Click to win four tickets to DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

Every month our enewsletter subscribers will have the chance to win tickets or a Choice Card to the Erie Playhouse.  It's easy - when you click on one of the links in the newsletter you will automatically be entered to win.  One winner will be chosen monthly - but you have to Click to Win!  This month we are giving away four tickets to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels .    P lease note: these tickets are valid April 22-25, 28-May 2. The winner will be notified via email and must present the email at the box office to claim the tickets.

Congratulations to Penny Wise and Mary Schneider  - our March winners!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The uproariously funny, down-and-dirty musical hits the Playhouse stage this month. Based on the popular 1988 movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a laugh-a-minute show you don't want to miss. To read more and view the cast list click here.  Pictured are Jerry Gill (Freddy), Kate Murosky (Christine) and Ken Brundage (Lawrence).

April 16 & 17 (Premiere Weekend performances - all seats $13.00)

April 22-25, 28 - May 2

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels contains Adult Situations/Language.

Thank you to our sponsors: Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, First Niagara Bank, Goerie.com and Bob-FM

2010-2011 Season

Broadway is 432 miles away. The great performances are right here!

Once again, we are bringing you the shows YOU want to see.  Renewals for season ticket holders will be going out in the mail within the next two weeks and season tickets will go on sale June 7.  Click here to read more about our exciting season.

Youtheatre News and Auditions

New Youtheatre Class Offerings!
April 24 – June 5, 2010
Three new Youtheatre classes have been added to the Spring 2010 Session - Intermediate Acting (Ages 5-8), Intermediate Acting (Ages 9-11) and Scene Study (Ages 12-16). For more information and to sign up, click here.

Youtheatre Camp Dates Announced!
The Youtheatre Camps will be held on June 14-19 & 21-26. Our Encore Camp will be held on July 19-24. Make sure to register soon to receive your Early Bird Camp Rate of $200 or $225 (Encore)! Click here for more information and to register.

Book the Showstoppers for your Summer Event now!
The SHOWSTOPPERS are the Youtheatre ambassadors for the Erie Playhouse in Erie County. Throughout the year, this talented song and dance troupe performs musical variety shows for organizational meetings, parties, school functions, festivals, and holiday events. Our Summer 2010 show features the music from the hit show Jersey Boys, as well as hits from the popular TV Show GLEE. Their schedule fills up fast - to book, contact Emily Cassano by email or call 454-2852 ext. 7.

Auditions for Rent

Mark your calendars for June 6 & 7 when auditions for Rent will held at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall at East 12th and Brandes.  Please note that the director, Richard Davis, has specific guidelines for those wanting to audition.  Please click here for more information.

From the Executive Director

 Dear EP Family,

The Dungarvan Dramatic Club is back in Ireland after nine days in their twinned-city Erie, PA. Their extended week in Erie was chock full of excursions throughout the county. They met hundreds of Erieites who showed them nothing but kindness and generosity.

Margaret Dennehy, the president of the club, had many opportunities to address those who treated them so kindly. The words that have stuck with me most are those she shared with the opening night audience at the Irish plays on April 7. Following the performances of Strange are the Ways of Pegasus and Faint Voices, Margaret told the crowd, “What a terrific city you live in and what gracious people.”

We tend to dwell on what we don’t have and spend so much time on those things that are less than positive. Margaret reminded me how lucky we are to live where we do, have cultural and arts organizations that make us unique, and terrific people who make up our community.

Margaret’s sentiments were reiterated at their going away party this past Friday when Siobhan Buckley, treasurer of the club, reminded us how fortunate we are to be the Erie Playhouse Family. The Dungarvan Dramatic Club wants to change their official name from "club" to "family" as they have witnessed what family truly means in meeting all of you.

Thanks to everyone who had a part in the Irish week. The Erie Playhouse staff, and now the newest members of the EP Family, are grateful to all of you.

See you at the theatre!

Almi

DID YOU KNOW? The Erie Playhouse has partnered with both PNC Bank in Northwest PA and the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin, PA, participating in Great Week, April 12-16, sharing theatre with over 200 plus Pre-K students in their schools.

Haitian Relief Concert

Hope For A Future is a concert to benefit Haitian relief efforts. It will feature some of Erie's best young talent. The concert is free, but donations of any amount will be accepted at the door. The concert will be held at the Erie Playhouse Monday, April 19th at 7:00pm. Many different types of baskets will be raffled off, and concessions will be available too. If you can't make it please pass the information to your friends and family.

