Each spring we invite volunteers to join us at our garage-loft costume shop to re-organize (unpack from the Main Stage shows and 8-week classes), sort, and repack our costumes and props in preparation for a very creative summer – You are invited to join us this season – and bring family and friends too –
Members of the DRT Costume Team will be here to show you what needs doing and how.
1) People that aren’t great at climbing stairs and lifting heavy things, to sit and sort costumes from boxes and bags into piles for “repacking people” to carry away –
2) People that are willing and able to carry big plastic containers of costumes, maybe up and down stairs and help re-organize the loft storage space.
DATE: Sunday, May 22, 2016
TIME: Noon – 4:00 pm (Stay as long as you like)
PLACE: Yard behind 1025 Carolina Avenue, Durham, NC
CONTACT: durhamregionaltheatre@gmail.com; (919) 286-5717
PLEASE RSVP to the contact address, so we’ll know how much bottled water and treats to have for the DRT Spring 2016 Costume Shop Party.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday afternoon.
Jenny Justice
A new and exciting tradition is emerging at DRT Summer Theatre Camps. It helps fulfill our mission to mentor students into professional job skills.
One reason that our camps fill-up every summer is our fantastic volunteer teaching assistants/interns. The first summer that all our children’s camps were full, in 2014, it was painfully clear that we also needed a mature, experienced, paid at some level, Assistant Camp Manager. The ACM would take over the crucial tasks of keeping up with daily administrative needs, supervising our teen teaching assistants, and generally supporting the Camp Director in any way necessary to keep our camps positive and exciting experiences.
The following summer, 2015, we held a public search and ended up hiring someone we already knew and loved. Our first Assistant Camp Manager was Korinn Jefferies, who had worked with DRT in the past as a volunteer teaching assistant and an actor on our Main Stage. Fresh from her first year in the musical theatre program at Howard University, Korinn was a perfect ACM.
And the tradition of training interns up to stipend level employees began. In 2016, the tradition continues.
Johanna has been actively involved with DRT since 2012. She has twice volunteered as a directing assistant/technical artist for DRT Main Stage productions (Watsons’ Go to Birmingham – 1963 (DRT 2014) and The Mousetrap (DRT 2013.) For three years Johanna was a student in DRT summer theatre camps (children’s and teen conservatory) and acting classes; the minute she was old enough, she began volunteering as a teaching assistant.
Johanna is currently a rising sophomore at Durham School of the Arts, where she is involved in the theater and choral program. This past year Johanna has worked on You Can’t Take it With You, Arms and the Man, and Eurydice. She has learned new aspects of technical theater to go along with previous and continuing performance acting knowledge. One of her favorite shows to work on was Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl because she got to create stage makeup designs for all the characters. She is thankful and excited for the opportunity to work with Durham Regional Theatre and Jenny Justice this summer!
Only two camps still have openings for students (Children's Theatre Camp 1 and Teen Theatre Conservatory) and both are nearly full. Sign up today and join us for a great creative summer.
Yesterday DRT'S "A Play A Day 1" summer theatre camp 2016 filled up - the first to fill for 2016, but Children's Theatre Camp 2 has just one spot left open and the others are ... well, if you want to know how many registration spots are open at any of our fabulous 2016 summer theatre camps, just go to the summer camps page for the up to date number of openings listed under each camp date. And while you're there - grab a spot for your family - it's going to be a great creative summer!
Warmly, Jenny Justice, artistic director
Here's wishing your spring is also blossoming -
Warmly, Jenny Justice, DRT Artistic Director
DRT auditions for the adults-only cast of Alfred Hitchcock's "39 Steps," adapted by Patrick Barlow from the Novel by John Buchnan, will be held at 913 Ninth St., Durham, NC, in the auditorium of EK Powe Elementary School, beginning at noon this Saturday, March 5th and again on Monday, March 7th starting at 6:00 pm - Auditions will be loose and relaxed - some improvisation and some cold readings from the script (you'll have to time look it over before you take it on stage)
Plans for our production of "39 Steps" are still a bit unclear - not our commitment to producing the hysterically funny, award-winning show, we are tremendously pleased to hold the rights to produce this play. Our vision of how DRT produces shows for adult only audiences (or mature teens) is actively taking shape - Because of this we're talking about where to present our adult MainStage play (dinner theatre? cabaret? formal auditorium? nightclub?) and when - spring, summer, next spring -
A good deal of our thinking is around the idea of forming a DRT adult acting troupe that works together year-round and has a major role in deciding what plays to do, etc. (in partnership with the DRT artistic director) So, we will hold two auditions at once this week: 1) auditions for specific parts in "The 39 Steps" and 2) a first audition/inquiry into the idea of a DRT adult acting troupe.
All adult (including young adults) actors are invited to attend these important, and exciting auditions. Who know what will happen next?
Warmly, Jenny Justice
All week I've watched our "Alice" audiences lean forward in their seats, their eyes wide, entirely enthralled by DRT'S 5th annual musical, "Alice, a mad musical fantasy." And these are just the adults! Today at our educational matinee for EK Powe Elementary School, over 200 3rd, 4th & 5th graders literally bounced in their seats with excitement as the Knave of Hearts tried to escape the wrath of the Queen of Hearts and Alice tried to find her way out of Wonderland.
