“You’re going out on that stage a nobody, kid, but you’re coming back a star!”

Plenty of stars-in-the-making as TRW shows are opening coast-to-coast and around the world.  Share your production and publicity with us on Facebook!

Here’s the round-up of  TRW openings this week, May 1-15, 2013:

Whitehaven Theatre Group in Whitehaven , Cumbria from 4/30/13 to 5/4/13 presents GREASE

Carousel Theatre Company in Vancouver , BC from 5/1/13 5/4/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Atlee High School in Mechanicsville , VA from 5/1/13 5/4/13 presents LITTLE WOMEN

Transit Theatre Troupe's I Love You Because cast: (L to R) Seth Stewart, Megan Scribner, Trey Stoker, Heather Garsen, Jake McVicker & Meredith Marker

Florida School For The Deaf And The Blind in Saint Augustine , FL from 5/2/13 5/3/13 presents GO-GO BEACH

Midlothian High School Theatre in Midlothian , VA from 5/2/13 5/4/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross , GA from 5/2/13 5/4/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

West Aurora High School Theatre in Aurora , IL from 5/2/13 5/4/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Frederick High School in Frederick , MD from 5/2/13 5/4/13 presents CHANGING MINDS

Hickory High School in Chesapeake , VA from 5/2/13 5/11/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

Temescal Canyon High School Spotlight Players in Lake Elsinore , CA from 5/2/13 5/11/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Winnipeg Studio Theatre in Winnipeg , MB from 5/2/13 5/12/13 presents ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE

John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury , CT from 5/3/13 5/4/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Highland Middle School in Libertyville , IL from 5/3/13 5/4/13 presents SLEEPY HOLLOW: A MUSICAL TALE

Oakland High School in Oakland , IL from 5/3/13 5/4/13 presents SLEEPY HOLLOW: A MUSICAL TALE

Menlo School in Atherton , CA from 5/3/13 5/11/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Menlo School presents Monty Python's Spamalot -- OUTDOOR STAGE. Attached photo was taken by Paul Gralen. JB Horsely (bottom), John Welch (with crown), Manny Walton (finger in mouth), Sydney Boal (white cap); Peter Osborne (pink robe); Maxwell Coleman (sitting), Ahladini Veerina. Credit Jill Kasser

Anoka High School in Anoka , MN from 5/3/13 5/11/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

Music Theatre of Denton in Denton , TX from 5/3/13 5/11/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

The Art Centre Theatre in Plano , TX from 5/3/13 5/12/13 presents HOW I BECAME A PIRATE

Benicia High School – Panther Productionis in Benicia , CA from 5/3/13 5/18/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Eight O’Clock Theatre in Safety Harbor , FL from 5/3/13 5/19/13 presents FORBIDDEN BROADWAY’S GREATEST HITS. VOL. I

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina in Hilton Head Island , SC from 5/3/13 5/26/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Galway Little Theater in Galway , NY from 5/4/13 5/6/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Holland Civic Theatre in Holland , MI from 5/4/13 5/18/13 presents BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

Transit Theatre Troupe in Austin , TX from 5/5/13 5/6/13 presents I LOVE YOU BECAUSE

Sandbox Theatre Company in Murray , UT from 5/6/13 5/25/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Kitsilano Secondary School in Vancouver , BC from 5/7/13 5/10/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Newton Abbot & District Musical Comedy Society in Abbot , Devon from 5/8/13 5/10/13 presents GREASE-SCHOOL EDITION

Fairfield Prep in Fairfield , CT from 5/9/13 5/10/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Coventry Youth Operetta Group in Mount Nod; Coventry , from 5/9/13 5/11/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

Rome Community Theater in Rome , NY from 5/9/13 5/19/13 presents GAME SHOW

Broadway Overseas Management in New York , NY from 5/9/13 9/1/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Center for Living Arts in Moline , IL from 5/10/13 5/11/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

East Woods School in Oyster Bay , NY from 5/10/13 5/11/13 presents PINKALICIOUS THE MUSICAL

Actorsingers in Nashua , NH from 5/10/13 5/12/13 presents CURTAINS

Buffalo Gap High School in Swoope , VA from 5/10/13 5/12/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Youth Onstage in Polesworth Tamworth , Warwickshi from 5/10/13 5/12/13 presents GREASE

