Westside Players

A Spring Surprise at the Warehouse

There’s been a change in our 2008 Season!  For the first time, Westside Players is reprising a show.  April 25 through May 17 patrons will be treated to A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters.  First performed in New York by Kathleen Turner and John Rubenstein in 1989, the reader’s theatre script has since been seen on Broadway and around the country with scores of stars.   It’s a story told through the Love Letters of the title.  Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born to wealth and position, are childhood friends who maintain a lifelong connection through their letters.  Through the expected–prep school, college, careers–and the unexpected–war, failure, and alcoholism, the two keep in touch.  Hilarious and heart wrenching by turns, Love Letters is an eloquent exploration of the power of love and language.  Travis W. Hopkins directs Marni Montgomery and Walt Mecham in the roles originally played at The Warehouse by Lorraine Crook and Stephen M. Rhoads under the direction of Diana Potter in 1993.

Dinner & Show $28.00   Show Only $15.00 (tax included)    ISU Students $5.00 Show Only April 25, 26 Only

For Reservations Call The Raven’s Nest at 232-2232 Cocktails 6:00 Dinner served 7-7:30   Curtain 8:15

Whatever Happened to Neil Simon?

Season ticket holders and patrons who’ve been keeping an eye on the season brochure may be wondering why we’ve chosen to produce Love Letters instead of Simon’s Chapter Two as we’d planned.  There was, simply, a shortage of actors available for the spring.  We’re certain you’ll enjoy our current production but the necessity of changing scripts underscores an important point: Westside Players is a community theatre.  If you’ve thought about auditioning, please do.  If you know someone who’s interested, encourage them.  If you know someone who’s talented, tell them about Westside Players.  We can’t do what we do without the willing area residents, all volunteers, who direct, design, act in and work backstage for our shows.

What’s for Dinner?

During the run of Love Letters, the Continental Bistro is serving: Carved Pork Loin; Grilled Lemon & Rosemary Marinated Chicken; Au Gratin Potatoes; Spring Veggie Medley; Fresh Baked Rolls; Mixed Green Salad; Mandarin Orange Salad; Marinated Pasta Salad; and for dessert, Chocolate Torte and Carmel Apple Cobbler

What’s in the Lobby?

Local painter Rita Sussex is a versatile and skilled artist whose paintings pay homage to the Impressionists– radiant works full of light and brilliant color.  Her pictures hang in galleries, homes, and offices from New York City to Japan and have been featured in several publications.  Join us for a champagne reception honoring the artist on opening night beginning at 6:00 p.m.

What’s to Audition for Next?

Who Am I this Time? is the title of our July show–two hilarious one-act plays about life in the theatre: “The Actor’s Nightmare” by Christopher Durang and “The Shock of Recognition” by Robert Anderson.  Director Diana Potter is looking for three men and three women varying in age from 25-45 to play the quirky characters.  Auditions will be held Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at The Warehouse.  Actors should prepare a one-minute comic or absurd monologue.  Cold readings will also be available.  Also, if you’re interested in helping out backstage, please come to the audition.  Production dates are July 11 – August 2.