Hamlet Double-header at the Acrosstown brings both tragedy and comedy to the stage

The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre closes its 2011-2012 season this May with a pair of Hamlet-based one acts: A shortened version of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, paired with a modern comedic adaptation called “The Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet: A Justin Thyme Mystery” by Bruce Kane, which follows Thyme—a Bogart-like, tongue-in-cheek fictional detective—as he attempts to solve a hilarious whodunnit….with zombies.

The show is directed by Board Vice President Bobby Jones, with Samara Golabuk— previously seen on stage at the ART in “Independence” and “BUG” (2009-2010 season)—acting as Assistant Director. The show features the local talents of more than a dozen of Gainesville’s finest in community theatre.

The Hamlets will also be offering free, open Talk-Back sessions following each Sunday matinee, featuring special guests and the entire cast and crew, providing audience members with a chance to ask questions and get behind-the-scenes information about the show. Our featured guest for May 6th is Great Books Foundation Senior Trainer and Shakespearean discussion veteran Don Smith, and for May 13th we have Dr. Peter Rudnytsky, published author, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and University of Florida Professor of English.

The ART has partnered with the Alachua County Crisis Center for the ART’s donation-only benefit preview performance of “the Hamlets” on May 3rd, 8pm. This performance is open to the public, but seating is first-come, first-served. Admission is by sliding scale donation ($5-$25 suggested), with 100% of the door going to the Friends of the Crisis Center. This is part of the ART’s new initiative to foster community networking and support through interdependence and mutual advertising and involvement among area non-profits and charitable organizations. Previous beneficiaries include Peaceful Paths, Meridian, Al’z Place, and more.

Hamlet & The Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet: A Justin Thyme Mystery
by William Shakespeare and Bruce Kane
Show Dates: May 4 – 20 (Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm • Sundays, 2pm
Tickets: $10 General Admission/$8 Students, Seniors (55+), Educators, and Military
Benefit Preview: May 3, 8pm (benefits the Friends of the Crisis Center)
Director: Bobby Jones
Assistant Director: Samara Golabuk
Stage Manager: Rachel Wayne

Learn more on Facebook!

The cast of the ART’s production of Love Letters sat down with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Dina Lewis and talked about the production which opens tonight at 8PM. Tickets are available in advance at Book Gallery West or will be available at the door for $10.

What:
Auditions for “Hamlet & The Case of the Prince Formerly Known As Hamlet”
Written by William Shakespeare & Bruce Kane
Show Dates: May 4 – May 20, 2012 (Fri, Sat, & Sun)
Directed by Bobby Jones & Samara Golabuk
Stage Managed by Rachel Wayne

When:
Monday & Tuesday, February 27 & 28 @ 7PM

Where:
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, Mainstage
619 S Main Street
Gainesville, FL
32601

Auditioning for:

Male Roles:

Hamlet

• Act 1: The Prince of Denmark, the title character, and the protagonist. Hamlet is the son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet, and the nephew of the present king, Claudius. Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical, full of hatred for his uncle’s scheming and disgust for his mother’s sexuality. A reflective and thoughtful young man who has studied at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet is often indecisive and hesitant, but at other times prone to rash and impulsive acts.
• Act 2: Prince of Denmark Self absorbed and just a little dense. Think overly entitled Ivy League Student.
• The actor auditioning for this role should have some experience in stage combat, although it isn’t required, it will certainly help.

Claudius

• Act 1: The King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle, and the play’s antagonist. The villain of the play, Claudius is a calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for power, but he occasionally shows signs of guilt and human feeling—his love for Gertrude, for instance, seems sincere.
• Act 2: A mob boss of sorts. Think Al Capone, if Al Capone was not as smart or well connected.
• The actor auditioning for this role should have some experience in stage combat, although it isn’t required, it will certainly help.

Laertes

• Act 1: Polonius’ son and Ophelia’s brother, a young man who spends much of the play in France. Passionate and quick to action, Laertes is clearly a foil for the reflective Hamlet.
• Act 2: A vengeful son hellbent on enacting vengeance for the murder of his father by Prince Hamlet.
• The actor auditioning for this role should have some experience in stage combat, although it isn’t required, it will certainly help.

Polonius

• Act 1: The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’s court, a pompous, conniving old man. Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia.
• Act 2: Ophelia‘s aphorism spouting father, a bit senile and slow, but not altogether a bad man.

Justin Thyme

• Act 2 only: Bogart-like, hard boiled detective. Tough, sardonic, world weary. Think Same Spade or Philip Marlow from the days of Film Noir.
• The actor auditioning for this role should have some experience in stage combat, although it isn’t required, it will certainly help.

