Local Auditions for Miss Saigon

AUDITION DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 11th

12:00pm – Dance audition (Jazz)

1:30pm – Vocal auditions

SEEKING TO CAST THE FOLLOWING:

• Male singers and dancers ages 18+ for American G.I.s and Vietnamese/Asian ensemble.

• Female singers and dancers ages 18+ for Vietnamese/Asian ensemble.

All auditioning must sing. Please bring sheet music (musical theatre selection) in your key and prepare to sing 16 bars only unless asked to sing more. Please bring headshot (or photo) and resume. Photos will not be returned.

No appointments are taken for the above auditions; please sign in at audition site on day of auditions no earlier than 11:30am. Dancers go in as a group promptly at noon; singers audition on a first come basis beginning at 1:30pm. No sign ins accepted after 3:00pm.

ALSO SEEKING TO CAST:

•TAM - Kim's young son. Actor/actress must look like a four to six year old, dark-complected boy. Please call for appointment. This is a non-singing/non-speaking role integral to the show. Requirements: Ability to take direction, remain focused and “in character” on stage, be comfortable around adults and tolerate loud noises (yelling and gunshots.)

•ELLEN - the Caucasian-American wife of Chris. Singers interested in this role must send headshot/resume in advance to: Carolee Baxter, North Carolina Theatre, 1 E. South St., Raleigh, NC 27601. Auditions for this role are by appointment only.

Audition location: NC Theatre Conservatory, 3043 Barrow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27616. Callbacks are the same day. Performers cast will be notified by phone. All roles are paid. Non-Equity and Equity performers are welcome; all ethnicities are encouraged to audition.

Rehearsals begin Saturday, March 7th. Production runs March 20th through 29th. NO CONFLICTS ALLOWED FOR ANY REHEARSALS. Please do not audition if any conflicts exist; please download the Rehearsal and Performance Schedule for more details. Rehearsals are held at NC Theatre Studios and Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. All performances are held at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

If you have additional questions please email Carolee Baxter at cbaxter@nctheatre.com or phone 919/831-6941 ext. 6945.

Gratitude

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts."
~David O. McKay ~

So in this season of Thanksgiving, my thoughts turn to gratitude. As the Development Director, I used to tell people that I was in the "gratitude business." As Interim Executive Director, nothing much has changed except my title! Gratitude abounds here at NC Theatre: gratitude for our founder, De Ann Jones and her son Wally for the creation of our non-profit professional theatre celebrating our 25th anniversary year, gratitude for the City of Raleigh and Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts - the world-class venue in which we perform, gratitude for the unique American art form of musical theatre, gratitude for the thousands of talented actors, musicians and technicians who have created magic on our stage, gratitude for the thousands of patrons who have shared happy and tearful moments and countless standing ovations with us, gratitude for the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations whose resources ensure our continued growth and success, gratitude for our growing Theatre Education program and the young performers who train with such passion, gratitude for the hundreds of volunteers who have served on our board and as members of the Curtain Callers and finally gratitude for an exceptional hard-working staff that is committed to the mission and vision of NC Theatre.

Thank you in advance for sharing the gift of musical theatre from NC Theatre with a family member or friend - we'll give you two free tickets for every new season subscriber you refer!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Lisa Grele Barrie

The Times They Are A-Changin'

As many of you already know, Phantom was Wally's last show. He has been our executive director and producer for the last five years and has worked in essentially every position at the theatre since 1988. While we are very sad to see him go, we are also very happy and excited for the opportunities that he has ahead of him. He is now the president and executive producer for Casa Manana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas. He is actually in New York City right now for auditions for their upcoming production, Annie, in December. We can't wait to hear all about it!

The office has been pretty quiet this week so far...we are tying up all of the loose ends from the show and don't have another main stage production until March 2009! Right now, we are in "interim" mode until the Board of Directors finalizes our new executive director and artistic director.

