Theatre Workshop of Owensboro is hosting several events at its two locations, Empress Theatre and Trinity Centre, over the next couple of months.
“Sons of the Prophet” is a contemporary drama written by Stephen Karam, who Director Dan Heckel said writes very realistic characters.
The play was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and it chronicles a year in the life of two immigrant brothers who are adjusting to the death of their father while also caring for an aging uncle.
“It deals with serious subjects — death, illness, unwanted changes in life — but it does so in much the way we handle those topics — with unmerciful humor,” Heckel said. “It’s hilarious, but also deals with issues of family and faith and the question of just who can we look to for stability when no one around us is stable.”
Heckel is making his directorial debut, although he has been involved and acting with TWO since 2011. He made this “leap” because he believed the show should be produced locally and there wasn’t a part for him in the production.
“It’s been a learning experience, but I’m blessed with an amazing cast,” Heckel said. We have a wonderful mix of veteran actors and others who are making their main stage debut, but it’s as if they’ve been acting together for years. I couldn’t be prouder of this cast, and I know they will give the audiences a very entertaining night at the theater.”
The show opens with a dinner theatre catered by Moonlite Bar-B-Q on Feb. 6. Tickets to the 6:30 p.m. performance are $30 and must be purchased in advance.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, 8, 14, 15 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 9 and 16. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students.
The show, sponsored by Edward Jones, contains strong language and adult content and is not recommended for children.
All performances are at Trinity Centre, 407 W. Fifth St.
Thad Mayhugh will be hosting a spring drama club for children in grades three through six for eight Saturdays. Theatre games, scene work, lighting, costuming and theatre make-up techniques will be featured, along with the scavenger hunt tradition.
Drama Club meets at the Trinity Center, 407 W. Fifth St. and begins Feb. 8 at noon. It ends at 1:30 p.m. each Saturday. The fee for the eight-week workshop is $75.00 and registration can be completed by calling the TWO Box Office at 270-683-5333 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.
Owensboro’s Got Talent returns in March and has proven to be one of the more popular events for the community.
“The event is loosely based on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ minus the negative comments,” said creator Teresa Wills. “The judges are honest but very supportive, more like the judges on “The Voice.’”
In its fifth year, Wills said that there have been a number of singers from all genres and many who play instruments as well, but there are also comedians, dancers, actors who perform skits, bands, pianists and fiddlers, among the talent.
“We welcome all forms of talent,” she said. “The sky and people’s talent are the limit.”
Sponsored by Alaris and used as a fundraiser for TWO’s two spaces, participants have three to five minutes to showcase their talent and at the end of each night, the audience votes electronically for their favorite. That vote is combined with the judges’ votes to determine who goes to the finale on March 28 at the Empress Theatre, 418 Frederica St. The preliminary rounds are held at Trinity Centre.
The grand prize winner receives $1,000.
Registration is available at TWO’s website and participants choose the date for their first performance. The competition begins March 7 at 7 p.m. and is held the following two Saturdays with the Grand Finale being held at 7 p.m. on March 28.
“There is always a lot of camaraderie among the participants,” Wills said. “The more experienced competitors are very encouraging of the first-timers and younger performers.”
Adults and children may compete, and in addition to the $1,000 grand prize, there are runner-up awards of $500 and $250.
Dear Edwina JR. is a “girl power” musical about the joys of growing up. Edwina Spoonapple leads neighborhood kids through a series of numbers for her weekly “Advice-a-Palooza.” The result is a collection of songs about food, friends and growing up.
Director Travis Chaney, credits the show as being well executed by the local young actors. Chaney’s daughter Lucy Jagoe is a veteran performer and joins the cast, and Chaney said that working with her allows an opportunity to do something fun with her.
“We have a very talented group of people helping me with Mary Katherine Maddox as assistant director, Erin Morris as choreographer, and Jenifer Wiggins as musical director,” Chaney said. “I really enjoy the collaboration that takes place among us in an effort to get the most of the cast while creating a wonderfully entertaining show.”
Chaney said the actors’ enthusiasm for the show makes it enjoyable and this show will be “a great family outing.”
Performances begin March 6. For more information, visit TWO’s webpage or Facebook page.
Tickets for all events and performances are available by calling the box office at 270-683-5333 or at TWO’s webpage.
