Caroline Good and her staff are working with the participants of the annual Putnam County Playhouse Children’s Theatre Workshop this week. You can see the results of all of their hard work on Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

The event is sponsored by:

The students will present two original plays. The first is “True Crime Fairy Tales” written by Good. It features many of your favorite characters in new and unique situations including  Little Red (Gabby Robbins), Gretel (Audrey Smoot), Goldilocks ( Mariah Hall), and Jack (Lucas Vaglia).  They all find themselves in an hilariously hostile contemporary world, where the stories that originally made them famous, and have landed them in big trouble.

The Chief Inspector (Charlotte Tomamichel) and Woodsdale police officers Don (Blake Hamblet) and Jan (Hollis Barcus) interview each of our suspicious fairy tale characters. They then focus their attention on those who turned them in.

These include The Bear Family (Jackson Wells, Evelyn Ryan-Shager, and Keyli Hamblet), Granny  (Milan Schwipps), The Wolf (Alex Koulak), and Hansel (Caleb Waltkins). It seems all may be lost for our heroines.  Or is a happy ending still possible for them?

Chaos reigns within the second play “Into the Forest” also by Good.  Here our familiar fairy tale characters find themselves confused in the forest and in the wrong stories.  Featured among them are Little Red Riding Hood (Hannah Jernagan), Beast (Elijah Neeley), Granny (Lydia Bogaerts), and Cinderella (Hadley Roderick). 

Also included are Rumplestiltskin (Chris Sears), Sleeping Beauty (Layla Koulak), Prince Charming (Walker Henry), Hansel (Wyatt Schutter), Gretel (Nora Napier), Witch (Nancy Napier), Wolf (Tinzlee Coulson), Doc (Cece Wells), and the Dwarves (CTW Interns).

Rounding out the cast are Snow White (Lauren Wells), Sleeping Beauty’s Prince (Arlo Schwipps), Belle (Atlas McAllister), and Rapunzel ( Jessica Bogaerts). When they find themselves confused and in the wrong stories, they have to team up with each other to make things right. Or can they?

Assisting Good this year are Eleanor Howard (Acting), Craig Robinson and Sarah Armitage (Dance & Movement), and Molly Murphy (Voice & Diction). Directors for “Into the Forest” are Robinson, Murphy, and Howard. Playwright Good is directing “True Crime Fairy Tales” with assistance from David Johnson, and Kathi Elliott.

The CTW interns who are helping  with casting, costume, and working on the crew are Ruby Sullivan, MJ Cooper, Josie Cox, Marigrace Girton, Rebecca Hebb, Isabella Green, Samantha Funk, and Mya Weddle.

Director Ric McFadden will hold two sessions of auditions for the September production of The Miracle Worker at Putnam County Playhouse.  The first call is for Sunday, July 17, at 3 p.m. The second session will be Monday, July 18, at 7 p.m.  Both sessions will convene in the Michael McClaine Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

The Miracle Worker will be presented September 8-10 and September 14-17. Read more about the show HERE.

Read McFadden’s Director’s Note HERE.

It is being sponsored by Hopkins-Rector and Bittles & Hurt.

The two leading roles, Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, call for performers who will be able play the very physically demanding scenes as written. Annie will be required to learn some sign language and finger spelling for the role. The actress playing Helen must be able to convincingly play a deaf and blind and mute youngster. Stage age for Annie is mid to late 20’s and stage age for Helen is 8-11.

Other roles include Helen’s parents, Captain and Mrs. Keller; their son, James; Aunt Eve; Viney, the family’s servant and her helper; Martha and Percy, children who are friends of Helen; and Doctor Anagnos, Annie’s teacher.  The Kellers will speak with Southern accents.

There are also parts for six youngsters to play blind students at Annie’s former school, the Kellers’ doctor, and a young boy to play Annie’s brother Jimmy who is a preteen.

Read about the story and cast HERE.

No monologs are necessary. Those auditioning will read from the script. There will also be a physical audition for those auditioning to play Helen. McFadden is also looking for backstage personnel to complete his production. Those wishing to work in that capacity should attend auditions and talk to McFadden at that time.

The 61^st season of the Putnam County Playhouse continues with a production of the mystery/comedy Clue: Onstage. It will be produced July 7-9 and July 13-16. All performances are at 8 p.m. and all tickets are $10. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 765-653-5880 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, during performance weeks only. Tickets and reservations are available through the box office only. No tickets requests or questions can be answered online.

Clue: Onstage brings all of the familiar board game characters to life.  Director Shelly McFadden and her assistant Vickie Parker have assembled a cast of PCPH veterans and newcomers to solve the case of the murder of Mr. Boddy (William Dory).

McFadden has directed many productions at PCPH including 1776, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Parker has been with the Playhouse for many years. Her directing assignments have included Annie (1984), Oklahoma!, and Kiss Me, Kate (twice).

