Can You Kick In For Our Kickstarter?

Support this man's show!

John Maxwell's bawdy but spiritually inspired comedy, "Buck Nekkid for Jesus," tells the tale of Billy Boston, the bedraggled owner of a failing gas station in Moon Mountain, MS, who is confronted by Sister Pearl, a traveling faith healer who's hell-bent on saving his soul via some VERY unorthodox methods. ADVISORY: THIS PLAY CONTAINS MATURE LANGUAGE AND SUBJECT MATTER.

The play is directed by Denise Halbach, and the cast includes Keri Grayson Horn, Richard Lawrence, Dylan Lovett, Chris Roebuck, and Jo Ann Robinson as Sister Pearl. 

Maxwell began work on "Buck Nekkid" in 1989, and while earlier versions of the script have been produced regionally, this is a newly-updated script, including a new character. 

According to Maxwell, even though the play is a comedy containing a considerable amount of mature language and subject matter, "the play has a deep religious theme. I got the idea from the characters themselves. I know that sounds strange, but I found the voices, and they dictated the plot." Maxwell hopes this production will be a launching pad for publication of this finalized version of the play.

FTW is pleased to be "returning home" to Duling Hall, as it staged its first two productions there: an original musical adaptation of "Through the Looking Glass" by FTW co-founder John Howell, and "The Lion in Winter," in 2003 at the then un-renovated Duling Attendance Center auditorium. Since that time, developers have transformed the old Jackson Public School building into a multi-purpose retail/restaurant/special events facility with a state-of-the-art performance space. 

Due to the production demands of this show, FTW has launched a Kickstarter project to raise funds to cover facility rental and set construction expenses.PLEASE HELP MAKE FTW'S PRODUCTION OF "BUCK NEKKID FOR JESUS" POSSIBLE! THANK YOU!

Direct Kickstarter link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1072438440/buck-nekkid-for-jesus-by-john-maxwell-presented-by

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP: THE TEN-MINUTE PLAY PROJECT REBOUNDS!

CALLING ALL WRITERS, DIRECTORS, AND ACTORS!

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEB 10 & 11, AT BROADMEADOW METHODIST CHURCH

YOU HAVE ONLY ONE NIGHT TO WRITE IT;

YOU HAVE ONLY ONE DAY TO REHEARSE IT;

AND THEN ONLY ONE CHANCE TO PERFORM IT!

After a two-year hiatus, the event you've been clamoring for is back! FTW is hosting its 5th TEN-MINUTE PLAY PROJECT. Teams of writers/directors/actors will gather on Friday evening, February 10, and will spend just under 24 hours writing and rehearsing several ten-minute plays for production on Saturday night, February 11. If you are at least 16 years old and are interested in participating, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 6, 2012, by sending an email request to Diana Howell at howelljd@aol.com. Please include your name, telephone number(s), and your preferred method of participation, i.e., writing, directing, or acting. We only have room for 6 writers, so writing & directing assignments will be made first-come, first-serve. Diana will reply with a confirmation and registration materials. THERE IS A SMALL REGISTRATION FEE OF $8.00 PER PARTICIPANT to help cover materials and refreshments, which will be payable at our initial cast meeting on Friday, February 10.

This event is open to anyone with an interest in theatre--regardless of prior experience.

SO LOOK NO FURTHER--JUST MAKE THE LEAP & COME PLAY WITH US!!!!!

FONDREN THEATRE WORKSHOP is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to creating a true theatre community, with an emphasis on sharing the creative process, as well as the art we create. http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/251581141581229/

The Little Show That Could

Look at this adorable cast!

Everyone should come see Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) while you still have the chance. Our holiday show this year is truly The Little Show That Could. And to make our holidays warmer, we need YOU to come see it brought to life.

Three actors, three stage techs/dressers, one director/set designer, one producer/sound tech, one heck of a fun show.

We're not quite halfway through the run now. We've promoting the show everywhere, from Facebook to WLBT to e-mail blasts to shiny postcards to WLEZ and even on YouTube. (Okay, so we're late on our site here, but as you can see - we've been busy. And did we mention that a lot of our board is directly involved with this little holiday gem?)

