Bracken Theatre Company Announces its Upcoming Performance of “Colorblind: The Katrina Monologues”

Bracken Theatre Company will present Colorblind: The Katrina Monologues at the Showcase Theatre, Exeter. Show dates are August 25 and 26 at 8pm; August 27 at 2pm.

Colorblind:The Katrina Monologues is a series of monologues based on the aftermath of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina written by local playwright Tom Flannery. Flannery, recognized locally for his outstanding monologue plays, is also the author of Marcinkus and The Last Thoughts of Gino Merli, one-man plays that graced our local stages this summer.

The performances will take place on the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and all proceeds from this production will go to the American Red Cross.

For reservations call 570-654-2555. For more information on this and other works by Tom Flannery you can visit his websites www.kikomusic.com and www.tomflannery.com.

Gaslight Theatre Company Presents Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”

The Gaslight Theatre Company will present Shakespeare’s classic Twelfth Night at Bracken Theatre Company’s Showcase Stage. Performance dates are August 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30. Tickets are $7. Reservations are not required and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Twelfth Night was the last of Shakespeare’s three mature comedies, following Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It. It was also followed shortly by Shakespeare’s first major tragedy, Hamlet. The crucial position Twelfth Night takes in the creation of these masterpieces is reflected in the comedy’s subtle complexity. It maintains the celebration of love characteristic of its predecessors, yet it is distinguished by a disquieting undercurrent that suggests that playwright’s need to delve into the deeper realms of the human heart and mind.

The principal plot contains a shipwrecked brother and sister separated on the fantastical island Illyria. When Viola chooses to disguise herself as a young man to gain employment with a lovesick duke, it only takes the return of her brother to set off a series of mistaken identities and quite a bit of humor.

It is also worth noting that Twelfth Night is directed by Sean McKeown, co-founder of Gaslight Theatre. McKeown recently won accolades for his direction of Gaslight’s Moon for the Misbegotten at this year’s PACT and ESTA festivals.

For reservations call 824-8266. For more information you can also visit Gaslight’s website gaslight-theatre.org.

“Urinetown” Promises an Evening of “Greed, Lust, and Laughter” at Music Box Theatre

The Music Box Players proudly present their newest production, Urinetown, beginning on Friday, August 18 and continuing through Saturday, September 2 at the Playhouse in Swoyersville. In celebration of their twenty-fifth anniversary, the Players have specially chosen this hilarious musical satire, filled with enough greed, lust and laughter to capture a fist full of Tony Awards in 2002, as the perfect way to relax and unwind after a long, hot summer day.

Featuring the original Music Box Player, Michael Gallagher, as the evil, greedy owner of Urine Good Company and a host of Music Box favorites in supporting roles, Urinetown is the musical that began a new genre of mainstream Broadway successes. Unlike any show before it, Urinetown was the smash hit that made such irreverent blockbusters as Avenue Q and Spamalot possible.

Director Kevin Costley and musical director Amy Radics have assembled a first-rate cast of Music Box veterans including Ron Araya, Wendy Popeck, Seth Brandreth, Dana Feigenblatt, Alice Lyons, Dan Van Why, Lauren Costanza, George Thomas, Cate McDonald, Daniel Pascoe, Cindy Brandreth, Amber Lizza, Adam Orseck, Ted Anderson, Linda Orseck, Jennifer Rogers, D.J. Nat, and Costley taking triple roles as director, choreographer, and actor. Sets and lighting are by Michael Gallagher with costumes by K.D. Love.

Urinetown is presented as a unique dinner-show experience. Expert catering is presented by Northeastern Pennsylvania’s premiere caterer A Touch of Class at the Palace and a fully stocked cash bar is available at every performance. Show only tickets are also available. Restrooms are complimentary.

For tickets and additional information, contact the box office at (570) 283-2195 or (800) 698-PLAY. Visit us on the web at MUSICBOX.ORG.

