Willie Wonka cast list (principles only)

Okay, gang- Here is the list of the principles in the cast because I have already contacted all of these and confirmed them. I'm only about half done with the rest. I'll post them tomorrow. All will be posted on the theater door tomorrow evening by 6:00 PM. but for now---

Charlie	Tanner Stevens
Willy Wonka	Jim Vincill
Mrs. Bucket	Jamie King
Mr. Bucket	Matt Raybin
Grandpa Joe	Gerry Don Goodwin
Grandma Josephine	Hollie Martin
Grandpa George	Doug Smith
Grandma Georgina	Kathy Lerich
Violet Beauregard	Olivia Lerich
Mrs. Beauregard	Stacy Bennett
Augustus Gloop	Bailey Gochnour
Mrs. Gloop	Georgie Jenkins
Mike Teevea	Malick Absy
Mrs. Teevea	Carol Moore
Veruca Salt	Jamie Dugger
Mr. Salt	Jeremy Janz
Phineas Trout	Scott Holden
The Candy Man	Zach Phillips
Choreographer	Devyn Rice

Wonkauditions

Oh my Gawd! This Saturday and Sunday we held open auditions for "Willie Wonka". Actors and dancers frequently call this kind of open audition "cattle calls" because anyone can come and try out. This was more like a stampede. Over 70 auditioners on Saturday and nearly thirty today (Sunday). That was amazing! What makes that amazing is that it gives me a lot of folks to choose from for our cast. What makes it not so amazing is that way too many of them were way too good. I have to let really talented people be put into good, but not great roles just because there were a lot of really talented people. I actually could have cast the show three times over...in three completely different ways. Fortunately for me, I had the help of two wonderful people helping me. Assistant director Jan Sikes and Vocal director Paula Ellis. Both very talented in their own right, they helped me move through the different combinations to find one that we think will really work. We will post and notify tomorrow. I hope everyone accepts their parts. It will be an awesome show. First read-through will be Friday, May 25 at 6:30. More as the week goes on.

P.A.R.T.ners for Children

This Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 7PM to 8PM, the Palestine Area Radio Theater company will present its latest program as a benefit for the Anderson County Champions for Children. It will be performed LIVE in front of a dinner audience and broadcast over KNET radio, Palestine (95.7 FM, 1450 AM, and at www.youreasttexas.com) courtesy of Lee Parkinson, station manager. The family friendly program will feature the unusual suspects doing some "Golden Age of Radio" stuff and some live original comic musical numbers from the Wahooligans! Tune in for a rollicking good old-fashioned evening!

Willie Wonka’s off and running

Today we had the first meeting of the production staff for Willie Wonka. Gonna be a great group of people to work with. I hope we get lots of people auditioning May 19th and 20th. More as the time gets closer.

Sugar- the second spoonful

The musical "Sugar", based on the movie "Some Like it Hot", has its second week of performances. The show is highly entertaining and well worth the $12 ticket price.

It has been a hard road on this one. I tried to quit the show (something I have never done before)but was talked out of it. The performances have been a load of fun, for the cast as well as the audience!

It just points out a few things for me as I prepare to direct "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" this summer (2012). Yes, have a vision- but also a plan. Come prepared- but be flexible. Be serious about the craft- but have fun cuz we're not paid enough to take this kind of abuse.

A new Blog is Born (yawn)

Okay. My massive ego demands that I now share even more drivel in a different area. This blog will be focused on theater and all that goes with it. I'll have actor's notes when I am in a show, tech notes when I'm a "backstager", director's rants when I am directing, and reviews when I am simply in the audience. Production stills will, I hope be posted along with inflated opinions of myself and my contributions. Great for reading when suffering from insomnia.