|
GCCC to present romantic comedy dinner theater
Feb 15, 2012 (The Garden City Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
For those who didn't get to spend Valentine's Day with that special someone or didn't get to celebrate the day of love, Garden City Community College is offering a solution.
The GCCC drama department will present a dinner theater performance Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The show is "Almost Maine," which is made up of nine to 10 short tales that explore love and loss based in a small town called Almost, Maine. The piece is a contemporary one that was first presented in Portland, Maine, before appearing on Broadway and earning Best Plays of 2006 honors. Recently, it edged out Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as the most-produced student play on North American stages, according to a release from GCCC.
Philip Hoke, director, said in the series of stories, each character has been touched by love.
"Some are hesitant and some are fragile. They're sweet, sentimental-type stories," Hoke said.
He said the play portrays love in a very truthful way.
"It's very honest in its treatment about what works and what doesn't work -- what's good in a relationship and what's bad in a relationship. Hoke said he selected the piece because of the Valentine's Day holiday and the fact that the play makes a perfect dinner theater piece.
It's one that also challenges the actors.
"They have to be able to deal with a dinner theater approach. Most have been double-cast, or doing two roles. They really had to challenge themselves to create different characterizations for the roles they play," he said. Hoke said the actors also have had six weeks to put the show together.
He encourages the public to come out and see the performance.
"The main thing is, if they're interested in having an entertaining, romantic evening filled with good food and stories -- just come on out," he said.
Those who are interested should act fast, as today is the last day for reservations. Admission will be $20 for singles or $35 for couples. Reservations are necessary, and those may be made by calling 276-9540 or in person at the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building office on the GCCC campus.
The play will be presented in the college fine arts auditorium, with the doors opening at 6:15 p.m. Dinner service will take place on stage, beginning at 6:45 p.m., with the romantic tales getting under way shortly afterward.
The dinner menu includes chicken cordon bleu, salad, butternut squash and almond rice pilaf, as well as a surprise dessert at intermission.
Show-goers will be seated at tables close to the actors, where they'll experience a specially produced Northern Lights effect, Hoke said. Since the production dates fall between Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras, tables will be decorated with a collection of award-winning masks recently created by cast member Ivonne Flores.
"We had a lot of fun last year with our murder mystery comedy, 'The American Bullet Train,' and now we're looking forward to this delightful little romantic comedy," Hoke said. "We think it's going to offer everyone a wonderful evening."
The crew includes Nicole Dyer, Garden City, assistant director and stage manager; Kathy Kohls, GCCC fine arts secretary, box office manager; Alan Kessler, Lakin, set designer; Holden Eisiminger, Ulysses, and Nancy Wright, Garden City, lighting designers. Cast members, performing one or more roles each, include Flores, Garden City; Chase Lumley, Sublette; Eisiminger; Wright; Justin Godwin, Liberal; Molly Gardner, Garden City; Ashley Martinez, Garden City; Carissa Hodgs, Ingalls; and Heather Kochivar, Elizabeth, Colo. In addition to directing, Hoke also is performing one of the roles.
___ (c)2012 The Garden City Telegram (Garden City, Kan.) Visit The Garden City
Telegram (Garden City, Kan.) at www.gctelegram.com Distributed by MCT
Information Services
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
