VPI READING - Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 7pm
Red, White, Blue and Black, by Peter Gunter
The Virginia Playwrights Initiative (VPI) is a part of the Hamner Theater's continuing mission to foster new works for the stage, specifically those by Virginia playwrights. VPI provides a venue for the playwright to workshop, rewrite and rehearse a new script with a company of experienced actors, a director and a dramaturg.
The reading will start at 7pm; come a minute or so early to mingle and chat and share a snack, and stay after for the very important "Aftertalk" in which the playwright will hear what you, the audience, got from his reading.
The second step, an actor reading, will happen within the next couple of weeks; the workshopping/staging part of the process will happen in the spring to give the playwright time for rewriting.
Please join the collaboration.
The Virginia Playwrights Initiative is made possible in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the BAMA Fund.
IN THE CABARET - Saturday, January 17, 2009
Hamner Improv Troupe
HIT and hit - experts in mops that scuba-dive...long-lost sisters on the hundredth floor having emotional sea changes...a western movie about eggplant parmesian...bowling with goldfish...come be part of the fun and watch your zany suggestions be incorporated into impromptu scenes by the Hamner Improv Troupe, Varsity and JV. The zanier, the better!
Show 7:30 pm, Doors/Bar 6:30 pm.
Tickets are $10, or $25 for a family, includes dessert(reservations required)
Please call 434-361-1999 for reservations.
ONGOING - Improv Mondays at 6pm
Hamner Improv Troupe
This mixed group of old hands and neophytes, under the able tutelage of Mary Coy, is meeting every Monday at 6pm sharp, with the possibility of another meeting for those who may not be able to meet Monday.
HIT will be the cabaret entertainment for our January cabaret.
We have also started hit- open to ages 8years and up, hitters will meet Mondays from 5pm - 6pm with Mary Coy and then spend an additional 20 - 30 minutes working with HIT. This program is free of charge and is intended for everyone with an interest in Improv.
Mary Coy is a graduate of the Loose Moose International Improv School, and co-founder of The Improfessionals, Improvaganza and other local improv groups.
Please call 434-361-1999 for additional information, or just come see what it's all about!
Nelson County Shakespeare Festival presents
Richard III
Onstage February 11 - 22
Free Preview, Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30pm
All tickets $10 for the following performances, to be held in the Hamner Theater:
Thursday, February 12 at 7:30pm
Friday, February 13 at 7:30pm
Sunday, February 14 at 2:00pm
Thursday, February 19 at 7:30pm
Friday, February 20 at 7:30pm
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30pm
Special show - Saturday, February 14 at 6:30pm in the Great Hall
Tickets $75 for Nobles (includes Banquet, Lecture/Discussion & Stage Seating)/ $5 for Show only
A Renaissance is coming to Nelson County theater with the first ever Nelson County Shakespeare Festival production of Shakespeare’s RICHARD III. Using Elizabethan rehearsal practices like memorizing all your lines by the first rehearsal, actor-manager (another Elizabethan practice), Mary Coy is organizing a production of RICHARD III that takes advantage of the theater energy generated by the Hamner Theater and her six years work as Shakespeare consultant at the Nelson Middle School.
“RICHARD III is about the lengths one man will go to obtain and maintain power,” says Coy, Richard manipulates his friends, the church, and the public to get what he wants. He will stop at nothing. It will be interesting to see how much the audience is repelled by or attracted to him.”
Besides years of experience acting and coaching Shakespeare, Coy has a Masters of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance from Mary Baldwin College and has worked as assistant director and stage manager at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. Along with Nelson County Schools Gifted Coordinator Betty Tabony, Coy has written a manual, which guides teachers in using Shakespeare to fulfill SOL’s and has taught Shakespeare to hundreds of Nelson County sixth graders. She and Tabony recently co-authored a young people’s version of KING LEAR for Swan Books.
“Performing Shakespeare is a challenge and I want to embark on that challenge here in the county with the adults and kids I’ve worked with over the years, people who know how much I love to teach and perform, people who want to challenge themselves.” says Coy.
Performances will be held at the Hamner Theater from February 11-21. There will also be one special banquet/performance in the Rockfish Valley Community Center “Great Hall” on Saturday, February 14.
“Being involved in theater is a lot of fun and Shakespeare is a great way to continue and/or begin that involvement,” says Coy. She goes on to say that actors aren’t the only people needed to ensure a great production. “We need prompters at each rehearsal, house managers, props and costume coordinators- all people important in Elizabethan theater as well theater today.”
For further information contact Mary Coy at (434)263 8802.
Click the link to download the cast list for RIII
Click the link to download the script for RIII
In The Cabaret
Tickets, by reservation only, are $20 (or 2 for $35), which includes food.
Doors/Bar open at 6:30pm; Food is available (self-service) from 6:30pm.
The first set begins at 7:30 pm. Dessert is offered during intermission.
Food is by Claudia Gibson Catering.
We have a fully-stocked bar, with a special Drink du Jour for each Cabaret; alcoholic drinks cost from $4 to $6. Guests are seated at tables on arrival (reserved tables available for parties of 4 or more by request in advance).
Please call 434-361-1999 for reservations.
Coming Up in 2009:
