Rangeley Friends of the Arts kicks off a busy summer season with 4 performances of the exciting musical FOOTLOOSE on July 4^th weekend.  The performances will be held at the Lakeside Theater at 7PM on July 1, 2, 4, 5.  Reserved seat tickets ($15) are available at The Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce on 6 Park Road in Rangeley 864-5364.

When Ren (Connor Durgin) and his mother (Sue Downes-Borko) move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the adjustment to his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the local laws – including a ban on dancing.  When Ren hears of the town’s ordinance “no dancing of any kind is allowed at any time anywhere within the town limits of Bomont”, Ariel’s best friends – Rusty (Jaycee Mullen), Urleen (Ashley Quimby) and Wendy Jo (Ellie Brooks) – pull him aside to explain that this law dates back five years to a car accident that claimed the lives of four Bomont teenagers. In the flood of grief and guilt that followed that tragedy, the Rev. Moore (Tim Straub) managed to convince the Town Council to ban dancing. When the Reverend’s rebellious daughter, Ariel (Dagmar Wetherill) sets her heart on Ren, her boyfriend, Chuck (Hudson DeRaps) tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation and many of the locals are eager to believe the worst about the new kid.

This talented cast of 27 has several veterans of RFA productions and many newcomers.  The music is exciting, the dancing is wonderful, and the show will delight everyone in the audience.  The talented, small pit orchestra will provide a musical evening not to be missed.

Footloose Dancers

July 1, 2, 4, 5, 2011 at 7PM, Tickets now on sale at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of
Commerce 207-864-5364

$15.00 Reserved seats

FOOTLOOSE explodes onto the stage with classic 80s anthems including Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, and of course the title track, Footloose.

Life in small-town Bomont is peaceful until City boy, Ren, arrives. Breaking every taboo, Ren brings dance back to the heart of a town held back by the memory of a tragedy.

Based on the hit 80s movie (which launched the careers of Kevin Bacon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Lithgow), FOOTLOOSE has become a stage musical phenomenon. From Broadway to the West End and touring across the UK, there is just no stopping the music.

Music Director, Sue Downes-Borko has assembled an awesome pit band, Artist Director, Susan Hamilton has a passion for this exciting musical.  With great dance numbers choreographed by Pam Ellis, Erin Smith, Susan Hamilton, FOOTLOOSE is packed full of electrifying dance routines, guaranteed to get you to your feet.

Dancing is not a crime; to miss Footloose would be!

It was like any other Friday morning at RLRS except for one thing–there was a very special dragon in the gym! Thanks to the Rangeley Friends of the Arts students on this particular Friday were in for a big treat. The Theater at Monmouth brought their set, sound effects and magic in the form of Kenneth Grahame’s The Reluctant Dragon and rewritten for this special stage performance by four very talented actors.  The dragon in the story is no ordinary fire breathing beast but rather a gentle, poetry-loving friend. Breaking all of the stereotypes about dragons, this docile beast is to be slain by St. George, who by the way is really ready to retire from the dragon-slaying business. As the actors made their way through the bleachers climbing rocky cliffs and mountains students squealed with laughter. Much to everyone’s pleasure the story had a happy ending with tea and friendship being shared by all. So you see this particular Friday began with wonder, dreams and happy endings. Thank you Rangeley Friends of the Arts. We learned about trust, creative problem solving and getting to know someone before making judgments.

 Auditions for the summer musical Footloose will be held April 10 at 4 PM and April 11 at 6:30 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd.  We are looking for actors – high school and adult, production staff, and all those who want to be involved in this uplifting, challenging, and fun production.  If you cannot make those dates and wish to be involved, please call 864-2963.  The show will be held at Lakeside Theater on July 1, 2, 4, 5.  Community Theatre is at its best when many people of the community become involved. 

 The season will be filled with Rangeley Community Chorus concerts, the annual Street Dance, Sidecar Heroes Concert, Summer Diva, Home Tour, Art in August, the Westerhoff Concert, the Woodland Chamber Ensemble Concert and other exciting events to enjoy this summer.

