It certainly is a part of our DNA to host dessert nights at Town ~ no scientific experiment necessary. Jekyll & Hyde gives us the perfect opportunity to mix up some of our favorite desserts for your enjoyment!
Get your tickets to the show on Saturday, May 14 OR Saturday, May 21 and we’ll add some mouth-watering munchies to this evening of melodious mayhem. All you have to do is go out to eat ~ and then bring us the receipt.
No deception here ~ your dinner receipt in exchange for dessert which will be provided on the patio before the show. Dessert will be served from 6:45 PM to 7:15 PM.
So, on Saturday, May 14 and/or 21, go #DineAroundTown, bring us the bill and enjoy dessert on the patio! Receipts must be dated March 14 or 21 with a time stamp of 4 PM or later. Don’t worry ~ if you run out of time to grab dinner, we’ll still serve you dessert. Your choice of one dessert for $4. Water, soft drinks, beer and wine will also be available for purchase.
Homemade desserts selections may include death by chocolate, lethal lemon and/or coconut crime. Come join us to see which desserts will show their true face.
Town
Theatre is seeking a Technical Director Assistant. The ideal candidate will
have a working knowledge of all aspects of technical theatre including set
design, construction, lighting and sound. Town Theatre is in the middle of its
102nd season of operation with a heavy emphasis on musicals.
Generally, the theatre produces five main stage shows during the season
(September to May), a large summer main stage musical, two to three youth
theatre productions as well as various special event shows. The theatre itself
is a proscenium stage theatre with a fly system. Sets are built onsite in a workshop
and on the stage. Town
Theatre values the ability of all staff to work in and promote a harmonious
work environment.
Candidates should:
Be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license
Have a high school degree or a GED equivalent
Have a basic theatre knowledge of how productions are put together and run
Showcase an ability to effectively work with and support volunteers
Show the desire and ability to work collaboratively and cordially with fellow staff, stage managers, directors and volunteers
Be able to meet deadlines with quality results
Have a flexible schedule that will vary depending on the life cycle of each show
Preferred skills include, but are not
limited to carpentry, overhead rigging, stage
electrics, scenic painting and sound/audio tech experience.
Basic duties
of the position will include, but are not limited to:
Assisting the Technical Director with the building, rigging, props, painting of scenery, lighting and any audio needs for the productions
Assisting in the maintenance of equipment in the scene shop, light booth and sound booth
Keeping up with the props, organization of the props room and basement storage
Working offsite at the warehouse to pull and maintain stored scenery
Staffing the actual productions as the on-site technician when needed
Working in the attic over the auditorium as well as on the grid over the stage as needed
Assisting with the maintenance needs of the general facility
Ideally, this hire will be a full-time position with weekday hours during the show build and evening hours during the run of the show, shared by the theatre’s Technical Director. However, the position may be split depending on the candidates. To apply, please send a cover letter, résumé, visual examples of scenic design work and three references with current contact information. Packages may be sent electronically to Shannon Willis Scruggs, Executive Director, at shannon@towntheatre.com.
We are so happy that summertime at Town is “back to normal.” The return of our regular working environment affords us the opportunity to host our technical theatre interns. Since 2017, Town has served as a summer workshop opportunity for students interested in developing their technical theatre skills. Summer internships at Town are ideal for candidates who are looking to study technical theatre and/or design in high school, Governor’s School or college.
Foreground: Kat puts a base coat on a cylinder that will be transformed into a castle column. Background: Alison and Sara create supports for a platform that will become part of the castle staircase.
Kat Martin came to us after spending 4 years involved in the theatre department at River Bluff High School. She worked as a lighting technician, technical director and soundboard operator. She also gained some great insight by serving as the director for a short play. After graduation, she spent time at the College of Charleston majoring in Arts Management. But, we are thrilled that she is coming back “home” to Columbia and USC so she can continue her work at Town Theatre.
Alison Griffin also made her way to Town after being involved in theatre during middle and high school. Her early experiences focused on set building, design and run crew. More recently, she took on leadership roles and served as a part of the technical crew for large shows at River Bluff such as Mamma Mia and Les Mis. Alison says, “The technical internship that Town Theatre is offering this summer is a great way to further my practical experience before starting my college career.” Alison plans to attend Winthrop University in the fall.
