The Little Theatre of Alexandria

Heaven Can Wait

2012-02-24T16:59:00.000-05:00

Mr. Jordan, a.k.a. the chief angel, is checking passengers who are to depart for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead and convinces Jordan to “check the records.” When it is revealed that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years, Jordan is forced to find him a new body and return him to earth. Join us for this classic American comedy full of laughs and sincerity as it asks questions of love, destiny, and free will.

John Shakelford (Max Levene), Brandon DeGroat (Joe Pendleton), and Cal Whitehurst (Mr. Jordan)

John Shackelford (Max Levene)and Brandon DeGroat (Joe Pendleton)

Colin Davies (Doctor), Brandon DeGroat (Joe Pendleton), Geoffrey Baskir (Passenger), Michael Gerwin (Williams), Geoffrey Brand (Lefty), and John Shackelford (Max Levene)

Photos by Doug Olmsted

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

2012-01-25T14:06:00.001-05:00

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a H-I-T!

AlexandriaNews.org

Alexandria Times

Maryland Theatre Guide

Connection Newspapers

(pages 21 and 22)

Carl Williams as Dan Dad, Josh Goldman as Carl Dad, and Emily Jonas as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere

WATCH Awards

2012-01-17T15:21:00.000-05:00

The WATCH nominations for 2011 were announced on Sunday, January 15th and LTA received 43 nominations!! The full list of nominees from all theaters can be found on the WATCH website at www.washingtontheater.org. Congrats to all of our nominees!

The award ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Birchmere or through Ticketmaster. The ceremony frequently sells out, so purchasing early is highly recommended.

THE LITTLE THEATRE OF ALEXANDRIA

6 productions received a total of 43 nominations

§ Hairspray
22 nominations

§ Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Scott J. Strasbaugh as “Mr. Pinky”

§ Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Gina C. Tomkus as “Matron/Gym Teacher”

§ Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Mark Williams as “High School Principal”

§ Outstanding Choreography, Ivan Davila

§ Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Jean Schlichting & Kit Sibley

§ Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Sue Pinkman

§ Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Adrian Cubbage as “Seaweed J. Stubbs”

§ Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Brenda Parker as “Motormouth Maybelle”

§ Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Jaclyn Young as “Penny Pingleton”

§ Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Anna Michelle Jackson & Irene Kasotakis

§ Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Christopher Harris as “Edna Turnblad”

§ Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Shannon Kingett as “Tracy Turnblad”

§ Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Franklin C. Coleman

§ Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Robin Parker

§ Outstanding Music Direction, Christopher A. Tomasino

§ Outstanding Musical

§ Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Judy Kee & Margaret Snow

§ Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Chris Feldmann

§ Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Marian Holmes & Russell Wyland

§ Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Myke Taister

§ Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Kevin O’Dowd

§ Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, David Correia & David Hale

§ Move Over, Mrs. Markham
6 nominations

§ Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Howard Vincent Kurtz

§ Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Liz Owens & Nancy Owens

§ Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Howard Vincent Kurtz

§ Outstanding Properties in a Play, Rebecca & John Johnson

§ Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Chris Feldmann

§ Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Mary Hutzler

§ Noises Off
6 nominations

§ Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Annie Vroom

§ Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Adam Downs as “Garry Lejeune”

§ Outstanding Play

§ Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Dan Remmers

§ Outstanding Set Design in a Play, C. Evans Kirk & Dan Remmers

§ Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Kevin O’Dowd

§ Oliver!
3 nominations

§ Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Nancyanne Burton et al

§ Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Erin Cumbo

§ Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, David Correia

§ Rabbit Hole
2 nominations

§ Outstanding Direction of a Play, Joanna Henry

§ Outstanding Properties in a Play, Nicole Zuchetto

§ Widdershins
4 nominations

§ Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Annie Vroom

§ Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley

§ Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, C. Evans Kirk

§ Outstanding Special Effects, Ken & Patti Crowley

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Photos!

2012-01-13T14:35:00.000-05:00

Carl Williams (Dan Dad), Josh Goldman (Carl Dad), and Emily "EJ" Jonas (Logainne)

Maureeen Rohn (Olive Ostrovsky) and Amy Conley (Rona Lisa Perretti)

Matt Williams (William Barfree) and cast of Spelling Bee!

To see a full gallery of photos, visit our LTA Facebook page:

LTA Facebook Page

Photos by Shane Canfield

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

2012-01-10T12:21:00.001-05:00

The cast of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opening Jan 14 at LTA not only practice their spelling but also their singing. In pics below, Claire O’Brien (Mary Parks) conducts Emily Jonas (Logainne SchwartzandGrubeniere) while Matt Williams (William Barfee) signs about his “Magic Foot.” A true crowd pleaser, this spelling bee should cure your winter blues!

LTA's 2012-2013 Season Announcement!

2012-01-03T13:55:00.000-05:00

LTA is happy to announce our 2012-2013 Season! Below you will find the titles, playwrights, genre, and the approximate time slot the show will be performed. The Board of Governors always strive to put together a diverse season both in genre, style, and technical requirements. We feel we have accomplished this with our 2012-2013 season, and we hope you will find something on the list that may peak your interest!

Copies of the selected scripts will be available for perusal during normal business hours or through special arrangements with the LTA's Business Manager, Virginia Lacey (703 683-5778x2 or virginia@thelittletheatre.com).

All director candidates should submit a current Theatrical Resume and a “Vision Statements” for the plays they are interested in directing to ken.crowley@lmco.com.

Applications must be received by February 1, 2012.

Questions? Contact Ken Crowley at ken.crowley@lmco.com.

LTA's 2012-2013 Season

Sweeney Todd (Summer 2012)

by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim

Musical

(Director was chosen in last season's Director selection)

Boeing, Boeing (Sept 2012)

By Marc Camoletti

Comedy

Cantorial (Oct-Nov 2012)

By Ira Levin

Mystery

A Christmas Carol (Dec 2012)

Adapted by Donna Farragut

Play

A Chorus Line (Jan-Feb 2013)

By Marvin Hamlish

Musical

Dial M for Murder (Feb-Mar 2013)

By F. Knott

Mystery

33 Variations (Apr-May 2013)

By Moises Kaufman

Drama

Twentieth Century (Jun 2013)

By Hecht/McArthur/Ludwig

Comedy

A Christmas Carol - Reviews

2011-12-14T15:43:00.003-05:00

Did you see LTA Board Member Rachel Alberts and cast members from A Christmas Carol yesterday morning on Fox News!? If not, check out this link! Make sure to choose the 3rd video (under the main video screen) to see the LTA segment!

Fox News DC

Director Robin Parker on 'A Christmas Carol'

2011-12-13T06:40:00.000-05:00

The cast of the 2011 LTA production of A Christmas Carol (photo by Shane Canfield). Due to overwhelming turnout, The Little Theatre of Alexandria has added a performance of the beloved Christmas classic "A Christmas Carol," Sunday, December 18 at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at www.thelittletheatre.com

A Christmas Carol was the first play in which I ever performed. Although I was only 12, it made a huge impact on me and it continues to be one of my favorite stories. The rich characters are more to me than just characters - they serve as examples of what could have been or what could be.

Of course there is Scrooge - synonymous with all things curmudgeonly. Scrooge is the "villain" of the story. But why? He was neither dishonest nor a cheat. He worked hard, minded his own business, paid his taxes and avoided many of the vices over which we spend so much time obsessing. Scrooge's villainous flaw is that he had shut himself off - closed his heart. A Christmas Carol delves into the "whys." There is more to Scrooge than can be fully appreciated from the surface.

Scrooge's nephew, Fred, and Bob Cratchit provide another angle. While most of the characters in the story choose to avoid Scrooge for what he is, Fred loves him for who he is, beneath teh layers of regret, fear and loneliness. Fred demonstrates unconditional friendship when many of us would not. Fred and Bob Cratchit refuse to speak badly of Scrooge and, in the end, play a large role in Scrooge's redemption.

