Auditions: A Christmas Carol

Sandy River Players Children's Summer Music Theater presents The Music Man, July 10-12

Magic and music will come to life on stage at the University of Maine at Farmington’s Alumni Theater as the Sandy River Players Youth Musical Theatre Camp presents The Music Man Junior.

Audiences will be sold on the idea of a swindling, traveling salesman who learns the error of his ways when he falls in love in a small Iowan town set in 1912. Despite the stubbornness of the townspeople they learn the value of acceptance, and Harold Hill teaches the importance of second chances and pulling together as a community.

Catchy musical numbers and witty banter keep the play moving at a fun, quick pace. With timeless music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, and the script written by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey the play will capture the hearts and imaginations of all who see it. The play shows how the con-artist Harold Hill solves the 'trouble in River City' when a pool table comes to town by getting the townspeople to sign their children up for a band. Of course, Hill is the one selling the instruments and the uniforms. He ‘teaches’ the children to play the instruments with his 'think system,' which involves simply thinking about the music. By sheer enthusiasm the children manage to play in a band by the finale.

Thirty, talented, young actors and actresses compose the cast of The Music Man Junior. The performances mark the end of a three-week long camp experience. Over the course of the camp the children have learned musical and technical theatre, choreography, and character development techniques. The result is a production the children are almost entirely responsible for.

The show will run for one weekend Friday, July 10th and Saturday, July 11th at 7pm and Sunday, July 12th at 2pm. Tickets are on sale $6 for students and seniors and $8 for adults. Advance tickets are available at Mickey’s Hallmark in Farmington. Reservations can also be made by calling 779-7084.

SRP Summer Music Theater Camp Is Full

Thank you for the overwhelming interest. SRP Children's Summer Music Theater is full. Please keep an eye out on the SRP website and in local press mid-to-late next winter for information about the summer of 2010.

Now Playing: Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None"

Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" opened Wednesday night and runs through Sunday afternoon at UMF's Alumni Theater. More information is available on the previous entries.

In other news, SRP is now on Facebook. Just search for us, find us, and join the group. It is another great way to find out what is happening with out theater and connect to other members of our extended community.

Opening Next Week: Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None

Sandy River Players presents Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
May 13th through 17th at UMF’s Alumni Theater

Farmington – It would seem ten little murders are coming to the University of Maine at Farmington’s Alumni Theater as Sandy River Players presents Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, May 13th through 17th . And no amount of spring sunshine will brighten this dark tale of retribution.

t is most challenging to discuss the cast of a murder mystery since it becomes quite easy to reveal secrets and hidden truths unintentionally. But this cast of community and university members deserves considerable attention nonetheless. Kyle Morrison and Elizabeth Heineman play Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, the surrogate hosts for ten individuals invited to stay upon a remote island. Among the visitors are Paul Stancioff’s Wargrave, Cyndy Stancioff’s Emily, Michael Fraley’s Armstrong, Maria Skilling’s Vera, Christopher Highes’ Lombard, and Mark Lemos’ Marston. Of particular note is the performance of Allan Smith as MacKenzie, since Smith participated in the original SRP production of And Then There Were None in the late 1960s.

Director Fred Liebfried has assembled an exceptional technical crew to bring this sinister island setting to life. Matt Black, Costume Designer, and Scott Leland, Set Construction, transport the audience back to the 1930s visually, while Steve Pelletier’s sound design adds the necessary ambiance. Making sure all of the details happen behind the scenes are Stage Manager, Karen West, and assistants Jared Boghosian and Ben Gray.

Of this production, Liebfried says, “This play is more than a whodunit, more than a mystery. It is a thriller, with an antagonist that is evil: pure and simple. It is a wonderful gift by Agatha Christie. The characters are great and the plot flows faster and faster, and the tension becomes more taught as they are murdered, one by one, Until There Were None.”

This season’s production of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None marks over 40 years of Sandy River Players bringing theatrical entertainment to western Maine audiences. In fact, in the late 1960s, the same show was performed featuring an early incarnation of SRP’s actors and directors. SRP hopes this event provides something of a celebration for the theater’s past and uniting of that past to the company’s present and future.

Sandy River Players presents Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None for a one-week exclusive engagement at UMF’s Alumni Theater, May 13th through May 17th with performances at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are available at Mickey’s Hallmark or call 779-7084. Adults, $12, Students/Senior Citizens, $10, and UMF Students with ID, $8. Special discount on May 13th. For more information, contact Sandy River Players by visiting www.sandyriverplayers.org.

Upcoming: SRP Youth Musical Theater Camp

Limited Space Still Available

Sandy River Players Youth Musical Theatre Camp

June 23^rd- July 12^th

A place where children can express their creativity and experience all the aspects of a theatre production!

The Sandy River Players Youth Musical Theater Camp is dedicated to helping young people develop theater skills and a background in the fine arts. Over the course of the session children receive instruction in acting, dance, voice training, and technical theatre. The goal of the camp is to give actors and actresses a well-rounded theatre experience by introducing them to all aspects of the craft.

No prior acting experience is necessary to participate! The camp is open to children between the ages of 8 to 13. There are many parts available in the production for all of the young actors and actresses.

The camp runs for three weeks from June 23^rd to July 12^th. The camp will be held in the mornings, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 12 pm. (First week start on Tues.)

Three performances are held on the final weekend of the camp. The performances will be held in the evenings on Friday, July 10^th, Saturday, July 11t^h, and a matinee show on Sunday, July 12^th. The Facilities

The SRP Youth Musical Theater Camp is held on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. The majority of the camp is conducted at the Alumni Theater, but when the weather permits actors will be able to work outside. Children will also be working in Nordica Auditorium. ice

Actors and actresses will work on vocal exercises daily, in addition to learning the musical accompaniment to the production. Campers will experience the joy of musical theatre and have the chance to work on solos, duets, and full cast numbers.

Express Your Creativity!

Children will have the opportunity to be involved in set construction in a supervised environment, where they will be able to create parts of their own set. Actors and actresses will also receive instruction in light, sound, and set design. Children will have the chance to apply their own stage makeup and design their own costumes.Stepping into New Roles

Camp participants will have incredible opportunities to work on their acting skills through improvisation games and exercises designed to develop stage movement, characterization, and performance skills. By being on stage children will gain confidence and poise that will translate to other aspects of their lives. n Talents

As part of a well-rounded experience children will also receive dance instruction. They will learn and practice choreographed routines to the songs in the play. The actors and actresses will be focusing on movement and using stage space as part of their dance workshop.

SRP Children's Summer Music Theater Camp Spaces Available

Hello folks,

SRP Summer Children's Musical Theater Camp Director Jessica Longstreet wants everyone to know limited space is still available for youngsters to experience the challenge, excitement, and energy of producing a full-length musical in the space of only a few short weeks.

Anyone interested or wanting more information should e-mail Sandyriverplayers@hotmail.com ASAP and those requests will be forwarded on to Jessica.