Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts: 2020-2021 Season

2020/21

SEASON

COLUMBIA THEATRE SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY H A M M O N D, L O U I S I A N A

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Director 2 Mainstage Calendar 3 Mainstage Performances 4–23 Columbia Famous Talent Show 24 Southeastern/Community Performances 25 Contributors 26–27

CONTACT INFORMATION 985-543-4371 COLUMBIATHEATRE.ORG FOLLOW US Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @columbiatheatre Columbia Theatre, downtown Hammond 220 E. Thomas St. Hammond, LA, 70401

Dear Columbia Theatre Patrons, For years, those who have worked behind the scenes at the Columbia Theatre have nicknamed it, “The Dream Factory.” We think it is only fitting that our 2020–2021 season reflects the magic, vibrancy and imagination this name implies. The Columbia Theatre is proud to present to you a season the likes of which Hammond has never seen before.

The most exciting new aspect of this season is a little something we’re calling Columbia Originals: three productions produced by the Columbia Theatre and featuring the incredible talents of community members. The first of these is Murder on the Marquee, our exclusive, original, interactive murder mystery dinner theatre produced in partnership with One Thirteen restaurant. The second is the world premiere of Alice’s Christmas in Wonderland, written exclusively for our theatre and the children in our community. Our final Columbia Original, The Wizard of Oz, will be my first opportunity to direct a production at this incredible playhouse.

This season also features our new season ticket package that allows you the flexibility to choose the performances you want to see. Pick any five or more shows, and you will receive a 10% price reduction over single ticket pricing and same seat selection for each performance.

The Columbia Theatre and Southeastern Louisiana University are committed to creating a safe environment for our patrons and artists to come together in celebration of the arts. When we open our doors to the public, social distancing measures will be in place, our air conditioning system will feature ionized filtration units, and the entire facility will be thoroughly sanitized before and after all public events at the theatre. With this in mind, please take into account the need for all of us to be a little flexible this season. Some aspects of your visit to the theatre may be slightly different due to social distancing guidelines, and there remains the chance that some programming may need to be rescheduled, but our goal is to present our entire season even if specific performance dates change.

The past several months have posed incredible challenges to all of us, but the performing arts are as old as mankind and have weathered every storm we have. This will be no different. Now more than ever, we need the arts as a way to overcome isolation and to celebrate the shared human experience. I’ll see you at the theatre. If you aren’t quite ready to join us yet, your Columbia family will be waiting for you with warm smiles (or entertaining masks) when you return.

Jim Winter Artistic Director Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts

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MAINSTAGE AT–A–GLANCE CALENDAR

Season ticket packages: Choose five or more shows to receive a 10% price reduction over single ticket pricing and same seat selection for each performance. Excludes Murder on the Marquee.

Aliens, Immigrants and October 3, 7:30 p.m.

Other Evildoers $25 Adults, $15 Students The Rocky Horror Picture Show

October 8–9, 9 p.m. $20 VIP, $15 Adults/Students

Alice’s Christmas in Wonderland

November 14–15, 2 p.m. $20 Adults, $15 Students

The Nutcracker December 11–12, 7 p.m.

December 13, 2 p.m.

$29 Adults, $15 Students The Purple Xperience

January 30, 7:30 p.m. $40 Adults, $20 Students

Flowers for Halie

February 20, 7:30 p.m. $25 Adults, $15 Students

Sonic Butterfly

February 26, 7:30 p.m. $30 Adults, $15 Students

The Wizard of Oz

March 11–13, 7:30 p.m. $29 Adults, $15 Students

Murder on the Marquee: A Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

April 15–17, 7:30 p.m. $100 General Admission

One-Man Stranger Things April 24, 7:30 p.m.

$25 Adults, $15 Students

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Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers In partnership with the Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery, Columbia Theatre is proud to welcome our special Fanfare guest: award-winning New Orleans performance artist José Torres-Tama and his highly theatrical, one-man, sci-fi Latino noir. His three-day residency with us also includes community outreach and master classes.

“José Torres-Tama is a performance artist of the highest caliber.” — Theatre News LA “…timely, intelligent, heart-wrenching, thoughtprovoking, and quite funny.” — The Theatre Times

October 3, 7:30 p.m. $25 Adults, $15 Students

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The

Rocky horror picture show Don’t dream it. Be it. Fanfare at the Columbia continues with two screenings of this cult classic featuring a shadow cast, costume contest and…more, more, more. VIP tickets include a throw bag filled with all the interactive props you need and a surprise from our shadow cast!

“Great Scott!” ­— Brad “You’re lucky, he’s lucky, I’m lucky, we’re all lucky!” — Magenta

October 8–9, 9 p.m. $20 VIP, $15 Adults/Students

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•

TOMMY JAMERSON’S

Alice's

•

Christmas Wonderland IN

A Columbia Original! Follow us down the rabbit hole for the world premiere of award-winning playwright Tommy Jamerson’s latest play, written specifically for the Columbia Theatre and the talented children from our community who will be in the cast. Directed by Southeastern Louisiana University alumna Chelsea Krause and featuring costumes by New Orleans Fashion Week designer Aaron Michael.

November 14–15, 2 p.m. $20 Adults, $15 Students

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Nutcracker The

H AMMOND BALLET COMPANY

THE NUTC

H AMMOND BALLET CO Featuring the combined talents of professionals and all-star locals, the Hammond Ballet Company brings their timeless classic home to the Columbia just in time for the holidays.

December 11–12, 7 p.m. • December 13, 2 p.m. $29 Adults, $15 Students

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CRACKER

OMPANY

THE

PURPLE XPERIENCE Put on your purple and kick off 2021 like it’s 1999.

Marshall Charloff heads up the only Prince tribute band endorsed by the Prince estate to continue his legacy. Featuring a world-class band whose members have played with Christina Aguilera, the Backstreet Boys, Soul Asylum and yes, the legendary Prince himself, this show promises to blow the new roof off of the theatre.

January 30, 7:30 p.m. $40 Adults, $20 Students

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Flowers

for

Halie

New Orleans playwright and performer Troi Bechet celebrates the legendary Mahalia Jackson through a spellbinding mix of story and song. The play follows the Queen of Gospel from her early New Orleans upbringing in a shotgun shack to her international fame as a singer and civil rights leader. “(Bechet’s) transformation into Mahalia Jackson is remarkable.”

— The Times-Picayunne

February 20, 7:30 p.m. $25 Adults, $15 Students

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Sonic Butterfly The Sonic Butterfly is a 60-foot harp. Its strings will span from the stage, out over the heads of the audience and all the way into the balcony, transforming the entire auditorium into a giant musical instrument. Imagine being inside of Yo-Yo Ma’s cello and you have some idea of what it is like to experience Sonic Butterfly.

February 26, 7:30 p.m. $30 Adults, $15 Students

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•

FRANK L. BAUM’S

•

Wizard The

Oz of

Follow the yellow brick road to the second and most lavish of our three “Columbia Originals” productions. Directed by the Columbia Theatre’s Artistic Director Jim Winter, this musical spectacle will feature talented community actors spanning every generation and the behind the scenes talents of community all-stars Brent Goodrich, Chelsea Tallo Little, and the Paris Parker salon team. Just watch out for those flying monkeys.

MGM motion picture score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg Background music by Herbert Stothart Book adaptation by John Kane from the motion picture screenplay

March 11–13, 7:30 p.m. $29 Adults, $15 Students

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MURDER MARQUEE ON THE

A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE A Columbia Original! Put on your best 1920s attire and join us as we celebrate the Columbia Theatre’s 92nd birthday with a delicious meal provided by Hammond’s fabulous One Thirteen restaurant.

But beware! Murder lurks around every corner in this fully immersive and interactive experience that spans the entire Columbia facility. This event is not available as a season ticket option.

April 15–17, 7:30 p.m. $100 General Admission

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ONE-MAN

STRANGER THINGS In partnership with Alpha Psi Omega’s Alpha Epsilon Psi cast, Columbia Theatre is proud to welcome the return of international fringe and Off-Broadway star Charles Ross. This year he is performing a one-man parody of the hit Netflix series. Dress up as your favorite Stranger Things character because it’s 80s night, and we are turning the entire theatre into the upside down.

