Home for the Holidays

Next at Lyric is our "Home for the Holidays" fundraiser! Start your holidays off on a great note and join us for holiday entertainment featuring many of your favorite Lyric performers. The show is made up of and fashioned for the young and old, and will have you toe-tapping and singing along with the tunes of yester year and today. 

Now, you may be thinking that you'll be joining us for some simple Christmas Carols and it will be "nice".  Oh boy, are you in for a surprise!  You can expect to be warmly greeted in the lobby by the Madrigal singers, their sweet harmonies reminiscent of the tunes Charles Dickens would have heard while writing his infamous "A Christmas Carol" in Victorian London.  You will then take your seats as you are transported and experience some of the most adorable, touching, and hilarious numbers I have ever seen in one show.  Complete with a small children's choir, showstopping ensemble numbers and tap dancing Santas, how can any "Scrooge" not believe in the Christmas spirit?  You'll soon remember what it is that brings together friends, family and makes your heart swell with joy. 

So, if you're having a hard time getting into the cheery swing of things, join us on Thursday, December 16 through Saturday, December 18 at 8 PM and Sunday, December 19 at 2:30 PM.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online, over the phone or at the box office in the lobby.  More information can be found at our website at http://www.lyricmusictheater.org/

A silent auction in the lobby is included and will help you check off everyone on your holiday gift list as well! 

AUDITION RESULTS

What a talented and strong cast this is!  If you love RENT, then this is going to be INTENSE.  Thank you again to all who came out to audition and support the theater.  Please remember that we will still need volunteers that can help make this show a huge success.  If you are interested in volunteering, please go to the website to submit your contact information and what you may be interested in assisting with.  Congrats again to the cast of RENT!

Rent

Mark……………………  Jason Phillips

Roger………………….  Chris Austin

Mimi……….…………...  Celeste Green

Collins…………………  Thomas Smallwood

Angel……………….….  Tyler Beck

Maureen………….……  Jennifer Miller

Joanne……………..….  Rebecca Rinaldi

Benny…………….……  Brian McAloon

Ensemble
Jonathan Carr

Will Carter
Brittany Cook
Jona Cormier
Kristi Drew
Chris Foulke
Kelsey Franklin
Melissa Morad
Dan Neuville
Adam Normand
Ashleigh St.Pierre
Jane Stevens

Annie Get Your Gun Review

What a great review from Mr. Scott Andrew!  A wonderful bonus to such a successful and exciting opening weekend.  He had some mighty fine words to spare fer the cast and crew of this here production.  A few highlights:

"Last weekend, Lyric Music Theater opened an outstanding community production of the show in South Portland. Over the years I've seen quite a few community productions of “Annie Get Your Gun,” and Lyric’s current offering is definitely the best." 

"Lyric has a fine cast of community actors, led by Cory Bucknam in the title role. She’s got a good voice, wonderfully articulate body language and an real empathy and enthusiasm for the part. She’s paired with David Allen Van Duyne as her love interest. Van Duyne sports a fine swagger – essential for the role – and the chemistry between him and the leading lady is palpable.

There are several fine supporting roles. One of the best is Janie Downey Maxwell as the deliciously disportive woman who unsuccessfully competes for Frank’s love. I also liked the secondary romantic pairing, Rebecca Washko and Brandon Pullen, and the four principal male character roles: Vince Knue as Buffalo Bill, Adam Noormand as his general manager, Jeff Newick as arch-rival showman Pawnee Bill and Louis Perrotta as Chief Sitting Bull." ~By Scott Andrew, The Forcaster: "Out & About: 'Annie Get Your Gun' is right on target"

Check out the full article here: http://www.theforecaster.net/content/pnms-outabout-112410

2011-2012 Season Announcement

Announcing the 2011-2012 Season!

