What's new at VACT?
        Click for: VACT news archive -- 2004 and earlier

December 13, 2005 -- Once again, VACT will present a Children's Theater production in the spring.  Terry Dvorak will be directing a musical version of Tom Sawyer, the classic Mark Twain story.  Auditions will be Sunday, January 22 at 1:00 and 3:00 at the VACT building.  Rehearsals will be every Sunday, beginning on the 29th, from 3:00 to 5:30.  Dress rehearsals will be April 20 & 21 and performances will be on Saturday, April 22 (note: this is a change from previously announced dates.)  For auditions, please be prepared to sing a short song.  An accompanist will be available.  You will also be asked to learn and demonstrate a small dance sequence and to read some lines from the script.  We are looking for ages Kindergarten through 6th Grade.  Other ages may be considered on an individual basis.  Contact Terry Dvorak for additional information.

December 8, 2005 -- The deadline for submitting projects for the Fall, 2006 show is January 1.  The VACT Board of Directors will consider all proposals at its January meeting.  The policies for the Fall production can be found on the VACT Policies Page.  Please send Fall show proposals to the Board in care of the VACT president, Dee Baldock.
December 8, 2005 -- The VACT Board of Directors has chosen Ryan Klug (Pseudolus in Forum) to direct the summer production, Disney's Beauty and the Beast.  Auditions are scheduled for April 3-5, 2006.  Watch the website for more information as the dates draw near.
December 5, 2005 -- Give the gift of theater for Christmas!  You can give VACT gift certificates good for tickets to any VACT show to your theater-going friends and family.  Contact Dee Baldock for information.
November 30, 2005 -- The cast for VACT's winter production: Arsenic and Old Lace has been posted.  Congratulations to all cast members, and a sincere thank-you to all who auditioned.  We have a great cast with a combination of new and familiar faces.  Cast members can come by the VACT Building, 405 Bruce St., Thursday between 7 and 8 PM to pick up scrips and rehearsal schedules.  The first read-through will be Monday, December 5, at 6:45 at the building.

Arsenic and Old Lace Cast List

 

November 16, 2005 -- Once again, VACT will present a Children's Theater production in the spring.  Terry Dvorak will be directing Tom Sawyer, the classic Mark Twain story.  Auditions will be Sunday, January 22 at 1:00 and 3:00 at the VACT building.  Rehearsals will be every Sunday, beginning on the 29th, from 3:00 to 5:30.  Performances will be on Saturday, April 8.  Contact Terry Dvorak for additional information.
November 10, 2005 -- Auditions for VACT's winter production: Arsenic and Old Lace are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, November 28-29, 2005 at 7:00 at the Verona Area High School PAC.  Registration will start at 6:30.  Call-backs, if necessary, will be November 30.  Please be sure to bring your personal calendar so you can identify any rehearsal schedule conflicts.  The readings that will be used for auditions, along with descriptions of the show and characters, can be found on the Arsenic Page.  Contact Dale Nickels if you would like to check out a script.

Sara L'Herault will be directing this production which will run February 17-25, 2006. 

November 7, 2005 -- The VACT Fall production, Nunsense completed a six show run Saturday  The production staff would like to thank everyone who helped make this show a success.  Here are some pictures from the show:
Click on the photos for a closer view.
October 28, 2005 -- The VACT Fall production, Nunsense opens tonight!  This delightful "all-girl" show reunites the cast of "A ... My Name Will Always be Alice" along with new VACT friends.  Tickets have already started selling fast, so get your order in for the best seats by calling 845-2383 or sending email to tickets@vact.org.  Check out the VACT Tickets Page for more options. 
September 27, 2005 -- It's time to order tickets for the VACT Fall production, Nunsense.  This delightful "all-girl" show reunites the cast of "A ... My Name Will Always be Alice" along with new VACT friends.  Tickets have already started selling fast, so get your order in for the best seats by calling 845-2383 or sending email to tickets@vact.org.  Check out the VACT Tickets Page for more options.  Starting next week, tickets will be available at the Verona Public Library on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4-6 PM.
September 22, 2005 -- Here's the latest news on VACT members on stage or involved in productions around the Madison area.

Oliver!

David Henslin (a regular stage crew member and a 'Townsperson' in Hello Dolly!) plays Fagin, Sierra Nibbe (orphan in "Annie") is Widow Corney, Laura Wiederhoeft (orphan in VACT's "Oliver!") is Nancy, Sarah Kroth (Molly in "Annie") is in the chorus, Alex Nechvatal (Who in "Seussical") and Callie Rosenbaum (Circus performer in "Seussical") are in the kids chorus, in Verona Area High School's production of Oliver!.  Shows are October 6 - 8 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, October 9 at 2:00.  Tickets are $8.

