After you've enjoyed the Flame Tree Arts Festival this weekend, you can start enjoying Taste of the Marianas every Saturday. And in case you'd like to take in some theatre, Friends of the Arts will be staging scenes from Plaza Suite at the Multi-Purpose Center next weekend.
Community theatre doesn't rise to the level of professional theatre or come close to Broadway, but it is fun and a great way to get some experience with live theatre and be entertained.
My head is full of information from the 2 day workshop on immigration, hosted by Karidat and MLSC.
But I wanted to post the few photos I managed to get of the cast, crew, costumes and set from the Friends of the Art's production of My Fair Lady, which was held 4/30/09, 5/1/09, 5/2/09 and 5/3/09. I was busy back-stage and had little opportunity to get the photos, missed the ones I really wanted (the Ascot scene with full cast), but am sharing what I've got. I hope others who took more photos will share, too. :-)
(Well, I've run out of time tonight, so I have my "Ascot" photos--to show set and costumes a bit. But I'll get up the rest soon.)
Oh, yeah--and the cast party cake! Based on the image used for the program.
Saipan Theatre News--As in, live theatre, produced by the Friends of the Arts.
MY FAIR LADY is scheduled for presentation on April 30, May 1, and May 2 at the Multi-Purpose Center.
I've been busy "designing costumes" for the production! Yeah, I know. A bit of a stretch for me. Especially since I'm a lousy artist. But just as a preview, here are my costume renderings for the show--some of which will be used (and some of which will not).
Eliza the flower seller
Maid(s) in the Henry Higgins household.
Eliza's "student" clothes
Ladies at Ascot
Eliza at Ascot
Lady's ball gown
Eliza's ball gown
Mrs. Higgins--ball gown; "tea" dress
Eliza's "leaving" suit
MY FAIR LADY is a costume-heavy show, and this is my small bit. Obviously, there are a lot more costumes that I have nothing to do with... (the men, for example. They will have clothes in the show, honestly.)
I've also helped with hats, hats, and more hats!
We are having a lot of [fill in the adjective] getting ready. Hope you all will come and see it.
Great music. Great story. Great fun.
There are two special events you can thoroughly enjoy this holiday season and know that, by doing so, you are also giving to worthy causes.
1. Friends of the Arts presents it play, IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, a stage version of "Miracle on 34th Street" at the Multi-Purpose Center on December 12, 13, and 14. The Sunday matinee show is a benefit for Guma Esperanza. There's no ticket price for Sunday: You donate dry goods or cash for your entry fee.
Or you can come to one of the other shows (Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 PM or Saturday matinee at 3 PM), pay your ticket price ($12 for adults, $10 for FOA adult members , $5 for students) and give a donation for Guma Esperanza, if you want, in advance.
2. The Pacific Winds Concert Band, together with award-winning SSHS Manta Band, will give a holiday concert conducted by Will DeWitt at PIC on Dec. 22, at 7:00 PM. A portion of the proceeds will be directly donated to the family of Efren Ballesteros, the MHS security guard who was recently murdered. (Ticket prices have not yet been announced.)
It's the season for giving and these two opportunities are here. Hope you'll join me.
The Friends of the Arts put on a great production of THE FANTASTICKS. Rom-com with music. Who doesn't love that? (Some of my photos from Sunday's production. And as always, the photos do poor service to the quality of the play.)
Yet another Bertie Bott's bean. I almost have the nerve to try this one. Almost. I usually don't like green candy though so its likely I'll chicken out on this one too.
from my personal e-mail, I got this feedback:
"I appreciate your measured description of community theatre but it is still art and one of the greatest cultrual pleasures of life!!! So there."
(Agreed)
Jane,
i get the feeling the excerpt above came from an email in which the writer was a bit peeved at your description of community theater or your comparison.
i, on the other hand, would like to thank you for pointing out that "Community theatre doesn't rise to the level of professional theatre or come close to Broadway"
and i truly mean that in a positive way towards our great community theater.
while their are exceptions to the statement you made above, in general, it is fairly accurate.
the reason why i commend you on stating it, is that there are members of the community that attend community theater for the first time expecting a broadway productions and are disappointed with what we provide in contract to what they had expected. i have spoken with people that have this initial view after watching a performance. they speak of lighting, stage props, etc and pick at every minute detail.
this is not an attack on community theater. it is a reality of the situation. community theater operates on a fraction of the budget for any broadway production and with a skeleton cast of mainly novice actors (exceptions also apply here).
so, when people spend money and attend these friends of the arts programs they have to realize that what they will be watching is an expression of art that is excellently done considering the limited budget and mainly volunteer green actors. they won't get superior sound and lighting and a dedicated performance stage. they will get passionate actors giving their all and doing a great job making due with what they are given.
again, this is not an attack. think of this as the difference in watching an NFL game versus our island football league games at airport field. both give the audience something to cherish and enjoy and take away with them but they are incredibly different.
i would hope that the actors and the other friends of the arts people know this and do not take offense to what i am stating. i support the FOA and all that they are doing to better our community!
now go out and watch a darn good show :
Neil Simon's Plaza Suite
April 30 - May 2
Multi-Purpose Center
7:00PM
rushed that one.
remove the "s" and it should have read "contrast" not "contract"
Thanks, Anon.
Some people do have unrealistic expectations when they come to these productions.
They expect a show as slick as the movies. Many have never seen live theatre.
Broadway productions are expensive--Anna Rose just came from NYC where she payed $128 for a ticket to see a show that has been on Broadway for 20 years--not something new; not the greatest of seats in the theatre; just the going rate.
Community theatre is not as impressive, but it is theatre. I've seem some amazing performances here in Saipan. I think the sports analogy is a good one. We're having fun with the form--hope the audience likes it too.