Review: Annie Get Your Gun at Village Square Theatre by Melissa Ellington

Jasper May 11, 2015

After the original version’s success in 1946, a Tony Award-winning revival of Annie Get Your Gun (with libretto revised by Peter Stone) opened on Broadway back in 1999, starring Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat. As a graduate student living in New York City at the time, this reviewer was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of a fictionalized depiction of celebrated sharpshooter Annie Oakley’s success in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show and her romance with star Frank Butler. Any self-respecting musical theatre kid grows up to be familiar with numbers like “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “I Got the Sun in the Morning.” Yet Annie Get Your Gun offers more than toe-tapping favorites, with a challenging book that provokes questions about treatment of Native Americans and considers the nuances of gender roles in professional and personal relationships.

As produced by Village Square Theatre, Annie Get Your Gun (music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields as revised by Peter Stone, and orchestrations by Larry Moore) succeeds on multiple levels. From the sprightly, inviting opening number to the vibrant finale, Annie Get Your Gun is sure to please longtime fans of the musical along with audience members who are new to the show.

In the pivotal role of Annie Oakley, Candice Pipkin proves a formidable comedienne with a gorgeous voice. Pipkin captivates the audience as she balances homespun hijinks with tender sincerity, a key factor in realizing Annie’s character. She is a performer of great charisma and endearing pluck, just right for the indefatigable Oakley. Pipkin’s enchanting strength as both an actor and a vocalist emerges in dynamic numbers like “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun” as well as poignant songs such as her exquisite rendition of “I Got Lost In His Arms.”

With the appealing Chris Kruzner in the role of Frank Butler, Pipkin shares lovely vocals punctuated by comedic mischief in entertaining numbers like “The Girl That I Marry,” “An Old Fashioned Wedding,” and “Anything You Can Do.”

The delightful Melissa Hanna (Winnie Tate) and Brian Andrews (Tommy Keeler) sparkle in a romantic subplot, while Eliza C. Spence delivers saucy and conniving energy as Butler’s assistant Dolly Tate. The engaging ensemble features Robert Bullock as the capable, businesslike Charlie Davenport, Jeff Sigley as a splendidly costumed Buffalo Bill Cody, Drew Tyler (Pawnee Bill), and Dick White (Chief Sitting Bull). Annie’s younger siblings are played with lively sweetness by Miranda Campagna, Emily Grace McIntyre, Peyton Sipe, and Cameron Eubanks, who shine in the lilting charm of “Moonshine Lullaby.”

Talented director Debra E. Leopard collaborates with a valuable production team, including Becky Croft (Executive Producer), Matt Marks (Technical Director), and Stephanie Nelson (Stage Manager). Camille Jones provides expert musical direction, and the band members (Jones, Jim Hall, and Eddie Bird) bring Berlin’s beloved songs to life with flair. Not only do Hanna and Pipkin play lead roles, they also function as choreographers (with Jeff Lander), crafting a variety of crowd-pleasing dance numbers, including “I’ll Share It All With You” and “Who Do You Love, I Hope.”

The large cast is costumed beautifully by Nancy Huffines and Heidi Willard. Clever set designs work effectively to convey numerous locations, from a steam train to a cattle boat to the Hotel Brevoort, with various other stops in between. Ensemble members collaborate on fluid and efficient scene changes, particularly impressive with a show of this scope and size.

Led by the extraordinary star power of Pipkin, the Village Square cast and production team have achieved an enjoyable production of Annie Get Your Gun. (Audience members with younger children will want to be aware that the show includes some mild language and a few suggestively racy moments.) Performances will take place on May 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm and May 16 and 17 at 3:00 pm. For tickets and more information, contact 803-359-1436 or visit www.villagesquaretheatre.com.

Holiday Shows A-Plenty Across Midlands Stages

August December 1, 2014

There's no shortage of seasonal favorites to be found around town. The winter holidays are all about tradition; as days grow shorter, darker, and colder, we're comforted by what is familiar. Local theatres are no exception, offering revivals of yuletide favorites, as well as productions of classics from the screen and stage. Here are just a few!

The Waltons was a huge hit on television, but in Earl Hamner's novels and on the big screen, they were the Spencers, and Hamner adapted his memories of growing up in rural Virginia into a stage play as well. Narrated by Clay-Boy Spencer, The Homecoming recalls a pivotal Christmas, a missing father, and lean times during the Depression. Lexington's Village Square Theatre returns with this favorite from a few seasons ago for one weekend only, December 4-7. MonaLisa Botts directs; for information, call 803-359-1436, or visit http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com.

Similar small town warmth and values, filtered through a quirkier Southern Gothic perspective, earned Pamela Parker a Pulitzer nomination for her play Second Samuel. West Columbia's On Stage Productions is reviving their successful production from earlier this year. The Jasper review of that production said "like Steel Magnolias, the local ladies gather to chat at the beauty parlor, while the men convene at 'Frisky’s Bait and Brew,' the kind of place where you can get a Nehi and a Moon Pie as easily as a cold beer or a shot of whiskey...(The play) can be enjoyed at face value as a variation on Mayberry or Vicky Lawrence’s Momma’s Family, or taken at a much deeper level."

