I'm finally married! It was an exhaustive and busy April as the North Platte Community Playhouse presented its final show of the 2009-2010 season, selected next year's shows, hosted TheatreWorksUSA's production of Nate the Great, and enjoyed lectures and concerts from across the US! Now that I am back at work and trying to get into the swing of things, I have just a few reminders.
1. Please join us on facebook. It's a great place to connect with other people involved at the Playhouse, as well as keeping up with auditions and other important info.
2. Auditions for Doo-Wop Wed Widing Hood are next week. We are asking the students to come prepared to sing a short song of their choosing. We will also play a few games and do some cold reading. For more information on the show, check out pioneerdramaservices.com.
3. Our program advertising drive, as well as season ticket sales, we be coming soon this summer, so if you would like to be included in our mailing list, please contact me at brittany.j.mcdaniel@gmail.com.
4. The next Live at the Neville! will be May 20. Daniel Christian is an amazing performer from Eastern Nebraska and he brings a funky acoustic sound to our stage. Be sure to check back for ticketing information within the next few days!
My goodness! How have I not written a message in two months? February was full of Gypsy rehearsals and performances and then during the first week of March we had a visit from the Children's Theatre Company of South Dakota! The two directors and 40 children had a blast presenting "The Bard of Ballyfiddle" to around 400 people! A few days after they left, Miles from Dublin came in and helped us celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a Live at the Neville! concert. Green beer, soda bread, and wonderful music was enjoyed by all!
Enough of the recap, here is what's coming up!:
The last show of the season, Exit Who is now in rehearsal and the cast is having a blast running around and laughing (as tends to happen with murder mystery comedies)! Tickets go on sale for this wonderful show on April 5 at noon. How exciting!
Along with the last show of the season, The Dance Factory will be presenting its spring recital in May and the Town Hall Lectures and Concert Association are also gearing up for their last events.
One last thing! Be sure to check back in a few weeks to see the official announcement on what the 2010-2011 season will be as well as the children's summer theater event that is in the works!
Wow! What a whirlwind month it has been. Here's a run down of what's been going on down here and what is to come!
December consisted primarily of outside concerts, including the Heartland Singers annual Christmas Concert, as well as the McDaid Christmas Program. Both events were widely attended and everyone enjoyed the amazing music and fun fellowship that both events offered. We also held auditions and started rehearsal for Gypsy.
The first few weeks of January were spent gearing up for my first Live at the Neville! event. This concert series, started by Brette, has been popular in the past and people were begging me to get it going again. After a busy fall with an impossible schedule, we were able to book "Treo", a blues and reggae band from Kearney, on January 16. Around 90 people showed up for drinks, snacks, and some amazing music. We also rented out the theatre to JJ's Bridal and Interlude Day Spa. They held a Prom fashion show on stage as well as gave make up demos in the lobby. Be sure to check out both of these businesses and their wonderful products!
As far as upcoming events, the next big push is focused on getting Gypsy ready to run February 12, 13, 14, 20, and 21. Evening shows are at 8pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm. Ticket sales start February 8th, and they can be purchased online by using the link on this website, by calling 532-8559, or by stopping by the Playhouse from noon-5pm, Monday-Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students. The upbeat music, wonderful costumes, and beautiful storyline of this show are sure to be amazing so be sure to attend!
Don't forget that auditions for the final show of the season, Exit Who?, are just around the corner. Come down to the Patty Birge room on February 15 or 17 at 7pm to read for a role in this crazy murder mystery comedy. Want to read a copy of the script before you audition? Contact the director, Carolyn Clark, at the North Platte Public Library. Carolyn is a great director to work with and the show is sure to be a fun event for all. Be sure to attend the the show on April 9, 10, 11, 17, and 18 if you decide that you prefer to be in the audience rather than onstage. Our 2010-2011 season will also be announced these two weekends!
The Children's Theatre Company of South Dakota will be visiting us again this year. They will be here on Monday, March 1 at 4pm to hold auditions for The Bard of Ballyfiddle. The production consists of 60 children with only a one week commitment. After spending 5 days rehearsing from 4pm-8pm the shows will be presented on Friday and Saturday with a goodwill donation being accepted. This company is amazing to work with and this production is a great way to get your little ones interested in the arts. Audition ages are K-7th grade. Please keep checking back for more information as this event gets closer.
The next Live at the Neville! will feature "Miles From Dublin" on March 11. Consisting of some of the same members as the former band "Wild Clover," this Irish themed event will feature green beer, Irish coffee, soda bread, and amazing Celtic music. Tickets will go on sale March 1st and can be purchased by going online, calling the Playhouse, or stopping by. They will be $14 a person.
