Happy New Year!
Steve Martin's The Underpants
PG 13

Jan 27, 28, 29, Feb. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 
Friday & Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm

Directed by Scott J. Strasbaugh
Produced by April Bridgeman 
PG 13 
 
Steve Martin's The Underpants
 
The Fauquier Community Theatre is pleased to announce its January/ February production of Steve Martin's THE UNDERPANTS,by Carl Sternheim adapted by Steve Martin & Directed by Scott J. Strasbaugh.
 
THE UNDERPANTS
takes place in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1910. Theo (played by Zachary Thaler) and his wife Louise (played by Lori Brooks) have a vacant room in their apartment. One unfortunate morning, while Louise attends a parade to try to catch a glimpse of the king (played by Zachary Dwyer), her underpants fall to her ankles. Theo is humiliated: "I can't believe this happened to me!" Suddenly the couple has not one, but two renters: Versati (played by Ricardo Padilla) and Cohen (played by Josh Vest). Having witnessed the underpants scandal, both men secretly confess their love to Louise and begin to battle for her favor. Louise's nosy upstairs neighbor Gertrude (Leah Daily) advises Louise to welcome an affair. As Versati and Cohen squabble over who is the better man, and Theo remains oblivious to both the renters' intentions and his wife's charm, Louise begins to learn a powerful lesson in how she can obtain what she desires.  
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
As a kid I grew up watching Saturday Night Live with my Dad. We just loved the man wearing a white suit playing the banjo yelling "I'm a wild and crazy guy!" Ever since then Steve Martin has become one of my favorite comedians ever. Like most people I thought Steve Martin was just another funny guy; I had no idea that his talents extended beyond his standup routines and films until....His movie, "The Jerk". Then I knew I had to find out more. He's bananas. I discovered that he had written plays including, Picasso at the Lapin Agile (In which I later was WATCH Award Nominated for my portrayal of Charles Dabernow Schmendimin, A moron who, amongst other great [failed] inventions, came up with the idea of "The Dunce Cap".) I was hooked once again, on that "Wild and Crazy guy".

The Underpants is his adaptation of a farce written by German expressionist Carl Sternheim in 1910, a bit of a Renaissance man in early 20th century Europe. An avid art collector, he also published significant literary journals, introducing the first works of Franz Kafka. His plays, short stories and comic assaults on the perceived moral corruption of the German bourgeoisie, were hard-hitting enough for the Nazis (aware of his Jewish bloodline) to ban them during their reign.

Enter Steve Martin, a true (and rare) Renaissance man of our time. Put the two together, and voila, "The Underpants" was created.

Reading it for the first time, I found myself literally with my hand over my mouth, laughing throughout the whole thing. And although I find this play to be extremely funny, it also takes a close look at attitudes towards women and the role of women in the early part of the 20th century. Male chauvinism is abound in this play. The chauvinist attitude takes a number of different forms in this story. We see the man who views women as subservient to men, the man who views women as objects of sexual desire, and finally we find a man who feels that women should be protected because they obviously can't do it themselves. To be fair the women in this story are not completely innocent either, however I will not blow it for you here. You'll have to watch and see.

I cast the show, and after rehearsals started, thought "I have a real Carol Burnett situation on my hands. I can't get my actors to stop laughing within the scenes while performing them!"

Truth is, I still laugh at them too. And I've read it well over 300 times. My team is now ready for you.

Laugh 'til it hurts,
Scott J Strasbaugh | Director

What the critics say:
"Hilarious and Bawdy." - Village Voice
"[Martin] sprinkles the dialogue with endearing throwaways and demented turns of mind that could only have come from his singular playwriting self. Please, we need more." - Variety
"An ambitious little comedy. A bawdy farce. The intellectual aspirations embedded in Martins wild and crazy humor has grown increasingly apparent." - USA Today
"A brilliant, hilarious, mad adaptation of an old play" - New York Post
 
Performances will be held at the Theatre at Vint Hill, 4225 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, VA on Fridays and Saturdays, January 27, 28, February 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8 PM; and Sundays, January 29 and February 5 and 12 at 2 PM. The show is being produced by April Bridgeman and directed by Scott Strasbaugh (from Zoolander). The Bull Run Cloggers will be onstage to entertain you during scene changes! Order tickets today at www.FCTstage.org or call 540-349-8760.



