Theater By The Book Returns With The Thriller SLEUTH – Wednesday, May 22
Theater by the Book, a series of informal play readings for the community co-presented by Sierra Stages and the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, returns Wednesday, May 22 with a reading of the Tony Award-winning play Sleuth, directed by Susan Mason and featuring local actors Jeffrey Mason and Danny McCammon.
“We kicked off the “Theater by the Book” series in April with a reading/singing of a children’s musical Stone Soup which has a musical score by Ken Hardin, Artistic Director of InConcert Sierra,” explains Peter Mason, board member of Sierra Stages. “We expected about fifty audience members, but had over one hundred and fifty in the attendance. The feedback on the show was overwhelmingly positive.”
Sleuth has all the ingredients of a top-class thriller – a plot whose twists and turns are breathtakingly audacious and fiendishly cunning; suspense and excitement galore; and a brilliant parody of the Agatha Christie country-house thriller. Written in 1970 by Anthony Shaffer the play is set in the English manor house of Andrew Wyke, an immensely successful mystery writer, played by Mason. Wyke’s home reflects his obsession with the inventions and deceptions of fiction and his fascination with games and game-playing. He lures his wife’s lover, Milo Tindle played by McCammon, to the house and convinces him to stage a robbery of her jewelry, a proposal that sets off a chain of events that leaves the audience trying to decipher where Wyke’s imagination ends and reality begins.
“I love Sleuth. It is fun, interesting, and rarely ever done because of the production challenges,” explains Susan on why she suggested the play for the series. “The play reads very well and I’m interested in the creative process of reworking a familiar play in a way that is new to me and the audience. Plus it was a great opportunity to work with my husband again.”
Susan grew up in Grass Valley and met Jeffrey while performing in a production of Oliver! at the Nevada Theatre in 1976. Since then the two have worked together in over thirty shows and lived throughout California and Oregon. The Mason’s threw themselves back in to local theatre two years ago after Jeffrey retired from teaching theatre arts at the university level. Most recently, Susan directed Assassins for Sierra Stages and Alice in Wonderland for Quest Theatreworks and acted in Sierra Stages’ production Death of a Salesman, while Jeffrey has directed The Music Man and Death of a Salesman for Sierra Stages. Both also participated in the popular 24 Hour Plays produced by Sands Hall at the Miners Foundry.
“My love of theatre comes from my love of dramatic literature,” explains Susan. “There is so much good literature out there, you can’t run out of good material. I also love watching the audience see something come alive in person.”
Also in the cast is seasoned actor Danny McCammon. McCammon has performed in numerous local productions, including Sierra Stages’ Assassins and CATS’ Journey to the West. He also performs in the Best Friends Club Sketch Comedy Group, and will be seen in Sierra Stages’ summer production of the musical Avenue Q at the Nevada Theatre.
The Theater By the Book readings are FREE (with a $10 suggested donation). Each reading is on a Wednesday evening – doors open at 7 and the reading begins at 7:30.
“We thought it was important that the play readings be free, but we are also asking for a suggested contribution of $10 to cover royalties for each play and the promotion and fixed costs for the Foundry,” says Peter Mason. “Although not designed as a fund raising event (after all, admission is free), any proceeds from the series will go to the Miners Foundry and Sierra Stages, which are both 501(c)(3) organizations with a goal to provide cultural activities for our community.”
The rest of the play reading series will be entertaining as well, with a wide variety of plays: Sleuth will be followed with a comedy (Lettice and Lovage), a drama (The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds), a sprawling historical epic with music (Zoot Suit) and one reading to be announced. Jeffrey Mason will direct the Peter Shaffer comedy Lettice and Lovage the third installment of Theater By the Book on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at the Miners Foundry.
