New Casting Website Created (courtesy listing)

A new Sacramento area focused casting website has just launched. Sacramento Casting, at SacCasting.com, allows local talent a new way to easily and efficiently connect with those looking to cast local film, TV, web, stage and other types of acting projects. It also allows those casting these projects a simple and expedited process for posting casting calls, reviewing submissions and exporting submittals for easier casting outreach and management.

Sacramento Casting is a project of the Rensa Group, a local business and marketing management firm run by Placer County Supervisor Kirk Uhler. "This is something the big cities, where the major productions are happening, already have," says Uhler. "We realized having a site like this that focused on more local projects would help the local talent better connect with the local film production and theater community."

The website and its software are a custom built program designed exclusively for the purpose of talent casting. SacCasting.com is free for producers, directors and casting directors to post projects and free for actors to create profiles. There is a monthly subscription fee for those actors wishing to submit to projects through the platform.

For more information, visit SacCasting.com.

To contact Kirk Uhler, please email kirk@rensagroup.com

Shakespeare Workshop for Teachers at Mondavi Center

August 29 - 31, 2014
Registration is $375. Purchase Orders Accepted. 

We understand that many teachers may not have the chance to request funds to cover this professional development opportunity from their districts until school resumes in the fall.
We encourage all teachers and administrators who would like to attend to register now, and we will follow up for payment in early August. Contact Cindy Smith, event manager, at (530) 752-­7740 or chcsmith@ucdavis.edu with any questions or concerns.

Kick off your fall teaching with a fresh set of strategies for bringing the Bard to life for your students. Teaching Artists from some of the world's most respected Shakespeare theaters will share active and playful approaches to enliven the teaching of Shakespeare. All workshops are aligned with Common Core Standards.

Continuing Education Units
We are pleased to announce that you can earn up to 1.5 continuing education units when you attend the conference. The cost will be $115. You can register and pay for the units on the first day of the conference.

Visit our website for more information on how the workshops incorporate the Common Core, a list of invited presenters, and how to book your hotel room at a discounted rate.


The weekend is presented by the UC Davis School of Education and the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis in association with Globe Education (Shakespeare's Globe, London) and the Shakespeare Theatre Association.

Contact Cindy Smith, events manager, for questions about the event at
chcsmith@ucdavis.edu

Join us for our 7th Annual Fundraiser on August 15

Join us for our 7th Annual Affair to Remember Fundraiser on Friday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m..
Tickets are available through the theater website at www.imaginationtheater.net
Buy them now!  You won't want to miss this fantastic evening!

Some Donors to Remember. . .

These are just a few of our donors for our upcoming fundraiser on Friday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available now and can be purchased online.  Don't miss this fun event that keeps live theater thriving in our community.

Adventure Connection
Affordable Furniture and Blinds
Amador Flower Farm
Annabelle's Chocolate Lounge
Apple Mountain Golf
Arnolds for Awards
Bass Lake Golf Course
Bennett Gallery
Big 5
Big Lots
Brick Oven Pub
California Olive Oil Company
Camino Florest
Cantiga Winery
Cassandra's Esthetics
Chrissie Addison Coaching Studio
City Nails
Clifton & Warren
Combellack's
Cooper Vineyards
Cuppa Coffee
Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra
Dillian Wines
DK Cellars
El Dorado Arts Council
El Dorado Disposal
ShortBusRides.com
Flowers on Main
Gold Hill Vineyard & Brewery
Hartwick House
Home Depot
Imagination Theater
Jennifer Jackson Voice & Piano
Jodar Vineyards
Kiddlywinks Toy Store
Kinetico
Les Schwab
Lighthouse Gift Store
Madrona Winery
Mini's House of Pain
Mira Flores Winery
Off Broadway
Office Max
Paint Spot
Palissandro Vineyard & Winery
Pizza Factory
Placerville Bike Shop
Placerville Hardware
Randolph Jewelers
Robinson's Pharmacy
Roger Filippelli, the Spoon Man
Runquist Winery
Safeway
Sierra Vista Winery
Snooty Frog
Sugar Lily
Sundance Spa
Texas Back Forty BBQ Restaurant
Torino's Restaurant
Twins Sushi
Vino Noceto Winery

Imagination Theater Hosts 7th Annual Fundraiser, August 15

Consider Yourself Part of the IT! Family this August

Imagination Theater will host its seventh annual Affair to Remember fundraiser on Friday, August 15, 2014 from 7:00 to 10:00 P.M. at the theater located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.  There will be a live and silent auction during the evening as well as a show preview from the the theater's holiday musical, Oliver!  Enjoy an evening of local wines and food while bidding on items donated by local businesses and individuals.  Proceeds will benefit Imagination Theater to provide quality, creative, live theater in the foothills. An all-inclusive weekend in Ashland Oregon, wine tours, themed gift baskets, season theater tickets are just a few of the many items that await.  IT is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.   

