“Oliver” is a hit with opening night audience

Sydney Rogers plays Oliver. Photo by Sandi Carroll

The classic Tony Award winning Oliver! based on Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist opened at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach Friday evening.

This holiday favorite with its sentimental and memorable music, from clamorous ”Food, Glorious Food” , to  the haunting ballad ”Where Is Love?”, plus   ”As Long As He Needs Me,”  and the cheeky ”You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” won the opening night audience over.

The outstanding cast is directed by John Stenko, and includes Francesco Battagliese, Amy Collins, Paige Elizabeth, Brian Fitzgibbons, Cody Gigold, Ida Haverly, Pat Justin, Linda Kalasydjian, Hunter McGowan, Will Pierce, Mark Plinska, Sydney Rogers, David Sandiago, Violet Stoll and Max Watson. The ensembles -  Adult Ensemble: Zachary Goodrich, Joey Reader, Sara Marsh and Jo Phillipp; Orphans & Thieves: Maria Cruz, Connie Darrisaw, Alicia Davidson, Jackie Dozier, Jaclyn Gilday, Conner Harris, Megan Lawson, Marena Luccero, Dakota Mathewson, Jonah Powers, Gabrielle Reed

Performance continue through Dec. 6.Evening performances are at 7 and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

For ticket information, call the theatre at (386) 423-1246. You won’t want to miss this touching and well-performed classic.

The cast of "Oliver!" Photo copyright by Sandi Carroll

From left, Mark Plinska, David Santiago, Sydney Rogers, Ida Haverly, Hunter McGowan and Violet Stoll in a scene from Oliver!" Photo by Sandi Carroll

Pat Justin as Widow Corney and David Sandiago as Mr. Bumble. Photo copyright by Sandi Carroll

Thriller “Wait Until Dark” to open Oct. 16

Roa, played by Brian Fitzgibbons, threatens Susy, played by Sarah de la Hoz. Photo by Sandi Carroll

The suspenseful thriller “Wait Until Dark” opens Oct. 16 at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach. The plays takes place in a New York City basement apartment where Susy Henderson, a woman recently blinded in an accident lives with her photographer husband, Sam. She is still learning how to adapt and is often home alone while Sam travels from assignment to assignment.
As Sam is returning from a business trip, he meets a woman in the airport who asks him to hold onto a doll for her. It turns out that the doll contains heroin and a man named Roat is after it. Enlisting the aid of two con men to help him retrieve the drugs, Roat tries to insinuate himself into Susy’s life after her husband departs on another trip.
Together the three men concoct an elaborate scheme of deception in order to gain Susy’s trust and locate the missing doll. Complicating the situation is the fact that Susy and Sam are unaware that a little girl in their apartment building had actually taken the doll. Eventually, Susy eventually sees through Roat’s scheme and realizes she is in grave danger.
Cast members include Sarah de la Hoz, Jackie Dozier, Brian Fitzgibbons, Jeff Van Winkle, Dan Blazi, Will Bordelon, Will Pierce and Ken Guilbeault.
“Wait Until Dark” is a masterfully constructed thriller that moves from one moment of suspense to another as it builds toward a heart-stopping conclusion.
Reserved seating is available at the Little Theatre Box Office, open weekdays from 1 until 4 p.m. and 2 hours prior to each performance. The show will be playing Oct. 16-18, 22-25. For more information, call the Little Theatre at 386-423-1246 or visit www.NsbPlayers.org.

Sarah de la Hoz plays Susy, blinded in an accident, and Jackie Dozier plays her sometimes helpful neighbor Gloria. Photo by Sandi Carroll.

The con men fight. Mike (left) is played by Will Bordelon and Carlino is played by Dan Blazi. Photo by Sandi Carroll

‘Squabbles’ opens at Little Theatre Sept. 11

Photo by Sandi Carroll - Jerry Sloan reacts to the news that his wife Alice is pregnant. Will Bordelon plays Jerry and Jennifer Hyde plays Alice.

