Garland Opry has new home, 
presents local talent showcase

Posted November 3, 2010

Join the Garland Opry in its new home, the auditorium of the Alpha Charter 
School, 701 State St. in historic downtown Garland.

Saturday, November 20th, 7:30 pm • Tickets $8 -- "Garland Opry Band" 
featuring C B Luce

Contact CB Luce at 972-494-3838 or visit www.GarlandTexasOpry.com for more information.

GSO continues 2010-11 season

Posted October 29, 2010

The Garland Symphony Orchestra continues its 2010-2011 “A Symphony for All Seasons!”  The GSO will be performing Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C Major (“Linz”), KV 425, Piazzolla’s “Buenos Aires Autumn (Otoño Porteño) from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas), along with Vivaldi’s “Autumn (L’autumno) from The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), Op. 8, No.3 with violinist Andrew Wang as soloist.

Performances by Andrew Wang, violin; Oliver Schlaffer, cello; and Alex McDonald, piano performing Beethoven’s concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano, and Orchestra in C Major, Op. 56 will also be featured.

Beethoven's Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, Op. 56, commonly known as the Triple Concerto, was composed in 1803 and published in 1804 under Breitkopf & Hartel. The choice of the three solo instruments makes this a concerto for piano trio and the only one Beethoven ever wrote for more than one solo instrument.

The concerto is divided into three movements:   1. Allegro,  2. Largo (attacca),  3. Rond alla polacca

New York City native Oliver Schlaffer began studying the cello at age four.  In 1998 and 1999, he was selected to participate in the New York String Orchestra Seminar at Carnegie Hall, under the direction of Jamie Laredo. 

He received a bachelor of music degree from Southern Methodist University, where his teachers were Ko Iwasaki and Christopher Adkins.  His master of music degree is from Northwestern University.  While at Northwestern, he was principal cellist of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, performing in Carnegie Hall under the baton of David Barenboim.  From 2001-04, Schlaffer was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Fla.  His performances under the leadership of Michael Tilson Thomas included a solo appearance playing the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor.

Andrew Wang began the violin at the age of five and was quickly recognized as a major talent.  His teachers have included Fredell Lack, Josephine McAndrews, Margaret Pardee, and Donald Weilerstein, and he has played for Ruggiero Ricci, Camilla Wicks, Almita Vamos, Paul Kantor, and Dorothy Delay. 

Wang has garnered prizes in the Houston Symphony Competition, Corpus Christi National Competition, Julius Ester Stulberg International Competition, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra Concerto Competition.  As a concert violinist, he has toured the United States and Asia and has been recorded on APAD and HRO/Memorial Church labels.  Andrew is also active as a chamber musician.  He performed regularly with the Brattle Street Chamber Players and with his string quartet, and has amassed an impressive repertoire of chamber music for a variety of instrumentations.  His most recent endeavors with his string quartet were modern jazz concerts with the Bob Nieske Trio and Jim Hall in the Harvard University Jazz Society Presents.

Alex McDonald began his piano studies at the age of 4. Since his orchestral debut at age 11, he has soloed with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Mexico in Toluca, Mexico, the Utah Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, the Corpus Christi Symphony, and others. His solo recitals include performances for Pro Musica in El Paso, the American Chopin Society, the Texas Conservatory for Young Artists and the Miami Civic Music Association.

McDonald was awarded the second prize at the Gina Bachauer International Young Artist Piano Competition, grand prize in the Kingsville International Young Performers Competition and grand prize at the Music Teachers National Association Yamaha Competition.  He is currently pursuing his master of music degree under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin at The Juilliard School.  He completed his bachelor of music degree under Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, with honors and distinction in performance.

The GSO credits its Music Director, Robert Carter Austin, for its continued outstanding orchestral programming.  His background encompasses more than 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University. 

Season tickets are as low as $53.00, and single tickets are $15, $25, and $35.  All are available by phone (972.926.0611), fax (972.926.0811), or email (info@garlandsymphony.org).  Concerts begin at 8 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center, Linda Brownlee Auditorium, 300 North 5^th Street, Garland.  For information, visit www.garlandsymphony.org.

GSO presents Young People’s Concerts

Posted October 9, 2010

The Garland Symphony Orchestra begins its 2010-11 Young People’s Concert series with a performance for the Garland Independent School District at the Special Events Center at 10 a.m. on Oct. 26 and 27.

These concerts are a part of an age-specific, arts integrated curriculum designed to enhance and supplement the arts education programs of the participating school district.  This project works through teacher/school partnerships and culminates with a performance by the GSO for elementary students in the GISD.

The concerts are meant to educate, inspire, and entertain young students by acquainting them with the orchestra, introducing them to a live performance, as well as interest them in creating music and appreciating quality music throughout their lives. The GSO tours its Young People’s Concerts each year to more than 7,000 elementary school students.

Students attending this year’s Young People’s Concert will be swept away on a musical adventure featuring works from Sousa, Brahms and Rimsky-Korsakov as well as exciting music from such popular movies as Harry Potter and cartoons by Bugs Bunny.

“For our society to move forward, for our culture to survive, fine arts education must remain strong. We already know that kids who study music do better in physics and math. Teaching the fine arts is a rounding of the whole development of the student.”  Representative Rob Eissler, House Public Education Committee Chair

GCT continues ‘Noises Off’

Posted October 7, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre will continue performances of “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn. The remaining performances are Friday through Sunday, October 8 – 23, 2010 with a Thursday performance on October 7 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland. Tickets, which are $20 for all performances, are available by calling 972-205-2790 weekday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Charles Ballinger directs this madly funny romp, considered to be the funniest farce ever written. The play shows the hilarious pitfalls, downfalls, and comic terrors of a theatre company trying to perform a comedy play, spilling all the personal and backstage dirt of everyone involved. Included in the cast are Gregory Phillips as Garry, Andrew Dillon as Lloyd, Stephanie Hall as Brooke, Patrick Lynwood Henry as Time, Kristen Blevins James as Belinda, Jasmine Ogburn as Poppy, Brad Smith as Freddie, Ben Westfried as Selsdon, and Lorna Woodford as Dotty.

GSO season begins in October

Posted September 27, 2010

The Garland Symphony Orchestra presents its 2010-2011 Season, “A Symphony for All Seasons!” at the Granville Arts Center.  The season opens October 22, and all performances are at 8:00 PM in the Linda Brownlee Auditorium.

The October and November subscription programs will feature Grieg's In Autumn, Piazzolla’s Buenos Aires Autumn, and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano.  The January and February concerts will offer Tchaikovsky's "Winter Dreams" Symphony, and a suite from Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera The Snow Maiden.  Schumann's "Spring Symphony", Sibelius' Spring Song, and Johann Strauss II’s Voices of Spring will be heard in February and March. 

In April and May, the GSO audience will be treated to Debussy’s “Rondes de printemps,” No. 3, Camilo’s Concerto for Piano, Harp, and Strings, Berg's Im Sommerwind, and Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén’s rollicking Midsommarvaka.  The season will conclude with Igor Stravinsky’s powerful and compelling work The Rite of Spring.

Along the way, the orchestra will also play selections from the many composers who have written music for all four seasons - not only Vivaldi's always popular Quattro Stagioni, but also works by Schumann, Haydn, and Glazunov.

Additionally, the GSO will feature a performance by Vurl Bland, tuba, performing Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto in F Minor.