Most of director Robert Harrelson's cast return, including Debra Leopard, MJ Maurer, Courtney Long, Anne Merritt Snider, Courtney Long, Sam Edelson, and Antoine T. Marion. Run dates are December 4-13; for information, call 407-319-2596, or visit http://www.onstagesc.com/. There will also be a special staged reading of the sequel, A Very Second Samuel Christmas on Saturday, December 6, with the playwright in attendance - your chance to give feedback on a new work in progress!

Town Theatre is also bringing back a popular hit, the stage adaptation by David Ives and Paul Blake of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Based on the 1954 film, this musical, nominated for multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards, is directed and choreographed by Shannon Willis Scruggs, with musical direction by Sharon McElveen Altman. Frank Thompson and Scott Vaughan play Army buddies who stage a show at a quaint Vermont inn, encountering show biz shenanigans and romantic entanglements with Abigail Ludwig and Celeste Mills along the way. Joining them are Bill DeWitt, Kathy Hartzog, Parker Byun, Andy Nyland, and Bob Blencowe; the show continues this week, closing with a matinee on Sunday, December 7, and you can find a review at Onstage Columbia.

Two other special performances are also scheduled for holiday fun. First, Jamie Carr Harrington directs Disney’s Sleeping Beauty - Kids, the culmination of her Fall Youth Program. This timeless classic will magic its way into your heart this holiday season. There will be music and dancing, as well as magic spells and evil curses. Maleficent crashes little Aurora’s Christening party, and places a curse on the baby simply because she was not invited. A urora is whisked away to the woods where she lives for 16 years. Once upon a dream she meets a handsome stranger, who ends up being the prince who will break the spell with true love’s kiss. Come see Town Theatre’s Youth Program bring a little magic now to the stage, with ayoung beauty who pricks her finger on a spindle and falls asleep due to a curse. There will be fun bumbling fairies, happy woodland creatures, and fantastical goons. (Gotta love fantastical goons! ~ ed.) The show runs Dec. 12-14, with multiple matinee and evening performances.

Also, Jasper Theatre Artist of the Year Finalist Frank Thompson directs A Christmas Carol Columbia - a new version of the Dickens novella, presented live on stage as a radio play, and written by James Kirk. (The author, not the captain.) This special performance will be presented just one, at 3 PM on Sunday, Dec. 21st. For ticket information on all three productions, call 803-799-2510, or visit www.towntheatre.com.

The St. Paul’s Players are presenting The Fourth Wise Man, a musical adaptation of the short story “The Other Wise Man” by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933), an author, educator, and clergyman who is credited with writing the lyrics for “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” The Fourth Wise Man is the story of Artaban, portrayed by Jim Jarvis. Other cast members are John Arnold, Brenda Byrd, Olin Jenkins, Randy Nolff, Mark Wade, and Valerie Ward. Artaban, one of the Magi who has studied the stars, endeavors to journey with Caspar, Melchoir, and Balthazar to pay tribute to the Christ Child. He carries three gifts, a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl; however, during his travels he faces tests and challenges. What happens when he finally has the chance to meet Jesus face-to-face?

The St. Paul’s Players' production of The Fourth Wise Man will be presented in the Good Shepherd Theatre at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, on the corner of Bull and Blanding Streets in downtown Columbia. A dinner theatre performance will be held on Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m. The cost is $10.00 per person, with advance reservations required. Call (803) 779-0030 to make reservations. Two more performances will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 3 p.m. andat 7 p.m. There is no cost for the Saturday performances and no required reservations. For more information, contact John W. Henry, Producer, at 803-917-1002, or Paula Benson, Director, at 803-206-4965.

Trustus Theatre found great success last year with Patrick Barlow's post-modern adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which remained faithful to the original Dickens material, while incorporating technical wizardry, live music enhanced with synthesizer effects, and sexy, steampunk-influenced costumes for the Ghosts. You can read the Jasper review of that production here, but there have been a few changes for this year's iteration, with Kendrick Marion joining Director Chad Henderson and last year's cast, including Catherine Hunsinger, Avery Bateman, Scott Herr, and Stann Gwynn as Scrooge. The show runs through December 20 on the Thigpen Main Stage.

Trustus also has a couple of special events scheduled this month. First, late nights are back with The Ladies of Lady Street Late Night Cabaret, featuring the best in female impersonation. Join a highly entertaining quartet of both local and guest performers on Friday December 12^th at 11:00pm. The hour-long show features an entertaining mix of female impersonation, celebrity illusions, showgirl costumes, comedy, glamour and live singing. Vista Queen Emeritus Patti O’Furniture leads a cast that features Dorae Saunders (as seen on “America’s Got Talent” and former Miss US of A at Large), the live singing talents of Denise Russell, and Veronica La Blank (Columbia’s Wild Card of Drag.) This is the second offering of a series of four shows during Trustus’ 30^th season. The show takes place on the Thigpen Mainstage; tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at www.trustus.org or at the door. Doors open at 10:45pm after the evening performance of A Christmas Carol. The show is at 11:00pm. The Trustus bar will open at 10:45pm and will remain open during the show. Or, make a night of it, and check out the Trustus production of A Christmas Carol that same night at 8pm. Tickets for that show are also available online.

Then get ready for Jingle Bell Jazz, featuring the Mark Rapp Quartet and special guests on December 17^th. Celebrated jazz trumpeter Mark Rapp and his quartet present a grooving, swinging, funky fun Christmas concert that will leave you toasty, warm and happy for the holidays. Rapp has prepared unique jazz arrangements of such Christmas classics as: Angels We Have Heard on High, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, O Come All Ye Faithful, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer to Wham!’s Last Christmas.Rapp has performed with such distinct artists from Branford Marsalis to Hootie and the Blowfish, released 5 diverse recordings, and is featured leading and playing the closing track of Disney’s "Everybody Wants to be a Cat" CD which also features such artists as Dave Brubeck and Esperanza Spalding. Mark is a featured artist in Mellen Press' "How Jazz Trumpeters Understand Their Music" among a prestigious list including Terence Blanchard, Lew Soloff, Freddie Hubbard, Tim Hagans, Dave Douglas and more. Mark has performed in jazz festivals around the world from the Fillmore Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, WC Handy Festival, to Jazz Festivals in Switzerland, Croatia and Brazil. The concert performance will begin at 9pm. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased from www.trustus.org. For more information or reservations call the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732 .

Theatre Rowe is presenting Murder Under the Mistletoe at both its Columbia and Lexington locations: Scheduled dates are:

Lexington: December 4-7, 11-14, 18-21

Columbia: December 6, 7, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21

For information, call 803-200-2012, or visit http://scdinnertheatre.com.

Shakespeare's Kidz, the youth program of the South Carolina Shakespeare Company, presents MidWinter's Eve: A Shakespeare's Kidz Tale on December 11th, at 6:00 pm at the Richland Country Library - and it's free! Written and directed by London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art graduate Katie Mixon, the show is a fun, family friendly, heart-warming inside look at Christmas in Elizabethan England. It's the night before Christmas, when William Shakespeare pops off for some holiday cheer with the wife for the evening. The Shakespeare brood is on their own! Young twins Judith and Hamnet dance, and duel with swords, while Susanna dreams of romance. Friends Emilia, Malvolio, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern join the party, with a search for the Yule Log, and visits from The Lord of Misrule! Will the Shakespeare kids and their friends survive the night, or will chaos trump all?

Featured in the cast of young performers are Elin Johnson, Joss Kim, Maize Cook, Walt Cook, Napoleon Rodriguez, Guillermo Rodriguez Oliveira, and Lindsay Knowlton. The perforance is approximately 30 minutes; you're encouraged to arrive at few minutes early to make your way downstairs and claim a good seat! For more information, visit http://www.shakespearesc.org/kidz.html.

Columbia Children's Theatre presents Jack Frost, the world premiere of a new musical for children, with music by Paul Lindley II, and book and lyrics by Crystal Aldamuy. Run dates are December 5-14.

Something’s up with the weather. The leaves are turning non-existent colors, unexpected snows are blanketing the orange groves and farmers are getting frost bite in the summer. What is going on? Is it global warming? No, it’s Jack Frost being “creative” again. When Jack’s rebellion and yearning for self-expression start landing him in hot water, his parents The Snow Queen and The Frost King, decide that a little time spent with the industrious and practical Kringle family would teach the head-strong lad a lesson. So, in a move straight out of Trading Spaces, Jack and Crystal Kringle trade lives and suffice it to say cleaning up after reindeer is not exactly Jack’s cup of iced tea. With a book and lyrics by Crystal-Alisa Aldamuy and music by Paul Gilbert Lindley II this wintry world premiere musical is just the thing to warm your heart!

Show Times:

~ August Krickel

"Cheaper by the Dozen" - Melissa Swick Ellington reviews the new show at Lexington's Village Square Theatre

August November 11, 2014

The Lexington County Arts Association presents Cheaper by the Dozen, dramatized by Christopher Sergel from the book by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr., and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, at the Village Square Theatre through November 16. Based on the book authored by two of the Gilbreth children, Cheaper by the Dozen explores family life in the early twentieth century as the older girls begin grappling with the social and fashion issues of high school. While the song titles and style choices are of a different era, the teenagers’ feelings are timeless. The real life inspiration for the father character, Frank Bunker Gilbreth, was an accomplished efficiency expert. His work in the field of time and motion study extended from factories to his own home, where Gilbreth and his wife Lillian Moller Gilbreth implemented procedures inspired by efficiency with their children. Several of these attempts are dramatized in the play, such as the use of Victrolas in the bathrooms for the purpose of learning foreign languages. Although the scene of Gilbreth modeling the most efficient way to bathe while fully clothed on the living room rug is undeniably humorous, he made serious contributions to his profession. (The book by Gilbreth and Carey was made into a film in 1950. Potential audience members may want to know that the more recent movie starring Steve Martin does not reflect the book’s characters or plot. South Carolina connection: Gilbreth later wrote a popular column for the Charleston News and Courier for many years under the pseudonym of "Ashley Cooper.")

