Friday, May 23, 2003

Summer theatre program is starting

Coweta County high school students are going to have an opportunity to take to the boards in a county-wide theatrical production this summer, even before work on the school system's new performing arts center is completed.

Auditions for "You Can't Take It With You," by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, are June 2 from 5-9 p.m. at the Coweta County School Administrative Offices at 237 Jackson Street.

Twenty performances of the 1930s comedy will be held July 24-26 at Wadsworth Hall in Newnan, as a part of the Superintendent's Theatre Arts Resource program, and in celebration of the city of Newnan's 175th anniversary.

The June 2 auditions are open to all Coweta County students by appointment, said Don Nixon, performing arts center coordinator for the Coweta County School System. Appointments can be secured by e-mailing Nixon at Donald.Nixon@cowetaschools.org or calling at 770-254-2803 ext. 219.

Dr. Richard McMitchen, of East Coweta High School, will be directing this year's production. Rehearsals will take place at East Coweta High School until the moving date to Wadsworth Hall during the week of performances.

"You Can't Take it with You" is an over-the-top comedy centered around Grandpa Vanderhof, who reigns over a house full his eccentric family, including his wife, children, grandchildren and their spouses, and even visitors who have simply never left.

All are artists, writers or inventors, "all independent minded people following their bliss," said Nixon.

"Its a zany comedy but with a wonderful moral story: that no matter where we are in life we are all looking for a community that allows us to discover and share our gifts. It also a large cast, and the show provides lots of male and female roles. It will allow us to showcase our best talents from across the county."

The purpose of the Superintendent's Theatre Arts Resource (STAR) program "is to allow opportunities for theatre students or people with a love for drama to share in a production together," said Nixon.

"Students often stay concentrated within their schools, and sometimes don't get an opportunity to share the stage with other great talents," he said. "This opens up the opportunity to experience what the real theatrical world is like, with a larger audience base and exposure to different directors and broader resources within our system."

"That's what we hope the STAR program will do and what the arts center itself will do when it opens next year, and we appreciate the city of Newnan allowing us use of Wadsworth Hall to get an early experience of that. Plus it gives us a neutral space for students to perform in, so everyone will feel like equals onstage."


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