'Fun, Furious 15'BLT Announces Season Lineup

A children’s classic, a drama and a mystery dinner theater make up Bradford Little Theatre’s “Fun, Furious 15” season.

The season kicks off in October with “Charlotte’s Web” and then moves on to the tension-filled “Twelve Angry Men” in February with the comic “Stay as Dead as You Are” in April.

“It’s going to be great to offer another production featuring young people, a drama about jury deliberations in a murder case that touches on current events, and, by popular demand, our second dinner theater” said Nanci K. Garris, BLT president.

“Charlotte’s Web” will offer both adults and students in grades 6 and up the opportunity to perform in the auditorium at Otto-Eldred Junior-Senior High School in Duke Center. Garris, who has directed young people in BLT’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “A Christmas Story,” returns to direct the full-length play by Joseph Robinette. Story author E.B. White wrote to Robinette that “You have kept its spirit and my intent. Congratulations and cheers!” In the tale, Charlotte the spider works to save Wilbur the pig from becoming bacon by writing words in her webs.

“I think offering this family-friendly play will showcase the beautiful O-E venue, will draw new faces to the stage, and will offer loyal BLTers to an exciting new theater experience,” said Garris. Tryouts will be Aug. 30 at the school and Aug. 31 at Bradford Area Public Library.

Of “Twelve Angry Men,” veteran director Cindy Matteson, says: “The time is right… Twelve Angry Men shows the workings of a jury in what appears to be an open-and-shut case where a 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. Today’s CSI and Law and order types of shows have large, interested audiences who watch the crime investigations and the court proceedings, but rarely do these audiences see what happens after the trial and before the verdict. How many people were talking about the Caylee Anthony murder trial and verdict and wondering how the jury could let that mom go free?”

Tryouts will be in December and the show will be presented Feb. 3, 4 and 5 in Bradford.

“I do want to do the play with all men, but am prepared for the alternative ‘Twelve Angry Jurors’ as well,” said Matteson.

On April 20, 21 and 22, Kristin Asinger will direct the dinner theater “Stay as Dead as You Are” written by Lee Mueller, who also wrote “I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning,” last year’s popular dinner theater offering.

Laughs and mayhem ensue at the Haldeman High School Class of 1982 reunion where two people are assaulted with lawn “Jarts.” Again, Mueller has drawn quirky characters including a nasty vice principal, a geek-made-good, “party hearty” guy, class jock, class “hottie” turned nightmare and others.

Asinger, BLT board member and Pitt Improvers advisor, said: “The most common comment that we received last year after our dinner theater was ‘That was so much fun! When is BLT doing this again?’ Well, are so excited to be offering another dinner theater similar to last year’s -- a scripted play mixed with fun, laughter and improvisation with a twisting plot that makes audience members love every moment of the show.”

“Auditions will be held during the second week of March 2012. We will be looking for males and females from late teens to their 80's to fill the parts of detectives, classmates who look in their 40's and staff who worked at the school thirty years ago. We hope that "Stay as Dead as You Are" will entertain our BLT audiences again with zest and delight!”

For more information, people may visit the website at www.bradfordlittletheatre.org or the BLT Facebook page, or contact the group at P.O. Box 255, Bradford, PA 16701. Tickets will also be available about two weeks before each show at Ott & McHenry Pharmacy, Tina’s Hallmark and Graham Florist, all in Bradford. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more.

Bradford Little Theatre continues to promote, encourage and produce community-based theatre in the Bradford area. By making theatre available and accessible to the public, BLT provides opportunities for community participation, appreciation and education, thus enriching the community and increasing interest in the arts. An award-winning theatre company, BLT is a member of the American Association of Community Theatres, the Theatre Association of New York State and a founding member of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Theatres.

Both "Twelve Angry Men" and "Charlotte's Web" are produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing Co.