THEATRE SEASON PREVIEW
NVTA 2002/2003 Season
By Michael Birchenall
Weekender Theater Critic
Weekender, The Herndon Times
Times Community Newspapers (Link
to Article)
Wednesday, September 25, 2002
The community theater stages of Northern Virginia come alive this month for
another exciting season celebrating the dramatic arts. This all comes from an
incredibly dedicated world of theater volunteers, dedicating their love of the
stage with time and talent and an exciting passion. It's curtain time for
2002-2003.
The work that makes the lights come up for the opening curtain knows no
reasonable bounds. It looks like a full-time job to me, but it's not. These
volunteers already have jobs and families that fill the rest of their waking
hours.
Community theater in Northern Virginia is loosely connected through the
Northern Virginia Theater Alliance, an organization that, since 1981, has
allowed the theaters to have open dialogue with a clear conduit of information
and, most important, to share resources. It is an organized network designed to
help with issues that could range from management or technical issues.
NVTA provides sponsorship and support for the annual NVTA One-Act Play
Festival that will be held once again at the Reston Community Center in June.
Scholarships are also sponsored by NVTA. Two scholarships are given to local
high school seniors interested in the theater arts. One scholarship is based on
judged performance works, and the second is based on juried technical theater
submissions in the area of costumes, set or lighting designs.
Here is a list of members and their schedule for the new season.
C.A.S.T. (Community Alliance Supporting Theatre) in McLean
The Community Alliance Supporting Theatre (C.A.S.T.) is about strong, bright
musicals. Incorporated in 1992 as a theatrical company, C.A.S.T. aims to
stimulate an interest in musical theater by the presentation of worthy musical
plays.
C.A.S.T. is dark, but don't despair! They are working on an, as yet,
unannounced production for July 2003. Auditions will be held in April 2003.
Perform: The Alden Theatre, McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Drive,
McLean
Web site: http://www.castinmclean.org
Elden Street Players of Herndon
The Elden Street Players (ESP) presents bold, exciting theater with spirited
creative energy. Founded in 1988, the theater has been committed to providing
affordable, high-quality productions. Its drive comes from all-volunteer staff
and casts that are striving to push the limits of what is possible in their
intimate "black box space" at the Industrial Strength Theatre.
ESP President Richard Klare describes the reality of the theater group. "Our
brand of theater is not for everyone, for which we make no apologies. We try to
offer theater that is challenging and thought provoking, as well as
entertaining." That said, they do it time and time again--on stage for all to
see!
Perform: The Industrial Strength Theatre, 269 Sunset Business Park, Herndon
Web site: http://www.eldenstreetplayers.org
"The Shadow Box" Perform: Fridays at 8 p.m. Oct. 25, Nov. 1, 8,
15; Saturdays at 8 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16; Sundays at 7 p.m. Nov. 10
"Streamers" Perform: Fridays at 8 p.m. Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14;
Saturdays at 8 p.m. Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15
"Love! Valour! Compassion!" Perform: Fridays at 8 p.m. March 21, 28,
April 4, 11; Saturdays at 8 p.m. March 22, 29, April 5, 12
"Art" Perform: Fridays at 8 p.m. June 6, 13, 20, 27; Saturdays at
8 p.m. June 7, 14, 21, 28
"Suburb" Perform: Fridays at 8 p.m. Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22; Saturdays
at 8 p.m. Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23; Sundays at 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 17; Thursday at 8 p.m.
Aug. 21
Curtain: 8 p.m., 7 p.m. (Sundays)
Tickets: Play, $12(A), $10(SC,S); Musical, $15(A), $13(SC,S); Season: $52,
$42(SC)
Information/reservations: 703-481-5930
Great Falls Players
Great Falls Players is a community theater group in Great Falls that has been
presenting entertaining shows since 1964. The season offers three shows per
year, opening at the historically rich Grange in Great Falls before moving to
the Alden Theatre in McLean. The new season is a tribute to the master of the
theater smile--Neil Simon.
Perform: Great Falls Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, and The Alden
Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
Web site: http://www.gfonline.org
"Laughter on the 23rd Floor" (at the Grange) Perform: Weekends
Nov. 1-23, 2002. There will be a matinee performance Nov. 17--the theater will
be dark Nov. 16.
"London Suite" Perform: Weekends at the Alden Theatre March 14
through March 29, 2003
"The Star-Spangled Girl" Perform: Weekends at the Alden Theatre
May 30 through June 14, 2003
Curtain: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $12(A); $10(SC,S)
Information: 703-759-6224; Alden Box Office: 703-790-9223
McLean Theatre Alliance
McLean Theatre Alliance (MTA), beginning its fifth season, presents lively
theater for the whole family with a twinkle in the eye--an organization that
definitely loves its role in live theater.
