"Rent" cast list!

Congrats to the brand-new cast of "Rent"!

Roger: Philip Young

Mark: Peter Romberg

Collins: Kevin Anderson

Angel: Steven Butler

Joanne: Kelley Addis

Benny: Damario Major

Maureen: Sissy Bell

Mimi: Ashleigh Beatty

The ensemble:

Thomas Sanders

Bryan Faux

Scott West

Michael Tremaine

Rhonda Wilson

Gerri Sterne

Samantha Fundenburg

Angelique Empinado

Brittany Tetrick

Giovanni Barrio

Stephen Griffin

Blake Matchett

Zachary Kidd

Shontae White

Ashleigh Beatty

Natalie Rollan

"Anything Goes" cast profile: Ken Foote

GCP veteran Ken Foote returns to the Vam York to sail the high seas as Lord Evelyn Oakley in "Anything Goes"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
KF: I play Lord Evelyn Oakley, who is engaged to be married to Hope Harcourt. He's a nice guy but he's a little naïve, so that’s where most of his humor comes from.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
KF: It's been about three years since I've performed in a show. My last show was "See How They Run" at GCP.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Anything Goes"?
KF: I was looking to have some fun this summer. The show process is tiring but fun at the same time and I’ve enjoyed this experience.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number or scene in the show?
KF: "Gypsy in Me." It's my big number and I've never had a solo number in a musical at GCP. I'm not really much of a singer so it's fun to get out there and give it a shot.

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
KF: Getting to know the rest of the cast. This is a great cast and everyone really seems to be enjoying the show.

GCP Girl: If you could play any character or perform any song other than the one you are performing, which would it be and why?
KF: That's difficult to say. I'm really happy with this part and I don't think I would be suited for any other part. If I had to choose something I would say I would want to be the Purser. There’s a lot there to that part and Bradley has been doing a great job with it.

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Anything Goes"?
KF: It's a fun show with some catchy tunes that people will certainly enjoy.

GCP Girl: Which musical(s) would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
KF: I'm not much of a musical guy, but I would love to see them put up "Noises Off."

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
KF: I can honestly say that I'm terrified going into this show. I haven't sung a solo since high school and I'm a little freaked out. I’m just going to do my best and hopefully everyone will enjoy my performance.

Methinks Mr. Ken is a little modest - we all know he's great! (And despite the profile pics, he is not actually a fuzzy blue Muppet.) Catch the opening weekend of "Anything Goes" and find out for yourself!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Anything Goes" cast profile: Matt Sherman

Matt Sherman makes his GCP debut as Wall Street banker Elisha Whitney in "Anything Goes," which previews tonight at the Vam York Theater. Tickets are only $5 - be there at 7 p.m. to get them!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
MS: I play Elisha Whitney, a bit of a snob, a lech and a lush (Eli, not Matt).

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
MS: My most recent appearances were with director Susan Christophy in "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Children of Eden."

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Anything Goes"?
MS: I thought I was appearing in traffic court to contest a speeding ticket. When the judge asked me to sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” I assumed she was being patriotic. Next thing I knew, I was in show rehearsals five times weekly.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number or scene in the show?
MS: The finale, “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” is a great evergreen song that became a Sinatra standard. It’s fun to sing as the high tenor harmonies for the show.

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far? MS: I have been made to feel very welcomed by other newcomers and by the veterans at GCP. The camaraderie has been great and the green and dressing rooms are as much fun as the show.

GCP Girl: If you could play any character or perform any song other than the one you are performing, which would it be and why?
MS: Leannis is so strong in “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” – but the song’s hook is in my head and I wish I could sing the melody right with her.

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Anything Goes"?
MS: Ken and me in our underwear and falling over dead drunk? That’s the kind of spectacle you can now witness without having to visit us at home!

GCP Girl: Which musical(s) would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
MS: Gosh, GCP has done so many marvelous and classic shows in recent years. Maybe "Guys and Dolls" again or “The Scottish Play”? I’d like to see some old-fashioned bloodletting and hear Ken and Thomas do more of their British accents.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
MS: The photo of me is from my website at http://billiards.about.com where I teach the sport of billiards. Come play pool with me sometime!