After completing his bachelor’s degree at Cameron University and continuing with Graduate Studies in Orchestral Performance with Don Little at the University of North Texas, Vurl Bland was appointed Principal Tuba of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra in Cape Town, South Africa in 1987.

During his tenure in Cape Town, he was a member of the Solid Brass Quintet and Intsholo – a brass and African percussion ensemble. As a member of the CTSO, Solid Brass and Intsholo, Mr. Bland toured South Africa on numerous occasions, performed at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, and toured Taipei, Oslo, and the Canary Islands. As a soloist, he presented the first solo tuba recital tour in South Africa and appeared on four occasions with the CTSO.

He also hosted “The Mostly Brass Show” on Fine Music Radio 101.3 for three years.  After 14 years in the CTSO, Mr. Bland returned to the United States and settled in North Texas. Since his return, he has played with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Opera Orchestra, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, the Pavarotti Tour Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, Texas and Dallas Wind Symphonies and the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo Band, to name but a few.

As an active chamber musician, he is a member of Orion Brass and Perennial Brass.  Mr. Bland was a founding member of the Cape Town National Brass Congress and was involved with the Genesis Brass Project. He served as adjunct brass faculty at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, was Tuba Instructor to the SADF Band, taught at the Beau Soleil and Hugo Lampercht’s music centers and was Teaching Assistant at UNT. In addition to his teaching responsibilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, he also serves as Low Brass Specialist at Houghton Custom Horns in Keller. 

The GSO credits its Music Director, Robert Carter Austin for its continued outstanding and diverse orchestral programming.  His background encompasses more 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University.  Maestro Austin’s musical experience includes conducting performances in countries including: Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, Spain, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. 

Season tickets are priced as low as $53.00 and are available by calling 972-926-0611, faxing 972-926-0811, or emailing info@garlandsymphony.org.  All concerts begin at 8 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in Garland.  Visit www.garlandsymphony.org for information.

Light Crust Doughboys celebrate 80 years of music

Kim Everett | September 9, 2010

Art Greenhaw, owner and member of the Light Crust Doughboys, has strong Garland ties.  His father, Frank, graduated from Garland High School and is the oldest member of the Light Crust Doughboys.  His aunt, Eunice McNeely, worked for Garland Power & Light in the 1950s and 1960s, and his uncle was Garland’s only taxi drive for many years.

It is only fitting that the band will celebrate its 80^th anniversary at Garland’s Wild West Cowboy Roundup on September 18 in historic downtown.

Greenhaw is the keeper of the tradition and heritage of the legendary musical group.  He was a partner with legendary banjo player, Marvin “Smokey Montgomery,” who joined the band in 1935 and was a member until his death in 2001. 

Making sure the legacy continues can be stressful at times.  “The responsibility does weigh on me at times,” Greenhaw said.  “It’s a historical band, with Texas roots, and it’s part of our Texas culture.”

Greenhaw, whose interest in music came from his dad, said that the Light Crust Doughboys have always been his heroes.  “It’s an honor to be a part of it,” he said.

The Light Crust Doughboys, declared in 1995 by the state legislature, as the “official music ambassadors of the Lone Star State,” have enjoyed a large, loyal fan base since their beginning in 1930.  Their radio show began as a way to sell Light Crust Flour, but the band grew into an unparalleled phenomenon that has lasted for more than 80 years.  According to Greenhaw, they are the longest running band in the history of recorded music.

Bob Wills and Milton Brown are credited as the founders of western swing.  Wills moved to Fort Worth in 1929 and started a two-man band with guitarist Herman Amspiger called the Wills Fiddle Band.  Brown joined the group in 1930 as the vocalist, and soon after, the three became the Light Crust Doughboys.

Their radio show was so popular that when Burrus Mill tried to cancel it, fans demanded that they be brought back.  Their style of music had caught on, and when W. Lee O’Daniel became their announcer, the show became popular all over the Southwest and was heard on more than 170 radio stations.  No one knows how many people heard their daily broadcasts.

Brown left the group in 1932; and the next year, Wills was fired for excessive drinking and not showing up for shows.  Wills’ influence, however, is still evident in the band.

In the late 1930s, the Light Crust Doughboys, with new members Kenneth Pitts, Clifford Gross, Marvin Montgomery, Ramon DeArman, Dick Reinhart, John “Knocky” Parker, and Muryel Campbell, enjoyed a great deal of success in both recording and on the radio program.

In 1952, Burrus Mill cancelled the radio show, but the group continued.  The members have changed through the years, but the music hasn’t. 

The Light Crust Doughboys have been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and won in 2003 for Best Gospel Album.  They’ve also been nominated for Dove Awards and are the Texas Commission on the Arts' official touring artists.  In addition, they are inductees in the Texas Cowboy, Texas Western Swing, Rockabilly, Texas Music, and Cowtown Society of Western Music Halls of Fame.   

The band lost long-time member, Marvin “Smokey” Montgomery, at the age of 88 in 2001.  His long tenure with the band earned him the title of “Mr. Light Crust Doughboy,” and the 74th Texas Legislature called him a “national treasure.”  The band honors Montgomery’s contributions, along with those of Bob Wills and Milton Brown during every performance.

Other past band members include Tommy Duncan, Johnnie Lee Wills, Leon McAuliffe, Leon Huff, Hank Thompson, Slim Whitman, Jim Boyd, Johnny Strawn, Ronnie Dawson, Carroll Hubbard, Jerry Elliott, Bill Simmons, and John Walden.

Current members, in addition to Greenhaw, who plays guitar, bass, piano, and provides vocals, include Maurice "Reece" Anderson on steel guitar; Kevin Bailey on guitar; Jim Baker on violin; Dale Cook on drums; Teresa Anderson, vocals; Frank Greenhaw on baritone horn; Bob Krenkel on reeds; and Bud Dresser on horns.  Legends Jerry Elliott and John Walden still occasionally join the band during performances.

Greenhaw was the music director, pianist, and guitarist at the Mesquite Opry during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s.

Auditions scheduled for ‘Man of LaMancha’

Celeste Rogers | September 2, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre will hold auditions for “Man of La Mancha” on Sept. 15 and 19 at the GCT office, 108 North Sixth St. in downtown Garland.  Audition appointments are open to singers ages 16 to 75 and can be made by calling 972-485-8884. 

Auditioners need to be prepared to sing two songs, a ballad and an upbeat Broadway tune. Bring sheet music for the audition pieces, a headshot, and resume. There is a cast of 30 persons. All roles are available. Everyone auditioning must sing with the piano accompanist that is provided. Cold readings from the script and dance auditions will be at callbacks, which are scheduled for the evening of Sept. 19^th. Rehearsals begin Sept. 27.

“Man of la Mancha” includes one of the world’s most beloved songs, ”The Impossible Dream.”  This delightful musical by Dale Wasserman, Joe Darion and Mitch Lekjh brings you the story of the aging Cervantes as he plays out his novel, “Don Quixote.”

Performances are Friday through Sunday, Nov. 12 to Dec. 4 with Thursday performances on Nov. 11 and 18 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth St. in Garland. Kyle McClaran is directing the production.

