Friday, July 5, 2013

"community"

On July 18th at 7:30 PM the curtain will open on "ANNIE". We have been working on this show since January.

The stage is dark.

Coordinating the directors-
"I heard from Becky- she's in!" (this means we have a pit orchestra instead of canned music!)
"Jake said he will be choral director" ( he shows up to ALL practices so the actors can rehearse to a live piano instead of a soundtrack)
"Gene and I will direct the show if you will direct the orphans"
"Ok I can do that"
"Diane will do hair"
"Colleen has volunteered to help with choreography" which is a good thing because I don't dance and am clueless about it all
"contact Mike and see if he will be technical director- he's amazing"

Comparing schedules -
"what's going on the weekend of.....?"
"no that's the Relay"
"Bud Open"
"county fair" ....  "Ok- how about...."

Ordering the scripts and musical scores plus applying for the license to perform "ANNIE" (THEY SAID YES!) Ok we got  the show now onto the next phase.....

Meeting with the Recreation Center staff  and hammering out details about using the theater from the end of May until the middle of July.

Designing the sets- drawing several pictures and then figuring out the best way to get those ideas to work on the stage and consulting with the stage manager during set construction and modifying the ideas so it's easier for him and his crew to manage the set pieces for scene changes.

Going through the stage lights and replacing burned out bulbs and repairing broken fixtures so we aren't dancing in the dark. Setting the lights - meaning pointing them in the right direction. Setting light cues- lighting adds so much to a show- from signaling when a scene opens to setting the mood to creating a dramatic effect like lightning.

Auditions.
Casting meeting- so many talented people auditioned it took several nights to figure it all out.
Notify the people who auditioned about parts.
First read through .....
Rehearsals.....week after week
Blocking, choreography, memorize lines, "no wait that won't work you need to come in from stage right....."
"don't stand with your back to audience!"
"you are going to have to be much louder on stage"
"the orphans are AMAZING!"
" I just want to put you in my pocket and take you home!"

Sets are done- TWO WEEKS ahead of schedule!
Costumes are ready! "here let me sew that back on for you"

Publicity- if you don't tell anyone about the show then you can't expect them to buy tickets.
Printing posters and tickets. Assembling all the information for the program and getting that to the printer in time for opening night. How many should we print? How many tickets can we sell?

I used to think it was called community theater because it happened in our town - you know like city or town .
 Now I know different.

Now I know that it is truly a community of people who have come together to do something wonderful. All of us working on "ANNIE" are volunteers. We all have jobs, families responsibilities and obligations that demand so much of our time. Yet we found the time to work on this wonderful project. We have doctors, a nurse, teachers, self employed business owners, recent high school graduates and grade school students, an IRS agent and the best employee Hy-Vee has ever had all on our stage. Some of the people have never been on a stage before. Our youngest performer is almost 8 (her birthday is this week) and our oldest performer is .... well we aren't going to compare ages on that end ok?  We have celebrated birthdays and anniversaries. We have worked around vacations and camps and conferences. We have put in long hours. We have been frustrated with each other and at times short tempered. We have cheered each other when the scene/dance/song finally came together.
We are a community.

House lights dim.
Overture
Stage lights slowly come up
Curtain opens.....the show begins.






Monday, June 24, 2013

It's a Hard-Knock Life: from Script to Stage


What happens when the poorest girl in the world meets the richest man in the world? This question is answered in the classic story of ANNIE the Musical [link: http://www.anniethemusical.com/]. Learn more about the history of ANNIE by visiting the PBS Annie site [link: http://pbs.org/annie]. Be sure to check out the old-timey radio show all about our favorite red head! [link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/annie/index.html#listen-annie-history].

Set your DVRs or plan to kick back and relax by watching the PBS documentary, “It’s The Hard Knock Life: From Script to Stage” which premieres on June 28 at 9 pm . The adorable orphans will certainly steal your heart as they sing and dance their way from the rehearsal hall to Opening Night!