Music and Lyrics by Marsha Norman
Music by Lucy Simon
Adapted from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Directed by Ivy Elizabeth
Produced by Walt Loope
 
Audition Dates:
Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 pm
Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 am
Call Backs by invitation Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 pm
Audition Location:
Hope Christian Fellowship
4173 Bludau Dr. Warrenton (in Vint Hill)
 
Performance Dates:
May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21
 
Be Prepared:
 Auditioners need to bring sheet music in the correct key with their 1 min to 1 min 30 second cut of music.  No Tracks and No Acapella. The music should be a Musical Theatre piece in the style of The Secret Garden that best demonstrates their vocal range and abilities.  Please no songs from The Secret Garden. Also asking for a 30 second to 1 minute monologue demonstrating your strengths. Please bring this completed audition form- Garden with you to the audition date of your choice. Character information can be found here.

By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics of  the MGM MOTION PICTURE SCORE By Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Background Music By Herbert Stothart

Ages 5-18
Audition Dates:
Feb. 17 at 6pm
Feb. 18 at 11am
Callbacks by invitation only - Feb. 19 at 2pm
Evelyn Rice Director
Heath West Music Director
Amanda Gibson Producer
Alyssa Gilmore Choreographer
Patrick Nye Stage Manager

Audition Location:
The Fauquier Community Theatre, 4225 Aiken Dr., Warrenton, (located in Vint Hill)
 
Performance Dates:
June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and June 15 (special performance)

  Please click here for character descriptions.

Synopsis: When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and they meet a Scarecrow that needs a brain, a Tin Man  missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion  who wants courage. The wizard asks the group to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West to earn his help.

Audition Requirements:
A Prepared song, no longer than a minute, from a Broadway musical (bring a CD or sheet music). A piano player will be available.  A filled out Wizard of Oz Audition Form needs to be brought with you when you come, as well as a picture you don't mind parting with and a current list of conflicts through June. You will be taught a dance, so please wear clothes you can move in.
Alice in Wonderland 
Summer Youth Drama Camp




2 Week Drama Camp
Culminating in a final production on July 28 at 7 pm and July 29 at 2pm
Ages 9-16
Directed By Isabella Lash
Camp: July 17 - July 28, 2017 10:00 AM - 3:00 pm

This will be drama and not a musical. We have qualified teachers coming in throughout the weeks to teach different aspects of theatre along with the rehearsing and performance of the play in just two weeks!!
2017 Camp Registration Form
 
We will only be accepting 30 students. So, please get your registration in as soon as possible. You will receive an email confirmation that your registration has been accepted.


"Curtain Up!"

"Curtain Up!" is a presentation by the Blue Ridge Chorale featuring well-loved songs from the Broadway musical stage.  Come and delight in hearing excerpts from your favorite songs, including "Almost Like Being in Love" (Brigadoon), "There is Nuthin' Like a Dame" (South Pacific),"Get Me To The Church On Time" (My Fair Lady), "Climb every Mountain" (The Sound Of Music), "Oklahoma" (Oklahoma), "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" (Guys And Dolls), and to sum it up, from Rodger's and Hammerstein's State Fair....."It's A Grand Night For Singing......It should be a Grand Night For Listening!

Saturday, April 8 at 7 pm
Sunday, April 9, at 3 pm
Tickets are $10 each.
Purchase here.  

 
FCT High School Senior  
Scholarship Applications

          
FCT annually offers scholarships to area high school seniors who desire to pursue higher education in the performing arts. The students can be from public, private or homeschooled. Attached is the application form which describes the criteria. Please give to any high school senior you think would like to be awarded an FCT scholarship.

You can open and download and print your scholarship by clicking here.
The Nominations are in for the WATCH (Washington Area Theatre Community Honors) Awards for 2016 productions.

Nominations from FCT
Ivy Elizabeth, Best Cameo in a Musical, for "Olive's Mom" in "Putnam County Spelling Bee".

Congratulations Ivy Elizabeth from all of us at FCT!!!

Ivy will be directing our May production of The Secret Garden.


FCT is inviting you to join us in membership! We have several different levels available for you to join.  This is a member run 501c3 organization. Your donation more than $25 is tax deductible. You will receive a receipt to use for tax purposes.
Members get their name in the 2016-17 playbill and on our website.
Donate here.  
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 FCT is partially supported by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the 
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