The season opener at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, “Squabbles,” a comedy by Marshall Karp will run two week-ends, Sept. 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 and 20 for a total of seven performances.

“Squabbles” tells an entertaining story about Jerry Sloan, a successful writer of advertising jingles, who is married to Alice, an equally successful lawyer. Will Bordelon and Jennifer Hyde play the happy couple.

Abe Dreyfus and Mildred Sloan, played by Don Campbell and Harriet Winokur, can't stand each other. Photo by Sandi Carroll

Living with the Sloans is the not-so-happy Abe Dreyfus, Alice’s curmudgeon father, played by Don Campbell.

The situation is exacerbated when Jerry’s mother, Mildred, played by Harriet Winokur, loses her house in a fire and needs a place to stay. Abe and Mildred can’t stand each other.

The play, directed by Shelly Wawrzonek, is one hilarious confrontation after another until the heartwarming finale. The cast also includes Paul Lavallee, Patti Earl and Bobby Roam.

Reserved seating is available for purchase at the box office by calling 386-423-1246 or by visiting in person. Tickets are $14 for adults, $13 for seniors and $7 for students under 18. The box office, 726 Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach is open week-days 1-4 p.m.

For additional information, visit www.NsbPlayers.org.

Timing the contractions - the baby is coming! Photo by Sandi Carroll

“SQUABBLES” CAST PHOTO BY SANDI CARROLL – back from left, Don Campbell, Paul Lavallee; seated, left to right, Harriet Winokur, Will Bordelon, Jennifer Hyde, Patti Earl; front, Bobby Roam.

All photographs are available for purchase. Text and photographs are subject to copyright protection. No photographs can be reproduced, used for resale, redistribution, or commercial purposes without the express written consent of Sandi Carroll, 116 Hickory St. NSB FL 32168.

“Exit the Body” opens at Little Theatre July 31

The mystery farce “Exit the Body”, by Fred Carmichael, opens July 31 at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, with performances continuing through Aug. 9.

When a mystery writer rents a quiet place in the New England countryside, she finds herself involved in sinister activities. A body she finds in the closet promptly disappears only to be succeeded by another. Mix in a wise-cracking secretary, the housekeeper and her crooked boyfriend, plus a man suffering from amnesia, and mystery and comedy reach a high peak. No one is really who they seem to be. There are plenty of laughs and lots of surprises in this fast paced show!

The cast includes:

LAURIE LAWRENCE as Crane Hammond, mystery novelist
KAREN POULSE as Kate Bixley, Hammond’s sarcastic secretary
META SCHOLAN as Lillian a friend of Miss Hammond
ALYSSA JOELLE MORRIS as Jenny the housekeeper -  or is she?
BRIAN FITZGIBBONS as Randolph, Jenny’s boyfriend, a thief
MELINDA TEDESCHI as Helen O’Toole, a real estate agent or is she?
LARRIE TIFFANY as Vernon Cookley the local sheriff
LEE LUPTON as Richard Hammond, Crane’s husband
MICHEAL FUNARO as Lyle Rogers, Lillian’s new husband
CODY GIGOLD as Philip Smith, a man with amnesia, who is he really?

For ticket information, call the box office at 386-423-1246.

Photographs by Sandi Carroll. No photographs can be reproduced, used for resale, redistribution, or commercial purposes without the express written consent of  Sandi Carroll.

Little Theatre honors actors at Hammy Awards Night

Keith and Karen Poulson as "Desi and Lucy"

Recently, the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach held its annual Hammy Award Night hosted by the comedy team of Karen and Keith Poulsen who did their best Lucy and Desi impersonations at the beginning of the event.

