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Steve&Lucille Esquerre New Orleans      

News

Su Gonczy, stage manager at Le Chat Noir, told us recently about her plan (a writer’s dream!)
She wants to “shine” the spotlight on ‘new and emerging’ writers at the club’s ‘Cold Read’ sessions, beginning January 31st. Monologues and scenes are being solicited now for readings on alternating Wednesdays.
Barbara Motely, owner of the plush St. Charles Avenue lounge and showroom says about these planned sessions of original works:
“My feeling is that the tip of the artistic pyramid in any art form is original work.  The thing I love about it is that it always a surprise.  You never know how good it’s going to be or not to be until it’s up.  But when it works, it’s the most amazing high”.
Le Chat Noir is located at 715 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.
Telephone number is (504) 581-5812. 
Writers of the world … we have angels! We’re wanted … alive (not after)! Don’t pass this op up.

New Orleans’ own Bryan Batt will share a ‘Seussical’ role with Rosie O’Donnell.
O’Donnell will take over the part of The Cat in the Hat through February 10th.
However, she will not play the weekend matinee performances.
Those will be played by Batt who says, “I will be part of a Broadway first: the first male actor
to cover a character woman!”
And, for a little lagniappe (meaning EXTRA in New Orleans) if you wish to catch up on the doings
On Broadway, go to the Web Site www.broadway.com

Varla Jean Merman, the statuesque drag diva who’s gone from video vixen to ballroom attraction, cabaret stardom and acclaim on the legitimate stage, (touring as Mary Sunshine in Kander and Ebb’s CHICAGO) is coming home!
The Merm, whose act got its start in New Orleans, has scheduled three appearances in February
for her one-person, mock-autobiographical show ENOUGH ABOUT ME which the
New York Times called “hilarious”.
Varla Jean (a.k.a. Jeff Roberson) is scheduled to perform February 16th and 17th at
Le Chat Noir (that name again!), and also as the featured entertainment at the Mardi Gras
Krewe of Petronius Ball on February 18th at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium.
For Petronius Ball information, call Captain Mickey Gill at (504) 525- 4498.

Theatre

NUNSENSE opens February 16th at the newly renovated Arcade Theatre in
Slidell, Louisiana (a bedside New Orleans community).
Arcade is located at 2249 Carey St. in Olde Towne Slidell.
Telephone number (504) 649-2381

‘n’ FOUR-TO-GO (onstage in the future):
AS BEES IN HONEY DRAWN Douglas Carter Beane’s delicious comedy
about a consummate con woman preying on “hot” young talents, will be staged
at Le Chat Noir in May, with David Hoover directing.

PURLIE is next up at NORD’s Ty Tracy Theatre.  And, there’s a job offer taboot!
PURLIE, the Gary Geld-Peter Udell musical version of Ossie Davis’ play and film,
PURLIE VICTORIOUS. It’s a fable set in the recent past about a new-fangled preacher man
on a Southern plantation.
NORD theatre’s director, Sir (the man should be knighted) Ty Tracy, is looking for a musical-vocal director for the project. “PURLIE has a marvelous, gospel-flavored score; and we are looking for a talented musician to do it justice”, says Tracy.
“This is a paid position, which involves teaching the score to vocalists, accompanying rehearsals,
and playing the shows”. 
Commitment to the project and ability to work with people is as important as musicianship per Tracy. Call Mr. Tracy at 504-565-7860 for an appointment.
Auditions for the show will be announced soon; however, he is interested in hearing from
actors and actresses now.

I HATE HAMLET to play in March at the Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St. in Kenner, La.  It will be directed by Stocker Fontelieu (a New Orleans Theatre Hall of Famer).
Telephone Number (504) 468-7221.

OSCAR AND ADONIS by Matthew Wells will play March 14-18 at the University of New Orleans.
It’s the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival play competition winner.
Director Susan Muth.
Telephone Number (504) 280-6317.

Well Said

MY FAIR LADY opens Tulane University’s Summer Lyric Theatre June 21st at Dixon Hall.
It will mark the on-campus theater’s 100th production.
Tulane’s Summer Lyric Theatre artistic director, Michael Howard, says of MY FAIR LADY:
“It offers maybe the greatest integration of music and lyrics with a story in the English language.
That’s what makes it a classic”. Continuing he adds, “It’s in the greatest tradition of lyric musicals, which is what we are all about!”

 

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