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Whale of a summer in theater
By Marli Guzzetta + Independent Arts Editor
Theatre Workshop of Nantucket announces its 2007 summer season, including a performance
 | | A staging of "Moby Dick, the Musical" in London's West End. This summer, Theatre Workshop of Nantucket's first-ever professional, resident company will perform the show, and also host a theater conservatory during its production. It's just one of TWN's big plans for this pivotal summer. |
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of "Moby Dick, the Musical" by TWN's first-ever professional resident company Theatre Workshop of Nantucket is stepping it up this summer, with a well-rounded summer program, a brand new professional resident company, a series of children's theater events and - as a logistical cherry on top - remote, electronic ticketing.
Before we go any further, let's do a quick re-cap of TWN's new managerial structure. The organiztion has picked up a Producing Director in Jordana Fleischut, whose job description includes fostering children's programming and off-season shows, increasing community involvement opportunities and streamlining administration procedures, like ticketing and database management. Jane Karakula remains on the staff as the summer artistic director, heading off things like summer programming and casting. TWN President Pam Murphy will now, with the extra help, be able to oversee TWN's longterm progress.
Now, back to TWN's regularly scheduled summer programming, which was just announced last week.
"We have a really diverse season, and the casts are larger than usual, so we'll be looking for more people to get involved this season," Murphy said of the summer season.
Following the Short Play Festival and Mark Carapezza's long-awaited "Detention with Oliver Diamond" this spring, the summer season officially begins when TWN moves back to its theatre in the basement of the United Methodist Church. The first show of the summer, "Lone Star Grace" (June 13-30) is an "edgy" ensemble comedy set in a Texas diner on New Year's Day, according to Murphy. Giovanna Sardelli, who directed last summer's "Smell of the Kill," will direct.
From acclaimed Irish playwright Brian Friel,
"Faith Healer" (July 5-21) is a true drama about the good and bad sides of a spiritual snake oil salesman who travels through Scotland and Wales with his wife and manager.
Returning this year is TWN's annual children's theater production. Performed with the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical score, "Cindarella" (July 11-28) will consist entirely of young island actors.
August is when it gets really new. For the first time ever, Nantucket will have a professional resident company this summer, and that company will perform "Moby Dick, the Musical" throughout the month of August at Bennett Hall. Written by Russell Wilsonsky and redrafted by Broadway producer Cameron Mackintosh ("Martin Guerre," "CATS," "Miss Saigon," "Oklahoma," you get the idea . . .), "Moby Dick, the Musical" introduces the girls of the St. Godley's Academy for Young Ladies, who stage a (haphazard) musical version of "Moby Dick" in order to raise enough money to save their school.
"The next two hours are a glorious romp of every single musical genre there is set to the words of Herman Melville . . . I mean, the whole thing is about Nantucket . . . and we're bringing in an awesome choreographer for the dance numbers," said Fleischut, who wrote to Wilonsky after being hired by TWN. "Apparently, it was their dream to bring this to Nantucket, and now they're coming to see it here this summer."
Though Fleischut moves on island this May (and still needs housing), she has worked for the last three months to cast the 10-member company with either non-equity professionals or recent graduates from the Yale University School of Drama, Hartt School of Music, Tisch School of the Arts, Manhattan's Circle in the Square Theatre School, Manhattan School of Music, Boston Conservatory, Carnegie Melon, Northwestern and Elon. Roberta Esposito, with whom Fleischut resurrected the historic Glove Theatre in Gloversville, N.Y., will direct the company.
"These kids are unbelievable. They're coming from all over the country," said Fleischut, who auditioned over 1,300 actors last month at the New England Theater Conference and at Straw Hat Auditions in Manhattan. "They're quadruple threats. They can sing, they can dance, they can act and they love kids - that was a big criterion, because they'll be working with kids a lot."
In fact, everything they do will involve young island actors. During rehearsals for "Moby Dick, the Musical," the company will be holding a theatre conservatory; students ages 16 and up will be able to study acting technique, stage management, lighting and more. (It's a fee-based program, but TWN is offering tuition assistance.) This summer, the resident company will also perform "Jack and the Beanstalk" for young audiences (Bennett Hall, August 6-20) and conduct "Shooting Stars Drama Camp" through the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club, free for kids ages 7 to 17 (August 13-17). While participants in the conservatory will have to audition (and even sign a contract, very official), the Boys and Girls club camp will stretch to try to accommodate as many interested parties as possible.
As if the under 9 theatre-going set didn't already have enough new dramatic dessert on their plates, Fleischut wants to begin holding "Teddy Bear Teas and Picnics" on the lawn outside the Methodist Church after each performance.
Fleischut has also left several spaces in the company open for island performers; she'll hold auditions this month. (See below.)
For the final show of the summer season, the much loved Jetty Ames returns to Nantucket as Harold in "Harold and Maude" (August 8 - Sept. 1) - about a suicidal 19-year-old boy who falls in love with an off-beat octogenarian.
"We're just broadening the theatre experience," Murphy said. " With Arm Chair Theatre, the Short Play Festival, winter shows, then summer shows and now a professional resident company. There are lots and lots of opportunities for everyone to get involved, from the kids to the adults, and the commitment just increases with each level."
And for those who want the least time-consuming commitment, Web-based, electronic ticketing
should be available by May 1. I
Resident company auditions: Actors over the age of 18 interested in audition for the resident company should contact e-mail Jordana Fleischut (jordana@nycap.rr.com). Auditions will be held on Monday, April 30, upstairs at the United Methodist Church. Call ahead for times: 228-4305.
Conservatory applications: Actors of all ages who are interested in participating in the conservatory should e-mail Jordana Fleischut (jordana@nycap.rr.com) with their interests. Fleischut will contact qualified candidates for auditions and interviews, to be held on island April 27 and April 30; all casting will be finalized by May 15.
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