Posted on: Saturday, August 9, 2008
Army theater group revises season lineup
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Army Community Theatre has revised its 2008-09 season, beginning this fall, by adding the recent Broadway musical hit, "Curtains."
"Curtains" replaces the previously announced "Chicago" and will be the Honolulu premiere of the Tony Award-winning hit, featuring music by John Kander and Fred Ebb, who collaborated on "Chicago."
ACT's four-musical slate will include a backstage whodunit, British pickpockets, aspiring high school youths and even Adam and Eve.
All performances will be staged at Richardson Theatre at Fort Shafter.
The revised schedule:
"Oliver!" a musical by Lionel Bart based on Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," Sept. 4-6, 12-13 and 19-20. Set in London of the 1850s, the story is about an orphan (Oliver) who runs away from an orphanage and links with a group of mates trained by an elderly mentor (Fagin) to be pickpockets. The score includes such tunes as "Consider Yourself," "Who Will Buy," "Where Is Love?" and "As Long As He Needs Me." The show's "Please sir, I want more" has emerged as a memorable quote. Auditions: July 7-9.
"High School Musical," the Disney musical based on the Disney Channel original film by Peter Barsocchini and a youth favorite from the get-go, Nov. 20-22, 28-29 and Dec. 5-6. Set during a winter break at East High School, the show focuses on Troy, a basketball player, and the academically inclined Gabriella, who audition for a campus musical. Hits emerging from the score include "We're All in This Together," "Start of Something New" and "Breaking Free." Auditions: Sept. 8-10.
"Curtains," with book by Rupert Holmes, Feb. 26-28 and March 6-7 and 13-14. Set backstage at Boston's Colonial Theatre, the cast hopes for a Broadway smash but is saddled with an untalented leading lady, who dies opening night during the curtain call. A detective is summoned and he hopes for a hit while trying to solve the crime. Vanita Rae Smith will direct, Grace Bell Humerickhouse will choreograph. Auditions: Dec. 1-3.
"Children of Eden," a musical by Stephen Schwartz, with book by John Caird, May 7-9, 15-16 and 22-23. Loosely based on the Book of Genesis, this show is the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and the tale of Noah, told in family-friendly manner without a specific religious perspective. It has been produced on the London stage but never on the Broadway scene. Auditions: March 9-11.
ACT also presents a Sunday@2 Matinee Readers Theatre on the main stage, in concert with the production under way. The schedule:
"Dante's Inferno," Sept. 7, 14 and 21.
"Paradise Lost," Nov. 23, 30 and Dec. 7.
"God's Trombone," March 1, 8 and 15.
"Leaves of Grass," May 10, 17 and 24.
For information: 438-4480, www.armytheatre.com.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
