SantaLand Diaries Auditions:

Please prepare one comedic monologue for the audition. A monologue that engages the audience is preferable. Please show up 15 minutes prior to your audition to complete the audition form. Bring a recent headshot and resume. Call-backs will be held after auditions.  This is a one-man show casting for the part of Crumpet the Elf.

Open auditions: AEA and non-AEA

Pay: AEA is special appearance w/o health ($207/week). AEA and non-AEA total pay will be based on a percentage of ticket sales. (Example: 1/2 full house (30 people) each performance would be $270.00/week) No housing available.

Script must be memorized prior to the first rehearsal as it is a short rehearsal period. Rehearsals are December 4-7.

Performances: December 8-18, 2011
Thursdays @ 7:30pm
Friday & Saturday @ 10pm
Sunday @ 2:00pm

To sign up for an audition time:

http://nataudition.pleasebringit.com/public/RPlUocMwjTE

Additional times will be added if needed.  Auditions will be held at the New American Theater Center @ BayWalk – 183 2nd Avenue N, St. Petersburg, FL  33701.  Any questions, contact brian.becker@newamericantheater.org

Back by popular demand, Lark Eden traces the life-long friendship of three Southern women, beginning in the Depression era and continuing through the early years of the new century. This delightful show offers a lyrical exploration of the ties that bind – as tightly as family, and as surely as love.  From frog catching girls with skinned knees to world wizened grandmothers, Lark Eden follows three lives through personal trials and victories no less daunting than the historical tribulations which provide the backdrop to these everyday American lives.

Thelma, Mary and Emily have been friends since their childhood in the 1930’s. Thelma is a prudent Christian woman who yearns to be a good mother; Mary is wise-mouthed and spirited yet quietly wounded; and Emily is desperately searching for something to believe in. From their teenage tribulations to their aged reminiscence, the women of Lark Eden will stay with you for a long time to come. A loving acknowledgement of those inconspicuous souls amongst us – those whose lives are seemingly unspectacular yet the fingerprints that they unknowingly leave on the hearts of those they love endure against the tumult and heartbreak of time.”

WHAT:  LARK EDEN, a play by Natalie Symons

WHO:  Featuring Jeni Bond, Roxanne Fay, and Natalie Symons.  Directed by Karla Hartley.

WHEN:  Production opens Friday Sept. 23, 2011 and runs through Oct. 9, 2011.  Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2PM and 8PM, Sundays at 2PM.

WHERE:  New American Theater Center @ BayWalk, 183 2^nd Avenue N, St. Petersburg

TICKETS:  Preview: Thursday Sept. 22, 2011 at 7:30PM. Advanced tickets, $15 or pay-what-you-can at the door (subject to availability)

Tickets for all performances: $20 ($17 for students/seniors)

BOX OFFICE:  727-575-9241

WEBSITE:  www.newamericantheater.org  (advance ticket sales)

We have a LOT of events coming up this season and we need everyone to come help out when you can. Volunteering with NAT STARS is a fun time, and you get to see the shows for FREE! How can ya beat that?

We have a new system to sign up for volunteer shifts. Each show requires an usher, bartender and box office volunteer. If you haven’t worked in the box office or at the bar, just let us know before you sign up so we can schedule a training time. Listed below are the duties of each position:

USHER/SERVER – The usher will greet guests at the door and collect tickets, assist people in finding their way to the bar (and encourage them to do so) and restrooms. For cabaret performances, this person also acts as a server during the show getting drink orders and delivering the drinks to their tables.

BARTENDER – The bartender serves water, coffee, soda, beer, wine and a couple mixed drinks. This person also runs the cash register and is responsible for the money. The tip jar is donations for the theater, not for the bartender, sorry.

BOX OFFICE – Box Office volunteers will be trained to run the ticketing system and will sell tickets to patrons as they enter the theater via cash or credit card. This person may also run credit card transactions for bar “tickets.” Box Office volunteers are responsible for the money in the box office. This is generally for someone who plans to volunteer often.

None of these volunteer roles are difficult and we are happy to train you for new areas. We would love to have you help out, it’s a fun time working a show here at NAT!

You can now sign up for volunteer times online. Just click here and find the date and position you would like to work on the sign up sheet. 

THANK YOU for volunteering at New American Theater. We wouldn’t be able to function without your help! Remember to wear ALL BLACK when you come to volunteer.

