THE SCOOP - Aug 2023

THE SCOOP

The Village Philharmonic Orchestra

Jon Lehrer

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Cimarŕon

International & Broadway Subscriptions

Changemaker Speaker Series

Omnium Circus

Piaf! The Show

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Season 8

QUIRKY INTERVIEWS WITH A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE SHARON & THE STUDIO THEATRES!

Tenor In Love

STARRING ALEC SPEERS

JOIN US AT THE SHARON LOBBY LOUNGE FOR A NIGHT OF LOVE SONGS & ROMANCE!

Gary Powell, Music Director, will be accompanying Alec Speers on the piano as he shares with us a selection of his favorite songs of love and devotion. Between Alec Speers' perfectly crafted Tenor voice, and Gary Powell's passion for the keys, the stage is set to be a memorable evening celebrating some of the greatest love songs of our time.

SEP 25 7PM $20

Lobby Lounge Open Mic Piano Bar

HOSTED BY WHITNEY MORSE

JOIN US AT THE SHARON LOBBY LOUNGE FOR A NIGHT OF OPEN MIC!

Hosted by Whitney Morse, this Open Mic Night is open to all singers. Gary Powell, Music Director, will be your accompanist on the piano. Feel free to bring your own sheet music or peruse our collection to find your favorite song! Sing a song and cheer for your friends. In between numbers & cocktail refills, Whitney Morse & Gary Powell will perform some of their favorite cabaret numbers.

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION POPS

GUEST ARTISTS:

Marcella Richardson

Norman Lee Schaffer

Sean Christopher Stork

Clark Barrios

23/24 SEASON

SEPT 3 - MAY 6

CHOOSE AT LEAST 4 SHOWS & GET 10% OFF GET ALL 9 SHOWS & GET 15% OFF

PASQUALE VALERIO, MAESTRO

BASED IN FLORIDA'S FRIENDLIEST HOMETOWN, "THE VILLAGES PHILHARMONIC" IS A PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA PRESENTING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSICAL PERFORMANCE SINCE 2003.

Most members live in the Orlando area but we have regular members who come from as far afield as Jacksonville, Tampa, Daytona and St. Petersburg. The Philharmonic gives 13-15 concerts per year and so we don't provide full time employment for any of the players. Our players are comprised of resident and international artists who collaborate with symphonic and operatic companies at large. Although most orchestra members are not Villagers, there are two professional orchestra members who are Village residents and there are six amateurs who train each Saturday so that they can meet the standards required to play with the Philharmonic.

JON LEHRER started his company in 2007 in Buffalo, NY, and officially moved the company to NYC in 2019. In their short history, Jon Lehrer Dance has received much critical acclaim nationally and internationally. Under his artistic direction, the company showcases Jon's unique choreography and embodies his definitive style. His extensive background in both the modern and jazz dance idioms fosters choreography that is organic, artistic, accessible, and often humorous, reflecting life experience and the human condition.

The company's expressive style is based on three main elements of movement - Circularity, 3-Dimensionality, and Momentum - which combine to create a form that is best described as "Organically Athletic." Integrating the approach and fluidity of modern dance and the excitement and energy of jazz dance, Jon Lehrer Dance offers a captivating style of movement. The Chicago Tribune writes, "A small enviable team of dynamite dancers." Jon and his dancers bring their own unique skills to the vernacular, keeping it fresh and ever-evolving.

JOIN THE ORIGINAL 'BRAD MAJORS'BARRY BOSTWICK - for a screening of the original unedited movie with a live shadow cast and audience participation! Plus a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, and more! Want to participate in the fun? Prop bags will be sold in the lobby before the show!

Get exclusive tickets to the V.I.P. Meet & Greet to meet Barry Bostwick himself, have a personal photo opportunity, & get an autograph.

SHADOW CAST: THE RICH WEIRDOS

We are Orlando’s Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast! We have been active since 2002 and we take great pride in being one of the most memorable casts you’ll ever see perform Rocky.

This Grammy-nominated six-piece delivers an extraordinary blend of its Andalusian, Indigenous and African roots, with a raw ethnic singing, percussive stomp dancing and rapidfire strings.

