Karen M. Dielmann
Theater at the Ranch members will be busy over the next few months. Please take note of some important dates.
The play POTUS: Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive by Selena Fillinger, will be presented as a free staged reading on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Hermosa. This is a non-partisan, adult themed comedy featuring seven fictional women who surround a fictional President of the US (POTUS). Because it is a staged reading, the actresses will be seated or standing and reading from their scripts with limited movements on stage. There will be a narrator (Brian Lee) who will be describing what is happening on stage so that the audience can imagine what is happening while the actresses are reading their lines. The cast consists of Kristine Archuleta, Laura Byrne, Karen Dielmann, Deborah Dorman, Lynn Hooper, Peggy Lee, and Marsha Oliver. The play is rated R for adult language and adult-oriented themes (not suitable for children) and L for laughter! Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost of the production, but seating is open (that is no assigned seats and no cost to attend). Cash bar will be available. If you are interested in tickets, please email deborahdorm@gmail.com with the number in your party by Nov. 2.
The main production for Theater at the Ranch this year will be Rumors, a comedy by Neil Simon. The comedy, originally produced in 1989, is the story of four couples who attend a 10th anniversary party at the celebrants’ home. What follows is an amusing farce of missing hosts, mistaken identities, potential scandal, wild stories, and escalating chaos. There are 10 roles: 4 men, 4 women, and 2 smaller roles of either gender. The play will run Thursday, Feb. 18 to Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027 (four shows total).
Auditions will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or that evening (Nov. 9) from 6 to 8 p.m. All auditions will be in Hermosa. Auditions are friendly, fun, and there is no previous experience required. No advance preparation is needed, but those who are interested can read Act 1 of Rumors online for free at archive.org/details/rumorsfarce0000neil. Rehearsals will begin after the Thanksgiving holiday. If you are interested in auditioning, please register online at theaterforms.com/theaterattheranch/rumors/auditionform. Bring a photo and dates of all potential December through February schedule conflicts (dates and hours) with you to the auditions.
The Theater group is always looking for volunteers who are interested in helping with productions but not necessarily acting on the stage. Backstage help with props, makeup, costuming, building/moving sets, soliciting sponsors, helping with the programs and advertising, and helping with ushering during the performances are all needed. For more information about POTUS, auditions, Rumors, or helping in a non-acting role, please contact deborahdorm@gmail.com.