The Crucible

Tom Hensen (Marcus Lycus in "Forum", Andrew Carnes in "Oklahoma") takes the part of Danforth in Arthur Miller's The Crucible, produced by MATC Performing Arts.  Miller's classic, a Tony award winner for the Best Play of 1953, addresses the themes of pride, greed, revenge and mass-hysteria in an engaging drama that is as timely now as it was 50 years ago.  The show will be performed at MATC's Mitby Theatre Nov 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11, 12.

Seussical

OK, it's a reach, but VACT's set from Seussical is appearing in Decorah, Iowa, at Decorah High School's production of Seussical.  Shows are November 5, 11 & 12 at 7:30 PM and November 6 at 2:00 PM.  So, if you have fond rememberences of a certain egg ... in a nest ... in a tree, go visit!

September 20, 2005 -- The VACT Board is accepting applications for director of the Summer, 2006 production, Disney's Beauty and the Beast.  The application deadline is November 1, and the Board will choose a director from all applicants at its November meeting.  Please see the VACT Policies Page for guidelines for director applications.  Send applications to the board in care of VACT President, Dee Baldock, (dmb@oregon.k12.wi.us).
September 13, 2005 -- Here are the results from the VACT Annual Meeting.  The membership voted on the 2007 productions and chose 42nd Street for the winter 2007 show and Annie Get Your Gun for the summer show.  New board members were elected: Congratulations to our new board members!
September 1, 2005 -- Mark your calendars!  Auditions for VACT's winter production: Arsenic and Old Lace are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, November 28-29, 2005 at the Verona PAC.  Sara L'Herault will be directing this production which will run February 17-25, 2006.  Watch this space as the audition dates get closer for more information.
August 13, 2005 -- The VACT Annual meeting will be Monday, September 12, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the VACT Building, 405 Bruce St. in Verona.  Important business will include election of new board members and selection of the Winter and Summer shows for 2007.  Here are the shows we will be voting on:  
August 11, 2005 -- Here's the latest news on VACT members on stage or involved in productions around the Madison area.

Annie

Tony Gallagher (Eunuch in Forum, Wickersham in Seussical) plays Rooster Hannigan, Katie Monk (Vibrata in Forum, Bird Girl in Seussical) plays Lily St. Regis, Tracey Wood (Who in Sesusical) plays Francis Perkins and Alex Roller (Who Cadet in Sesusical and Mayor Dumphreys in Rats) plays the apple seller, in Oregon Straw Hat Players' Annie at Oregon High School.  The show runs from August 20 - 27.  Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Ryan Klug (Pseudolus in Forum) is directing You're a Good Man Charlie Brown at Sun Prairie Civic Theatre.  Auditions are August 14 & 15, and the show will run September 30 - October 9.

Ragtime

Amy Abbott (Patty in Charlie Brown, Winnifred in Mattress), Donavon Armbruster (Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, J.J. Brown in Molly Brown) and Marja Barger (Domina in Forum, Irene in Crazy For You) and Chris Lange (Hero in Forum) are all performing in Ragtime at the Middleton Performing Arts Center, produced by Four Seasons Theatre along with Middleton Players Theatre. The show run August 11 - 20.

June 27, 2005 -- VACT Summer production, Seussical, finished its successful run last weekend.  Based on all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville, these classic, colorful tales are seamlessly brought together by Jojo, a young boy and "thinker of strange and wonderful thinks!" Take a look at some pictures from the show:
Click on the photos for a closer view. CLICK HERE for more pictures!
June 20, 2005 -- Tickets are still availble for this Summer's VACT production, Seussical, which opened last weekend.  Based on all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville, these classic, colorful tales are seamlessly brought together by Jojo, a young boy and "thinker of strange and wonderful thinks!" Take a look at some pictures from the show:
Click on the photos for a closer view.

Performances are June 17 - 25 with a Sunday Matinee on June 19.  Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students (through H.S.) and seniors.  See the VACT Tickets Page for all the ways you can order your tickets.  Order soon, for the best seats!

May 17, 2005 -- It's time to get your ticket orders in for this Summer's VACT production, Seussical.  Based on all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville, these classic, colorful tales are seamlessly brought together by Jojo, a young boy and "thinker of strange and wonderful thinks!"

Performances are June 17 - 25 with a Sunday Matinee on June 19.  Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students (through H.S.) and seniors.  See the VACT Tickets Page for all the ways you can order your tickets.  Order soon, because this show will sell quickly!

