Final Three Shows: Thur, Fri & Sat @7:30

Don’t Miss This Masterful Audience and Critical Success

 Ticket and Seat Selection Online at www.providenceplayers.org

MD Theatre Guide’s Erica Shadowsong on PPF’s Side Man: “From the venue to the characters, Side Man is a collaborative masterpiece that brilliantly exhibits the essence of all that community theater can be… The actors were masterful in each of their roles.  The characters come to life with such vivid individuality that you come away feeling as if you know each of them, somehow, in your own memories….Certainly, at every turn, the story is heart-breaking, but also utterly hilarious. What will speak to audiences is the incredibly well-captured individuality of the musicians, Terry, and Patsy…”

Read The Full Review: http://mdtheatreguide.com/2012/04/side-man-at-providence-players/

DC Metro Theater Arts’ Mike Spain on PPF’s Side Man: “The Providence Players can ‘toot their own horn’ with their beautifully acted production of Side Man…it’s powerful and blunt. Warren Leight’s Side Man is so well written, so it’s easy to see how it won a Tony Award for Best Play and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize….Director Jimmy Gertzog receives fine performance from his solid cast. Andra Whitt gives a multi-layered performance and is the star of this production…She was so perfect in the role that you could feel her pain…Ari Post is perfectly cast as Clifford… Bobby Welsh (Jonesy) turns in a memorable performance as the addicted musician. His prison scene is unforgettable…”

Read The Full Review: http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2012/03/26/side-man-at-the-providence-players-of-fairfax-by-mike-spain1/

Read The Full Review: http://www.showbizradio.net/2012/03/26/review-pp-side-man/

Winner of the 1999 Tony Award for Best Play and a Pulitzer Prize nominee. After writing Side Man, Warren Leight garnered the Oppenheimer Award for Best New American Playwright. This production is not for young audiences. It contains mature themes and significant graphic language. Non-tobacco cigarettes used throughout performance.

The Providence Players continue their fourteenth season with Warren Leight’s Tony Award winning drama Side Man. Side Man captures the pulse and climate of the New York Jazz scene from 1953 to 1985. The story is told through the eyes of Clifford, son of a Jazz side man, and is a story of family struggles, recovery, and redemption in the waning years of the Jazz genre. Laced with humor, sharp dialogue, authentic characters, and underscored with the music of the era, Side Man has been beautifully staged and directed by Jimmy Gertzog in his directorial debut for the Providence Players.

Read About Director Jimmy Gertzog and the PPF Side Man Production in the Falls Church News Press: http://www.fcnp.com/arts/11420-gertzog-debuts-as-director-with-providence-players-side-man.html

 The production features an outstanding ensemble cast of Players’ regulars and talented newcomers, Ari Post, Andra Whitt, John Coscia, Craig Geoffrion, David James, Bobby Welsh and Christina Thronson and is supported by a talented design team that helps bring this important, moving, and inventively staged piece of contemporary American theater to life.

FINAL THREE PERFORMANCES:

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. Apr. 5, 6, 7

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth. Tickets may ordered online at www.providenceplayers.org, by email at providenceplayerstickets@cox.net or by calling the Providence Players Ticket line at 703-425-6782 and leaving a message. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Performed at The James Lee Community Center Theater located at 2855 Annandale Road, Fall Church, VA 22042.

As a way of nurturing future theater artists and recognizing the contribution graduating high school seniors have made to the arts community in our region, PPF established a scholarship program that provides scholarships to college-bound students from area high schools. Scholarships are limited each year.

PPF is pleased to offer scholarships to graduating seniors from the PPF community with a demonstrated commitment to theater arts who show strong potential for further contributions to theater arts.

Three scholarships, each of $1500, will be available to 2012 graduating seniors with a demonstrated commitment to theater arts who have been accepted to a U.S. accredited college or university or conservatory program with an intent to further contribute to theater arts.  Eligible graduating seniors must (1) reside within the school boundaries of Annandale, Fairfax, Falls Church, George Mason, J.E.B. Stuart, Marshall, Woodson or Yorktown high schools OR (2) have been a member of PPF for at least one year. 

