Auditions for State Fair

Anamosa - "Starlighters II Theatre announces auditions for the Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical “State Fair” May 18, 19, 20 at 7:00 p.m. Starlighters II Theatre will present the musical State Fair, based on the screenplay by Oscar Hammerstein II and the Novel by Phil Stong, as their second production of their 40th season.

Performance dates will be July 25, 26, 27, August 1, 2, 3 at Starlighters Theatre, 200 East Main Street, in Anamosa. Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m.

The cast of State Fair has a wide variety of characters including Abel Frake - a farmer, Gus - the Frake's hired man, Margy Frake - the Frake's daughter, Melissa Frake - Abel's wife, Wayne Frake - the Frake's son, Dave Miller - the local storekeeper, Eleanor - Wayne's girlfriend, Harry - Margy's boyfriend, The Fair Announcer, The Hoop-La Barker, Emily Arden, The Astounding Stralenko.

Brigadoon Cast List Announced

Anamosa - The cast list for Starlighters Theater's production of Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon has been announced. The show will run August 10 - 19. Bob Assink directs.

Cast

Tommy Albright – Cameron Thomas
Jeff Douglas – Basilio “Bud” Light
Charlie Dalrymple – Nick Walters
Jean MacLaren – Emily Bartels
Fiona MacLaren – Courtney Kayser
Meg Brockie – Stephanie Martinez
Harry Beaton – Larry Mann
Andrew MacLaren – Terry Shaffer
Archie Beaton – Julio Martinez
Mr. Lundie – Lyle Fisher
Maggie Anderson – Carole Anne Beaulne
Jane Ashton – Meaghan Beaulne
Stuart Dalrymple – Brad Bartels
Frankie the Bartender – Mimi Bardel
Elizabeth Bruce – Patricia Cook
Angus MacGuffie – Jim Greene
Elsie Dalrymple – Piper Jackman
Lynsey Dean, Fishmonger – Ashley Kerslake
Scottie MacGuffie – Camden Mann
Sandy Dean – Harrison Shaffer
Malcolm MacGregor – Dana Vaughn
Gillian MacGregor – Bridget Ahlrichs
Violet MacGregor – Jennifer Beall
Ainsley Dalrymple – Katharine Bergman
Iris Dean – Kayla Sue Caryl
Laurel MacGregor – Amber Clifton
Charolotte Mason – Anna Dennis
Kate MacGuffie – Ashley Keenan
Boniface Feydeaux – Rick Sanborn
Widow Burns – Susan Wilcox
Aunt Fannie MacGhee – Grace Zimmerman

Auditions for Brigadoon

Starlighters - Brigadoon, a Lerner & Loewe musical about a mystical Scottish village, opens at Starlighters in August. Auditions are June 3-5.

Roles

Fiona MacLaren, female, age 18-30
Tommy Albright, male, age 30-40
Charlie Dalrymple, male, age 21-32
Jean MacLaren, female, age 18-30
Meg Brockie, female, age 18-30
Jeff Douglas, male, age 35-55
Harry Beaton, male, age 18-30
Andrew MacLaren, male, age 47-65
Archie Beaton, male, age 47-65
Mr. Lundie, male, age 50-75
Maggie Anderson, female, age 616-2
Jane Ashton, female, age 24-33

Auditions are June 3, 4, and 5 at 7:00 at Starlighters Theatre. Show dates are August 10-12 and 17-19. Bob Assink will direct.

Self-Help for Dummies Opens Tonight

Starlighters - Self-Help for Dummies is a comedy by Todd McGinnis and T. Gregory Argall. It takes place in a waiting room for a psychologist's office. Starlighters' production, directed by Rick Sanborn, opens April 20 and runs through April 29.

On Saturday, April 21, the playwrights will be at the theatre for a special talkback.

Self-Help for Dummies runs April 21 through April 29 (7:30 Friday and Saturday, 2 Sunday) at Starlighters II Theatre, 136 East Main Street in Anamosa. Tickets are $13 ($12 students & seniors) and can be purchased at 319.462.4793.

Only Drunks... makes you think, question and reflect

by Andrew Juhl

Anamosa - There’s a reason I haven’t watched Million Dollar Baby yet, despite the fact that I’ve owned the DVD for several years. I know the story will depress me, and I have to be in the mood to see a story that I know will depress me. Sure, it probably has some funny and happy moments—even the saddest of movies usually do—but I’m just not in the mindset where I want to be depressed all that often.