1. Thoroughly Modern Millie  -  directed by Jonathan Miele (Sept.23 - Oct.8, 2011)
2. Meet Me in St. Louis  -  directed by Michael Donovan (Nov.18 - Dec.3, 2011)
3. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels  -  directed by Vince and Denise Knue (Feb.17 - Mar.3, 2012)
4. South Pacific  -  directed by Don Smith (April 20 - May 5, 2012)
5. Blythe Spirit (our summer show)  -  director not assigned yet (June15 - 24, 2012)  

**Please note that all selections are subject to change based on availability**

A "Behind-the-Scenes" Look of Annie Get Your Gun

The Blank Canvas!

I recently had the great opportunity to visit the cast of Annie Get Your Gun, and brought back with me a few juicy teasers for your enjoyment!

Rebecca Washko and Abigail Worthing

Once the music rehearsal (led by Music Director Rebekkah Willey) began, I waded through the shadows listening to the sweet sounds of "Moonshine Lullaby" and the vivacious chorus of “There’s No Business Like Show Business”.  I took time to wander around the room and observe the cast attentively as they crooned.  

Brandon Pullen  and  Rebekkah Willey

They all worked hard; Rebekkah often stopping to explain difficult parts of the written harmonies and playing them out slowly on the piano as the cast dutifully followed along in their song books and repeating the verses.  It was obvious that despite the hard work, they were having a total blast. I did my best to remain a wall flower as I listened. I snapped a few pictures and tapped my toe the entire time.  I think it was a true test of my will not to start singing along  to the well known and beloved tunes written by Irving Berlin and simply observe.

I couldn't help but notice that during rehearsal, costume designer Louise Keezer zoomed through the theater bringing down props, gowns, western styled hats and boots from the costume closets.  She took a moment to take a breather and share with me a few of the items she is preparing to try on the cast as "possibles" for the final costumes.  She she also shared with me that she is very excited to be working on this show; though she is still preparing for the undertaking of costuming such an enormous ensemble as this one.  Having worked with Louise in the past as an actress and a costuming helper, I have unmitigated  faith that she will, as always, out do herself and surprise us all with her pure genius.

I continued my meanderings into the box office where Kristi Drew, Producer for the show, was exercising her mutli-tasking skills.  She took a moment from her ever expanding "To Do" list to speak with me.  For those who don't know Kristi, she is a long time veteran of both Lyric Music Theater and Portland Players Theater.  In the past, she has usually been seen on stage, not working on the behind-the-scenes production side of a show.  Annie Get Your Gun will be the first show Kristi has been a producer for, as well as her first time working with director Wil Kilroy.

I asked Kristi what had led her to her wanting to try her hand a producing.  She replied that originally, she had been asked to join the Board of Directors at Lyric.  That is an understandably huge commitment, served purely on a volunteer basis.  Before she endeavored to join the board, she first hoped to learn the production side of theater.  She believes that by producing and experiencing the work that is required to get a show up and running she will be able to better understand the "behind the scenes" people and the effort they have to put into every run of a show that make those performing on stage look amazing.

I continued to ask Kristi if she was nervous attempting her first producing role.  Not only was Wil a director that she had never met or worked with before, but he was also a new director to Lyric. Kristi replied with a big smile stating that "Everyone has different styles and different ways of doing everything.  I was definitely very nervous, but very welcoming to the challenge." She elaborated that it is an equal opportunity to learn new practices of a new director and also gain her footing in the production staff.  Both of which will enrich her knowledge of theater from a perspective other than that of an actress.

I asked her if she has encountered anything (so far) that has been a big challenge for her and has there been anything as equally rewarding.  She laughed softly as she contemplated my questions before saying, "Yes, and I think that it is because I've never been on the other side of things. So scheduling, knowing who needs what nights off and when, has been difficult." She explained that in Community Theater, pretty much every person is there on a volunteer basis.  Those same people work all day and have families. As the producer, you are potentially dealing with a large ensemble of 20 and all of their scheduling needs and conflicts.  As for the reward part of my question, she remarked that the whole experience has been rewarding because you are able learn something new every day. She is, of course, anxious to see how everything from the production side and the performance of the actors merge together to create a final product, but that's just part of the process of getting everything done that needs to be done and ensuring you give the audience a fantastic experience.


