(L to R) Ron Davis as Dr. Neville Craven and Natalie Welch as Mary Lennox appearing in the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

(L to R) Cassandra Capocci as Martha, Natalie Welch as Mary Lennox, Tommy Evans as Colin Craven, Dan Hoy as Dickon and Gary Maher as Ben Weatherstaff appearing in the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

(L to R) Cassandra Capocci as Martha, Tommy Evans as Colin Craven and Natalie Welch as Mary Lennox appearing in the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

(L to R) Dan Hoy as Dickon and Natalie Welch as Mary Lennox appearing in the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

(L to R) Gary Maher as Ben Weatherstaff and Natalie Welch as Mary Lennox appearing in the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

(L to R) Greg Emanuelson as Archibald Craven and Tommy Evans as Colin Craven appearing in the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

The cast of the Hudson Players current production of “The Secret Garden”. This Tony Award winning soaring musical journey runs May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at the Barlow Community Center in Hudson. Tickets are available at www.hudsonplayers.com or via phone at 330-655-8522.

The classic children’s story, blended with award winning music. Living in a lonely manor house in 1906 England, Archibald Craven yearns for his beautiful, late wife. He blames his crippled son, Colin, for his wife’s death and has left him neglected and isolated. Their quiet routine is turned upside down when young Mary Lennox, a rich, spoiled child, is sent to live with them following the death of her parents by cholera in India. While living at the manor house, Mary discovers a secret walled garden hidden in the grounds and releases the magic and adventures locked inside, changing their lives

Winner of 3 Tony Awards including Best Book!

That’s a $42 value for only $28. Each season package provides you with one ticket to each of our three main productions. You can reserve your seats up front, but as a season ticket holder you also have the option to change your seats or selected performance dates at any time for no additional charge! Also, season ticket holder will be able to purchase tickets to our special holiday productions for the discounted price of $12 (that’s a $2 per ticket savings).

Get your season tickets today for great shows, great times and a great way to save!

BUY TICKETS

(Our Dinner and Show package is also available at a discounted season rate. Simple click here for more information or call 330-655-8522 to purchase.)

A Splashy, Zippy, Fun New Musical Comedy

Auditions November 20th & 21st, 7pm

February 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24 & 25, 2012
By Michael Heitzman, Ilene Reid & David Holcenberg

Get your game cards ready. Bingo, is “a winning new musical” that allows audiences to play along with the game of chance, Bingo mixes character songs, quirky contestants, romance and rivalry into an interactive, presentational contest — all during a fierce hurricane.

In this environmental musical comedy, the audience gets to join in the Bingo game at Hamerin County’s St. Luke’s Church basement, where they will meet, among others, Vern, Honey and Patsy: three pals that have driven through Hurricane Dora in the name of their weekly obsession. In between the number calling, strange rituals and fierce competitions, love blossoms and estranged friends reunite, sending everyone home a winner.

Bingo has a book by Michael Heitzman and Ilene Reid; lyrics and music by Heitzman, Reid and David Holcenberg, Writers Heitzman and Reid co-wrote the song “Throw That Girl Around” from the Grammy Award-nominated Broadway show, Swing!

“Hilarious and Inventive” LA Weekly

“A Fun, Cheerful and Witty New Show With Songs to Bring Down the House!” Los Angeles Times

“Extremely Funny and Whimsical. Bingo creates a hilarious portrait of a peculiar event, much in the way “Spelling Bee” did for Elementary School Spellers” Associated Press

Hudson Players Announce Auditions for the Tony Award WinningMusical Classic “Secret Garden”

February 19th & 20th @ 7:30 p.m

The Hudson Players will hold auditions for the Tony Award winning musical classic Secret Garden on February 19^th & 20^th (a significant size chorus is being sought in addition to all speaking roles). Auditions are being held at 7:30 p.m. at the Barlow Community Center at 41 S. Oviatt St in Hudson. All roles are available with interested crew and production team members (publicity, set, props, costumes, sound, lights, etc) also being sought. Auditions are open to all with no restrictions and no appointments are required. Those auditioning will be asked to bring a prepared song (preferable not from the show) and to be prepared to read from the script and do a small movement exercise. While not required at auditions, all roles will require a British accent with the roles of Martha and Dickon requiring a Cockney accent. More information is available at www.hudsonplayers.com, by emailing info@hudsonplayers.com or by calling 330-655-8522. Perusal scripts are also available at the Hudson Library. Secret Garden is written by: Marsha Norman with music by: Lucy Simon.

Performances are scheduled for April 27 & 28, May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 (matinee), 18 & 19, and the show will be directed by Claudia Lillibridge with music direction by Roger Clary.

