NEWS RELEASE
VERY USEFUL THEATRE COMPANY & ROTARY CLUB OF NEWMARKET
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Organizers of the Third Annual York Region Festival of One Act Plays, scheduled for the new Old Town Hall Nov. 7, 8 and 9, are looking for actors for its ambitious six-play program over three nights.
This annual festival, which many theatre patrons look forward to each year, is produced by the Very Useful Theatre Company (VUTC) and Rotary Club of Newmarket. Patrons will see two delightful one-act plays each night, for the price of one or six plays over three nights.
The One Act Play Festival, which, when established was at Pickering College from 1995 to 2001, was revived by the VUTC in 2017, with the world premiere of Act Galaski: Space Dick at Large by Aurora playwright Maissa Bessada and featured Newmarket’s own Rod Urquhart as a Foley Artist in this re-created old-time radio drama set in space.
The VUTC and Rotary Club are thrilled to once again produce a world premiere play, The Last Ivan Sharansky, by Los Angeles based playwright Jim Geoghan. Jim is an American television producer and the executive producer of the Disney Channel’s The Suite Life on Deck and the original The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The audience at last year’s festival were thrilled with Geoghan’s play, Warren and the Polar Bear.
Again this year, the festival will feature a Theatre for Young Audience play, Junie B Jones is not a Crook, directed by Joanna Kaufman. Last year’s TYA play Ordinary Princess was well received by the audience and this year’s TYA will again feature emerging young actors.
Casting for three of the outstanding lineup of six plays will take place at the Newmarket Public Library Thursday, Sept. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. for the following plays:
Out by Ron Fromstein, is a “new play development series: a world premiere.”
When Jer got out the only job he could get was cleaning in a huge factory. As he polishes, cleans and mops he thinks about his before life, his boss and his ex, then his life takes a dramatic change with surprising results. Character needed: male aged 30 to 50.
This brilliant demanding monologue play by emerging Toronto playwright Ron Fromstein was written for the Toronto Fringe Festival 24-hour contest, which it won.
Under the Bright Sun by Norm Foster is about four people waiting at a bus stop, where their conversation turns from work and life to questioning their very existence. Who are we and where are we? Characters needed: Ernst, aged 20 to 30; Joanne, aged 20 to 30; Jake, aged 30 to 40; and Violet, aged 30 to 40.
This is another classic comedy by Newmarket’s favourite son, Norm Foster. Norm has been a patron of the festival since 2017 donating the performance fee to the festival.
This year’s Theatre for Young Audiences play is Junie B. Jones is not a Crook by Barbara Park: Something terrible happened to Junie B. Jones at school today! Someone stole her new furry mittens! So when Junie B. finds a wonderful pen of many colours, she should be allowed to keep it, right? Because finders keepers, losers weepers. And guess what? There's a new boy in kindergarten and he is the handsomest. The only thing is, both Grace and Lucille want him to be their boyfriend. Maybe he will love Junie B. when he sees her wonderful pen! It is OK to keep it, right? Junie B. Jones is not a crook . . . or is she? A hilarious and heartfelt tale based on the bestselling book series by Barbara Park. Characters needed: four males and seven females, ranging in age from 7 to 16.
Auditions will be held at the Newmarket Public Library Thursday, Sept. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m., 438 Park Ave., in downtown Newmarket. To reserve an audition slot, email [email protected] and visit website www.vutc.ca