A depressing chapter in Canadian history provides the fodder Canadian playwright Drew Hayden Taylor’s Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth. Generations of aboriginal Canadians were devastated by their government’s attempts to “assimilate” the native children into mainstream Canadian culture, most often by placing them with white families and in residential schools. As a result, languages and cultures have been lost, some never to be recovered, as thousands of children were taken from their families. Taylor, himself part Ojibway (the same culture at the heart of this play, in itself a sequel to Someday), attempts to use a little bit of laughter as medicine to heal some of those emotional wounds. But a little bit of laughter in this production is a little bit too little, I’m afraid.

Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth is chiefly concerned with the story of Janice (Mary Vizecky), who was raised by a white family after being removed from the reservation where she was born. Now a successful lawyer in Toronto, Janice—still called ‘Grace’ by her birth family—is unexpectedly visited by her sister (Carolann Beaulne), her sister's fiancée (Alex Smalley), and a friend (Basilio Light) with news that Janice’s birth mother has died. As the three visitors attempt to persuade Janice to fulfill tradition and to return to their reservation to pay her respects, Janice is forced to reflect on questions about her identity and the nature of family.

Actress Carolann Beualne (Barb, the main character’s sister) shifted repeatedly between maintaining an awkward tension and guilting Janice beyond measure. While she was enjoyable to watch at times, her character wears on the audience well before intermission, due in no small part to her endless capacity to putatively foist guilt on her sister. “Yes. We get it. You think your sister is a bitch for not coming home,” says the audience in a collective sigh after the issue comes up for the umpteenth time in the first act.

Alex Smalley’s portrayal of Rodney, Barb’s fiancée, was enjoyable, thought perhaps played a little too cartoonishly. Rodney has the bulk of the jokes-written-to-be-obvious-jokes in the play, and Smalley could definitely relax a little and let the writing shoulder more of the effort.

Basilio Light (Tonto) plays his yeoman-like character with a natural ease. Far-too-intelligent by half, Tonto is the emotional anchor and continuous voice of reason in the play; and while Light nailed his delivery of several steely (if wizened) platitudes, that same Yoda-esque delivery perfused the vast majority of the rest of his lines, lending a repeated, inorganic quality to what should have been ordinary conversations.

Mary Vizecky turns in a serviceable Janice/Grace, but her performance somewhat suffers from what I like to call “the 75-cent syndrome.” When she’s angry about something, she seems roughly three-quarters as angry as she should be. Three-quarters as surprised, three-quarters as amused, three-quarters as sad, three-quarters as interesting as her character could have been. Even as Vizecky delivers the bulk of the last and perhaps most moving scene of the play, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Quit it. Quit holding back. Let us have it. Quit worrying about the next line and just let us see the character—not you trying to remember the character.”

Director Rick Sanborn keeps the play to a tight two hours (with intermission) and the spartan stage, props, and costuming are all done well. It’s a powerful play: one that will make you think, one that will make you the question policies and actions of whatever Big Brother, one that will make you reflect on the nature of family, and—yes, occasionally—one that will make you laugh a little. If you’re in the mood for it, Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth is a good evening at a small-town community theatre.

And if you’re not in the mood for it, there are several bars within short walking distance of the marquee.

Little Women Auditions Coming Soon

Anamosa - Auditions for Little Women will be held October 2, 3, 4 of 2011 at 7 pm at the Starlighters Theatre in Anamosa. The director is Jan Cratsenberg (Monticello). For more information, e-mail cratsen@gmail.com.

Based on one of the most popular pieces of literature, Little Women follows the joys and hardships of the four young and inseparable March sisters: outspoken Jo, motherly Meg, quiet Beth, and worldly Amy. While at home with their mother and beloved cook, Hannah, they anxiously await their father's return from the Civil War. The girls wrestle with the problems of poverty and everyday life, but with wisdom from Marmee and the love of family, we watch them mature and grow. Written by Peter Clapham, and based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the play faithfully brings the story of this timeless classic to the stage, weaving together the lives of the March sisters and their neighbor, Laurie. Little Women will make you laugh, cry and appreciate what is truly important in life.