As the authors of the book that inspired the play’s creation, Frank and Ernestine provide a handy narrative framework, sharing glimpses of character and exposition as they remember their energetic and loving father’s impact on family life. The story focuses on Mr. Gilbreth’s goal of prioritizing efficiency as well as instilling strong character and values in his large brood. While the oldest child Anne rebels with silk stockings and a flashy cheerleader suitor, her younger sisters encourage her daring ways as ardently as her father tries to put on the brakes through insisting younger brothers accompany older sisters on dates. Although light-hearted matters of high school popularity and the family dog’s misbehavior suggest an insouciant romp, there is a dark cloud of illness that runs through much of the drama. The parents’ awareness of Mr. Gilbreth’s heart trouble contrasted with the children’s ignorance of the situation allows for moving exchanges such as one daughter’s careless declaration (“I wish I were dead”) met by her father’s troubled reply, “What a thing to wish.” As the audience comes to understand the motivation behind Mr. Gilbreth’s urgent need to organize his family and push the children through their education, the play moves beyond a simple comedy to a more complex depiction of the harsh struggle that mortality poses for any family.

This Village Square production boasts effective direction and an excellent cast. In the central role of the patriarch known for his “By jingo!” exclamations, Brian Andrews delivers a moving performance as Mr. Gilbreth. With the charming Lisa Pappas playing his gracious and clever wife, Andrews creates a highly convincing family dynamic. (Gariane Gunter plays the role of Mrs. Gilbreth for the November 14 – 16 performances.) The idea that “what works in the factory” can improve the home helps to drive an entertaining script. Andrews’ strong stage presence reveals a father who loves, gives firm direction, and teaches his children.

Although we don’t see all twelve children referenced in the title as the babies are being cared for “upstairs” throughout the play, the nine youngsters who appear on stage are vibrant enough for a full dozen and then some. The children craft a very believable sense of sibling camaraderie, transforming the living room set into a real home full of lively young people. As eldest daughter Anne, Maggie Hornacek achieves a skillful portrayal of the adolescent girl trying to date boys and become popular, while also learning adult truths about life. Riley Goldstein and Cameron Eubanks share enthusiasm as Ernestine and Frank, making fluid transitions between reminiscences and scenes of the past. Kori Hays plays Martha with verve, and Paul Woodard becomes a genuine and funny younger brother in the role of Bill. Isabella Gunter (Jackie), Kristen Hallman (Danielle), Cade Culler (Fred), and Annsyn Feinberg (Lillian) demonstrate spirit and charisma. It is rare to see a cast this young deliver such consistently strong performances, and the Cheaper by the Dozen kids succeed admirably.

Supporting characters are also well represented in this production. Graycen Szalwinski is appropriately flashy as the cheerleader Joe Scales, while Nick Holland makes a sympathetic impression as the beleaguered boyfriend Larry. Ben Sellers shares a memorable performance as the disapproving teacher Mr. Brill, and Rae Fuller’s effective appearances as Mrs. Fitzgerald remind us of the tremendous work required to keep the home running. Alternating in the brief yet significant role of Dr. Burton are Jeff Sigley, Steve MacDougall, and Troy Fite.

Village Square Theatre has once again assembled a talented production team, with producers Jill Larkin and Jeff Sigley at the helm. Debi Young provides insightful direction, and Daniel Woodard (Technical Director/Master Carpenter) has created a very attractive and functional set. Additional technical support includes experienced theatre artists such as Debra Leopard (Lighting Design), Nancy Huffines (Costumes), and Becky Croft (Sound Design and Control).

This lovely production gently affirms the idea of saving time for where one’s heart lies. Hard work, education, and family bonds: the Gilbreth clan’s experiences do not sugarcoat life’s challenges. My first grader shared that she enjoyed this play “about a family who learned about love.” I believe that audiences will leave the theatre feeling that they have learned something about love, and family, too.

~ Melissa Swick Ellington

Cheaper by the Dozen runs through Sunday, November 16; visit www.villagesquaretheatre.com/ for more information.

"Grease" Is The Word at the Village Square Theatre - a review by Melissa Swick Ellington

August September 29, 2014

Poodle skirts, saddle shoes, leather jackets, rock’n’roll, and teenage love: surefire signs of the musical Grease that are lighting up the stage over at the Village Square Theatre in Lexington.

Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease was first performed as a stage musical in the early 1970's and was followed by the well-known 1978 film version. Set in the late 1950s, Grease chronicles social tensions of high school and love lives of teenagers. Thinking their summer passion is a thing of the past, Sandy and Danny are surprised to encounter each other at high school, where he is part of the tough, cool crowd while she is seen as a prissy goody-two-shoes. The tug-of-war between peer pressure and forbidden romance leads to memorable scenarios, including an eye-opening slumber party and an exciting dance contest. Although the musical is often seen as a nostalgic journey through a simpler time, there is actually some harsh material in the show, as characters grapple with teenage pregnancy, violence, and rebellion. Within the toe-tapping upbeat musical numbers, glimpses of gritty reality peek through. While a feminist reading of the material can provoke criticism that Sandy compromises her true identity in order to fit in with the crowd, a whole lot of nifty singing and dancing holds the show together, and that’s plenty good enough for most folks.

