What if Love had no limits? Although the question may seem rhetorical, it must bring to mind possibilities. But what can these possibilities be?

Jean Reynolds published this exquisite piece of theatre in 1995 in a book as one of four other women playwrights. Dance With Me comes to life at Russian River Hall with three dedicated actors in a most intimate setting. It is not drama; it is not comedy; it is not tragedy. It is all and none. It is about life.  It can certainly change someone’s outlook on one’s own life altogether.

We start off traveling on a commuter train in upstate New York. It is the 1950s and the bar car is empty except for one man and one woman. The relationship is new. The dialogue reveals their situation piecemeal and travels back and forth from the present to the memory of the man, and back again.

They dance to sensual music. He wants to know more about her.

He is married, you see, and the woman of course intuits it and asks him about his wife.

His memory takes him back again through his wife’s interjections on the opposite side of the stage from their sumptuous living room. They live high up above the panorama of the country overlooking an expanse of trees.

What starts out as seemingly common love triangle turns into something more intriguing, more substantial, more tantalizing, and explores the possibilities that real love can reveal.

The ending may surprise, even challenge, your own conception of love. Is it possessive? Is it limited? Is it selfish? Is it vain? Is it possible to love beyond the conventional definition of love as we have been conditioned to believe? Or is it without limits and the possibilities are endless, exciting, and most surprisingly satisfying?

Join us for this amazing journey with dialogue that says more than the obvious and find out for yourself. And perhaps you might experience an exciting journey of your own.

“Dance With Me” will open March 22* and continue March 23, 24, 29*, 30, April 5*, 6, 7, 12, and13 for a total of ten performances only. The last performance is our traditional Champagne Buffet Gala along with select wines, desserts, and non-alcoholic refreshments, and will be a benefit for Curtain Call Theatre at the Russian River.  Tax-Deductible Donation is $35.

*Three Fridays only are “Pay What You Can”.

All other performances are $15 General; $12 Seniors 60+ & Students with ID.

For reservations please call 707-849-4873.

Michael Tabib, Artistic Director

Curtain Call Theatre.

Curtain Call Theatre’s new production,  directed by Michael Tabib,  opens Friday, October 5 and runs through Saturday, October 27.

“Einstein and the Polar Bear” is set in the New England town of Spider Lake.  Here Diane Ashe, traveling from Manhattan where she lives with her goldfish, develops some sort of car trouble.  She is “just a pretty girl who got stuck in a snowstorm”, comments Bill Allenson, an erstwhile famous writer with a bad case of writer’s block.  He deals old and rare books from his house where Diane is seeking shelter.  “A beautiful bibliophile in a blizzard…”  Bill, a “ once upon a time noble literary savage” tends to use big words to “lighten the mood” – or to obscure it.

“Small towns are oftentimes not what they appear to be”, Bill tells Diane.  “They’re not all picket fences and rose gardens…”  Almost a cliche!  Numerous examples of this abound in literature and on stage, but seldom are the quirky  characters painted with such a charming and sympathetic brush.  Not that there isn’t plenty of irony.  And we could stoop to analyzing metaphors: Who is the polar bear, really?  Why on earth is Einstein so important to Andrew, Bill’s endearing dad?

There is much here that is esoteric, certainly deep, tragic even, and there are many questions that may never be answered, but the dark and gritty insights are served up with lots of giggles and occasional thigh-slapping guffaws.

“What are you doing here?”,   Charlie Milton, the well-meaning dingbat of a mailman asks Diane.  Does it matter what she tells him?  Can we ever really know an other human being?  Slowly we lift veils, peel layers and poke around, only to catch glimpses of further mysteries that surround these delightfully eccentric or downright weird people.

Everyone here has secrets – or know secrets that they’re not supposed to know.  Meet Bobby and Helen Bullins, sweet and simple, said by Diane to have a “kind of child-like glow”.

Sometimes, driven by poignant and rather unrecognized loneliness, characters attempt intimacy.  Diane keeps trying to tell Bill something.  Why does he change the subject or tell her, “I don’t want to know who you are or why you’re here.  I’m not interested in the details…”  He does tend to go on and on, but Diane believes that, “beneath all that stuff, I bet there’s a lovely man”.

