Cynthia Smyth-Wartzok and Ron Wartzok announce the 2004 season for the Pulse Opera House in Warren. Diary of Anne Frank: February 27-28; ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (Auditions March 1): April 23-24, 29-May 1, 6-8; A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Auditions May 3-4): July 9- 10, 15-17, 22-24, School Tours: October 22 (Rustics & Fairies only); THE FANTASTICKS (March 2-3): September 17-18, 23-25, 30-October 2; ICTL Festival: March 12-14 in Terre Haute; Arts Festival: May 14-15; International Festival in Fellbach Germany: November 24-28; Playwright’s Reading (Denise Buhr & Chris Hoover): TBD

=====

ARENA DINNER THEATRE AUDITIONS: "CAUGHT IN THE NET"

Award-winning director Christopher J. Murphy will hold auditions for the Ray Cooney farce CAUGHT IN THE NET (RUN FOR YOUR WIFE 2) at the Arena Dinner Theatre rehearsal hall on January 18 & 19 at 7:00 p.m. The play opened at the Vaudeville Theatre, London in 2001. It subsequently had its U.S. premiere at the prestigious Coconut Grove Playhouse featuring Harry Groener, Paxton Whitehead, and Tony Randall.

RUN FOR YOUR WIFE was the story of London taxi driver John Smith and his desperate struggle to keep the secret of his two wives from being exposed. CAUGHT IN THE NET finds John's happy, if unorthodox, family life disrupted again years later when his teenage daughter (with wife Mary) and teenage son (with wife Barbara) meet on the internet and, having so much in common, decide to see one another in person. Complications ensue as John frantically tries to keep the two apart. To that end, he again enlists the reluctant help of his best friend, Stanley. But Stanley is about to go on holiday with his decrepit old father, who turns up thinking he is already at the guest house. The ever-spiralling situation gets increasingly and hilariously out of hand as John and Stanley use every device they can think of to keep the two families apart.

Actors sought include two middle-aged men, two middle-aged women, a teenage boy, a teenage girl, and an older man. Rehearsals will be January 26 through February 25; Mondays-Thursdays and some Fridays, from 7:00-10:00 p.m. and some Sundays, late afternoon/early evening. Performances run February 26- 28, March 4- 6, and 12-13.

Contact Christopher Murphy at Murphy27A@aol.com or (260) 413-5896
for more information or to borrow a script.

=====

Acting and singing isn't the only hobby local "theatre people" enjoy. After a year of study, local actor/attorney Catherine Christoff and her daughter Julia have attained their yellow belts in karate. "This is the first solid belt," Cathy says. "It takes about ten years to get a black belt so I'll be really old if I ever get there." She says that karate has been a wonderful experience for her and her daughter. "I've made a whole new family of friends and it's [been great for] my relationship with Julia too."