I have a long, fond history with the musical Grease, launched by preteen viewings of the film version on VHS. Although I participated in just about every high school play available to me, Grease didn’t make it into the lineup those four years, though I wager there may still be a “Miss Lynch” portrayal somewhere in my future. I made it through second semester calculus my freshman year in college by playing the musical’s score over and over during panicky study sessions. (In fact, when I took the final exam, I found myself mentally singing certain Grease songs in order to solve specific kinds of calculus problems!) I finally had the opportunity to get involved in a real live stage production of Grease when I directed the show as a high school teacher. It was a special time in my personal life, too, as my then-boyfriend/now-husband helped out backstage, inspiring our soon-to-be-maid-of-honor playwright friend to dedicate a one-act play to us, aptly titled “Hopelessly Devoted.” All that personal rigmarole is offered here to build context: this reviewer was primed and ready for Grease.

Happily, the current production of Grease at Village Square Theatre in Lexington does not disappoint. Even ardent fans will be satisfied with the performances of a talented cast and marvelous musicians. Standout actors include Maddie Hammond as Sandy Dumbrowski and Tyler Inabinette as Danny Zuko, who capture the exquisite yearning of teenage romance. As Sandy, Hammond has enough verve in the goody-goody phase that she can make a convincing transformation to the closing scene’s knockout. Inabinette makes an appealing Danny, wavering between his tough guy persona and sensitive side. Ashley Manley nails the complexity of Betty Rizzo’s iconic bad girl with (maybe) a heart of gold. In the role of Kenickie, Stephen Fisher personifies a convincing greaser, constantly tangled in a web of hormonal excitement with Manley’s Rizzo or obsessed with his beloved car, “Greased Lightnin’.” Manley’s “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” is touching and formidable, showcasing the powerhouse voice glimpsed earlier in “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee.” The leads’ considerable vocal talents are well suited to their particular singing roles, and both couples have great chemistry onstage.

The other Pink Ladies (Lydia Kemmerlin, Lydia Carter, and Miranda Campagna) and Burger Palace Boys (Zach Lambert, Chance Morgan, and Harrison Carter) contribute enjoyable performances. As Patty Simcox and Eugene Florzack, Riley Goldstein and Marshall Mishoe fulfill the overachiever and nerd stereotypes while also discovering very real teenagers within their roles. The cast members do a great job of evoking goofy immaturity that coexists with earnest attempts at worldliness and sophistication, a classic dichotomy in teenage life. Debra Leopard plays a delightful Miss Lynch, while Jeff Sigley hits the right notes as the sleazy radio personality Vince Fontaine. Melissa Hanna as Cha Cha Degregorio infuses the dance scene with infectious energy and impressive skill. In the role of Teen Angel, Joshua Wright conveys clever comic timing and mellifluous crooning essential for “Beauty School Dropout.” Hannah Presor makes an adorable cameo appearance as a dancing box of popcorn. Additional cast members include John Carter, Bailey Gray, Connor Gray, Jessie Miller, Martha Smith Miller, Kara Rabon, Elizabeth Rawson, Katarina Shafer, Griffin Todd, and Sydney Torbett.

Noteworthy musical numbers include the lovely “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” Kemmerlin’s soulful “Freddy My Love,” the enthusiastic “Summer Nights,” a slickly synchronized “We Go Together,” and Inabinette’s heartfelt “Sandy.” Grease just isn’t Grease without an awesome “Greased Lightnin’” – both the song and the car – and at Village Square, Fisher, his buddies, and top-notch choreographer Hanna pull off a crowd-pleasing number, supported by the spiffy work of “master car technician” Matt Marks.

Director Becky Croft achieves a unified vision with a complex production. In a show where the songs are so familiar and vital, strong musicianship is essential. Musical director Stephanie Nelson leads an excellent onstage band, energized by Mike Nelson as Johnny Casino. Creative and crisp choreography by Hanna provides a great strength for Village Square Theatre. The show’s capable support team includes Tonya Hammond (Producer), Jamie Presor (Stage Manager), Daniel Woodard (Technical Director), Nancy Huffines and Heidi Willard (Costumes), Debra Leopard (Lighting Design), and Brian Rabon (Sound).

Varying levels of theatrical experience and stage presence exist, as the cast covers a spectrum from first-time actors through performance veterans. A quality that makes community theatre so valuable is how artistry and education can co-exist. Grease is a very effective vehicle for entertaining audiences while also developing young performers.

Potential viewers should realize that this show has a bit of an “edge,” with some mild language and raunchy content, so families with young children will want to make informed decisions.

Grease will spark happy memories for long time fans of both the stage musical and the film. The production will surely create new devotees in first time audience members. Drive your own “Greased Lightnin’” right on over to the Village Square Theatre and “doowop da doobee doo” your heart out at this swell show.

~ Melissa Swick Ellington

For more information on tickets, visit http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com/. Show dates and times are:

Friday, October 3- 7:30 pm Saturday, October 4- 7:30 pm Sunday, October 5- 3:00 pm Friday, October 10- 7:30 pm Saturday, October 11- 7:30 pm Sunday, October 12- 3:00 pm

You Better Shape Up! Maddie Hammond talks about playing Sandy in "Grease," opening this Friday, Sept. 26, at the Village Square Theatre

August September 21, 2014

Grease at Village Square Theatre is going to be like no other show that you have ever seen before. Get ready to take a trip back to the 1950’s and see all the characters you love…Danny, Sandy, the Pink Ladies, the T-Birds, and even Eugene. It all begins September 26^th,and will run through October 12^th!

