by Tom Varner | Sep 25, 2017 | Press Release, Shows
Sponsored by TheBANK of Edwardsville and in association with the Highland Arts Council, Hard Road Theatre Productions invites you to join them for an evening of hilarity in Suite #719 at the Plaza Hotel as they present Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite. Written by Neil Simon (The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs, et al), Plaza Suite is a portrait of three different couples successively occupying Suite #719 at the Plaza Hotel. The first act features a suburban couple staying at the suite while their house is being painted and it turns out to be the one in which they honeymooned 23 (or maybe 24) years before and was yesterday the anniversary or is it today? This wry tale of is followed by the exploits of a Hollywood producer who, after three marriages, is looking for fresh fields. He calls a childhood sweetheart. Over the years she has idolized him from afar and is now more than the match he bargained for. The last couple is a mother and father fighting about the best way to get their daughter out of the bathroom and down to the ballroom where guests await her or as Mother yells, “I want you to come out of that bathroom and get married!”
Plaza Suite is directed by Warren Frank. The cast includes Angela Nuxoll, Chris Weckler, Nick Borror, Breanna Noe, Mitch England, Gentry Fifer, Linda Collman, and Lindell Webb.
Performance dates for Plaza Suite are Oct. 6, 7, 13, and 14th at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 8th at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held at the Highland Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL 62249. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $9 for seniors (those 60 and over) and children (students from ages 4 -12). Tickets can be purchased online via the Hard Road website (www.hardroad.org) or at the door.
Make your reservations, check in, and be prepared for an evening of comedy and fun.
by Tom Varner | Jul 20, 2017 | Announcements, Press Release, Shows
Sponsored by Staunton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Hard Road Theatre is proud to announce their summer musical: SISTER ACT. Based on the 1992 hit comedy movie of the same name that starred Whoopi Goldberg, SISTER ACT contains all new original music written by Alan Menken (THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, TANGLED, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS). The plot follows Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer with dreams of stardom. She witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and the uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique dance moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood.
“I’ve directed over twenty different productions and vocally, this is the strongest cast I have worked with,” said director Evan Fifer. “It’s a show that I really think is going to resonate with our audiences. Not only that, but with about twenty singing and dancing nuns on stage, it’s a spectacle to be seen.”
SISTER ACT has a cast of 30 individuals from several different communities including Highland, Greenville, Breese, Collinsville, and Staunton. Some of the cast includes Jasmine French as Deloris Van Cartier, Ellie Mitchell as Mother Superior, Breanna Noe as Sister Mary Robert, Gentry Fifer as Sister Mary Patrick, Lori Wahl as Sister Mary Lazarus, Lynne Huelsmann as Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours, Sue Ellen Drewer as Sister Mary Theresa, Tim Albaugh as Curtis Jackson, and Tom Varner as Eddie Souther. The show is directed by Evan Fifer with musical direction by David Wilton and choreography by Christine Taylor. Performances for SISTER ACT are July 28, 29, Aug. 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and July 30 and Aug. 6 at 2:00 p.m. House doors open approximately 30 minutes before show time. All performances will be held at the Highland Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. Tickets are $12 and $11 for children 4-12 and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the door, at the Highland Chamber of Commerce, or online. Online ticket purchases stop 30 minutes before the scheduled showtime.
by Tom Varner | Jun 10, 2016 | Press Release, Shows
Hard Road Theatre Productions in association with the Highland Arts Council and sponsored by Bradford National Bank, invite you to join them in an evening of magic and enchantment as they present DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR. Adapted from a French fairy tale and based upon the Disney movie and stage show of the same name, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND BEAST JR. is a fantastic adaptation of a story of transformation and tolerance. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR. features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, including “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast”. The show also features new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice that were written for the Broadway stage show.
Directed by Gentry Nessel, the cast for DISNEY’ BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR. includes over fifty students from several different communities including Highland, Greenville, Troy, Marine, St. Jacob, Hillsboro, and Collinsville. Performances for DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR. are June 23-25th at 7:00 p.m. and on June 26th at 2:00 p.m. at the Highland Elementary Auditorium, located at 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. Tickets are $10.
Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theatre organization committed to providing the greater Highland area with high-quality, affordable, live theatre productions.
by Tom Varner | Apr 4, 2016 | Press Release, Shows
Hard Road Theatre Productions in association with the Highland Arts Council invites you to join them for an evening of humor and romance during their production of First Date.
Set in the present day in New York City, First Date is a one-act musical that follows a blind date between newbie Aaron and serial-dater Casey. They meet for a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. In a delightful and unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers, and potential conversational land mines. Can this couple turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives? First Date is a hysterical and hopeful musical about the chances we all take to find love. The show features adult content and is not appropriate for younger audiences.