A quote from H. Jackson Brown, Jr. translates the spirit of their empathy into everyday life, "Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something." Perhaps one more kind word or shred of understanding (or bitten tongue) can make a difference. After all, it took Fred, Bob and four persistent ghostly apparitions to reach Scrooge, but reach him they did!

Robin Parker
Director, A Christmas Carol

The LTA production of A Christmas Carol runs through December 18. Tickets are available online at www.thelittletheatre.com.

Actor Joseph Machosky Talks About 'A Christmas Carol' and His Character, Tiny Tim

2011-12-11T17:18:00.006-05:00

Actor Joseph Machosky as Tiny Tim and Marcus Fisk
as Scrooge in the LTA production of A Christmas Carol.
Photo credit: Shane Canfield, http://www.cimages.org/.

What attracted you to A Christmas Carol?
I knew that Tiny Tim was a nice kid and I really wanted to be Tiny Tim. I also knew the play happens in London and that it would have English accents. I really like talking in English accents.

What do you find appealing about your character?

Tiny Tim is so nice and kind and even though he is really sick he is still very happy and loves his family.

What do you want audiences to take away from the play?

I would like them to feel the true meaning of Christmas. It helps you remember that Christmas isn't about presents. It's about being kind to others and giving to those who don't have anything. It's also about loving your family.

And as Tiny Tim would say "God bless us All, God bless us everyone."

The LTA production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Robin Parker, runs through December 18, 2011. Tickets available online at www.thelittletheatre.com.

A Christmas Carol - Show Photos

2011-12-07T12:49:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Shane Canfield for taking these amazing pictures of A Christmas Carol! A full gallery can be seen on our LTA Facebook Page

The Fezziwigs, (Janette Moman and Larry Grey) prepare to celebrate the holidays in the Little Theatre of Alexandria's "A Christmas Carol," which opens tonight and runs until Dec. 18, 2011

The Ghost of Jacob Marley, played by Robert Heinly, warns Ebeneezer Scrooge of the fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways.

Marcus Fisk breathes life into Charles Dickens's Ebeneezer Scrooge as his nephew Fred, played by Jerry Casagrande, appeals to his better nature.

Actor Robert Heinly Talks about 'A Christmas Carol' and His Character, Marley

2011-12-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

Actor Robert Heinly as Marley in LTA's 2011 production of A Christmas Carol.

What attracted you to A Christmas Carol?
I think the first time I experienced A Christmas Carol was in an animated version on TV when I was no more than nine or ten years old. It was just stark black and white images. I can still picture Marley's jaw dropping all the way to the floor, although it may just have been to his chest. And the Ghost of Christmas Future was terrifying too. I remember feeling so relieved and happy that Scrooge was okay the next morning.

The themes of redemption, of living life to its fullest, of taking the opportunity - the risk - of being truly happy in this world, these are universal themes in literature. Plus, this is a story that speaks to all of humanity. Scrooge specifically is a Christian tale, but merely referentially, this character is iconic, and exists in one form or another in every culture and religion.

What do you find appealing about your character, Marley?
As a character, as in the novel, Marley is a tragic, desperate fellow. One wonders if he was as crusty as Scrooge is and they were kindred spirists, perhaps with Marley as the elder, after whose death Scrooge becomes worse and more crusty. Marley has the chance to convey his regret to an earthly man (I always remember a quote from Full Metal Jacket, "The dead know only one thing: It is better to be alive.") This is a pretty miraculous thing: what would you do with that kind of chance, and whom would you single out to speak to?

As a role onstage, he is a character actor's dream. (Mine too.) You have makeup and hair possibilities as well as costume and prop choices with which you can really go wild. You can go places with voice and movement that still requires the same honesty as the living characters, but can have a "surrealism" to them also. I tried to think of a way to do the jaw thing onstage like in the animated TV version. Any ideas?

What do you want audiences to take away from the play?
I think the most important thing for the audience to take away is Scrooge's arc, his transformation. I loved this story because I was so scared of and for this man, and therefore, so relieved the next morning when he woke up and everything was okay and he became a better man. That will be our job as actors - do you dislike Scrooge at the start? Do the people in the story make you feel negatively toward him? Do we show you how he go the way he is? Do we show you good in the world for him to see? Do we offer him a chance at redemption? And, does he make the best of it?

What do you think is different about this year's production?
I appeared in the LTA production of a A Christmas Carol in 2004, 2005 and 2006 with Mike Baker as Scrooge and Donna Farragut directing. I have played several characters, a Gentleman, Fezziwig, Spirit of Christmas Present and a Gossiper. I had a total blast doing these shows every year. This year's director, Robin Parker, has done less doubling up of roles than previous shows, in which a few actors took on several parts. So, this year's cast is larger. The street sequences and dance at the Fezziwigs looks amazing. The main differences between the earlier shows and this year's model are in the technical department. Where as Donna's show was more like a traveling troupe type show, with wonderful accompaniment on piano, Robin's production is darker, more gothic, with more of an almost hybrid reader's theatre meets Tim Burton sort of feel to it, with lots more material from the Charles Dickens' novel included in the narrative and dialogue. Music and sound effect cues abound, and we fly in bits of scenery. Donna's show had the cool practical trap door for ghostly entrances and exits. Robin has the ...oops, almost gave away some stage secrets.

I'm also glad Robin was looking for an actor to play only Marley. In Donna's show, the actor playing Marley also appeared in the mistletoe scene as Topper and had to sing. While I can sing well enough in a choir, I'm no soloist. I'm a much better growler and shrieker.

The LTA production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Robin Parker, opens December 8 and runs through December 18. Tickest available for purchase at, www.thelittletheatre.com.

Actress Janette Moman Reflects on Her Two Roles in 'A Christmas Carol'

2011-11-29T08:22:00.000-05:00

Actress Janette Moman plays two roles in LTA's 2011 production of A Christmas Carol. She took some time outside of rehearsals to share her perspective on her roles and the play.

What attracted you to A Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol is a timeless story with amazing characters. Who wouldn’t want to be in it? Each character adds a richness to the story of this heart-change that Scrooge undergoes. Dickens has richness in his writing that allows the audience to experience Victorian England and the troubling economic and social issues, yet, we all still relate because of our need for a life with purpose.

What do you find appealing about the two characters you play, Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilbur?

I love the juxposition of these characters. Mrs. Fezziwig is a benevolent soul, adoring her husband and family. She desires to bring joy and happiness to all she has the ability to touch. Even with as little as she has to offer monetarily, she endeavors to show a good time to all her friends and family and celebrate life’s special moments. Mrs. Dibur, the laundress, is the one who steals Scrooge’s bed curtains in Christmas Future. She is a worn-out, penniless woman, who will use the moment to cash-in on a chance to make a buck off of a dead man. This is an opportunity to stretch myself and play roles on both ends of the spectrum – characters of contrasting social classes, and even use different English accents.

What do you want audiences to take away from the play?

Christmas is a time to reflect on your beliefs and values. It is a time when we live more for others than ourselves. It’s something Scrooge learned for the first time that night; and it’s something worth us remembering every Christmas.

The LTA production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Robin Parker, opens December 8 and runs through December 18. Tickets available for purchase at www.thelittletheatre.com.

Actor Marcus Fisk Talks about 'A Christmas Carol'

2011-11-25T15:26:00.000-05:00

Actor Marcus J. Fisk, left, pictured with the Ghost of Christmas Past Rachel Gray, talked to LTA about A Christmas Carol and his character, Scrooge.