Production Dates:
December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm

Characters:
Amy March (ages 11-13)
Beth March (ages 14 -18)
Jo March (ages 17-25)
Meg March (ages 18-25)
Hannah (age 50s)
Mrs. March [Marmee] (late 40s)
Laurie (ages 16-22)
Mr. Lawrence (60s)
Mr. Match (50s)

* Actors do not necessarily need to be in the age ranges given, as long as they could possibly play someone in that age range.

Only Drunks... Opens Tonight

Anamosa - The latest Starlighters II Theatre show opens tonight. They are presenting the award-winning drama Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, written by Drew Hayden Taylor.



There is a blemish on the United States' history and how we as a country treated Native Americans. The same can be said for our neighbors to the North, Canada. During the 1950's and 1960's, Canada attempted to "assimilate" native children into Mainstream culture by taking them from their homes and placing them with white families or in residential schools. The effects were devastating to Canada's original inhabitants. Language and culture were lost for these displaced children for generations.

This sad chapter in Canadian history provides the artistic background for the award-winning Canadian Native American playwright, Drew Hayden Taylor, in his play Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth. Taylor uses poignant but humorous situations and dialogue to make observers laugh, cry and heal the wounds for his characters and the world that is watching.

Directed by Rick Sanborn (Stone City, IA), Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth tells the story of Grace (played by Mary Vizecky, Marion, IA), a Native American woman who has been raised by a white family after being removed from the Indian Reservation where she was born. Now a successful lawyer in Toronto where she lives, Grace is unexpectedly visited by her sister (played by Carole Anne Beaulne, Marion, IA), her sister's fiance (played by Alex Smalley, Cedar Rapids, IA) and a friend (played by Basilio Light, Anamosa, IA) with news that her birth mother has died. As the three visitors attempt to persuade her to fulfill tradition and to return to the reservation for her mother's funeral, Grace is forced to reflect on questions about her identity and the relationship with her birth family.

This critically acclaimed play will prompt audience members to question the real meaning of family and if one can truly escape one's past. The production contains some strong language.

For information on "Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth," and ticket information visit the Starlighters II Theatre website.

None of the Above is Witty but Uneven

by Matthew Falduto

Anamosa - Uneven might be the best word to describe Starlighters's most recent production of Jenny Lyn Bader's None of the Above. There are some very funny moments, and some emotional moments, but all of those moments did not add up to a consistently funny or emotional show.

Most of the blame, it seems to me, is to be found in the script itself. The story seems straightforward but becomes more convoluted and unbelievable as it progresses. A smart college guy named Clark (Zach Lockhart) is hired by the father of a rich, high school student named Jamie (Breeyn Tighe) to help her achieve a perfect score on her SAT. Both Jamie and Clark have secrets: she is a drug dealer (at least for the first twenty minutes of the show; then that subplot pretty much disappears without any consequences) and Clark is a gambler. As you might expect, the two find themselves drawn to each other and we believe this will be a clever, funny romance of opposites. Instead of taking this tack, the script throws in gambling and alcohol addiction, suggestions of mafia connections, and a Faustian deal around which the entire play revolves. As the show progresses, the story becomes more and more complicated, and unfortunately, less and less interesting.

The one aspect the script does have going for it is a lot of clever humor. Both actors dive into this humor and deliver it well. They are at their best thrusting at one another with barbed comments. Both are strong actors who know how to command a stage. It would be wonderful to see them working another script - Taming of the Shrew, perhaps?

The set is wonderful. Jamie's bedroom is a childlike pink playground, but the posters of Lennon, Lady Gaga, and the Black Eyed Peas suggest a teenager who is finding her place in the world. I also appreciated the musical interludes between each scene. Songs like "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga added to the overall tone of the show.

The director (Matt Kumley) used the set and the space well, moving the actors around the stage for mostly good effect. Kumley's direction is most effective when the moments are confrontational between the characters. However, when the script calls for a more intimate moment, his direction sent the actors too close too soon, forcing them to move away and then back toward one another. This lead to uneven intimate moments that lacked intensity.

I do have to say the rest of the audience enjoyed the show far more than I did based on the applause between each scene. I did enjoy the humor and I did enjoy watching two strong actors practice their craft. So go for the wit of the script if not its plausibility. None of the Above runs through June 26. Ticket information is here.

So whatcha doing this weekend?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record... wait, do people even understand that reference anymore? Is there a more appropriate adage for 2011? At the risk of sound like a re-tweeted re-tweet?

Let's go with that.

