Thank you to all of the businesses that have donated to our 2019 Trivia Night! We couldn’t pull this off without your support! Thank you! There’s still time to reserve a table and get an opportunity to bid on or see some of the awesome items donated for this event! Call Tom at 618-780-4444 to reserve your table!
This past weekend, we had a very successful opening of The Marvelous Wonderettes. My sincere congratulations to the cast – you performed marvelously (see what I did there?).
But to the point of this blog post. In the program I am listed as the director, which I was. What this doesn’t mention is that, due to some serious time constraints, I was going to be unavailable for several rehearsals during the final two weeks prior to opening night – the most critical rehearsal days. This would not work.
I turned to Weston Holzinger, my assistant director, and asked him to step into the director’s role for these last two weeks. He readily took the reins and, I must tell you, he did an absolutely terrific job bringing this show to fruition. His vision for the show was spot on and his energy was tireless.
He, too, was MARVELOUS.
So, Weston, thank you.
Bill.
(BTW – don’t let his efforts go unnoticed. There are still two shows remaining on this Friday and Saturday (January 25 & 26) at the Highland High School Kennel. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!)
Hard Road Theatre is proud to announce auditions for their winter musical: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES is a musical comedy that features all 1950s and 1960s songs. The show revolves around the four women who are the Springfield High Songleaders: Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, as they are called upon as a last minute replacement to perform at their high school prom. The group gets back together again ten-years later at their high school reunion to perform again. There are almost thirty 1950s and 1960s tunes featured in the show including, “Mr. Sandman,” “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Mr. Lee,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Heatwave,” and “It’s My Party.”
Auditions for THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES will be held on Monday, November 5th and Tuesday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Highland Elementary School, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. There are roles for 4 women. Those auditioning should come prepared with a pop song from the 1950s or 1960s that illustrates their vocal abilities. An accompanist will be provided. In addition, those auditioning should also be prepared to learn a short dance routine and need to be aware of any conflicts they have through January 27th. No recordings will be allowed. Performances for THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES are scheduled for January 18th, 19th, 20th, 25th, and 26th. The show is being directed by Bill Sullivan, with musical direction from David Wilton, and choreography by Christine Taylor.
Online audition form HERE
Hard Road Theatre Productions and Staunton Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in association with the Highland Arts Council are proud to present the 2018 Summer Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Performances are July 27th & 28th and August 3rd & 4th at 7:30 p.m. and July 29th and August 5th at 2:00 p.m.
This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Oklahoma! The show first opened on Broadway in March 1943 and ran for more than 2,200 performances. It is one of the most performed musicals of all time. The Broadway show was adapted into a movie in 1955.
This summer’s production is brought to you by an experienced production team headed by director Mike Huelsmann of Breese. He is joined by David Wilton of Carlyle as the music director and Christine Taylor of Highland is the choreographer. The cast is headed by Hard Road veterans Eric Sykes, Lynne Huelsmann, Tim Albaugh, & Westin Holzinger. They are joined by newcomers to the Hard Road stage Olivia Bosaw & Hannah Wudtke. There are 26 total members of the cast.
Oklahoma! is based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. It is the first collaboration between the two writers, Rodgers and Hammerstein. The duo later created some of the most famous and well received musicals in the history of the Broadway stage. The story is set in the territory of Oklahoma near the town of Claremore in 1906.
The spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the backdrop for the love story between Curly, a handsome though shy ranch hand, and Laurey, a beautiful farm girl. Will Parker, Ado Annie Carnes, and Alli Hakim in a love triangle provide much of the comic relief. Add in Judd Frey, the not so reputable hired hand who has his eyes set on Laurey, as the villain and you have one rip-roaring story.
This production will include all of the musical song and dance numbers written for the show, many of which get cut in high school and community theater productions. These include, the tap dance number, “Kansas City,” the ballet style numbers of “Many a New Day” and “The Dream Sequence,” and Jud’s song, “Lonely Room.”
Tickets are $11 for children (ages 4-12) and seniors and $12 for everyone else. Tickets can be purchased online at the Hard Road website (hardroad.org). Physical tickets can be purchased at the Highland Chamber of Commerce Office or at the door.
Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theatre organization committed to providing Highland and the surrounding area with high-quality, affordable, live theatre productions.
Welcome to the cast of Oklahoma! On behalf of myself, David, Christine, and Hard Road Theatre, thanks again for auditioning for the 2018 summer production. With the talent that auditioned I know we will have a great production!
On Tuesday, May 29th, at 7PM we will be having an initial meeting and read-through. It will be in the same room as auditions. We will move to the stage once the Mary Poppins cast is finished. It is important that everyone make that day. I have not yet analyzed your conflicts so if you have a conflict that night please reply to this e-mail so I know you are not going to make it or will be late. At that meeting, we will get to know one another better, I will explain the way I run the rehearsal process, and we will discussed what is expected from everyone. We will also talk about the rehearsal schedule and important dates to remember to mark our progress. If you have a schedule conflict we will also talk about what is expected of you.
Also, if you are on Facebook please friend me, (Mike Huelsmann, the one with the Oklahoma! audition cover) and I will add you to our closed group.
That’s enough for now, but there’s lot’s more to come over the next few months. Congratulations! I can hardly wait.
Mike Huelsmann
Oklahoma Director
Oklahoma! Cast List
Curly – Eric Sykes
Aunt Eller – Lynne Huelsmann
Laurey – Olivia Bosaw
Will – Weston Holzinger
Ike – Gary Foehner
Jud – Colter Knebel
Ado Annie – Hannah Wudtke
Ali Hackem -Tim Albaugh
Gertie – Megan Ritter
Andrew Carnes – Tim Conrad
Cord Elam – John Mefford
Chorus
Slim – Patrick Boulanger
Fred – Justin Harris
Tom – April Cook
Mike – Candy Kirsch
Joe – Genesis Williamson
Vivian – Whitley Foehner
Ellen – Ellen Filkins
Kate – Alli Hahs
Virginia – Dani Boulanger
Ayiana Turner
Breanna K. Noe
Kenzie Holzinger
Kayla Dressman
Emily Ripperda
Julia French
Jennifer Hitt
Courtney Hochuli
Gentry Fifer
Pig Tail girls (dance with Will) – Courtney Hochuli
Pig Tail girls (dance with Will) – Emily Ripperda
Dream Chorus
Dream Curly – Eric Sykes
Dream Laurie – Kayla Dressman