VERO BEACH – The Vero Beach Theatre Guild will host its 3-week fundraising Theatre Festival Feb. 1-18 featuring a musical revue, Dinner Gala and Silent Auction, the annual Open House and 35 Guild actors in five readers’ theatre productions over four days.
“Celebrate 60” is just plain fun and entertaining. It’s one big musical romp through the biggest and best musical theatre shows not only on Broadway but from the Guild stage as well.
It features over three-dozen of the very best hits, and some flops, that have taken a very special place in the world of musical theatre. It’s chocked full of antics, facts, and fun moments that celebrate the Guild’s 60 years providing Vero Beach with community theatre.
The cast consists of Beth McKenzie-Shestak who was the Guild’s choreographer for “Gypsy” two seasons ago as well as last season’s “Pajama Game” and Gregory and Caitlin Harris, both of whom performed in the Guild’s productions of “Hello, Dolly!” and “Cabaret.”
Gregory has been musical director at the Guild for several productions over the past six seasons. Newcomer to the Guild, Brendan Wenger rounds out the cast that features a variety of solos, duets and production numbers. It’s guaranteed to be fast-paced, full of fun for the whole family and a perfect way to kick off the February Theatre Festival.
Performances of “Celebrate 60” will be given Feb. 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. and on Feb. 3 and 4 at 2 p.m.
Dress to the 9s and take a spin out to the Country Club for an elegant night featuring an exquisite Dinner Gala & Silent Auction. Enjoy cocktails and camaraderie as you circle the room eyeing the wonderful items you can bid on at the silent auction, so generously provided by Vero’s business community.
David Israel will be at the Grand providing piano medleys throughout the evening. The fun begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 10 at the Vero Beach Country Club, 800 30th Street in Vero Beach.
Vero’s volunteer-driven community theatre will be opening the curtain all the way to let you see the “secret areas” on the Theatre Guild’s Campus. Backstage tours will be provided where you will see all the inner workings that make theatre productions happen at the Guild. They will be showing off their prop and costume construction areas, the scene shop where they build most everything you see on their stage as well as all three floors of the building expansion that houses dressing rooms, rehearsal space and storage areas.
The Annual Theatre Guild Open House will be held on Sunday Feb. 11 from 2-5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Five gems will adorn the crown jewel of the festival; 35 Guild actors in five readers’ theatre productions over four days. On Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m., Jeffery Hatcher’s comedy “Murderers” will take the stage directed by Pat Kroger. On Friday the 16th at 7 p.m., Jon Putzke directs WC Turck’s “The People’s Republic of Edward Snowden,” a humorous political satire dealing with our rights to privacy and freedom. This production contains some adult language.
On Saturday, Feb. 17 the Guild will host a double feature beginning at 2 p.m. with the staged adaptation of “A Night to Remember.” Under the direction of Clara McCarthy, the Walter Lord novel depicts the minute by minute encounter of the last hours aboard the ill-fated Titanic. That evening, Pat Kroger’s production of Abby Mann’s “Judgment at Nuremberg” will be given at 7 p.m.
A recounting of the trails against those who had committed war crimes during World War II, Nuremberg is recommended for mature audiences.
The closing of the Festival on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. will be the adorable comedy “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister” by Jack Neary and directed by Phillis Rock.
A five-show Readers Theatre Festival Package is available and allows patrons to see all five productions for the price of four. Tickets to all events are available at the Theatre Guild box office box office located at 2020 San Juan Ave., Vero Beach, or online at www.verobeachtheatreguild.com.
Reservations are accepted with all major credit cards by phoning 772-562-8300 as well Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The box office is also open one hour before performances.
