21 Mar 2014

Auditions for Area Musicians and Children

By James Beaudry

Mount Carroll, IL--Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional, non-profit summer theatre of northwest Illinois, will hold auditions for qualified musicians for their summer season on Sunday, April 27th at 2:00 pm at the theatre in Mount Carroll, Illinois.  Auditions for children for the theatre's upcoming production of Les Miserables will follow at 4:00 pm.

The 53rd summer season of Timber Lake Playhouse will include the musicals Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, Les Miserable and Shout! The Mod Musical. All musicals at TLP utilize paid area musicians. Auditions for Bass (upright & electric), Woodwinds, Percussion, Guitar, Brass and Strings will begin at 2:00 pm. Musicians will be seen in 10 minute appointments. They should be prepared to play a selection of their choosing. They might be asked to sight read from one of the shows. For an appointment, please call the theatre at 815-244-2035. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd in Mount Carroll. Performance dates and rehearsal schedules can be found at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

Auditions for the roles of Gavroche, Young Cosette and Young Eponine in Les Miserables will begin at 4:00 pm. The playhouse is seeking a boy aged 8-12 for Gavroche who is a very strong singer and is comfortable on stage. Girls ages 8-10, who are strong singers and very comfortable on stage are encouraged to audition for Young Cosette and Young Eponine. All children should bring a song to sing in the style of the show. They may sing from the show, as well. An accompanist will be provided. These roles are not paid, but a travel stipend may be arranged. All ethnicities are encouraged to attend. Please call the theatre at 815-244-2035 to sign up for auditions.

Additional auditions for children for Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and adults for Young Frankenstein will be held in May. Performers and musicians must be available for all scheduled performances and rehearsals. More information is available at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Timber Lake Playhouse programs are supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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26 Jul 2013

Monty Python's SPAMALOT Finds Its Grail at TLP

By James Beaudry

Mount Carroll--Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) presents the area premier of Monty Python's SPAMALOT, a Tony Award winning musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  The show that "raises silliness to an artform" (The Sunday Times), will open August 1, 2013 and run through August 11th.

A huge hit with a long run on Broadway and three national tours, SPAMALOT retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, their quest for the Holy Grail and features a ridiculous bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people. Did we mention the bevy of beautiful show girls? SPAMALOT's pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago sold out it's entire run before it began in late 2004.

The show that the New York Times calls a "no-holds-barred smash hit," stars John Chase of Mount Morris, IL as King Arthur. He has previously been seen at TLP in Working, Sunset Boulevard and Oklahoma!. Sharriese Hamilton (Working, ...Spelling Bee) takes on the Tony Award winning role of The Lady of the Lake, Brandon Jess Ford (All Shook Up, Sunset Boulevard, Boeing Boeing) returns to play Sir Lancelot, and Executive Director James Beaudry returns to the TLP stage in the role of Brave Sir Robin. Featured in the cast are Brandyn Day (Baldwin Wallace University) as Sir Galahad, Cody Jolly (Webster University) as The Historian, Elliot Marach (Millikin University) as Sir Bedevere and Matthew Webb (Savannah College of Art and Design) as Patsy. The resident company fills out the ensemble.

Monty Python's SPAMALOT performs evenings at 7:30pm, and there are 2pm matinees on Sunday and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on the opening weekend at 3pm. Order tickets through the box office 10am - 5pm daily at 815-244-2035 or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. SPAM® is a registered trademark of Hormel Foods Corporation.

Gold Series Subscriptions for TLP's 53rd Season also go on sale August 1 online and through the box office. Summer 2014 brings a thrilling line-up that includes Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, and the local premier of the most popular musical of all time, Les Miserables. The rest of the season includes the plays An Inspector Calls, a ghost story by J. B. Priestley, and Neil Simon's Rumors. The summer will close with a revue of 60s hits called SHOUT! The Mod Musical.

The only way to reserve seats immediately for next summer is by purchasing a season subscription, which allows you to see all six shows for only $100, an unbelievable 28% discount! Subscription prices increase to $110 on September 1. Single tickets for TLP's 2014 mainstage season will go on sale in May 2014. Groups of 15 or more may reserve blocks of tickets immediately. All Magic Owl Children's Theatre tickets are available August 1st. Tickets are non-refundable.

Waiting in the wings for the Magic Owl Children's Theatre are a new adaptation of Robin Hood in May and Pinkalicious the Musical in July and August, based on the ever-popular children's books by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann. More information will be available August 1 at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.


Production Credits:

Timber Lake Playhouse presents

Monty Python's SPAMALOT

Book & Lyrics by ERIC IDLE

Music by JOHN DU PREZ & ERIC IDLE

A new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

From the original screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Directed by Derek Bertelsen

Monty Python's SPAMALOT

is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by THEATRICAL RIGHTS WORLDWIDE

570 7th Ave. Suite 2100, New York, New York 10018

(866)-378-9758

www.theatricalrights.com

This program is partially supported by a grant for the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.


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15 Jul 2013

'Unnecessary Farce' Cracks Up at TLP

By James Beaudry

Mount Carroll, IL-- Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) will present the area premiere of the acclaimed new comedy, Unnecessary Farce by Paul Slade Smith, July 18-27. Lili-Anne Brown, Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, returns to direct the shenanigans after past TLP hits Cabaret, Sweet Charity and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

A hit around the country since its midwestern premiere in 2006, the play has been called, "A smash hit! Two hours of non-stop laughter. The plot weaves you through mix-ups and mayhem you won't believe. This is one funny show that you don't want to miss."

