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.

Are you feeling Naughty or Nice this Christmas Season? Looking for something traditional, or perhaps something different and slightly irreverent? You’re covered in either case as the Hudson Players present two holiday shows this season.

An Humorous Edgy Holiday Saga

December 2 & 3, 2011
By Jeff Goode

This is not the Santa you’ve come to know and love. But don’t take my word for it, hear it straight from the, er, Reindeers’ mouths. “All those rumors you’ve heard about him and the elves? About Rudolph’s little secret? About Vixen’s story that was leaked to the press? Yes, the reindeer finally speak up and — believe us — they do not hold back!” Each of “The Eight” take their turn on stage as they tell their story. The dark comedy will have you rolling in the isles during the show and talking about all the topical issues it stirs up over drinks later. A cross between Scrooged and The Accused, the Eight will give an alternative to those adults looking for something different this holiday.

**CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE AND SITUATIONS – Not Recommended for Children**

“It’s really a metaphor for the troubled times in which we live and the disturbingly common problem of sexual harassment in the workplace. It’s about appearances and perceptions, truth and justice. Playwright Jeff Goode wrote the play after a high-ranking official of Chicago’s Catholic church was accused of sexual misconduct, tearing apart the congregation.” – Karen Feldman, The News-Press

Excellent thought provoking. — Dramalogue Magazine

Arrestingly funny. — Village Voice

An Humorous Edgy Holiday Saga

December 2 & 3, 2011
By Jeff Goode

This is not the Santa you’ve come to know and love. But don’t take my word for it, hear it straight from the, er, Reindeers’ mouths. “All those rumors you’ve heard about him and the elves? About Rudolph’s little secret? About Vixen’s story that was leaked to the press? Yes, the reindeer finally speak up and — believe us — they do not hold back!” Each of “The Eight” take their turn on stage as they tell their story. The dark comedy will have you rolling in the isles during the show and talking about all the topical issues it stirs up over drinks later. A cross between Scrooged and The Accused, the Eight will give an alternative to those adults looking for something different this holiday.

**CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE AND SITUATIONS – Not Recommended for Children**

“It’s really a metaphor for the troubled times in which we live and the disturbingly common problem of sexual harassment in the workplace. It’s about appearances and perceptions, truth and justice. Playwright Jeff Goode wrote the play after a high-ranking official of Chicago’s Catholic church was accused of sexual misconduct, tearing apart the congregation.” – Karen Feldman, The News-Press

Excellent thought provoking. — Dramalogue Magazine

Arrestingly funny. — Village Voice

A unique, fun presentation of the Christmas Carol we know and love.

December 16 & 17, 2011
Performed by the Largely Literary Theater Co.

This fundraiser to benefit worthwhile Christmas Charities is sponsored by The Hudson Players.

Adapted and directed by Mark Dawidziak, this 90-minute play in two acts begins with the premise that the audience has gathered to hear Dickens give one of his popular readings of the story about miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens (played by Dawidziak) appears on stage, opens the book and starts reading the familiar words, “Marley was dead to begin with …” As the “reading” progresses, Scrooge (Tom Stephan) appears. Almost all the other roles – men and women, ghosts and mortals – are played by a single third actor , Sara Showman, – with Dickens moving in and out of the action as a third voice is needed.

The audience is drawn in, visualizing everything Dickens is describing. The few set pieces – a trunk, tables, some chairs – are constantly shifted by the cast to suggest various scenes, everything being used and reused as imaginatively as possible. This has been an area favorite for years and The Hudson Players are pleased to bring this production to Hudson.