Auditions for Summer Musical, Schoolhouse Rock Live

Auditions for the Eunice Players’ Theatre Summer musical, Schoolhouse Rock Live, are as follows: Saturday, June 4th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Monday, June 6th and Tuesday, June 7th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will be casting male and female roles from ages 15 years old and up in singing and dancing roles. Anyone interested in auditioning for the show or interested in helping, please come to the Eunice Players’ Theatre, located at 121 South 2nd Street, within those dates and times. If auditioning, please prepare a short monologue of your choosing and bring an accompaniment track to sing one solo song. No a cappella auditions will be allowed. The show is scheduled to open mid-July and it is family friendly. If you should have any questions, please call Debi at 337-457-2156. You can also check our Facebook page.

"Barefoot in the Park" Set to Open - Tickets are Available

Gabe Ortego (standing) as Paul Bratter; Bonnie Pitre (kneeling) as his wife Corie; Ricci Arnaud (sitting) as Corie's mother; and Charles Seale (sitting) as the interesting Victor Velasco

After a long evening out on the town, Corie (Bonnie Pitre) and Victor (Charles Seale) are still going strong!

Paul (Gabe Ortego) and his mother-in-law (Ricci Arnaud) are exhausted avter an adventurous evening out!

The telephone repairman (Tucker Kelly) comes at an awkward time in this young newlywed couple's spat! Also pictured: Gabe Ortego as Paul Bratter and Bonnie Pitre as Corie Bratter.

"Have you ever walked barefoot in the park on a cold spring day?" Pictured: Bonnie Pitre as Corie Bratter and Gabe Ortego as Paul Bratter

Paul (Gabe Ortego) and Corie (Bonnie Pitre) discover that love triumphs in the end!

Tickets are now on sale for the season opener, “Barefoot in the Park”, a two-act comedy by Neil Simon. This production of the play marks a revival on the EPT stage following its first run in 1972. Director Suzanne LaHaye has put together a cast of stage veterans and audience favorites to bring to the stage the story of a newlywed couple who must contend with their own differences - she being free-spirited, he being a strait-laced lawyer - as well as a faulty postage-stamp sized New York apartment, a quirky neighbor and a nosy mother-in-law.

The show will begin its run Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include Wednesday and Thursday, March 30 and 31. All evening performances are at 7:00 p.m.; the Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m. Individual tickets for the show are $10 and on sale at David Ltd. Salon on Second St. Season tickets may be purchased and more information can be obtained by calling 546-0163 or 457-2156. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 42th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase.

More pictures and information about EPT can be found on their Facebook page.

Eunice Players' Theatre Prepares "Barefoot in the Park" as its Season Opener

Eunice Players’ Theatre is preparing its season opener, “Barefoot in the Park”, a two-act comedy by Neil Simon. This production of the play marks a revival on the EPT stage following its first run in 1972. Director Suzanne LaHaye has put together a cast of stage veterans and audience favorites to bring to the stage the story of a newlywed couple who must contend with their own differences - she being free-spirited, he being a strait-laced lawyer - as well as a faulty postage-stamp sized New York apartment, a quirky neighbor and a nosy mother-in-law.

Filling the roles of the newlywed couple, Corie and Paul Bratter are Bonnie Pitre and Gabe Ortego of Eunice. Gabe was most recently seen in "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of A Christmas Carol" as Gordon, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Irving Award. An accomplished actor in the Opelousas and Eunice theatres, with “Providence”, “A Tuna Christmas”, and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” to his credit, Gabe has also directed “Steel Magnolias”, “Monky Business”, and “The Subject Was Roses”.

Bonnie returns to the stage following her Irving Award-winning performance in “Providence” and a stellar turn in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. Bonnie appeared in several plays at LSU while earning a minor degree in theatre; she has also been seen on the EPT stage in “Woman” and “The Sound of Music”, and she also ran the lighting for “If the Shoe Fits”.

Longtime EPT actor and frequent set designer Charles Seale returns to the stage in the role of the quirky but charming Victor Velasco after having recently taken part in “Fiddler on the Roof” and co-directed “Deathtrap”. Interestingly, Charles assisted with painting the scenic backdrop for the EPT's earlier production of this show.

Joining the cast as Corie’s mother, Mrs. Banks is Ricci Arnaud from Crowley. Ricci is past president of Acadia Players in Crowley, where she appeared in “The Queen of Bingo”, “A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking”, and “Seven Nuns in Vegas”.

Stepping in as the telephone repairman is Tucker Kelly of Crowley, most recently seen in last season’s “What the Bellhop Saw” at EPT. He’s also had roles in “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Seance in Acadiana” at Acadia Players, as well as numerous high school and church productions.
Rusty Moody of Eunice has the cameo role of the delivery man. Currently the mayor of Eunice, Rusty is returning to the stage after a 20 year absence, having last been seen in “The Nerd” for which he won an Irving Award.

