What a time we all had . . .
. . . mounting our production of Singin’ in the Rain. Literally HUNDREDS of you - VLT volunteers, contract staff, actors, regular staff (and – we think – the wait staff from Geraldi’s) got involved getting this show in shape for its opening on Tuesday. We just can’t send enough thanks out to all of you who pitched in and then pitched in again. Our amazing tech staff made things happen on MainStage that once upon a time ‘couldn’t be done’ here. But it had to rain on stage, so rain it did. This is a delightful production with some extraordinary talent on view - if you haven’t got your tickets yet . . .
. . . and opening two shows in a single night . . .
. . . isn’t something we do every day either, but it does happen - on Tuesday, ‘it’ happened. While Singin’ in the Rain was opening on MainStage (to a standing ovation by the way), so was the wildly popular encore production of Always, Patsy Cline, in Stage II. When we first presented Always in 2004, it sold out in a heartbeat and we knew we wanted to bring it back. And we knew we wanted the glorious Tamara Sipes and Becky Holahan to reprise their roles. The only available dates that emerged when we compared their schedules and ours, would present a unique challenge. To open it on February 14, we’d have to "turn over" Stage II from the production of Cabaret (which closed Sunday) in 51 hours! That is FIFTY-ONE HOURS to strike one set, build another, set lights and sound and so much more. Allan Kollar and his cast had been rehearsing in the Annex building but never got on the stage in the Pinkerton Theatre until Monday night’s one-and-only technical/dress rehearsal. Musicians learned an entire new play space and entirely new acoustics in a single night. And Allan himself spent pretty much every minute (no time for sleep in the schedule) working in there with more of our heroic volunteers right up until "places were called" on Tuesday night. [Your editor is being told that Always, Patsy Cline is sold out. That was fast!
UPDATE: Now your editor is told that two performances have been added: February 26 at 8:00 p.m. and March 5 at 8:00 p.m.)Yup, that’ll be John Davidson . . .
. . . on our MainStage Monday. This is the star’s first performance in Venice. Two shows are scheduled for Monday, February 20. The first is at 4:00 p.m. and the second at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are only $30.00 - that’s a deal and it saves the trip to Branson or Las Vegas, where he performs to sell out houses.
but he’s got to follow some Second graders . . .
. . . which is NOT FAIR. No performer likes to follow cute dogs or other animals; it’s cruel and unusual to ask them to follow Venice Elementary second graders, but they’re the ones who’ll be on the MainStage Saturday in a show that is free and open to the public - at 11:00 a.m. The school has been working with our Education department and will present an original theatre piece about bullies and heroes, which was developed by VLT and VES, using stories gathered from seniors in our own community. Come and support them on Saturday at 11:00 am. again, there is no charge. (and then come back and catch John Davidson’s show!).
It’s not every day the playwright . . .
. . . travels from New York to Venice to work on his play, but this week author Craig Pospicil (The Dunes - opens in Stage II March 16) did just that. It’s a world premiere production and he wanted to hone the script - where better to do that than at rehearsals at VLT. Director Leanne Hanson and her actors were very pleased with such priveleged input.
Our garden doesn’t just grow . . .
. . . it’s GROWN - by planting, weeding, pruning and lots and lots of love. Volunteer David Goldstein has created the lovely "certified Florida yard" garden in front of VLT over a number of years. When he decided this season to pass the torch, we were fortunate that Larry and Diane Higgins were here to pick it up. They’‘ve jumped right into the task and even added a lovely bench already. So David, thanks for the lovely garden and to Diane and Larry - welcome.
See you at the theatre!
Okay, let’s check some dates:
FEBRUARY 19-20 - AUDITIONS for The Vagina Monologues. 7:30 p.m.
through MARCH 5 - Always, Patsy Cline, a VLT cabaret in Pinkerton Theatre. Tickets are $20.00.
through MARCH 12 - Singin’ in the Rain on the MainStage. Tickets $20.00.
FEBRUARY 20 - John Davidson in CONCERT. Two shows. Tickets $30.00.
FEBRUARY 26-27 - The Kingston Trio. Three shows. Tickets $35.00.
FEBRUARY 26-27 - AUDITIONS for Little Women. 7:30 p.m.
MARCH 6 - Boots Randolph in CONCERT. Two shows. Tickets $25.00
MARCH 12 (2:30pm); MARCH 13 (5:00pm) - AUDITIONS for Tom Sawyer, the Musical
MARCH 12-13 - The Diamonds in CONCERT. 3 shows. Tickets $25.00.
MARCH 16-20 - The Silver Foxes Follies. 5 shows. $16.00.
MARCH 16-APRIL 2 - The Dunes in Stage II. Tickets $20.00.
MARCH 28 - APRIL 15 - Greater Tuna in MainStage. Tickets $20.00.
That’s just a partial listing. For the rest of the season info and to buy tickets, get thee to:
w w w . v e n i c e s t a g e . c o m