Press Releases

Wedding L-R: Paul Estey, Alex Nawrocki, Ruby Chandler, James Wood; Ladder: James Wood and Sarah Cox

The Blue Ridge Community Theater proudly announces the next Main Stage show Our Town a Pulitzer Prize winner by Thornton Wilder. This play has been an American classic for over 70 years and is suggested for the whole family. The play centers around the daily lives of two families in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire at the turn of the century.

Grover’s Corners is a town very much like Blue Ridge where chickens roam Main Street and people still stop and talk to each other about the weather.

The show is led by character called the Stage Manager whose sole job is to bring the audience a message: “You have to have life to love it and you have to love life to have it”.

Wilder’s Stage Manager (Alex Nawrocki) walks us through a span of fourteen years in the lives of these two neighboring families and the town. In the first two acts, the actions, choices, emotions, and events in the lives of George Gibbs (James Wood) and Emily Webb (Ruby Chandler) serve as the focus of the play as we watch them grow up, fall in love and get married. The third act, (stop reading now if you don’t want to know the ending), takes us through the death of Emily Webb and follows her into the afterlife where she learns what life really is and was.

Mr. Wilder gives us a chance, through these performances, to re-evaluate how we spend our minutes.

This is less the portrait of a town or of the people in it than the sublimation of the commonplace; and in contrast with the universe that silently swims around it, it is brimming over with compassion.

The play constantly reminds us of the infinite vastness of life, the unfathomable importance of the smallest thing and through the eloquent words and simplistic staging, our determination to live life well is rejuvenated. Grover’s Corners is a green corner of the universe. You should experience this play.

Show dates are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. For reservations call the box office @ 706-632-9223.

Auditions for the next Main Stage show "Our Town" will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday July 10, 11 & 12 (Thursday & Friday at 6:00PM and Saturday at 12:00PM)

No monologues are required. Rehearsals will begin July 14th and will be held Monday through Thursday from 6-9. Many Parts will require very little rehearsal.

Show dates are Aug 29th through Sept 21st. For more information call 706-632-9223

Sunny D Children’s Theater is very happy to announce the dates for their 2008 Summer Theater Camp. The camp will be held the weeks of June 16th – 20th and the 23rd – 27th, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. We welcome all children between the ages of 5 and 18. The Sunny D Camp will be held at the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Club Fairgrounds in Blue Ridge with and end of camp performance on June 27 & 28 at 7:00 p.m. on the main stage at the Blue Ridge Community Theater in Hampton Square.

This year’s camp theme is “Theatre Around The World Act II”, and the Executive Director will be Kristy Lindstrom.

The Sunny D Children’s Theater Committee is now taking applications for instructors, interns, and volunteers. Limited space available for campers and the deadline for registration is June 1, 2008. Scholarships are available!

Larry Shue's attention to detail and sharp wit make this play a laugh a minute and provoke your thought in this precise and humorous tale. No one matches the comic wit of Larry Shue. Being an actor himself, his characters are gifts to the actors that play them. Each role is well-honed and a joy to perform. This is truly one of the great American comedies. This is a diverse and side-splitting play. It incorporates many accents and notions as cultures collide in the Deep South . One character even makes up his own dialect and tells an entire story in it! The plot drives off of a cleverly set up situation of mistaken identity.
This hilarious, yet somehow realistic cast of characters takes you through an absurd plot that flows naturally and leaves you wanting more.

The Blue Ridge Community Theater is honored to have been selected to host a dramatic reading of:

Performances will be Saturday May 3^rd at 7:30 pm and Sunday May 4^th at 2:00 pm ONLY.

Short Haired Grace is a play based on the actual conversation between Queen Elizabeth I and the pirate Grace O’Malley. For forty years during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603), Grace O’Malley dominated the seas off the west coast of Ireland, leading a band of Irish pirates whom the English were unable to defeat. Finally, when both were in the sixties, these two powerful women met in London at the Queen’s invitation. That is history. How they dealt with each other is finally revealed in the play…

This one to two hour event will be a “Text” workshop. Participants need a script or a monologue and be fully willing to participate. Observers, however, are welcome and encouraged.

This event provides a great opportunity for any writer that has considered script or screenplay writing. Even if you haven’t thought of it before, this workshop will get you thinking about how that short story, prose, or poem may be able to transition in to a theatrical production.

While teaching “actor responsibility to the play, the director, the blocking and the working words”, Bill seeks to teach actors to surprise each other at each performance to keep the play alive and fresh, while staying true to the text.

From left to right Pat Webb, Anne Record (Volunteer of the Month) and Bill Marsh.

Anne started volunteering with BRCT almost three years ago when she offered to help with costumes on "The Velveteen Rabbit". She has been an active member ever since and has filled in the gaps in every volunteer situation.

