“In graduate school, one of my areas of study was mother-daughter relationships in plays by contemporary American women playwrights,” said Director and NMSU-A Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Connie Breding. “I chose ‘Night, Mother because it is a script I have wanted to direct ever since I first read it in 1983.”

According to Breding, ‘Night, Mother is difficult to produce because it requires accomplished performers of appropriate ages who can hold the audience’s attention for the 90 minute, one-act play. Breding did not hold auditions, but approached and cast just such actors–Fountain and Mercouris.

“I think Jenn and Joylyn, eat, breathe and sleep their roles!” said Breding. “They will get the audience invested in the play, wondering about the outcome, and thinking about family dynamics.”

Mercouris’ said her challenge in portraying Thelma is “keeping up the intensity, not letting the action or emotions flag from beginning to end”.

Mercouris, whose first role was Baby Jesus in a Christmas pageant well before her first birthday, has been in the limelight much of her life as performer, scriptwriter and choreographer as well as having worked on a professional props crew with the traveling production of The Music Man and as assistant director for In Our Own Voices. Mercouris has even appeared on television on a Detroit talk show and as a contestant on two nationally televised game shows. Cast in the second NMSU-A production of The Vagina Monologues, Mercouris said, “This is where I first met Jenn, the director and she was a delight to work with.”

“Joylyn has been one of the most impressive actors I’ve worked with,” said Fountain of costar, Mercouris. “Her energy, enthusiasm and openness are catching and make rehearsal a real joy and true exploration each day.”

Fountain’s first memory of acting is also a Christmas pageant, but she was “lost” in the craft at age 13, after landing a role in a Renaissance performing company, Scarborough Faire where she formed and directed a Gypsy Troupe.

“That was where I learned a lot about working with people and selling them on a ‘vision’, basically what you do when you direct a show,” said Fountain.

Returning to school after doing community and professional theatre in the Dallas area, Fountain was eventually accepted into a graduate program at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

“My understanding of myself, my acting and the professional theatre world exploded and I had the best two years of my life in that program,” said Fountain. “Mainly I was given the confidence of knowing I could be a professional in the theatre.”

In ‘Night Mother, Fountain was confronted with trying to truly understand Jessie, why she is the way she is and what makes her do the things she does.

“I respect her immensely and hope to do her words and ideas justice; this also refers to the author,” said Fountain.

Assistant Director/Stage Manager and NMSU-A student, Michael Carrillo is involved in ‘Night Mother as his assignment for the Running Crew class he is taking. He also played the role of The Dream Keeper in last spring’s children’s play, “The Dream Keeper.”

“He has good knowledge of theatrical and acting process, and this experience is allowing him to see, firsthand, what a director does,” said Breding. “He will serve as the stage manager once the play goes into production; in that capacity, he will make sure all props are set correctly, things are working properly, and give light/sound cues.”

NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill presents ‘Night, Mother, on Friday and Saturday, November 9, 10, 16 & 17 at 7:30 pm and on Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 pm at the Rohovec Theatre. Admission is $8 and advance tickets are available at The Blue Stone and TLC Portraits. For more information, call Diana at 439-3670.

For information on this event: http://nmsua.edu/calendar/

Cast: Joylyn Mercouris as Thelma and Jennifer Hunt Fountain as Jessie
Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Michael Carrillo
Scene and Lighting Designer: Will Bartlett
Scene shop technicians: Michael Carrillo, Chris Satterwhite, Daniel Henderson, Gavin Kainulainen

Carolyn Dittmer is an Alamogordo-based freelance writer. She can be reached at edcarta.dittmer@gmail.com.

Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues will be performed on Friday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday February 12, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m. at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center on the NMSU-A campus.  Admission is $5.

Advance tickets are available at the COPE office and at Rivers Web Strategies, 708 Granada. All tickets purchased for last weekend will be honored for this weekend’s productions.

The production of The Vagina Monologues is one of the features of V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls by raising awareness of domestic assault and sexual abuse through performances, education, networking and fundraising. The Vagina Monologues is based on Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women, and with both humor and grace, the script discusses women’s sexuality and strength.

V-day and The Vagina Monologues are sponsored by NMSU-A and V-Day Otero County 2011.  For additional information, contact Samantha at 540-847-0016.

“If you missed LEND ME A TENOR at the Rohovec last weekend you missed a great show! The casting was perfect, the acting was superb and I promise, you will laugh your socks off if you go! Fortunately, you have another weekend to attend as it will be presented again this coming weekend. I promise, it is a DO-NOT-MISS event!” — Sharon Fischer

“The play is HILARIOUS!!! I looked on the “Lend Me a Tenor” website and viewed several clips from shows put on in NY and London. Ours was every bit as good, if not better!” — Wanda Wakkinen

Set in 1934, the story revolves around a renouned tenor, Tito Merelli, known to his fans as “Il Stupendo.”  Merelli is scheduled to sing the lead in “Otello.”  The opera is being produced as a gala fundraiser for the Cleveland Opera Company.  Unfortunately, everything begins to unravel, even before the star leaves his hotel room.  Merelli’s wife, who has mistaken an autograph-seeker hidden in his closet for a secret lover, leaves him a “Dear John” letter.  The distraught Merelli accidentally is given a double dose of tranquilizers to calm him, after which he passes out.  Saunders, the opera company’s general manager, is determined that the show will go on (yes, it’s all about the money), so he asks his assistant, Max, to impersonate the star.  Max puts on the blackface makeup required for the role of Otello, and his disguise succeeds until Merelli, also in blackface, wakes up and heads for the stage.  Thereaafter follows a chain reaction of mistaken identity, farcical plot twists, double entendres, innuendoes, and constant entrances and exits through several doors.  It all adds up to side-splitting laughter. 

