The Green Tomatoz Headline Bisbee Women’s Revue 2012

The Green Tomatoz are a reminder of fun times on Brewery Gulch when Theater in the Gulch gave us laughs based on the daily goings on around our town. The original Green Tomatoz, Chris Bovée, Judy Perry, and Nancy Weaver, helped form Theater in the Gulch and served as the venue’s house band. If you didn’t get to Bisbee in time to catch these women, you won’t want to miss a chance to see them now.

Bisbee’s Obscure Productions will bring The Green Tomatoz back to the Bisbee stage in this year’s Bisbee Women’s Revue. Judy and Nancy, and possibly a “fresh” tomato, will be featured in this year’s show, which celebrates International Women’s Day, March 8. BOP commemorates the date with a variety show featuring an all-woman cast and crew, though they do invite men to come out and cheer the performers on. The show is different every year and a good time is guaranteed for all.

Veteran Bisbee and BOP performers join the Tomatoz. Carol Park will lead the women of the Occasional Chorus. Sharon Strachan will spoof Stephen Sondheim’s, I’m Not Getting Married Today, with help from her company. BHS drama teacher, Elizabeth Henley, is on for Broadway tunes “to be named later.” Yvonne Grimm will perform with the “Banjolele Ladies,” Debbie Thompson and Debbie Lydon in three-part harmony. Debby Gardner will join Yvonne for Conversation in Heaven. Angelika Johnson and Abigail Stage will dance, and Liz Lockwood provides new comedic commentary. “Obscure” Rae Jones, emcee, will give her own Bisbee Women’s Timeline.

Be the most important part of community theater, yourselves, the audience! The Revue will be presented in three shows at Central School Project’s Squffy Theater, 43 Howell Avenue in Old Bisbee. There will be two evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on March 9 and 10, with a 3:00 pm matinee on March 11. Admission is just $5.00 at the door for this fun community event. For more information regarding the show contact Rae Jones at 520-432-2901, or theaterbisbee@gmail.com.

Great Show, Great Cast, Great Crew

And then there were none... by Agatha Christie is in the middle of a great run. Am I over-using the word? This is a fun show with both suspense and humor, and the cast makes the most of the opportunity. We've had one sellout, and another one coming for this Sunday. Please get your tickets soon, so you don't miss being part of this.

In the play, ten very different people have been lured to an island retreat off the coast of Devon, invited by an enigmatic Mr. or Mrs. Owen. A disembodied voice accuses each of an unpunished murder. Then, one by one the guests themselves are murdered, following the rhyme of “Ten little soldier boys went out to dine. One choked his little self, and then there were nine.” Who is the killer? Is it Emily Brent, the very religious spinster, played by Patricia Sherick-Gronlund? Is it Vera Claythorne, hired as Mrs. Owen’s secretary (Bisbee High School Drama teacher Elizabeth Henley)? Or is it Sir Lawrence Wargrave, played by Charles Feil? Who will survive until the suspenseful final scene?

Performances of And then there were none… will be February 3 & 4 at 7:30 pm with a 3:00 pm matinee on February 5. Tickets are going fast, so get yours now. All performances will be held in the O.G. Squffy Theater at Central School Project, 43 Howell in Old Bisbee. Bisbee’s Obscure Productions is grateful for the support of the Bisbee 1000 and Central School Project.

Tickets are $10 in advance at Atalanta’s Music and Books and the Bisbee Food Coop, or by mail from BOP. Tickets at the door will be $12 for adults and $6 for students with ID. For more information or credit card sales, call BOP at (520) 432-2901, email theaterbisbee@gmail.com or mail to PO Box 277, Bisbee AZ 85603.

Seeking a Few Good Men

We're still seeking a few good men for And then there were none... by Agatha Christie. All of Christie's roles are great, and we have a couple of men who die early (meaning not so many lines) and a couple who make it into the third act.

Rehearsals will be on Thursday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. If everyone works smart, we won't have to work long.

Email us at theaterbisbee@gmail.com or call 520-432-2901.

Stay Tuned

We'll be posting pictures and videos from Slap Happy: The Second Dip soon. Keep an eye peeled.

Audition!!

We're having an open call for actors for And then there were none… by Agatha Christie. This is a classic mystery story: an odd group of characters has been invited to an island retreat by an unknown host. They die off one by one – whodunit? The cast features eight terrific men’s roles of all ages and three wonderful parts for women, two middle-aged and one to play mid-twenties. This play was pulled from production for years because of its earlier non-PC title, Ten Little Indians. Gilles will direct this show.

