JCC's One Act High School Competition Winners

Jackson Community College, assisted by Center Stage Jackson and Left of Center, hosted Columbia Central, Concord, Grass Lake, Jackson, Lumen Christi, and Northwest Schools.

Center Stage Member Alexandria "Ali" Flynn won Best Technical Director for Lumen Christi's entry. The Best Overall Performance went to Columbia Central's An Important and Meaningful Student Meeting, written and directed by Bill Bivins, who will play DonQuixote in the upcoming production of Man of La Mancha.

The day was highly successful and looks to become a regular event.

Cast Announced for Man of La Mancha

THE CAST

Don Quixote - Randy Guernsey*
Sancho - Bob DeMinico
Aldonza - Sandy Sykes*
The Innkeeper - Thomas Hutt
The Padre - Steve Hug*
Dr. Carrasco - Jarod Moore
Antonia - Anne Fleming
The Barber - Derek Turson
Pedro, Head Muleteer - Steve Dietrich*
The Housekeeper - Rhonda Reichard
Anselmo, a Muleteer - Andrew Thompson*
Juan, a Muleteer - Joel Atkins
Tenorio, a Muleteer - Jason Howell
The Innkeeper’s Wife - Rhonda Reichard
Fermina, a slavey and Moorish Dancer - Mary Krzesicki*
The Moorish Dancer - Julia Nichols
Captain of the Inquisition - Dave Mullholand
Prisoner/Dancer - Tiffany Doan, Megan Edwards
Prisoner/Horse - Jessica Farnham, Courtney Collis
Prisoner/Gypsy - Dave Mulholland
Guards and Men of the Inquisition - Charles J. Minder, Robert Daniel

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Artistic Director - Mark Turson
Musical Director - Brian Mangiavellano
Pianist - Ruth Ann Windle*
Vocal Director - Leigh Ann Dusseau**
Technical Director - Christine Gorton**
Set Designer - Thomas Hutt
Choreographer - Connie Wolin
Fight Choreographer - Gary Wetzel-Righetinni
Stage Manager - Chuck Thor
Lighting Designer - Larry Shaltis
Light Operator - Amanda Mahoney
Costumer - Ellen Yoakam*
Properties - Susan Gahagan
Publicity - lidija Mitrius Fremeau**
Graphic Artwork - Molly M. Fremeau
Program Cover - Stephanie Kolman*
Program - Ann Holt**, Bob Holt*
Program Ads - CSJ Board of Directors, Richard Fifelski*
Front of House - Susan Murphy**

*Member of Center Stage Jackson
**Member of the Board of Directors

One Day Theatre Class for Kids!

Ella Sharp Museum is offering a One Day Wonder class on Friday, April 6th from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm called Curtain Call! The class, taught by Leigh Ann Dusseau, is for kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade and costs $25 for museum members and $30 for non-members. Students bring their own lunch but snacks are provided. for more information visit http://www.ellasharp.org/.

Auditions for Man of La Mancha

Ruth Ann Windle. pianist for the production consults with Chris Gorton, CSJ President, and lidija Fremeau, who helped run the auditions on Saturday afternoon.
Choreographer Connie of Connie's School of Dance in Jackson teaches some dance steps to the men.

A cast list will be posted as soon as Director Mark Turson and Vocal Director Leigh Ann Dusseau have made their decisions.

The production will be presented May 11 through May 20 in the Ruth Day Theatre at Jackson Community College's Potter Center.

Auditions for Man of La Mancha This Weekend

Center Stage Jackson is pleased to announce open auditions this weekend for Man of La Mancha with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion.

Auditions will be March 3, 2:00-4:30 pm and March 4, 6:00-8:30 pm at First Congregational Church, 120 N. Jackson St., Jackson, MI. Artistic Director Mark Turson is looking to cast 17 men (ages 18-60) and 8 women (ages 17-60). Those auditioning should prepare 16 bars of vocals and be prepared to read from the script for multiple roles. Scripts are available by calling (517) 782-9751.

Performances of Man of La Mancha will be May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20 at the Potter Center's Ruth Day Theatre on the campus of Jackson Community College. For more information, please visit www.centerstagejackson.org.

Based on one of the great literary masterpieces of all time, Man of La Mancha is set in Spain at the end of the 16th century. Miguel de Cervantes, an author, is thrown into prison by the Spanish Inquisition and forced to plead for his life and the life of his servant when put on trial by the other prisoners. In his defense, Cervantes tells the tale of Alonso Quijana, who believes he is the knight-errant Don Quixote de la Mancha. Cervantes and his servant assume the roles of Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza as the other prisoners reluctantly participate in the tale. Eventually they are drawn into the story in spite of themselves and realize the power of pursuing one's dreams. Through his trials and tribulations, Don Quixote reveals how love, truth, honor and justice can all be possible in life.

Man of La Mancha ran for nearly six years on Broadway and won five Tony awards including Best Musical and features a memorable score including the classic song "The Impossible Dream."

About CSJ:
Center Stage Jackson is Jackson's community theatre group. Formed in 2001 when Jackson Civic Theatre and Clark Lake Players merged, Center Stage Jackson is a non-profit production company dedicated to presenting quality theatrical productions in the Greater Jackson, Michigan area, performing at Jackson Community College, a proud sponsor of CSJ, located at 2111 Emmons Road, Jackson, Michigan, and other venues in the Jackson area. Please visit Center Stage's website. .