Our first night, we had an awesome but small house. Last night, we were PACKED and the audience had more fun than is probably legal here in the great state of Mississippi. We're almost sold out for Sunday, but today, Saturday, we have TWO shows and not many reservations. Please, please spread the word and plan to attend:

December 10: 2:30 AND 7:30
December 11: 7:30pm 
The Warehouse Theatre (formerly Childrens Community Theatre building), 1000 Monroe St., Jackson, MS.
All tickets are $12.00. Please call FTW at 601-301-2281 to reserve tickets or for more information.

And remember, your $12 ticket gets you the show, free cookies and cider, AND the chance to see a giant blow-up nutcracker... among other things! So come see the show. Otherwise, the actors will suffer from DAS, and it will be your fault. :( What is DAS, you ask? Well... remember those YouTube videos we mentioned? Here is one of them, a PSA that speaks to this important theatrical issue:



Thank you. And happy holidays!

Can't handle seeing "A Christmas Carol" one more time? Here's the antidote (or in the case of this year, the "Annie"-dote!)

FTW presents the Jackson premiere of the holiday seasonal comedy EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME) by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez. Directed by Richard Lawrence, the show packs every beloved holiday tale and tradition you can think of into a physically dexterous comedic romp for three actors, including FTW veterans John Howell and Beth Kander, along with newcomer Scott Stinson. Audiences will get Cliff's Notes versions of multiple classics, including "The Grinch," "Frosty the Snowman," "Charlie Brown," and a non-trademark infringing rendition of "Gustav, the Green-Nosed Reingoat," while characters from "It's a Wonderful Life," stumble in and out of "A Christmas Carol." The show ends with a frenzy of caroling that attempts to stuff every known holiday jingle into a two-minute mashup.

From Hanukah to Whoville, and sharp satire to silly slapstick, this family-friendly frolic has something for the naughty and the nice! So grab Tiny Tim, shout "Bah, humbug!" and enjoy this hilarious tour-de-farce that will have you laughing harder than spiked eggnog!

Performances will be December 8-11 (Thursday-Sunday) at 7:30 p.m. nightly, with a Saturday matinee at 2:30 p.m., at The Warehouse Theatre (formerly Childrens Community Theatre building), 1000 Monroe St., Jackson, MS. All tickets are $12.00. Seating is limited, so reservations (with Visa/MC) are encouraged. Please call FTW at 601-301-2281 to reserve tickets or for more information.

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com). This show is made possible in part by the generous support of New Stage Theatre.

THEY'RE BACK...!! THE MONSTER MONOLOGUES return!

After FTW's 2009 World Premiere of the homegrown-holiday-horror-comedy THE MONSTER MONOLOGUES, we're back with a new spook-tacular cast and a few surprises.

When "The 50 Scariest Monsters" list came out, The Fly didn't make the cut, and now the poor bugger's dead. Join us at the Monster Mortuary for his funeral, where 13 of his fellow horror-lebrities aren't at all shy about surfacing their own creepy issues! Like:

"I'm the scariest of all, right? RIGHT??"

"Who killed The Fly, and, more importantly, did he leave me anything?"

"Group therapy is tremndously helpful."

"LACTOSE INTOLERANCE!!!"

Delightfully macabre, but more farce than fierce, this 90-minute, family friendly show is a perfect way to celebrate the Halloween season.

Thanks again to our original Jackson, MS playwrights, (in no boo-ticluar order): Beth Kander, Opie Cooper, Brad Bishop, Danny Dauphin, Brent Hearn, John Howell, and Bret Kenyon for creating this Mississippi Theatre Association award-winning show which played to eight sold-out audiences at its 2009 premiere.

Our 2011 cast includes Whitney Barkley, Mandy Myers, Erin Read, Brent Hearn, Kyle Henderson, Clif Hogan, Michael Kinslow, Clif Kirkland, Michael McNally, Chris Roebuck, Darrell Troth, and Wayne Thomas, who will be bringing all your favorite classic horror characters to the stage.

OCTOBER 27-31 (THU - MON) @ 7:30 P.M.

