A Rave for A Christmas Story

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200912180400/LIFESTYLE/912180325

Donald V. Calamia November 8 at 1:07pm

Hopefully BoarsHead CAN regroup. They've already suffered from a significant loss of subscribers and single ticket sales from their poor handling of the Thatcher dismissal, so how will their canceling the Christmas show - with no provisions announced for those who already bought tickets - impact them when they supposedly return in January? Time will tell...

I was surprised by Kristine's comment, too. Geoffrey is anything BUT standard fare - as he showed at MBT and BoarsHead. Our loss is certainly Alabama's gain!

DO you love directing, eh? Cool! Do you foresee a time when you'd move into that full-time and give up the stage roles?

Diana Van Fossen November 10 at 6:36am

Give up stage roles? I think of Noel Coward's Judith Bliss in "Hay Fever" -- something along the lines of not "as long as there's breath left in my body."

I was just trying to look up what produtions Geoffrey chose for BoarsHead (below)-- and wow! Here was this article about Kristine leaving BoarsHead and Paul Slade Smith, a playwright who was produced by her, commenting.

Yikes, theatre people can be so cruel and ungrateful. Spread such gossip and contention about others! Does disdain make their work finer? Based on Noel Coward, the answer is yes!

We have to work on our souls to be fairminded, accepting and actually give it up to celebrate other artists. God knows I tried in Michigan, going to all those odd nooks and crannies. Lord, actual barns, I think. It's difficult when you cut your teeth in a West End theatre. But I managed to enjoy myself at odd moments. And that's the by-pass operation to survival.

Thank you for reading this....If you do...

2003-2004 Season
Dance Like No One is Watching-- Kitty Dubin, local playwright
Sarah, Ella & Pops-- worthy
Soccer Moms-- new playwright

2004-2005 Season
Over the Tavern-- big success
Humble Boy-- cutting edge British
A Christmas Carol -----
Side by Side by Sondheim-- charming but
The Story-- excellent
Comedy of Errors-- different and a success
Over the Tavern (Encore)-- success again

2004-2005 Season
King O' The Moon-- follow up to "Tavern"
No Way to Treat a Lady-- arch thriller musical!
Stones in His Pockets-- John Peakes is back
Pantomime (?)

Now that "Christmas Carol" was excellent on the radio!

Ferdinand at the Festival | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser

Source: www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Once upon a time ... there was a new group of actor interns at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival who staged a production based on Munro Leaf's classic tale featuring a loveable bull who wanted noth­ing more than to sit quietly and smell the flowers.

Young Boozer III, Laurie Weil, Susan and Gene Crane, Margaret and Jimmy Lowder, Diana Van Fossen and Geof frey Sherman were among those enjoying a recent Donor's Party and rock 'n roll evening at the Alabama Shake speare Festival. (Contributed)

Diana Van Fossen November 7 at 12:38pm

What a shame about the "hiatus" at BoarsHead. But then it does give them a breather to regroup after an overdose of ill will since they let Kristine Thatcher go.

I listened to Kristine's interview and thought it was great. I know what she means about "standard fare."

Geoffrey's work is never "standard fare." Always producing new, edgy work since the Hudson Guild (only new plays) days. He's a rebel!! Not exactly like in the Civil War -- though he's commissioned two plays about its start for next season! One from a black point of view and one from a Caucasian writer (from Russia, of course!).

So here we are in Alabama so proud to be premiering two brand new plays a season. Even though it is a Shakespeare Festival. Are we sweating blood? You bet.

You have to remember that Shakespeare walked to London so that he could start in the theatre. He was a new playwright. His young feet felt a lot on the walk and that reverberated with the fabulous collision of languages that was going on in London at the time. I really believe the inspiration to storytelling wells in the nomad!!! And what a feast he had.

It's so not cushy in the arts, but it's glorious.

By the way I love directing. Major canvas!!!

I hear that “The Return” is nearly sold out.

Reminds me of “Bear Country” which sold out during its run last winter. It's summer run was suggested by Board Members who were convinced it could not fail to sell. So actors, technicians and stage management people had work instead of going on furlough.

Same can be said for the production of “Bee Hive." An audience enjoyed the show even if it did not makeup for the downward spiraling economy. Other theaters around the country closed down completely and abruptly. Not ASF.

Now the administration is lean and the workshops are ready for a strong season. Survival while Broadway crumbles. I hope this will be so.

We are getting ready to start another season at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival here in Montgomery. Economic downturn or no economic downturn! The season starts with a children's musical, "Ferdinand The Bull." For Christmas it's "A Christmas Story." In the Rep season are: the greatest tragedy ever written, "Hamlet," a crazy comedy, "Lettice and Lovage," and the curious tale of love above one's station, "All's Well That Ends Well." New plays being produced are 'The Return" about Harriet Tubman, "Fall of the House," a modern story infused with the winds of Poe and "Nobody" about two black men who had to wear blackface to get a start in show biz and went on to become Broadway impressarios! Then there's a down home musical, "Cowgirls.
The newly formed Intern Company of actor newcomers are the singing and dancing stars of "Ferdinand." As they open on November 7th, the company of actors for "The Christmas Story" arrives in Montgomery to join a waiting cast of local child actors and begin rehearsals with Artistic Director Geoffrey Sherman.
In the Rep season, Nathan Hosner who played Porthos in last season's "The Three Musketeers" at ASF and just played the title role in "Mc Beth" in Chicago returns to Montgomery to play Hamlet. His Horatio will be Matt D'Amico, last season's brilliant Iago, returning for his third season to ASF. ASF vetern actress Greta Lambert will play Gertrude.
Auditions in New York next week will complete the casting.
The comedy "Lettice and Lovage," originally written for and staring Maggie Smith, will be directed by renowned director John Going.

Morris Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbifCM8n-Sc

Comedy of Errors