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Upcoming Guild production will thrill audiences Jacksonville Theatre Guild’s upcoming suspense-filled drama is currently in production at the Sophie Leschin Theatre. A Broadway hit in 1966 and subsequent film starring Audrey Hepburn, this masterfully constructed thriller was written by Frederick Knott. Susy Hendrix, a blind Greenwich Village housewife, is the story’s heroine. Susy, played by Murrayville’s Rachel Pennell, is targeted by three ex-convicts searching for drugs hidden in a doll that her husband unwittingly transported home from Canada. The play is filled with one moment of suspense after another building toward a breath-stopping final scene. Paul Cary of Springfield is directing a cast that includes James Mullis and Ted Keylon of Springfield; Jeffrey McLenaghan, Robert Brammeier and Eric Green of Jacksonville; Steve Cantrell of Murrayville; as well as Jerry Littig of Winchester and Jewel McEvers of Meredosia. “Wait Until Dark” will be presented at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Community Park Friday, March 26; Saturday, March 27; Friday, April 2; and Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. The show times on Sunday, March 28, and Sunday, April 4, are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for children 12 and younger. For more information, please call the Jacksonville Theatre Guild at 245-1402 or visit www.jaxtg.com. The Jacksonville Theatre Guild provides an outlet for community members to display their talents and energies in live theatre with an array of quality productions. The non-profit organization governed by an annually-elected Board of Directors is a major theatrical resource for west central Illinois.
JTG announces auditions for upcoming youth play The Jacksonville Theatre Guild will hold auditions for its next youth production, “Hansel and Gretel,” at the Jacksonville Theatre Guild’s downtown office located at 210 West College Avenue at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 13. This Vera Morris adaptation of the famous children’s story will be directed by Brad Karr of Jacksonville. His cast will include children from the age of 7 to 17 who will portray approximately 20 characters in this production. Boys and girls auditioning are asked to bring a recent photograph of them to the auditions and a listing of performance experience, as well as a list of rehearsal conflicts beginning March 14 through the run of the play. “Hansel and Gretel” will be presented May 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. and May 16 at 2 p.m. at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Community Park. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. For more information please call the JTG office at 245-1402 or visit our website at jaxtg.com.
JTG announces cast of upcoming Disney production The Jacksonville Theatre Guild is pleased to announce the cast of its first youth production of the 2009-2010Season, Disney’s “High School Musical 2.” “High School Musical 2” continues where the first popular Disney musical, “High School Musical,” left off with our favorite East High students leaving school for summer break. The Wildcats get summer jobs working together at the exclusive Lava Springs Country Club, only to find out the parents of scheming Sharpay Evans own the resort. She wields her remarkable power in an attempt to win Troy away from Gabriella. The rivals unite in a show-stopping musical finale. The show’s cast is comprised of actors from several local communities including Travis Deaver (Troy) of Chapin and Jacksonville natives Erin Kruzan (Gabriella), Madeline Walker (Sharpay) and Evan Rumler (Ryan). Additional Jacksonville residents in the production include Kate Scott, Cathy Colburn, Brandon Cook, Ashley Hutton, Emily Graham, Daniel Gregory, Cody Springer, Brian Leach, Dominic Scott, Matt Hall, Kari Ann Spencer, Sydney Holloway, Rachel Williams, Katie Robinson, Jordin Wyatt and Holly Fair. The cast also includes Kendi Klein of Murrayville, Winchester residents Krysta and Jerry Littig, Triopia student Brittany Davis and Beardstown residents Lexi DeSollar and Abby Brake. Co-directors Lynda Locke and Shawn Smith will present this popular Disney show Thursday, February 18, through Saturday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21, at 2 p.m. at the Sophie Leschin Theatre located in Community Park. (Please note the matinee performance on Saturday, February 20, in addition to that evening’s performance.) Tickets are available for purchase at the Jacksonville Theatre Guild office, 210 West College Avenue, and can be purchased by calling 245-1402. Tickets prices for adults are $13 and $8 for those who are 12 and younger. Passavant Area Hospital’s Kids Connection is sponsoring “High School Musical 2.”
Auditions for critically acclaimed drama announced The Jacksonville Theatre Guild will hold auditions for the community theatre’s upcoming production of “Wait Until Dark” on Saturday, January 30, and Sunday January 31, at the Theatre Guild’s downtown office at 210 West College Avenue. The Saturday audition will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 12 noon, while the Sunday audition will run from 1-4 p.m. A Broadway hit, this masterfully constructed thriller by Frederick Knott moves from one moment of suspense to another as it builds toward an electrifying, breath-stopping final scene. The cast calls for one girl who is 10-12 years old, one woman 25-40 years old, four men 25-45 years old and two persons, male or female, who portray police officers. “Wait Until Dark” will be directed by Springfield resident Paul Cary, and will open March 26-28 and run through April 2-4 at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Community Park. For more information, call the Jacksonville Theatre Guild at 245-1402 or visit www.jaxtg.com.
