TAGLines The Newsletter of the Theatre Arts Guild, Inc. – April 2005
Mary Carrick, President Daena Schweiger, Chair/Editor www.theatreartsguild.com
TAG Notes from the President… and a V-8 by Mary Carrick
N IGHT O UT There’s no business like show business, and from the looks of what our Awards The Robber Bridegroom ballot is shaping up to be, business has been booming…on stage, that is. Much Thursday, May 26 talk has been made lately about the competition for the entertainment dollar. 8:00 PM And, frankly, that’s another column entirely. Let’s just say that our commitment to encouraging those to Get Real and Experience Live Theatre has never been Bellevue Little Theatre more important – at least in this town. How wonderful that the Holland Center is ______nearing its opening. I can’t wait to see Barbara Cook and Renee Fleming this year. I’m psyched about U2 as well. However, compared to what a theatre T HIS I SSUE ticket will run me, even four of them, these are high-end purchases. And, that’s
a message in itself. More on this next month. On Stage News
The Green Room / Auditions You'll notice we've again included a listing of the season's shows in this issue. It's our way of going the extra mile to ensure that the information is correct Dear Denny before the nominations ballots are printed. Help us by bringing to our attention
Other Good Stuff any omissions, errors, or shows mistakenly included in the listing.
Theatre Planning Calendar If you're interested in becoming more involved with TAG, consider running for the Board of Directors this year. We need fresh faces as well as veterans to ______help us propel our organization forward as we continue to implement new ideas EW that benefit our theatre community. The election process is quite simple - N express your interest to me or another Board member and we will forward a questionnaire for you to complete so we may include you on the ballot. Board MEMBERS election ballots as well as candidate bios will be included with your Awards invitation. And, please be sure to cast your vote!
Doran Schmidt Aaron Wong What are we looking for in terms of Board members? Well, enthusiasm for one - Caitlin Ray Alexandra Breedlove a positive attitude for another - and, the ability to develop ideas and the gumption to help implement them. A sincere interest in theatre is sure important,
Department of Performing Arts too. Creighton University Bill Hutson (rep) Michael McCandless (rep) In addition to the Board, we welcome anyone interested in serving on a committee or lending a hand (or a head!). Our door is open - you just need to Tom Holler (OTOC) turn the doorknob. Please contact me to learn more about what areas could use Mark Hoeger (OTOC) some extra attention. We'll keep you only as busy as you want to be!
John Payton Robin Payton I’ll close now, as it seems there’s much reading to be done of this thick issue. Arthur Payton Speaking of, I’d like to thank Daena Schweiger for all of her work as our Jesse Payton newsletter editor. She puts up with my tardy columns and does so with a smile, Natalie Tiehen albeit a sharp wink. She also deals with late submissions, filling space, editing Tyler Tomaszkiewicz lengthy press releases, and gathering important newsworthy info, all while Renee Montemayor remaining fair and balanced. Thank you, Daena! Mariel Mandelko Cathy Buresh Stacey Badura-Koterba All the best… Page 1 Daniel Baye On Stage News
* The Omaha Community Playhouse Presents * The Shelterbelt Theatre Presents The Nerd Temporary Help May 4 – May 8, 2005 May 5 – May 8, 2005 The Omaha Community Playhouse presents the comedy "The Nerd" The Shelterbelt Theatre proudly presents Temporary Help, by award May 4 - May 8 on the Mainstage. The action centers on the hilarious winning playwright and Nebraska native David Wiltse. This story of dilemma of a young architect who is visited by a man he's never met, love, lust, greed, abuse and repression in a murderous Nebraska but who saved his life in Vietnam. The architect's delight soon fades farmhouse fires on all cylinders to bring you an evening of suspense, as it becomes apparent that he is dealing with a hopeless "nerd". thrills, and humor. In this suspenseful play noir directed by Daena Directed by guest artist Anthony Clark-Kaczmarek, the cast includes Schweiger, a Nebraska farm couple (Jerry Evert and Diane Watson) Kevin Bensley, Erin Joekel, Gordon Krentz, Amanda Link, Tom are entwined in a chilling dance of desire, psychological dominance Neumann, Stuart Stenger and Taylor Willoughby. Set design by Bill and interdependence that culminates in killing temporary farm Van Deest, sound design by John Gibilisco and stage managed by workers for profit. The wife is struggling to get away from this Wesley Houston. "The Nerd" runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at murderous relationship. The sheriff (Michael Taylor-Stewart) and a 7:30 and Sundays at 2:00 and 6:30. For reservations, please contact sympathetic, possibly homicidal, young lover (Shane Staiger) - the the Box Office at 553-0800 or visit our website at new temporary worker - could save her. Or they could be the next www.omahaplayhouse.com. Group discounts available. victims. Liz Heim will stage manage, with lighting design by Tom Reardon, sound design by Dave Podendorf, set design by Loyal Fairman, and props by Elizabeth Kendall. The production runs from * The Witching Hour (Blue Barn) Presents May 5 through May 8, 2005. Show times are Thursday through WYZK: Radio/Trauma Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 for May 5 – May 6, 2005 adults and $12 for students, seniors and TAG members. Call the box The Blue Barn’s Witching Hour presents WYZK; Radio/Trauma, a office at 341-2757 or reserve tickets on line at www.shelterbelt.org. tale of murderous jealousy and eerie dehumanization. WYZK re- The Shelterbelt Theatre is located at 3225 California Street. imagines Georg Buchners 19th century classic, Woyzeck, and mixes in your favorite sing-along radio hits. Tune in to the latest from * The Circle Theater Presents Omaha’s only late-night theatre series. WYZK features Kevin Bensley, Vincent Carlson, Sarah Brown, Susann Suprenant, Brandon The Busy Body Rohe and Barry Carman. Broadcast live after Love Letters at the May 5 – May 14, 2005 Blue Barn. WYZK: Radio/Trauma will be presented Thursday and The Circle Theater will be presenting The Busy Body by Jack Friday, May 5th and 6th. Live pre-shows begins at 11pm; Shows Popplewell to welcome in spring. The lively British comedy The Busy begins at 11:30pm. Tickets: $5 at the door Body will be directed by Stephanie Anderson and will be staged at 726 South 55th Street, continues through May 14th on Thursday, * The Blue Barn Theatre Presents Friday, and Saturday evenings. Doors open at 6:30pm with dinner served at 7:00pm and the show starting at 8:00pm. Tickets for dinner Love Letters and show are $22 and show only tickets are $12. Students and May 5 – May 7, 2005 seniors get a $2 discount. The menu entrees for this production Originally scheduled to present "Three Tall Women," the Blue Barn include Ham Steak with scalloped potatoes, New Orleans Chicken Theatre has announced a change in their production schedule. In a with a wine sauce and Veggie Lasagna. Cheesecakes, cakes and tribute to Pam Carter, who was to star in "Three Tall Women," the beverages will also be available. The Circle Theatre, Omaha’s Blue Barn presents "Love Letters" by A. R. Gurney, May 5 – May 7, premiere small theatre presents its shows in the lower level of 2005. Thursday, May 5th, 7:30pm: Matt Kamprath & Kim Jubenville; Central Presbyterian Church at 55th & Leavenworth. The Busy Body Friday, May 6th, 7:30pm: Terry Berner & Kathy Wheeldon; Saturday, features Laura Marr, Rosanne Glock, Erika Hall, Haley Piper, Cullen May 7th, 7:30pm: John Lee & M. Michele Phillips. There will be a Chollett, Geoffrey Stienblock & Cameron Van Cleave. For reception following the Saturday, May 7th performance. Tickets are reservations and further information call Doug Marr at 553-4715 or $19 for Adults and $15 for TAG Members, Students, Seniors, Military [email protected]. and Groups of 10 or more. A portion of the proceeds from each performance will be donated to the scholarship fund set up for Pam * The Chanticleer Theater Presents Carter’s son, John Michael Hartig. Call 345-1576 for reservations. This play lovingly chronicles the lives of two vastly different people Big River and is told entirely through their exchange of letters. "Love Letters" is May 6 – May 22, 2005 a wry and poignant tale. From their first scrawled valentines of Mark Twain's timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty childhood to the last guilty goodbyes, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a Makepeace Ladd III’s letters create a unique nostalgia. slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel- the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Page 2 On Stage News
Huck's partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Carl Beck, the cast includes Theresa Sindelar, Andrew McGreevy Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane and Rob Baker. Set design by Keith Hart, costume design by Wilkes and her trusting family. Propelled by an award winning score Georgiann Regan, sound design by John Gibilisco and stage from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey managed by Mary Dew. For reservations: 553-0800 or provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana. “Big www.omahaplayhouse.com. Group discounts available. River” has received 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Score and Book and 7 Drama Desk Awards including Best Music, Lyrics * The Mills Masquers Presents and Orchestrations. Chanticleer performances for “Big River” are May 6-22, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. The Mouse that Roared Tickets are $16 for Adults, $13 for Seniors and $8 for Students. May 7 – May 15, 2005 Tickets are available through the Chanticleer Box Office by calling The Mills Masquers will open "The Mouse That Roared" on Saturday, 712-323-9955. Brandon Higdem is Director and Musical Direction by May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Barton Theater north of Glenwood, Iowa, Kay Johnson, Set Design by Travis Henk, and Lighting & Sound on U.S. Highway 275. Additional show dates are Sunday, May 8, at 2 Designs by Ernie Gubbels. The cast includes Derrick Crawford, p.m.; Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Ricky Hernandez, Jonathan Wilhoft, Tony Wojtalewicz, Suzy May 15, at 2 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling 527-3600 or Andersen, Ed Baye, Allison Botkin, Andrea Brooks, Alex Cass, online at www.millsmasquers.org. Echelle Childers, Alexia Childers, Sam Clemens, Sally Cvetas, Steve Gillespie, Dutch Haling, Chastity James, Tom Jensen, Emily Neve, * The Bellevue Little Theatre Presents Don Nguyen, and Katie Porter. The Robber Bridegroom May 27 – June 12, 2005 * Brigit St. Brigit Presents Bellevue Little Theatre will close the 2004--2005 season with the The Taming of the Shrew adult bluegrass musical "The Robber Bridegroom" opening on May May 6 – May 29, 2005 27 and running for three week-ends. Showtimes are 8 pm Friday and Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Company, an independent, professional Saturday evenings and 2 pm on Sundays. Reservations are theatre company specializing in the classics presents The Taming of recommended and may be made by calling the theatre at 291-1554 the Shrew in the Gross Auditorium on the College of Saint Mary between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm Monday thru Saturday. Tickets campus, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 15. Fridays are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $7.50 for students. TAG and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $15 members will receive a $1 discount on tickets. The production staff general, $13 