Tickets will be available in June and can be purchased at www.imaginationtheater.net or (530) 642-0404.

Congrats to the Snow White Cast!

Better Late than never!  We are so excited to be working with so many talented people.  See you in July for rehearsals!

Snow White - Isabella Mini
Queen Bragomar - Michelle Harwell
Witch Hex - Karen Wolfe
Peddler Woman- Alicia Murry
Madam Dandiprat - Kathleen Mini
Berthold - TBA
Prince Florimond - Steve Kliner
Val, page - Conner Granger
Vivian, page - Luke Rogers

Maids of Honor
Tori Johnston
Samantha Eden
Jesse Rego
Anna Salvestrin
Samantha Garaygay
Charlee Dodson
Grace Harrison
Meg Dockter

Seven Dwarfs
Charlize Garaygay
Taryn Harwell
Sophia Garaygay
Will Evans
Grace Salvestrin
Lily Cope
Bittie Slaven

Witch Hex's Cats
Trinity Harwell
Tessa Bush
Alicia Kientz

Puppeteers
Rylie Coble
Mattea Frost

Triple Threat Weekend at Hawkins

A New York based organization "The Broadway Dreams Foundation" (BDF), a national non-profit performing arts training program, will be presenting their Triple Threat Weekend at the Hawkins School at the end of this month.  Students will receive first-rate training in acting, dance and vocal performance by Broadway professionals and industry insiders.   Please see attached flyer for faculty credits.   Exceptional talent will be invited to be showcased in New York this summer. 

 

The classes are 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday-May 31st, and Sunday-June 1st.   Sixteen hours of instruction ($235).   

http://mybroadwaydreams.com/triple-threats/

Below is the link to a Playbill article on Stafford Arima (Alter Boys, Ragtime) who will be a contributing director at the Triple Threat Weekend.    An upcoming industry reading of The Me Nobody Knows will be composed entirely of students from The Broadway Dreams Foundation.  

http://playbill.com/news/article/190802-Stafford-Arima-and-Taye-Diggs-Will-Helm-Industry-Readings-of-The-Me-Nobody-Knows-Featuring-BDF-Students?tsrc=nx

Mr. Arima will also be directing Chorus Line for Sacramento's Music Circus this summer. 
We hope you will share this wonderful event with your talented triple threats!   

 

Please contact me if you have interest or questions.
Best regards,
Deirdre Hawkins
Hawkins School of Performing Arts

916-355-1900

info@hawkinsschool.com

Our Town: April 30, May 1, and May 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Join us this week for a special Readers' Theater of Our Town.  Read more about this wonderful production from the Mountain Democrat.  Tickets are $5 and are available online and at the door.

Introducing the Cast of Oliver!

Congratulations and welcome to the IT Cast of Oliver!  

Oliver - --------------- Jayce Kaldunski

Artful Dodger --------Tieren Salstrand

Noah Claypole/Chorus ---- Steven Kliner

Charlotte --------------Mikayla Waldron  also in Chorus

Charlie Bates --------Will Evans

Bet----------------------Rachel Bourdett

Mr. Bumble-----------Marc Bonham

Widow Corney--------Ali LaVanway

Mr. Sowerberrry------Bob Steele  --- also in Chorus

Mrs. Sowerberry -----Erika Maruri  ---- also in Chorus

Fagin--------------------Chris Weston

Nancy-------------------Amanda Anderson

Bill Sykes---------------John Sanguinetti

Mrs. Bedwin-----------Tiana Vlaovich

Dr. Grimwig------------Dan Clark  also in Chorus

Mr. Brownlow----------Jeremy Carlson  also in Chorus - Knife Seller

Old Sally----------------Alexa Yee

Old Lady, Annie------Robin Clark  Also in Chorus

Adult Chorus:

Beverly Coble

Diana Granger

Lorrene Baum-Davis

Marsha Myers

Russ Eslick

Sheri Hoeger

Rylie Coble

Victoria Logan

Isabella Degarza

Madeline Tenney

Hanna Bush

Violet Maguire
Jeff Lathrop

Fagins Gang/Workhouse Kids:

Emma Sanguinetti

Lucas Sanguinetti

Adele Trapp

Alania Kiekhaefer

Ben Kiekhaefer

Kathryn Carlson

Kelsi Havercroft

Khloe Rivera

Maddy Anderson

Maddy Dawson

Meg Dockter

Anneke Rorden

Aubrey Bonham

California Improv Festival in Roseville this weekend - May 2-4

California Improv Festival Heads To Roseville, CA -

May 2-4!

