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Rockwall Summer Musicals Announces 2012 Season

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Utley Middle School

Nonprofit Production Company’s Second Season Continues at RHS PAC at Utley

The second season of a new nonprofit theatrical production company, Rockwall Summer Musicals, has just been made public following a private unveiling at a recent breakfast gathering of RSM organizers and Inner Circle members. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Annie Get Your Gun opens June 14 at the RHS Performing Arts Center at Utley followed by Irving Berlin’s Gypsy beginning August 9. Both are popular family favorites featuring inspiring story lines, large casts, elaborate sets, and unforgettable music.

Spurred by the remarkable success of the group’s first season in 2011, RSM has implemented some audience-pleasing changes to their upcoming season. By adding a Thursday night performance to both shows, audiences will now be able to select from four performance opportunities instead of three. Also, to maximize audience affordability, the 1500-seat theater will open its balcony for bargain-priced General Admission tickets. And not only will online ticket buyers be able choose their individual reserved seats next year, discounted Season Subscriptions including both musicals will be offered.

The group was the brainchild of Jacob Thomas, an RISD middle school theater teacher, who had a vision of forming a production company that would offer more comprehensive theater tutelage than is available inside a classroom. The group has since metamorphosed into a full-fledged production company whose mission compels a significant involvement of students in all aspects of theater using a mentoring approach. Students shadow theater professionals backstage as well as onstage as they learn theater crafts by example and emulation. Last season, RSM involved nearly 70 RISD students and helped another handful of collegiate alumni hone their musical theater career pursuits.

Auditions for both shows are April 14 and 15 at the Utley Cafetorium and are open to the public. Season subscriptions will be available early next year and in the spring for online single tickets. More information is available on the group’s website: RockwallSummerMusicals.org.

PICTURE CAPTION: Rockwall Summer Musicals Inner Circle members, (l-r) Katherine Bower and Natalie Rickards, were privy to an early RSM 2012 Season unveiling in November. They are showing off a photographic composite by Steven McClung from the groups inaugural show, The Sound of Music. The Heath meeting was hosted by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church’s drama group, Holy Trinity Players.