Horatio

• Act 1: Hamlet’s close friend, who studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. Horatio is loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play.
• Act 2: This actor will play several roles, including a Boxing Announcer/referee

King Hamlet/Ghost of King Hamlet

• Act 1: The specter of Hamlet’s recently deceased father. The ghost, who claims to have been murdered by Claudius, calls upon Hamlet to avenge him.
• Act 2: A dying King who leaves much to be desired in the “conveying of information” area.

Female Roles:

Gertrude

• Act 1: The Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother, recently married to Claudius. Gertrude loves Hamlet deeply, but she is a shallow, weak woman who seeks affection and status more urgently than moral rectitude or truth.
• Act 2: Hamlet‘s randy mother, prone to PDA and very giddy about her new husband!

Ophelia

• Act 1: Polonius’s daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Hamlet has been in love. Ophelia is a sweet and innocent young girl, who obeys her father and her brother, Laertes.
• Act 2: A 1940s Femme Fatal, a quick witted beautiful woman who knows how to get her way!

Unisex roles:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – Hamlet’s goofball College friends
Gunsel – Claudius’ “Muscle”
Player King – Main actor in the play within a play
Various other minor but important roles. Anywhere between 1-6 actors will have speaking parts.

More Info:
This show is split into two distinct acts, each with a vastly different feel from the other.

The first act will largely be the traditional Hamlet as written by William Shakespeare, but will be edited and condensed to fit into one act. The drama and tragedy will be real and this act will be quite serious.

The second act is an adaptation by Bruce Kane and is set in 1940s Chicago/”Denmark”. The main character is Justin Thyme, a “fictional private eye” who is stylized after characters often played by Humphrey Bogart and other Film Noir P.I.s. The show is a comedy and all of the principle actors from the first act will reprise their roles again in the second act, only they will not be tragic characters, but rather comedic in nature.

What:
Auditions for “The Aunts”
Written by Gary Bonasorte
Show Dates: March 30 – April 15, 2012
Directed by Katie Kirkpatrick

When:
Monday & Tuesday, January 23 & 24 @ 7PM

Where:
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, Mainstage
619 S Main Street
Gainesville, FL
32601

Looking for:

1 (one) male in his 50’s -fun-loving, reckless, handsome

1(one) female 28-35-plus size, playful,l loves to laugh, dim

1(one) female early 50’s- very feminine, full of fun considered the beauty

1(one) female Late 50’s- spunky, addicted to alcohol, unhappy in her     marriage

This drama is about three women one niece and two aunts. Aunt Meg has come to be with her sister Nan, whose husband is upstairs in agony, dying of cancer. She is also taking advantage of this opportunity to flee her abusive husband. The niece, Pita, arrives to try and cheer everyone up; but the only effect she has is to make everyone even more nervous and upset particularly when they learn her secret.

Be ready to do a “cold” reading from the script. Also, please bring a resume and headshot if you have one, and be prepared to list your rehearsal conflicts.

What:
Auditions for “Galileo of Gainesville”
Show Dates: January 13 – January 29, 2012
Written & Directed by Dan Kahn

When:
Monday & Tuesday, November 21 & 22 @ 7PM

Where:
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, Mainstage
619 S Main Street
Gainesville, FL
32601

Looking for:
Character List
Professor – having big ideas, difficulty communicating, crisis and opportunity
Ms Sardi – mother of a university student, allows Professor to sleep on her couch for a time.
Andrew/Andrea – former student of the Professor, still in university
Eve – “estranged” wife of professor, also mythical dreamy Eden-scape version of self
Cardinal – religious leader and red bird
Academic Administrator – Professor’s former boss
Entrepreneur – a high-tech businessperson
Quentin – savvy guide to the streets
Juan – homeless fella
Doobie – homeless fella
Tree – homeless fella
Jeannette – homeless gal
Roscoe (or whatever) – homeless dude, probably schizophrenic
Voice (rational, scientific) – like that
More Info:

Oleanna, a play by Pulitzer Prize Winning author and playwright David Mamet

October 28 – November 13, 2011

Directed by Aran S Graham

Featuring the talents of:

Kiri Cutts as “Carol”
Mark Woollett as “John”

Oleanna is a thought-provoking play that looks at the issues of sexual harassment, education, society, gender issues, feminism, and authority. A college student is failing a class, and asks the professor for help. The only problem is knowing who is right and who is wrong in the ensuing conflict between the two. The story comes to a climax that you must see to believe!

Performances will be
Friday & Saturday nights at 8pm
Sundays at 2pm with a talk back to follow every Sunday Performance.
Door opens 30 minutes prior to show time.

$10 General Admission
$8 for Students, Educators, Military, and Seniors

Tickets available starting October 21st
at Book Gallery West
4121 NW 16th Boulevard
Gainesville, FL 32605 phone 352-371-1234

Tickets also sold at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance.
Cash or Check only at the door.

This show is not intended for anyone under the age of 13.

Welcome to the Hecks’ for Christmas dinner!