Ian Neff is a recent graduate of Covenant Christian School where he most recently designed and built the set for Aladdin Jr. (which was presented on the Town Theatre stage last April). He also was in the show! Ian started with us a few days later after visiting with family in Montana. Yet, as soon as he got back, he hit the ground running and reported to Town. Due to his experience as a set builder for his school, Danny put him to work cutting out wheels for Cinderella’s carriage. Ian says he is enjoying the internship and knows that it is exactly what he needs to be doing with his time right now!
Elli Tocci, a 2021 Blythewood High School graduate, had this to say – “I’m so blessed to have been able to work as an intern at Town Theatre this summer! I’ve loved getting to know other students over the past few weeks and getting to work with them on set. Prior to starting my internship, I had done work in performance, costume design, and a little set design. Since starting at Town though, I have been able to learn so much about set construction by getting to do woodworking, painting, and drilling. It has been so much fun getting to learn something new every day with such a great team and working with them to create a beautiful show. I’m looking forward to learning more about theatre production this summer and I hope everyone loves Cinderella as much as I’ve loved working on it.”
Ella works with Danny on cutting techniques while Ian looks on.
Sara Brown has been seeking out an opportunity like this for some time now. She is new to set construction but does have a passion for set design. She even created an entry in the scenic design category for competition. Sara is committed to learning more about theatre production and hopes that she is able to gain experience working on Cinderella. We’re so happy that we can connect the dots between her design work and turning that design into a physical structure.
In Town’s four summers of running the internship program, we have had upwards of 20 students participate. Not only are they getting a top-notch experience with Danny Harrington, Town’s Technical Director, but they are also a tremendous asset to our summer production and theatre. We thank them for their hard work!
From left to right: Ian, Kat, Alison, Sara and Ella.
The time has FINALLY arrived where we can (with a little more accuracy) share our plans for the Spring and Summer. We appreciate your patience as we have worked to stay open during the last year. We were fortunate to be able to finish Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Jr. with limited capacities back in November 2020. We also have been able to serve as the second home to several local dance schools that were not able to complete previously planned performances. (Don’t worry – all COVID guidelines were followed and we were happy that so many students could “finish what they started.”)
As we look toward the Spring and Summer, we are cautiously optimistic about our opportunities to return to the stage. Though we now fully know that COVID could force us to change our plans without notice, we will move forward working according to CDC guidelines for the safety of our patrons, staff and volunteers. We hoped to complete the season with A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, however, that just is not in the cards. More than a year has passed since that cast first came together. Since then, many have had schedule changes making a return impossible. While we pondered re-auditioning and re-casting, it became clear that bringing this show to the stage needed to be postponed. We intend to do this show in the future – perhaps in a subsequent season. It just was not meant to be for the 101st.
We are committed to offering TWO opportunities to conclude the 101st season. Limited Exposure – a Broadway Cabaret will run April 16-18. Audiences will enjoy Kerri Roberts, Billy Bishop, Sheldon Paschal, Scott Vaughan, Kathy Seppamaki, Clayton King, Hannah Thompson, Lanny Spires, Cortlin & Chip Collins, Heather Hinson, Virginia Walker, Kathy Hartzog and Bill DeWitt. We are grateful to Michael Simmons (creator of Home for the Holidays and Broadway Under the Covers) for sharing his amazing talent for writing shows that bring some of our favorite songs and performers together. Members can get tickets starting Wednesday, March 17 at 12 noon. Non-members can get tickets beginning Monday, April 12 at 12 noon. There will be a streaming option for this show which you can also access with your member ticket or a paid cash ticket. ALL THREE of the cabaret performances will have a limited capacity with distanced seating.
A second option for members will be to use your tickets to Always… Patsy Cline. This show first came to the Town Theatre in August 2000 and we always hear, “When are you bringing the gals back?” This COVID intermission makes it possible for Kathy Hartzog and Shannon Scruggs aka Louise and Patsy to “tool” across the stage backed by the Bodacious Bobcats. You do not want to miss this show which will run April 23-25 and April 29-May 2. Members can get tickets starting Monday, April 12 at 12 noon. Non-members can get tickets beginning Monday, April 19 at 12 noon. Streaming is not currently an option for Always…Patsy Cline. We are considering a combination of limited capacity with distanced seating shows and some regular capacity shows. As we continue to watch COVID numbers, these decisions will be made and communicated.
Limited Exposure and Always…Patsy Cline will conclude the 101st and will be the final opportunities for members to utilize tickets for this season.
