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May 19, 2005
Behind the Stage Door


Dancin' in the Sunshine: New spring theater

by   ELLIN BELTZ

Veteran actors Bob and Lynne Wells star in the North Coast Repertory Theatre's production of Dancers, a poignant comedy of life, love and loss. Briefly, two older people become friends in a nursing home. Meanwhile, one of their roommates has nothing nice to say about anyone, including the elderly couple and younger characters played by Josh Kelly, Theresa Ireland, Nathan Pierce, Wanda Stapp and Rebecca Ramsey. Director Carol Escobar has assembled a top Humboldt tech team, including Daniel Lawrence, Dan Mullins, Beth Lanzi and Erin Jones. Preview night is next Thursday, May 26. All tickets sold for the grand opening on Friday, May 27, benefit the cast and crew. Dancers continues Thursdays through Sundays until June 18. All performances are at 8 p.m. except for a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, June 12, at 300 Fifth St., Eureka. For tickets or more information, visit www.ncrt.net or call 442-NCRT.

Two other excellent older comics are featured in Sunshine Boys, Neil Simon's sparkling comedy about a pair of aging vaudeville performers. The team of "Lewis and Clark" are played by veteran performers Bob Clark and J.R. Patterson; their neighbors and associates are played by a group of newcomers to the Rep's stage, and in some Photo of actors in the Sunshine Boys playcases, any stage, including Dmitry Tokarsky, Diane Woodford, Lorie Maciel and Vicki Charlton. The ubiquitous Daniel Lawrence designed the set, while Jessie Talbert and Vicki Charlton did lights and costumes, respectively. The play's Thursday, May 26, preview is followed by a gala opening Friday, May 27, featuring a pre-show reception for the Rep's annual flower show in the Art from the Hart Gallery from 6:30 until the curtain rises at 8 p.m. as well as a reception after the show where cast and crew mingle with the audience. Performances continue Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through June 17. For more information, visit www.ferndale-rep.org or call 786-LIVE.

[Bob Clark and J.R. Patterson in Sunshine Boys. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN TUBBS.]

Dell'Arte Youth Academy presents The Golden Apple: an Extra-Credit Epic. Students created this epic tale blending contemporary and mystical themes, physical theater and the enthusiasm of youth. Everything I've ever seen from Dell'Arte has been interesting; many original works border on genius. Just because the actors are short and have high voices doesn't mean it's "children's theater." Find out for yourself at the Adorni Center, 1011 Waterfront Drive, Eureka at 8 p.m. Friday, May 27, or Saturday, May 28. For more information on Dell'Arte, visit www.dellarte.com, or call 668-5663.

As another term comes to a close, the students of Dell'Arte International's School of Physical Theatre Class of 2005 invite you to join them for The Finals, a collection of 10 short one-acts with the Dell'Artisans working in small ensembles exploring traditional popular theater styles "to fashion stories and images that will rouse an audience to think, and feel a sense of wonder." The Finals runs Thursday through Saturday, May 26-28, at the Carlo Theatre at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7/$5 for students and seniors.

Dell'Arte's 2005 Mad River Festival starts Friday, June 17, with the return of The Golden State, then hosts 14 other performance companies from around the United States, including the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Rude Mechanicals and NaCl Theatre.

Dell'Arte seeks volunteers in Blue Lake as well as at Humboldt State University. "The bonus perk to volunteering," said Tisha Sloan, Dell'Arte's production manager, "is getting to see all these incredible performances for free!" The annual Mad River Festival also includes EdgeFest, Dell'Arte's annual physical theater extravaganza, the Humboldt Folklife Festival, July 17-23, and the stunning Annie and Mary Day Celebration on Sunday, July 24. For tickets to The Finals or for more information on Dell'Arte, visit www.dellarte.com or call 668-5663. Ask for extension 15 to volunteer.

TIDBITS:

Call before May 30 to register for Theatre for Teenagers This three-week intensive workshop covering playwriting, movement and stage combat kicks off Monday, July 5, and continues through July 22 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre, 300 Fifth St., Eureka.

Wish a happy birthday today (May 19) to veteran local theater reviewer Beti Trauth.

Zack Rouse, most recently seen in The Real-er World has been accepted for an MFA in physical theater at Dell'Arte.

Actors in The Real-er World gratefully acknowledge the fact that their audiences were large enough that they all got paid a lot more than they're accustomed to in Humboldt theater.

We predict Henry Kraemer will finish off the Neil Simon trilogy in which he's been so wonderfully effective at NCRT.


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