UPCOMING SHOWS IN AUTUMN

There is some really brilliant theatre coming to Christchurch this season, and tickets for these shows are selling fast: Rangiora Players' upcoming production of April Phillips' comedy Stiff already has less than 100 seats remaining with a full month to go to until opening night so get in quick!
For more information about the shows below, check out the links provided.


Dramasoc presents a 1930s adaptation of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan

Whilst preparing for her 18th birthday celebrations, Lady Windermere discovers that her husband of one year may be having an affair with a much older woman whom she has never met. Over the course of 24 hours Lady Windermere learns that not everything is as it seems.

Shows are Wed 13th - Sat 16th and Wed 20th - Sat 23rd March in the Jack Mann Auditorium on the Univeristy of Canterbury's Dovedale campus.  All shows start at 7.30, tickets are $15/$12.  Tickets are available from the on-campus ticket booth on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and can otherwise be purchased through the Court Theatre or via Dash Tickets (booking fees may apply).  Adapted and directed by Michael Jamieson.  For more information contact producer@dramasoc.org.nz or see the event page on Facebook.



Rangiora Players' Production of Stiff

Angel Delight is the illegitimate daughter of a funeral director, and inherits the undertaker's premises when he dies. Before she can sell the business and the land, she is required to keep the funeral parlour open for a further five years.

Unfortunately, she knows absolutely nothing about the funeral business... but rather a lot about prostitution.

Shows are Wed 10th - Sat 13th and Wed 17 - Sat 20th April in The Rangiora Players Little Theatre at Northbrook studios.  Performance starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets $20 for all and can be ordered online through the Rangiora Player's bookings page or from the Kaiapoi ISite Visitor Centre.  Directed by Dimitri Gibara.  For more information about the show, see the Player's site or contact Julie on 03 313 3721.



Elmwood Players presents Cosi

Lewis is a young, inexperienced university student, hired by a psychiatric institute to direct a play as part of the hospital's therapeutic program. The venue is a theatre that smells of "burnt wood and mould", the cast are patients with very diverse needs and the play is Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte. Roy, a patient, demands the Mozart work, but his fellow inmates are neither opera singers nor Italian speakers and Lewis' problems don't end there

Shows are Wed 24th - Sat 27th April and Wed 1st - Sat 4th May in the Elmwood Auditorium.  Performance starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets $20/$15 and can be booked online through the Elmwood Players booking form, or by calling 03 355 8874.  Directed by Garry Thomas.  For more information about the show, see the Elmwood Player's website.


Showbiz brings Broadway to Christchurch with Avenue Q

AVENUE Q is a colourful musical journey where both puppets and people tell the story of Princeton, a new college Grad who is anxious to discover his purpose in life...The musical is 'Sesame Street’ meets ‘South Park’ for grownups.

Shows are Wed 24th - Sat 27th April and Tues 30th April - Sat 4th May at the Aurora Centre at Burnside High School.  Performances start at 7.30pm with a 2pm matinee on 27th April and an early-start 6pm show on Thursday 25th.

Tickets are from $30 and can be ordered online through the Showbiz website.  Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx.
This show is R13 and contains sexual content that may offend some people, parental guidance is highly recommended.  For more information see Showbiz.org.nz.

AUDITIONS 15-FEB-12

Plenty of auditions coming up in the next couple of weeks for those that want to get really stuck into a good acting role, plus school holiday show season is almost upon us (already!).

Auditions: Riccarton Players' Murder by Membership Only

On the 17th February (this coming Sunday), the Riccarton Players are holding auditions for their Autumn season of Murder by Membership Only. Written by Thomas Hischak, the play takes place in the Orczy Club, an exclusive sanctum for women mystery writers in London.  A humorous, suspenseful, and sometimes frightening "Whodunnit" play with a strong cast and many excellent roles for women.

"How would it look if a roomful of mystery writers had to go to the police to solve a murder that took place under their very noses?"

Roles available:
HESTER TANDY: writer; intelligent, frank, likeable (30-50)
LYDIA BEATON: secretary; cold, efficient, nervous 
MRS PLIMPTON: club member; quiet, aloof, dominating speaker (30-50)
MADAME LECOQ: club proprietor; French, motherly, warm (50s-60s)
CLARICE FERGUSSON: club member; harsh, impatient, not liked (40-50)
MRS BALSER: the cook; quiet, but complaining (40-50)
EVE HAWKINS: writer; American, fresh, vibrant, talkative (20s-40s)
OCTAVIA STURGES: famous writer/celebrity; loud, demanding, snobbish (50s-60s)
MAY COBBS: journalist; awkward, uncomfortable (20s)

Auditions will be taking place in the Upper Riccarton Library, for a complete script or audition time - or with any query - please contact the director at christina_stachurski@hotmail.com or phone 960 9624 evenings.  To find out more about the show and the club, see the Riccarton Players' website.


