In a recent meeting of Suwannee Valley Players, members voted on the play selections for their 30th Anniversary Season. The SVPlayers will celebrate their 30th season of providing the Tri-county area with live theater productions. The Players perform all of their productions at their home in Chiefland, The Chief Theater located on Park Ave. The 2012-2013 season opens with a thriller by Tim Kelly; Cry of the Banshee is a spine-tingler adapted from the classic Poe film story that starred Vincent Price and Elizabeth Bergner. In 16th century Ireland, a cruel Lord Edward Whitman seeks to destroy the "banshee cult" of a powerful witch, but she puts a curse on his family. Generations later, Whitman Manor has been moved stone by stone to America and the last of the family, a young brother and sister, seek to escape the curse. But stalking the house, even in modern times, is an ancient spirit or sidhe, a thing that can never die, which has taken on human form. Its name is Roderick, and he has no idea that he isn`t a man of flesh and blood. Also, he`s in love with the sister, whom he plans to marry! Things go awry on the anniversary of the curse when Oona`s descendant, a dealer in witchcraft, arrives at the house and commands the sidhe to begin its evil. Show dates are set for September 14th, 15th, at 8:00 pm and 16th at 2:30 pm and September 21st, 22nd at 8:00 pm and September 23rd at 2:30. Tickets at $10 general admission; $8 seniors, students and military with ID; $5 children under 12 and they go on sale August 20th, at our ticket outlet, Curves of Chiefland, Monday through Friday 7-7 or at our box office at the theater Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. Save the dates, get your tickets and make your plans to join us for an evening of excitement and thrills. Cry of the Banshee is produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, CO. The Chief Theater is undergoing some renovations so our Haunted Theater is going to be an abbreviated "haunting" this year. Plans are being made to have some "hauntings" going on outside the theater around Halloween. More information on that will be coming out in the near future. In December, the Players plan to entertain guest at Christmas with A Stranger for Christma" by Carol Lynn Pearson. Two ladies in a rest home are arguing. Florence, who has never had a real family Christmas, fantasizes that a family would come along and take her in for the holiday, but of course no family would put themselves out that way. Yes, they would, says her roommate Myrna who has had years of storybook Christmases with her five children. To prove their differing viewpoints, they invent the fictitious Genevieve, a little old lady in a rest home near Myrna`s children in Idaho. If one of them will agree to take "her" in, Florence will really believe in Christmas. "A Stranger for Christmas" is dramatized from the author`s best selling book of the same name. Show dates for the Christmas show have not been set at this time. Information on this show will be publicized when it becomes available. A Stranger for Christmas is produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Company. As spring 2013 rolls around, SVP plans to celebrate its arrival with their musical production of Little Shop of Horrors. Little Shop of Horrors is comedy horror rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human flesh and blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. The music, composed by Menken is in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown. "Little Shop of Horrors" which will open in early March is produced by special arrangement with Music Theater International. In late spring, the Players will revive a hit from their first year of existence, Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He`s a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she`s a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find; it is too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a six day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie`s loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic Velasco, where everything that can go wrong, does. Paul just doesn`t understand Corie, as she sees it, he`s too staid, too boring and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous, and running "barefoot" in the park would be a start.... Be sure to watch for release dates on this one. Barefoot in the Park is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French. In the 2013 Summer Youth Production, youngsters will be participating in one of two productions. Younger children will be participating in The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf and the older teens will be learning Shakespeare with A Mid-Summer`s Nights Dream. Youngsters from ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate in the summer production.
Watch the newspapers for announcements of upcoming events at the Chief Theater. You can also check out our web site at www.svplayers.com, or be added to our email list to receive information of all our upcoming events. Just send us an email at suwanneevalleyplayers@gmail.com and request to be added to our contact list or join our group on Facebook and receive timely information on events. Purchase one of our season tickets for a real savings and catch all the shows this season. Season tickets can be purchased right now from Curves of Chiefland. Remember, when you come to the productions you have the opportunity to nominate your favorite actors and actresses for The Golden Gravel Awards. The Golden Gravels are awarded at the end of the season as a celebration of a successful completion of our theater season. The public is invited to attend the Golden Gravels and cheer for your favorite.
If you are interested in Suwannee Valley Players and would like to become a member, our meetings are held on the third Monday night of every month at 7 pm at the Chief Theater. You would be welcome to attend, join and participate in our organization. There are a lot of things involved with a theater production besides acting. Students still in school can receive community service hours for helping at the theater. Make your plans to come out to the Chief Theater and catch one of the shows. There seems to be a fair amount of talent in the Tri-county area. You may see one of your neighbors on stage; it could happen ... at the theater! |