Secret Garden is based on the classic children’s story, blended with award winning music. Living in a lonely manor house in 1906 England, Archibald Craven yearns for his beautiful, late wife. He blames his crippled son, Colin, for his wife’s death and has left him neglected and isolated. Their quiet routine is turned upside down when young Mary Lennox, a rich, spoiled child, is sent to live with them following the death of her parents by cholera in India. While living at the manor house, Mary discovers a secret walled garden hidden in the grounds and releases the magic and adventures locked inside, changing their lives. Winner of 3 Tony Awards including Best Book!

““Elegant, entrancing…The best American musical of the Broadway season.”-Time

“A splendid, intelligent musical…It’s all you can hope for in children’s theatre. But the best surprise is that this show is the most adult new musical of the season.”- USA Today

“A many splendored children’s fable that neither cloys or loses grip on its unique spell.”-Newsday

The Roles (ages are very approximate and could vary widely in actual casting):
Mary Lennox (female)    Age: 10-14        Mezzo
Archibald Craven (male) Age: 35-45        Tenor
Colin Craven (male)       Age: 10-14        Soprano
Lily Craven (female)       Age: 26-37        Soprano
Dr. Neville Craven (male)            Age: 25-40        Baritone
Martha (female) Age: 18-30        Mezzo
Dixon (male)     Age: 16-28        Tenor
Rose (female)   Age: 21-35        Mezzo
Albert (male)     Age: 30-45        Tenor
Ben Weatherstaff (male)            Age: 40-65        Tenor
Mrs. Medlock    (female)            Age: 30-45        Spoken
Ayah (female)    Age: 21-40        Alto
Fakir (male)       Age: 25-40        Tenor
There are also many other assorted roles and chorus members.

Hudson Players Announce Auditions for

The Splashy, Fun New Musical Comedy  -  “Bingo! – The Musical”

Hudson’s Community Theater to Hold Open Auditions November 20 & 21

The Hudson Players will hold auditions for BINGO! The Musical a splashy, zippy, fun, new, winning musical comedy by Michael Heitzman, Ilene Reid and David Holcenberg, on November 20^th & 21^st at 7 p.m. at the Barlow Community Center at 41 S. Oviatt St in Hudson. All roles are available with interested crew and production team members (publicity, set, props, costumes, sound, lights, etc) also being sought. Auditions are open to all with no restrictions. Those auditioning will be asked to bring a prepared song (preferable not from the show) and to be prepared to read from the script. More information is available at www.hudsonplayers.com, by emailing info@hudsonplayers.com or by calling 330-655-8522. Perusal scripts are also available at the Hudson Library. The show, is a light-hearted story about three female pals who risk hurricane warnings for their weekly Bingo outing.  Hilariously full of silliness and fun,BINGO! The Musical has had productions all over the world

Performances are scheduled for February 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24 & 25, and the show will be directed by Marc Howard. Roles are available for 1 man and 6 women.

The Story: Get your game cards ready. BINGO!, is “a winning new musical” that allows audiences to play along with the game of chance, BINGO! The Musical mixes character songs, quirky contestants, romance and rivalry into an interactive, presentational contest — all during a fierce hurricane. In this environmental musical comedy, the audience gets to join in the Bingo game at Hamerin County’s St. Luke’s Church basement, where they will meet, among others, Vern, Honey and Patsy: three pals that have driven through Hurricane Dora in the name of their weekly obsession. In between the number calling, strange rituals and fierce competitions, love blossoms and estranged friends reunite, sending everyone home a winner. BINGO! is not only a musical comedy; it’s a study in friendship and the devotion – or lack thereof – of people who played and talked together for years. It’s an opportunity for us to see how people can know so much about one another and yet, during the course of an evening, realize how much more they need to learn. Of course it’s also an opportunity for the audience to play some Bingo, hear great music and laugh…a lot.

The Roles (ages are approximate and could vary in actual casting):

MALES: Sam, (40’s,) is the Bingo caller; he is tall, rugged and handsome.  He loves his job and takes it seriously; the only thing that can distract him is Honey, the woman of his dreams.  In flashbacks, he doubles as “Frank”, a Bingo employee.

FEMALES:  Vern, (40’s,) is the matriarch of the group.  She is funny, robust, stubborn and crusty, but with a good heart buried beneath her gruff exterior.  Patsy, (40’s,) is somewhat mousey, neurotic and obsessively superstitious; yet underneath her anxious exterior lies a rock star who can let it rip!  Honey, (40’s,) is leggy and beautiful but perhaps a little bit past her prime.  She’s a loveable sex kitten if not the brightest of bulbs.  Minnie, (60’s,) is the friendly bingo hall manager; she’s everyone’s favorite, cute and cuddly grandma.  She may be cast as the oldest in the group, but is still spry and quick on her feet.  This actor must be extremely comfortable interacting and improvising with the audience and possess a good, warm energy.  Bernice Boodalay, (40’s,) is a super mom, genuinely sweet and cheerful.  She’s the peacemaker and pie baker, spreading sunshine wherever she goes.  Maybe a little bit passive-aggressive with her friends.  Alison Boodalay (20’s,) is Bernice’s daughter and is fresh-faced, comedic, driven, passionate, optimistic, perky and quirky.  She is a young character woman in an ingenue’s body.