What attracted you to A Christmas Carol?
I have been involved in theatre for nearly 45 years. My father was a founding member of one of the oldest summer stock theatre companies in the country – the Huron Playhouse – while he was attending Bowling Green University on the GI Bill after WWII. My mother was a ballerina, too, so I guess theatre is in my blood. Later we were stationed in Germany when my father was in the Army and I remember my mother giving me $1.00 to go see a GI production of A Christmas Carol on Base when I was 10 years old. I got there early and sat in the front row and watched as the production crews set up for the evening’s performance. I was bowled-over. The show was terrific and after four decades of seeing theatre productions, it is probably the best show I have even seen. Until now. This production team is extremely gifted and they are adding all the Victorian, historic, and Dickens touches that will really register with the audience. Combined with a cast of great depth and talent – we hope this production will stick with audiences long after the curtain runs down. It will be one for the books.

What do you find appealing about the character Scrooge?
Dickens wrote characters – not stock figures. In his novels, the antagonists are mean, nasty or evil, but not without an underlying current of understanding of why they were the people they were. He captures the bleakness of his age, the darkness of the environment and the times in such a manner that we see what effect they had on his characters to make them that way. Scrooge is a great character and is appealing to any actor because in the beginning we see a bitter, conniving, mean-spirited person. Throughout the story we see the events that made him that way and as an audience we are able to witness the slow unraveling of that character and his evolution into a new, re-born soul. I love the many, many levels of his character and if an actor is careful, and aware of all the layers that are peeled-off as the story unfolds, the audience grows to wrap its arms around this tortured man and experience his new-found joy of Christmas.

What do you want audiences to take away from the play?

Much like today’s tough times, we face similar economic and moral woes as the Dickens’ characters did in A Christmas Carol. Scrooge helps to shine a light on those darker edges of our own characters to allow us to focus on the things that are truly important in our own lives – family, friends, the less fortunate –rather than on monetary status or social or professional station in life. As we watch Scrooge slowly unravel, reflect, then re-connect with humanity, we get to take the journey ourselves – to a place where, as Scrooge says we will “keep Christmas in our hearts and strive to keep it all the year!”

The LTA production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Robin Parker, opens December 8 and runs through December 18. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.thelittletheatre.com.

Noises Off - Reviews!

2011-11-09T13:51:00.001-05:00

John Crowley (Timothy) and Bruce Alan Rauscher (Lloyd)

Alexandria Times

Maryland Theatre Guide

Local Kicks

Mount Vernon Gazette

Noises Off

2011-11-03T15:22:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Shane Canfield for these great pictures from Noises Off!

To see more, visit the Noises Off photo gallary on our Facebook page:

LTA Facebook Page

Kat Sanchez as Brooke, Gayle Nichols-Grimes as Dotty, Ron Bianchi as Selsdon,

John Crowley as Timothy, and Rachael Hubbard as Belinda

Adam Downs as Garry and Kat Sanchez as Brooke

Rachael Hubbard as Belinda and Lars Klores as Frederick

Noises Off - Rehearsal Photos

2011-10-19T14:21:00.002-04:00

Thanks to LTA member Peter Hyde for taking these photos of Noises Off in rehearsal right now! More photos can be found from our gallery on the LTA Facebook Page

Gayle Nichols-Grimes as Dotty.

Rachael Hubbard as Belinda and Lars Klores as Frederick.

Rachael Hubbard as Belinda, Gayle Nichols-Grimes as Dotty, Adam Downs as Garry, and Kat Sanchez as Brooke.

Kat Sanchez as Brooke and Adam Downs as Garry.

Noises Off Coming November 5th!

2011-10-11T14:34:00.000-04:00

Lloyd Dallas (Director), played by Bruce Rascher, right, is the temperamental director of the play, Nothing On. A classical director, he's only directing this play to help out his old friend Dotty, left, played by Gayle Grimes. When not fixing the blocking and working out the tech issues, he's having an affair with one of his actresses and his assistant stage manager.
Kat Sanchez, rear left, plays Brook Ashton, a young, inexperienced actress making her stage debut.

Noises Off runs from Nov. 5th to the 26th at the Little Theatre of Alexandria.

Noises Off Will Soon be "On" at The Little Theatre of Alexandria

2011-09-29T14:14:00.000-04:00

Join us for this "play within a play" written by Michael Frayn. This hilarious backstage farce follows an acting troupe as they stumble from calamitous dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. An LTA favorite that always leaves audiences hysterical with laughter.

Noises Off will appear at LTA from November 5th to the 26th. For more, visit us at www.thelittletheatre.com.

RABBIT HOLE: TALK-BACK NIGHT

2011-09-20T16:34:00.056-04:00

"It was a mash up of theater and psychology," tweeted psychologist Robin Haight, PsyD, above center, about Rabbit Hole Talk-Back Night at The Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA).

After the September 16 performance of Rabbit Hole, director Joanna Henry and cast members Andy Izquierdo, Karen Jadlos Shotts, Rebecca Lenehan, Collin Chute and Rebecca Phillips returned to the stage for an informal discussion with guest psychologist Dr. Haight, moderated by journalist Alix Spiegel of National Public Radio who works on the science desk covering psychology.

Audience members had an opportunity to learn how the cast prepared for their roles and how director Joanna Henry approached this challenging drama. In addition to sharing their insights on the characters and their relationships within the play, the cast as well as audience members, talked to Dr. Haight about the story line and the stages of grief that each character experiences and how it compares to real-life situations.

Rabbit Hole, the Pulitzer-Prize winning play written by David Lindsay-Abaire, is a touching story about the different ways a couple overcomes the accidental death of their child. Set eight months later after the loss of their son, this delicate and poignant narrative explores blame, grief and resilience.

The LTA production of Rabbit Hole has been lauded by DC area theater critics. The play runs through October 1st. Tickets can be purchased online, www.thelittletheatre.com.

THIS WEEK AT LITTLE THEATRE OF ALEXANDRIA

2011-09-13T21:15:00.004-04:00

Fall Classes for Adults & Youth Begin; Free Talk-Back Event on Friday, September 16

Classes for Adults and Youth
Still figuring out what types of weekend and after-school activities to enroll your kids in? The Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA) offers a variety of classes for youth of all ages, including Singing for Musical Theatre (grades 2 -10); Creative Movement and Acting for Little Stars (grade kindergarten); Acting for First & Second Graders; Animals in Action Theatre (grades K- 2); After-School Creative Dramatics (grades 3 -5); Shakespeare Shenanigans (grades 3 - 8) and High School Improv. Details and a listing of additional youth class topics are available on the LTA website, http://www.thelittletheatre.com/youthclasses.html.

LTA offers a host of adult classes too, including improv, playwriting, and beginning and advanced acting. Information on adult classes is available on the LTA website, http://www.thelittletheatre.com/adultclasses.html.

Talk-Back Night, Friday, September 16 at 10pm (FREE EVENT)

Join The Little Theatre of Alexandria for a conversation moderated by National Public Radio reporter Alix Spiegel with Rabbit Hole director Joanna Henry, the cast and guest psychologist Dr. Robin Haight as they discuss overcoming and processing loss and how the director and cast approached the subject matter and roles. Rabbit Hole cast includes an award-winning ensemble of actors: Andy Izquierdo, eight-time nominee and three-time winner of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH); Rebecca Lenehan, also a WATCH recipient; Karen Jadlos Shotts, two-time WATCH awardee for Best Actress; Rebecca Phillips and Collin Chute.

Rabbit Hole is a touching story about the different ways a couple overcomes the accidental death of their child. Set eight months later after the loss of their son, this delicate and poignant narrative explores blame, grief and resilience. LTA continues its long tradition of powerful dramas with this challenging Pulitzer-prize winning play written by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Joanna Henry, produced by Rachel Alberts and Bobbie Herbst.

Talk-Back is a FREE event and starts at 10pm, immediately following performance of Rabbit Hole. The play is from 8 - 10pm. Tickets are required for the play.

Rabbit Hole runs from September 10 through October 1, 2011. Tickets available for purchase online, www.thelittletheatre.com.

Rabbit Hole Receives Strong Accolades from Theatre Reviewers

2011-09-12T11:58:00.002-04:00

Director Joanna Henry and the cast of Rabbit Hole - Andy Izquierdo, Karen Jadlos Shotts, Rebecca Lenehan, Collin Chute and Rebecca Phillips - delivered a compelling and touching performance during opening weekend. And, early reviews agreed.

Joe Adcock of Show Biz Radio wrote, “The company’s current production is a nicely calibrated, skillfully acted, effectively staged Rabbit Hole. The play is in no way simple or easy. But director Joanna Henry manages to balance the many dark elements — sorrow, anger, blame, guilt, depression, despair — with startling whiffs of comic oxygen. Her designers provide a versatile single setting, offering opportunities for multi-character coffee klatches, one-on-one living room confrontations and a bedroom for isolation or contemplation. And the actors — for the most part, anyway — manage to shade what could be simple, one-quality sketch characters into strikingly colorful dramatic portraits.” (Full Show Biz Radio review available online, http://www.showbizradio.net/2011/09/11/review-lta-rabbit-hole/.)

According to Joel Markowitz of MD Theatre Guide, "This drama is centered around a tragedy, and depicts how the aftermath affects the emotions and relationships in this family. While most definitely not lighthearted fare, it is extremely real and does involve quite a bit of reviving humor. The performances are terrific and the actors all show excellent range. The direction is also fantastic, and effectively walks the fine line of keeping the play from becoming too somber, while never losing respect for the situation. Rabbit Hole is definitely a worthy night of theatre." (Full MD Theatre Guide review available online, http://mdtheatreguide.com/2011/09/rabbit-hole-at-the-little-theatre-of-alexandria/)

And Rich Massabny, Arlington Weekly News TV (Comcast Channel 69) said: “The Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA) has a powerful five-person drama, Rabbit Hole written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Joanna Henry. I never saw the movie with Nicole Kidman, but I’m darn satisfied with this production on LTA’s stage. The story centers around the recent death of a couple’s four year old son who was accidentally hit by a car. Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca) and Andy Izquierdo (Howie) are the conflicted, recovering parents. Rebecca Phillips (Izzy) is Becca’s sister and Rebecca Lenehan, their mother. People warned me that Rabbit Hole would be a downer and depressing, however, it wasn’t. As Shotts puts it, “It’s about moving on.” It’s not sad at all and the cast is first-class. A word about Collin Chute who plays the young man, Jason, who was driving the car that killed the four year old boy, He’s someone to watch."

A Talk-Back night moderated by Alix Spiegel of National Public Radio with Rabbit Hole director and cast and guest psychologist Dr. Robin Haight will be held Friday, September 16 at 10pm, immediately following the Rabbit Hole performance. Talk-Back event is free and open to the general public.

Rabbit Hole runs through October 1, 2011. For ticket purchase, visit www.thelittletheatre.com.

Rabbit Hole - Double Tech

2011-09-06T15:47:00.000-04:00

Thanks to William Shotts for capturing Double Tech weekend for Rabbit Hole. Below are a few pictures from our gallery found on our Facebook page:

LTA's Facebook Page

Collin Chute (Jason) and Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca)

Nancyanne Burton (Set Dressing) and Bobbie Herbst (Producer)

Rebecca Phillips (Izzy)

Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca) and Rebecca Phillips (Izzy)

Rebecca Lenehan (Nat)

WATCH Award Winner Rebecca Lenehan shares thoughts on Pulitzer winning play "Rabbit Hole"

2011-09-02T12:53:00.000-04:00

WATCH-award-winning actress Rebecca Lenehan, right, will portray "Nat" in the upcoming production of Rabbit Hole, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning drama by David Lindsay-Abaire

Rebecca Lenehan, a recipient of the Washington Area Theater Community Honors (WATCH) prize, took a moment to reflect on "Nat," the character she will portray in the Pulitzer-Prize-winning production of Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire at the Little Theater of Alexandria.

What attracted you to Rabbit Hole?

First of all it struck me as a very intelligent and brave play. The author David Lindsay-Abaire has written a story about a small family at an intersection - not only in their relationships within the family dynamic, but he went out on a limb and created a gutsy challenge for the actors as well. Each of the characters are absolute individuals - each with their own history, and their own personal baggage - colliding within the tragedy they are trying to manage within the span of play with honesty and humor. And that dysfunctional inter-dependency can be quite messy to navigate - but with an experienced director and actors to work with - I knew it would be a rich and rewarding experience for me.

Is the role of Nat harder than others you’ve played?

Yes - particularly because I had to process the grief my character has endured to meet the unsentimental bar that is set in story. It is very clear - it is in the lines, and the way in which my character Nat - expresses herself. I fell in love with Nat because she has chosen to not pity herself or her children. She is a simple woman, and she is so honest and outright hilarious when she tries to make a point because she makes no excuses for her lack of education or how the world works. Most of all Nat has an inner strength that is so lovable, and so misunderstood. That complexity makes her vulnerable to being hurt - and ever more tolerant and understanding as the play progresses. It is my job to pilot that journey.

What have you learned about yourself playing Nat?

Oh boy - that is tough to share, because for me as an actor a role like this never leaves you - it becomes so personal. Nat inspires me to never give up - to press on and through whatever life throws at you. Nat has reminded me that as long as we are really doing our best - there is hope. Her faith to see past circumstances, tragedy, and accidents - is the little voice in the heart of this play. As an actor Nat has taught me to look for the truth in the soul of a character - and begin there.

What do you want audiences to take away from this play?

My hope is that I have sparked someone's decision to return to their family, and begin again. Humility fosters integrity. I want Nat and the Rabbit Hole family to stir a desire to forgive - even if it is impossible to forget.

Rabbit Hole Talk-Back Night

2011-09-02T12:09:00.001-04:00

Talk-Back Night with Rabbit Hole Director and Cast

Moderator Alix Spiegel of National Public Radio,

includes guest Psychologist Dr. Robin Haight

Rabbit Hole is a touching story about the different ways a couple overcomes the accidental death of their child. Set eight months later after the loss of their son, this delicate and poignant narrative explores blame, grief and resilience.

Join The Little Theatre of Alexandria for a conversation moderated by National Public Radio reporter Alix Spiegel with the director and cast of Rabbit Hole and guest psychologist Dr. Robin Haight as they discuss overcoming and processing loss and how the director and cast approached the subject matter and roles.

LTA continues its long tradition of powerful dramas with this challenging Pulitzer-prize winning play written by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Joanna Henry and produced by Rachel Alberts and Bobbie Herbst.

WHO

Alix Spiegel, a National Public Radio reporter, works on the science desk and covers psychology. She is the recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award, Livingston Award, and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.

Robin Haight, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in Northern Virginia, works with the adolescents, adults and couples, helping them move forward with their lives. She oversees public education initiatives for the Northern Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (NVACP).

Joanna Henry, director of Rabbit Hole, has directed more than 65 productions over the past 20 years. Recipient of two ACT Awards for best director and 2005 nominee for the Alexandria Arts Commission's Alex Award for Education in the Arts, she is also a drama and literature teacher at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria.

The Rabbit Hole Cast - An award winning ensemble of actors: Andy Izquierdo, eight time nominee and three time recipient of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH); Rebecca Lenehan, also a WATCH recipient; Karen Jadlos Shotts, two time WATCH awardee for Best Actress; Rebecca Phillips and Collin Chute. Additional information about the cast is available online, http://www.thelittletheatre.com/meetthecast.html

WHEN & WHERE

TALK-BACK IS A FREE EVENT OPEN TO PUBLIC

Friday, September 16, 2011, immediately following the performance of Rabbit Hole.

Play is from 8pm - 10pm. (Tickets required for play. Talk-Back is FREE.)

The Little Theatre of Alexandria

600 Wolfe Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

703-683-5778

Rabbit Hole - Promo Video

2011-09-01T17:11:00.002-04:00

Rabbit Hole - Voice Over Session

2011-09-01T11:41:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to Dean McDonnell for helping the Rabbit Hole team with their voice over! Below are some photos from the voice over session and more photos can be seen on our Facebook page:

LTA Facebook Page

Andy Izquierdo (Howie)

Alan Wray (Sound Designer) and Dean McDonnell

Dean McDonnell

Rabbit Hole Director shares her thoughts

2011-08-29T18:00:00.000-04:00

Rabbit Hole Director Joanna Henry, pictured above, took a moment to reflect on the upcoming drama "Rabbit Hole," opening at The Little Theatre of Alexandria September 10th.

What attracted you to Rabbit Hole?

I love the honesty in this play. It's about real people who are trying their best - just like all of us. To be honest, the first time I read this play, I laughed out loud at all of the funny scenes. That was a surprise.

Even though the play is about a family struggling with the death of a child, you’ve said that Rabbit Hole is not a "downer." What is uplifting about this play?

The author, David Lindsay-Abaire, has said that ultimately Rabbit Hole is a "play about hope...Hope of getting through, that there is something down the line." To me, these characters are highly functional, unsentimental, spirited, and often funny people. I like that they're presented as normal people trying to do the best they can as they move on in their lives.

What has been the biggest challenge in directing Rabbit Hole?

I guess it would have to be finding that balance between the humor in the play and the emotionally dramatic moments. This cast has been very willing to go to different and sometimes difficult places in the rehearsal process. It's a delicate play, and I wanted to make sure we didn't overdo the dramatics, but concentrate on the fragility of these characters and their relationships.

What do you want audiences to experience when they see this play?

I hope that audiences connect with these characters. The family is dealt a blow to their everyday lives. We've all had that happen to us in one way or another. One moment has changed their lives. It brings home that all of our lives are reduced to simple moments in time.

Rabbit Hole at LTA frees a bat!!

2011-08-26T11:30:00.000-04:00

Rabbit Hole

2011-08-24T12:36:00.000-04:00

New photos posted from our Rabbit Hole rehearsals from August 18.

Thank you to LTA Member Peter Hyde for taking the photos!

To view our entire gallery, visit our Facebook page at:

LTA Facebook Page

Collin Chute (Jason), Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca), Zell Murphy (Assistant Stage Manager), Alexis Rose (Co-Stage Manager), and Joanna Henry (Director)

Rebecca Phillips (Izzy)

Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca)

Andy Izquierdo (Howie) and Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca)

Collin Chute (Jason)

Andy Izquierdo (Howie)

Joanna Henry (Director) and Rebecca Lenehan (Nat)

Rabbit Hole

2011-08-19T15:16:00.000-04:00

Set construction and rehearsals continue for Rabbit Hole!

See how the show is progressing with photos caputred below:

Andy Izquierdo (Howie) and Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca)

Alexis Rose (Stage Manager) and Joanna Henry (Director)

Collin Chute (Jason) and Rebecca Lenehan (Nat)

Andy Izquierdo (Howie), Rebeeca Phillips (Izzy), and Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca)

Thank you to Bobbie Herbst, Peter Hyde, and Tina Barry for taking photos!

To see more photos, check out our facebook page below:

LTA Facebook

Rabbit Hole

2011-08-18T11:31:00.000-04:00

Rebecca Phillips plays Izzy, the scrappy younger sister of our protagonist Becca. Unlike Becca, who loves to bake and is always making delicious desserts, Izzy isn’t very good in the kitchen. She can tell you where to find the fridge and the microwave. That’s about it. Here is some thoughtful dining advice from the expert:

Izzy Makes Dinner: Days of the Week Take-Out Menu

It can be hard to find good food on a tight budget, and no one knows that better than me. Rather than cook, I leave food preparation to the experts. The experts who make cheap food.

MONDAY – MAMA RIGATONI’S PIZZA

1 Large 3-topping Hand-tossed Pizza

Toppings: Italian sausage, bacon, salami

Notes from the food critic: Mondays are the worst. I hate Mondays. Pizza makes me happy, therefore I order pizza. I go back and forth between Mama Rigatoni’s and Leonardo’s Pizzeria because they’re both fantastic (don’t even talk to me about Domino’s or Pizza Hut…those are sorry excuses for pizza). But right now I have to recommend Mama Rigatoni’s because they have this sweet deal where you can get a large 3-topping pizza for only $7.99!! I’m totally serious! There is a god. Load it up with whatever meat you’re craving and thank me later for the satisfying dinner you just had.

TUESDAY – SUBWAY

Chicken and Bacon Ranch Footlong Sub Sandwich

Sides: Lays Classic Potato Chips

Notes from the food critic: Yesterday you treated yourself to a meat extravaganza that was well-deserved, but to make up for it you have to make healthier choices today. Not only is a $5 footlong an incredible steal, this sandwich is loaded with vegetables. I usually take the onions, green peppers, and tomatoes off, though. Disgusting. Replace the discarded veggies with a more delicious and equally nutritious vegetable: potatoes. Grab a bag of Lays Classic potato chips to complete the meal. If you get the baked ones you’re hurting no one but yourself.

WEDNESDAY – TACO BELL

$5 Buck Box Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Includes: Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Burrito Supreme, and Crunchy Taco

Notes from the food critic: It is so important to have a multicultural appreciation of food. Americans do a great job with dinner, but let us not neglect the culinary genius of our neighbors to the south. Mexican food is so good I basically consider it a category within American food. Taco Bell is my Mexican cuisine of choice, not only because they are passionate about nacho cheese sauce, but because they have this Fourthmeal campaign going. Anyone who believes we should have four meals a day instead of three is a friend of mine.

THURSDAY – FIVE GUYS

Bacon Cheeseburger with Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, and Lettuce

Side: Regular Cajun Style French Fries

Notes from the food critic: It’s no secret that you can get a burger just about anywhere. And while I’ve been to many a McDonalds and Burger King, the best burger I’ve ever eaten came from Five Guys. They know that a regular burger should have TWO succulent beef patties. In fact, they consider a burger with one patty “little.” Their regular-sized fries are enough for two people, and consequently, the perfect amount for me. Finally someone gets it. And remember that something as simple as adding lettuce to your burger is not only a healthy choice, it also serves to keep your sister from harassing you about not eating enough vegetables.

FRIDAY– OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE

Outback Special 9 oz steak

Sides: Sweet Potato with Honey Butter and Brown Sugar & Aussie Fries

And because you deserve dessert…

Chocolate Thunder from Down Under: I hate when restaurants try to do the brownie and ice cream thing and they just fail. Who wants a stale and flavorless brownie? But this thing is the real deal. And they even put the ice cream in its own styrofoam container so it doesn’t melt all over the brownie when you drive home. I LOVE Australians.

Notes from the food critic: My stupid friend Reema goes to Outback and gets a salad. A SALAD. Sometimes I don’t know why I’m friends with her. Anyway, a steak at Outback may cost a lot, but you just spent five days at work and you hate your life so celebrate that the weekend is finally here. Go big or go home. Oh and when the guy at the pick-up window tells you the total for the food, request that he repeat it in an Australian accent. They love that stuff. Also it’s in their contracts that they can’t refuse you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I chose not to include Saturday and Sunday in this article. That’s because I believe everyone needs a little variety and you gotta shake things up on the weekend. I usually go to my sister’s and eat whatever she’s making anyway.

-Rebecca Phillips (Izzy)

Hairspray Talk Back with Mink Stole

2011-08-11T13:39:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to Mink Stole and the cast and crew of HAIRSPRAY for an interesting, informative, and fun evening last Friday for LTA's Hairspray Talk Back.

A very special thanks to photographer, Susan Braun for taking photos at the event.

To see a complete gallery of photos, please visit our Facebook page at:

LTA's Facebook Page

Rabbit Hole - Rehearsals

2011-08-10T13:35:00.000-04:00

We’ve been rehearsing “Rabbit Hole” about three weeks now, and I continue to be amazed by the talent of this cast. We’ve been doing a lot of table work and have made many discoveries about these characters during rehearsals. Several interesting comments and surprising emotions have emerged regarding their relationships. I find myself driving home after rehearsals and thinking, “Wow! Where did THAT come from?” That’s the nature of this play. Author David Lindsay-Abaire has constructed a cleverly written story. The way he leads these characters through their own personal journeys is nothing short of brilliant….no wonder he won the Pulitzer Prize for it! It’s fascinating that he sets this play eight months after the accident. The characters are now beyond that initial shock and denial from the first throes of loss. It’s not so raw at this point. They’ve already had to endure the condolences of friends and family, the looks, the phone calls…or the non-phone calls. The audience meets them more than half a year later as they’re all trying to move on as best they can. The unfortunate thing is that each is in a different place in the process. I’m excited about moving forward in rehearsals to scene work with this cast, adding layers to these characters….and making more discoveries.

-Joanna Henry, Director of Rabbit Hole

Hairspray

2011-08-05T13:15:00.000-04:00

Hairspray and LTA is featured in Northern Virginia Magazine!

CLICK HERE

Shannon Kingett (Tracy), Larry Grey (Wilbur), and Christopher Harris (Edna)

Photography by Doug Olmsted

Rabbit Hole... SNEAK PEEK!

2011-08-04T17:55:00.000-04:00

Join us after the close of Hairspray for RABBIT HOLE

Written by David Lindsay-Abaire

Produced by Rachel Alberts and Bobbie Herbst

Directed by Joanna Henry

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.thelittletheatre.com or

by calling the Box Office at 703-683-0496.

Tickets are $17 (Wed and Thur) and $20 (Fri, Sat, Sun).

These prices do not include service fees.

Seats are reserved, therefore, advanced reserations are strongly encouraged.

About the show, written by Joanna Henry (Director):

Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting perilously apart. Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet search for comfort and for a path that will lead them back into the light of day. It chronicles the simple daily moments and emotional hurdles of what comes after a family tragedy. The sometimes humorous story of loss, heartbreak, forgiveness, and survival, Rabbit Hole won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize. It is about the attempt to survive and recover from tremendous loss, to reflect on the ironies of our lives without being sentimental. It is emotionally sad, yet funny; it is full of manipulation, yet honest; it exposes the desperation, humanity, compassion, and love within the family dynamics.

Meet the Cast

Andy Izquierdo as Howie

Collin Chute as Jason

Karen Jadlos Shotts as Becca

Rebecca Lenehan as Nat

Rebecca Phillips as Izzy

Photography by Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-08-04T14:10:00.000-04:00

The reviews keep coming in...

HAIRSPRAY and LTA gets featured in the Alexandria Gazette Packet

(found on pages 5 and 19)

CLICK HERE

We also got featured in today's addition of the Washington Post Express (found on page 19)

CLICK HERE

The Dynamites - Samantha Williams, Amanda Corbett, and Zaria Stott

Photography by Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-08-02T17:19:00.000-04:00

AlexandriaNews.org reviews HAIRSPRAY!

Click here!

Sam Jones (Link Larkin), Gina Tomkus (Gym Teacher), Christina Kidd (Amber Von Tussle)

and Shannon Kingett (Tracy)

Photography by Doug Olmsted

Hairspray & Mink Stole

2011-07-29T15:37:00.000-04:00

“Hairspray” Cast Members to Hold Talkback on

Friday, August 5, 2011

Special Guest, Mink Stole, from the original

John Waters’ film to Join Us!

WHAT:

Talkback opportunity with cast/crew members from “Hairspray”

and special guest Mink Stole!

WHEN:

Friday, August 5, 2011, immediately after the performance of Hairspray.

WHERE:

The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

WHY:

As a gift to our LTA patrons, the cast will be on hand to answer questions on the production of “Hairspray.” Find out what it’s like to stage a musical on the LTA stage, ask about auditions, choreography, or character development. Get an opportunity to ask Mink about the original film, or what life was really like in Baltimore in the early 1960’s. Bring your questions!!

This is open to everyone! No special tickets or reservations needed.

To read an article featuring Mink and LTA's Hairspray, click the link below:

"Think Mink" - Mount Vernon Gazette

Mink Stole as Tammy Turner with actor Shawn Thompson as Corny Collins.
Photo credit: Mount Vernon Gazette "Think Mink"

Hairspray

2011-07-29T14:08:00.000-04:00

Showbiz Radio reviews HAIRSPRAY!

ShowBiz Radio

Brenda Parker (Motormouth Maybelle) and Zaria Stott (Shayna)

Photography by Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-07-28T14:02:00.000-04:00

Another review!

"Little Theatre Gives a Perfect cut of HAIRSPRAY"

The Alexandria Times

Derek Marsh (IQ), Gardner Reed (Corny Collins), and Ryan Walker (Fender)

Photography by Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-07-27T14:03:00.000-04:00

The reviews keep coming!

HAIRSPRAY is a HIT!

Arlington Connection (see page 13)

Vienna Connection (see page 10, with focus on cast member Shannon Kingett)

Reston Connection (see page 9, with focus on Director Sue Pinkman)

Mark Williams (Harriman F. Spritzer), Gardner Reed (Corny Collins),

and Janette Moman (Velma Von Tussle)

Photography: Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-07-26T18:43:00.000-04:00

The reviews are in......

HAIRSPRAY IS A HIT

MD Theatre Guide

Local Kicks

Rich Massabny Blog

Old Town Alexandria Patch

Sam Jones (Link Larkin) and Christina Kidd (Amber Von Tussle)

Photography - Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-07-21T13:44:00.000-04:00

LTA and Mink Stole are featured in the Alexandria Gazette Packet! Click the below link and read the article on page 21!

Alexandria Gazette

Gina Tomkus (Gym Teacher)

Photgraphy: Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-07-20T13:37:00.000-04:00

Since publicity is starting to get going for Hairspray, I figured, why not post a blog of my own? We open in three days. Pretty unbelievable. Two months ago I hadn't even auditioned yet, and here we are now with a full show on its feet. It is hands down the most challenging thing I have ever done, and easily the most rewarding. I have been so blessed to be surrounded by kind, hilarious, and ridiculously talented people, and the end result is a giant show that is full of heart, soul, and LOTS of sweating. :)

I fell in love with Hairspray when I was 15 years old. Ok, maybe it wasn't love yet...more like a big giant crush. This was before I had even seen the show--but my original cast recording was VERY loved, and I think there was a two month period where I forced my mom to play it in the car everywhere we went. I finally saw the show a year later...and then I really fell in love.

For a 16 year old girl who loved singing and dancing more than anything but who wasn't fully comfortable in her own skin yet (and yes, I'm talking about me, not Tracy Turnblad), finally having a character like Tracy to relate to was almost more than I could handle. When she sang I Can Hear the Bells, I cried and cried. It's so funny, because I think that song annoys a lot of people (it certainly annoyed all my friends who called me when I was in high school, thanks to my sweet ringback tone), but it might actually be my favorite part of the show. I think it's when you really fall in love with Tracy. Here is this person who people constantly discourage because of how she looks, but she will not be swayed. She is fully convinced that she can get everything she's ever dreamed of having, and then she DOES. She gets to sing and dance on TV even though she doesn't look the "type." She gets her dream guy. She succeeds at bringing people together even though society says it's not what's supposed to happen. Yes, I know (and knew at the time) that it's a musical comedy which is destined to have a happy ending, but when that final curtain went down, 16-year-old Shannon was irrevocably changed. I was completely inspired by the message the show sends and I knew that someday I had to play that part--not just because it's the lead, but because I wanted to have the chance to inspire someone else, to spread some Tracy-like confidence to another 16 year old girl who had big dreams but insecurities about achieving them.