The show will begin its run Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include Wednesday and Thursday, March 30 and 31. All evening performances are at 7:00 p.m.; the Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m. Individual tickets for the show are $10 and on sale at David Ltd. Salon on Second St. Season tickets may be purchased and more information can be obtained by calling 546-0163 or 457-2156. For $20 a season ticket includes 3 shows, reservation rights, voting privileges and an invitation to the 42th Annual Irving Awards. Angel and patron packages are also available for purchase.

More pictures and information about EPT can be found on Facebook and at www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com.

Cast in Rehearsal for Barefoot in the Park

Gabe Ortego and Bonnie Pitre as Paul and Corie Bratter
Bonnie Pitre as Corie Bratter

and Ricci Arnaud as Mrs. Banks, Corie's mother

The cast is in rehearsal for Barefoot in the Park. Performance dates are March 24-27 and 29-31. Check back soon for full cast announcement and ticket information.

Irving Awards for 2010 Season

Cast and Crew of What the Bellhop Saw, Best Play

Jody L. Powell and Kevin Miller, Best Actress and Best Actor from The Subject Was Roses

Debi L. Crawford, Jack Burson, Gabe Ortego, presenting the Joanie Kerstein Musical Award for Outstanding Summer Musical Achievement Award to Angie B. LaCalle

Angie B. LaCalle

Gabe Ortego, recipient of Best Supporting Actor award for The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Production of "A Christmas Carol"

Jerica Guillory, recipient of Best Supporting Actress award for What the Bellhop Saw

Cast of Humpty Dumpty is Missing!, the children's summer workshop,
with directors Debi L. Crawford and Van Reed

Taylor LaCalle

Van Reed, emcee, with some of the Irving Dancers from Michelle's School of Dance

Pilar Parrie and Beth Reed, accepting the award for Best Hair and Makeup

for What the Bellhop Saw

Kevin Miller, Jody L. Powell, and Christian Richard,

cast of The Subject Was Roses

David Manuel, President of Eunice Players' Theatre

Congratulations to all the winners from the 2010 season:

Best Set - Deborah D. Ardoin, Nick Bergeaux, Brett Faulkner, Jeremy Faulkner, Glenn "Jay" Mentel, Jr., Julie Mentel, and Jody L. Powell for What the Bellhop Saw

Best Lighting and Sound - Jody L. Powell, Gabe Ortego, Andre' Andrepont, Amy Martel Rider, and John Burleigh for The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Production of "A Christmas Carol "

Best Costumes - Melody Kittles, Ching Wasmuth, and Barbara Wells for What the Bellhop Saw

Best Hair and Makeup - Lindsay Conner, Pilar Parrie, and Beth Reed for What the Bellhop Saw

Best Supporting Actress - Jerica Guillory for What the Bellhop Saw

Best Supporting Actor - Gabe Ortego for The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Production of "A Christmas Carol "

Best Actress - Jody L. Powell for The Subject Was Roses

Best Actor - Kevin Miller for The Subject Was Roses

Best Director - Jody L. Powell for What the Bellhop Saw

Best Play - What the Bellhop Saw

Congratulations to Angie B. LaCalle, recipient of the Joanie Kerstein Musical Award for Outstanding Summer Musical Achievement.

Stay tuned for information about the upcoming 2011 season.

41st Annual Irving Awards

The board of directors is busy planning for the upcoming 41st annual Irving Awards to be held January 22, 2011. All 2010 season ticket holders should have received their ballots and invitations by now. (If not, call David at 546-0163 or Debi at 457-2156). Please vote your ballot and return it this week. Then plan to join us for a fun eveinig of singing, dancing, dining, socializing and awards.

Season tickets for the 2011 season will be available immediately after the Irving Awards. Plan to get yours so that you don't miss a minute of the excitement that the 2011 season will bring. We'll have comedies, a musical, and a comedy-drama, along with another awards ceremony just for the season ticket holders who will vote on all of the awards. A single ticket is $20; patron and angel packages are available for $75 and $125 respectively.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's awards ceremony and in the audience for our 2011 season! Don't miss it!

General Membership Meeting

As required by the bylaws, The Eunice Players’ Theatre will hold its annual General Membership meeting on Tuesday, January 4th at 7:00 p.m at the theatre. The 2010 season ticket holders are invited to attend to hear an update on the theatre's business, nominate and elect the upcoming 2011 Eunice Players’ Theatre Board of Directors, and participate in discussion about the 2011 season. All 2010 season ticket holders are encouraged to attend this meeting.

Season tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale after the Irving Awards on January 22. For more information, contact David at 546-0163 or Debi at 457-2156.