Providence Players of Fairfax

David Siegal gives a preview of Providence Players’ upcoming production of Play On!  Here are a few exerpts from the article:

“Beth Gilles-Whitehead calls the Providence Players’ next production, “Play On,” a real crowd pleaser. “The audience will enjoy all the hilarious fun of watching a play-within-a play being rehearsed, then performed with the cast literally falling on their faces” said Giles-Whitehead, who plays a “diva” in the production.

“There is just so much visual humor, it is a really a cross between a bawdy Mel Brooks comedy and a choreographed musical,” she said.

According to Director Beth Hughes-Brown, “Play On” is about “a small town community theater troupe trying to do a show on a shoestring budget, while the playwright continually rewrites the script even up to opening night.”

“The cast are all busybodies trying to get involved in areas of the production that they have no business in,” Hughes-Brown said. “This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to have the show ready since everyone has such firm opinions of what it should be.””

to read more of the article from the Connection.   Please join us starting May 27.  For more information, visit www.providenceplayers.org

Order your tickets online now!

The Shadow Box recieves high acclaim from our friends at ShowBizRadio.net.  We are extremely proud of this production, and we hope you take the opportunity to read this wonderful review.  Here is small excerpt.

“I must say that I don’t cry at plays. Sure I feel the emotions as most of us do, but while sitting in the audience, the emotions are usually kept in check. John Coscia playing Joe and Jayne Victor playing Maggie are two excellent actors. They have totally fleshed out their characters and captured every moment. They will effortlessly rip your heart out and dance on it. All I can say is, “Wow!” what a wonderful theatrical experience. Thank you both. You had me at “Hello!”

Leta Hall in the role of Agnes and Mona Kay Helper in the role of Felicity are yet another tour-de-force actors within our midst. They both quietly present their characters in a way that we all feel as if we’ve known them in our lives. Leta’s characters moments of realization and discoveries with her characters subsequent anguish of responsibilities will tug heartily at your heartstrings. I expected this kind of performance from Leta and she did a fabulous job. In turn, so did Mona Kay Helper. A wonderful job of understanding of her characters life.” –  ShowBizRadio

To read more, please visit  www.showbizradio.net

The Providence Players of Fairfax (PPF), as part of our continuing commitment to developing community through theater, is pleased to be able 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 2011 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 application deadline is April 30, 2011. Additional information about the scholarship program, eligibility, the selection criteria, and the application form is available on our Community Resources page in the Scholarship section. The Application Form can also be accessed here Scholarship Application Form Providence Players (please be sure to review all the guidelines on the Community Resources page.

Decisions on the scholarship awards will be announced by June 1, 2011

Director Beth Hughes Brown is proud to announce the cast for Play On!, PPF’s final production of the 2010-2011 season.

Henry:  Patrick David
Billy:  Will MacLeod
Violet:  Katie Brown
Polly:  Beth Gilles-Whitehead
Saul:  Craig Geoffrion
Aggie:  Lindsay Williams
Gerry:  Matt Ames
Phyllis:  Cheryl Sinsabaugh
Smitty:  Caity Brown
Louise:  Chelsea Megli
Maggie:  Smitty Connolly

Providence Players of Fairfax announces open auditions for “Play On!”
by Rick Abbot
Directed by Beth Hughes-Brown

Audition Dates/Process/Additional Information

Tuesday, February 15, 7-9:30pm
Wednesday, February 16, 7-9:30pm
Thursday, February 17, 7-9:30 pm (call backs)

• Please prepare a 2-3 minute comedic monologue.  This is strongly encouraged, but not required. 
• Auditions will also consist of cold readings from the script. 
• No roles are pre-cast. 
• Audition sides will be provided at the auditions.
• Resumes and headshots are not required, but are welcomed. Forms will be available at the time of the auditions for personal and contact information.
• The Providence Players welcomes both experienced and inexperienced actors. We try and make our auditions as relaxing and fun as possible.
• If cast, actors will be asked to become Providence Players members ($10).

