Gualala Arts Presents:
Musical Theater Workshop Showcase

Friday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
at the Gualala Arts Center

Gualala Arts presents a Musical Theater Workshop Showcase on Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center.

The Musical Theater Workshop, taught by Jan Harris and daughter Bryn Elizan Harris, is proceeding apace, with twenty-four participants ranging in age from teens through septuagenarians. The workshop staff includes director's assistant Claire McPherson and accompanist Renata Yardumian as well as students who double as assistants in music, dance and tech production. The workshop meets two evenings a week for seven weeks, then shifts abruptly to a week of nightly tech and dress rehearsals resulting in a single "Showcase" recital.

The students have been working on numbers from Tony-award winning musicals of the '40s and '50s, The Music Man, Oklahoma!, South Pacific and The Pajama Game. Emphasis is on the ensemble numbers, but there are a few solos, duets, trios and quartets designed to challenge the skills of both the novices and the seasoned thespians.

Students have an opportunity to learn from two very different directing styles in the mother/daughter team. "Bryn has much more recent training and professional experience than I," declares Jan, "but she has not heretofore directed community theater per se. My training is from decades past, but my directing focused on community theater from 1979 through the '80s. I'm delighted to be working with some students who were in my musical theater workshops of 30 years ago!"

Students receive training in musical and physical warm-ups, individual vocal production, singing harmony, ensemble exercises, choreographed movement and stage combat. "It is about the process, not the public performance, Jan emphasizes, "but I'm still pleased that the community will get to view the results of all that goes into such a workshop. There is a lot of effort involved but also a lot of camaraderie and joy and a lot of satisfaction when it all comes together."

The students are also involved in the technical aspects of the showcase, including building and decorating sets, finding and assembling props, gathering costumes and accessories, doing makeup, lighting, sound, publicity, stage and house management and will be their own stage crew. Following the showcase, the students will experience striking the production and then enjoy a well-deserved cast party. We hope to offer these workshops on an annual basis, and each session will incorporate a number of notable and beloved musicals.

The showcase includes two acts with a 15-minute intermission. Pazzo Marco Gelati will be offered before the show (7:00 - 7:30 p.m.) and during intermission, along with coffee, tea and soft beverages. A suggested donation of $15 at the door will benefit Gualala Arts.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Join us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Gualala Arts, 1961 - 2011

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.