For Immediate Release


March 5, 2019

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


The Sound of Music opens at Cottage Theatre on April 5 

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre's spring musical this year is The Sound of Music, the inpirational story of Maria von Trapp. Winner of the 1959 Tony Award for Best Musical, The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The book, by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is inspired by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. This iconic musical will be onstage for four weekends at Cottage Theatre beginning Friday, April 5.

The story behind The Sound of Music is well-known thanks to the 1965 movie version starring Julie Andrews. In 1930s Austria, a troublesome postulant named Maria proves too high-spirited for the discipline of religious life, so the Mother Abbess sends her away to care for the children of a widowed naval Captain. As Maria’s world turns upside down, she rises to the challenge of befriending the seven youngsters, who have driven away countless prior governesses. Maria’s generosity of spirit and her love of music gradually win the children’s, and eventually the Captain’s, affections. When Austria is invaded by the Nazis, the family flees over the mountains to Switzerland, providing the thrilling finale to this inspirational story. 

Cottage Theatre's production of The Sound of Music is directed by Joel Ibáñez, with music direction by Chris King and choregraphy by Janet Rust. Costume design is by Rhonda Turnquist, set design by Tony Rust, and lighting design by Amanda Ferguson. The production stars Sabrina Gross as Maria and Nathan Blakely as Captain Georg von Trapp. The seven von Trapp children are played by Hanna Foshay (Liesl), Maia Wilhour (Friedrich), Kira Carver (Louisa), Nicole Wilhour (Brigitta), William Blakely (Kurt), Audriahna Jones (Marta), and Zoe Goings (Gretl). Other featured actors include Tracy Nygard (Mother Abbess), Brittany Dreier (Elsa Schraeder), Blake Nelson (Max Detweiler), and Oshen Parris-Austin (Rolf).

The Sound of Music runs for four weekends at Cottage Theatre from April 5 - 28. Performances are  Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. There is no performance on Easter Sunday April 21.

Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth (age 6 - 18).  Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and one hour before performances. All seating is reserved and advance purchase is recommended.

The Sound of Music will be the final production in Cottage Theatre's current auditorium. The theatre will be closing temporarily in May for a major remodeling project that will add 50 seats. A variety of technical and safety features will also be upgraded. Cottage Theatre will resume its 2019 season in October with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)[Revised]. 


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For Immediate Release

December 19, 2018


Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre holds auditions January 12 & 13 for The Sound of Music

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre will hold auditions on Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13 for The Sound of Music. This beloved musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II premiered on Broadway in 1959 and won five Tony Awards including Best Musical. The story is best-known to most people via the 1965 film adaptation starring Julie Andrews.

Auditions for performers ages 6 through 14 will be at 3:00 pm on both January 12 and 13, and auditions for performers ages 15 through adult will be at 6:30 pm both days. Actors need only attend one of the audition dates. Auditions will take place at Cottage Theatre, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. 

The Sound of Music, the second show in Cottage Theatre's 2019 season, will run for four weekends April 5 - 28. (There will not be performance on Easter Sunday April 21.) Cottage Theatre's production is directed by Joel Ibáñez, with musical direction by Chris King, and choreography by Janet Rust. Rehearsals for the production will begin in early February.

Interested actors are asked to prepare a jazz standard or musical theatre song written prior to 1970, not to exceed 45 seconds. An accompanist will be provided. In addition to the singing audition, actors will be asked to read from the script.

Additional audition details are available at www.cottagetheatre.org, or by calling Cottage Theatre at 541-942-8001. 


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For Immediate Release

November 12, 2018

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Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre holds auditions for Romeo and Juliet

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre will hold auditions on Monday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 4 for Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Auditions will be at 6:30 pm and no appointment is necessary. Actors need only attend one evening. Auditions will take place at Cottage Theatre, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Roles are available for high school age through older adults.

Romeo and Juliet, the first show in Cottage Theatre's 2019 season, will be on stage February 1 -17, 2019. This timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers is directed by Tony Rust. 

Interested actors are requested to prepare a one-minute Shakespeare monologue. Having this memorized is highly suggested. Auditions will also include reading from the script, as well as a brief fight audition, as swordplay is integral to the production.

Additional audition details are available at www.cottagetheatre.org, or by calling Cottage Theatre at 541-942-8001. 


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For Immediate Release


November 9, 2018

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre opens The Fantasticks on November 30

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre concludes its 2018 season with The Fantasticks, a touching fable about passion and innocence. With book and lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt, The Fantasticks is a timeless story that has captivated the hearts and imaginations of generations of theatregoers. Cottage Theatre's production opens for a three-weekend run on Friday, November 30.

Written in 1960, and featuring enduring classics like “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” The Fantasticks is a romantic, allegorical musical about a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. The neighboring dads trick their children into falling in love by pretending to feud. Once Matt and Luisa discover their parents’ deception, they reject the arranged love match and grow apart. Following a series of disillusioning experiences, they finally find their way back to each other after realizing that, "without a hurt, the heart is hollow." The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a touching fable of love that is both nostalgic and universal at the same time.