CIMARRÓN is considered by Forbes magazine as "the band that takes the music from the Orinoco River Plains across the world". This Grammy-nominated sixpiece (Best Traditional World Music Album) delivers an extraordinary blend of its Andalusian, Indigenous and African roots, with a raw ethnic singing, percussive stomp dancing and rapidfire strings. Around 40 countries of 5 continents have ovationated Cimarrón show in main folk and global music festivals such as Mawazine Festival in Morocco, Malaysia Rainforest World Music Festival, Switzerland Paléo Festival, Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Rudolstadt Festival, Globaltica Festival, Abu Dhabi Culture & Heritage Festival, Førde International Folk Music Festival, Flamenco Biennale Nederland, Newport Folk Festival, San Francisco International Arts Festival and worldwide renowned performing art centers such as Japan Musashino Concert Hall and China National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Their energetic and infectious music includes harp, four-stringed cuatro, guitar-like tiple and bandola, maracas, Afro-Peruvian cajón, Brazilian surdo, Afro Colombian tambora, ancient deer-skull whistles from the Orinoco River, the Amazonian Manguaré and all the power of the stomp dance of the rustic parties in Los Llanos (Colombian and Venezuelan Plains).

SAVE WHEN YOU BUY ALL 3!

Our Speakers are the dreamers, builders, makers, problem solvers and wizards among us. These changemakers share insights about the world around us, help us move forward thoughtfully, strive to solve big problems, bridge the distance between us, and lift us up, one story at a time.

OMNIUM: A BOLD NEW CIRCUS is a visionary not-for-profit organization bringing together a completely diverse cast of extraordinary talent from all over the globe… uniquely unified, multitalented, multi-racial, and multi-abled, our stars transport audiences into a world of jaw dropping spectacle and wonder, inspiring them with extraordinary feats of human accomplishment and the astounding potential of the human spirit.

We celebrate our diversity and create joy and laughter enriching empathy among all people and inspiring healthier communities through shared positive experiences.

Humanity, love and laughter unite us all in celebration of our unique stories.

Omnium is specially designed to bring together people of all abilities to enjoy the experience in whatever way works best for them. We do our best to make ourselves as accessible to as many as possible and are proud to be known as a truly inclusive circus.

Starring by the internationally acclaimed NATHALIE LERMITTE

WITH A MILLION TICKETS SOLD in more than 50 countries and acclaimed reviews worldwide PIAF! THE SHOW a musical celebration of the life and music of the legendary French chanteuse EDITH PIAF returns to North America as part of the extended world tour.

Conceived and directed by the Nice-based theatrical maverick Gil Marsalla and starring Nathalie Lermitte, a French performer hailed as "Edith Piaf's legitimate musical heiress" PIAF! THE SHOW premiered in 2015 as a tribute to "The Swallow of Montmartre" on the centennial on her birthday and was inspired by the award-winning movie La Vie En Rose. In two 45-minutes acts, the show narrates the rags-to-riches story of the Parisian singer's career through her unforgettable songs, complemented by a visual tapestry of previously unreleased photographs and images of famous Parisian locations of the Edith Piaf era.

Vacation Starring

Canter O'May -asWilliam Barfee

Anneliese Moon -asMarcy Park

Easton J. Curtis -asLeaf Conneybear, Carl's Dad

Joel Hunt -asChip Tolentino, Jesus

Kristin Yates -asLogainne Schwartzandgrubenniere

Rachel Hope Ihasz -asOlive Ostrovsky

Antoinette Holman-Nebinger -asRona Lisa Perretti, Olive's Mom

Mark Kirschenbaum -asVice Principal Douglas Panch

Nathaniel Niemi Director

Russell Stephens -as- Mitch Mahoney, Dan's Dad, Olive's Dad

Gary Powell Musical Director

SEASON 8

We all know that innate feeling in the pit of our stomach that cries “caution.” Do you ignore that feeling or investigate it? Sometimes the warning signs are crying out to be heard, but we ignore them fearing the ramifications. So how do you choose the right path? Do you bury your head in the sand? Or do you stand tall and illuminate the shadows? We have chosen four shows that shine light on this timeless battle of either listening to or ignoring your instincts. As the famous song from this season’s musical Cabaret asks, “With time rushing by, what would you do?” I am excited to present season 8 at The Studio: Trust Your Instincts.

