Over 500 people came to opening weekend to witness the beginning of the Red Velvet Cake War! Besides having a great time thanks to the one liners typical of Jones, Hope, and Wooten plays, opening night patrons were treated to the best red velvet cakes in Montgomery County. Patrons from as far away as Canada came to see what the fuss was all about. To read about The Red Velvet Cake War read our Dockline articles or to see production photos click here.

Thanks to the judges - Al and Mark Hayter, Brad Meyer, Jim Bingham, and Duke Coon - who were 'forced' to decide between the best cakes in both commercial and homemade categories. Despite the extensive testing, the homemade category resulted in a tie between Susan Livingston and Anne Paul. Even more surprising is that this was Anne's first red velvet cake ever. Anne indicated she researched authentic red velvet cakes before making her first cake. The commercial category was won by Dream Cakes. They are deciding whether to take the season ticket prize or accept free advertising on their behalf.

Our thanks also go to Lyn Hawthorne Howard, Carl Howard, Sandy Martin, Kerry Conkling, and the Conroe Art League docents who helped to serve the judges and host the patrons after the show. Megan Jones helped us with registration and photography while Brooke Coon worked with her father on cake tasting.

Get your tickets today for the Red Velvet Cake War!

Only 48 hours until the Red Velvet Cake Throwdown! The cast and crew are ready to present a hilarious Southern comedy - Jones, Hope, and Wooten style. Patrons who enjoyed the characters of Fayro, Texas will get introduced to a new set of quirky, funny characters down the road in Sweetgum, Texas. If you think Texas family reunions can be hilarious, you have got to see The Red Velvet Cake War. To read about The Red Velvet Cake War read our Dockline articles or to see pictures of rehearsal click here.

Those who bring a red velvet cake that you baked yourself will get a free ticket to opening night and get a chance to join in the best red velvet cake contest. Bring your cakes to the Conroe Arts League building around the corner from 5-6 PM. The cakes will be judged from 6-7 PM. Winners of the commercial and homemade categories will win season tickets to next year's shows. Opening night patrons will get to eat the cakes after the show.

Get your tickets for The Red Velvet Cake War today!

Bravo Company and some of the cast of the Red Velvet Cake War came to the 2013 Waterway Arts Festival in the Woodlands to celebrate theatre in Montgomery County and to advertise the upcoming shows. Bravo Company did selected monologues and songs and advertised their upcoming musical melodrama - Shakespeare comes to Calamity Creek. Later in the day Peyton sang "Over the Rainbow" and met the Good and the Wicked Witch. And yes, the famed ruby slippers made their appearance.

More pictures from the Festival can be seen here. Look for more appearances of the cast of The Red Velvet Cake War and The Wizard of Oz at Kid Fest.

Don't forget about the Red Velvet Cake Throwdown on opening night. Bring your best red velvet cake and join in the competition! Get your tickets for the hilarious comedy The Red Velvet Cake today!

STAGE RIGHT announces auditions for The Wizard of Oz on April 21-22, 2013. STAGE RIGHT of Texas, resident theatre company at the historic Crighton Theatre, announces auditions for their Summer production of THE WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg adapted from the motion picture by John Kane. The show will be directed by Tina Cafeo.

Auditions will be held on Sunday, April 21 and Monday, April 22, 6 -8 pm for kids and 8 – 10 pm for adults both evenings. Auditions will be held at the Crighton Theatre, 234 N. Main St. in downtown Conroe, Texas. Those wishing to audition should prepare a song (16 bars to 2 minutes in length). Singers are asked to provide their own music either via Ipod or CD. Auditions will also consist of cold readings from the script and a brief dance audition, so please wear movement friendly clothing. If you are a tap dancer, please bring your tap shoes. The roles of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda to Good Witch have been pre-cast. All other roles are open. We are looking for a large cast to include Munchkins, Monkees, Jitterbugs, and Winkies. Children must be at least 5 yrs of age to participate.