GCT stages ‘My Cousin Rachel’

Celeste Rogers | August 25, 2010 -- Photos by Celeste Rogers

The staging of Daphne du Maurier’s best selling novel, “My Cousin Rachel” continues for the next three weekends. This enchanting story is set in a great house in Cornwall which has been inherited by young Philip Ashley on the death of his uncle and surrogate father. His uncle had gone to Rome, married a young Italian widow of short acquaintance and then died under mysterious circumstances. The widow, “cousin” Rachel, comes to visit Philip, and her charm and grace soon wins her friends and the ardent devotion of Philip himself. As his attraction for the alluring Rachel increases, Philip’s health declines, confirming to him the fear that Rachel is actually poisoning him. The mounting tension leads to the famous twist ending which leaves nagging doubts as to where guilt and evil should be assigned.

The production will run Friday through Sunday, August 27 – September 11, 2010 with a performance on Thursday, August 26 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North 5^th Street. Call the Arts Center box office at 972-205-2790 for tickets. All tickets are $20 which includes service fee. There are discounts available for KERA members and groups of 10 or more. Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings are at 8 p.m., and matinees are at 2:30 p.m.

“My Cousin Rachel” was adapted for the stage by Diana Morgan. The theatre’s Artistic Director, Kyle McClaran, is directing the production and designing the costumes and the set, and the light design is by Catherine Montgomery.  The cast includes Brandon Simmons as Phillip Ashley, Evelyn Davis as Rachel Ashley, Gregory Phillips as Kendall, Kristin DiFrancesco as Louise, Daniel Anderson as Antonio Rainaldi, and Emily Hunt as Mrs. Secombe.

GSO presents 2010-2011 Season, “A Symphony for All Seasons!”

Posted July 15, 2010

The Garland Symphony Orchestra opens its 2010-11 “A Symphony for All Seasons!” on October 22, 8 p.m. at the Granville Performing Arts Center, 300 North 5^th Street, Garland.

GSO’s eight subscription programs will explore the theme "A Symphony for All Seasons!" The October and November subscription programs will feature Grieg's In Autumn, Piazzolla’s Buenos Aires Autumn, and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano. The January and February concerts will offer Tchaikovsky's "Winter Dreams" Symphony, Larsson's A Winter’s Tale, and a suite from Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera The Snow Maiden. Schumann's "Spring Symphony", Sibelius' Spring Song, and Johann Strauss II’s Voices of Spring will be heard in February and March. In April and May, the GSO audience will be treated to Mendelssohn's music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Berg's Im Sommerwind, and Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén’s rollicking Midsommarvaka. The season will conclude with Igor Stravinsky’s powerful and compelling work The Rite of Spring. 

Along the way, the orchestra will also play selections from the many composers who have written music for all four seasons - not only Vivaldi's always popular Quattro Stagioni, but also works by Schumann, Haydn, Glazunov, and Debussy.

The Garland Symphony Orchestra credits its Music Director, Robert Carter Austin, for its continued outstanding and diverse orchestral programming. Maestro Austin’s background encompasses more than 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University.

Until July 31, all new subscribers to the Garland Symphony are entitled to a 50% discount on the season package of their choice. Group discounts are available as well. To take advantage of this offer, please contact the GSO office at 972.926.0611 or email info@garlandsymphony.org. Visit www.garlandsymphony.org. for additional information.

GCT schedules auditions

Posted August 2, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn on the afternoons of August 7 and 8. Callbacks begin at 6:30 p.m. on August 8. Rehearsals begin August 16. Auditions will be held at the offices of Garland Civic Theatre, 108 North Sixth Street in downtown Garland. 

Appointments, which can be made by calling the GCT office at 972-485-8884, are required for all auditions.

Auditioners should bring a headshot and resume to their appointment, but no experience is required. Roles are
available for a variety of men and women, ages 20 to 65. British accent is requested. The audition will consist of
cold readings from the script. 

Charles Ballinger is directing this madly funny romp, considered to be the funniest farce ever written show the hilarious pitfalls, downfalls, and comic terrors of a theatre company trying to perform a comedy play, spilling all the personal and backstage dirt of everyone involved.  

The production will run Friday through Sunday, October 1–27 with Thursday performances on September 30 and October 7 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in Garland.

Garland Civic Theatre is a member of Garland Chamber of Commerce and Texas Non-profit Theatres. Season sponsors include Garland Cultural Arts Commission and The Dallas Morning News. For more information, visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884.

GCT presents “My Cousin Rachel”

Posted August 2, 2010

The first MainStage production of Garland Civic Theatre’s 2010-2011 season will be a staging of Daphne du Maurier’s best selling novel, “My Cousin Rachel.” This enchanting story is set in a great house in Cornwall, which has been inherited by young Philip Ashley on the death of his uncle and surrogate father. His uncle had gone to Rome, married a young Italian widow of short acquaintance and then died under mysterious circumstances. The widow, “cousin” Rachel, comes to visit Philip and her charm and grace soon wins her friends and the ardent devotion of Philip himself. As his attraction for the alluring Rachel increases, Philip’s health declines, confirming to him the fear that Rachel is actually poisoning him. The mounting tension leads to the famous twist ending which leaves nagging doubts as to where guilt and evil should fairly be assigned.  

The production will run Friday through Sunday, August 20–September 11 with Thursday performances on August 19 and 26 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North 5^th Street in downtown Garland. Call the arts center box office at 972-205-2790 for tickets. All tickets are $20, which includes service fee. There are discounts available for KERA members and groups of 10 or more. Tickets for the preview on August 19 are $15.  Note that Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings are at 8 p.m., and matinees are at 2:30 p.m.

“My Cousin Rachel” was adapted for the stage by Diana Morgan. The theatre’s Artistic Director, Kyle McClaran, is directing the production and designing the costumes and the set, and the light design is by Catherine Montgomery.  The cast includes Brandon Simmons as Phillip Ashley, Evelyn Davis as Rachel Ashley, Gregory Phillips as Kendall, Kristin DiFrancesco as Louise, Daniel Anderson as Antonio Rainaldi, and Emily Hunt as Mrs. Secombe.

GSO receives grant  for Young People’s Concerts program

Posted July 31, 2010

The Garland Symphony Orchestra announced a partnership with Target in recognition of its efforts in presenting its Young People’s Concert program to the Garland Independent School District.  This arts-integrated curriculum utilizes orchestral music as a vehicle for learning over a broad spectrum of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills syllabus.  Executed through teacher/school partnerships, this project culminates with a live, professional symphony orchestra concert for participating students

“The purpose of the Garland Symphony Orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts are to educate, inspire and entertain students by introducing them to the orchestra and its members; familiarize them to the atmosphere of live performance; and to spark interest in creating and appreciating quality music throughout their lives,” says Mary Cunningham, general manager of  GSO. 

“For the vast majority of students in attendance at these concerts, this will be a first opportunity to attend a symphony concert.  Through this educational program, the music teachers continually report a surge of interest from the attending students in learning to play an instrument.”

This grant is part of ongoing efforts by Target to strengthen families and communities throughout the country. Since opening its doors, Target has given five percent of its income to organizations that support education, the arts, social services, and volunteerism. Today that equals more than $3 million every week.

“At Target, our local grants are making a difference in the communities we serve,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “We’re proud to partner with [nonprofit organization] as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work.”