L-R: Bill Bruehl, Lucy Rollin, Kimberley Campbell, marty Bruehl (Narrator) and Roger Rollin

The Blue Ridge Community Theater is honored to have been selected to host a dramatic reading of Short Haired Grace ~ a short full-length play by Bill Bruehl.

This play has been bought for the 2009 Lake Geneva Wisconsin Summer Festival of Plays.

Performances will be Saturday May 3^rd at 7:30 pm and Sunday May 4^th at 2:00 pm

In addition however, Bill Bruehl has agreed to conduct a masters acting workshop

Short Haired Grace is a play based on the actual conversation between Queen Elizabeth I and the pirate Grace O’Malley. For forty years during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603), Grace O’Malley dominated the seas off the west coast of Ireland, leading a band of Irish pirates whom the English were unable to defeat. Finally, when both were in the sixties, these two powerful women met in London at the Queen’s invitation. That is history. How they dealt with each other is finally revealed in the play…

Bill Bruehl taught theater at SUNY Stony Brook before moving to the Upstate seven years ago. He has been involved with theater since he was a toddler of two and considers himself a “Theater Person”. Bill is an Equity Member and belongs to the Professional Drama Guild. Mr. Bruehl, as Director, has brought over 100 plays to the stage and has acted in many. Bill’s family consists of his wife Marty, and his two daughters. Amelia lives with her family in the Netherlands and Alexandra in Sante Fe with her fiancé’.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Coming to BRCT Main Stage!

Sunny D Children's Theater is proud to present this magical adaptation of the original Alice in Wonderland (adapted by Tim Kelley)!

Performances will be March 28 - April 6, 2008 at the Blue Ridge Community Theater.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a triumph of imagination in which nonsense cavorts with meaning in a celebration of language.

Showing only two weeknds - performances will be Fri & Sat 7:30pm and Sunday 2:00pm.

Admission is $10 for adults/ $5.00 for Children 10 and under.

Please call the box office at 706-632-9223 for reservations. Additional information is available on our website at www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com

Cast names L-R Front Row: Megan Little, Alice Holden, McKayla Barrialut, Jesie Turner, Madison Upshaw, Erica Lalak, Patch Hreha (Tech),

L-R Second Row: Rachel Tompkins, Diamond Keener, Bobby Whitley, Meghan Beaver, Morgan Tinker, Katie Gent, Grace Little, Darcy Arnall, Ciera Hudson, Heather Fillingham, Allie Lindstrom, Samuel Sims

L-R Third Row: Carrie Baker, Lindsay Arp, Ross Alexander, Joey Roderick, Hanna Sims

NOT PICTURED: Abigail Anderson

Blue Ridge Community Theater will be holding a call for talent on April 1, 2 and 3 at 6:00 pm. We are seeking performers to participate in a music and variety show to benefit the theater.

Beth Inman and Michael Lacy are cast as Mr. and Mrs. Tito Mirelli in the outrageous comedy farce Lend Me A Tenor (Playing weekend Fri & Sat 7:30 pm and Sun 2:00pm through March 16^th). Look at the beautiful woodwork and attention to detail of the set!

Look closer at all the items that are considered and placed before the cast take the stage.

Look even closer to see the small buzzer, lamp (which sits on stacked 2 X 6 pieces), and picture strategically placed to bring authenticity to the scenes. Also, check out the talents of Lee Maslankowski and his group of set painters that took plain plywood floors and made them into a patterned design to fit all scenes.

Chuck Gorder, Albert Kraft, Bill Jefferson, Joe Webb, Frank Moore, Ted McWilliams, Bob Jennus, Bill Marsh, (Not Pictured - George Southmayd, Tom Kimmel, and Ed Ratcliffe) are the men responsible for constructing such amazing and authentic sets.

February 22nd was the opening of Lend Me a Tenor at the Blue Ridge Community Theater. There is a lot that can be said about the outstanding performances of the cast in this hilarious comedy. Set in 1934, Lend Me a Tenor is a farce that revolves around renowned tenor Tito Merelli that sends audiences on a wild romp of desperate measures and compromising situations. The applause received is well deserved for the whole cast, Director Sonia Smith and Stage Manager Jode Hanson. Anyone that has not yet seen this play, will be pleasantly surprised as they watch the talents of Sophia Swain, Norma Bean, Beth Inman, Denver Clark, Micah Stuart, Daniel Parrish, Wayne Roshaven and Mike Lacy unfold this story before their eyes.

But there is something more to be seen, appreciated, and applauded at the Blue Ridge Community Theater. This photo essay shows the incredible and talented volunteers behind the scenes, bringing such panache to the production.

It is impressive to see how people who enjoy the theater and want to be a part of it share their talents by volunteering. The Blue Ridge Community Theater is proud to be able to shine the spotlight on the volunteers responsible for the spectacular set design and construction!