seniors, $5 students (College of Saint Mary students will be: Bridget Robbins as both stage director and choreographer, admitted free with ID). Directed by Cathy M. W. Kurz and featuring with Tim Marsden serving as musical director. Bette Swanson will be Scott Kurz and Amy Kunz as Petruchio and Kate, along with producer, Maggie Opal, stage manager; Ann Shee, lighting designer; company members Steve Miller, Keith Homan, David Dechant, David Jack Hogston, set designer; Jeff Lively, sound designer; Mary Sindelar, Curt Siemers, Jeremy Earl, Jerry Onik, Daniel Dorner, Mark McHale, costume designer; and Ted Roche, biographer. The cast Ledbetter, Chris Elston, and Alisha Rodasky. A spring celebration of includes: Sam Reimer, Laura Beeghly, Sara Planck, Terry Schmidt, the psychology of relationships between men and women, and the Tom Fleckten, Dan Beard, Amanda Rounds, Ben Klingemann, duplicities of courtship. In this wonderful comedy, Shakespeare once Audrey Rupnow, Marion Priesman, John Payton, Terra Marsden, again explodes the social conventions--the characters who conform Anna Peace, David Beacradt, Kyle Avery, Cindy Vanek, Terrence are the most duplicitous, and those who persevere in their own Brannen, Rick Tritz, Ryan Dinning, Roger Bennett, and Drew individuality woo us and win us. As large as real life are Kate--a Horstman. The Robber Bridegroom is based on a story penned by woman who rejects any course of action that doesn¹t proceed from Eudora Welty, and Alfred Uhry’s book and lyrics accompany Robert honesty--and Petruchio--a man whose experience in the world has Waldman’s music. The musical focuses focuses on the attractive taught him, as well, that the expected behavior of social convention is rogue, Jamie Lockhart. To all the world Lockhart is an upstanding arbitrary. Call 399-6287 for reservations. gentleman but in reality, he is ruthless bandit who makes his home in the woods. Throw in rival gangs, a headless thief and a desirable * The Omaha Community Playhouse Presents farmer’s daughter and the result is a plotline that will entertain. Dirty Blonde May 5 – May 29, 2005 * The Omaha Community Playhouse Presents The Omaha Community Playhouse presents the Omaha premiere of Annie the "best new American play of the year" (New York Times), "Dirty May 27 – June 26, 2005 Blonde"- in the Howard Drew Theatre May 5 - May 29. "Dirty Blonde" The Omaha Community Playhouse presents the family musical tells the story of two lonely New Yorkers who meet at Mae West's "Annie" on the Mainstage May 27-June 26. Directed by Susan Baer tomb, where they have come to pay homage. Their obsession forms Collins, the cast features Caroline Iliff as Annie, Kenny Glenn as the basis of an odd but ultimately romantic friendship. Directed by Oliver Warbucks, Seth Fox as Rooster, Erika Hall as Lily St. Regis, Sarah Brown as Grace and Judy Radcliff as Miss Hannigan. The supporting cast includes: Ben Beck, Drew Billings, Dennis Collins, Zach Elbert, Charlotte Hedican, Dawn Jacobsen, Jentry Merriman, Page 3 On Stage News / The Greenroom
OTCYP Presents Corinne Nelson, Bailey Newman, Karlie Newman, Josh Peyton, Jenny Priesman, Alison Quirk, Madeline Radcliff, K.C. Ramsell, Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business Jeffrey Taxman, Joyce Torchia and Mary Waltman. Music director May 6 – May 27, 2005 Jim Boggess, choreographer Roxanne Nielsen, scenic and lighting No one can out show-and-tell Junie B. Jones! Not when she's got a designer Jim Othuse, costume designer Lynne Ridge, sound brand new "monkey brother" at home! Junie B.'s spunky personality designer Tim Burkhart, assistant director Spencer Williams and stage gets her tangled in a mess of tall tales. With the help of her teacher, managed by Steve Priesman. "Annie" runs Wednesdays through family and friends, Junie learns to love the newest addition to her Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:00 and 6:30. For reservations, family, minus the name-calling. America's favorite Kindergartener please contact the Box Office at 553-0800 or brings her classroom capers to The Rose in this new musical by www.omahaplayhouse.com. Group discounts available! Joan Cushing, based on the book by Barbara Park. Suggested for ages 6 & up. Performances are held in the Mainstage at The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, 2001 Farnam Street, Downtown Teens N’ Theater and OTCYP Presents Omaha. Times are Fridays at 7:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and Young Playwrights’ Festival 7:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $16 and can be May 1, 2005 purchased at The Rose Box Office, (402) 345-4849 or online at A celebration of the work by some of the Omaha-area's most gifted, www.rosetheater.org. $12 discount vouchers are available at young playwrights. Since September, these playwrights have been Omaha/Council Bluffs Hy-Vee stores. devising, writing, revising and fine-tuning their humorous, dramatic and mind bending ideas. Come see talented young actors perform the words of talented young playwrights. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Young Playwrights Festival, we held a 10-minute Auditions & More Auditions play competition… all plays are 10 minutes or less! This is the concluding production of the 2004-2005 Teens N Theater Season, ______