Additionally, Target gives through signature programs that are designed to inspire learning in children and families. Programs include:

·         Take Charge of Education®, a school fundraising program;

·         Target School Library Makeovers, a program that provides year-round volunteer opportunities for Target team members to get involved with their local school;

·         Target Field Trip Grants, a program that helps educators bring learning to life outside the classroom through the distribution of grants;

·         Target House®, which serves as a home away from home for families of children receiving lifesaving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in Memphis and the St. Jude School Program presented by Target, which is staffed with accredited teachers and helps patients stay on track academically while undergoing treatments that can last months;

·         Target Volunteers, a nationwide network of Target team members, retirees, families and friends who volunteer millions of hours to community projects.

Last chance to fall in love with 42nd Street

TGT Staff Review  /  July 23, 2010

Tonight, Saturday and Sunday mark the last chance you have to experience Garland Summer Musicals popular performance of 42nd Street at the Granville Arts Center’s Main Auditorium.

Set in 1933 during the Great Depression when bread lines were filled with poor, starving Americans, the show follows a large cast of young, 20-something tap dancers and singers who hope to make it big in their Broadway debut of Pretty Lady where they have a chance to make $32 a week and become overnight sensations, with the help of their lead headliner and star of the show, Dorothy Brock who’s portrayed by Patty Granville.

As the cast moves from auditions, to costume and set designs, the audience gets a chance to peer into the behind the scenes drama that unfolds between the actors—as some fall in love and others have the opportunity to move from supporting cast into lead roles.

GSM’s performance of 42nd Street can be billed as truly inspirational. The show not only revives the art of tap dancing—once considered a dying performance art—it also reveals the redeeming qualities of life as people are faced with the struggle of choosing love over their career, and others find humility during a time when instant fame and success can lead to arrogance and a sense of being entitled.

Filled with familiar show tunes that are flawlessly performed: We’re in the Money, Lullabye Of Broadway, 42nd Street, You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me and Shuffle Off To Buffalo, the cast and crew pull-off a brilliant performance as they transition from set-to-set that moves them around the Northeastern United States—from New York City to Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

42nd Street is a musical that will be enjoyed by your entire family, young and old, and will make everyone want to go out and enroll in the first tap dancing class they can find.

Credits

The cast includes: Emily Lockhart has returned from New York City to portray Peggy Sawyer. Jay Taylor plays Julian Marsh and Jeremy Dumont plays the role of Billy Lawlor. Pam Pendleton and Marty Scott play the songwriters Maggie and Bert.

Patrick Pevehouse plays Andy, the tap dancing stage manager, and Peggy’s good friends are played by Keeli Denney, Katharine Gentsch and Brittany Levraea. James Williams plays Pat Denning, Ron Biancardi portrays Abner Dillon, and David Curry plays Mac.

The ensemble includes Beth Hamilton, DeAnne Driver, Malia McNeny, Moira Galligan, Hayley Ewerz, Bayli Ryan, Heather Lynch, Ashley White, Linda Frank, Steve Beene, Mark Mullings, Ivan Jones, John Villapando, Stephen Raikes, Ivan Jasso, Tom Hamlett, Jeremi Headrick, Ben Darragh, Carlos Gomez, Zach Sutton, Nathan Leach, Don Jones, and Hamp Holcomb. 

Other tap dancers include: Becca Kreitman, Katie West, Jill Nicholas, Katie Nicholas, Sarah Settele, Hope Eidson, and Ashley Fourcand. 

42nd Street is under the helm of former New York Director Buff Shurr who has returned for his 28th season. Patty Granville is the producer, and Larry Miller is the musical director. Emily Lockhart and Jeremy Dumont are the choreographers, and Alan Hanna is the stage manager. Kelly Cox designed the sets, the lighting design is by Susan White, and the sound design is by Wes Weisheit.  Master carpenter is Joe Murdock, and the costumes are by Michael Robinson, Suzi Shankle and the Dallas Costume Shoppe.

Successful songwriter comes home to the Plaza Theatre

Kim Everett / July 6, 2010

Gary Nicholson wears many hats in the music industry – guitarist, singer, producer, and mentor – but this 1968 South Garland High School graduate’s first allegiance is to songwriting.  “The writing is what drives it all.  That’s the most important thing…if I had to choose just one…I’d just write.”

Nicholson’s love for music began early on, and his first band, The Valiants, was formed with friends Wesley Pritchett and Robert Corley in eighth grade at Memorial Junior High School where they performed in the talent show.  He went on to be in bands called The Catalinas and The Untouchables, and both played at victory dances for Garland and South Garland High Schools.  They also competed in “battle of the bands” contests, played at skating rinks, and at the Granger Recreation Center. 

He was influenced by Freddie King, a local area hero, who had a hit song called “Hide Away,” which Nicholson learned to play, along with many of Kings’ instrumentals.  He hung out at Arnold & Morgan (a popular music store that was located on South Garland Avenue) every day after school and took guitar lessons from Don McCord who was located across from the music store.

Nicholson knew that music was the only career for him, and with that in mind, he attended North Texas State University (now known as the University of North Texas), where he majored in English and music.  “The course was pretty much set by the time I got out of high school,” Nicholson said.

His father, who encouraged his interest in music by providing guitar lessons, advised him to have another vocation “to fall back on” in case it didn’t work out.  “I wasn’t really concerned with falling back, so I just kept playing,” Nicholson said.  

In 1970, after two years in college, Nicholson headed to California with 20 songs he had already written.  It was there that he immersed himself in songwriting.  “The songs that are the most mysterious are the ones where it feels like I’m the medium, and the song just comes through me,” he said.

When he moved to Nashville in 1980, Nicholson learned more about the discipline of songwriting and of having a regular writing schedule.  He realized that there was a community of people that got up in the morning and went to work and wrote songs all day.  “It was a discipline, and they worked at it like a job,” he said.  “Just from doing it, you get better at it, and then when a really good idea comes through, you have the skills to turn it into a song…and the craft of it gets better from doing it.”

He had an “in” when he arrived in Nashville because he had written a song that was in the movie “Urban Cowboy.”  In addition, Jim Ed Norman, a songwriter and college friend, had started a publishing company in Nashville and hired him as a writer. 

“Because I was writing for his publishing company, some of the more established writers were willing to work with me,” Nicholson said.  “I made the most of the opportunities by being prepared when I got a chance to write with them.”

He also spent 15 years writing at Sony-Tree Publishing where he wrote with, and learned from, many great writers. 

Thirty years later, Nicholson finds himself in the position of being able to say that he has written songs with the likes of Delbert McClinton, Vince Gill, Lee Roy Parnell, Kevin Welch, Marty Stuart, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Hal Ketchum, Radney Foster, Randy Rogers, and Ringo Starr.

Just a few notable names from the list of artists who have recorded Nicholson’s songs, in addition to the ones listed above, are George Jones, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, B.B. King, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Garth Brooks, Peter Frampton, and Fleetwood Mac.  He regularly crosses boundaries to write for, or with, artists in other music genres including blues, folk, bluegrass, and rock.

In addition, he has produced records for various artists including two Grammy Award-winning albums for Delbert McClinton.  He has won 26 ASCAP songwriting awards and has had more than 500 of his songs recorded.  He has also written more than a dozen hit songs.

In the Texas music scene, artists often say that it is impossible to break into the Nashville community, but Nicholson believes that if an artist adheres to the market, he/she will be accepted.  “I think Nashville is generally accepting and ready to take in any new talent…If you go, you have to make a commitment to stay and do what the industry requires of you,” he said. 

“But sometimes, the commercial country music of Nashville isn’t a good fit for artists coming from Texas because of the commercial nature of it.”