Thanks, Matt! Break a leg at Preview tonight!

xo xo GCP Girl

Spotlight on Cole Porter

Cole Porter wrote some of the best-known songs in musical theatre, including "Night and Day," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "I Get a Kick Out of You." He also wrote the lyrics for such blockbuster shows as "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Anything Goes," which previews tomorrow night at the Vam York Theater.

Born in Indiana in 1891, Porter learned to play the violin at age six, the piano at age 8, and composed his first operetta at age 10. He attended Yale, switching from law school to music studies, and wrote his first Broadway song in 1915. He moved to Paris in 1917 and established an opulent lifestyle after World War I.

His first Broadway success was the musical "Paris" in 1928. It was followed by "Wake Up and Dream" and "Fifty Million Frenchmen," with his songs enjoying some popularity; Fred Astaire's "The Gay Divorcee" featured the hit song "Night and Day." In 1934, a musical vehicle written for Ethel Merman turned into "Anything Goes," an immediate success. Porter called it one of his two perfect shows (the other was "Kiss Me, Kate.")

Porter went on to write such standards as "Begin the Beguine," "It's De-Lovely," and "Don't Fence Me In." A riding accident in 1937 that left him crippled did not keep him from writing, and later successful shows included "DuBarry was a Lady," "Panama Hattie," "Let's Face It!", "Something For the Boys," and "Mexican Hayride." In 1948, "Kiss Me, Kate" won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and featured the songs "Another Op'nin' Another Show", "Too Darn Hot", "Always True to You (in My Fashion)", and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare."

Since his death in 1964, he has been remembered as one of the primary composers of the American songbook.

"Rent" audition tips

Erin Kleim, director of the upcoming "Rent", stopped by to give us a few tips about auditions this weekend!

GCP Girl: So what types/abilities are you looking for in these auditions?
EK: "Rent" is a rock opera (all singing), so we are looking for strong voices with this show.

GCP Girl: Is there anything special auditioners should be prepared to do?
EK: This will not be a typical audition with line readings in addition to songs. Those auditioning will sing their selected song and possibly be called back the next night for an additional singing audition with songs from the show. Are you getting the idea that this is a SINGING show? Only the roles of Mimi and Angel may require a separate dance audition on the night of callbacks.

GCP Girl: Any songs you do NOT want to hear? ;-)

EK: No, haha, any song is fine as long as it showcases an ability to perform in a rock and roll style. "I Could Have Danced All Night" may not be the best choice for this audition.....

GCP Girl: Anything else for the good of the order?

EK: Nope, just bring a great song, a great attitude, and a great voice! These auditions should be a lot of fun.

Catch Erin in "Anything Goes", opening this weekend at the GCP! Remember, "Rent" auditions are Sunday and Monday, July 10-11 - details available on the GCP page on Facebook!

xo xo GCP Girl

"The Trip to Bountiful" cast profile: Katina Black

Katina Black rules the roost as Carrie Watts's bossy daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae, in "The Trip to Bountiful"!

GCP Girl: Tell us about some of your previous shows.

KB: I've done everything from Shakespeare to "Rocky Horror Picture Show." But my absolute favorite is Shakespeare. I think my favorite role I ever played was Ophelia in "Hamlet." The director actually had me "fling" myself off the ship! The landing was a little rough, but it was so fun!

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "The Trip to Bountiful"?

KB: I had never auditioned in Gainesville before, so I thought this was a good place to start. The show seemed really interesting, and when I got to read bits of the script, I found it had a lot of depth.

GCP Girl: Tell us about your character.

KB: Jessie Mae is an interesting one. She is always floating in the clouds, and only cares about one thing, herself. She is a dreamer, but very out of touch with reality. I, personally, believe she loves her husband, but is so worn out from living with her mother-in-law that she has lost the ability to show affection and love towards him.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite scene or line in the show?