We are in very talented and capable hands - Lisa Grele Barrie is our interim executive director. She has been with NCT since 2003, where she was Development Director and then promoted to Managing Director at the beginning of this year. Casey Hushion is our interim artistic director and has worked on several NCT shows, including Phantom, The King and I starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Chess and several Kids on Broadway shows. She was also the associate director on two Tony Award-winning shows on Broadway - In the Heights and The Drowsy Chaperone! Carolee Baxter has been promoted to associate producer. She has been with NCT for the last nine years where she has held an array of positions, most recently as production manager.

Every staff member at NCT is dedicated to the artistic excellence that has been instilled in the theatre for the past 25 years and is excited for what the future holds! Stay tuned for further updates throughout this transition!

Independent Weekly Review of Phantom

By Zack Smith

For the record, Phantom, N.C. Theatre's musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux novel currently playing at Memorial Auditorium, is not the Andrew Lloyd Webber version whose tunes are constantly covered by aspiring singers and elevator-music companies. It's a different version, developed before Webber's, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit, author of Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad. It plays frequently around the world and was made into a 1990 NBC miniseries you can find on YouTube. While this version features forgettable music compared to Webber's bombastic ballads, it boasts a far stronger, more dramatic story that strikes a deep emotional chord.

To continue reading the review, click here.

Phantom Video

There are 6 performances left of Yeston & Kopit's Phantom! Below is a compliation of songs from the show - "Where in the World," "Phantom Fugue," "You Are Music" and "Home" featuring our stars Michael Minarik as the Phantom/Erik and Rebecca Pitcher as Christine Daee. Enjoy!

Complex 'Phantom' Shows a Human Heart

By Orla Swift, Staff Writer
RALEIGH - If Memorial Auditorium were inhabited by its own mercurial phantom of the opera, Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit’s musical “Phantom” would surely soothe him.

As for the more famous Andrew Lloyd Webber version of the story? He’d shut it down.

Yeston and Kopit’s little-known adaptation of the 1910 Gaston Leroux novel about a disfigured man who lives beneath the Paris Opera House has been dubbed “the other ‘Phantom.’ ”

It’s also the better “Phantom.”

To read the full review, click here.

Michael Minarik stars as The Phantom/Erik in the production.
Photo Credit: Curtis Brown Photography

Classical Voice of North Carolina's Review of Phantom

Robert McDowell came to Opening Night of our production of Phantom and gave it a glowing review! To read it, please see below!

North Carolina Theatre Review

LUMINOUS PERFORMANCES BY MICHAEL MINARIK AND REBECCA PITCHER
MAKE YESTON AND KOPIT’S OPERATIC “PHANTOM” SPARKLE

Luminous performances by Michael Minarik as the Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera and Rebecca Pitcher as his protégé, Christine Daaé, help make North Carolina Theatre’s gala production of YESTON AND KOPIT’S “PHANTOM” sparkle, shimmer, and shine as bright as a Super Nova. Composer and lyricist Maury Yeston and librettist Arthur L. Kopit’s 1991 musical, subtitled “The American Musical Sensation,” is truly sensational and even operatic, whereas Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 London and 1988 Broadway hit, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, has a lot in common with his previous rock operas.

This fabulous PHANTOM, which concludes NCT’s 2008 season, is a real musical extravaganza, with soaring sets from Theatre Under the Stars’ world-premiere production in Houston, Texas, an d dazzling 19th century costumes from Malabar Limited of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The spectacular scenery and wardrobe combine with the effervescent staging of frequent NCT guest director Casey Hushion, the dynamic production numbers devised by choreographer Jennifer Werner, and the theatrical magic of technical director Bill Yates, Jr., lighting designer Craig Stelzenmuller, costumer Ann M. Bruskiewitz, and properties mistress Laurie Johnson to make this PHANTOM a feast for the eye.

The show’s only awkward moments come at the end -- in the climactic showdown between the fleeing Phantom and his implacable pursuers -- but that momentary awkwardness – which is as much the fault of the script as the staging -- is quickly forgiven and forgotten, because of the overall strength of the NCT cast and the crew and production values comparable to a National Tour.

Musical director Edward G. Robinson and the energetic NCT orchestra also joined forces with sound designer Jonathan Parke to make the marvelous melodies in Yeston’s superlative score alternately thrill and chill the Sunday-matinee audience, which expressed its appreciation in a loud and lengthy standing ovation.

