Auditions scheduled for ‘Man of LaMancha’

Celeste Rogers | September 2, 2010

Garland Civic Theatre will hold auditions for “Man of La Mancha” on September 15 and 19 at the GCT office, 108 North 6^th Street in downtown Garland.  Audition appointments which are open to singers ages 16 to 75 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. Callbacks are scheduled for the evening of September 19^th.  Rehearsals begin on September 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, November 12 to December 4 with Thursday performances on November 11 and 18 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street, 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.

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 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.