Gananoque Community Musical Theatre in Gananoque , ON from 5/10/13 5/12/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield , MA from 5/10/13 5/19/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Okanogan Valley Orchestra & Chorus in Brewster , WA from 5/10/13 5/19/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Texarkana Community College in Texarkana , TX from 5/10/13 5/19/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Cactus Kids Theatrical Co in Lubbock , TX from 5/10/13 5/26/13 presents ALL SHOOK UP

It’s Only Tuesday Productions in Lancaster , CA from 5/10/13 6/2/13 presents THE COLOR PURPLE

SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem , UT from 5/11/13 5/11/13 presents HOW I BECAME A PIRATE

J. Ruffin Entertainment – Theater 47 in Matteson , IL from 5/12/13 5/12/13 presents THE COLOR PURPLE

Theatre Under the Stars – TUTS in Houston , TX from 5/14/13 5/26/13 presents MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

Following are excerpts from the Friday, April 26 edition of Off-Off-Blogway’s Flashback Friday.

Click Here to read the entire article at Off-Off Blogway.

Flashback Friday: CHARLOTTE SWEET

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little musical called Charlotte Sweet. With libretto by Michael Colby and music by Gerald Jay Markoe, the NY Times said that the show, “mixes the adorable and the strange, and it is delectable.” And it was.

Click Image to Explore ShowGO!

And…Lights Up!

There are TRW shows opening all over the planet this week!  Share your production and publicity with us on Facebook!

Here’s the round-up of  TRW openings this week, April 23-5/1/2013:

Wilsthorpe Community School Nottingham, UK presents GREASE 4/23/13 to 4/26/13

John Cabot University Roma, Italy presents 4/23/13 GREASE 4/23/13 to 4/24/13

Finborough Theatre London, UK presents 4/23/13 ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE 4/23/13 to 5/18/13

Original Kids Theatre London, Canada presents 4/24/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 4/24/13 to 4/28/13

T C Roberson High School Asheville, NC presents 4/25/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 4/25/13 to 4/27/13

Alexis Gerred (L) & Cassidy Janson in ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE

The Norwood School London, UK presents 4/25/13 GREASE 4/25/13 to 4/26/13

Westlake High School Waldorf, MD presents 4/25/13 CURTAINS 4/25/13 to 4/27/13

Stagewest Dinner Theatre Mississauga, ON presents 4/25/13 GAME SHOW 4/25/13 to 6/30/13

Henegar Center For The Arts Melbourne, FL presents 4/26/13 ALL SHOOK UP 4/26/13 to 5/12/13

Greenville High School Greenville, NY presents 4/26/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 4/26/13 to 4/28/13

Gettysburg Community Theatre Gettysburg, PA presents 4/26/13 DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE! DORA’S PIRATE ADVENTURE 4/26/13 to 4/28/13

Holy Cross Catholic Church Atlanta, GA presents 4/26/13 CURTAINS 4/26/13 to 5/5/13

Onondaga High School Nedrow, NY presents 4/26/13 ALL SHOOK UP 4/26/13 to 4/28/13

Metro-East Lutheran High School Edwardsville, IL presents 4/26/13 ALL SHOOK UP 4/26/13 to 4/28/13

Columbia City High School Columbia City, IN presents 4/26/13 CURTAINS 4/26/13 to 4/27/13

St. Peter Chanel High School Northfield, OH presents 4/26/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 4/26/13 to 5/4/13

North Murray High School Chatsworth, GA presents 4/26/13 ALL SHOOK UP 4/26/13 to 4/28/13

Liberty County High School Hinesville, GA presents 4/26/13 CURTAINS 4/26/13 to 4/27/13

Moises E Molina High School Dallas, TX presents 4/26/13 HOW I BECAME A PIRATE 4/26/13 to 4/26/13

Citadel Theatre Edmonton, AB presents 4/27/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 4/27/13 to 6/2/13

Santa Barbara High School Santa Barbara, CA presents 4/27/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 4/27/13 to 5/6/13

Whitehaven Theatre Group Whitehaven, UK presents 4/30/13 GREASE 4/30/13 to 5/4/13

Carousel Theatre Company Vancouver, BC presents 5/1/13 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT 5/1/13 to 5/4/13

Atlee High School Mechanicsville, VA presents 5/1/13 LITTLE WOMEN 5/1/13 to 5/4/13

Scores of TRW shows open this week across North America and throughout the world!  Share your production and publicity with us on Facebook!