Cottage Theatre's production of The Fantasticks is directed by Kory Weimer, with Music Direction by Keri Davis, and choreography by Sophie Blades. Set design is by Tony Rust, costume design by Rhonda Turnquist, and lighting design by Amanda Ferguson. The eight-member cast includes Mark Allen, Sam Anderson, Sophie Blades, Larry Brown, Dale Flynn, Thomas Guastavino, Keith Kessler, and Ashlee Winkler. They will be accompanied on stage by musicians Keri Davis and Chris King.

The Fantasticks runs for 11 performances at Cottage Theatre from November 30 - December 16. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.

Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth (age 6 - 18).  Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and one hour before performances. All seating is reserved and advance purchase is recommended. 


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For Immediate Release


September 5, 2018

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre opens Shrek the Musical on October 5

Cottage Grove, OR — A fantastic fairytale adventure, Shrek the Musical, opens October 5 at Cottage Theatre. With book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, and music by Jeanne Tesori, Shrek was first produced on Broadway in 2008.The family-friendly musical is the fifth production of Cottage Theatre's 2018 season. 

Based on the Oscar-winning animated film, Shrek the Musical is an irresistible blend of adventure and romance, guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. The unlikely hero is a hulking green ogre named Shrek, who suddenly finds himself on a life-changing quest through the “Big Bright Beautiful World.” Spurred by his desire to reclaim his swamp from a gang of fairytale interlopers, Shrek strikes a deal with the cruel (and vertically-challenged) Lord Farquaad. If Shrek rescues Princess Fiona, then Farquaad will give the evicted fairytale misfits their homes back so Shrek can reclaim his. Joined by a wisecracking donkey, Shrek eventually frees the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) princess from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. Much to his surprise, Shrek discovers there is more to this unusual princess than meets the eye! Irreverent and full of fun, Shrek the Musical proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.

Cottage Theatre's production of Shrek the Musical is directed by Keith Kessler, with music direction by Keri Davis, and choreography by Janet Rust. Costume design is by Rhonda Turnquist, lighting design by Amanda Ferguson, and set design by Tony Rust. The production features Mark VanBeever as Shrek, Melissa Miller as Princess Fiona, Matt Arscott as Donkey, and Joshua Sayre as Lord Farquaad, supported by a large cast of 30 actors.

Shrek the Musical runs for 15 performances at Cottage Theatre from October 5 - 28. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.

Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth (age 6 - 18). Recommended minimum age for children is six years old, given the length of the show. Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and one hour before performances. All seating is reserved and advance purchase is recommended. 


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For Immediate Release

July 26, 2018


Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre holds auditions for The Fantasticks

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre will hold auditions on Sunday, August 19 at 6:00 pm for The Fantasticks, a touching fable about passion and innocence. This production, the final show in Cottage Theatre's 2018 season, will be on stage for three weekends, November 30 - December 16. The musical is directed by Kory Weimer. Auditions will take place at Cottage Theatre, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove, and no appointment is necessary. Eight roles are available for men and women ages 16+.

This timeless story has captivated the hearts and imaginations of generations of theatregoers. Written in 1960, and featuring enduring classics like “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” The Fantasticks is a romantic, allegorical musical about a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. The neighboring dads trick their children into falling in love by pretending to feud. Once Matt and Luisa discover their parents’ deception, they reject the arranged love match and grow apart. Following a series of disillusioning experiences, they finally find their way back to each other after realizing that, "without a hurt, the heart is hollow." The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a touching fable of love that is both nostalgic and universal at the same time.

Interested actors should prepare 16-32 bars of a song that demonstrates their vocal talents, and bring sheet music for the provided accompanist. If actors are interested in the non-speaking role of The Mute, they should come to auditions prepared to tell a story without using words.

Additional audition details are available at www.cottagetheatre.org, or by calling Cottage Theatre at 541-942-8001. 


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 ​For Immediate Release

June 22, 2018

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre presents family-friendly melodrama July 20 - 22

Cottage Grove, OR — The residents of Fruitdale must summon up their best flapjack flippers to fight against the dastardly Dr. Jeklyanne Slyde, in Cottage Theatre's 2018 summer melodrama. There’s a Pirate in the Pantry . . . OR The Flapjacks Are About to Flip is a old-fashioned melodrama written especially for Cottage Theatre by local playwright Keith Kessler. The family-friendly production will run for three performances on July 20, 21, and 22 at Cottage Theatre, during Cottage Grove's annual Bohemia Mining Days Festival.

This year's melodrama takes place in Fruitdale, where the mighty Redd Ferret, with her Captain Scarlet O’Haira, has sailed up the Row River just in time for the Annual Fruitdale Flapjack Festival. All of the town’s best flapjack flippers are getting ready to compete. But Dr. Jekylanne Slyde, the orneriest old coot in Fruitdale, has her eyes on the golden treasure aboard the Redd Ferret, and she aims to get it all for herself. 

