About Mood Area 52

Mood Area 52 started in 1998 as a Piazzola inspired neo-tango ensemble. Since then the group has incorporated Golden Age Tango material, lounge, electronica, Eastern European influences, Brechtian cabaret tunes, folk, and original compositions about love, loss, genetic mutations, daring women in petticoats, and the ill-hatched crimes of ambitious charlatans.

The Band performs acoustically as a trio with Michael Roderick and cellist Amy Danziger, and Billy Barnett and expands combining the talents of accordionist and vocalist Michael Roderick, cellist Amy Danziger, guitarist Billy Barnett, Tenor saxophonist Kee Zublin, bassist Jeremiah Harris, drummers James West and Tony Figoli. Mood Area 52 also features various Oregon musicians including Erin Williams on saw, Dustin Lanker on piano, Dorian Crow on Bass, Mckenzie Stubbert on piano, Dan Schmidt on bass, Sylvain Duplant on bass, Dylan DeRobertis on bass, Anthony Dyer on violin, Derek Troston marimba, Adam Wendt on guitar, David Roderick on soxophones, Cosmos Corbin on electronic production mastrey, Marietta Bonaventure on vocals, Kelly Leguizamon on baritone sax, and Richard Johnson on saxophone.

Mood Area 52 has performed with The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Naim Amor, Chuck Palhnuik, The Damo Suzuki Network, Rasputina, The Tin Hat Trio, Slowpoke, Amy Denio, Devotchka, David Lindley, Marianne Dissard, The Vagabond Opera, Jason Webley’s “Monsters of Accordion,” Mark Growden, Kim Boekbinder and The Vermillion Lies, and many other polite and brilliant musicians. They perform in venues ranging from clubs to festival stages to Alzheimer’s wards, accompanying burlesque troops and providing original soundtracks to golden age films.

Discover more on the band at their website: www.rocketboyarts.com

Jonathan Larson’s rock opera is a timeless story of young people finding their way in the world. In this telling, the events take place in the early 1990s in a neighborhood on the Lower East Side of New York City. The eight main characters are artists struggling to create and survive during the rise of AIDS. We see the young people making connections with each other and with their society. They think of themselves as a family.

CASTING:

Auditions are open to all.

There are roles for 9 MEN AND 6 WOMEN of different ethnic groups.

The characters range in age from late teens to twenty-somethings.

There are no non-signing roles in RENT.

THE CHARACTERS and Vocal Ranges

• Angel – A transvestite street drummer infected with HIV. Incredible dancer with a magnetic personality. Tenor (C3-A4)
• Benny – Wealthy landlord of Mark and Roger’s building. Wants to start a multimedia studio. Tenor (Eb3-F4)
• Joanne – A head strong public interest lawyer, and Maureen’s lover. Alto (Bb3-E5)
• Mark – A filmmaker and video artist, determined to capture “real” life on film. Roger’s roommate. Tenor (C#3-G4)
• Maureen – Performance artist and Mark’s ex-girlfriend. A diva. Soprano Belt (C4-F5)
• Mimi – A dancer with AIDS and a drug problem. Desperate for a place to feel safe and protected. Alto (F#3-E5)
• Roger – An edgy, struggling musician who’s HIV+. He hopes to write one last meaningful song before he dies. Plays guitar. Tenor (B2-A4)
• Tom – An HIV+ computer genius who has recently returned to New York after an absence. Has a deep capacity for love and understanding.  Baritenor (F#2-A4)

4 Men and 3 women will play a variety of roles: Parents, homeless people, street vendors. police officers, people with AIDS, etc.

NOTE: If you are under 18, a parent is required to sign a permission form AND the parent must attend one night of auditions.

PREPARING FOR YOUR AUDITION:

Everyone who auditions is asked to prepare (memorize) a 1 to 2 minute song of their choice that is appropriate/fitting for the role they are auditioning for.

The musical styles in RENT are rock, blues, gospel, disco and Latin. The audition song should be in one of these styles. OR, The song could from one of the following musicals: “Spring Awakening,” “Next To Normal,” “tick, tick…Boom!, ” “American Idiot,” “In The Heights,” or “Avenue Q”

PLEASE DON’T SING SOMETHING FROM RENT.

Please bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. Accompanying yourself on guitar is okay.

No scripts or material will be available before auditions.

THE AUDITION PROCESS:

April 30: People auditioning will be asked to perform their song.

May 1: People auditioning will read material from the script, and participate in theatre and movement work.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the first two nights of auditions. Wear comfortable clothes that allow movement.

There will be callbacks on Wednesday, May 2, by invitation only.

NOTE: Depending on the turnout, there may be additional nights of auditions.  MTM may continue casting after the initial auditions until a complete cast is secured.

REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCE COMMITMENT:

In May, MTM will hold advanced rehearsals focused on familiarizing the cast with the story, characters and the world of the play.   There will not be formal rehearsals during the summer.  Rehearsals begin in early September.  RENT will open in November 2012 for a multi-week run.

DIRECTOR:

Robert Leff is a long time mid-valley director.  He has directed at Oregon State, Corvallis Community Theatre and Albany Civic Theatre. Among the musicals he has directed are “Bat Boy:The Musical,” “Into The Woods,” “She Loves Me,” and “A Little Night Music.”

For more information contact opportunities@majestic.org.

Majestic Education Announces the Launch of New Curriculum and Classes Starting April 2^nd- June 7^th at The Majestic Theatre.

Following on the huge success of A Thousand Cranes, Majestic Education is proud to announce the launch of a new series of classes and curriculum for kids and teens beginning this Spring.

The inaugural session will run April 2^nd-June 7^th, for Ages 1-19. Intrinsic to the Majestic Education mission is that its performance season and education programs combine to create a unique artistic and learning experience that complements student development by using the performing arts. Majestic Education presentations inspire students of all ages to explore their imaginations and the world around them; while using the best practices in the field of arts education.  All skill levels welcome!

Spring Session Classes will culminate in a showcase of the student’s work on the last day of classes. 

Majestic Education is designed to encourage confidence, creativity, and communication skills amongst kids and teens within the Linn-Benton community.  Guided through dynamic studio-style programs, students investigate their interests and challenge their potential.  From exploration to application, students are able to see the world through the diverse lens of the performing arts.

Signing Up & Participation Fee

Per Child, Per Class, Participation Fee: $165 (sibling discounts & scholarships available).  Please fill out one Registration Form per participant, but one check is fine for multiple participants from the same family.  Payment is to be included with Registration Form.

Sing, Groove, Bust a Move! Class is an $85 participation fee, due to the class being shorter.

Please sign up for classes by filling out a Registration Form, available at the theater during business hours (Tuesday- Friday 12:00-5:00), or by printing out the Registration Form below.  Registration Form plus payment can be dropped off at The Business Office of The Majestic Theatre during business hours.  Email questions and concerns to Education Coordinator, Willow Norton:  willow@majestic.org or 541-758-7827.

Download Registration Form

Class Descriptions:

Playmaking- SUPER HEROS- All Levels
Monday: 4:00 – 5:15

Ages: 6-8, (Brave 5 year olds, and leader 9 year olds welcome)

Instructor: Willow Norton

The world of Super heroes comes to life in this exciting and creative class. Bring your imagination and be ready to become Storm, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Batman or even a Green Lantern. Each week we will explore a super hero origin story and turn it into a play. We will be breaking down the core structure of storytelling (beginning, middle, and end), creating new subplots, and transporting the class to worlds beyond.

The final stage of the class is to have students pick their favorite story to share with their family and friends in a performance. After the story is selected, students work to illustrate the world and characters through drawings and images that make a gallery of their chosen story. This culmination of performance and show- and- tell gives each student a way to showcase their interests and imagination.

Original Works- Teens Ensemble Theater

Monday:  5:15 – 7:00

Ages:  13-19

Instructor: Willow Norton

This is a performing, writing, and ensemble generating class. The class is part acting and movement exercises to get the brain and body open and responding imaginatively, and part writing to explore the ideas and questions of young people today. Students will be writing, revising, and performing scenes and monologues that they have created around subjects that are important to them.

This class promotes literacy, creativity, problem solving, academic skills, motivation, and self-empowerment for students with varying backgrounds and abilities. Students invest in their own stories, get excited about the playwrighting process and assume ownership of their writing. When students write plays about their lives, they are given a new language to express themselves, and a dialogue with their peers.

Sing, Groove, Bust a Move!

Tuesday: 12:00pm – 12:45pm

Ages:  18-36 months, with care giver.

Instructor: Victoria Wills

This is a fun energetic and creative mix of grooving and singing in a carefully structured class. Caregiver and child share in the joys of exploring music and movement in this class which flows from an inviting warm-up into invigorating opportunities for voice, music making and dance and reuniting in a closure activity. We’ll discover songs, rhythm games, body percussion, creative movement, fun stretches and jam together!

Sing, Groove, Bust a Move!

Tuesday 1:00-1:45

Ages:  3-5 years, with care giver.

Instructor: Victoria Wills

This is a fun energetic and creative mix of grooving and singing in a carefully structured class. Caregiver and child share in the joys of exploring music and movement in this class which flows from an inviting warm-up into invigorating opportunities for voice, music making and dance and reuniting in a closure activity. We’ll discover songs, rhythm games, body percussion, creative movement, fun stretches and jam together!

Dance Explosion- All Levels

Tuesday: 2:15 – 3:15

Ages: 6-8

Instructor:  Victoria Wills

Engage your child in the satisfaction of creative movement in its true form.  Students explore and create though movement as they learn about the elements of dance.  Fundamentals of healthy alignment, composition, the joy of dance and fun are all put to use as we expand our vocabulary of movement choices and creative pathways; build creative reasoning skills and stay fit! This class culminates with an informal performance created by the students.

Standard Acting- All Levels 

Tuesday: 4:00 – 5:30

Ages: 13-19

Instructor: Willow Norton

Scene work and script analysis is a staple of theater training. Practice an exciting and challenging technique that relies on observation and physicality in creating multi-dimensional characters. Learn how to connect with your audience and other performers as you work moment to moment on scenes with partners from the class.

Part theater games, part scene work, and a lot of fun.  This is the perfect class for the new or advanced performer that wants to audition for the next school play or to polish those already existing skill sets.

Story Dramatization

Wednesday: 1:00 – 2:30

Ages: 9-14

Instructor: Victoria Wills

Immerse your child in the art of theater as we use dramatization as a creative pathway to explore fascinating subjects ranging from Folk tales to life sciences.  Favorite subjects will be dramatized as a fun and effective way to facilitate learning and love of theater for every student.  This class culminates with an informal performance created by the students. We’ll be busy with a warm-up of creative movement games and theater games.

Dramatization strategies are learned to bring our subject to the stage.  Storytelling, tableaux to create a still scene with a group, development of narrative to accompany the tableaux, and reflection for students to learn to engage in the constructive feedback processes. This class makes all participants comfortable, as it uses multiple creative approaches to learning.  Students see that a story can be created in a detailed way without paper and pencil and with lots of moving around.

The Joy of Music- All Levels

Wednesday:  4:00 – 5:25

Ages:  6-8

Instructor: Erin Cross

The Joy of Music is based on the philosophy that all children are innately musical and cooperative. When children are inspired and honored in an environment where beautiful things are being created a sense of belonging will occur naturally. The Joy of Music is a safe circle in which all children are encouraged to grow and learn.  The class involves singing as a group, supportive solo opportunities, creative movement and dance, interactive musical theory, and dramatic play and rhythm work with instruments from around the world.

The Joy of Music- All Levels

Wednesday: 5:30 – 6:55

Ages:  9-12

Instructor: Erin Cross

The Joy of Music is based on the philosophy that all children are innately musical and cooperative. When children are inspired and honored in an environment where beautiful things are being created a sense of belonging will occur naturally. The Joy of Music is a safe circle in which all children are encouraged to grow and learn. The class involves singing as a group, supportive solo opportunities, creative movement and dance, interactive musical theory, and dramatic play and rhythm work with instruments from around the world.

Dramatic Play- Fairy Tales- All Levels

Thursday: 3:30 – 4:25

Ages: 6-8

Instructor: Cindy Preece

Come explore the creative land of imagination! Build a castle or a cave, fight dragons, prowl through jungles – the possibilities are endless!  Children use costume pieces and props to act out stories told by the teacher.  They also practice listening and working together while building communication, confidence and problem-solving skills.  As their confidence grows, children begin to improvise dialogue and elements of the story, all while having a great time.  The final class of the session will be a story showcase for family and friends.

