Alice opens this weekend at the El Paso Playhouse

What do you get when you throw a tea party where some of the guests include a mad hatter, an angry Queen, a hyper hare and a charming girl named Alice?  You get a great show for the entire family at the El Paso Playhouse. 

Alice opens this weekend and will run thru July 21.  The talented  young cast and crew have been working hard during rehearsals to bring the world of wonderland to life.  I am proud to say that my son was fortunate to land a part in this production and will be playing the part of Tweedledee. It is great too see many new faces on stage  helping to kick off a new season.

It has been amazing to watch how the El Paso community has come together to help director Stephanie Ortega's vision come to life.  The cast and crew along with parent volunteers worked tirelessly to create  wonderland. Ms. Ortega has done a wonderful job in handling all the details and issues involved in putting on a quality theatrical production. 

If you want to spend an entertaining  evening with your family I strongly encourage you to come out to the El Paso Playhouse to catch Alice.  You are sure to have a magical evening.

Alice
El Paso Playhouse
2501 Montana
Tickets are $1O for adults
$7 for students
Showtimes are 8 pm Fri. and Sat.  and 2 pm on Sunday
Call   915 532-1317 for more

Upcoming Summer Theatre Productions In El Paso

I was happy to see that a new theatre company called the Green Apple Theatre Collective is staging its first production on Friday  July 15th at the Glasbox Gallery located at 1500 Texas Avenue.  The company will be taking on the entertaining play Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks.  The play chronicles the lives of two brothers Lincoln and Booth as they try to survive and cope with women, racism, gambling, and their rough upbringing.  I applaud the Company for breathing new life into the El Paso theatre scene and wish them all the success in the world with their debut.  Check out the article by Doug Pullen of the El Paso Times that sheds more light on the company and the production.  Doug Pullen Article on Green Apple Theatre Collective




The Utep Theatre Department will be staging Urinetown The Musical as part of its dinner theatre season this month. Urinetown debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival, and then was produced Off-Broadway at the American Theatre for Actors, from May 6, 2001 to June 25, 2001. The show takes place at the Utep Dinner Theatre located at the Utep Union, West Wing.  Show runs through July 24th.  Performances are at 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 pm July 17th and 24th.  For more information call  747-5234, or 747-6060.  Check out the article written in the El Paso Times for more details on the production. Urinetown Article in the El Paso Times

The UTEP Department of Theatre and dance will be staging the William Shakespeare Classic The Tempest from July 22nd thru July 31st.  Tickets for the show range from $8-$10 dollars. For reservations and more info call 747-5118.



The El Paso Playhouse is nearing the finish line for its run of the A Few Good Men.  I have had a great time performing with the talented cast in this first production of the 2011-2012 season for the Playhouse. The director, Darci Georges, deserves a ton of credit for bringing such a great story to life.  The show will have its final two performances on Friday July 15th and Saturday July 16th at 8pm.  To reserve your seat for the show call (915) 532-1317.  Remember to tell them Smiling Jack
Ross sent you.





The El Paso Independent School Distict will stage the musical Bye Bye Birdie at Coronado High School's Ross Capshaw Theatre July 20-23.  Curtain goes up at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are a steal at only $5 ($3 for students, seniors, and military).  The theatre is located at 100 Champions Place.




The EPCC Summer Repertory Company will conclude its 3rd annual summer season with four productions at the EPCC Transmountain Campus Forum theatre on Highway 54 (Diana exit). Tickets for the productions start at $10 ($5 for students, faculty, staff, military, and seniors).  Box office opens at 6:30 pm.  Info: 831-5056 or 831-3205.

July 14-16  Eleven: A New 1930's Musical Fable.

July 16, 23, and 30. Rodeo Mongolia: A Children's Musical (shows begin at 2pm)

July 21-22.   My Big Gay Italian Wedding

July 28-30.  The Great American Trailer Park Musical

 

About a month ago, I was fortunate enough to be cast in the El Paso Playhouse production of A Few Good Men.

The rehearsal process is now over and the run of this brilliant production has begun.  The cast is filled with stage veterans and actors that have been bitten by the stage bug for the very first time.  The cast and crew are amazing and do their very best in bringing the characters of the Aaron Sorkin play to life.

 The show is directed by  the wonderful Darci Georges and is the opening play of the 2011/2012 season.  Our director deserves a ton of credit for sticking with the show despite facing obstacles that would have crippled even the most veteran of directors. 

We had an amazing opening night with a full audience and a nice reception. It was nice to be able to perform for a full house and we look forward to many more audiences like the one we had last night.

