Story by Lindsey Chester and photos by Brooke Meyer

Cary, NC – The Cary Players finish their movie-themed season this week with The Rainmaker, the 1956 hit which starred Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn. And just like the original, this production runs hot! 

The Rainmaker

Lizzy Curry is on her way to becoming an “old maid” when a man passing through town steals her heart and those of her family with the promise of rain and so much more.

The play is set somewhere in the mid-west during the great Depression and the drought that caused the Dust Bowl. The Curry farm is struggling to survive as cattle die and farm hands are laid off.

Internal struggles threaten to break the family apart. Loving father  H.C. Curry (Phil Crone) and brothers Noah and Jim have tried to play matchmaker for Lizzy, only to lead to further disappointment.

One night their door blows open and in walks Starbuck who claims he can bring the needed rain to their lives.

Love in the Time of Drought

Director Staci Sabarsky says “We’ve all experienced drought, whether it be from much needed rain, in our finances, or in our love life. That’s why I believe this story still resonates with us today. It’s characters are real and their problems are real, just like their hopes and dreams”

Starbuck, played by Steve Whetzel,  is excellent as the smooth talking outlaw who convinces the family he can make it rain for $100. He dreams big, and asks them to have faith.

Strong Cast

The eldest brother Noah, (Brook North) beleaguered by running the farm, is worn down by circumstances. The scene in which he “tells it like it is” to Lizzy is heartbreaking. In one quick moment he manages to dash her dreams, and you realize he has none of his own.

Lizzy (Natalie Turgeon), begins the play almost resigned to her fate as the town Old Maid, but Starbuck manages a remarkable transformation. More remarkable is that this is Natalie’s first acting role, and she’s a natural. But no one would ever call her plain!

When the Sheriff (Phil Lewis), and his eligible bachelor deputy File (Eric Morales) visit looking for a man wanted by the law, the family unites in a surprising way. Their faith in a stranger has changed them forever.

But does it ever rain? Head to one of the shows of the season to find out!

Remaining Show Dates

• Fri May 4, 7:30pm
• Sat May 6, 7:30pm
• Sun May 7, 3:00pm

Tickets:

• Adults: $18
• Seniors: $16 (55 or older)
• Students: $16
• Groups: $15 (20 or more)

Visit Cary Player to order tickets, or stop by in person at the Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Avenue in Downtown Cary.

Lindsey Chester edits the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – This weekend is Cary Spring Daze. But the calendar has a bunch of other interesting events this weekend including pro soccer, a wine anniversary, a new production from Cary Players, a benefit for the Carying Place and an open house for skaters, boarders and bikers.

Spring Daze

It’s been called “one of the premier arts festivals in the Southeast.” Dozens of vendors, scores of artists, demonstrations and entertainment (including CaryCitizen’s favorite band, A Fifth of Blues) highlight the day-long festival on Saturday at Bond Park.

Read all about Spring Daze 2012 in our story from earlier this week.

Friday: Carying Place Benefit

The Carying Place helps families with children in Wake County who are homeless, inadequately housed or lacking resources to get housing.

Their annual benefit is Friday April 27, 2012 at The Matthews House in Cary. Heavy H ‘Oeuvres, complimentary Wine and Beer donated by local merchants. Silent Auction and Live Auction items include: a new iPad, Kindle Fire, jewelry, original art, getaway in the mountains, beach vacation, Washington DC experience and 95 more wonderful items.

Tickets available at the door: $50 per person.

Friday-Sunday: The Rainmaker

A classic American romantic-comedy goes up this weekend at Cary Arts Center. It’s The Rainmaker by Richard Nash, in a new production by Cary Players.

You may be familiar with The Rainmaker from the 1956 movie starring Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn. It’s about a con man named Starbuck arrives in a small Midwestern town and promises to bring rain in exchange for $100.

Visit Cary Players for more information and tickets.

Friday & Saturday: Sip’s Second Anniversary

Don’t know Sip? It’s a store in Preston Walk that specializes in organic wine and beer.

On Friday and Saturday, they’re having their second anniversary event. More than a dozen wines and beer, food, music and fun are on tap Friday and Saturday night. CaryCitizen will be out in force both nights, so drop by and say hi.

