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A Year in Review…

PC: Fig Columbia

As we reflect on 2022, we are filled with gratitude. After a few years of walking very carefully across the footlights, we were so excited to sing, dance and act our hearts out.

We were fortunate to add capacity to our technical team with additional assistants. Doing so allowed us not only to enhance our set, lighting and sound elements but also promoted introducing new people to the world of technical theatre.

Early in the year, we hosted a one-of-a-kind front-of-house volunteer appreciation event in conjunction with The Red Velvet Cake War where we created “to-go” boxes like you would get at your own family reunion ~ full of surprises that fit the theme of the Southern comedy. Just a fun way to say “thanks” to our ushers, house managers and box office volunteers without whom we could not survive.

Last spring brought warmer weather and two beautiful shows to the stage ~ Bright Star and Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical. Audiences commented on how moving these musical productions were, each in their own unique way.

We rock-n-rolled this summer with 11 full sessions of summer camp, including our unique “Theatre in a Box” camps introducing students to the many elements of musical theatre. Our blockbuster show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat had audiences yelling for more.

In the fall we partnered with the City of Forest Acres for our third round of Picnics in the Park. Great music in a great neighborhood for three consecutive Friday evenings made for a nice change of scenery outside of the walls of Town. We appreciate the City’s support of this concert series.

We opened the 103rd season with The Music Man and just wrapped A Christmas Story: The Musical. Both big musicals were well received and a fantastic duo of shows to start another season at Town.

Our youth theatre fall show, When Christmas Comes to TOWN, brought even more holiday to our hearts as our traditional youth theatre students were joined by our auditioned troupes, the Town Tweens and the Town Teens, to present an original holiday musical featuring ALL students in very special ways.

And, that’s not all ~ we filled our stage during the holiday but we also spent time in our community spreading cheer for all to hear! Visit here to read about the exciting performances experienced during the month of December thanks to so many talented musicians and students.

After a long winter’s nap, we’ll be ready to kick off 2023 with The Play That Goes Wrong… one of Broadway’s funniest shows in years!

Thank you for being a part of Town Theatre. We are fortunate to have such great audience members, faculty, staff, actors, students and families who continue to join us. We’re excited about the rest of the 103rd season and want to be sure that we are working hard to bring you the very best in quality theatre and entertainment. So, if the time is right, we’d be honored to have your support with a year-end gift. Your gift to Town Theatre will help the spotlight shine brightly into 2023.

Time for Summer… camp that is!

Come play with us this summer!

It’s time to sign up for Town’s Fabulous Summer Camps!

Click below for an application or call 803-799-2510 to register.

2015 Application

Youth Camps (ages 5 – 8)
9 am to 12 pm Monday through Friday


June 8-12
: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – Perform in a production of Snow White. Learn the basics of theatre character development. Play theatre games that build technique while reinforcing stage presence.  A showcase of skills will be performed at the end of the week.

June 15-19: Broadway or Bust!  If your child always seems to be “on stage” even when a stage is nowhere to be found, then they’ll love singing and dancing at Town. Examine the elements of creating a performance on stage, including voice, stage movement, and character development. Perform a mini production on stage.

       CindJune 22-26: If the Shoe Fits –Perform in a production of Cinderella. Learn the basics of theatre character development. Play theatre games that build technique while reinforcing stage presence. A showcase of skills will be performed at the end of the week.

JWebuly 6-10:  Charlotte’s Web – Put on a mini production of Charlotte’s Web. Have fun learning theatrical techniques to become a better performer. Play theatre games and explore the original story of this delightful play. A final production will be presented at the end of the week!

JB and wuly 13-17:  Let ’em Sing,  Let ’em Dance – Perform in a production of a musical theatre classic. Learn the basics of theatre character development. Play theatre games that build technique while reinforcing stage presence. Learn beginner dance techniques like jazz squares, grapevines, and other popular musical theatre dance techniques. A showcase of skills will be performed at the end of the week.

poppinsJuly 20-24: Supercalifragilistic Intro to Musical Theatre. Have fun singing songs from the Broadway musical Mary Poppins and getting to perform scenes from the show. Learn basic acting techniques and put on a showcase at end of the week.