He believes that coming from Texas helped him, though, because he plays a kind of Texas blues that no one else played in Nashville at the time.

Nicholson has never considered changing careers.  He owns a publishing company and maintains a balance between producing, writing, and performing.  In live shows, he not only treats audiences to renditions of songs he has written for other artists; he also brings out his alter ego, blues artist “Whitey Johnson.”  “The Whitey Johnson persona allows me to indulge in the blues side, and it’s just something fun,” he said.

Nicholson will perform at the Plaza Theatre in Garland on Sunday, July 25 at 2 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the Garland Country Music Association and his wife, Barbara Nicholson’s, non-profit organization, Attachment Parenting, Inc.  General admission tickets are $16.  Gold Circle tickets, which include seating in the first two rows, Nicholson’s new CD, and a Delbert McClinton DVD, are $50.  Tickets are available at the Granville Arts Center box office or by calling 972-205-2790.

He will conduct a songwriters’ workshop at the Pace House in downtown Garland on Saturday, July 24.  Contact CB Luce at cb@cbluce.com or call 469-831-2123 for information.

Locrian String Ensemble holds benefit performance in Plano

Submitted by Marcus Pyle / July 2, 2010

Founded at Garland High School in 2007, the internationally known Locrian String Ensemble will join forces again with a new commissioned work, which will honor the lives lost in the Haiti and Chile earthquakes.  The composition is titled “Earthquake Elegy” and includes sections of the respective national anthems.  It will be played in sync with a video montage of the devastation that occurred.  The evening celebrates its close ties with the Royal Academy of Music; the violist, Marcus Pyle, is a current student.  The ensemble will perform at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano on August 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The LSE is not new to philanthropy.  This is the fourth annual concert they have hosted with donations benefitting the March of Dimes.  In 2007, LSE created a bond with the organization to which they donate all their profits.

LSE is one of today's unique and forward-thinking creative projects. The ensemble was formed with the idea of putting a spotlight on the importance of chamber music and to introduce classical music to a diverse audience in an exciting medium. Since the beginning, they have created two recordings with repertoire ranging from Mozart to Shostakovich. They have been praised on numerous occasions as having a rich tone, passionate aura, and excellent concepts of style, balance, pitch, ensemble, and rhythm. The passion demonstrated throughout the performance is chilling and a wide range of works chosen exemplify each player's virtuosic talents along with the acoustical genius of the venues. Founded by Marcus Pyle, the group consists of Aryc Lane, Stephanie Moorehouse and Kristen Hoffner.

In the 2008-09 season, the ensemble announced its residency at the First United Methodist Church in Garland, performed in concert “Evolution: A Journey Through Sound” for which they commissioned a work from the Royal Academy of Music and a three-concert series celebrating the life of one of the ensemble's favorite composers--Felix Mendelssohn.

In addition to the London tour of 2011 the ensemble will host its first-annual summer chamber music camp in the Garland area for students who wish to participate in ensembles that they would not get a chance to do during school.

Joseph and the dreamcoat open GCT season

Posted July 1, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre Artistic Director, Kyle McClaran, invites you to a pleasure packed 2010-11 Season packed with fun, frivolity, music, and majesty. “We always seek long and hard to find the greatest entertainment value available. I truly believe we have done that this time and I cannot wait to share it with our audiences. So, Come On, Get Happy! at Garland Civic Theatre where we hope to send you home feeling happy, healthy, and wise, knowing you have been entertained to the fullest,” he said.

The first show of the season will be “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” presented by the youth of GCT’s Children On Stage. The cast includes Carolyn Baker as the Narrator, Cesar VanCleave as Joseph, Anthony Willis as Pharaoh, Zach Jones as Jacob, and Zoe Settle as Mrs. Potiphar.  Other cast members are Allison Allbee, Lacie Block, Kelsey Buckley, Ryan Campbell, Beth Erschen, Audrey Erwin, Grace Erwin, Caitlin Estrello, Kate Gavigan, Beppy Gietema, Jazmine Jones, Hannah Kilpatrick, Luke Meyer, Mason Murray, Alexis Phillips, Christina Prothre, Ashley Puskarich, Elizabeth Rodgers, Allegra Schmitt, and Chloe Sturges.  Youth crew members include Baxley Beckham, Faith Hart, Meghan Settle, and Jayci VanCleave.  The professional production staff is led by Director/Choreographer Larry Jansson and Music Director Jean Haynes. Designers are Joseph Cummings for the set, Catherine Montgomery for lights, and Ryan Smith for costumes. KC Jansson will be the stage manager and Greg Hullett will be the master carpenter. 

 “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is a sensational, fun,

 and hip musical adaptation of the well-known Biblical tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors.

Performances are Thursday through Sunday, July 22 - August 1.  Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m.. All shows are at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland. Available at the arts center box office (972-205-2790), tickets are $15. Groups of 10 or more get a reduced price.  Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for more information.

Garland Summer Musicals presents 42^nd Street           

Posted July 1, 2010

The Garland Summer Musicals will present 42^nd Street from July 16-25. The sensational 42^nd Street is set in 1933 and is written as a show within a show. It reveals an exciting behind the scenes experience of creating a Broadway production that ends up being a hit.  You’ll be thrilled as Peggy Sawyer, the tap dancing ingénue, becomes an overnight star! The show includes hits such as:  Lullabye Of Broadway; 42^nd Street; We’re In The Money; You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me; Shuffle Off To Buffalo.

Emily Lockhart will return from New York City to re-create the role of Peggy Sawyer. Jay Taylor will play Julian Marsh and Jeremy Dumont will play the role of Billy Lawlor.  Pam Pendleton and Marty Scott will play the songwriters Maggie and Bert, and Patty Granville will portray Dorothy Brock.

Patrick Pevehouse will play Andy, the tap dancing stage manager, and Peggy’s good friends will be played by Keeli Denney, Katharine Gentsch and Brittany Levraea. James Williams will play Pat Denning, Ron Biancardi will portray Abner Dillon, and David Curry will play Mac.

The Ensemble includes Beth Hamilton, DeAnne Driver, Malia McNeny, Moira Galligan, Hayley Ewerz, Bayli Ryan, Heather Lynch, Ashley White, Linda Frank, Steve Beene, Mark Mullings, Ivan Jones, John Villapando, Stephen Raikes, Ivan Jasso, Tom Hamlett, Jeremi Headrick, Ben Darragh, Carlos Gomez, Zach Sutton, Nathan Leach, Don Jones, and Hamp Holcomb.  Other tap dancers include: Becca Kreitman, Katie West, Jill Nicholas, Katie Nicholas, Sarah Settele, Hope Eidson, and Ashley Fourcand. 

42^nd Street will be under the helm of former New York Director Buff Shurr who is returning for his 28^th season. Patty Granville is the producer, and Larry Miller will be the musical director.  Emily Lockhart and Jeremy Dumont will be the choreographers, and Alan Hanna will be the stage manager. Kelly Cox will design the sets, the lighting design will be by Susan White, and the sound design will be by Wes Weisheit.  Master carpenter will be Joe Murdock, and the costumes will be by Michael Robinson, Suzi Shankle and the Dallas Costume Shoppe.

Performances are held in the Main Auditorium of the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in Garland.  Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 972-205-2790. (MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.)

Special college credit in the form of scholarships will be available through Richland College for anyone cast in the shows or wishing to do technical work behind the scenes. The Garland Summer Musicals are funded in part through special grants from the Garland Cultural Arts Commission, Inc., GSM Guild, Garland Power & Light, Louis Gene Garner, Micropac, and Ecolab.

