Deborah Bostock-Kelley - Page 20

When starring in a production like Annie, you'd better be a powerhouse. Last night at the opening of New Tampa Players' production of Annie, twelve-year-old Annie Sardouk proved why she was the lead. This young actress sang with vocal power of someone twice her age. To say I was impressed is putting it lightly. The ensemble of orphans was perfectly cast, from the bullying Madison Levine whose facial expressions were priceless down to the adorable littlest twins. And you can't talk about the talented orphans without a discussing the costumes and beautiful seamlessly-changing set. Despite minor technical mic issues, the show ran like a well-oiled machine.

Anyone who has been on stage understands the magic that happens when a group of people learn lines, music, choreography and blocking, put on make-up, wigs and costumes, use props, react to sound effects and bow to thunderous applause… together. The cast becomes a family and that experience becomes an addiction, a theatre fix that is only satisfied by performing in another show. New Tampa Players wants to share this passion with young people who have interest in theatre but may never have been afforded the chance to be on stage.

There's no wonder why Oliver sold out at Carrollwood Cultural Center. Celebrating their 10th anniversary and revisiting the first show that debuted at the center with two of the original actors - Terry Larosa and Kimberly Rostas, MAS Theatre's Oliver was spectacular entertainment. Under the exceptional direction of Tracy Stemm-Crews, musical direction by Mary Jo Hahn, choreography talents of Ashley Ryan Lord and Aaron Washington, lighting by Keith Eisenstadt, and costumes by Heather Cleveland, there wasn't a moment that went too fast, an actor that needed to pick up speed, a set change that took you away from the story, choreography that didn't have perfect pace. Everything worked in this high-energy production - especially the cast using the balcony during the beautiful Who Will Buy and by creating an immersive experience for the audience by going up and down the aisles.

A large cast of 43 students, ages 11-18 from The Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts will bring the school edition of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a tale of love and revenge to stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall on July 26-28. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, explores the infamous story of Benjamin Barker (Sweeney Todd), a London barber with a disturbing partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.

When most people think about the musical Annie, they think of "Tomorrow" and a little girl with bright red hair. Director KariAnn Stamatoplos thinks there is so much more to the classic story. It's not just Annie, but Daddy Warbucks who gets his chance to shine in New Tampa Players production of Annie on August 3-12 at University Area CDC.

Two casts of 27 kids ranging from ages six to 16 are extremely excited to bring the modern version of Peter Pan, Jr. to audiences in the auditorium at HCC Brandon on July 21 & 22. During Florida Drama Kids' Musical Theatre Camp, when the older ones take a leadership role to peer mentor the younger students, you see firsthand the importance and positive impact of theatre in the lives of young people.

Imagine working in musical theatre, doing what you love with a good friend. Add in some classic and contemporary country music and you have the story behind the story of the musical Honky Tonk Laundry opening July 21 at The Show Palace Dinner Theatre. Millicent Hunnicut and Bridgette Karl star respectively as Lana Mae Hopkins, owner of the Wishy Washy Washateria and employee, Katie Lane Murphy. Both Millicent and Bridgette performed together at Show Palace in The Great American Trailer Park under the talented direction of Matthew Belopavlovich. Just like the characters they play, the actresses bonded and when an opportunity arose to perform the two-women show with Matthew as the director, the two jumped at the chance.

New theatre company, PJMA Theater Productions debuts its inaugural season with the provocative musical Bare: A Pop Opera on September 7 through 22, hosted at Carrollwood Players Theatre. The theater company plans to finish the season in 2019 with Carrie The Musical and another musical, to be selected. Ryan Roberge, theater founder and director said, 'PJMA is proud to represent a diverse group of people with innovative works. We are a semi-professional theater company that is creating theatre performances that not only entertain but inspire and challenge our audience.'

Young people wanting answers and adults refusing to give them is the theme of Eight 'O Clock Theatre's newest production July 13-22, a dark coming of age tale, Spring Awakening. Written in 1891 with modern folk-rock music and lyrics applied by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater in 2006, Spring Awakening is a story of friends growing up in Germany, girls and boys discovering their sexuality with no one willing to guide them. The musical covers topics like abuse, homosexuality, masturbation, sadomasochism, suicide, and abortion. It frankly explores what happens when parents are too prudish to discuss the hormonal urges that come with impending adulthood.

On July 12-15, the hard work of 27 participants in Patel's summer intensive program will be revealed on stage in Hello, Dolly!. Talented students in grades eight through college junior rehearse from 9am to 4pm for four weeks and present a musical at the end of the fourth week.

Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse in Victorian, England, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. He runs away to London where he's befriended by a boy named the Artful Dodger and invited to join a gang of child pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft he did not commit and is rescued by the theft's victim, Fagin hires a couple to kidnap Oliver back, potentially destroying Oliver's chances of finding a real family.

When you talk about a musical and its ensemble on the 35-minute drive home, it's one of two things - good or bad. In the case of mad Theatre's It Shoulda Been You, expertly directed by Tony P. Gilkinson, good doesn't do justice to the talent that graced the stage and in the audience on Wednesday night. If final dress rehearsal is any indication of how fun a performance you'll see, complimented by a live band under the musical direction of Tim Flores, I guarantee that you are in for a treat.

With themes of abuse, statutory rape, abortion, and suicide, director Jason Tucker does not shy away from any of the controversial subjects. It's today's story… except for the unmistakable fact that it's based in Germany circa 1891. Based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 play, Spring Awakening at Eight O'Clock Theatre is a dark coming-of-age tale of kids looking for answers and the adults who refuse to provide them.

Little did Emily Escobar realize that her performance in Alonso High School's Zombie Prom as Toffee would earn her a nomination as Outstanding Actress.

From the little girls wobbling on plastic dress-up heels and Cinderella costumes outside taking photos with the fairytale princess to youngsters in the audience dressed in their Sunday best, waiting eagerly for the story to begin, Cinderella was a special event for children and adults, alike.

Imagine putting a DVD of your life together in the player and forwarding through the mystery of new love, the excitement of moving in together, the happiness of your true love finding success in work, the bliss of engagement and a new marriage, the resentment of success, the end of a marriage. Now if you play it backwards from the relationship dissolution to its inception simultaneously, only pausing at the wedding in both versions, you have the premise for the musical named TIME Magazine's ten best shows of 2001, The Last Five Years.

DANCERS BATTLE FOR RECOGNITION at University Area Community Center

Sometimes it's good to be bad. Fourteen-year-old high school freshman Tess Lowke is learning this during two and half weeks of intensive summer camp daily rehearsals 9am-4pm for the beloved classic Wizard of Oz, coming to the Straz Center for the Performing Art's TECO Theater on June 14-17.

Coming to The CWP Black Box on June 29-July 1 is Pop Goes America. Inspired by listening to Lou Vega's Mambo #5, local playwright Jim Russell decided to pen historic tales using the melodies of recognized pop music over a short duration of 3 days. From that inspiration came 24 original songs with dances choreographed by director Drew Eberhard that will take you from the 1800s to modern times over a period of two hours.

For this year's showcase on June 3, 25 schools and 42 high school performers are nominated. Among the nomination categories are Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Actress, Outstanding Supporting Performer, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Musical Director, Outstanding Choreographer, Outstanding Orchestra, Outstanding Technical Achievement and additional special acknowledgement awards. Winners in the Best Actor and Actress category are performing in the Broadway Star of the Future Award Showcase at the Straz Center this Sunday in Ferguson Hall.