Check out "Miles From Dublin" on their website. www.milesfromdublin.com
In closing, I hope you are all sufficiently recovered from the holiday season and that your house is finally back to normal (I know that I really need to take down my Christmas tree this weekend!) Stay safe during these crazy winter conditions and please come down to visit us at the North Platte Community Playhouse. We are what you make it, and we would be no place without our strong group of actors, directors, musicians, designers, backstage help, financial supporters, and audience members.
Happy Holidays! As the Christmas season is now upon us, I hope this note finds you warm and toasty, even though there is snow outside. We've been staying busy down here at the Playhouse with Christmas Concerts and Gypsy auditions, as well as the Theater Guild's ever popular tour of homes and the 33 Miles Concert this Friday.
I'm in the process of preparing for my first ever Live at the Neville! concert (a series that the former manager started) so its been an interesting learning process. Be sure to come down to the Patty Birge Room to hear Treo, an exciting jazz and blues group with a fun and funky sound. The concert is on January 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door.
Other than that, the Playhouse is pretty quiet until February when Gypsy opens! This fun musical based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee is fill with lots of familiar songs (Let Me Entertain You and Everything's Coming Up Roses), fun dance numbers, and crazy costumes. The cast list should be posted on the home page soon so check back to see who will be portraying Baby June, Louise, and Mama Rose!
The smell of sea salt and silliness are in the air as the musical, The Pirates of Penzance, prepares to open this weekend! With the box office open everyday, be sure to stop by and reserve your seats for this slapstick operetta about silly pirates, giggly girls, bumbling police men, and a very "modern major general!" Show dates are Nov. 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22. As always, Saturday shows are at 8:00 pm. and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 pm.
While the show is in full swing this Friday, I'll be out at the Quality Inn and Suites with the Girls Night Out event that supports Community Connections. Its only $5 to come out and see all of the vendors and they'll be plenty of entertainment.
The Theater Guild's Annual Tour of Homes is also coming up on November 21. Tickets can be purchased here, at the Playhouse, or at many other local business around town. There will be beautiful homes on display as well as guided tours of the Playhouse and coffee time in the Patty Birge Room. This great event combined with the show in the evening can make the perfect date day or special mother-daughter time.
After Thanksgiving, Joseph Hall will be back with an all new holiday show. Please remember that his tickets can be purchased from the "Tickets" link on this website or the day of the concert, but not at the Playhouse. I'm excited to see him come again as he gets "all shook up" in a holiday fashion.
Gypsy auditions are also on the horizon so don't let them slip your mind. We'll see everyone down here on either Dec. 7, 8, or 9 at 7:00 pm for a great time. Please bring a prepared song and be ready for a cold reading. A pianist will be provided. If you need help selecting a song, please feel free to stop by the Playhouse and I'll see if we can dig up some ideas together.
Admist all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that is almost upon us, the Playhouse is starting a Volunteer drive, in search of more people to help and join in on all the fun down here as well as our Christmas Wish List campaign. If you can help us out with any of these items, the Playhouse would be greatly appreciated. And remember, all donations are tax deductible. Click the "Volunteer" link to print off a copy of the Volunteer Info sheet, and see the Christmas Wish List below. Thank you and Merry Christmas! (and Happy Thanksgiving!, as that holiday tends to get pushed to the wayside!)
All I Want for Christmas is a …..
The North Platte Community Playhouse is writing a letter to Santa with their wish list this season.If you can take a load off of Santa’s back and help him out by donating any of these items, we would be greatly appreciated!
The Odd Couple opened with a bang two weeks ago and a huge THANK YOU to all of the volunteers, directors, actors, backstage crew, builders, and sponsors who helped make the show a great success. With around 1,000 people in attendance it was a great start to our 2009-2010 season! We had another Town Hall lecture this past week and Sting Fever will be coming to perform with the Concert Association series on October 17th. Along with all of the music and theater being presented, the Playhouse will open up its lobby to a haunted maze during the Down Town Association Trick or Treat walk. Come to "the bricks" on Saturday, October 31st between 1-3 pm for some great games, tons of candy, and a fun, safe environment for the whole family (and your pet. There will be a doggy costume contest as well!).
Pirates of Penzance rehearsals are in full swing and the its been exciting to listen to this amazing cast sing their hearts out. Tickets will go on sale November 9th at noon so be sure to call right away and secure your tickets for this slap stick comedic musical. This winter will be a busy season (just like the fall has been) with Pirates of Penzance, Gypsy, the Heartland Singers concert, and other holiday events, including another fabulous show with Elvis Tribute artist, Joseph Hall.
I hope you are staying warm this blustery weekend, but don't let the weather keep you from coming to visit us down here at the Playhouse. It's YOUR community theater and we are what you want us to be!