Whitney Morse – Artistic Director

SEASON 8

Previews: SEP 26-28

Opening: SEP 29

Closing: OCT 21

$20 Preview Performance

$35 Performances

ANGEL STREET

By Patrick Hamilton

The original psychological thriller. Meet the Manningham’s a well to do couple living on Angel Street in 1880’s fog-bound London. Jack is a charming and seemingly doting husband to Bella, but something sinister looms under the facade. Bella Manningham is on edge. She hears footsteps in the night; pictures are moving by themselves, and the gaslights dim without even a touch. Her husband is constantly disappearing. He tells her she is “mad,” and she starts to believe him. As her grip on reality begins to slip, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery, most foul. This gripping thriller first opened on The West End in 1938 and upon its transfer to New York City became one of the longest running plays on Broadway. It was so popular that it originated the term gaslighting: a form of psychological manipulation where a person tries to make their victim question their own memory, perception, and sanity. Join us for one of the most brilliant and suspenseful pieces of modern theatre: Angel Street, where murder and mystery loom in the air.

Previews: NOV 14-16

Opening: NOV 17

Closing: DEC 16

$20 Preview Performance

$35 Performances

CRY IT OUT

By Molly Smith Metzler

A hilarious comedy about the absurdities of motherhood. Jessie is Ivy League-educated and a prestigious lawyer; Lina has a night-school nursing degree and terrible credit—but they have one huge thing in common: they’ve been cracked open by the love they feel for their newborns. The two new moms have agreed to meet for a naptime coffee in their adjoining yards where both their baby monitors get reception. A fast unlikely friendship is born over the trials and tribulations of new motherhood. Reluctantly, the duo becomes a trio when an ultra-wealthy neighbor asks if his wife, Adrienne, can join them. Afterall, she is another new mom who is “having a hard time.” But how could a woman from Sands Point, one of the most expensive Great Gatsby-esque neighborhoods in the whole country, possibly be “having a hard time”? In this laugh out loud comedy with dark edges, Cry It Out takes an honest look at the complexities of parenthood, the power of female friendship, the dilemma of going back to work, and the effects of class disparity on motherhood in America.

SEASON 8

Previews: Jan 30-FEB1

Opening: FEB 2

Closing: MAR 2

$25 Preview Performance

$45 Performances

CABARET

Book by Joe Masteroff, Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, Music by John Kander, Lyrics Fred Ebb

In here, life is beautiful.

“Willkommen” to Kander and Ebb’s iconic musical Cabaret, which transports us to the seedy underbelly of 1931 Berlin and the dynamic, dark, and hedonistic Kit Kat Klub. As Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich, the Klub’s entertainers and patrons must decide if they’ll wake up to the evil just outside the stage door or continue to escape to the alluring sexually liberated fantasy world of the Kit Kat Klub. Since its debut in 1967, this classic musical has won countless awards, including the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Revival of a Musical. This hit-maker is full of vibrant and beloved songs like “Willkommen,” “Maybe This Time,” “Money,” “Don’t Tell Mama,”and, the titular “Cabaret.”

Previews: MAR 26-28

Opening: MAR 29

Closing: APR 27

$20 Preview Performance

$35 Performances

THE ROOMMATE

By Jen Silverman

An off-beat comedy about an even odder couple. With a recent divorce and her son living across the country, 50-something Sharon posts a listing for a roommate to fill the empty space of her Iowa home. Enter Robyn also in her mid-fifties, a fascinating woman who needs a place to hide and the chance to start over. Sharon is Walmart and white bread, book clubs, and leaving your door unlocked. Robyn is black leather boots, a motorcycle jacket, and cigarettes she’s trying to quit. When Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to abandon her comfort zone and live a life of danger and adventure. Come along for this wild ride of a comedy that can only be described as The Odd Couple meets Breaking Bad . The Roommate cleverly navigates the rocky roads of change and hilariously examines what happens when the wheels come off.

who WE ARE & what WE DO

SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES THE SHARON L. MORSE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (THE SHARON) AND THE STUDIO THEATRE TIERRA DEL SOL (THE STUDIO).