Pre-teen/Teen Youth Camps
Camps for ages 9 – 17: 1:30 to 4:30
Monday through Friday

 

starJune 8-12: Stardust (Basic Acting) This is a beginner course in acting. Learn how to audition; examine the elements of creating a performance on stage, and character development. No prior acting experience required, but those with some experience will feel comfortable in the class as well. A showcase of skills will be performed at the end of the week.

star bornJune 15-19: A Star is Born (Advanced Acting)  This camp is for kids who’ve taken some acting classes and feel ready to take on more advanced acting techniques. A showcase of skills will be performed at the end of the week.

zombieJune 22-26: Become a Zombie or a Fairy Princess Makeup Extravaganza!  Learn makeup techniques to become a zombie one day, a witch the next, an old person and other famous theatrical makeup styles.  We will not use latex so no worries about latex allergies. There will be a $10 makeup fee for each student on top of the usual $150 camp fee. A showcase of skills will be presented at the end of the week.

Jbackstageuly 6-10 – 1:30: Mary Poppins Back Stage Pass – Help create props and paint part of this unbelievably fun show.  Class is limited to 5 students so sign up early if you have the desire to help make Mary Poppins come to life.

masksJuly 13-17Stardust Too! – This is a beginner course in acting. Learn how to audition; examine the elements of creating a performance on stage, and character development. No prior acting experience required, but those with some experience will feel comfortable in the class as well. A showcase of skills will be performed at the end of the week.

poppins

July 20-24: Practically Perfect in Every Way Musical Theatre Intensive. Have fun singing songs from the Broadway musical Mary Poppins and getting to perform scenes from the show. Learn basic acting techniques and put on a showcase at the end of the week

Each camp is $150. The Become a Zombie or a Fairy Princess Makeup Extravaganza class has an extra $10 per student make up fee. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot in each class.

AS AN ADDED BONUS, EACH SUMMER CAMPER FOR ONE OF THE ABOVE CLASSES WILL RECEIVE ONE YOUTH TICKET TO OUR SUMMER SHOW, MARY POPPINS.

PLUS – Camp Tap Tap Tap Away!

Christy Shealy Mills and Zanna Mills will teach 30 minute tap classes from noon – 12:30 for younger students ages 5-8 and from 1:00 – 1:30 for those 9 – 17. The classes are $40 for the five day session and a showcase will be held each Friday in conjunction with the acting camp showcases. *

Click above for application or call 803-799-2510 to register by phone.

Sponsorship provided by Colonial Life

*It is not necessary to participate in a drama camp in order to take Camp Tap Tap Tap Away.

Becoming Marilyn – An Inside Look!

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Photography by Singing Fox Creative

We sat down with Abigail Smith Ludwig — one of the stars of Sugar (Some Like it Hot) to hear what she had to say about becoming Marilyn.

Q: What is your history with this production — did you watch it as a child? 

A: Actually, I wasn’t even aware that there was a musical version of this movie until a few years ago. I sort of remember seeing the movie as a child, but it wasn’t until I was older that I fell in love with it. Being able to play this role is just so amazing to me. I have wanted to “be Marilyn” for as long as I can remember and to get to perform alongside my dear friends makes it even more special.

Q: Do you feel that you connect with Marilyn on any levels? 

A: Yes, definitely. My grandmother, who looks just like her, always loved her too so I started loving Marilyn at a young age. I just always felt a connection to her…. like I knew her or something. I’ve read a lot about her and, overall, I think she just wanted to be loved. She had a big heart and loved everyone around her. I think I’m a lot like her in those ways, but she definitely had a very lonely side to her which I do not.

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Photography by Singing Fox Creative

Q: What is the most challenging part about your transformation from Abigail to Marilyn? Makeup? Personality traits?

A: Honestly, this has probably been the easiest transformation for me. I see her face everyday – I have a Marilyn room – and so the look is easy for me to create. I really do feel like we are so much alike when it comes to personality. I recently watched the movie again and it was so interesting to see that we both almost had exactly the same reactions in scenes. I thought that was so interesting and neat. Probably the most challenging thing is trying to talk like her. She always had that high whisper baby type voice and I have the complete opposite of that.