Reminder: Auditions for Elmwood Players' Cosi

As previously announced, Elmwood Players are holding auditions next weekend for Cosi, a semi-autobiographical drama by Louis Nowra set in a mental institution.

Roles Available
LEWIS: 21, just left university, a first time director.
LUCY: Early 20’s, doing an MA thesis and lives with Lewis
NICK: Early 20’s, also doing a thesis and directs student productions.
JUSTIN: A social worker in his late 30’s/early 40’s; neat and precise
ROY: 40 – 50, a mental patient who has spent much of his life in institutions
HENRY: 40 – 50, a former lawyer who is now a patient; like Roy he has spent much of his adult life in institutions.
DOUG: 20 – 30, has a liking for fires; has not been in institutions for very long
CHERRY: 25 – 35, has also been in institutions for some time.
JULIE: Early 20’s, is in a mental institution for the first time due to a drug dependency.
RUTH: 30 – 40, an obsessive personality, who is in and out of mental institutions.
ZAC: 25 – 30, the musician of the group who has also been in and out of mental institutions
Note:

Justin, Nick and Zac can be played by the same person if desired, likewise Lucy and Julie.

For more information about the play and roles available, or to book an audition time, see the Elmwood Players' website or contact Gaz on 021 453 138.


Auditions: Canterbury Children's Theatre

On 9 March, Cantebury Children's Theatre is holding auditions for their upcoming April school holiday production of Slow Runnings: A Tortoise and Hare Story.  

Since winning The Big Race, Hare has been enjoying the fame and fortune that come with being the Fastest Animal Around: TV interviews, fancy parties, and lucrative sponsorship deals. But what happens when Tortoise, a total newcomer to the sport, challenges her to a race?

Roles Available:

HARE: Having trained furiously as a leveret, it's now been years since Hare's had to work for anything. Vain and self-absorbed, Hare is the apotheosis of sports celebrity.

TORTOISE: Humble and deliberate, Tortoise is nonetheless incensed that Hare should get the prestige of a title like Fastest Animal Around without racing all the other animals.
PIG: Hare's former trainer and now proprietor of Pig's Sports Shoes, Pig is a champion of the underdog.
FOX: A cameo role as a sportscaster. Could be entirely prerecorded audio.
CROW: Another sportscaster. Could be entirely prerecorded audio.
They are also looking for three non-speaking crew roles - although there are no lines or specific characters these roles are on-stage and are vital to bringing the world of the play to life.

To book an audition time or to find out more about how to get involved, email Matt Powell at fauxparse@gmail.com

Welcome Back to 2013!

Welcome back to Christchurch Theatre for 2013, let's look forward to another fantastic year for theatre in Christchurch - already there are plenty of shows and opportunities coming up...

Upcoming Auditions: Elmwood Players' Cosi

On the 23 and 24 February, Elmwood Players are holding auditions for their upcoming drama Cosi. Cosi is Lousie Nowra' semi-autobiographical play set in a Melbourne mental institution in 1971:

 The venue is a theatre that smells of "burnt wood and mould", the cast are patients with very diverse needs, and the play is Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte”. Through working with the patients, [director] Lewis eventually discovers a new side of himself which allows him to become emotionally involved and to value love, while anti-Vietnam war protests erupt in the streets outside.

The play will be directed by Garry Thomas and will be on stage in April of this year.  For more information about the play and roles available, or to book an audition time, see the Elmwood Players' website or contact Gaz on 021 453 138.


Upcoming Show: The Near-Sighted Knight and the Far-Sighted Dragon

A fun, action-filled fairy tale for the whole family, Eleanor and Ray Harder's story of kings, princesses, knights and dragons comes to the stage this summer just in time to stave off the post-Christmas blues.

“This is a wonderful tale suitable for the whole family, and ideal holiday entertainment”, say the directors. "With a talented and creative cast plus live music, singing and dancing, this is bound to be a fun time for all involved’"

Performances are Thurs - Sun from 17 - 27 January: 6.30 pm Thurs/Fri and 11.00/2.00 Sat/Sun at Elmwood Auditorium.  .
Tickets $7 for all. Tickets can be booked online via the Elmwood Players' website or by calling (03) 355 8874. 
Directed by Susan Cameron and Garry Thomas.

