Uncategorized | Hard Road Theatre

First Date Cast

by Tom Varner | Feb 12, 2016 | Uncategorized

After much deliberation, the following have been selected for roles in First Date:

Evan Fifer – Aaron
Gentry Nessel – Man 2
Breanna Noe – Casey
Josh Noll – Man 1
Megan Noll – Woman 1
Megan Ritter – Woman 2
Tom Varner – Man 3

For those of you not selected, please don’t feel slighted. Casting decisions are made on a number of factors (quality of audition, availability during rehearsals, how well you fit the director’s vision for the role, etc.) and not being selected is no reflection on your talent. We are still in need of a stage manager, prop master, and set construction people. If you would like to assist with the show in that aspect, please let us know.

Donate Now and Become a Hard Road Patron

by Tom Varner | Dec 15, 2015 | Uncategorized

As we approach the end of the year, we would like to ask you to consider becoming a Hard Road Patron for 2016-17. Hard Road is dedicated to providing high-quality live theatre to the greater Highland, IL area and beyond. Hard Road has been producing theatrical events in and around the community since 2001. This past season was our 15th season and was filled with some major theatrical events from the smash hit play Drinking Habits to our one-night special in conjunction with the Highland Community Chorus of South Pacific: In Concert to our huge summer musical spectacular of Shrek. We were also able to donate $750 to the Highland Area Christian Service Ministry (HACSM) Food Pantry and installed over $11,000 of new lightning equipment into the Highland Elementary Auditorium. It has been a great year and although the season isn’t quite over (come see the regional and state premiere of Drinking Habits 2 in January), we are excited about what lies ahead for our 2016-17 season. You can help us continue to bring high quality productions to Highland and the surrounding communities by becoming a season patron.

Currently our patron program has several different levels that include a variety of perks and donations are tax deductible.

Friend ($25-$74):
*Name listed on Hard Road website

Supporting Role ($75-$149):
*Name listed on Hard Road website
*2 Season Tickets

Leading Role ($150-$249):
*Name listed on the Hard Road website
*2 Season Tickets
*Name listed in Lobby Display

Superstar ($250-$499):
*Name listed on the Hard Road website
*4 Season Tickets
*Name listed in Lobby Display

Benefactor ($500 or More):
*Name listed on Hard Road website
*6 Season Tickets
*Name listed in Lobby Display
*Name recognition in the programs for the season

Any donations received from now until the end of the year will be considered a donation for the rest of this season and all of next. Which means you’ll get benefits for the remainder of this season and all of next.

So, what do you say? Will you join us and support us as a Patron for our 2016-17 Season?

All checks should be written out to: HACF (Highland Area Community Foundation) with Hard Road Theatre written in the memo line. Donations should be mailed to: Hard Road Theatre Productions, P.O. Box 68, Highland, IL 62249.

Thank You: Our Biggest Production Ever!

by Tom Varner | Aug 3, 2015 | Uncategorized

Our production of SHREK is now a part of Hard Road history, but we want to give a huge THANK YOU!!! to everyone who came out and saw the show. We have been making a significant effort to bring a wide variety of shows to the area that audiences will enjoy and that people will enjoy being involved. We want Hard Road to be a premiere performance venue, a place that will attract people from all around and bring them to Highland. SHREK has been in the works for quite some time and a lot of time, effort, and money has gone into its planning. We promoted the show as being the biggest show we have ever done. We now know that is true in every way, as SHREK is officially the most attended production in Hard Road history! Thank you to everyone who came out and seen SHREK and who has been a part of our 15th season so far. The season is not over, yet, and we have a few surprises in store for the remainder that we know you will enjoy. Thanks again!