 Whether a local actor, comedian, or member of the community looking for something new, take note: the first and only all improv comedy festival in the region is coming to town.

The annual three-day event is back! California Improv Festival takes place May 2nd - 4^that the Historic Tower Theater in downtown Roseville, located at 417 Vernon St Roseville, CA 95678.  The California Improv Festival, which is in its second year of operation, is the creation of Blacktop Comedy, located at 7251 Galilee Rd. STE 160 Roseville, CA 95678. The festival will have shows at Tower Theater - Roseville, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday/Saturday, and on Sunday, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Over 10 improv theater workshops will be offered, with classes at Blacktop Comedy and Tower Theater lasting two to three hours in length on Saturday and Sunday. Over 100 improvisers, and 20 improv teams from across the country and locally will attend, and already tickets, $10 for a show, $30 for a festival pass, are said to be in limited supply. 

For further information about the California Improv Festival, please contact Paul Burke or Betsaida Lebron, Artistic Directors by phone or email (916-956-7285 |info@blacktopcomedy.com), or visit the event's website at http://www.californiaimprovfestival.com.

Elly Judges Needed

SARTA is currently looking for Elly judges for next season. We need to fill spots in Education, Young People's Musicals, Young People's Plays, and Original Scripts.   If you know of someone who might be interested in volunteering for one of these positions, please contact, Larry Russ, EllyCoordinator@ljjoey.com or 916 524-4602

Sarta 2014 Elly Information

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT ELLY DATES!
This year's theme is Masquerade!

Sunday, August 3 -
Elly Nomination Party
Location - TBA

Sunday, September 7th -
Youth Elly Award Ceremony
Roseville Theatre Arts Academy

Sunday, September 21 -
Adult Elly Award Ceremony
Red Lion Inn - Woodlake

For more information please contact SARTA at sarta@sarta.com or 916-443-8229.  

California High School Musical Honors - Regional Awards

From CMT San Jose & Broadway San Jose
CA High School Musical Honors 

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL HONORS will be held in time for the 2013-2014 school year, thanks to sponsorship of the new regional program by CMT San Jose and Broadway San Jose, a Nederlander Presentation.  

This new, regional awards competition will recognize outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre north of Santa Barbara, and will send winners to The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (www.nhsmta.org) - also known as the Jimmy™ Awards - in New York City, where they will perform on a Broadway stage before industry experts and compete for scholarship opportunities to NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.  

Local competitions dates are as follows:
San Luis Obispo- April 29th at the Performing Arts Center of SLO
San Jose- May 5th at CMT San Jose
Sacramento- May 6th at California Musical Theatre
San Francisco- TBA

More information is available here: http://cmtsj.org/content/california-honors. 
An application can be found on-line at arts.cmtsj.org/honors.html.  
For additional questions, contact Program Director Clint Williams at honors@cmtsj.org. 

Video submissions will be accepted for equal consideration for the Best Overall Production award (though we suggest attending our regional competition in your area), but it is strongly suggested that nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress audition in person.  A team of qualified evaluators will critique productions and performances, and recommend for nominations those participants who exhibit outstanding achievements.

Based on evaluator recommendations, schools and individuals will be invited from all regions to compete at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on May 19 in front of a panel of nationally recognized judges.  Two eligible performers will then be chosen to represent our California region at this year's Jimmy™ Awards to be held on June 30th at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre in New York City.

The California High School Musical honorees will join winners of the Jerry Herman Awards (LA Regional) and the Ben Vereen Awards (Southwest Regional) in sending top California talent to the Jimmy™ Awards.

Eligibility 

Any public or private high school can be represented by sending an entire production to compete, or by sending a few performers.  It is also optional for individual performers to enter into the competition without school supervision.  Individual performers who would like to be seen in these categories must submit an application along with the $80 enrollment fee.

