Final Weekend of Red, White and Tuna

Vera (Jeffrey Lathrop) and Pearl (Richard Gaylord)
"Now it's been awhile since I've driven a standard, but it
should be as easy as driving off a cliff!"

This is your last chance to see a very funny comedy.  Four more shows. . . and with you in the audience, it will be that much better!

Thursday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m. ($12)

Friday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m.   Kiwanis Night.  ALL proceeds go to #TheEliminateProject 

Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m.  It's a Sweetheart Deal.  All tickets are 2 for the price of 1 ($15).  Bring a date, friend, neighbor, co-worker, long lost relative, etc.

Sunday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m.  You never know what will happen at the closing show of this fun production.

Get your tickets online and at the door.  Prepare for some fireworks and fun during the final weekend.

Are You an IT! Alum? Come to the IT! CAST Party. Fun for ALL ages!

No Stress, 

All Fun

A no-theme C.A.S.T. Party

(Committed Alumni Supporting the Theater)

at Imagination Theater!

Saturday, March 7th 

7pm-10pm

All casts, crews, and production teams from all shows at IT! are invited

Guests are welcome

Members under 14, please bring an adult or responsible older sibling

Please bring a light snack and beverage to share

Eat dinner at home and bring an after-dinner snack or treat.

If you wish to partake of the bar offerings, please contribute a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer as well.  

Soft drinks will be provided.

Anyone under 30 wishing to partake should be prepared to show ID.

Wear your favorite T-shirt (or come as you are) 

(talent show costumes ok, but not required)

Socializing * Theater Games 

* Talent Show * and More!

Talent Show sign ups now begin at 7pm the night of the party!

Open to anyone. Space may be limited. Any talent appreciated (juggling?  poetry?  impressions?)

Volunteers Needed: Set up/clean up, Food arranging, Bartenders.

Join our Facebook Group: IT! CAST

(closed group, invitation needed, ask a friend)

Michelle Harwell * Marc Bonham * Kate Barba * Jerri Myers * Ali LaVanway

Audition Notice: Mary Poppins (April 14-20)

Imagination Theater Audition Notice for 2015 Holiday Production: MARY POPPINS

Adult Women (Age 18+): Tues. April 14, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Vocal Auditions

Adult Males, Teen Boys and Girls (13+): Wed. April 15, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Vocal Auditions 

Children (Boys & Girls Ages 8-12): Sat. April 18, 2015 9:00am-Noon
Vocal Auditions & Cold Reading
(Some adult women may be called back for the children’s auditions to read with the children)

All Auditioners: Dance & Movement Sun. April 19, 2015 7:00-9:00pm

Call-Back Auditions: Mon. April 20, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Cold Readings & Vocals as necessary

Additional Information

1. For all vocal auditions, auditioners must provide their own electronic accompaniment (backing) track on a cd, computer, ipad, mp3 player, ipod, or cellular phone. A player with connecting cables will be available. A keyboard accompanist will not be available. Backing tracks must be without accompanying vocals.

2. All auditioners must be prepared to sing a musical theater type of song of their own choosing (from the show or not from the show). Rock and pop songs are discouraged. All singers must sing with accompanying music. Lyrics must be memorized.

3. Auditioners for the role of Mary Poppins must prepare two audition songs: (1) a musical-theater type of song of their choice not from the show and (2) the song from the show, “Practically Perfect.” (An instrumental version without backing vocals is available at www.Karoke-version.com).

4. For Dance Auditions, auditioners are encouraged to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes. Tight skirts, pants, and blouses should be avoided. Dancing bare-footed or in sandals is not allowed. Auditioners are encouraged to improve their tap dancing skills prior to auditions.

5. Auditioners are encouraged (but not required) to provide a resume and a recent photo. Elaborate resumes and expensive head-shot photographs are not required.

Performance and Rehearsal Schedules

Rehearsals for the company will be primarily from July-November, 2015.

Actors in the roles of Mary Poppins, Bert, and the Banks children will have a light vocal rehearsal schedule during May and June, 2015.

Imagination Theater’s Holiday Production will have 18 performances on the following dates:

November 21, 22, 28, 29
December 3, 4 ,5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23


Roles
Notes: (1) Ages listed are approximate only. Casting of specific roles will be based upon appearance within the ensemble and cast.

(2) Male and female teenagers are invited and encouraged to audition for ensemble roles.

Women
MARY POPPINS. Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet very particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key. Role requires strong movement and tap dancing skills. Female, 20-35 yrs. old in appearance. Range: Gb3 - C6

WINIFRED BANKS. George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be a model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has a great warmth and simplicity to her tone. Female, 30-40 yrs. old. Range: A3 - D5

BIRD WOMAN. Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passerby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Female, Older appearance. Range: Gb3 - C5

MISS ANDREW. George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with the range. Female, 40-60 yrs. old. Range: Gb3 - F5

MISS LARK. The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if he were her child. Female, 30-50 yrs. old

MISS SMYTHE. The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary. Female, any age

MRS. BRILL. The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer. Female, 50-60 yrs. old. Range: F#3 - D#5

MRS. CORRY. Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic). Female, 35-50 yrs. old