My hope is that it will just as awesome to see the show, as it is to be in it. For me, having the opportunity to play the role of Sandy is the most incredible experience in my 11 years of theatre. It has been such a blast working with the amazingly talented cast and crew that put their whole hearts into every single rehearsal. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity to portray Sandy, and I hope to make my directors very proud of the masterpiece that they are creating. I started as “Little Indian Girl #2” in Annie Get Your Gun at Village Square Theatre eleven years ago, and I was bitten by the theatre bug immediately. I was playing soccer at the time when I did my first show, and I soon realized that I had a decision to make. Would I stick with the sport I had been playing for years with the girls I had been friends with for years? Or would I risk it all, and pursue theatre wholeheartedly? The decision was easy. Theatre had stolen my heart, and my theatre career began. Over the course of 11 years, I have somehow managed to be in 28 productions at Village Square Theatre, Town Theatre, and Workshop Theatre combined. I am greatly humbled when I look back and think of all the memories I have made, all the people I have met, and all the knowledge I have acquired regarding theatre and life in general. Theatre has helped me achieve self-discipline, flexibility, confidence, and an all around positive outlook on life that has helped me tremendously over the years.

Not only have I had the great privilege of performing on the Village Square Theatre stage, but Ms. Debra Leopard has so graciously allowed me to be an assistant teacher with the fall and spring acting classes as well as the summer workshop located at the theatre.

All of these wonderful experiences have lead to the auditions for Grease, and what an exciting time that was and still is! With every great show there are challenges, but with the intelligent direction of our director Becky Croft, and our insanely talented musical director Stephanie Nelson, we are able to perfect these iconic scenes. All thanks goes to them for bringing this amazing show to life through our characters and outstanding music. I look so forward to the curtain opening on September 26^th.

At the start of this new season, patrons will have the opportunity to see that Village Square Theatre has undergone some renovations that have given the theatre a whole new look and feel. We have just recently gotten brand new seats in the theatre, new carpet, paint, and bathroom and dressing room upgrades. Also, this season will be Mrs. Barbara Bise’s 30^th season at Village Square Theatre, and what a blessing she is to all of us. We treasure her deeply and are very grateful for everything that she has done for us over the time she has spent at VST. We have a lot to celebrate, and be thankful for, this year at VST, and I am so thrilled to be a part of it.

~ Maddie Hammond

For more information on tickets, visit http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com/. Show dates and times are:

Friday, September 26- 7:30 pm Saturday, September 27- 7:30 pm Sunday, September 28- 3:00 pm Friday, October 3- 7:30 pm Saturday, October 4- 7:30 pm Sunday, October 5- 3:00 pm Friday, October 10- 7:30 pm Saturday, October 11- 7:30 pm Sunday, October 12- 3:00 pm

Village Square Theatre Pours a Cup of Ambiton with "9 to 5: The Musical" - a review by Melissa Swick Ellington

August January 22, 2014

The Lexington County Arts Association presents an enjoyable production of 9 to 5: The Musical, running through this weekend at the Village Square Theatre. With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, the musical is based on the 1980 film. The show explores the power of friendship in the struggle against workplace discrimination, as three unlikely allies band together to take revenge on a sexist boss and to revolutionize office life in the process. Audience members will recognize the familiar voice of Dolly Parton as the friendly, down-home guide through 9 to 5: The Musical.

Director Brandi Owensby, musical director John Norris, and producers Leslie Dellinger and Courtney Long are at the helm for this Village Square offering. A capable production team includes choreographers Wes Williams and Kaitlyn Yaworksi, technical director Shepherd Pinner, stage manager Aryel Toup, and costume designers Heidi Willard, Nancy Huffines, Gina Calvert, and Barbara Bise. Highlights of their achievements include the complex and humorous staging of a vengeance fantasy sequence, costumes that evoke character traits effectively, and simple sets that get the job done.

In the role of company veteran Violet, Janice Holbrook blends maternal empathy with a sardonic, no-nonsense demeanor. Her mentorship of the office newcomer Judy (Rachel Rizutti) builds a sincere connection that bolsters the emotional life of the show, while Rizutti’s convincing character development and lovely singing voice invite audiences to invest in Judy’s theatrical journey. As irrepressible “Backwoods Barbie” Doralee, Susie Gibbons overcomes stereotypes to craft a resonant portrayal of a savvy and resourceful woman. Audiences will savor the first glimpse of this trio’s combined strength as their powerful delivery of “I Just Might” revs up the show. The three women soar in the rallying cry “Shine Like the Sun.”

Andrew Coston plays Joe the accountant with sincerity and sweetness, sharing a particularly appealing vocal approach to “Let Love Grow.” Harrison Ayer commits to the role of sexist boss Franklin Hart, oozing cringe-worthy sleaze that makes skin crawl and stomachs churn. Robin Saviola brings humanity to Roz, the coworker who yearns for the man others condemn as a “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.” A large ensemble of employees generates a credible depiction of bleak misery in the office “bullpen” that transforms to hopeful empowerment in the second act’s workplace metamorphosis.

