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New theater groups forming

October
31

Organizers in Larchmont and Mount Vernon are planting the seeds for two new theater groups.

jessicasmith.jpgIn Larchmont, Stacie Moye and Jessica Smith — the team behind the new Studio For Musical Theater (StudioFMT) on Gilder Street — plan their second meeting Monday with people interested in forming an adult theater troupe, to be called Studio Theater Project.

staciemoye.jpgMoye says a meeting last month attracted “a small but very enthusiastic turnout.”

Trained at Emerson College and The Boston Conservatory, respectively, Moye (bottom, right) and Smith (top, right) have been teaching voice at their studio in Larchmont for about a year.

“We hope to get a small musical production up by the spring,” Moye says, adding that long-term goals are to form “a theater company dedicated to musical and play revivals, new works, artist collaborations and theater education with a fall play, spring musical, summer new work reading/showcase, Broadway master’s series and a wide variety of classes for children and adults.”

Moye admits it’s ambitious, but adds that the seeds are there.

“After talking about whether we should focus on a big-scale musical versus a smaller, more-unknown show,” last month’s meeting ended on a high note — actually, a few of them, Moye says — with the group singing around the piano. Monday’s meeting will discuss Sondheim, read some scenes and sing some of his songs.

“Anyone in the community who’s interested in joining us, it isn’t going to cost anything,” Moye says. “We’re starting from scratch with our love of theater and we’re crossing our fingers. In this economy, you never know.”

Monday’s meeting will be at 7 p.m. at StudioFMT, 4 Gilder St., Suite 1B, Larchmont. www.studiofmt.com or 914-630-7108.

At 1 p.m. Nov. 1, the Mount Vernon Theater Club will be born.

batson.jpgThat’s when Gary Batson (top, right) and Walter Jones (bottom, right) will hold an orientation to announce a three-phase plan for a newly formed club.

The orientation, at the AC-BAW Center, will chart an ambitious course. Batson, who’ll serve as executive producer, and Jones, the group’s artistic director, are planning to mount adult mainstage productions, a Saturday children’s theater workshop and an outreach program into schools.

The adult workshops will meet Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the children’s theater on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

walterjones.jpgWhen the club is in full swing, Batson says he envisions four full productions per year using, whenever possible, residents from Mount Vernon.

“The first show we’ll likely do is by Walter, called ‘Marian Anderson,’ about the singer,” Batson says. “After that, we’ll do a collection of my one-acts, that were featured at the Samuel French festival.”

The Anderson play has a cast of five and Batson expects audiences might be able to see it next fall or “if we get lucky, spring 2009.”

Batson hopes to start workshops next month, covering scene study, basic acting and playwrighting.

“It’s very important that voices come from Mount Vernon, but we realize that we can’t cast every part in Mount Vernon. So we’re reaching out across Westchester and into Manhattan.”

Jones’ credits include work at the Public Theatre and for TV’s Norman Lear. Batson has had plays produced by Samuel French, The Paul Robeson Theaer and The Negro Ensemble Company.

Batson says he hopes to produce a children’s theater production of “Annie” at the club. Annie is the orphan for whom the sun will come out tomorrow. But today, there’s a theater group to start.

At 1 p.m. at the AC-BAW Center, 128 South Fourth Ave., Mount Vernon. 914-371-7589.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am by Peter D. Kramer.
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If it involves theater in any way -- from grade-schoolers learning Shakespeare to high school musicals to Broadway veterans getting into character -- this is the place to talk about it. We'll have audition notices, casting notices, mini-reviews and plenty of ideas to fill a theater junkie's to-do list.
About the Author
    Peter D. KramerPeter D. Kramer has loved theater his whole life. A Rockland County native and 19-year employee of The Journal News, Pete relishes his current role, alerting theater lovers to the possibilities and talking to artists young and old about their craft. A former actor, director, technical director, ticket-taker and bon vivant, Pete has put a theater life behind him, living vicariously through those he interviews.

    E-mail Peter

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