Tag Archives: Westport

“Enter Laughing” Auditions Sunday July 11 at 7:00 PM

2010 / 2011 Season, Auditions, Enter Laughing, WCT General News, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
WCT auditions for "Enter Laughing" July 11 at 7:00 PM

Auditions July 11 at 7:00 PM

WESTPORT COMMUNITY THEATRE

Announces AUDITIONS for

Enter Laughing

by Joseph Stein adapted from the novel by Carl Reiner

Directed by Lester Colodny

Auditions will be held on:

Sunday, July 11 at 7:00 PM

at Westport Community Theatre

Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT

Enter Laughing is the semi-autobiographical coming of age story based on the novel written by Carl Reiner. Taking place in 1938, it tells the hilarious story of a stage-struck, woman-struck young Jewish kid from the Bronx named David Kolowitz. David is a delivery boy in a sewing machine factory. His boss, Mr. Foreman wants to train him to take over the business. His quintessential loving but domineering mother and overwhelmed father want him to become a druggist, but David has other ideas – he dreams of being an actor despite his obvious lack of acting experience. At his friend Marvin’s suggestion, David tries out for a part in a play, and gets it even though he’s not that good. Although discouraged by his parents and boss, he leaves their dreams and his devoted girlfriend Wanda behind and is soon enlisted (and paying for) a slot as the “leading man” in a third-rate theatrical company while being seduced by the resident less-than leading lady, the daughter of the hammy “artistic director”. His baptism of fire is a hilarious first performance where everything that can go wrong, does.

“Joyously funny.”-New York Daily News

“Marvelously funny…Doesn’t provide enough rest periods between side splitting laughs.”-The New York Times

Performances Dates are September 24 – October 10, 2010

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Familiarity with the play is suggested.

Characters:

DAVID: Tall, good looking, should pass for seventeen…outgoing, but shy in sexual encounters…one of those delightful boy wonders of the twenties and thirties who is going to make something of himself.

MARVIN: Short, same age as DAVID…a shnook.

MR FOREMAN: Older, at least fiftyish, an old fashioned manufacturer, nosy

WANDA: DAVID’s love, sweet young thing, pretty, about 17.

MARLOWE: An older theatrical impresario…one would think of him as a Shakespearean mandarin instead of a teacher in a third rate theater… father of Angela.

ANGELA: About twenty… Marlowe’s daughter… a would be sexy actress…. poetic, dumb as they come.

PIKE (male or female) Older, Marlowe’s asst, stuffy second banana.

MS B: About twenty five… gay, outgoing, exhilarating sex symbol.

FATHER and MOTHER: David’s pop… late forties or fifties… put-upon, tired… and typical Jewish mother , ruler of the roost.

WOMAN (MAYBE): Saleswoman, Jewish

ROGER: Thirties… the unwilling bachelor friend of Miss B who is about to roped into marriage.

YOUNG MEN: Two, about the same age as DAVID.

For further information, please call the Westport Community Theatre box office at (203) 226-1983 or contact the director at grelvin@optonline.net  – visit www.westportcommunitytheatre.com for directions.

“The Women” opens Friday, June 4 at 8:00 PM!

2009 / 2010 Season, On Stage, The Women, WCT General News, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Director Richard Mancini is looking forward to opening night for “The Women” –

“We’re really excited about The Women opening at WCT this Friday, and I believe our audiences will be too! Our immensely talented cast of nearly 20 lovely ladies – resplendent in their vintage finery – and an absolutely knockout crew have worked pretty much around the clock to bring Clare Boothe Luce’s wonderfully catty 1930s society women and their crackling dialogue vividly to life on the WCT stage. It’s been a wild ride… and we can’t wait for subscribers, friends, family and everyone else to join in the fun!”

Performances this weekend on Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5 at 8:00 PM, Sunday June 6 at 2:00 PM, and the following two weekends – Thursday June 10 at 8:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays 11, 12, 18, 19 at 8:00 PM, Sundays June 13, 20 at 2:00 PM. Call the Box Office at (203) 226-1983 to reserve seats – tickets range from $12 to $18!

"The Women"

Director and cast of "The Women" opening Friday, June 4 at 8:00 PM

Final Performance Sunday April 25 at 2:00 PM for “Baskervilles”

Hound of the Baskervilles, On Stage, Previous Seasons, WCT General News, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

Cast of "The Hound of the Baskervilles"

Hard to say goodbye to this show, which was a crowd-pleasing audience favorite. Everyone loves a good thriller and mystery – and our Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are superb – which adds up to a very, very good show. A rainy, cold Sunday afternoon – best time ever to catch up with one of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous cases!

Last but not least, we profile actress Victoria Roy – someone we haven’t seen on the WCT boards for awhile, and someone we hope to see more of in the future! Victoria (Beryl Stapleton) previously appeared at WCT in Everything in the Garden and a staged reading of Uncle Vanya. Roles in other local productions include Catherine Sloper in The Heiress, Poppy in Noises Off and Florence in The Curious Savage (Darien Players). She has also appeared in Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and My Fair Lady (Curtain Call); Candida, Enchanted April (Town Players of New Canaan). Film credits include Baptism by Food (Midnight Movie Madness Competition), for which she won best comedy actress. Victoria has trained at HB Studios (NYC) and Stamford Theatre Works.