Musical favorite ‘My Fair Lady’ lights up Granville Arts Center stage

Kim Everett / June 16, 2010

The Garland Summer Musicals opened its 28^th season Friday, June 11 with a fabulous production of “My Fair Lady.” Buff Shurr, who has been with GSM since its 1983 beginning, directs the show, which is thought by many to be the best musical ever made.  Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, this musical is not only fun and entertaining; it is also filled with timeless, memorable songs. 

The story chronicles the transformation of Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a “proper lady.”  Professor Henry Higgins, a self-proclaimed “bachelor for life” accepts a wager that he can make Eliza presentable in society.  He teaches her perfect English, as well as proper behavior and dress, and gets way more than he bargained for in the process.

The talented Stephanie Hall makes Eliza’s transformation believable, and her renditions of the shows memorable songs such as “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” are amazing.

“This is one of the most amazing opportunities I’ve had,” Hall said.  “I’ve been watching the movie [“My Fair Lady”] since I was a little girl, and I’ve always wanted to play Eliza.”

Bill Jenkins, who has an impressive list of stage and film credits, is great in the role of the snobbish, yet likeable Professor Higgins. 

Robert Erwin, who has been associated with GSM for more than 20 years, is wonderful as Colonel Pickering.  This is the third time he has played the role of Colonel Pickering, who reminds him of Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes.  “I like that the character sticks by Higgins…And I like the way he helps Eliza pick herself up,”  Erwin said.

The cast is rounded out by a group of talented actors, singers, and dancers including Doug Fowler in the role of Alfred P. Doolittle, Jane Willingham as Mrs. Higgins, Jason Bias in the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill, and Nancy Lamb as Mrs. Pearce.

Music director/conductor is Jeff Crouse, and the sets were designed by Rodney Dobbs and Kelly Cox.  Costumes were designed by Michael Robinson and Suzi Shankle of the Dallas Costume Shoppe.

Producer Patty Granville is proud of the production and the hard work of everyone involved.  “We’ve had over 100 people work on this show.  You just don’t see all of them because they are behind the scenes,” she said.

“My Fair Lady” will run through June 20 with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as matinees on Sundays.  All performances are in the main auditorium at the Granville Arts Center.  Call 972-205-2790 for ticket information.

GCT schedules ‘My Cousin Rachel’ auditions

Posted June 4, 2010 

Garland Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for “My Cousin Rachel,” which has been adapted by Diana Morgan from the novel by Daphne Du Maurier, on the afternoons of June 26 and 27. Callbacks begin at 6:30 on June 27. Rehearsals begin July 6. Auditions will be at the GCT offices, 108 North Sixth Street, Garland.

Appointments are required and can be made by calling the GCT office at 972-485-8884. Auditioners should bring a headshot and resume to their appointment, but no experience is required. Roles are available for a variety of men and women, ages 20-65, as well as one boy, 12-14. British accent is requested; however, the character, Rachel, could have an Italian accent. The audition will consist of cold readings from the script.

Kyle McClaran is directing this story set in a great house in Cornwall, which has been inherited by young Philip Ashley on the death of his uncle and surrogate father. His uncle had gone to Rome, married a young Italian widow of short acquaintance and then died under mysterious circumstances. The widow, “cousin” Rachel, comes to visit Philip and her charm and grace soon wins her friends and the ardent devotion of Philip himself. As his attraction for Rachel increases, Philip’s health declines, confirming the fear that Rachel is actually poisoning him. The tension leads to a twist ending which leaves nagging doubts as to where guilt should be assigned.
 

The production will run Friday-Sunday, August 20 – September 11 with Thursday performances on August 19 and 26 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in Garland.
 

GCT is a member of Garland Chamber of Commerce and Texas Non-profit Theatres. Sponsors include Garland Cultural Arts Commission and The Dallas Morning News. Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for information.

GSM opens season with ‘My Fair Lady’

Posted May 19, 2010

The Garland Summer Musicals will open the 2010 season June 11-20 with Lerner and Loewe’s brilliant musical masterpiece My Fair Lady!   The production will be under the helm of former New York Director Buff Shurr who is returning for his 28^th season. Patty Granville is the producer and Jeff Crouse will be the musical director.  Alan Hanna is the choreographer & Vivienne McNeny will serve as the stage manager. Kelly Cox will design the sets. Lighting design will be by Sam Nance.  The master carpenter will be Joe Murdock and technical director will be Andy Redmon. Costumes will be by Michael Robinson, Suzi Shankle and the Dallas Costume Shoppe. Sound design will be by Wes Weisheit.

Cast includes:  Well known Dallas performers Bill Jenkins as Henry Higgins and Stephanie Hall as Eliza Doolittle.  Robert Erwin will portray Colonel Pickering, and Doug Fowler will play Alfred Doolittle.  Freddy will be played by Jason Bias, and Mrs. Higgins by Jane Willingham. Nancy Lamb will portray Mrs. Pearce, and Linda Frank will be Mrs. Hopkins and Mrs. Hill.  Alan Hanna and David Curry will play Doolittle’s buddies, Harry and James.

Others in the cast include:  Ian Stack, Nathan Leach, Trevor St. John-Gilbert, Jessica Maxey, Caren Sharp, Bayli Ryan, Raina McIlwain, Phillip Cole White, Aaron White, Jordan Vaughan, Steve Beene, Troy McConnell, Ron Biancardi, Heather Lynch, Lindsey Crawford, Jennifer Cowan, Rebecca Spigel, Hayley Ewerz, Carlos Gomez, Tom Hamlet and Aileen McDermott

All performances are held in the Main Auditorium of the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in Garland.  For ticket information call the box office at 972-205-2790.  (MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.)

Special college credit in the form of scholarships will be available through Richland College for anyone cast in the shows or wishing to do technical work behind the scenes.  Call 972-205-2790 for more information.

GCT schedules summer camps

Posted May 16, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre has an exciting summer camp experience waiting for youngsters ages 8-16. It is not too early to plan summer activities. Campers will experience what creating theatre is really about. They will practice acting skills, movement and theater techniques while stretching their imaginations. A one-act play will be performed on the evening of the last day of camp and the afternoon of the following day for friends and family as well as the general public. Tickets will be $5 for the show.

All levels of experience are welcome and encouraged. Camp sessions are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a two-week session. The first is for 8-11 year olds June 7-18.  The second session is for ages 12-16 June 21 – July 2. Both camps will be at the GCT location (108 North Sixth Street) in downtown Garland. Space is limited; therefore, camp size must be limited to 20 campers. Campers should bring sack lunch and snack items that require no refrigeration. Waters and juices are available for purchase. The cost for each camp is $300.

The play for session one is “Don't Count Your Chickens Until They Cry Wolf” by Carol Lynn Pearson, with music by JAC Redford. A tour de force of Aesop's world. Aesop was never so charming! Highlights: the famous race of tortoise and hare ("You got to keep on keeping on"); a soft shoe number by the fox ("Flatter them, and you'll walk away with the cheese"); a rousing peasant dance in the bundle of sticks ("The trick is to stick together"); a chorus line of sheep ("If he's got fleece but the wrong kind of nose, maybe he's simply a wolf in sheep's clothes")

The chosen play for session two, “Romeo and Juliet at Verona High” by James Venhaus who updates Shakespeare's tragedy to a modern-day high school. Romeo is captain of the football team.  Juliet is president of the Chess Club. Can the rival teams resolve their differences? Who will triumph at the grudge chess match? 