An entire cast or solo/duet performers are eligible - provided they are performing material from an approved, licensed musical produced in the 2013-14 school year.  In order to compete a high school and/or student must submit a completed application along with a registration fee of $80 by April 16, 2014.  Then promptly submit a DVD copy of your production for consideration in multiple awards categories and/or attend one of the regional competitions listed above (a combination of the two is recommended.)

About CMT San Jose
Currently in its 46th season, Children's Musical Theater (CMT San Jose) impacts over 10,000 youth per season through multiple educational programs. CMT produces 10 shows a season encompassing 107 performances at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose.  (www.cmtsj.org)

About Broadway San Jose
Broadway San Jose - the northern California affiliate of the Nederlander organization - presents touring Broadway musicals at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts in partnership with Team San Jose, and is a member of the Broadway League. (www.broadwaysanjose.com)

About James Nederlander
James M. Nederlander or "Jimmy" as the theatrical community knows him, is the Chairman of the Nederlander Producing Company of America Inc., which recently marked its 100th anniversary, and is in his 70th year as a producer of distinguished entertainment. He has produced innumerable Broadway plays and musicals, winning 11 Tony® Awards, and has presented operas, ballets, concerts and artists ranging from Nureyev to Sinatra to Billy Joel to U2. Nine of his theatres are on Broadway and the balance in Detroit, Los Angeles, San Diego, Tucson, Durham, Chicago and London. (www.nederlander.com)

Imagination Theater presents "Our Town" (Readers' Theater)

Thorton Wilder's Classic Story.  Only 3 evenings!

  

  Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 p.m.

  Thursday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.

Tickets $5 (Suggested Donation) s General Seating

Tickets Online 24/7 or 1-800-838-3006, Option 1

Theater & box office:  100 Placerville Drive

on the El dorado County Fairgrounds, Placerville s 530-642-0404

Usher help still needed

We are still looking for a few good ushers for You Can't Take It With You.  It's a great way to see the play and help the theater.   Please read the directions and sign up at the link.   http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084DA5A62FA20-youcant

Kiwanis Club of Placerville and Imagination Theater help Eliminate Maternal/Neonatal Tetanus in third world countries

Kiwanis Club of Placerville and Imagination Theater are doing their part to help eliminate this deadly but highly preventable disease that kills mothers and newborns in the world's poorest regions.  To this end Imagination Theater will be donating all proceeds from tickets sales of the April 18th performance of "You Can't Take It With You" to Kiwanis Club of Placerville.  Kiwanis Club and Imagination Theater are partnering to raise $10,000 over the next 15 months.  Imagination Theater will dedicate one performance proceeds from their next five shows.  We need the community to help us sell the house out for the April 18th show.  All you have to do is go to our website;  imaginationtheater.net and purchase tickets to see "You Can't Take It With You" on Friday evening April 18th or you can call our Box Office at 530 642-0404 to reserve your seats.  By raising $10,000, we will be able to save 5,000 babies from dying of this very painful disease and do our part to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus in the world.  So come see "You Can't Take It With You" and know that your dollars are going to help eliminate this deadly disease. 

The Eliminate Project is Kiwanis International's global campaign to help eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus from the face of the earth.  The campaign will raise US $110 million for the project.

Here are some quick facts about this horrible disease:

*  1 baby dies every 9 minutes from tetanus

*  160 babies die each day from tetanus

*  MNT has been eliminated form more than 20 countries since 2000

*  A series of 3 doses of tetanus vaccine = immunity from tetanus

*  Woman + vaccine = protected baby

*  US$1.80 protects 1 woman her future babies

*  The Eliminate Project saves or protects 61 million women and babies

*  Elimination = < case of MNT per 1,000 live births

To purchase tickets for the show on Friday, April 18, go to www.imaginationtheater.net

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO ELIMINATE THIS DEADLY, BUT PREVENTABLE DISEASE.

"You Can't Take It With You" Continues through April 19

“You Can’t Take It With You,” presents a frolicking, fun-loving family that will convince the audience that life is to be enjoyed, not taken so seriously.  Do take seriously, however, the chance to catch this Pulitzer prize-winning story at Imagination Theater" --Mt. Democrat

You Can't Take It With You continues through April 19.  Shows are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.    Tickets are $15 with Thursday shows and groups (10+) are $12.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.imaginationtheater.net or at the door a half hour prior to show time.  You won't want to miss this crowd pleasing play.