Cast Breakdown:
DOROTHY GALE (13-18yrs)- Female strong singer who moves well. Must not be allergic to dogs. (Vocal Range: G below middle C – F, with a legit sound.)

SCARECROW/HUNK (25-35 yrs)- Male singer/strong dancer. Strong actor with an honest quality. Sympathetic and optimistic friend. Lovable and clumsy. Must be an excellent dancer. Acrobatic skills preferred. Must not be allergic to dogs. Vocal range: strong baritone to F.

TINMAN /HICKORY (25-40 yrs)- Male singer/strong dancer. Charming and thoughtful, a kind-hearted romantic. Must not be allergic to dogs. Vocal range: strong baritone to G.

COWARDLY LION/ZEKE (25-40 yrs)- Male singer who moves well. Cuddly actor with excellent comic timing. Must not be allergic to dogs. Vocal range: strong baritone to F.

AUNT EM (35-55 yrs)- Maternal figure. Non-singing.

UNCLE HENRY (40-60 yrs)- Non-singing male actor. Dorothy’s Uncle, and guardian. Good hearted, and plain-speaking. A hardworking Kansas farmer, and affectionate family-man.

WIZARD OF OZ/PROFESSOR MARVEL (50-60 yrs)- Non-singing male character actor. Older father figure with a theatrical eccentric flair. Flying required

MUNCHKINS (5- 12 yrs)- Group singing and movement required. The little people of Munchkinland. Long oppressed, and happy to be freed by Dorothy.

FEATURED MUNCHKINS- The Mayor Of Munchkin City, The Coroner, The Lollipop Guild, and The Lullaby League.

FLYING MONKEYS (10-30 yrs)- Minions of the Wicked Witch of the West. The monkeys do not speak or sing, but will most likely be double-cast as Munchkins. Acrobatics preferred.

CITIZENS OF OZ (20-60 yrs)- Strong singers and dancers.

THE WINKIES (20-60 yrs)- Palace guards to the Wicked Witch of the West, double as Citizens of Oz.

TOTO: Well behaved, house-broken small dog preferably a foster to adoption.

Performance dates are weekends July 12 – 28 Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm with two Sunday matinees on July 21 & 28 at 2 pm. If you have any questions, please contact the director at tinacafeo@gmail.com. Come over the rainbow with us this Summer!

Stage Right joined Conroe residents and the City of Conroe in their pre-Easter celebration called Morning with Mr. Bunny. Hundreds of children and their parents came and collected Easter eggs filled with stickers and candy. Activities included face painting, jump houses, potato sack racing, and more. See the rest of the pictures in the gallery.

Local businesses and non-profit groups provided brochures on local events. Each group provided an Easter basket that was given to kids holding the lucky egg. The lucky winner of the Stage Right basket received Wizard of Oz magnets, soap bubble wands, glow sticks, and other fun toys.

Meanwhile, the cast of The Red Velvet Cake War continues to prepare for opening night. Don't forget to bring your favorite red velvet cake to the opening night cake contest on April 19!

"Mixups, Mahem, and a gay wedding!" And yes, "gay" wedding in 1920 meant "fun"! Over 200 patrons had a great time at the opening of The Drowsy Chaperone. Tap dance, silly songs, comedy, and even a touching moment at the end - all in a day's work for the cast The Drowsy Chaperone. But don't take our word for it - read the newspaper articles, browse some of the pictures in the gallery and come and see for yourself!

If you are interested in more about the cast and crew of The Drowsy Chaperone, check out the Dockline articles or the One on One video interviews. Avoid the lines and buy your tickets online!

STAGE RIGHT of Texas, resident theatre company at the historic Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe, is pleased to announce auditions for their upcoming production of THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. The show will be directed by Melody Montez. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.

AUDITION DATES & TIMES:
Feb. 17 & 18 at 7 pm
The historic Crighton Theatre
234 N. Main St.
Conroe, TX 77301
REHEARSAL will begin once casting is completed with first rehearsal most likely being Feb. 21. Rehearsal will generally be Sunday-Thursday nights 7-9:30 pm.
SHOW DATES:
April 19 – May 5, Friday & Saturday nights at 8 pm and two Sunday matinees April 28 and May 5 at 2 pm. Tickets available at 936-441-7469 or www.stage-right.org.

