New beginnings & a night on the town

Laura McClune, Jordan Lausch are among the young performers who will present the "New Beginnings" cabaret at 2 p.m. Sunday at EPAC.

A cabaret, old chum

If you’re interested in supporting EPAC and in hearing some wonderful, contemporary musical theater/cabaret tunes you may have never heard before – performed by young, talented singers from the EPAC family – you’ll be in luck Sunday afternoon.

Check out the “New Beginnings” cabaret at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre.

You’ll recognize the talented young EPAC performers who are presenting this program of new music; they’ve starred in EPAC productions from “High School Musical” to “Rent,” and from “Altar Boyz” to “Into the Woods.” Performing will be: Laura McClune, Jordan Lausch, Devin Lewis, Nando Lucena, Jil Wiley, Donovan Hoffer, Katelyn Candiello, Emily Addis and James Wolpert.

Their set list will include songs by hot young composers on the musical theater/cabaret scene: Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk (the team behind such original musicals as “The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown”); Ryan Scott Oliver (composer-lyricist of the musical “Mrs. Sharp”), and selections from Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo's pop opera, "Bare."

General-admission tickets are $5, with proceeds benefiting EPAC. Visit the website or call (717) 733-7966 for tickets.

On the town with an EPAC alum

This weekend, EPAC's New Year's Eve gala raffle winner Alixe Ingoglia will claim her prize. Alixe, who just finished doing props for EPAC's "Into the Woods," will be dining with EPAC alum, area native and Broadway/film/TV star Jonathan Groff.

Alixe and her mother will be picked up by Expressions Limousine of Lancaster and will be taken to Lily's on Main for dinner with Jonathan. They will also spend an evening at the Historic Smithton Inn. The event will be photographed by I ♥ PhotOlé.

EPAC thanks all of these companies for their services, sponsorship and support of the theater, and for helping make this a memorable weekend for our lucky raffle winner!

*** Also, check out Jonathan Groff's appearance on the MTV show "The Seven" at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 17. For more information on the show, visit the website.

--- Mary Ellen "Merv" Wright

EPAC on the Edge: Playwright gets Tony nod

Above: The cast of EPAC's "The Little Dog Laughed." From left: Gabrielle Lewis, Corey Buller, Christopher Michael and Sharon Mellinger. Photo courtesy of EPAC.

Below: Photo of “The Little Dog Laughed” playwright Douglas Carter Beane (taken at the 2008 Tony Awards). Photo courtesy of Broadwayworld.com

EPAC presents staged reading by Tony nominee

The nominations for the 65^th annual Tony Awards were announced Tuesday morning. One of the writers nominated for Best Book of a Musical is Douglas Carter Beane, for the Whoopi Goldberg-produced musical "Sister Act."

You may recognize Beane as the Tony-nominated playwright of "The Little Dog Laughed," which EPAC will present as a staged reading this coming Monday night, May 9, at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre.

The New York Times recently ran an article about script doctors and show doctors – the folks who rewrite existing scripts or rework whole productions that need help. Beane rewrote the book of “Sister Act,” originally penned by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (former executive producers of the TV show “Cheers.”)

You can read the New York Times story here.

“The Little Dog Laughed” earned Beane 2007 Tony and Olivier Award nominations, and his book for the musical “Xanadu” earned him a 2008 Tony nod and a Drama Desk award.

So don’t forget to order your tickets for “The Little Dog Laughed." Order in advance and you'll save $2! Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. A wine-and-cheese reception starts at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, and the show starts at 8. This show features adult themes and language … therefore, it is for ADULTS ONLY!!

Call the EPAC box office at (717) 733-7966, ext. 1, for tickets.

And while you're at it ... don't miss EPAC's current mainstage production, the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical "Into the Woods." You'll love it!

BTW: The Tonys will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 12, from 8-11 p.m. on CBS.

# --- --- Mary Ellen “Merv” Wright