Can we find him hiding under his piles of books?  Can she?  Well, we’ll surely have plenty of fun trying!

“Einstein and the Polar Bear” runs at Russian River Hall , Monte Rio,  from October 5 through October 27, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees (Oct. 14 and 21 only) at 2 p.m.  $15 general, $12 Seniors over 60 and students with ID.  Two Fridays are “pay what you can” (Oct. 5 and 12).  Our special Gala  fundraising performance is Saturday, October 27 (from 7 p.m.).  For a tax-deductible donation of $35, come enjoy a delightful buffet of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, Korbel champagne and wines.  For reservations and details, call (707) 524-8739

-by Gretchen Belgrave

Featuring: Keith Durling, Jake Hamlin, Thalassa Papakonstantis, Joe Potter, Michelle Randall and Dan Vanek.

The scene is a cluttered farmhouse in rural New England, where Bill Allenson, a highly regarded but no longer active novelist, has withdrawn from the world, supporting himself and his ailing father by selling rare books through the mail. As the play, begins a winter storm is in progress and an attractive young New York commercial artist, Diane Ashe, appears at the farmhouse door, explaining that her car has broken down in the blizzard. Although suspicious, Bill gives her lodging for the night, and as the evening progresses we are aware that Diane, unlike Bill’s neighbors, is both aware of his literary reputation and determined to gain his concern—which she soon does. As the two draw closer, with humorous interruptions by several colorful local characters and the ramblings of Bill’s aging father, who had once encountered Albert Einstein at a lunch counter, Bill’s eloquent but persistent cynicism seems to soften—until he learns that Diane’s presence is not as accidental as she has claimed. As turbulent as it is sudden, their relationship eventually finds its center, and Bill is forced to confront the pain, loss and self-doubt which have made him forsake his talent and the harsh realities of the world in which it once flourished.

While realistic sets are designed by Jake Hamil and Michael Tabib, to give the production the luster and warmth that have become the landmark of the company.

SCHEDULE

Date: October 5*, 6,12*,13,14,19, 20, 21, 26, 27 (Fridays & Saturdays – 8PM, Sundays – 2PM)

General Admission: $15  Seniors (60+) & Students: $12

* 2 Fridays only: “Pay What You Can”

Gala Fundraising Performance on October 27, Saturday at 7pm.

Complimentary champagne and wine, buff­et of delectable hors d’oeuvres, desserts & non-alcoholic refreshments.

$35 Tax Deductible Donation.

Come see this lovely offering and enjoy an evening of intelligent, funny, witty entertainment at Russain River Hall.

For reservations call: 707-524-8739.

http://www.russianriverhall.com/

A Play by Ted Tiller

October 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27*, 28.

*( Gala Halloween Costume Fundraising performance, fully tax-deductible donation $35).

ENCHANTED APRIL

Enchantment or Providence? If you’re looking for romance and laughs and a truly memorable evening, we invite you to experience Curtain Call Theatre’s production of ENCHANTED APRIL at Russian River Hall in Monte Rio.

ENCHANTED APRIL by Matthew Barber combines wit, humor, and pathos and features eight actors, some new and some familiar, from Sonoma County.

The setting is 1922 after the Great War and four women, each seeking refuge from her life for a different reason, two housewives, a socialite, and an aged dowager, need to run off to a small villa in Genoa, Southern Italy. The two husbands don’t know how their wives can afford the trip, the other two women have their own conflicts, and the Italian housekeeper can’t seem to please the old lady. And what about the war veteran bachelor owner of the villa? Can any of them find happiness and come to terms with their lives? Find out and enjoy a delightful evening of choice entertainment.

DATES:

July 28, 29 and August 3, 4, 5, 10, 11*, 12

Friday and Saturday: 8PM

Sunday Matinee 4 PM

* Gala Fundraising performance on Saturday August 11 at 7 PM

• featuring complimentary Wine and Champagne, and a buffet of delectable hors d’oeuvres and desserts
• fully tax-deductible donation $35

The play Enchanted April features an Italian villa with lots of Wisteria

ADMISSION

$15 General Admission

$12 Seniors 60+ and Students with ID
Friday August 3 is “PAY WHAT YOU CAN” day

RESERVATIONS

CALL 707 524 8739

“THE LION IN WINTER” showing through April 29, 2012

by James Goldman
Performances Dates:
* Fridays & Saturdays at 8PM
* Sunday matinees at 2PM
For reservations and more call 707-524-8739

Gala Performance April 28 at 7:30 PM.

