performing-arts

GCT seeks staff for 2012-13 season

Posted February 1, 2012

Garland Civic Theatre is seeking to engage several enthusiastic individuals to staff the theatre’s productions of “Love from a Stranger” and “Ring of Fire” as well as for next season. Needed are music directors, choreographers, set designers, carpenters, costume designers, light designers, and stage managers.

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

Visit the GCT website at www.arlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for additional information.

GMTA hosts recitals and festivals

Posted January 30, 2012

The Garland Music Teachers Association hosts approximately six piano recitals along with hymn, jazz, sonata, and spring festival during each school year. The 25-member association is proud to offer these and other opportunities for piano and voice students. Recitals are at the First Presbyterian Church of Garland, and the festivals are held at First United Methodist Church of Garland.

The January 22 recital was sponsored by Lynda Nicholson, and the following piano students performed their own compositions that were entered in an original composition competition at the state level:

Albert Vim, a student of Doris Barker, played “I Like Chicken in a Big Pot”

Liam Taylor, also a student of Barker, performed “Shadows”

Jackson Reed, a student of Hannah Percival played “Clowns in Cars”

Teachers including Genie Hughes, Deanna Cabal, Hannah Percival, Bev Panasik, and Doris Barker presented 16 young people who played pieces ranging from classical to jazz.

Those students’ names are: Thomas Phung; Sawhnry Kunal; Gabe Uribe; Makwana Aakash; Andrew Huss; Angel Quinones; Emilio Rogalia; Jesse Rogalla; Briana Taylor; Simon Uribe; Katherine Rice; Devin Uribe; John Cadera; Diana Tschoerner; Kate Kuizon; and Bryan Leines.

GCT to present ‘Death by Chocolate’

Posted January 14, 2012

Garland Civic Theatre will present “Death by Chocolate” by Paul Freed. The production will run Friday through Sunday, January 20 – February 11 with Thursday performances on January 19 and 26 at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North 5^th Street in Garland. Call the box office at 972-205-2790 for tickets, which are $22 which includes service fee. Discounts are available for KERA members and groups of 10 or more. Tickets for the preview on January 19 are $17. Note that Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings are at 8:00 p.m., and matinees, which are on Sunday the first three weeks and Saturday the last week, are at 2:30 p.m.

Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort are dropping like flies from poisoned chocolate delights – not the best advertisement for the eve of its grand re-opening! It’s all up to manager John Stone and amateur sleuth, mystery writer Ed Parlor to save the day in a wacky race against time. The sinister, sweet chocolates are at the center of the murders surrounded by outlandish suspects working for the resort.

The fun comedy murder mystery will delight audiences all the way to it’s oh - so “sweet” finish line. It is not a spoof or a satire. It is, however, full of marvelously written funny characters.

The cast includes Larry Borero as Dick Simmering; Marc Calloway as John Stone; Julia Estelle Cotton as Edith Chiles and Sweet Pea Meadowbrook; Meredith Moore as Dislexia; Timothy Turner-Parrish as Ed Parlor and Henry Meadowbrook; Sergio Libo Rodriguez as Ralph Deadwood; Duncan Rogers as Alfred Mellox; Summer Steinfeld as Nurse Anne; and Mary Tiner as Lady Riverdale; and Marilyn Twyman as Margaret Daniels.

GCT is a member of American Association of Community Theaters and Texas Non-profit Theatres. Season sponsors include Garland Cultural Arts Commission and The Dallas Morning News. Underwriters include Linda Braga, Dunn and Dill, Dr. Lisa Garner, and Garland Power and Light. Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for information.

Garland Opry schedules rock ‘n roll show

Posted December 21, 2011

The Garland Opry will host a special show January 14, 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre. CB Luce and The Band of Rock will perform a 50s and 60s rock ‘n roll show featuring classic oldies by Elvis, Jerry Lee, Roy Orbison, Rick Nelson, Chuck Berry, and more. Band members include: David Fox on keyboard and band director; Danny McBrayer on guitar; David Norris on bass; Scott Cason on saxophone; Dusty Fields on drums; C B Luce, MC and show director.

The show will also feature Carrington Haynes, 4-year-old Garland superstar and her mother, Christi Haynes.

Tickets can be purchased at www.TheGarlandOpry.com via credit card or PayPal or by calling 972-494-3835. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the performance. General admission adult tickets are $15.00. Seniors (55+) are $12.50 and children 12 and under are free.

Youth theatre brings Christmas show to Plaza

Posted December 19, 2011 -- Photos courtesy of Breitling Youth Theatre

The Breitling Youth Theater treated audiences to an entertaining and heartwarming production of "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" at Garland’s Plaza Theatre December 14-17. The play was inspired by a simple letter written more than 100 years ago by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun and by the timeless editorial response printed on the front page of the publication.