In May, our youth theatre programs will take over the stage with several offerings including The Lion King Jr., Disney’s Jungle Book KIDS by our Town Tweens, and a production by our Town Teen Troupe. By July, we hope to be back in the swing of things with the summer spectacular, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Check out audition details here. If all of the above goes to plan, we’ll move into the 102nd season – just one year later!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at town@towntheatre.com. We will do our best to respond quickly. That being said, we are still very thinly staffed so please bear with us. We all know that plans are better when they are flexible so do keep that in mind. However, the simple fact remains that we have missed you and cannot WAIT to see you at the theatre.
Looking for a unique way to spoil your Valentine? How about a ValenTOWN Vocalist? ValenTOWNs are $50 and include a serenade, a rose, and a sweet treat all delivered to your doorstep (or location of choice). ValenTOWN vocalists will arrive masked and will remain socially distanced.
You’ll provide your location and a 1-hour window in which we can arrive and perform. Then leave the rest to us! ValenTOWN Vocalists will be scheduled based on availability and geography. We will try to honor specific pairings if at all possible. First come, first served!
Vocalists are available Friday and Saturday, February 12 & 13 from 12 noon to 8 PM as well as Sunday, February 14 from 2 PM to 8 PM.
We’re excited to have some new cast members joining us for the re-boot of Mary Poppins! New to the stage for the October/November 2020 production:
Billy Bishop
Corey Langley
Billy Bishop (Park Keeper/Bank Chair) was a part of the original Poppins team as the costumer. However, he is happy to be on stage this go-round and is thrilled to be playing the role of a lifetime: that of Hans Boeschen.
Corey Langley (Northbrook) is pleased
to play the role of Northbrook in Town’s production of Mary Poppins. “It’s
been awhile since we’ve all been back in the theatre. Thank you to those who
continue to support us.”
Kendall Scruggs
Christy Shealy Mills
Christy Shealy Mills (Bird Woman) is
delighted to resurrect the bird woman from Mary Poppins 2015. When
she isn’t feeding the birds, she enjoys teaching dance to students at Town
Theatre, and other branches of SC Music and Dance Academy. Thanks to
Shannon for this opportunity and to Honey for supporting her theatre addiction.
Hannah Thompson
Kendall Scruggs (Lead Sweep) is happy
to be a part of the Poppins re-boot after appearing in the 2015
production. Other Town shows include Willy Wonka, Beauty and the Beast,
Joseph…, Tarzan and Peter Pan. Kendall enjoys spending time with
friends, Camp Greenville and is a dancer at Columbia Ballet School.
Hannah Thompson (Mrs. Banks) is thrilled to be joining the returning cast
of Mary Poppins. Hannah appeared most recently in Town’s production of Into
the Woods as The Baker’s Wife. Before joining the Town community, Hannah
received a degree in Music Education from Belmont University and a Master
degree in Voice Performance from The University of South Carolina. Hannah also
spends her time at Town co-directing the Town Tween Troupe and teaching voice
lessons.
There’s nothing
better than great music and great company – in the BEST neighborhood around! This
month Town Theatre will present three mini-concerts by some fantastic
performers that have graced not only the Town Theatre stage but are well known
throughout the Midlands.
On Friday,
October 16, guests will enjoy the talented Kerri Roberts and Jeremy Reasoner
who will be presenting some musical theatre favorites with a quarantine twist. The
duo appeared as Tony and Maria in Town’s West Side Story and are well
known for their portrayals of many favorite characters such as Mary Poppins, Eliza
Doolittle, Jerry Lee Lewis and Quasimodo. Kerri and Jeremy will be accompanied
by Jeremy Hansard.
Friday, October
23 brings the vocal talent of Vicky Saye Henderson, Clayton King and Lanny
Spires. This talented trio has appeared on stages throughout the Midlands as
well as in cabaret-type events at local restaurants. They will bring great
music and fun to Pinetree Park. The group will be accompanied by Michael
Simmons.
Lee Martin and Scott Vaughan will take the stage Friday, October 30. Lee wowed audiences as the title role in Hello, Dolly! and in Hairspray. Scott’s portrayals of Harold Hill, Willy Wonka and Joseph (and his Technicolor Dreamcoat) are true favorites. Lee and Scott will be accompanied by Dr. Greg Boatwright.
Each concert will begin at 6 PM and will last 30-45 minutes. Tickets are $5 per concert and may be purchased here. In the event of rain, the Roberts/Reasoner concert will move to Saturday, October 17; the Henderson/King/Spires concert will move to Saturday, October 24 and the Martin/Vaughan concert will move to Sunday, Nov. 1.