Director Casey Hushion and choreographer Jennifer Werner liven up this frisky PHANTOM with more than a little of the old razzle-dazzle, and the production also boasts a superb vocal ensemble and a host of charismatic characterizations, starting with Michael Minarik’s passionate performance in the title role and Rebecca Pitcher’s heart-tugging portrayal of Christine, the beautiful but untrained street singer whom Erik, the hideously deformed “Ghost of the Opera,” transforms into a true diva and with whom he falls completely, hopelessly in love.

Neal Benari is likewise terrific as Gérard Carrière, the abruptly dismissed long-time managing director of the Paris Opera (and the Phantom’s secret protector); and Tom Soubrada and especially Ellen Harvey give wonderfully wicked performances as this musical’s king and queen of mean, the opera’s new owners, the puffed-up Alain Cholet and his shrewish wife, the would-be diva La Carlotta, who has a voice that could curdle cream -- not to mention infuriate an angry Phantom inhabiting the subterranean chambers of the Paris Opera.

Harvey’s antics as Carlotta steal many a scene; Jarrod Emick is also good as Christine’s wealthy number-one admirer, the handsome bon vivant champagne heir, Count Philippe de Chandon; and Rob Sheridan adds a pair of crisp cameos as the corrupt French Minister of Culture and the bluff Parisian Police Inspector Ledoux.

This week, the North Carolina Theatre will conclude its warmly applauded 2008 season with what can truly be called a “must-see musical.” YESTON AND KOPIT’S “PHANTOM” will delight and amaze Triangle theatergoers, who are more familiar with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Moreover, there are enough differences between this American PHANTOM and the British to PHANTOM provide some pleasant surprises. Don’t miss it.

Staging a gentler 'Phantom'

There was a great article in the News & Observer on Sunday, October 12th! Click on the link below and be sure to check out the slideshow of pictures!

http://www.newsobserver.com/2766/story/1252020.html

Yeston & Kopit's Phantom vs. Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera

NCT's Yeston & Kopit's Phantom opens next Saturday, October 18th and runs through the 26th in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium! We have an all-star cast for this production and we are very excited about it. Rehearsals started this past weekend and they have been working very hard to put the show up! This version of Phantom is based off of the Gaston Leroux novel, The Phantom of the Opera, and differs from the Andrew Lloyd Webber version - The Phantom of the Opera - currently running on Broadway.

In 1982 Actor/director Geoffrey Holder obtained the rights to Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera, and planned to make an American musical based on the novel. Below is a timeline of events on how Phantom made it to the stage and takes a look at the race for Broadway - between Yeston & Kopit and Andrew LLoyd Webber.

• Holder approached Yeston and Kopit to write the musical – this version of Phantom would be the first and only Phantom of the Opera musical
• 1984: British producer Ken Hill produced The Phantom of the Opera, the musical, in England
• Holder had the rights to the novel for two years in the United States and Europe before it became public domain
• The rights to Leroux’s novel were available in the public domain in Great Britain
• Variety published an article saying that Andrew Lloyd Weber was planning to produce the musical version of The Phantom of the Opera in London
• 1986: The Phantom of the Opera was a huge hit in London and Lloyd Webber announced a Broadway production
• Yeston and Kopit’s investors backed out once they saw the huge success of Lloyd Webber’s version
• Kopit saw the Lloyd Webber version of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and realized that there were significant differences from the American version and thought it could still work
• A few years later, Kopit changed the script to a two-part miniseries for NBC – the production was shot at the Paris Opera House and starred Charles Dance as the Phantom
• 1991: Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars put together a new team to put up the world premiere of Yeston & Kopit’s show, Phantom
• Yeston and Kopit made a few changes after the Houston run, and presented it the next fall in Seattle and San Bernardino
• Ever since, audiences have been captivated by Yeston and Kopit’s twist on the Phantom –beginning the story earlier in his life, introducing his father as a character and other turns along the way
• Currently grossed over $500 million world wide

"Fly Me to the Moon"

Fly Me to the Moon: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra opened last weekend! Joe Amato pays tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes in this series at the new Rat Pack Lounge located in Prime Only Downtown at 505 W. Jones Street in Raleigh. Come to the dinner show at 7 PM or the cocktail show at 10 PM and you are in for a treat! Joe sings all of your Frank Sinatra favorites and tells some interesting stories about Frank's life. Here is an excerpt from the title song, "Fly Me to the Moon."

There are only three weekends left (September 25-28; October 2-5; October 9-11) - so buy your tickets today! Tickets for the dinner show are $70 per person; cocktail show tables are $20 per couple in advance. For reservations call NC Theatre at 919.831.6941 x6941. For more information visit http://www.nctheatre.com/.

Whistle Down the Wind Pictures

Pictures from Whistle Down the Wind Dress Rehearsal on Friday, September 12th:

Brian Fisher & English Bernhardt singing "Angels"

The children protecting the barn

The Bostock children~ Maddie Taylor, Spencer Bloom and Alexis van Venrooy

Maddie Taylor

Maddie Taylor, Alexis van Venrooy, Dalton Hood, Spencer Bloom and Sadie Stafford

"The Children" of Whistle Down the Wind

Photo Credit: Curtis Brown Photography

New Form of Entertainment Hits Downtown Raleigh this Thursday!

NC Theatre has teamed up with Prime Only Downtown to bring a new entertainment concept to the downtown area in the restaurant’s newly renovated Rat Pack Lounge. The formula is simple – combine a music legend, live band, good food and drinks – and you have the Rat Pack Lounge series.

The Rat Pack Lounge series began this past April with The Cooke Book, the music of Sam Cooke, and the combination of dinner and the show was a huge hit! The restaurant saw an increase in patrons and sales, and the public left wanting more.

The series will continue with Fly Me to the Moon, a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra beginning September 18th and running through October 11th. Fly Me to the Moon will chronicle the life and times of the great music legend and will feature your favorite Frank Sinatra tunes including “My Way,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Chicago,” “The Lady is a Tramp” and many other classics.

Joe Amato will perform Frank Sinatra numbers in the series and has over thirty five years of performing experience. He has served as guitarist, backup vocalist with Dion on hits such as “Runaround Sue,” songwriter for artists like B.B. King and radio personality. In the early 1990s, Amato was a part of the world renowned Las Vegas production company “Legends in Concert” where he portrayed Frank Sinatra to astounded audiences.

William Jones, NC Theatre’s executive director and producer says, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue this new entertainment concept in downtown Raleigh and hope it becomes a tradition in the growing Glenwood South scene.”

Escape the crowded bars in downtown Raleigh and experience a new form of entertainment venue at the Rat Pack Lounge! The room has been turned into a 1960s Vegas showroom – with comfortable booths, a small dance floor and nice bar. Catch the dinner show and you will be treated to a delicious three-course meal in addition to the show. If you would rather just see the show, the cocktail show is an option as well.

The dinner show is $70 per person; cocktail show tables are $20 per couple if reserved in advance. To make a reservation, call the NC Theatre Box Office at 919/ 831-6941 x6944. For more information, please visit www.nctheatre.com.

Guest Blogger: Madeline Taylor

Whistle Down the Wind has been a great experience for me. I learned so much from it. I learned a lot about being professional - but having fun at the same time - by watching the adults. They are such wonderful and capable individuals that greatly influence the children of Whistle Down the Wind. We learn so much from them. Everybody is extremely phenomenal and they were all cast perfectly. We all have shaped and molded our characters and character relationships that we are constantly talking like our characters would in our dialect.

To be in a professional show with all of these people is quite exhilarating. It’s such an educational experience; the whole process of learning the lines and music and then putting it to the stage. The final product is worth all of the hard labor put into it and the whole cast is very proud of it. Putting the whole show together is a quick-paced and frenetic process. The rehearsal days just fly by.