Virginia wrote: "Dear Editor, I am 8-years-old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says if you see it in the Sun, it's so. Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?" Frank Church, editor at the Sun, is assigned to answer her letter. He is at a crossroads in his own life, and his answer to Virginia's letter has become the most reprinted editorial in history and has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Annie Breitling, director of the non-profit Breitling Youth Theater, is a leader in the Dallas area acting community. She began theater in middle school and has won numerous acting awards. Her favorite roles include Millie in “Picnic” and Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet.”

In 2009-10, Breitling taught acting classes at Christian Educators Resource Center in Rowlett where she directed 5-18-year-olds in “Clowns’ Play” and “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." In 2010, she founded the Children’s Christian Theater (now known as the Breitling Youth Theatre) in Garland.

Breitling, who has five children of her own, combined her love of children and the theatre to create an opportunity for young people to pursue the art of acting, and the group boasts a number of talented young actors.

The theater's first show in spring 2010 was “Peter Pan,” for which Annie wrote the script. Since then, she has directed “Anne of Green Gables,” “It's a Wonderful Life,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” and “The Three Musketeers Unplugged,” which she co-wrote with assistant director, Alice Frederick. She teamed up with Frederick again to write, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus."

This show marks the sixth time that Frederick has assisted Breitling, and the fifth for which she has done costumes. She has a knack for shopping thrift stores and making props out of household items.

The organization is different from some theater groups for a couple of reasons. The first is that they start with kids as early as age 4. The second reason is that everyone gets a part, whether they have acting experience or not.

Visit www.actingforchildrern.org for more information.

GCT schedules ‘Love from a Stranger’ auditions

Posted December 16, 2011

Garland Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for Agatha Christie’s “Love from a Stranger” for January 22, 2012 beginning at 1:00 p.m. Callbacks begin at 6:00 p.m. Rehearsals begin January 24, and production dates are March 1 – 24. The 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 Garland Civic Theatre 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.

All roles are available for a variety of men and women, ages 21 to 65. The audition will consist of cold readings

from the script.

One of Miss Christie’s rarest and most unknown jewels, “Love from a Stranger” is a love story threatened by darkly veiled intentions and terrifying secrets that lie waiting for revelation in the unknown shadows that surround beautiful Cecily Harrington and her fiancé, Nigel. The audience will be on the edge of their seats as the story lures them to its surprising and terrifying conclusion.

Garland Civic Theatre is a member of American Association of Community Theaters and Texas Non-profit Theatres. Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for additional information.

‘Pollyanna’ comes to Garland

Posted December 17, 2011

Garland Civic Theatre’s Children on Stage production of “Pollyanna” will be presented at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

December 28, 29, and 30.  All shows are at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland.

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at the arts center box office by calling 972-205-2790. Tickets to this

show would be a perfect Christmas gift especially for the child who has never attended a live theater production.

“Pollyanna” was adapted by Catherine Chrishom Cushing from the novel by Eleanor H. Porter. It is a special holiday time treat for children and the entire family. This classic story, made famous by the Walt Disney film starring Haley Mills, tells of an orphan girl thrust into the home of a maiden aunt and, in spite of the tribulations that beset her, manages to find joy in each day and to bring light into the sunless lives of those around her. “Pollyanna” is a joyous play and one which is bound to give a better appreciation of the world and people around us. It reflects a humor, tenderness, and humanity that give this timeless story such glowing popularity

The award winning national and international film, television and stage actress, Morgana Shaw is directing a talented cast of youngsters, ages 8 to 18 in this production. The cast includes: Zac Bonar as Bleeker; Ryan Campbell as young Jimmy Bean; Sydney Campbell as young Pollyanna Whittier; Alex Cassimatis as older Jimmy Bean; Marisa Duran as Polly Harrington; Emma Hahn as Mrs. Carmody; Abigail Jennings as Nancy; McKenna McGough as Mrs. Gregg; Tanner Murray as John Pendleton; Neil Oktay as Dr. Chilton; Ashley Puskarich as Miss Carroll; and Lucy Jane Ragsdale as older Pollyanna Whittier.

Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for additional information.

GCT schedules auditions for next production

Posted November 25, 2011

Garland Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for a production of “Death by Chocolate” by Paul Freed on December 3. All auditions will be held at 108 North Sixth Street in Garland.

The cast includes a total of eight roles, five females and three males, ages 18 to 100. All roles are available and the casting will be ethnically diverse.

Appointments are required. Call 972-485-8884 to schedule appointments, which are available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Auditioners should bring a headshot and resume to appointment, but no experience is required. The auditions will consist of “cold reading” from the script. Callbacks will be at 6:30 p.m. on December 4. Rehearsals begin on December 5 and the performances will be January 19 to February 11.

Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort are dropping like flies from poisoned chocolate delights – not the best advertisement for the eve of its grand re-opening! It’s all up to manager John Stone and amateur sleuth, mystery writer Ed Parlor to save the day in a wacky race against time! The sinister, sweet chocolates are at the center of the murders surrounded by outlandish suspects working for the resort. A truly new, fun, and different comedy that will delight audiences!

All shows are at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street, Garland. Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org or call 972-485-8884 for additional information.