A special night featuring complimentary Korbel champagne, wines, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, non-alcoholic beverages, and an evening of acerbic laughs and matchless wit. Your $35 donation is Tax-deductible.

* all other performances are $15 General admission and $12 Seniors over 60 and Students with ID
* Still the lowest priced live theater experience in Sonoma County!

Comedy on the Edge

A play about a dysfunctional family? Nothing new about that. In this family, however, things are just a little different. For one thing, the year is 1183 AD; and for another, these family members are English royalty (with a French king and his sister thrown in for good measure).

Welcome to James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter, where Henry II dukes it out with his estranged and rich queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, along with their scheming sons, John, Geoffrey and Richard (yes, that’s the Lionhearted one). There’s plenty of psychological weaponry here, but also plenty of potential knife-play, imprisonment, decapitation, warfare and banishment: all the fun toys that royals like to play with.

And play they do, with plots and counter-plots, witty dialogue, threats, lies and betrayals, a ll worthy of the Bard himself. But they also engage in very Shakespearean moments of biting humor, emotional beauty and endearment that we have grown to cherish.

Henry, Eleanor, and their twisted offspring are ancient historical figures from the distant past. But they remind us of people we know. They are, in a word, accessible; and quite potently so. They speak in modern language — embellished with a few contemporary metaphors and random anachronisms along with smart alliteration and clever descriptions of each other—so that we can readily identify with them, and even care about them. We also get to chuckle and laugh at them, an excellent way to develop an understanding of ourselves in the process.

The play takes place on Christmas Eve for a family get together. Henry allows Eleanor one day out of prison for the Sacred Holiday. (Yes, she’s been there for ten years). This offers her the opportunity to plot against him once more with the help of her favored son, Richard. Yes, Richard is an ambitious warrior who is willing to go along with her ploys to grab everything he desires.

Geoffrey, the least favored, is “a device…he’s wheels and gears” always plotting with whoever has the advantage in order to gain power for himself and maybe become king after all have fallen. John, Daddy‘s favorite, is too indolent and a profligate to guard the advantages his father keeps planning for him. He’s always “ruining everything” and will “never learn”.

Throw in French Princess Alais, another attractive prize, and Richard wants everything for himself. But the King has other plans for Alais. Sounds familiar?

Curtain Call Theatre has assembled a fine cast of actors from its growing roster of talent:
mavericks Mark Gregory and Gretchen Belgrave; add new comers to CCT John Rowan, Diz Struffles, Clay Matthews, Crystal Carpenter, and Jake Hamlin; and you have a memorable and distinguished cast.

Directed by Michael Tabib and stage managed by Joe Potter, The Lion In Winter opens April 14. 2012 and plays on weekends for eight performances only through April 29 at Russian River Hall, 20347 Hwy. 116, Monte Rio (one block East of Rio Theater).

For reservations and more call 707-524-8739.

By Bob Hornback

Curtain Call Theatre at the Russian River is planning a splashy production of the bloody (and funny) horror play “Count Dracula” by Ted Tiller for the entire month of October 2011.

The production will culminate at the last performance on Saturday October 29, Halloween Weekend with an exquisite Champagne Gala with hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and other non-alcoholic beverages for all ages.

We are seeking serious actors whose passion for the stage gives them the satisfaction of working with dedicated theatre persons in a safe and substance0free environment.

OPEN Auditions are being held next Monday and Tuesday July 25 and 26 at 7PM Russian River Hall (The HALL), 20347 Highway 116, Monte Rio, Ca. 95462. No appointment necessary. See attachment for details and call to confirm your participation and or request a copy of the script.

If you are interested or you know someone else who might be interested, please feel free to forward this message to them.

We look forward to meeting you there soon.