 If you are looking for an entertainig way to spend the evening or a lazy Sunday afternoon head out to the Playhouse and catch a moving production of A Few Good Men.  Tell them Smling Jack  Ross sent ya!

May 2011 Events

Just a couple of things we are going to try and do this month.


Thurs. 12th- Opening night for El Paso Diablos (vs. Kansas City T-Bones) 7:05 pm

Sat. 14th- Ray Mickens Football Camp at Andress High School 10:00 am.

Sun. 15th- Braden Aboud Run 8:oo am

Fri. 20th- You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running at the El Paso Playhouse

Sat. 21st- Art In The Park at Memorial Park

Sat. 21st- Families in Crisis 5k 7:00 am

Sat 21st- Armed Forces Day at Fort Bliss 10:00am-5:00pm

Sun 22nd- School House Rock presented by Kids-N-Co at the Chamizal 2pm

Upcoming Show at the El Paso Playhouse

Barrabas at the El Paso Playhouse

Now Playing at the El Paso Playhouse:

Barabbas
Book and score by Fred Keyser
Directed by Kate Keyser

April 15th thru May 7th

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 2pm

Tickets: 12 dollars adults
For reservations call: (915)532-1317

Located at 2501 Montana Avenue
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

El Paso Theatre Updates

It's been busy with the start of the new school year but I look forward to catching one of these shows pretty soon.


UTEP Fall 2010 Upcoming Productions:
Wise Family Theatre:

WIT
Oct 1,2,7,8 at 8pm
Oct. 3 and 10 at 2:30 pm
Oct. 10 at 7:00pm

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Dec. 12 and 19th at 2:30 pm
Dec. 17 and 18 at 8:00pm

Studio Theatre:

Jesus Hopped The A Train
Nov. 10,11,12,13 at 8:00pm and Nov 14 at 2:30 pm


The El Paso Playhouse will present the Beth Henley Drama Crime of the Heart September 3-25. Showtimes are Friday and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays September 5,12, and 10 at 2pm. Call the playhouse at 532-1317 for ticket info. The play is directed by Ted Karber Jr. Click on the picture below to read the story done about the production by Doug Pullen of the El Paso Times.




Auditions for William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing will be held on September 5 and 6 at the El Paso Playhouse (2501 Montana Ave)


The Romantic Comedy "A Man Having A Baby" by Martin R. Cardenas debuts this week at the Scottish Rite Temple Theatre. The theatre is located at 301 W. Missouri. Curtain goes up at 7pm on Sept 4 and 5. Tickets are $10 dollars at the door. The show is recommended for audiences 13 years of age and older. Read the story about the production by Doug Pullen here: A Man Having A Baby.

Shakespeare on-the-Rocks Festival
September 17-19 and September 24-26 at the YISD Fine Arts Amphitheater, 8455 Alameda.
Tickets: $10; $8 students and senior citizens. The plays will be part of the YISD Renaissance Fair which will take place in Sept 24-26.
For more info go to shakespeareontherocks.com

The El Paso Playhouse Presents "The Clown Who Ran Away"

The El Paso Playhouse is putting the finishing touches on the upcoming production of The Clown who Ran Away. The show opens this weekend with a charity show on Thursday night.

The play is about a clown who runs away from the circus and meets many interesting characters on her journey. In this production you will see Mrs. Frumpkins and her doll-maker Annie along with their collection of special and talented dolls. Audience members will get to help the Sheriff and Ki Ki the clown get to the bottom of the kidnapping of the dolls by the evil villains Boo and Ugly. To top everything off the play even features a writing horse that would give Mr. Ed a run for his money in the brains department.


Stevo has been cast in the show as George, the boy with the yo-yo. My wife and I have been crossing our fingers that Stevo doesn't drive the director mad or knock anyone out with the yo-yo that he plays with on stage.

This is Stevo's first show and we are thankful that the people at the playhouse (cast, crew, and director) have been great in putting up with a nine-year old who thinks he is ready to audition for his own show on the Disney Channel. The director has the patience of a Saint.

Watching Stevo on stage is more nerve-wracking than watching him play sports. There are no time outs in live theatre, so dad is just gonna keep his fingers crossed and hope for the best. I am truly grateful to the Playhouse for giving young ones a chance to experience the arts up close and personal. I hope everyone comes out to support a great family show.