Here’s the round-up of TRW tuners opening this week:

Gorey Musical Society in Gorey, Co. Wexford, from 4/9/13 to 4/13/13 presents All Shook Up

Wyoming Valley West High School in Plymouth, PA from 4/10/13 to 4/13/13 presents All Shook Up

Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell, NJ from 4/10/13 to 4/13/13 presents All Shook Up

ACT 1 Theatre Group in Adamsdown, Glamorgan, Wales from 4/10/13 to 4/13/13 presents Grease

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in Charlotte, NC from 4/10/13 to 5/5/13 presents Pinkalicious The Musical

North Stafford High School in Stafford, VA from 4/11/13 to 4/13/13 presents All Shook Up

Polk State College Theatre in Winter Haven, FL from 4/11/13 to 4/21/13 presents All Shook Up

Moyraverty Arts and Drama Society in Lurgan, Co Armagh from 4/11/13 to 4/14/13 presents Grease

Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, IL from 4/11/13 to 5/11/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

Ankeny High School in Ankeny, IA from 4/11/13 to 4/14/13 presents Spamalot

Morgan State University Theatre Department in Baltimore, MD from 4/11/13 to 4/14/13 presents The Color Purple

Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC from 4/11/13 to 4/14/13 presents The Color Purple

Hoboken Children’s Theater – HCT in Hoboken, NJ from 4/11/13 to 4/13/13 presents Wanda’s World

Encore Theatre in Libertyville, IL from 4/12/13 to 4/14/13 presents All Shook Up

California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA from 4/12/13 to 4/28/13 presents All Shook Up

Newark High School in Newark, OH from 4/12/13 to 4/14/13 presents All Shook Up

Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, OH from 4/12/13 to 4/20/13 presents All Shook Up

Tri-County Middle Senior High School in Wolcott, IN from 4/12/13 to 4/14/13 presents Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Providence College in Providence, RI from 4/12/13 to 4/21/13 presents Curtains

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Cicero, Ill. is concluding its 2012-13 season with "Monty Python's Spamalot"

Clarkstown High School South Centerstage in West Nyack, NY from 4/12/13 to 4/14/13 presents Curtains

Lafayette College Marquis Players in Easton, PA from 4/12/13 to 4/13/13 presents Curtains

Hokkaido International School in Sapporo, Hokkaido from 4/12/13 to 4/12/13 presents Forbidden broadway’s Greatest Hits. Vol I

Lawrence High School in Trenton, NJ from 4/12/13 to 4/12/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

Masque Community Theatre in Tampa, FL from 4/12/13 to 4/28/13 presents I Love You Because

Swarthmore College in Aliquippa, PA from 4/12/13 to 4/14/13 presents I Love You Because

Tufts University in Medford, MA from 4/12/13 to 4/13/13 presents I Love You Because

The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey in Netcong, NJ from 4/12/13 to 5/12/13 presents Pinkalicious The Musical

Cutting Edge Productions in Mountain Top, PA from 4/12/13 to 4/28/13 presents Ring of Fire

Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan, NJ from 4/12/13 to 4/21/13 presents Spamalot

Pinckney Players in Pinckney, MI from 4/12/13 to 4/20/13 presents Spamalot

Aurora Fox Arts Center in Aurora, CO from 4/12/13 to 5/12/13 presents The Color Purple

Mater Dei Prep in Howell, NJ from 4/13/13 to 4/20/13 presents All Shook Up

Tyrone Community Players in Tyrone, PA from 4/13/13 to 4/14/13 presents Flight of the Lawnchair Man

TYKES (Theater Young Stinky Kids Enjoy) in Rochester, NY from 4/13/13 to 4/21/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

Spokane Civic Theatre in Spokane, WA from 4/13/13 to 4/21/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in Simi Valley, CA from 4/13/13 to 5/19/13 presents Spamalot

