BCTCO is Better Than Ever!

Wow – it has been a WHILE hasn’t it? We wish we could update you more often, but we’re just so busy putting on some of the BEST theater in Columbus!

To bring everyone up to speed, we’re three shows into our season already – Boy Meets Girl, Same Time Next Year, and Richard III have all been phenomenal shows and we have no intention of stopping there! James and the Giant peach opens December 10th, so get your reservations in now! And since word has gotten out about how excellent these shows are, we’ve had to add a performance to both Richard III (which drew record crowds!) and James and the Giant Peach – trust us, you won’t want to miss a single show this season!

I’d love to tell you more, but we’ve got to get back to rehearsal! Stay tuned for more frequent updates though, there are SO MANY exciting things going on at BCTCO and we’ve got a new blogger tasked with giving each and every one of YOU exactly what you want – more Bread & Circus news!

Break a leg out there!

“Driving Miss Daisy” in the News

BCTCO’s summer production of “Driving Miss Daisy” couldn’t have come at a better time. Turns out that “Miss Daisy” is also making headlines outside of our hometown – on Broadway.

Many theatre goers are already anticipating the revival of “Driving Miss Daisy” on the Broadway stage. With a cast including such greats as Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones, this is sure to be a treat that you won’t want to miss. The show is set to begin performances on Broadway on October 7, 2010 at the John Golden Theatre. The official opening will be Monday, October 25, 2010.

BCTCO’s own opening for “Miss Daisy” happened last Friday, July 30th. The performances were solid, the audience responded, and the applause at the curtain call was as heart-warming as the story witnessed on-stage. The opening reception had quite the turn-out, and the champagne toast led by BCTCO president Aynn Titchenal included a nod to Howard and Mony Carpenter for their outstanding leadership of BCTCO in the last 10 years.

There are two more chances to see “Driving Miss Daisy’s” magic unfold on stage at the Harmony Artistic Center in Hilliard. Join us on Friday or Saturday (August 6 or 7) at 8:00. We would love to see you there. You might love “Daisy” so much that you’ll have to plan a roadtrip to New York later on this year!

Come join us for this classic play that is a “timeless, searing, funny and ultimately hopeful meditation on race relations in America, told through the complex relationship between two of popular culture’s most enduring characters.”

We promise our characters will endure in your hearts, and you’ll leave with something more than you came in with. After all, that’s what theatre is all about.

Click to reserve tickets for BCTCO’s production of “Driving Miss Daisy”

Click for more information regarding the James Earl Jones/Vanessa Redgrave Broadway production of “Driving Miss Daisy”.

Don’t Miss “Miss Daisy”!

Did you miss “Driving Miss Daisy” this weekend? Well, don’t worry! You have two more chances to come out to the Harmony Artistic Center and see us. Friday and Saturday at 8 PM at Harmony Artistic Center, 3979 Parkway Lane, Hilliard. Call 674-470-4895 for reservations or visit www.bctco.org.

“Driving Miss Daisy” Opens Tonight!

I do hope that you’ve made plans to join us for the premier of “Driving Miss Daisy” tonight. You haven’t? Oh my goodness!

Not to fear, though, as you can still get your tickets for tonight’s show. Either call us at 614-470-4895 to make your reservation or simply visit our website at www.bctco.org. Yes, it’s that easy!

The show starts at 8:00 with a musical pre-show. Tonight features the soft, classic rock sounds of the band “Time of Trial”. “Driving Miss Daisy” will follow the musical opener, and will run with no intermission.

Be sure to join us afterward for a special opening night reception! We’ll be celebrating 10 years of BCTCO under the guidance and direction of Howard and Mony Carpenter, and we want to see you there!

If you can’t make it tonight, we undersatnd. But the show will go on, and you have other opporunities to come see this talented cast. All other shows will include a musical pre-show from the talented “Emily and Co”, followed by the wonderful “Driving Miss Daisy”.

Shows will be Friday and Saturdays, July 30 and 31, and August 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, August 1 at 2:30pm at the Harmony Artistic Center, 3979 Parkway Lane in Hilliard.

Tickets for this fundraising event to SAVE THE CIRCUS are only $12. This price includes both the musical entertainment and the play performance. Don’t forget to call and make your reservations at 614-470-4895 or visit us at www.bctco.org.

You’ve Been E-vited!

Yep! You read that right! You’ve been e-vited to join us for the opening of our first summer production, “Driving Miss Daisy”. Opening night is coming up swiftly as the days of July tick by on the calendar, and pretty soon, the 30th will be here with music and talent on stage for you to enjoy!

Click the link to view and respond to our e-vite invite. We’d love to see you at the show. If you’re joining us for opening night, be sure you stay for the reception celebrating BCTCO!

http://bit.ly/c27I77

Visit www.bctco.org for more information.

Behind the Curtain: “Driving Miss Daisy” author Alfred Uhry

We’re taking you Behind the Curtain today to learn a bit more about BCTCO’s first summer production, Driving Miss Daisy.

Daisy was written by American playwright and screenwriter Alfred Fox Uhry. Born in Atlanta, Georgia on December 3, 1936, Alfred graduated from Druid Hills High School in 1954 and then later earned his degree from Brown University.