My final question  for Kristi was what juicy teasers would she give us about what we could expect from this production, to which she mischievously replied, "All I'm going to say at this point is we have a fantastic ensemble. I think that the audience is going to be pleasantly surprised at the life they've given to this show. We've got a couple tricks up our sleeves, but other than that you'll have to come and see for yourselves what I'm talking about."

If you haven't already bought your tickets, you will want to do so immediately.  Many folks wait for the second or third weekends to attend the show or purchase tickets just before a showing.  As demonstrated with Evita, performances quickly sold out and those folks never got to see the spectacular performance.  So don't wait! Pre-order now online at www.lyricmusictheater.org!

Article and photographs by Crystal Giordano 

Audition Announcements!

Audition Information:

RENT

Book, Music & Lyrics: Jonathan Larson

Director: Michael Donovan
Music Director: Rebekkah Willey

December 6th and 7th 6-9:30 pm
Callbacks Saturday Dec 11th at 11:00 if needed.YOU MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR CALLBACKS IF CALLED!!!!
There will be movement at the auditions. Please dress appropriately!!!!

Rehearsals will begin January 3rd and are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights
from 7-10 pm.  Everyone should be available for all rehearsals. Rent will be cast based on the following criteria: Actors who can sing, singers who can act, talent before age, and passion before physical type. Rent will not be cast based on past incarnations and will not be a carbon copy of the Broadway show.
Please be 100% willing to work in an ensemble environment and with a very fast paced rehearsal process.

Rent is a story that works best with a cast of people who are 100% supportive of each other. If you aren't a team player...DON'T AUDITION!!!!!!Ages 17+ (If under 18 and cast, a letter of permission will be required)

NEEDED: 5 principle male roles and 3 principle female roles AND 4 male chorus members and 5 female chorus members (will play multiple roles). All actors must be comfortable with their bodies, willing to kiss members of the same sex, dress in drag, and leave all inhibitions at the stage door. Please prepare 16 – 32 bars of a pop/rock song and 16 – 32 bars of a ballad.
We recommend that you only pick songs you are very familiar and comfortable with. We want to hear your voice!
Please note that not everyone will sing both songs at auditions.
NO ACCAPELLA AUDITIONS AND NO ACCOMPANIMENT CD's.
PLEASE PROVIDE SHEET MUSIC WITH ACCOMPANIMENT (accompanist provided). Remember, we are looking for originality and personality! Show off who you are!
Please do not come dressed as your favorite Rent character.
Please note that all characters in Rent are meant to be honest, fully-realized people, not caricatures.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
MEN: MARK COHEN: (must pass for mid-to-late 20s to mid 30's, all ethnicities) Baritone/Second Tenor. A filmmaker. Left behind his affluent upbringing to pursue his craft. Would rather tell the story than be the story. Hides behind his camera.

ROGER DAVIS: (must pass for early-to-mid 20's to mid 30's, all ethnicities) Rock Tenor. Former frontman for a fledgling rock band. Tortured artist. Recovering drug addict. Searches for meaning through his songwriting and guitar. Playing guitar a plus.

TOM COLLINS: (must pass for late 20s to 30s, all ethnicities) Baritone. Philosopher, professor, activist. Former roommate of Mark, Roger, and Benny. Angel’s lover. The patriarch. Strong, yet warm presence.

BENNY: (must pass for mid-to-late 20s to mid 30's, all ethnicities) Baritone/second tenor. Went to college with Mark. Lived with Roger, Collins, Maureen and Mark. Married into a wealthy family. Hopes to fulfill dream of building an arts studio for his friends, while making money for his father-in-law.

ANGEL: (must pass for late teens to mid-20s, all ethnicities) High tenor with great falsetto. Living with AIDS. Warm, lovable, nurturing, and honest. The mother hen. Must be willing to convincingly play in drag. MUST BE ABLE TO DANCE IN HEELS.

4 MEN FOR ENSEMBLE (20s-30s): Great actors/singers who move well to play various characters including: JOANNE’S DAD, LIFE SUPPORT GROUP, SQUEEGE MAN, SEASONS OF LOVE SOLOIST and more.

