KiINGSPORT, TN - Kingsport Theatre Guild announces its biggest season ever, plus a new series called "KTG:Downtown." The 2015-2016 schedule consists of five shows on its main stage in the Renaissance Center and five shows in its new "KTG:Downtown" series at various locations in downtown Kingport. Each month, August through May, showcases some of Kingpsort's most talented actors, directors and tech crews in different genres of shows.
KTG's Mainstage venue is located in the historic Renaissance Center Theatre on Center Street, just outside downtown Kingsport. It can seat 330, including the balcony, and has one of the best technical setups of community theatres in this area. KTG's Mainstage opens the 2015-2016 season in September with the musical "Wind In The Willows," followed by "To Kill A Mockingbird" in October. December brings an old Christmas favorite "It's A Wonderful Life," and the season wraps up with "13, The Musical" in March and "Midsummer Night's Dream" in May. All main stage shows have school showings offered and run Friday, Saturday and Sunday for two weekends.
KTG:Downtown involves various venues in downtown Kingsport with more intimate seating from 20 – 50 in each location. These shows will run one weekend only with a 7 p.m. show time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. KTG:Downtown opens the 2015-2016 Season in August with those six sassy women in "Steel Magnolias," followed by "Things My Mother Taught Me" in November. The new year kicks off with "After" in January, a Valentine treat in February with "Same Time Next Year" and wraps up with "Agnes of God" in April.
"Steel Magnolias"
KTG: Downtown (Kingsport Higher Education Center)
Auditions: June 18 and 19: 6 – 8 p.m. – All women – teens to 120
Show Dates: Aug. 6, 7, 8 at 7 p.m.
The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for 40 years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with repartee and acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength-and love-which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.
"Wind In The Willows, The Musical"
KTG: main stage
Auditions: June 23 and 25: 6-8 p.m. All ages, male and female
Show Dates: Sept. 4, 5, 11, 12 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 5, 6, 12, 13 at 2 p.m.
This musical tells the story of the friendship of the good-hearted Water Rat, the shy and curious Mole, and the sensible Badger. What tests that friendship are the antics of Mr. Toad, a wily and impulsive animal given to sudden crazes such as stealing motor cars and driving them recklessly around the countryside. Their task is to save Toad from himself and then rescue the magnificent Toad Hall from the devious weasels, ferrets and stoats.
"To Kill A Mockingbird"
KTG: main stage
Auditions: Aug. 27 and 28: 6- 8 p.m. Male heavy cast, some females – Mostly adults, a few teen roles, two the three young roles
Show Dates: Oct. 23, 24, 30, 31 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 24, 25, 31, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
Scout, a young girl in a quiet southern town, is about to experience dramatic events that will affect the rest of her life. She and brother, Jem, are being raised by their widower father, Atticus, and by their strong-minded housekeeper named Calpurnia. Wide-eyed Scout is fascinated with the sensitively revealed people of her small town but, from the start, there's a rumble of thunder just under the calm surface of the life here. Set in 1935, this play illustrates the social issues of this time period as the black people of the community have a special feeling about Scout's father. In her youthful innocence, she does not know why. A few of her white friends are inexplicably hostile and Scout doesn't understand this either. Unpleasant things are shouted, and the bewildered girl turns to her father. Atticus, a lawyer, explains that he is defending a young negro wrongfully accused of a grave crime. Since this is causing such an upset, Scout wants to know why he is doing it. "Because if I didn't," her father replies, "I couldn't hold my head up." When she asks why Atticus would take on such a hopeless fight, he replies, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason not to try." He goes on to prepare Scout for the trouble to come. "We're fighting our friends. But remember this-no matter how bitter things get, they're still our friends." Things do get bitter, leading up to drastic measures as Atticus props himself in a chair against the cell door of the man he's defending to confront an angry mob. Horrified, Scout projects herself into this confrontation and her inconvenient presence helps bring back a little sanity. Atticus fights his legal battle with a result that is part defeat, part triumph. As Atticus comes out of the courthouse, the deeply moved town minister tells Scout, "Stand up. Your father's passing."
"Things My Mother Taught Me"
KTG: Downtown
Auditions: Oct. 1 and 2: 6-8 p.m. Four male, three female roles – young adults (20s – 40s)
Show Dates: Nov. 19, 20, 21 at 7 p.m.
Olivia and Gabe are moving into their first apartment together. They've just packed up all of their belongings and driven halfway across the country, to start a new life together in Chicago. Their moving day doesn't go exactly as planned, though, and things become slightly more complicated when all of their parents show up to help. Can a two-bedroom apartment contain all of the love, laughs, worry and wisdom that's about to happen? This new comedy from the author of "Nana's Naughty Knickers" takes a generational look at relationships, and how sometimes parents are passing their best lessons on to their children without even meaning to. Funny and touching, this one will make you laugh out loud and fall in love all over again.
"It's A Wonderful Life"
KTG: main stage
Auditions: Oct. 8 and 9: 6-8 p.m. Large cast, all ages, male and female
Show Dates: Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13 at 2 p.m.
It's not only a joyful Christmas tale -- it's the love story of George and Mary Bailey, a vivid portrait of the greatest generation, a descent into the darkest hour of a man trapped by circumstance, and a powerful meditation on what makes a meaningful life.
"After"
KTG: Downtown
Auditions: Nov. 12 and 13: Small cast, male and female, adults
Show Dates: Jan. 14, 15, 16 at 7 p.m.
When a wrongfully imprisoned man is exonerated by DNA evidence after 17 years in prison, he is forced to re-assimilate into a cold, foreign world of toothbrush shopping, doggy day care and a friendship with an anxious young woman with secrets of her own.
"Same Time, Next Year"
KTG: Downtown (Cindy Saadeh Art Gallery)
Show Dates: Feb. 11, 12, 13 at 7 p.m.
This show follows a love affair between two people, Doris and George, married to others, who rendezvous once a year. Twenty-five years of manners and morals are hilariously and touchingly played out by the lovers.
"13, The Musical"
KTG: main stage
Audititons: Dec. 17 and 18: 6- 8 p.m. Teens (or can play teens), male and remale, large cast
Show Dates: March 11, 12, 17, 18 at 7 p.m. and March 12, 13, 18, 19 t 2 p.m.
Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents' divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?
"Agnes of God"
KTG: down town
Auditions: Feb. 25 and 26: 6-8 p.m. Three women – adults
Show Dates: April 14, 15, 16 at 7 p.m.
Summoned to a convent, Dr. Martha Livingstone, a court-appointed psychiatrist, is charged with assessing the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her newborn. Miriam Ruth, the Mother Superior, determinedly keeps young Agnes from the doctor, arousing Livingstone's suspicions further. Who killed the infant and who fathered the tiny victim? Livingstone's questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love leading to a dramatic, compelling climax.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
KTG: main stage
Auditions: March 17 and 18: 6-8 p.m. All ages, male and female – large cast
May 13, 14, 19, 20 at 7 p.m. and May 14, 15, 20, 21 at 2 p.m.
The adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with woodland fairies and a duke and duchess. Taking place in a mythical Athens and an enchanted forest, there is a handsome fairy king, a misguided parent, star-crossed lovers, a weaver who's transformed into a half-donkey, wood sprites and elves. This work is widely performed around the world, and no wonder - it's about the world's most popular pastime, falling in love. But as Puck knows, falling in love can make fools of us all.
