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POVERTY. ROMANCE AND DANCING
There are a few productions for your enjoy
ment coming up this month and there will be
more in the next few weeks. Many companies
are still in rehearsal and will open their shows
later this month and in March..
SHARKwiNG Comedy presents a Valentine-
themed show on Feb. 10 at Flicker Theatre &
Bar. Athens Creative Theatre presents Live
Art: Sweethearts of the Stage, Feb. 11-12,
18-20, at Quinn Hall, Memorial Park. See
www.athenscreativetheatre.com for more info.
Athens Academy Middle School presents
Once Upon a Mattress, Feb. 10-12. This now-
famous play was originally written as a one-
act for Camp Taminent in Pennsylvania, and
starred a young actress named Carol Burnett.
It was later expanded into a full-length musi
cal, which opened on Broadway and launched
Ms. Burnett's career. North Oconee High
School presents Arthur Miller's The Crucible,
Feb. 18-20.
UGA presents Ruined, by Lynn Nottage,
Feb. 15-20, in the Cellar Theatre. See www.
drama.uga.edu for more info. Rose of Athens
continues No Shame Theatre at Hendershot's
Coffee Bar every Tuesday night. Town and
Gown Players present Dancing at Lughnasa,
by Brian Friel, Feb. 11-13, 17-20. Celtic
musicians will play after the Sunday, Feb. 13
performance. T&G will also hold auditions
for Little Shop of Horrors, Feb. 14 & 15. See
www.townandgownplayers.org for more info.
In previous columns I've described the
richness of theatre opportunities in the Athens
area, mainly from the perspective of those
who wish to attend theatre. But there are
riches to be found for those who wish to par
ticipate in theatre as well: backstage,
onstage, directing, designing, front
of house and administrative manage
ment, classes and many more areas.
One can participate in any area of
theatre and at a level suited to one's
experience and interests. I'll illustrate
what I mean using Town and Gown's
production of Dancing at Lughnasa
as an example. (Disclaimer: I've been
involved with T&G for more than 20
years in every aspect except costum
ing, although I've worn many of them.
This is not a pitch for the show, just
an illustration, I promise. There are
other theatre companies in the area
that offer similar opportunities and I'll
cover those in future columns.)
Town and Gown Players is the old- T&G's
est continually operating all-volunteer
community theatre in Georgia. All-volunteer
means nobody gets paid, of course, so people
participate for many reasons and they bring a
wide variety of experience, skills, backgrounds
and energies to the tasks. Director Leara
Rhodes said she wanted to direct this play
because of her Irish heritage and her interest
in historical research, as well as the script
itself. The costumes and set pieces have been
carefully researched and reflect the design and
look of the time period: 1936. As Rhodes says,
"Friel [the playwright] layers this play with
religion, politics, history, gender issues, fam
ily, poverty, romance and dancing. How can
anyone resist a play like this?"
Rhodes also coordinates the activities of
45 people directly involved in the produc
tion and directs the eight cast members who
appear onstage: Thomas Guillebeau, Virginia
Simmons, Kris Schultz, Hannah Broom,
Gillianne Gentzel, Marisa Castengera, Benjamin
Ray and Hue Henry. Of these eight actors,
production of Dancing at Lughnasa runs through Feb. 20.
one has extensive professional theatre experi
ence but is a newcomer to T&G; five have .
performed or worked at T&G, and three are
newcomers. Two of the cast are under 21 years
old, and one is "pushing 60." One is an Athens
attorney, two are UGA students, one is an
oncology nurse. As you can see, local theatre
attracts a fairly diverse crowd.
Rhodes is a UGA journalism professor, a
writer with two books out, a playwright and
a T&G veteran. Of the other 36 people who
work on the production, the stage manager is
a T&G veteran, and one of her assistants is the
15-year-old daughter of the assistant direc
tor—a woman who has 20 years of experience
in theatre and works her day-job at a non
profit rehab center. The costumor, who has
also created costumes for Rose of Athens and
other theatres in the area, is a professional
biologist by day; the set designer, musical
director and master carpenter all work in IT;
the scenic artist is an actual artist, designer
and actress; and the choreographers
are actually dance teacher—one at
UGA and the other at the Montessori
School.
In addition to these folks, the
box office and front of House (ushers
and house manager) volunteers are
trained and coordinated by members
of the T&G Board of Directors (also
volunteers).
The list goes on, and the oppor
tunities are abundant. Other theatre
companies in the area also invite
volunteers to participate in their pro
ductions, and many companies offer
classes in various aspects of theatre.
Again, I'll cover more of these op ior-
tunities in future columns.
So, by all means, go see live the
atre, but also know that opportunities abound
for you to be a part of the creation of these
performances, whether it is onstage, backstage
or handing out programs and helping to make
the audience members feel welcome. Check it
out.
Rick Rose thealre@flagpole.com
r
Jjgbgi see kai run
146 e. clayton st.
706-354-8631 • www.helixathens.com .
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Join us for a
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February 22, 2011
6-8 p.m.
Lanier Gardens, 801 Riverhill Dr.
Discuss policy changes such as this with
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'Refreshments will be served. Those traveling by bus or taxi to the event are eligible for reimbursement.
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R. S. V.R Jessica Bankston
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(706) 549.4850
14 FLAGPOLE.COM • FEBRUARY S, 2011
