Fairy Tale Ball 2008

Posted by Catherine Dudley

Well, another Fairy Tale Ball has come and gone and it was a great success. The turnout was fantastic and everyone looked lovely. I think the photos speak for themselves!

Everyone dances to the music of the Jangling Reinharts

Even the staff dresses up and comes out for the evening!

(L- Director of Marketing- Sara Marsden, myself, Below- Joy Ross- Box Office Manager, her lovely daughter Andrea)

Christine Schneider (Wendy in Peter Pan), Richard Koch (Smee in Peter Pan), and Gigi Galiffa (Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter herself) all smile for a picture.

The silent auction room-
Complete with a continuously moving Captain Hook projected onto the wall.
("Well, shiver me timbers!")

Billy Christopher Maupin and Emily Cole-Bitz check out the silent auction winners.

Gwen and Adam make their way through the Neverland trees. Does it get any cuter?

Mason and Holly Timberline make the sweetest penguin/ princess couple ever!

Peter and the lost boys promise to "never grow up!"

If you missed the Ball this year, we hope you'll come out and join us next year! And make sure you come see Peter Pan- April 25- May 18. Call 344-8040 for information.

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

OK, Ok, ok. I know it's really All Quiet on the Western Front, but considering that the Empire Theatre is opposite of the West End (although it's still really downtown and not East End...nevermind). Just go with me here.

So it's the day before a major holiday, so staff of Theatre IV/Barksdale Theatre are on vacation. A very wonderful gift to have a holiday break. I'm not incredibly enamored of holidays, so I thought I'd come into the marketing office and catch up on a few things that got neglected in the midst of many, many, many shows running at the same time: A Christmas Story at the Empire Theatre (closed yesterday), Moonlight and Magnolias in Barksdale Theatre's Signature Season (running through January 20), Swingtime Canteen at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern (extended through March 2), Bifocals Theatre Project's It's a Wonderful Life on Barksdale Theatre at Willow Lawn's Lobby Stage and then touring around the Greater Richmond area (closed Friday), and more Theatre IV touring shows for young audiences than I even know of (the fall tours have wrapped up, but a whole new batch begins rehearsing for the spring tours very soon).

Seems that our office has gotten a bit cluttered with office supplies, brochures, a delightful bottle of craft glue that seems to have its remnants dried to the bottom, and oddly enough a set piece from what appears to be a Christmas show.

With all of the ads, playbills, voucher donations, TV commercials, and many, many other projects that come out this office (with my fabulously diligent coworker Catherine Dudley and the best boss I think I've ever had, Sara Marsden) sometimes those things get left on the table.

I guess Christmas isn't generally the time when traditionally one reflects on what one is thankful for (I guess I missed that with Thanksgiving). But as I sit here thinking about all of those things, I have to feel very grateful. I'm working in theatre with tremendously talented, generous, hardworking people that are doing great things every day- for the audiences and community in Richmond and far, far beyond.

So. Back to tidying. Thinking of all the wonderful things to come (and all the "hecticness", as well) with spring tours, Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter opening at the end of January, Doubt: A Parable opening at Willow Lawn in February, Two Short Plays in the Bifocals series in February, as well, beginning a whole new season of shows at Hanover Tavern in March, and oh, so many more events, shows, and projects that will be interspersed along the way.

It really does bring a smile to my face.

Another Fantastic Cabaret at the Empire Theatre

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

I am often accused of not sharing information early enough, so even though there are a lot of exciting things going on next Friday for First Friday at the Empire, I wanted to start getting the word out about the cabaret that will be playing in the lobby FOR FREE (which seemed to be the big question last time: "How much is the cover?"). FREE ENTERTAINMENT; How cool is that?

We featured an incredibly well-received cabaret for First Friday in September; so well-received, in fact, that we are featuring another next week, with several returning faces/voices and several new ones as well.