OUR MISSION AT THE SHARON IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT TO THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY. WE HOST SHOWS THAT RANGE FROM BROADWAY MUSICALS TO CONTEMPORARY DANCE ON THE SHARON STAGE. IN THE PAST WE HAVE FEATURED COMEDIANS, BANDS, BALLET, ORCHESTRAS, SPECTACLE SHOWS, PLAYS, CHILDREN’S PROGRAMING, HOLIDAY SHOWS, AND INTERNATIONAL ACTS OF ALL SORTS.

AT THE STUDIO WE TAKE ON ALL THE ASPECTS OF PRODUCING A SHOW. WE START WITH OUR INCLUSIVE SCRIPT SELECTION PROCESS. ANY STAFF MEMBER AT ANY LEVEL CAN BE A PART OF SELECTING THE UPCOMING SEASON. THIS PROCESS HAPPENS ABOUT 1 ½ -2 YEARS BEFORE THE AUDIENCE TAKES THEIR SEATS. AFTER WE HAVE CHOSEN THE SEASON, WE START THE WORK OF HIRING ALL OF THE ACTORS, DESIGNERS, AND DIRECTORS FOR EACH SHOW. DESIGNS ARE DRAWN UP AND APPROVED FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE PRODUCTION FROM PROPS, SETS, COSTUMES, AND AUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENTS. AFTER ALL DESIGNS ARE APPROVED, WE START WORK ON BUILDING OR CREATING EACH ELEMENT TO REALIZE THE VISION OF OUR TEAM OF DESIGNERS AND ARTISTIC OVERSIGHT STAFF.

THE ARTISTIC WORKS OF SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS ARE THE BYPRODUCT OF OUR DEDICATION TO CREATING A TEAM OF EARLY TO MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS AND TRAINING/GUIDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THE THEATRE INDUSTRY. OUR GOAL IS TO SHOW THEM A WAY TO MAKE THEATRE THAT FOCUSES ON THE NEEDS AND INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH EMPLOYEE. WE WILL ALWAYS BE STRIVING FOR A BETTER CULTURE AND WORKING TO CHANGE THE INDUSTRY FOR THE BETTER FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

IT IS OUR DREAM AT SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS TO HELP GUIDE OUR EMPLOYEES TO NOT ONLY CREATE QUALITY ART AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA BUT ALSO TO TAKE THE LESSONS THEY LEARN WITH US TO THE NEXT STOP ON THEIR JOURNEY. WE HOPE TO MAKE CHANGE IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR THE BETTER BY NURTURING EACH INDIVIDUAL WE HAVE THE HONOR TO EMPLOY SIGNIFICANTPRODUCTIONS.ORG

STUDENT DISCOUNT $10 OFF

You read that right! The Studio™ Theatre now offers Student Discounts!

Just present your valid Student ID at any of The Villages Box Offices and you get tickets at a discount. $35 Musicals & $25 Plays

ADVERTISE with us

Increase your visibility by marketing your message to The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center’s local, engaged audience, as well as advertise in The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol’s Programs and our monthly Digital Newsletter, The Scoop!

For information on prices, ad sizes, and availability, please email us at marketing@significantproductions.org.

Shhh...

Significant Productions is a Not-for-Profit Arts organization that operates The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center (The Sharon) and The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol (The Studio).

SignificantProductions.org #SigPro marketing@significantproductions.org

1000 Main Street, Suite 208, The Villages, FL 32159

The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center has a mission to curate and present a variety of world-class performing arts in order to enrich the cultural offerings of The Villages® and surrounding communities.

TheSharon.com |

#TheSharon

1051 Main Street, The Villages, FL 32159

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™.

TheSharonStudio.com |

#TheStudioTheatreTDS

806 San Marino Dr, The Villages, FL 32159