Thursday, August 26, 2010

NMSU Theater Arts presents Children's Theatre Workshop

WRITER: Tom Smith, 575-646-5479, tomsmith@nmsu.edu <tomsmith@nmsu.edu

The New Mexico State University Department of Theatre Arts will present an afterschool program for youth in first through eighth grades beginning Sept. 13.

The Children's Theatre Workshop (CTW), which is in its 26th year, has garnered recognition as one of the best children's theater programs in the Southwest. 

Children in first through third grade will rehearse and produce the classic southwestern story, "Coyote Tales." Students in fourth through eighth grade will write scenes and monologues about their lives.

Both productions will be directed by NMSU Professor Ruth Cantrell.

"CTW is one of the most important things we offer in the community," said Tom Smith, NMSU Theatre Arts department head. "It offers a creative outlet to youth, while teaching life skills that extend well beyond the production."

CTW for first through third-graders runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. every Monday from Sept. 13 to May 2. The workshop for fourth through eighth-graders runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday from Sept. 15 to May 4.

The cost of each workshop is $300, which may be broken down into payments. 

Registration forms are available at the Hershel Zohn Theatre box office or at http://theatre.nmsu.edu/nmsu/CTW.pdf.

- 30 - 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

New Seasons

 2010-2011 Seasons at the Big Three

American Southwest Theatre Company at NMSU
Where: Hershel Zohn Theatre, NMSU campus
How much: $15, $13 seniors 65 and up, NMSU faculty/staff, $10 students 3 to 17
Info: (575) 646-4515 or (800) 525-2782, http://theatre.nmsu.edu/astc. For season tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.theatre at nmsu

• “The Comedy of Errors,” by William Shakespeare, Sept. 24 to Oct. 10. When two sets of identical twins end up in the same town, chaos and laughter ensue.
• “Good Lonely People,” a reading of a new play by a nationally-renowned playwright Carol Carpenter, Oct. 15 to 16.
• “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by Tom Smith, Nov. 19 to Dec. 5. Beloved characters like Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and the Fezziwigs come to life in this magical, musical play. 
• High Desert Production premiere of a new play TBA, Feb. 18 to March 6
• “An Inspector Calls,” by J.B. Priestley, April 15 to May 1. The Birling family is enjoying an engagement party when police Inspector Goole arrives to accuse them all of having played a part in a young girl’s death. But all is not as it seems.

 Las Cruces Community Theater
Where: Las Cruces Community Theatre, 313 N. Downtown Mall 
How much: $10 adults, $9 student. seniors & military, $8 each for groups of ten or more, $7 kids 6 and under
Info: (575) 523-1200 www.lcctnm.org
• “Nunsense,” by Dan Goggin, directed by Art Haggerton, ends Aug. 22. Musical comedy. The Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters. To raise funds for the burials, they put on a show.
• “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play,” by Joe Landry, directed by Les Boyse, Oct. 1 to 17. An evening of adaptations of films directed by Alfred Hitchcock: “The Lodger,” “Sabotage” and “The 39 Steps,” in the style of 1940s radio shows, with five actors playing dozens of characters.
• “Greetings!” by Tom Dudzick, directed by Ken Eastlack, Dec. 3 to 19. Andy has a sweet Catholic mother, a sour Catholic father and a severely retarded younger brother named Mickey. When he brings his Jewish atheist fiancĂ© to meet the folks on Christmas Eve, his worst fears about family blow-ups are realized.
• One-Act Play Festival, Jan. 7 to 16.
• “The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” by Neil Simon, directed by James Jensen, Feb. 11 to 27. Manhattan executive Mel Edison and his wife lose their jobs and are robbed but Mel’s subsequent nervous breakdown turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
• “The Return of Herbert Bracewell; Why Am I Always Alone When I'm With You,” by Andrew Johns, directed by larrychandler, April 1 to 17. In 1909, Herbert Bracewell plots a comeback with a one-man review of his long, if undistinguished career.
• “Avanti! Or a Very Uncomplicated Girl,” by Samuel Taylor, directed by Joe Pfeiffer, June 3 to 19. A sad occasion evokes witty comedy when American businessman Sandy Claiborne and British woman Alison Ames try to bring home the bodies of their parents who were killed in an auto accident in Italy.

What: Black Box Theatre/No Strings Theatre Company
Where: Black Box Theatre, Downtown Mall
When: 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays
How much: $10 regular and $9 students and seniors (over 65). Preferred Patron Package season ticket: $50 and $45.
Info and reservations: (575) 523-1223
• “A Delicate Balance” by Edward Albee, directed by Ceil Herman, ends today. In this 1967 Pulitzer Prize winner, a wealthy middle-aged couple, Agnes and Tobias, have their complacency shattered when longtime friends Harry and Edna appear at their doorstep.
• “Lone Star Laundry & Bourbon,” by James McClure, directed by Dale Pawley, Sept. 24 to Oct. 10. One-act comedies are set in Maynard, Texas, in a run-down bar and the front porch of Roy and Elizabeth's home.
• “Cockeyed,” by William Missouri Downs, directed by Ceil Herman, Nov. 18 to Dec. 5. Phil and gorgeous, if glass-eyed, Sophia might be caught in a philosophical hyperspace or dualistic reality where beautiful women may be unaware of nice guys. Armed only with a B.A. in philosophy, Phil sets out to prove his existence and win Sophia’s heart.
• “Crime and Punishment,” adapted by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus from the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, directed by Shaun Hadfield, Jan. 21 to Feb. 6. The classic "conversation on the nature of evil" is set in the mind of the murderer where he relives and explores, through the urging of Porfiry and Sonia, the thoughts, ideas and feelings that drove him to his horrible crime. 
• “Spitfire Grill,” music and book by James Valcq, lyrics and book by Fred Alley, based on Lee David Zlotoff’s film, directed by Nikka Ziemer, April 8 to 24. A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah's Spitfire Grill.
• “boom,” by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, directed by Ceil Herman, May 20 to June 5. A grad student's online personal ad, “Sex to Change the Course of the World," lures a mysterious journalism student to his subterranean research lab. But when a major global catastrophic event strikes the planet, their date takes on evolutionary significance and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Monday, August 9, 2010

You Review Las Cruces has arrived

Here's your chance to share your thoughts, impressions and enjoyment of the city's and region's cultural scene. See a show? Send us a review. Hit a concert? Let us know how it went. Grab a great dinner? Tell us where.
Just message us your thoughts and reviews. We'll post info on upcoming and opening events ahead of time, then look for your pictures, reviews, and video here. This is your site, we're just opening up the forum.

Send tidbits to dmoore@lcsun-news.com or respond to any of our blog items with a review.

We look forward to hearing from you.