The lively cast in addition to Dory includes Dustin Bond as Wadsworth, the Butler. Characters matching the game tokens are Brad Sandy (Mr. Green), Daniel Hankee (Professor Plum), Anna Harris (Mrs. White), Courtney Slough (Miss Scarlett), Ric McFadden (Colonel Mustard), and Lita Sandy (Mrs. Peacock). Each of them spend time under investigation and questioning as Wadsworth tries to solve the mystery under pressure from the local police and various surprise vistors.

Others at home in Boddy Manor include Tatum Boswell (The Cook) and Kyla Scheuermann (Yvette). 

Playing multiple roles are Sam Draper, Cameron Wunderlich, and Jack Randall Earles is the Chief of Police.  There is even a surprise mystery guest who makes a brief appearance. Michael McClaine is the voice of the News Caster.

Boswell, Hankee, and Slough are making their PCPH debuts in this production. Bond was last seen in You Can’t Take It With You which he also directed last season. Brad Sandy was seen in Picnic and Lita Sandy has appeared in leading roles in Steel Magnolias and Gypsy.

Harris played roles in The Mousetrap and The Game’s Afoot. Ric McFadden has appeared in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and in The Music Man and Camelot. Dory is returning to the PCPH stage after appearing in Footloose a few seasons ago. Draper, Wunderlich, Scheuermann, and Earles have all had supporting roles in many productions.

Ben South is the sound board operator and Grace Elmore will run the light board. Wunderlich is production stage manager.  On the active stage crew are Parker Helmer, Bart Jones, Rebecca Hebb, Emily Gray, and Henry Cox. The keyboard player is Morgan Asher.

THIS PRODUCTION IS SPONSORED BY:

AND

This year our Children’s Theatre Workshop for participants who will be in the 2nd through the 5th grades this fall will be held July 18-22. To find out more details and to enroll click HERE.

Directors Shelly McFadden and Vickie Parker talk to the Man In The Chair about our July production – CLUE: Onstage. It will be on the Main Stage July 7-9 and July 13-16. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 4.

Watch the video HERE.

CLUE: Onstage is sponsored by:

Read the cast list HERE.

Our annual Youth Theatre Workshop SHAKESPEARED! is underway. Students from high schools and middle schools around the county have been working since June 13 on two productions of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (theatrical superstition leads some actors to call it The Scottish Play when in the confines of the stage).

The performance for the middle school group will be Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m.  The high school group will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. Tickets are on sale at the door only on the days of performance. Admission is $3 with children under 12 admitted free.

The middle school group is performing a more traditional version and the high school group will present their off-beat comedic post-apocalyptic version, complete with a lively soundtrack, a chase, and pop-culture references

Sponsors for the show are:

Directors for the middle school group are Craig Robinson and Eleanor Howard. YTW creator and founder Caroline Good will direct the high school version.  Molly Murphy is the DePauw intern and assistant director. David Johnson (Bill Sikes in Oliver!) is also an assistant director and fight choreographer. Murphy is running the light board and Fiona Good is the sound board operator.

The middle school cast includes Alex Gurnon in the title role with Clara Everett as his mate. Also appearing – some in multiple roles – are Elijah Helmer, MJ Cooper, Josephine Glessner, Luna Pope, and Cagney Huffman. 

Joining them will be Jewlee Butcher, Kaylan Stampley, Josie Cox, Timothy Bogoearts, Leil Watkins, and Alex Roberts. Completing the distinguished cast are Johanna Stampley, Nadia Wagner, Nicolette Blackledge, Ethan Snider, and featuring Joey Draper.

The high school group will be led by Devin Huff as the troubled title character and Ruby Sullivan as his ambitious wife. Featured roles are taken by Alice Howard, James Malinoski, Stevie Keenan, Marie Malinoski, and Bella Green.

Also taking on the Bard are Courtney Huff, Samantha Funk, Dorian Dowd, Genevieve O’Rourke and Mercedes O’Rourke. Playing the three witches are Rebecca Hebb, Rose Malinoski, and Penny Cummings.

Featured in the Saturday night performance are Joslyn Cash, Mya Weddle, Marigrace Girton, Charlie Good, Hyrum Dickerson Hale, Ellen Blackledge, Teegan Tamm, Max Isaacs-Bailey, Katie Funk, Catherine Ryan-Shager, Charlie Martoglio, Vivian O’Rourke, and Lucy Malinoski.

The Main Stage Season continues with CLUE: ONSTAGE opening July 7.

Here is another opportunity to be in our August production of the musical Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We are looking for four more actors over the age of 16 to play brothers.

Join us Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. in the Michael McClaine Rehearsal Center to find out more! Make your summer even more fun!

Read about the show HERE. Read about the cast HERE.

Director Jack Randall Earles will hold two sessions of auditions for the musical ‘Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’.  The first will be Sunday, June 12, at 3 p.m.  The second will be Monday, June 13, at 7 p.m.  Both will be at the Michael McClaine Rehearsal Center at the Putnam County Playhouse.

You can download an audition form HERE.

The musical will be presented August 11-13 and August 17-20. 

