THE SCOOP - May 2017

Volume 2, Issue 5 May 2017

Ethan Russell Legendary Rock and Roll Photographer

issue THE SCOOP

IN THIS

Songs for a New World The Beach Boys The Miracles

Don't Tell Nonnie Ethan Russell

The Sharon Schedule Victory Productions Staff Spotlight Backstage at The Sharon

A Word From

Volume 2, Issue 5 | May 2017

WHITNEY

Whitney Morse, Artistic Director, The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Time sure does fly, doesn’t it? It seems like only yesterday I was getting ready to walk out on to The Studio stage for the first time as we were opening our inaugural production. I can hardly believe that in six short months we opened our brand new venue and produced four very different theatre pieces. In Next To Normal we took you into the house where Bi-Polar Disorder wreaks havoc on the lives of Diana and her family. We traveled to France and back in time about 80 years in Private Lives, where we showed how silly we can be when we fight tooth and nail for love. Then, we took an even closer look at romantic relationships and how they fall apart in The Last Five Years. And now, by the time you are reading this, we will have closed our last show in our very first season: Proof. It examined the fine line between brilliance and insanity, and how both can be bred in our DNA. In our first season we sold close to 11,000 tickets, sold out our subscriptions in less than three hours, added a total of nine performances across the season to meet demand, and have received applause in 109 curtain calls to happy fans. All-in-all, I’d call that a success! Now, we are ramping up for season two! It will be announced in a matter of days on May 10th. So, keep your eye on our website and The Daily Sun, and you’ll be in the know. Happy May!

Backstage at The Studio The Sharon Performing Arts Academy On Sale Now!

$20 ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST ANNUAL SUMMER CONCERT AUG. 13th - AUG. 29th Only 9 Performances | 7pm

Every summer enjoy a new song cycle featuring new and familiar voices.

MISSED THE INAUGURAL SEASON? Season 2 of The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol is around the corner!

The four productions that will make up the 2017-2018 season will be officially announced on May 10th.

For Season Subscriptions:

· Current Subscribers will have from May 16th until Sept 5th to

Renew their Season Subscriptions!

· May 16th - Renewals will go on sale at 8:30am

· Sept 5th - Deadline to Renew Subscriptions

· Sept 12th - New Subscriptions will go on sale at 8:30am *There will be a limited number of new subscriptions available* For Tickets:

· Sept 19th - Individual Tickets will go on sale at 8:30am

· Available at any of The Villages Box Offices or online

Visit www.TheSharonStudio.com for more details.

Follow Us!

Facebook Twitter (@thesharonstudio) Instagram (@thestudiotheatretds)

Tickets On Sale This Summer!

The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol 806 San Marino Drive, The Villages, FL 32159 www.TheSharonStudio.com | (352) 751-7799 #TheStudioTheatreTDS

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Songs for a New World

The first offering in our new Summer Song Cycle Series!

What is a Song Cycle?

A Song Cycle is a group, or cycle, of individually complete songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a unit.

In this particular Song Cycle:

The show sits on the boundary between musical and song cycle, but it is neither; it is an abstract musical, a series of songs all connected by a theme: "the moment of decision." The show employs four performers who do not literally play the same characters throughout the show but who do have consistently developing character arcs nonetheless. Composer Jason Robert Brown has said of his show, "It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back."

What’s the history of this Song Cycle?

This was Jason Robert Brown's (Author of The Last Five Years) first produced show, originally produced Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1995. Brown and director Daisy Prince put together songs he had written for other venues and events, resulting in "neither musical play nor revue, it is closer to a theatrical song cycle, a very theatrical song cycle."