Since 1968, the RFA has sponsored a Summer Concert Series including artists ranging from classical to country, Broadway to bluegrass.

 In 1975, we expanded the program to include sponsoring performances by various artists for the youth of our community.  In 1985, this program was expanded to a full school series of several performances.  RFA works closely with the school administration arranging workshops and seminars by talented artists and performers.

 The first local musical production was performed in 1976, a condensed version of a popular Broadway musical.  Since then RFA has produced many full length musicals.  RFA considers this effort one of the most important, as it involves the entire community in the arts in the most direct way; as performers and production staff. 

 The RFA initiated the Student Lesson Program in 1980, assisting local students with the cost of private instruction in the arts.  This program is available to all students taking violin, piano, wind instruments, ballet, tap and modern dance lessons.  In 1988, RFA offered its first scholarship to a graduating senior from Rangeley Lakes Regional School who was continuing an education in the arts.  RFA is offering a week long Drama Camp for students again this summer and the Rangeley Community Chorus will present two concerts this summer.

 As RFA continues to grow and nurture the appreciation of the arts in the region, it has become very apparent that there is a great need for a facility that will enable these programs to expand and grow.  The desire is a comfortable “meeting house”/auditorium for RFA programs and other community uses.  The RFA’s long-term goal is to create classroom and studio spaces for learning, creating and displaying all the arts including but not limited to visual, creative, movement, instrumental, vocal and performing.  A 2.7 acre lot has been acquired which abuts the school property.  With the help of our longtime supporters, the RFA hopes to make this facility a reality in the next few years.

 Donations to the RFA are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.  If you wish to direct your donation to the building fund, please indicate this in the memo of your check.  Thank you and enjoy this and all the performances listed in the schedule of events.

 www.rangeleyarts.com

PO Box 333, Rangeley, ME 04970 

“Poetry and Inspiration”, an upcoming concert by the Rangeley Community Chorus, takes place on Sunday, June 27 at 7:00 pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd.  The concert celebrates the marriage of fine poetry and music, including The Tiger by William Blake, The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Lake Isle of Innisfree by William Butler Yeats, and I Dream a World by Langston Hughes.  A $10.00 general admission fee will help defray costs of purchasing music for the group.

 A special feature of the program will be readings of each poem by a member of the community prior to each setting of the song.   Another song of interest on the program is the classic Simon & Garfunkel song, Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water.  

The Rangeley Community Chorus was formed in 2009 and is supported by funding from the Rangeley Friends of the Arts.  The June performance will include 18 singers from the Rangeley, Strong and Carrabassett area.  A new set of rehearsals will begin in July working towards an August 25 concert.  All adults and high school students are welcome to join in the fun.  Please call 864-3951 for more information.

 A tuneful, funny musical score meets a giant man-eating plant when Rangeley Friends of the Arts’ production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS devours the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley. One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, with a hit movie and a Broadway revival to its credit, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS opens on Thursday, June 1, 2010, and blossoms until Monday, July 5th.
In this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies, a down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” (voice-Connor Durgin, puppeteers-Tyler Eustis and Jaycee Mullen) grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS has book and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken.  Seymour (Tim Straub) and Mr. Mushnick (Les Hoekstra) combine voices for the unforgettable Mushnik and Son.  Audrey’s (Erin Smith) rendition of Somewhere That’s Green and Suddenly, Seymour is powerful and remarkable.  The story is revealed by the female chorus (Doo-whoppers) played by Cyndy Egan, Emily George, Ashley Quimby, Anna Soule, and Dagmar Wetherill. The dentist-Orin (Hudson DeRaps) is a character to be remembered.  Completing the cast is Ana Wetherill as the interviewer and Brittany Wetherill who will be seen portraying several unique characters. 

