The 2017-2018 season will start off the season with the 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert on September 29th at 8 pm, September 30th at 7:30 pm, and October 1st at 3 pm. A free gala will be held prior to Friday’s show. CST will present the annual performance of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” on December 8th at 7:30 pm, December 9th at 7:30 pm, and December 10th at 3 pm. Come enjoy Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible “February 9th at 7:30 pm, February 10th at 7:30 pm, and February 11th at 3 pm. The season will round out with the whimsical “Wizard of Oz “April 27th at 7:30 pm, April 28th at 7:30 pm, and April 29th at 3 pm. All shows will be performed in the Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $15-$18 per show.

Here are all the winners from this year’s Herman Awards! Congratulations to all winners and nominees on a terrific season, and here’s to the next year in Center Stage Theatre!

Best Show of the Season: Into the Woods

Best Direction of a Show or Musical: Sandra Evans (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Set: Michael Manning (Into the Woods)

Best Costuming: Donna Forehand (Into the Woods)

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play or Musical: Martin Mejia as Greg (Sylvia)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play or Musical: Sue Nobers as Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play or Musical: Kenan Stewart as Conrad Birdie (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play or Musical: Debbie McLendon as Maria Merelli (Lend Me a Tenor)

Best Special Performance by an Actor in a Play or Musical: Jim Grant as Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods)

Best Special Performance by an Actress in a Play or Musical: Wanda Becton as Mrs. Mae Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Vocal Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Jim Grant as Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods)

Best Vocal Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Cindy Roy as Mrs. Doris MacAfee (Bye Bye Birdie)

The Katherine Costa Award for Best Choreography: Crystal Hodges (Bye Bye Birdie)

The Rich & KJ Bernstein Production Team Award: Lend Me a Tenor (Karen Parrish, Cathy Woods, Deanne Morris, Jessy Fields, Venessa Therrien)

Director’s Award (Into the Woods): Keagan Kermode

Director’s Award (Sylvia): Nicole Weintraub

Director’s Award (A Christmas Carol): Sue Nobers

Director’s Award (Lend Me a Tenor): Cathy Woods

Director’s Award (Bye Bye Birdie): Melissa Turner

President’s Award: Heath Radford

Fran Newby Award: Heath Radford

Shannon Horton Award: Jessy Fields

Newcomer Award: Stephanie Slusser

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ron Taylor

Costume Contest: Solo-Heath Radford, Couple (tie)-Keith & Karen Parrish/Charlie & Allison Taylor, Group-Heath Radford, Wanda Becton, Kenan Stewart

Hi everyone! We are thrilled to announce the chorus for our 40th Anniversary Celebration which will kick off our 40th season! The show will be performed September 29-October 1 at the Paramount Theater in Downtown Goldsboro. Congratulations to all the cast, and we hope to see everyone at this spectacular event!

CENTER STAGE THEATRE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CAST LIST

Sequilla Arita

Wanda Becton

Bobby Boyd

Erika Boyd

Jasmin Brown

Mary Beth Cameron

Michael Corbitt

Rebecca Flores

Jim Grant

Julie Ham

Emma Herlong

Keagan Kermode

Hannah Leigh

Susan Leigh

Michael Manning

Debbie McLendon

Gene McLendon

Anne Merritt

Craig Millard

Sue Nobers

Leigh-Ann Pearce

Emily Polashek

Heath Radford

Matty Reda

Cindy Roy

Linda Sampson

Esmilagro Sanchez

Mike Saviak

Hiwot Shaw

Noah Shaw

Kenan Stewart

Riley Stewart

Nadine Swinson

Nathan Taylor

Caleb Turik

Elliott Turner

Leah Turner

Melissa Turner

Raiford Turner

Beth Williams

We are excited to announce the nominees for our 2016-2017 Herman Awards! The Herman Awards Banquet is an annual tradition by Center Stage Theatre. Think of them as our own “Mini-Tony Awards” night. Started in 1982, the Herman Awards allow us to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication that our casts and crews have shown over the season. The Hermans are voted upon by our season ticket holders and voting members (ballots will be mailed soon).

We invite you to join us for the Herman Awards Banquet on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the First Baptist Church located at 125 John Street in Historic Downtown Goldsboro. A social hour starts at 5:30 pm with the awards ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm. The theme of this year’s awards banquet is “Let’s Get Animated.” Come dressed as your favorite character from animated movies, television, comic strips, comic books, or any other animated source material as we reflect and celebrate the casts and crews of our 2016-2017 season.

Please RSVP by July 22, 2017. Tickets are $10/each or $25/family and you can RSVP by sending a check in the mail to: Center Stage Theatre, P.O. Box 1255, Goldsboro, NC 27533. Tickets are also available through designated ticket sales representatives.

