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Voted RI Monthly's
Best Children's Theatre
"A RI treasure"
RI State Council on the Arts
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Kaleidoscope
Theatre Newsletter -
Volume 3, Number 1 - January 2007
Hello and Happy New Year from all of us here at
Kaleidoscope Theatre! We look forward to another
year of keeping our newsletter subscribers informed
of the many exciting things that are going on here.
This issue is very exciting in that it heralds the
return of Tommy Iafrate as Artistic Director,
announces our first set of Open Auditions for 2007,
and officially announces the affiliation of
Kaleidoscope Theatre and the Homestead Group!
In this issue you can read about:
1. Upcoming Open Auditions!
2. A message from Artistic Director, Tommy Iaftrate!
3. Our Affiliation with The Homestead Group
4. Tips for New England Theatre lovers
5. Supporting our members – Other venues to feature
the
talents of our many performers
1. OPEN AUDITIONS!
On Saturday, January 13, 2007 from 10am – 4pm,
Kaleidoscope Theatre will be holding open auditions
at the Meshanticut Park Church at 180 Oaklawn
Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920. Kaleidoscope is looking
for some new talent, and we just might have a spot
for YOU in the company! There are multiple roles in
several shows that are open, so performers of all
types, ages, and ethnicities are strongly encouraged
to audition. Please come prepared to sing a song of
your choice (a cappella or with taped accompaniment
(no vocals)) and to read from a script. Kaleidoscope
Theatre is a professional, non-profit theatre
company, and all roles are paid. Please call Nicki
at Kaleidoscope Theatre, (401) 942-3637, to set up
an
appointment. We look forward to meeting you all!
2. DIRECTOR’S NOTE FROM TOMMY IAFRATE
After a period as Kaleidoscope’s Assistant Artistic
Director during the winter/spring of 2005-2006,
Tommy Iafrate took a year sabbatical to work in the
music department at the Goodspeed Opera House in
East Haddam, Connecticut. While there, he had the
opportunity to work with such remarkable
musicians/performers as Micky Dolenz, John McDaniel,
and Stephen Schwartz. After a wonderful and
successful year at the Goodspeed, Tommy is happy to
be taking the knowledge that he has gained back to
Kaleidoscope Theatre, where he is taking over as
full-time Artistic Director as of January 1, 2007.
Here’s what he has to say about his new position at
Kaleidoscope:
Hello everybody!
First and foremost, I would like to thank our
newsletter subscribers for the incredible support
that you have given to Kaleidoscope Theatre over the
years! It is because of our wonderful audiences that
we are able to accomplish all that we do, and
because of the appreciation we receive that we
continue to enjoy every moment of our jobs!
When I was growing up, I used to love the beach. My
mother and I would drive down all the time in the
summer, and I would be so excited to spend a day
playing in the sand, swimming in the surf, and
boogie-boarding! I also remember that every Tuesday,
my mother would ask me if I would rather go to the
beach, or go to the Warwick Musical Theatre to see
one of Kaleidoscope Theatre’s fairytale musicals.
Without fail, I always picked the theatre over the
beach!
I remember eagerly waiting in line for our tickets,
smelling the popcorn and hearing the murmur of the
crowd inside. I remember sitting down on those
brightly colored chairs, and my mother making me
guess which fairytale we were about to see by the
set that was already on the stage (“See that red
cloak hanging on the coatrack?...”). I remember
being absolutely enthralled by the performers on
stage and laughing at the funny jokes and the silly
characters. And I remember being mesmerized when
meeting them all afterwards and having them sign my
coloring poster.
Kaleidoscope Theatre was a wonderful part of my
childhood, and helped to mold the way that I view
and appreciate theatre. In high school, it was such
an honor to begin performing with them, and
eventually helping out in the office. As the years
have progressed and my involvement has grown more
and more,
Kaleidoscope Theatre has only continued to give me
more wonderful experiences and more amazing
opportunities.
I am very excited about the prospects that the next
few years present to our company. With the
newly-added support of two full-time members on our
staff and the resources available
through our partnering with the Homestead Group, the
possibilities for Kaleidoscope Theatre are endless.
I am looking forward to these exciting
opportunities, as well as continuing to provide the
wholesome, fun-filled, family entertainment that our
audiences (including myself!) have grown to know and
love over the years!