This time around Corey Davis (most recently of Stuart Little at Theatre IV and Austin's Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project, also to be seen in the upcoming Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter at Theatre IV),

Billy Christopher Maupin (seen in Mr. Marmalade and Austin's Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project and earlier this year in Smoke on the Mountain at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern),

Audrey Snyder (Stuart Little with Theatre IV, Frankenstein Lives! at the Carpenter Science Theatre, Where's Charley? at Barksdale Theatre),

and Chloe Williams (Barksdale Theatre's smash hit production of Mame) will return to the stage.

And the vibrant new voices of Taylor Baltimore (currently rehearsing as Petra in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music with Live Arts in Charlottesville),

Catherine Dudley (who just closed as Snowbell in Stuart Little),

Jacquie O'Connor (recently seen in The Full Monty and Scapino! at Barksdale, as well as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse),

and Jonathan Spivey (Barksdale's Cyrano de Bergerac, numerous performances at the University of Richmond, and a stunning Lady #3 in Paul Deiss' adaptation of The Magic Flute with Theatre IV) will join them.

The upcoming cabaret will feature songs from Cabaret, Chicago, Dreamgirls, Side Show, South Pacific, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and more!

So come check out all the exciting things happening, grab a drink at the cash bar and check out a fine cabaret. Life is, after all, a cabaret, ol' chum. So...(yeah...you're singing it...)

Friday, November 2, starting at 7:30PM at the historic Empire Theatre in Downtown Richmond!

(Pictured at right, from September's cabaret are Robin Harris-Jones, Billy Christopher Maupin, Russell Rowland, Janine Sears, Andrea Ross, Audrey Snyder, Corey Davis, Chloe Williams, and Keydron Dunn.)

(NOTE: Headshots appear in order of mention and not necessarily adjacent to name.)

Snowbell...errr...I mean Catherine Dudley answers "The Questionnaire"

Catherine Dudley, who is playing Snowbell (the cat), along with Doctor, Miss Swenson, Repairman, and others, in Theatre IV's upcoming production of Stuart Little, paws her way around the questionnaire that James Lipton asks his guests on Inside the Actor's Studio. Lipton's questionnaire is taken from Bernard Pivot's questionnaire that he used to ask his guests on Bouillon de Culture.

So here goes:

1. What is your favorite word?

Quintessential- it is so much fun to say, I can’t stand it. You can punch both words individually and it’s even more fun to say. “QUint- ESSSSSential!”

2. What is your least favorite word?

M-O-I-S-T- I even have to spell it it cringes me out so much! there is nothing more foul to me than that word! It literally makes my skin crawl!


3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?

Spiritually- a person who isn’t afraid to walk out what they believe

Emotionally- someone who truly listens- not a passifying listening, but truly listening!


4. What turns you off?

There are an unbelievable amount of things that turn me off!

Gratuitous cussing, coffee breath (even though I love coffee- all I ask is- just brush your teeth or gargle Listerine! Something, please!), arrogance, ignorance, lying, and mayonnaise!

5. What sound or noise do you love?

Unimpressive, I know, but the sound of a car driving over a metal bridge! I love that noise! I always turn my radio down when I get to one! Makes me smile!

But, really and truly- the sound of my nephews laughing and talking! There is nothing better in the world! Those sweet little, squeaky voices- precious!

6. What sound or noise do you hate?

Styrofoam! Not like the little packing peanuts- big sheets of Styrofoam! Breaking, crunching, tearing- doesn’t matter! That sound is worse than fingernails on a chalkboard!

7. What is your favorite curse word? (have it at it. I obviously won't post it for real, but in some approved somewhat censored fashion)

As mentioned before, I am not a cusser! (now, that’s not to say that the time I dropped boiling water on my foot that something didn’t come flying out! I am woman enough to admit that it did!) but as a general rule my cussing is fairly PG! I LOVE “dang judy!” and “shut your face!”

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I am actually finishing school now to become one- an American Sign Language interpreter! It stole my heart! It would be cool to be a glass blower though! They make some beautiful stuff!

9. What profession would you not like to do?

A mortician or a septic tank cleaner! (although I would go into ANY septic tank with Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs!)


10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

First and foremost, I believe heaven does exist and I hope and pray that I walk my faith well enough that God will say to me, “Well done good and faithful servant!” it’s a daily battle though!

--Catherine Dudley