Before all the actors are busy practicing their lines, Steve Martin, Joe Webb, Tina Maslankowski, and the Director carefully prepared a blueprint for the set design. The attention to detail is paramount as you can see not only in the large set structures of doors and walls, but also the minute floor patterns, the carefully placed room decorations, and the continuity required throughout the set – all items that provide the audience with a genuine feel of authenticity. This art of detail is just one of the things that make the Blue Ridge Community Theater such an attraction to local residents as well as visitors to our community.

After the basic set design is established, Joe Webb gets together a crew of talented people who vigilantly work to make the vision a reality. After picking up the incredible contributions of supplies from our sponsor Ace Hardware, Chuck Gorder, Albert Kraft, Bill Jefferson, Joe Webb, Frank Moore, Ted McWilliams, Bob Jennus, Bill Marsh, George Southmayd, Tom Kimmel, and Ed Ratcliffe all come together to begin sawing lumber, joining wood and other materials to create the director’s vision. It is fascinating to watch as these people perform the magic of making the stage another place in time. These men have two rules, no meetings, no painting.

There are so many volunteer opportunities at the Blue Ridge Community Theater that allow anyone the chance to be part of something as special, just as these pictures depict. Any of the cast members will tell you that when they take their bow at the end of the performance they are secretly thanking everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes to make the production possible.

While the Blue Ridge Community Theater is already working on its next production The Foreigner (set to open May 16^th, 2008 – Auditions being held March 11^th and 12^th), the Sunny D Children’s Theater is already utilizing volunteers to prepare the same dazzle for the first 2008 children’s production Alice in Wonderland (opening March 28, 2008).

You can reserve your seats for Lend Me a Tenor today by contacting the box office at 706-632-9223. Show times are Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm and Sunday 2:00 pm matinee. Without giving anything away there is an eighty-five second surprise at the end that is a must see!

Season tickets are available for all four main stage productions for $50.00. Individual tickets are $15.00 per seat and $13.50 for seniors. Students have a special price of buy one get one free – two tickets for $15.00!

The Blue Ridge Community Theater is a non-profit organization and collaborates with the community on many projects. Please visit our website at www.BlueRidgeCommunityTheater.com for more information, history, the 2008 season, and updates. New volunteers are always welcome and appreciated!

I, like many others, was tickled when Trip Advisor listed Blue Ridge as number five in the 2008 Top Ten Tourist Destinations (http://www.tripadvisor.com/PressCenter-i155-c1-Press_Releases.html). I had no doubts about the positives Blue Ridge has to offer, but I couldn’t help but wonder how Blue Ridge earned such distinction from all the other great destinations across the country.

Undoubtedly, the reasons are multiple and include the efforts of a great many people and organizations. The Fannin County Chamber of Commerce is one of the most active I have ever seen, and The Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association holds a lot of ambitious events. The local Business Association stands behind this community by sponsoring quality events, and there is a general good feeling for anyone who passes through this neck of the woods.

But I was looking for something specific – something more tangible – something that this community has that might set it apart from the many. My investigations led me to a few unique nuggets that I had overlooked in my initial haste to get settled here. So I backed myself up, took a closer look, and just look at one of the things I found…

The Blue Ridge Community Theater was the first thing to blink on my radar as unique to a town the size of Blue Ridge. I felt a little foolish when I asked my neighbor and she seemed to know all about this theater. “Oh yes”, she said when I asked where 11 Mountain Street was, “Right there at the end of Ada”.

Sure enough it has a big sign and resides right in between Blue Jeans restaurant and Multitudes Gallery - still, I had missed it. I had read something about live theater in the newspaper, but I didn’t really focus in to see what they were accomplishing there. In fact, sometimes, I went to great pains to join friends at a theater in Atlanta when there were extremely talented directors, producers, actors, and crew making something special at 11 Mountain Street ~ “right there at the end of Ada”. While I was “map questing” my way to Atlanta I had driven right past the talent and treasures held within that smart little building in Hampton Square

In 2007 alone this theater put on such terrific main stage productions as The Odd Couple (The Female Version), Glass Menagerie, Nunsense, and Seeing Stars in Dixie. There were wonderful surprises too such as Mr. Kurt Sutton’s performance of Mark Twain and the internationally renowned actor Ian Frost performing an unforgettable one man show titled Byron: His Life and Loves. A little groan escaped me as I went through the 2007 Act One’s and found not only Ellemonsynary by Lee Blessing, but such an artistic highlight as Vincent by Leonard Nimoy! All of this says nothing about the separate productions done by the Sunny D Children’s Theater including The Prince Who Wouldn’t Talk, the summer camp production of Theater Around the World, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

And to think I missed them all by being too busy finding something to do. I rap my head lightly with a pencil as I look at the 2007 playbills, regretting I didn’t tune in my focus a little sooner.