Auditions Galore

A very quick update on what's going on; a big couple of weeks ahead for auditions, especially if you're a singer!

Showbiz: Avenue Q
Showbiz is holding auditions this weekend for Avenue Q. They are looking for some hard-working performers who can multi-task: you'll need to be able to sing, act and puppeteer!  For more information, see the Showbiz auditions page.

The New Zealand Opera
Southern Opera has recently merged with the relatively young NZ Opera, who are holding auditions for its Christchurch chorus for 2013.  The auditions are this Sunday and Monday (4/5 November), no previous opera experience is necessary.  Contact Glen Meade glenn@nzopera.co.nz for more information or to book an audition time.

Elmwood Players: The Near-Sighted Knight and the Far-Sighted Dragon
A reminder that these auditions are THIS weekend - it's set to be a very fun show, and there's still time to book: contact Susan on 021 339 193 or sj-cameron@clear.net.nz .

NCMS: Oliver!
The North Canterbury Musical Society will be producing Oliver! in Autumn 2013. Auditions for all roles and chorus are from the 9th to the 11th November.  They are seeking children and adults (lower age limit is 7 years).  For more information and to book a time, email auditions@ncms.co.nz.

Announcements 3-OCT-12

Many theatrical things are afoot this month and next, from upcoming summer shows to events like the University of Canterbury's Platform Arts FEstival.  Here is a quick summary:


Auditions: Elmwood Players' Summer Children's Production 

On the 4th November, Elmwood Players will be holding auditions for their Children's Theatre production The Near-Sighted Knight and the Far-Sighted Dragon. There are great roles available for up to seven adult actors - if you've got a lot of energy and can sing as well, that'd be a bonus.

Roles Available:

THE KNIGHT	Young, unemployed knight, near sighted, acts without thinking.
PRINCESS	Young and stroppy. Meticulous planner. Uses mathematical formulas to solve all problems.
THE DRAGON	Old, semi-retired, far-sighted, friendly and mellow.
THE DUCHESS	Scheming to take over the kingdom.
WILFRED	Duchess’ son. Lazy and generally bored.
THE KING	Kindly but likes the idea of being treated as the King.
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS	The Duchess’ right hand man. A bit of a bumbler.

More information about the play, cast and company is available on the Elmwood Players website.  To book an audition time or find out more, email Susan at sj-cameron@clear.net.nz.


University of Canterbury's Platform Arts Festival

UC's Platform Festival is on right now, presenting a wide variety of artistic exhibitions, including lectures, film screenings and theatrical performances. Next week, this year's graduating Theatre and Film Studies class presents Bluebeard's Castle, directed by Peter Falkenberg.  From the University's website:

Welcome to Bluebeard’s Castle, a neo-gothic panopticon, where you can visit Bluebeard’s wives waiting for their master while telling their stories, from the kitchen, the dressing room, the laboratory, the bedroom, the torture chamber and the winter garden.

But where is Bluebeard and what awaits in the last room of the castle?

Performances are October 9-13th.  Shows start at 7.30pm in Drama Workshop 2 in the Jack Mann Building on the College of Education campus off Solway Ave. Tickets are $20/$15 and $10 for school students, available from dash tickets. To find out more about this and other Platform events, see the University website.

Proposals for Musoc's 2013 Summer Musical
After a sell-out season of Chicago, cleaning up at the 2013 UCSA Madcaps Awards and winning twice at the 2013 Supreme Club Awards, Musoc is upping the ante for 2013.  The newly inducted committee has put a call out for proposals for their next show.  If you have a musical in mind that you'd love to see performed in Christchurch, then this is a chance for you to see it happen.  Musoc isn't too strict about the format of proposals but there are a few details they'd like to see that will give your proposal a better chance of being selected, these are all available here on the club's wesbsite.  Musoc is also open to proposals for other ideas that could enhance the musical theatre experience on campus and Christchurch-wide so if you have ideas for smaller productions, cabarets, workshops and other events, now is the time to let them know.  You can email Sam at president@musoc.org.nz or have a look at their page on Facebook to get a better idea of what the club is all about.

SHOWS! 12-Sept-12

Next month, Elmwood Players presents Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell

 

 From the Elmwood Players' website:  

 "Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell" centres around real-life journalist Jeffery Bernard, who wrote the "Low Life" column in The Spectator.
The play's title refers to the magazine's habit of printing a oneline apology on a blank page when he was too drunk or hungover to produce the required copy and a substitute article could not be found before the deadline for publication.