Right now we’re having tech week, and I am sitting on a dressing room bench writing this during a break. Tech week is so chaotic, but it only makes the show so much better. It is all about getting used to the space and doing things in that space. From staging, to props, to set changes, to quick changes; it all has to be rehearsed at the theatre. We are so blessed to have the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater. It’s a huge theatre with lots of seats for sold out shows (I hope)! We are truly grateful for all that the management and Wally Jones has allowed us; the time, the studio space, the theatre, and our fantastic crew. It is truly daunting to see the effort that people give to theatre. A lot goes into a show.

The best parts of the show are the run, and the people you meet. You become great friends with everybody in the cast and you stay in touch with those people. And then you see them all the time, everywhere. It is such a small world. The Whistle Down the Wind cast are people I will always be friends with, and our friendships will only grow from here. We are always there for each other and helping one another - we’re like a family.

So this is pretty much my “life upon the wicked stage”. Whistle Down the Wind was a great experience overall for me. I will never forget these memories that I made; everything will stick with me forever. And it will only help me in the years to come. I send my thanks to Julio, Wally, Nancy, and Christine for giving me this great opportunity. I will never forget it!
By Madeline C. Taylor (a.k.a. Cathy Bostock)

Interview with Spencer Bloom

Spencer Bloom stars as Charles Bostock in Whistle Down the Wind. I had the chance to sit down and talk with him about his experiences with the show!

Whistle Down the Wind Rehearsal Videos

The cast of Whistle Down the Wind began rehearsing on Monday, August 18th at the NCT Conservatory in North Raleigh. Below is a video from one of the first rehearsal days. These are the "children" in the production. Musical Director, Nancy Whelan, works through the song "Hymn" with some of the cast.

We will be posting other videos, pictures and have some more guest bloggers to come in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Carly Jordan's Experience with Whistle Down the Wind

Hey guys! My name is Carly Jordan and I am in the adult ensemble of Whistle Down the Wind. This is my second KOB show, my first being A Man of No Importance last year. That show was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had, so I was very excited when I got the opportunity to be a part of this one.

So far, the show is going really well! We’re well into the third week of rehearsals, and everyone’s excited to move into the theatre on Monday. It’s so hard to believe that we’re starting tech rehearsals next week! It feels like two days ago that we started the rehearsal process. Some of us actually hadn’t met before, but we weren’t strangers for long. Our director, Julio Matos, had us do exercises on that first day for character development: those of us in the ensemble chose family names, decided what our role in the village was, who our family members were, etc. (For example, I am Mrs. Bennett, a town gossip, and my children are Jenny and Stephen). We also did “viewpoints” exercises, which helps raise our awareness of each other on stage. Since then, this cast has become incredibly close and I think that that will come through on stage and make for an even stronger piece.

As I write this, we’re doing what’s called a “designer run”, which is a run of the show performed for all the lighting designers, sound technicians, costumers, etc. It’s their first chance to see the show in its completed form before they have to start setting everything up in the theatre. It’s a really exciting day for the cast, because this is the first time we’re getting an audience other than our stage management, Julio, our musical director Nancy Whelan, and our dialect coach Christine Hunter.

That’s another fun part about this show: it takes place in Lancashire in the north of England, so we all have to do the specific accent native to that part of Britain. There’s no way we could have perfected it by ourselves, so we are very fortunate to have Christine’s help. She is a perfectionist, which is really helpful. She goes through lines word by word to help us get the sound right, to make sure we’re moving our mouths correctly. Doing a dialect correctly is a lot harder than most people would think, but we practice in and out of the rehearsal hall so hopefully we’ll sound authentic during the run of the show.

It’s almost time for me to go back on for the finale, so I’d better sign off. We open a week from yesterday!! The show runs through next Sunday, the 21st, so come see it! I speak on behalf of everyone involved when I say it’s an experience you won’t want to miss. J

Best wishes,
Carly

Whistle Down the Wind Cast

Whistle Down the Wind is NCT's 10th annual Kids on Broaday Production that will run September 13-21 at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater AND September 26-27 at Wakefield High School!

Congratulations to all who have been cast in the show - rehearsals start Monday, August 18th. In the coming weeks, you will get to see rehearsal videos, interviews with some of the cast and hopefully have a few guest bloggers to tell about their experience with the show. Stay tuned for new updates coming soon!

