WillowBend Productions is here and wants you!
By Christine Foster, Sept 29, 2006

Theater auditions

Michael Whaley’s WillowBend Productions

Thursday, October 5, 10am–12pm

Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25

044-415-111-7149 or mikewhyny@aol.com 

Just when you thought San Miguel had almost everything, a new wave of first-rate entertainment is headed our way. Seasoned professional Michael Whaley—a writer, producer, performer and director—is establishing his company, WillowBend, right here in town. WillowBend has previously produced for off-Broadway, for national tours and for television, and, like Whaley himself, has a winning way with world-class material. 

A current resident of New York and San Miguel, Whaley has been so impressed with the variety of talent here in town he feels the time is right for WillowBend to produce a series of dazzling musicals and plays.

WillowBend kicks off its inaugural season this December at the Teatro Santa Ana with Maltby and Shire’s sparkling revue Starting Here, Staring Now, featuring a cast of magnificent voices (and San Miguel favorites): Michael Sudheer, Judy Marzulli and Peggy Powell.

A story of inspiration and hope runs January 29 to February 4 as Gwenneth Holmes portrays a young Jewish girl on a perilous journey from childhood to womanhood amid the horrors of World War II and Naziism in The Diary of Anne Frank. 

Marlene will star the incomparable Narissa Ferrer and make its full production debut in February with a close-up look at the strain and angst facing a goddess of the silver screen as she sees her life spiraling downward. 

In March, it’s the witty High Spirits, an enchanting musical version of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit, with music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, the gentlemen who provided Judy Garland with the songs that charmed the world in Meet Me in St. Louis.

Auditions for performers for these shows will be held October 5 at the Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca from 10am to noon. Please call Michael Whaley at 044-415-111-7149 or email him at mikewhyny@aol.com to arrange a time and for information on what to prepare.

Casting requirements include two females for Marlene, one in her mid-thirties and the other about 60 (the second a nonspeaking—by choice—Holocaust survivor). A variety of roles are still available in Anne Frank, both male and female, 30 to 50 years age range, as well as for Anne’s older sister, Margot, in her late teens. Two female character actor/singers are also needed for High Spirits. 

Come meet Michael Whaley on October 5—be seen, be heard and explore the possibility of being part of this dynamic new company.

Here’s mud in my eye

Theater

Playreaders present Drinking Alone

Wednesday & Thursday, October 4 & 5, 7:30pm

St. Paul’s Church, Cardo 6

10 pesos

If your wealthy, judgmental father hasn’t seen you in five years, you might want to impress him. That’s Joe Todd’s reason for hiring a woman for the evening to pose as his fiancée. It seems like such a simple way for Joe to prove to his family that his life isn’t as empty and pointless as they think it is. The way Joe’s idea doesn’t work is what makes Drinking Alone, by Canada’s most humorous and prolific playwright, Norm Foster, a most entertaining play.

Joanna Bryne, Gerry Camp, Teresa Major, Lola Smith and Henry Vermillion perform, Dic Simandl handles the lights and sound, and Marthe Fraser directs.

The doors open at 7pm; the performance is at 7:30pm.