SHREK Cast List Notice

by Tom Varner | May 22, 2015 | Uncategorized

Casting, is the single most important decision a director can make, as well as the most difficult. With nearly seventy people who auditioned, this was the single hardest casting I’ve ever been a part of. The talent that came out over the last three nights was OUTSTANDING. Everyone who auditioned should be proud to know that you did a standup job and we were highly impressed. I wish I could have every man, woman, and child in this show – BUT, it’s just not possible. I have expanded the cast to more than I had anticipated, and I truly believe this will be a stellar show! Congratulations to all, and I can’t wait to get to work!

If you do not wish to accept a role please contact me (Evan) by email at evan@hardroad.org by 8:00 p.m. this evening.

**FIRST REHEARSAL IS AT 7:00PM, TUESDAY May 26^th at the ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BAND ROOM (SAME ADDRESS FROM AUDITIONS).** Scripts, Schedules, and additional info will be handed out at that point. PLEASE COME PREPARED TO BE MEASURED FOR YOUR COSTUMES. ALSO YOUR $40.00 COSTUME FEE WILL BE DUE NO LATER THAN THE BEGINNING OF REHEARSAL THURSDAY JUNE 4^TH.

Principle Characters
Shrek – Josh Noll
Princess Fiona – Brenda Bass
Donkey – Paul Pitts
Lord Farquaad – Mark Conrad
Dragon – Gentry Nessel

Fairytale Creatures
Pinocchio – Jonathon Beavers
Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy – Carrie Henrichs
Three Little Pigs – Ashley Deibert, Linda Collman, Amy McCoy
White Rabbit – Mary Knebel
Fairy Godmother – Amanda Juenger
Peter Pan – Bryce Beliveau
Tinkerbell – Ellen Nuxoll
Wicked Witch – Lori Wahl
Ugly Duckling – Megan Noll
Mama Bear – Mary McCoy
Papa Bear – Mitch England
Baby Bear – Isaac Rieke
Mad Hatter – David Whitacre
Humpty Dumpty – Breanna Noe
Shoemakers Elf – Kamryn Bugger
Dwarf (grumpy) – Patrick Boulanger
Big Bad Wolf – John Taylor
Little Red – Makaina Woods

Ensemble Characters
Papa Ogre – Tom Varner
Mama Ogre – Caitlyn Hadeler
Young Shrek – Patrick Boulanger
King Harold – Tim Albaugh
Queen Lillian – Megan Ritter
Young Fiona – Julia English
Teen Fiona – Pacey Perez
Captain of Guards – Tom Varner
Guards – Nathan Harris & Caleb Stratton
Knights – Tim Albaugh, Nathan Harris, David Palenchar
Pied Piper – Tim Albaugh
Tap Dancing Rats – Pacey Perez, Allison Hahs, Lyndsey Poettker, Mary McCoy, Megan Noll
Three Blind Mice – Beth Augustin, Breanna Noe, Amanda Renken
Bluebird (operator/voice) – Breanna Noe
Bishop – Tim Albaugh
Duloq Dancers – Mitch England, Jonathon Beavers, David Whitacre, Kayla Miller, Katherine Kirchoff,
Courtney Hochuli
Thelonius – Mitch England
Executioner – David Palenchar

Peasants and/or Chorus
Angela Nuxoll
Sarah Lipski
Margaret Polleti
Elizabeth Evans
David Palenchar
Bryce Kirsch
Candy Kirsch
Caleb Stratton

**Please note that most everyone who has a fairytale creature role or ensemble role will also be part of the chorus when not on stage. **

Last Call for DRINKING HABITS

by Tom Varner | Jan 30, 2015 | Uncategorized

It’s the last call for DRINKING HABITS: the hilarious, delightful, charming, and family-appropriate comedy smash with a cast of characters that includes a couple of bootlegging nuns, two nosy reporters, a simple groundskeeper, a frenzied Mother Superior, a sweet Sister with a secret, and a priest who used to do magic tricks. If you didn’t get to see the show last weekend, there are only two chances left: tonight (Friday, January 30th) and tomorrow night (Saturday, January 31st). And if you’ve seen the show already, please, come back again. Several others already have and you’re always welcome at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing. They won’t turn you away.