Directed by Bill Sullivan, the cast is composed of a group of Hard Road veterans and includes Breanna Noe as Casey and Evan Fifer as Aaron. The other members of the cast are Josh Noll, Megan Noll, Gentry Nessel, Megan Ritter, and Tom Varner. David Wilton is the show’s musical director.
First Date performance dates are April 15, 16, 22, and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and April 17 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held at the Highland High School Kennel at 12760 Troxler Ave., Highland, IL. Ticket prices are $12 and can be purchased online (www.hardroad.org) 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. For more information about First Date or Hard Road Theatre visit the Hard Road website, send an email to tom@hardroad.org, call 618-409-6286, or visit the Hard Road Facebook page.
by Tom Varner | Jan 6, 2016 | Press Release, Shows
Sponsored by Staunton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Hard Road Theatre Productions in association with the Highland Arts Council invites you to join them for an evening of hilarious hijinks with the nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing in the state and regional premiere of the family-friendly comedy Drinking Habits 2. The play is a direct sequel to last winter’s highly popular play, Drinking Habits and features all of the same characters.
Set in the present day outside the small town of Shady Glenn, USA, Drinking Habits 2 follows the misadventures of the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing and their friends. An orphanage with a strong connection to the convent is in danger of closing unless $5,000 can be raised in four weeks. In order to raise the needed funds, the convent decides to perform a play written by Mother Superior. Meanwhile, the other nuns of the convent agree to make a secret batch of their award-winning wine to sell to supplement the play’s proceeds. But when Mother Superior believes she’s had a holy vision, the lead male actor can’t remember his lines, and the woman playing the Blessed Mother can’t stop her uncontrollable cravings because she’s pregnant with twins, things are thrown into chaos and everything that can go wrong does just as the curtain rises.
Directed by Tom Varner, the cast includes Breanna Noe as Sister Augusta, Linda Collman as Sister Philamena, Chad Korte as George, Mary Knebel as Mother Superior, Evan Fifer as Paul Billings, Gentry Nessel as Sally Andrews, Megan Jakel as Kate, and Rob Bowman as Father Chenille. According to Varner, audiences are in for a real treat as Hard Road’s production is only the second place in the world to be performing this play. The play hasn’t even been officially published, yet, and is being produced in direct accordance with the author. “Drinking Habits was so successful and well received than when we were presented with this opportunity, we couldn’t pass it up,” said Varner. “It isn’t necessary to have seen the first show to enjoy this one. Audiences are going to love this show and what occurs as the convent tries to put on their play while the sisters secretly start bootlegging wine again.”
Drinking Habits 2 is acceptable for families as it contains no foul language or adult situations. Performance dates are Jan. 21, 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 24 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held in the Highland Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL 62249. Ticket prices are $10 and can be purchased online (www.hardroad.org), at the door, or in person at the Highland Chamber of Commerce.
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.
by Tom Varner | Jul 14, 2015 | Announcements, Shows
IT’S A BIG, BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL WORLD WITH SHREK
Hard Road Theatre in association with the Highland Arts Council and sponsored by Bradford National Bank present SHREK THE MUSICAL. Based upon the 2001 Academy Award-winning movie and the 2009 Tony-nominated Broadway musical of the same name, SHREK is the story of an ogre named Shrek who just wants to live alone in peace in his swamp. Join our unlikely hero and his loyal steed and best friend, Donkey, as they embark on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona from a love-sick dragon. Add the diminutive Lord Farquaad (who just wants to be King), a gang of fairytale misfits, and a cookie with attitude, and you’ve got the biggest, brightest musical comedy around! It’s a must-see show for the entire family.
With over 40 cast members, SHREK marks the largest regular length musical Hard Road has ever presented and is one of the spotlight shows for our 15th season. Our production features Broadway-style costumes and professional-grade prosthetics. The show itself features an original score with the exception of the classic pop-rock song “I’m a Believer” written by Neil Diamond and first made famous by The Monkees.
Cast members in the show come from several different communities in the area including Highland, Greenville, Breese, Collinsville, Belleville, and Swansea. The show is directed by Evan Fifer with musical direction by David Wilton and choreography by Christine Taylor.
Performances for SHREK are July 24, 25, 31, and Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and July 26 and Aug. 2 at 2:00 p.m. All performances will be held at the Highland Elementary Auditorium located at 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. Tickets are $12.50 each (children 3 years old and younger are free). Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Online ticket purchases stop 30 minutes before the scheduled show time. Children 4-12 will receive a special coupon at the door for a FREE small drink and popcorn. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.
Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theatre organization committed to providing the greater Highland area with high-quality, affordable, live theatre productions. Online tickets can be purchased via the Hard Road website or through the Hard Road Facebook page. For more information about SHREK or Hard Road in general, please send an email to tom@hardroad.org or call 618-409-6286.
