Montgomery College Announces Final Productions in the Theatre Season and Prepares for Region VI KCACTF in Oklahoma
Montgomery College Theatre has prepared for an entertaining completion of its 2006-07 season. The college’s Actors Workshop will kick off the spring semester with The Shape of Things by Neil Labute, produced by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing, on February 22 at 2:30 p.m., February 23-24 at 7:30 p.m., and February 25 at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Lab (T101). This production is a “pay what you will” event. All proceeds collected will benefit the theatre department and students. The Shape of Things is a modern version of Adam’s seduction by Eve. The play pits gentle, awkward, overweight Adam against experienced, analytical, amoral Evelyn, a graduate student in art. After a chance meeting at a museum, Evelyn and Adam embark on an intense relationship that causes shy and principled Adam to go to extraordinarily lengths, including cosmetic surgery, and a betrayal of his best friend, to improve his appearance and character. Labute’s work is an intense and disturbing study, not only of the uses of power within human relationships, but also of the ethics involved in the relationship of art and life. This production is suggested for mature audiences only, as there is adult language and content included.
The fourth production of the season will have audience members laughing out loud. The Foreigner by Larry Shue, produced by special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, will be held April 12 at 5:30 p.m., April 13-14, 19-21 at 7:30 p.m., and April 15 at 2 p.m. on the Mainstage (D100) theatre. The Foreigner begins in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by "Froggy" LeSeuer, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time "Froggy" has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. Audience members will enjoy the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the "bad guys," and the "good guys" emerge triumphant.
The final production of the season will have the entire family smiling and singing. You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, by Clark Gesner, produced by special arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library Inc., will be held on July 5 at 5:30 p.m., July 6-7, 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and July 8 at 2 p.m. on the Mainstage (D100) theatre. You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown has a variety of short scenes in this staging of a day in the life of Charlie Brown. His adventures lead to fun, laughter, and sincerity in this heartwarming musical for the whole family. Musical numbers include My Blanket and Me, The Kite, The Baseball Game, Little Known Facts, Suppertime and Happiness. Join the Peanuts gang in this fast paced, lighthearted musical production at Montgomery College.
Montgomery College theatre students are also preparing for the American Kennedy College Theatre Region VI festival in February. 96 Minutes was a participating entry at the festival in October and received recognition for costume coordination (Stephen Blaschke) and stage management (Keila Outlaw). Trent Hooker, Natalie Plaza, and Justyn Reed were cited for outstanding acting and received nominations for the Irene Ryan Scholarship competition to be held at the regional level. The main focus of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions is to celebrate the nation's finest student actors and the craft that enables them to create compelling and truthful characterizations. It heightens the focus on craft in auditions by showcasing actors in two (2) two-person scenes and a monologue or song for candidates who advance to the final round of auditions at the regional and national levels. The competition will be held in Tulsa, OK, during the week of February 27-March 2.
Chase Waites, assistant professor of drama, states, “ACTF Regional and the Irene Ryan Scholarship competition are important steps in the development of our student actors. The scholarship competition allows them to be placed not only in a position to win tuition money, but also allows the students to be exposed to other institutions of higher education to which the students could transfer upon completion of their studies at Montgomery College.”
Additional information regarding the theatre department at Montgomery College is located on-line at http:theatre.montgomery-college.com. Call now for ticket reservations and discount tickets. To find out more about theatre productions or the KCACT festival, contact Amy Cooper at (936) 273-7021 or e-mail amy.f.cooper@lonestar.edu.
Ticket prices for The Foreigner and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown are $10 (general admission), $7 (seniors), and $5 (students, faculty and staff).
Montgomery College is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit montgomery.lonestar.edu.
NHMCCD, among the largest and fastest growing community colleges in Texas, comprise, Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, Tomball College, six satellite centers, and The University Center.