More info on the calendar.

Saturday: RailHawks vs. San Antonio

The weather looks to be mild for Saturday night as the Carolina RailHawks square off against the San Antonio Scorpions at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary.

Admission price starts at $10, just $5 for kids. Get tickets.

Saturday & Sunday: Sk-8 Park Open House

Finally, a shout to our good friends at Sk8 Park in Cary. We love that place.

From the Calendar:

Join us this spring for our open house with plenty of prizes and fun for everyone! We’ll be skating and biking all day, having contests, giving away door prizes, special membership sales, and much more! Pay one fee and you’re in for the whole day! No pre-registration required.

$10 for members; $20 for non-members. More info on the calendar.

Story by Lindsey Chester.

Cary, NC – The Cary Players continue their performances based on movie adaptations with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None opening February 3 at Cary Arts Center.

And Then There Were None

Mystery lovers are in for a treat this February as Cary Player presents the classic thriller by the quintessential queen of suspense!

Tina Vance directs the full stage production of this literary masterpiece at the beautiful Cary Arts Center in downtown Cary.

In the story, eight strangers are lured to an island off the English coast. Each guest arrives by boat, under the various ideas of why they are traveling to this remote island. Some come for employment, others to meet friends- but all are mistaken.
David Serxner will design the 1930′s era costumes and the set, designed by Glen Vance will capture a mood of a British Isles summer home.

Under the title Ten Little Indians, the book was first  published in the UK in November 1939. The novel has sold over 100 million copies,  making it the world’s best-selling mystery ever, and one of the best-selling books of all time!  It has been adapted into several plays, films, and even a video game.

Show Times & Tickets

Show Times

February 3-5 and 9-12
7:30 pm Thursday,Friday & Saturday
3:00 pm Sunday

Tickets

Adults:  $18
Seniors (55+):  $16
Students:  $16
Groups (20+)  $15 each  (For the group rate, tickets must be purchased at Cary Arts Center box office.)

Individual tickets can be purchased in one of three ways:

• In person at the Cary Arts Center, Mon-Fri (10am-8pm) or Sat (10am-1pm).
• By phone through the Etix Phone Center, 800-514-3849
• Online at CaryPlayers

The performance on Sunday February 12th at 3 pm will be audio described by Arts Access.

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Chris Adamczyk.

Cary, NC- Cary Players holds their own version of the Oscars known as the Pietzsch Awards. Nominees for this year were recently announced, causing a media frenzy. Maybe you know someone on the list.

Cary Players 2011 Pietzsch Award Nominees

The 2010-2011 theater season produced 5 plays including an original script by Cary resident, Phil Lowden. It also marked the last season that the troupe performed the Valentine’s favorite ensemble production, Love Bits and Bites, at Page-Walker.

Starting in this fall, the Cary Players will have residency at the new Cary Arts Center. The first production will be Once Upon a Mattress.

The awards with the hard to pronounce name (actually sounds like “peach”) is named for a fellow Cary Player and board member, Wilson Pietzsch, who performed in all of the Players productions until his untimely death in 2006.

From their website: The Pietzsch Awards, named in his honor, are designed to recognize individuals who exemplify Wilson’s special blend of dedication, acting ability, volunteerism, and good humor. With these awards, Cary Players hope to build and maintain a tradition of community theater excellence for which Wilson set the standard.

If you missed the season (shame on you!), CaryCitizen saw almost everything and you can read about them below as they are each nominated for an Outstanding Show.