And now, here are the nominations. Congratulations to all nominees!

Best Show of the Season

• Into the Woods
• Sylvia
• A Christmas Carol
• Lend Me a Tenor
• Bye Bye Birdie

Best Direction of a Play or Musical

• Michael Manning (Into the Woods)
• John Gillis (Sylvia)
• Stephen Langston (A Christmas Carol)
• Keith Parrish (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Sandra Evans (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Set

• Michael Manning (Into the Woods)
• Bill Royall (Sylvia)
• Gene McLendon (A Christmas Carol)
• Gene McLendon (Lend Me a Tenor)
• James Sauls (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Costuming

• Donna Forehand (Into the Woods)
• Julie Ham (Sylvia)
• Jennifer Langston (A Christmas Carol)
• Rebecca Flores (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Donna Forehand (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play or Musical

• Michael Manning as The Baker (Into the Woods)
• Martin Mejia as Greg (Sylvia)
• Martin Mejia as Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol)
• Matt Gore as Max (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Elliott Turner as Albert Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play or Musical

• Sara Potter as The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods)
• Nicole Weintraub as Sylvia (Sylvia)
• Sue Nobers as Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)
• Sequilla Arita as Maggie Saunders (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Brooke Mayo as Rose Alvarez (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play or Musical

• Keagan Kermode as Jack (Into the Woods)
• Keith Parrish as Tom/Phyllis/Leslie (Sylvia)
• Curtis Phillips as Fred (A Christmas Carol)
• Roy “Doc” Heidicker as Tito Merelli (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Kenan Stewart as Conrad Birdie (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play or Musical

• Susan Leigh as The Witch (Into the Woods)
• Cindy Roy as Kate (Sylvia)
• Brooke Mayo as Mrs. Cratchit (A Christmas Carol)
• Debbie McLendon as Maria Merelli (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Kearston Hudson as Kim MacAfee (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Special Performance by an Actor in a Play or Musical

• Jim Grant as Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods)
• Nick Ham as Ghost of Christmas Future (A Christmas Carol)
• Gene McLendon as Henry Saunders (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Raiford Turner as Hugo Peabody (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Special Performance by an Actress in a Play or Musical

• Wanda Becton as The Narrator (Into the Woods)
• Sophie Bean as Fan (A Christmas Carol)
• Julie Ham as Julia Leverette (Lend Me a Tenor)
• Wanda Becton as Mrs. Mae Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Vocal Performance by an Actor in a Musical

• John Grantham as Rapunzel’s Prince (Into the Woods)
• Jim Grant as Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods)
• Michael Corbitt as Mr. Harry MacAfee (Bye Bye Birdie)

Best Vocal Performance by an Actress in a Musical

• Susan Leigh as The Witch (Into the Woods)
• Bekah Shimer as Cinderella (Into the Woods)
• Cindy Roy as Mrs. Doris MacAfee (Bye Bye Birdie)

The Katherine Costa Award for Best Choreography

• Keagan Kermode (Into the Woods)
• Heather Kaye (A Christmas Carol)
• Crystal Hodges (Bye Bye Birdie)

The Rich and KJ Bernstein Production Team Award

• Into the Woods (Diane Belmont, Stage Manager; Deanne Morris, Properties Manager; Charlie Taylor, Asst. Stage Manager; Brooke Mayo, Asst. Properties; Cassi Erdmann, Hair/Make Up)
• Sylvia (Venessa Therrin, Asst. Director; Karen Parrish, Producer; Sequilla Arita, Properties; Elva Graham, Hair/Make up)
• A Christmas Carol (Julie Ham, Asst. Director; Jennifer Langston, Producer; Mike Saviak, Stage Manager; David Langston, Properties Manager; Jessy Fields, Make Up)
• Lend Me a Tenor (Karen Parrish, Producer; Cathy Woods, Asst. Director; Deanne Morris, Properties Manager; Jessy Fields, Make Up; Venessa Therrien, Stage Manager)
• Bye Bye Birdie (Cathy Woods, Asst. Director/Stage Manager; Christie Mayo, Producer; Gretchen Jordan, Properties Manager)

Center Stage Theatre is preparing to launch our 40th season! It’s going to be a season filled with knock out blockbusters and we want you to be a part of it. We are beginning our season with a 40th Anniversary Celebration concert. It will be a look back at the past 40 years of Center Stage Theatre, featuring some of the best songs from musicals that Center Stage has performed in that time.

Auditions will be held on June 19 and 20 from 6pm-9pm at First Presbyterian Church (1101 E. Ash St., Goldsboro). These auditions are to form the ensemble of the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Auditions for soloists will be held at a later date. With few exceptions, all soloists will be selected from the ensemble. Those auditioning should prepare a short (16-bar) excerpt of a musical theatre song of their choice. Please bring sheet music, an accompanist will be provided. Any questions should be emailed to cst40th@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there, and we are looking forward to a season to remember!

