Wheaton Drama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director: James A. Liesz at jaliesz@hotmail.com
Publicity: publicity@wheatondrama.org
Tickets: http://www.wheatondrama.org or call 630-260-1820

Wheaton Drama Casts The Sound of Music

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) has cast its 2012 fall family musical, The Sound of Music. This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic will be performed from November 9 to December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, IL.

James A. Liesz is directing, assisted by Susan Carr. Joni Kotche is the musical director. Choreography is by Barbara Giblin. Rebecca Poole and Amy Johnson are the production managers. Stage management is by Bruce Ebner and Debbie Trueblood.

The cast includes: Dave Amato (Admiral von Schrieber); Jean Austin (understudy – The Mother Abbess); Ashley Johnson Barney (The Mother Abbess); Tyler Berger (Brigetta); Alan Bolds (Franz); Cindy Bolds (Frau Schmidt); Alexandra Burkhardt (Marta); Keith DeBolt* (Captain Georg von Trapp); Teagan Earley (Liesl); Daniel Flage (Friedrich); Christian Johnson (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer); Andy Kanturek (Baron Elberfeld); Julie Kanturek (Baroness Elberfeld); Rachelle Kates (Maria Rainer); Jamee Kenney (understudy – Sister Sophia); Mitchell Kinn (Rolf); Tim Landry (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer); Anna Chase Lanier (Louisa); Dawn Holt Lauber (Elsa Schraeder); Michael Lewis (Friedrich); Meg McGarry (Sister Sophia & understudy – Maria); Diana McGrath (Marta); Faith McGrath (Gretl); Tessa Newman (Brigetta); Lillian Perez (Sister Margaretta); Fletcher Peterson (Kurt); Brock Royle (Kurt); Gwen Royle (Gretl); Vincent Scalone (Herr Zeller); Madysen Simanonis (Louisa); Luke Stephens (Rolf); Ginger Terlep (Sister Berthe); Stuart Vance (Max Detweiler); Emily Whaley (Liesl); Jim Wheeler (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer).

The Nuns Chorus includes: Kelly Baessler (Postulant); Deanna Bero; Patty Blackman; Kitty Bruno; Dana Clouser; Lisa Crank; Diana Dignan; Edie Fitts; Sari Flage (Postulant); Georgia Hamilton; Jennifer Hawes; Maria Hegarty; Kailey Henderson (Postulant); Dee Hicks; Heidi Humiston; Charmaine G. Jones; Alissa Kanturek (Postulant); Julie Kanturek; Jamee Kenney; Caroline Lauber (Postulant); Kimberly Maslo; Laura Miller; Debbie Molinaro; Laura Murray; Kendall Peak; Helen Prebys (Postulant); Amy Royle; Kristin Sandy; Val Shay; Sarah Smith; Marilee Sobiecki; Sheila Zinke; Jessica Zolmierski.

The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. The show is licensed by R&H Theatricals. Performances are at 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 3pm Sundays. Tickets are $18 for Thursdays; $21 Fridays-Sundays. No show Thanksgiving Day.

Wheaton Drama’s upcoming shows are: The Good Life Cafe (November 10 only); It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (January 25-February 17, 2013); Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending) and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).

Visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820 for tickets. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity.

*Reflects cast change.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director: Annie Walker-Bright at bebrightannie@aol.com

Production Manager: Steve Blount at srblount@hotmail.com

Publicity: publicity@wheatondrama.org

Tickets: http://www.wheatondrama.org or call 630-260-1820

Wheaton Drama To Hold Auditions For Sherlock Holmes

“The game is afoot, Watson—and it is a dangerous one!”

Wheaton Drama Inc. announces auditions for the Steven Dietz’ adaptation of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.

Annie Walker-Bright is directing, assisted by Dee Hicks. The production manager is Steve Blount. Amy Johnson is the stage manager.

Auditions will be Sunday, October 21, 2012, and Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7pm at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale in downtown Wheaton. Callbacks (if necessary) will be Wednesday October 24, 2012 at 7:30pm. Those auditioning are requested to prepare a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue (either from the play or not) and be prepared for monologues and cold reading from the script.

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure is set in Victorian England in a tidy flat at 221B Baker Street, and other locations. You don’t have to be a scholar of detective stories to enjoy the script Steven Dietz has crafted—there is enough intrigue and adventure, even a touch of romance with the inclusion of Holmes’ intellectual equal, Irene Adler.  

The director will be casting 6 men and 2 women for the following roles:

Performances are January 25, 2013 through February 17, 2013. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $13 for Thursdays; $16 for Fridays-Sundays. Dramatists Play Service licenses Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.

Other shows in Wheaton Drama’s season are The Heiress (through September 30), The Sound of Music (November 9–December 9), It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16), Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending), and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).

For show tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES:

The reason the auditions are scheduled earlier than usual is because I need to work with all the actors on English accents. Normally I do not put a huge emphasis on accents, but I think you will understand that it is the heart and soul of this play. It is written with English accents and attitude in mind and therein lies the humour.

It is my intention to work with actors one on one, line by line, word by word, in a group, whatever, to maximize the use of the English accent and intonations. You will become so familiar with the English accent that by the time we reach the rehearsal stage, it will be second nature. We can then concentrate on putting together a superb, funny, clever show full of intense technical and lighting effects.

My vision of Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson and all other characters is very broad. It will simply boil down to the best combinations. Having said that, I will not limit any of the characters to age, height, hair colour or otherwise; it all depends on chemistry and the freedom to take a risk on, I hope, a very innovative approach to staging Sherlock Holmes. 

I look forward to seeing you all at auditions.

 – Annie Walker-Bright (630-665-5133; bebrightannie@aol.com)

Wheaton Drama has cast the children’s roles in The Sound of Music.

103 children auditioned. 51 attended callbacks, with 16 cast. The following “Teams” will each perform in 9 of the 18 shows:

TEAM SALZBURG
Luke Stephens as Rolf
Emily Whaley as Liesl
Michael Lewis as Friedrich
Madysen Simanonis as Louisa
Fletcher Peterson as Kurt
Tessa Newman as Brigetta
Diana McGrath as Marta
Faith McGrath as Gretl

TEAM VIENNA
Mitchell Kinn as Rolf
Teagan Earley as Liesl
Daniel Flage as Friedrich
Anna Chase Lanier as Louisa
Brock Royle as Kurt
Tyler Berger as Brigetta
Alexandra Burkhardt as Marta
Gwen Royle as Gretl

Director Jim Liesz says, “These are wonderfully talented kids. Now let’s bring on the adults! Auditions for adults are Sunday, September 16 at 7pm and Monday, September 17 at 7pm. Please remember our ‘Visiting’ Nun’s Chorus and that we have 3 male non singing roles and 1 female non singing role that also must be cast.” Details at the SOM show page on this website!

The Sound of Music is performed November 9 through December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton. The Heiress is on stage through September 30.

The time has come to round out the cast of our It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show (which will run December 14-16, 2012) by casting the Jingle Singers.  Director Sean Ogren is searching for three female voices that can blend a la The Andrews Sisters’ sound.  The Jingle Singers will be a big part of the show as they sing original commercial jingles and classic holiday favorites.   

Auditions will be Sunday, September 23, 2012 starting at 7pm, and audition materials will be available one week prior.  The auditions will be in WDI’s Playhouse 111 basement.  Please contact Sean Ogren at seanogren@gmail.com to set up an audition time.