"Singin' in the Rain" Opens Tonight!

Congrats to the cast and crew of "Singin' in the Rain" on a sold-out Preview night!! Tonight is the opening night gala, so make plans to see the show! I promise there will be some cast profiles as soon as they come in...Break a leg tonight!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Singin' in the Rain" Preview Article

Here's the Gainesville Sun Preview article for "Singin' in the Rain"! Tickets go on sale at 7 p.m. tonight, so get there early! Break a leg, everyone!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Singin' in the Rain" sneak preview with Shay Hudleston!

Here's today's special Halloween treat: a guest blog from GCP veteran dancer and "Singin' in the Rain" cast member Shay Hudleston! Read on...

Hi! I'm Shay Hudleston and I'm excited to blog for GCP girl!

The dedicated cast of "Singin' in the Rain" has put in many many hours of rehearsal! We're tired, our feet hurt, but we keep going. We can be caught in the lobby going over difficult dances between our scenes on a regular basis!

This week we had our first full run-through! It all came together pretty well considering we're still putting on finishing touches, and well, you know how first run-throughs go!

I'm really looking forward to seeing "Make 'Em Laugh"! Mike Testa has worked so hard to do just that and he's gonna have them rolling in the aisles! Of course, I'm also eager to do any of the numbers where I get to dance. That's what I live for!

As far as GCP productions go, I always think it's great to do a classic! This is definitely one of them! It brings generations together. Grandparents remember watching this show when it came out and grandchildren will love the excitement as if it's new. It's really a unique oportunity for audiences to share.

My personal favorite thing about this particular cast is the teamwork. There's stress about costumes (Marihelen Wheeler is a miracle worker, and I appreciate her and Laurel Ring and everyone else on that end of things!). There's stress about blocking. There's stress about singing and dancing. There's STRESS! Despite the stress, this cast keeps a positive attitude and we all pull together to work on it as a family! I guess we really are singing in the rain.

Thanks GCP Girl! And it's back to the theatre for me!

Thanks, Shay!! Don't forget, everyone, Preview and Opening Night are this week! More to come!

xo xo GCP Girl

Check out the "Singin' in the Rain" poster!

Join the GCP Chorus!

In case you haven't heard, the GCP has a new way for members to stay involved in between shows! The GCP Chorus meets every other Monday night at 7:15 p.m. at Gainesville High School. Everyone is welcome, and there is no audition process – just show up! The second rehearsal is tonight, so please come and see what it's all about! There will be more to come on this later in the week, along with a first look at both "Singin' in the Rain" and "Nuncrackers"!

xo xo GCP Girl

Set construction this Saturday!

Set construction for "Singin' in the Rain" will begin this Saturday around 11 a.m. at the Vam York. If you're not comfortable with construction, I am sure they will find something else for you to do! Happy building!

xo xo GCP Girl

A Farewell Ode to "Shakespeare in Hollywood"

There are only three performances left of "Shakespeare in Hollywood" at the GCP! Make sure you see this show!

In honor of the show's closing, I have composed a VERY SERIOUS work I would like to share with you.

Ahem. Maestro, to the tune of "Jingle Bells," please:

VERSE

On a movie lot
In nineteen thirty-four
Jack Warner's girl is hot
But wants to be much more

Shakespeare's not their thing
It seems they're out of luck
Till Oberon and Puck arrive
And then things run amok

CHORUS

Oh, silver screen movie scenes
Joe Brown wears a dress
A purple flower has love's power
And things become a mess

VERSE

Lydia's smitten first
Dick Powell gets it next
Olivia drags Joe off
This show is oversexed

The party's out of hand
There is a massive fight
The fairy king steps in and then
His magic sets it right

CHORUS

Oh, silver screen movie scenes
Aunt Ethel gets a call
One wild night becomes dawn's light
And then things hit a wall

VERSE

The fairies start to fade
To Athens they'll return
But not before Hays sees
A lesson she must learn

The donkey head removed
Oberon takes his leave
But gives his love a gift
She'll never know that she received

CHORUS

Oh, silver screen movie scenes
The show's come to an end
Whether it's a happy one –
On you that all depends!

