The Barn Players Theatre
E-Newsletter -- May 28, 2008
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
(Use the links below to access the following articles)
- In the Spotlight: The Who's Tommy
- Barn Unveils 2009 Season on June 5
- Announcing: Dinner & a Show!
- Audition Notice: A New Brain
- News & Tidbits
Produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International
Production Support provided by: The Credit Union of Johnson County, The Francis Family Foundation & Prior Attire
The Barn Players Theatre is proud to bring The Who's TOMMY to the stage, which opens this weekend, Friday, May 30. This high-energy rock musical now hits the stage in the most electrifying evening of rock-n-roll to play in a theatre!
A smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic, Pete Townshend's musical tale about a deaf, mute, and blind pinball player who becomes an international messiah, The Who's TOMMY is based on the chart-topping 1969 rock opera. After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother's lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia. As the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbors. As an adolescent, he's discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball, and when his mother finally breaks through his catatonia, he becomes an international pinball superstar.
TOMMY is written by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. Music and lyrics are also by Pete Townshend, with additional music and lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Our complete dramaturgy (educational background information) is now available from the Barn's website at www.thebarnplayers.org.
The production is directed by Don Carlton, with musical direction by Darin Parker. D.K. Evenson is the production stage manager. The production team also includes scenic design by Brian Lechner, choreography by Catherine Larrison, costume design by Renee Maurine Purtee, sound and video design by Sean Leistico. Starring in the title role of Tommy is Patrick Lewallen, with Eryn Hamer and Ken Koval as his parents. Featured players include: Nick Padgett as Uncle Ernie and W. Bradley Torres as Cousin Kevin. Rounding out the cast of characters are Benjamin Blue, Dennis Crowl, Danae DeShazer, Graham Fairleigh, Vanessa Harper, Curt Knupp, Paris Naster, Kari Prekel, Blythe Renay, Denise Saylor, Jennifer Scofield, Trista Lee Stone, Dustin West, and Easton Williams.
Performance dates are May 30 and 31, and June 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 7:30 pm, with Sunday matinee performances on June 1, 8, and 15 beginning at 2:00 pm. All performances are at The Barn Players Theatre, located at 6219 Martway, Mission, Kansas. Tickets are $12 for regular admission; $10 for seniors (age 65 and older); $5 for students with a valid student ID; and $8 for groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased at the box office, which opens one hour before curtain time; cash or check only. No credit cards are accepted. The box office opens one hour prior to curtain time. For reservations call 913-432-9100 or visit our website at www.thebarnplayers.org.
Be sure to reserve your seat now for The Who's TOMMY!!
For showtimes and ticket prices, call (913) 432-9100, or see the website at www.thebarnplayers.org.
You're invited to a Special Reception on June 5
Pssst!!!!
The Barn Players have a secret...and we want to share it with you!!!
As a valued member of The Barn Family, we cordially invite you (and your friends!) to join us for a special reception scheduled for Thursday, June 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The reception is a fundraising event to help with major improvements for our theatre in the coming year.
As part of the reception, we will be announcing the Barn's 2009 Season--and you'll be among the first to hear all about it!! We won't spoil the surprise...but next year promises to be another very exciting season at your favorite community theatre. We've got big plans and we need your help to pull it all together.Our special reception will kick-off with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the unveiling of the 2009 Season by the Barn's Artistic Director Beate Pettigrew, which will then be followed by a special performance of our current production of The Who's TOMMY.
Your $20 ticket will include the reception, the performance of TOMMY, and an insider's look at our next season, and all proceeds will go to support the Barn Players for plans to upgrade the performance space and electrical resources in our facility for 2009. After all, we couldn't do it without you!
So, come and be the first to know about all of the exciting things that The Barn will be doing in 2009! You can reserve your seat by calling (913) 432-9100. Please plan to join us for this celebration as we unveil our 2009 Season!