which is dedicated to producing theater for teens and by teens. The performance will be held in the Hitchcock Theater at The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, 2001 Farnam Street, Downtown * Little Apple Productions Omaha. The time for the Sunday, May 1 performance will be at Nine 4:30pm. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at The Rose Box Little Apple Productions announces auditions for the musical Nine, Office, (402) 345-4849. winner of the 1982 and 2003 Tony Award! Directed by Randall Stevens, with music direction by D. Laureen Pickle, and produced by Opera Omaha Presents Mary Carrick, Nine will be presented July 8 – 24, 2005 at the Bellevue Little Theatre. Auditions will be held Sunday, May 1st and La Traviata Monday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. at North Side Christian Church, located May 4 – May 8, 2005 at 5555 Larimore Ave. in Omaha. A cast of women is needed to fill The thrilling 2004-2005 Opera Omaha season concludes with Verdi’s over 20 exceptional roles, ranging in ages from 20's to 70's+. All La Traviata. Performances are Wednesday May 4 and Friday May 6 types are needed! A number of women will have the opportunity to at 7:30pm and Sunday May 8 (Mother’s Day) at 2pm. All play multiple character roles. A young boy is also needed between performances are at the historic Orpheum Theater. The touching the ages of 8 and 12. Please note, the role of Guido has been pre- tale of La Traviata follows the tragic journey of Violetta from the cast. Those auditioning should prepare 16 – 32 bars of a musical happiness and hedonism of the Paris salon to despair, sacrifice and theatre song selection and be prepared to read from the script. An death. It is one of the most beloved and popular operas throughout accompanist will be provided. Nine is the story of Guido, a famous the world. It will be sung in Italian, with English translations of every film director and his attempts to develop a plot for his next project, all word projected above the stage. These performances mark the end while being pursued by hordes of women, clamoring to be loved by of Maestro Hal France’s 10 years as Opera Omaha’s Artistic Director him and him alone. Through a series of emotional adventures and and Principal Conductor. TAG members may purchase discounted flashbacks, Guido finds his way - and the audience journeys with tickets by completing our order form. You may access the form by him, guided by an incredibly rich and rhythmic musical score. For visiting the Opera Omaha website. Questions? Call Steve Grupe at more information, contact Randall Stevens at 402.208.0150 or D. 346-4398 x109 or email [email protected] Laureen Pickle at 402.681.9785. www.operaomaha.org/downloads/traviata/TheatreArtsGuild.pdf
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Auditions & More Auditions The Cider House Community Theater Cheaper by the Dozen ______The Cider House Community Theater will be holding auditions for Cheaper by the Dozen on May 2nd and 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Cider * The Shelterbelt Theatre House Theater, 1422 1st Corso in Nebraska City. Roles needed: 3 john & jen women, 2 men, 6 boys and 5 girls (various ages). Technical staff The Shelterbelt Theatre, located at 3225 California Street, needs include stage management, and other various stage needs. announces auditions for their summer musical john & jen, which will The show dates are June 10, 11, 12, 17, 18,19, 23, 24, 25, 26 For be presented July 15 – August 6, 2005. Directed by Daena more information or to arrange alternate audition time: Call Jim @ Schweiger, with music direction by Todd Brooks. john & jen is a 402-873-3229 and leave a message. musical about connections, commitments and the healing of the human heart. This is the story of Jen and her relationships with the and coming in June… two Johns of her life: her younger brother, who was killed in Vietnam, and his namesake, her son who is trying to find his way in a * The Grande Olde Players Presents confusing world. With a cast of only two people, john & jen is a tour- de-force for two actors who take Jen and John (both of them) from George, Cole and the Duke childhood, through adolescence and beyond. Auditions will be held June 8 and 9 auditions for Summer Showcase "George, Cole, and Saturday, May 14th and Sunday, May 15th at 1 p.m. at North Side the Duke" directed and choreographed by Gary Wallace. Singers, Christian Church, located at 5555 Larimore Ave. in Omaha. For Dancers and comics to audition at 7 p.m. at 2339 North 90th Street. more information, contact Daena at 677-4076. Bring a prepared song if available but not necessary. For more information call 397-5262. * Mills Masquers Copacabana Auditions for the Mills Masquers production of "Copacabana" will be held Sunday, May 22, and Monday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at the Barton Check out our NEW Theatre Hotline! Theater north of Glenwood on U.S. Highway 275. For more (402) 334-4567 information, email the Masquers at www.millsmasquers.org. Call for current show information, including show The Pinewood Bowl dates and times! Grease Pinewood Bowl, Inc. announces auditions for it annual summer (note: this is an announcement only service) musical at the Pinewood Bowl Amphitheatre in Lincoln’s Pioneers Park. This years’ production is Grease and will be running July 8-10, and July 13-17, with a possible rain date of July 18. It will be directed by Paul Pearson, with choreography by Courtney Piccoli and produced by Jeff Bargar and Dwayne Dvorak. Auditions will be held on May 20th from 6:30-9:00 p.m. and on May 21st from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 5200 Francis St. in Lincoln, NE. Bring a non-returnable photo and prepare 20 bars from any musical Dear Denny, theatre song. Bring sheet music for provided accompanist and dress Words of advice and insight comfortably and be prepared to do some dance movement. We are from one from one of Omaha’s most also looking for 20 great dancers to complement the cast. If you have questions, please contact the producer Dwayne Dvorak at respected thespians
(402)326-8024. Come experience the magic under the stars at Dear Denny, Pinewood Bowl. For more information on Pinewood Bowl, visit Several local productions are starting to include nudity. What is www.pinewoodbowl.org. your policy about appearing in your birthday suit on stage?
Signed, Irish Man from O'Calcutta Submissions for TAGLines must be turned in by the
th 14 of every month: [email protected] Dear Monty My philosophy is simple...If your body continues to move long after your blocking stops, keep it covered.
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performing May 15. This Free concert is sponsored in part by the Grande Olde Players, the Musicians Performance Fund as arranged & Other Good Stuff by Local 70-558 and Dr. Mark and Bonnie Gill Manhart. ______th Annual Meeting – May 14 ! Is your theatre production company looking for a venue in 2005? The annual General Membership Meeting of the Theatre Arts Guild The Millennium Theatre offers a uniquely intimate and enjoyable will be held Saturday, May 14, 2005 at 11 a.m. in the Board Room black-box space, and elegantly decorated lobby with rehearsal (or of the Omaha Community Playhouse, located at 6915 Cass Street. performance) stage for your use. Use of the space includes all All members are invited to attend. lighting, musical, sound and special effects equipment, as well as ______any props, costumes and set pieces in stock. Visit http://www.stagesofomaha.com/ for further details on the technical Tony Award Winning Producer to Appear in Omaha! specifications of the space, or call 402-345-8166 for more The Uta Halee Lecture series, now in it’s 23rd season, will host Adam information. Whether it is for one night or a 4-week run, The Epstein, the 2003 Tony Award winning producer of the smash hit Millennium Theatre is in a wonderful location in downtown Omaha, musical Hairspray on May 9, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Joslyn Art and a favorite venue for many local theatre patrons. Museum, 2200 Dodge Street. An optional luncheon (available at an ______additional cost) will follow each lecture. To order tickets online go to www.utahalee-cooper.org. For more information, contact Lecture BLT FIREWORKS OPEN AGAIN Series Chairman Sara Young at 397-7987. Reservations are As one of our major fundraisers Bellevue Little Theatre will again required. operate a fireworks stand the 10 days before July 4th. Since the ______stand is staffed by BLT volunteers, we need all of you to help---both
This Could Be You! by buying fireworks and by volunteering to help sell. If you can help As you’re driving to you rehearsal or trying to catch a show in the out in the stand, please send an email to [email protected] or next few weeks, don’t be surprised to see some familiar faces staring call Clara Sue Arnsdorff at 291-3809. We appreciate your help. More back at you along the way. After scraping together some funds details will be available in June. (thanks, donors!) and working out a deal with Lamar advertising, ______TAG is beginning the next phase of its “Get Real: Experience Live Theatre!” campaign with a series of billboards. Once again Roxanne Wach put the artwork together, and it turned out to be a monumental task (pun intended). TAG wanted to add some pizzazz with photos News of Our People of local actors, but found only a limited number of shots with the ______proper resolution and appropriate expression for the text. We’re starting with what we have and will be adding more throughout the Joe Basque, Executive Director of the Shelterbelt Theatre, will have year. his full-length play Ping Pong Diplomacy performed at a public reading on Sunday, May 8 in New York City. It is one of five full length scripts selected by Reverie Productions for their New “But wait!” you say. “I’ve always wanted to stop traffic!” Well, there’s Generation Playwriting contest. All five scripts will have readings in still time if you want to get in on the action. Cash bribes are always May, and the theater will select one to be produced next welcome, but the best way to have a say in whose face is next is to season. Ping Pong Diplomacy took home the 2003 TAG Award for volunteer your time and talents to the TAG Publicity Committee. Outstanding New Script. Congratulations Joe, and break a leg! We’re full of great ideas to promote live theatre in the metro area, but short on the human resources it takes to implement them. It you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Mary Carrick or Jennifer TAG Scholarship Winners Announced! Gilg at the numbers listed on the back of your newsletter. The Auditions for the 2005 TAG Scholarship were held at the Omaha rewards could be HUGE! Community Playhouse on April 3, 2005. From a group of 16 talented ______applicants, the selection committee awarded $1000 scholarships to Raydell Cordell (Omaha North), Doran Schmidt (Millard North), Hilary Every second Saturday Trish Place and the Urban Prairie Puppet Williams (Westside), and Jason Witty (Omaha Central). Each of Company put on a show for children at 10:30 a.m. at The Grande these students will be featured at the 2005 TAG Awards Ceremony in Olde Players Theater. The hour-long show is an adapted version of August. Special thanks go to Jennifer Gilg, Tom Neumann, Ron a fairly tale or revolves around a holiday with plenty of wit and quips Osborn and Dave Podendorf for serving as judges for this year’s to reflect society today. Cost is $5 per person. scholarship auditions; to Amanda Link for organizing the project; and to everyone who donated to the TAG Scholarship Fund. TAG Also at The Grande Olde Players Theater - free Jazz concerts are couldn’t do this without you! held the third Sunday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m. with an open Jam session in the lobby from 5-6. The May host is Susie Thorne, Page 6 The Greenroom
How TAG Awards Nomination and Final Ballots system here is that if there are five plays nominated for Best Musical and are Tabulated you saw all five, then your vote in that category is a five point vote. If you only saw two, then your vote is worth 2 points in this category and you Soon our annual TAG Awards process will begin. You will receive your can only vote for shows that you have seen. All final ballots are mailed TAG Awards Nomination Ballot in early June and the Nomination Ballots directly to the outside, neutral accountant and he sends final results will be counted on Saturday, June, 25. The Nominations will be directly to the awards/trophy company where awards are engraved. announced at Rick’s Boatyard Café on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 PM. The Once final awards are engraved, the Awards Committee Chairman final ballot will be mailed on July 6 and awards will be presented on receives a copy of the winning award list and proofreads the spelling, Sunday, August 7. etc. on the plaques at the trophy company. The Accountant, the Awards Chairperson and the trophy company are the only ones who know who ANNUAL TAG AWARDS-HOW DOES YOUR VOTE COUNT? wins before the banquet.
Every year during the TAG Nominations and Awards process we are Should you have any questions or comments regarding this process asked how the voting process is calculated. Our vote calculation process please contact Liz Heim, Awards Chairperson at 552-9326. supports the Theatre Arts Guild purpose which is to advance and promote the Live Theatre art form in the metropolitan Omaha, NE area. Chanticleer The first major rule for both nominations and final awards ballot is that proudly presents its 2005-2006 season you can only nominate or vote for shows which you have seen. It is critical that you check off the shows that you have seen at the front of STAGE and SCREEN each ballot. Everyone has their favorite movies. Everyone has their favorite Here is how the vote weighting system works. TAG members only are stage productions. Chanticleer has taken the best of both worlds allowed to nominate and vote for shows they have attended. To award and wrapped them up into an incredible season; each selection and encourage attendance at all area theaters, we rate your nominations for the upcoming season has been a smash hit both on stage vote on the number of theater/production company venues you have attended. This does not mean how many plays you attended at one and on the silver screen. theater. Your vote is awarded points for how many theaters/production companies you attended. For example, if you attended plays at Omaha Cinderella. (Sept. 9-25) Community Playhouse, SNAP! Productions, Chanticleer, Little Apple Deathtrap (Nov. 4-20) Productions, Shelterbelt and Bellevue Little Theatre, then your vote is worth 6 points for every person/production in every category in which Home for the Holidays (Coming in December) you nominate. So, if you nominate Jane Doe as Best Supporting Actress OLIVER! (Jan.13-29) in Play X then Jane gets 6 points towards her nomination score. If the Midsummer Night’s Dream (March 10-26) next ballot comes in and that member has attended 10 different theaters The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (May 5-21) and they also nominate Jane, then she gets 10 more points giving her a total of sixteen points. After everyone nominates, the points are added up for each individual or production in each category and the top 5 Become a part of Chanticleer’s 2005-2006 season! nominees who have the most points are the official nominees for the final We are currently seeking to staff the following positions: awards ballot. If there is a tie we allow six to go to the final ballot.
The TAG Board feels that this is the best process that assigns a higher Director vote weight to a member who makes the effort to get around and attend Musical Director as many productions as possible. Their vote is important to the process Choreographer as they have acquired a good basis for comparison between the different Lighting Designer productions and have a more "educated" vote. Set Designer The TAG Awards Committee counts the Nominations ballots on June Sound Designer 25 at one location. All counters keep confidential all ballot Stage Manager information. An individual or group of individuals is assigned a ballot Properties Designer nomination category and they count that category on each submitted ballot. Once all ballots have had every category counted, the Awards Costumer
Committee rechecks and reconfirms. There are 31 nomination Resumes or Letters of Interest can be sent to: categories so a large group of volunteers counts and confirms the top nominations. A fully completed ballot has 31 categories with the possibility of 6 nominations in each category which could potentially Tom Bertino, VP-Production mean 186 entries on one ballot! Sometimes this process can take12- C/O Chanticleer Theater 15 hours. However, many of our volunteers return each year and due 830 Franklin Ave to their familiarity with the process, we get better at it each year. The Council bluffs, IA 51503 final Awards Ballot is tabulated by an outside accountant. The [email protected]
Page 7 Theatre Arts Guild 2004 – 2005 Awards Info
Nominations Ballots Mailed Week of June 6
June 24 – Nomination Ballots Due
Tuesday, July 5th – Nominations Night, 7PM @ Rick’s Boatyard Café
Sunday, August 7th – Awards Banquet, Holiday Inn Central, 72nd & Grover
This is not a ballot! In an effort to streamline the nomination’s process, we’re asking for your help to make sure that all eligible shows are listed and categorized correctly. The following is a list of shows, by production company, for the 2004-2005 theater season. Please review this list and notify us immediately of any corrections. Note: Comedy and Drama are separated on here.
To report any corrections, please call Liz Heim at 552-9326 or e-mail [email protected]. Make sure you include all information, including the name of the show, production company, show category, and reason for the change. All corrections are subject to verification, so please include your contact information with phone number.
LIST OF PRODUCTIONS
• Richard III Shakespeare on the Green Drama • The Merry Wives of Windsor Shakespeare on the Green Comedy
• Annie DDT Musical
• The Lisbon Traviata SNAP! Drama • Kiss of the Spider Woman SNAP! Musical • Christmas With the Crawfords SNAP!/Shelterbelt Comedy • Take Me Out SNAP! Drama
• Beauty & The Beast B & D Musical
• Bradyfest 2004 The Circle Theatre Comedy • I’ll Be Home for Christmas The Circle Theatre Drama • Twelve Angry Men The Circle Theatre Drama • The Busy Body The Circle Theatre Comedy • The Return of the Killer Bridesmaids from Outer Space The Circle Theatre Comedy
• Into the Woods Ralston Community Theatre Musical
• Toxic Avenger: The Musical! Blue Barn Theatre Musical • 5000 Nights & The Lion Blue Barn Theatre Drama • Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical!!! Blue Barn Theatre Musical • Edward the Second Blue Barn Theatre Drama • Juliepsychosis Witching Hour at the Blue Barn Comedy (new script) • Dark River: The Diary of a Nobody Blue Barn Theatre Drama (new script) • Diving Into the Wreck A Witching Hour Production ‘round Midnight Series Comedy (new script) • Love Letters Blue Barn Theatre Drama
• • Hair, the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical OCP Musical • Not About Nightingales OCP Drama • Over the Tavern OCP Comedy • Wonder of the World OCP Comedy • A Christmas Carol OCP Musical Page 8 Theatre Arts Guild 2004 – 2005 Awards Info
• A Man of No Importance OCP Musical • Rave On! OCP Special Event • The Spitfire Grill OCP Musical • The Trip to Bountiful OCP Drama • The Nerd OCP Comedy • Dirty Blonde OCP Comedy • Annie OCP Musical
• 1776 Stages of Omaha Musical • The Odd Couple Stages of Omaha Comedy • A Man of No Importance Stages of Omaha Musical • Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol Stages of Omaha Drama • The Fix Stages of Omaha Musical
• Kismet BLT Musical • The Robber Bridegroom BLT Musical • Steel Magnolias BLT Drama • Driving Miss Daisy BLT Drama • Mr. Roberts BLT Comedy
• The Queen of Bingo The Lofte Community Theatre Comedy • Laughter on the 23rd Floor The Lofte Community Theatre Comedy • Good Housekeeping The Lofte Community Theatre Comedy
• Pippin Mills Masquers Community Theatre Musical • Dracula Mills Masquers Community Theatre Drama • A Christmas Carol Mills Masquers Community Theatre Drama • Anything Goes Mills Masquers Community Theatre Musical
• The Wizard of Oz Cbluffs Children Theatre at the Chanticleer Musical • The Crucible The Chanticleer Drama • A Chorus Line The Chanticleer Musical • Private Lives The Chanticleer Comedy • Big River The Chanticleer Musical • Home for the Holidays The Chanticleer Musical (new script)
• Brownville Village Theatre
• The Best of Pride Players Pride Players Comedy
• Bunnicula Omaha Theatre Company for Young People Comedy • Pinocchio OTCFYP Comedy • Miss Nelson Is Missing OTCFYP Comedy • Broken Mirror OTCFYP Drama • Dracula OTCFYP Drama • Brave Irene OTCFYP Comedy • Seussical-The Musical OTCFYP Musical • The Nutcracker OTCFYP Musical • Holiday Time Around the World OTCFYP Musical • Brave Little Tailor OTCFYP Comedy • Romeo & Juliet OTCFYP Musical • Confetti OTCFYP Musical • The Berenstain Bears On Stage OTCFYP Musical (new script) • The Bully Show OTCFYP Drama (new script) • Odysseus: Ancient Greek Myths OTCFYP Comedy (new script) • Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business OTCFYP Musical • Dr. Doolittle OTCFYP Comedy Page 9 Theatre Arts Guild 2004 – 2005 Awards Info
• Mother Hicks OTCFYP Comedy • The Afghan Women TC Players at The Rose Drama • Clueless and Clark ? Comedy (new script) • Young Playwrights’ Festival Teens N’ Theater New scripts
• Sala Cinderella The Young, Gifted and Black Troupe Drama
• The Last Five Years The Shelterbelt Theatre Musical • Un becoming The Shelter belt Theatre Special Event (new script) • Shelterskelter 9 The Shelterbelt Theatre One Acts (new scripts) • From Shelterbelt With Love IV The Shelterbelt Theatre One Acts (new scripts) • Temporary Help The Shelterbelt Theatre Drama
• Pride and Prejudice Brigit Saint Brigit Drama • The Lion in Winter Brigit Saint Brigit Drama • Dracula Brigit Saint Brigit Drama • The Compleat Works of WLLM SKSPR(abridged) Brigit Saint Brigit Comedy • Da Brigit Saint Brigit Drama • The Taming of the Shrew Brigit Saint Brigit Drama
• Metamorphoses UNO Drama • Playboy of the Western World UNO Comedy • The Pitchfork Disney UNO ? • Rosmersholm UNO Drama • Much Ado About Nothing UNO Comedy • The Rimers of Eldritch UNO ?
