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Three fantastic new shows open this weekend.  They are

at the Spotlight,

at the Gaslight, and

at Stars.

Shows

A Chorus Line  Spotlight Theatre
How The West Was Really Won  Gaslight Melodrama
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change  Stars Theatre Restaurant
The Bourgeois Gentleman  The Empty Space
The Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood  Bakersfield Community Theatre
 

Auditions

Godmakers  Empty Space

News & Special Events

This American Life - Live!
Local Talent Show - Saluting America
April Puppet Shows
Major League Improv

Shows:

A Chorus Line

Plays through May 10th



 

April 18, 19, 25 & 26 and May 2, 3, 9 & 10 at 8PM

May 20 & 27 and April 4 at 2PM

One of Broadway's longest running shows ever, the classic musical A Chorus Line is a stunning musical-verite about a chorus audition for a Broadway musical. It tells of the achingly poignant ambitions of professional Broadway gypsies to land a job in the show, and is a powerful metaphor for all human aspiration. Memorable musical numbers include I Can Do That, The Music and the Mirror, What I Did for Love, One (Singular Sensation) and I Hope I Get It.

Directed by Hal Friedman, A Chorus Line is a brilliantly complex fusion of dance, song and compellingly authentic drama. For tickets and information, call the Spotlight Theatre Box Office at (661) 634-0692, or visit us at 1622 19th Street. Tickets in advance are $15 for general admission, $12 for students, seniors, and active military, and $7 for children under 11. Tickets are $3 more on the day of the show.

How The West Was Really Won

Plays through May 24th



at The Gaslight Melodrama Theatre & Music Hall

Written by Arnie Carlos
Directed by Michael Prince

The old west is full of tales tall and small. Some might say the truth gets a bit blurred when they’re retold. But they wouldn’t say that if they were talking about ol’ Snake Willoughby, former Sheriff of Deadwater, AZ in the late 1880’s. Snake lived the kind of life that legends are made of. Watch as Snake relives some of his most daring battles and narrow escapes. From the arrest of Wild Bill to the defeat of Dastardly Diego, you will be in for a rip-roaring, side-splitting , rootin’-tootin’ hullabaloo. Chock full of a wild cast of characters and plenty of Melodrama action, this is one show the family won’t want to miss.


Followed by a brand new Vaudville Revue:

“Cowboy Up”
written by Arnie Carlos
musical direction by Warren Dobson

A country western musical comedy revue that’ll have you rollin’ and dancin’ in the aisles.

Both shows starring: Jay Stodder, Greg Ramsdell, Jennifer Prince, Shaylan Trone, Aileen Robinson and Scott Hillbury

Where: The Gaslight Melodrama Theatre & Music Hall
12748 Jomani Dr.
Bakersfield, CA 93312
(661) 587-3377
gaslightmelodrama@yahoo.com
www.themelodrama.com

When: April 18th – May 24th, 2008
Friday 7:00pm
Saturday 7:00pm
Sunday 2:00pm

Prices: General Admission $17.00
Seniors (60+) $15.00
Children (12 & under) $7.50


The Gaslight Melodrama & Music Hall is owned and operated by Arnie Carlos and Linda Larma (Producers).

 

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

Plays through May 10th



 

Stars Theatre Restaurant
 

April 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10

The trials and tribulations of being single, dating, marriage, loss, and heartbreak are cleverly explored in "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change". You will leave the show thinking…Were they talking about me?

 "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"  is the longest running off Broadway musical, and the most "proposal friendly" play with over 58 audience proposals to date.  You never know which night may end with a proposal, or who may be proposed to...

Doors open approximately two hours before the show begins, dinner is served at 6:30 & 12:30 for evening performances and matinees

Order tickets online at https://www.bmtstars.com/tickets.php?page=stars

The Bourgeois Gentleman

Plays through May 3rd



Molière's The Bourgeois Gentleman is a seventeenth century farce about a self-made man who tries to buy his way into society. This light-hearted play tells the story of the wealthy Monsieur Jourdain, who spends extravagantly in an attempt to appear cultured and genteel. He can afford the finest clothing, the most precious jewels, and the most clever tutors Paris has to offer... unfortunately, he is preposterously out of touch with reality. As Jourdain hires various instructors to train him in the Arts (succeeding only in making himself appear foolish to everybody but himself), his long suffering wife tries vainly to beat some sense into him - and protect her family from the greedy Count Dorante - while finding her daughter Lucile a good, middle-class husband. The Bourgeois Gentleman was a social satire in its time, exploring the themes of class and wealth, but modern audiences can sit back, appreciate the satire, and take in the wacky hilarity of it all!

The cast includes Andrew Ansolabehere, Jennie Babcock, Matthew Borton, Norman Howard Colwell, Jessica Delcid, Ellie Garber, Bob Kempf, Steven Littles, Julie Jordan Scott, Haley Sullivan, Ron Warren, Ryan Watts, and Joyce Weingarden.

Performances are April 11, 12, 13, 18, 25, 26 and May 2 and 3 at 8:00PM with special Sunday matinees on April 20 and 27 at 2:00PM


Admission is FREE with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. The Empty Space is located at 706 Oak Street in the Pizzaville shopping center. Seating can only be guaranteed by making a reservation. To make a reservation or for more information please call The Empty Space at 327-PLAY (327-7529) or visit us online at www.esonline.org.