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Songs for a New World | Cast Whitney Morse

In The Studio Theatre's inaugural season, Whitney Morse has played the roles of Diana in Next to Normal, Cathy in The Last Five Years, and Claire in Proof, she is also The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol's Artistic Director. Morse's Central Florida Theatre credits include The Science Play Festival's reading of Arcadia, The Secret Garden, and 1776 (Mad Cow Theatre.) Her recent Chicago credits include Next To Normal (Skokie Theatre), Other Desert Cities (Citadel Theatre), The Children's Hour (Pride Films and Plays), Spike Heels (Brown Paper Box), Down Range (Genesis Theatricals), Trafford Tanzi and I Carry Your Heart (Prologue Theatre Company), Accomplice (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center), The Turn of the Screw, Jeeves at Sea, Unnecessary Farce and The Merchant of Venice (First Folio Theater), and Little Women (Theatre-Hikes). New York credits: Hold Music (Culture Project,) and Love's Labour's Lost and Three Sister's (both directed by Andrei Serban.) Whitney is also the Artistic Director of The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. BA Psychology - Rollins College, MFA Acting - Columbia University School of the Arts. www.whitneymorse.com

Allyssa Yost

Allyssa is thrilled to be making her debut at The Studio Theater! A native of the Central Florida area, she has been performing around the state for years.

She was last seen at The Winter Park Playhouse in their sold out run of Why Do Fools Fall In Love? Favorite roles include: The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show, and Heather Duke in Heathers (Florida Premiere). She can be seen daily entertaining audiences at Walt Disney World in Finding Nemo: The Musical as well as singing and dancing with Celestina Warbeck and The Banshees at Universal Studios' Diagon Alley.

BFA Musical Theatre from University of Central Florida.

A l l yssa Yost

Fernando Varela

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fernando moved to Florida at the age of eight, and while he always loved music it was not until he was seventeen that he discovered the impressive talent he had within him. With no formal training, Fernando sang for a university music panel out of high school and was presented with the barrier of doubt and adversity. His performance resulted in the professor’s laughing and telling Fernando “Don’t quit your day job, music is not for you.” Fernando turned doubt and disbelief from others into a fierce drive to succeed. He quit his day job at a successful financial firm and set out to achieve his dream. With more than a decade of hard work and dedication, he transformed into one of the most captivating tenors in the world today.

Josh Kimball

Josh Kimball is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale with his BFA in Musical Theatre. Josh has been working in theatre all his life, beginning at the age of 5 and performing in shows ever since. Recent works have been Playlist Singer on the Carnival Ecstasy and Triumph, Henry in Next to Normal (The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol), a live entertainment performer in The Rockin' Country show and Spooky Shenani-gans (Cedar Point Theme Park), Mark in Rent (SIU), and Bob Wallace in White Christmas (SIU).

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MAY 12TH • 5 & 8PM • $20-$95

Back by popular demand!

You can capsulize most pop music acts by reciting how many hits they’ve had and how many millions of albums they’ve sold. But these conventional measurements fall short when you’re assessing the impact of The Beach Boys. To be sure, this band has birthed a torrent of hit singles and sold albums by the tens of millions. But its greater significance lies in the fact that it changed the musical landscape so profoundly that every pop act since has been in its debt.

Happily for us all, The Beach Boys continue to create and perform with the same bold imagination and style that marked their explosive debut over 50 years ago. And now with their Capitol Records release, Sounds of Summer (RIAA certified triple platinum with over three million in sales and climbing), and it’s companion The Warmth of the Sun marks a resurgence in Beach Boys interest that has again rocked the world.

In addition to founding Beach Boy Mike Love (lead vocals) and Beach Boy-vet Bruce Johnston (vocals/keyboards)—Jeffrey Foskett (guitar/vocals), Brian Eichenburger (bass/vocals), Tim Bonhomme (keyboards/vocals), John Cowsill of The Cowsills (percussion /vocals) and Scott Totten (guitar/vocals) round out the band.

Only a few tickets left!

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The Miracles timeless music gained popularity through movie soundtracks such as “The Big Chill,” “Platoon,” and “Donnie Brasco.”

In February 1997, they received the “Pioneer Award” from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and a star was placed on the Hollywood Boulevard "Walk of Fame." Recently they were voted Detroit’s first Motown group to be commemorated on its "Walk of Fame."

MAY 31ST • 5 & 8PM • $20-$65

After 40 years, The Miracles are still attracting enthusiastic audiences around the world.

Motown’s first of many famous groups — such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Commodores, and The Jackson Five —The Miracles were the very first group to sign to Motown records. They continue to keep the Motown sound alive by performing songs, such as: “Shop Around,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Tears Of A Clown,” “Love Machine,” “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me,” “The Tracks Of My Tears,” “Ooh Baby Baby,” and many more.

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Come sing with us!

May 16th, 2017 Show Time: 7:30pm to 10:30pm (arrive and exit at any time) Doors Open at 7:00pm Bring sheet music or peruse our collection, sing a song and cheer for your friends, and in between Whitney Morse and Gary Powell will perform some of their favorite cabaret numbers.

Cost is $15 which includes a free drink at the bar.

Guests are to bring their own sheet music in their key (or choose a song from Gary's selections) and sing in the lobby while accompanied by Gary.

Everyone is welcome to get their chance in the spotlight or just come and be entertained.

This show, Whitney will also be singing a sneak peak from Songs for a New World!

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Try the Signature Dri nk: The Nonnie Sour

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JUNE 3RD • 7PM • $20-$40

Ethan Russell The Best Seat in the House

Who is Ethan Russell?

One day Ethan Russell was an American tourist with a camera — the next he was shooting Mick Jagger in London, 1968.

From his first shoot of Mick Jagger, for a 1968 cover for Rolling Stone magazine, to the final performance and very last pictures of The Beatles together, high atop Apple Records, Ethan is the only photographer to do an album cover for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who. While Ethan wrote three books exploring those years, he now performs in front of a live audience to recount his “ride,” and what it was really like to be there, beyond the lens.

an “We trusted Ethan as artist, which made him ch invisible to us, and whi phs to allowed his photogra ate capture our most intim gger moments.” — Mick Ja

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What is the Best Seat in the House?

Russell will relive his eclectic journey through an extraordinary evening of stories, music and photographs during his live, multi-media event, The Best Seat in the House.

This is a rare opportunity to hear from someone who witnessed and recorded music history in the making. Ethan’s selected images fill a screen, supported by music and his personal, behind-the-scenes stories which ensure audiences leave feeling like they were there, too.

Ethan takes you behind-the-scenes and guides you through two tumultuous decades of shooting musical legends. The Best Seat in the House is accompanied by a gallery showing of his work (inside The Sharon’s Lobby) and Ethan is present to sign prints available for purchase.

es with this n e c s e th d in h e b Go pher! ra g to o h p k c ro ry legenda

“Ethan Russell has taken some of the greatest pictures in rock ‘n roll... maybe the greatest ever.” — Bill Wyman, Rol ling Stone

EthanRussell.com Photo courtesy of © 2017 ETHAN RUSSELL PHO TOGRAPHS.

© 2017 ETHAN RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHS.

“It struck me that his was no ordinary eye, and I found out no ordinary mind behind it. A quiet thoughtful man with a blinding vision. Enjoy his work. I do.” — Keith Richards

RAPHS. © 2017 ETHAN RUSSELL PHOTOG

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THE SHARON SCHEDULE

The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol 806 San Marino Drive, The Villages, FL 32159 www.TheSharonStudio.com | (352) 751-7799 #TheStudioTheatreTDS

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THE STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Stephanie Marie Horn

Customer Relations Liaison at The Sharon® Stephanie Marie Horn is an imaginative soul from Johnson City, Tennessee. She was home-schooled until 8th Grade and has lived in North Carolina, Tennessee, and sunny Florida multiple times. A huge book and movie buff, Stephanie will drop everything and anything to have a discussion about Harry Potter, Disney, or a multitude of other topics. Since she was fourteen, Stephanie has been part of a theatre whether it was at her school or in the community. She operates as an actress, a singer when her voice will cooperate with her, and a dancer. In her free time, she writes stories, plays piano, dabbles in bodypainting, teaches herself how to do special effects makeup and creates props and creatures from movies.

What is Your Role at The Sharon®?

My role is Customer Relations Liaison. It’s my job to ensure positive interactions with guests that visit our facility whether it be by helping them purchase tickets, getting them signed up for a tour, explaining to them the type of shows we have coming up, and helping them find the right seats that they will need to enjoy the show. It’s so great to be able to do this for people, I love the theatre with every fiber of my being and it’s a joy to ensure that others get to experience the magic that I do on a daily basis.

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What is your background and what got you started in theatre?

I always loved pretending to be someone else and telling a story ever since I was young. Sophomore year of High-School I started taking classes from a local theatre in Sarasota, Florida, before moving to Johnson City, TN. After the move, I became part of the Forensic Acting Team at my high school that traveled across the state of TN competing in different competitions as well as taking part in the school productions, being a singer in the Women's Choir, and getting involved with a local ballet company, working both backstage and onstage with them. Once I graduated, I acted in a couple of shows at a community theatre before moving to Florida to pursue even more theatre fun.

What has been your favorite experience so far at The Sharon®?

My favorite so far has definitely been being able to see Styx in concert. They were amazing, and I feel like that's a once in a lifetime experience for me. Styx just blew me away. Even watching everyone in the theatre go absolutely wild was thrilling. It was a very different Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center I was in, and it was an experience I will never forget.

What's your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is getting to interact with everyone, meet new faces, and make patron’s days brighter by helping them out and giving them the answers they need. It's also amazing to work with the fantastic team of people that make The Sharon live and breathe. Just being in the atmosphere and being part of such a lovely community both in and out of the theatre is spectacular.

Do you have any fantastic stories of working with a patron that you'd like to share?

One of my favorite things to do is return lost items back to patrons. Once I returned a hat to a man after I finished with my work. There was no one in line, and he stood at the box office window and told me his story behind his hat along with the luck and good fortune he was having that day. To hear how grateful he was to be living life in such a positive way was an amazing story to hear. I often have patrons who want to tell me their stories, and I LOVE to listen to them if I have the time. Most of them have always been very respectful of my work, always pausing their stories, then stepping out of the way if I need to help a patron that has just walked up. It's always a very magical and insightful moment.

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BACKSTAGE AT THE SHARON 15

Women Fly Fishers enjoy a backstage tour* of The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center Given support from the late Oscar Feliu towards the creation of the Women Fly Fishers of The Villages® club and his pivotal role in bringing The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center into being, a life enriching backstage tour for members and their guests was enjoyed on April 20, 2017. Some of the club member's favorite Sharon shows include: The Illusionist, Rick Thomas, Johnny Mathis, and The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra.

Members have also enjoyed performances at The Studio Theatre™.

Tour was hosted by Yasmeen Stogden, Director of Customer Relations

The Women Fly Fishers of The Villages club was founded in June of 2014 for the sole purpose of educating women on the sport of fly fishing. The club provides programs on fly fishing as well as fly fishing related outings and meets the third Thursday of the month (with the exception of June, July & August) at the Canal Recreation Center. The most common comment from new members is, “I have always wanted to learn how to fly fish but never had the time or opportunity. Now that I am retired, I have the time and the club provides the opportunity!”

*With such a high demand for tours, they are scheduled months in advance. Please feel free to tour The Sharon from the comfort of your own home. There are three Virtual Tours on www.TheSharon.com (including a backstage tour!) as well as a personal video tour with our Director of Education, Trevin Cooper.

Cast of Proof with Director Trevin Cooper

Proof ran the month of April for 21 performances.

This was the fourth and final production of the inaugural season‌and what a first season it was!

All four productions sold out every single performance.

The crew is looking forward to Season 2 and our summer offerings!

High Praise

Director Trevin Cooper & Producer Jason Goedken

"It’s obvious every element of this theater has been laid out with skill and complete professionalism. The only thing missing from a Broadway performance was walking out into the neon glare of Times Square." - Leigh Neely, Akers Media Read more of this outstanding Review here on Lake & Sumter Style...

BACKSTAGE AT THE STUDIO

Proof that the cast and crew enjoyed each other and this first season at The Studio!

Whitney Morse, Trevin Cooper & Jill Jones

in Cooper n Goedken & Trev

Gary Powell, Jaso

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FREE professional photography* available in The Sharon® Lobby! * For select shows

Look for the photographer at your next show.

Download & Share It

#TheSharon

© 2017 The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. All Rights Reserved.

Theatres of The Villages

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The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center has a mission to provide quality entertainment to The VillagesÂŽ and its surrounding communities. www.TheSharon.com #TheSharon

Our mission is to inspire the residents of Central Florida to examine relevant issues by elevating them through innovative and intimate storytelling. Think outside the box, inside the box at The Studio Theatre. www.TheSharonStudio.com #TheStudioTheatreTDS Š 2017 The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. Prices and availability subject to change without notice.