Travis Fisher, who starred as a Groucho Marx doppelganger in the Pulse Opera House production of A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE, and speech team coach at Homestead High School, announces that one of his students has earned a nomination to the National Forensic League national tournament. From June 16-21 she will compete at the national tournament in Charlotte, NC. Homestead's first national qualifier in several years, she is competing in the Congress division. "Obviously," Travis jokes humbly, "my coaching had very little to do with her achievement."

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THE TALENTED MR. SIRK

Tony Sirk has been selected to direct Zombie Prom next year at Ball State. Over 35 applied to direct this musical. He also received an Irene Ryan nomination for his portrayal of Henrik in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.

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"DREAMGIRLS" AUDITION AT IPFW

The IPFW Department of Theatre will hold auditions for Dreamgirls on Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Williams Theatre. Director/Choreographer Larry L. Life and musical director Stephen W. R. Scheftz seek an entirely African-American cast of 15 women ages 20-50 and fifteen men ages 20-60 for this musical, which is loosely based on the career of the Supremes.

Dreamgirls will be presented in conjunction with the Three Rivers Festival on July 12-14 & 18-21. Rehearsals begin the week of June 3. Dance auditions and vocal auditions will be held prior to readings from the script. Actors should prepare 16 bars from any musical other than Dreamgirls and should wear comfortable clothes for the dance audition. Scripts are available in the Department of Theatre office and may be checked out on a 24-hour basis, with a deposit of $5.00.

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"SCAPINO" AND "FOREVER PLAID" AUDITIONS

Auditions are May 20-21 for both "Scapino" and "Forever Plaid at the Pulse Opera House in Warren. SCAPINO auditionees should brush up on their juggling, gymnastics, magic, singing, bicycle-riding, spaghetti.-tossing, or any other special talents they may have. Director Cynthia Smyth-Wartzok also seeks street performer types for pre-show entertainment and singers and/or stand-up comedians for after the shows. Those interested should contact her at (260) 375-7017.

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GILBERT & SULLIVAN AT FPT

Mark your calendars for First Presbyterian Theater's production of those most-performed Gilbert & Sullivan operetta THE MIKADO (pronounced "muh-KAH-doe"), opening May 31 with a $5 preview performance Thursday May 30. Don't let the word "operetta" scare you away. Those of you who saw PIRATES OF PENZANCE or RUDDIGORE in the past few years will remember the slapstick, the in-jokes, and the contemporary references added to enhance your viewing enjoyment. It may also be your only chance to hear the likes of an actual opera singer, Janice Fulbright, head of the music department at Huntington College, who reprises her role of the bloodthirsty villain Katisha, a role she sang with the D'Oyly Carte Opera -- the definitive G&S company. Theatre-goers will especially want to come for the "Little List" song, re-written by Chris Colcord, which takes light-hearted jabs at the other theaters in town. Don't get too angry, though. The First Pres production will be taking jabs at themselves, too.