Set in two adjoining hotel rooms in an economy motel, Unnecessary Farce follows two inexperienced police officers on a sting operation during which they must secretly videotape the mayor and his accountant with the hopes of uncovering an embezzlement scheme. Thrown into the mix are the mayor's kindly wife and his nervous security guard, who warns the accountant not to mention the money or suffer dire consequences.

Celebrated TLP resident performers make up the cast. Hannah-Jo Weisberg (Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn in The Music Man) plays Officer Billie Dwyer with Alex Johnson (Don in A Chorus Line) as Officer Eric Sheridan. Karen, the unwitting accountant, is played by Sarah Larson (Marian in The Music Man) and Matthew C. Webb (Mayor Shinn in The Music Man) earns a second term playing Mayor Meekly. Mrs. Meekly is played by Erica Stephan (Ariel in last summer's Footloose), Agent Frank is Brandyn Day (who will also play Sir Galahad in TLP's upcoming Spamalot), and Cody Jolly (Harold Hill in The Music Man) is Todd.

Director Brown said, "When I saw one of the first productions of the show at Peninsula Players in Door County, I knew I wanted to do the play at Timber Lake someday. There aren't a lot of American farces, and this one has such relatable characters (and eight doors!), you feel like you know these people--and you hope you're NEVER in the situations they're in!"

Unnecessary Farce runs July 18-27 for 11 performances only. Showtimes are evenings at 7:30 with matinees Saturday, July 20 at 3:00 pm, Sunday, July 21 at 2:00 pm and Wednesday, July 24 at 2:00 pm. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Tickets are $15-23 and are available at the box office, by calling 815-244-2035 or visiting www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

Following Unnecessary Farce, TLP will present the regional premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot (lovingly ripped off of the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail) August 1-11. Seussical, based on the books of Dr. Seuss, will be presented for children August 6, 8, 9 and 10. All tickets to Seussical are only $6. The 52nd Season at Timber Lake closes with 'SWonderful: The New Gershwin Musical Revue August 15-25.

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09 Jul 2013

'SEUSSICAL' Brings Beloved Books To Life

By James Beaudry

Mount Carroll, IL-- The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) presents an hour-long version of Seussical, a musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss July 9, 11, 12 and 13 at 2:00 pm. All tickets for Magic Owl shows are only $6.00 and partially sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Each year, these subsidized Magic Owl shows introduce thousands of young people to the joy and magic of live theatre.

Seussical tells the stories of Horton, the elephant, who finds an entire planet of Whos on a small speck of dust, Gertrude McFuzz who longs for Horton and a bigger tail, Mayzie La Bird who convinces Horton to sit on her egg and The Cat in The Hat, who plays tricks as these stories intertwine into one adventure for the characters and the audience. The show also includes references to such Dr. Seuss classics as How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Butter Battle Book, McElligot's Pool, Oh, The Places You'll Go, The Sneetches and The Lorax.

In April, with the help of the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District, TLP gave away 1000 small trees at the Sauk Valley Children's Fair as part of the company Do Something Spectacular campaign. Kids who planted the trees, like the main character in The Lorax, and sent in pictures received free tickets to the show. The Do Something Spectacular Campaign is designed to use the stories happening on stage at TLP to inspire creativity and community involvement in the region.

The cast of Seussical includes members of TLP's professional resident company from all over the country. Will Boze of Sterling, Illinois also stars as Jojo, the young thinker who thinks up the entire adventure.

Seussical has additional performances August 6, 8, 9 and 10 at 11:00 a.m. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Tickets are $6.00 and are available at the box office, by calling 815-244-2035 or visiting www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. The show is appropriate for all ages. Early reservations are suggested, as many Magic Owl shows sell out.

Production Credits:

The Magic Owl Children's Theatre

at Timber Lake Playhouse

SEUSSICAL

Book by  Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty

Music by  Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by  Lynn Ahrens

Co-Conceived by  Eric Idle

Based on the works of Dr. Seuss

Direction and Choreography by James Beaudry

SEUSSICAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also provided by MTI.

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24 Jun 2013

Youth Theatre Workshops at Timber Lake Playhouse

By James Beaudry

Mount Carroll, IL-- Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) will host its annual week-long theatre immersion workshops for teens July 15-19 in Mount Carroll. A one-day workshop for children ages 8-12 will be offered on Saturday July 13. Each year, 20 teens experience intensives in acting, dance, creative writing, theatrical design and improvisation. The program is taught by TLP company members who are also dance and theatre teachers. The week culminates with an original performance incorporating all of the elements covered in the workshops.

This year's teachers include Cameron Turner, an award winning dance teacher in the Chicagoland area,  and Joseph Capstick, who teachers both acting and dance. Executive director, James Beaudry, who has taught in both New York and Chicago, oversees the program.

Classes are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The all-inclusive price is only $125 for the week. This includes a prepared lunch every day. Teens are given the chance to work with the resident company and experience "behind the scenes" of a working professional theatre. Additional classes are held across the street at Timber Lake Resort. Each student will receive a complimentary ticket Monty Python's Spamalot, which runs from August 1-11.

The one-day workshop for kids is only $25. That program runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a ticket to TLP's 2 p.m. production of Seussical, a musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss.

To sign up for the either the week-long (July 15-19) or one-day (July 13) workshop, call 815-244-2035 or email boxoffice@timberlakeplayhouse.org. Space is limited. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Additional tickets to Seussical may be purchased at $6. Additional tickets for Monty Python's Spamalot are $15-$23. For more information, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org

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