For three shows I've heard comments from audience members like, "That was fantastic!" and "It totally captured me." And most of all, "Where did you find all these incredible singers?" I say, "They're everywhere, just looking for a place to give their all." We're grateful they chose to share their talents, their efforts, their dedication and joy with DRT.
We have one more performance of "Alice" left to give. Tomorrow, Saturday, February 27th at 1:00 pm. Don't miss it. That's all I have left to say.
Tickets at durhamregionaltheatre.com/drt-shows/ or
At the box office, auditorium of EK Powe Elementary School, 913 Ninth St., Durham, NC, 30 minutes before showtime.
Curtains up!
What better way could there be to survive life in our mad, mad world than to enter a madder one and laugh? Now's your chance to do it - and invite everyone you know to join you. Tweet, text, Facebook, call, email, talk about it in the coffee shops and the barber shops.
Brilliant, funny, fast paced and fabulously original, DRT's 5th winter musical, "Alice, a mad musical fantasy," opens this Friday night, 7:00 pm - Trust me - you don't want to miss it!
Only 3 shows, Feb. 19, Feb. 20, Feb. 27. Only three chances to be part of the mad, magical, thrillingly alive "Alice" experience. Go to durhamregionaltheatre.com/drt-shows and reserve your tickets now.
I look forward to seeing you at the theatre.
Jenny Justice, DRT Artistic Director
A DRT Main Stage Original Musical to Enchant All Ages
“ALICE, a Mad Musical Fantasy”
Adapted by Jennifer Justice from Lewis Carroll's "Alice" fantasies. Lyrics by Lewis Carroll, Jennifer Justice & Ryan Gunzel; Music by Ryan Gunzel & Jennifer Justice. Director, Jennifer Justice; Music Director/Vocal Arranger, Joy Harrell-Goff; Choreographer, Sheldon Mba
Madness attains dizzying heights in this sparkling, witty, musical adaptation by Jennifer Justice of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass.” The music moves confidently from lullabies to boisterous show tunes and bluesy rock and roll. The lyrics include classic Lewis Carroll poems like “The Walrus and the Carpenter” and “Jabberwocky,” alongside thrilling new songs from Justice and Gunzel.
“Alice, a mad musical fantasy” draws its strong cast of 26 singers and actors from Durham, Raleigh, Cary and Chapel Hill. Proving once again that the Triangle is bursting with talent just needing a stage.
FOR TICKETS & Reservations: Go to our Main Stage page at durhamregionaltheatre.com/drt-shows/
“DRT is both an expanding company of experienced, racially diverse theatre artists and an arts-education hub, committed to the growth of regional theatre artists from elementary school through adults.” DRT Mission and Vision statement
“Take heed. If you go among mad creatures, you will become mad yourself. Like me.” Cheshire Cat, “Alice, a mad musical adventure,” Justice
Tickets are on sale NOW for DRT'S annual family musical. This year we are very pleased and proud to present an exciting revision of our 2010 original musical, "Alice, a mad musical fantasy."
The script was adapted by DRT artistic director (me) Jenny Justice from the fascinating "Alice" novels of Lewis Carroll. Lyrics by Lewis Carroll, Jennifer Justice and Ryan Gunzel, music by Ryan Gunzel and Jennifer Justice. The play is directed by Jennifer Justice with music direction and vocal arrangements by Joy Harrell-Goff. With "Alice" we are thrilled to introduce DRT musical regulars to the magic of choreographer/actor, Sheldon Mba.
Thirty-nine hopeful actor/singers auditioned for the twenty-six roles in "Alice." We have a stellar cast, working hard to delight you every second of this enthralling show. Don't miss it!
Tickets are on sale now at: durhamregionaltheatre.com/drt-shows/
The 2nd round of "Alice" auditions is on Monday, Jan. 9th, 6 pm - 8 pm at E.K. Powe Elementary School, 913 Ninth Street, Durham, NC - between Club Blvd and Main St. - plenty of parking around the building, on the street and in small lots. Enter at the Main Doors and the auditorium will be directly in front of you.
ALL DRT SHOWS ARE MULTI-RACIAL - We have major roles for adults and teens with plenty of good parts for elementary aged actor/singers too.
DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS exciting, original, intriguing, funny, musical event. Find out more at: durhamregionaltheatre.com/drt-shows/
SEE YOU AT AUDITIONS * BRING YOUR FUNNY BONE -
Jenny Justice, artistic director
We held our first round of auditions for DRT'S winter musical, "Alice, a mad musical fantasy," and had a FABULOUS time. Joy Harrell-Goff, our music director, was brilliant as always at bringing the very best from our talented singers. The auditioning actors were quick and funny in delivering the characters: the tyrant, Queen of Hearts, the frightened Knave of Hearts, curious Alice, nervous White Rabbit, Tweedledum and Tweedledee - It was a strong beginning.
You can purchase tickets to this suspenseful, provocative show online today at our DRT MAIN STAGE shows page. Join us for a deeply moving, thrilling theatrical experience.