============================================================= P E A H E N P L U S P R E S S Bringing you theatre news of interest to young people ============================================================= Volume I. Issue Number 5, September 30, 1999 In this issue: 1. FEATURE STORY - Leddy Center for the Performing Arts 2. WHAT'S HAPPENING? (In alphabetical order, rotating one with each issue) 2.1 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Epping 2.2 Majestic Theatre Trust Youth Company, Manchester 2.3 Music and Drama Company, Londonderry 2.4 Nashua Theatre Guild, Nashua 2.5 Young Company, coming to Nashua 2.6 Acting Loft, Manchester 2.7 Actorsingers, Nashua 2.8 American Stage Festival, Nashua 2.9 Andy's Summer Playhouse, Wilton 2.10 Elm St. Junior High School, Nashua 2.11 Fairgrounds Junior High School, Nashua 2.12 Kids' Coop, Derry 3. HOW ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? 4. OFFSTAGE 5. WHAT IS THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS? 6. FUTURE OF THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS =============================================== 1. FEATURE STORY - Leddy Center for the Performing Arts =============================================== An extraordinary experience in a not-so-out-of-the-way place! When you travel busy route 101 to and from the seacoast, you pass not far from one of New Hampshire's hidden musical and theatrical gems.Leddy Center in Epping produces five yearly musicals, and at least two (although this years it's 5!) concerts, often including young artists. The theatre itself is small with excellent acoustics, providing an intimate and memorable theatre experience. Additionally, Leddy Center School for the Performing Arts, right next door to Leddy Theater, offers classes in the performing arts year 'round, plus a Musical Theatre Summer Camp and Solo Voice Camp in July. Elaine Gatchell is the full-time director of the Leddy Center, overseeing nearly 200 students, plus faculty and staff. She produces, directs, and choreographs the five musical theatre events. AUDITIONS are held for every production, drawing professional and skilled amateur artists from all over New England. From 101 east or west, travel to the intersection of Route 125. Take 125 north for 1/2 mile to the intersection of Route 27. Take 27 West for ¼ mile to the blinking light. Take a left onto Main Street. Leddy Center Theater and Leddy Center School are immediately on your left. Call (603) 679-2781 or email leddyctr@nh.ultranet.com for tickets and information, or check the web site. Leddy's next production is "The Wizard of Oz." See section 2.1 in this newsletter for production information. The young people in the cast include 12-year-old Lindsay Graham (Dorothy Gale), with Cassie Beauregard, Allison Duhamel, Jen Griffin, Mariela Hill, Beth Marshall, Brandon Mathieu, Heather McCarthy, L.J. Tufts, Amanda Schimmel, and Suzanne Walker (ensemble parts). The marvelous munchkins include Lily Bowen, Brittany Brawn, Erin Campbell, Jaime Cummings, Elizabeth Curette, Stefanie Doucette, Katie Guest, Ally Hammond, Paul Joyce, Jamie Loy, Nicholas McEachern, Jarrett McKallagat, Jamie Ann Norris, Katie Peterson, Krista Sonia, Kirsten Skofield, and Hilary Webster. We're counting on the adults in lead roles to match up to this stellar supporting cast! (Ed.) ==================== 2. WHAT'S HAPPENING? ==================== +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.1 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Epping, NH +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.nh.ultranet.com/~leddyctr Auditions for Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinnafore" are scheduled for Saturday, October 16, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Seeking: 11 men and 11 women, ages 14 and up, with excellent singing and acting ability, to fill all roles. Audition music is available now at the Leddy Center office. Call (603) 679-2781 for information. "The Wizard of Oz" is coming 10/30 through 11/21. See the feature story in this newsletter. Opening shows are 10/30 and 10/31 at 1:30 PM. Thereafter, Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 1:30 and 7:30, and Sundays at 1:30. Tickets are $11 to $13. Leddy Center will deduct $4 from all tickets purchased in advance for 10/30 or 10/31. Group rates available for groups of 15+. Call (603) 679-2781 for tickets and information. "A Magic Leddy Christmas" is coming December 10 through 12. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2 Majestic Theatre Trust, Manchester, NH +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.majestictrust.org Just when we can use a tropical breeze, Majestic Productions is bringing "South Pacific" to Manchester. This production features artists ages 15 and up. Shows are December 2, 3, 4 and 10 at 8 PM and December 11 at 2 PM. Tickets are $9. Reservations recommended. Call 669-SHOW. 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3 Music and Drama Company, Londonderry, NH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.madco.org For spine-tingling comedy, don't miss "Death by Chocolate," presented by MAD Co. 11/12, 11/13, 11/19, and 11/20. Coming in April 2000 with auditions in January 2000: "Anything Goes" You can subscribe to the MADCAPS ONLINE newsletter by sending email to MusicAndDrama@aol.com +++++++++++++++++++ 2.4 Nashua Theatre Guild +++++++++++++++++++ web site: hometown@aol.com/NashuaThGd "The Bad Seed" suspense drama is coming 11/12-11/14, downstairs at the American Stage Festival, 14 Court Street, Nashua. Congratulations to Alexandra Socha, a really great kid, who is playing a really bad kid. That's really great ACTING! (Ed.) ++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5 The Young Americans ++++++++++++++++++++ web site: http://youngamericans.org "The Young Americans" National Music Outreach Tour is coming to Nashua October 6, 7:30 PM at Elm Street Junior High School. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students, available at the door. The cast includes 32 young adults from The Young Americans company, with more than 300 students from greater Nashua. This is a true community effort, with volunteer families and local businesses providing housing and meals for the company and staff. The Nashua Telegraph reports about The Young Americans coming to Nashua in the Thursday, September 30 edition, pp. 13, 14. Check out the web site to learn more about the program, itineraries, and audition opportunities with The Young Americans. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6 The Acting Loft, Manchester ++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The Wizard of Oz" Nov 12-14, 19-21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At the NH Institute of Art, in Manchester. Did a witch fly into a flying house less than 2 weeks after Halloween? Directed by Chris Courage, with choreography by Susan Horne. For tickets contact any cast member, or call 623-0313 Ext.518. "The Yellow Boat" Dec 3&4, 7:30 PM, tickets available at the door. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The Wiz" Feb 11-13 - - - - - - - - - - AUDITIONS are available by appointment on 11/23, 6 PM to 9 PM. Call 603 669-8607 Ext. 23. Open to performers between the ages of 13 and 19. Artists should be prepared with a song of choice, and be dressed to dance extensively. PERFORMANCE dates are Feb 11-13, 2000. ALSO COMING to The Acting Loft the year 2000: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Blood Brothers" May 19-21 "Chess" August 18-20 +++++++++++++++++++ 2.7 Actorsingers, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.actorsingers.org Actorsingers present "The King and I" at the Edmund Keefe Auditorium in Nashua, 11/5, 11/6, and 11/7. Order tickets by calling 888-1253. All seats are reserved. There are only 3 shows. Front section: $12 Friday or Saturday, $10 Sunday Second section: $10 Friday or Saturday, $8 Sunday Group sales: $2 discount Watch this space or check the Actorsingers web site for information about upcoming Junior Actorsingers events. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8 American Stage Festival, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ web site: www.americanstagefestival.org The American Stage Festival has scheduled a "Town Meeting" in Milford, for Monday, October 4, 7:30 PM, in the VFW Hall, across route 13 from the Stage Festival theatre. The meeting is open to all with an interest in discussing the future of the American Stage Festival. Support from individuals, businesses, corporations, and town officials is needed, in order for the ASF to thrive. "Guys and Dolls" - - - - - - - - The next Peacock Players production is the musical "Guys and Dolls," 11/12-14 and 11/19-21, 1999. Directed by Scott Severance. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Performance Dates: Feb. 4-6 and 11-13, 2000. Directed by Deb Schoenberg. Also coming in the year 2000: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The Velveteen Rabbit" (March, 2000) "Peter Pan" (May, 2000) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9 Andy's Summer Playhouse, Wilton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Call (603) 654-2613 for information about Andy's. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10 Elm Street Junior High School, Nashua ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "A Christmas Carol" with a twist (Not Oliver!) is coming to Elm Street Junior High School in December. Performance dates are Thursday, December 16 and Friday, December 17. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11 Fairgrounds Junior High School, Nashua +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The 9th grade chorus presents "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Fairgrounds Junior High School in Nashua 10/21-23. Thurs. and Fri. at 7 PM and Sat. at 2 PM, 27 Cleveland St. Call 889-4144 for tickets, or contact any member of the Fairgrounds Junior High School chorus. Directed by Kathy Redmond, with choreography by Betty Thomson. $5 for adults and students in grades 7+, $3 for ages 4 to grade 6, free under age 4. ++++++++++++++++++++ 2.12 Kids' Coop, Derry, NH ++++++++++++++++++++ Jillian Wheeler is donning a little red riding hood when she appears in "Into the Woods" with Kids' Coop this December, at the Adams Opera House in Derry NH, December 3 and 4 at 7:30. ============================================== 3. HOW ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? ============================================== 3.1 Check out The NH Green Room at www.nhgreenroom.com, for auditions, performances, and many topics of interest to theatre lovers of all ages. 3.2 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. 3.3 You can sign up with the NH/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. 3.4 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: www.nashuatelegraph.com. 3.5 The Boston Globe You can read today's or yesterday's Globe on the web, at: www.boston.globe.com/globe. For a nominal fee you can order articles from archived editions. 3.5.1 Check the "Calendar" section in Thursday issues of "The Boston Globe." 3.5.2 Check the "New Hampshire Weekly" section of "The Boston Sunday Globe." ============= 4. OFFSTAGE ============= See section 2.8 for information about the American Stage Festival "Town Meeting," Oct 4 7:30 in Milford. Did you spot Lauren Duffy, Katie Ierardi, Michael Ierardi, Allison Duhamel, and Tim Gilpatrick among the wandering entertainers dressed in medieval garb, at Hollis Old Home Day? Baby boomers will not want to miss "Linda McCartney's Sixties, Portrait of an Era," through October 4 at the Currier Gallery of Art in Manchester. Okay, it's not theatre, and young readers probably never saw some of these great names from sixties in performance: The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and more. But great performers they were (some still ARE!) and this exhibition depicts the decade eloquently. (Ed.) =================================== 5. WHAT IS THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS? =================================== 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.) Look for a new issue approximately every 2 weeks. 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: pgilpatr@progress.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. We apologize in advance for any schedule errors; so far none have been reported. This newsletter is supplied in ASCII format, to be readable by all email tools. ==================================== 6. FUTURE OF THE PEAHEN PLUS PRESS ==================================== The response to this newsletter has been overwhelming and entirely positive. The circulation grows almost daily. Thank you all for supplying information to be formatted here. We need a new name! Suggestions welcome. This newsletter could be moving to a back page at an established web site, keeping the current editors. Another option is to set up a new distribution list through egroups.com, establishing the current senior editor as list monitor. This would ease management of the ever-growing circulation list, and would make it easier for you to subscribe and unsubscribe. Also, you could order back issues. Stay tuned for changes. (Ed.) Look for Issue #6, coming October 14, 1999