See you all at the Vam York this weekend for the final shows!!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Shakespeare in Hollywood" Cast Profile: Dan Scholes

Dan Scholes plays movie mogul Sam Warner, and also makes a cameo as Tarzan...

GCP Girl: Tell me about your previous theatre experience.
DS: I did some theatre stuff in high school and in college a long time ago. Mostly I've done shows at GCP – 20+ by now. I've done mostly tech work and backstage stuff. A little bit of everything. I do like getting on stage whenever possible.

GCP Girl: Tell me a little about your character.

DS: According to the script, Sam's the dumb brother. He doesn't have a lot of lines, but he does have some really funny ones.

GCP Girl: What was your biggest challenge in this show?

DS: Learning how to do the Tarzan yell. It's really hard to do. I spent more time practicing with a Jonny Weismuller clip from YouTube than I did on anything else, and I still wish I could do it better. I'm working with such an awesome cast of people; they keep telling me not to sweat it.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite Shakespearean play?

DS: Macbeth.

GCP Girl: What do you want people to know about "Shakespeare in Hollywood"?

DS: This show has fairies with wings in it. Nuff said.

GCP Girl: What is your dream role?

DS: I never much thought about this before. Whatever role makes people laugh the most. I'm not real picky as long as it gets me on stage.

GCP Girl: What does community theatre mean to you?

DS: It's a place where people like me who have to do theatre and can't see their lives without it can come. We make our money doing other things, but our community theatre is home.

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

DS: I'm single and lookin' for love.

Thanks, Dan! Remember, it's the last week to catch "Shakespeare" – the show closes on Sunday!

xo xo GCP Girl

GCP Girl Exclusive: "Nuncrackers" Cast List!

I have something to confess...I swiped the cast list for "Nuncrackers"! Congrats to everyone! It's going to be an awesome show!!

Reverend Mother - Sue Addis
Sister Hubert - Sarah Viskovich
Sister Robert Anne - Lola Hassan-Adams
Sister Mary Amnesia - Sarah Welch
Father Virgil Manly Trott - Esteban Alvarez III
Sister Mary Leo - Ashleigh Beatty

Kids:
Maria - Abby Austin
Billy - Joey McGinn
Louise - Megan Hess
John - Kristopher Robinson
Andrew - Kurtis Robinson
Theresa - Alexes Burkhardt

xo xo GCP Girl

"Shakespeare in Hollywood" Cast Profile: Carolyn Caracausa

Carolyn Caracausa returns to the GCP stage as Hollywood personality Louella Parsons...

GCP Girl: Tell me about your previous theatre experience.

CC: I have done over 20 shows at GCP and some in Venezuela, where I lived before Gainesville. I have also costumed several shows here.

GCP Girl: Tell me a little about your character.

CC: Louella Parsons was a famous Hollywood gossip columnist who competed with Hedda Hopper for all the scoops on the stars.

GCP Girl: What was your biggest challenge in this show?

CC: Learning my lines! At my age it gets harder and harder!

GCP Girl: What do you want people to know about "Shakespeare in Hollywood"?

CC: It is a fun show combining some of Shakespeare's wonderful characters with some of Hollywood's true-life personalities.

GCP Girl: What is your dream role?

CC: I have already played my dream role -- I played Mame at the GCP in 1991.

GCP Girl: What does community theatre mean to you?

CC: Community theater is a great place to make new friends who share your love of theatre and give non-professionals a chance to "strut their stuff" in front of an audience. And it gives our local audience a chance to see quality productions at an affordable price.

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

CC: I love the GCP and all the friends I've made since we moved to Gainesville 21 years ago, and I am so enjoying working in the new theater for the first time. Thank God for the bathrooms in the dressing rooms! :-))

Thanks, Carolyn!!

xo xo GCP Girl