Change of venue
In Bowie, City Hall will temporarily become a hot spot for drama as the Bowie Playhouse undergoes renovations.
2nd Star Productions, Prince George's Little Theatre and Bowie Community Theatre all normally operate out of Bowie Playhouse and will be putting on their fall shows in City Hall.
2nd Star will put on "In the Beginning: Three One Act Comedies" running from Sept. 5 through Sept. 27, PGLT will be running a production of "The Art of Murder" from Oct. 24 through Nov. 8, while BCT will put on "A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody" from Oct. 3 through Oct. 18, which Janice Coffey of BCT said is perfect for their new arrangement.
"We wanted to pick something that would be fun for the audience and bring them into City Hall," she said. "Murder mysteries and comedies are always the favorites. It's kind of a tongue-in-cheek, witty comedy. We thought hat would be fun for the new venue."
Coffey also said the show, written by Ronald Jay and directed by Linda Kirby, does not require a large cast or extensive set work, because the backstage area at City Hall is much smaller than at the Bowie Playhouse.
Theater companies will also have to put on shows without a backstage bathroom.
"That's the first thing everyone mentions," Kirby said. "I guess we just won't drink a lot of water."
Kirby said that BCT will provide the lighting and the sets will be done primarily with curtains instead of flats, to conserve space. Rehearsals for "A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody" start today, and Kirby said she is excited to see the production take shape.
"It's a very lighthearted romp, even though the subject was murder," she said. "You have to make sure the actors get the joke so the audience will. I just love watching it come together."
Prince George's Little Theatre, the county's oldest community group, plans to build on the success of its Neil Simon show last year with another this year, the classic comedy "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," which is based on the playwright's own beginning as a writer on Sid Ceasar's "Your Show of Shows."
PGLT did Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" last season.
Jane Wingard, director of 2nd Star's "In the Beginning: Three One Act Comedies", said 2nd Star also chose their show, because it was conducive to City Hall's limitations.
"We decided to do it because of the portability of the show," she said. "We have space limitations, and these sets are portable. Being that we're the first ones in there, we're kind of the experimental group."
Wingard said she is excited about the changes coming to the Bowie Playhouse, but there are concerns that 2nd Star may not be around long enough to take advantage of the new amenities.
"Over the past couple of years we have lost money," she said. "The question is, will there be another season after this one? It's actually up to the community of Bowie as to how much support they give us."
Wingard said the company needs more volunteers to help with production, and it "Would be a shame" if 2nd Star had to close its doors right after the Playhouse completes its renovation.
One step 2nd Star has taken to alleviate its financial problems is to bump ticket prices to $20 a ticket, and $17 for seniors and students.
2nd Star is best known for doing musicals and it has two on this year's schedule: The popular "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" this winter and "Camelot" to close the season.
FDR in Fort Washington
South County theater-lovers will also have plenty to look forward to in the fall with Tantallon Community Players' production of "Sunrise at Campobello", a story about Franklin Delano Roosevelt over the summer he contracts polio.
The play is set at the summer home of the Roosevelt family, and Eleanor Roosevelt and their five kids are all characters in the show which is set to open on Sept. 26 and run through Oct. 3.
The show's producer, Charla Rowe, said Tantallon has found a "perfect cast" and is very excited about the casting of Dick Reed of Alexandria, Va. to play the role of President Roosevelt.
"A few years ago we did a USO show in which FDR comes to visit Bob Hope on stage," she said. "The fellow who played FDR was suddenly sick and was rushed to the hospital the night before we opened. I just couldn't think of anybody else to do it."
Rowe asked Reed, who was originally slated to play a singer named Dick Thames, if he could fill in and play Roosevelt.
"He was wonderful," she said. "We put him in the wheelchair, got him a cigarette holder and perched the glasses on his nose. He was unbelievable. I have been waiting three years to do ‘Sunrise at Campobello' because of him. This guy is so good, you won't even believe it."
The cast will total 14 actors from around the metro area and is being directed by Randy Tusing.
E-mail Jonah Schuman at jschuman@gazette.net
2008-'09 Community
Theater schedule
2nd Star Productions
Bowie Community Theatre
Greenbelt Arts Center
Hard Bargain Players
Laurel Mill Playhouse
Prince George's Little Theatre
Tantallon Community Players
