There's lots happening at Cottage Theatre! Romeo and Juliet opens February 1. Our cast for The Sound of Music has just been announced. Rhythm & Blues Revue is coming soon. And we're hard at work on our ACT III Remodeling Project. Read all about it in the current issue of the CT newsletter.

For Immediate Release


January 1, 2019

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


Cottage Theatre opens 2019 season February 1 with Romeo and Juliet

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre kicks off its 2019 season with Shakespeare's timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. This classic story of love and revenge will be onstage for a three-weekend run starting Friday, February 1.

Two impulsive teenagers, Romeo and Juliet, unite themselves by secret marriage against the wishes of their families. Friar Lawrence weds them with the hope that their forbidden love will bring peace to the warring Capulets and Montagues. Hope, passion, and faith rule the young lovers, but are those enough to overcome an ancient grudge? Bound in the eternal eloquence of Shakespeare’s masterful language is a story of innocence and revenge that will keep you riveted to your seat. From the famous balcony scene to epic sword fights, William Shakespeare’s tragic romance remains unchallenged as one of the most enduring works in all of western literature.

Cottage Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet is directed and designed by Tony Rust, with costume design by Rhonda Turnquist, and lighting design by Amanda Ferguson. The cast features Sheldon Hall as Romeo and Natalie Tichenor as Juliet, along with Joel Ibáñez, Blake Nelson, Kory Weimer, Larry Brown, CJ Cramer, Tracy Nygard, Dale Flynn, Brian Bull, Phoebe Gildea, Davis N. Smith, Kyle Carrillo-Enders, Samuel Pearson, Aislyn Morrill, Aurora Talon, Matt Boatman, Peter O'Day, Jared Brown, Keiara Faville, Anja Bartlog, Heidi Turnquist, Steve Knight, Avery May, and Maia Wilhour.

Romeo and Juliet runs for three weekends at Cottage Theatre from February 1 - 17. 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 18 & under).  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. 


###

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. 


###

For Immediate Release

November 12, 2018

​
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. 


###

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. 


###

2019 will be a year to remember at Cottage Theatre, with a wonderful season of shows AND a big remodeling project in the summer to make your CT experience even more wonderful. Read all about it in this issue of our newsletter.

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. 


###

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2018


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


Cottage Theatre awarded grant from Oregon Cultural Trust

Cottage Grove, OR — Cottage Theatre has been awarded a grant of $40,075 from the Oregon Cultural Trust in support of a planned remodeling project to expand auditorium seating, improve audience sightlines, and upgrade technical and safety features. The 36-year-old community theatre in Cottage Grove was one of 87 grantees in this year’s Cultural Development Grants, and one of only six organizations to be awarded more than $40,000. Other major grants were given to Portland’s August Wilson Red Door Project, Medford’s Butte Creek Mill Foundation, the Eugene Ballet, Eugene’s Shedd Instititute for the Arts, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this significant support and vote of confidence from the Oregon Cultural Trust,” comments Executive Director Susan Goes. “Cottage Theatre has had many sold-out shows in recent years, and we are eager to add additional seats and update our facility so that it is even more comfortable for our growing number of patrons.” Cottage Theatre’s current annual attendance is approximately 11,000 people, with just 30% coming from Cottage Grove and 70% coming from elsewhere in Oregon and beyond. The planned remodel will add 50 new seats and allow the theatre to increase patron visits to Cottage Grove by 4,000 each year.

“A remodeling project of this magnitude is a big challenge for a small nonprofit organization like Cottage Theatre,” adds Board Treasurer Mark Allen, “and will require strong support from many donors to accomplish. Receiving this Oregon Cultural Trust award is a huge confidence builder as we get ready to launch further fundraising efforts.” 

The Oregon Cultural Trust was established by the state legislature in 2001 as a way to provide ongoing funding for arts and cultural institutions across Oregon. The Trust is funded by individual Oregonians, who total their gifts to qualifying cultural organizations, make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust, and receive 100% of that match back as a state tax credit.

In 2017 Oregonians gave a record $4.9 million to the Cultural Trust. Sixty percent of that amount was redistributed immediately; to five statewide partner organizations, 45 county and tribal coalitions, and to individual organizations through the competitive Cultural Development grants. The remaining 40 percent is invested in the Trust’s permanent fund, to provide for future generations.

Cottage Theatre produces a year-round season of plays and musicals and offers summer theatre camps for children. Its facility at 700 Village Drive in Cottage Grove was constructed in 1998, with a Rehearsal Hall addition in 2006.


###

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. 


###