• The Real Inspector Hound Creighton Performing Arts Comedy • Dead Man Walking Creighton Performing Arts Drama • One Act Plays Creighton Performing Arts One Acts
• Alone Together Grande Olde Players Comedy • GOPT Showcase: Ed Solomon Presents Grande Olde Players Musical • Christmas in Vermont Grande Olde Players Musical • Rumors Grande Olde Players Comedy • Lost In Younkers Grande Olde Players Comedy • Never Too Late Grande Olde Players Comedy
• A Cabaret Christmas Cabaret Theatre Special Event • Young At Heart Cabaret Theatre Special Event
• Little Red Riding Hood The Urban Prairie Puppet Company • Rumplestiltskin The Urban Prairie Puppet Company • Legend of Sleepy Hollow The Urban Prairie Puppet Company • A Chris Mouse Story The Urban Prairie Puppet Company • Chris and the Leprechaun The Urban Prairie Puppet Company
• Cabaret Iowa Western Community College Musical • Lend Me A Tenor Iowa Western Community College Comedy • The Partirdge Always Rings Twice Iowa Western Community College (one act/improv) Comedy
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Elkhorn Community Theatre Musical
• Plattsmouth Community Playhouse
• Seussical: The Musical Dana College Musical • Christmas in a Time of War Dana College Drama
Page 10 Theatre Arts Guild 2004 – 2005 Awards Info
• Smokey Joe’s Café Dana College Musical
• A Raisin in the Sun John Beasley Theatre & Workshop Drama • Four Queens-No Trump John Beasley Theatre & Workshop Comedy • The Piano Lesson John Beasley Theatre & Workshop Drama • Glengarry Glen Ross John Beasley Theatre & Workshop Drama • Death of a Salesman John Beasley Theatre & Workshop Drama
• Sylvia Living Picture Project Comedy
• Talk Radio Baby D Productions Comedy • Killer Joe Baby D Productions Drama • Baby D Gets a Woody Baby D Productions Comedy • Proof Baby D Productions Drama • The Interrogation of Miriam of Nazareth Baby D Productions Drama(new script)
• Broadway to Ballet Central Dance Theater Special Event
• Community Based Dance Initiative Omaha Dance Project Special Event
• The Hard Working Hardy Girl Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy • Dangerous Curves Ahead Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy • Fright in the Night Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy • An Implausible Claus Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy • The Christmas Angel Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy • Remember Me? Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy • Whose Wives Are They Anyway? Kuntz Memorial Theatre Comedy
• Scarlet & Creamed: Big Red Blues & Other Sordid Tales Omaha Press Club Show Special Event
• Walking Behind to Freedom Omaha Together One Community Musical
• 6 Women with Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know Little Apple Productions Musical • The Vagina Monologues Little Apple Productions Drama
• The Florentine Players
• The Mineola Twins Sixteen Casters Productions Comedy
• From Generation to Generation JMR Productions Musical
• Fascinating and Inspiring Ladies Ruby & Iris Prods/The Max Cabaret Special Event
• Naughty or Nice: A Musical Christmas Romp Max Cabaret Series Special Event
• Vinyl Revival Kristi Pederson/Lisa Lind Special Event
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Art & Soul Center for the Arts Musical
• Greenwillow St. Paul United Methodist Church Musical
Page 11 Theatre Arts Guild 2004 – 2005 Awards Info
The 38th annual Theatre Arts Guild Awards (Omaha’s own Tony Awards) will be held August 7, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. The event draws 200-300 people annually. We are currently seeking sponsors and advertisers. As you may know, TAG is a nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. Please consider this unique and targeted advertising opportunity! If you can’t advertise or sponsor TAG, please pass the information on to your employer, company, or anyone who might be interested in this opportunity.
Please let me know of your advertising interest as soon as possible, so that your space can be reserved in the program. Because I will be unavailable for most of June, the deadlines are a little earlier. I would like to have as much of the advertising together as possible prior to June. I can help you create your ad when information is received by May 20 and a very limited number July 1-8. (Please note: Ads created by Roxanne for the TAG Awards Program, are for use only in the TAG Awards Program. If you would like to use your ad created by Rox for use in other places, the rate is $25 per hour. Thank you.) Black and white camera-ready ads can be mailed or delivered with payment (payable to TAG) directly to Roxanne by July 10. You can also email a jpg of your ad and send payment separately. Ads that are not paid for by July 10, will not appear in the program.