The Scholarship Application Form is available online. Additional information is available on our Community Resources page.  Applications must be completed and emailed to providenceplayers@cox.net no later than April 30, 2012. Supplementary materials, including letters of recommendation, listed on the application form must be mailed to PPF at the address shown on the application.  PPF must receive these supplementary materials by April 30, 2012.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by PPF.  The committee will consist of community representatives, including members of the arts community.  The criteria for the awards shall be as follows:   

• 40% based on the applicant’s past involvement in theater arts and contributions made to theater arts;
• 10% based on the applicant’s contribution to Providence Players of Fairfax (if any); and
• 50% based on the applicant’s potential to further contribute to theater arts.

 Decisions on the scholarship awards will be announced by June 1, 2012.

Director Beth Hughes-Brown is proud to announce the cast for Sleuth, PPF’s final production of the 2011-2012 season:

Andrew Wyke:  Mike Donahue
Milo Tindle:  Derek Bradley
Inspector Doppler:  Frank Gilles
Constable Higgs:  Raymond Janer
Det. Sergeant Tarrant:  Michael McGinty

More information about Sleuth can be found at our current season page.  Thanks to all who came out and shared their talent in the audition process.

This past season’s PPF production of “The Shadow Box” has been honored by the British Players’ Ruby Griffith Awards program with the 2010-2011 award for “Outstanding Achievement in a Play”. The Ruby Griffith Awards, designed to elevate the quality of local amateur theater and reward excellence and outstanding achievement, was established in 1969 and is the DC area’s oldest community theater awards program.

“The Shadow Box” was selected for best play honors from a field of 25 productions offered for adjudication by community theater companies throughout the VA-MD-DC area. Shadow Box Director Barbara Gertzog accepted the award on behalf of PPF at an awards ceremony this past July.

Congratulations the entire cast and crew of “The Shadow Box” for their outstanding achievement in this production!

For more information on The Ruby Griffith Awards visit the awards website.

To see all of PPF’s recent nominations and awards, visit our awards page.

Sleuth

By Anthony Shaffer
Directed by Beth Hughes-Brown

Providence Players announces auditions for its final production of the 2011-2012 season.  

Audition Dates
Monday January 9, 7-9:30pm
Tuesday January 10, 7-9:30pm
Call-Backs: Thursday January 12, 7-9:30pm

Director Jimmy Gertzog is pleased to announce the cast for the Providence Players upcoming production of Warren Leight’s  Tony Award Winning play Side Man. Jimmy would like to thank all the talented actors who auditioned for this production and made his task of casting the show a most pleasant challenge.

The Cast of Side Man is:

CLIFFORD – Ari Post
TERRY – Andra Whitt
PATSY – Tina Thronson
GENE – John Coscia
AL – David James
ZIGGY – Craig Geoffrion
JONESY – Bobby Welsh

Side Man opens March 23rd. Rehearsals begin shortly. More information about Side Man Can be found at https://www.providenceplayers.org/upcoming-season/ .

Side Man is not for young audiences. It contains mature themes and graphic language.

Director Brian O’Connor is proud to announce the cast for It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, PPF’s holiday production:

WOMEN:

Stephanie Hearne – Mary
Angelena LeBlanc – Rose, Mrs. Hatch
Charlene Sloan – Sadie, Ruth, Mrs. W
Katie Brown – Violet, Matilda

MEN:

David Whitehead – George Bailey
Richard LaValley – Uncle Billy, Gower
Fred Lash – Potter
Stu Fischer – Narator, Ernie, Martini, Harry
Don Neal – Joseph, Bridgekeeper
Joseph LeBlanc –  Clarence, Peter Bailey
Christopher Schwartz – Sam, Nick, townspeople, Bert

CHILDREN:

Blake Phillips – Young George, Tommy,Pete
Mia Goodman – Young Violet, Zuzu, Janie
Elise Welsh – Young Mary, Zuzu, Janie

Thanks to all who came out and shared their talent in the audition process.

Director’s Instructions

Auditions will consist of readings composed of selections from the script; no external monologue preparation is necessary. Resumes will be gratefully accepted but are hardly required. Forms will be provided that you might indicate your character preferences, availability during the rehearsal period, and other valuable information.