Q: Do you love the beauty mark?

A: Yes! I love it! I have a very small beauty mark under my lip and I used to call it my “Marilyn.” I didn’t realize hers wasn’t real until later in life. She used to move it around and I thought that was so cool. Maybe I’ll get one and have fun with it too! Ha ha!

Q: As a makeup artist, do you feel that you have higher expectations of yourself as far as pre-show prep goes?

A: Yes. I’m kind of a perfectionist and so I have always tried to make myself look like my character as best as I can. It’s fun for me though.

Q: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

A: Not anything major. I have some pictures of Marilyn on my dressing room table. I like to look at her so I can do my best to perfect my look. Sort of a motivation I guess. Everything just falls into place as soon as I put on my red lipstick and pin my wig into place.

Photography by Singing Fox Creative
Photography by Singing Fox Creative

Some Sugar with your Sugar?

combo 2You don’t want to miss out Town’s own (and first ever!) food truck round up on Fri. and Sat., March 6 & 7. Pulling up in our lot before curtain will be Poultry in Motion and The Donut Guy.

For your main course, try freshly prepared fried or grilled chicken (Poultry in Motion’s specialty)! Or, you can always opt for one of their other items — wings, hand cut/breaded tenders, pulled chicken sandwiches, queso chicken fries and nachos. Hey — if you are watching the scale (though we think this should be an exception!) you can grab a salad. Drinks will be available and menu prices range from $5 to $7.

And for desert… The Donut Guy features SUGAR (how appropriate) in the form of mini-donuts. Grab yourself a small portion (13-14 donuts) for $4 or go for the gold and get a large portion for $7. But these are just not any donuts — these babies can be topped with some delicious and decadent temptations.

Both of these food trucks are members of the Palmetto Puddin’ Train, working out of the 302 Artisans space on Senate Street. Special thanks to Louis Smith for coordinating this event.

Details in a nutshell:

Who: Poultry in Motion & The Donut Guy – need we say more?

What: Dinner Theatre (Really? At the theatre? Oh, yes!)

When: Fri. March 6 and Sat., March 7 from 6 to 8 pm

Where: Town Theatre @ 1012 Sumter

Why: Why not?

Make your reservations for the show for March 6 or 7 and join us for some food and fun! Call 799-2510! Box office currently open to all members and to the general public on Monday, March 2 @ 12 noon!

Meet Chadwick Pressley

We sat down this week to interview actor Chadwick Pressley (Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy) to get a better look at his personal experiences backstage and onstage. Many people know the story line of Driving Miss Daisy from the movie – an African American chauffeur is hired to help Daisy Werthan, a 73-year old white Jewish widow in a time when there is an abundance of racial barriers and prejudices. The stage production of this story allows the audience to focus on the trials that Daisy and Hoke face through their nontraditional friendship. Let’s see what Chadwick had to say!

Q: What is your theatrical background?                                                            

A: I’ve done several shows – Be a Lion – a brand new production out of Charlotte, NC and Five Guys Named Moe at Workshop Theatre to name a few. I really enjoyed playing the lion in Be A Lion because it gave me a chance to play an animal, act, sing and dance.

Q: In Driving Miss Daisy you play a character that faces many challenges. Do you find that the challenges he faces ring true in your real world?                                                                                                                  

A: No, not my world but I’ve heard about racial barriers from my grandparents, so I can relate to the story through their eyes. They told me that you have to get an education in order to make it in this world. They also imparted that you need to do your best in everything that you do.

Q: What is your favorite line or moment from the show?                    

A: When Hoke says to Mr. Werthan, “”Keep them ashes off my upholstery.”

Q: Have there been any great learning experiences?                            

A: I have learned so much about stage acting, projecting and secrets to learning lines. Take your script with you everywhere you go and constantly have your friends and family going over lines with you. Write your parts down and that will help set it to memory

Q: What have been your greatest challenges through this process?

A: Working with such a small cast and having to learn a lot of script, with a broken English dialect/southern drawl. The broken English was the dialect of most African Americans during that time and they had no formal education. With Hoke being an illiterate man, he spoke in a way that reflects a more carefree and no-nonsense type of language.