PebbleCreek Singers beat the heat
Donna Swagger
Hot August days call for a course of action to feel some relief from the summer heat wave! The PebbleCreek Singers’ remedy to overcome summer sizzle is to head to an air-conditioned environment and sing cool, yule songs! After a three month interlude, the chorus members are rested and ready to tackle some cool music for a spectacular holiday program entitled Celebrate the Joy.
Rehearsals for the 2016 Christmas Concert will begin on Monday, August 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. All rehearsals will be in the ballroom until renovations in the theatre are completed. At this time the choristers will pick up their music packets and practice CDs and will review the repertoire for the holiday concert. Director Gail Kennedy has chosen an assortment of traditional carols, secular, novelty, classical and sacred numbers that promise to be audience-pleasers. The songs will be performed by both the full chorus and small ensembles.
It’s not too late to become part of this prestigious singing group! The chorus is recruiting new members for all voice parts, particularly basses and tenors. The audition process is simple and auditions are private. Any PebbleCreek resident interested in auditioning may contact Nancy Gustafson (623-215-3292) or pick up an application form at the club information center in Eagle’s Nest Clubhouse.
Concert dates are Tuesday, November 29 through Saturday, December 3, 2016. Mark your calendar!
The cast of Noises Off
PC Players performing “Noises Off”
Jon Lindstrom
Residents of PebbleCreek can look forward to a rollicking time this fall with PC Players’ production of Noises Off. For five nights, from Tuesday, October 18 to Saturday, October 22 audiences can enjoy a show that the New York Times calls an “altogether hilarious farce.”
The story revolves around a second-rate company of stage actors performing an equally second-rate British sex comedy. In the first act we watch the actors stumble through a late night dress rehearsal while wondering how they will ever be ready for the next night’s opening. In the second act, set a month later, we watch from backstage as the actors, now inflamed with petty jealousies and rivalries, perform the play with increasing carelessness and disarray. In the third act, you become the audience of the final performance where if anything could go wrong, it does.
This production by PC Players marks three major departures for the club. First, due to the temporary closing of our own Renaissance Theatre, the Players have arranged for their fall production to be performed in the beautiful Performing Arts Center (PAC) at nearby Estrella Mountain Community College. Destined to become a hub for arts in the southwest valley, the Estrella PAC is located less than three miles from PebbleCreek.
Second, in casting the show, Director Laurie Farquhar and Assistant Director Donna Gray have taken advantage of the young acting talent at the college. PebbleCreek actors Melissa Kallett, Jon Lindstrom, Barb Faler and Bob Young will perform with four theater students, Austin Long, Morgan Coumans, Celine Orona and Kloman Garrison. They, along with a number of other students who will be working with our backstage and tech crews, will provide youthful inspiration and energy to the production.
Finally, Noises Off will mark the inaugural use of the Players’ new online ticketing system. In addition to the usual Saturday and weekday kiosk sales, show patrons will now be able to purchase tickets online. Credit cards (VISA and MasterCard only) will also now be accepted at all places of sale. More information about this system will be available in next month’s edition of the PebbleCreek Post.
Noises Off recently had its third revival on Broadway, earning six Tony nominations. Come see why audiences around the world love this farce when PC Players and the EMCC Theater Department present a night of hysterical laughter.
Save the date
Tuesday, October 18 through Saturday, October 22
PC Players: Noises Off
Place: Estrella Mountain Community College Performing Arts Center
Tickets will be available online and in person starting September 17. Details to be announced soon.
Monday, November 14 through Saturday, November 19
ShowTime: Nunsense
First day of ticket sales October 15; location and time to be announced as we near the theater construction completion date.
Eagle’s Nest Kiosk sales will start October 17, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. until sold out.
Tuesday, November 29 through Saturday, December 3
PC Singers: Holiday Concert
First day of ticket sales to be announced.