Holiday comedy to be performed one weekend only The cast includes Jacksonville’s Harvey Mack in the role of Ralph, the father, and Sherry Humphries as Ralphie’s mother. They are joined by Jacksonville actors Brad Karr and Barb Gatlin as Old Man Parker and Miss Shields, and Matthew Roads as Flick. The role of Ralphie will be played by Isaiah Littig, a Winchester native. The cast also includes area residents Jewel Mc Evers of Meredosia, Cayden Sharp of Waverly, Wyatt Heck of Woodson, as well as Coy and Caden Beddingfield of Arenzville. Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to receive a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Goldblatt’s Department Store Santa. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All of the elements from the popular Christmas film are included in this stage adaptation, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in a net stocking; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios; and more. Laurie McCoy of Jacksonville is directing the play which will be performed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 10-12, at 7:30 p.m. The show on Sunday, December 13, will be performed at 2 p.m. Please note this show will run one weekend only. All performances will be presented at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Community Park. Adult ticket prices are $13 while children 12 and under will be admitted for $8. Call 245-1402 or visit www.jaxtg.com for tickets and information. The ticket office, located at 210 West College Avenue, is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday during performance weeks. “A Christmas Story” is being sponsored by Jacksonville Savings Bank.
JTG announces auditions for Disney’s High School Musical 2 The Jacksonville Theatre Guild (JTG) will hold auditions for the community theatre’s first youth production of the 2009-2010 season. Auditions for the Disney musical, “High School Musical 2,” will be held at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Jacksonville’s Community Park on Saturday, December 12, beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m. “High School Musical 2” continues where the first popular Disney musical, “High School Musical,” left off, with our favorite East High students leaving school for summer break. The Wildcats get summer jobs working together at the exclusive Lava Springs Country Club, only to find out the parents of scheming Sharpay Evans own the resort. She wields her remarkable power in an attempt to win Troy away from Gabriella. The rivals unite in a big musical finale. The musical calls for five male leads and includes a male ensemble, the Lava Springs Pool Boys, other Wildcats and talent show contestants. The five female lead roles include the composer, Kelsie, who is not required to play the piano. The female ensemble will be rounded out by the Sharpettes, makeover artists and talent show contestants. Dance auditions will begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. with vocal auditions and readings lasting from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Everyone auditioning will be asked to participate in the dance audition. Call backs will be held that afternoon starting at 1 p.m. Co-directors Lynda Locke and Shawn Smith, both of Jacksonville, are asking for actors ranging from junior high through college age. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a memorized piece from the musical and should bring a copy of the music to the audition where an accompanist will be provided. The directors also ask that those auditioning bring their personal calendar to mark any conflicts with the rehearsal or show schedule. To obtain information or music from the show in preparation for auditions, contact the JTG office at 245-1402 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. The production will run February 18-21, 2010, at the Sophie Leschin Theatre. JTG announces holiday comedy cast The Jacksonville Theatre Guild announces the cast for their upcoming December comedy, “A Christmas Story,” based on the 1983 Warner Brother’s motion picture by the same name. The cast includes Jacksonville’s Harvey Mack in the role of Ralph, the father, and Sherry Humphries as Ralphie’s mother. They are joined by Jacksonville actors Brad Karr and Barb Gatlin as Old Man Parker and Miss Shields, and Matthew Roads as Flick. The role of Ralphie will be played by Isaiah Littig, a Winchester native. The cast also includes area residents Jewel Mc Evers of Meredosia, Cayden Sharp of Waverly, Wyatt Heck of Woodson, as well as Coy and Caden Beddingfield of Meredosia. Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to receive a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Goldblatt’s Department Store Santa. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All of the elements from the popular Christmas film are included in this stage adaptation, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scott Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in a net stocking; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios; and more. Laurie McCoy of Jacksonville is directing the play which will be performed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 10-12, at 7:30 p.m. The show on Sunday, December 13, will be performed at 2 p.m. Please note this show will run one weekend only. All performances will be presented at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Community Park. Adult ticket prices are $13 while children 12 and under will be admitted for $8. Call 245-1402 or visit www.jaxtg.com for tickets and information. The ticket office, located at 210 West College Avenue, is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday during performance weeks. “A Christmas Story” is being sponsored by Jacksonville Savings Bank.
Theatre Guild announces ticket price changes The Jacksonville Theatre Guild is announcing a change in ticket policies that will reduce originally-advertised ticket prices for is upcoming season. When planning its 2009-2010 season earlier this year, the local theatre group advertised adult tickets for $15 to help offset the rising cost to produce six live theatrical productions per season. In an effort to boost attendance during the upcoming season, the Board of Directors of the non-profit organization has instead decided to drop tickets to $13 for adults for each production, with youth tickets, ages 12 and younger, remaining at $8. In addition, the season ticket, which is normally priced at $60 per person and covers admission for the four main stage productions of the season, will be reduced to $45. Season ticket prices will be pro-rated after the run of each production to ensure theatre-goers enjoy a cost savings throughout the season. “The Jacksonville Theatre Guild Board of Directors understands that there are many options for entertainment and live performance in this community,” explained JTG President Kristin Jamison. “We realize that many families are making difficult choices regarding how to spend their disposable income, and we want to remain a viable option for those who want to support the arts in our community.” Kicking off the 2008-2009 season will be the musical comedy, “Little Shop of Horrors,” October 23-25 and October 30-November 1. Beginning immediately, adult tickets are $13 with children 12 and younger admitted for $8. Patrons who bought their tickets at the original $15 level can receive a $2 refund at the JTG ticket office, 210 West College Ave., or at the ticket booth in Sophie Leschin Theatre the night of the performance. Call 245-1402 or email jaxtg@verizon.net to purchase tickets or receive more information.
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The 2009 Eugene M. Laurent Memorial 