WOMEN:MIMI MARQUEZ: (must pass for late teens to late 20's, all ethnicities). Raw voice with high belt. Fragile drug addict. Sexy and street smart. Strong Dancer.

MAUREEN JOHNSON: (must pass for mid-to-late 20s to mid 30's, all ethnicities). A performance artist. Not as good as she leads on. Lover of Joanne. Selfish. She has a big range.

JOANNE JEFFERSON: (must pass for late-20s to 30s, all ethnicities). Pop belt. Harvard grad, lawyer. Affluent upbringing. Comfortable with her artistic liberal way of life and conservative upbringing. Insecure in her relationship with Maureen. Dry wit.

5 WOMEN FOR ENSEMBLE (20s-30s): Great actors/singers who move well to portray various characters including: ALEXI DARLING, MARK’S MOM, ROGER’S MOM, JOANNE’S MOM, SEASONS OF LOVE SOLOIST and more

Next at Lyric:

If you didn't make it to a showing of Evita, that is a real shame.  It was a thrilling show and has proved once again that if you wait too long you'll miss out! The show received a stunning review and  we sold out quickly in the last weekend leaving many bummed theater goers who were unable to get tickets.  


Annie Get Your Gun has been cast and is in the works. Tickets are on sale so get over to www.lyricmusictheater.org to reserve your sets now by purchasing tickets online or by calling the box office.  Great things are in store for you and we'll be back soon with a small taste. So keep your eyes open for some rehearsal photos and perhaps a few words from cast and crew!


Audition Results:

Annie Get Your Gun

Annie Oakley:            Cory Bucknam
Frank Butler:              David Van Duyne
Dolly:                           Janie Downey Maxwell
Buffalo Bill:                 Vince Knue
Winnie:                       Rebecca Washko
Tommy:                      Brandon Pullen 
Charlie:                       Adam Normand
Wilson:                       Jeff Newick (double as Pawnee Bill)
Sitting Bull:                 Louis Perrotta  
Annie's Sister:           Ava Desjardins
Little Jake:                 Jake Doolittle
Ensemble:                  Abigail Worthing (Annie u/s), Abbie Martin, Douglas Greer, Anne Johnson, Pat Moody, Chrystal Thorne, Andrew Shepard, Natasha Baxter, Eileen Hanley, Bailey Auspland, Cheryl Squiers, Sam Dunton.

AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT!

Annie Get Your Gun

Music by: Irving Berlin
Book by: Herbert & Dorothy Fields
Directed by Wil Kilroy


Auditions will be held Friday, September 17 @ 7pm and Saturday, September 18@ 9am
Callbacks will be held on Saturday afternoon, September 18 @ 1pm

Conflicts: 
A very short session has been set aside at 11:00am on Sunday in the lobby of the theater ONLY if it's impossible for you to make the above times. Please contact director Wil Kilroy to schedule these appointments: kilroy@usm.maine.edu


All who are auditioning must come prepared to sing. Please bring sheet music for 16 bars of an up-tempo and 16 bars of a ballad and be familiar with the songs from the show, accompanist will be provided. You may be asked to do cold readings from the show and/or some dance movement, please dress accordingly and wear appropriate shoes (i.e. no flip flops, sandals, etc.)

Synopsis:
Set in the 1880's. Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter, falls for Frank Butler when Buffalo Bill's show comes to town. Frank, however, isn't interested in tomboys. Annie joins the show hoping to win him, but it is soon discovered that she is an even better shooter than Frank, causing more friction between them. Annie eventually throws a contest to let Frank win. His manhood restored, he returns her love and they marry.

