Calling all actors

Tidewater Community College Theatre will hold open auditions for the fall production of “Inherit the Wind.”

When: Sept. 6 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre, room 4102, on the Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

Callbacks: To be determined.

The story: Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee wrote “Inherit the Wind.” This lively courtroom drama dives into the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial. The play is set in the town of Hillsboro and follows the trial of a young teacher, Bertram Cates, who is accused of violating state law by teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in a public school.

Two famous lawyers, Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, represent the opposing sides. The trial becomes a clash between science and religion, modernity and tradition, and freedom of thought and dogmatic beliefs. The play explores these themes while also delving into the personal relationships and emotions of the characters involved.

The trial takes unexpected turns, challenging the beliefs of both the characters and the audience. “Inherit the Wind” raises questions about intellectual freedom, the role of religion in society, and the tensions between progress and conservatism.

Prepare: Please prepare a one-minute monologue or one of the two sides below. All roles are open to all genders and ethnicities.

Rehearsal and show information: Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled for Monday – Thursday from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., starting on Sept. 11 and running through Oct. 18.

The show dates are October 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. and October 22 at 2 p.m. and October 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. In addition, Sept. 11 will be the read from 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. You must be available for all the show dates and rehearsals.

Sides:

Rachel – I remember feeling this way when I was a little girl. I would wake up at night, terrified of the dark. I’d think sometimes that my bed was on the ceiling, and the whole house was upside down; and if I didn’t hang onto the mattress, I might fall outward into the stars. I wanted to run to my father, and have him tell me I was safe, that everything was all right. But I was always more frightened of him than I was of falling. It’s the same way now.

Hornbeck – Matthew Harrison Brady died of a busted belly. You know what I thought of him, and I know what you thought. Let us leave the lamentations to the illiterate. Why should we weep for him? He cried enough for himself. The national tear-duct from Weeping Water, Nebraska, who flooded the whole nation like a one-man Mississippi. How do you write an obituary for a man who has been dead for thirty years?

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Gorris at mgorris@tcc.edu.

TCC to hold open auditions for “Steel Magnolias” on Feb 22 and 23

Tidewater Community College’s Theatre Department will hold open auditions for “Steel Magnolias,” this year’s spring production.

Auditions will be on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre in the Academic Building on the Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

Each audition will take about five minutes, and roles are available for 6 actors and several understudies. Actors should prepare a one-to-two-minute contemporary monologue that shows their range. Participants are encouraged not to use any accents.

Rehearsals will begin March 13 and will run Monday – Thursday from 7 p.m. -10 p.m.

The show debuts on April 13 and runs through April 29^th. Evening shows and Saturday matinees will be held.

“Steel Magnolias” is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are anybody come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle, the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the women of the town. The play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which gives the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

The cast for “Steel Magnolias” includes:

*Truvy – 40ish and owner of the beauty shop
*Annelle – 19 and beauty shop assistant
*Clairee – 66ish and widow of the former mayor, Grand Dame
*Shelby – 25 and the prettiest woman in town
*M’Lynn – 50ish and Shelby’s mother
*Ouiser – 66ish and a wealthy curmudgeon

To secure your audition time, and receive your audition packet, please email Heather Williams, stage manager, at hwilliamsphotog83@gmail.com. Please include a headshot, resume and any date conflicts you may have. Preference will be given to actresses with the fewest conflicts.

To express an interest in a technical position and for more information about TCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Theatre Arts, contact Professor Matthew Gorris at 757-822-7041 or mgorris@tcc.edu.

TCC Theatre presents Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” April 8-16

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Tidewater Community College is offering the community live theatre in its Black Box Theater on Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

TCC Theatre brings “The Merchant of Venice” to the stage for six performances, April 8-16.

As in the original production, “The Merchant of Venice” features a merchant in Venice named Antonio who defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock.

Merchant of Venice cast in high school outfits.

TCC’s version of the play is a one-hour production that brings Shakespeare’s 16th-century work into the modern world. It is set in a high school, and the classic characters become students who struggle with and create, the bigotry, bullying and cycles of violence that are as tragic and timeless as Shakespeare’s immortal words.

