Archive for August, 2009

Just one short year ago the Founders of Farmers Alley Theatre and their Board of Directors held its Inaugural Benefit Gala at the Cityscape Events Center to announce its first season and garner support from the community.  It was so thrilling to see that room filled with people who believe in the power and beauty of the arts and were willing to champion the Farmers Alley Theatre from the very beginning.  Drinks were enjoyed, wonderful food was served, songs were sung, and a fantastic evening of entertainment was had by all.

Thanks, in large part, to the generous donations from supporters like yourself, our first season was a hit!  Whether you were moved to tears by JANE EYRE, brought to tears of laughter from THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, or attended any of our exciting shows this past year the simple fact remains, we could not have succeeded without our donors.

By now, you have hopefully received your invitation to our Second Season Gala that is sure to be “RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY”! We will be holding this event in the fabulous FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE with Hearty Hors D’oeuvres and drinks to be served at 6:30pm with entertainment from our talented ensemble and special guests to follow at 8:00pm.

Farmers Alley Theatre is a not for profit organization.  Tickets are $40 per person or $80 per couple.

Please RSVP at info@farmersalleytheatre.com or by calling the box office at 343-2727.

We hope to see you at our Benefit Gala again this year and we cannot wait to show you what we have in store for our Second Sensational Season!

The summer is in full swing, and Farmers Alley Theatre is cooking up the hottest ticket for family fun in the Kalamazoo area.

Our Children’s Series presents its first production with the stage version of the super popular television show, NICKELODEON’S “BLUE’S CLUES LIVE!” opening July 24^th and running through August 8^th. Join Steve and everyone’s favorite pup, Blue, as they search for the most spectacular place! Their travels take them to Storybook Forest where they encounter Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Big Bad Wolf. Blue and Steve also venture into Outer Space!! Children will have the opportunity to collect clues in their very own handy dandy notebook, and interact with the cast during the performance, and after the show in a Special Meet and Greet with Steve, Blue, and the rest of their favorite characters. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. Morning shows and matinees will be available. Visit our website at www.farmersalleytheatre.com for specific dates and times. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind experience for your children or grandchildren as they will experience professional live theatre up close! Call our Box Office at 343.2727 or visit our website for tickets!

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS

Season Subscriptions are now on sale! Subscribe for our 2009-2010 season and save up to 20% off our normal ticket prices. With one of our season flex passes you will receive 7 admissions to our fabulous plays and musicals plus an opportunity to reserve seats prior to public sale. A maximum of 2 admissions per production. If you enjoyed JANE EYRE, ESCANABA IN LOVE, or THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, then you’ll want to be sure to reserve your tickets for our sensational sophomore season! Adult Flex Passes are available for $130 and Senior/Student Flex Passes for $120.

Please call our box office at 343.2727 or order online at www.farmersalleytheatre.com

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL

OPENS THIS WEEKEND!

Style your mullets, crack open a Natty Light, and come on down to the Farmers Alley Trailer Park, err, Theatre this weekend for the opening of The Great American Trailer Park Musical. This show is raunchy, outrageous and flat-out hysterical. With musical numbers that range from Rock to Disco to Country, you won’t want to miss this high-energy production.

Starring Gina Maria Chimner, Joe Dely, Hannah Sielatycki, Whitney Wade, Cece Weeks, Adam Weiner, and Amanda Wyant.

Directed By Laurel Scheidt

Music Direction By Catherine Walker Adams

Show dates are:

June 12 (SOLD OUT!), 13(LIMITED!), 18, 19(SOLD OUT!), 20(LIMITED!), 21, 25, 26, 27, and 28.
Tickets can be purchased at www.farmersalleytheatre.com or by calling the box office at 343-2727.

STUDENT RUSH TICKETS AVAILABLE!

Student Rush tickets will be available for Trailer Park 60 minutes before curtain for only $10! At that time we will put the students name on a list, and release any tickets we have available 5 minutes before curtain. Must have a valid college or high school ID to be eligible for rush tickets.

COMING SOON!

Nickelodeon’s

BLUE’S CLUES LIVE!

Gather up the kids and grandkids and get them ready for the first production in our Children’s Series as we welcome everyone’s favorite pup, Blue, to the stage for NICKELODEON’S BLUE’S CLUES LIVE!!!

Blue joins up with his best friend Steve as they take a clue filled journey to find the most spectacular place. Their journey takes them to the storybook forest where they meet get help from Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf and other storybook characters. Blue and Steve’s clues even take them into outer space where they discover planets and celestial wonders along the way.

Performed by our ensemble company and Directed by Artistic Director Jeremy Koch, Blue’s Clues Live! will open on July 24th, and run through August 8^th. Tickets will be on sale soon! It’s the perfect summer destination for families in search of fun!

2009-10 SEASON ANNOUNCED!

Farmers Alley Theatre is pleased and proud to announce our second spectacular season. Here are the shows and dates at a glance!