Grammy Award winning western swing legends Asleep at the Wheel will perform at the Miners Foundry on Friday, August 2, 2013. AATW will be joined by local favorites Cousin Cricket for an evening of dance and amazing performances. A no host bar and refreshments will be available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the music starting at 7:30 p.m. General Admission tickets are $40.00 in Advance and $45.00 at the door. VIP tickets are available for $55.00 per person. VIP tickets include a reserved table. Minimum of 2 people per VIP ticket order. Tickets are available online, in person at Briar Patch Co-Op, and in person or by phone at the Miners Foundry.
For more than four decades, Asleep At The Wheel has driven the western swing genre to the edge, explored new territories, picked up new passengers along the way, and crisscrossed the country to the delight of fans and critics alike. Beginning with the simple goal of playing and reviving American roots music, the musicianship of AATW has become the stuff of legends. Reuter’s has described AATW as “one of the best live acts in the business”. AATW bandleader Ray Benson fell in love with western swing because of its unique combination of elements of American blues, swing and traditional fiddling but also for its demanding musical chops. Western swing is a thrill to hear live and has been described by Benson as “jazz with a cowboy hat”. Asleep At The Wheel has garnered nine Grammy Awards and released more than 25 studio and live albums.
Cousin Cricket, Northern CA’s premiere Western Swing band has been delighting audiences throughout the west for over 30 years. With their own take on classic country, swing, and rockabilly, Cousin Cricket continues to deliver top notch entertainment for discerning audiences. With songs about gold miners, full moon boogies, star-crossed lovers, and pick up trucks, from steamy ballads to western swing (and even a polka!), Cousin Cricket’s original music reflects the band’s roots in western music and the rural California lifestyle.
The Miners Foundry and Sierra Stages will present Lettice and Lovage on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at the Miners Foundry. Lettice and Lovage will be the third installment of Theater By The Book, a series of informal play readings for the community. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free with a $10 suggested donation. Refreshments will be available for purchase along with a no host bar.
Dinah Smith and the Miners Foundry Cultural Center will present a Youth Summer Theatre Camp for students ages 8-13. The camp will run June 17 through June 21, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Cost is $195.00 (includes all materials such as scripts and handouts). Class size is limited to maximize opportunities for individual attention. The class will focus on Acting & Musical Theatre for Young Actors including Acting, Singing, Dancing, Improv, Theatre Games, plus a Show Case Performance on the last day of an original Musical. For more information and to register, please contact Dinah at (858) 354-3241 or 
The Miners Foundry Presents GCPI: The Alumni Series, with pianist Pauline Yang as the first Alumni Artist. After nine successful seasons presenting the Master Course in Interpretation that culminated in 2008, the Gold Country Piano Institute returns to the Miners Foundry in June with a brand new format. The GCPI Alumni Series will feature a Concert along with a Master Class. The concert will be presented Saturday, June 15, 2013 and will include works by Bach, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Rachmaninoff. The Sarasota Herald Tribune described Pauline Yang’s style as “… a melting elegance… and a kaleidoscopic array of colors and hues.” Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 8:00 p.m. A no-host bar will be available. Admission is $30.00 and includes a reception after the concert. Tickets are available online, by phone, or in person at the Miners Foundry and in person at Briar Patch Co-Op.
Born and raised in New Jersey, pianist Pauline Yang made both her Philadelphia Orchestra debut as well as her solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of eleven and enrolled at The Julliard School’s Pre-College Division later that year. Other solo, concerto, and chamber music appearances have taken her throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Currently on the faculty of Itzhak Perlman’s Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island (NY), Pauline spends her summers working with talented young musicians. Pauline graduated from USC in 2010 with a double-major in piano performance and political science and is currently pursuing a masters in piano performance on a full scholarship at USC with John Perry. She is also currently serving on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors.
Sandra Rockman will present “Short Shorts 2″, an Actor’s Showcase on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the Miners Foundry. “Short Shorts 2″ will feature scenes and monologues from contemporary works performed by actors in Sandra Rockman’s “Truth in Acting” Workshops.
