Auditions for Lycian Centre Summer Theatre to begin in March

Sugar Loaf, N.Y. — Kings Theatre Company will be holding auditions for its two summer theatre productions, “Clue: The Musical” and “The Miss Firecracker Contest,” on Friday, March 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 13 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Pavilion at the Lycian Centre on Kings Highway in Sugar Loaf. Both productions will take place in the Lycian Centre’s new 150-seat “On The Wharf” performance space on the shore of creamery pond. “The Miss Firecracker Contest,” written by Beth Henley, requires an ensemble cast of two men in the 25-35 age range and four women in the 20-30 age range. All characters are quirky, Southern and larger than life. The play will rehearse from June 21 through July 15 and performances will take place on July 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. It is being directed by Paul Ellis, who has worked in show business for 40 years. He trained as a theatre director with Lee Strassberg, Julian Beck, and Richard Schechner, and playwriting with Jean-Claude Van Itallie at Princeton University. He has directed more than 80 plays including works by Tennessee Williams, Sam Sheppard, Lanford Wilson and Eugene Inonesco. Ellis has also directed many original plays including those of Joan Shankar, Richard Dresser and most notably the plays of Nuyorican playwright Pedro Juan Pietri with whom he worked for several years. He also taught at the School of Visual and Performing Arts where he directed contemporary and classical plays with high school students. As a producer, he has been responsible for producing festivals, concerts and major events and is a long time advocate for community based arts. Ellis presently writes and directs the Air Pirates Radio Theater now in its fourth season of presenting original radio plays. “Clue: The Musical,” written by Peter DiPietro and based on the Parker Brothers board game, requires an ensemble cast of five men and three women, including two baritone/tenors, two baritones, one male with wide range to play a female role, one mezzo with belt, and two females with wide range and belt. The play will rehearse from July 26 through Aug. 12 and performances will take place on Aug. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. It is being directed and choreographed by O.V. Vargas, a graduate of the Boston Conservatory and a veteran of over 300 shows. He has worked nationally and internationally as an actor, singer, dancer, stunt man, director, choreographer, playwright, dramaturge, play-doctor, acting teacher, stage combat coordinator, and has served as artistic director of Stoneham Summer Theatre, Mission Hill Theatre Company in Boston and the Glove Theatre in upstate New York. Vargas has also served as the resident director at the Third Eye Repertory, the Westside Repertory in New York and Millbrook Playhouse in Pennsylvania. Recent projects include the off-Broadway productions of “Children of Children” and “Ferry Tales,” as well as the first New York revival of “Urinetown.” Vargas is in the process of developing his award winning play “Red Hook,” which was optioned for Broadway. Past New York credits include: “A Lie of the Mind,” “The Dining Room,” “The Big Funk,” “Leaded,” “Steel Magnolias,” the critically acclaimed “Godspell” with Stephen Schwartz, and the 30th anniversary production of “Hair” in New York. All rehearsals and performances will take place at the Lycian Centre in Sugar Loaf. Stipends commensurate with experience will be paid to all actors who are cast. Audition appointments are encouraged, but not required. Prepare a one-minute comedic monologue and minimum 16 bars of a musical selection. For more information, contact Paul Ellis at peliscult@yahoo.com or Dawn Ansbro at dawn@kingstheatrecompany.org or call 845-469-2285.