Cast Requirements:
*Frank Butler (Baritone, 25-40) A suave sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill's show – he enjoys his status as a heartbreaker and star of the show, and would like to keep it that way.
*Annie Oakley (Mezzo/belt, 20 - 30) A happy, endearing country girl who is an amazing markswoman. Illiterate, not very "lady-like". Strong singer-comedian who carries the show.
*Charlie Davenport (Tenor, 30 - 45) Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show's advance manager.
*Col. Will. F. Cody [Buffalo Bill] (Baritone, 45 - 70) The founder of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
*Winnie Tate (Soprano, 16 - 21) Dolly Tate's attractive daughter who is also in Buffalo Bill's show. She is dating Tommy.
*Chief Sitting Bull (Baritone, 40 - 65) The wise old man. Gives Annie advice.
*Pawnee Bill (Baritone, 40 - 65) In charge of the rival show.
*Foster Wilson (Baritone, 45 - 70) Hotel owner.
*Dolly Tate (Alto, 40 - 55) A busty woman in Buffalo Bill's show and mother of Winnie.
*Tommy Keeler (Baritone, 17 - 23) Winnie's boyfriend.
*Chorus and Smaller Roles: 4 Children 3G/1B, 9M/9F minimum, various shapes and sizes to portray Indians, society and townsfolk

Next Up At Lyric:

Join us for our 2010 Membership Drive show will take place September 10-11 at 7:30. With some of the hottest voices and sleekest dancers in the area, this will not be a show you want to miss. Come see some of Lyric's Leading Ladies show you how it's done! Also, if you purchase a Season Membership the night of the show, we will deduct the cost of admission from your membership! Come and see what we're all about this year.

Welcome: 2010 - 2011 Season

Welcome to the Lyric Music Theater blog!  Partnering with our website to keep you informed with all the up to date tidbits of the goings on at Lyric.  Feel free to browse the website for the history of the theater, past show information, and where to purchase your tickets online.  Check the blog frequently to see how the shows are progressing and/or to leave a comment.  This year's season will be amazing as we feature our "Year of the Woman", shows with strong, independent females.  We hope to see you at show (or two or three)!

Membership Drive - Open House

September 10-11, 2010
Lyric's Membership Drive Show is the first production of our 58th Season! Come see your favorite performers singing songs from last season and our current season, with a possible glimpse of things to come. Tell all of your friends! Join us for this kick-off to the 2010-2011 Season.

Evita
September 24 - October 9, 2010
Based on the life story of Eva Peron, wife of Argentine President Juan Peron. Born illegitimate, poor, and without privilege, Eva became the most powerful woman of her country and First Lady of Argentina at the age of 27.


Annie Get Your Gun
November 19 - December 4, 2010
A larger than life, gun-toting, pizazz-y woman surrounded by a gang of road show performers, belting out some of Irving Berlin's greatest hits. There really is No Business Like Show Business!


Home for the Holidays
December 2010
Come join us for this holiday fundraiser, featuring many of your favorite Lyric performers. Home for the Holidays promises to get you in the mood to enjoy the season, inspiring you with great music and dancing set to all your holiday favorites. (Not included in the season membership)


Rent
February 18 - March 5, 2011
Follow a year in the life of seven friends living in New York's East Village. Feel the fear, isolation and love experienced by these friends as they struggle with identities and relationships, ultimately discovering how important it is to have hope.


Kiss Me Kate
April 22 - May 7, 2011
A show within a show and a love-hate relationship between its leading players describes this Cole Porter musical. It opened in 1948 in the traditional style of the golden age of musicals. It was Lyric's first show 58 years ago!


Annual Meeting
June 2011
Lyric Music Theater’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony will be held at the theater in Jun 2010. The meeting is open to the public and members are eligible to vote on all business items presented. Members are encouraged to come and hear an update on the operations of the theater and plans for the future, as well as ask questions of the board of directors. New board members will also be elected, the Annual Scholarships will be presented and the Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards will also be announced. Refreshments will be served following the meeting. We hope you will all join us for this celebratory wrap-up to the 2010-2011 season.


The Butler Did It
June 2011
Join us for Lyric’s 6th annual “Summer Special,” The Butler Did It by Tim Kelly, a spoof on the beloved mystery genre. Famous mystery authors disguise themselves as their own creations for a weekend of ''jolly fun for financial reward,'' at Miss Maple's isolated estate when murder makes an entrance and it is every author for themselves in this comic masterpiece.