ROCKWALL - The Rockwall Community Playhouse’s production of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s novella “Of Mice And Men” opens this weekend with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Additional performances will run March 23-25 and March 30-April 1.

Ticket prices are $22 for adults and $16.80 for seniors, including the service fee. If tickets are sold out online, come to the theater by 7:30 pm to be placed on a waiting list.  There may be additional seats available. RCP no longer accepts credit cards at the door.  Credit card purchases must be made online or by phone.

To purchase tickets online and for more info, see www.rockwallcommunityplayhouse.org.

Published in 1937, the production tells the tragic story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression in California, USA.

Required reading in many schools,Of Mice and Men has been a frequent target of censors for vulgarity and what some consider offensive language; consequently, it appears on the American Library Association’s list of the Most Challenged Books of 21st Century.

Some strong language and adult situations are included.  The play is not suitable for children.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – The Rockwall Community Playhouse will present “Annie” this weekend and next – Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights, plus Sunday matinees. For  info, visit “Events Calendar” or www.rockwallcommunityplayhouse.org.

The show is directed by Darlene Singleton. Assistant Director and Stage Manager is Madeline Percin. Producer is Felicia Sykes.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – Tickets for the Rockwall Community Playhouse production of “Hello Dolly” are still on sale for Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances, this weekend and next, beginning at 8 pm Friday and Saturday and 2 pm Sunday, respectively.

The local production runs through Oct. 9 at the Playhouse, 609 E. Rusk in Rockwall.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 972-722-3399 or at www.rockwallcommunityplayhouse.org, but day of performance tickets are available only at the box office.

The cost is $22 for adults and $17 for seniors, students and children.

By J.J. Smith

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“Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,” playwright Tennessee Williams’ classic steamy production made famous as a movie by Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor – who died yesterday at age 79 – opens at the Rockwall Community Playhouse this weekend.

It will continue Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through April 10.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.RockwallCommunityPlayhouse.org or by calling the Theatre at 972-722-3399.

Prices are $20 for adults and students, and $15  for seniors.

The play is directed locally by ShelleyAubrey.

One of Williams’s best-known works, said to be his personal favorite, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955.

Set in “the bed-sitting room of a plantation home in the Mississippi Delta” of Big Daddy Pollitt, a wealthy cotton tycoon, the play examines the relationships among members of Big Daddy’s family, primarily between his son Brick and Brick’s wife, Maggie the “Cat”.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features several recurring motifs, such as social mores, greed, superficiality, decay, sexual desire, and death. Dialogue throughout is often rendered phonetically to represent accents of the American South.

The play was adapted as a motion picture by the same name in 1958, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman as Maggie and Brick, respectively.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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By J.J. Smith. If you enjoy musical comedy, then Rockwall Community Playhouse has a present for you this Christmas season.

Beginning this weekend, Dec 3-5, the local theatrical company will perform their Christmas Spectacular show, “Plaid Tidings,” at 8 pm Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday at 1 pm at the Playhouse, 609 E. Rusk St. Rockwall 75087.

They’ll present it again at the same times and place, Dec. 10-12.

In addition, right around the corner, auditions for their second annual “Rockwall’s Got Talent” competition will be held Jan. 8-9 for the big show at the Playhouse, Jan. 14 & 15. Times have not yet been announced.

Last year’s winner, young ventriloquist Laryssa Bonacquisti, won the $1,000 grand prize.

And if that’s not enough for the busy troupe, auditions for “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” are scheduled Jan. 15 or16 at 1 pm at the Playhouse.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased and further info obtained online at RockwallCommunityPlayhouse.org, or by calling 972-722-3399.

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By J.J. Smith. The producer of the NBC-TV program “Friday Night Lights” is looking for volunteer extras July 16 and 17 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to play the part of fans in an upcoming episode.

According to a spokesman for the Rockwall Community Playhouse, the producer will pay the Playhouse $20 for each volunteer who shows up representing RCP.

Only men, women and children over 10 years old are needed and will be paid.

Participants will be expected to stay 6-10 hours either or both days during filming.  The start time is not yet determined and filming might last as late as 10 pm each day.

Box lunches, snacks and drinks will be provided, as well as giveaways and raffles for prizes, for volunteers throughout each day. Actors in the series will also appear.

Teen members of the Playhouse are preparing now for their production of “That’s Entertainment” which will run July 30-Aug. 1 and Aug. 6-8.

For more information about Friday Night Lights or That’s Entertainment, call 972-722-3399.

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By J.J. Smith. A fourteen-year-old ventriloquist from Heath won the $1,000 first place prize at the “Rockwall’s Got Talent” show hosted by the Rockwall Community Playhouse recently at Utley Middle School.