Everyone starts somewhere, and Uhry’s early work revolved around the stage where he worked as a lyricist and librettist for a host of commercially unsuccessful musicals such as America’s Sweetheart about Al Capone and a revival of Little Johnny Jones starring Donny Osmond. Following a disastrous musical collaboration with American composer Robert Waldman (the show Here’s Where I Belong was closed after just one performance), the two found considerable success with The Robber Bridegroom. Robber Bridegroom was mounted on Broadway in 1975 and 1969, and it went on to enjoy a year-long national tour. The show also earned Uhry his first Tony nomination.

Driving Miss Daisy came later in 1987, and it was the first of what known as Uhry’s “Atlanta Trilogy” of plays, all set during the first half of the 20th century. The play was originally produced off-Broadway, and it earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Uhry later adapted the script into the screeplay for the 1989 film starring Jessican Tandy and Morgan Freeman which was recognized with an Academy Award for adaptation.

The second of the trilogy is The Last Night of Ballyhoo, which received the Tony Award for Best Play in 1996. A 1998 musical called Parade rounded out the series, and the libretto for the show earned him a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.

Be sure to join us as we bring Uhry’s first part of the Atlanta Trilogy to life later this month. Driving Miss Daisy opens on Friday, July 30th at 8:00pm at Harmony Artistic Center, 3979 Parkway Lane in Hilliard, OH. Tickets for this fundraising event will be $12, and you’ll help Save the Circus with your ticket purchase. Please call 614-470-4895 for reservations or visit our website at www.bctco.org.

Official Annoucement: “Driving Miss Daisy”

You’ve heard the buzz. Now read what it’s all about:

BCTCO announces a Sustaining Capital Campaign Drive to raise $2,500 to ensure the future of the theatre troup, which is experiencing its first significant changeover in leadership in more than a decade. The centerpiece of this effort will be the company’s first-ever summer production: “Driving Miss Daisy” by Alfred Uhry.

Shows will be Fridays and Saturdays, July 30 and 31, and August 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, August 1 at 2:30 p.m. at the Harmony Artistic Center, 3979 Parkway Lane, in Hilliard. Each show will be preceded with a special added performance. Opening night will feature the soft, classic rock stylings of “Time of Trial”. Each subsequent performance will showcase Broadway tunes and classical music by Hilliard’s “Emily and Co.”

Tickets for this fundraising event will be $12 and will include both the musical entertainment and the play performance. For reservations, call 614-470-4895 or visit www.bctco.org.

More info to come! Stay tuned for news on the cast and other items!

Save the Circus!

You’ve heard about our performances of “Driving Miss Daisy” which will be coming up this July, right?

Wait, you haven’t! Then keep your eyes and ears pealed readers because news of it is popping up all over the internet. Still don’t know what I mean?

Well, lookie here: http://cacsm.com/492hz5

Well, guess what – even more fun has arrived on schedule!

Bread and Circus Theatre will have a trio of musical performers before each performance of “Driving Miss Daisy”.

This is a show you definitely won’t want to miss. So come on out and enjoy music and great live theatre!

And help us save the Circus!

Call 470-4895 for tickets today!

End of Play Writing Contest!

The Play Writing contest has reached a close, and we wanted to thank you so much for your participation. The results will be posted in our July newsletter! So stay tuned!

Bread and Circus Theatre and Buckeye Youth Theatre announce Youth Summer Classes

BCTCO and BYT are happy to announce our summer class schedule for aspiring actors and singers. We have 3 classes being offered in July to help further young participants knowledge and confidence when auditioning and performing in any theatrical endeavor.

All classes will be held at The Harmony Artistic Center 3979 Parkway Lane Hilliard, OH 43026.

Please register through our website at www.bctco.org

Theatrical Combat – for ages 15 – 18
Class runs Saturday and Sunday, July 10th and 11th
10:00 am – 4:00 pm both days
$50.00
Minimum of 10 student, 14 maximum

Stage combat training promotes physical awareness and self-confidence.

In this class you’ll learn the fundamentals of how to develop SAFE and effective moves for a staged fight. Most shows involving youth do not include weapons. So, neither do we. Students will learn hand to hand combat tricks of the trade including punches, slaps and blocking. Taught by a trained stage combat instructor and assistant. Please bring a sack lunch

Auditioning 101 – grades 5th – 8th
Class runs Monday through Friday, July 12th –16th
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
$45.00
Minimum 10 students, maximum 15

Students will learn important audition techniques such as how to present themselves to their best advantage, how to build a resume, what professional headshots should look like, and how to choose a monologue best suited to their acting ability and style. Students will work on a monologue to present to family on the last day of class.

Musical Theatre Workshop – grades 3rd – 9th
Class runs Monday through Friday, July 19th – 23rd
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
$50.00
Minimum 8 students, maximum 20

This fun class will teach the fundamentals of singing in a stage musical. Your child will learn the basic skills and habits of performing a musical. They’ll learn some of the tricks of the trade – such as proper breath support, and begin to develop the confidence it takes to belt out the tunes. Students will work on group songs and solos to share on the last day of class.