The nuns of Nunsense practice their steps. Left to right: Alice Lewis, Pat Ingalls, Judi Alonzo, Kathy Mitchell and Patrice Cole
ShowTime brings “Nunsense” to PebbleCreek in November
Carrie Mataraza
The Little Sisters of Hoboken have had a tragedy at the convent. Sister Julia Child of God, their cook, made a delicious vichyssoise, but 52 sisters died after eating it. The survivors were able to bury 48 sisters, but now they need to come up with more funds to do the right thing by the remaining four who must reside in the freezer until they do. The solution? Put on a benefit show, of course. Sing, dance and tell some jokes to lighten the load and earn the money to send off the dearly departed.
So goes the story of Nunsense, a loving, lovable, happy (despite the backstory), musical comedy that is ShowTime’s November production. I recently attended a rehearsal to talk with our nuns while they practiced one of their tap dance routines. Yes, it is true—five over age 60 women who have never tapped before are doing it now, for the cause. Dee Carbonell is their dance instructor and the show’s choreographer. According to Sister Mary Regina (Mother Superior) aka Judi Alonzo, also Nunsense director, “Dee is a fantastic teacher. Because of her we aren’t faking it; we’re really dancing — with dedication, or should I say, in desperation?”
“How do you remember all these dance steps?” I asked.
Sister Amnesia (Patrice Cole) who, as her name suggests has memory issues, piped right up to say the way she remembers is by dreaming them. “I wake up dancing the numbers under the sheets,” she said. “I count the steps on my fingers.”
Which led me to ask, “Do your habits get in the way?”
“Our bad habits or our good habits?” asked Sister Mary Hubert (Pat Ingalls).
Mother Superior had to interrupt. “We have no bad habits, except for Sister Robert Ann. She’s a definite challenge to the order, being from New Jersey, very street wise she is. Right now she’s extremely mad because she doesn’t have a starring role in our show. She’s an understudy.”
“Oh, Mother Superior, I just do these naughty things to make people laugh! After all, that’s the way we learn,” responded Sister Robert Ann (Kathy Mitchell) in self-defense.
“It looks like so much fun. Is being in Nunsense habit-forming?”* I asked them.
All five agreed it is. “We’ve already started to refer to each other by our character’s names. This is such a special show to be a part of, I’m sure we’ll remember our team and be friends for years to come,” Judi said.
Sister Mary Leo (Alice Lewis) piped up, “I’m 61 years old and just a Novice so I shouldn’t talk too much, but I’ll say that I love this show we’re putting on and I know the audience will too.”
We all agreed on that so I’d suggest you make a note of the show dates on your calendar: Monday through Saturday, November 14 through 19. First day of ticket sales is scheduled for October 15; location TBA.
*Pray, forgive these puns and come early to get your tickets.
ShowTime looking for play submissions
Laurie Farquhar
Do you have experience directing a musical or musical revue? Are you interested in sharing your directing talents with PebbleCreek? ShowTime Productions is now accepting show submissions for the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018.
If you have seen any of ShowTime’s musicals or revues in the past decade — Damn Yankees, The Drowsy Chaperone, Celebrating Ed Sullivan just to name a few — you know how much talent there is in PebbleCreek. The wonderful singers, dancers and actors in this community make a director’s job easier because of their commitment to producing high quality entertainment. In addition, expert crew members are available for working backstage, running lights and sound and constructing sets.
The fall 2017 production is scheduled for the week of November 13 through 18, while the spring 2018 show will be in early April. Depending on the kind of show chosen, rehearsals begin about three to four months prior to opening night.
If you are interested in being a part of PebbleCreek’s terrific theater community and directing one of ShowTime’s fun and fabulous music productions, please contact Laurie Farquhar, chair of the Future Shows Committee, at [email protected] or 623-251-4158. The deadline for submissions is September 30.
Interested in directing but don’t have any experience? Contact Laurie or anyone on the ShowTime Board about how to get involved in order to learn first-hand how a musical is produced.