PMT Productions Inc – Pleasantville Music Theatre in Yorktown Heights, NY from 4/13/13 to 4/21/13 presents Spamalot

University College Dublin Musical Society in Dublin, Ireland  from 4/16/13 to 4/19/13 presents Grease

Correlieu Secondary School in Quesnel, BC from 4/17/13 to 4/20/13 presents Spamalot

Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, IL from 4/17/13 to 4/20/13 presents Spamalot

Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS from 4/18/13 to 4/20/13 presents All Shook Up

Avon Lake High School in Avon Lake, OH from 4/18/13 to 4/21/13 presents All Shook Up

Fleming Island High School in Fleming Island, FL from 4/18/13 to 4/19/13 presents All Shook Up

Harrison Central High School in Cadiz, OH from 4/18/13 to 4/20/13 presents Cinderella

Princess Ann High School in Virginia Beach, VA from 4/18/13 to 4/21/13 presents Curtains

Tahlequah High School in Tahlequah, OK from 4/18/13 to 4/26/13 presents Curtains

Howard W. Blake High School of the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL from 4/18/13 to 4/20/13 presents Curtains

Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA from 4/18/13 to 4/21/13 presents Curtains

Robert B Glenn High School in Kernersville, NC from 4/18/13 to 4/20/13 presents Holding the Torch for Liberty

Halifax County Little Theatre in South Boston, VA from 4/18/13 to 4/27/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

King College in Bristol, TN from 4/18/13 to 4/20/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

Brandeis University Dept. of Theater in Waltham, MA from 4/18/13 to 4/21/13 presents I Love You Because

Piedmont Players Theatre in Salisbury, NC from 4/18/13 to 4/27/13 presents Spamalot

Victorian Operetta Society in Cobourg, ON from 4/18/13 to 4/27/13 presents Spamalot

Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, PA from 4/19/13 to 4/27/13 presents All Shook Up

The Prince Theatre in Billings, MT from 4/19/13 to 4/28/13 presents Breaking Up is Hard to Do

RPI Players in Troy, NY from 4/19/13 to 4/27/13 presents Curtains

Horizon Community Learning Center in Phoenix, AZ from 4/19/13 to 4/27/13 presents Curtains

Galesburg High School in Galesburg, IL from 4/19/13 to 4/21/13 presents Curtains

Possum Point Players in Georgetown, DE from 4/19/13 to 4/28/13 presents Curtains

Titusville High School in Titusville, FL from 4/19/13 to 4/21/13 presents Curtains

Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI from 4/19/13 to 4/28/13 presents Little Women

Byron Civic Theatre in Byron, IL from 4/19/13 to 4/28/13 presents Ring of Fire

Shenandoah Valley High School Drama Club in Shenandoah, PA from 4/19/13 to 4/20/13 presents Spamalot

Urbana University in Urbana, OH from 4/19/13 to 4/20/13 presents Spamalot

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Cicero, IL from 4/19/13 to 5/4/13 presents Spamalot

Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, OK from 4/19/13 to 4/21/13 presents Spamalot

4th Wall Productions in Beacon, NY from 4/19/13 to 4/28/13 presents Stinky Kids

The Theatre of the Republic in Conway, SC from 4/19/13 to 5/5/13 presents The Color Purple

Bloom High School in CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL from 4/19/13 to 4/20/13 presents The Color Purple

Bay Port High School in Green Bay, WI from 4/20/13 to 4/27/13 presents All Shook Up

Lyric Arts Company in Anoka, MN from 4/20/13 to 4/28/13 presents How I Became a Pirate

Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, IL from 4/21/13 to 4/28/13 presents Changing Minds

Bath United Church of Christ in Akron, OH from 4/21/13 to 4/21/13 presents Pinkalicious The Musical

Break-a-leg, everyone!

Check-out our Facebook Page

The MEMPHIS National Tour is breaking box-office records across the continent as the show prepares to land in its namesake city in beautiful Tennessee on April 23rd. Now through April 7, the show trucks are hanging in Louisville and then head on to the Motor City for a two-week run in Detroit starting April 9.

