PLAZA SUITE Continues this Weekend at The Grove Theatre

“Plaza Suite”, Neil Simon’s rollicking comedy which became a popular film, continues this weekend at the Grove Theatre in Nuangola. The production features several area professionals who are making their inaugural appearance at the summer stock venue, as well as three popular returning veterans.

“Plaza Suite” explores three different hilarious situations in the same location: Suite 719 in New York’s famed Plaza Hotel. Sean McKeown and Tila Paris Angley (both Wilkes-Barre) play Sam and Karen Nash, returning to the same spot where they spent their honeymoon 25 years before. Sam’s devoted secretary, Jean McCormack, (Kerry Kane, Kingston) throws a wrench into their plans.

Act Two finds famous Hollywood producer Jesse Kiplinger (Walter Mitchell, Bear Creek Village) returning to New York after 27 years with plans to meet and seduce his now married former high school sweetheart Muriel Tate (Diane Sherman, Dallas).

Greg Korin (Luzerne) and Christa Manning (Bear Creek Village) play Roy and Norma Hubley, whose daughter/bride-to-be Mimsey (Kane) has locked herself in the bathroom of Suite 719 and refuses to participate in her wedding planned for the downstairs ballroom. Adam Orseck (Kingston) doubles as the bellhop and groom.

Korin, who starred in last season’s “Last of the Red Hot Lovers”, is also the director of this production. Manning has been featured in “Steel Magnolias” and “Always Patsy Cline”. Angley was seen in “Nunsense” . Joe Sheridan is technical director and set designer.

“Plaza Suite” runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through October 12th. For ticket information and reservations, call 208-7679.

HANSEL AND GRETEL’S FRIGHT NIGHT at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse

The Music Box Repertory Company will present HANSEL AND GRETEL’S FRIGHT NIGHT, a musical comedy for children, on October 24, 25, 26, at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, PA 18704.

The two wild and crazy German kids find a lot of fun and mischief on Halloween as they come across many scary, yet comical versions of classic “horror” characters: Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Headless Horsewoman, King Kong, and, of course, their worst enemy: the witch.

The show is written and directed by Debbie Zehner, with original music by Linda Houck.

Starring as Hansel and Gretel are Michael Gallagher and Debbie Zehner. Others in the cast include Kevin Costley, Dana Feigenblatt, Jennifer Rogers, D.J. Nat, Blaine McKeown and Katharine Moran.

Performance times: October 24: 6:00 PM, October 25: 1:00 and 5:00 PM, October 26: 1:00 PM.

School Day performances are scheduled for October 24 and October 29 at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM

All tickets are $10.00, which includes a McDonald’s Fun Meal. Group rates are available.

For information and reservations, call (570) 283-2195 or 800-698-PLAY.

KISS Theatre Company Announces Bus Trip/Fundraiser - WHITE CHRISTMAS

A stage version of the beloved holiday film, Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS tells the story of two Broadway buddies putting on a benefit show at a picturesque Vermont inn and finding their perfect mates in the process. Ted Chapin, President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization which administers the Irving Berlin copyrights adds: “Irving Berlin was always proud of the movie White Christmas, and we are thrilled that it has now become a stage musical. He wrote a song about Christmas that became more than a song – it became the highlight of one film, the title song of another, and a worldwide phenomenon.” The score features Irving Berlin classics, including “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing,” “Count Your Blessings,” “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” “Sisters,” “How Deep is the Ocean,” “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano” and the title tune, among others. (Taken from www.bestofbroadway.com)

Agenda:

Sunday, November 16, 2008
Depart Sears Parking Lot 7:30 A.M. (please arrive 15 min early)
Arrive 48th and 6th Ave. 10 A.M.
Free time until show… please arrive to the theatre by 1:45 P.M.~

WHITE CHRISTMAS 2 P.M.
Marquis Theatre 1535 Broadway (btw. 45th and 46th)
http://www.whitechristmasthemusical.com/

Depart from theatre at 4:45 P.M.
Dinner stop at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall in New Jersey
Approximate time of arrival at Sears: 9:00 P.M.

Cost: $100 per person

Seats are first come, first serve until filled

Money is due by Saturday, October 18, 2008

Cash or checks made out to Hollie or Joanne Major

Please call Hollie (570) 606-8824 or email holliemajor@gmail.com to reserve seats!

Music Box Dinner Playhouse Presents AUDITION FOR MURDER

The Music Box Repertory Company will present AUDITION FOR MURDER, an “audience participation murder mystery” October 10, 11, 12 at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, PA 18704.

The mystery, written by Eileen Moushey, invites audience members to interrogate suspects of a variety of murders, and prizes are awarded at each performance for those who solve the murders and are able to define the motivations for those murders,

AUDITION FOR MURDER is directed by Dana Feigenblatt and Cate McDonald with a cast that includes Kim Januzzi, Matthew Dane, Jimmy Williams, Jennifer Rogers, Amanda Reese, Kevin Costley, Katharine Moran and Kevin Malone.