At the risk of sounding like a re-tweeted re-tweet... there's a lot of theatre in the area this weekend. At the Englert, you can check out the talent of the youth in our community by experiencing City Circle's West Side Story. The Romeo and Juliet story set in 1950s, this musical features some of the all time classic songs like "Somewhere", "Tonight" and "Something's Coming."



In Anamosa, they're offering a much more modern show - None of the Above by Jenny Lyn Bader. She's a poor little rich girl; he's likes the count the number of words in the sentences he hears. They're made for each other, right? Check it out at Starlighters.


And of course, if theatre in the great outdoors is your raison d'être, Riverside's Shakespeare Festival opens tonight with Ah Wilderness! No, it was not written by Shakespeare, but if you're wondering why they've ventured off the Avon path, go here for an explanation from one of Riverside's founders. And then get your tickets and get down to City Park for the show.

The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre opens Candide tonight. The operetta, based on the novella by Voltaire, is a witty musical romp through a classic story. I know you've always thought in the back of your mind... I really ought to check out the opera. Now's your chance!


And last but not least of the shows opening this weekend, ITAC is bringing back The Lady with All the Answers. Who didn't read Ann Landers' column? For whatever reason, I always liked it better than Dear Abby. Meg Merckens embodies the advice columnist is this excellent production.


Continuing this week: Remain True and GI Jukebox.

So get out there and experience live theatre!

Starlighters opens None of the Above June 17

Anamosa - Starlighters II Theatre’s will present the hilarious modern comedy None of The Above written by Jenny Lyn Bader. Performance dates will be June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 at Starlighters Theatre, 136 East Main Street, in Anamosa. Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m.

None Of The Above is a character driven play that takes place in the urban setting of New York City where we meet Jamie, a 17-year-old daughter of excessively affluent parents, living on the Upper East Side. She would rather spend her time being a cause célèbre at her exclusive private high school than studying for the SATs. To take on the challenge of tutoring her, Jamie’s father hires Clark, a geeky college student who likes to count the words in every sentence he hears. On the surface, the duo couldn’t be more different. But when Jamie learns of the conditions and rewards in her father’s contract with Clark, the snap judgments between the two fade away, and they form their own pact, which might just prove to benefit both of them.

Ticket prices are $13 for adults and $12 for senior citizens (62 and over) and students (through college). For reservations, call the box office at (319) 462-4793. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The cast of None of The Above includes Monticello's own Breeyn Tighe as Jamie, and Zach Lockhart from Adel, Iowa as Clark. The director of None of The Above is Matt Kumley, also of Monticello.

On Wednesday, June 1st, a panel of five of Starlighters II's finest directors (Rick Sanborn; William Wims; Jan Cratsenberg; Polly Chalstrom; Bob Furino) was invited by director Matt Kumley to critique the show and give him feedback for possible use in the last few weeks of rehearsals.

The panel was impressed by the high quality of the show with two and a half weeks of rehearsal time still remaining. Theatre co-founder, Bob Furino, said, "This show has the potential to be one of Starlighters II's best productions, considering that it is a very fine show now, and still has over two weeks of rehearsal to polish it even further. It has a lot of laughs, heartwarming romance, and even some great moments of drama. I loved watching the two actors, Breeyn Tighe and Zach Lockhart, breathe life into the characters of Jamie and Clark."

"I am very impressed," continued Furino, "by the work of the show's director, Matt Kumley. This is his first time in the director's chair. We already knew Matt was a strong actor, but he is also developing into a fine director of acting as well. He has a good insight into the characters and subtext of the play, and has a way of bringing out the best in actors. I think he has a great future in the theatre."

For more information about None of The Above, visit the Starlighters II website at www.starlighters.org or call 319-462-4793. None of The Above contains some strong language.

Auditions for None of the Above

Anamosa - Starlighters II Theatre in Anamosa will hold auditions for the new comedy, None Of The Above, by award-winning playwright Jenny Lyn Bader on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, April 10, 11, 12 at 7 pm on the mainstage at the Starlighters Theatre, 136 E. Main Street, in Anamosa. The director is Bob Furino.