KB: "I said, furthermore, I had told her the truth when I remarked that the beauty parlour must have seen her coming a long way down the road when they charged her good money for that last permanent they gave her...". It really shows how shrewish and gossipy she is!

GCP Girl: What do you hope audiences take away from "The Trip to Bountiful"?

KB: That we all have our own Bountifuls. And live everyday to the fullest and love the people around you, because one day they won't be there.

GCP Girl: What does community theatre mean to you?

KB: The chance to meet new people.

GCP Girl: Tell us something about yourself you'd like everyone to know!

KB: That I am NOTHING like Jessie Mae. However I am a little flighty sometimes... haha.

Thanks, Katina! "Bountiful" got a great review this week - that means you should go see it!!

xo xo GCP Girl

"The Trip to Bountiful" review!

Congrats to the cast and crew of "The Trip to Bountiful," which got a great review in the Gainesville Sun! Go see it!

"Anything Goes" cast list!!

Congratulations to the cast of "Anything Goes"! We can't wait to see this show!

Reno Sweeney - Leannis Maxwell
Hope Harcourt - Erin Silverman
Evangeline Harcourt -Angela Jonas
Lord Evelyn Oakleigh - Ken Foote
Elisha Whitney - Matthew Sherman
Billy Crocker - Thomas Sanders
Moonface Martin - Steven Butler
Erma - Erin Kleim
Luke - Michael Tremaine
John - Jay Pryblski
Ship's Captain - Malik Grady
Angels - Theresa Hanson, Lauren Robinson, Calypso Meyers
Sailor Quartet - Howard Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Dan Christophy, Peter Romberg
Fred - Tammy Meyers
Henry Dobson - Jessie Lancaster
FBI Agent - Ian Isom
Old Lady in Wheelchair - Beverly Turner
Chorus - Gerri Sterne, Olivia Turpening, Kelley Addis, Shawen Ilaria, Elizabeth Bryant, Samantha Fundenburg

(Apologies if I misspelled your name! Let me know and I will fix it.)

"The Trip to Bountiful" cast profile: Shetiquea Davis

Shetiquea Davis makes her GCP debut as a ticket agent who helps Carrie get back home in "The Trip to Bountiful," opening tonight at the Vam York!

GCP Girl: Tell us about some of your previous shows.
SD: I've only done one other show which was a short, one-act play titled "At the Punch Bowl," so I'm a new kid on the block. :-)

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "The Trip to Bountiful"?
SD: I think a drama is more my style rather than true comedies or farce-type productions. But really, I'm open to auditioning for just about anything. It's all about gaining experience in a theatre setting in any way that I can right now.

GCP Girl: Tell us about your character.
SD: Miss Ticket Agent No. 1 is a little over the top. She's a no-nonsense type of gal but still polite in all her southernness. :-)

GCP Girl: What is your favorite scene or line in the show?
SD: I have a few. I always like when Mrs. Carrie Watts talks to Thelma about her son telling her not to argue with Jessie Mae because nobody ever wins an argument with her, then she looks away and says "And I guess that's right." Jennie's delivery is funny.

GCP Girl: What do you hope audiences take away from "The Trip to Bountiful"?
SD: I hope audiences enjoy the range of emotions that this play takes you through. Parts will make you laugh, others will make you sad, but in the end, Mrs. Watts gets all that she wants, which comes with a sense of triumph and peace, so I hope audiences will feel joy as they experience her journey with her.

GCP Girl: What does community theatre mean to you?
SD: Wow, I'm new to community theatre and I wish I'd gotten involved with it years ago. It's been a great experience and I can see myself being a part of it far into the future. I think I'm hooked!

GCP Girl: Tell us something about yourself you'd like everyone to know!
SD: I'm actually kind of shy sometimes but people say they don't see it on the stage. I think that theatre allows me to strip away the inhibitions a little bit, which has been fun. :-)

Thanks, Shetiquea! Yay for opening night!!

xo xo GCP Girl

Check out the "Bountiful" preview article!

The Gainesville Sun preview article for "The Trip to Bountiful" is posted!