My goal will be to provide you with a comfortable, low-stress atmosphere so that we might all enjoy our time together sampling sections of this wonderful play. There are not a very large number of roles in the play, but a number of intricate relationships between the characters.  Be prepared to read several times and for a couple different characters – the more interactions that I see, the better. You are welcome and encouraged to attend both primary audition dates (10/31 and 11/2) if you are able. I will try and use your time as wisely as possible. Please note that we allow all auditioners to watch the full process. Auditioners may be asked to do a little preparation with their scene partners prior to taking the stage. You may be asked to read for roles that you are not auditioning for.

When noting your availability, keep in mind that I will want to have several read-throughs and informal workshops with the script of Side Man. There’s a lot to chew on in this play, and I plan to make the most of the time between now and March 2012.

Other Information:

• PRINT: This Side Man Audition Announcement (Sides, Audition Sides and Audition Form must be printed separately.
• AUDITION SIDES: A character summary appears below. Audition Sides can be printed here and will be supplied at auditions. It will be advantageous to review the sides for the character(s) you are interested in, especially for the role of Clifford, where sides include several long speeches. It is not expected that these be committed to memory.
• AUDITION FORM: Resumes and headshots will be accepted, but are not required. Please complete the Side Man Audition Form and bring it with you to the audition.
• PRODUCTION CALENDAR: A Preliminary Production Calendar is available here. This calendar is subject to substantial revision.
• The Providence Players strives to make our productions open to interested and engaged actors & actresses, regardless of their level of experience. We try and make our auditions as relaxing and fun as possible.
• MEMBERSHIP:  The Providence Players of Fairfax is a membership organization. Membership is not required to audition. If cast, actors in addition to production team members will be asked to become members of the Providence Players ($10) for the season.
• RSVP: Please send us an RSVP if you plan to attend to providenceplayers@cox.net (or email us any questions you may have).

Rehearsal Schedule:

A copy of the preliminary rehearsal schedule is available here: Side Man Preliminary Rehearsal Schedule. During December and January, there will be a series of read-throughs, scene studies, and character study sessions. These will be finalized in the week or two following auditions. On-stage rehearsals begin in early February. Unless indicated otherwise, all rehearsals will happen at theJamesLeeCommunity Center. Rehearsals will be held in the evenings roughly from 7:00 to 9:45pm. The first few weeks will have only 2-3 rehearsal per week. Weekend rehearsals will commence 5 weeks prior to opening.

Please come to auditions prepared to list any availability conflicts over this time period.

Side Man – Character Summary (5 men, 2 women)

A Note: this play takes place over the course of 30+ years, from the ‘present time’ where Clifford narrates his story from, all the way back to the 1950s, when Gene and Terry first meet. As such, all characters play a range of ages.

Clifford Glimmer – 29 years old, but plays as young as age 10 in the show. Son to Terry and Gene, glue that holds their marriage together, and narrator of this play. Leight notes that he is “overly responsible, sensitive, and wry.” I would supplement this with Patsy’s line at one point in the play: that when he was 6 years old he looked 30, and he hasn’t changed a bit. Deep respect for the jazz scene and his father’s craft, deeply conflicted over his upbringing.

Gene Glimmer – Late 20s through his late 50s, early 60s. Gene Glimmer is Clifford’s father; nickname is “turtle”. He is a jazz trumpet player, works as a side man his whole life. He tends to be spacey, detached, out-of-sync with the world, except when playing his trumpet.

Al – Late 20s through late 50s/early 60s. Al or “Romeo.” A macho guy, as far as jazz musicians come. Lead trumpet player with big bands, a scoundrel with women, and spends a lot of time with Ziggy on stage trading jabs, jokes, and wives (Patsy).

Ziggy – Late 20s through late 50s/early 60s. Trumpet player, side man with the other guys (excluding Clifford). He is the guy in your group of friends who is always making wisecracks in an effort to be everyone’s buddy and universally liked, for better or for worse. Pronounced speech impediment written into the dialogue, a bilateral lisp.

