Magical memories from recent RSVP Summer musicals, as we look forward to details for Summer 2024!
KUDOS to the splendid cast and crew ...
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... and most of all, many thanks to our audiences, who had this to say: “A well done production. BRAVO!” “What great fun!” “You really made me laugh – hard, several times!” “Great job by all involved.” “Haven’t laughed so much in a long time.” “Rollicking fun!” “Lots of confusion – rather like REAL LIFE!” “SOOOO funny!” “I laughed until I was out of breath!” |
PLAY ON! is the story of a community theatre group trying desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty local playwright who keeps revising her script, Murder Most Foul (name sound familiar? Stay tuned.)
It’s a complicated show containing a “play within a play.” That gives each player three names except the stage manager and the tech guy, they only have two. The others have their personal name, their character in the play name, and the name of the character in the play within the play. This is a solid basis for confusion. Act One presents the cast in rehearsal for their upcoming show while the playwright frenetically adds finishing touches (she fancies herself a master of double alliteration). Act Two presents the dress rehearsal while the playwright is threatened, thus failing to finish adding her finishing touches. Act Three is the actual show itself and the pretentious playwright is still alive and kicking. Until she decides to give a speech on the state of the modern theatre during the curtain calls, no doubt expecting thunderous applause, BUT ... RSVP’s production of PLAY ON! was held February 2-4 and 9-11, at Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre, directed by Jordan Willis with Kenton Williams as Stage Manager. |
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RSVP's previous performances:
KUDOS to the splendid company of RSVP’s outstanding production of Neil Simon’s RUMORS,
dubbed “Absolutely fantastic!” by our audiences.
Shown L-R: Jordan Willis, Stage Manager; Michele Dawes, Props Mistress; Shelley Peterson, Props Assistant; Philip Schuyler, Lenny Ganz; Aubri Henley, Claire Ganz;
Alisa Smith McNeill, Cookie Cusack; Elijah Laprise, Ernie Cusack; Alicia Kellum, Cassie Cooper; John Halsey, Glenn Cooper; Chris Scott, Ken Gorman;
Kira Geiger, Chris Gorman; Joel McClosky, Officer Welch; Dan Bressler, Lights Tech; Lauren Wood, Officer Pudney; Justin Tarlton, Sound Tech.
With a special salute to Director Extraordinaire Jeremy Skidmore (not shown here), Executive Director of RhinoLeap Productions.
Alisa Smith McNeill, Cookie Cusack; Elijah Laprise, Ernie Cusack; Alicia Kellum, Cassie Cooper; John Halsey, Glenn Cooper; Chris Scott, Ken Gorman;
Kira Geiger, Chris Gorman; Joel McClosky, Officer Welch; Dan Bressler, Lights Tech; Lauren Wood, Officer Pudney; Justin Tarlton, Sound Tech.
With a special salute to Director Extraordinaire Jeremy Skidmore (not shown here), Executive Director of RhinoLeap Productions.
Neil Simon’s RUMORS is a farce - a fast-moving compilation of misunderstandings intended to provoke deep mirth.
Four couples are at the townhouse of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. The party never begins because the host has shot himself in the head (it’s only a flesh wound) and his wife is missing. His lawyer’s cover-up gets progressively more difficult to sustain as the other guests arrive and nobody can remember who has been told what about whom. And then the police arrive. Doors slam and hilarity abounds as the couples get more and more crazed. RUMORS is late Simon but not final Simon. Of the 30 plays he wrote, this one clocks in at number 23. It was on Broadway for 535 performances in 1988-90. Simon’s was an illustrious career that has affected almost anyone you know through stage, movies, television. His jokes are golden and they hit what they aim at. RSVP’s production of RUMORS was held October 27-29 and November 3-5, 2023, at Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre, directed by RhinoLeap Productions Executive Director Jeremy Skidmore, assisted by Jordan Willis as Stage Manager. |
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76 Trombones and 50+ Cast Members Came to River City! (er, Asheboro!)
Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents
of small town River City in 1912 Iowa by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money before he can skip town. But he might just get his foot stuck in the door this time ... Meredith Willson’s THE MUSIC MAN marched over to Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre, July 28-30 and August 4-6, 2023 Artistic Director: Jim Shover; Music Director: Rick Morgan; Choreographer: Elizabeth Parry. It was a bang-beat, bell-ringin', big-haul, great-go, neck-or-nothin', rip-roarin', ever'-time-a bull's-eye show! |
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Meet the cast of THE MUSIC MAN!
A zillion cast members gather for the first script read-through of RSVP'S production of Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN
Ladieeees and Gentlemen! Break out the double bell euphoniums and big bassoons, and the noggins and the piggins and the firkins – The Music Man is coming to Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre! A cast of fifty-one — count ‘em, Fifty-One! Young, Old, and Middle! — right here in the bosom of your community.
The Music Man has been on Broadway three times since 1957 and will now be presented locally by RSVP Community Theatre for the second time since 1991.
One of the most enduring pieces of show-biz Americana, The Music Man by Meredith Willson has your Fourth of July celebration, your tuneful hit songs, your soulful romance, and a ton of irrepressible fun. Add to this a con man selling band instruments he doesn’t intend to materialize, stir a bit, dance a bit, and what do you have? Small Town America at the turn of the previous century. Taking all the good parts and forgetting all the bad ones, you might as well have us today.
Propelling this extravaganza is an all-star propulsion unit: Artistic Director Jim Shover, Music Director Rick Morgan, Choreographer Elizabeth Parry, Stage Manager Ann Greene (assisted by Gracie Faith Macon), and Property Mistress Michele Dawes (assisted by Theresa Thompson). The show is produced by Alisa Smith McNeil.
We might have trouble in River City had we not a charming troublemaker by the name of Professor Harold Hill. In that category we have located with great delight Timothy Miller. And if we have the professor we must have the librarian: for the role of Marian Paroo, Shannon Lowe, sweet singer of the west, will perfectly do. She has a mother Paroo played by Peggy George Kilburn and a brother Winthrop otherwise known was Owen Scott.
The administrative needs of River City are attended to by Mayor Shinn (Justin Tarlton) while community cultural niceties are the domain of Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn (Laurine Varner). Prof. Hill has an old friend in town, Marcellus Washburn (Brandon Almazan). Townspeople including young folks and passers-through include Amaryllis (Edith Gee), Zaneeta Shinn (Alanna Cheek), Tommy Djilas (Michael Silva-Garcia), Charlie Cowell (Phillip Schuyler), Ethel Toffelmier (Megan Smith), Alma Hix (Lauren Wood), Maud Dunlap (Bethany Kidd), Mrs. Squires (Hannah Beaton), Gracie Shinn (Alex Griffith), Constable Locke (Tom Tennison), and Train Conductor (Charlie White). JB Griffith, John Halsey, Mike Miller, and Nicholas Neighbors make up the barbershop quartet.
The ensemble of kids and townspeople is enormous: Carolyn Auman, Kaitlyn Bunch, Mae Cox, Fernanda Guerrero, Rylee Holdaway, Elaina Hunter, Makayla Hunter, Susan Jarrett, Elijah Laprise, Shelley Peterson, Brandon Rancourt, Jackson Paul Rose, Joyce Spoon, Evelyn Strider, Tom Tennison, and Charlie White are the elders while Landon Allmon, Sophia Ashraf, Kellan Auman, Alanna Cheek, Liam Evavold, Alex Griffith, Chloe Mitchell, Krimson Powell, Michael Silva-Garcia, and Tatum White are the youngers.
In your examination of the cast, you will find RSVP veterans and first-timers as well. Let this be a suggestion that the future might have you, dear reader, in a cast list. ;-)
The Music Man has been on Broadway three times since 1957 and will now be presented locally by RSVP Community Theatre for the second time since 1991.
One of the most enduring pieces of show-biz Americana, The Music Man by Meredith Willson has your Fourth of July celebration, your tuneful hit songs, your soulful romance, and a ton of irrepressible fun. Add to this a con man selling band instruments he doesn’t intend to materialize, stir a bit, dance a bit, and what do you have? Small Town America at the turn of the previous century. Taking all the good parts and forgetting all the bad ones, you might as well have us today.