Auditions will be held in the O.J. Squffy Theater at Central School Project, 43 Howell Ave. in Old Bisbee on Saturday and Sunday, November 12 & 13, beginning at 1:00 each day.

Come prepared to deliver a one- to three-minute memorized monologue, not original work. We do need to know that you can memorize something, even a nursery rhyme. You will also read from the script. Rehearsals will be Thursday evenings and weekend afternoons through performance. Dress rehearsal and performance dates are scheduled for January 18-February 5, 2011. A copy of the script is available for reading at the Copper Queen Library. Actors may contact BOP at (520) 432-2901 or theaterbisbee@gmail.com for more information and to make arrangements for special audition appointments.

Director Rae Jones is also seeking one perfect male to play what may be the sweetest men’s role ever, the ghost of John Barrymore, in the hilarious comedy, I Hate Hamlet, by Paul Rudnick. The ideal candidate will have good movement skills and a big voice. To join our all-star Bisbee cast, contact Rae at theaterbisbee@gmail.com or at 520-432-2901 right away to schedule an audition. Rehearsals for I Hate Hamlet will be selected evenings and weekend afternoons February into April, with performances scheduled April 12-29. A script is available for reading at the Copper Queen Library.

Has BOP Gone to the Dogs?

Has BOP Gone to the Dogs?

In spite of some very fine acting on the part of her fellow cast members, Elsie Hanson got the loudest curtain call in Pearl Watkins’ Below the Surface. Elsie is the most loving pit bull on the planet, and she made her stage debut earlier this month at BOP. Building upon that success, BOP has found the comedy star they’ve long been seeking. Zane the One-Eyed Wonder Dog, aka the Zaniack, will be performing silly pet tricks in this year’s Comedy Show, Slap Happy – The Second Dip.

Zane will spin and roll his way around the stage for the joy and laughter of his audience. Purush is also dancing in this 9^th almost annual Comedy Show. This year Abigail Stage and Angelika Johnson join him to “Be Italian.” Emcee "Obscure" Rae Jones promises some new nipping comedy herself.

See them at Central School Project’s Squffy Theater, 43 Howell Ave. in Old Bisbee at 7:30 p.m. on October 28 & 29, and at 3:00 on October 30. Advanced tickets are on sale now for $10 each at Atalanta’s Music & Books and The Bisbee Food Coop, by mail from BOP at Box 277, Bisbee, 85603, and by credit card (add $1) by calling 520-432-2901. Any tickets left will be $12 at the door, $6 for students with ID. For more information, please contact Rae Jones at 520-432-2901 or at theaterbisbee@gmail.com. Parents are asked to exercise discretion as this show will contain adult themes and language.

 

Slap Happy: Comedy Times 9

 

Bisbee’s Obscure Productions is head over heels with excitement to present the 9^th installment of their (almost) annual Comedy Show, this year celebrating the country’s economic recovery (or not. . .). Local comics cut loose once again with stand-up, sketches, song, dance, and finally (!) the silly pet tricks we’ve been hoping for.

BOP is slaphappy to feature a cast of mostly veteran performers in this year’s show, headed up by emcee, “Obscure” Rae Jones. Jahfree Lambo, Liz Lockwood, Carl Purush Siberon, Yvonne Grimm & Bobo Sage are guaranteed to have you rolling with laughter once again. Sharon Strachan will be joined in her return to the BOP comedy stage by a newcomer to us, but not to the stage, local personality, Deb Gardner. Hilary Pursehouse of the hilarious “Oddvarks” will be on hand to lead local talent in her wild sketches and anything goes improv games. Hilary will also keep us rolling with laughter this year with her own stand-up debut. Jokester Will “Uri” Gronlund will be joined by his wife and interpreter, Patricia, to regale us with the humor of Russia.

BOP veteran, Christa Smith, will make her Comedy Show debut this year, as will new-to-our-stage comic, Steven McDiarmid. Zane the one-eyed wonder dog will strut his stuff with the help of his boss, Gilles. Believe me, Silly is Zane’s middle name.

This year’s festival of laughs will be held at the Central School Project’s Squffy Theater, 43 Howell Ave. in Old Bisbee at 7:30 p.m. on October 28 & 29, and at 3:00 on October 30. Advanced tickets are on sale now for $10 each at Atalanta’s Music & Books and The Bisbee Food Coop, by mail from BOP at Box 277, Bisbee, 85603, and by credit card (add $1) by calling 520-432-2901. Any tickets left will be $12 at the door, $6 for students with ID. For more information, please contact Rae Jones at 520-432-2901 or at theaterbisbee@gmail.com. Parents are asked to exercise discretion as this show does contain adult themes and language.