English Bernhardt: Elizabeth
Spencer Bloom: Charles Bostock
Jason Cooper: Ensemble
Tyler Leigh Crocker: Jo
Eve Devenport: Ensemble
Emily Feuerstein: Salvation Army Woman
Brian Fisher: The Man
Katherine Fritsch: Ensemble
Hannah Grantham: Jenny
Carter Gregory: Jackie Greenwood
Joshua Guy: Robert
Dalton Hood: Dad
Carly Jordan: Ensemble
Jessica Koons: Ensemble
Kristian Marceno: Stephen
Daniel Marhelko: Sam
Peter Mercer: Eddie
Nyja Peterson: Mrs. Pembridge
Lily Rashid: Laurie
Tyler Rollins: Policeman
Mary Simmons: Miss Lodge
Sadie Stafford: Auntie
Cedric Stapleton: Ensemble
Joey Stephens: Ensemble
Madeline Taylor: Cathy Bostock
Anna van Venrooy: Ensemble
Alexis van Venrooy: Nan Bostock
Cameron Varney: Raymond
Jeffrey Vizcaino: Vicar

P.S. For specific dates and show times, please visit www.nctheatre.com/2008season.html. Tickets are on sale now at the NCT Box Office - call 919.831.6941 x6941!

WRAL Anchor Valonda Calloway Learns to Fly!

On Tuesday, July 15th, WRAL Anchor Valonda Calloway came to the theatre to interview Gail Bianchi, who is starring as Peter Pan in the production. She met with Alex Thompson from ZFX, Inc. and several members of our production crew and got some tips on how to fly. They harnessed her up, did a few test flights and then she got to fly through the window just like Gail does in the show!

Click on the links below to watch Gail and Valonda fly!

http://www.wral.com/entertainment/video/3216881/
http://www.wral.com/entertainment/video/3216877/

Q&A with Peter Pan Director Stephen Terrell

Robert McDowell of Classical Voice of NC asked Peter Pan director, Stephen Terrell, a series of questions on his experience with the show. Read on to see his take on the production...

1. When did you first see or read or hear about this musical? Have you ever worked on a previous production of this musical? If so, when and where?
I was first introduced to it when I saw the television production in the early 60s. I loved it then, even though I never believed Mary Martin as a boy. I kept thinking, “Why is that old lady playing Peter Pan?” Through a strange set of circumstances I actually played Peter in a production of the musical in Seattle in ‘93. I was also the choreographer of the production and I had a fantastic time.

2. What do you like BEST about this musical? What made you WANT to direct it?
It really speaks to me as a person in the theatre. I think many actors and artists refuse to grow up in their own ways in order to hang onto the innocence and the sense of discovery that children have. So in some ways there’s a lot of Peter in me. That’s what still draws me to the play over and over again. It never fails to work it’s magic on me and I love helping others experience that, especially children.

3. Briefly summarize the plot of this musical in your own words.
Peter Pan opens in the nursery of the Darling residence as Mr. and Mrs. Darling prepare to go out for the evening. They leave their children Wendy, Michael and John with their dog and nurse maid, Nana. Once the children fall asleep a fairy, Tinkerbell, and Peter Pan fly into the window hoping to retrieve his shadow he had lost the week before in the nursery. The show’s adventures take off when Peter teaches Wendy and her brothers how to fly and invites them to come with him to Never-Never-Land. Their magical journey to Neverland takes them to visit the Lost Boys, pirates and one giant Hook!

4. What major challenges does staging this musical present to you as a director -- and to your cast and creative team?
The most obvious challenge, of course, is the flying. But I really don’t have to worry about it so much because ZFX , the company that handles the flying, has all of it planned before they arrive. They work out all the choreography, so all I have to do is help the actors with how to move once they’re in the air. There’s also the challenge of making the relationship between Peter and Wendy believable, especially since Peter is being played, as usual, by a female. If the audience doesn’t believe that Peter and Wendy are really connecting the play doesn’t work.

