24 HOUR PLAYHOUSE RECRUITS TALENT
Jack Cantey, executive director of the innovative 24-Hour Playhouse announces the third installment of its unique theatrical experience August 4 at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. They seek actors, directors, playwrights, and technical support to participate in the area's only one-day theatre production.
"At 8:00 p.m. on Friday May 4th," states the group's website, "the playwrights, actors and directors of the 24 Hour Playhouse met. Each actor brought a prop and costume piece, their pictures were taken with an instant camera, and these photographs were dealt out to the playwrights. Then, warmed by the company of a computer or typewriter, driven by inspiration and caffeine, the playwrights spent the night writing the plays.
The next morning at 9:00 they reassembled and began rehearsing, focusing on text analysis, character exploration, blocking, and memorization of the scripts.
"The conventional process for producing a play is one of trial and error," says the site. "The collaboration between the playwright, director and actors last weeks, usually months. We, however, are investigating what happens when this process is compressed into a twenty-four hour period. We want to get you talking. We are also interested in instant art beyond the stage. We have added instant poetry into the mix, and we plan to continue expanding our range.
"In collaboration with local artists, we hope to inspire Midwest artists and patrons to think beyond the traditional and the textbook. Vital art can and does exist outside of a few proscribed metropolitan areas."
To participate in this endeavor, fill out the application form at www.24hourplayhouse.com.
=====
Scottish Rite Center announces 2001/2002 Presenting Season "The Scottish Rite Center has stadium seating," says Teter, "and the best site lines of any theatre in town. [Rock and Roll band] Phil Dirt and the Dozers played here in July and they told me the acoustics are so good here, they never want to sing anywhere else."
The Second City comedy troupe, based out of Chicago, will perform its improvisation-based comedy at the Scottish Rite Thursday, August 16 at 7:00 PM. Seating is first come, first served, and tickets are $14. For ticket information, call (219) 423-2593 ext. 1.
The performance will feature some of the best scenes, songs and improvisations from Second City's forty-plus year history. While Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie of "Whose Line Is It Anyway" are busy with their careers, Ft. Wayne audiences can see Ryans- and Colins-in-the-making at this performance.
=====
DIRECTOR BRINGS CREDENTIALS TO THE FORT
Civic's guest director Tom Evans will begin rehearsals in August for the brilliant drama "W;t," (you'll have to see the play to understand the semicolon in the title) starring his wife Barbara Farrar Evans as the English professor dying of ovarian cancer. The play, which focuses on the humanity of death touchingly, but with a surprising sense of humor, was adapted into an Emmy award-nominated movie starring Emma Thompson and Audra McDonald. The Evans' have collaborated on this play several times all over the country and will work with such area talent as Larry Bower, Lois Watkins, Eric Vitz, and Lucine Woodson in this production.
Tom Evans directed the theatre program at Hanover College, and two of his protégés include playwright Jim Leonard (THE DIVINERS) and TV and film star Woody Harrelson.
Tom will also conduct a two-day Audition and Scene Workshop at the Civic on August 18 & 26 for interested area theatre actors.
=====
"MAN OF LAMANCHA" CAST
Randy Romero earned the lead role in First Presbyterian Theatre's MAN OF LAMANCHA. Other roles went to Dwight Wilson (Sancho), Nancy Kartholl (Aldonza), Ric Geist (Governor/Innkeeper), Tom Young (Duke/Carasco), and Andrew Gross (Padre).
For several years, the Scottish Rite Center has quietly hosted a variety of entertainment acts in its 2100-seat auditorium. New marketing director Samantha Teter hopes to increase visibility of the theatre, competing with the Embassy Theatre in drawing world-class acts and audiences.