Uneven sound choices interfere with the performance at times. Cleaner sound design and less cumbersome set changes would benefit the production considerably, but these are minor quibbles in light of the enjoyable theatre experience provided by Village Square. At the matinee I attended, it became very clear that the audience appreciated the performance: Doralee’s threat to Hart (“change you from a rooster to a hen”) prompted an audience member’s spontaneous affirmation, “God bless country girls!”

9 to 5: The Musical uses humor and music to illuminate disturbing problems. While it might be tempting to write off the show’s central conflict as indicative of a different era, the play’s themes resonate today in immediate as well as global ways. While wrestling with uncomfortable social realities, viewers can tap their toes to charming songs and chuckle over unpretentious humor. Tough issues wrapped up in a sassy package? Thank you, Dolly Parton.

Performances will run through Sunday, January 26 (Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.). Ticket prices are $19.00 for adults and $15.00 for children and can be purchased at www.villagesquaretheatre.com or by calling the box office at 803-359-1436. Village Square Theatre is located in Lexington just off highway 378 at 105 Caughman Road. Parental guidance is appropriate for 9 to 5: The Musical because of adult situations and language.

~Melissa Swick Ellington

"9 to 5" opens at Village Square Theatre in Lexington; "Elvis Has Left the Building" opens at Town Theatre

August January 16, 2014

The new year is upon us, and that means theatre is coming alive everywhere. Love, Loss, and What I Wore continues its sold-out run at Trustus Theatre (but you can read the Jasper review here) while Workshop Theatre continues with Crimes of the Heart (you can read What Jasper Said about it here.) Town Theatre and the Lexington County Arts Association are opening news shows this weekend - some advance press material is below!

The Lexington County Arts Association will be pulling back the curtain of the corporate world this January at the Village Square Theatre. Pushed to the boiling points by their boss, three female co-workers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. They conspire to take control of their company and learn there’s nothing they can’t do — even in a man’s world. Set in the late 1970s, 9 to 5 - The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. Outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic, 9 to 5 - The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business. The production is brought to the stage by the team of director Brandi Owensby and musical director John Norris. The talented cast features a quirky ensemble, a hodgepodge of comedic supporting characters, and Susie Gibbons as Doralee, Janice Holbrook as Violet (Debb Adams, understudy, shown in the press photo), Harrison Ayer as Franklin Hart, and newcomer Rachel Rizzuti as Judy. The show is a crowd-pleasing hilarious romp about teaming up, getting credit and getting even with the boss. And who hasn't mused about that?

9 to 5 - The Musical, with music by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the 1980 hit movie Nine to Five. The show will be opening at Village Square Theatre beginning on Friday, January 17 and running two weeks through Sunday, January 26. There will be three performances each weekend (Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.). Parental guidance suggested (adult content, language). Ticket prices are $19.00 for adults and $15.00 for children and can be purchased at www.villagesquaretheatre.com or by calling the box office at 803-359-1436. Village Square Theatre is located in Lexington just off highway 378 at 105 Caughman Road (behind Bojangle’s and Firestone Auto Care).

Meanwhile, across the river over at Town Theatre, it’s 1970, and Elvis Presley is missing. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, needs his star for an extremely important live performance. (You see, he owes a certain mobster a bit of money). Oh, and the show is in 24 hours. When the search for the real Elvis proves fruitless, he looks for the next best thing -- an Elvis impersonator, but where can he find one that he can pass off as the real Elvis? What has the real Elvis been up to anyway? The answers to these questions, and much more, will be revealed as Town’s version of this hilarious comedy unfolds.

Andy Nyland (9 to 5) recreates the manipulative Colonel Parker with Therese “Resi” Talbot (Les Miserables) as Trudy, his long-suffering secretary. Charlie Goodrich (The Foreigner) and Chip Collins (Annie) take the parts of Roscoe and Candy. We simply cannot tell you what they do – you’ll just have to see it to believe it! Last but not least is Mary Miles (Miss Saigon), the saucy and fearless news reporter who simply will not take “no” for an answer. The play by mother and son team, Duke Ernsberger and Virginia Cate, is actually based on a true event in the life of Elvis Presley. Aside from that fact, the story you are about to see is totally fictitious (at least as far as we know!). You’ll want to check out our playbill for the background. You will be amazed! So come, laugh and have a good time with this bit of “folklore” surrounding the life of The King of Rock and Roll. This riotously funny story will have you wanting more and keep you guessing until the end. Elvis Has Left the Building runs Jan 17 - Feb 1; curtain Wed.-Sat. is at 8 pm, with Sundays at 3 pm. Adults - $20; Seniors over 65/active duty military/full-time college - $17; Youth 17 and younger $15. Box office: 803-799-2510, or visit www.towntheatre.com.

Barefoot in the Park, Night of the Living Dead, Das Barbecu running this weekend!

August January 28, 2013

Neil Simon's classic Barefoot in the Park runs another weekend at the Village Square Theatre in Lexington, this Friday, February 1st through Sunday, February 3rd. From press material: Paul and Corie Bratter appear as different as they can be. He's a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer, and she's a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find: too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie's loopy mother, and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic Velasco, where everything that can go wrong, does. Paul just doesn't understand Corie, as she sees it. He's too staid, too boring, and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous, running "barefoot in the park" would be a start.