Propelling this extravaganza is an all-star propulsion unit: Artistic Director Jim Shover, Music Director Rick Morgan, Choreographer Elizabeth Parry, Stage Manager Ann Greene (assisted by Gracie Faith Macon), and Property Mistress Michele Dawes (assisted by Theresa Thompson). The show is produced by Alisa Smith McNeil.
We might have trouble in River City had we not a charming troublemaker by the name of Professor Harold Hill. In that category we have located with great delight Timothy Miller. And if we have the professor we must have the librarian: for the role of Marian Paroo, Shannon Lowe, sweet singer of the west, will perfectly do. She has a mother Paroo played by Peggy George Kilburn and a brother Winthrop otherwise known was Owen Scott.
The administrative needs of River City are attended to by Mayor Shinn (Justin Tarlton) while community cultural niceties are the domain of Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn (Laurine Varner). Prof. Hill has an old friend in town, Marcellus Washburn (Brandon Almazan). Townspeople including young folks and passers-through include Amaryllis (Edith Gee), Zaneeta Shinn (Alanna Cheek), Tommy Djilas (Michael Silva-Garcia), Charlie Cowell (Phillip Schuyler), Ethel Toffelmier (Megan Smith), Alma Hix (Lauren Wood), Maud Dunlap (Bethany Kidd), Mrs. Squires (Hannah Beaton), Gracie Shinn (Alex Griffith), Constable Locke (Tom Tennison), and Train Conductor (Charlie White). JB Griffith, John Halsey, Mike Miller, and Nicholas Neighbors make up the barbershop quartet.
The ensemble of kids and townspeople is enormous: Carolyn Auman, Kaitlyn Bunch, Mae Cox, Fernanda Guerrero, Rylee Holdaway, Elaina Hunter, Makayla Hunter, Susan Jarrett, Elijah Laprise, Shelley Peterson, Brandon Rancourt, Jackson Paul Rose, Joyce Spoon, Evelyn Strider, Tom Tennison, and Charlie White are the elders while Landon Allmon, Sophia Ashraf, Kellan Auman, Alanna Cheek, Liam Evavold, Alex Griffith, Chloe Mitchell, Krimson Powell, Michael Silva-Garcia, and Tatum White are the youngers.
In your examination of the cast, you will find RSVP veterans and first-timers as well. Let this be a suggestion that the future might have you, dear reader, in a cast list. ;-)
William Shakespeare's immortal comedy
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
as re-imagined in the 1970s by Geri Bressler
KUDOS to the company of RSVP’s excellent production of Shakespeare’s immortal comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR,
as re-imagined in the 1970s by Geri Bressler and directed by Nikki Peters ...
presented May 5-7, 2023 at Asheboro's Bicentennial Park, FREE to the public ...
with special thanks to the City of Asheboro and the North Carolina Arts Council ... and MOST special thanks to our audiences.
"Well, thereby hangs a tale!"
L-R: Dan Bressler, Stage Crew; Michele Dawes, Props Guru; Austin Cooper, Stage Manager, Elijah Laprise, Fenton; Alex Tolar, Anne Page;
Tammy Willcox, Shallow; Dylan Henley, Factotum/Fairy; Aubri Henley, Host of the Garter Inn; JeriLynn Roblee, Mistress Page;
Bradley Tatham, Master Page; Philip Shore, Sir John Falstaff; Justin Tarlton, Master Ford; Emily M Williamson, Mistress Ford;
Alicia Kellum, Mistress Quickly; Kelli Smith, Servant; Brandon Almazan, Doctor Caius;
Shannon Leona Lowe, Sir Hugh Evans; Cameron Surratt, Slender.
Not shown: Charles Peters, Stage Crew; Nikki Peters, Director.
as re-imagined in the 1970s by Geri Bressler and directed by Nikki Peters ...
presented May 5-7, 2023 at Asheboro's Bicentennial Park, FREE to the public ...
with special thanks to the City of Asheboro and the North Carolina Arts Council ... and MOST special thanks to our audiences.