Outstanding Show:
Ruby Red
Over the River and Through the Woods
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Puss in Boots

The following folks have been nominated for their performances. Winners will be announced at the Pietzsch Awards Night held at the Cary Arts Center on September 9, 2011.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress:
Gilly Conklin - Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Jacqueline Dorry -Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Joanna Herath -Ruby Red
Gayle Robinson - Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Kate Tonner – Over the River and Through the Woods

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress:
Noelle Barnard – Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Gilly Conklin – Ruby Red
Rita Dimoulas – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Alexandra Merz – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Bonnie Roe – Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense

Outstanding Performance by an Actor
Gus Allen - Puss in Boots
Tracy Fulghum - Ruby Red
George Kaiser - Puss in Boots
Clint Lienau - Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Jeff Nugent – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Jason Peck – Over the River and Through the Woods

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor
Chris Bynum – Puss in Boots
Lyman Collins – Ruby Red
Tracy Fulghum – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Nick Karner – Ruby Red
Mark Mickunas -Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Harvey Sage – Over the River and Through the Woods

Outstanding Musical Performance
Dena Byers and Courtney Slocum – Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense – Nightingale
Gilly Conklin and Greg Tarsa – Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense -
Enter My Dreams
Angie Davis, Bonnie Roe, and Joyce Weiser – Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense Stars and Moons
Alexandra Merz – Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus -
Merry Little Christmas
Joanna Herath, Jeri McKee, Bonnie Roe and Megan Woronka -
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Congratulations to all the nominees!

The Calendar is edited by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, N.C. – Following on the heels of Spring Daze, more than five dozen events dot the CaryCitizen Weekend Calendar.

Weekend Events, May 5-8

As usual, we take a liberal view of the weekend. This bulletin covers Thursday-Sunday, May 5-8. See the Calendar for more details.

Thursday Highlights

Thursday morning kicks off with a Heart of Cary Association meeting at the Cary Chamber. Mark Janas, General Manager of the Cary Invasion, the new CBL basketball team in town will be there to offer a few remarks. Gale Adcock, member of the Town Council, will be the featured speaker. Open to all.

Thursday also features “Cooking with Herbs,” a demonstration and tasting with Chef Lucindy Willis of Yancey House. It’s part of Herbfest, presented by The Friends of Page-Walker. More info: FriendsofPageWalker.org.

The first performance of Puss in Boots, a production of the Cary Players, will be Thursday night at Herb Young Community Center. It’s Pay-What-You-Can-and-Bring-a-Can Night to support Cat Angels Pet Adoptions.

Friday Highlights

Friday’s lineup includes three performances of A Walk Through the Pages of History, ten scenes from Cary’s history, performed in the places they actually happened. Performances start at Page-Walker at 6:30, 6:50 and 7:20.

Also Friday: A celebration of polka with the music of Frankie Yankovic. 7-9 pm at Page-Walker, part of the Starlight Concerts series. Free.

March Around the World with the Cary Town Band at Sertoma Amphitheatre. Traditional march music from around the world.More info: www.carytownband.org.

Saturday Highlights

Both farmers markets will be open Saturday morning and Herbfest runs from 9-3.

Sk8 Park will have Member Mayhem, a fun day of skating, biking, food and prizes. Noon to 10 pm.

Herons at the Umstead Hotel has a Chocolate and Wine event from 2-4.

Also Saturday: Monte Carlo Night to benefit NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Nancy’s Butterfly Fund. Play Black Jack, Poker, craps and roulette! Dinner and dancing too! The event benefits the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Nancy’s Butterfly Fund Tickets are $100 and include dinner and wine service as well as playing chips. To purchase tickets contact Camille Eubanks at 888-232-9124.

Sunday Highlights

Sunday has a reception at Jordan Hall for the 17th Annual Children’s Art Show. 2-4 pm, free.

Also Sunday, the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra plays at Sertoma. 3-5 pm, free.

More Events and Info

For more of this weekend’s 61 events in Cary, check out the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events.

Cary, NC – The Cary Players venture into a tale of good vs evil, finding true love and magical pets with their latest production, Puss In Boots, opening May 5.

Good Vs. Evil  and Finding True Love

Cary’s Herb Young Community Center will be transformed into an enchanted forest, a medieval castle and a delightful opportunity for audiences of all ages to enjoy Cary Players Community Theatre production of Puss in Boots by Rowena Bennett.

Under the direction of Staci Sabarsky, the show features a cast of 12 who bring this feline fantasy to life.  Players include George Kaiser, “purrrfectly” cast in the title role, Kirsten Ehlert as the storybook princess, and Pat Berry as a colorful Ogre.