The show features the talents of Rachel Goerss as Corie Bratter, Michael Hazin as Paul Bratter, Gina Calvert as mother-in-law Ethel Banks, Dennis Kacsur as their eccentric neighbor Victor Valasco. Harrison Ayer and Steven Nessel complete the cast. For more information or tickets, contact the box office at (803) 359-1436.

Opening downtown on Main Street in the Tapp's Art Center on Friday, Feb. 1st is Night of the Living Dead, based on the 1968 film by George Romero. From press material: High Voltage Theatre, the Southeast’s premiere performance company dedicated to presenting classic and modern horror on stage, brings to Columbia the granddaddy of all zombie stories! The play is adapted and directed by Chris Cook and features Hollywood-level special FX make-up, stage combat, firearms, and hordes of man-eating zombies! A true classic of American cinema is now the hottest theatrical event in Columbia of 2013! Reviving the edgy, off-beat, Chicago-style theatre that put High Voltage on the Midlands map in 2002.

Night of the Living Dead promises to shock, thrill, chill, and excite audiences currently on a steady diet of The Walking Dead. Yes, "We're coming to get you, Columbia!"

For reservations please call: 803-754-5244

Tickets: $15 per person

8 PM curtain for all the performances at the Fountain Room in the bottom of Tapp's Art Center.

Runs: Friday and Saturday February 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th!

Starring: (In order of appearance)

Mary Miles as "Barbara" Harrison Ayer/ Michael Layer as "Johnny" Marques Moore as "Ben" Chris Cook as "Harry Cooper" Jenna Sach as "Judy" Evelyn Clary as "Helen Cooper" Mazie Cook as "Karen"

Meanwhile, over on campus, Opera at USC presents: Das Barbecu by Jim Luigs and Scott Warrender on Friday, February 1st and Saturday, February 2nd at 7:30 PM, and Sunday February 3rd at 5:30 PM, at Drayton Hall. "A re-telling of Wagner's Ring Cycle. This time set in Texas.”

Featuring Jared Ice (recently seen as Don Giovanni) Jasper Theatre Artist of the Year Finalist Shelby Sessler, Jordan Harper, Stephanie Beinlich (recently seen as Cendrillion) Stann Gwynn (recently seen as George in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf") and Christa Hiatt.

$5 - Students $15 - Seniors/ USC Faculty & Staff/ Military $20 - Adults

FOR TICKETS CALL (803) 777-5369

Rebecca Phillips, Conductor Ellen Schlaefer, Director Lynn Kompass, Musical Preparation Anna Dragoni, choreographer Teddy Moore, scenic designer Chet Longley, lighting designer

Complete History of America (abridged) at Town, Little Mermaid at Lexington

August November 1, 2012

Some of Jasper's favorite performers are opening in shows tonight. Bill DeWitt, who played a dozen different residents of Tuna, TX a few years back in A Tuna Christmas, is joined by Frank Thompson, who along with DeWitt portrayed several dozen separate characters in The 39 Steps this past spring; teaming up with Charlie Goodrich, who has been acting nonstop this year (Andre in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Gooper in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sonny in Grease, Judah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and many other roles) the trio set out to recreate the complete history of America... just slightly abridged. Yes, it's another production originally created by the Reduced Shakespeare Conpany, with three performers doing madcap, semi-improv comic versions of the story of our nation. Jamie Carr Harrington directs, and her assistant director is Shelby Sessler, one of the three finalists for Jasper's Theatre Artist of the Year, and the female lead(s) in 39 Steps with Thompson and DeWitt. From press material:

From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Straits to Baghdad, from New World to New World Order – The Complete History of America (abridged) is a ninety minute rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History, reminding us that it’s not the length of your history that matters – it’s what you’ve done with it!

The Complete History of America (Abridged) is a delightfully zany evening and wildly inaccurate crash course in American history. In only an hour and a half you'll have a screwball evening of fun starting with who actually discovered America, all the way to the current President! See Bill DeWitt (The 39 Steps), Frank Thompson (Harold Hill in The Music Man) and Charlie Goodrich (Judah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) attempt to put history in its place. Proceeds will go to Town's Repair-the-Roof Campaign.

Town Theatre will present this two night only engagement on Nov. 2nd and 3rd at 7:30 PM. Tickets are ONLY $12 in advance and $15 at the door. This will be the funniest history lesson you'll ever have. Call 803-799-2510 for more information.

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On the other side of the river, the Lexington County Arts Association presents Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. at the Village Square Theatre; it runs tonight through Sun. Nov. 18th, with shows at 7:30 PM Fridays and Saturdays, plus Saturday and Sunday matinee performances at 3 PM. We're especially excited to see Haley Sprankle step into the lead role of Ariel - this young actress has stood out in the ensembles of everything from Legally Blonde to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and was a memorable and hilarious Frenchie, the beauty school dropout, in Grease (which coincidentally featured Goodrich and Thompson from above.)

From press material:

In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel (Haley Sprankle) longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father King Triton (Tanner Connelly), make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula (Bailey Gray) and convince Prince Eric (Rut Spence) that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film, directed by Debra Leopard, Eliza Caughman Spence and Becky Croft, with musical direction by Jonathan Eason; lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, music by Alan Menken, and book by Doug Wright.