Show Info (thanks to Lynne Du Mond for the info) :
The Clown Who Ran Away directed by Moises Hinojos
El Paso Playhouse is located at 2501 Montana
Show runs August 6-21
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 2pm
call 532-1317 for tickets
Tickets: $5 students under 18
$7 adults







Stevo playing the part of George



















Stevo and his yo-yo















The villains Ugly and Rudolph Bernard Boo

El Paso Playhouse Upcoming Shows

Here are the next upcoming shows at the El Paso Playhouse. The playhouse is located on 2501 Montana Avenue

Rosa De Dos Aromas
Directed by Karilu Alarcon Saldana
July 30 and 31 at 7pm
August 1st at 2pm
Info: 915-929-3476

The Clown Who Ran Away
Directed by Moises Hinojos
August 6-21
8pm

The Diaries of Adam and Eve at the El Paso Playhouse

My show, The Diaries of Adam and Eve, will end its run this weekend. The show has been a challenging experience because we have had to get it going with very little rehearsal time. I have enjoyed working with my partner Yol Itzma Aguirre and our director Lynne Dumond. Both ladies are great talents and I have been truly blessed to work with them. The show was written by Mark Twain and the version we have put on stage has been adapted by Kate Keyser. The show will take place Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Ticket prices are $5 dollars for students and $7 dollars for adults.

Summer Theatre in El paso

I spent the morning looking at the different shows being perfomed in the sun city today and decided to post some of the information here. Stevo will be perfoming in his first play (he actually has lines) at the El Paso Playhouse this summer. The play is called The Clown Who Ran Away and it will be staged August 6-21. The directors have a talented cast to work with and the production will be great for kids and their parents.

I was scheduled to play the part of Pancho Villa in land of the Centaur but the show has been postponed till next season. The playhouse will be staging the mark Twain play The Diaries of Adam and Eve in place of Centaur. I get to play the part of Adam but am happy that I will not have to wear a fig leaf. You can catch the Diaries of Adam and Eve at the playhouse from July 9-24.

I am glad to see that the El Paso Community College Performers Studio is emerging onto the theatre scene in the city. Keith Townsend is a great artistic director and I am sure the productions will be well worth the price of admission.

Utep and The El Paso Playhouse will also be producing shows this summer. I hope El Pasoans will escape the heat and fill a seat at any or all of these fine productions. Here is a list of some of the productions being staged this summer.

El Paso Community College Performers Studio Summer Repertory 2010

All shows will be at the Forum Theatre 9570 Gateway North

Box office opens at 6:00pm

Shows begin at 7:30 pm

$10 general public

$5 students

Fantasticks directed by Keith Townsend

July 8,9,10

Christopher Durang Explains It All To You

directed by Jacob Rodriguez

July 15,16,17

The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me by David Drake

Directed by Kristi Harbin

July 22,23,24

UTEP Summer Shakespeare Festival Presents

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

July 23,24,30,and 31st @8pm

July 25 and August 1st at 2:30 pm

Wise Family Theatre

2nd Floor

Fox Fine Arts Center

Tickets: $8-$10

info:747-5118

http://www.theatredance.utep.edu/

Utep Dinner Theatre presents

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music and lyrics by William Finn

Book by Rachel Sheinkin

July 9th-25th

47th Season at the El Paso Playhouse

The El Paso Playhouse recently released its lineup for the 2010/2011 season. The usual Agatha Christie play is on the schedule along with a few classics and some new works.

It's a shame that more El Pasoans don't attend shows at the playhouse on a regular basis. I would not be surprised if the attendance numbers this year were well below average. (Hope I am wrong). Why is this? Are the ticket prices just a little too high? Are the shows scheduled not appealing enough?

Entertainment dollars are hard to come by all over but there has to be a way to increase attendance and support the hard working actors, technicians, and directors in our city. I am guilty of not attending shows on a regular basis this year, so I need to step up to the plate and do my part in supporting theatre in El Paso.

Here's hoping more people catch the theatre bug and head out to catch a great show at the El Paso Playhouse.


2010/2011 El Paso Playhouse Season

July 9th -24th Land of the Centaur by Tony Stafford.
Play written by UTEP Professor and tells the tale of Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, N.M.
*auditions are June 6th and 7th at the Playhouse*

August 6th-21st The Clown Who Ran Away by Conrad Seiler
*auditions are June 20th-21st at the Playhouse*

September 3rd-25th Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley
*auditions are June 27th-28th at the Playhouse*

Oct. 8th-30th No Sex Please, We're British by Allstair Foot and Anthony Marriot

Nov. 12th- Dec 4th- Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Dec. 10th,11th,17th, and 18th- It's A Wonderful Life by Joe Landry

Jan. 7-29th- The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie

Feb. 11th- March 5th- Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward

March 18th-April 9th- Brooklyn Boy by Donald Margulies

April 15th- May 7th- Barabbas by Fred Keyser

May 20th- June 11th Leading Ladies by Ken Ludwig