5. Please describe the set:
It’s the set from the Cathy Rigby production. Huge in scale and perfect for the telling the story.

6. Please describe the lighting:
Wonderful and evocative, with a special appearance by Tinkerbell, the laser!

7. Please describe the costumes:
Right out of a storybook. Larger than life and full of character details.

8. Is there anything else about this musical -- or your production -- that it is important for the audience to know ahead of time? If so, what?
If they’ve never seen it before, they’re in for a great adventure. If they’ve seen it before, it’s just as good as you remember it. Come see it!

Peter Pan Dress Rehearsal Pictures

Photo Credit: Curtis Brown Photography

Peter Pan Reviews

Peter Pan opened this past weekend to glowing reviews! The News & Observer and Robert McDowell of the Classical Voice of North Carolina came to review the show on opening night and both enjoyed the show!

News & Observer review: http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1141697.html
They also have footage of the flying rehearsal that took place on Tuesday, July 8th. Follow the link to check it out!

Classical Voice of NC review by Robert McDowell: http://cvnc.org/reviews/2008/072008/PeterPan.html

Independent Weekly Review: http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A261039

Peter Pan Rehearsal Process

The Peter Pan cast is now in town! Rehearsals started this past weekend and everyone is excited to get to Neverland!


The rehearsal process for any NCT show is pretty amazing, and Peter Pan is no exception. The out of town actors and local actors met yesterday (some for the first time) and the rehearsal process is now under way. For the next week, they will be in rehearsals from 2 pm to 10:30 pm at the NCT Studios in North Raleigh where they are working very hard to memorize lines, learn choreography, ensure they are hitting all the right notes and are working together to know where they are supposed to be at any point in time on the stage. None of the above are easy tasks individually, and to have to remember to do all of that and more (in such a short amount of time) is very impressive!


After the cast spends a week at the studios, they will move to Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Tuesday, July 8th is designated for the flying rehearsal. ZFX, Inc. is one of the top flying companies in the world and is in charge of teaching Gail Bianchi (Peter Pan), Sarah Evelyn Langston (Wendy Darling), Mason Park (John Darling), Zachary Hylan (Michael Darling) and KK Fritsch (Jane Darling) how to fly. The rehearsal period will be about five hours and there they will learn how to fly with the help of a harness, a trained professional and of course, some fairy dust!


Following the flying rehearsal, the cast will come in on Wednesday, July 9th for a very long day of tech rehearsal. This is the first full day that the company is in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium and this rehearsal lasts from 12 pm to 12 am. This particular day the actors rehearse with full lights, sound, props and the orchestra for the first time and it makes for a long day because the respective designers are busy trying to get everything just perfect for the run of the show.


Dress rehearsal is the next step in the process and this is on Thursday, July 10th at 8 pm. This is the first time that the cast is in costume and wigs, and they perform in front of a small audience. There are usually some stopping points and we will cross our fingers that everything will go well for the first full run through! If not, that is what rehearsals are for, and is the perfect opportunity to fix anything before the show opens to the general public. Thursday is also a long day because they are in the theatre from 12 pm to 12 am.


Friday is a short rehearsal day - from 12 pm to 5 pm - and then they perform for a packed house for Student Preview Night, an education program NCT developed to give students and educators an opportunity to see a Broadway production at a discounted rate ($10 tickets!!).


So, to recap, the actors rehearse for only 7 days before they move into Raleigh Memorial Auditorium where they only have 3 full days of rehearsal before Student Preview Night. Of course, they could not do all that they do without the help of the production staff and crew who are working behind the scenes to make sure every note is heard, every light cue is met, all the props make it to their designated spot, every wig makes it on the actors’ heads and that they go on stage in their appropriate costume!


Not a small thing to accomplish in such a short amount of time! Bravo!

You're Invited to NCT's 25th Anniversary Celebration

Come one, come all to NC Theatre's 25th Anniversary Celebration on July 13 from 6-9 p.m. in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium!

Join us for cake and ice cream, children's activities, on-stage demonstrations and a fabulous Silent Auction featuring artwork, vacation getaways and spa packages.