Local Stars and Nationally Renowned Artists Take the Stage in Scranton Community Concerts’ 79th Season

Scranton Community Concerts embarks on its 79th continuous year of presenting musical entertainment to Northeastern Pennsylvanian audiences with the 2006-2007 Concert Series. This season’s featured artists and concert dates are: a Mozart 250th Celebration featuring local artists - September 16, 2006; The Preservation Hall Jazz Band - November 3, 2006; The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia with Conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn - March 3, 2007; The Dallas Brass - March 31, 2007, and Rockapella - May 12, 2007. All performances will be held at the Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College and will begin at 8:00pm unless otherwise specified. Season subscriptions vary in price from $55 to $155 and are on sale now. Subscribers have the option this season to pick a package that contains 3, 4 or 5 concerts of their choice and receive substantial savings over single ticket prices. Single tickets for each event will be available beginning on August 1, 2006 at 10AM. Subscriptions and single tickets can be obtained by calling (570)342-4137, or in person at Scranton Community Concerts’ offices in Lackawanna College’s main building located at 501 Vine Street in Downtown Scranton.

The 2006-2007 Season kicks off with a tribute to the Music of Mozart, hosted by WVIA and performed by local musicians, on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Scheduled to perform in the Mozart 250th Celebration concert are: the Robert Dale Chorale, Mostly Opera, the Williamsport Symphony Chamber Players, Sophie Till & Ron Stabinsky (Violin and Piano), soprano soloist Heather Petruzelli, and the Lyric Consort. WVIA’s Larry Vojtko will serve as the Musical Director for the performance. This evening of music will take the audience on a journey through some of Mozart’s most memorable compositions, and will be narrated by the talented personalities of WVIA-FM.

On Friday, November 3, 2006, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs as the second concert in the 2006-2007 line up. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, for British Royalty or the King of Thailand, this music embodies a joyful, timeless spirit. The Hall was damaged in Hurricane Katrina, but through great effort and perseverance, the Hall recently reopened. This concert is sponsored in part by the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel.

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia joins us on Saturday, March 3, 2007 in a special performance featuring Mozart’s Overture to Le Nozze di Figaro, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 99 in E-Flat Major. The 33 piece ensemble boasts the leadership of the incomparable Ignat Solzhenitsyn, who performed for Scranton Community Concerts in 1999 with the Concerto Soloists.

 

Scranton Community Concerts commitment to education continues with an extensive workshop and public performance featuring the Dallas Brass on Saturday, March 31, 2007. In conjunction with the concert, the members of the Dallas Brass will conduct a day-long workshop with up to 150 local music students and members of local high school marching bands. This workshop will provide specialized attention and instruction to the students by professional experts in their field, and will culminate in the students performing a finale piece live on stage with the Dallas Brass at the Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College. Since its founding in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The Dallas Brass repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music. This concert is sponsored in part by the Ramada Plaza, Clarks Summit.

The final performance in the 2006-2007 season features the a cappella vocal sensation Rockapella on Saturday May 12, 2007. Finding them on television over the years has become a frequent and pleasant surprise for millions, whether it be on numerous national commercials and talk shows, or as regulars for five seasons on the award-winning PBS program Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? The original quartet, a group of young Brown University alumni, was formed for the sheer love of performing, and this certifiably unique pop musical group has taken the previously stodgy music genre of a cappella and brought it full-force into the 21st century. This concert is sponsored in part by the Ramada Plaza, Clarks Summit.

Substantial group discounts and student rate tickets are also available. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (570) 342-4137 or email info@scrantonconcerts.org.

Music Box Players Announce Auditions for “Nunsense”

Auditions for “Nunsense” will be held on Tuesday, August 22nd at 7 p.m. All roles are open to women ages 16 and over. Director Michael Gallagher asks those who audition to prepare a song of her choice and they will be asked to read from the script. An accompanist will be provided. Performance dates are: September 22-24, 28-30, October 1, 5-8, 2006.

Auditions will be held at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes Street, Swoyersville PA 18704. Call 283-2195 or 800-698-PLAY for additional information.

Endless Mountains Theatre Company Invites You Aboard for Seaworthy Comedy!

A century ago, “melodramas” were serious stories of heroes, heroines, villains, adventure, danger, rescue, and love.

In contemporary theatre circles, melodramas are alive and well . . . but with a twist. Nowadays, it’s all played for laughs, and a melodrama like Billy St. John’s “Peril on the High Seas” is nothing short of an over-the-top send-up of the corny heroes-meet-villains premise. Come aboard for a boatload of laughs as you meet hilarious cardboard
characters such as lovesick waiter Cary De Mille, innocent heiress Merry Ann Sweet (and her chaperone, Bea Goode), bumbling off-duty cop Willy Ketchum . . . and, of course, our cartoonishly comical villains, Snively
Swine and Aracnia Webb!

