Good Morning All….. as I sit down to write the blog for this week, I am in complete awe of what I have seen in the last 7 days.  At the beginning of last week, as we were moving all the set pieces, costumes, music stands, equipment, etc. into Wallace Hall and began putting together River City, Iowa, we were simply a cast that was preparing to do another show.  What we didn’t know is that once again, the magic of theater, combined with the God given talent of this multi-talented group of people would once again create a musical masterpiece.  From the very downbeat of the overture to the opening number with the cast singing, pure magic was created on stage.  I, for one, was completely spell bound by what I was seeing on the stage.  All our hours of hard work have paid off… We have accomplished our goal, a thousand times over!

                Some say that you go to Birmingham, Huntsville, Atlanta or Nashville for good musical theater entertainment… Why travel so far?  Gadsden has some of the best talent around, and we are proving it this very week.  From the youngest member of the childrens ensemble, to the leading roles, to the superb Barbershop quartet, to the outstanding orchestra, to the back stage crew, to the sound crew, and to the directors, we have some of the most professional talent that I would put up to some of the travelling Broadway shows I have personally seen… You will not want to miss this next weekend’s performances.

                You have 3 more chances to see this wonderful show.  There are many new developments in the works for future shows, so if you are willing to spend some time with us, please come out and join us for the magic that is Live Theater…

                Thank you so much for your support for the arts.  We love what we do and we hope we give you a phenomenally entertaining show every time you sit in the seats of Wallace Hall. 

                To the cast, crew and to my orchestra, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart… You have made me so proud to be your music director for this production of Music Man.  May you continue following your dreams for years to come.  I Love You all…..

Angie Campbell

Hey Peeps!

Its really gonna happen, y'all! In just a days we will open a wonderful show. It is amazing how far we've all come. And how fun it is to be together! I am very excited to see the growth in all of us in the process. But, even after the show opens this process continues and our characters keep growing. This is why performing live theatre is so rewarding. And when it all clicks, the energy is amazing and the moments you've worked for really happen, it is truly magical. For us as actors this is what keeps bringing us back. The connection that all this brings about between you and your audience is simply euphoric. There isn't a drug on the earth to give a person such a rush as that! I am so happy on stage when that magic happens. Its just the best feeling in the world.

There have been times for me when this kind of experience has been like therapy during difficult times. Many times I will be heavy- hearted about something and not feel up to a rehearsal but, just a few minutes into it and I am in a heavenly place! What a blessing!! I am grateful to the Lord for such a gift. After all, it is HE who is the giver of all good gifts. I am so very glad He has given me the blessing of enjoying many years of great musical and stage experiences.

I do have other passions, you know. I LOVE to cook. Mediterranean is probably my favorite. I LOVE my doggies, Jolie and Edison. I love "tea time" with all the trimmings. I love autumn mornings, the mountains, the ocean, and the sound of rain. I love convertibles. I love horse races. =}

My biggest passion is, of course, my sweet family- my husband Bill, and our 5 kids (+ 1 daughter-in-law and 1 daughter-in-law to be!) They inspire me to be better than my best. 

All of these passions come with me to the stage. I think an actor must draw upon all of his life experience when developing his character.  When art and life fuse together, the richer the both will be.

So, my Iowa stubborn friends! Lets go get it!! What will you bring to the stage this weekend??

Jennie Wall 

Well, "Hell Week", that period of time when all life stops so that we can synch the actors to the technology or vice versa, is coming to a close. It can be a challenging and yet rewarding time. For the actors we get to hone our stage presence to a fine edge. Let me say right now that you ALL make the show. If it weren't for your superior talent and energy the audience would be sitting in their seats watching an old man make a fool of himself. So this old man just wants to say THANK YOU!!
Soon we will have an audience and then the magic will begin. Put all your worries and anxiety to rest. This is theatre!! Anything can and will happen and all problems will just vanish on opening night. Why you ask? I don't know it's a mystery. :)
 
Break a leg !!
 
Love,
Jon

Hello Everyone! Macy Masters is my name. Singing and acting is my game. I am 12 years old and I have performed in 3 plays with CharACTers. I appeared in Disney's Aristocats, Beauty and The Beast, and Winnie The Pooh. Music man will be my fourth and favorite play so far.

 The cast is having a great time rehearsing and putting finishing touches on the show. Music man is my favorite because it is a fun, upbeat play with lots of laughs. When I first heard the music, I wanted to get up and dance. I know the audience will have a hard time sitting still. The music is so contagious. Everyone wants to sing along. 

The choreography was difficult to learn. We have it down now and it is exciting to watch as well as perform. There is never a time when you are not entertained during the show. From flips to romantic comedy, this show has it all!

 The practices are so much fun because even though everyone works very hard we laugh and have lots of fun! I have learned so much about theater working with CharACTers. It isn't just about singing, acting, and dancing anymore. I have learned about the important behind the scenes work as well. Recently we spent an afternoon painting sets. It is a fun but dirty job!  I have always enjoyed art and love to watch the sets come together. 

