Tag: Grace Austin

ECC Theatre Department Reveals 2023-24 Productions

The East Central College Theatre Department will present five productions during the 2023-24 season that will raise the audience experience to new heights.

The “Season: Unlimited” performances will showcase the amazing talent of the cast, crew and creative team, which will result in a dynamic live atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

The first production, “She Kills Monsters,” is a fantasy adventure about a young woman who discovers her deceased sister’s Dungeons and Dragons notebook. This production will run Oct. 5-8 and promises to be a thrilling experience for audiences of all ages.

ECC Theatre Director Grace Austin will direct the production, with choreography by Erik Kuhn, stage combat instructor.

Next up is, “Inspecting Carol,” a hilarious holiday staged reading that will have audiences laughing from start to finish.

“In an exciting twist, the actors in ‘Inspecting Carol’ will not receive scripts until 48 hours before the show, and the audience will choose the parts the performers play,” Austin added. “This unique approach promises to create a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience for both the actors and the audience.”

“Inspecting Carol” will be presented in early December.

2024 Performances

Audiences will have to wait until Aug. 14 before the name of the first production in 2024 can be released.

“Due to contractual requirements, we cannot announce the title of our musical, but we are bursting with excitement to bring this giant show to our stage — with unforgettable songs and a story that will capture the hearts of audiences of all ages,” Austin said. “Trust us, it’s worth the wait.”

The musical will be performed Feb. 22-25, 2024, including a daytime matinee Friday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m.

“The One Act Play that Goes Wrong,” to be performed April 18-21, 2024, is a fast-paced farce that will leave audiences in stitches. Directed by the award-winning St. Louis artist Will Bonfiglio, this production is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, Austin said.

Finally, the season concludes with “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a heartwarming musical that brings the beloved characters from the Peanuts comic strip to life. This production is perfect for families and fans of all ages. It will run July 18-21, 2024.

All performances will take place at The John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center at ECC. For more information on “Season: Unlimited” or to learn about auditions, visit ecctheatre.com.

Date Change for ECC ‘Puffs’ Performance

January 28, 2022 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The East Central College Theatre Department has moved the performance of the Off-Broadway smash hit, “Puffs” to April 21-24.

Theatre Department Director Grace Austin, who is directing “Puffs,” said the decision to reschedule the show from February was made from an abundance of caution.

“This was a difficult choice to make,” she said, “but with COVID cases on the rise and with the hope to have actors unmasked, it was the right choice to keep everyone safe.

“We are thrilled that the entire original cast will be appearing at the April performances.”

“Puffs” was originally slated for performances Feb. 24-27. It now will be performed in April when “Church and State” had been scheduled. “Church and State” will move to next season.

The company of “Puffs” includes ECC Theatre veterans Connor Aubuchon, Dora Bell, Andrew Carter, Johny Cojocaru, Lukus Dement, Mekaela Sanders, Abby Scanlin, Tara Steffens and Sydney Smith.

Also in the cast are newcomers Anne Brock, Ryan Balmer, Joshua Bergin, Jaelyn Bergin, Kaylin Buckingham, Lorelei Edwards, Felicity Enloe, Aiden George, Dominique Harper, Brooklyn Hyatt, Evan Kiriakidis, Ethan Mier, Paige Pelster, Ireland Shortt, Kody Scaggs, Stephen Thompson and Elijah Waters.

“Puffs” tells the story of a familiar seven years at a famous school of magic in an unfamiliar way. Boy wizards, broomsticks and owls abound as our heroes are the “Puffs,” a House long neglected in a certain book series.

Tickets for “Puffs” are on sale now at ecctheatre.com. East Central College will offer both socially distanced and non-socially distanced seating at every performance.

For more information, call Box Office Manager Connor Joyce at 636-584-6693 or visit ecctheatre.com.

ECC Theatre to Hold Auditions for ‘Puffs’

December 16, 2021 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

East Central College Theatre will be holding auditions for “Puffs,” the Off-Broadway smash hit in January 2022.

“Puffs” is directed by Grace Austin with choreography by Chris Page Sanders, lighting design by Bess Moynihan, scenic design by Sylvia Sellers, costume design by Carly Uding, prop design by Dora Bell, and puppet design by Skyler Hunt.

For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the “Puffs,” who just happened to be there too. Discover the hilarious and untold story of the “losers” who embrace being badgers and strive to be “third or nothing.”

Auditions will be held Monday, Jan. 3 and Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at ECC and consist of readings from the script. Audition signups are first come, first served and performers only need to attend one night. Callbacks will be held Thursday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Performances will be held Feb. 24-27, 2022 in the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center. Rehearsal will occur every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6:30-9 pm (please bring a copy of any conflicting schedule to auditions. Actors are only called when needed).

We are casting up to 30 actors ages 15+ (most roles are open to all ages and genders).

Rehearsal schedules, character breakdowns, audition readings, COVID protocols, and more can be found at ecctheatre.com. Auditions are open to everyone.

Email questions to Austin at gracemaustin@gmail.com.

Auditions to be Held for ‘Classic Mystery Game’

August 6, 2021 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The East Central College Theatre Department has announced the 2021-22 season’s slate of performances, kicking off with “Classic Mystery Game,” a parody of the 1985 movie, “Clue.”

The next step for the department is to hold auditions for the interactive performance that will ask the audience “Whodunit?”

Theatre Department Director Grace Austin said auditions will be held Aug. 25 -26 at 6:30 p.m. in the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center and will consist of scripts readings.

She added that the readings will be available here beginning Tuesday, Aug. 10. Actors will be masked during auditions and rehearsals.

Not a Typical Show

Austin said the “Classic Mystery Game” is not a typical performance because the audience will have a say in the outcome and will be asked to vote on who they think is guilty.

The show will be directed by Bess Moynihan and performances will be held Oct. 7-10. Audience members will be masked and socially distanced.

“We’re hoping to make the experience as normal as possible and we are really encouraging people to come out and support the department,” Austin said.

“We are so grateful for all of the support we had last year for the outdoor theatre and we are really hoping that people want to come and spend time with us indoors this year in a safe manner.”

“Classic Mystery Game,” written by Keating, parodies the movie “Clue,” written by Jonathan Lynn which was based on the game, CLUEDO (known as Clue in North America.), created by Anthony E. Pratt.

The show will offer a look at life through the lens of the iconic film, and Clue, the family game night favorite with thrills, spills and, of course- kills.

Roles Available

The following roles are available to any actors age 16 and up:

Ms. Scarlet — Female, she’s beautiful, well dressed, opinionated and probably up to something.
• Col. Mustard-Male, he’s usually confused about… everything.
• Mrs. White — Female, A heightened sense of drama, she’s dressed for a funeral and suspicious as ever.
• Prof. Plum — Any gender, equal parts sweet and salty, what is it they teach again?
• Mrs. Peacock — Female, Over the top and overly chatty with a scream that could cut glass.
• Mr. Green — Any gender, An uptight square with a questionable career.
• Yvette — Female- A woman with an impossible French accent and impractical amounts of cleavage.
• Mr. Boddy — Any gender, the architect of all this madness, or are they?
• Clown No. 1 — Any Gender, plays The Cook and The Motorist.
• Clown No. 2 — Any Gender, plays The Cop, The Singing Telegram Girl, and The Evangelist.

More information about auditions can be found here.

Real Couples to Star in ECC’s ‘Almost, Maine’ Production

April 5, 2021 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The next East Central College Theatre Department’s production, “Almost, Maine” follows the journey of eight couples for one night.

And it is fitting that the cast includes three real-life couples.

“Almost, Maine,” written by John Cariani tells the story of the couples during the Aurora Borealis, as relationships are formed, broken and rediscovered.

The filmed production will be directed by Grace Austin with Shania Wilson, Sebastion Montowine and Jacob Fitts. It will be professionally filmed by Route Three productions. “Almost, Maine” will be available for viewing April 30 through May 2.

Scenic and lighting design will be by Bess Moynihan and costume design will be by Harley Vuocolo.

Wilson will serve as head stage manager and Head will serve as assistant director.

Real-life couples performing in “Almost, Maine” are Elin and John Schmidt, Trish Baker and Jonathan Robertson, and CJ Satterfield and Tiffany Holzem.

The couples are joined by the actor pairings of Tara Steffens and Kyle Counts, Briley Howell and Andrew Carter, and Sebastian Montowine and Harley Vuocolo. Also in the performance are Dora Bell, Sydney Smith, Isaac Corum, Sarah Hopp, Jessie Patterson, Lukas Dement and Sarah Serbus.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.ecctheatre.com.

ECC Theatre to Present Filmed Play, “The Yellow Boat”

February 5, 2021 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The East Central College Theatre Department will virtually present “The Yellow Boat” by David Saar.

The touching tale is about a young man and his family who are dealing with a life-changing illness. It is directed by ECC Theatre alum Jacob Schmidt, and stars Tara Steffens, CJ Satterfield, Donovan Counts, Jasmine Derhammer, Harley Vulcolo, Stephanie Landing, Logan Head and Andrew Carter.

The show is filmed and will be available to view Feb. 18, 19 and 20. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at ecctheatre.com.

The show runs about 90 minutes. It can be viewed any time within the February 18-20 time frame once tickets are purchased.

The Stage Management team includes Shania Wilson, Dora Bell, Sam Doepker and Sebastian Montowine. Custom mask design by Eileen Engel with lighting and set design by Bess Moynihan.

According to Grace Austin, theatre director, the filmed performance is much different than past productions at ECC.

“The ECC Theater Department has faced a lot of challenges this year and we are so grateful for the support of the community and the administration,” she said.

“Producing ‘The Yellow Boat’ has given students and alumni the opportunity to safely come together and continue our tradition of theatrical work.”

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the theatre department to become creative with how it presents its art, much like the fall outdoor productions in the Theatre in the Glen.

“This is a unique opportunity that we might not have had otherwise, and we’re so excited to see how the community responds,” Austin said.

Actor’s Showcase Performance Premieres Thursday

December 16, 2020 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

Every year the East Central College Theatre Department Acting I and II students present an onstage showcase of their work — and year will be no exception.

That’s according to Grace Austin, theatre director, who said the Fall 2020 Actor’s Showcase will premiere Thursday, Dec. 17, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

She explained that the acting students will perform, “The Way Home,” written by St. Louis playwright Will Bonfiglio.

“Will Bonfiglio has again written an original show for the students to perform based on found text and travel advice platforms,” Austin said. “The show covers all concepts of home, road trips, playlists, adventure and returning to where your heart is.”

The performance will premiere on the ECC Theatre YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0n2PWRj9Zw.

Austin noted that the play was filmed over three nights in December, with three students joining the class remotely via Zoom.

The actors who performed “The Way Home” are Logan Head, Shania Wilson, Sebastian Monotowine, Grace Allagier, Faythe Anderson, Kennedy Smith, Isabelle Obie, Isaac Corum, Harley Vuocolo, Isaac Gibson, Alex Kreite, Jacob Fitts, Hannah Folk, Dora Bell and Gavin Salsman.

The “run crew” includes Jarred Snider and Samantha Doepker with lighting design by Bess Moynihan and theatre management by Sylvia Sellers.

Theatre to Tell ‘Tales from the Shadows’ Next Week

October 20, 2020 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

Join the East Central College Theatre Department on campus next week for a chilling theatrical experience featuring storytelling and surprises.

Tales from the Shadows is a unique outdoor event that includes a journey around campus led by a “Ghoul Guide.” Tickets are on sale now for the Halloween-themed performance scheduled for Oct. 28-30.

According to ECC Theatre Director Grace Austin, plans for Tales from the Shadows spawned from the desire for an interactive event on campus.

“It came out of an idea for people to see more of the campus while at the same time being able to participate in an immersive event, which is new to the department,” she said.

There will be walking tours of up to 10 people that will depart every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night. The tours are designed for social distancing and face masks will be required.

To purchase tickets visit www.ecctheatre.com or call the ECC Box Office at 636-584-6693. This activity is recommended for ages 13 and up.

During the event, tour guides will lead guests around campus to several stops where they will encounter strange mysteries, scary creatures, and a few surprises along the way.

Each tour lasts approximately 70 minutes, and it will include students as actors and guides.

Austin noted that she and colleagues Bess Moynihan and Sylvia Sellers, developed the Tales from the Shadows concept while discussing options for a Halloween production.

Bess, Sylvia, and I were tossing around some ideas for Halloween and we came up with a concept of hiring some master storytellers from St. Louis to work with the students to create a walking tour,” Austin added.

On hand for the “Tales from the Shadows” will be Hazel’s Back Porch BBQ, Montelle Winery, Sweet Kettle Corn Co., Happy Apples, S’mores, and more for ticket holders before and after the tours.

Theatre Department to Deliver ‘Epic Proportions’

September 23, 2020 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The East Central College Theatre Department is preparing for its second outdoor performance In the Glen.

The comedy, “Epic Proportions,” is set for Friday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. in the Theatre in the Glen — an outdoor performance series held on the grassy hill between the Shook Center and Hansen Hall.

There will be pre-show music by the ECC Band and food vendors, including Hazel’s Back Porch BBQ, Pinckney Bend, Happy Apples (Friday) and Old Fashioned Sweet Kettle Corn Company (Sunday).

For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.ecctheatre.com. The pre-show activities for Oct. 2 begin at 5 p.m., and Oct. 4 pre-show activities begin at 3:30 p.m.

Set in the 1930s, “Epic Proportions” tells the story of two brothers, Benny and Phil, who go to the Arizona desert to be extras in the huge Biblical epic “Exeunt Omnes.”

Things move very quickly in this riotous comedy and before you know it, Phil is directing the movie, and Benny is starring in it. To complicate matters further they both fall in love with Louise, the assistant director in charge of the extras

“Epic Proportions” was written by Larry Coen and David Crane and director by ECC Theatre Director Grace Austin.

Seating

The audience can purchase tickets for a square where they can sit on a blanket within a 10-foot by 10-foot square painted on the hill. Each square can seat up to six people. No lawn chairs are permitted in the grass areas.

There also will be four-top table seats available for purchase on the bridge overlooking the Glen.

“Lawn Squares,” that can seat up to six people cost $20 and “Skywalk Seats,” that will seat four people, are $40.

Masks will be required unless audience members are seated in their lawn squares or at their tables. Walkways will be spaced according to CDC guidelines.

Social distancing will be observed while standing in line and there will be no tickets exchanged and all programs will only be available digitally.

In addition, each seat will be assigned to a bathroom in order to maximize space and safety.

Future Events

Other Music, Theatre, Art and Film & Lecture events planned in the Glen are the ECC Band Concert on Oct. 20; Classics & Cocktails: Anatomy of a Murder (Film & Music with the ECC Jazz Band), Oct. 22; and the Theatre Department’s performance of “Tales from the Shadows,” Oct. 28-30.

For more information visit www.ecctheatre.com or call the Box Office at 636-584-6693.

Auditions Set for Next Theatre Production

January 18, 2016 | Campus News

The East Central College Theatre Department will hold auditions for the final show of the 2015-2016 season Monday, February 29, and Tuesday, March 1.

Auditions for Into The Woods will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Theatre Department located in Hansen Hall at the ECC campus in Union. Directed by Grace Austin with music direction by Colin Healy, this multi Tony Award winning show will be performed April 14-17.

Into The Woods intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests.

Roles are available for up to 18 men and women ages 14 and up. There is also one featured role for a boy between the ages of 9 and 13. Individuals auditioning should prepare one of the audition selections which can be accessed online at www.ecctheatre.com. An accompanist will be provided.

More information, including the show synopsis and character breakdowns, is available at www.ecctheatre.com.