Local actor/director/writer Tad Atkinson is packing up and heading for Hollywood. "I've spoken with a cousin of mine who's done a lot of extra and stunt work out there," Atkinson says, "and [he's preparing me for] the brutal side of things. However, he's willing to help me learn the system to get into SAG, and he's going to furnish me with some of the better theatrical groups in the Hollywood/Westwood/Burbank area so that I can audition, hopefully land a lead or two, and hopefully get noticed by an agent." Atkinson plans to leave in early June.

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Actress/singer/artist Ellen Campbell, now residing in Bloomington, has been designing a series of children's books for a client in Fort Wayne. "We are now working on the third book in the series," Campbell says. "I am about to send samples of my work to an author who is looking for an illustrator on another children's book. Excitement!"

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First Presbyterian Theater director Thom Hofrichter has a busy year ahead of him. Newly wed to actress/loan officer Nancy Kartholl, Hofrichter was recently cast as the Ghost and the Player King in HAMLET at the First Folio Shakespeare Company in the Oak Brook, Illinois. Additionally, he has been retained as the theatre consultant for the Rialto Theatre's Reclamation Project. For more news and photos of their progress, visit http://thereclamationproject.org.

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While Thom Hofrichter takes a leave of study this summer, First Presbyterian Theatre stage manager Joel Scribner will coordinate the theater's second annual trek to the Stratford Theatre Festival on June 18-20. Shows include GUYS AND DOLLS, ANYTHING GOES, MACBETH, and NOISES OFF directed by Brian Bedford. The tour package includes bus trip, a two-night hotel stay with breakfast, and tickets for the four shows. Packages cost $560/single, $440/double, $405/triple and $385/quad. Contact Joel Scribner at (260) 403-4095 or the theatre at (260) 422-6329 for details or reservations.

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Director Christopher J. Murphy and actor Jim Matusik have reunited at Arena Dinner Theatre for the Indiana premiere of CAUGHT IN THE NET, the sequel to the 2002 Arena hit, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE. Matusik again plays John Smith, the loveable bigamist taxi-driver, in this new Ray Cooney farce, which opened in London the same month the original was playing at Arena. Murphy quickly pounced on the idea of reassembling the cast for a follow-up as soon as rights became available, but regretfully found all but Matusik unavailable. Happily, though, he has found a new troupe of top-notch farceurs as local character actor Jim Nelson steps into Jim Welch's award-winning shoes as the put-upon Stanley, while Suzan Moriarty and Jennifer Koch take over as John's wives. Rounding out the cast are Allie Markland, Tyler Adeslperger and the inimitable Harvey Cocks. Performances are February 27, 28, March 5, 6, 12, and 13.

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Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS, directed by Fort Wayne's David Mitsch, will be performed February 11-15 at Ball State University, Cave Theater. For tickets call (765) 285-8749. The musical features another Fort Wayne favorite, Mike Brouwer.

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