Posted by mcclurg.cheryl on July 26, 2010 under Uncategorized | 
This season at Harding Academy will take a dramatic look into the lives of three families. During the second week of school, auditions will be held for our first show, “Cheaper By The Dozen”, a stage adaptation of the original book by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. The Gilbreths have twelve children, nine of whom will be seen on the Harding stage October 28, 30, and 31. The cast of seven women and nine men will take us inside the life of efficiency expert Frank Gilbreth, Sr. and his family during the 1920’s. Mr. Gilbreth brings his work home with him when he tries to organize his large family, pushing the children to skip grades in school, and trying his best to keep his oldest daughter from wasting her time on boys. There is an underlying reason why he is in such a hurry, which we discover as the story unfolds.
We will then travel back a few years before the Gilbreth era to the Jewish village of Anatevka in Tsarist Russia where another father, Tevya, a poor milkman, also struggles with the wishes of his daughters – all five of them. “Fiddler On The Roof”, based on the stories by Sholom Aleichem, with music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, finds Tevya trying to honor tradition amidst the changing climate of his little village. The popular musical features a large cast and songs such as “Tradition,” “Matchmaker,” and “If I Were A Rich Man.” Auditions for this show will be in early November with performances scheduled for February 10, 11, and 12.
“Ramona Quimby” and family find their way to the Harding stage in the spring. Based on the books by Beverly Cleary, the cast of fourteen characters will bring us to the present time in a comedy featuring the unpredictable, exasperating, and independent Ramona. Narrated by Beezus, Ramona’s older sister, the play is set as a series of vignettes about the Quimby family and their problems which are familiar to us all. Performances for this show will take place April 14-16, with auditions set for the first week in March.
In keeping with our “family” theme, students from both elementary and secondary locations will be used for these productions. Please watch for flyers and announcements for more information on each of these shows.
Posted by mcclurg.cheryl on under Uncategorized |
As part of the summer LEAP program, A.C.T. Drama camp was held July 12-16 with twelve 4th-8th grade students in attendance. It always amazes me what a group of kids can accomplish in 5 days!
We began with some drama games to get us out of our “comfort zone”, then had auditions for parts in a short play. Melora Hawley gave everybody the grand tour of all things technical, then we had our first read-through.
The kids seemed to love their newly acquired parts which included a clock, students, poem readers, a teacher, mothers, a bus driver, a cat, and a big mess with bubble gum! They worked hard to memorize their lines and remember blocking, and even designed their own costumes. We were also treated to demonstrations of the light and sound boards by Maria Law and Becca Smith, respectively.
After some intense rehearsals, friends and family enjoyed our performance of “Somebody Catch My Homework!” on Friday.
I am so proud of our campers and I look forward to next summer!
Posted by mcclurg.cheryl on June 13, 2010 under Uncategorized |
As many of you know, we entered our production of “Into the Woods” in the Orpheum’s first annual High School Musical Theatre Awards. Judges attended two of our performances, along with nineteen other area high school shows. In April we received word that “Into the Woods” had been nominated in four catagories: 1. Best Lighting, 2. Best Tech Crew, 3. Best Ensemble Energy, and 4. Best Supporting Actress – Chelsea Essary as “The Baker’s Wife.” In addition, Matthew Shanklin was named as an alternate nominee for Best Actor, and Jesse Rives was named as an alternate nominee for The Technical Achievement Award.
The actual awards ceremony took place on May 27 at the Orpheum Theatre. Harding did not win in any of the catagories, but fun was had by all who attended. “Sister Myotis” was the evening’s “Mistress of Ceremony;” and we were thrilled to watch five of our own perform in the opening – and closing – number: Suzanne Chapman, Melora Hawley, Adam Kalwas, Samantha Thompson, and Weston Vawter.
We look forward to entering next year and competing against some excellent schools!
Posted by mcclurg.cheryl on March 6, 2010 under Uncategorized |
The casting of “Lockers” was a grueling task. There is so much talent in the upper elementary and junior high classes! I look forward to seeing all of you at future auditions.
After reviewing the cast list, please accept your role by emailing me at mcclurg.cheryl@hardinglions.org or leave a message on my home phone: 662-895-0145. You have until Sunday evening at 10:00 p.m. to do so.
If you choose not to accept your roll, you do not need to take action. I will simply draw that conclusion if I do not hear from you by tomorrow at 10:00 p.m.
Our first rehearsal will be Monday, March 15 at 4:00 p.m. A rehearsal schedule will be provided at that time.
LOCKERS
Cast by Scene
“MOVING”
Nikki……….Brook White
Kristin……..Madison Taylor
“KIM” (monologue) – Sarah Luttrell
“CHEATERS”
Hillary……….Autumn Hancock
Amanda…….McKenzie Malone
“MUDSLINGERS”
Molly……….Karli Williamson
Rachel……..Macy Morgan
Jennifer……Hannah Milburn
Alex………..Austin Barber
John………..Caleb Knight
“LAWN GUY” (monologue) – Grant Hill
“SNEAK OUT”
Danielle……….Kayla Sentell
Beth……………Cierra Henderson
Christy………..Rebecca Rowsey
“SLICE”
Chris……….Carter Galbreath
Heather…..Sarah Luttrell
“WEAVERS”
Teresa……….Grace Barber
Wendy………Allison Ragland
“THE TEAM”
Steve……….Caleb Knight
Matt………..Grant Hill
Lisa…………Kameryn Johnson
“FAMILY GIRL” (monologue) – Kinsey Prine
“THE PARTY”
Kate……….Katelyn Prine
Allison……Anna Tarkington
Celia……….Kayla Sentell
Brian………Caleb Knight
Mark………Austin Barber
Phil………..Caleb Cranford
“LOCKER” (monologue) – Caleb Cranford
Techies for this show will include: Mackenzie Cavagnaro, Carrie Hanson, Caroline Sisson, Kamea Ferguson, Morgan Taylor and Alana Peery.
Posted by mcclurg.cheryl on December 6, 2009 under Uncategorized |
Auditions for the spring semester musical, “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim took place the week of November 16. After a grueling three days, a cast of eighteen was selected from approximately 40 hopefuls. The cast is as follows and includes 9 seniors, 3 juniors, 3 sophomores, and 3 freshmen.
Narrator/Mysterious Man – Max Michael
Jack – Matthew Shanklin
Baker – Weston Vawter
Cinderella’s Father – Colby McBride
Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince – Adam Kalwas
Rapunzel’s Prince – Jalen Harris
Steward – Gerald Brown
Milky White – John Frizzell
Cinderella – Suzanne Chapman
Jack’s Mother – Melora Hawley
Baker’s Wife – Chelsea Essary
Cinderella’s Stepmother – Rachel Sanders
Florinda – Jackie Hader
Lucinda – Remesh Adams
Little Red – Alicia Guthrie
Witch – Samantha Thompson
Rapunzel – Lexi Corby
Cinderella’s Mother/Giant/Granny – Sara Law
“Into the Woods” combines the well-known fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Ridinghood with the story of the Baker and his Wife who desperately want a child. Unfortunately, the Baker and his Wife have been cursed with childlessness by a Witch. They must venture into the woods to perform various tasks involving the other characters to break the spell. All the characters eventually get their wishes only to find the words of Cinderella’s mother lingering in their ears, “Are you certain what you wish is what you want?”
The “woods” represent all the dangerous, tempting, trying times in lfe; and, just like us, the characters find that sometimes going into the woods yields disastrous results. “You can’t just act, you have to listen. You can’t just act, you have to think.” Yet “into the woods you have to grope, but that’s the way you learn to cope. Into the woods to find there’s hope of getting through the journey.”
“Into the Woods” will be performed on the Harding stage February 18-20, 2010.
Posted by Administrator on December 3, 2009 under Drama News |
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