We have our costumes. We have our music. We have our sets. Now all we need is the audience. So come see what the TROUBLE is in right here in River City! I have to go now. See you at the show. La Di Da Di Da Di Da Di Da.  La Di Da. La Di Da...

Hello, everyone! I'm Randa, and I have the privilege of playing Ethel Toffelmier in CharACTers' production of The Music Man. I was unfamiliar with this particular musical before the audition process began, so I've had the great pleasure of getting acquainted with this show and growing to love the characters and their eccentricities throughout rehearsals.

I owe more than a blossoming love of theatre to CharACTers and the direction of Cody Carlton; the passionate and inclusive atmosphere of the group has played an undeniable role (theatre pun intended, I suppose!) in shaping who I am as not only a performer, but as a person. I have had the immense honor of creating some of the deepest and most rewarding friendships of my life, in addition to making my own contribution to each performance in which I participate. I honestly could not imagine my life without the theatre and the friends I've made in CharACTers. It's hard to remember a time when I wasn't spending my days learning music, blocking, and choreography. To be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way! There is an inexplicable magic about the theatre, whether you are on stage under the bright lights, or gazing up from your seat as an audience member. It is my sincere pleasure to share in that magic and be able to entertain audiences while imbuing in them important lessons and messages as well.

The Music Man has truly been a welcome experience for me. After a break during the previous show, which felt unbearably long, it has been a joy to be back in rehearsals, learning the show and watching my unspeakably talented castmates blossom and rise to the challenge. With this show, I've had the opportunity to work very closely with my fellow gossiping ladies of River City, all of whom I find to be wonderfully hilarious, eccentric characters. It's been immensely entertaining to channel such an excitable, flighty, and gossip-driven character; there has been a fun challenge in letting loose and seeing how silly I can be in portraying a character so vastly different from myself. As always, those kinds of challenges are among the greatest pleasures that can be found in the world of theatre. The Music Man embodies that wonderful dichotomy of the familiar and the new; while I find myself cocooned in the wonderful companionship of old friends, I am also embracing the friendship of new cast members and the challenge of stepping in to a new show. We are always taking on fresh challenges when we begin to embody new characters in each show, and the Music Man is no different in that respect. As always, we are working to bring fresh, revitalized life to this classic musical and make it entertaining and relatable for the audience.

Rehearsals have been going great thus far, and we are closing in on the final stretch of preparation before we finally present our hard work on stage! I'm incredibly excited to see the product of all of our time and energy on stage, and I'm sure my fellow cast members share the sentiment, as we've toiled and bonded during our time in the learning process. We are all so excited for our performance dates to arrive. Trust me, we have devoted tons of time, energy, and talent to ensure that this is a show you don't want to miss! The Music Man opens soon, and we hope you'll join us and share in the magic of theatre!

Practice is Going Great!

Hi theater fans! Its time to check in on The Music Man again. I just wanted to let you all know that practice is going great, and we can't wait to perform this amazing show for you! Now if you've ever been a part of an audience, hopefully you enjoyed the show. After all, the goal of every actor on stage is to make sure you have a good time. But have you ever thought about what happens before the curtain rises? Exactly how does a show come together? Well let me give you an insider's look at the process behind building a show.

After the audition process is over and all the characters are set, we meet for the much anticipated 1st rehearsal. Every one is excited about this meeting wether its their first time in theater or their 100th show. There's something about getting 30-40 people in one room excited about the same thing, performing a new show. For The Music Man, the first rehearsal was phenomenal. I've done theater for a long time, and I've never had such a productive first meeting. In one night this cast had learned all the group musical numbers for the entire first act! It excited me because from the first time we met, I knew this cast was already driven to put on the best performance possible. 

So practices continue. For the first week or so we look more like a choir than a cast of actors. Our wonderful music director, Angie Campbell, takes time going over every part of every song to make sure we sound our best right off the bat. The goal is to have all the music memorized first, so we can easily sing while moving around the stage. This is when the show really starts to take shape.

Once we've got the music learned we start our blocking rehearsals. Blocking is the process of walking through each scene and learning the movement and placement of the actors on stage. What you might not know as an audience member is that every aspect of the show is blocked. Even the most chaotic scene is really a finely orchestrated group of movements performed by the actors. I remember, in CharACTers' production of Hairspray last year, a whole scene  that was nothing but a dodge ball game set to music. Now if you've ever seen a dodge ball match, you know that's not the most organized sport ever played, but you can't just put 15 people on stage throwing things at each other and hope for the best! Each person has a specific spot on stage they will move to on a specific cue. The only trick is trying to make it look like its not orchestrated to the audience. 