There’s a Pirate in the Pantry...OR The Flapjacks Are About to Flip features 25 young actors from Cottage Theatre's summer melodrama camp.  This show is appropriate for all ages and includes plenty of audience participation (in the form of booing and hissing and cheering) as well as an old-fashioned sing-along. In keeping with classic melodrama tradition, "Olios" (silly jokes which have nothing to do with the story) will also be performed. There will also be a pre-show performance showcasing some of the music and dance techniques taught during the two-week summer camp.
 
This year's melodrama is directed by Marian Dempsey, with music direction by Catricia Mayhue, and choreography by Madeleine Sisson. The cast includes Laurel Ames, Anya Bartlog, Lafe Bennett, Shyla Browning, Kira Carver, Alexis Christie, Hailey Cook, Bela Dedrick, Aiden Dickinson, Abigail Earlywine, AJ Earlywine, Madisyn Froom, Bryce Johnson, James Kelly, Hannah Mathis, Connor Mayhue, Eliana Piltz, Audrie Sager, Grace Sisson, Nate Steinburg, Lillie Stepp, Noe Valley, Hayes Valley, Maia Wilhour, and Piper Youngmayr.
 
Performances are Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 at 7:00 pm; and Sunday, July 22 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $7 for all ages and all seating is reserved. Advance purchase is recommended.

Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and one hour before performances. 
  

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For Immediate Release


June 8, 2018

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre welcomes visiting playwright June 25

Cottage Grove, OR — On Monday, June 25 at 6:00 pm, Cottage Theatre is hosting a special "Meet the Playwright" event in preparation for a world premiere production later this summer.

In August, Cottage Theatre will stage the world premiere of Treehouse by Alabama playwright Joe Musso. The theatre is one of just six theatres in the nation selected to produce one of the winning scripts of the American Association of Community Theatre’s 2018 NewPlayFest. Musso's Treehouse was selected as a winner from a pool of 300 script submissions.

Thanks to a grant from the Lane County Cultural Coalition, Musso will travel to Oregon in June to work with the cast of Treehouse. In conjunction with this visit, the theatre is holding a "Meet the Playwright" event to introduce Musso and his work to the community.

The informal hour-long event will include a welcome reception, a Question & Answer session with the playwright, and a presentation of Musso's 10-minute comedy The Rollercoaster of Love. The short play is directed by Alan Beck and features actors Kory Weimer and Nicole Trobaugh. "This is a unique opportunity for people to meet an accomplished playwright and learn more about the craft of bringing a story to life on the stage," comments Cottage Theatre Executive Director Susan Goes. "We are very excited that Joe Musso is willing to travel from Birmingham to share his work with our community."

The "Meet the Playwright" event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited so tickets are required. Tickets to June 25 event are available at www.cottagetheatre.org or by calling 541-942-8001. 


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For Immediate Release

April 19, 2018


Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre holds auditions for world premiere play

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre will hold auditions on May 19 at 4:00 pm and May 20 at 6:00 pm for Treehouse, a drama by Alabama playwright Joe Musso. This production, which will be on stage at Cottage Theatre August 10 - 26, is a world premiere of one of the six winning scripts in the American Association of Community Theatre's 2018 NewPlayFest. Auditions will take place at Cottage Theatre, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove, and no appointment is necessary. The play is directed by Tara Wibrew. 

The plot of Treehouse revolves around Shakespeare's existential line, "To be or not to be, that is the question." Johnny and his pals would be typical 17-year-old boys, hanging out in Johnny’s treehouse and dreaming of talking to the beautiful Alana, were it not for Johnny insisting he is a 53-year-old man trapped in a teenage body. Johnny’s mom is a little worried. Out-of-the-blue her son is suddenly pulling straight A’s, keeping his room immaculate, and reading Shakespeare. As Johnny persists in his claim, and conversations in the treehouse become increasingly peppered by the words of the Bard, Johnny grapples with adolescence, love, and the mind's ability to heal from great loss. Through his budding friendship with Alana, Johnny discovers the life-affirming power of the eternal summer that shall not fade. At times poignant, at times humorous, Treehouse is a compelling drama that bridges the gap between adolescence and adulthood in beautifully unexpected ways.

Playwright Joe Musso lives in Birmingham, Alabama. His plays have been presented in numerous theatres and have won several awards, including the Great Plains Theatre Conference Holland New Voices Award, the MTWorks Excellence in Playwriting Award, and the Gloria Ann Barnell Peter Playwright Competition. In addition to being a 2018 NewPlayFest winner, Treehouse was named the winner of the 2017 Todd McNerney National Playwriting Award sponsored by the College of Charleston. Treehouse also was the winner of Center Stage South Carolina 15th Annual New Play Festival, where the play received a reading last fall. Thanks to a grant from the Lane County Cultural Coalition, the playwright will travel twice to Oregon this summer: in June to work with Cottage Theatre’s Treehouse cast, and again in August to attend the world premiere.
 
Roles are available for 3 men (age 16 - 20s) and 3 women (age 16 - 40s) and auditions will consist of readings from the script. Copies of the play may be checked out from the Cottage Theatre office in advance of auditions. Additional audition details and a character breakdown are available at www.cottagetheatre.org, or by calling Cottage Theatre at 541-942-8001. 


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