THE STORY:

This character driven play takes place in the urban setting of New York City where we meet Jamie, a 17-year-old daughter of excessively affluent parents, living on the Upper East Side. She would rather spend her time being a cause célèbre at her exclusive private high school than studying for the SATs. To take on the challenge of tutoring her, Jamie’s father hires Clark, a geeky college student who likes to count the words in every sentence he hears. On the surface, the duo couldn’t be more different. But when Jamie learns of the conditions and rewards in her father’s contract with Clark, the snap judgments between the two fade away, and they form their own pact, which might just prove to benefit both of them. Written by critically acclaimed playwright, Jenny Lyn Bader, this endearingly clever new comedy will prove that in life, the answer isn’t always as clear cut as A, B or C.

Production Dates:
June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm

Characters in None Of The Above:
Jamie (Female; Late teens-early 20s)
Clark (Male; 20s-early 30s)

Actors do not necessarily need to be in the age ranges given, as long as they could possibly play someone in that age range. Prepared monologues are welcome at auditions, but the director wants to emphasize that they are NOT required in order to audition for the show.

Those interested can read a 10-page preview of the script of None Of The Above at Google Books.

If you have questions, or wish to read a perusal script, contact director Bob Furino by sending an e-mail to bfurino@mchsi.com or check out their website.

“The Last Five Years” at Starlighters II: Time heals

By Joe Jennison

Anamosa - Two twenty-somethings meet and fall in love, get married, struggle with careers and family, and break up in just five year’s time. That is the basic premise of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years.

The musical play would seem like any other standard musical comedy about love and marriage except for the fact that this play tells its story not only from two perspectives (his and hers), but also from two places in time: the male in this story begins at the beginning of the relationship and moves forward; the female in this story starts from the end of the relationship and moves backwards.

Originally produced in 2001, the play’s simple production values, small cast and non-traditional story-telling style has made it very popular with theaters and audiences alike. As produced at the Starlighters II Theatre in Anamosa, the musical play is a thought-provoking, enjoyable and quick evening of theater. Anyone who has been in and out of a relationship in a similar time frame will find plenty to relate to, and Brown’s music and lyrics are fun and funny and accessible.

The play opens with Cathy (Amy Friedl Stoner) singing about the end of a relationship. The song, “Still Hurting,” performed by Stoner is sad and poignant and heart-breaking, with lines such as “Jamie arrived at the end of the line; Jamie’s convinced that the problems are mine; Jamie is probably feeling just fine; And I’m still hurting.” This number is juxtaposed nicely in the very next scene by Jamie’s (Isaac Helgens) “Shiksa Goddess.” This up-tempo number sung just after he has met Cathy contains some very funny lines including “If you had a pierced tongue, that wouldn’t matter; If you once were in jail or you once were a man; If your mother and your brother had ‘relations’ with each other; And your father was connected to the Gotti clan; I’d say, ‘Well, nobody’s perfect’; It’s tragic but it’s true; I’d say, ‘Hey! Hey! Shiksa goddess! I’ve been waiting for someone like you."

This is part of the charm of this musical – that these two characters are performing together at two different times in their lives, and at two different times in this relationship. This allows Brown to comment on the end of the relationship at the beginning, and vice versa. The final number has Cathy (just after their first kiss) singing “Goodbye Until Tomorrow”; and on stage with her, Jamie (after he has just moved out) singing “I Could Never Rescue You.” And, although the audience often sees them on stage at the same time, the two characters don’t see each other, and are forced to sing individually to a “memory” of a person or a situation that has moved on in time.

The scenic design by director Brian Glick and KC Kiner, sets up the evening well. A large clock permanently set to 10:09 stares back at the audience from the stage. A smaller version of the same clock is permanently reflected on the stage floor. The two performers sing and interact and argue in front of, next to, and on top of the timepieces reiterating for all of us the volatile nature of time itself. Maybe if the characters had truly understood how precious time is things wouldn’t have ended (or started?) as they did.

At play’s opening and ending, director Glick creates a small pas de deux that has the two actors directly interacting just before they take to their separate corners of the stage to tell their different versions of the story. A host of stagehands and technicians create the illusion of multiple scenes in time through the use of large set pieces that come and go very quickly adding to the speed of the show. A boat dock slips on and off the stage with ease, piles of books appear and disappear instantly, and loose leaf typewritten pages seem to fall magically from the ceiling.

A small hidden three-piece instrumental ensemble provides great musical support and the aforementioned set offers a lot of places for director Glick and his cast to create some interesting stage pictures. A wedding scene, for instance, has the two characters singing together on a platform in front of the large clock as rose petals fall from the rafters. Almost instinctively, Helgens quietly and tenderly picks the petals out of Stoner’s hair as they say their I dos. Beautiful.