"Well, thereby hangs a tale!"
L-R: Dan Bressler, Stage Crew; Michele Dawes, Props Guru; Austin Cooper, Stage Manager, Elijah Laprise, Fenton; Alex Tolar, Anne Page;
Tammy Willcox, Shallow; Dylan Henley, Factotum/Fairy; Aubri Henley, Host of the Garter Inn; JeriLynn Roblee, Mistress Page;
Bradley Tatham, Master Page; Philip Shore, Sir John Falstaff; Justin Tarlton, Master Ford; Emily M Williamson, Mistress Ford;
Alicia Kellum, Mistress Quickly; Kelli Smith, Servant; Brandon Almazan, Doctor Caius;
Shannon Leona Lowe, Sir Hugh Evans; Cameron Surratt, Slender.
Not shown: Charles Peters, Stage Crew; Nikki Peters, Director.
RSVP Community Theatre was delighted to offer the community this outdoor experience,
thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.
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THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, in a nutshell:
Sir John Falstaff, staying in Windsor and down on his luck, decides to restore his fortunes by seducing the wives of two wealthy citizens. He sends Mistress Page and Mistress Ford identical love letters, but they discover his double dealing and set about turning the tables, arranging an assignation at Mistress Ford's house. Master Ford has heard of Falstaff's plan and decides to test his wife's fidelity. Pretending to be Master Broom, he pays Falstaff to seduce his wife on his behalf, twice almost catching them together. The Pages' daughter Anne is pursued by three suitors. The French physician Doctor Caius is her mother's choice, whilst her father prefers Slender, Justice Shallow's cousin. Anne herself is in love with Fenton. Mistress Quickly is being paid by all three suitors to promote their cause. A duel between Caius and Evans is averted when the Host of the Garter Inn plays a trick on them, and they in turn pay the Host back. In Windsor Great Park at night, Falstaff is set up for his final punishment - and one of Anne Page's suitors is successful. |
Luigi Jannuzzi's YOU MAKE MY FRAME SHAKE! Special thanks to each and every for sharing your gifts. And MEGA-thanks to all who made this rollicking show not just possible, but a sparkling success: our audiences, our patrons, and all our friends and colleagues ... With EXTRA special thanks to the playwright who generously took the time to inspire us to great heights: visit luigijannuzzi.com |
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THE AMBIDEXTROUS CAST:
Brandon Almazan: Atlas; Fertility God; Security Guard Manashi C-Lim: Cafeteria Worker; Fertility Goddess Michele Dawes: Customer John Halsey: Claude Monet; Hercules; Aristotle; The Thinker Becca Leveille: Alice Hoschede; Customer; Fertility Goddess; Cynthia; Maes Shannon Lowe: Camille Monet; Sofia; Fertility Goddess; Diana Alisa McNeill: Helen Meredith Mitchell: Tour Guide Philip Schuyler: Poseidon; Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier; Giorgio; Chardin Alex Tolar: Lisa; Customer; Sphinx; Baby Maes Charlie White: Ernest Hoschede; Curator; Voice; Joe Lauren Wood: Marie Lavoisier; Maria Director: Alisa Smith McNeill Stage Manager: Tammy Willcox Props Guru: Michele Dawes Publicist and Webmaster: Peggy George Kilburn RSVP's production of YOU MAKE MY FRAME SHAKE! was directed by Alisa Smith McNeill at Asheboro's Sunset Theatre, February 24-26 and March 3-5, 2023. |
YOU MAKE MY FRAME SHAKE! tells 12 love stories set at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Playwright Luigi Jannuzzi combines romantic/absurdist comedy with serious themes of love, truth, and the need to rise above it all.