Broadway.com reports on the MEMPHIS tour phenomenon that hits Louisville, KY tonight: “The national tour of the Tony-winning musical MEMPHIS begins performances on April 2 in Louisville…The show will play the Kentucky Center through April 7. The cast includes Bryan Fenkart as Huey, Felicia Boswell as Felicia, Horace V. Rogers as Delray, Will Mann as Bobby and Rhett George as Gator. Broadway helmer Christopher Ashley directs the production.”

Get the whole scoop at Broadway.com!

Because of the ongoing national tour, MEMPHIS is not available for licensing at this time. Please send an e-mail to licensing@theatricalrights.com to be added to the MEMPHIS notification list!

Click Here to keep up to date on MEMPHIS ON TOUR.

Check-out this awesome MEMPHIS promo video, courtesy of the Louisville, KY presenter:

The Utah Rep in Murray, UT is presenting the Utah premiere of I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, a brilliant musical that really speaks to twenty and thirty-somethings and their rather complicated romances! The show, which opened off-Broadway in 2006, is a modern musical twist on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. Set in New York City, this story revolves around how a young, uptight greeting card writer’s life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other not in spite of their faults, but because of them. The Utah Rep production opened March 22 and continues through April 5 at the Murray Theatre.

Ashley Ramsey, the director of the Utah Rep production is passionate and very articulate on her feelings for the show. Here are her Director’s Notes, from the Rep’s press release:

A few years back I was browsing iTunes when the i love you because cast recording was recommended as an album I might like. I took a chance and bought it. I quickly fell in love with the fun songs and the relatable characters.

As the album progressed, I realized that this wasn’t just a fun story but that this was everyone’s story. The story of friendship and love, and sometimes how those lines blur, is played out in a way that everyone could relate to. The idea of learning to love someone not in spite of their faults but because of them is such a wonderful idea.

Director

As humans, we are all beautifully quirked and marked with the scars and bumps of life experiences. As relationships blossom and we get to know those in our lives, those marks can became so apparent. It’s easy to doubt if we can love or be loved in spite of those things. But if we can learn

to love everything about ourselves and those in our lives, how much more deep would that love be?

As we watch the i love you because characters search for love and come to realize what love really means and even lose that love, we are reminded of the journey that life is. On that journey we all have our baggage, now it’s just a matter of finding someone who completes our set.

—Ashley Ramsey, i love you because Director

Watch the Utah Rep Preview Video for I LOVE YOU BECAUSE!

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE features music by Joshua Salzman and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, beautifully delivered in the Utah Rep production with a talented cast of eight (the show can be done with six) and an A-List production team.

Click Here to find out more about licensing YOUR production of I LOVE YOU BECAUSE.

The Utah Rep production plays now through April 5th, 2013. Click Here for tickets and Information.

Stellar reviews are pouring for glowing casts on stages all over the world this week as scores of TRW shows get underway in North America!  Share your production and publicity with us on Facebook! Stay-tuned for the International Production Update next week!

Here’s the round-up of TRW tuners opening this week:

Workshop Theatre Columbia SC presents THE COLOR PURPLE 3/15/13-3/30/13

Dream Child Productions Fort Lauderdale FL presents BARE 3/27/13-3/31/13

Ghost Light Players of Metro West Ashland MA presents LOVE COMICS 3/15/13-3/17/13

Plaza Theatrical Productions Lynbrook NY presents DORA THE EXPLORER 3/26/13-4/20/13

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre Chagrin Falls OH present CURTAINS 3/22/13-4/20/13

Anacortes High School Anacortes WA presents SPAMALOT 3/14/13 3/23/13

DeltaArts West Memphis AR presents HOW I BECAME A PIRATE 3/27/13-3/28/13

Half Moon Bay High School Half Moon Bay CA presents 3/15/13-3/24/13

University of Dayton Theatre Department Dayton OH presents BARE 3/15/13-3/23/13

FAMU – Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University Tallahassee FL presents THE COLOR PURPLE 3/28/13-4/7/13

St. John’s Jesuit High School Monclova OH presents SPAMALOT 3/15/13-3/17/13

Edison High School Edison NJ presents SPAMALOT 3/15/13-3/23/13

Delsea Regional High School Franklinville NJ presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/14/13-3/16/13

