Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
ECU Summer Theater kicks off at Turnage
Debut is third-best ticket seller yet
By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
Thursday night East Carolina University/Loessin Summer Theatre debuted its first show in Washington at the Turnage Theater.
“The Boy Friend,” a musical spoof set on the French Riviera of the 1920s, will play until July 5. It is the first of three plays that will have runs in the recently renovated downtown theater.
“Arsenic and Old Lace,” a murder comedy about two spinster poisoners, will run from July 10 to July 19.
From July 24 to Aug. 2, the Turnage will host “The All Night Strut!” a musical with songs from the 1930s and 1940s.
Ticket sales for the first night of “The Boy Friend” were the third best since the theater’s opening gala revue, which John Shearin, the current play’s director also directed.
Just after 6 p.m. Thursday ticket sales still hadn’t quite caught up to those of the Glen Miller Orchestra and “A Christmas Carol,” Turnage Box Office Manager Elizabeth Holbrook said.
Shearin said the summer theater program is an institution in Greenville. Kyle Langworethy, a 5th-year senior at ECU and Garner native, cast as “Tony,” one of the lead roles in the play, said he thought the public would enjoy the show.
“It’s a cute, cute show,” he said. “It’s all about love.”
The cast and crew rehearsed in Greenville until about a week before opening night, when they moved the show to Washington, Shearin said.
Langworethy said the twice-daily 30-minute commute on the cast bus was not bothersome.
“It’s nice to be out here on the water and everything,” he said. “It’s a beautiful theater.”
Langworethy said the theater reminded him of acting houses he had seen on Broadway in New York.
Many involved with the production had high praise for the Turnage’s renovations. Shearin, who also runs ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance, was one of several faculty members from that school who consulted on the building’s redesign.
“I love working in this theater,” he said. “It’s a completely different space than what we’re used to. ... We feel so closely connected to the audience.”
Because the Turnage’s stage is slightly smaller than the one at ECU, the actors taped off a section of their Greenville stage to approximate it.
But Shearin said the change of venue hasn’t impacted the quality of the performance.
“We’re certainly putting on a production here that is fully comparable to what we do in Greenville,” he said. “It’s going to be terrific. I think these people are doing wonderfully good work.”
The production includes students from ECU and Elon University, as well as professional actors from around the country.
David Aston-Reese of Woodstock, N.Y., plays Lord Brockhurst, another major character, in the play. He praised the ability and work ethic of the students participating this summer.
“They are just absolutely great: hard-working, disciplined, well-trained and professional,” he said. “They have just so much enthusiasm and love.”
Shearin said the program had intended a few shows here. The entire summer theater season was move to Washington so major renovations could be done to the Messick Theatre Arts Center.
By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
Thursday night East Carolina University/Loessin Summer Theatre debuted its first show in Washington at the Turnage Theater.
“The Boy Friend,” a musical spoof set on the French Riviera of the 1920s, will play until July 5. It is the first of three plays that will have runs in the recently renovated downtown theater.
“Arsenic and Old Lace,” a murder comedy about two spinster poisoners, will run from July 10 to July 19.
From July 24 to Aug. 2, the Turnage will host “The All Night Strut!” a musical with songs from the 1930s and 1940s.
Ticket sales for the first night of “The Boy Friend” were the third best since the theater’s opening gala revue, which John Shearin, the current play’s director also directed.
Just after 6 p.m. Thursday ticket sales still hadn’t quite caught up to those of the Glen Miller Orchestra and “A Christmas Carol,” Turnage Box Office Manager Elizabeth Holbrook said.
Shearin said the summer theater program is an institution in Greenville. Kyle Langworethy, a 5th-year senior at ECU and Garner native, cast as “Tony,” one of the lead roles in the play, said he thought the public would enjoy the show.
“It’s a cute, cute show,” he said. “It’s all about love.”
The cast and crew rehearsed in Greenville until about a week before opening night, when they moved the show to Washington, Shearin said.
Langworethy said the twice-daily 30-minute commute on the cast bus was not bothersome.
“It’s nice to be out here on the water and everything,” he said. “It’s a beautiful theater.”
Langworethy said the theater reminded him of acting houses he had seen on Broadway in New York.
Many involved with the production had high praise for the Turnage’s renovations. Shearin, who also runs ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance, was one of several faculty members from that school who consulted on the building’s redesign.
“I love working in this theater,” he said. “It’s a completely different space than what we’re used to. ... We feel so closely connected to the audience.”
Because the Turnage’s stage is slightly smaller than the one at ECU, the actors taped off a section of their Greenville stage to approximate it.
But Shearin said the change of venue hasn’t impacted the quality of the performance.
“We’re certainly putting on a production here that is fully comparable to what we do in Greenville,” he said. “It’s going to be terrific. I think these people are doing wonderfully good work.”
The production includes students from ECU and Elon University, as well as professional actors from around the country.
David Aston-Reese of Woodstock, N.Y., plays Lord Brockhurst, another major character, in the play. He praised the ability and work ethic of the students participating this summer.
“They are just absolutely great: hard-working, disciplined, well-trained and professional,” he said. “They have just so much enthusiasm and love.”
Shearin said the program had intended a few shows here. The entire summer theater season was move to Washington so major renovations could be done to the Messick Theatre Arts Center.
 |
 |
|
| Bath looks to revamp its zoning regulations | McKeithan Column |