Laryssa Bonacquisti, 14, the daughter of Doctor Gary and Lynette Bonacquasti of Heath, won the event by performing her “Auctioneer” routine,  featuring her puppets Lucky and Lucy. (Photos courtesy of Pegasus News/photos taken by Scott Dorn)

You can see her perform her routine on YouTube.com at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEe-bHmzP2g

According to Playhouse spokeswoman Deb Caperton Ballard, she was selected by a combination of audience votes and local celebrity judges Rockwall District Judge Brett Hall, former Rockwall Mayor Alma Howard Williams and an opera singer, whose name is not currently available.

The ventriloquist beat out 19 other finalists who were selected from a field of 37 semifinalists, after they performed Friday night.

“We were very, very pleasantly surprised with her selection,” said Dr. Bonacquisti, who is one of seven physicians on staff at Benchmark Family Medicine in Rockwall and Rowlett. “There was some really excellent talent. In fact, there was some incredible talent not even in the top three.”

“Laryssa is used to competing, so we don’t anticipate anything. You just do your best and hope it turns out okay.”

He explained that Laryssa, who is an eighth-grade student at Dallas Christian School, also competes in beauty pageants. She is the currently the reigning Miss Denton County and will compete in the Miss Teen Texas pageant in July. Her mother, Lynette, is a former Miss New Jersey in the Miss America pageant.

Dr. Bonacquisti added that Laryssa also was selected by “America’s Got Talent” TV show winner Terry Fator from Mesquite, who consequently won a $100 million contract and now performs in Las Vegas, to open his show last year at The Bass Hall in Ft. Worth.

“She is the youngest performer to ever perform at The Bass Hall, ” he said.

Winning second place and a $500 prize was Cole Ragsdale for his vocal performance of “Bring Him Home.” He was accompanied on piano by Josh Miller.

Third place and $250 was awarded to singer Dennis Guillon, who sang “This Is The Moment.”

Prizes were donated local Coldwell Banker realtor Vicki Chesna ($1,000), Community National Bank ($500) and Heath Hair Salon & Day Spa owner Juana French ($250).

The Rockwall Community Playhouse hosted the talent show to raise funds for a new Playhouse facility. Ballard said the show was a big success and they will now hold the talent show annually to raise additional funds.

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Cash prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250 will be paid to winners of the Rockwall Community Playhouse’s “Rockwall’s Got Talent” competition coming Jan. 15 and 16.

The entry deadline is Dec. 15 and the entry fee is $20.

According to Playhouse publicity director Deb Caperton Ballard, auditions will be held by appointment Jan. 3 and 10.

Audition workshops will be Dec. 12, “giving contestants an opportunity to show an example of their entry to a panel of board members and volunteer professional performers, and receive feedback and suggestions,” she wrote in a news release.

Talent categories are Vocal, Instrumental and Dance/Novelty.

Ballard said the competition is planned to kick off of the Playhouse’s celebration of its 15^th year of bringing great live theatre to Rockwall.

For information, including times, registrations forms and rules, visit:  www.RockwallCommunityPlayhouse.org

Watch a Playhouse video commercial at: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpjFoL02zo

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Twenty-five talented youngsters are hitting the stage at the Rockwall Community Playhouse June 23-28 when they perform in the musical “Seussical Jr.” 

The children started rehearsals two weeks before local schools let out for the summer. 

Led by Director Shayna Oden and Assistant Director Lindsey Yarborough, the drama camp has consisted of learning songs, dance routines, and painting scenery. 

The storyline is based on books by beloved children’s author Dr Seuss and features songs like, “The Sour Kangaroo,” “Oh the Thinks You Can Think,” and “Horton Hears a Who.” 

Chad Pflieger stars as Jojo, Drew Mitchell plays the Cat in the Hat, and Colleen Breen is Gertrude. 

Other actors include:  Makenzie Baird, Adam Brown, Kaylee Chuang, Caroline Couch, Victoria Darrington, Cathryn DeShong, Madison Engle, Dylan Garrison, Emily Green, Rachel Green, Rebekah Johnson, Kate Larman, Chloe Lyle, Kenedy Matthews, Nicolas Messick, Jordan Phillips, Lucy Ragsdale, Tori St. John-Gilbert, Shannon Taylor, Anne-Marie Thacker, and Abby Thompson. 

Performances will be June 23-27, beginning at 7:30 pm.  There will also be a performance June 28 at 2 pm. 

Tickets are available for $8 online at RockwallCommunityPlayhouse.org or by calling 972-722-3399.

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