In the Music Man, I'd say this is going great. We are starting to see some great characterization from our actors. What makes a show interesting to the audience is the actors' ability to react to something they've seen 100 times in practice like its brand new. I get the privilege of watching the first few scenes of this show, and I've got to tell you, I'm impressed. Everyone gets better with each practice. The reactions are a little better every night, the dancers are more confident each time we go through the music, and we've still got a few weeks to keep improving. 

In all, The Music Man is shaping up to be a great show. We are working hard, and will continue to work hard until that curtain rises on July 27th. Remember this... Everything an actor does is with you, the audience in mind. So be honored that so many people are working hard to make sure you have a good time. I know we'll be  honored to see you in the audience! 

Good Evening all… I’m Cody Beshears and I would like to welcome you to my little corner of the world.  If you looked through a kaleidoscope, you would be able to see my life as it really is.  By day, my trade is that I am phlebotomist at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, but my life revolves around the theater world.  I been in community theater for 13 years and now with Characters for almost 2.  I am highly involved in several aspects.  I have acted in such shows as Legally Blonde, Titanic and now Music Man. In this production, I have the opportunity to portray one of the 4 members of a barbershop quartet.  This has definitely been one of the more challenging roles, vocally.  I am thankful to my grandfather, for instilling in me the love for music that I have today.  Down through the years,  I have been involved with several theater and performing groups, but I believe I have finally found my niche in the performing arts world.  Being involved with Characters has allowed me to open up so many doors of opportunity that I never would have had.

Recently, another window of opportunity has opened up and I have become the Public Relations representative for Characters Entertainment.  What is this job, you ask?  Well, it is a jam packed job, that has given me so many opportunities to meet new people in the area and enabled me to spread the word about who we are and what we do.  Just recently, I had the opportunity to head up a group that volunteered at Riverfest.  We worked alongside the Gadsden Chamber of Commerce in assisting with transportation of the patrons of Riverfest during the weekend.  I have gotten to meet so many people and made many contacts, planting seeds of Characters throughout Etowah County. 

Along with all of this, I have also been helping Cody Carlton in the area of advertising, fundraising, sponsorship and grants throughout Gadsden.  We are in the process of expanding our theater to enable you, the community, local businesses and others to be involved in supporting live theater in Gadsden.  There are many ways you can do this.  You can make donations, whether one time or yearly.  You can also advertise your businesses with us, by sponsoring shows or seasons with us.  You can visit www.charactersentertainment.com for further information about how you and your community can become involved in promoting the arts and furthering the growth of live theater in Etowah County. 

There are so many reasons that I, personally, have benefited through the years by being involved in community theaters.  Not only does it give one a great opportunity to make lifelong friends, but you really can do anything you set your mind to.  The stage gives you the chance to become a different person or character each and every time you walk onto it.  I am blown away by the vast talent that we have right here in Etowah County. 

Come out to Wallace Hall, on the campus of Gadsden State during July 27 and August 5 and witness the magic that is live theater, as we open this years production of The Music Man.  This is a show for the entire family and you will not want to miss this opportunity.

Thank you for allowing me to take on a short tour of my world, and thank you for your love and support for the young people of Etowah County as they continue to chase their dreams. 

Hey everybody, I am super excited and proud to be in the CharACTers production of Music Man.  I play Gracie Shinn, the Mayor’s youngest daughter. I find Gracie Shinn to be fun, exciting, and talkative…just like me!  

My first involvement with CharACTers was as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz in 2009 (thanks Cody…I still sing high in my falsetto from time to time). It was during this show that I learned what it was like to be a part of a group of people that were all supportive, encouraging, and willing to teach me how to be better.  I loved it so much that I returned for more shows.  My first lead role with Characters was as “Marie” in The Aristocats, and more recently, as “Piglet” in Winnie The Pooh.  Music Man will be my 5th show with CharACTers.

I really enjoy singing, dancing, and acting.  With a father that is a church music director, songwriter, and producer, I was able to sing a solo on his 3rd worship CD when I was just 2 ½ years old.  I have been a part of several church plays, dances, and musicals since I was very small.  I have taken dance (ballet, tap, and hip-hop) for several years and had the fortunate experience of participating in The Nutcracker, with a Russian ballet company when I was 6 years old.

Just a few fun facts about me…with the help of my mom, I started an Ebay “business” about a year ago, from which I have managed to save over $400 towards a car.  I realize I’m only 11, but I wanted to get an early start!  My goal is to completely pay for my first car (a Volkswagen Beetle) by myself.  Since my dad is also a pilot, our family flies quite a bit.  I hope to get my pilot’s license as soon as I am old enough.  In addition, my dad and I enjoy singing duets at church and for karaoke (we have also competed in talent shows).

CharACTers is like a family, where I have made many friends and hope to make many, MANY more.  Music Man is going to be great!  I would like to say congrats to the entire cast and that I love you all!  Hope to see you all at the show!