 

KENAN

1. Runaway Train

*Lilly (also serves as Narrator): Danielle Brown

*Saboteur (no name, but implied female): Debbie McLendon

5 non speaking passengers:  Langston Family

 

2. Frog and Me: 

*Female narrator:  Jennifer Pittman 

*Frogman:  Greg Sullivan

 

3. Hen House: 

*Six Chickens

Martha:  Stephanie Slusser

Rhonda: Allayna Decker

Tiffany:  Sequilla Arita

Ginny:  Linda Sampson

Anna:  Susan Bowmer

Kelly:  Jennifer Pittman

*The Cock (Male):  Gene McLendon 

The Ratt:  Martin Meija

The Wolf:  Jason Pittman

 

4. He’s Perfect: 

*Beth:  Sequilla Arita 

*Bart:  David Langston

*Cathy:  Tamara Baltazar

*Carl:  Krais Brown

Debbie:  Anne Merritt

Ethel:  Susan Bowmer

Anne:  Patty Gabriel

 

5. Park Bench: 

*Julie:  Allayna Decker 

*Stranger (male):  Jason Pittman

 

JULIE

1. Wake Up Call

Patricia:  Morgan Pettigrew

Dr. Stein:  Jason Pittman

Nurse Gore:  Anne Merritt

 

2. The Audition

Mr. Wolf:  Kenan Stewart

Producers

1: Morgan Pettigrew

2:  Alayna Decker

3:  Jennifer Langston

3. Hold the Pickles

Steve: Martin Meija

Pickles:  Andrew Ryan Brown

Narrator:  Joan Hackmann

 

4. Helpful Hank

Hank:  Keith Davis

Henrietta:  Stephanie Slusser

Marietta:  Alexandra Brown

Crank:  Lewis Langston

Vincent:  Kenan Stewart

Henchmen 1:  David Langston

and 2: Krais Brown

Message Board:  Debbie McLendon

Chorus Girls 1: Morgan Pettigrew

2:  Anne Merritt

3:  Tamara Baltazar

 

5. Zachary’s War Stories

Royce: Doc Heidicker

Judy:  Joan Hackmann

 

Phyllis

1. Misdemeanor, Felony, Life (3 short monologues)

Emily #1 (early 20’s years):  Morgan Pettigrew

Emily #2 (30’s years):  Tamara Baltazar

Emily #3 (60’s years): Patty Gabriel

 

2. The Stick Up

Bank Robbers:

Dan (leader. focused and smart. short tempered):  Nolan Sampson

Marion (the mouth. smart and witty):  Keith Davis

Eugene (the muscle. simple minded.):  Martin Meija

Hostages:

Samantha (bank teller. has no lines. expression and   reaction important.):  Sequilla Arita

Maryanne (young. stereotypical ditzy cheerleader):  Makayla Sampson

Stanley (bank customer. believes he’s more intelligent than  he is.):  Greg Sullivan

Robert (Bank manager. Wimp.):  Allayna Decker

Patricia (Motherly type):  Debbie McLendon

 

3. Boy and Girl

Betty (Sam’s sister and cafe companion):  Jennifer Pittman

Sam (Betty’s brother, cafe companion, and dressed as a female):  Gene McLendon

Bert (Stephanie’s brother and cafe companion):  Martin Meija

Stephanie (Bert’s sister, cafe companion, and dressed as a male):  Sequilla Arita

 

4. Weird Greg

Anne (store manager):  Linda Sampson

Greg/Weird Greg (clerk):  Keith Davis

Customer #1 or Mike (a man looking for a divorce book. married to Mallory):  Doc Heidicker

Voice (for SnapChat. phone ring. cell phone game. cell phone notification sound)

Jack (Nancy’s boyfriend. customer):  Gene McLendon

Nancy (Jack’s girlfriend. customer):  Debbie McLendon

Mallory (customer looking for a divorce book. married to  Mike):  Susan Bowmer

“Person on Phone” or Jill:  Makayla Newcomb

Gilda (another person who calls the book store):  Jordan Therrien

 

5. Nora The Explorer

Narrator/Writer:  Makayla Sampson

Nora (main adventurer):  Danielle Brown

Flip-Flop (Nora’s side kick and pretending to be a monkey):  Nolan Sampson

Badge the Robot (a person dressed like a robot):  Jordan Therrien

Flash Fetchum (similar to main boy character in Pokeman.         blue/white striped shirt. red baseball cap. backpack):  Isaac Therrien

Achoo (similar to Pikachu  the yellow rabbit-squirrel looking character):  Canaan Therrien

Badge the Dog (a person dressed as a Paw Patrol police dog):Makayla Newcomb

Congratulations to everyone cast in Center Stage Theatre’s production of Bye Bye Birdie. Please send a confirmation email to byebyebirdie2017@gmail.com to accept your role. All other speaking roles will be determined at a later date. Please check your email (after you accept your role ) for the time and place of our first read through on Monday evening. Those currently in another production need not attend anything Bye Bye Birdie related until March 6^th. Break a Leg!!