 
 
 
Leapin’ lizards! YOU can see "ANNIE" live on stage next month!
It’s an all new production of one of the most acclaimed musicals of the past 35 years! With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan ANNIE charms everyone’s hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. And now, alongside her signature pal dog, Sandy, she’s set her sights on making us grin from ear to ear right here in Carroll, Iowa!
Performances are in the Recreation Center Auditorium 716 N Grant Road
July 18 7:30 PM
July 19 7:30 PM
July 20 7:30 PM
July 21 6:00PM
ANNIE is produced by the Carroll Arts Council, Carroll Community Theatre, All String Attached Orchestra and the Carroll Youth Theater.
Tickets are $6.50 for students and $10 for adults.  To purchase tickets to ANNIE please contact Laura Comito at (712) 775-2035 or email tickets@carrollarts.org

ANNIE TICKETS!

Tickets are on sale now for the Carroll Arts Council
Carroll Community Theatre
Carroll Youth Theater
All Strings Attached Production of
ANNIE

Adults $10
Students $6.50

Available at
Carroll Rec Center
Artworks Studio
CCSB Hy-Vee Branch




"ANNIE" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Tel.: (212) 541-4684 Fax: (212) 397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

Monday, June 17, 2013

It's hard knock life....

but it's also so much fun- especially when you get to rehearse with such talented people.

I haven't posted much lately because I have been knee deep in orphans for our upcoming production of "ANNIE"

This are going well. In fact we are right on schedule for rehearsals and little bit ahead of schedule for sets and props. Two weeks ago I took this video of my orphans learning the choreography  to "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" this video was taken on day three of rehearsals. I am so proud of my Orphalins!

 
 I think the Orphans are going to steal the show!
 
 
 
ANNIE
July 18, 19, 20 7:30 PM
July 21 6:00PM
 
Recreation Center Auditorium
Carroll, Iowa
Tickets available at CCSB Hy-Vee Branch, Artworks Studio, Carroll Recreation Center
 
 
$10 Adults
$6.50 students


Thursday, May 9, 2013

ANNIE AUDITIONS!


The Carroll Arts Council, Carroll Community Theatre, All Strings Attached Orchestra and Carroll Recreation Center announces auditions for the upcoming theater production of “ANNIE”
 

Auditions are open to anyone in the Carroll area and will take place in the Recreation center Auditorium! This musical features a large cast (approximately 40-60 people) as well as a live pit orchestra. This is a community wide event for kids and adults! We not only need people to act but also people behind the scenes building and decorating sets, costumes, make-up, hair as well as technical and stage hands.

Potential actors will taught a simple dance number and a song at the audition. We will work in groups of 8-10 at a time so no one is up there dancing alone. Auditions may range from 5 to 15 minutes. Everyone who wants to audition will get a chance and we won’t leave until everyone auditions.

CHILDREN’S AUDITIONS:  Tuesday May 28th from 7-9PM for females interested in being an orphan between the ages of 8 and 15. You must be able to sing! We will be casting 20 young ladies as orphans.

ADULT AUDITIONS:  Wednesday May 29th and Thursday May 30th 7-9PM – for anyone else who wants to audition. (If you are a child and are unable to make the Tuesday auditions you may come to either of these audition dates)

Production Dates:
Thursday July 18 7:00 pm
Friday July 19 7:00 pm
Saturday July 20th 7:00 pm
Sunday July 21 2:00 PM

Tickets: $10.00 for adults and $6.50 for students

Directors: Susan Glass, Gene Glass
Orphan Director: Laura Comito
 Orphan Assistant Director: Aly Boes
Orchestra Director: Becky Windschitl
Choral Director: Jake Gute
Technical Director: Michael Woodhouse
Choreography: Susan Glass, Colleen Dermody
For more information please contact Laura Comito at 775-2035

Friday, April 12, 2013

ANNIE AUDITIONS!