GCT t-shirts will be available for purchase. GCT reserves the right to cancel camps if enrollment is low. Call 972-485-8884 to reserve a place at the camps or for more information.  Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org.

Dedicated to the success of the Garland Opry 

Kim Everett / May 11, 2010

C.B. Luce, President of the Board of Directors of the Garland Opry, has loved music and has been singing all his life.  His father was a part-time musician, and although his mother didn’t perform in public, she loved to sing. 

“My mom says that I was born singing,” Luce said.  He has been singing with bands since he was a child, sang with a band during high school, and had a band both before his time in the military and after. 

He made a decision after getting married and having three sons, that the lifestyle of an entertainer/musician was not what he wanted for his family, and he spent the next 40 years in the computer business.  A few years ago, though, his wife, Barbara, convinced him that it was time to start entertaining again.  He then began performing at the opry and has made two CDs – one is a collection of classics, and the other features songs that he wrote.

“My motto is:  It’s never too late to be what you want to be.  I try to encourage people and let them know that no matter how old they are they still have worth,” Luce said.  At 67, he plays guitar, sings, dances, and he wants to show others that you don’t have to quit doing what you want to do.

His audition at the Garland Opry was the first time he sang with the motive of getting back into performing.  Aside from opry shows at Garland’s Plaza Theatre, he also performs at venues in Grapevine, McKinney, Farmersville, Arlington, Sherman, and Texarkana.  Luce owns a real estate appraisal business with his sons, but he does the music on the side with the intention of eventually doing more of it.

His dreams for the opry are to find a permanent facility and have shows every Saturday night – country music two Saturdays a month and gospel and/or pop or ethnic music on the other two.  “All I need is for a rich person to come along who’s looking for a good write-off,” he joked.

The opry has been in existence for more than 40 years under the direction of numerous people.  In February 2008 Luce was approached about taking it over, and he accepted the responsibility.

According to Luce, the board is examining potential locations.  “We’d like to keep the opry on the square if possible, but the choice of facilities is slim,” he said.  There have been a couple of near misses on finding a facility, but so far, nothing has worked out.

On September 18, the opry will take part in the Second Annual Wild West Cowboy Roundup in downtown Garland.  Luce is responsible for scheduling the entertainment, which will include James Drury, star of the Virginian, and other cowboy actors.  The Light Crust Doughboys, the first cowboy band to appear in a movie, will be the main attraction.  Luce has been working with the owner of the Light Crust Doughboys trademark, Art Greenhall to make this happen.

He is also working on plans for a Garland Opry reunion show, along with a show that will feature singer/songwriter/producer Gary Nicholson, a famous Nashville figure from Garland.  Nicholson wrote and performed one of the songs from the movie “Crazy Heart,” and his songs have been recorded by George Jones, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, and Garth Brooks to name just a few.

Luce, along with three more singers will be performing an outdoor show for First Saturdays on the Square on the first Saturday in June.

GCT seeks staff for 2010-11 season

Posted May 11, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre is seeking to engage several enthusiastic individuals to staff the theatre’s productions for next season. Needed are directors, music directors, set designers, costume designers, light designers, and stage managers.  The season begins with a youth production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice; the first MainStage production will be “My Cousin Rachel” which has been adapted from Daphne Du Maurier’s novel by Diana Morgan; next on the schedule is ”Noises Off” by Michael Frayn; “Man of La Mancha” by Dale Wasserman, Joe Darion, and Mitch Leigh is scheduled for November 11 - December 4, 2010; the youngsters will present “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” by William Gleason during Christmas holidays; following that will be a production of “The Sugar Bean Sisters” by Nathan Sanders; March 10 – April 2, 2011 will bring Harper Lee’s famous novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, which was adapted by Christopher Sergel; April 21 - May 14, 2011 will bring “Jesus Christ Superstar” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.

Those interested in any of the positions should send an e-mail with resume to kylemcclaran@yahoo.com. Be sure to include contact phone numbers.

Guild schedules Curtain Call event at GCT

Posted May 16, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre Guild, ACT IV–GCT will hold its annual “Curtain Call” event 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on May 23 at the GCT building, 102 North Sixth Street in downtown Garland.  The event will be a thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the 2009-10 season a success. 

ACT IV–GCT Guild maintains volunteer support for GCT by involving members of the community in a variety of supporting roles, be it ushering, selling concessions, or serving on the backstage crew. Everyone who volunteered for the 2009–10 season and those with an interest in volunteering for next season are encouraged to attend. 

RSVP by e-mailing garlandcivictheatre@yahoo.com or by calling 972-485-8884. For more information, visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org.

Garland Civic Theatre, a member of Dallas Theatre League and Texas Non-profit Theatres, is looking forward to a spectacular 43^rd season of theatre in Garland. Season sponsors include Garland Cultural Arts Commission, WFAA, and The Dallas Morning News.

GCT schedules COS auditions

Posted May 16, 2010 

Garland Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for the Children On Stage production of “Joseph and the 
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on May 29 and 30. All auditions will be held at 108 North Sixth Street in 
downtown Garland.

Appointments are required for all auditions. For the Children On Stage productions, appointments must be 
scheduled online at www.garlandcivictheatre.org. Auditioners should bring a headshot and resume to their 
appointment, but no experience is required. They should be prepared to sing 16 bars of a Broadway song 
and 16 bars of a ballad. Please bring sheet music for songs. Auditioners may or may not be asked to sing 
both songs.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is a sensational, 

fun, and hip musical adaptation of the well-known Biblical tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors.

‘Funny Girl’ another hit for Garland Civic Theatre

Kim Everett / April 21, 2010

A favorite of many theatre-goers and film fans, “Funny Girl” is filled with wonderful music and entertaining dialogue.  Written by Isobel Lennart, the production is based on the life of famed stage star Fanny Brice and chronicles her rise to fame, marriage to gambler Nick Arnstein, and eventual end of their relationship.

The role of Fanny Brice is played by Rachel Joy Robertson who said that the role is both wonderful and challenging.  “My favorite part about playing this role was feeling like I could make it my own and not try to do it like Barbra Streisand (who played the role in the feature film).  I liked that I could make it something individual and creative,” she said.

Robertson is enjoying her time with GCT.  “It’s a very positive atmosphere,” she said.  “Everyone is very supportive and has let me make the role my own.”

She does justice to the production’s songs, with “Don’t Rain On My Parade” being both her favorite and the standout of the show.

Gregory Hullett is also wonderful in the role of Nick Arnstein.  This is his fourth production with GCT.

Other cast members include Michael B. Moore, Cindy Kahn, Emily H. Hunt, Burl Proctor, and Alicia Alford.  Also in the production are Jennifer White, Drusilla G. Blakey Ryan Hinojosa, John C. Hogwood, and Lindsey Marie Schmeltzer.

Kyle McClaran is the director; Byron Holder is the music director; and Todd Aragon and Larry M. Jansson are the choreographers.

“Funny Girl,” the last production of GCT’s 2009-10 season runs April 15 – May 8 with productions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, along with Sunday matinees at the Granville Arts Center.  Call 972-205-2790 for ticket information.

GSO season concludes with Home From The Sea!

