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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/27/2008 09:16 PM Updated by: thepinetree on 03/19/2008 11:45 AM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
:

"The White Sheep of the Family" Coming to Black Bart!

Murphys, CA...The Black Bart Players are preparing for their spring production, “The White Sheep of the Family,” written by L. du Garde Peach and Ian Hay. This “felonious comedy in three acts” centers on an upstanding, well-bred British family faced with typical family problems: a rebellious son, unwelcome guests, training the hired help and a dubious choice of in-laws....


Diane Brown, a Black Bart Player since 1977, returns to direct her seventh Black Bart production. Brown’s onstage performances include “Bad Day at Gopher’s Breath,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Moose Murders” and “Ravenscroft.” She directed “Happily Ever Once Upon” and “Love, Sex and the IRS,” among others. Brown is a library technician at Bret Harte High School and lives in Douglas Flat with her husband, Bill. She is mother to Emma, Josh and Kendra, and grandmother to Ilyra.

Assisting Brown is Nicki Swendeman, a Black Bart Player since 1980, including a 10-year hiatus. She last participated in the winter productions of “11 Variations on Friar John’s Failure” and “The Ballad of King Windowglass,” running the light loft. Swendeman is slated to direct this summer’s melodrama, “Males Order Brides.” She lives in Angels Camp with her husband, Rick, and son Christopher.

Sean M. Lewis returns to the Black Bart stage as James, the patriarch of the Winter family. Lewis last appeared in the 2006 production of “Love, Sex and the IRS.” Raised in the Bay Area, Lewis is living in Calaveras County because his sister and her husband, who live in Columbia, are expecting their first child. Lewis is excited about coming to perform at the theater again, as well as working with Brown once more.

Connie Sass portrays Alice, the mother of the family. Sass is a 1975 graduate of A.A. Stagg High School in Stockton, where she and the now-famous Chris Isaak were dance and stage partners in several musicals, including “All American.” She appeared in Black Bart’s “Moose Murders” as the lead, Snooks” Keene. She played Lucy Brown in the musical, “Three Penny Opera.” Sass loves to sing all styles of music.

Rob Lawson has taken on the role of Peter Winter, the talented, idealistic son willing to give up everything he knows for love. Lawson has been acting since the fourth grade. A Bret Harte High School graduate, Lawson has appeared in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “The Wiz,” “Something’s Afoot,” “Bye, Bye Birdie” and Black Bart’s 2005 Best of Calaveras production, “A Golden Fleecing.”

Krissi Krob returns to the Black Bart stage as Pat Winter, the brash daughter with a special skill that can, at times, cause problems for her. Krob has been acting since high school, and found her home with the Black Bart Players in summer 2007. She appeared as Annabelle in “Stop the Presses!” and as several characters, including Juliet, in the winter production of “11 Variations on Friar John’s Failure.” When she’s not on stage or serving as the theater’s publicity chairman, Krob is the copy editor for the Calaveras Enterprise. She lives in San Andreas, but should probably move to Murphys because she spends so much time at the theater.

Kendra Burlison appears as Angela Preston, Peter’s girlfriend. Burlison has been involved with the Black Bart Players on and off for the last 16 years. She first appeared on the Black Bart stage at 9 years old in the melodrama “Two Chickens in Every Pot” From that moment on, she was bitten by the theater bug and has appeared in many Black Bart Players productions over the years. Recently, her acting credits include Sara Sweetflower in “A Golden Fleecing,” Connie in 2006’s “Love, Sex and the IRS” and the Mute in 2007’s “The Fantasticks.” Burlison has added directing to her repertoire and last directed 2007’s “Stop the Presses!” She currently serves on the theater’s 2008 board of directors as president and is very excited about this year’s season. She lives in Douglas Flat with her husband, Matt, daughter, Ilyra, and is expecting another addition to the family in September.

George Curtis makes his first Black Bart appearance as John Preston, the assistant commissioner of Scotland Yard and Angela’s father. This is Curtis’ first acting experience. He is an Angels Camp resident and is the author of “Tennessee Tears,” an account of the Tennessee Children Home Society’s baby-selling scandal.

Missa Swick plays “Sam,” James Winter’s business associate. Swick has been involved with the Black Bart Players for 10 years now, serving as this year’s secretary on the theater’s board of directors. This is to be her first attempt at a character with an accent, but she’s up to the challenge and is happy to be back on stage.

Bob Shepherd, the theater’s company manager, portrays the often-befuddled Vicar. Shepherd has been with the Players since 2001 and has appeared in half a dozen plays. His last appearance was as Robin Hood in “11 Variations on Friar John’s Failure.”

Melissa Hall, 17, makes her debut Black Bart appearance as Janet, the Winters’ maid. Melissa participated in plays during her childhood and has done some high school plays. She loves acting and being around people, and says, “Black Bart is an awesome surrounding for people.” Melissa lives in Vallecito.
Keeping the actors in line backstage during this production is Thom Heath. Serving his second year as the theater’s vice president, Heath has been with the Players off and on since he was a teenager. Normally seen on stage, he is happy to be taking a break to do some backstage work. He will make his directorial debut in the fall’s murder drama, “Ladies in Retirement.”

“The White Sheep of the Family” will play Fridays and Saturdays, April 4 through 26, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors. For more information, or to make a reservation, call 728-8842 or visit murphysblackbartplayers.com.


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