 

Albert Peterson – Elliott Turner

Rosie Alvarez – Brooke Mayo

Helen – Mary Grace Kearney

Teen Chorus/Ensemble –

     Austin Pate

     Bekah Shimer

     Ben Sornyota

     Cliff Flock

     David Langston

     Emma Herlong

     Kimber Williams

     Kirsten Stoneking

     Keagan Kermode

     Makayla Sampson    

     Natalie Slye

     Nathan Taylor

     Nicholas Froats

     Nicolas Toner

     Raelynn Clark

     Sequoia Richardson

     Smith Cooper

     Theresa Santillana

Ursula Merkle – Danielle Mayo

Kim MacAfee– Kearson Hudson

Mrs. Doris MacAfee – Cindy Roy

Mr. Harry MacAfee – Michael Corbitt

Randolph MacAfee – Nolan Sampson

Mrs. Mae Peterson – Wanda Becton

Conrad Birdie – Kenan Stewart

Hugo Peabody – Raiford Turner

Mayor – Gene McLendon

Mayor’s Wife – Debbie McLendon

Mrs. Merkle – Linda Sampson

Nancy – Catherine Freemon

Gloria Rasputin – Heather Kaye

Ed Sullivan (Voice) – Heath Radford

Mr. Johnson – Heath Radford

Quartet -

     Maude – Wayne Williams

     Maude Dishwasher – Brandyn Espinoza

     Maude’s 1^st Customer – Heath Radford

     Maude’s 2^nd Customer – Keagan Kermode

Alice – Esmi Sanchez

Margie – Akaysia Sutton

Harvey Johnson – Austin Goff

Deborah Sue – Cindy Kaye

Suzie – Emily Polashek

Various Voices –

     Fred – Cliff Flock

     Lee – Brandyn Espinoza

     Phyllis – Phyllis Brown

     Four Additional Voices –

         Bekah Shimer

         Heath Radford

         Keagan Kermode

         Morgan Pettigrew

   Parent – Allayna Decker

Penelope – Jasmine Brown

 Train Conductor – Omar Arita

New Yorkers –

     Allayna Decker

   Anne Merritt

     Morgan Pettigrew

     Phyllis Brown

     Rebekah Fitzgerald

     Stephanie Slusser

     Sequilla Arita

Reporters –

       Curtis Phillips

       Martin Mejia

 

 

2 Sad Girls –

Gabriella Carrasquillo

   Leah Turner

Stage Crew for TV Show –

     Stage Manager – Keith Davis

     Stage Hands –

     2 Audio Men –

       Ben Sornyota (Microphone )

       Nick Froats (Camera Operator)

     2 Wardrobe Women –

         Adore Clark

         Stephanie Slusser

Sweet Apple Shriners –

    Brandyn Espinoza

     Curtis Phillips

     Gene McLendon

     Heath Radford

     Keagan Kermode

     Keith Davis

     Martin Mejia

Adult Ensemble

   Adore Clark

     Allayna Decker

     Anne Merritt

     Cory Wellmer

     Curtis Phillips

     Keith Davis

     Martin Mejia

     Morgan Pettigrew

     Omar Arita

     Phyllis Brown

     Rebecca Flores

     Sequilla Arita

     Stephanie Slusser

 

Hello everyone! For Bye, Bye, Birdie there will be a cast size of approximately 40-50 people, maybe more. There are several roles for teenagers ages 13-19 and several roles for adults, all ages, male and female, 20 and up. There are two roles ages 10-13, one boy and one girl. We will need several men to play the role of Shriners. No one needs to prepare anything for rehearsal, everyone will audition to the same music piece. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to sing, dance and read lines. We will begin auditions at 6:30 on Monday and Tuesday, February 20-21 at the Wayne County Museum. Hope to see everyone come out…!!!! It’s going to be a fun show…!!!

We are thrilled to announce the cast for our upcoming show Lend Me a Tenor!

Saunders: Gene McLendon
Max: Matt Gore
Tito: Doc Heidicker
Bellhop: Kenan Stewart
Maggie: Sequilla Arita
Maria: Debbie McLendon
Diana: Cindy Roy
Julia: Julie Ham

We hope to see all of you at the Paramount to come see this show February 17-19, 2017!