And now it's finally happening. This is my chance. Am I focused on the music, the dances, and the scene work? Of course. But if just ONE person walks away from this show feeling better about who they are and what they're capable of achieving--I will have done my job--even if I forget the turn in You Can't Stop the Beat, or if my wig change means I end up looking like Tina Turner.

So I know I have been pestering everyone with eyes (thanks for the help Facebook and Gmail!) since I got in this show...but come see it. I have never been more proud to be part of something, and it's a show that everyone needs to see at least once (and the movie doesn't count). I cannot stop raving about my cast...there is not a weak link (no that's not a pun). All of the principals are fantastic, and our ensemble is RIDICULOUS and I love them all. And our crew has not disappointed either...our wigs, sets, and costumes are spectacular, a lot of our choreography is straight from Broadway, our orchestra is sick...do I have to keep going? My cousin came to rehearsal last night and was obsessed.

SO. Buy your tickets today! I keep checking, and every day more and more are gone! Opening weekend is sold out...don't wait and then find you can't come because tickets are gone (and our producers, who have been working for LTA for years and years, predict a completely sold out run)! Tickets can be purchased here by clicking on the big Hairspray can!

I love you all. And I hope that today all your dreams will come true. :)

-Shannon Kingett (playing Tracy Turnbald in LTA's Hairspray)
To read more from Shannon, visit her blog here.

Shannon Kingett is a James Madison University 2010 graduate with a degree in musical theatre. She is the operations manager for the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. This is her first LTA performance. Her favorite theater credits include Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls), Bloody Mary (South Pacific), and Woman 1 (Songs for a New World). She was also a backup singer for Ben Folds. She would like to dedicate this performance to Mrs. Smith and Jim. Love and miss you sky big.

Shannon Kingett (Tracy) and Sam Jones (Link Larkin)

Photography: Doug Olmsted

Hairspray

2011-07-19T19:29:00.000-04:00

Can a girl with big dreams and even bigger hair dance her way into your heart? LTA opens the season with the award-winning Broadway musical comedy based on John Waters’ film classic. Meet Tracy Turnblad, a lovable plus-size heroine in the 1960’s as she dances her way to a spot on a local TV dance program. Overnight she is transformed from a pudgy outsider to a teen celebrity. Tracy uses her newfound fame to integrate the show while kicking the program’s reigning princess to the curb and winning the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin.

More infomation can be found at http://www.thelittletheatre.com/

Photography by Doug Olmsted

LTA's Summer Camps

2011-07-05T12:07:00.000-04:00

So after the lights went down on Move Over Mrs. Markham, Joanna Markham immediately left her elegant London flat and stodgy-yet-adorable husband to teach Shining Stars Drama Camp at LTA!

We are always caught between creating a show that the kids can be proud of so that they feel they really accomplished something, and the harsh reality that the camp is only a week long. We started with an ambitious program, selecting seven songs from Bye Bye Birdie because of its relatively easy melodies and the relatability of the subject matter to our 3^rd-8^th graders (we can easily substitute the idea of the Jonas Brothers for Conrad Birdie). We get kids who are at so many points in their artistic development – some very polished, experienced performers who have previously appeared on the LTA stage; others who just want to find out what this crazy theatre thing is all about.

No matter where their starting point, it’s amazing to see the growth from the first day of camp to the last. They run through the whole emotional cycle of a real show in one week: first, excitement – “what are we going to do?” Then, “We have to practice the dance again? We’ll never learn this!” Finally, “Hey, I think we might just pull this off after all.”

The adaptability and belief that these kids hold in their hearts that “Of course we’re ready to do the show and can learn a dozen lines and hundreds of lyrics in a week, why would you even ask the question?” leaves our staff with no choice but to believe in them, too. Whether they are doing improvs based on notecards filled with answers about their favorite things, singing a solo “audition” for perhaps the first time in their lives, playing “Captains on Deck” and scrambling to touch the wall first when Michael calls “man overboard!”, playing “Name That Show Tune” off Miss Shelagh’s i-pod with prizes for knowledgeable theatre buffs, or forming a spontaneous Conga line at an impromptu dance party to let off some steam, the kids have been exposed to a tremendous variety of experiences.

Some results are predictable – for example, they know that no matter what, Miss Shelagh will never win a single round of Captains on Deck! They know that Michael will make them do their jumping jacks twice if they continue beyond the requisite number. And, as is always the case, we learn as much from them as they do from us.

Bring on the 2:30 showcase with the Hairspray backdrop behind them. We are ready as we’ll ever be!

-Shelagh Roberts (Camp Director)

Hairspray

2011-06-30T16:54:00.000-04:00

Join us for our first show of the 2011-2012 season...

Hairspray Cast Members to Hold Talkback after their performance on

Friday, August 5, 2011

With Special Guest, Mink Stole, from the original John Waters’ film classic to join us!

As a gift to our LTA patrons, the cast will be on hand to answer questions on the production of “Hairspray.”Find out what it’s like to stage a musical on the LTA stage, ask about auditions, choreography, or character development. Ask Mink about the original film, or what life was really like in Baltimore in the early 1960’s.

Bring your questions!! Open to everyone, no special ticket required.

For more information on this production and to purchase tickets, visit our website at www.thelittletheatre.com

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

2011-06-10T14:22:00.000-04:00

ShowBiz Radio and AlexandriaNews.org reviews
Move Over, Mrs. Markham

ShowBizRadio

AlexandriaNews.org

Shelagh Roberts (Joanna Markham), Peter Alden Hyde (Walter Pangbourne), Jennifer Finch (Linda Lodge),
Front - Erik Harrison (Alistair Spenlow)
Photography: Shane Canfield

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

2011-06-08T15:46:00.000-04:00

Local Kicks reviews Move Over, Mrs. Markham!

Local Kicks

Shelagh Roberts (Joanna Markham) and James Raby (Philip Markham)
Photography Shane Canfield

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

2011-06-01T15:18:00.000-04:00

Move Over, Mrs. Markham has been our life for 59 days. I say ours, referring to the cast, but the director and the rest of the production team have been living with the Markhams for as long as a year now - take especial pity on Peter Hyde, who is not only making his stage debut in this show, and is also a producer. Two months feels like forever to work on a few hours of entertainment, that is, of course, until you're barreling into opening night and wondering where the time went. Soon, the Markhams will have an audience whether we like it or not.

There is so much to tell you about these last few rehearsals. How a pair of oversized shoes caused the show to very nearly be rated R, or how a distracting nightie resulted in five pages of script being accidentally "cut", or how Alan Wray, our sound designer, tore a pair of silk pajama pants to shreds with only a sound effect. But every one of those stories would give you some hint at the surprises in store for you in the show itself. And as hilarious as it would be to tell you about the night that our director, Albert Coia, played nearly every female part in the show, I'd much rather you see our talented actresses in the roles. So perhaps, for the moment, I'll keep these tales to myself. Save them for post-show blog, perhaps.

Albert likes to remind us that if you have fun doing the show, it'll carry out into the audience. That's harder advice to take than you'd think. We are a crew of perfectionists, the kind of people who turn their hobbies into work because if you're going to do something why not do it right? But every time we manage to make some jaded member of the technical crew laugh - people who've seen the show a dozen times and are as worried about lights, sound, costumes, and sets as we are about lines, blocking, jokes, and accents - the gleeful look on our faces shows that we can stay perfectionists and still have the time of our lives.

We open in three days. Tomorrow we have the first of two sneak preview audiences. Sleep is for the weak.

See you Saturday night.

Buy tickets for LTA's Move Over Mrs Markham

PS: There is one story I can tell you without ruining anything... remind me to tell you about the time we had three surprise birthday parties for the same person happen simultaneously...