*PLUS*

TWO SPECIAL "LATE-NIGHT" SHOWS

OCTOBER 28 & 29 (FRI & SAT) @ 10:00 P.M.

ALL SHOWS AT THE WAREHOUSE THEATRE

1000 MONROE STREET, JACKSON, MS

(ONE BLOCK SOUTH OFF FORTIFICATION IN BELHAVEN HEIGHTS)

$13.00 GENERAL ADMISSION

$10.00 STUDENTS W/ID & SENIORS 60+

SEATING IS LIMITED; RESERVATIONS ENCOURAGED

Rated PG13 for mild adult humor and language.

FOR TICKETS OR INFO CALL 601-301-ACT1

THIS PRODUCTION IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY NEW STAGE THEATRE.

What Are Audiences Saying About FTW's "ASSASSINS"?

Tonight is the final performance of FTW's production of "Assassins," and you don't want to miss it - but don't take OUR word for it. Here's what audience members are saying about the show:


"I just witnessed one of the best pieces of theatre I have seen in many years - ASSASSINS. Stellar performances, beautifully directed, fabulous design and tech. DON'T MISS IT!" - Denise Halbach, Past President, Southeastern Theatre Conference

"Dear anyone reading this.....PLEASE go see this show. It is incredible. Everyone in it is amazing. Thank you FTW for doing this show. I'm a huge fan of anything Sondheim....but this was THE ONE that I've never had a chance to see. I was beyond impressed." - Kristy Asken

"The depth and range of the talent of Fondren Theatre Workshop is amazing.....congratulations on an awesome production." - David Kweller

"Assassins is the most intriguing show you will see all year. The acting is so superb and the vocals are clear and thoroughly entertaining. The cast (and I'm a fan of each and every one of them) has outdone themselves. If you're not laughing the hair on the back of your neck is standing up. Wonderful performance!!" - Janice Weaver, Actress, Theater teacher, Mississippi Theatre Association Board Member

"ASSASSINS is a great show ...I cannot remember shorter two hours in a theatre. Amazing cast, first class singing, some of the best performances I've seen in a long time and as Stacy pointed out, it will make you think, and the Malaika - Beth scenes will keep you in stitches at appropriate times while others will forget you to breathe. Great inside look into the mind of presidential assassins." - Peter Zapletal, Director, Puppet Arts Theatre

"Go see this show! Talented cast and crew! It will make you think and entertain you at the same time." Stacy Walker, Actor/Director, Actor's Playhouse

What are you waiting for? Help us sell out our final night! Support theater in Jackson! COME SEE ASSASSINS! Last show is tonight, Sunday, August 14, at 7:30 pm - Warehouse Theater, corner of Monroe and Moody streets in Belhaven Heights neighborhood, Jackson, MS!

Assassins: August 10-14

Come see FTW's latest production:

Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS

Directed by Jerry Farley

August 10-14, 2011 7:30 pm each evening

The Warehouse Theatre (formerly Children's Community Theatre building)

1000 Monroe Street, Jackson, MS (Corner of Monroe & Moody, just off Fortification)

Full information:

Fondren Theatre Workshop will present the multiple Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical, ASSASSINS, August 10-14, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.

In an exciting new venture, FTW is being generously sponsored by New Stage Theatre, who is providing performance space in its recently acquired Warehouse Theatre (formerly the Children's Community Theatre building) in Belhaven Heights. The production is directed by Jerry Farley, with production assistance from Miriam Lamar, Richard Lawrence, and Diana Howell. Musical direction is by Tony Moore.

ASSASSINS was first produced Off-Broadway in 1990 by Playwrights Horizons, Inc., followed by a 2004 Broadway production which won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival, and has become a cult favorite among Sondheim afficionados for its unique structure, wry storytelling, and musical complexity. Based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr., the book is by John Weidman, with music and lyrics by the incomparable Stephen Sondheim.