The concert will feature 12 talented youth accompanied by piano, drums, guitar and bass. They will be singing songs from many different genres of music, with songs for all to enjoy!

Get in on the backstage excitement

We invite you and your club/group to join us in a theatrical adventure like no other...Venture Into the Playhouse with our VIP program.  Your theatrical adventure begins when the doors to the theatre open - except YOUR door will be the STAGE door. Witness first hand the moments leading up to curtain - makeup, costume, greenroom and last minute nerves.

Tours are available for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE MUSIC MAN, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE and RENT.

Click here for more information.

Bayfront Grille Discount for Theatregoers

The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel is offering Erie Playhouse patrons a 20% discount off in their restaurant - The Bayfront Grille.   Season Ticket holders can pick up their discount cards in the box office.  Non Season Ticket holders may present their ticket stub or ticket envelope to receive the discount.  Parking is complimentary.  Patrons just need to bring their parking ticket with them to have it validated.  If you are attending before the show, remember to tell your server you are attending the Erie Playhouse.

Erie Playhouse on FACEBOOK

Join the Erie Playhouse page on FACEBOOK and you will get up-to-date information on shows, auditions and more. Click Here to join our FACEBOOK page.

Wing News

 The Wing continues its ongoing support of the Playhouse with some new fundraisers. Wing members and Babes In Toyland cast and crew are taking orders for Delta Sonic certificates for car washes, interior car cleaning, and oil changes. Treat yourself or purchase a gift for moms, dads, or grads!

The Wing is pleased to be selling Country Fair “Hometown Savings” coupon books for only $5 apiece. Each booklet contains 15 coupons good for FREE or Buy One, Get One FREE coffee, subs, pizza, soft drinks and much more (over a $25 value)! See any Wing member or purchase one at the box office.

Mark your calendar for the Wing’s next Barnes & Noble Fundraiser Event. On Monday, May 24th, all purchases with voucher will benefit the Erie Playhouse. Entertainment will include the Barbershop Quartet from the EP’s upcoming show The Music Man as well as the talented teens from the Showstoppers. More details to come.

Would you like to get involved as a volunteer with the Wing? Come to their next meeting – Tuesday, May 4th, at 7 PM at the Station Dinner Theatre.
New members are always welcome! For more information, click here

The Oz Project

Everybody has seen The Wizard of Oz, but you've never seen Oz like this! The Oz Project is a new play by Zachary Flock (EP volunteer and board member) inspired by the stories of L. Frank Baum. It's a reimagining of a familiar story and characters in a modern Oz. The story follows the journey of Thea Gale, a young woman who finds herself lost in a strange, dark new world as she searches for a way home. Performances will be held at Gannon's Schuster Theatre.

Thursday, April 22  -  Saturday, April 24 @ 8pm and  Thursday, April 29  -  Saturday, May 1 @ 8pm and  Sunday, May 2 @ 2pm

For reservations, call the Schuster Theatre box office at (814) 871-7494.

Playhouse Family News

Once again the Erie Playhouse was well represented at Regional Chorus, which was held at Seneca High School March 10-13.  Beth Chitester, Riley Droney, Jeremiah Gibbons, matt Hueffner, Stephanie Molnar and Darla Owens all attended after passing the auditions held at District Chorus. At Regional Chorus they auditioned for the honor of singing in the All-State Choral Festival held in Pittsburgh April 21 -24. Beth Chitester, Jeremiah Gibbons and Stephanie Molnar will represent our region at the state festival.

This came to us from EP volunteer performer, Justin Williams: "Just wanted to thank you and your staff for an amazing weekend at the concert. I've done a lot of regional work over the last couple of years and I still say that there is better talent at the EP than in many of theaters I've worked in...truly amazing! It is always a pleasure to be able to come "home" and work with friends new and old. Thank you again and I look forward to the next concert or show!"

The EP family sends its condelences to Tracey Harris Hall, whose husband, Chuck, passed away on April 7. The EP family also sends its sympathy to the family of Richard G. Heilmann who passed away on March 14. Mr. Heilmann was an active front-of-house volunteer at the EP.

2010 Yellowstone Tour

Join Steve Ropski & Melanie Gustafson-Ropski on an exciting trek to Yellowstone National Park July 7 - 14, 2010. Steve, in addition to being President of the board of directors at the EP, is a veteran of many trips to Yellowstone and Melanie is a native of Montana.

Leader fees from the trip will be donated to the Playhouse. Click here for more information.