“ANNIE”

This summer the Carroll Youth Theatre is teaming up with the Carroll Community Theatre to produce the musical “Annie” on the Rec Center Stage.  Auditions are open to anyone in the Carroll area ages 8 years old and up! This musical features a large cast (approximately 40-60 people) as well as a live pit orchestra! This is a community wide event for kids and adults! We not only need people to act but also people behind the scenes building and decorating sets, costumes, make-up, hair as well as a stage manager and stage hands. If you want to get involved in a theatrical production please come to any audition! Or contact Laura Comito at 775-2035.

What do I need to do to audition? Prepare one song to sing- it does not have to be a song from “Annie” and be prepared to read some and do a few very basic dance moves.  

CHILDREN’S AUDITIONS:  Tuesday May 28th from 7-9PM for females interested in being an orphan between the ages of 8 and 15. You must be able to sing! We will be casting 20 young ladies as orphans.

 ADULT AUDITIONS:  Wednesday May 29th and Thursday May 30th 7-9PM – for anyone else who wants to audition. If you are a child and are unable to make the Tuesday audition you may come to either of these audition dates

Audition/Crew forms are available in the Rec Center office, the front desk or online at www.cityofcarroll.com . You need to fill out your form and bring it with you to auditions.  Auditions may range from 5 to 15 minutes. Everyone who wants to audition will get a chance and we won’t leave until everyone auditions.

Orphan Rehearsals: Monday through Thursday from 4:00 pm – 6:30 p.m.

Adult Rehearsals : Monday – Thursday from 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Production Dates:

Thursday July 18 7:00 pm

Friday July 19 7:00 pm

Saturday July 20th 7:00 pm

Sunday July 21 6:00 PM

 Tickets: $10.00 for adults and $6.50 for students

 Directors: Susan Glass, Gene Glass

Orphan Director: Laura Comito

 Orphan Assistant Director: Aly Boes

Orchestra Director: Becky Windschitl

Choral Director: Jake Gute

Technical Director: Michael Woodhouse

Choreography: Susan Glass, Colleen Dermody

Monday, October 29, 2012

THANK YOU! From A Nightmare on Main Street


haunted house

Our Premiere Haunted House " A Nightmare on Main Street' is now just a happy memory. I had no idea what was really involved when I started this project rolling. But it was worth it in the end. We converted our 22 x 160' building into one awesome haunted house. Before I go much further I have to say that it would not have happened without the hard work and hundreds of hours of volunteered time of Bernie and Roann Kofron and James Hubers. You people are amazing!

We had 17 rooms in our haunted house:
 Spider Den
 Zombie Cage
Graveyard
Acme Mask Factory
Portrait Gallery
Fur Maze
Electric Chair
Children of the Corn
Dracula's Resting Place
Hansel, Gretel and the Witch
The Butcher
The Dot Room
Zombie Nursery
Surgery
Birthday Party
House of 1000 Corpses
Captain Spaulding
and finally- The Girl from the Well

There were over 35 people working in the event each night from taking tickets, to acting as safety people, to the persons dressed to scare- and over 700 people walked through our house.

If it wasn't for the generous support of these people, and our sponsors, this haunted house might never had happened.

I need to thank our sponsors too- the money/materials you donated helped tremendously and we would not have been able to create such a good house without you!

Anytime Fitness
Carroll Broadcasting
Carroll Cycle Center
Casey's
Commercial Savings Bank
Computer Concepts
Dr Gene Glass
Greteman Agency
Greteman Chiropractic
Haley Implement
K & D Painting
Options Ink
Piranha Club
Pro Auto
haunted house
Wittrock Motors

In the end I am not sure who had more fun- the people walking through the house or those of us who were scaring them.  We are already planning next year's house and it promises to be even better than this year. We are even trying to figure out a little kid loop of not so scary stuff so they can enjoy it too. I will admit I was very surprised at the number of small children who went through the house and didn't seem to be forever scared by it. But then I wasn't the one putting them to bed later either.

So THANK YOU to everyone who helped us create this event!