The masterpiece paintings and sculptures were displayed on Asheboro's Sunset Theatre stage. Almost as a launching pad to spark the imagination. And in addition, some whimsical/outlandish back-stories about their creation ... along with a frisky look at what art might do after dark. For instance, in “Camille Monet on a Garden Bench” ... * Might that vixen in the background with dazzling parasol be more than just a background figure to Claude? *And might Camille be holding a note from her paramour? * And might that very paramour be standing behind her? It was great fun finding out the answers to these questions and more! |
Standing, L-R: Scott Hunter, Lights Tech; Charlie White, Chief of Police; Elijah Laprise, The Motorist; Victor Slaughter, Colonel Mustard; Dan Bressler, Mr. Boddy;
Deanna Slaughter, Mrs. Peacock; Emily Williamson, Mrs. White; Jason Mandara, Professor Plum; John Halsey, Wadsworth the Butler; Alicia Kellum, Ms. Scarlet;
Philip Schuyler, Mr. Green; Lauren Wood, Ze Cook; Parris Lee, Yvette the Maid; Brandon Rancourt, The Unexpected Cop;
Michele Dawes, Props Goddess and Co-Producer.
Seated: Alisa Smith McNeill, The Singing Telegram Girl and Co-Producer; Justin Tarlton, Director; Tammy Willcox, Stage Manager and Sound Tech.
Deanna Slaughter, Mrs. Peacock; Emily Williamson, Mrs. White; Jason Mandara, Professor Plum; John Halsey, Wadsworth the Butler; Alicia Kellum, Ms. Scarlet;
Philip Schuyler, Mr. Green; Lauren Wood, Ze Cook; Parris Lee, Yvette the Maid; Brandon Rancourt, The Unexpected Cop;
Michele Dawes, Props Goddess and Co-Producer.
Seated: Alisa Smith McNeill, The Singing Telegram Girl and Co-Producer; Justin Tarlton, Director; Tammy Willcox, Stage Manager and Sound Tech.
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On a dark and stormy night, six guests were invited to a very unusual dinner party. No one knew the others. Approaching warily, each was greeted at the door by a somewhat sinister (and slightly smarmy) butler. WHY have they been invited to dinner? Will they all survive it? Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue On Stage is a madcap comedy that kept the audience guessing until the final twist! RSVP's production of CLUE ON STAGE was directed by Justin Tarlton at Asheboro's Sunset Theatre, October 28-30 and November 4-6, 2022. Adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from Hasbro, Inc. Written by Sandy Rustin, based upon the works by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, and Eric Price. |
MAMMA MIA, WHAT A SHOW!
RSVP so very much enjoyed seeing you at our 2022 Summer Musical :-)
It takes MANY hands to deliver a production like this.
We especially wish to thank:
Asheboro High School Fine Arts Department * Brightside Gallery, Mary Murkin
The City of Asheboro * First United Methodist Church of Asheboro
Taylor Crawford, Jonathan Sermon, and Asheboro's Cultural and Recreation Services Department
Liberty Advisors, JB Griffith III * Charles Peters * PIP Printing Asheboro * Randolph Hub
Randolph Youth Theater Company * RhinoLeap Productions * WKXR, Larry Reid
We especially wish to thank:
Asheboro High School Fine Arts Department * Brightside Gallery, Mary Murkin
The City of Asheboro * First United Methodist Church of Asheboro
Taylor Crawford, Jonathan Sermon, and Asheboro's Cultural and Recreation Services Department
Liberty Advisors, JB Griffith III * Charles Peters * PIP Printing Asheboro * Randolph Hub
Randolph Youth Theater Company * RhinoLeap Productions * WKXR, Larry Reid
Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus Book by Catherine Johnson |
On a small Greek island, Sophie dreams of a perfect wedding — one which includes her father giving her away. But Sophie doesn’t know who he is! Sneaking a peek in her mother’s old diaries, she discovers three possible fathers and secretly invites all three to the wedding, convinced that she’ll know her father when she sees him. But it might not be so easy ... dot, dot, dot
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Kudos and profound thanks to our Asheboro theatre colleagues at RhinoLeap Productions, for inviting Randolph Youth Theater Company and us (RSVP Community Theatre) to co-produce a rollicking musical comedy with them - LIVE on stage!
THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE ran July 10-25, 2021, to an enthusiastic, long-starved-for-live-stage-musicals audience at Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre. The cast was an utterly delightful blend of professional actors (the adults) and local talent (the kids).
"BEE" is a wildly funny musical that follows a group of six teens vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the contestants spell their way through a series of increasingly crazy words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.
Six spellers enter. One speller triumphs! This Tony Award-winning musical has been charming audiences across the country for years and it was Asheboro's turn to enjoy it.
THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE ran July 10-25, 2021, to an enthusiastic, long-starved-for-live-stage-musicals audience at Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre. The cast was an utterly delightful blend of professional actors (the adults) and local talent (the kids).
"BEE" is a wildly funny musical that follows a group of six teens vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the contestants spell their way through a series of increasingly crazy words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.
Six spellers enter. One speller triumphs! This Tony Award-winning musical has been charming audiences across the country for years and it was Asheboro's turn to enjoy it.
THE CAST:
The Teachers:
Vanessa Hernandez – Miss Rona Lisa Poretti
Lalenja Harrington – Vice Principal Donna Panch
Patrick Osteen (in a dual role) - Mitch Mahoney, Comfort Counselor;
and Olive’s Dad
The Contestants:
Sabine Langer – Olive Ostrovsky
Laney Dowell – Marcy Park
Madison Barrier – Logainne SchwarzandGrubeniere
Clayton Morgan – Leaf Coneybear
Anthony Costello – Chip Tolentino
Jason Diaz - William Barfee
The Parents:
Jim Langer – Dan Grubeniere
JB Griffith III – Carl Schwarz
Micki Bare – Leaf Coneybear’s Mom
Dave Bare – Leaf Coneybear’s Dad
Katie Muhlenkamp – Olive’s Mom
The Most Special of Guests:
Larry Reid
The Production Team:
Jeremy Skidmore – Artistic Director
Jeff Whicker – Music Director
Cameron Wade – Choreographer
Jennifer O’Kelly – Lighting Designer
Tara Raczinski – Costume Designer
Mark Dillon – Sound Designer
Evan Finch – Assistant Sound Designer
Kate Baxter – Stage Manager
Joshua Way – Assistant Stage Manager
Allison Kauffman - Assistant Choreographer
Tom Osteen – RhinoLeap Producer
Nikki Peters – RSVP Producer
Carey Way – RYTC Producer
The Teachers:
Vanessa Hernandez – Miss Rona Lisa Poretti
Lalenja Harrington – Vice Principal Donna Panch
Patrick Osteen (in a dual role) - Mitch Mahoney, Comfort Counselor;
and Olive’s Dad
The Contestants:
Sabine Langer – Olive Ostrovsky
Laney Dowell – Marcy Park
Madison Barrier – Logainne SchwarzandGrubeniere
Clayton Morgan – Leaf Coneybear
Anthony Costello – Chip Tolentino
Jason Diaz - William Barfee
The Parents:
Jim Langer – Dan Grubeniere
JB Griffith III – Carl Schwarz
Micki Bare – Leaf Coneybear’s Mom
Dave Bare – Leaf Coneybear’s Dad
Katie Muhlenkamp – Olive’s Mom
The Most Special of Guests:
Larry Reid
The Production Team:
Jeremy Skidmore – Artistic Director
Jeff Whicker – Music Director
Cameron Wade – Choreographer
Jennifer O’Kelly – Lighting Designer
Tara Raczinski – Costume Designer
Mark Dillon – Sound Designer
Evan Finch – Assistant Sound Designer
Kate Baxter – Stage Manager
Joshua Way – Assistant Stage Manager
Allison Kauffman - Assistant Choreographer
Tom Osteen – RhinoLeap Producer
Nikki Peters – RSVP Producer
Carey Way – RYTC Producer
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Pat Cook's MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER is an interactive murder mystery, with the audience participating in solving the crime. The scene: rich (but rotten) Carlton Larraby's Halloween party, with the guests dressed as characters from Shakespeare, impatiently waiting for their macabre host to show up ... unaware that he has been gruesomely bludgeoned to death, right in his own study. RSVP's cast included: Charlie White as Mr. Hawker; Alisa Smith McNeill as Jolene Larraby; Jill Cofer as Mrs. Larraby; Dan Bressler as Steven MacDonald; Hannah Grace as Leslie Larraby; Alex Robinson as Presley Larraby; Manashi C-Lim as Lillian DeMonde; Tammy Willcox as Margaret Larraby; and Shannon Lowe as Kimberly Trent. Nikki Peters directed this production, held October 25-27 and November 1-3, 2019, at Asheboro's Sunset Theatre. |
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ANNIE the Musical
Plucky little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the orphanage, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations ... and finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of 7 Tony Awards, including best musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Chanin feature some of the greatest musical hits ever written, including "Tomorrow." RSVP's July-August 2019 production was directed and choreographed at Asheboro's Sunset Theatre by Jim Shover - with Kathleen Gee as Music Director, and Joshua Way as Stage Manager. |
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Seeking Creative Applicants for RSVP's 2023-2024 Season
RSVP Community Theatre is looking for experienced and enthusiastic production team members for our 2023 -2024 Season, and beyond.
RSVP is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization committed to producing high-quality amateur theatre in Randolph County and the Piedmont Triad Area.
RSVP is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization committed to producing high-quality amateur theatre in Randolph County and the Piedmont Triad Area.
Director: The director is in charge of all the creative elements on the stage. He/she is responsible for working with the producers to carry out the vision through the different creative aspects. He/she casts the show along with the choreographer and musical director (for a musical, by themselves for a drama). The director is in charge of running the rehearsals, "blocking" the scenes, and coaching the actors in their performance. He/she must also have a good understanding on how to work the technical aspects to facilitate the creative vision of the show.
Choreographer: "The key to good choreography is creating the right dances for the level of your performers and making them look good performing it" (Gary P. Cohen, The Community Theater Handbook p 26). The choreographer is essential to a musical whether it is a "heavy" dance show or not. The choreographer is responsible for both creating the dances and ensuring that the show flows like a musical should.
Musical Director: A musical theater necessity. In short, the musical director (MD) is responsible for everything musical. The MD must be present for casting, teach the music to the cast, act as a vocal coach, compile and rehearse an orchestra, and conduct the show. Proficiency with the piano is a definite plus.
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Stage Manager: The stage manager is responsible for a great many things; most notable of these is keeping the production going. The stage manager is responsible for facilitating rehearsals and attending each as well. The SM must take extensive notes on blocking, props, set changes, and the like for the prompt book. The SM also acts as the liaison between the cast and the creative staff, and answers to the producers on the state of the production. The SM is critical for tech rehearsals and performances. The SM sits backstage or in the wings to "call" the show (giving instructions to stage crew, lighting, and sound).
Lighting Designer: The lighting designer must be knowledgeable of basic theatrical lighting fixtures and how to use them in creating various moods and effects. He/she is responsible for coming up with a lighting plot that lights the stage while conveying the vision agreed upon by the director and producers. The lighting designer must closely read the script and attend rehearsals to understand the blocking of the actors. The lighting designer must be available for tech week of the show, where the lights implemented and focused. A board operator may be provided if there is interest, but it is not uncommon for the designer to run the board. The designer is expected to take notes and make changes to the cues as necessary.
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Producer: In community theater, a producer’s job is to make sure everything happens in the time it is supposed to happen. They coordinate production meetings, coordinate logistics for the production, and work closely with the publicity and house committee chairpersons. Producers are expected to assist the director, production team and board members with details like getting volunteers for backstage and coordinating any special events or promotions of the show.
Costume Designer: The costume designer is responsible for everything that the actors wear in the show. He/she must be able to work with the director/producers to understand the vision and make it happen in conjunction with the set, the lighting, the blocking, and the specific actors. Costumes are acquired either through designing and building, renting or borrowing. Ability to sew is a plus, but not always necessary.
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Interested? Just click here, fill out the form, and we'll contact you.
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Questions? Suggestions?
Please click here to contact RSVP
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Looking forward to seeing you at ... or IN ... one of our upcoming performances.
(Want to get involved? Click here!)
And we'd love to have you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Looking forward to seeing you at ... or IN ... one of our upcoming performances.
(Want to get involved? Click here!)