You Can't Take It With You Opens Friday

“How many of us would be willing to settle when we're young for what we eventually get? All those plans we make...what happens to them? It's only a handful of the lucky ones that can look back and say that they even came close.”   —Moss Hart

You Can't Take It With You  

Opening this Friday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. 

Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets $12-15

Purchase tickets online, by phone, or at the door.

It's a CASTaway Beach Party for IT Theater Alums

Are you an alumni of Imagination Theater.  Involved in the cast or crew in a current or previous show?  The next CAST Alumni event is coming up at the end of April.  (p.s.  If this sounds fun to you, consider auditioning or getting involved in one of IT!s upcoming shows.)  

CASTaway Beach - A themed C.A.S.T. Party
Committed Alumni Supporting the Theater

at Imagination Theater
Friday, April 25th 7pm-10pm

Dress for a beach party! (Hawaiian shirt, sundress etc)(optional) Hawaiian Leis will be available for a small donation ($2 or 3/$5)

Please bring a light snack or beverage to share
Eat dinner at home and bring an after dinner treat, soft drink, wine or beer. Anyone under 30 wishing to partake should be prepared to show ID.

Socializing * Theater Games * Talent Show * and More!

RSVP no later than April 18 if you are interested in performing in the Show.  Space may be limited. Beach theme encouraged, but not necessary.

Join our Facebook Group: IT! CAST(closed group, invitation needed, ask a friend)

Michelle Harwell * Marc Bonham * Kate Barba * Jerri Myers

ImaginationTheaterCAST@gmail.com

El Dorado County Poetry Out Loud Winner Off to State Finals

CONNOR RICKETTS REDUX AT EL DORADO COUNTY'S FIFTH POETRY OUT LOUD COMPETITION!

Connor Ricketts, 2013 & 2014 Poetry Out Loud 1st place winner, El Dorado County

For the second year in a row, Connor Ricketts, a sophomore at Charter University Prep in El Dorado, garnered first place honors at the El Dorado County Poetry Out Loud competition held at the Imagination Theater on Thursday night, February 6th. Connor won with his inspired performances of Matthew Arnold's classic poem "Dover Beach"  and Delmore Schwartz's "The True Blue American," a comic poem on the paradoxical nature that inhabits American individualism. Arts Council Executive Director Deb Jensen presented Connor with a $100 check for his efforts.

Earning second place honors and a $75 check was El Dorado High School senior Evan Lucero who mesmerized attendees with his haunting rendition of Linda Gregg's "The Lamb," a poem about the resilience of the human spirit in the aftermath of war, followed by Amy Clampitt's "Dancers Exercising," a philosophical inquiry into the elusive nature of memory.

(l-r) Evan Lucero, Connor Ricketts, Leora Mazumdar

Leora Mazumdar, a sophomore at Oak Ridge High School, placed third, reciting Gwendolyn Brooks' "a song in the front yard," a saucy poem about a young girl's yearning for independence. In the contest's second round, Leoras performed Ha Jin's "Ways of Talking" which addresses the immigrant's loss of homeland. Leora received $50 in prize money from the Arts Council.

Four other high school champions also took center stage that evening, enchanting the audience with their poem selections, including Glen Carlisle of Golden Sierra High School, Nicole Sutherland of Independence High School, Sam King of the County Office of Education, and Becky Glaister of Union Mine High School. All students received gift certificates from the Bookery and verse-inscribed dog-tags from the Arts Council.

Poetry Out Loud El Dorado County High School Champions Back row, left to right: Glen Carlisle, Evan Lucero, Leora Mazumdar, Becky Glaister, Nicole Sutherland Front row, left to right: Sam King, Connor Ricketts

Connor Ricketts now goes on to the California State Poetry Out Loud Competition held in Sacramento at the Sheraton Hotel on Sunday, March 23, and in the California State Senate Chambers on Monday, March 24. In turn, the winner of the state competition will compete against 52 other state and territory champions at the Poetry Out Loud Nationals held in Washington, DC at the end of April, National Poetry Month. The stakes are high at the nationals, with the first place winner awarded a grand prize of $20,000 and the second and third place winners receiving $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

The Arts Council is grateful to the fifty plus volunteers who so graciously gave of their time and brain power to be part of our county's Poetry Out Loud contest! You know who you are! We thank you a thousand times and then some!

Please join us in congratulating Connor and wishing him well at the state competition! Know that all of El Dorado County is rooting for you, Connor!   

All POL photos courtesy of Betty Sederquist. 

From the El Dorado Arts Council March 2014 Newsletter, ArtBeat