Just down the road in Union Springs, Alabama you’ll find The Red Door Theatre, formerly the Trinity Episcopal Church, which hosts many events and activities promoting arts and community involvement. Located at the corner of Prairie Street and Blackmon Avenue, the Red Door Theatre was named in honor of the red doors traditionally found on Episcopal churches.
AUDITIONS FOR “THE PASSING OF PEARL” TO BE HELD JANUARY 15 & 16
Audition Dates are Sunday, January 15, at 4:30 p.m., and Monday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Door Theatre.
SYNOPSIS: This play about friendship, forgiveness, acceptance and love is set in Memphis in the 1980s at a local diner right next door to the hotel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while standing outside on his balcony. LEATEEN, a brash, outspoken, hilarious, and wise black cook, is trying, along with her good friend and colleague DAPHNE, to pick up the pieces and carry on after the death of PEARL, the kindhearted old lady who owned the diner. Pearl’s daughter CHARLENE, the polar opposite of her selfless mother, is planning on the immediate closure of the popular diner in favor of a condominium complex sure to make her a ton of cash. The plot revolves around Leateen and Daphne’s grief over the loss of their beloved friend, diner, and livelihood, but its purpose runs far deeper. Through words and actions that inspire laughter and tears, joy and sadness, the characters of this poignant play pass along a timeless truth: that all of us, no matter our skin color, background, or creed, are much more alike than we are different.
CAST (4 females–one is African American):
–Pearl’s Spirit: 83, older attractive lady. Never speaks. Facial expressions vital to show. Wears all white, even has white shawl over shoulders. Uses shawl to cover head on occasion.
–Charlene Davenport: Pearl’s daughter-mid to late 40’s. Attractive. Wears nice business suits. Strong spirited, bossy, loud. (Very spoiled.)
–Leateen Saunders: “big” PERSONALITY, Pearl’s cook @ the diner; mid 70’s, black, walks with limp due to bad back. Loud and comical, yet subtle when needed. Good at “story telling.” Dresses in pink waitress uniform except when going to funeral home. There, she dresses like refined black lady—hat, hankie, big purse
–Daphne Davis: Pearl’s waitress in the diner, late 60’s, early 70’s. Southern country gal—not sophisticated. Shy, quiet, timid, worries a lot. Looks down most of the time. She uses a dish towel to “wring and worry with” throughout show.
(With appropriate make-up and body language, these characters can be played by younger actors.)
Additionally, a choir is also needed which will include a keyboard player and 5-7 male and female singers.
Actors wishing to audition should bring a current photo and resume or description of experience. Actors may obtain a perusal copy of the script by contacting the Tourism Council office at (334) 738-8687 or emailing tourimsbullockcounty@yahoo.com. The should also bring their calendars with any scheduling conflicts that might affect rehearsals.
Rehearsals will begin February 27, 2012, and the production will be presented April 26-29.
AUDITIONS FOR “THE PASSING OF PEARL” TO BE HELD JANUARY 15 & 16
The Red Door Theatre announces auditions for “The Passing of Pearl” written by Vain Colby and directed by Fiona Macleod.
Audition Dates are Sunday, January 15, at 4:30 p.m., and Monday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Door Theatre.
SYNOPSIS: This play about friendship, forgiveness, acceptance and love is set in Memphis in the 1980s at a local diner right next door to the hotel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while standing outside on his balcony. LEATEEN, a brash, outspoken, hilarious, and wise black cook, is trying, along with her good friend and colleague DAPHNE, to pick up the pieces and carry on after the death of PEARL, the kindhearted old lady who owned the diner. Pearl’s daughter CHARLENE, the polar opposite of her selfless mother, is planning on the immediate closure of the popular diner in favor of a condominium complex sure to make her a ton of cash. The plot revolves around Leateen and Daphne’s grief over the loss of their beloved friend, diner, and livelihood, but its purpose runs far deeper. Through words and actions that inspire laughter and tears, joy and sadness, the characters of this poignant play pass along a timeless truth: that all of us, no matter our skin color, background, or creed, are much more alike than we are different.
CAST (4 females–one is African American):
–Pearl’s Spirit: 83, older attractive lady. Never speaks. Facial expressions vital to show. Wears all white, even has white shawl over shoulders. Uses shawl to cover head on occasion.
–Charlene Davenport: Pearl’s daughter-mid to late 40’s. Attractive. Wears nice business suits. Strong spirited, bossy, loud. (Very spoiled.)
–Leateen Saunders: “big” PERSONALITY, Pearl’s cook @ the diner; mid 70’s, black, walks with limp due to bad back. Loud and comical, yet subtle when needed. Good at “story telling.” Dresses in pink waitress uniform except when going to funeral home. There, she dresses like refined black lady—hat, hankie, big purse
–Daphne Davis: Pearl’s waitress in the diner, late 60’s, early 70’s. Southern country gal—not sophisticated. Shy, quiet, timid, worries a lot. Looks down most of the time. She uses a dish towel to “wring and worry with” throughout show.
(With appropriate make-up and body language, these characters can be played by younger actors.)
Additionally, a choir is also needed which will include a keyboard player and 5-7 male and female singers.
Actors wishing to audition should bring a current photo and resume or description of experience. Actors may obtain a perusal copy of the script by contacting the Tourism Council office at (334) 738-8687 or emailing tourimsbullockcounty@yahoo.com. The should also bring their calendars with any scheduling conflicts that might affect rehearsals.
Rehearsals will begin February 27, 2012, and the production will be presented April 26-29.
Just a quick post. Opelika is working steady on it’s new Fiber to the Home plan with phone, Internet and television service at least a year away. I just added Charter (yea, I know) Internet at the house. Pretty fast compared to the AT&T which I cancelled today. If you miss seeing Richard Patton (Eighth & Rail) behind the bar, he’s doing a few night shifts over at Ma Fia’s. It’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday I believe. By the way, they are doing domestic beer at $1.50 from 4-6 PM Monday thru Thursday. Others too, so ask Richard when you see him. My diet continues slow and steady. It’s 40 pounds since October 4th. More on that later. And there’s a Winter Brewfest (Beerfest) over at the Event Center Downtown on Friday Night (Details on the event calendar). [If the photo made it to this post, that the contract crew handing those new fiber cables in front of the house on South 8th on Thursday!
The Funny but Clean Comedy Tour featuring Henry Cho and Jim Hope. Jim Hope has served as writer/producer for NBC’s “Later”, Fox’s “Titus” and ABC’s “George Lopez”. He is currently producer/writer of Nickolodeon’s hit animated series “Planet Sheen”. Jim is co-executive producer and writer for “The Henry Cho Show” on GAC. Advance tickets $20. Day of Tickets $25. Doors open at 6:00PM. Show at 7:00PM
The Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) will host its annual Mid-Winter Conference in Birmingham at the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on Friday, January 20st and Saturday, January 21st. This year’s lineup of speakers includes Chief Justice Chuck Malone, Congressman Bruce Braley, former state Sen. Myron Penn, and Susan Saladoff, the producer/director of the acclaimed documentary “Hot Coffee,” which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast on HBO. 
In keeping with its 2012 theme, “The Year of the Creek,” the Lee County Historical Society presents Dr. John Ellisor as speaker for the winter meeting, January 8, 2:30 p.m. CST at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka, Alabama. The bicentennial of the Creek War will occur in 2013.
