Sex Comes Later....

A message from Bruce Miller regarding Sex - actually regarding the upcoming show No Sex Please, We're British:
Bruce Miller, Artistic Director of Barksdale Theatre and director of No Sex Please, We're British, announced this morning that he is canceling the first week of No Sex and postponing the opening to Thursday, May 4. Within the scheduled three-week rehearsal period, approximately half of the rehearsals have been cancelled due to cast illness and other conflicts. "No Sex Please requires a great deal of fast comic precision," Miller says, "and it's impossible to carry out these antics safely without adequate rehearsal." Barksdale is sending $10 vouchers to all those who hold tickets for the cancelled performances. The vouchers are good for any upcoming performances at Barksdale Hanover Tavern, Barksdale Willow Lawn, Barksdale at Steward School, and Theatre IV. Barksdale's production of Syringa Tree and Theatre IV's production of Beauty and the Beast are both opening this evening as scheduled. Ticket holders for the cancelled performances of No Sex Please will be rescheduled into the performance of their choice later in the run. In addition to letters being mailed today, the Box Office will begin calling ticket holders tomorrow with news of the cancellations.

I'm looking forward to catching this production no matter when it arrives to Barksdale. Nice to know that actors are human, too, I wish everyone good health through closing.

Categories: openings_events

Upcoming Theatre Events:

April 21-28 openings:
Barksdale Theatre... The Syringa Tree, playing through May 21
Firehouse Theatre Company... Dinner with Friends, April 27-May 30
Reflections Repertory Company... The Traveling Sisters (Benefit performance), April 28-30
Richmond Triangle Players... The Stops, playing through May 13
Theatre IV... Beauty and the Beast, playing through May 14

If I missed something opening this week or next, let me know!

Categories: openings_events

Open Captioning at "Amadeus"

I know it is "old news" as the RTD announced it on Sunday the 9th, but I still think it is cool - University of Richmond Players will have Open Captioning for their matinee performance of Amadeus on Saturday, 4/22, at 2pm. I hope the word gets out and some people who may not normally attend theatre in the Richmond area have a chance to experience this amazing performance space. I've seen the show, the technical elements are top notch, Michael Goodwin and "J.L. Fulcher" are truly playing at their best, and the students are quite good, too. If you have never experienced an Open Caption show, I recommend trying to get out and support this production. Maybe if more people attend, we can all benefit in the long run by finding funding so every theatre in town can have at least one Open Caption performance per run.

Wouldn't it be great to expand theatre audiences in a whole new direction?

Read the entire RTD "On the Aisle" about Open Captioning at UR here.

Categories: general_theatre

Sycamore Rouge is Shaking up Petersburg

I've been reading email updates from Sycamore Rouge in Downtown Petersburg for awhile and I have to say that I am truly impressed. They have a new opportunity you should take advantage of - free tickets to everyone who has never been there yet. Here is the explanation from their email:

"Have you told EVERYONE YOU KNOW about Sycamore Rouge??? We’re about to unveil a big—I mean BIG—campaign to give the world a taste of this place. I won’t go into details now, but I don’t mind quietly mentioning that it does involve…A FREE FIRST TICKET TO SYCAMORE ROUGE FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE ENTIRE WOLRD. …so you really should tell your friends. They’ll thank you. They’ll love you. They’ll think you’re too cool for school."

The message goes on a bit more to describe some of their upcoming events. Lots of good stuff, I recommend giving it a shot. After all, you have nothing to lose!

Visit their website for more information, Sycamore Rouge.

Oh yes, and if you happen to be seeking employment, I hear they are currently taking applications for a Managing Director.

Categories: theatre_companies

Jim Hillgartner - One of Richmond's Very Best!

The thing about living in Richmond is that there really are some truly fine actors, directors, designers, musicians, and other talent that it takes to create theatre. I love living here. I love the variety of performing arts, and I'm particularly fond of the theatre here.

One of my very favorite actors for many years has always been Jim Hillgartner. I do not care what play he is in, I'm there, front and center. The man can really hold your attention, and it seems from what I've heard that he is kind, intelligent and very giving. Well, you cannot ask for better than all those traits added in with his superb skill.

And on top of that, I saw him at many theatre events. What are the chances that I happened to go to the theatre on the same night as Jim on many occasions? This just goes to show that he really must have supported local theatre. Classy guy, that Jim Hillgartner.

Last evening, we lost this amazing person. Richmond theatre just will not be the same.

I'm glad I was able to see him in many performances - I think my favorite was in Pirates of Penzance at TheatreVirginia. I know that we are all saddened by this great loss. But Jim is a part of all of us - those who have seen him and worked with him - and we shall try our best to carry on his grand tradition of fine acting and supportive audience member.

Here's to Jim!

(For a bio and photo of Jim, go to this link for Heritage Repertory, and click "Jim Hillgartner" - and then there is a great photo of Jim with Lorna Luft from the UR Players production of Gypsy.)

UPDATE: RTD Obituary - note that a tribute to Jim is planned for May 21

UPDATE: There is a very nice insert tribute to Jim in the Amadeus playbill (running through Sunday 4/23 at UR).

UPDATE: Barksdale's The Syringa Tree has been dedicated to Jim's memory.

Categories: general_theatre, theatre_people

2005 ART Newsletter

By popular demand... Okay, only the ART staff requested it, but here are jpg files from the the 2005 ART Newsletter: (Note, blogger isn't fond of pdf files. These images are not as clear as we'd like. If you'd like a clean pdf copy of your very own - email us.)









Categories: yearly_newsletters

ART = Appreciating Richmond Theatre

Early each year we here at ART have an open forum ballot system where anyone who loves theatre in Richmond can vote on their favorites in a newsletter produced each March. Everything from actors to set design to sound.... and a whole bunch of wonderful stuff in between. At the end of the ballot process, we do the math and present who you voted for as the best of the year.

We do not write reviews here at ART. Instead, we want to focus on theatre news and updates. Offer a forum for thought and discussion. We happily (and expectantly) take open forum comments of any type - we do reserve the right to edit as necessary. We also reserve the right to refuse comments or suggestions if they become negative or inflammatory.

Please send comments, suggestions, ideas, brainstorms, whatever to us via this blog or at art_richmond@yahoo.com.

Remember, the ART Newsletter is about CELEBRATING what is wonderful about theatre - and the theatre community - in Richmond, Virginia.

Happy Blogging!

Categories: general_theatre