Interested in volunteering? We have lots of opportunities for you! You can volunteer as an usher or assist with the box office, or even work the concessions booth for one of our upcoming performances. Bonus: you get to see the show for free!!! If you're interested, please email your name and contact information to Mandy Lagoski at theatremandy@yahoo.com for information about volunteer opportunities at the Barn.
Announcing: Dinner & a Show!
A Partnership with MelBee's Restaurant
The Barn Players Theatre & MelBee's Restaurant are proud to team up to bring you a great deal: Dinner and a Show!!!
MelBee's has recently partnered with the Barn to bring audiences great food and great entertainment for a terrific price. For just $50, you get a three-course meal from MelBee's and two tickets to the Barn Players' production of The Who's TOMMY.
And, on June 14, following the final Saturday performance of The Who's TOMMY, MelBee's will host a "meet the cast party." Delicious complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served, with cocktails and wine available at regular prices. Don't miss the fun!
For details, see the Barn Players website at www.thebarnplayers.org or call for reservations at (913) 432-9100. We'll see you at the Barn!!
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Music and lyrics by William Finn, with book by James Lapine and William Finn
Vocal arrangements by Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Barb Nichols with musical direction by Martha Risser
Performance dates: September 19-21, 26-28, & October 3-5, 2008
Audition Dates: June 28, 1-4pm, and June 29, 2-5pm, at Colonial Church, 71st and Mission Rd.
Callbacks: July 12, 1-4pm, also at Colonial Church.
For more details on the audition process, see the website at: www.thebarnplayers.org
- We know you've asked yourself: "How can I demonstrate my strong support for the Barn Players Theatre?" Why, in your wardrobe, of course! BARN SUPPORTER T-Shirts are now on sale!! Get yours today! All the proceeds from the sale of these t-shirts will go toward electrical upgrades for our facility. Shirts are $20 each. Our fundraising goal is to reach $20,000. T-shirts are donated by Custom Casuals Embroidery.
- Here's another opportunity to show your support for the Barn Players...and enjoy memories of your favorite Barn productions. Thanks to our own Vida Bikales, you can now purchase a compact disc full of production photos from our past shows, including head shots, publicity photos, and production stills. Each CD is just $10, and all proceeds from the sales will go to benefit the Barn Players Theatre. To order your CD, please contact Vida at VBikales@aol.com.
- The Barn proudly announces that it has gone GREEN! With many thanks to Deffenbaugh Waste Solutions & Recycling, and to our own Cecilia Baty, your favorite community theatre is now able to recycle its bottles and cans. Be sure to look out for the new blue recycling container near our concessions stand! Better still, join us in going green!!
- Our good friends at Prior Attire, located at 4024 W. 95th Street, carry the best in "gently-used" men's and women's clothing and accessories. Remember, when you donate your own gently used clothing, jewelry, accessories and household items, to Prior Attire, you're also supporting The Barn Players Theatre. Please visit our friends at Prior Attire today!
- Need to reach out to some arts savvy folks? Why not advertise with the Barn Players? It's a win-win proposition. You can advertise a quarter page ad for as little as $40 for the run of an entire production or $160 for a total of five shows. We'd be happy to help you design your ad, too. Just contact (913) 432-9100 for information about how to place your ad with the Barn Players Theatre.
- The Barn Players has a generous anonymous donor who has offset the cost of scripts for our casts. The donor also provided one ticket for each cast member to share with family or friends. This generous donation begins with the upcoming production of The Who's TOMMY. What a terrific way to support the Barn and its casts!! Our deepest appreciation to our newest Patron!
See you at the Barn!!!
For all the "latest and greatest" at The Barn Players Theatre, check our website regularly for information about upcoming productions, auditions, and a calendar of future events--or to join our email subscription list-- at www.thebarnplayers.org.
For showtimes, dates, and ticket prices, see the Barn's website, or call (913) 432-9100.
To sponsor, donate to, or volunteer with The Barn Players, please contact us at www.thebarnplayers.org.