Barn Theatre E-Sheet
Season 74, Number 8
March 2002
ITSA THE JOLLIEST-A GUY IN-A TOWN-A!
Auditions for "The Most Happy Fella", the timeless and classic American musical by Frank Loesser, will be held at The Barn Theatre in Montville, NJ on Saturday, March 9th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and on Sunday, March 10th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Jay Mills directs; Warren Helms is the Musical Director.
"The Most Happy Fella" is the heart-warming story of an aging, shy and self-deprecating Italian vineyard owner Tony, living in Napa Valley, California, and the San Francisco waitress Rosabella, whom Tony courts by mail and ultimately wins through his sincerity. "The Most Happy Fella" is a jewel of the American musical theatre that has been described as "a musical operetta" — it’s famous numbers include "Standing On The Corner," "Happy To Make Your Acquaintance," "Big D," "Somebody, Somewhere" and "Joey, Joey, Joey." Performances will be May 17 through June 1, 2002.
Casting requirements:
TONY (baritone) - an aging Italian immigrant vineyard owner. Warm, exuberant personality, with an endearing little-boy streak. Played in a strong Italian accent.
ROSABELLA (soprano) - Small-town girl, lonely in her waitress job in the big city. Attractive, but not imposingly sexy, can be resolute and independent yet still vulnerable.
JOE (baritone) - Tony's foreman; strong, handsome outdoor type. Though young, he's been around. A loner, outwardly friendly but with a selfish, egotistical streak.
HERMAN (tenor) - Perennially happy young man who works for Tony and likes everyone. Should be a good mover with a strong sense of comedy.
CLEO (soprano) - Rosabella's down-to-earth waitress friend. Has a big heart and a personality to match. Requires good movement and a sense of comedy.
MARIE (mezzo-soprano) - Tony's sister, younger than he but very maternal towards him in a possessive way. Still very old-world Italian, although her accent is less marked than Tony's.
THE DOCTOR (tenor) - Kindly country doctor, approaching middle age.
ENSEMBLE - an ensemble of about *20 additional men and women* is also needed. All other roles in the show will double out of the ensemble, including: three Italian chefs; Herman’s singing pals; the Postman; and various other Napa Valley townspeople, ranch workers and neighbors, waitresses and customers, etc.
Have a song prepared (an accompanist will be provided), although a song from the show is not necessary. There will be a movement audition, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Auditioners will also be asked to do readings from the script.
For more information, you may contact the director, Jay Mills, at happyfella@barntheatre.org.
LUCK O' THE IRISH
Bill Purdy directs the fourth show of our 74th Season, Beauty Queen of Leenane, the winner of four Tony Awards and the 1998 Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding play.
Set in the mountains of Connemara, County Galway, Beauty Queen is a domestic brew spiked with Irish humor and seat-gripping suspense in which mother and daughter engage in a bitter but hilarious battle of wills.
It is the darkly comic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain and lonely woman in her early forties, and Mag, her manipulative aging mother, whose interference in Maureen's first and possibly final chance of a loving relationship sets in motion a train of events that drives the play’s second act.
Martin McDonagh is a natural storyteller who delivers laughs, action and a gallery of fascinating rogues.
Barn newcomer Colleen O’Connor bring the daughter Maureen to life.
Playing her mother is Sandy Robertson, last seen at the Barn in her Arthur-award winning turn in "Sabrina Fair."
Paul Rivers is Ray, the insolent neighbor boy fond of leather jackets and discotheques. Paul was last seen in "An Inspector Calls."
Newcomer Michael O’Hagan is Pado, Ray’s brother, who has a thing with and for Maureen.
Beauty Queen will be presented March 8, 2002 through March 23, 2002. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling the box office at 973.334.9320.
This show contains mature subject matter and language.
WHERE WE GOING, WHERE WE BEEN?
Hey! What are you doing on Monday, March 25th?
Nothing, as usual, right?
Come to the Barn at 7:30 for our annual membership meeting.
Find out what next year's slate of shows is going to be before anyone else!
Vote on the people who will make up half the Board of Directors!
Hear the stirring words of President Bill Stephenson! Learn about our financial outlook! Talk about stuff! Have some coffee!
And be home in time for Everybody Loves Raymond or that movie on HBO.
The full slate of nominees have not gotten to me by press time, so keep an eye on our website or just wait for the general election.
Be there or be square!
HEY BABY, PART DEUX
The Barn’s Spring Special Event is fast approaching on March 29 and 30 at 8:00 PM.
"Babes and Brides" consists of two separate one-act plays from the pen of playwright Eric Berlin. "The Line That Picked Up 1000 Babes (And How It Can Work for You!)" takes place in a gaudy singles bar full of imaginative pick-up techniques as six lonely people drift in and out of suggestion-laden conversations. "The Midnight Moonlight Wedding Chapel" focuses on the plight of two couples who get married in quickie ceremonies at a tacky Las Vegas storefront wedding chapel.
The evening is directed by Todd Mills, working off a script by Eric Berlin.
The cast of "... Line" is: Anne Ayers, Damian Conforti, Roderick Lapin, Matt McCarthy, Elizabeth Sheber and Elissa Strell.
"... Wedding Chapel" features Scott Crawford, Jodi Freeman, Matt Heffernan, Jeff Knapp (that’s me!), Julie McCormick and Maureen Russell.
Tickets are $5 at the door. A bargain!
FAME AND FORTUNE
Some Barn alumni are in the news:
Laura Benanti will be appearing as Cinderella in the upcoming Broadway revival of Into the Woods. She first played the role at the Barn in our 68th season closer in 1996.
Nancy Lagos who played Annie in the Barn’s 57th Season closer in 1985, is now known as Chelsea Lagos and was featured recently on Bravo’s reality series "The It Factor." The series followed 12 New York actors and their struggles to succeed in the acting profession. Chelesa’s storyline showed her playing Riva’s psychic on "As the World Turns."
ADDENDUM
Have I mentioned I’m doing a show? It’s true! I haven’t been on stage since "A FEW GOOD MEN" where I was called "lovable and wimpish" by Suzanne Sampson of The Citizen.
Why do I bring this up? Because I have space to waste and I’m an egomaniac!
These shows are pretty funny and you only have two chances to see it (and me) the last weekend of March. (Details on the other side)
That’s right ... Easter weekend.
But, hey, its only five bucks and one of those days isn’t a holy day so surely you could find the time to stop by and have a laugh and let me know I should stay off the stage for another five years… or not. :-)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Further details about these events can be found at our website: http://www.barntheatre.org The rest will be posted as we have more information.
These dates are subject to change...
Beauty Queen Opens, March 8
Most Happy Fella Auditions, March 9 and 10
Barn General Meeting, March 25 at 7:30 PM
Babes and Brides Opens, March 29 and 30
Most Happy Fella Opens, May 17
Recognition Night, June 15
Until next time, I remain...
Jeff Knapp
Webmaster, Director, Raconteur
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