What a busy time it has been for the Playhouse recently! I feel like I've been running late for everything just trying to keep up. That tends to be the way that fall goes though, I suppose. Now that school is back in session and everyone is settling into a routine, it is time to put the finishing touches on the first show of our season. The Odd Couple is currently in rehearsal and looking better every day. Its been fun to be apart of this cast and I have enjoyed getting to know all the ins and outs of the job from the performance side of the stage as well. Pirates of Penzance rehearsals are set to start the end of September and after listening to auditions, I can assure you that it will be a very talented cast and crew wowing the audiences with their voices and slapstick comedy. Throw in a Town Hall Lecture, a Concert Association event, and we've got a very busy 3 months ahead of us! Also, auditions for the musical Gypsy have been set of December 7, 8, and 9 at 7:00 pm in the Patty Birge Room.
Along with the happenings here at the actual building, many of our costumes will be featured in the Railfest Style Show and the Cemetery Walk. Be on the look out for some of our older (and much smaller!) costumes during the Railfest weekend, September 18-20.
The Odd Couple opens the last weekend of September with the box office beginning at 12:00 pm on September 21. Our box office will be open Monday-Saturday during the two week run of the show from 12:00 - 5:00 pm so feel free to call or stop by to reserve your seats. The show is laugh out loud hysterical and provides a much needed break from the busy schedule that this time of year seems to hand us. On a little more serious note, we are in need of volunteers to help us run our box office during the week. The hours are from 12:00 - 5:00 and I would love to see you down here! Some computer skills are required but we will train you on the system. We need about 3 people every afternoon so grab a few friends and give me a call so we can get you put on the schedule. Its a crazy, fun afternoon and a great way to get involved in the theater!
We have a couple of building and renovation projects going on around the Playhouse so if you're driving by, be sure to stop and I'll take you around!
And as always, season tickets are still available for the 2009-2010 season. More information is located on the home page. Its already shaping up to be an amazing season and you won't want to be left out! I hope to see all of you down here soon!
Again, a warm hello from my quaint little desk here at the North Platte Community Playhouse. Just a few updates on some of the current activities that are happening at the Neville Center.
First off, School House Rock Live! Jr. started rehearsal a little over 2 weeks ago and they are already looking and sounding amazing! Tickets go on sale starting July 20th for the July 24, 25, and August 1, and 2 performances. The 24th, 25th, and 1st are 7:00 pm performances and the August 2nd performance is at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 4 and under. This cast of 30 4th - 8th graders have been working hard on these classic songs that everyone remembers from the Saturday morning routine and the set and props are finished and look amazing!
Also, the Season Ticket drive has started! If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive a brochure about the season and our patron program, please e-mail your name and address to manager@northplattecommunityplayhouse.com or use the "contact us" link on the left side of the page. If you have already received your brochure but haven't sent it in yet, hurry and get your orders in by August 1st so you can be entered to win 2 free adult season tickets!
We are trying something a little new with the season tickets this year. Instead of dealing with the four tabs that you previously had to pull off of your season ticket, we have changed to a punch card that can fit in your wallet. Also, if you don't have the time to call or stop by to reserve your tickets, you can e-mail your information to manager@northplattecommunityplayhouse.org and we'll book them for you!
And lastly, if you would like to advertise in our program, we would love your patronage! We have spots starting at $100 or if you really want to make a statement, take out a full page advertisement for only $400. With over 5,000 programs printed for our four show season, its a great way to get your business's name in the mind of people from North Platte and the surrounding area. Feel free to call me at 532-8559 if you have any questions at all!
Now that I am finally settled in, things are finally starting to feel like home. Don't forget to check back soon for information regarding auditions for "The Odd Couple" as well as "Pirates of Penzance"!
Greetings from my cute little office on the corner of 5th and Bailey!
For those of you who don't know, my name is Brittany Drullinger and I am the new General Manager here at the NPCP! I officially started on June 1st and I'm excited to see what the summer and upcoming season has in store.
I'm planning on using this link to keep everyone updated on the happenings down here at the Neville Center. Last week we spend some serious time working on our beautiful stage. After two days of sanding for eight hours straight, a few of the Board Members and some volunteers got to see the original wood floor in our beautiful space. It has now been smoothed out and primed and should be painted soon!
School House Rock, Live! Jr. starts rehearsal on June 29th. For those of you who remember the fantastic cartoon from the 70's, you don't want to miss the original songs and upbeat dances that will be gracing our stage. Be sure to buy tickets for their performances on July 24th and 25th as well as August 1st and 2nd. The cast of 30 will be working hard and the set is looking great. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and will be available for purchase starting July 20th here at the Playhouse or at the door.
As Nebraskaland Days winds down, its time to start looking at the upcoming season. Season Ticket brochures will be mailed out soon so be watching your mailboxes. We are hoping to try something new with the season tickets this year so you won't have to worry about losing those silly stubs on the ends of your tickets.
I keep pretty regular 9-5 office hours so please feel free to stop by. I always have cookies sitting around and I would love to hear stories about your connections to the Playhouse as well as see any pictures that you may have.
Thanks for the warm homecoming and for helping me get settled in!