Thank you all,
Tommy
3. THE HOMESTEAD GROUP
Kaleidoscope Theatre is very pleased and proud to
announce that we have formed an affiliation with The
Homestead Group, Inc. of Woonsocket, RI as of the
first of the year. The Homestead Group, Inc. helps
developmentally disabled persons, from childhood
through adulthood, realize the full extent of their
abilities. Their mission is to help the people they
support lead the lives they want and deserve.
Kaleidoscope Theatre is proud to contribute to that
mission!
Kaleidoscope will provide The Homestead Group with
expertise and experience in all aspects of
production and staging. We hope to provide valuable
and educational information to schools and to the
public that supports the goals and mission of the
Homestead Group through our theatrical productions,
including “I’m Special, Your Special.” In turn,
Homestead will contribute performers and production
staffing from among its participants, as well as an
administrative
infrastructure, staff benefits, fundraising, and
marketing resources. The potential is limitless.
For more information on the Homestead Group, please
visit their website at
http://www.thehomestead-group.org.
We will continue to announce all of the new and
exciting
opportunities as they continue to present
themselves.
4. TIPS FOR NEW ENGLAND THEATRE LOVERS
While we were looking online for places to post
information about our upcoming auditions, we
discovered a couple of helpful websites that we
thought our readers may find useful!
A. New England Theatre 411 – This website, which can
be found at http://www.netheater411.com, has
information regarding productions throughout the
area.
In their “Call for Actors” – they list upcoming
auditions, including payment details and links to
the company websites. Similarly, they have a section
called “Call for Production Team” which lists all
manner of backstage jobs paid, unpaid, and
internships. There is a separate section for
information on shows currently up and open to the
public. Theatre companies can post listings on this
website for free!
B. The Providence Journal online at www.projo.com
has an online theatre section within ‘LifeBeat’.
Although you do need to register to view content on
the site, there is no fee.
This website provides reviews of current productions
and links to the websites of theatre companies in
the area, including nearby Massachusetts and
Connecticut.
5. SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS
When not working with Kaleidoscope Theatre, our
members bring their varied talents to other venues.
Here’s a sampling of productions that will feature
our members in the upcoming
months (in chronological order):
A. Jennifer Drummond, who played Mother and Granny
in this past summer’s production of “Little Red”,
will be playing another grandmother in March! Jen
will be featured as ‘Granny’ in the show “The
American Dream” by Edward Albee. This production,
directed by Michael Truppi, will be presented at the
Little Theatre, Rhode Island College, from March 1-4
as part of the theatre department’s Growing Stage
Season. Seating is limited and is available on a
first
come, first serve basis. Please be advised that the
RIC Box Office does not handle Growing Stage
Productions. Good Luck Jen!
B. Eric Desnoyers, last seen at Kaleidoscope as the
Prince in “Cinderella’s Christmas”, will be
directing “James and the Giant Peach”, this coming
spring for Encore Repertory Theatre. Recently,
Cameron Connaughton (Doc in “Snow White” and
Pinocchio in “Pinocchio) was cast as James. Congrats
Cameron! This show will be presented at the Stadium
Theatre in Woonsocket, RI from March 23-25.
For up to date information about this production,
visit encore’s website at www.encorerepco.org
C. Jamie Dellorco, last seen as Disgustia in
“Cinderella’s Christmas”, along with fellow
Kaleidoscopian Michael Marchak, has been cast in the
Academy Players production of “A Chorus Line”. For
those familiar with this play, Jamie will be playing
Bebe and Michael will be Mark. Production dates are
April 20-22 and 26-29. For more information, check
out their website,
www.academyplayers.org
D. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” will be performed this
spring at Woonsocket High and will feature
performances by our Cinderella, Emily Luther (as
Millie) and by our Assistant
Technical Director Chris Cournoyer (as Jimmy). More
details will follow in the coming months!
Well, that concludes this month’s edition. Another
newsletter has come to a close, and another year is
just beginning. 2007 looks like it could be one of
the most exciting years that we’ve ever had here at
Kaleidoscope Theatre, and we hope that you are
looking forward to experiencing it as much as we
are!
Thank you for your continued interest in
Kaleidoscope, and we hope to meet many of you at our
auditions!
Remember, if you have any questions, contact us by
e-mail at kaleidoscope@kaleidoscopetheatre.com!
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