Its premise is that Bernard has found himself locked in overnight at his favourite public house, the Coach And Horses, and uses the occasion to share anecdotes from his life with the audience.

Performances are Wed-Sat, Oct 3rd - 13th.  Shows start at 7.30pm at the Elmwood Auditorium.
Tickets $20/$15. To book tickets call 03 355 8874 or use the online booking form.  Directed by Heather Giles.

This summer, the Riccarton Players are performing the upbeat Roger Hall musical Footrot Flats.

This very fun, very Kiwi, farmyard musical features all the favourite Footrot Flats characters led by Wal and Dog: from Pongo, Wal's niece, to Cooch the tree-hugger; from Aunt Dolly and her precious Corgi to Wal's townie girlfriend Cheeky Hobson, plus a paddock-load of dancing sheep, pigs and of course Horse the Cat.



Performances are Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th November.  Shows start at 7.30pm at Rudolf Steiner School plus a 2pm matinee on the Saturday.  Tickets are $27.50 Waged/$22.50 Unwaged/$15 Students.To book tickets, see the Riccarton Players' website. Note that the Friday night performance has already sold out.

Show Announcements 26-JULY-12

This week, Elmwood Players presents its Winter Season of short plays, Triple Treat.

“The Imaginary Friend” By Neil Troost; Directed by Alexandra Le Cocq

A comedy about the dysfunctional relationship between Karen and Roger.  Karen is struggling to cope with Roger’s increasingly erratic mental illness, while Roger’s imaginary friend Bob is reeking havoc with his attempts at a normal life.

“No Clues at Tudor Close” By Tim Barcode; Directed by Sam Fisher

Imagine waking up in an English country house after a murder has been committed with no memory of who you are, who they were or even of the house or people around you.

Colonel Mustard has exactly this experience one autumn day as he tries to piece together how he got to Tudor Close ….

Performances are Wed-Sat, July 26th to August 4th.  Shows start at 7.30pm at the Elmwood Auditorium.  All tickets $12. To book tickets call 03 355 8874 or use the online booking form


This August, the Rangiora Players' are bringing us the NZ premiere of Louise Roche's musical play Girls' Night.

"A Girls Night this is, for sure. Louise Roche's emotive and witty script cuts straight to the hearts of all those who spent their teens dancing around their handbags.
Sharon, a feisty disco gal who died in a moped accident and now returns, years later, as an angel to oversee the antics of her ageing friends.
And what a bunch of misfits they are; all recognisable caricatures of femininity. Amongst them is Anita, a Prozac dependent nutcase, there is boring Kate, who is tolerated because she does the driving and Lisa who tries to conceal her problems behind one big party.
It soon becomes evident that there is much more to these ladies than first impressions. Amidst the laughs and songs, some profound observations are made about all kinds of issues.
In Girls' Night, the girls replay their lives in flashbacks, in-between giving stirring renditions of seventies favourites."
Extracted from a review of the UK 2006 tour by Mike Martin in The Stage Reviews link to original review.

Performances are Wed-Sat, August 15-25.  Shows start at 7.30pm at the Rangiora Little Theatre.  All tickets $20. To book tickets, see the Rangiora Players' website. Note that this show is selling extremely quickly, with the final Thursday and Friday performances already sold out, so don't delay in booking tickets!

Elmwood Players' presents HABEUS CORPUS

This June, Elmwood Players presents Alan Bennett's hilarious farce Habeus Corpus.

Habeus Corpus concerns the aging Dr. Arthur Wicksteed and his pursuit of a nubile patient, Felicity Rumpers. Wicksteed's wife, Muriel, is, in turn, lusting after the charming head of the BMA, Sir Percy Shorter, who, as well as being Wicksteed's old rival, turns out to be Felicity's father - the result of an under-the-table liaison during an air-raid with Lady Rumpers, her mother.
Felicity herself is pregnant and finds a way to cover it up in the hypochondriac son of Dr. Wicksteed, Dennis.
Meanwhile, Wicksteed's spinster sister Connie, ashamed of her flat-chestedness, has schemes of her own. The 'chorus' is provided by the lower-class, housekeeper Mrs Swabb.





Performances are Wed-Sat, June 13th to 20th.  Shows start at 7.30pm, with a 2pm matinee Sat 16th.  Tickets are $17/$13 (matinee price: $12). To book tickets call 03 355 8874 or use the online booking form.  Directed by Brian Sullivan.

Theatre Workshops with Elmwood Players

This May, Elmwood Players - in association with NZ Theatre Federation - is offering acting and directing workshops, lead by some of Christchurch's most experienced thespians. 

