Valparaiso Theatrical Company Helps Local Charities With The Showing of “Almost Maine”

“Almost, Maine”

By John Cariani with special permission from Dramatist Play Service Inc.

Directed by Joe Culley

A Friday night in the middle of winter in Almost, Maine can get pretty cold and snowy. But happy and not so happy romances seem as abundant as the stars twinkling in the deep blue sky that overarches actor turned playwright John Cariani’s vignettes. As groups of stars form constellations, so these brief episodes are connected by time and place (each occurs on a Friday night in the middle of winter in and around Almost) as well as their wistful charm, quirky humor and bracing sense of hopefulness.

Director Joe Culley has worked most effectively to bring his vision and the atmosphere of a tiny town where moving South for easier living doesn’t mean Florida but Vermont. You are sure to find this endearing little show just the ticket for escaping from cell phones and  tensions to a world where a kiss is not just still a kiss but a life changing big deal.

Each night the Valparaiso Theatrical Company will be spreading hope by donating to part of the proceeds to a different chosen charity.

Show Dates:

May 3,4,5 & 10,11,12 / 2013

Location:

The Buggy Wheel Pavilion at The Expo Center Porter County Expo Center and Fairgrounds

215 East Division Road

Valparaiso, IN 46383

To use your credit card and print your tickets at home:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/366898

OR  Tickets are $10.00 per seat at the door general admission seating

Charities that will benefit from this show are as follows:

May 3rd. NW Indiana Literacy Foundation

May 4th. Opportunity Enterprises

May 5th. March Of Dimes

May 10th. National Alliance on Mental Illness .

May 11th. PCASC (ramp building project)- Building handicap ramps for those who cannot afford them.

May 12th. Valparaiso Women’s Club

Our guest for today is …..

William Shakespeare

“Considered the greatest English-speaking writer in history and known as England’s national poet, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) has had more theatrical works performed than any other playwright. To this day, countless theater festivals around the world honor his work, students memorize his eloquent poems and scholars reinterpret the million words of text he composed”. With works such as Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear and Hamlet. Shakespeare made the theater experience remarkable. These shows have withstood the test of time even after nearly 400 years since his death almost everyone can recite at least one line from one of his masterpieces.

http://alturl.com/9hcag

William Shakespeare check this article on History.com

Joseph is comong to Highland, IN

This summer Highland parks will be bring Andrew Loyd Webber’s

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to the gazebo in Main Square Park off of Ridge Road.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly.

Audition Information

When

Monday, June 3 from 6 – 8 pm

Where

Highland Parks & Recreation Lincoln Center
2450 Lincoln Street
Highland, IN 46322

Audition Infomation

Be prepared to sing a song (bring your own pianist or CD accompaniment) or sing a ceppla. We need a lot of male voices. You will also be taught a short dance routine that you will need to show how easily you pick up.

Initially the rehearsal schedule will be one or two nights a week from 6-9 pm for singing and two nights a week from 6-9 pm for dancing. As the show comes together the rehearsals will be M-Th 6-10 pm with the live musicians.

All singers must be 16 and up. We will not be auditioning anyone under age 16. Everyone must be able to make their scheduled rehearsal and be available for all nights of the performances. If you miss the audition night we will not be holding another

To Be Or Not-To-BE that Is the Question?

“To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish’d.”  – William Shakespeare “Hamlet” Circa 1623

Today with budget cuts across the country, Schools are asking this very question of fine arts departments. Are these programs to be or not to be? Should we suffer the financial pain of keeping these classes that are not covered by standardized testing? Or should we just cut them in order to free up money that we can use on helping text scores and athletic programs?

People think that math and science classes are more practical in the long run because they can be applied to the job markets of the future. For this reason, Math and Science classes are rarely, if ever cut from the public high school curriculum when there are budget shortfalls. The problem is that Fine Arts are just as, if not more important in creating well-rounded and educated Americans. School boards overlook the long-range effects of cutting arts classes and focus just on the immediate budget. It is Fine Arts however that sets students apart, because everyone can count and fill a test tube. Fine Arts make a student unique According to Americans for the Arts exposure to art and music does more than just improve creativity. Children who receive regular exposure to the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic excellence, to participate in a math or science fair, and win an award for writing a poem or essay. These children are also three times more likely to be elected to a class office or to win an award for school attendance.(americansforthearts.org)