AUDITION FOR MURDER is a Dinner Theatre presentation and includes a full buffet dinner served at each performance. Friday,Oct 10 and Saturday, October 11, the bar opens at 6 PM, and the show and dinner begin at 6:30 PM.. On Sunday, October 12, the bar opens at 1 PM, and dinner and show begin at 1:30 PM. The dinner and show cost is $30.00 per person.

For information and reservations, call (570) 283-2195 or 800-698-PLAY.

USDA Loan Guarantee Assists Chenango River Theatre in Purchasing Building

In a ceremony at Chenango River Theatre’s new home, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Patrick H. Brennan presented a ceremonial check for $250,000 to Board of Directors President Jeffrey Brooks.

The loan serves as a guarantee to assist NBT Bank, which has been working with the theatre’s Board to finalize the purchase arrangements for the company’s new, permanent home about 15 minutes north of Binghamton on Rt. 12.

Attending the presentation were Assemblyman Clifford R. Crouch, Robert Messinger (representing US Congressman Michael Arcuri), Kellyanne Truesdale (NBT), Josh Browning (Greene Town Council) and CRT Board members’ Jeffrey Brooks, Ruth Young and Jim Daniels, as well as the company’s Artistic & Managing Director Bill Lelbach.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express our thanks to USDA and NBT Bank for their financial support,” said Jeffrey Brooks, Board President. “As the area’s professional, non-profit theatre, Chenango River Theatre has become an engine for economic growth while attracting significant revenue to our region. The purchase of our own facility will enable us to provide exceptional theatre while expanding our Arts in Education program.”

CRT’s final production of the season, the Pulitzer prize winning comedy Crimes of the Heart runs October 10 - November 2 in the company’s new building at 991 State Route 12, about 3 miles south of Greene.

Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30, plus Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. Tickets are $16 Thursdays, $18 Fridays & Sundays, and $22 on Saturdays. All performances start on time and there is no late seating. The box office opens one half hour before curtain. For reservations, call 656-8499 (TIXX), or go to www.chenangorivertheatre.org.

Auditions Announced for THE MIKADO Opera

Auditions will be held on Saturday November 29 at Music Box Studios in Tannersville.

Auditions are by appointment only and are open to college-age singers. Ongoing auditions will be held this fall for upcoming seasons.

For more information or to schedule an audition, Call Garry Grice at 570-328-5864.

http://www.griceartists.com/PALOT.html

The ‘Burgs Come Alive with Scarecrows, Fall Foliage, and Classic Cars

What would autumn be without scarecrows? Join the talented artisans from the Gallery @ Liztech in East Stroudsburg for the second annual Scarecrow Festival, a fun filled event beginning at 10am where you can create a one-of–a-kind scarecrow. Once you finish with your scarecrow, motor over to Stroudsburg for the Autos in Autumn car show.

Stroudsburg will host Auto’s in Autumn from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. The show will feature antique and classic cars from numerous car clubs including Delaware Water Gap Classic Car Club, Keystone region MG Club, Porsche Club of America, Tri County Vettes and many more. The cars will be lining Main Street as well as around the Mattioli Circle. Browse the many specialty shops on Main Street, dine in restaurants with local and international flare and experience all that downtown Stroudsburg has to offer.

If you are part of a car club that would like to be involved, or are a car enthusiast without a club, contact the Jacob Stroud Corporation at 570-242-6864 to enroll. There is no fee to register your car.

Autos in Autumn is sponsored by the Jacob Stroud Corporation, an organization dedicated to a vibrant Downtown Stroudsburg. Its mission is to improve the downtown image by enhancing its physical appearance… building consensus among organizations and the community… promoting downtown’s unique characteristics… and restructuring and diversifying our economic base.

Sponsors of The Jacob Stroud Corporation include Adams Outdoor Advertising, A Sound Strategy, Inc., Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Alliances, Lite 93.5, Local Flair Magazine, Orobo Design, Pocono Record, Sherman Theater and WNEP-TV.

Pocono Choral Society Seeks Guest Conductor

The Pocono Choral Society is seeking a GUEST CONDUCTOR for their March-April concerts. The Guest conductor will select the program and will run all rehearsals from January to presentation of spring concert.

Contact: Jonathan Andrews at 800-527-0586 ASAP and please go to http://poconochoralsociety.org to find out more about us.

The Pocono Choral Society is happy to be sponsored by the Pennsylvania Partners In The Arts, which is administered by the Pocono Arts Council.

THE HOUSEKEEPER Cleans Up at Lakeville Community Hall

What happens when a reclusive writer unknowingly hires a bag lady to keep his house? Not much housekeeping, that’s for sure. But the audience won’t notice the dust bunnies. They’ll be too busy laughing through two acts of wickedly funny dialogue as The Housekeeper’s two characters play out their love-hate story.