Saturday, April 24 – “The Hound of the Baskervilles” at 8:00 PM

Hound of the Baskervilles, On Stage, Previous Seasons, WCT General News, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

"May I welcome you to Baskerville Hall, Sir Henry?" "Thank you, Barrymore. It's just as I imagined it, I fear." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens), Mrs. Barrymore (Debbie Zager), Barrymore (Steve Benko), Sir Henry Baskerville (David Victor)

As we all know, the success of a show is a collaborative effort between actors, director, tech crew – and the invaluable assistance of all those helping out back stage. Whether it’s folks who assist with changing the sets in between scenes, or making sure the actors’ “props” are in the right places, or executing sound and light cues, or ensuring costumes are cleaned and ready-to-go week after week, WCT could not produce the excellent quality productions we do without them. Thank you to everyone who has worked in any capacity behind the scenes to make “The Hound of the Baskervilles” the success it is!

Final weekend performances for “The Hound of the Baskervilles” brings some new assistance behind the scenes. WCT welcomes new stage manager, Linda Seay; much appreciated stage crew help from Linda Seay, Laura Ploss and Sarah Ploss – and doing double duty, director Skip Ploss on the lightboard.

On stage, WCT is pleased to welcome several actors new (or almost new!) to the stage – and we hope to see you return often! Steve Benko (Barrymore) is thrilled to be making his WCT debut – and as you’ll read in his bio, he follows in the footsteps of his illustrious daughters who have starred locally at Curtain Call, Wilton Playshop, and Downtown Cabaret theaters. He appeared with them in character parts, as the innkeeper in Fiddler on the Roof, a real estate agent in Baby, and as a traveling salesman and the town constable in The Music Man, but this is his first “solo!”

Debbie Zager (Mrs. Barrymore) is also a newcomer to WCT. The Hound of the Baskervilles marks her return to the stage after a long hiatus, during which her starring role has been “Mom of 4.” Past experience includes the National Theater Institute in a traveling children’s production; Oliver and The Children’s Hour (Vassar College); walk-on roles on the soap Ryan’s Hope; and a series of one-act plays at the Westchester Coliseum.

Kate Rakowski (Laura Lyons) most recently performed as Kate in the very popular production of Love, Sex and the I.R.S. (Eastbound Theatre), Julie in Jake’s Women (Town Players of New Canaan), Abbey in Playing God

(Eastbound Theatre), Doris/Joan in Mere Mortals (Eastbound Theatre), and Mary in It’s A Wonderful Life (Orange Players). Kate graduated from Northeastern University, where she studied theatre.

"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

"Because I feared that some false conclusions might be drawn from it, and that I might find myself involved in a scandal." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens) and Laura Lyons (Kate Rakowski)

Last of the cast “newcomers” to WCT isn’t really a newcomer – and returns after a too-long absence on the WCT stage! Bob Filipowich (John Stapleton) Bob has been performing primarily in area musicals for the past 19 years, and is pleased for the leave in having to learn lyrics, harmonies and dance steps! He recently played the role of The Leading Player in Wilton Playshop’s production of Pippin. He also appeared there as Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity, Flanders in Six Degrees of Separation, The Duke inBig River, Buddy in City of Angels, multiple roles in The Good Doctor¸ and Mike in A Chorus Line many moons ago! He appeared as Harold Hill in The Music Man and Benny in Guys and Dolls at the Curtain Call Theater in Stamford; Rooster in Annie, Billy in Anything Goes, Billis in South Pacific, The Padre in Man of La Mancha, Levi/Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Migaldi in Evita at the Edgerton Theater at Sacred Heart Universty to list a few. His one previous credit at WCT is that of Heinzie in The Pajama Game during the 1991-1992 season. Bob lives in Fairfield with his wife and three teenagers and is an accomplished art director/designer/illustrator for a specialty toy manufacturer.

"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

"That is the great Grimpen Mire. A fake step there means death to man or beast... It's a bad place, the Grimpen Mire." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens, left), Sir Henry Baskerville (David Victor, right), John Stapleton (Bob Filipowich, left)

Closing weekend for “The Hound of the Baskervilles”

Hound of the Baskervilles, On Stage, Previous Seasons, WCT General News, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

"That is the great Grimpen Mire. A fake step there means death to man or beast... It's a bad place, the Grimpen Mire." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens), Sir Henry Baskerville (David Victor), John Stapleton (Bob Filipowich)

Hard to believe that it is the final weekend for The Hound of the Baskervilles! So much work, and the efforts of so many behind people on stage and behind the scenes, go into each production that the final weekend is always bittersweet… Cast and crew have worked hard to make this production the audience favorite it has become – now on to weekend #3!

The Hound of the Baskervilles spotlights the talents of David Victor (Sir Henry Baskerville) today. David is an audience favorite here at WCT; what you might not know is the pivotal role David has played behind the scenes as well. He has served on the WCT board, contributed to many of the theatre’s operating committees, and is always available to share his technical theatre skills! The Hound of the Baskervilles marks Dave’s 9th full production with WCT. On stage, he was last seen as Blades in The Best Man and Markinson in A Few Good Men. David has worked at most of Fairfield County’s local theatres; debuted at Square One Theatre in The Right Kind of People and  in his first full Shakespearean production with Putney Players as Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing. Mark your calendars for David’s next production at Square One Theatre in Stratford – he plays the lead in The Clearing, a romantic drama set in 17th-century Ireland during the reign of Cromwell, opening May 14!