SYNOPSIS
In this riotously funny Southern-fried comedy, the three Verdeen cousins – Gaynelle, Peaches, and Jimmie Wyvette – could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion. Their outrageous antics have set tongues wagging in the small town of Sweetgum (just down the road from Fayro) and the eyes of Texas are upon them, as their self-righteous Aunt LaMerle is quick to point out. But the cousins can’t back out of the reunion now. It’s on and Gaynelle is hosting; Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette have decided its success is the perfect way to prove Gaynelle’s sanity (having recently plowed her car through the bedroom of her husband’s mistress’s doublewide) to a skeptical court-appointed psychologist. Unfortunately, they face an uphill battle as a parade of wildly eccentric Verdeens gathers on the hottest day of July, smack-dab in the middle of Texas tornado season. Things spin hilariously out of control when a neighbor’s pet devours everything edible, a one-eyed suitor shows up to declare his love and a shocking high-stakes wager is made on who bakes the best red velvet cake. As this fast-paced uproarious romp barrels toward its surprising climax, you’ll wish your own family reunion was this much fun!

STAGE RIGHT is pleased to present the following shows during the 2013-2014 Season. Audition dates and performance dates are tentative and may change. Check the website for updated information.

Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesselring
Auditions: July 14-15, 2013
Performances: Sept. 6-22, 2013

A Christmas Story

By Jean Shepherd
Auditions: Sept. 8-9, 2013
Performances: Dec. 6-22, 2013

Anything Goes

Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse
Auditions: Nov. 3-4, 2013
Performances: Feb. 14-March 2, 2014

Driving Miss Daisy

By Alfred Uhry
Auditions: Feb. 16-17, 2014
Performances: Apr. 18 - May 4, 2014

Hairspray

Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Marc Shaiman
and Scott Wittman
Book by Mark O'Donnell
and Thomas Meehan
Auditions: Apr. 20-21, 2014
Performances: July 11-27, 2014

The presentation of My Three Angels marks the fifth comedy in a row presented at Christmas time at the Crighton. Like Christmas Belles or A Christmas Story, My Three Angels presents a message of hope in a family friendly yet non-traditional way. It's definitely not another version of A Christmas Carol. The opening night crowd had a great time.

Take a look at the pictures from dress rehearsal or read the news articles or magazine articles to get a glimpse of the production. See the online interviews with the cast and crew. Don't forget to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots Campaign. Call the Box Office at 936-441-7469 or buy your tickets online!

Come to the Holiday Open House at the Crighton on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 and put your holiday season into high gear! Non-profits and other vendors will be participating in the area.

The schedule is as follows:
1 pm - Christmas Parade and ornament making
2 pm - pictures with Santa (Arts League and at the Crighton)
2:30 pm - ventriloquist show
3 pm - Bravo Company showcase
4 pm - ventriloquist show
4:30 pm - pictures with Santa (Arts League and at the Crighton)

Bravo Company will provide the entertainment from 3-4 pm. This Fall Showcase allows our youth acting classes to share their comedic and singing talents for the community.

Professional ventriloquists Phil and Melissa Nichols, and their pals, Bosworth the crow and Ick the germ, are the featured guests before and after the Bravo Company Showcase. “We have been doing a lot of movie special effects, puppetry and animatronics, but the puppets are always popular at live events.”

The brother and sister team got into ventriloquism at an early age. Their expertise with puppets and specialty makeup led them to a career in show business, primarily in film and live stage productions.

“We worked on Disney’s film ‘Powder’ and ‘Ace Ventura II’ as well as numerous other films,” Phil Nichols said. “We’re currently doing the special effects for ‘Toxic Avenger’ at the Alley Theatre in Houston.”

Tickets for the Open House are $5. Bring a gift for the Toys for Tots Campaign. See you at the parade and the Open House!