May 6, 2005 -- On May 10 & 12 at 7:00 pm in the Badger Ridge Middle School Commons, middle school students from Badger Ridge, Core Knowledge and Savannah Oaks Middle Schools will be presenting the musical Annie Get Your Gun.  VACT kids performing in this production include Alex Rosenbaum as Frank Butler, Sarah Kroth as Winnie Tate, Lindsay Tindall as Little Jake and Hillary Zimmer as Cowboy 6.  The show is free.
April 22, 2005 -- Verona Area Community Theater announces the dates for its 2005-2006 season. Watch the website for announcements about auditions for Arsenic in November and for Beauty next April.
April 15, 2005 -- The cast list for VACT's Summer production, Seussical, has been posted.  Thanks to everyone who audtioned.  You made it very difficult to cast.  Congratulations to everyone who was cast.  Remember next week's schedule is:

Monday April 18 6:45 PM at the VACT Building, 405 Bruce St.
Wednesday, April 20 6:45 PM - All Call - Music and Dance

April 11, 2005 -- The very first VACT Children's Theater production, RATS!, was a rousing success!  Great comments have been pouring in for the show, a humorous Fairy Tale Musical version of the Pied Piper.  Click Here for pictures from the show!
April 10, 2005 -- Auditions for the VACT summer production, Seussical, will be Monday and Tuesday, April 11 & 12 at the Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center, beginning with children at 6:30 p.m.  Please bring a song to sing for your audition; it does NOT have to be from the show.  Be prepared to read and to perform a brief dance audition.  Readings and dance will be announced at auditions.  Callbacks for lead roles will be Thursday, April 14.

There are many great parts for so many people.  Don't miss out on what is sure to become the next Joseph!.  Missy Holcomb will be directing.  Performances will be June 17, 18, 19, 23, 24 and 25; the 19th is a matinee. 

If you want to read more about the characters, here is a link to the MTI website.

March 21, 2005 -- The very first VACT Children's Theater production, RATS!, a humorous Fairy Tale Musical version of the Pied Piper, will be performed Saturday, April 9 at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 at Savannah Oaks Middle School Step Room.  The cast have been busy rehearsing and painting their set every Sunday afternoon for many weeks.  Tickets are still available for the 3:00 show and can be purchased at VACT building on April 3rd between 3:30 and 5:30 or at the door.
March 21, 2005 -- The VACT Board is accepting applications for director of the Winter, 2006 production, Arsenic and Old Lace.  The application deadline is May 1, and the Board will choose a director from all applicants at its May meeting.  Please see the VACT Policies Page for guidlines for director applications.  Send applications to the board in care of VACT President, Greg Bass, (gtbass@parkprinting.com).
March 15, 2005 -- The VACT Board of Directors have chosen Nunsense as the 2005 Fall Project show.  Dee Baldock will produce and Terry Dvorak will direct.  The show will be pre-cast.  Performance dates for this and the rest of the 2005-2006 schedule will be announced by about May 1st.
February 21, 2005 -- VACT's winter production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum finished its 6-show run Saturday.  The producer and director want to thank the cast and crew for their wonderful work.  You have truly put the "community" into Community Theater.
Click on the photos for a closer view.
February 16, 2005 -- Here's the latest news on VACT members on stage in productions around the Madison area.

Starmites

Lauren Schell (Annie inAnnie) is appearing in in Starmites at the Stoughton High School auditorium.  The show is about a nerdy girl with no friends who sits at home and reads comic books all day, until she is transported into the world of Innerspace, which she must save to go home again.

The show runs Feb. 24, 25 & 26 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) Starting time is 7:30 Tickets can be bought at the door.

Pippin

Laura Borgwardt, (Gertie in Oklahoma, Princess DeLong in Molly Brown) takes on the role of the grandmother, Berthe, in Pippin with the West High School Drama Department, Feb. 25-26, March 4,5,11 & 12.  All shows are are 7:30.  Tickets are on sale now (before and after school in the box office)!

Pippin is a magical show, by Stephan Shwartz, following the life of Pippin, the son of King Charlemagne.  Pippin searches for what he wants to do with his life.  He tries war, frolicking, and revolution.  Come to find out what happens!  The show is filled with energetic chorus song & dance numbers, beautiful ballads, extravagant costumes, and a climax never before seen on a public stage!

VACT is contributing weapons and long bows to the fight choregraphy with Eric Sherpe (Scarecrow in Wizard of OZ and Lloyd Andrews in Rehearsal for Murder).

Holes

Trevor Bass, (Cherub Choir in Joseph) is appearing in the VAHS production of Holes - which was a great book and a great movie and should be a great play, the weekend of March 10, 11, 12 at the Verona Area High School PAC.

January 26, 2005 -- Tickets for VACT's winter production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are available.  Shows are February 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, 2005, at 7:30 PM, with a Sunday Matinee on February 13th at 2:00 PM.  Be sure to order your tickets by calling 845-2383 or by email: tickets@vact.org.  Or check out the Tickets Page for more ticket options.
The cast sure is having fun during rehearsals!
Click on the photos for a closer view.
January 24, 2005 -- Verona Area Community Theater is pleased to announce the cast for our first VACT Children's Theater production of RATS!, A humorous Fairy Tale Musical version of the Pied Piper. Rehearsal dates will be every Sunday starting January 30 through April 3, 3:00-5:30 at the VACT Building.  Dress Rehearsals are Thursday, April 7 and Friday April 8, 4:00 - 6:00 at Savannah Oaks Middle School.  Performances will be Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 and 4:00 at Savannah Oaks.

For more information contact Terry Dvorak.

        Click for: VACT news archive -- 2004 and earlier