Harlem High School Harlem GA presents CHANGING MINDS 3/14/13-3/23/13

Central Park Players Spring Lake MI presents PINKALICIOUS THE MUSICAL 3/15/13-3/23/13

Long Reach High School Columbia MD presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/21/13-3/24/13

The Actors Charitable Theatre – ACT Tuscaloosa AL presents SPAMALOT 3/21/13-3/23/13

Franklin High School Elk Grove CA presents CURTAINS 3/15/13-3/23/13

Northwest Cabarrus High School Concord presents FLIGHT OF THE LAWNCHAIR MAN 3/21/13-3/23/13

St. Brigid – Our Lady of Hope Regional School Westbury NY presents NORA’S ARK 3/15/13-3/16/13

Wayne Hills High School Wayne NJ presents CURTAINS 3/21/13-3/23/13

Barker Junior Senior High School Barker NY presents CURTAINS 3/15/13-3/17/13

Chateaugay Central School Chateaugay NY presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/22/13-3/24/13

Jeannette Senior High School Jeannette PA presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/15/13-3/17/13

Boston Conservatory Theatre Division Boston MA presents I LOVE YOU BECAUSE 3/26/13-3/26/13

Jordan-Elbridge High School Jordan NY presents CURTAINS 3/15/13-3/16/13

Conemaugh Township High School Davidsville PA presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/14/13-3/16/13

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School Burnt Hills NY presents CURTAINS 3/15/13-3/16/13

Thomas W. Harvey High School Painesville OH presents THE COLOR PURPLE 3/15/13-3/17/13

Springville Griffith Institute High School Springville NY presents SPAMALOT 3/15/13-3/17/13

Effingham High School Effingham IL presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/21/13-3/24/13

South Sioux City High School South Sioux City NE presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/14/1303/16/13

Buchanan High School Drama Clovis CA presents CURTAINS 3/14/13-3/23/13

Notre Dame High School East Stroudsburg PA presents WANDA’S WORLD 3/14/13-3/16/13

Bloomfield High School Bloomfield NY presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/15/13-3/16/13

Orangeville Jr Sr High School Orangeville IL presents CURTAINS 3/15/13-3/16/13

Dulaney High School Timonium MD presents CURTAINS 3/14/13-3/16/13

Lake George High School Youtheatre Lake George NY presents CHANGING MINDS 3/22/13-3/23/13

Sebring Mckinley High School Sebring OH presents ALL SHOOK UP 3/14/13-3/16/13

Pickerington Community Theatre Pickerington OH presents CURTAINS 3/15/13-3/24/13

Wapello High School Wapello IA presents CINDERELLA 3/23/13-3/24/13

Schoharie Central School Schoharie NY presents SPAMALOT 3/15/13-3/17/13

Grayling High School Grayling MI presents SPAMALOT 3/14/13 3/16/13

Shepherd High School Shepherd MI presents STRIKING 12 3/22/13-3/24/13

Utah Musical Theatre Company – Repertory Theatre Company Lehi UT presents I LOVE YOU BECAUSE 3/22/13-4/5/13

Paulding High School Paulding OH presents SPAMALOT 3/22/13-3/23/13

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Port Jefferson NY presents CURTAINS 3/15/13 3/17/13

The Ghost Light Players, is a fledgling community theater group based in MetroWest Massachusetts (cities and towns lying west of Boston and east of Worcester, MA), that is offering a variety of plays and musicals to engage their community and build a new comapany. They are starting with the heart of the community theatre experience.

According to their press release, “Ghost Light Players of MetroWest is a theater group operating out of Marlborough, Massachusetts and serving the MetroWest area. We are a small, intrepid group of actors, musicians, directors and stage crew who love theater in all its variety. We are building our fledgling group into something that lasts. Ghost Light Players hearken back to the days of old, when traveling troupes entertained their patrons with little more than a few props, masterful skill and an avid love of theater. Our sets are small, our costumes are minimal, but our talents and passions are great.”

Small sets…minimal costumes…and a love of the theatre. Go Ghost Light!