Dramatic Play- Choose Your Own Adventure- All Levels

Thursday: 4:30 – 5:25

Ages:  9-13

Instructor: Cindy Preece

Let your imagination soar!  Students use drama techniques to bring both original and teacher-led stories to life as they learn about the key elements of a story and the hero myth construct. Using costume pieces and props, they can build worlds where dragons rescue knights, the littlest guy always wins or the moon can be touched in a single jump.  The students practice listening and working together while building communication, confidence and problem-solving skills. In this collaborative environment, students learn to express their ideas and to respect the ideas of others. The final class will be a showcase for family and friends.

Majestic Education Teaching Artists

WILLOW NORTON is a Director and Teacher focused on new work development.  Recent directing projects include; A Thousand Cranes for The Majestic Theatre (OR), S.H.A.V.E.D. at HERE Arts Center (NY) and The Philly Fringe (PA), Instructions Included for The Midtown International Festival (NY), REACH for At Hand Theatre Company (NY),School House Rock for ACE Academy (OR), In the Way for Philadelphia Young Playwrights (PA), and POP in the Night for At Hand Theatre Company (NY).  Assistant Directing for THE UNDERSTUDY by Theresa Rebeck at The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, Continuous City for The Builders Association at The Kitchen & St. Ann’s Warehouse (NY), Dreams of Friendly Aliens for Abingdon Theatre Company (NY), The Man at the Sea for Emerging Arts Theater Company(NY), and Henry V for Cornish College of the Arts (WA).  As a Teaching Artist, Norton has worked at ACE Academy, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Washington Academy of Performing Arts, Cornish College of the Arts, and Brooklyn Kids.  She has also worked for Culture Project, 3101 Arts, and The Painted Bride.

ERIN CROSS is a full spectrum music teacher with over a decade of experience teaching in both public and private schools. She has the proven ability to create and arrange programs and productions for a variety of school and community events. Cross was the Music Director for Pinecrest School, Grades K – 6; Music Director for KidsArts inVenture, where she taught original music and art Summer camps for  K – 6.  Cross also taught music and arts classes at Bellevue Santa Fe Charter School, Santa Maria Montessori and Family Partnership Charter, and at the Gilroy Unified School District.  Directing projects include The Lorax, The Great Kapok Tree, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Jungle Book.  Cross was also awarded a 21^st Century Grant for her after school music enrichment for the Gilroy Unified School District.

CINDY PREECE has been working in professional theatre since 1993.  She holds a BA in Dramatic Arts from Centre College in Kentucky and a M. Ed from the University of North Texas.  Ms. Preece has been teaching exciting and enriching drama classes to children of all ages for over twelve years. She was the co-founder and drama instructor for an award winning dramatic arts camp in Dallas, Texas.  She taught classes and summer camps as an outreach drama instructor for Capers for Kids (Dallas, TX), and developed after school drama clubs for middle school students. Ms. Preece has also taught courses in stage management at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas). She was the Resident Production Stage Manager at the Theatrical Outfit (Atlanta, Georgia) and Stage Manager for the Atlanta Opera’s touring education programs.

VICTORIA WILLS has enjoyed over twenty years as an experiential educator facilitating young people to enjoy learning while developing their own creativity. She excels at balancing planned activities with taking advantage of spontaneous teachable moments and letting the students influence the material. While her degrees are in both dance and environmental biology, her teaching specialties include both environmental education and the arts. Victoria’s teaching modalities apply interdisciplinary narrative art forms, (dance, drama, music, visual arts) to reach and motivate students of all learning styles and abilities.  She likes to facilitate and transform the traditional classroom into a group of folks moving around, making things, and having fun learning.

Want a taste? Check out the Stairway Denied myspace page.

(Video posted on YouTube, 2009.)

Tickets for Stairway Denied’s February 29th show at The Majestic are still available. ($10 General Admission)

To purchase tickets in advance, please call our box office at 541-738-7469, or buy online here.

The second featured speaker for the evening is Robert Leff.  Mr. Leff will be directing The Majestic Theatre production of RENT.  RENT is scheduled to open November 2012.  Auditions for RENT will be Monday April 30, Tuesday May 1 and Wednesday May 2.  Complete breakdowns on the audition process and expectations will be posted February 21, 2012.

Community members interested in stage management, design and other positions with this production are encouraged to visit our opportunities page.  To be added to our email list for auditions and other production opportunities at The Majestic Theatre, please submit your contact information to opportunities@majestic.org.

About Makers’ Space

Maker’s Space is a storefront salon located in the Majestic Theatre in downtown Corvallis, Oregon. The project offers events, lectures, exhibitions and workshops on a wide variety of topics. Inspired by the international movement of Marker/Hacker spaces, Makers’ Space provides community members of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds the opportunity to interact, create, and learn from one another. It is also a place to have fun and make robots.

At its core, Makers’ Space represents an alternative learning/teaching model that separates itself from the more traditional teacher/student structure. It was founded on the belief that effective community education can be achieved by having people of different skill levels coming together to make things.

Makers’ Space is Curated by Josephine Zarkovich.  Josephine is an arts writer and curator based in Corvallis, Oregon. She received an MA in Curatorial Practice from California College of the Arts and has staged exhibitions in numerous organizations, including the Tecoah Bruce Gallery, Worth Ryder Gallery and the Wattis Institute. Her curatorial work focuses on engaging audiences and fostering critical discussions around popular culture.

For more information about how to get involved e-mail josephine@majestic.org

The Majestic Theatre celebrates the launch of Makers’ Space, a new alternative arts program, with a free all ages event on Wednesday, February 29^th. The event features a diverse mix of visual and performing arts including a leap year themed art exhibition, music by local band XENAT-RA performances by Portland artist Joe Von Appen, and Eugene-based variety act The Red Raven Follies. The event is free and open to the public.

About Makers’ Space

Maker’s Space is a storefront salon located in the Majestic Theatre in downtown Corvallis, Oregon. The project offers events, lectures, exhibitions and workshops on a wide variety of topics. Inspired by the international movement of Marker/Hacker spaces, Makers’ Space provides community members of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds the opportunity to interact, create, and learn from one another. It is also a place to have fun and make robots.

At its core, Makers’ Space represents an alternative learning/teaching model that separates itself from the more traditional teacher/student structure. It was founded on the belief that effective community education can be achieved by having people of different skill levels coming together to make things.

Makers’ Space is Curated by Josephine Zarkovich.  Josephine is an arts writer and curator based in Corvallis, Oregon. She received an MA in Curatorial Practice from California College of the Arts and has staged exhibitions in numerous organizations, including the Tecoah Bruce Gallery, Worth Ryder Gallery and the Wattis Institute. Her curatorial work focuses on engaging audiences and fostering critical discussions around popular culture.

For more information about how to get involved e-mail josephine@majestic.org

About Red Raven Follies

Red Raven Follies are an eclectic group of performers engaged in reincarnating the classic Variety Show format, as well as creating themed performances designed to capture the imagination and transport audiences to times past.

Red Raven Follies host  two annual variety shows and perform at a number of events, usually in unconventional spaces such as fashion shows, backyards, warehouses, pubs, and wineries, and occasionally in traditional theatrical spaces. Currently, we are taking our show on the road, with an amazing tarot-themed performance including aerial acrobatics, juggling, and hoops!

The Follies are facilitators of fun with the intent to entertain and provide opportunities for other local artists to showcase themselves at events, creating connections within the community.

Discover more on the Red Raven Follies at their website: http://web.me.com/tiffanyhutchins/RedRavenFollies/Welcome.html

Gathered together to pay tribute to one of the most beloved and influential bands in rock history, Led Zeppelin, drummer Chris Harver, guitarists Curtis Monette and Dylan Nelson, multi-instrumentalist Dusty Stallings, and vocalist Noah Stroup uniquely meld the fiery improvisation of Zeppelin’s live performances with the intricate, multi-layered arrangements of their studio work. Invoking the spirits of the gods of rock, Stairway Denied forgo gaudy impersonation for the passionate intensity of Zeppelin’s early day performances. From blistering guitar to thunderous drums, Stairway Denied doesn’t just ignite the Zeppelin fire in all of us, they set it ablaze….

Saturday, February 25^th 2012 at 9PM

OPEN TO ALL AGES.

The Majestic is located at 115 SW 2^nd Street, Corvallis, OR 97333

General admission is $10 online and at the door.

For tickets, call 541-738-7469 or purchase online at www.majestic.org.

There will be another Drink & Draw in the near future! Stay tuned for details at www.majestic.org, or sign up for our mailing list.