So, it’s the final number of "The Full Monty". The six guys are onstage in their security guard uniforms. The rest of the cast (myself included) is peppered throughout the audience. Everyone is whooping and hollering. It’s the big moment of the show. As choreographed, Ethan (played with a charming denseness by Scott Terrill) drops his security guard hat, and … Read More
The Full Monty: The Review
It’s a hit! Baring All: ‘Tasteful’ musical fully uncovers story of hard times By Mary Martin Niepold What’s it like to strip right down to our natural born selves? It’s bad enough if you’re a fledgling teenage girl. But what if you’re a full-grown, out-of-work, steelworker kind of man? That’s the send-up in The Full Monty, the Terrence McNally musical … Read More
A Tribute To Cherry Berry
Cherry Berry may be the most famous North Carolina personality that nobody knows. Who is she? Why, she’s the North Carolina Labor Commissioner (whose name is actually Cherie Berry). And why is her name so familiar to North Carolinians? Well, it’s a memorable name, which is on the inspection certificates of every elevator in the state. So it was only … Read More
Full Monty: Dress Rehearsal
What a blast! 171 people came to the Arts Council Theatre tonight to see dress rehearsal of "The Full Monty". At $10 a pop (the discounted price), they certainly got their money’s worth. A few technical glitches (including a late entrance by yours truly) didn’t detract from an exciting show. I watched the last twenty minutes of Act One from … Read More
From The Performance At Center City Park Pavillion
Photos courtesy of Heather Waiting for our turn to perform Scott dips Heather in "Love That Man"
Come For The Naked Men, Stay For The Political Propaganda
I’ll be in the Fourth of July parade at Greensboro on — hold on — let me check my calendar — yes — on the 4th of July (tomorrow). I’ll be riding "The Full Monty" float which, as far as I know, will be just a trailer bed with members of the cast of the show (see sidebar, right). We … Read More
Full Monty Preview
Link here, but I’ll reprint it below the fold…. Some thoughts about the article: (1) Obviously, the folks at the WInston-Salem Journal/Relish need to fix the headline, and I wish they would. (2) I’m not sure I agree with the quote of co-producer Norman Ussery, saying that, if this were a movie, it would be rated "R". Okay, maybe — … Read More
NC Witnesses Can Swear on Quran In Court
I’ve been following this story for a while, and frankly, I’m not sure why it was an issue to begin with: The issue surfaced when Muslims tried to donate copies of the Quran to Guilford County’s two courthouses. Two judges declined to accept the texts, saying that taking an oath on the Quran was illegal under state law. What exactly … Read More
Opening Night
Lots of good theater this weekend in the Winston-Salem area. This year marks the 50th year of the debut of West Side Story, and the North Carolina School of the Arts is mounting a huuuuge production of the classic, with a cast of over 100. The musical is being directed by the directorial assistant of the original Broadyway production, using … Read More
I Oughta Be In Pictures
They’re filming the George Clooney movie "Leatherheads" in front of my office building this morning. This is pretty common for L.A. and New York, but it doesn’t happen very much in Winston-Salem. Clooney wrote the movie — he’s also starring in it, and he’s directing it. It’s a movie having to do with football in the 1920’s, and that’s about … Read More
Tale As Old As Time…
A big shout-out to Gray (the Beast) and Emily (Belle) who play the title roles in the production of Beauty and the Beast, opening tonight at the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem. I send my fondest "break-a-leg" wishes to them, as well as Craig (Gaston) and the Barnhardt sisters. Emily reports that opening night is all but sold out, and tickets … Read More