Ms. Sabarsky notes, “It has been a privilege breathing life into this charming story. The broad characters, rhyming couplets, and the cast’s creativity have kept us laughing all through the rehearsal period. The show will be entertaining for both adults and children with it’s themes of good triumphing over evil, finding true love, and the inseparable bond between a pet and its master.”

A Magical Pet

Gus Allen plays Jack, the miller’s son who gains his fortune thanks to his magical pet.  The cast also includes: Chris Bynum as Ratzel, Jack’s evil brother;  Paul Brown an amusing woodsman; Del Fleck  as a comical king and Jeri McKee playing a prissy and regal matron aunt.  Clever cameos are offered by Leon Sabarsky, Kat Froelich, Kevin Phipps and Paul Yosim.

Magic is created with a fairy tale set designed by Jon Dietz and Renaissance-style costumes that David Serxner has created.

This humorous production rounds out a season including family drama and love travails. The Cary Players typically produce four shows and go on “summer vacation” until the fall.

Show Dates May 5-14

All shows performed at Herb Young Community Center, 101 Wilkenson Ave, downtown Cary.

Showqtimes:

• Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. – A special performance will benefit Cat Angels Pet Adoptions of Cary. “Pay-What-You-Can” and Bring a Can (of pet food!) to the event.  Donations by cash or check will be accepted at the door.
• Fri May 6, 7pm
• Sat May 7, 7pm
• Sun May 8, 3 pm
• Fri May 13, 7 pm
• Sat May 14, 3pm and 7pm (The 3 p.m. performance will be audio described by Arts Access for the visually challenged.)

Tickets

• Price: $12 for adults, $10 for students & seniors and $8 for children (12 & under)
• Where: Herb Young Community Center (101 Wilkinson Avenue)
• Box office hours are Monday through Friday 12 pm to 6 pm and one hour prior to show time
• Tickets are also available  via TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com. (Note: A service charge applies to on-line orders.)

from Cary Players

Cary, NC – Have you ever wondered how stage actors pull off a realistic fight scene on stage or how they fall without hurting themselves? Or maybe you’re an actor who wants to learn stage-combat techniques to expand your acting skills? Then Stage Fighting 101 is the class for you.

From Cary Players on Facebook:

Stage Combat 101: Our next sponsored class taking place ONE day on April 2 has a mininum required number of students and we haven’t hit that number yet. So if you are interested in unarmed stage combat, how to take a fall, and just in general how to beat up your friend without actually doing it ( all in the name of acting! ) then this… is the class for you.

Instructor Heather Strickland will teach the basics of unarmed stage combat, including slaps, punches, and “how to make friends with the floor” (falls). Heather will focus on basic skills you need to make choreographed fights and falls look realistic as well as techniques for executing the moves safely.

You can register from the Town of Cary Program Registration Web site, or by walk-in at any Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources staff site. For questions regarding registration, call (919) 469-4061.

Location: Bond Park Senior Center (Exercise Room)
Instructor: Heather Strickland
Fees: $35(R) $40(N) (1 4-hour class)
Saturday, April 2, 12-4 pm
Class ID: 50426

Instructor Bio

Heather J. Strickland is the Artistic Director of Bare Theatre Company. She has been working with Bare Theatre for five years, during which time she has directed, performed in, choreographed, and produced several productions, including Titus Andronicus, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Othello, The Tempest, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and The Crucible. Heather received a degree in Theatre Arts from Flagler College. She is also a certified member of the Society of American Fight Directors, and she studied stage combat for over eight years under Fight Master Jeff A.R. Jones. Heather has worked as a fight choreographer and teacher with many local schools and performance groups, including Deep Dish Theatre Company, Ghost and Spice Productions, The Nickel Shakespeare Girls, Duke University, Durham School of the Arts, Durham Academy, East Chapel Hill High School and, of course, Bare Theatre.

Story by Lindsey Chester, photo by Debra Grannan.

Cary, NC- Oddly enough, penguins, fake snow, hikers and lovers are all a part of the  Cary Player’s sixth annual production of Love Bits & Bites, this year titled Love Bits and Bites, The Sixth Sense.