The Theatre on the Hill production stars Charlie Thompson as Tito Merelli, Jeremy Colbert as Max, Pamela K. McNett as Diana, Aaron Adkinson as Saunders, Holly Eye as Maggie, Jennifer Fountain as Maria, Monica Helm as Julia and Robby Chanez-Jacks as the bellhop.

Tickets will be available at the door.  Advance tickets are available from TLC Portraits in the White Sands Mall and the Blue Stone on South White Sands Boulevard.  Admission is $8 for adults and high school students and $4 for children.  NMSUA students with a valid ID may purchase two tickets at the door for $2.   Production not recommended for children under 10.  For more information call Diana at 439-3670.

NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill presents TICKLE ACADEMY, a new family comedy written by Connie Breding and presented on April 16, 17, 23, 24 & 25 at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center on the NMSU-A campus. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 pm and the Sunday matinee begins at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for high school and children. Advance tickets are available at The Blue Stone on White Sands Blvd. and at TLC Portraits in the White Sands Mall. Come and see a new family comedy that is suitable for all ages!

TICKLE ACADEMY is set in a progressive school run by Ignatious P. Tickle. The cast includes a variety of eccentric faculty members and their terrific students. The academic apple cart is upset when Wally and Shirley, two new, nasty students, enroll at the school and cause havoc. In the end, order is restored to Tickle Academy, because, as Shakespeare said, “All’s well that ends well.”

For more information, call 439-3670.

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

The final weekend showing of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK are November 20 & 21 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 22 at 2:00 PM at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center on the NMSU-A campus. Doors open one hour before the show.

Tickets are $8 for adults and high school students and $4 for children and may be purchased at the door. Tickets for NMSU-A students with a current ID are $2 at the door only. Children 8 years of age and older should understand the play. There is no profanity or other objectionable material in the show. For more information, call 439-3670.

Advance Tickets are available at the following locations:

• The Blue Stone on White Sands Boulevard
• TLC Portraits at the White Sands Mall

The show is underway for the New Mexico State University Alamogordo’s Theatre on the Hill production of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, a dramatization of Anne Frank’s original diary by playwrights Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

One of the most valuable and informative artifacts of the Holocaust, Anne’s diary focuses on her daily life and the world around her. In July of 1942, fearing deportation to Auschwitz, the Franks go into hiding in a “secret annex” in the attic of Mr. Frank’s former business. Soon after, they are joined by the Van Daan family and a dentist named Mr. Dussel.

For over two years, Anne recorded what life was like in the annex–the fear, tension, frustration–and even boredom–of a life lived under very compromised conditions. Much of the diary centers on Anne’s difficult, if typically adolescent, relationship with her mother as well as her interest in the Van Daan’s teenage son, Peter. Anne also shares her hopes for her life after the war–and her dream of becoming a writer. In this way, the diary introduces readers to a very typical teenage girl–a girl whose thoughts and emotions put a human face on the almost incomprehensible horror of the Holocaust.

Playing the title role of Anne is Andrea Bond, a seventh grade student at Chaparral Middle School. The daughter of Gary and Colleen Bond, Andrea has been active in theatre since she started performing in 2003 with the Missoula Children’s Theatre traveling productions. At NMSU-A, Andrea danced the role of Blue Fish in SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL and most recently played Rowdie in THE BIG DOG’S CLUB.

According to director Connie Breding, finding “the right” Anne was very challenging. “We had many talented young gals who turned in impressive auditions, but I kept coming back to Andrea because she captured the exuberance and energy that was needed for Anne. Hiding in the Secret Annex, Anne is restricted to living in a small, cramped space, yet she always keeps an inquisitive nature and a love of life. Andrea was able to connect with that important part of Anne’s personality.”

Victoria Crosby, a student at NMSU-A, plays Margot, Anne’s older, more studious sister. Active in NMSU-A Theatre since 2006, Crosby plans to make acting her career.

Tasked with bringing Mr. and Mrs. Frank to life on the stage are Aaron Adkison and Lori Lamphere-Stewart. While Mr. Frank is Adkison’s first major role, Lamphere-Stewart is well-known to Ruidoso audiences for her many performances with Lincoln County Community Theatre.

The Van Daan family, who shares the Secret Annex, is played by Rod Barnes as Mr. Van Daan, Cari del Palacio as Mrs. Van Daan, and Jeremy Colbert as Peter. Rounding out the cast are Cliff Reisig as Mr. Dussell, Robert Trowbridge as Mr. Kraler, and Larisa Hoke as Miep.

Christina Stubbs and Cherece Laperuta, both NMSU-A students, are the Assistant Directors, while the set is designed by NMSU-A adjunct theatre faculty member Will Bartlett, who is assisted by Greg Fultz, and the members of the Stagecraft class and the Running Crew class. Leif Jones and Joe Busick will be operating the light board and the sound console, Lissa Forrest is heading the prop crew, while Stubbs also handles the duties of Makeup and Costume Designer.