Mom, a retired Texas History Teacher (Cindy Lasley and understudy Susan Lyberger) and Dad, a semi-retired police officer and war veteran (Jerry Rose)  welcome their two boys and younger sister home for the holidays, along with some surprise guests to boot.

Austin, the oldest son, who seems to have it all together (Tom Miller), his wife Kiama (Cristina Palacio) and their eccentric, Aspergers afflicted son Bowie (Darren Willis) arrive for their last Heck family holiday get-together, as divorce is in their near future.

Travis, the second oldest son, a failed sitcom actor/comedian and substitute teacher (Jason Hedges) arrives with his way too young girlfriend Chloe (Xanna Prentice).  Travis loathes the thought of another dysfunctional family get-together, while Chloe grows to love everything ‘Heck’.

Crockett, the wild child, youngest sibling and Daddy’s girl (Elizabeth Mignacca) soon arrives, displays a more than friendly liking for her older brother’s girlfriend Chloe, falls off the wagon (despite being a recovering alcoholic) and uncovers a few secrets to spill.

And in the final act, a mysterious stranger (Rose Godfrey) arrives with some shocking news to ruin all things ‘Heck’.   But what she doesn’t know is that by this time, the family is already in crisis, with skeletons coming out of the closet, deep seeded secrets exposed for all to see and a few surprises no one could have expected!

The show will open December 2nd at the Acrosstown! Tickets will be available a week before opening night at Book Gallery West as always, but you could always just purchase a season pass and save yourself a trip to the bookstore! Don’t miss what’s sure to be a hilarious holiday show!

What:
Auditions for “A Christmas from Heck”
by Rob Nash
Show Dates: December 2 – December 18, 2011
Directed by Jessica Arnold

When:
Monday & Tuesday, September 26 & 27 @ 7PM

Where:
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, Mainstage
619 S Main Street
Gainesville, FL
32601

Looking for:
men ages (25 to 70)
women age (16-40)
one african american female age (30-45)
one asian woman (age 30-50)
young boy age (10-12)

*come in comfortable clothing and be prepared to do some improvisation

More Info:
Typical of every good middle class family, the Hecks gather for Christmas with their kept secrets but we all know what happens after that set up falls apart….
Austin Heck and his wife Kiama steel themselves for one last Heck yuletide hurrah before the divorce.
Their autistic son Bowie Heck recites lines from old movie comedians while awaiting a probation hearing for counter attacking a nasty bully at school.
Austin’s little brother, Bowie’s uncle and godfather, the chronically poor, chronically underemployed comedy writer Travis Heck shows up with less-than-half-his-age date Chloe who immediately falls in love with all things Heck.
Baby sister Crockett Heck arrives late snarfing eggnog, brazenly jumping off the wagon.
And of course there’s that stranger’s final act pistol which blasts recovering alcoholic Dad’s and Alzheimer’s suffering Mom’s secrets out into the open.
Can an atypical Christmas Eve force typical suburban family to somehow find a safe harbor in each other?
You need a break from interacting with your dysfunctional family this holiday season! Come sit yourselves in a big, dark room and watch someone else’s family be crazy for a change!

The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre is proud to present an evening filled with Jazz and Storytelling on September 10th.

Jazz will be provided by The Omi Ajamu Quartet, a jazz group from right in our hometown of Gainesville. Omi Ajamu has perform throughout Alachua County and the state. She is a lifelong advocate for the arts. She has a special love for the community theatre. Her husband and children have performed in plays that were directed by Carol Valesquez at Acrosstown Repretory Theatre. Her instrumentalists, David Ottenberg (a public school music teacher) and Howard Wapner(a local musician) have been on the local scene for more than a decade.

Special Guests include a terrific storyteller and Gainesville legend, Vivian Filer! This skillful artist is a retired educator from the Nursing Department of Santa Fe Community College. Sho writes a weekly Health Column for the Gainesville Guardian, She performs with her siblings, the well known “Washington Sisters” who are known for their rich/pure acapella singing. Vivian Filer is very instrumental in the resurrection of the Cotton Club located in SE Gainesville and continues to create fundraising activities for the completion of this project. Most importantly, her special gift/talent is storytelling. In her performances, she shares many personal experiences as well as incorporate African folklore, stores, and poems.

Tickets are $10 for General Admission and $8 for Students and will only be sold at the door for this one night event! Remember that the ART can only accept cash or checks at the door at this time, so please don’t forget to stop by the ATM if you need to!

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook!

See you all there!

The cast of “Oleanna” by David Mamet has been announced! Prepare yourself to see Kiri Cutts as Carol and Mark Woollett as John, face off in a powerhouse performance.

The show is already in rehearsals an will open October 28th at the Acrosstown! Tickets will be available a week before opening night at Book Gallery West as always, but you could always just purchase a season pass and save yourself a trip to the bookstore!