 

The Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood

Final weekend!



Teen Show

Playing at Bakersfield Community Theatre

Written by Mary Lynn Dobson

April 11, 12, 18, 19, @ 7PM

April 13 & 20 @ 2PM

It sure is hard to be humble when you're a swashbuckling, egocentric super-hero. But our gallant guy tries his best as he swaggers through The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. It is a frantically funny, Monty Pythonesque retelling of the classic. The legendary legend, in his never-ending quest to aid the needy, encounters a lovely damsel-in-distress (oddly obsessed with skin conditions); an ever-scheming sheriff who would rather bowl a strike than hit a bulls eye; a gold-hoarding, bad-guy monarch wannabe; and a good-natured "Town's Guy" who manages to make his way into every scene, whether he belongs there or not. Combine them with an expandable band of spoon-wielding Merry Men whose collective IQs equal six, and you've got an irreverent jaunt through Sherwood Forest you won't soon forget!

Call 831-8114 for reservations

 

News & Special Events:
 

Epic - Book Release



 

Ginn Williams' book release Epic May 6th, 10p Sandrini's Restaurant and Bar 1918 Eye St Open Mic Night by Refresh Rhyme Scheme.

Ginn Williams' first book of poetry, Epic is going to be released at a very special Spoken Word Event, this May, at Sandrini's!!!  Epic is comprised of five chapters; Love, Hurt, Life, Moving On, and an explosive fifth chapter that is a must read. Epic includes the dramatic photography of Ian Young.

Come check out a special performance by this new up-and-comer on the Bakersfield arts scene, Ginn Williams! Ginn's style is described as bold, unapologetic, and fresh. She is known for her honesty in words and shocking twists throughout her performances. We're gonna have some great poets, awesome performances, and a book signing! Copies of Epic will be sold at this event for only $22.95. This is a must see event ... you won't have a better time anywhere else ... so don't be left out! 21 and over, please. Thank you to the members of Refresh Rhyme Scheme for working so hard to bring us this amazing event each month!
 

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This American Life - Live



Sent in by Jim Pappe:

This isn't exactly theater, but I think the kind of people who enjoy theater would enjoy This American Life. If you haven't experienced this radio variety show or its Showtime video version, you can get a sample of it at http://thislife.org.
 
They are showing a live feed of it May 1 at 8pm at the Edwards 14 at the Marketplace. Tickets are $20.


Monday, April 7, 2008
This American Life - Live! Tickets on Sale Now
 

Normally when we take our show on the road, we can only visit five or six cities. Not this time. This time we're going to hundreds. We're talking Alpharetta, Georgia...West Monroe, Louisiana...Pueblo, Colorado...Swansea, Massachusetts...all over the place. Well, sort of. We're actually doing one live show, filming it in high definition, and sending it via satellite to movie theatres all across the country—live. Ira will unveil brand-new stories from the upcoming season of our television show, perform a radio story, answer audience questions, and more!

No other public radio show has tried this before. We're psyched.

It's one night only: Thursday, May 1 at 8 pm EDT/7 pm CDT/6 pm MDT and tape-delayed at 8 pm PDT (we wanted it all to be live, but figured a 5 pm start would be pushing it for lots of you West Coasters). Tickets are sure to go fast in some areas, so buy yours now!

Important Notes: On the ticketing page, you can search for theatres near you. We're at the mercy of theatres' capability to show a live, digital satellite feed, and the equipment for that takes significant time and money to set up. So unfortunately, we can't accommodate requests to screen the show in additional venues. Everywhere we can show it, we are. Thanks for understanding.

 

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Local Talent Show - Saluting America

 

Are you the singing sensation of Kern County? Can you perform before a live Crystal Palace audience as well as hundreds of thousands of TV viewers? If you answered yes to both of these questions, ACAP Productions, KGET-TV 17 and KUZZ radio invite you to enter the “KEEP OLD GLORY FLYING” Salute to America in Song Talent Contest. Simply comply with the following contest rules and regulations and if chosen, you will be allowed to showcase your vocal talents at the annual Veterans Day celebration and tribute to be held at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Saturday, November 8th, 2008.

Visit http://keepoldgloryflying.o... for full information.

Download full contest rules in PDF format here http://keepoldgloryflying.o...
 

 

Major League Improv

Saturday Nights at 6:00 PM



 

What is improv comedy?
 

Unlike "Standup Comedy" in which one performer tells pre-planned jokes to the audience, improvisational comedy involves a whole group of performers making up scenes and playing games on the spot based on audience suggestions.

What is a Major League Improv show like?

A Major League Improv match features two teams of improvisers competing for laughs and points, with a referee keeping things moving and calling fouls. An average of seven to twelve games are played during a match, drawn from a repertoire of over a hundred improv games. In "Shakespeare" a team will improvise a scene inspired by an audience suggestion in Shakespearean style. In "Elimination Rap" players will create a rap on the spot, trading off each other's phrases, getting thrown out if they fall off the meter, or fail to rhyme. In "Forward/Reverse" the referee sends the scene back and forth at will, as though scanning a scene in a VCR, sending the players into a frenzy. Every show is different, with different players, different games, and different audiences supplying new suggestions.