“Peril on the High Seas” takes place on a 1920’s ocean liner, so watch out for ditzy flappers, pesky tourists, Hollywood celebrities, British nobility, and that smarmy entertainment director. Don’t miss the boat! (”It’s a ship,” insists the stuffy captain.)

“Perils” is Endless Mountains Theatre Companies third production of Billy St. John’s work. In prior seasons, EMTC’s versions of St. John’s “Figments” and “Southern Fried Murder” proved to be big crowd-pleasers, and this one promises to be no less!

“Peril on the High Seas” will be staged August 11-12 at 7:30 pm and August 13 at 3:00 pm, at Mountain View High School in Kingsley, PA. *For those who have seen various other EMTC shows, please note that this one is at
Mountain View High School, not restaurant, and that this is a different school from the one at which many of the group’s other productions have occurred.* Admission is $7 for Seniors/Students/Members (with Membership
Card), and $9 General Admission. Reservations are *not* required for this show.

About Endless Mountains Theatre Company
Since 1999, Endless Mountains Theatre Company (EMTC) has proudly fulfilled its mission to provide affordable, professional-level cultural performances to residents of the Endless Mountains Region. As an educational tool, EMTC exposes students and adults to the art of music, dance and theatre while developing an appreciation for the arts in the community. Through its many events and activities, EMTC strives to build pride in the community and encourage tourism in the Endless Mountains by providing a quality entertainment attraction.

Five Questions with “Marcinkus”

Waiting In The Wings recently spoke with Greg Korin who will portray Archbishop Paul Marcinkus in the upcoming production of “Marcinkus”, written by Scranton playwright Tom Flannery.

WITW: What interested you in becoming involved with “Marcinkus”?

Korin: I found the character intriguing. That’s kind of a gauche word to use, but here’s what I mean: Before Paul & Tom approached me, I had no idea who this guy was. By the time I hit the second page of the treatment (script) I was HOOKED!!! The character just grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go.

WITW: What do you feel is important about this piece?

Korin: Well, this is kind of a “cautionary tale.” It’s all based in fact. The character really existed. All the events he talks about actually happened. It shows us that we need to open our eyes to what is going on, especially with the church. Too many people just close their eyes and blindly accept what’s going on—not just within the church but within our own government. I don’t think Marcinkus abused his power, but he was the wrong guy to put in the middle of all this.

WITW: What are your thoughts about The Vatican today?

Korin: I have the advantage of being an outsider. I am not now nor was I ever a Catholic. I was baptised Methodist, but I was raised in a non-religious household. Not only did we not even have a Bible in our house, the only day my father ever went to church was the Sunday after President Kennedy was shot. I think I can look upon these events and those currently going on with objectivity. To be honest, I think The Vatican and the Papcy has outlived its usefulness. It was needed hundreds of years ago, people needed guidance and the church was there to provide it. People still need that guidance, but I think they put too much faith in the church and not enough in themselves. I guess maybe that’s something people would look upon as a drawback of being raised in a non-religious family. I’ve learned the church is there as a bastion of faith, but you can’t let it control your entire life. Having said that, I believe the church should put more of it’s energies to social services. I like the role it plays in taking care of the poor, helping the homeless, etc. More of that needs to be done in place of mindless proseletyzing.

WITW: What is it like to work for an author who lives near you that you can easily interact with? Do you approach the show differently?

Korin: I think Tom has been to one rehearsal. His style is to hand you the script and say “See ya in 6 weeks!” This is the third thing I’ve worked with him on…and I love it!! I love the way he writes…he’s there for guidance if you need it—-I can just e-mail him or call him up. I do find myself approaching it differently because he IS so close. Usually when you do a show the author is either dead or thousands of miles away. With Tom nearby I find myself being more conscientious, and that can only be good.

WITW: What is your next project?

Korin: I’m directing Steve Martin’s comedy THE UNDERPANTS for the Bracken Group. The Brackens will also be doing more Flannery stuff in the very near future…his KATRINA MONOLOGUES at the end of August and four one-acts in November. I will be acting in all of those. I start work in Scranton on the Troma Film KICKBALL-THE MOVIE. AND I just got my SAG card, so I will be venturing out into the cold cruel world of big movies and TV to see what’s out there.

The performance of “Marcinkus” will be held at Wilkes-Barre’s Arts Youniverese, 156 S. Franklin St. in Wilkes-Barre on August 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $12 and reservations can be made by calling 570-606-4668 or 570-736-6741. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the day of show.

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