![]() ![]() We want professional level productions but we want to keep it feeling like a community,” Abbott said. “We want to train the audiences and performers expectations on how a theater production is produced. The talent in Oakdale, Abbott said, is a real boon to the community and the theater company. “And we’re thrilled with our principal leads.” We have boys ranging in age from 5 to 16,” Abbott said. “Our biggest worry was - would we be able to get 25 boys to sing and dance? With ‘Annie’ we knew we wouldn’t have a problem finding girls for the cast but generally, boys don’t want to sing and dance in front of an audience but we found what we needed and they’re great. With an 82-member ensemble, the project was admittedly daunting but the excitement of putting it together pushed past any hint of trepidation. It’s fun to see all the new friendships being made.” Sepulveda agreed, saying, “We have a lot of people taking the stage for the first time. “And a few community members who might surprise you with their talent.” “Oh yes, we have a lot of first timers,” Abbott said, dispelling the notion that only hard-core thespians responded to the call for auditions. One hundred-twenty people showed up to audition, which only cemented Abbott’s belief that there would be community interest in the Dickens classic, and all but five cast members are from Oakdale. Workshops were held prior to auditions to give people a chance to feel out the audition process, which was helpful in easing some performance jitters for some community members who hadn’t taken the stage for a long time - or ever.Īnd it worked. “‘South Pacific’ was in the running but the director has to pick something they feel passionate about,” Abbott said. The same local theater group brought “Annie” to life with an ensemble cast of more than 50 people last year, this time the group decided to tackle something with even bigger demands and more cast members.īut first, a director was needed to take the lead and Abbott, enamored with the Dickens classic, was a natural choice for the Oakdale Community Theatre steering committee. “Oliver!” includes some of the most beautiful and recognizable songs of musical history, including: “Consider Yourself,” “Who Will Buy?,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” and “Where is Love.” The movie version won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1967.ĭirected by Jenni Abbott and produced by Anastasia Sepulveda, the musical is the second summer production put on by the Oakdale Community Theatre and will run three consecutive weekends on Friday and Saturday, but no Sunday performances this time around. Oliver’s inexperience as a pickpocket changes his course yet again, and his adventures continue as Nancy tries to help him, Bill tries to stop him, and Fagin tries to simply make a profit. They teach Oliver the art and fun of making a living on the streets as they sing “Pick A Pocket,” and he is introduced to Nancy, a local tavern-maid with a heart of gold, and Bill, a villainous thief. ![]() He meets a boy known as The Artful Dodger and finds lodging with a group of young pickpockets under the tutelage of Fagin, a life-long thief. After breaking the cardinal rule of asking for more food, Oliver is forced to leave the workhouse orphanage he grew up in and begins his search for a true home and family. ![]() “Oliver!” is the story of a young orphan in 19th century London, written by Lionel Bart, based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Tickets are available for purchase for $13 each at Oak Valley Jewelers. Poverty, greed, the seething unmentionable sides of humanity - no, it’s not the latest salacious Hollywood headline - it’s the delicious complexity layered into the adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, Oliver Twist and it’s coming to Oakdale’s stage, Aug. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |