Tag Archives: Rachel Bland

THE RAINMAKER continues this weekend at CTLR

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CTLR RainmakerThe Community Theatre of Little Rock is presenting N. Richard Nash’s classic play The Rainmaker.  This is the final weekend to catch this Tony-nominated play of redemption.  Performances are Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm.  The Rainmaker is performed at The Studio Theatre at 328 West 7th Street.

At the time of a paralyzing drought in the West we discover a girl whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her potential future as an old maid as they are about their dying cattle. For the truth is, she is indeed a plain girl. The brothers try every possible scheme to marry her off, but without success. Nor is there any sign of relief from the dry heat, when suddenly from out of nowhere appears a picaresque, sweet-talking man with quite the sales pitch.

Claiming to be a “rainmaker,” the man promises to bring rain, for $100. It’s a silly idea, but the rainmaker is so refreshing and persistent that the family finally consents, banging on big brass drums to rattle the sky. Meanwhile the rainmaker also turns his magic on the girl, and persuades her that she has a very real beauty of her own. She believes it, just as her father believes the fellow can actually bring rain. Rain does come, and so does love.

CAST:

Jerry Woods as H.C. CURRY
Chris Boggs as NOAH CURRY
Chris Miller-Marshall as JIM CURRY
Rachel Bland as LIZZIE CURRY
Harold Dean as FILE
Jeffery Lewellin as SHERIFF THOMAS
David Montieth as BILL STARBUCK

Frank O. Butler – Director
Robert Warner – Stage Manager
Liz Turner and Chris Boggs- Producers

STREETCAR and METAL in LR this weekend

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Two Little Rock theatre groups present offerings to heat up cold winter nights this weekend.

THE METAL CHILDRENThe Weekend Theatre, in its 20th anniversary season, presents award winner Adam Rapp’s play Metal Children.  Rapp, who is one of the most prolific playwrights today, tells the story of a small town ripped apart by a debate over a book.

When a young adult novel about teen pregnancy is banned by the local school board, it ignites a fierce and violent debate over abortion, religious beliefs, and modern feminism. A directionless New York City author arrives in town to defend the book and finds that it has inspired a group of local teens to rebel in strange and unexpected ways. The book also inspires a swarm of teenage pregnancies, a horde of pig-masked vigilantes terrorizing the populace, a suicide, and at least one murder attempt. A timely and unforgettable drama about the failure of urban and heartland America to understand each other, The Metal Children explores what happens when fiction becomes a matter of life and death.

The play is directed by Justin A. Pike (who most recently directed Annie for the Royal Players in Benton).   The cast includes Don Bright, Wendy Darr, Anna Findley, Augusta Fitzgerald, Duane Jackson, Grace Lytle, David Monteith, Samantha Porter, Donna Singleton and Evan Tanner.

The production opened last weekend and continues on Fridays and Saturdays through January 26.  The shows take place at the Weekend Theatre located at 7th and Chester.

Precipice Theatre Prepares for Opening of 'A Street Car Named Desire'One of Little Rock’s newest theatre groups, Precipice Theatre, presents Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winner A Streetcar Named Desire.  The world of Blanche, Stanley, and STELLLLLLLAAAAA are brought to life amid the sweltering heat of New Orleans. Things are hardly what they seem in a world where a paper lantern is used to transform a plain lightbulb and light may hide more than the darkness.

The show opened last night and continues on through Sunday, January 27.  There are two performances today (2pm and 7:30pm) and a matinee tomorrow at 2pm.  Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance.   Streetcar is being performed at the Public Theatre located at 616 Center Street.  To reserve tickets, send an email to LRprecipicetheatre@gmail.com and let us know your name, number of seats needed, and which performance you will be attending.

The production has been directed by Paul Seminara, Cory Cotham and Jennifer S. Walker.  The cast includes Heather D. Smith, Ricco Ardemagni, Rachel Bland, Paul Seminara, Brent Wood, Caitlin Selacavich, Jennifer S. Walker, Steve Sullivan, Cory Catham, Andy Stanley and Tracy Crain.

 

RAFT OF THE MEDUSA continues at Weekend Theater

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The Weekend Theater’s production of Joe Pintauro’s Raft of the Medusa opened last weekend.  It is scheduled to continue this weekend and next on Friday and Saturdays at 7:30pm.  However, due to a car crashing into the Weekend Theatre building, further performances may be postponed.  Please check the Weekend Theatre’s website for updates.

Joe Pintauro’s drama presents a microcosm of those affected by AIDS in the earlier days of the crisis through the device of a diverse therapy group clashing, confronting, and comforting each other as they work through their emotions about their devastating diagnosis.

The cast includes Alan Douglas, Ryan Whitfield, Jimmy Walker, Brad Burleson, Rachel Bland, Dale Ellis,  Drew Ellis, Madison Hannahs, Morgan Henard, Grace Lytle, Josh Peace, Byron Taylor and Manny Urban.  Ralph Hyman directs, marking his 50th production at the theater.
Tickets, $16 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors age 65 and older, can be purchased on-line at http://www.weekendtheater.org or, based on availability, at the door. For information only, call 501-374-3761; reservations are not taken by phone.