Their next production is TRW’s ode to the old school comic books LOVE COMICS, a heart-stopping and affectionate tribute to the classic romance comic books of the 1940′s and ’50′s. It’s a whirlwind course in the hard won lessons of love! Written by SARAH SCHLESINGER and DAVID EVANS, this nifty musical valentine to wooing in days gone by, is a retro-cool roller-coaster of  romance set to an tuneful, upbeat score that is as much fun to perform as it is to see!

The Ghost Light company is embracing the spirit of the show and has cast some community members who were keen to get on stage for the first time or dust off their diction and get back in the spotlight! One of their leads, Marlborough, MA’s Katie Follett, has brought her love of entertaining to the show. Her words capture the feeling of getting involved with a community theatre in a supportive environment. “It’s a musical…and I’ve never been a singer, but this guy encouraged me…and I sort found this voice I didn’t have…” Check out this inspiring video, for all those who want to get involved at their local theatres:

LOVE COMICS plays March 15 & 16 at 8 PM and March 17 at 2 PM at the First Church in Marlborough – 37 High Street, Marlborough, MA Click HERE for tickets and info.

Click HERE for information on licensing YOUR production of LOVE COMICS

The following article is from Raising Arizona Kids, a Phoenix, AZ based family activities and interests magazine with a circulation of over 140,000. Author Lynn Trimble writes a lovely article about The Valley Youth Theatre’s production of TRW’s TYA Musical, THEY CHOSE ME. Click here to read the article on the magazine’s website.

CELEBRATING ADOPTION AND FOSTER FAMILIES
By Lynn Trimble | Raising Arizona Kids

After dreaming for years of performing a musical about adoption called “They Chose Me,” Valley Youth Theatre artistic director Bobb Cooper knew just who to call to help make it happen. Wednesday the Phoenix-based theater company gathered with friends from the Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents and the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation to share a sneak peak of the “They Chose Me,” which is being performed at VYT April 5-21.

The show, which affirms the value of families formed in all sorts of ways, features music by Ned Paul Ginsburg, an artist Cooper has worked with before — during time spent with Broadway Kids in New York City. Lyrics are by Michael Colby, who co-wrote the book (portions spoken rather than sung) with Ginsburg. The VYT production features direction by Cooper and musical direction by Mark Fearey.

Fearey sat stage left playing the piano Wednesday night as youth newly cast performed a selection of songs from the musical. Catherine “Rusty” Foley, who heads Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts, marveled at what the performers were able to accomplish with just three hours rehearsal — a testament to the power of the arts in fueling young minds. “I’ll bet they didn’t learn their multiplication tables that quickly,” she quipped.
Cast member Ramiro Enrique Guevara, a 17-year-old student at Bioscience High School, appreciates the musical’s multicultural cast of characters, which reinforces the show’s overall theme — there’s nothing wrong with being different. Enrique loves the show’s message, which he beautifully summarizes like this: “I’m adopted, but I’m not different from anyone else.” A parent, he explains, is anyone who gives their kids love. Seems both cast and audience members can learn much from the musical’s focus on diversity and acceptance.

Riley Glick of Scottsdale, an 11-year-old student at Arizona School for the Arts, describes the show as funny and exciting. “I love the story that it tells,” she says. Lily Castle of Phoenix, a 12-year-old student at Fireside Elementary, says “They Chose Me” is different from every other show. “It’s about true stories instead of fairy tales.” One of Castle’s best friends is adopted. “I hope she’ll come to the show,” Castle shares.
Jessie Jo Pauley of Mesa, a 14-year-old student at Mountain View High School, appreciates the fact that the show ”goes deeper” into adoption stories. “It’s a musical about what adoption is really like.”
“There are so many stories out there not being told,” says Cooper. “I’m an adopted child — I lived in foster care,” Cooper shared with Wednesday’s audience. “These are the stories we do not tell.”
Cooper admits to hesitating a bit before deciding to mount a production of “They Chose Me,” knowing it might not have the same broad appeal as shows like “Shrek” or “Rapunzel.” But he knows the topic matters, and hopes the community will rally behind it.

“We’re a socially responsible organization,” reflects Cooper. “We build character with characters.”

Click here to learn more about “They Chose Me” and other VYT productions.

Click here to find out about licensing YOUR production of THEY CHOSE ME