Love Bits & Bites, The Sixth Sense features seven one-act plays and a collection of popular songs performed throughout Cary’s Page-Walker Arts and History Center.

St. Valentine’s Day Tradition

The tradition of Love Bits and Bites started 6 years ago, as a great Valentine’s show idea. Page-Walker is an unconventional location to stage a play, as there is no formal stage per se.

On the first floor gallery one set of plays will be performed and on the third floor will be a second set. The actors run through their parts twice during the evening. Hence the “bits.”  At intermission, audiences are treated to complimentary coffee, tea and desserts on the second floor. Which makes up the “bites.”

The audience then switches floors to see the second half of the performances.

Backstage

I had the chance this past week to catch the group in early rehearsals as they practiced their show stopper finale. Singers unite for “Hooray For Love” a song about the best and worst of romances, as the actors in the downstairs plays take their bows.

It was evident how much this group cares about their mission to entertain the Cary public. Although the cast is entirely volunteer, they take the work seriously. I watched them warming up and signing in, trying on costumes and arranging the conceptual set. It was exciting to have an “insider’s view”.

Comedy, Sweetness & Glee

The production is directed jointly by the team of Lyman Collins (Cultural Arts Manager for the Town of Cary) and Jaret Preston.  The talents of 27 singers and actors are featured in a script that includes many musical numbers.

The scripts this year include works by two local authors:  Steve Roten and Thom Haynes.   A clever comedy by popular playwright Mark Harvey Levine is also on the bill. “Some themes are sweet, others more poignant. The show explores the many sides of love,” notes Lyman Collins.

Johnson adds, “This year, inspired by Glee, we continue the expansion of music beyond Broadway into the pop, rock, and folk lexicons.”

Enjoy an evening about romance with your Valentine inspired by the Cary Players.

Showtimes

Saturdays – February 12th and 19th at 8 pm
Friday – February 18th at 8 pm
Sundays – February 13 and 20 at 4 pm.

Tickets

$17 in advance, which includes refreshments.

Available at Herb Young Community Center Box Office Monday – Friday 12 to 6 pm or at Ticketmaster

For the Sunday, February 20^th show tickets are $15.00 and are only available online through the Friends of the Page Walker.

Other Events

Do you like to feel “In the know?” You should visit the CaryCitizen Calendar for the widest variety of Cary events large and small (from festivals to club meetings and storytime hours) all in one easy to navigate calendar.

Know of a Cary event you would like us to add? Contact Lindsey Chester

Cary, NC – The final piece in The Cary Players/Radio Jingles series, Ashworth Drug Store seems to perfectly capture the mood of the 1940′s.

In the 40′s, most people listened to the radio. Radio stations produced music and drama and variety programming, and also ads for their clients.

So imagine Cary in the 1940′s. It’s Christmas time and there is a hint of snow is in the air.

Now sit back, tune in your old radio to the local Cary station, and close your eyes.

Credits

Ashworth Drug Store Jingle

Lyrics: Debra Grannan
Music: Debra Grannan & Craig Johnson

Singers: Jordan Blais, Mathew Harvey, Joanna Herath, Jeri McKee, Bonnie Roe, Megan Woronka

Cary Players production of “Yes, Virginia”

Director: Debra Grannan
Producer: Phil Lowden
Music Director: Craig Johnson
Costumes: LeGrand Smith

Video

Producer/Director: Hal Goodtree

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-EOg8RDBFM

Cary, NC – This is the second installment in our series on radio jingles created by Cary Players for the production of “Yes, Virginia.”“Jingles,” of course, are short, catchy songs written specially for advertisers to promote their products or services.

This second clip is for Cary Plumbing. You can also find it on YouTube.

Credits

Cary Plumbing Jingle

Lyrics: Debra Grannan
Music: Debra Grannan & Craig Johnson

Singers: Jordan Blais, Mathew Harvey, Joanna Herath, Jeri McKee, Bonnie Roe, Megan Woronka

Cary Players production of “Yes, Virginia”

Director: Debra Grannan
Producer: Phil Lowden
Music Director: Craig Johnson
Costumes: LeGrand Smith

Video

Producer/Director: Hal Goodtree