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 II. Issue Number 4, April 7, 2000 In this issue: 1. FEATURE STORY: Merrimack Community Theatre presents Under Milk Wood 2. WHAT'S HAPPENING? (In alphabetical order, rotating one with each issue) 2.1 American Stage Festival, Nashua 2.2 Elm Street Junior High School, Nashua 2.3 KidPop! Family Concerts, NH 2.4 Kids' Coop Theatre, Derry 2.5 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Epping 2.6 Majestic Theatre Trust, Manchester 2.7 Merrimack Community Theatre 2.8 MSM Players, Nashua 2.9 Music and Drama Company (MADCo), Londonderry 2.10 Palace Youth Theatre, Manchester 2.11 The Acting Loft, Manchester 2.12 Actorsingers, Nashua 3. OFFSTAGE 3.1 Family Fun Fair April 15 in Milford 3.2 Kidz Club at the Nashua Mall begins April 11 3.3 Nashua Arts and Humanities Coalition 4. HOW ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? 5. ABOUT THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS ======================================================================== 1.FEATURE STORY - Merrimack Community Theatre presents Under Milk Wood ======================================================================== Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas is a masterpiece of the English Language. It 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. If you can't find yourself among the inhabitants, then you haven't looked closely enough. Merrimack Community Theatre is bringing this story to life this weekend. Thursday and Friday April 6 and 7 at 8PM, Saturday April 8 at 2PM and 8PM, and Sunday April 9 at 2PM. The location is the American Stage Festival Playhouse 101 theatre, downstairs at 14 Court Street in Nashua. Tickets are $9 and are available at the door, or at Darrell's Music Hall in Nashua, and Appletree Foodstores in Merrimack. For information call 673-4044 or check the web site at: http://members.tripod.com/MerrimackCT Vick Bennison is directing. Since some of the effects are especially ghostly, this show is recommended for audiences ages 10 and up. The cast includes artists of all ages. Congratulations to all, and especially these young people taking part in this production. The children are played by Christopher Connors, Tony Clements, Kate Hall, Katelyn Kasko, Kourtney Kasko, Kirk Rodgers, and Andrew Woodbury. Teens Kristen Gosciminski and Kyle-Ann McCafferty are filling two of the adult roles. ==================================================================== 2. WHAT'S HAPPENING? ==================================================================== +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2 American Stage Festival, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.americanstagefestival.org Peter Pan - - - - - - - Peacock Players will take you to Never-Never Land 5/12 through 5/20 at the ASF in Nashua. For reservations and information call 886-7000. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3 Elm Street Junior High School, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Oliver! - - - - - The drama club at Elm Street Junior High is bringing the musical Oliver! to the stage April 20 and 21. Show time is 7:00 - only two performances. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students, and are available from any cast member or at the door. This production features faculty members in several of the adult roles. Mr. Walt Freeman is directing, and Ms. Marsha Yaldin is assisting. The directors are also filling the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry. The Widow Corney has an incredibly authentic English accent, and bears a strong resemblance to Charlotte Sowerberry. Musical director is Michael Roy, a senior at Nashua Senior High School. In another interesting turnabout, Ms. Julia Oliver-Babb, music faculty at ESJHS, is assisting Michael Roy. This project involves faculty members, administration, school departments, and support from a host of parents. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4 KidPop! Family Concerts, NH +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site for Kidz at Heart Productions: http://www.kidzatheart.com web page for more information about Judy Pancoast: http://www.kidzatheart.com/artists/judy.htm Judy Pancoast, noted children's entertainer, has conscripted a KidPop! Crew - young people between the ages of 12 and 17 who will be touring with Judy -- dancing, singing, and serving as ambassadors this summer. Look for the complete KidPop! program schedule, due out in April. You can read more about KidPop! concerts, KidPop! Family Fun Festival, and Judy Pancoast on the web site. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5 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. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Epping +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~leddyctr Annie - - - - - Coming to Leddy Center in July. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.7 Majestic Theatre Trust, Manchester ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.majestictrust.org Majestic plans for 2000: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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, a Concert Spectacular (June 1, 2, 3, 9, and 11) Mother Goose (June 23, 24, with more dates to be announced) Call (603) 669-SHOW for tickets. AUDITIONS are scheduled for April 9 and 16, from 6 to 8 PM, for Man of La Mancha and Something's Afoot. Ages 15 to adult are welcome. Call (603) 644-8155 for audition information. AUDITIONS are scheduled for August 6 and 13 from 6 to 8 PM, for The Sound of Music and The Honeymoon Cruise. All ages welcome. Those under age 15 must audition on 8/6 only. The Honeymoon Cruise is a non-musical, murder mystery. Call 603 644-8155 for audition information. Majestic Theatre Trust Youth Company - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In recognition of the interest of young theatre-goers, 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. AUDITIONS for the two Majestic Youth Company summer programs are June 4 and July 9, from 6 to 8 PM. June 4 is the date for session 1 auditions, Freedom Bound, and July 9 is the audition date for session 2, Steamboatin'. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8 Merrimack Community Theatre ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://members.tripod.com/MerrimackCT Merrimack Community Theatre is presenting Under Milk Wood 4/6 through 4/9. See the feature story in the first section of this newsletter. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9 Music and Drama Company, Londonderry +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://www.madco.org Anything Goes - - - - - - - - - - I Get a Kick Out of You and All Through the Night -- those are just two of the classic favorites first introduced to musical theatre lovers in Cole Porter's Anything Goes. The Music and Drama Company (MadCo) of Londonderry is bringing the complete suite of songs, dances, and the high-energy boy-meets-girl story line to the Adams Opera House in Derry. Ron Godfrey is directing, and Daniella Murcko is producing. Peter Bridges is the Music Director, with Gina Michaud as Choreographer, and Mitchell George filling the role of Stage Manager. The talented, energetic cast includes teens and adults from MA and NH. Dates and times: Final performances are April 7 at 8 PM, and April 8 at 2PM and 8PM. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for full time students and senior citizens. You can reserve by calling the MadCo hotline at (603) 434-2180. For more information, call the hotline or visit the web site. To subscribe to the MADCAPS ONLINE newsletter send email to MusicAndDrama@aol.com. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10 MSM Players, Nashua ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The MSM Players are presenting The Music Man on May 19 and 20, 2000. For more information contact John Phipps by phone at 603 886-8805 9 (evenings) or 781 981-3984 (daytime) or email to phipps@ll.mit.edu, or call Mrs. Urquhart at (603) 883-6707 during school hours. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11 Palace Youth Theatre, Manchester +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Two popular musicals are slated for production at the Palace Theatre. The Sound of Music - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Opens April 21. Grease! - - - - - - Now in rehearsal. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.13 The Acting Loft, Manchester ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Blood Brothers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Production dates are May 19, 20 and 21. Coming this summer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chess August 18-20 +++++++++++++++++++ 2.1 Actorsingers, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.actorsingers.org Pirates of Penzance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - May 5-7 (Senior) Actorsingers are returning to their roots, presenting Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance in May. The Actorsingers are offering one free ticket to anyone born on February 29, in any leap year. Hey, Ho Pinocchio - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Junior Actorsingers provided delightful presentations of Hey, Ho Pinocchio in March, and that's the truth! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for a whale of a good time! (Ed.) ==================================================================== 3. OFFSTAGE ==================================================================== ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.1 Family Fun Fair, Milford ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Saturday April 15 from 10 AM to 4 PM is the 4th annual Family Fun Fair at the Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club in Milford, NH, sponsored by Parenting New Hampshire. This is a day of interactive fun and entertainment designed especially for children and their parents. There will be over 50 kid-friendly exhibits, including the Charmingfare Farm Barnyard Petting Zoo. Performers include Recycled Percussion, the Bedford Youth Performing Company, and the Elm Street Beat Show Choir from Nashua. Tickets are $3 for adults; for ages 5 and under admission is free. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.2 Kidz Club at the Nashua Mall ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Something new and exciting for Kidz of all ages is coming to the Nashua Mall. Kidz Club is featuring a different performer the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The first show is Tuesday, April 11, 7 PM, with the Jim Napolitano Shadows 'N Light Puppet Show. Admission is free. The show is a kaleidoscope of short stories, vignettes, songs, with more than 100 puppets. You may have seen Nappy's puppets on PBS, Nickelodeon, Scholastic Home Videos, and HBO. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.3 Nashua Arts and Humanities Coalition ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Nashua Arts and Humanities Coalition has a mission to increase awareness of the arts, to foster cooperation among area arts groups, and to promote the development of quality arts facilities. The coalition has the vision for an arts center in Nashua. Ideally, such a facility would house a symphony hall, a large theatre, a smaller, intimate theatre, a restaurant, a gift shop, a central ticket office, a children's museum, an art gallery, and an Imax theatre. You can help the community achieve this vision by supporting fund-raising events. You can get involved by calling Roxanne Turner at 880-7538. The coalition meets at 6PM the first Monday of each month at the Nashua Symphony office in the lower level of the ASF building, 14 Court Street, Nashua. The meetings are open to the public. ================================================ 4. HOW ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? ================================================ 4.1 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. 4.2 You can sign up with the NH/MA Theatre Lovers list and/or the NH/MA Music Lovers. 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. 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. 4.3 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 4.4 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. 4.4.1 Check the Calendar section in Thursday issues of The Boston Globe. 4.4.2 Check the New Hampshire Weekly section of The Boston Sunday Globe. 4.5 Check the Weekend section in Thursday issues of The Manchester Union Leader. =================================== 5. ABOUT THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS =================================== Prancin' Peahen Pam (the Mom) and Terrific Tiger Tim (the young person) Gilpatrick will continue to send you theatre and music news of interest to young people in the greater Nashua area, as long as you enjoy receiving it, or until Tim goes away to college. If you choose NOT to receive this mail, reply saying UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject heading. If you LIKE getting this email -- do nothing! Thank you all for supplying information to be formatted here. Keep it coming! You can 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 are reading a copy forwarded from a friend 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.