What a "Celebration!"

Sometimes our unique approach to casting (first-come-first-served) just works out perfectly Such was the case at our February 21 reading of CELEBRATION, an evening full of energy, enthusiasm, and great fun! Our readers did a fabulous job: Mont Chris Hubbard and Leah Yorkston brought a combination of beauty and innocence to their readings of Orphan and Angel, while Ron Daum was clever, conniving, and resourceful as Potemkin, and Daniel Bunten was simply hilarious as Rich (for which he must have drawn on from his years of work at the Folksbein Theatre). These four were ably supported by a wonderful ensemble of participants, Mikki Lipsey, who read the extensive stage directions, and our fabulous (and well studied) accompanist for the evening, Rob Fishel (who was occasionally and expertly joined an extra set of hands belonging to Rachel Sarky)

We discovered the show's poetry, absurdity, raciness, and utter joy at this reading. It's certainly not a perfect show, but we all agreed there is some wonderful story telling and great music. Perhaps it's a show with the right sensibilities for Portland (or a city with the right sensibilities for this show).

Celebration Reading Details

Our reading of Celebration is just days away (2/21). Here are a few details about our reading for those planning to attend:

SCRIPTS AND SCORES - Please plan to bring your own copies. If you need to know where to get them, please email me (davidbaer@gmail.com). I will have only a couple of extra copies just in case.

PRE-READING REHEARSAL - While we do not have a formal rehearsal, anyone who wishes to come in advance of the 7pm reading start time to review a song or two should feel free to do so. Our accompanist, Rob Fishel, will be on hand starting at 6pm to help you through difficult sections or harmonies that you wish to review.

TIME, PLACE, and HOW TO GET IN - The reading will take place in the recital hall at Sherman Clay Pianos, located at NW 13th and Davis. The store closes at 5pm, so we MUST USE THE SIDE DOOR ON DAVIS. The door is locked from the outside, so you need to be let in. Someone will be monitoring the door between 5:30pm and 7pm. If you arrive after 7pm, YOU NEED TO CALL OR TEXT ME AT 914-522-9363 TO BE LET INSIDE.

WHY WE ARE DOING THIS - The goal of Entracte is to educate and enrich our collective knowledge of this art form, but also to network with fellow practitioners. We have a wide range of knowledge and experience among our participants. Please come with an open mind and willingness to both learn and share.

March 28 Reading - The Boys from Syracuse

We're heading back in time on March 28 to explore Rodgers and Hart's 2nd best-known show (after Pal Joey), THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. The show is based on Shakespeare's COMEDY OF ERRORS (perhaps my favorite of his comedies) and features such great American Songbook standards as "This Can't be Love," "Falling in Love with Love," and "Sing for Your Supper." The cast is MUCH larger than the shows we've done to date, with many singing and non-singing character roles. So please help spread the word and sign up here NOW!

As the story goes, Rodgers and Hart were on a train to Atlantic City, where their show I MARRIED AN ANGEL, was in rehearsal, when Rodgers proposed to Hart that they do something based on Shakespeare - a pretty original idea for 1938. Hart reportedly loved the notion. He especially loved the idea of creating an opportunity for his younger brother, the comedian Teddy Hart. Teddy had a problem: he looked a lot like another better known comic, Jimmy Savo; but the resemblance could be put to good use in an adaptation of The Comedy Of Errors, in which the low-comedy roles of the twin Dromios steal the show.

Rodgers and Hart brought in George Abbott, who had been working with them on and off since JUMBO in 1935. For BOYS, Abbott would produce, direct, and adapt the play. "The book that he came up with was exactly what we wanted, " Rodgers recalled in the New York Herald Tribune at the time of the 1963 revival, "bright, fast moving, but, in its own wacky way, very much in the bawdy Shakespearean tradition." On November 23, 1938, The Boys from Syracuse became, amazingly, the sixth Rodgers and Hart show to reach Broadway in three years, but despite a pleasing cast that included Eddie Albert, Muriel Angelus and Burl Ives, the reviews were mixed, and the show ran for only 235 performances - not unusual for a "hit" of the day, but still something of a disappointment.

CELEBRATION Cast List

The cast for our Feb 21 reading of CELEBRATION will be:

Angel - Leah Yorkston
Orphan - Mont Chris Hubbard
Potemkin - Ron Daum
Rich - Daniel Bunten
Stage Directions Reader - Mikki Lipsey

A few have already signed up to participate in the ensemble of Revelers. If you'd like to join us, please sign up.

As always, we ask that participants bring their own copies of the score & script. If you need to know where to get them, please contact email us.

The reading will take place at Sherman Clay Pianos NE 13th @ Davis on Feb 21 at 7pm. Brief rehearsal for those interested in reviewing sections of the score will take place at 6pm.

CELEBRATION Cast Signup

The Score and Libretto are now available for those who need copies of them. Please email entractepdx@gmail.com if you need them.

Cast sign-up is online as well. Click here to sign up.

There are four roles (3M, 1F) plus an ensemble, and someone is needed to read stage directions.
The reading is SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21. Please check your calendar before committing to a role.