Men
BERT. The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist, and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent, and is a song-and-dance-man. Strong movement and dancing skills required. Male, 25-40 yrs. old. Range: B2 - F#4

GEORGE BANKS. The father to Jane and Michael Banks and is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary. Male, 40-45 yrs. old. Range: Bb2 - Eb4

JOHN NORTHBROOK. An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England. Can also be Ensemble. Male, 25-60 yrs. old

ADMIRAL BOOM and BANK CHAIRMAN. ADMIRAL BOOM is a retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. Male, 50-70 yrs. old. BANK CHAIRMAN is the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lyrics if necessary. Male, 50-70 yrs. old Range: Baritone

VON HUSSLER. A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent. Male, any age. Can also be Ensemble

ROBERTSON AY. The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. Male, 15-30 yrs. old. Range: F3 - G#4

Children
JANE BANKS. The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. Strong dance skills required. Female, 11-13 yrs. old in appearance. Range: A3 - F#5

MICHAEL BANKS. The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Strong dance skills required. Male, 10-12 yrs. old in appearance. Range: A3 - E5


Male and Female Ensemble Roles
NELEUS. The statue of a young boy or girl posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his/her father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he/she is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. Strong movement and dance skills required. . Male or female. 14-20 yrs. old. Strong dancer

PARK KEEPER. Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. Male, 40-60 yrs. old

POLICEMAN. A neighborhood fixture who is respected by, and observant of, the households on his beat. Male, 30-50 yrs. old

QUEEN VICTORIA. A statue in the park. Female, 40-60 yrs. old

ADDITIONAL ENSEMBLE DANCE, VOCAL, AND SPEAKING ROLES: Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Bankers, Customers, Park-Goers. Played by children and young teens through adults

Meet the Cast of Red, White and Tuna

Jeffery Lathrop and Richard Gaylord reunite in Red, White & Tuna
Shows run through February 15.  Tickets can be purchased online and at the door.

Performed by Richard Gaylord

Star Birdfeather - A flower child

Thurston Wheelis - A radio disc jockey 

Elmer Watkins - A veteran Klan member

Bertha Bumiller - A widowed housewife and mother

Joe Bob Lipsey - Director of the Tuna Little Theater

Pearl Burras - Bertha’s aunt, a chicken farmer

R.R. Snavely - Estranged husband of gun shop owner, Didi Snavely

Inita Goodwin - The half owner of Hot-to-Trot Catering

Leonard Childers - Tuna’s mayor and owner of radion station, OKKK

Reverend Sturgis Spikes - A Baptist preacher

Richard Gaylord -  Owner of Rick Gaylord's TeleFiX, comedic actor and private pilot, Rick loves the reminder, "Levity is the only way to fly."  Rick said playing these 4 1/2 women and 5 1/2 men (allowing for Joe Bob) is his greatest vocal and dramatic challenge since his 1980 debut in San Jose Civic Light Opera's Paint Your Wagon.  Rick thanks his theater partner, Jeff, costumer, Diane Palmer as well as dressers, Janet & Adeline for keeping him clothed and in character. 

Rick is grateful to Lanny Langston, for his patience and for his dedication (along with Peter Wolfe) to our community's performing arts.  Rick's recent IT! appearances have been Mr. Kirby in You Can't Take It With You, Bobby in Run For Your Wife, Froggy in The Foreigner, 10 characters in Greater Tuna along with many others dating back to IT!'s beginnings. In addition to performing many principal roles, Rick has served in dozens of shows over the decades from backstage technician to Assistant Director.  Rick is most proud to be the first recipient of IT!'s Rodney Roberts Theater Achievement Award. 

Rick has deep respect and gratitude for the Tuna playwrights saying "They have masterfully painted hilariously entertaining scenes within the dialogue.  Hopefully Jeff and I can do it justice." Rick wishes to express his love and gratitude for his wife, Marsha Myers, and for her constant support for endeavors like this.

Performed by Jeffery Lathrop

Amber Windchime - Star’s friend, another flower child

Arles Struvie - A radio disc jockey

Didi Snavely - Used gun store owner

Petey Fisk - Head of Tuna’s Humane Society

Charlene Bumiller - Bertha’s pregnant daughter

Stanley Bumiller - Bertha’s son, reformed juvenile delinquent, artist

Vera Carp - Head of the Tuna society

Helen Bedd -  The other half-owner of Hot-to-Trot Catering

Garland Poteet - A soda pop delivery man

Jeffery Lathrop – A high school special education teacher and co-owner of Foothills Dance and Performing Arts Studio, theater has been a lifelong pastime and has had a tremendous  influence on his life.  He has been involved in many Imagination Theater! Productions including featured roles in The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, and Big River.  His first lead role at IT! was in L’il Abner as Marryin’ Sam followed by Man of La Mancha where he played Sancho Panza.  In 2009, he played ten parts in Greater Tuna with Rick Gaylord.  He was the assistant director for White Christmas.  Most recently, Jeff played Mr. Sowerberry in Oliver! 

Lathrop says “I am excited to work with both Lanny and Rick again.  When a show has only two actors, there’s not a lot of downtime during rehearsals.  Luckily Lanny makes the experience as positive as possible, and I couldn’t ask for a better, more professional partner than Rick.”