Pioneer Theatre
Footloose
February 22, 23, 28*, and March 1, 2 at 7:00 p.m.
February 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Heritage High Auditorium
*The February 28th performance will be signed for the hearing impaired.
The Pioneer Theatre students are hitting the stage again with "Footloose," the story of an upbeat Chicago teen who moves to a small town where, as a result of the efforts of a local minister, dancing and rock music have been banned. This musical, based off the 1984 movie that was recently remade for today’s younger generation, will be entertaining for both generations. The play is all about "having fun and dancing," said Larry Hart, director of drama at HHS.
Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults. Call 582-1147 for ticket information. Advance tickets are available at Givens Bookstore, Robertson Drug, Carolina Connections, and www.lynchburgtickets.com.
E. C. Glass Theatre
The Pirates of Penzance
February 15, 16, 21*, 22, and 23 at 7:30 p.m.
February 17 at 2:30 p.m.
E. C. Glass Auditorium
*The February 21st performance will be signed for the hearing impaired.
For the first time in 33 years, E. C. Glass Theatre is staging a Gilbert and Sullivan production as it presents the fun and delightful musical classic, "The Pirates of Penzance." This world recognized work is full of memorable music and lyrics, a cast of more than 70 talented student actors, dancers, singers and musicians, and incredible special effects that will entertain audiences both young and old.
This updated version of "The Pirates of Penzance" took New York by storm when it premiered in Central Park and on Broadway. It spins a hilariously colorful storybook adventure of fair maidens, swaggering pirates, bumbling policemen and an eccentric Major-General.
Tom Harris, director of drama at E. C. Glass High School, is ready for the challenge of producing this important work. "We always want to entertain our audiences, and we will certainly do that with this hilarious musical farce," said Harris. "But it is also an incredible opportunity for our students to experience one of the world’s most recognized and historic pieces of musical theatre."
The production will feature a live orchestra, lavish costumes and spectacular technical effects that Glass theatre students have made their hallmark. "Not only will you see pirates that sing, police that dance, and damsels hitting the ‘high C’s,’ you will also see a ship that sails," said technical director J.D. Stallings.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Advance tickets are available on the E. C. Glass Theatre website, www.ecglasstheatre.org, and at Aylors Farm and Garden, Carolina Connection Dance and Body Wear, Givens Books, Virginia Garden Supply and Doyles Florist. Tickets also will be on sale at the E. C. Glass Auditorium Lobby Box Office weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. beginning February 7th and one hour prior to each performance.
In conjunction with the play, the E.C. Glass Chamber Singers will be holding their next big fundraiser for their trip to Carnegie Hall. A silent auction will take place in the Marie Waller Lecture Hall before the show, during intermission, and after the show on February 15th and 16th from 6:30-10:00 p.m. and on February 17th from 1:00-6:00 p.m. Items can be picked up from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Glass.
Dunbar Theatre
Rally Round the Flag, Boys!
February 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m.
February 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Carl Anderson Performing Arts Auditorium at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation
Dunbar’s nationally acclaimed theatre program will be back on stage this weekend to perform the full-length comedy "Rally Round the Flag, Boys!"
In this wonderful, wacky performance, the U. S. Army establishes a missile base in a quiet suburban town. The townspeople object and the public relations officer has his hands full if he’s going to keep open warfare from breaking out between the citizens and the Army. Things start off badly for the lieutenant and quickly get much worse. A historic pageant turns into a fight just as his colonel arrives. Then his girl gives him his engagement ring back (something she does rather often, but that doesn’t make him like it any better). And to make matters worse, he’s been threatened with being sent to Alaska if anything else goes wrong. Something else does go wrong--in one of the most spectacularly funny incidents and accidents, one of the missiles "which can’t possibly" go off, does.
Tickets are $5 and are available at www.lynchburgtickets.com.
The students are fresh off their big win at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta in January, where they received the "Excellence in Acting Award."
Several individual Dunbar students were recognized as well:
- The two Acting All-Star students who were chosen to go to New York City this summer to work for a week were Max Gregory and Asher Dunn-Thompson.
- Four students, Kane Campbell, Taylor Robertson, Crystal Haley and Victoria McCoy, were selected by the judges to audition for a dance DVD.
- Three students Katie Morse, Miles Roberts and Matt Penalva, performed in a “Slam,” which gives students one hour to prepare a song from a musical. They had to learn the song, blocking and choreography and then perform it in front of 4,000 people.
- Chad Gilliam was selected as a Technical All-Star and was given the privilege to work with Broadway technical directors and also got to work backstage as the assistant stage manager.