Perform: The Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
Web site: http://www.telgo.com/mta
"Room Service" Perform: Weekends Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, 2002
"The Music Man" Perform: Weekends April 25 through May 10, 2003
Curtain: 8 p.m., 2 p.m. (Matinee)
Tickets: Play: $12(A); $10(SC,S); Musical: $14(A); $13(SC,S)
Information: 703-790-0128; Reservations: 703-790-9223
Prince William Little Theatre
The Prince William Little Theater begins its 18th season this year. The
season features popular recognizable plays that show an ambitious vision for the
theater group. The group has no permanent home and is looking for help in
finding a new location.
Perform: Jennie Dean Elementary School, Manassas
Web site: http://www.pwlt.org
"The Robber Bridegroom" Perform: October 2002
"An Inspector Calls" Perform: January-February 2003
"Swingtime Canteen" Perform: March-April 2003
"You Can't Take it With You" Perform: May 2003
Curtain: 8 p.m., 3 p.m. (Matinee)
Tickets: Play: $10(A); Musicals: $12(A), Season tickets: $36(A)
Information/reservations: 703-330-7796
Reston Community Players
Incorporated in 1972, Reston Community Players (RCP) is one of the area's
most successful. As RCP states, the theatrical rewards are "an outward sign of
our talents and abilities, proving that with a tremendous amount of work,
patience, ingenuity, and thousands of hours of commitment, it is possible to
make an all-volunteer organization like ours prosper and grow." They do a
wonderful job achieving their vision.
Perform: Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston
Web site: http://www.restonplayers.org
"1776- A Musical Play" Perform: Weekends Oct. 25-Nov. 16
"Present Laughter" Perform: Weekends Jan. 24--Feb. 8
"Funny Girl" Perform: Weekends March 7-29
"Proposals" Perform: Weekends May 2-17
Curtain: 8 p.m., 2:30 p.m. (Matinee)
Tickets: Play, $15(A-Sat.), $13(A-Fri. Eve./Mat.), $11(SC,S), Musicals,
$17(A-Sat), $15(A-Fri. Evening/Matinee), $12(SC,S); Season: $40(All
Ages-Saturday), $36(A-Friday and Sunday) $30(SC,S-Friday and Sundays)
Information: 703-435-2707, Reservations: 703-476-1111 (two weeks prior to
opening)
Springfield Community Theatre
The Springfield Community Theatre (SCT) started in 1953 as a play-reading
group. The group was originally called The Footlighters, until 1965, when the
current name was chosen to better describe group aspirations. SCT performs as a
vagabond group, moving about the area to perform wherever it can find a place to
set up its lights. They can do the most with the least.
Perform: Immanuel United Methodist Church, 7901 Heritage Drive, Annandale
Web site: http://sctonline.org/
"Sylvia" Perform: Feb. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 2003
"Later Life" Perform: April 25, 26, May 2, 3, 9, 10
"Godspell" Perform: July 18, 19, 25, 26, Aug. 2, 3
Curtain: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $15(A), $13(SC,S)
Information/reservations: 703-866-6238
Sterling Playmakers
Sterling Playmakers delivers fine family entertainment that is suitable for
an evening of entertaining theater that mirrors the enthusiastic support and
work of its members.
Perform: Sterling Middle School, Sterling Community Center and Potomac Falls
High School, Sterling
Web site: http://www.sterlingplaymakers.com/
"A Christmas Carol" Perform: Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
"The Crucible" Perform: TBD
"South Pacific" Perform: TBD
Curtain 8 p.m., 2 p.m. (Matinee)
Tickets: Prices to be announced.
Information/reservations: 703-406-6117
Vienna Theatre Company
Vienna Theatre Company (VTC) is a solid community theater group that presents
quality productions with great skill each season. From a community center stage
with a flat floor for folding chair seating, VTC used to surprise me with its
quality--now it's my expectation--especially with the tight, well-paced shows
that are always well directed, a VTC tradition.
Perform: Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna
Web site: http://httpcity.com/vtcshows
"Same Time Next Year" Perform: Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, Nov. 1, 2
"Les Liaisons Dangereuses" Perform: Jan. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 31,
Feb. 1
"Chess" Perform: April 25, 26, May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 17
Curtain: 8 p.m., 2 p.m. (Matinee)
Tickets: Play, $8(A), $7(SC,S) Musical, $9(A), $8(SC,S)
Information: 703-242-6423; no reservations taken.
ŠArcom Publishing Inc. - Times Community Newspapers 2002