Audition Location
The James Lee Community Center
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042

From the Director
Play On! is a hilarious story of a theater group trying desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty author/ess who keeps revising the script.  Act I is a rehearsal of the dreadful show, Act II is the near disastrous dress rehearsal, and the final act is the actual performance in which anything that can go wrong does.  When the authoress decides to give a speech on the state of the modern theatre during the curtain calls, the audience is treated to a madcap climax to a thoroughly hilarious romp.  Even the sound effects reap their share of laughter. [Courtesy of Samuel French.com]

Performance Dates And Times
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
May 27, 28, Jun. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m. May 29 & Jun. 5

Play On! Character Summary

Aggie Manville – a stage manager and prompter – any age
Geraldine/Gerry Dunbar – a director – over 30 years old
Louise/Louie Perry – an overworked sound, light, and sound technician – any age
Phyllis/Phil Montague – a somewhat eccentric novice playwright – between 42 and 57
Henry Benish (Lord Dudley) – Leading man – mid 50’s
Polly Benish (Lady Margaret) – A “diva” somewhat concerned and teased about her weight – mid 50’s
Marla “Smitty” Smith (Doris the maid) – pretty but awkward – quite young
Saul Watson (Dr. Rex Forbes – the villain) – 45-50 years old
Billy Carewe (Stephen Sellers) – future leading man – looks 25-35
Violet Imbry (Diana Lassiter- an Ingénue) – looks 25-35

Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) announced nominations for 2010.  PPF received six (6) nominations and we are extremely proud of those nominated and everyone involved in the productions that warranted this type of recognition.  Those nominated include:

• John Coscia – Featured Actor in a Play – for his roles as “Sgt. Hing, Doc O’Connor, Dr. Cantway, Fred Phelps, and Dennis Sheppard” in The Laramie Project
• Erin Finucane – Outstanding Cameo in a Play – for her role as “Amber” in Big Tree Falls
• Beth Hughes-Brown – Outstanding Cameo in a Play – for her role as “Olive” in Big Tree Falls
• Cheryl Sinsabaugh – Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – for her role as “Deirdre” in Waiting in the Wings
• Robbie Snow – Outstanding Costume Design in a Play – for Waiting in the Wings
• Addie Storvick – Outstanding Cameo in a Play – for her role as “Sherri” in Big Tree Falls

In addition, other PPF members were nominated for their efforts with other community theaters in the region:

• Jason Damaso – Outstanding Cameo in a Play – for his role as “Waiter” in Damascus Theatre Company’s production of She Loves Me
• Susan Devine – Outstanding Direction of a Musical, for Little Theatre of Alexandria’s production of Chicago
  
• Robin Zerbe – Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – for her role as “Thelma” in Reston Community Players’ production of Trip to Bountiful

The award ceremony will take place Sunday, March 6, at The Birchmere in Alexandria.   Our congratulations to all the nominees.

In the fall of each season, the Board of Directors hosts a series of playreading events to help it discern and get input on shows it should consider.  Members enjoy the chance to “act out” at these events, read great scripts, and give input on possible produdctions for future seasons.  These are wonderful social gatherings with a very useful purpose.

Learn how and become a member of Providence Players! Then join us for a future member events.  Be sure to check back for “News” and other ways to volunteer and get involved.

Enjoy some of the photos from the event, taken by Sharon Roslund:

“Yearning for inspirational family entertainment is timeless. During the Holidays well-known classics light up the cold nights.  The Providence Players of Fairfax are performing a stage adaptation of a beloved Christmas movie classic recreating a mythical time and place, Christmas Eve 1946. Deep within the mind’s eye, the journey of a man grappling to find a reason to live may well appear as “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play” unfolds.”

To read the rest of the story by David Siegal, see the online version of the article.

Providence Players is pleased to announce the cast of The Shadow Box.

From Barbara Gertzog, the director: “Auditions were amazing and there were a lot of talented, wonderful people who gave their time and creative energy to the experience. Thanks to all who came out!” 

Cottage One

Joe: John Coscia
Maggie: Jayne Victor
Steven: TBD

Cottage Two

Beverly: Sara Bennett
Brian: David James
Mark: Andy Izquierdo

Cottage Three

Agnes: Leta Hall
Felicity: Mona Kay Helper

Interviewer: Chip Gertzog

It’s no secret that It’s a Wonderful Life is one of America’s holiday favorites.  PPF is proud to bring this unique adaptation of Capra’s movie to the stage on December 10. 

“Brian O’Connor has done a terrific job staging this ‘radio play’ version, and it has been a richly creative and wonderful rehearsal process,” says David Whitehead, the actor playing George Bailey. 

Here are photos from one of this week’s dress reheasals.  For more photos and a complete cast and production team list, visit the It’s a Wonderful Life show page.

Read the recent article in the Falls Church News-Press.