The Green Room September 2003

Local actor/director Tad Atkinson is teaming up with Boe Powell, a former Ringling Brothers clown now residing in Fort Wayne, to form a production company called Escape Artist Productions. They will focus on producing a cable access program called DICE, which Atkinson describes as "RED GREEN and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE meets the science fiction/fantasy/gaming community." The program will likely appear on Channel 57. They also intend to produce and market specialty videos on clown training, acting, and special effects makeup. Currently, they are assembling a pool of writers and actors. "We will definitely have our regulars," says Atkinson, "but we'll also need some unique characters or semi-regular characters." Interested parties should contact him at (260) 486-8995.

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First Presbyterian Theater presents SPINNING INTO BUTTER, a stunningly frank, caustically humorous examination of race relations that explores the dangers of political correctness and the latent racism that lurks in the liberal heart. Set in a small college in Vermont, the school explodes when one of its few African-American students receives hate mail. The characters are forced to explore their feelings on race, providing surprising discoveries and painful insights. Directed by Thom Hofrichter and featuring Nancy Kartholl, David McCants, Brian Ernsberger, Rebecca Coar, Andrew Shade, Brian Hill, and Thomas Young, each performance will be followed by discussions moderated by a succession of IPFW faculty members, including Jeanette Clausen, Judi DiIorio, Chris Patterson, Jeannie Di Clementi, Geri Miller, Tom Stucky, Beverly Armour-Graves, Jeanette Clausen, and Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft.

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EPI will produce NUNSENSE A-MEN! September 20-28, 2003, at Trinity Episcopal Church. Directed by Christy Reising-Etter, this is only the fourth production of this show in the United States. Taking the show back to its original roots, the five nuns will be played by men. The show features Jeremy Hoy as Sister Robert Anne, a hip nun trying to find the spotlight; Kirby Volz as Reverend Mother Mary Regina; Eric Folks as the novice Sister Leo with a passion for ballet; Andrew Etter as the truly lost soul Sister Mary Amnesia; and Brent Blalock as Sister Hubert, Mistress of the Novices, who just hasn't been right since she was trampled by a camel during the Nativity pageant last year.

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The Huntington College Department of Theatre announces their 2003-04 season: FRESH FACES (September 25, 2003), HC^3 Improv Competition (October 4, 2003), THE LIFE OF GALILEO by Bertolt Brecht (October 9-11, 2003), OKLAHOMA! (November 20- 22, 2003), THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (January 30-February 6, 2004). Their spring drama, yet to be announced, will be February 26-28, 2004), and their yet-to-be-announced children's show will be April 15-17, 2004. They will also present a One Act Play Festival directed by Student Directors April 29-May 1, 2004.

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The IPFW Department of Theatre will hold dance, vocal and acting auditions for their upcoming fall production LOVE, PASSION AND REDEMPTION on Sunday, September 7 in Williams Theatre at 1:30 p.m. The production will be coordinated by Reuben Albaugh, with spoken word segments directed by Christine M. Feay, vocal music segments directed by Stefanie Ambrose and Melissa Dowty, and dance segments choreographed by Brittney Coughlin, Theresa Hornbacher, and Gary Lanier. The production will also feature guest artists from Hope College and will run October 24, 25, and 26, 2003.

Auditioning dancers will be given combinations in jazz, tap and ballet. Singers should prepare 16 bars and provide sheet music for the accompanist, and actors should bring a prepared 1-2 minute monologue.

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The IPFW Plogsterth Visual and Performing Arts Series presents JUDY & ME: THE ULTIMATE JUDY GARLAND TRIBUTE on September 13 and 14 in Williams Theatre. The cabaret is performed by Branson, Missouri's Rhonda Woods, hailed as one of the leading Judy Garland tribute artists in the nation. Woods' striking resemblance to Judy Garland and accurate vocal styling have garnered rave reviews. Tickets are $10 and Flex Pass members receive one free ticket for each membership.

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The IPFW School of Visual and Performing Arts will travel to see the 2:00 p.m. matinee of the musical HAIRSPRAY in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre at the Ford Center on Saturday, January 3, 2004. Tickets are $135.00 per person, due by Monday, October 13. For more information call (260) 481-6977.

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Upcoming events at the Scottish Rite Center include Frankie Valli, the Purdue Varsity Glee Club and the Temptations. Anyone interested in volunteering as an usher for concerts and other events should contact Samantha Teter at (260) 423-1395.

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Kandi Rowdabaugh will be married to her fiancé Andy Magner on September 20th, 2003. Kandi portrayed the Star To Be and Connie Boylan in last season's Civic Theatre production of ANNIE, and was nominated for an Anthony Award.

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Jennifer Poiry currently resides in the Chicago suburbs where she participates in local theatre.