And, the winners of the Hammy Awards for the 2008-2009 season are…

Best Costume – Ruth Stammen and Rose Dingas - Driviing Miss Daisy
Golden Prop – Patti Earl and Terry Dudinsky - Leading Ladies
Best Set Design – John Stenko - Murder Is A Game
Best Sound Design – Bill Cook - Driving Miss Daisy
Best Sound Operator – Bill Cook - Driving Miss Daisy
Best Light Design – John Stenko – Driving Miss Daisy
Best Light Operator - Bill Roehrborn – Driving Miss Daisy

Bill Cook receives the Best Sound award

Shelly Wawrzonek won Best Actress and Best Accent awards

Dottie Hughes won Best Actress in a Small Role (in Christmas Belles) and was honored for directing "Driving Miss Daisy"

Liz Davis won Most Versatile Actress

Jane Taylor, Best Actress, Drama (Driving Miss Daisy)

Mike Funara won best actor in a supporting role, musical

Best Accent, Female – Shelly Wawrzonek – Hide & Shriek
Best Accent, Male – Dan Blazi - Hide & Shriek
Best Actress in a Small Role, Comedy - Dottie Hughes - Christmas Belles
Best Actor in a Small Role, Comedy – Brian Fitzgibbons – Leading Ladies
Best Actress in a Small Role, Musical – Danielle Grau – Red Hot & Cole
Best Actor in a Small Role, Musical – Mark Plinska – Red Hot & Cole
Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy – Danielle Grau – Out Of Order
Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy – Brian Fitzgibbons – Out Of Order
Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy – Don Campbell – And The Winner Is
Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama – Brian Fitzgibbons – Driving Miss Daisy
Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Musical – Paige Elizabeth – Red Hot & Cole
Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Musical – Mike Funaro – Red Hot & Cole
Best Newcomer Actress – Violet Stoll
Best Newcomer, Actor – Mike Funaro
Sexpot, Female – Sarah de la Hoz – And The Winner Is
Sexpot, Male – Chris Nelson – Out Of Order
Meanest Character – Terry Dudinsky - Christmas Belles
Golden Whip – Diane Parent
Best Actress, Musical – Lauretta Lawrence - Red Hot & Cole
Best Actor, Musical – Brian Fitzgibbons – Red Hot & Cole
Best Actress, Drama – Jane Taylor – Driving Miss Daisy
Best Actor, Drama – Lawrence Benjamin – Driving Miss Daisy
Best Actress, Comedy – Shelly Wawrzonek – Hide & Shriek
Best Actor, Comedy – David Lowe – Out Of Order
Most Versatile Actress – Liz Davis
Most Versatile Actor – Zach Goodrich

Walk Like A Man was reprised from a scene from "Out of Order" for the Hammy Awards. David Lowe (left) won Best Actor, comedy; and Brian Fitzgibbons (right) won Best Actor, musical; Best Small Role, comedy; Best Supporting, drama; and Best Supporting, comedy Keith Poulson (center) was co-host of the Hammy Awards.

Honored for directing the 2008-2009 season plays are…

Ted Pack -  Hide & Shriek, Harriet Winokur - Murder Is A Game,
Nancy McCormick - Christmas Belles, John Stenko – Out Of Order and Red Hot & Cole, Jenny Sejansky - Leading Ladies, Dottie Hughes - Driving Miss Daisy, and Brian Fitzgibbons - And The Winner Is

All photographs are available for purchase. Text and photographs are subject to copyright protection. No photographs can be reproduced, used for resale, redistribution, or commercial purposes without the express written consent of Sandi Carroll.

And The Winner Is at Little Theatre

All Photos by Sandi Carroll. All Right Reserved. No reproductioon without authorization by calling 386-428-1084

The Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach will present Mitch Albom’s comedy, And The Winner Is, for two weekends. Performances are May  28, 29, & 30 at 8:00 p.m., and May 24 & 31 at 2:00 p.m.

This hilarious play by the author of Tuesdays with Morrieis about Tyler Johnes, a self-obsessed Hollywood movie star, who is finally nominated for an Oscar but dies the night before the awards. Outraged at his bad luck and determined to know if he wins (even though he’s dead), he bargains with the heavenly gatekeeper, Seamus, an old Irishman, to return to earth for the big night. Along the way, he drags his agent, his acting rival, his bombshell girlfriend and his ex-wife into the journey, in a wildly entertaining tale of Hollywood, the afterlife, and how we are judged.