Posted April 21, 2010

Join the Garland Symphony Orchestra May 7 in its season finale as it hoists the Jolly Roger featuring music from the sea!  The GSO will feature Alex McDonald, pianist, performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26. 

McDonald began his piano studies at the age of 4. Since his orchestral debut at age 11, he has soloed with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Mexico in Toluca, Mexico, the Utah Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, and the Corpus Christi Symphony, among others. His solo recitals include performances for Pro Musica in El Paso, the American Chopin Society, the Texas Conservatory for Young Artists and the Miami Civic Music Association.

McDonald was awarded the second prize at the Gina Bachauer International Young Artist Piano Competition, grand prize in the Kingsville International Young Performers Competition, and grand prize at the Music Teachers National Association Yamaha Competition.

He is currently pursuing his master of music degree under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin at The Juilliard School in New York. He completed his bachelor of music degree under Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, with academic honors and distinction in performance.

Also being performed on this concert will be Wagner’s Overture to Der Fliegende Hollander and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.  This orchestral work combines two features common to Russian music and of Rimsky-Korsakov, in particular: dazzling, colorful orchestration and an interest in the East, which figured greatly in the history of Imperial Russia, as well as Orientalism in general. It is considered Rimsky-Korsakov's most popular work.  Scheherazade consisted of a symphonic suite of four related movements, which form a unified theme.  It was written to produce a sensation of fantasy narratives from the Orient.

The composer deliberately made the titles vague, so that they are not associated with specific tales or voyages of Sinbad.  However, in the epigraph to the finale, he does make reference to the adventure of Prince Ajib.

The GSO credits Music Director, Robert Carter Austin for its continued outstanding and diverse orchestral programming.  His background encompasses more than 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University.  Maestro Austin’s musical experience includes conducting performances in countries including Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, Spain, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and the United States.

Season tickets are priced as low as $53.00 and single tickets are priced at $15, $25, and $35.  All are available by calling 972.205.2790 or email info@garlandsymphony.org. Concert begins at 8 p.m. at Granville Arts Center, 300 North 5^th Street in Garland.  For more information, visit www.GarlandSymphony.org.

Garland Civic Theatre to end 2009-10 season with 'Funny Girl'

Announcement / April 15, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre will end the current season with a production of “Funny Girl.” Performances are scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, April 16 to May 8, at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in Garland.  

There is a preview performance at 7:30 on April 15. Call the box office at 972-205-2790 for tickets. Tickets are $25 on Friday and Saturday evenings and $23 on Thursday evenings and Saturday or Sunday matinees. There are discounts available for those who are over 59 and under 19. Students over 19, KERA members, and DART riders can also get a discount.  Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. There is a service charge added to each ticket.

“Funny Girl” is one of Broadway’s most priceless jewels. It tells the story of the rise to fame and romance of the great stage star of comedy, Fannie Brice. Funny, lively and touching, this musical extravaganza created by Jule Styne, Bob Mearill, and Isobel Lennart sings, dances, and laughs us into a perfectly entertained frenzy of delight. Kyle McClaran directs the show.

The music director is Byron Holder, and the choreography was created by Todd Aragon and Larry Jansson. The cast includes Rachel Joy Robertson as Fanny Brice and Gregory Hullett as Nick Arnstein. Burl Proctor will portray Florenz Ziegfeld and Mr. Keeney, and Cindy Kahn will be Mrs. Brice. Emily H. Hunt will play Mrs. Strakosh, and Michael B. Moore will portray Eddie Ryan.

Also in the cast are John Hogwood as John, Jennifer White as Mrs. Meeker and Nadler, Drusilla Blakey as Mrs. O’Malley, and Lindsey Schmeltzer as Jenny. Other cast members include Ryan Hinojosa, Cortez Shaw, Anthony Willis, Alicia Alford, Kristin Di Francesco, Lindsey Schmeltzer, and Jaye Smith.

Garland Civic Theatre is a member of Garland Downtown Business Association, Garland Chamber of Commerce and Texas Non-profit Theatres. Season sponsors include Garland Cultural Arts Commission, Texas Commission on the Arts, and The Dallas Morning News. Visit the GCT website at www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for additional information.

Garland Opry alumni pursues career in music

Kim Everett / March 24, 2010

Aubrey Lynn Waller England grew up performing at the Garland Opry, participating in their talent search contests and honing her singing skills.  She took advantage of that experience recently when she won an open mic contest at Hank’s Grill in McKinney.  Hank’s is known for showcasing Texas country artists and hosting shows by popular acts such as Charlie Robison, Eleven Hundred Springs, Kevin Fowler, and Bugs Henderson.

England’s parents, Karen and the late Larry Waller, were involved in the Garland Opry during her teenage years – her mother helped with concessions and ticket sales, and her father acted as the emcee for countless shows.  She credits her father for her love of music. 

“My dad was always the showman, always the front man, the singer.  He was self-taught on guitar and fiddle – a musician through and through,” England said.  His backstage pep talks and encouragement were helpful not only to her, but to other artists as well. 

“He made a real big impression on a lot of kids that came through the opry.  That’s where you learn a lot about being on stage and playing with a band,” she said.  “And he helped by giving the performers confidence.  When I see people who used to sing at the opry, they tell me how they miss my dad because he gave them the confidence to go up and perform.”

England’s father passed away in 2006 while she was in Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in California.  “I had just come back from a two-year tour in Japan, so I really didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him before I lost him.  It was hard,” she said.

The singer’s mother is a people person who has never met a stranger, which is where England believes she got her outgoing personality and stage presence.

She is the stay-at-home mom of an 11-month-old daughter, and she and her husband, Wade, recently celebrated their second anniversary.  The couple met while in the Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton.  He encourages her to follow her dreams and helps her in every way possible.

“I am so fortunate.  He’s my best friend, and he’s such a blessing in my life,” England said.

She also has a strong support system with her mother, sister, brother, other extended family, and close friends who cheer her on in the pursuit of her dreams. 

The songwriting side of the business is as important to England as the performing.  She writes songs about life and has gone to Nashville to record a few of them.  “When people tell me that my songs touched them, it means the world to me to know that it spoke to someone,” she said.

She and her band play a lot of private parties and events, and bar and grill shows.  “It’s going to be a long, hard road.  I know that because it already has been.  I knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” she said.

“Something that I carry with me that my dad taught me is that he would never be disappointed in me if I failed at something – as long as I tried.  I carry that everywhere I go.  I have not succeeded to some people, but I feel like I have because I’m making progress.  I’m going forward with it,” she said.

England’s advice to people with a dream:  “If there is something you want to do, and you feel like you are never going to be happy doing something else, then you have to try it.”

Join the GSO as it hoists the Jolly Roger featuring music from the sea! The GSO will be joined by local talents -- Stephanie Riggs, Soprano; Carrie Slaughter, Soprano; Andrew Ransom, tenor; and Jacob Villareal, baritone as the orchestra presents Broadway show tunes.

The GSO credits its Music Director, Robert Carter Austin, for its continued outstanding and diverse orchestral programming. Maestro Austin’s background encompasses over 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University. His musical experience includes conducting performances in countries including: Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, Spain, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and the United States.

Season tickets are priced as low as $53.00 and single tickets are priced at $25, $35, and $45, and are available by calling 972.205.2790 or by e-mail info@garlandsymphony.org.

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North 5^th Street in Garland.

Visit www.garlandsymphony.org for more information.