Actor's Workshop with Bryan Aitken

Restricted to 20 participants to ensure maximum engagement
Saturday and Sunday, 26 – 27 May, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Total Cost: $60 p/person
Course Details:  Part #1 - Getting started – auditioning, preparation, basic stage craft and terminology.  Part #2 -  Enhancing your acting skills – stepping up to the next level.  The Sunday 6 hour session will be working with the directors workshop

Director's Workshop with Jon Pheloung

Restricted to 8 participants to ensure maximum engagement
Saturday and Sunday, 26 – 27 May, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Total Cost: $95 p/person
Course Details: A two day workshop for aspiring directors, or those who wish to further enhance their skills.  You will work as a group for two sessions, then join the Acting group for the Sunday session, so that the tutor can mentor/side coach the directors whilst also working with the actors

To register your interest, you must complete this online form, all forms must be accompanied with full payment.  If you are unsuccessful in confirming a place, a full refund will be given.

For more information about the tutors, the workshops or Elmwood Players, see their official website.

AUDITIONS: Habeus Corpus

Elmwood Players is holding auditions this month for its upcoming production, Habeas Corpus By Alan Bennet.

The play is a farce with great lines and scenes for all actors.

Roles Available
Arthur Wicksteed:        Age 50-60 Stage age 53
Muriel Wicksteed:        Age 50-60 Stage age 50 (dancing ability preferred)
Dennis Wicksteed:       Age 20-30
Constance Wicksteed: Age 30-40
Mrs Swabb:                 Mature (could be played by either gender).
Canon Throbbing:        Age 30-40
Lady Rumpers:            Age 50-60
Felicity Rumpers:         Age 20-30
Mr Shanks:                 Mature (prefer slender build)
Sir Percy Shorter:        Age 50-60 (must be of short stature)
Mr Purdue:                  Mature

Performances begin on the 13 June.  For further details see the Elmwood Players' website or contact Brian Sullivan Ph. 352 9530 or email brian.sullivan@xtra.co.nz

Elmwood Players presents Katydid

Elmwood Players are excited to present the South Island premiere of the award winning New Zealand drama Katydid. Directed by Garry Thomas, the play finally reaches Christchurch after a sell-out season at BATS Theatre in Wellington in 2010.

Nineteen-year-old Kate is daddy's little girl. He feeds her, bathes her, and keeps her safe from the obstacle course of 'normal' life. But, when daddy gets sick, and a handsome boy arrives to pick up the slack, Kate sees an opportunity to flee the tower. Like any other young woman her age, Kate clashes with her parents and longs to make her mark on the world. But Kate has cerebral palsy. With her father clinging to his little girl for comfort, and her mother clinging to her Southern Comfort, no one could blame Kate for seeking solace in an unwitting young man who has been brought in to help.

What follows is a searing examination of a family unraveled by the strains of living with disability, and living with each other.

Katydid runs from 11-21 April (performances Wednesday through Saturday) at the Elmwood Auditorium.  Performances start at 7.30pm and ticket prices are $17/$13.  To book phone 03 355 8874 or go to the Elmwood Players' website.

Elmwood Players' AGM and the 6th Annual Woodies Awards

The Elmwood Players' Annual General Meeting will take place on the 26th February at 4pm in the Elmwood Auditorium.

If you haven't voted yet for their annual Woodies' awards, there's still time - see their website for the voting form (you don't have to be a member to vote!).

AUDITION NOTICE

Elmwood Players are holding auditions in February for their April season of award-winning New Zealand drama, Katydid.  Director Garry Thomas is looking for four confident actors to play the following characters:

KATE HARRIS – a nineteen year old with cerebral palsy. She is able to talk and walk with difficulty.
LINDSAY HARRIS – Her mother, upper middle class, late 30’s - early 40’s
DANIEL HARRIS – Her father, upper middle class, early-mid 40’s
BENJAMIN WILLIAMS – A boy a bit older than Kate, from a rough background.


  Contact Gaz on 021453138 or planetgazza@xtra.co.nz for further information, or see the Elmwood Players' website.

Reminder: AUDITIONS

This is a reminder post about auditions for Elmwood Players' Children Theatre this summer (details follow):

Middle Age Spread with Elmwood Players

Elmwood Players presents its spring season of Roger Hall's classic kiwi comedy, Middle Age Spread:

Middle Age Spread Auditions

A reminder that auditions for Elmwood Players' season of Middle Age Spread are being held this weekend, for more information, see their website.

AUDITION NOTICE

Elmwood Players will be holding auditions for their season of Roger Hall's Middle Age Spread next month.