It is sponsored by:

The leading roles include Joseph, the dreamer; the Narrator, who tells the story; Joseph’s eleven brothers and their mothers. Other roles are an Elvis-like Pharoah, Potiphar and his wife, and Jacob the “founder of the nation.” More details about the story and the characters can be found HERE.

The actresses playing the Mothers are also part of a lively ensemble that is included in most of the songs and dances.

Everyone should prepare 32 measures of a song for the audition. Morgan Asher, the musical director of the production will be on hand to provide accompaniment. The song can be from the show or another ‘Broadway’ type number. Those auditioning for the role of the Pharaoh should prepare an ‘Elvis’ type song.

After the singing, there will be a dance audition for all. Since the show is “sung-through” there are no scenes to read. Be prepared to shine in both the singing and dancing portions of the audition. And be prepared to have fun!

In addition to Asher, the production team includes Sandi Rossok as the assistant director, Kathryn Dory as the vocal director, and Cameron Wunderlich as production stage manager.

You can listen to the 1991 London Palladium Cast CD HERE.

The musical Oliver! continues its run as the 61st season opener at Putnam County Playhouse. There are four performances left June 8-11. There are some tickets left for each performance – but most are very close to being sold out. To check on ticket availability – you must telephone the box office after 5 p.m. at 765-653-5880.

[Ticket information, reservations, exchange requests MUST be handled through the Box Office. If you leave a message on Facebook or on the website, your answer will only be delayed. We are a 100% volunteer organization, and those working on the website & Facebook pages to NOT have access to ticket information.]

With both lively and poignant songs, Oliver! is a delightful evening out for everyone. Rollicking comic characters and touching family drama combine to make every moment enjoyable.

Oliver! is directed by Caroline Good. Musical director is Amy Tharp. Kathryn Dory is the vocal director.

The title character is played by Ella Tischer. Other leading roles are played by Alex Gurnon, Grace Buehler, David Johnson, and TJ Tincher.

The show is sponsored by:

The season will continue in July with the comedy-mystery Clue: Onstage.

The Tony-winning musical “Oliver!” will be onstage at the Putnam County Playhouse June 2-4 and June 8-11. All performances begin at 8 p.m. All tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling the box office at 765-653-5880 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily beginning Monday, May 30. The box office is open Monday-Saturday during performance weeks only. Tickets cannot be reserved online at the website OR on our Facebook pages.

The production is directed by Caroline Good, who also supervised the costumes for the show. Caroline directed Annie in 2018. She is also the creator and director of our annual SHAKESPEARED! Youth Theatre Workshop [this season’s production will be The Scottish Play]. She directs and teaches in the theatre department at DePauw University. Caroline has appeared in leading roles at PCPH in shows including Blithe Spirit, Angel Street, and The Sound of Music. She was also the special guest actress at Wabash University playing Amanda in their production of The Glass Menagerie.

Amy Tharp is musical director and pianist. She worked on Little Women The Musical at PCPH. Kathryn Dory is the vocal director. Kathryn will be the vocal director on August’s production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The orchestra includes Morgan Asher, keyboard; Dedee Schwomeyer, percussion, Kaitlyn Kissel, flute/piccolo; and Ty Ishikawa, trumpet.

Choreography was set by Sarah Armitage and Joshua Saul Bain who also choreographed last season’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Set design is by Linda Gjesvold. Dramaturg and dialect coach is Eleanor Howard.

The entire production is sponsored by Shuees Great Buys Plus.

Based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, the musical features Ella Tischer in the title role. Other leading roles include Alex Gurnon as the Artful Dodger, TJ Tincher as Fagin, Grace Buehler as Nancy, and David Johnson as Bill Sikes. Tischer, Gurnon, Buehler, and Johnson are making their PCPH main stage debuts in this show. Tincher was seen in last season’s Pillow Talk.

Leading the way in comic roles are Ashlee Ann Vitz and Andrew Ranck as Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry and Karen Temple as Widow Corney.  Chris Wurster is Mr. Brownlow and Tim Good plays Mr. Bumble. All are veterans on the PCPH stage.

Playing multiple roles are John Tischer and Bart Jones. Tischer played Gaston in the PCPH production of Beauty and the Beast and Jones appeared last season in You Can’t Take It With You.

Supporting roles are taken by Hannah McLaughlin, Clay Glessner, Cyrus Gurnon, Emily Gray, Jim Elliott, Kathi Elliott, Barb Boese, and Sandi Rossok.

Also appearing are Joey Draper, Josie Tischer, Ashley Hugues, Molly Murphy. Children appearing in the show are Josephine Glessner, Josie Cox, Clara Everett, Michael Henry, Sage Cummings, Marley Jedele, Jasmine Cummings, Josie Tischer. and Penny Cummings.

Production stage manager is Noah Pettit. Assistant stage manager is Cameron Wunderlich with Rebecca Hebb and Craig Robinson on the stage crew. Dana Henry is the sound technician and Shelby Merrill is running the light board.