Directed by Logan Bennett, the world portrayed on stage at TCC uses cryptocurrency, while texting is lingua franca, and the characters’ use of social media adds layers to the story.

Performance dates and times are:
April 8-9 at 7:30 p.m.
April 10 at 2 p.m.
April 14-16 at 7:30 p.m.

All seats are $10 for general admission. To purchase your tickets visit https://tidewater.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?SeriesID=6

Tickets will also be available for purchase in the theater lobby starting one hour before each performance, with cash and all credit cards accepted. Seating is limited. To make sure you get a seat, reserve your tickets in advance.

***Please note that this production of “The Merchant of Venice,” like the play as originally performed, carries stark and disturbing themes of social injustice that include racism, bigotry, and anti-Semitism that may not be appropriate for those sensitive to such subjects, or for young children.***

For questions about the production please call 757-822-5219.

Award-winning “Doubt: A Parable” presented by TCC Theatre

TCC Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning play “Doubt: A Parable” for seven shows in late February and early March.

All performances will be held in the Black Box Theater in the Academic Building on TCC’s Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

“Doubt,” a 2004 play by American playwright John Patrick Shanley, is set in a fictional school in the Bronx. In this powerful work, school principal Sister Aloysius takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the parish priest, Father Flynn, of improper relations with a young student.

Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, “Doubt” is a gripping story that is less about scandal and more about the nuanced questions of moral certainty.

Performance dates are:

Feb. 27-29 at 7:30 p.m.
March 1 at 2 p.m.
March 4-6 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, alumni and military members. Payment is by cash or checks at the door. The box office opens 45 minutes prior to show time.

Tickets can be purchased with a credit card at the Chesapeake Campus Business Office in the Pass Building during regular business hours.

Reserve tickets by calling 757-822-5219 or emailing Professor Matthew Gorris at mgorris@tcc.edu.

Holiday-themed play “The Seafarer” to be presented by TCC Theatre in December

Set on Christmas Eve, “The Seafarer” comes to life on stage at Tidewater Community College for two weekends in December.

All performances will be held in the Black Box Theater in the Academic Building on TCC’s Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

“The Seafarer,” a 2006 play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, is set in a coastal suburb north of Dublin.

The play centers on James “Sharky” Harkin, an alcoholic who has returned to live with his blind, aging brother. Drinking buddies Ivan and Nicky are holed up at the house too, hoping to play some cards. But with the arrival of a stranger from the distant past, the stakes are raised ever higher.

This play contains adult language and situations. No one under 13 will be permitted entry.

Performance dates are:

Dec. 4-7 at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
Dec. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, alumni and military members. Payment is by cash or check at the door. The box office opens 45 minutes prior to show time.

Tickets can be purchased with a credit card at the Chesapeake Campus Business Office in the Pass Building during regular business hours.

Reserve tickets by calling 757-822-5219 or emailing Professor Matthew Gorris at mgorris@tcc.edu. The tickets will be waiting at the box office the night of the show.

For more information, visit https://www.tcc.edu/about-tcc/arts-tcc/.

TCC Theatre brings “Animal Farm” to the stage for two weekends in November

Tidewater Community College Theatre will present “Animal Farm” for two weekends in November.

All performances will be held in the Black Box Theater in the Academic Building on TCC’s Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

“Animal Farm” is a satire with a sting, adapted for the stage by Nelson Bond from the allegorical novel by George Orwell. Led by three pigs, the disgruntled animals overthrow their human owner, take control of the farm and create a new society where “All animals are equal.” The pigs take charge, but soon the new society becomes corrupt

Intermingling humor and drama, “Animal Farm” leaves audiences shaken with the tale of a tragedy that happened in a mythical barnyard far away but could happen in our own backyard.

Performance dates are:

Nov. 7-9 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.
Nov. 14-16 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, alumni and military members. Payment is by cash or check at the door. The box office opens 45 minutes prior to show time.

Tickets can be purchased with a credit card at the Chesapeake Campus Business Office in the Pass Building during normal business hours.

For more information, email Matthew Gorris, assistant professor of theatre arts, at mgorris@tcc.edu or visit https://www.tcc.edu/about-tcc/arts-tcc/.