Stoner is obviously very comfortable center stage and her voice is well-trained and fits the demands of the score. I loved watching her stand tall and sing her heart out as she powerfully proves her worth in this relationship. She is gorgeous and confident in this piece and shines in several numbers including “A Summer in Ohio” and “I Can Do Better Than That.”

Helgens, by contrast, doesn’t seem to match Stoner vocally. Yes, as an actor, he does seem to understand his complex (and at times unlikeable) character, and he does hit each and every emotionally complex acting note. However, he does seem to struggle with the score, and in this respect seems mismatched onstage with a thoroughbred musical comedy performer such as Stoner. A rock number in Scene Four titled “Moving Too Fast” does allow him to show off his voice and style, proving that he can deliver the musical goods when the score falls within his comfort level. But a regular switch from chest voice to falsetto and back again several times throughout the show was at times awkward and uncomfortable to watch and hear.

That said, I did like this play, the music, the set and the performances and would recommend it to anyone who has a memory of lost love. And throughout the play, thanks to Glick’s set design and staging, I was reminded again and again of the very essence of relationships and broken hearts: Time heals.

This show has closed, but Starlighters' next show is None Of The Above, which opens June 17.


Joe Jennison is a freelance writer and playwright living in Mount Vernon. Comments should be directed to joejennison@hotmail.com

Starlighters II Presents The Last Five Years

Anamosa - Starlighters II Theatre will be performing Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years beginning Friday, March 4th.

The Last Five Years is a musical exploring the lives of Jamie and Cathy, who are chronologically separated throughout most the piece. Jamie begins to sing of the beginning of his marriage and career, while Cathy begins at the bitter end and moves backwards.

The Last Five Years will run March 4-6 and 11-13 at 7:30pm (2pm Sundays), at Starlighters II Theatre in Anamosa (136 East Main St). Tickets are $16 for adults, $15 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 319.462.4793 or online.

(Promo pic by Seth Waters.)

Starlighters II Announces Acting Class

Anamosa - Starlighters II Theatre in Anamosa will be offering its “Acting 102” class. It begins Wednesday, February 23rd and runs for 6 consecutive Wednesdays from 7 PM to 10 PM. The deadline for registration is February 19.

This is a 6-week acting class that is designed to be a follow-up class to "Acting 101." However, it is NOT mandatory that a person has taken "Acting 101" before taking "Acting 102." "Acting 102" is aimed at those who would like to act in mainstage shows with Starlighters II Theatre as well as other theatres, but who have held back because they thought they needed better acting skills before they were ready. It is also aimed at young actors who have been involved in youth acting programs and high school theatre, and who want to be challenged on the next level, and move on to performing more demanding roles in mainstage productions. The class will be taught by directors Bob Furino (Delhi) and Rick Sanborn (Stone City) who are part of the Starlighters II Education Department.

"Acting 102" is based upon the Stanislavski System. It will include some review from "Acting 101," and also features such elements as ensemble development, trust, scene study, scene work, dialect, movement, voice/breath, character development, and character analysis. "Acting 102" is open to anyone 14 years of age or older.

There will be a $30 registration fee, payable at the first class session on February 23rd. The class will be held in The Studio on the third floor of the Starlighters Theatre, 136 E. Main Street in Anamosa.

Those interested in signing up for this "Acting 102" class may register simply by calling Starlighters II Theatre at 319-462-4793 Ext. 813 or by sending an e-mail to bfurino@mchsi.com. Include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if you have one).

Fee assistance scholarships are available for those with financial difficulties. Inquire by e-mailing us at bfurino@mchsi.com or calling us at 319-462-4793 Ext. 813.

Starlighters holding auditions for Last Five Years

Anamosa - Starlighters will hold auditions for The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown on January 2, 3, 4 at 7 pm in The Studio, on the third floor of the Starlighters Theatre in Anamosa.

Production dates are March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13. All who audition need to bring a prepared song of approximately 16 bars (can be any song). An accompanist will be provided; you may also bring a CD. One memorized monologue, from the two monologues is expected from the show. More information here.

Character Breakdown

CATHERINE HIATT: Excellent actress and singer, Mid 20s - mid 30's (Age range is tentative)

JAMIE WELLERSTEIN: Excellent actor and singer, Mid 20's - mid 30's (Age range is tentative)