Then, I stopped tapping my head and realized it’s not too late. There is always plenty of time to count regrets later and if I run out of time I guess that would be one job I wouldn’t mind leaving undone.

This is just the beginning of the 2008 theater season, and already the first main stage play has set a high standard. Lend Me a Tenor written by Ken Ludwig is a clever and wildly entertaining play that sends audiences on a wild romp of desperate measures and compromising situations. From a theatrical production standpoint, Lend Me a Tenor poses some difficult issues which were eagerly accepted and laboriously conquered by the Director, Cast, and Crew at The Blue Ridge Community Theater. While audiences are enjoying a Comedy Farce about the opera, the cast and director have diligently overcome the difficult theater issue of performing hilarious back stage mayhem within the production.

Set in 1934, Lend Me a Tenor is a farce that revolves around renowned tenor Tito Merelli, known to his fans around the world as “Il Stupendo”. As Merelli is about to leave his hotel room to sing the lead in Otello the chaos begins. Merelli’s wife has mistaken an autograph-seeker hidden in his closet as a secret lover and writes him a “Dear John” letter which is mistaken for a suicide note. A distraught Merelli proceeds to accidentally take a double does of tranquilizers causing him to pass out. The company’s General Manager, Saunders, is determined the show must go on and convinces his assistant Max to impersonate Merelli. Amazingly Max succeeds admirably until Merelli awakens and attempts to take his place on stage. The chain reaction of plot twists, confusion, double entendres, innuendoes and constant entrances and exits by both characters provides hilarious comedy.

Lend Me a Tenor first appeared on Broadway in March 1989. It was immediately hailed by reviewers as one of the funniest musical comedies to appear in many years and quickly became nominated for numerous awards including the Tony Award for Best Play, Best Direction of a Play (winner), Best Actor in a Play, Best Featured Actress in a Play, Best Scenic Design, and Best Costume Design. It was also the winner of numerous Drama Desk Awards and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Comedy of the Year in England.

The Blue Ridge Community Theater has committed to four weekend performances beginning on opening night February 22, 2008. Shows will be performed every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm until March 16^th. There was no reason for regret in 2008 as I marked the dates on my calendar.

Then just as I was feeling a little satisfied that I had completed my explorations, I discovered another “something special” tucked within this nugget at 11 Mountain Street ~ “right there at the end of Ada”. In its continuing effort to bring the arts to the youth of our community, The Blue Ridge Community Theater offers students a “buy one ticket get the second free” for any Sunday performance.

Once again I slowed myself down, reread the above line, and took the time to really absorb what it meant. I am sure most families are like mine where we enjoy many of the recreational places Blue Ridge has to offer such as bowling or a night at the movies. But, the youth of Blue Ridge have access to something very few other towns provide at the nominal fee of $15.00 for two. At least four times a year, any student can take a friend or a date to a live theater performance, smell the greasepaint, and make a memory to last a lifetime!

It clicked for me then; it all fell in to place. This is exactly the type of thing Blue Ridge offers that is unique and appreciated by those who write the Top Ten lists for Trip Advisor and other such magazines. I know as I continue my investigation, I will find other nuggets that make Blue Ridge stand out to so many. Right now, however, I need to go down to 11 Mountain Road ~ “right there at the end of Ada”, to the home of The Blue Ridge Community Theater and buy my season tickets. I look forward to meeting all the other people there that will have no regrets of performances missed at the end of 2008!

Lend Me a Tenor at the Blue Ridge Community Theater is being directed by Sonia Smith with Jodi Hanson as Stage Manager. The cast is Micah Stuart, Daniel Parrish, Wayne Roshaven, Mike Lacy, Sophia Swain, Norma Bean, Beth Inman, and Denver Clark. Individual show tickets are $15.00 each. Ask about group rates too at 706-632-9223 or at the website www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com.

Don’t forget! This is just one of four fantastic Main Stage shows! Season tickets are available for $50.00 each and will get you seats at not only Lend Me a Tenor but The Foreigner (May 16 – June 8), Our Town (August 29 – September 21), and Greetings (November 7 – November 30). The Sunny D Children’s Theater has already started rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland (March 28 – April 6), and have begun preparations for the Summer Camp Production of Around the World Act II (June 27 & 28), and the Christmas production of The Hobo and the Miracle (December 12-December 21).

The Blue Ridge Community Theater is a non-profit organization and collaborates with the community whenever possible. From the local business person in need of a wig for a special production of their own, to Van Gough art classes for all ages, the Blue Ridge Community Theater enjoys being part of such an active and cultural community. Volunteers are always welcome, needed, and very appreciated!

For questions or inquiries concerning Blue Ridge Community Theater, contact the Theater at info@blueridgecommunitytheater.com

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