In true picnic
fashion, we strongly encourage you to grab dinner from your favorite Forest
Acres restaurant to bring to the concert. Please also bring your own seats in
the way of tailgate chairs and/or blankets. Guests will be asked to socially distance
from other parties during the event.
Town Theatre
thanks Forest Acres for their support of this partnership. If you have questions,
please call Town Theatre at 803-799-2510 and leave a message or email town@towntheatre.com.
First, we hope that everyone is doing well. We have missed “doing our thing” so much. It has been a long six-plus months since we have held a production in our space. However, we now have the “go ahead” from the state to operate at a reduced capacity. So, to keep Town Theatre alive and operating for the next 100 years, we are moving forward. Visit our Mary Poppins page for details!
Please take a minute to read this information carefully. We think you will be pleased to know some of the precautions that we have taken to operate safely.
We have air purification systems in the house, in the Moreau Youth Theatre Wing as well as the dressing rooms that use needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology to deliver clean indoor air.
We now have a ULV Cold Fogger and HOCl maker – allowing Town to generate and distribute disinfectant on site. The Town auditorium can be cleaned in 15 minutes. We will also fog props, the set, backstage, dressing rooms and rehearsal hall spaces. (Think Ghostbusters for the musical theatre world.)
Seating capacity will be greatly reduced with distancing between units. There will be two vacant seats separating each party, one vacant seat in front of you as well as one vacant seat behind you. Our ticketing system automatically will generate this separation. The first two rows will not be available. If you need the wheelchair seat, please let us know.
We intend to use several doors for entry and exit. After you have made your reservation, you will hear from the theatre about your entry and exit point.
Per the City of Columbia and the Accelerate SC guidelines, masks will be worn by the audience while on-site, including during the performance.
Actors will be spaced on stage and will be wearing masks while backstage and in common areas.
“What’s in the daily news? I’ll tell ya what’s in the daily news!” Town Theatre is over the moon excited to produce Guys & Dolls Jr. with the fantastic Town Teen Troupe. This production was halted due to COVID, but thanks to so many, we will be able to offer the show in our latest development called Twilight Theatre!
That’s right! Come enjoy 17 young actors in the beautiful outdoors at the Marwin Stage in West Columbia. Just a “bushel and a peck” from downtown Columbia, we are grateful to have been able to create an outdoor theatre space for this production and know that audiences will enjoy seeing and hearing students perform live in a socially distanced atmosphere.
Interested in priority seating? For $50, you can be a member of the Guys & Dolls fan club. This sponsorship gets you a 4×8 area that can seat up to 5 guests. Have a larger family? We can put two plots side by side! Fan club spaces are closer to the stage area. Fan club sponsorships may be purchased here. Theatre staff will be in touch to confirm any add-ons for your party.
Individual tickets are only $5 and seating is general admission with a twist! You’ll need to bring your own seat. Our “auditorium” is a nice grassy area so your favorite tailgate chair will be perfect. Individual tickets are available here.
Want to enjoy some provisions while enjoying “the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York?” We are offering PRE-ORDERED soft drinks, water and snacks. When you place your ticket order, be sure to choose your “add ons.” We’ll have these ready for you when you arrive at the outdoor site.
Guests will be asked to socially distance and wear a mask while being seated or if walking around. The Marwin Outdoor Stage is located at 107 McQueen Street, West Columbia SC 29172. Free parking is available. Guys & Dolls Jr. is a one hour show. There are no restroom facilities available.
“Luck be a lady…” but we’re planning rain dates for Sunday, Sept. 27 and Monday, Sept. 28. The theatre will work with patrons to adjust ticketing as needed.
So “follow the fold and stray no more!” Get your tickets now via towntheatre.com. Starting September 14, we can accept phone reservations weekdays from 12 noon to 2 PM at 803-799-2510.
Guys & Dolls Jr. is directed by Kerri Roberts with special thanks to Scott Vaughan, Katie Hilliger, Danny Harrington, Jeremy Hansard and Shannon Scruggs. We also express our appreciation to Andy Davis.
The Columbia Stage Society will hold the annual meeting on Tuesday, August 25 at 5:30 PM at Town Theatre. At this time, members of the Board will be elected. All persons who hold memberships with the Theatre for the 101st season are eligible to vote. Due to COVID, those wishing to attend should email shannon@towntheatre.com so that we can ensure social distancing.