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

2011-05-31T18:41:00.000-04:00

Click below for a small video teaser for
Move Over, Mrs. Markham:

Move Over, Mrs. Markham teaser

Jennifer Finch (Linda Lodge) and Shelagh Roberts (Joanna Markham)

Charles Boyington (Henry Lodge) and James Raby (Philip Markham)

Shelagh Roberts (Joanna Markham) and Erik Harrison (Alistair Spenlow)

James Raby (Philip Markham), Suzanne Behsudi (Miss Wilkinson), and Charles Boyington (Henry Lodge)

Katie Zitz (Sylvie) and Erik Harrison (Alister Spenlow)

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

2011-05-23T16:12:00.000-04:00

Until now, I've never thought much about my underpants.

Is this the face that launched a thousand ships? No. It isn't.

My name is Erik Harrison, and I play Alistair Spenlow in Move Over, Mrs. Markham. I'm also a bit of a loudmouth - that may be why the producers asked me to write about the experience of putting the show together.

The last few weeks before a show opens are a mad dash. Early weeks are actors miming imaginary telephones and directors saying "Okay, try it again, only funny". The show is, at best, theoretical. Then it becomes terrifyingly actual. Props are coming in thick and fast, costumers start forcing clothes on you like your mom on a school morning, people in overalls with loud machines start building things and suddenly you want to say "Wait, no stop! I didn't know this was going to get so bloody serious!" Lots of people have put lots of time into sewing and painting and chopping and finding and designing and you're the diva actor who can't be buggered to remember his lines.

You've got the easy job and you've still been slacking off.

If you're me (which you aren't, thank goodness. I mean, look at that chin!) then this is made all the worse by how much not-slacking-off your fellow actors have been doing. Most of them are funny, and the rest are extremely funny. If you're James Raby (which you also aren't, unfortunate for you) you can shut rehearsal down with five solid minutes of laughter just by saying the word "butler".

So here I am, in the flurry of set and props and looming deadlines, hoping against hope to get in just one laugh in the presence of such talented colleagues when I realize, halfway through taking my belt off on stage that I had forgotten to put on my prop pants.

Markham is bedroom farce at its best. It's got mistaken identities, doors opening and shutting at exactly the right time, over the top characters and, well, the occasional interior designer engaged in a business transaction wearing less than is traditionally appropriate. In the past when this particular scene has come up, I've worn a pair of rather expansive slacks over my usual jeans, just so that we can rehearse the comedy without any more than a minimal loss to my already reduced dignity. But this time I had forgotten. This time I had unfastened my belt mid-scene before the full reality of my situation dawned upon me.

For the first time since I convinced my mother to purchase Super Mario briefs, I gave more than passing thought to what I was wearing underneath my jeans as I pushed them to the ground.

It got the laugh. I'm not proud.

Buy tickets for LTA's Move Over Mrs Markham

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

2011-05-18T13:09:00.000-04:00

Next on stage...

Move Over, Mrs. Markham

written by Ray Cooney and John Chapman

June 4 - 25, 2011

LTA’s offers another outrageously funny bedroom farce this season! Move Over, Mrs. Markham electrified London and New York, with audiences gasping for breath during non-stop laughs! The Markham’s fifteen-year marriage seems just about undone, along with everything and everybody else in this wild and crazy free-for-all. Come join us for an evening full of laughs and riotous entertainment filled with mistaken identities, titillating liaisons, risqué remarks, and double entendres.

Meet the Cast

Billie Williams

Jennifer Finch

Shelagh Roberts

Suzanne Behsudi

Charles Boyington

Erik Harrison

Katie Zitz

James Raby

Peter Alden Hyde

Photography: Shane Canfield

[title of show]

2011-05-04T20:19:00.000-04:00

Josh Goldman as Hunter

Scott Harrison as Jeff

Sharon Grant as Heidi

Anne Marie Pinto as Susan

Photography: Shane Canfield

[title of show]

2011-05-04T20:09:00.000-04:00

The reviews are in! [title of show] is a hit!

Showbiz Radio

Old Town Alexandria Patch

AlexandriaNews.org

Local Kicks

Fairfax Times

Alexandria Gazette Packet

[title of show]

2011-04-22T14:36:00.001-04:00

Sharon Grant (Heidi), Josh Goldman (Hunter), Scott Harrison (Jeff), and Anne Marie Pinto (Susan)

Anne Marie Pinto (Susan) - Front, Josh Goldman (Hunter) and Sharon Grant (Heidi) - Center, Scott Harrison (Jeff) - Back

Scott Harrison (Jeff) and Josh Goldman (Hunter)

Photographer - Shane Canfield

[title of show]

2011-04-22T13:59:00.000-04:00

It's been a little while since I've updated you all on how things are going so I thought I would write something to let you all know how things were going. As a note, readership of the blog has spiked to a whole seven people! In addition to my parents and random person at work who have been tireless followers from post #1, I've duped the rest of the cast and our director into reading as well. It's a wonder what e-mails titled "Free Money" will do for you.

As of today, we are now only ONE day away from our official opening. Last weekend we began to add the technical elements of the show and throughout this past week, we've combined the lights, sound, set and performances into one big melting pot of fun and laughter.

Tonight marks our first official performance with an audience. In theater these types of performances are known as "preview" performances. Normally, when someone thinks of a preview, they think of a small portion or snippet of the full version of whatever it is they are seeing. In theater, a preview is a performance of the show in its entirety before the official opening night. We could get into the origins of the word "preview" but then we would simply be divulging into linguistics. And like any normal person, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of linguistics is of course linguine, which reminds me that I should probably eat dinner before the show tonight.

There are still plenty of tickets available for the show so spread the word and bring everyone you know to see it! I'll be updating you more frequently once the show opens with pictures, posts and even the occasional video blog so you can see just what goes on backstage (you've been warned).

-Josh

[title of show]

2011-04-12T14:55:00.000-04:00

Photographer - Josh Goldman

[title of show]

2011-04-05T13:36:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Little Theatre of Alexandria’s [title of show] blog! My name is Josh Goldman and I am playing Hunter in LTA’s production of [title of show] opening on April 23^rd. First, I should thank the three people who are actually reading this blog. To my Mom and Dad, thanks for opening the link I sent you in the e-mail titled “Read This Because No One Else Will.” I can always count on you to be there for me when I force you to. And to the person who hates their job and spends all day reading blogs, go do your work. Also come and see our show. But seriously, you should probably do your work so you don’t get fired.

Now for those of you reading, you may not be fully aware of what kind of show [title of show] actually is. Let me put those restless minds to ease. No more sleepless nights tossing and turning trying to figure out what this show is all about. If you are ready for a show at Little Theatre of Alexandria with a huge cast spanning every age demographic, a lush orchestra and classic music… you missed it. It was called Oliver! and it closed in February.

In all seriousness, [title of show] is something different. It is the quintessential underdog. With only four cast members and a single piano, it is one of the most unlikely musicals to find a home on Broadway (and unlike the $65 million black hole known as Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, it actually did open officially on Broadway and on time). Interesting side note: the original title for the Spider-Man musical was Spider-Man: It’s Fun to Throw Money at Things That Won’t Work and Also Turn Off the Dark (the title was shortened because it didn’t fit on the poster). Think of [title of show] as the quirky, underdressed guy at a fancy, 4 star restaurant who didn’t get the memo that he shouldn’t be there (but who ultimately charms the restaurant staff with his wit and personality). Or think of it as the kid who didn’t make the football team so he went and started a theater group instead. Or just think of it as a show about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical.

Sharon Grant (Heidi), Scott Harrison (Jeff), Anne Marie Pinto (Susan) and I have been rehearsing hard under the direction of Michael Kharfen and musical direction of Francine Krasowska. This part of the rehearsal process is where it gets exciting. The show is starting to come together, the lines are memorized (well, mostly) and the characters are really coming alive.

There will be plenty more updates in the coming weeks as we finish the rehearsal process and move into performance. We hope to see you there!

-Josh