2008 Woodie Awards
Returning Summer Theatre Meets Warm Welcome
Leeann Lucero
Issue date: 8/25/04 Section: A&E
- Page 1 of 1
"I was thrilled," said Cherie Brown, theater arts professor at Citrus College.
After a year-long hiatus due to budget cuts and a huge outcry from the community, the Citrus College summer theater program was finally back into play.
The department produced two play,s both well themed for the hot months being as they are set during the summer: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and William Inges Picnic. The productions wereperformed in the Little Theatre Black Box.
Tickets sold for $32, or $30 for Citrus College students and senior citizens. For that price the audience received not only entertainment but also a meal: either brunch or lunch served in the Fine Arts Building patio.
For those who opted out of eating, tickets were $14 or $12.
Picnic ran from June 11 to June 27, and A Midsummer Night's Dream ran from July 9 to July 25. Both productions were performed 11 times.
"One of the biggest differences between the summer program and regular productions is the length of time that a show runs. Normally there are much fewer productions. The actors have to work at making old material new every night," said Citrus student Stacy Benjamin, who played Snug in Dream.
Both productions stared a number of community residents as well as experienced film and television actors.
"I got to work with a lot of friends and other actors whom I had never met before, people of all ages and theatre backgrounds. It was great," Benjamin said .
Not only did the student talent gain benefit from working with other more experienced actors but the veterans of the stage also derived some positive effects.
"I think everyone involved benefits equally from this kind of approach. The young actors gain from working with the more experienced and the experienced, ones benefit from working with new talent," said Brown.
Apparently the summer play season had been missed by the community as well as surrounding areas.
"The night the tickets went on sale was one of the largest box office sales we've ever had," Brown said. "The community was simply excited to have the program back."
Professor Dean Hess of the Cal State Fullerton Theatre Department was the director of A Midsummer Night's Dream. "When Cherie first asked me to come out and help, I was delighted," Hess said. "Ever since then I just keep coming back. The students at Citrus are so talented. "
"I would definitely come back next year," said Roshanda Harrison, who played Nick Bottom the Weaver in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
"It is a great way to make connections and gain support," she said.
After a year-long hiatus due to budget cuts and a huge outcry from the community, the Citrus College summer theater program was finally back into play.
The department produced two play,s both well themed for the hot months being as they are set during the summer: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and William Inges Picnic. The productions wereperformed in the Little Theatre Black Box.
Tickets sold for $32, or $30 for Citrus College students and senior citizens. For that price the audience received not only entertainment but also a meal: either brunch or lunch served in the Fine Arts Building patio.
For those who opted out of eating, tickets were $14 or $12.
Picnic ran from June 11 to June 27, and A Midsummer Night's Dream ran from July 9 to July 25. Both productions were performed 11 times.
"One of the biggest differences between the summer program and regular productions is the length of time that a show runs. Normally there are much fewer productions. The actors have to work at making old material new every night," said Citrus student Stacy Benjamin, who played Snug in Dream.
Both productions stared a number of community residents as well as experienced film and television actors.
"I got to work with a lot of friends and other actors whom I had never met before, people of all ages and theatre backgrounds. It was great," Benjamin said .
Not only did the student talent gain benefit from working with other more experienced actors but the veterans of the stage also derived some positive effects.
"I think everyone involved benefits equally from this kind of approach. The young actors gain from working with the more experienced and the experienced, ones benefit from working with new talent," said Brown.
Apparently the summer play season had been missed by the community as well as surrounding areas.
"The night the tickets went on sale was one of the largest box office sales we've ever had," Brown said. "The community was simply excited to have the program back."
Professor Dean Hess of the Cal State Fullerton Theatre Department was the director of A Midsummer Night's Dream. "When Cherie first asked me to come out and help, I was delighted," Hess said. "Ever since then I just keep coming back. The students at Citrus are so talented. "
"I would definitely come back next year," said Roshanda Harrison, who played Nick Bottom the Weaver in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
"It is a great way to make connections and gain support," she said.