The Hudson Players are an all volunteer non-profit community theater organization and one of the longest running theater troupes in the area. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with a variety of tasks including publicity, poster distribution, set building, costumes and more. Additional information is available at www.hudsonplayers.com, by emailing info@hudsonplayers.com or by calling 330-655-8522.

The Tony Award Winning Soaring Musical Journey

Auditions
Children ONLY February 12th & 13th, 7:30pm
Adults February 19th & 20th, 7:30pm

April 27, 28, May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 2012
Written by: Marsha Norman, Music by: Lucy Simon

The classic children’s story, blended with award winning music. Living in a lonely manor house in 1906 England, Archibald Craven yearns for his beautiful, late wife. He blames his crippled son, Colin, for his wife’s death and has left him neglected and isolated. Their quiet routine is turned upside down when young Mary Lennox, a rich, spoiled child, is sent to live with them following the death of her parents by cholera in India. While living at the manor house, Mary discovers a secret walled garden hidden in the grounds and releases the magic and adventures locked inside, changing their lives

Winner of 3 Tony Awards including Best Book!

““Elegant, entrancing…The best American musical of the Broadway season.”-Time

“A splendid, intelligent musical…It’s all you can hope for in children’s theatre. But the best surprise is that this show is the most adult new musical of the season.”- USA Today

“A many splendored children’s fable that neither cloys or loses grip on its unique spell.”-Newsday

“Drowsy Chaparone” is the hilarious tale of a pampered Broadway starlet and her debonair fiance, an overzealous producer, a dizzy chorine, the Latin lover and a couple of bumbling gangsters. Ruses are played.   Hi-jinks occur. And the plot spins everyone into musical comedy euphoria.

It all begins when a die-hard musical fan plays his favorite cast album, a 1928 smash hit called “The Drowsy Chaperone”. As he begins listening to the rare cast recording, the show cleverly and magically blooms to life. People tap dance for no reason, gangsters pretend to be pastry chefs and a pilot invites a group of strangers to accompany her on a trip to Rio.

It’s all ridiculous but that’s what makes it so fun. The show affectionately sends up the silly things that happen in old fashioned musicals.

It won five Tony Awards in 2006, including honors for best book, best score and best featured actress in a musical.

Tickets: (BUY TICKETS)
$14.00 — Regular Admission
$12.00 — For Students & Senior Citizens

The Hudson Players will wrap up our 66^th season with a general meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at the Barlow Community Center on Sunday, May 22. At the meeting new board members will be elected, the 66^th season will be looked back on, great efforts will be recognized and our 2^nd Annual Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented. While the meeting promises to be brief, it is important so all members are encouraged and asked to come, cast their vote (or even volunteer for the board or a committee) and recognize and applaud our volunteer of the year. Afterwards, in appreciation for your attendance and as a celebration of our great season and volunteers, all members in attendance will be invited to Old Whedon Grill for a great spread of free food to celebrate yet another successful season and talk about the great one upcoming.

Please join us as we look forward to seeing you there!

A Laugh Out Loud Apocalyptical Comedy

November 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2011
By Bruce Graham

The world is coming to an end. You have one day left. What do you do?

This is the question tackled by Bruce Graham’s apocalyptic comedy/drama, EARLY ONE EVENING AT THE RAINBOW BAR & GRILLE. Forget mass hysteria and anarchy in the streets. If your name is Shep and you tend a bar in western Pennsylvania, it’s one last day of business and some rather odd decisions.

Graham’s intelligent and humorous script keeps everything low-key. The reason for Armageddon is mostly left ambiguous, other than it appears to be manmade. That’s not the focus of the play. Instead, we zero in on a well defined group of strangely upbeat small town folk as they unceremoniously and humorously come to grips with their impending doom.

We encounter the characters through their interactions with easy going bartender, Shep. There’s Roy, the fireman who’s playing one last winner-take-all hand of cards; Willy, the local marksman who’s intent on offing his dentist before the end arrives; Shirley, the barmaid who wants to have a wild goodbye fling; Bullard, the traveling salesman who’s in denial and is just passing through; and Virginia, the high school gym teacher who’s determined to head out west to be with family.

Then God walks into the bar. Yes, it sounds like the setup for a bad joke, but that’s exactly what happens…or is it? He seems to know a little about everyone and approaches Shep with an offer that is out of this world.

Funny, witty and intelligent with a surprisingly upbeat end.

“Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grille” is a serio-comic tale of love, death, rebirth, and a very strange book deal.”

“The preposterous, but often affecting and almost always hilarious proceedings are peppered by visual shtick and one liners.” Variety.