Produced by The Lakeside Players, this decidedly un-domestic comedy starts Tony Schwartz and Marylou Ambrose. It will be performed at Lakeville Community Hall, Route 590, Lakeville (between the United Methodist Church and the firehouse). Performance dates are Oct. 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12; groups of 10 or more get a $2 per person discount.

Written by James Prideaux, The Housekeeper tells the story of Manley Carstairs (Schwartz), a lonely, pompous writer, and Annie Dankworth (Ambrose), the uneducated, pushy bag lady he inadvertently hires to keep his house. Totally inept at cooking and cleaning, Annie is skilled at disrupting her employer’s life to the point where he can’t write and doubts that he ever could. The hilarious and heartwarming comedy portrays the sometimes volatile, often touching, always surprising relationship that evolves over four days.

Will Manley kick Annie back onto the street? Will Annie convince him there’s more to life than book writing? Will Manley ever stop talking to his dead mother? Will Annie ever stop talking and learn to cook? Come to the play and find out!

The Housekeeper is Lakeside’s second production at Lakeville Community Hall for 2008. The community theater company also performs mainstage productions at Union Dale Hall in Union Dale and mystery dinner theaters at area restaurants, country clubs, church halls, and other locations.

Tonylou Productions, the for-profit branch of the company, has a full schedule of day trip entertainment packages planned for 2009 at four venues: Ehrhardt’s Waterfront (Tafton), Fernwood Hotel & Resort (Bushkill), The Chateau Resort & Conference Center (Tannersville), and the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel (Scranton). Packages include luncheon and a full-length play or professional musical entertainment. The Chateau package also includes shopping at the Crossings Premium Outlets and the Radisson package includes a tour of Steamtown National Historic Site and a train ride. Groups of 1 to 100 or more are welcome! Call 226-6207 to book a trip.

For a full schedule of events for The Lakeside Players and Tonylou Productions, log onto www.lakesideplayers.net .To make reservations for The Housekeeper, call 570-226-6207 or buy tickets at the door.

DEATHTRAP Continues This Weekend at PTPA

Just in time for Halloween, Hazleton’s Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts will present Ira Levin’s witty and intriguing murder mystery Deathtrap for six performances in October at the J. J. Ferrara Center on Broad Street. Director Drew Coffman has announced the cast list for PTPA’s production of the show.

Deathtrap, on Broadway from 1978 through 1982, still holds the record for the longest-running who-done-it in Broadway history. It was nominated for the Tony award as best play and was later made into a movie starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, and Dyan Cannon.

Long-time PTPA lead actor Lee Alucci will play Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers who has had a recent string of flops and finds himself in financial trouble. Bruhl and his wife Myra, played by PTPA newcomer Michelle Medek, open the play considering their options in their cozy Connecticut home.

Alucci, a veteran actor and director with the theater troupe, was last seen as Victor Velasco in PTPA’s production of Barefoot in the Park in March. He has had lead roles in many PTPA shows including George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life and Harold Hill in The Music Man. Alucci also directed PTPA’s 2006 holiday production of A Christmas Story and won a Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance award nomination for directing The Prisoner of Second Avenue in 2007.

Medek, a member of PTPA’s Board of Directors and a local secondary social studies teacher, takes on the role of Myra, Sidney’s nervously ill but very devoted wife. In the play, Sidney recognizes real talent and potential success in a script written by Clifford Anderson, a student in one of the classes Sidney teaches at a local college. Sidney and Myra concoct a plan to offer a collaboration to the student and Anderson quickly agrees.

Addison O’Donnell will play Anderson, the student who soon finds that things are not what they appear when he joins Sidney and Myra at their home. O’Donnell has played leads in several PTPA productions, including WillyWonka in this past summer’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Hysterium in last summer’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Obie Adams in A Monster Ate My Homework. O’Donnell was nominated for NEPTA’s 2007 best supporting actor in a musical award for his performance in Forum.

PTPA lead actress Lauren McGill will play the part of Helga ten Dorp, a Dutch psychic who shows up at the Bruhl home. The character of Helga is supposed to have assisted European police solve murders in the past. McGill, who directed Barefoot in the Park at PTPA last spring, has performed in many PTPA shows and was nominated for a NEPTA award as best lead actress in a drama for her role as Catherine in 2007’s Proof.

Rounding out the cast is Director Drew Coffman who will play Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s lawyer and best friend. Coffman, who has directed many of PTPA’s comedies and dramas over the past several years, won the 2007 NEPTA as best actor in a drama for his performance in Proof and shared the directing award for the same show.

PTPA’s production of Deathtrap runs October 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 7 p.m. and October 5 and 12 at 3 p.m. PTPA’s all-you-can-eat dinner buffet will be available 90 minutes before all four evening performances.

Tickets for Deathtrap are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Dinner and show tickets are $28 for adults and $22 for students. Group rates are available and some tickets will be sold at the door. For more information or reservations, call 454-5451 or visit www.ptpashows.org on line.

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