 This perennially favorite musical concerning a geek, an adorable floozie, some DOO-WHOPPERS and a blood-thirsty plant – all of whom conspire to give us an evening of hilarity and charm. It is a show not to be missed—You’ll love it!!

 Tickets ($15) are now available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce 864-5364.

The RFA Spring Music Recital held on May 27 featured selections by 19 pianists, 1 flutist and 4 vocal musicians.  The parents, friends and family members almost filled the Church of the Good Shepherd on the beautiful summer evening to enjoy the great variety of music and talent that was displayed.  One student (Sophie Chu-O’Neil) had a surprise for her father as she played “Happy Birthday” to celebrate his special day.  The RFA initiated the Student Lesson Program in 1980, assisting local students with the cost of private instruction in the arts.  The Rangeley Rotary Club and the Rangeley Lakes Regional School have been our partners in this effort with an annual grant to the program.  The RFA’s long-term goal is to create classroom and studio spaces for learning, creating and displaying all the arts including but not limited to visual, creative, movement, instrumental, vocal and performing.

The Rangeley Friends of the Arts will present 4 performances of the musical Little Shop of Horrors  at 7PM on July 1, 2, 4, 5 at the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley.

Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several show-stoppers including the title song, “Skid Row (Downtown)”, “Somewhere That’s Green”, and “Suddenly, Seymour”. 

The little plant does not thrive in its new environment and appears to be dying. Seymour questions why it should be doing poorly when he takes such good care of it. He accidentally pricks his finger on a rose’s thorn, which draws blood, and Audrey II’s pod opens thirstily. Seymour realizes that Audrey II requires blood to survive and allows the plant to suckle from his finger. As Audrey II grows, the plant becomes an attraction and begins generating substantial business for Mushnik. Being the owner of the plant, Seymour has suddenly gone from loser to hero. Audrey reveals she is not happy in her relationship and secretly has feelings for the timid Seymour. She sings that her ultimate dream is to have the ideal suburban life with Seymour, complete with a tract home, frozen dinners and plastic on the furniture.

The great music will have everyone tapping their toes and humming along to the very familiar tunes.  One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. 

Tickets ($15) will be available at the Rangeley Chamber of Commerce 864-5364.

These students, with superior tutelage from Kent and Ben, were able to do what many an acting troupe have done ‘ere these past four centuries, but with the sort of individuality only Rangeley can bring to such a production. Macbeth came to life, killed many innocents, and then died… again. Three days of amazing theater work with 10 awesome students, two consummate professional actors (Kent and Ben), one crazy idea of abridging Shakespeare’s Macbeth to a mere 30 minutes, and no one around to tell us it couldn’t be done. Wow. Education is about the experience and the application of what we learn, how we learn, and with whom we learn. Intersession affords a more focused and intense climate for project building. Maine’s Learning Results are adhered to in a celebrated fashion.  Fun definitely has its place in education, though brass tacks remain an essential aspect of the learning dynamic.

 We can say many years hence that we shared a stage together, and it was the world.

2010 RFA  Drama Camp will be taught  by Professional Instructor, Haley Murphy. 

It will be held at the Lakeside Theater, during the week of July 12-16, 2010 from 9:30am – 2:00pm. 

The camp is for Students in Grades 2 through 6 or ages 7 – 12. Registration fee is: $60.00

To download the 2010 RFA Drama Camp Brochure, please select it in the Links block in the lower righthand corner of the screen.

The summer musical will be “Little Shop of Horrors”, a favorite show with great music.  Seymour Krelbourn is a poor young man working at a run-down flower shop on skid row when he encounters a miracle. He discovers an alien plant after a total eclipse of the sun. After bringing the plant to the store, he gains fame, fortune, and love. The only defect is that the plant feeds on unusual food. Seymour and the plant make a deal that if the plant continues to bring Seymour positive attention; he will in turn continue to feed the plant.  One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.

The musical will be presented at 7PM on July 1,2,4,5, 2010 at the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley.