“The Man Who Came to Dinner,” produced at the Hale Centre Theatre for the next month, is guaranteed to make the audience laugh as it learns the ways of Sheridan Whiteside, according to organizers.
The production begins Thursday, April 9, and runs through Saturday, May 16 with matinee and evening showings. Tickets range from $16 to $28 and can be purchased by visiting www. haletheatrearizona.com.
“This particular production of it is going to be a lot better than most people have seen,” said Mark Hackman, who plays Whiteside. “It’s kind of a historical artifact, but our skillful director has made it very interesting history.”
He said his character is a very intelligent author, lecturer, critic and a man of letters who is witty. He said Whiteside also is self-absorbed and a bit difficult to get along with.
puts operations into place, actions into place if you will, that make other people happy in spite of himself.”
The other’s person’s happiness lies with Maggie Cutler, Sheridan’s secretary.
Melody Knudson, who plays Maggie Cutler, said her character has somehow put up with Whiteside’s brash and rude personality for 10 years.
“Even though he is rude and obnoxious, he has a deep affection for Maggie and doesn’t want to lose her as a secretary,” Knudson said.
“As I get to know the character, I get to know their story and personality. Maggie is interesting. She is an independent woman. She is also very sweet and gentle spirited. I like the contrast of her personality.”
not everyone may know, making the production historical, educational and very funny.
For Hackman, acting has been a hobby since junior high. He is a software engineer by trade.
“I have been lucky enough to do acting on and off for various productions in the Valley,” he said.
Hackman said he enjoys acting because it is one pursuit in life where it is mostly collaborative and cooperative. He said everyone helps each other out while making others look their best.
Knudson, on the other hand, began acting when she was 3 years old. She said because there was not a theater program at the university she attended, she just recently began auditioning for roles.
“This play is a classic story of redemption and I kind of enjoy the fact that Mr. Whiteside is forced to find his better self and put other’s happiness ahead of his own,” Hackman said. “He
“Throughout the course of the show, she finds herself (and) she falls in love,” Knudson said. “She wants a relationship instead of just being an independent working woman. She wants to be in love and settle down.” Knudson said she enjoys the interesting dynamics that takes place between Whiteside and Cutler.
She said “The Man Who Came to Dinner” is a great family-friendly production.
“Everyone needs a break to laugh and get away from how stressful real life is,” Knudson said. “It’s a good show to take a break and get a good laugh in.”
The production, Hackman said, offers a glimpse into the 1930s’ mindset and lifestyle. He said there are a lot of names dropped from the 1930s that
“I love being able to bring characters to life,” Knudson said. “Often times the character only exists on paper. They are part of the story, but until the script is in the hands of the actor, the character doesn’t have life and breath. It is exciting to breathe life into the characters that the writer has imagined.”
Hale Centre Theatre is located at 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. For more information, call (480) 497-1181.
The Cover Ups channel 1960s music
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Local musician Kevin Crum enjoyed growing up in the 1960s and loved the music of that era.
Today, Crum plays guitar professionally and performs with his band, The Cover Ups. He noted many of that era’s popular bands and performers, such as The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, were some of his early influences in his musical career. That music was his generation’s music.
“(It was) music that we grew up with and spent a lot of time listening to,” Crum said of his band. “We are very vocally oriented. There are lots of harmonies.”
The Cover Ups will play at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, during Gilbert’s Downtown Concert Series, at the Water Tower Plaza in Gilbert’s Heritage District.
There is no charge to attend the concert. Attendees are welcome to bring food and nonalcoholic beverages, as long as they are not in glass containers.
Like millions of other Americans, Crum watched “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9, 1964, to see The Beatles.
His love for music was born that day. As a 9-year-old, Crum was mesmerized by the electric guitars The Beatles were playing on TV, beginning a passion for years to come.
“It was a momentous day for music in general,” he said. “They obviously were a big inspiration for several generations of musicians.”
His musical journey began because playing the guitar and singing songs “were the popular things to do” in the 1960s, Crum said.
“There were a tremendous number of
groups that suddenly erupted from that initial inspiration,” Crum explained.
The Cover Ups play an array of music from such artists as Pink Floyd, Journey, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Tom Petty and, of course, The Beatles.
“We really don’t perform a lot of our original music,” Crum said. “We are doing concerts in the park. They want to hear material they know and are familiar with. We are there to entertain everyone.”
Crum began teaching guitar lessons full-time in 1995 at Gilbert Music and Chandler Music. In 1997, while teaching guitar lessons, a woman walked into the studio, picked up a guitar, played and began to sing. “I was blown away by her voice and abilities,” he said.
Crum, then a bachelor, was swept off his feet and asked the woman, Tammi, to marry him. The band was then formed, adding Tammi’s guitar, keyboard and singing skills to the mix.
Throughout the years, the band has changed some of its personnel.
The Cover Ups opened the Gilbert Downtown Concert Series two years ago at Freestone.
Crum said he enjoys playing the outdoor festivals, instead of a small club, because there is much more room.
“Everyone is there because they want to see the band and they want to hear music,” Crum said. “The feedback from the audience...that is what it is all about. If you can entertain and really do a good job and people are wowed by it, that is kind of what it is all about.”
Art Intersection encouraging arts in the community
Art Intersection encourages creative individuals to take their work to the next level through programs and facilities in which they learn, create and exhibit. It embraces and promotes the intersection of photography with related art forms as it fosters imaginative and innovative approaches to serving the community in the pursuit of this vision.
As a result, the organization is hosting a slew of events in the next couple months. Below is an example of some.
Trip to Arizona Railway Museum for Pinhole Photography Day
A Pinhole Photography Trip to the Arizona Railway Museum will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sunday, April 26,
for the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. Although the event is free, a $5 donation for the museum is appreciated.
The Arizona Railway Museum, 330 E. Ryan Rd., Chandler, will open its doors to the Art Intersection exclusive event, providing individuals with the opportunity to use the entire outdoor museum to take pinhole photographs.
Anyone, anywhere in the world, who makes a pinhole photograph on the last Sunday in April can scan it and upload it to the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day website, where it will become part of the annual Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day celebrations online gallery.
Attendees will be encouraged to submit their photographs from the outing to the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day website.
Those interested in attending are asked to send an email to info@artintersection.com.
Exploring Photography camp June 9 through June 12
Art Intersection staff will provide a camp, Exploring Photography, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, through Friday, June 12. The camp, which is for ages 13 to 17, is $195. Snacks will be provided. Learn an overview of photographic techniques from digital capture and printing to traditional darkroom and historical processes. Youngsters will use a digital and film camera, print digitally in the darkroom and experiment with alternative photography.
Staff will discuss the fundamentals and foundations of the photographic medium with fun photo projects every day. Each student will leave with a collection of their artwork made during camp, be featured in an online exhibition at www. artintersection.com and have one or more of their images published in the summer student catalogue. Students can bring their own cell phone, digital camera and film cameras or use one from Art Intersection.
Advanced Photography camp set or June 23 through June 26
Advanced Photography will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, through Friday, June 26. The camp, which is for ages 13 to 17, is $195. Snacks will be provided.
The advanced camp aims to introduce
students to techniques and ideas that go beyond basic photography. Students will learn to merge antiquarian processes with modern image making to create unique artwork. Campers will also explore their creativity with digital capture and the latest photo editing software, as well as with large format film and alternative processes in the wet lab darkroom.
Each student will leave with a collection of their artwork made during camp, be featured in an online exhibition at www.artintersection.com and have one or more of their images published in the summer student catalogue.
Students must have some foundation in digital and film photography or have taken the Exploring Photography or Introduction to Photography camps at Art Intersection to take this class.
Photo Portfolio Building to be held July 14 through July 17
The Photo Portfolio Building, geared
toward ages 13 to 17, will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, through Friday, July 17. The camp is $195. Snacks will be provided.
In this advanced session students will go beyond clicking the shutter to grow a body of work. Through discussions about images and goals, staff will help edit and develop each individual’s artwork during the camp. Learn different printing and presentation styles to create accomplished work. The digital lab and darkroom lab will be available each day to help develop projects.
Each student will leave with a collection of their artwork made during camp, be featured in an online exhibition at www.artintersection.com and have one or more of their images published in the summer student catalogue.
Students should have some photography work already done on their own or have taken the Advanced Photograph camp at Art Intersection.
Hale Centre Theatre gearing up for another season
A mixture of comedic gems, a heartfelt true-life drama and glowing musicals are all part of the Hale Centre Theatre’s 2015-2016 season.
The award-winning theater will kick off its new season on Friday, Aug. 28, with a madcap musical comedy “Something’s Afoot.”
“I’m very conscious of what our audience wants from us,” said theater owner Dave Dietlein.
“They value our creative, eyepleasing, tune-filled musicals, love to laugh at our comedies and are moved by our dramas. We encourage our patrons to suggest shows they’d like to see. When we select our season, we really do listen to what they have to say.”
Since opening in July 2003, Hale Centre Theatre has consistently delivered topdraw family entertainment, winning numerous awards for acting, costumes and directing, as well as best play and best musical.
The new season will be no exception, offering a side-splitting musical comedy “Something’s Afoot,” as the lead into a year of enchanting entertainment that includes “Mary Poppins,” the Cole Porter romp, “Anything Goes,” and the retelling of the Romeo & Juliet tale, the iconic “West Side Story.”
“Something’s Afoot” will take the stage from Friday, Aug. 28, through Saturday, Oct. 10; “Mary Poppins” is booked from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Nov. 28; “Beau Jest” will arrive Thursday, Dec. 31, and play through Saturday, Feb. 13; and “Anything Goes” will take the stage from
Thursday, Feb. 18, through Saturday, April 2.
“The Diary of Anne Frank” comes to the Hale Theater Thursday, April 7, through Saturday, May 14; “Me and My Gal” will be performed Thursday, May 19, through Thursday, July 2; and “West Side Story will take the stage from Thursday, July 7, through Saturday, Aug. 20.
The season also includes three special engagements of “Heaven Can Wait” from Tuesday, Sept. 15, through Wednesday, Nov. 18; “A Christmas Carol” from Thursday, Dec. 3, through Thursday, Dec. 24, and “The Andrews Brothers” from Monday, Jan. 18, through Tuesday, April 19.
Patrons are encouraged to book quickly for the best seating selections. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Hale Centre Theatre box office at 50 W. Page Ave., by calling (480) 497-1181 or by visiting www.haletheatrearizona.com.
