Oliver! Auditions

Greenbrier Valley Theatre is pleased to announce community and student auditions for the musical Oliver! by Lionel Bart, based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.

Auditions will take place at GVT from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 10 and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 14.

Any student wishing to be considered for the role of Oliver should prepare the song “Where is Love?”  Also, students should be familiar with the songs “Food, Glorious Food” and “Consider Yourself.”

Adults should prepare their preferred selection from the show and also be familiar with “Who Will Buy?”

Anyone unable to prepare a musical selection in advance, will be asked to perform “Happy Birthday.”

Rehearsals will begin on Oct. 3, and the show will run from Nov. 2 to Dec. 3.  A detailed rehearsal schedule will be available at auditions and participants will be asked to submit a list of possible conflicts.

Community and student actors may look over the Oliver! script and score in the GVT lobby from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday beginning Aug. 1.

To schedule an Oliver! audition appointment, please e-mail GVT Production Stage Manager Jamie Shannon at Jamie@gvtheatre.org.  Each audition will last for approximately 20
minutes.

Pleasenote that in order to be considered for a role in Oliver!, student actors must be enrolled in the GVT Education Program.

Students may register for the fall program in person at GVT from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23 and Sept. 7 and from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 12.

For questions regarding the GVT Education Program, please contact education director Laurie Riffe at Laurie@gvtheatre.org or 304-645-3838.

The production will be co-directed by Joe Lehman and Laurie Riffe, with musical direction by MichaelLewis Smith and choreography by Donald Laney.

 

GVT Experiences

Throughout the summer months, Greenbrier Valley Theatre is fortunate to have the assistance of a group of talented high school students working as apprentices. In addition to providing incredbly useful assistance to GVT, these students get to experience, first-hand, the behind the scenes happenings of a professional theatre.

One of the apprentices, Katelynn Burns, sat down today to write briefly about her summer experience:

BY KATELYNN BURNS

Working at the Greenbrier Valley Theater has been an interesting experience. It’s amazing to see all the hard work that goes into creating a live theater performance.

It takes such a large group of people to make every show perfect. Lighting and sound have to be run in-sync with the actors’ cues. Sets and backgrounds have to be constructed, painted and deconstructed for every show. Props and costumes help to make the performance real to an audience and allow them to lose themselves in the story.Actors have to rehearse and practice scenes every day to put on the best show they possibly can. There is so much energy in a theater that is sort of takes on a life of its own.

Getting the chance to work behind the scenes and be a part of this atmosphere has definitely given me new experiences and the opportunity to work with some amazing and talented people.   

Katelynn is 17 years old and attends Greenbrier East High School.

Auditions Being Scheduled for Teen Conservatory

Greenbrier Valley Theatre is reviving its Teen Conservatory for the 2011-2012 school year.

The conservatory, for which participants must audition, will offer students ages 13 to 18 an opportunity to explore voice, movement, characterization, script analysis, improvisation and production.

Prior experience is not required as GVT Education Director Laurie Riffe says the most important thing is a willingness to make a commitment to the program, which will take place Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Riffe says the conservatory is returning this year because of a demand from the community.

“We have teens in the community who would like to make this commitment in a place that can feel like it’s a home away from home,” she said.

The twice-weekly schedule, Riffe adds, will allow the students to “delve deeper and explore all genres of voice, movement and acting, exploring both contemporary and classic material as well as improv.”

Additionally, Riffe says, the conservatory affords participants a chance to “find their own voice” and to perform what they desire.

The training will culminate with a large show in the spring but will also include smaller performances throughout the year.

Auditions, which will take place Sept. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., are being scheduled now.

Those wishing to audition are asked to contact Riffe at 304-645-3838 or by e-mail at Laurie@gvtheatre.org.

GVT Welcomes New Employees

Greenbrier Valley Theatre is pleased to announce the addition of three new staff members.

Courtney Jesser has joined the team as the Development Director. The Greenbrier County native returns to GVT after serving as business manager from 1998 to 2001.

“I’m excited to return to Greenbrier Valley Theatre and look forward helping the theatre grow and move forward,” Jesser said.

Jesser holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Bluefield State College and attained her M.B.A. from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.

She and her husband Banks Jesser have two children, Gavin and Lilia.

Carling McManus will serve as the GVT’s new Development Associate.  A native of Marblehead, Mass., McManus has previously worked for several health-sector non-profit organizations as a grant writer and development professional.

She received her undergraduate degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada and holds a M.F.A in Film and Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute.

Michelle James was recently hired as the Marketing Director. The Raleigh County native previously worked as an award-winning reporter for The Register-Herald in Beckley.

She is a graduate of Marshall University with a B.A. in Journalism and a M.S. in Sport Management and Marketing.

GVT Summer Camp

Students interested in gaining experience in the world of theatre can do so at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s upcoming Summer Drama Camp.

The camp, which will run from July 25 through Aug. 7, allows students to explore the world of acting, dancing, music, art and backstage fun under the direction of professional artists.

“It’s a great opportunity for children to make new friends, find their voices and to explore in a creative environment,” said GVT Education Director Laurie Riffe. “It’s a really fun two weeks and the students will get to experience a little bit of every element of the theatre including acting, dance, art, and backstage.”

The camp is open for students ages 5 through 14. Youngsters 8 and under will attend camp each day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and students ages 9 to 14 will attend full-day sessions from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Riffe says the camp is ideal for children with all levels of acting experience.

“It’s a great opportunity for children who have never taken drama or theatre to experience it for the first time,” Riffe said.

Students will receive instruction and guidance from professional artists including Courtney Susman, Lorelei Sturm, and Cate Bennett.  The professional artists are assisted in classes by graduate and undergraduate college Interns, as well as high school Apprentices.  The two-week training will culminate with an original performance for family and friends.

Riffe says she is looking forward to the camp and hopes to see a large turnout.

“It is our privilege to nurture and foster the creative talents of so many gifted young people in our community,” she said. “We look forward to having you with us!”

Camp tuition is $275 for children 5 to 8 and $375 for students 9 to 14.

For more information, contact GVT at 304-645-3838 or visit www.gvtheatre.org.

Youth Education Sponsors for 2011 include Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Herkness, Bob and Jill Modlin, Hollowell Foundation, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, National Endowment for the Arts, Daywood Foundation, Smucker’s, Terry and Joy Upton and United Way of Greenbrier County.