Here’s what’s available to sign-up for now:

LARK EDEN (Back by popular demand!):

09/22/2011 – 7:30pm PREVIEW performance

09/23/2011 – 8:00pm OPENING NIGHT w/reception (you will be here a little later)

09/24/2011 – 2:00pm matinee performance

09/24/2011 – 8:00pm performance

09/25/2011 – 2:00pm matinee performance

09/30/2011 – 8:00pm performance

10/01/2011 – 2:00pm matinee performance

10/01/2011 – 8:00pm performance

10/02/2011 – 2:00pm matinee performance

10/07/2011 – 8:00pm performance

10/08/2011 – 2:00pm matinee performance

10/08/2011 – 8:00pm performance

10/09/2011 – 2:00pm performance

THE BETTE SET- A MUSICAL JOURNEY TO MIDLER EARTH

(Cabaret with Sara DelBeato and Michael Raabe)

10/21/2011 – 8:00pm cabaret performance

10/22/2011 – 8:00pm cabaret performance

10/23/2011 – 6:30pm cabaret performance

JAZZ GUITARIST TIM RIDDLE

10/29/2011 – 8:00pm instrumental performance (cabaret set-up)

Fairly soon, we will be releasing the season schedule. But until we do…. I’ll pass along the info for the first show so you can start making plans. After a very successful premier at NAT, LARK EDEN is returning as the first show in the 2011/2012 season. We are excited to have this wonderful show back for a second run. It’s the talk of the town and the reviews were exceptional. The cast is Jeni Bond, Roxanne Fay, and Natalie Symons. Performances are September 22 – October 9. Check the website for more information and to purchase tickets….. they are ON SALE NOW!

On a completely different topic – if you have nothing to do this weekend or next (at 11pm), we would encourage you to go and see our friends perform tick, tick, BOOM! at the Straz Center in Tampa. This is a benefit for the American Cancer Society. It’s a great show and a great cast. Tickets are only $15. Check it out at www.ticktickbenefit.com

1. We received a $25,000 airtime grant from Bright House Networks. You’ll be seeing a commercial for our theater on TV starting in September.

2. We attended the Chalk Walk in Hyde Park this past weekend with our Fresh Squeezed Lemonade and Sweet Tea booth. It may be old school fundraising, but every little bit helps…. and we have a LONG way to go to meet our goal of $55, 000. (hint, hint)

3. Melitta USA donated a Gourment Coffee Basket that we had a drawing for at the Chalk Walk. The winner of the basket was Paula Hoban of Tampa. Congrats, Paula!

4. We will have our show deposits paid next week. Granted, my credit cards are maxed out, but we can finally put the website LIVE and send out our first press release introducing NAT to the world… or at least the Greater Tampa Bay area.

5. Auditions for the 2010/2011 Season are coming up… SOON! We will be at FPTA auditions on May 23 & 24 at the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, FL (go to www.FPTA.net for more info on auditions)

It’s an exciting time for NAT. Things are starting to fall into place, but we have a long way to go. How can you help? Make a donation… did you know that if you make a donation of $100 or more, you will become a member of the Founders Club? It’s true. In addition to the regular membership benefits, you get an NAT t-shirt and your name will be put on permanant signage in the lobby. Sounds pretty great, huh? Well, get signed up… and tell your friends.

We are excited about the upcoming season. We’ve had so many people tell us how happy they are we have started this company. It’s been very encouraging. Thanks to everyone who stopped and bought a lemonade or sweet tea. It may not seem like much, but it added up and was a big help. Keep and eye out for some changes to the website and it’s LIVE debut coming soon.

In other news, the shows for the first season have been selected and licensing is in process. We hope to announce the season with the unveiling of the new website.

Currently, we are working on our show licensing and fundraising. You don’t get very far in the theater without some funds. It seems almost an unattainable task to raise $50, 000 by June of next year, but we are determined to find a way. You can help… even a small donation makes a big difference. It goes back to the old “if everyone gave just $1″ saying. In today’s economic condition, we will happily take that dollar… along with any additional you would like to contribute. Since we are a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization, those contributions are full tax deductible (to the extent provided by law). In the next few weeks, we should be able to announce, officially, our first season of shows. Auditions will be held in the spring. There’s a lot of great things coming your way with New American Theater.

Don’t forget to add yourself as a “fan” on our Facebook page!