If you made a donation to NC Theatre in the last 18 months you already qualify for free tickets! If you'd like to join the party but haven't made a donation you may make your gift today OR buy tickets for $25 the night of the event.

Please call Emily at 919-831-6941 x 6946 for more details or to R.S.V.P.

Come celebrate 25 years with NC Theatre!

2009 Broadway Season Renewal Party at Bonefish

Thank you to everyone who came out for NCT's 2009 Broadway Season Renewal party at Bonefish Grill at the Lassiter! 60+ of NCT's most loyal supporters gathered at Bonefish for an afternoon of delicious drinks and the always popular Bang Bang Shrimp (among other appetizer favorites). We hope you enjoyed getting to mix and mingle with other NCT supporters as much as we enjoyed getting to catch up with you outside of the Backer's Club.

It was also a special pleasure to meet the children and grandchildren of several of our supporters! We look forward to seeing you at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium for Peter Pan in July.

DON'T FORGET: NCT's Renewal Deadline is June 27! If you haven't called or mailed in your renewal yet please do so quickly to reserve your tickets for our exciting 2009 Season. The Backer's Club hotline is 919-831-6941 x 6946, Season Subscriber hotline is 919-831-6941 x 6944!

Check out NC Theatre's Peter Pan @ Marbles Kids Museum!

Peter Pan & The Lost Boys Perform "I Won't Grow Up!"

Marbles Kids Museum was turned into Never-Never-Land this past Saturday! The cast of NC Theatre's Peter Pan flew in to perform for children at the museum. This is your chance to have an upclose and personal encounter with different characters from Peter Pan, including Wendy, Peter, Captain Hook, the lost boys and pirates!

The gang will be at Marbles Kids Museum every Saturday in June before they take up residence in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Performances are at 10 am, 11 am and 12 pm and afterwards you have the chance to meet your favorite Peter Pan character, get their autographs, have pictures taken with them, engage in your very own sword fight on the pirate ship and make fun Peter Pan themed crafts!

Below are some pictures from last Saturday's performances:

Captain Hook & the pirates performing "Hook's Waltz"

Meet & Greet with characters like Wendy!

Make fun crafts like Peter Pan hats!

25 Locals Cast in NC Theatre's Peter Pan!

Congratulations to the following local actors
who were cast in NC Theatre's upcoming production of...

July 12-20th
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

Starring Ira David Wood III as "Captain Hook"


Amarachi Anakaraonye (Indian)
Hampton Crumpler (Lost Boy)
Mitchell Danforth (Indian)
Nick DeVito (Indian)
Jason Durst (Pirate)
Katherine Fritsch (Jane Darling)
Natalie Griffie (Indian)
Kelly Haas (Indian)
Dylan Heneghan (Lost Boy)
Christine Hunter (Mrs. Darling)
Zachary Hylan (Michael Darling)
Robert Mark Kaufman (Pirate)
Sarah Evelyn Langston (Wendy Darling)
Jamie Lowe (Indian)
Daniel Marhelko (Lost Boy)
Michael Mason (Pirate)
Anthony Matrejek (Lost Boy)
William McCord (Lost Boy)
Dexter Morgan (Pirate)
Mason Park (John Darling)
Michael Perez (Lost Boy)
Austin Spero (Lost Boy)
Cameron Varney (Lost Boy)
Trumaine Verret-Fleming (Nana/Crocodile)

Welcome to NCT's blog!

NCT Staff @ Rocky Horror Picture Show

Hello! Welcome to NCT's new blog - our latest form of communication to keep you updated on the myriad of exciting events going on at NCT and in the arts community!


Our e-newsletter, Stage Notes, is a great way to stay informed about NCT happenings, but our blog is another great resource that we hope you will take advantage of. Our goal is to give you a backstage look at NC Theatre life. In future posts you will hear from cast members, directors, students at the Conservatory, NCT's executive director/producer and other NCT staff members!


Subscribe to our blog and to Stage Notes (Click here!) to stay plugged in to NCT. Your feedback is always appreciated so please feel free to comment on any post!


Have a great day!

~NCT