Roxanne Wach 4835 California St. Omaha, NE 68132 email: [email protected]
Awards Night program advertising is also available and includes: Full page inside back cover: 6.5” x 7” = $300 Full page: 6.5” x 7” = $200 Half page: 6.5” x 3.5” horizontal or 3.25” x 7” vertical = $100 Quarter page: 3.25” x 3.5” vertical = $50 Business card ad: 2.5” x 3” vertical = $25 Advertising suggestions: your business, congratulate the nominees, salute to theatre, your theatre, your theatre's season. To place your ad in the program, or for advertising questions, contact Roxanne Wach (402) 457-6160 or via email: [email protected] Rox will not be available June 6-23 and will likely NOT have email access during that time.
Media Sponsorship levels include: •Multi-Platinum Patrons: for advertising and coverage totaling $10,000 - + Acknowledged in program, full page ad in event program, announced at Awards Night, logo in advertising and publicity, logo on invitation, other details worked per individual sponsor.
•Platinum Patrons: for advertising and coverage totaling $1000 - + Acknowledged in program, full page ad in event program, announced at Awards Night, logo in advertising and publicity
•Gold Patrons: for advertising and coverage totaling $500 - $999 Acknowledged in program, announced at Awards Night, mentioned in advertising and publicity.
•Silver Patrons: for advertising and coverage totaling $100 - $499 Acknowledged in program, announced at Awards Night. To become a media sponsor, or for media sponsorship questions, contact Roxanne Wach (402) 457-6160 or via email: [email protected] Rox will not be available June 6-23 and will likely NOT have email access during that time.
Sponsorship levels include: •Platinum Patrons: $1000 - + Acknowledged in program, announced at Awards Night, mentioned in advertising and publicity, allowed 3-4 minute presentation slot during Awards Night Program.
•Gold Patrons: $500 - $999 Acknowledged in program, announced at Awards Night, mentioned in advertising and publicity.
•Silver Patrons: $100 - $499 Acknowledged in program, announced at Awards Night.
To become a sponsor or if you have questions regarding sponsorship, contact Awards Chair, Liz Heim: (402) 552-9326. Page 12
Page 13 Page 14
Theatre Planning Calendar
May 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SU M T W TH F SA SU M T W TH F SA SU M T W TH F SA SU M T W TH F SA SU M T * Omaha Community Playhouse – The Nerd * The Witching Hour – WYZK: Radio/Trauma * The Blue Barn Theatre – Love Letters * The Shelterbelt Theatre – Temporary Help * The Circle Theater – The Busy Body * The Chanticleer Theater – Big River * Omaha Community Playhouse – Dirty Blonde * Brigit St. Brigit – The Taming of the Shrew * Mills Masquers – The Mouse that Roared * BLT – The Robber Bridegroom tno * Omaha Community Playhouse – Annie
Teens N’ Theater – Young Playwright’s Festival Opera Omaha – La Traviata OTCYP – Junie B. Jones
AUDITIONS * Little Apple Productions – Nine * Shelterbelt Theatre – john & jen * Mills Masquers – Copacabana
The Pinewood Bowl - Grease Cider House Theater – Cheaper by the Dozen
Black Boxes denote closing dates. TNO denotes a TAG Night Out. * denotes a Member Theatre
Page 15 PRESORTED STANDARD Theatre Arts Guild, Inc. U.S. POSTAGE P.O. Box 24008 PAID Omaha, NE 68124-0008 OMAHA, NE www.theatreartsguild.com PERMIT NO 1024
Your newsletter is sent bulk mail and not forwarded. Keep your address current!
Send changes to:
TAG c/o Barb Ross 9035 Raven Oaks Drive Omaha, NE 68152 [email protected]
May 2005
TAG Board of Directors & General Information
Deb Beck (2007) 558-7985 Amanda Link (2005), Scholarship Chair 492-8252 Tom Bertino, Webmaster, Ex-officio 572-7971 James Tobey (2005), TAG Night Out Chair 310-0265 Mary Carrick (2004), President 344-3257 Eduardo Millan (2007) 345-7223
Gary Emenitove, TAG E-Broadcast, Ex-officio D. Laureen Pickle (2006) 391-2414 Jo Gaver (2005), Corresponding Secretary 397-6052 Ted Roche (2006), Treasurer 292-3781 Pegi Georgeson (2007) 330-7762 Barb Ross (2006), Membership Chair 571-8311 Jennifer Gilg (2004), Past President, Ex-officio 551-6284 Amanda Rounds (2004-2005) Teen Rep. Fred Goodhew (2007) 391-2270 Daena Schweiger (2006), Newsletter Chair / Ed. 677-4076
Liz Heim, Awards Chair (2006) 552-9326 Diane Watson (2007) 346-0949 Melissa Jarecke (2005), Public Relations Chair 592-3124 Rachel Lien (2004-2005), Teen Rep.
• The next Board of Directors Meeting will be held Saturday, May 14, 2005 at 10 a.m. at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
• Board meetings are held the second Saturday of each month. All TAG Members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please call Mary Carrick at (402) 344-3257 if you plan to attend. • The final DEADLINE for items, articles and advertisements for the May Newsletter is Saturday, May 14, 2005. • To submit newsletter information/articles, send via email to [email protected] or mail to Daena Schweiger, 15123 Patterson Drive, Omaha, NE 68137-5119. • To advertise in TAGLines contact us. Our rates cover both inserted flyers (which you supply) and printed advertisements. Check out our advertising rates at www.theatreartsguild.com. Non-members may only advertise theatre-related business. • To sign up for members-only access at www.theatreartsguild.com, send an email to [email protected]. • An e-broadcast service is available for newsworthy information that is not included in the TAGLines or urgent information pertaining to date changes, cancellations and/or auditions. For questions regarding TAG E-broadcasts, contact Daena Schweiger.
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