The Music Man- at the Cumming Playhouse

The Cumming Playhouse is very pleased with the new season contract with Next Stage Theatre Company. We have high expectations for the success of the musicals planned through February 2011; they include Gypsy the Musical, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (the musical version of Miracle on 34th Street), and Evita in the spring.

Summer 2010 will bring The Music Man, sure to be a favorite with families and students on summer vacation, and visitors to our town. The musical’s smalltown setting is well suited to Cumming and the surrounding communities. Jerry Harlow and Rob Hardie of Next Stage Theatre Company have some exciting and creative ideas planned for the show, which include bringing the show as near to the audience as possible. The grand finale alone will be worth the price of the ticket, so do make your plans to see The Music Man. If “Seventy-Six Trombones” is not already engraved in your memory from having seen this show in the past, this joyous grand finale by Next Stage Theatre Company is certain to secure a place in your heart for quite some time.

These musicals will provide a plethora of audition opportunities for local actors and performers. Audition information will be posted on our web site (www. playhousecumming.com) on each show’s page.

In addition to the musicals scheduled this season, the Gypsy Theatre Company will open with The Graduate in August, followed by Snow White in September. Off Broadway Productions will present To Kill a Mockingbird in November. Interspersed throughout the play schedule are concerts such as Stan Estes and Friends and Classic Southern Rock, with many local 2010 holiday presentations planned.

The business model of the Cumming Playhouse is somewhat different from most community theatres. The operation and facility are owned by the City of Cumming and functions as a department of the city, with an annual budget. The goal of the Playhouse is to replace all monies budgeted each year through ticket proceeds, grants, and sponsorships, while providing quality shows and performance opportunities. By design, we have chosen to have multiple theatre companies perform on our stage in order to bring a variety of plays and musicals. This also provides a broader opportunity for those who have the desire and talent to participate, and allows us to produce more shows during the year. The city partners with the theatre companies, assisting at times with costs such as royalties, advertising, and promotion. All tickets are sold through the Playhouse via the website. We do not charge for the venue per se, but rather share in the ticket proceeds.

The Playhouse has a loyal patron base, both individual and corporate, that has continued to support the Playhouse by attendance and contributions during the recent challenging economic times. The Playhouse works to keep ticket prices reasonable to assure the community’s access to the shows.

We do hope you will visit soon; and before the performance, check out Tam’s Backstage Food & Spirits, located on the lower level of the Playhouse. Makes for a perfect evening out!

Please visit our website (www. playhousecumming.com) for current information on dates and times as well as show descriptions, audition opportunities, and ticket purchases.