Posted by: Bethany on 02/15/2008 07:03 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 02/19/2008 09:55 AM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
:
Doll House Dames offer Special ‘Evening Under the Covers’ on Valentine's Day ~ By Bethany Monk (Updated With Video
Murphys, C.A….The Doll House Dames, a burlesque-style troupe of dancers, singers and actors, offered audiences a special treat for the group’s Valentine’s Day performance. In addition to the show, which opened Feb. 1, audience members also enjoyed a pre-performance dinner in the theater’s lobby, set up like a restaurant….
Doll House Dame Dottie Cashero
Nicole Sass, a Calaveras native, is directing “An Evening Under the Covers,” which features an array of local talent who auditioned for the troupe a few months ago. Sass is a singer/songwriter and wrote and choreographed several of the show’s scenes, which feature music from the Beatles to more contemporary artists like Feist and The White Stripes. Some of the troupe members brought their own song and dance numbers to the show, Sass said.
Nearly 100 people attended the Valentine’s Day dinner and performance.
“It’s pretty good,” said audience member Willy Swendeman, adding that he was impressed with the level of singing in the show. “It’s better than I expected it to be.”
The show’s stage manager, Rachel Kinyon said the Black Bart Playhouse, with its old fashioned, historic atmosphere, offers the “perfect setting” for the burlesque-style show. Sass wants to produce another Doll House Dames production this summer, Kinyon said, adding that with summer tourists, and the success of this show, attendance will most likely increase.
Connie Sass, Nicole’s mother—who runs the concession stand during the show, and helps with other aspects of the production—said she wants to see at least one full house during this show’s run, which ends March 1. “I think they could have a better turn out,” she said. The theater holds 150 people, and the Valentines performance drew a large crowd, but not enough to fill all the seats, she said.
The show has drawn a significant amount of media attention, with articles in local newspapers and “The Stockton Record.” Calaveras County Public Access Television also broadcast an interview and performance of Sass (also featured on ThePineTree.net) performing her “Foxy Lady” routine.
As for her daughter’s theatrical talents, “(Nicole) has always been a ham,” Connie said, when asked about Nicole’s interest in theatre. When she was just 12 years old, Nicole was cast in a Sonora production of “Gypsy.”
Pat Randall, Connie’s friend and co-worker at Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital, where they work as nurses, said she enjoyed the show immensely. “I think they’re great,” she said. “I’m having fun … I love it.”
The show will continue to run at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays until March 1. Tickets are $20 per person.
Call (209) 728-8842 or visit www.murphysblackbartplayers.com for or more information. You may also visit the official Web site of the Doll House Dames at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=307752779.
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