‘What a way to make a livin’
The dreams of the everyday working woman are the grist of the hit 1980s musical, “9 to 5.”
Opening June 28, Stage Center will bring the stage version to life at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse on the Centenary College campus. Stage Center’s Artistic Director Jared Watson will direct. Music and lyrics for “9 to 5” were written by country music icon Dolly Parton and the book by Patricia Resnick.
If you weren’t yet born in the ’80s, don’t have late night movie channel access or have been marooned on a desert island somewhere since before “Castaway,” “9 to 5” is the story of three female co-workers who stage a coupde-testosterone in their company with hilarious results.
As Watson described it, “The musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era.”
The production stars Janin Jones Pou (Violet), Emma Foreman (Judy), Misty Shadd (Doralee), John Bogan (Franklin Hart Jr.), Cara Derrick (Roz) and Corey Shadd (Joe). Other cast members include Katy Allred, Mary Allred, Delia Caldwell, Jordan Denler, Katie Dupont, Nathan Gauthier, Cody Grif n, Leslie Hankins, Rachel Harris, Barbara Holmes, Jori Jackson, Mary King, Tamara Mayer, Meredith Oden, Jeff Parker, John Peyton Pou, Kezia Pigford, Saudia Scott, Josh Smoak, Le’Ambrial Thomas and Niles Watson.
The box of ce will open June 9. For tickets and information, call 218-9978.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. June 28-29 and July 5-6 and at 3 p.m. June 30 and July 7. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Rush ticketing will be available for students with I.D. ve minutes before each performance.
According to a release, after “9 to 5,” Stage Center will debut a concert series, “The Civil War,” at the First United Methodist Church’s Emmett Hook Center Aug. 1-3.
This summer the company’s School of Performing Arts will produce its “For Kids by Kids Summer Camp” including performances of “School House Rock Live!” In the fall, plans are to present a 50th anniversary production of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” at East Bank Theater.
BAC awarded grant The Bossier Arts Council has received an award from the Beaird Foundation Grant Program to help defray transportation costs for schools attending DigiFest South 2013. The event, scheduled for Sept. 20 and 21, is a digital art and media technology event showcasing artists in the region.
According to organizers, DigiFest began in 2012 to demonstrate that art education should be more than a school elective but also a key to a well-rounded education.
The Carolyn W. and Charles T. Beaird Family Foundation assists local organizations to “add opportunity, freedom of action and choice, self-betterment and a climate for change to the lives of the people they serve.”
For more information on DigiFest South, visit www. digifestsouth.com.
East Texas Performing Arts Less than an hour west of Shreveport, historic Jefferson, Texas, has just established a new nonpro t theater and performing arts company called East Texas Performing Arts.
Sara Whitaker is the founder of the group.
“The mission of East Texas Performing Arts is to provide educational opportunities to youth and adults in community theatre and music,” she said. “My goal is to reach out to folks who are terri ed of being in front of people and to experienced artists.”
She said her hope is to encourage them to get involved in the performing arts. “I feel a strong call to work with the youth of East Texas and provide creative opportunities for them to express themselves and grow,” she said.
The former DePaul University theater major said she hopes to teach acting classes for children, teenagers and adults in Jefferson.
During the rst 11 days of August, East Texas Performing Arts is scheduled to produce a performing arts festival. “August is a slow month for tourism, and this is a way to bring people to Jefferson,” Whitaker said. The event will be held at the Jefferson Transportation and Visitor Center in downtown Jefferson.
The lineup includes four days of music, “Bye Bye Birdie,” a one-act play for teenagers and a youth talent night where local children can perform on a stage with lights and sound. The participants will also get the opportunity to perform original material. Whitaker said she is interested in booking additional productions for the event. If you are interested or would like more information about the festival or East Texas Performing Arts, call 847-722-8798.
Joe Todaro may be reached at joetodaro@scribio.com.
