Steel Magnolias Opens Next Friday

From: "ACT Announcements" <announce@actalaska.org>
Subject: Steel Magnolias Opens Next Friday
Date: January 19th 2012

Anchorage Community Theatre News
 

ACT's Steel Magnolias Opens a Week from Friday on January 27!

Go online or give us a call now at 868-4913 to reserve your seats. Shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 and Sunday afternoons at 3 January 27 through February 19. Our shows tend to sell out towards the end of the run so come to see a great show early. Tickets are only $15 for adults, $13 for seniors/military/students, and $11 for kids under 12.

The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play changes direction when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and her health. The play draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

Escape Salon & Spa Gift Certificates.

Escape Salon and Spa at 415 W 5th Ave. has donated to ACT ten $100 gift certificates for us to sell during the run of Steel Magnolias. Please call or email us now to buy yours. It's a great way to support ACT and get full value for your money! One of our employees has already reserved two of them.

We also wish to thank the other businesses that have helped us with Steel Magnolias. Sugarspoon will be supplying us with tasty cupcakes and dessert bars for our concession stand. Kaladi Brothers will be providing coffee. Giant Don's Flooring America provided the carpet for our set. Stylized Hair Design loaned us a salon chair and hair washing sink for the set. And Lara Imler of Lara Lorraine Hair Design has volunteered as our Steel Magnolias Technical Director for Hair!

The Art of Noise: Theatre Sound Design Class.

ACT is holding a Theatre Sound Design Class taught by Lucy Peckham on three Saturdays from February 11 through February 25 from 4 to 5:30 PM. This is a small, intimate class, so that each student will get hands on design experience. Students should bring an Apple Macbook or ibook. You will need to download the free version of QLab, which you will learn the use of (and is only available for Macs). Students are also encouraged to see Perseverance Theatre’s production of The Blue Bear, as Lucy will be referring to her process in designing that show.

Lucy Peckham has been designing sound for theatre since 1981.  She has bachelor's degrees in Theatre and Music from Whitman College.  She interned with the Alaska Repertory Theatre, and then went on to resident sound designer seasons at Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Festival, and The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, CA. She received an L.A Critics Circle Dramalogue Award for Sound Design while in residence at the Old Globe.  But she couldn't take the sunshine, and came home to Alaska.

In Alaska, Lucy has designed sound for TBA Theatre, Cyrano's, ACT, and Perseverance Theatre.  She is most excited about her 2011 score and sound design for the world premiere of The Blue Bear at Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska, re-opening in Anchorage on February 9, 2012. In addition to sound design, Lucy's live music engineering business (Both Ears Live Sound) is thriving.  

Call 344-4713 or email Kate Williams, our education coordinator, for more information or to sign up.

DDF Judges Needed at West High

Justin Birchell, the West High Drama, Debate, and Forensics teacher needs several judges for a DDF tournament on on January 27th (afternoon/evening) or January 28th (any time) to come judge a round or two of our competition. You will be repaid with a well-stocked hospitality room, lots of food and beverages, and a wonderful experience watching talented youth. Judging for a DDF tournament involves volunteering for as little as one hour, to watch and rate/give feedback on high school students presenting debates, acting performances, or original speeches. It is a great way to see what some of the most intelligent and creative of our Anchorage teens are capable of. Contact Justin if you are interested or would like more information.

Other Local Plays This Weekend.

1. Cyrano's presents Love, Loss, and What I Wore.

2, Dimond High Drama presents Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors. Call 742-7095.

Bill Cotton
Executive Director
Anchorage Community Theatre
1133 E. 70th Ave., Anchorage, Alaska 99518
(just off the Old Seward Highway between Dowling and Dimond)
(907) 344-4713
Ticket reservations: 868-4913
Fax: 344-6002
acthome@gci.net
www.actalaska.org
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