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Originally airing Friday, June 7, 2019.

Todd Wagner

The JCC Uncommoners will present The Last Five Years at the Robert Scharmann Theatre on the JCC Jamestown Campus, starting Friday, June 14. To preview this new musical we talked with director Todd Wagner.

More details
The Scharmann Theatre stage will be converted into a black box space to host the show. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday June 14 and 15 and also Friday and Saturday June 21 and 22. In addition, two Sunday matinee performances will begin at 2 p.m. on June 16 and 23.

The Last Five Years, written by Jason Robert Brown, depicts a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. Cathy’s story is told in reverse chronological order (the show begins with her at the end of the relationship), and Jamie’s is told chronological order (starting after the couple has first met).

Performing as Jamie and Cathy will be Derek DeVlieger and Teal Weatherley, Skyler Schapp and Lauren Scharf, and Dylan Carlson and Vanessa Kavanaugh. Supporting cast members are Sierra Cuellar, Deatryk Silsby, and Joshua Carlson.

Directing JCC’s first ever summer theatre production is Wagner, an award winning singer, actor, and director. Wagner owns Enchante Cabaret, a professional musical theatre company that produces Broadway style original musicals.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to do something different for Jamestown and JCC,” said Wagner, who has been part of more than 80 professional shows since the age of 10. “I look forward to creating more top quality theatre productions in the area.”

Tickets are $20, general admission; $15, JCC Faculty Student Association members and senior citizens; and $10, students. Since the audience and orchestra will be on stage with the performers, seating is limited. Tickets can be obtained by calling JCC’s box office, 338.1187.

A cash bar will be available prior to performances.

• 

  Caladh Nua

  Highlighting the weekend is an appearance by Irish music group, Caladh Nua, who will perform at Reg Lenna Center for The Arts on Sunday at 7 p.m. Coming from southern Ireland, the quintet performs traditional Irish music with a contemporary flair.

• Meanwhile, Jamestown Community College’s production of All My Sons opens Friday night at 8 p.m. in the Scharmann Theatre on JCC’s Jamestown Campus. Performances will also be held March 7, 13, and 14 at 8 p.m. and March 8 at 2 p.m.

• The two-man play Mass Appeal, by Bill C. Davis, will be presented by the Winged Ox Players starting Friday Night at 7:30 p.m. and continuing Saturday night and also next weekend at St Luke’s Episcopal Church in downtown Jamestown. Directed by Steven Michael Cobb and featuring Daniel Pierce and Lars Benson in the lead roles, the comedy-drama focuses on the conflict between a complacent Roman Catholic pastor and the idealistic young deacon who is assigned to his affluent, suburban parish. The play invites us to question the status quo and addresses issues around women’s rights, homosexuality, and alcoholism.

• The Southern Tier Xpress hockey team will host a playoff hockey game on Saturday. The team clinched a spot in the playoffs after wrapping up their season 26-20-1 in the NA3HL’s East Division. The Southern Tier Xpress is playing the top-seeded Metro Jets in a best two-out-of-three series. Game 1 took place Thursday in Waterford Michigan with the Xpress losing 4 to 3. Game 2 brings the teams to Jamestown and will take place at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena on Saturday, Starting at 5 p.m.

For a complete rundown of live entertainment in Jamestown, including the local music scene, check out this week’s WRFA Rock and Roll rundown.

Rehearsals for Wait Until Dark will begin January 22 and run Monday through Friday evenings.  Performance dates are March 7, 8, 9, 14, and 15.

For additional information, call 716.338.1153.

Sylvia is a play about Greg (Vince Joy) and Kate (Kristina Benson) who have moved to Manhattan after 22 years of childrearing in the suburbs. Greg’s career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate’s career as a public school English teacher is beginning to offer her more opportunities.

Greg brings home a dog (Crin Fredrickson) he found bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her tag. Sylvia soon causes stress between the couple and offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age.  The marriage is put in jeopardy, resulting in hilarious and touching complications. Along the way, the audience meets several other interesting characters, all of them played by Malachi Livermore.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. tonight, 16, 22, and 23 and 2 p.m. on March 24. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission and $5 for JCC Faculty Student Association cardholders. Tickets can be obtained by calling JCC’s box office, 338.1187, or visiting campusstore.sunyjcc.edu.

The show will be directed by Robert Schlick with technical direction by Steven Gustafson.

“Sylvia” is a play about a dog, the couple that adopts it, and the drama that results. The plot runs something like this: Middle age, upper class, Greg finds a dog, Sylvia (played by a young female) in the park on his break and immediately takes a liking to her. He brings her back to the empty nest he shares with Kate. When Kate gets home, she reacts very negatively to Sylvia and wants her gone. They eventually decide that Sylvia will stay for a few days before they decide whether she can stay longer. But Greg and Sylvia have already bonded. Over the next few days, Greg spends more and more time with Sylvia. Greg and Sylvia go on long walks. They discuss life and astronomy. Tension increases between Greg and Kate, who still does not like Sylvia at all. Eventually, Greg becomes completely obsessed with Sylvia, and Kate fears their marriage is falling apart. Kate and Sylvia are at odds with each other, each committed to see the other defeated. And so on…

When the show was running at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 1995, it received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Play.

Needed for the cast are: a middle aged couple; a young, pretty female; and one other person to play multiple roles – both male and female. The production opens in March 2013. Auditions will consist of actors doing cold readings from the script. Any previously prepared monologues will also be considered.

If you have further questions, call the director, Robert Schlick, at 716-338-1153.

Legally Blonde: The Musical is about a sweetheart of a girl who wants to be a lawyer. Even though she is looked down on as silly and not lawyer material, she doesn’t take no for an answer, doesn’t give up, and goes on to succeed.

Tickets are $18, general admission, $16, area students and senior citizens, and $10, FSA members. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign. Tickets can be obtained by calling JCC’s box office, 338.1187, or visiting campusstore.sunyjcc.edu.

Submitted Photo

JAMESTOWN – Legally Blonde: The Musical, the fall production of the Jamestown Community College Uncommoners, opens at 8 p.m. tonight in JCC’s Scharmann Theatre.

Legally Blonde: The Musical is about a sweetheart of a girl who wants to be a lawyer. Even though she is looked down on as silly and not lawyer material, she doesn’t take no for an answer, doesn’t give up, and goes on to succeed.

Tickets are also available for the 8 p.m. performances on Nov. 3, Nov. 9-10, and Nov. 15-17. Matinee performances will be staged at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4 and 11.

Presale ticket prices are $16, general admission, $14, area students and senior citizens, and $8, JCC Faculty Student Association members. At the door prices are $18, general admission, $16, area students and senior citizens, and $10, FSA members. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign. Tickets can be obtained by calling JCC’s box office, 338.1187, or visiting campusstore.sunyjcc.edu.