Join us for this year’s Halloween Season for the entire month of October , culminating in a Blood Fest of fabulous food and champagne Gala on Saturday October 29 for the closing night performance. This is Halloween Weekend and will be a fun blood curdling event. DON’T MISS IT !!!

Check our website periodically for further details. You’ll HOWL with delightful fright. See you then.

That’s how critics and audiences describe this British comedy by the amazing playwright Joe Orton.

Curtain Call Theatre at the Russian River proudly features many new faces in this sparkling show of biting wit and wise-cracking humor.

What starts out as a somber funeral winds up as a send up expose of police corruption, bank robbers, funeral parlors, murderous nurses, and religion, not to mention innocent by-standers…

Two clumsy young punks rob a bank and need a place to hide the money. The mother of one of them has just died and her funeral is in progress when they decide to hide the money in her coffin. But what to do with her body?

Her nurse is suspicious of the boys and has eyes for the father, the police inspector is parading as a civil employee with his own hidden agenda, the funeral procession encounters an accident with a truck, and all hell breaks loose. All this in the midst of straight faced double entendres and naughty references to many of our sacred cows.

Not your garden variety of stale comedies, this play is a cross between Oscar Wilde‘s  witty humor and Harold Pinter’s absurd plays. Humor with a sharp knife for the attentive audience. Not to be missed.

Produced and Directed by Michael Tabib.

Dates: July 23, 29, 30, 31, August 5, 6, 7, 12, 13.

Times: Fridays and Saturdays 8 PM; Sunday Matinees 4 PM.

Admission: Friday “Pay What You Can”; Saturday and Sunday $15 General; $12 Seniors over 55 and Students with ID.

Closing Night August 13 is our Gala Benefit. Come and enjoy complimentary Korbel Champagne, premium wines, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, non-alcoholic refreshments, and a great night at the theatre. Tax deductible donation $35.

Reservations: 707-524-8739; The HALL: 20347 Highway 116, Monte Rio.

Featuring: Bob Dougherty, Betsy Glincher, Kevin Kieta, Joseph Potter, Taylor Stearley, Travis Stecher.

Stage Managers: Candi Coleman and Joseph Potter.

Set Builder: Dan Vanek.

Props and Costumes: The Cast.

A full evening of entertainment, “FOURPLAY” appears for eight (8)  performances only.

Thrill to the antics of the successful new Bank Manager, his twittery wife, his crew, and a demanding old lady when all his plans fall apart in “The Festivities” by Anton Chekov.

Find out how a lion eats a librarian in John Guare’s odd comedy “A Day For Surprises”, followed by a man who reveals his own bizarre surprise with a personal past relationship in “Days Ahead” by Lanford Wilson.

We conclude our evening with “Postcards” by James Prideaux, when a couple spend a lifetime  (almost)                  of joy, disappointment, and renewed joy, writing postcards to celebrities.

This exceptional evening is produced and directed by Michael Tabib, and  performed by Gretchen Belgrave, Dee Buechy, Mark Gregory, Shawn O’Docharty, Lisa Posternak, Joe Potter, and Dan Vanek.

“FOURPLAY” opens with a Champagne Gala on Saturday May 7 at 7PM, Curtain at 8PM. Enjoy delectable Hors d’oeuvres and special Desserts by chef  Tim Kane, complemented by Korbel champagne and Korbel premium Wines. We will also feature a select coffee from Coffee Bazaar and a variety of tea selections along with non-alcoholic beverages. This is a benefit for Curtain Call Theatre with a Tax-Deductible Donation of $35.

We continue our performances during the following dates: May 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, June 3 & 4.   Fridays & Saturdays at 8PM; and Sundays at 4PM.

ALL performances are at Russian River Hall, 20347 Highway 116 in Monte Rio, 95462.

Box Office Prices are as follows:

Fridays: “Pay What You Can”, Saturdays and Sundays: $15 General; $12 Seniors over 55 and students with ID.

Won’t you come and share in this delightful evening of laughter and self revelation?

Our Reservations number is 707-524-8739. Leave a message and we will confirm by telephone only.

Thank you. We look forward to your continued patronage.

The Management of Curtain Call Theatre at te Russian River.