USP Announces Cast for “Bye Bye Birdie”

Bye Bye Birdie LogoDirector Denise Gregory has announced the cast list for Union Street Players’ summer musical Bye Bye Birdie. Performances are July 26-28 and Aug 1-3 on the stage of the Joan Kuyper Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center. Tickets will be on sale on line approximately one month prior to the show. Check back at http://www.unionstreetplayers.com for more information.

CONRAD BIRDIE           Jacob Martin

ROSIE                          Jana Dezwarte
KIM MACAFEE             Sara Collins
ALBERT PETERSON     Karl Deakyne
MR HARRY MACAFEE  Greg May
MRS MACAFEE            Sarah Maxwell
RANDOLPH MACAFEE  Bryce McCain
MAE PETERSON          TBA
HUGO PEABODY          Jack Parisee
URSULA MERKLE         Sydney Swanson
MRS MERKLE               Sally Job
MAYOR                         Pat Moriarity
MAYOR’S WIFE             Peggy Moriarity
HELEN                          Sarah Davis
NANCY                         Devin McCain
MARGIE                        Kara Zondervan
KARL                            TBA
HARVEY JOHNSON       Nathan Boldt
DEBORAH SUE             Maria Bandstra
PENELOPE                   Sarah DeWolf
SUZIE                           Sarah Peterson
ALICE                           Marielle Gaiser
FREDDIE                      Micah Zeimetz
SANDRA                       Breanna Terpstra
CHARLOTTE                 Mariah Kooyman
ELIZABETH                   Emily Ebeling
JUDY                            Olivia Kane
MARIANNE                   Mandolin Holmes
TAMMY                        Lauren Ashworth
TRACY                         Julia Smart
ANNETTE                     Taryn Johnson
COLLEEN                     Kaleena VanHaaften
RICKY                          Isaac Zeimetz
REPORTER                   Mark Shaefer
BARTENDER                 Thomas Salz
GLORIA RASPUTIN        Em Hutchison

“Bye Bye Birdie” Auditions THIS WEEK!

Bye Bye Birdie LogoAuditions for Union Street Players summer musical, Bye Bye Birdie, will take place this week. This popular Broadway musical, set in the 1950′s, is loosely based on the stories of music icons Conway Twitty and Elvis Presley. The catchy 50′s music soundtrack and comical story of love and teen rebellion in the 1950s has made it a popular show for decades. USP’s production is being directed by Denise Gregory and Produced by Deb Linn with Musical Direction by Anne Petrie.

No experience or preparation is necessary. Rookies, novices and newcomers are welcome. No roles are precast!

Production Dates: July 26-28; Aug 1-3

Audition Dates:

  • Tuesday, May 14 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 16 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 18 9:00 a.m. to noon

Auditions will be held in the Joan Kuyper Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center, 712 Union Street, in Pella. Perusal scripts are available for check-out at the Pella Public Library. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Denise Gregory at denise2352004@yahoo.com.

USP Tulip Time Opportunities

USP logo GR MEDThe sun is out and Tulip Time is just a week away! Here are a couple of related opportunities for USP and our followers:

Volunteers Needed to March in Tulip Time Parade

Dick Redman has asked for USP volunteers who would dress in period costume and walk alongside the Dr. Honeycutt wagon in the Tulip Time parade. He needs two volunteers for each parade:

  • Thursday 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
  • Friday 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturday 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

If you’re interested in helping out by marching in one or two of the parades please contact Tom Vander Well at info@unionstreetplayers. Volunteers can get costumes from the USP Costume Shop.

Performances of “The Dominie’s Wife”

USP members (Pat Moriarity, Tom Vander Well, Wendy Vander Well, and Lisa Witzenburg) are performing The Dominie’s Wife in a special production for the Pella Opera House. The show is directed by USP member Ann Wilkinson. The one-act play tells the story of Dominie Scholte and his wife Mareah. It is a fascinating, true story that adds layers of meaning to our town and our festival for both tourists and Pella residents.

There are several opportunities to support your local USP members and see the show:

  • A cutting of the show will be performed in the lower level of Central’s Maytag Building at Central’s Fringe Festival. It will be performed at 7:10 p.m. tonight (Wed April 24th).
  • On Tuesday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the Pella Opera House there will be a special V.I.P. night at the final Dress Rehearsal. In a continuation of an old USP tradition, this special dress rehearsal preview is intended for local residents who are volunteering during Tulip Time and would otherwise not get to see the show.
  • Send or bring your family, friends, and visitors to the performance each day of Tulip Time at the Pella Opera House: Thu (4:30 p.m.); Fri (4:30 p.m.); Sat (12:30 p.m.)

Bye Bye Birdie Auditions Set

Bye Bye Birdie LogoUnion Street Players, Pella’s award winning community theatre, is proud to announce auditions for our summer musical Bye Bye Birdie. Director Denise Gregory has set auditions for:

  • Tuesday, May 14 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 16 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 18 9:00 a.m. to noon

No roles are pre-cast. Auditions will be held in the Joan Kuyper Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center. Perusal scripts are available for check-out at the Pella Public Library. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Denise Gregory at denise2352004@yahoo.com.

Theatre Central’s Fringe Festival Next Week!

Unleash Creativity! Expect the Unexpected!

From April 24 to April 27, Central College will pop with a variety of music, theatre and art events as the Central College Fringe Festival unfurls. The student-organized event will showcase the talents of college and high school students, faculty and community members in a wide range of nontraditional settings.

The performances are short (limited to 40 minutes), varied and within easy walking distance of one another. Audience members might catch Celtic music in the Vermeer Science Center, view art work in the theatre building, hear spoken word in the gallery and participate in a drum circle at the fire pit; all in one evening! Each date will bring a different mixture of not-to-be missed entertainment, talent and venues.

The purchase of a wristband for $1 will give you access to all four days of the events organized by the FRINGE. For more information about the Central College Fringe Festival, daily event schedules and locations visit http://centralfringefest.weebly.com/.