The Moon Theatre Company

Kitchen Witches Crew Bio’s

moontheatre — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:54:11 +0000

Community theatre is about … well … community. We have to start with a great script and then find a cast and crew to make the magic happen. The local theatre community largely consists of talented actors and crew who have day jobs outside of theatre. The driver for all of these folks to stay with theatre is the chance to land a cast or crew role occasionally. It is not at all uncommon for the actor before you on stage to have a theatre resume as long as your arm and with a degree in theatre for good measure.

Accepting a role in a production requires the dedication of several months of evenings and weekends to the show. Since most community theatre is voluntary, this time commitment adds up to a substantial contribution to the project. The whole thing depends on self-motivated individuals who are willing to be part of a close-knit team.

And speaking of commitment, we’re lucky to have as Stage Manager the very able and talented Gail McGaha-Miller. To her credit, Gail started Kitchen Witches immediately after a marathon run of The Rocky Horror Show presented by OpenStage in Ft Collins. we’re grateful to have Gail at the sound and lighting board weaving the sound and lighting cues into the flow of action on stage.

Gail McGaha-Miller

GALE MCGAHA MILLER is delighted to be involved with her third Moon Theatre Company production, having appeared in The Odd Couple annd You Can’t Take it With You. A chemist by day, Gale has stage managed and run lights and sound for OpenStage Theatre, Bas Bleu, Theatre Company of Loveland, Nonesuch and Marrow Productions.

Audience Comments from Kitchen Witches

moontheatre — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:52:38 +0000

Some written comments from the audience of Kitchen Witches:

“Great Show! Very Funny.” -JM

“New to Loveland. This is the first time I’ve watched a Moon Theatre production. Am enjoying it.” -VH

“Very Funny and entertaining. Glad I made it.” -HM

Only 4 shows left. Don’t miss the fun!

MTC’s “Kitchen Witches” to feature local celebs for cameo appearances on stage

moontheatre — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:03:57 +0000

“Kitchen Witches” will be inviting local celebrities on stage to judge a dessert contest between the two characters.

Ron Cabrera, Superintendent of Thompson R2J School District, (Jan. 20); Loveland Mayor Cecil Gutierrez (Jan. 21); Kendrick White, Principal of Van Buren and Big Thompson Elementary Schools (Jan. 22); Rick Padden, local playwright and co-owner of Kitchen Alley (Jan. 27); Loveland businessman Barry Floyd (Jan. 28); and Berthoud Mayor Tom Patterson (Jan. 29).

Kitchen Witches: Directors Notes.

moontheatre — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:43:49 +0000

The Moon Theatre Company will present “The Kitchen Witches,” a full-length comedy that joins two archrival cooking show hostesses on stage in the same TV show, yielding ratings that would put Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer both to shame. Written by Caroline Smith and directed by Don Kraus, insults rise higher than cake dough and a hilarious tale is whipped up in this savory show that is bound to please even the fussiest palate.

January 20, 21 (7:30 p.m.), 22 (2 p.m.), 27, 28 (7:30 p.m.) & 29 (2 p.m.), Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th St. Loveland.

Tickets: $14 adults, $13 seniors and students and $12 for groups of 10 or more.

Don Kraus, Director

Director’s Notes:

I’d never heard of this show. And I had no intention of directing it. After completing a lot of hard and demanding work on three films and three stage shows, my intention was to lounge around on my chubby patootie in my beautiful home and wait until spring sprang up graciously around me. Well … the best laid plans…

Moon Theatre approached me with the script and I loved it. It has just the right touch of insanity that makes for a great evening of theatre. We laughed straight through every rehearsal … and I know that God has a terrific sense of humor because we rehearsed this thing in a church, and no one was struck down by lightning!

The key to any directing task, in my opinion, is casting. And I somehow managed to find acting’s cream of the crop. But a great deal of credit for the success of this show has to go to Joan DeMuro, our Properties Queen. “I don’t like to do food shows,” she told us. “They’re messy and need a lot of preparation.” She’s right, and in the hands of a director like me, you can bet things can get pretty messy! Nevertheless, Gallant Joan tackled the task and helped enormously to craft this show into a real winner!

As with any production, there are a lot of people who put a lot of work into this show: Lesley Jones, Larry Westrum, Kathleen Gruman, Tess Cacke, Rick Padden and the ever-creative-ever-exploited Paul Jones, who created our set virtually out of nothing but spare parts. Thanks, Paul. And thanks to everyone who had a hand in this show. The next time I say I’m retiring for awhile, don’t pay any attention.

– Don Kraus

About Don Kraus …

This is the third show Don Kraus has directed for The Moon Theatre Company … and probably the wildest. Don has been an actor-director-producer-writer for over thirty-five years and has performed alongside such notables as Sir Anthony Hopkins and James Garner. He appeared as Grandpa in Moon Theatre’s “You Can’ Take it With You,” in which he couldn’t remember any of his lines, so they gave him a role in “Dearly Departed,” in which he had no lines and promptly died on stage! Don grew up and studied his craft in New York, and has appeared in a host of regional productions with the Openstage, Bas Bleu, Encore and Moon Theatre companies since relocating to Colorado fifteen years ago. Don has also appeared in dozens of independent films throughout Colorado. He spends what little spare time he has with his lovely wife, Inge, two dogs (Doc and Bear) at their home in Loveland.

Kitchen Witches: The Cast and Crew.

moontheatre — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:42:26 +0000

January 20, 21 (7:30 p.m.), 22 (2 p.m.), 27, 28 (7:30 p.m.) & 29 (2 p.m.), Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th St. Loveland.

Tickets: $14 adults, $13 seniors and students and $12 for groups of 10 or more.

PRODUCTION STAFF:
Director    Don Kraus
Set Design    Paul Jones
Stage Manager    Gale McGaha-Miller
Lighting operator    Gale McGaha-Miller
Sound Design    Don Kraus
Costuming    Tess Cacke
Props/Set Dressing    Joan DeMuro
Graphic Design     Kelly Hines-Keller

The Cast

: Izzy, performed by Pam Strahan.

This is Pam Strahan’s (Izzy) third production with Moon Theatre Company. She was last seen as Penny in “You Can’t Take it With You.” Pam has performed throughout the northern Colorado region, and her favorite roles have included Rosemary in “Picnic,” Lenny in “Crimes of the Heart,” M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” and Lucille in “Cemetery Club.” Pam wants to thank her husband Rick for his endless support and enduring many nights home alone. “Thanks honey, you’re the best!” She would also like to thank the cast of “Kitchen Witches” for making this experience a blast! And thank you Don, for believing in me! Enjoy the show!

: Dolly Biddle, performed by Julie Marino

Julie Marino (Dolly Biddle) is awed and humbled to be a part of this phenomenal production and thrilled to be making her debut with Moon Theatre Company. Julie has been performing all her life up and down the Front Range. She has been seen onstage most recently as Ruth in “Blithe Spirit,” at California Actors Theatre, and as Helsa in “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” at the Longmont Theatre Company. Julie is an award winning actress, director and stage manager and has won state-wide recognition for her work. Unafraid of any job, she has schlepped sets, moved props, herded children and dressed numerous actors (and undressed them as well!). Some of Julie’s favorite roles were Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker,” Diana in “Lend Me A Tenor,” Ruth and Elvira in “Blithe Spirit” and Caroline in “Stay, Carl, Stay.” Julie would like to thank Pam Strahan for letting her know about this great opportunity, Don for having faith in her and the stellar cast for putting up with her! Enjoy the show!!

: Stephen, performed by Daryl Branson

This is Daryl Branson’s (Stephen) first performance with the Moon Theater Company. He has acted in numerous productions in New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming, most recently as Brad Majors in a production of “The Rocky Horror Show” by Openstage Theater in Fort Collins. Previous roles include Steve Hubble in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Jack Jerome in “Brighton Beach Memoires,” Leslie Arthur in “Love, Sex, and the IRS” and Will Dearth in “Dear Brutus,” among others. He was voted best male lead of the 2007-2008 season by patrons of Theater Ensemble Arts in Farmington, New Mexico, and was named Best Technical Support for the 2010-2011 season of Openstage. Daryl is very happy to be in “The Kitchen Witches,” his debut with The Moon Theater Company family, and he hopes the show makes you laugh, cry and hungry.

: Roberta, performed by Tommie Brassell

Tommie Brassell (Roberta) has done everything from stand-up comedy to melodrama in northern Colorado, and after a six-year hiatus is thrilled to regain the stage through the Moon Theatre Company and it’s production of “Kitchen Witches.” Her most recent Loveland appearnance was as Spike in “Inspecting Carol,” in which she had no lines. Now she has one line in “Kitchen Witches,” but easily makes her presence known on stage as Roberta, the camera operator.

Kitchen Witches Coming Soon to the Rialto!

moontheatre — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:09:15 +0000

Dolly and Izzy iiven things up in "Kitchen Witches". Photo by Rick Padden.

Julie Marino as Dolly (left) and Pam Strahan as Izzy, whip up a hilariously delicious comedy in “Kitchen Witches, playing at the Rialto Jan. 20, 21, 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 22 & 29 at 2 p.m. Written by Caroline Smith and directed by Don Kraus, this full-length comedy joins two archenemy cooking show hostesses on stage in the same TV show, yielding ratings that would put Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer both to shame.

Tickets: $14 adults, $13 seniors and students and $12 for groups of 10 or more.

Dearly Departed Now Playing!

moontheatre — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:45:07 +0000

The Moon Theatre Company is now playing “Dearly Departed” by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones.

The perduction is playin’ at the United Methodist Church in Berthoud on the lower level stage. Evenin’ performances are at 7:30 pm November 4,5,11, and 12. Matinees are at 2:00 pm November 6 & 13.

See the review in the Berthoud Recorder.

Location: 820 9th Street, Berthoud, CO

Aunt Raynelle will save a seat for ya.

The Odd Couple

moontheatre — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:50:58 +0000

Two shows remaining!! Get your tickets soon! Check out the review in the Berthoud Recorder.

Burned London Broil (1/21/11, Rialto Theatre, Loveland)

Pigeon Sister Kathleen Gruman in dressing room (1/21/11, Rialto Theatre, Loveland)

The ODD COUPLE Opens January 14th, 2011, at the Rialto in Loveland

moontheatre — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:18:34 +0000

The Moon Theatre Company is pleased to announce the opening of it’s production of The Odd Couple at the Rialto Theatre in Loveland.

Don’t miss out! Reserve your seats today!!

“You Can’t Take it With You” is a Hit!

moontheatre — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:07:25 +0000

The Berthoud Recorder says

“You Can’t Take it With You is a must see! “

“It’s funny, it’s relevant, and an insanely good time!”

Hilarious moment from the Moon Theatre Company production of "You Can't Take it With You". (Photo Credit- Berthoud Recorder, 2010)

The Moon Theatre Company has been playing to a packed house this first weekend. Audiences have been delighted by this warm hearted comedy. Don’t miss out! Only three shows remain.