Set against the backdrop of a carnival combined with a political grandstand, the show is an anachronistic mash-up featuring revue-style portrayals of successful and would-be assassins of U.S. Presidents told in the musical styles of their own eras. Interweaving biographical details and urban legends, the piece prompts the viewer to consider not only the psychological imbalances and misguided passions of these individuals, but also the decay and darkness that lurk at the core of our society--not only then, but today--as we hear echoes of these past voices in our own current political rhetoric. ADVISORY: THIS PLAY CONTAINS LOUD GUNSHOTS AND MATURE LANGUAGE, AND IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

The cast includes Danny Dauphin (as John Wilkes Booth), Joe Frost (Leon Czolgosz), Brent Hearn (Samuel Byck), John Howell (Lee Harvey Oswald), Beth Kander (Squeaky Fromme), Duncan McCullough (Guiseppe Zangara), Chris Moore (John Hinckley), Malaika Quarterman (Sarah Jane Moore), and James Wood (Charles Guiteau). Additional performances by Mandy Myers (as The Balladeer) and Scott Gaines (as The Proprietor) and featured ensemble members Tessa Eltzroth, Diana Howell, Richard Lawrence, Tom Lestrade, Walker Palmerton, and Roxie Randle round out the cast.

Performances will take place August 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 (Wednesday - Sunday) at 7:30 p.m. nightly, at The Warehouse Theatre, 1000 Monroe Street, Jackson, MS. Tickets will be $20.00 general admission, and $15.00 for students/senior citizens with I.D. Seating will be strictly limited, so reservations are STRONGLY encouraged (Visa/MC required). Please call FTW at 601-982-2217 to reserve tickets or for more information. (Please do NOT call New Stage for tickets/info.) SECURE PARKING WILL BE PROVIDED.

You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/fondrentheatreworkshop

ASSASSINS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-541-4684; Fax: 212-397-4684. www.MTIShows.com

Leading Ladies

Thanks to everyone who supported LEADING LADIES! The benefit was a great success for Contact the Crisis Line, a wonderful partnership with the historic Brent's Drugs in Fondren, and a delight for everyone who came out to enjoy these two nights of nostalgia. Bringing the community together for a great cause and some great performances is at the heart and soul of FTW's mission.

Stay tuned for what's next with FTW: Stephen Sondheim's "ASSASSINS"!

New Format!

In an effort to prevent our website from becoming too static, Fondren Theatre Workshop created this dynamic blog which will allow more flexibility in letting our audience know what we have going on, as well as allowing you to post comments.
Please let us know your opinions!

It's the biggest and baddest rock'n'roll musical ever — it's the Rocky Horror Show!

October 26-29, 2006 & October 31, 20067:30 p.m. at the PIX/Capri Theatre
On the way to visit an old college professor, the two clean-cut kids, Brad Majors and his fiancée Janet Weiss run into car trouble and seek help at the site of a light down the road. It's coming from the Frankenstein place, where Dr. Frank N. Furter is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments...
Follow squeaky clean Brad and Janet on an adventure they'll never forget, with the scandalous Frank N. Furter, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta. Get ready for a night of fun, frolics and frivolity. Bursting at the seams with timeless classics, including "Sweet Transvestite", "Damn It Janet", and of course, the pelvic-thrusting "Time Warp". Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show just can't stop partying! Ready to thrill you with its frothy fun and naughty moments, this is the boldest bash of them all, so fish out the fishnets, buff up your basque and sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Don't dream it, be it.
Created by Richard O'Brien who wrote the book, music and lyrics, this homage to the horror film is as "SEXY AND FUNNY AS EVER" -London's Daily Telegraph
PLEASE NOTE: The PIX/Capri is under renovation - therefore, no a/c, heat, or seats. Please bring your own lawn chair, camp chair, or cushion to sit on, and dress for the current outdoor temperature! Also, this is the live Broadway musical version of the show, performed by a company of 18 actors, and NOT the film version. While there will be an opportunity for some audience participation, please DO NOT bring props or other items usually associated with the film presentation (i.e., water pistols, toast, rice, toilet paper, etc). Your cooperation is very much appreciated.
For more information, please contact J.C. Patterson at jcvanhelsing@aol.com or 601-856-2143.
View photos from the production here. (Courtesy of Frank Ezelle)