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.actorsingers.org Semi-annual Meeting, Friday January 7th - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This meeting is open to the entire community. If you've been thinking about getting involved in theatre, this is a good opportunity to find out what the Actorsingers have done recently and contribute to plans for the future. The social half-hour begins at 7:00, and the meeting begins at 7:30. Pirates of Penzance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OPEN AUDITIONS for the Actorsingers May 5-7 production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, Pirates of Penzance are scheduled for Sunday and Monday February 6 and 7, beginning at 7 PM. Seeking adult artists - minimum age 11th grade. On each audition night the hall will be open at 6 PM, with the opportunity to get acquainted and learn an easy dance combination. Information Night is now scheduled for Wednesday, January 26. Information Night is open to all, and is a time to learn about the show, find out what the directors are looking for, and learn some of the music. Kathy Lovering is the director, with musical direction by Jed Holland and choreography by Donna O'Bryant. The Actorsingers are also recruiting for the many backstage roles - orchestra, costumes, sets, stage crew, make-up, lots more. For detailed information come to Information Night, or send questions to webmaster@actorsingers.org. (Ed. Note - the 1/26 DATE for Information Night is a CHANGE from a tentative date posted earlier.) Hey, Ho Pinocchio - - - - - - - - - Junior Actorsingers are bringing Hey, Ho Pinocchio to Nashua March 17, 18, and 19 in the new Collings Auditorium at Daniel Webster College. David Ducharme is directing, with choreography by Lynne Witholm. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6 American Stage Festival, Nashua ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.americanstagefestival.org Peacock Players Banquet - - - - - - - - - - - - Plans are in the works for the creation of an annual Peacock Players Awards Banquet. This event is designed to be an opportunity for recognizing outstanding work and re-unite those who worked together, creating some fabulous productions. Shows to be honored in the first celebration are: Bye, Bye Birdie, Little Women, The Sound of Music, ImprovSeuss, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Guys and Dolls. Target timeframe for this event is January or February. A Midsummer Night's Dream - - - - - - - - - - - - - Performance dates are: Feb. 4-6 and 11-13, 2000. Call the box office at 886-7000 for tickets and information. Directed by Deborah Schoenberg, with musical direction by Michael Roy. The Velveteen Rabbit - - - - - - - - - - Performances are scheduled for March. Peter Pan - - - - - - - Peter Pan is slated for production in May. Audition dates available soon. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.7 First Night 12/31/99 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It would take volumes to list all the entertainment and activities for families and young people available to all this coming New Year's Eve. You can read about many of them on the web at: http://www.nh.com or in newspaper supplements this week. Here is a small sample from a huge inventory: Concord, NH - - - - - - - - - Childrens' activities begin at 2PM downtown. Hundreds of festivities for all continue through midnight, when a fireworks display originates at the State House. Outdoor events are free and open to all. Admission buttons for indoor programs are $10, children 5 and under free. For information call 224-1411. Nashua, NH - - - - - - - - - Many exciting activities will take place downtown from 7PM to midnight. There is no admission fee for the outdoor events. The Granite State Symphony is presenting two Tribute to 2000 Pops concerts at Keefe Auditorium, Elm St. Junior High School, the first at 7 PM and again at 9:30 PM. The program includes a showpiece number by Elm Street Beat, the acclaimed Show Choir from ESJHS. General admission tickets for the Pops concert are $15 and are available at Scontsas Jewelers, Darrell's Music Hall, and City Hall. For more information about all activities call 673-5319. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8 KidPop! Family Concerts +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Childrens' entertainer Judy Pancoast is looking for an energetic team of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 to perform with her at a series of musical events this summer. The KidPop! Kids will perform dance and cheering routines. Formal or informal training in dance, gymnastics or singing would be a bonus. Candidates should be cheerful, friendly, and must enjoy interacting with young and very young children. Successful candidates should be available for rehearsals in February and March. For audition information, contact Kidz at Heart Productions, at 598-3960. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9 Kids' Coop Theatre, Derry ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.derrynh.com/kct Check the web site to find out what's happening at Kids' Coop. Summer and fall schedules are in the planning stages. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Epping, NH +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~leddyctr Annie - - - - - AUDITIONS for a July 2000 production of Annie are scheduled for Saturday February 19, 2000, from 9 AM to 2 PM. Seeking: ten girls ages 7 to 11 to play the orphans, including Annie, adults for the adult roles, and mature teens and adults to play the many supporting roles. Audition music is available starting Monday, 1/10/2000 at the Leddy Office, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Auditioners will be expected to sing a song of the directors' choosing, and may be asked to do a reading from the script or perform directed dance steps. HMS Pinafore - - - - - - - - - - - The classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta is coming to Leddy Center March 11-March 27, 2000. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11 Majestic Theatre Trust, Manchester, NH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.majestictrust.org Majestic Productions regrets they were forced to change the production dates for South Pacific. The NEW DATES are January 6, 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 8 PM. Tickets are $9. Majestic Productions is offering refunds and exchanges to those who purchased or reserved tickets for the December dates. Please call the box office at 603 669-7469 for info and reservations. In recognition of the interest of young theatregoers, The Majestic Theatre Trust Youth Company was founded in 1999 primarily to educate and provide opportunities for the younger tier of performers, ages 7 to 15. In its first year, the MTT Youth Company division involved over 100 young people. You can get on the mailing list for further information by supplying feedback through the web site, or by calling 603 644-8155. Majestic plans for the year 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Marry Me a Little 2/18, 2/19 (Dinner Theatre) Comedy 2K 4/14, 4/15 (Italian Dinner Theatre) Majestic Night 2000 5/19, 5/20 (Majestic's 10th Anniversary Celebration) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 6/1, 6/2, 6/3, 6/9, 6/11 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.12 Maskers, Manchester Central High School ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ See the feature story in this newsletter for information about the January production of 12 Angry Men. For more information about Maskers you can send email to Peter Chambers at baltic_avenue@hotmail.com. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.13 Merrimack Community Theatre ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://members.tripod.com/MerrimackCT Merrimack Community Theatre is presenting Under Milk Wood in April, directed by Vick Bennison. Performance dates are 4/6 through 4/9/2000, at the American Stage Festival, Court Street, in Nashua. Under Milk Wood is a masterpiece of the English Language, written by Dylan Thomas. This show has it all -- comedy, poignancy, poetry, subtle bawdiness, and a little music. It is a day in the life of a small Welsh town full of crazy people. For more information check out the web site. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.14 MSM Players, Nashua ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The MSM Players is presenting The Music Man 5/19 and 20, 2000. AUDITIONS are scheduled for Jan. 27 from 6 - 8 PM and Jan 28 from 6 - 9:30 PM at Nashua Catholic Jr. High School. Seeking artists ages 9 and up. Be prepared with a short song and sheet music. The MSM players are located at, but not connected with Mount St. Mary's Junior High, Concord St, Nashua NH. For more information contact John Phipps at 603-886-8805 or 781-981-3984 or email phipps@ll.mit.edu. ================================================ 3. HOW ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? ================================================ 3.1 Most of the theatre groups in the area have web sites, providing dates for auditions and performances. Several of them have links to other arts' web sites. 3.2 You can sign up with theNH/MA Theatre Lovers list and/or the NH/MA Music Lovers. To do so, send a blank message to nh-ma-theatre-lovers-subscribe@egroups.com and/or to nh-ma-music-lovers- subscribe@egroups.com . There is no charge to be on these special interest distribution lists. Many professional and community groups send announcements through this route. Having been on the lists for over a year, we have never received any junk mail. Each list has a monitor, who approves submitted announcements, then sends ONE ANNOUNCEMENT to all on the list. The event must be open to all, and must not be for personal profit. 3.3 Check the Encore section in Friday issues of The Nashua Telegraph. You'll find audition and performance information in articles and in the numerous calendar and listings sections. You can peruse the current Telegraph on the web, at: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com 3.4 The Boston Globe You can read today or yesterday's Globe on the web, at: http://www.boston.globe.com/globe For a nominal fee you can order articles from archived editions. 3.4.1 Check the Calendar section in Thursday issues of The Boston Globe. 3.4.2 Check the New Hampshire Weekly section of The Boston Sunday Globe. ============== 4. OFFSTAGE ============== Kevin Koo, Eagle Scout - - - - - - - - - - - - Kevin Koo, a 9th grader at Fairgrounds Junior High School in Nashua, was honored recently for achieving the level of Eagle Scout. One of several projects that Kevin completed was organizing a Chinese Cultural Fair that included Chinese arts, food, dancing, martial arts, and other expressions of Chinese heritage. Congratulations, Kevin! You may have seen Kevin dance and sing recently in his role as Prince Chululongkorn, in The King and I with the Actorsingers. Costumes from the Silver Screen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Judy Garland's blue pinafore from The Wizard of Oz is among the costumes on exhibit at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell. The Dressed for the Part: Hollywood Costumes from the Silver Screen exhibit features more than 40 costumes worn by stars from the silent era through the 1960's, including Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Rita Hayworth. Costumes in the exhibit are part of the private collection of local film historian and collector John LeBold. The exhibit is now open and it runs through March 12. Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell. $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, children under 6 free. Call 978 441-0400 for more information. =================================== 5. ABOUT THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS =================================== For issue #9 the editors attached an MS-Word '97 copy to the inline ASCII newsletter. This was undeliverable to many, so we are going back to the ASCII-only format. If you would like an MS-Word '97 version of an issue (prints nicely, preserving font sizes, italics and bold) just ask and we will send. We attempt to provide hardcopies to those listed in the feature story. Prancin' Peahen Pam (the Mom) and Terrific Tiger Tim (the young person) Gilpatrick will continue to send you theatre news of interest to young people in the greater Nashua area, as long as you enjoy receiving it. If you LIKE getting this email -- do nothing! (except maybe reply and tell us what YOU and YOURS are up to, and when and where.) Thank you all for supplying information to be formatted here. Keep it coming! You can now access current and past issues of the Peahen Plus Press through the Junior Actorsingers page on the Actorsingers web site. Set your browser to: http://www.actorsingers.org/jr/index.html If you choose NOT to receive this email, simply reply saying unsubscribe in the subject heading. If you are reading a friend's forwarded copy or a printed copy and you would like to be on the direct mailing list, send email to: prancinpam@yahoo.com. Editorial comments from the senior editor are flagged with (Ed.). Schedule information is from printed and on-line sources in the public domain, or from other sources confirmed and with permission. Look for the first issue in Volume II, coming in the year 2000.