Mandeville’s North Star Theatre is hoping that “It’s a Wonderful Life” will fill patrons with the holiday spirit; while Slidell Little Theatre is hoping patrons will feast on a lot of delicious gumbo, thus helping the young actors in the area.
Mandeville's North Star Theatre artistic director, Lori Bennett, is pleased to announce the opening of the play "It's a Wonderful Life" on Sunday, December 6th. “It’s a Wonderful Life” features Brett Roberts in the role of George Bailey. Last produced at The North Star Theatre in 1999, director Lori Bennett felt it time to revive this heartwarming classic.
After a series of auditions this summer, the areas most talented young actors won the roles. George's wife is Katie Welty. Kinsey Chabreck and Grace Riddle play their daughters. The Angel sent to earth to "win her wings" is feisty Courtney Calato. Carson Cromartie is the "bad guy," Mr.Potter (a banker-of course), with Katherine Carey seen as the town beauty. Zetta Gagliano is George's lovely mother; Sean Gilvey; his uncle and Kaitlin Thibodeaux is Aunt Tilly. Trey Couvillion plays Harry, the brother whose life was saved by George. Mr. Gower is Dennis den Hartigh.
Rounding out the cast are Madison Lusco, Amelie Prather, Shelby Thompson, Olivia Ulfers, Anna Strickland, Amelie Prather. Voices from "heaven" are the heavenly Chris Carey and Bill Larsen-Ruffin, who also handles the lighting of John Carambat's set and Lynn Larsen-Ruffin's period costumes. Assisting Stage Manager Loretto O'Reilly, Jr. is Abagail Lafont. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (985) 626-1500. Adults $18, Seniors $16, Students $14. Performance dates: Sundays at 1:30 December 6, 13, 20 and Fridays and Saturday Evenings at 7:30 December 11,12,18,19. The North Star Theatre is located at 347 Girod Street in old Mandeville.
Slidell Little Theatre has joined with the National Association of Women in Construction to raise funds for SLT’s “Next Stage II” project. Their mission is to “raise funds to enhance and expand programs for youth and other theatrical endeavors for the entire community.”
On Saturday, January 30, 2010 both organizations will have a Gumbo Cook-Off fundraiser at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium from 11 am until 3 pm. They are soliciting sponsors and cooking teams for the fundraiser. There are various levels of sponsorship. The Corporate Sponsors begin at the Producer level, which is $5,000. Next, the Director level is $2,500. Following that is the Assistant Director level at $1,000. Then there are levels for individual sponsors, which are $500 and $250. Since SLT is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit community theatre, all donations are tax deductible.
Gumbo cooking teams can be comprised of up to five chefs. Teams can cook either seafood gumbo or meat gumbo. They must have ten gallons of gumbo to serve and it can be cooked ahead of time. They will be provided with bowls, spoons, and napkins. The registration fee for the cooking teams is $60 per team. So far cooking teams from: The Slidell Police Department, The Slidell Firemen, Mike Pike's Classics, Slidell Little Theatre, Women in Construction, Village Lutheran Church, Best Buy, Taco Bell Corporation, Jay & Margaret Albert Builders, and Louisiana Heart Hospital have signed up. There will be prizes for in many categories including Best Gumbo and People's Choice. There is still room for teams to sign up.
As a community theatre SLT has provided the youth in the area with an opportunity to learn about theatre. They also learn teamwork, discipline, enhance their memorizations skills, make lasting friendships, and develop their self-esteem.
The current Young Actor’s Theatre (YAT’s) program lasts six weeks during the summer. Participants range in age from four to eighteen. The YAT’s also present a Christmas show as part of the City of Slidell’s holiday program in Griffith Park. But the program’s expansion is limited to the theatre’s facility. The goal of the “Next Stage II” fundraising campaign is to renovate an existing storage facility on the SLT property for use as a children’s theatre and for other experimental theatrical productions.
If you are interested in being a sponsor or having a gumbo cooking team, please call Slidell Little Theatre at 985-643-0556 or 960-960-6698 or visit their website at www.slidelllittletheatre.org.
Luke’s Brisket and Broadway will have evening performances of their holiday musical, “Nuncrackers- the Nunsense Christmas musical” on December 4,5,11,12,18,and 19th. Doors open at 6:30 with dinner beginning at 7 pm and the musical starting at 8 p.m. There will be one Sunday matinee on December 6th that will be only dessert and show. Doors open at 2:30 for the matinee performance. The musical features: Grace Marshall, Katie Lynn Cotaya, Celia Guillory, Rachel McCardle Hoff, Ken Hazelbaker, John Esperance, Meredith Hoff, and Hannah Lewczyski. Karen Hoyt is the pianist. The cost for all-you-can-eat dinner and dessert prepared by Ambie Award-winning chef Ginger Luke is $40 per person. The cost for the Sunday “dessert and show” matinee is $25 per person. Luke’s Brisket and Broadway is located on 1540 Lindberg Drive in Slidell. To make a reservation please call 985-781-6565 or visit their website at brisketandbroadway.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SLIDELL LITTLE THEATRE
Nellie Drive
Slidell , La
985-641-0324 www.slidelllittletheatre.org
"Godspell, directed by Meghan Shea
Nov. 27th to Dec. 20th
PLAYMAKER'S THEATRE
19106 Playmaker's Road
Covington, La
985-893-1671
“’'Twas the Night Before Christmas" directed by Renee Sibley
Dec. 11-12 (8 pm), Dec. 13 (2 pm)
CREATIVE ARTS OF ST. TAMMANY
1133 N. Lee Road
Covington, La.
985-590-3645
DramaAndMusic.com
“Goodnight Moon”
Dec. 4,5,6,11,12,13.
“Christmas Kid’s Night Out”
Dec. 18th
“Christmas Storytime for the Little Ones”
Dec. 19th