April 24, 7:30 p.m. $25 Adults, $15 Students

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­——— ALSO COMING THIS SEASON ———

Miss Southeastern, Janine Hatcher

COLUMBIA FAMOUS TALENT SHOW Come see the winners and finalists from the first-ever Columbia Famous Talent Contest perform and display their winning pieces.

Hosted by Miss Southeastern, Janine Hatcher.

This special night will feature singing, acting, dancing, visual art, comedy and instrumental music performed and created by the talented members of our community. Free admission but donations are welcomed for the first-ever Columbia Famous fundraiser.

— OCTOBER 22, 7 p.m. —

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SOUTHEASTERN AND COMMUNITY at the Columbia

Columbia Theatre hosts Southeastern and Community performances year round! For more information about these performances and events, please visit columbiatheatre.org.

Cabaret, 2019 Southeastern Opera Theatre Workshop

Les Miserables, 2018 New Octavians

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CONTRIBUTORS 2020/21 SEASON We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the following contributors who share our mission of bringing the arts to our area. Columbia is dependent upon the generosity and goodwill of many individuals, businesses, corporations and foundations to present events and performances of the highest quality. Columbia regrets any omissions or errors and requests that they be brought to our attention so that they may be addressed. Thank you so very much for supporting Columbia and for making this very exciting 2020/21 season possible.

Donations listed are those received as of September 1, 2020.

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE Tangipahoa Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau Northshore Broadcasting, Inc STAR First Guaranty Bank KSLU Neill Corp/Paris Parker The New Octavians LEAD Red, White and Brew Holiday Inn Bienvenue MON AMI Bed and Breakfast Fox Litho SLU Contemporary Art Gallery One Thirteen Terrace and Bar PLAYER Fay and Phelan Bright Suzanne and Jack Gautier Anthon Chiropractic Care North Oaks Health System

Charles and Vickie Robinson The First C. Roy and Carolyn Blackwood Tom and Donna Gay Anderson The Rocker Family Mary Jo and Lanny Greaves American Bank & Trust Southeastern Alumni Association Hammond DDD Alpha Psi Omega Alpha Epsilon Psi Cast ENSEMBLE Wendy Lauderdale Kent and Gwendolyn Gerhardt/ Gerhardt and Associates, LLC Barbara McKaskle Bill Robison Chris Bentley Tope La SUPPORTING CAST Tangipahoa Parish Library Tangipahoa Parish School Board Hammond Fire Department

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Hammond Police Department The Southeastern Channel Anntoine Marketing + Design Paul Catalanotto Janine Hatcher Southeastern Louisiana University: Student Publications Department of English Department of History and

Political Science Office of Communications

and Creative Services Student Government Association Department of Visual Art +

Design APPLAUSE FOR: Southeastern Administrators: Dr. John Crain, President Dr. Tena Golding, Provost

and Vice President for

Academic Affairs Dr. Karen Fontenot, Dean

College of Arts, Humanities

and Social Sciences

ENDOWMENTS The Oma Dameron Endowment for Columbia Theatre/Fanfare Established by Stan Dameron

Leola Purcell Endowment for Columbia Theatre The Wiley H. Sharp Jr. Program Endowment for The Columbia Theatre/Fanfare Programming Established by Kit Sharp McLean and Bill McLean

The Suzanne B. Gautier Endowment for Children’s Performances for The Columbia/Fanfare Established by Jack Gautier

The Andre & Annette Theriot, D.D.S. Program Endowment for Columbia Theatre/Fanfare

The Patty & Paul Hubert Program Endowment for Columbia Theatre/Fanfare

The Shirley Wiginton Endowment for Columbia/Fanfare Programming Established by Louis Wiginton

The Terry & Pamela King Endowment for Columbia/Fanfare Programming

The Charles and Vickie Robinson Endowment for Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts

The Maurin Family Endowment for Columbia/ Fanfare Programming Established by James & Lillian Maurin

The Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association

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Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts 985-543-4371 COLUMBIATHEATRE.ORG