Jonesy – Late 20s through late 50s/early 60s. Side man, trombone player, one-eyed, oddly prophetic, and a junkie (or ex-junkie by the end of the play). For all of his escapism via the drugs, he seems to be strangely more aware of reality than the other guys.

Terry Glimmer – Mid 20s through mid 50s. Clifford’s mother. Over the course of her life she transforms from a tough yet hopelessly naïve Italian girl fromEast Boston into a hard-drinking, cigarette-smoking, more-than-a-little manic survivor of an unhappy marriage. For all of her bitterness, she still deeply cares for her husband/his music, and especially for her son.

Patsy – Mid 20s through mid 50s. Waitress at the recurring Melody Lounge, has a thing for jazz musicians, is lover or wife to each of the guys, sans Gene, at one point or another. A confidante to Terry, and maybe a bit more in-tune with the realities of the world than she is. She has taken the passage of time more gracefully than any of the others. Has motherly tendencies towards Clifford.

Side Man Audition Sides:

Audition sides are available in PDF: Side Man Audition Sides.  Auditioners will be well-served if they take the opportunity to review the sides prior to auditioning, however committing dialogue to memory is NOT required. Auditioners for the role of Clifford should have a decent working familiarity with his monologue sides.  Actors may be asked to read for roles that are not auditioning for. Additional audition sides may be added later.

#0 – pp 13-14: Clifford and Terry;  Start at Clifford’s line “ And even though there are no clean breaks,” and ends on Clifford’s “I know ma.”

#1 – pp15-16 Patsy, Clifford and Terry ; Start at Patsy’s Line “Clifford is that you?” and ends on Terry’s “…when they sign for their unemployment Check.

#2  pp 16-19: Clifford (primary), Gene, Al, Jonesy (primary),  Ziggy (primary); Starts on Clifford’s line “She can be a little…dark.” Ends on Gene’s line: “The eyes have it.”

#2A  p19 Short bridge sequence (5 lines) if Jimmy decides to connect 2 and 3 during auditions; Clifford, Jonesy, Gene, Ziggy, Al.

#3 pp 20-21: Gene (primary), Clifford (primary), Patsy, Al, Ziggy, Jonesy  Gene’s line “He’s still my boy. Managed to get twenty weeks on the books…” to Patsy “keep em in your pants boys”.

#4 pp 21-22 Clifford’s jazz musicians as ball players monologue.

#5 pp 22-24 Gene & Terry; (Clifford has two line) starts on Gene’s entrance & line “Name that tune”; ends at Gene’s line “It’ll be at the door kid”.

#6 pp 25-27:  All  Starts at Jonesy’s “Nice blowing Genie”  ends at Jonesy’s line “dating Florence Nightingale”

#7  pp 31-33: Al, Terry, Gene (primaries), Ziggy, Jonesy; no Clifford/Patsy; Starts on 31 with Al “Hey Terry, Nice crib.” Ends on Ziggy “we oughtta have a wake: Requiem for a Mother%#CK@#.”

#7A pp33-35 Bridge segment if Jimmy decides to connect 7 and 8 during auditions ALL (total of 36 lines).

#8 pp 35-36: Gene,Terry & Patsy. Starts Terry’s line “Patsy says these doo-wop groups” to Patsy’s line “He’ll get used to it…”

#9 pp 39-40: Patsy (primary) and Clifford; Patsy’s line “Here you go, Clifford”; ends on Patsy’s line “just get the hell out of here.”

#10 pp 43-45 + 46-47: Terry & Gene (primaries), Ziggy. Terry’s line “How come they keep arresting Jonesy?”; ends on top of 45 Ziggy “He probably needsh a fix, poor bashtard”; resumes 46 halfway through Terry’s line “you lied to me” and ends Terry “You have until midnight. If that phone doesn’t ring and you stay in the business, I’ll fucking kill you. And I’ll kill the baby”

#11 pp 60-61: Clifford and Gene; Starts on Clifford’s line “ Couldn’t you tell that she was losing it.” And ends on Clifford’s line “You don’t have a f*&%$ing clue [second time]…”

#12  pp 65. Clifford’s final monologue