SHE LOVES ME

A Heartwarming Musical – October 2^nd-25^th

AN EVENING WITH LAUREN KENNEDY

A Special Cabaret Event! – November 13-14

FOREVER PLAID : PLAID TIDINGS

Family Holiday Cabaret – December 4^th -27^th

FENCES

Poignant Drama – February 5^th- 21^st

ALL IN THE TIMING

Hilarious One Act Comedies – March 12^th-27^th

SPEECH & DEBATE

Contemporary Dark Comedy – April 9^th-25^th

PARADE

Epic Musical – June 11^th- 27^th

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Classic Family Musical – July 16^th – August 1^st

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR 2009-2010 SEASON!

We are so excited to offer our patrons the chance to SAVE 20% when they become a Farmers Alley Theatre flex pass subscriber!

What do you get?

-7 admissions

-A maximum of two (2) admissions per production

-The opportunity to reserve seats prior to public sale.

ADULT FLEX PASS: $130

SENIOR/STUDENT FLEX PASS: $120

*$5 surcharge added per ticket if “Flex Pass” is used for Plaid Tidings

* Lauren Kennedy is not included in “Flex Pass”

PLEASE CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 343-2727 TO ORDER

or go to www.farmersalleytheatre.com to purchase your flex pass online!

Coming off the heels of the wildly successful musical JANE EYRE, the Farmers Alley Theatre is proud to announce the next Signature Series production to grace our stage.

MARVIN’S ROOM tells the story of Bessie, a woman struggling to care for both her bedridden father Marvin and her eccentric Aunt Ruth. When Bessie finds her own self in the midst of a medical crisis, she calls upon the help of her estranged sister Lee to shoulder some of the burden. Lee, however, has her own issues, not the least of which is her rebellious teenage son Hank. How do families strengthen in times of struggle? MARVIN’S ROOM is a touching, heartfelt, and humorous look at the years that keep us apart…and the moments that bring us together.

Directed by Dr. Robert L. Smith, MARVIN’S ROOM stars Sharon Williams as Bessie, Peg Small as Ruth, and Shayne Plemmons as Lee. It opens this Friday, May 8^th and continues through Sunday, May 24^th. Ticket reservations can be made by calling our box office at 269.343.2727 or by visiting our website at www.farmersalleytheatre.com. Our intimate space only holds around 100 seats, so make your reservations now for this Award Winning Play.

You can read the feature article in the Kalamazoo Gazette about Marvin’s Room here:

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/05/sisters_face_serious_issues_in.html

COMING SOON

Unfold your lawn chairs, polish off the pink flamingo, and crack open a Pabst Blue Ribbon! It’s almost time to visit THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL. Armadillo Acres in Starke, Florida is the setting for the wildest, funniest, trashiest new musical this side of the White Castle on Route 12.

Directed by Laurel Scheidt and under the musical direction of Catherine Walker Adams, TRAILER PARK tells the story of the toll collecting, beer guzzling husband Norbert Garstecki, and his Lifetime-TV watching, agoraphobic housewife Jeannie. She hasn’t left the trailer in 20 years, when she got the most hideous perm! (oh, and her baby was kidnapped too.) Their marriage is on the rocks, and things get even more rocky when Pippi, a stripper on the run from her magic marker sniffing ex-boyfriend from Oklahoma City, moves in next door and moves in on Norbert!

Starring Gina Chimner, Joe Dely, Hannah Sielatycki, Whitney Wade, Cece Weeks, Adam Weiner, and Amanda Wyant, THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL hitches up starting June 12^th and runs through June 28^th. Tickets are on sale now by calling 269.343.2727 or by going online at www.farmersalleytheatre.com.

Coming in July: Calling all kids and grandkids! Everyone’s favorite mystery solving dog, Blue is appearing live onstage with his good friend Steve, in NICKELODEON’S BLUE’S CLUES LIVE!!! It’s the perfect summer destination for kids of all ages.

Another Kalamazoo first is happening at the Farmers Alley Theatre!!

JANE EYRE, the musical, will be making its Kalamazoo Premiere this spring at the Farmers Alley Theatre!

Based on the lavish novel by Charlotte Bronte, this new musical adaptation of one of the greatest love stories of all time is sure to delight and amaze the entire family! JANE EYRE, the musical, opens April 3^rd and runs through the 19^th.

JANE EYRE is a story of passion, faith, forgiveness, and – most of all – the eternal healing power of an all-consuming love. Its sweeping love story is breathtaking in its scope and beauty, steeped in rich tradition and overflowing with joy. Filled with soaring melodies, the score embodies a romantic lyricism uncommon in the modern Broadway musical. The Tony-nominated score was written by Paul Gordon, and the book was adapted by John Caird (Les Miserables).

Farmers Alley Theatre is especially excited about our first major musical for several reasons. The first reason is that it stars founders and ensemble members Denene Mulay Koch and Jeremy Koch as Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, respectively. Also, that they will be directed by Denene’s mother and Farmers Alley Board of Directors Vice President, Kathy Mulay. Come be the first Kalamazoo audience to witness this gorgeous new musical.

Showtimes are April 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 11^th, 17^th, and 18^th at 8pm, and the 16^th at 7pm. Sunday matinees perform on the 5^th and 19^th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Farmers Alley Theatre Box Office at 343-2727 or be visiting our website at www.farmersalleytheatre.com. Tickets are $22 general admission and $19 seniors/students.