The cast includes David Lowe as Tyler Johnes,  Don Campbell as Seamus, with Liz Davis as Tyler’s agent (Teddy LaPetite). Valerie Orzel plays Sheri, Tyler’s ex-wife, and Sara de La Hoz is Serenity, the Hollywood bombshell, with Aaron Collins as Tyler’s co-star and rival.

Brian Fitzgibbons is the director and stage manager is Dr. Dale Lilyfors.  John Stenko is the technical director, Rose Dingas will handle costumes, and Danielle Grau props. Ticket prices are $14 adults, $13 seniors (62+), and $7 under 18, and may be purchased at the Little Theatre box office, 726 Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach, between 1-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 386-423-1246 or visit www.NsbPlayers.org.

Driving Miss Daisy

Miss Daisy (Jane Taylor) and Hoke (Lawrence Benjamin) examine a map after getting lost on their way driving from Atlanta to Uncle Walters in Mobile

Photos by Sandi Carroll – no reproduction without permission.

Brian Fitzgibbons (l-r), Jane Taylor and Lawrence Benjamin star in Driving Miss Daisy

Miss Daisy is caught fibbing about Hoke stealing a can of salmon by her son Boolie

Red, Hot, & Cole opens to sold out house at Little Theatre

"Red, Hot, & Cole" opened at the Little Theatre of NSB Feb. 27, to a sold out house, and will have performances through March 13. Pictured are cast members Patti Earl and Mark Plinska (from left), Amy Collins and Mike Funmaro, and Jennifer Hyde and Zachary Goodrich. "Red, Hot, & Cole" is a musical a celebration of the life of Cole Porter as it traces his career from Indiana to world-wide fame. The production features more than 30 Cole Porter standards, including "Night and Day," "I Love Paris," "Just One Of Those Things," Anything Goes," and "In the Still of the Night." John Stenko is the artistic director and Elizabeth Brahm-Kriger is the musical director. For ticket information call, 386-423-1246 or visit www.NsbPlayers.org.

Brian Fitzgibbons and Lauretta Lawrence play Mr. and Mrs. Cole Porter in Red, Hot, & Cole

The cast is ready to entertain you - call for tickets before they are all gone.

“Out of Order” – Jan. 9

NOTE: THIS PRODUCTION IS SO GOOD AND TICKET DEMAND SO HIGH THAT IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED ANOTHER WEEK – SO DON’T MISS IT – CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 423-1246 FOR DETAILS.

The Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach will present “Out of Order” Jan. 9-10, 15-17 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. at 726 Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach. The comedy centers around English Conservative Member of Parliament, Richard Willey, who is attempting to have an affair with one of the secretaries of the leader of the Opposition Party in a top London hotel. He opens the curtains in the room and finds a dead body stuck in the window! Nothing is going to work out like he planned. Cast members are Keith Poulsen (back, left to right), Chris Nelson, Brian Fitzgibbons, Richard Wiley, Larrie Tiffany, Don Campbell, Danielle Grau (seated, l-r) Valerie Brokaw Orzel and Liz Davis. It’s one laugh after another as he tries to hide the body from a conniving waiter, a suspicious hotel manager, an alert private detective, an angry wife, a furious husband, a bungling secretary, and an unconscious nurse. The talented cast delivers laughs that never stop. For ticket information, call the box office at (386) 423-1246 or visit www.NsbPlayers.org.

Cast shots of "Out of Order" at Little Theatre by Sandi Carroll

Christmas Belles at Little Theatre

Scenes from Christmas Belles at the Little Theatre

The Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach will present the holiday comedy “Christmas Belles,” Dec. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. at 726 Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach. The play is a holiday journey into the small town of Fayro, Texas, as the Futrelle sister attempt to present the annual Christmas program at the Tabernacle of the Lamb Church in spite of chaos and squabbling. For Little Theatre ticket information call (386) 423-1246.