By Jeanné McCartin
‘Trans Got Talent’ March 31
Somersworth’s Teatotoller will hold its first “Trans Got Talent” show (TGT), on March 31.
“It’s for anyone who is trans-identified,” Manager Palana Belken says. “We’ll hold it on Trans Day of Visibility, … a fun way to celebrate the holiday. Anyone on the queer gender spectrum is welcome (to take part).”
“It’s just a fun way to be visible for a group not often visible,” Belken says. “I’m trans myself, and when I came out I was lost as far as community.” Getting connected was hard, she adds. “They’re coming out more and more now, more comfortable with who they are in public.”
All talents are welcome, poetry, music, dance, “however they express themselves,” Belken says. “This is a first, I think. I can’t remember this happening any other time in NH – and I’ve asked around (unless part of something bigger, like a Pride event).”
Belken recommends reservations. “I think we’ll have a big turnout. We’ll keep taking names ’til we can’t.”
Teatotoller’s other projects are doing well. Its ongoing variety show, every second Saturday of the month, continues to grow. “There was standing room only recently,” she said.
And finally, Teatotoller plans another Drag Night, events that are proving very popular. Next one is scheduled for St. Patrick’s Day.
For more information, or to reserve a sport at the Variety show or TGT, check out teatotallerteahouse.com.
Fernald’s pants steal the scene
Todd Fernald played out an actor’s nightmare in real life, while performing as Zeke in the “The Mystery of the Murder of the Rochester Fair Affair,” at the Governor’s Inn (up through March 10).
“So I was finishing this big number in Act One with Heidi Gagnon as Ace. We’d just finished the ‘Since He’s Been Dead’ number,” Fernald says. “Zeke has the dramatic story-line … and there is this big dramatic pause, where Zeke and Ace are staring one another down.” It was then Fernald felt his pants slowly move south.
He attempted rescue as nonchalantly as possible “just to get through the number.” But by its end, “I know they were going to fall,” he says laughing.
“Rather than make those awkward moments readjusting – well this is the Governor’s Inn. If you lose a pair of pants, this is the place to do it. So, I stood and they just feel down around my ankles. It was the only thing I could do.”
“While the audience was laughing – I literally stepped out of them and continued with rest of the scene in my underwear.”
Now all know, Fernald is a boxer-brief man.
“I finished the scene, picked them up, and said ‘I’m going to get a drink and get new pants,'” Fernald said. “There’s nothing like live theater.”
SSSC to present ‘Hamlet’
Seven Stage Shakespeare Co. is prepping for its first full-length production inside Portsmouth’s city limits in three years.
“Hamlet is coming together,” co-founding Artistic Director Dan Beaulieu says. “We’re back in Portsmouth … in the historic warehouse in the Wentworth Gardner House off Mechanic Street.”
Rehearsals start April 21, just before “Shakespeare’s birthday, so that’s nice,” he adds. “We have a four-day rehearsal process, so it’s super-intense. It’s going to be like a Shakespeare bootcamp.”
“Hamlet” opens April 26.
The company has half its 12 actors, including two special guests.
Alex Hernandez, who performed in SSSC’s Messenger Day, returns for the title role. “Last summer, Alex was in ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ with the Public Theater in Central Park, and is currently filming the Netflix series ‘Unreal,'” Beaulieu says. “He’s one of the hardest working artists I know, just a rising star and we’re pumped to have him come up and play with us.”
Internationally acclaimed Shakespeare actor and scholar Ben Crystal will also return. “(He) played Leontes in the (SSSC’s) ‘Winter Tale’ last year,” Beaulieu says. “He’s from Wales, but on the road all the time. He’ll be in Dubai, then Vancouver, before he plays with us.”
“And more incredibly exciting news … is the addition of Helen Foan to the project. Helen is an internationally acclaimed puppet maker, who will be adding her talents to this production. Her work has been seen at The British Library, The Birmingham Rep and The Wanamaker Playhouse.”
Until then catch the season’s final “Shakesbeerience” March 19 at Book and Bar.
Christian Arnold joins The Rep
Thespian Christian Arnold, known for work both on and behind the stage, has been hired as the interim Technical Director at Seacoast Repertory Theatre.
Arnold was on a national tour with PerSeverance Production’s “A Christmas Carol” when he got a call from the Rep’s Artistic Director Miles Burns.
“He asked me to be the ‘ropes master’ for ‘Hunchback;’ to hang, set-up and be responsible for everything ropes; close to 1,000 feet,” Arnold says.
During his early rope-wrangling, the Rep recognized it needed a tech director to oversee the show, after the departure of Jerard-James Craven. Arnold was put in the position for the duration of “Hunchback.” His work impressed and he was asked to finish out their season.
“I hope to be here longer,” Arnold says candidly. “I’ve dreamed about having a position at this theater since about 13. So this is sort of a dream come true.”
Arnold is asked regularly if this means he’ll forgo acting now. He doesn’t think it needs to come to that, he says. Instead, he plans to be more select about role choices.
“I have the opportunity to step back and learn a bit more now,” he says. “I will definitely find my way back on stage in some way, shape or form. Really, right now the ropes are on stage and that’s like being on stage. I have 50 children on stage that I’m worried about.”
Free Comic Book Day May 5
Rochester’s Free Comic Book Day is heading into its twelfth year, May 5; as always spearheaded and organized by Jetpack Comics.
Fans can expect the same awesome town participation, with lots going on, and “a bigger cosplay contest,” Jetpack owner Ralph DiBernardo says. “I’ve worked with some great people that enjoy cosplay, and they presented a proposal to make it bigger. So there will be a considerably larger number of contestants, better prizes, and more of a comic convention feel.”
The Seacoast event is a stand-out within the world-wide FCBD program; this takes it even further.
“We’ve turned it into a festival with 5,000 to 7,500 attending depending on weather. … We put it on as a city-wide event. You go business to business and get (comics) … and we have an after party with music, at the Garage at the Governor’s Inn,” DiBernardo says. “And now we’ll have the bigger costume event.”
The expanded cosplay program will offer more competitions, up to six from last year’s three. They’ve doubled the prize money from $250 to $500 and they’re bringing in judges with cosplay cred, “well-known across the field.” The two to date are Carolyn Jarvis, a.k.a. Carolyn, and Tom Quinn, a.k.a. Cosplay Dad. Ariel, a.k.a. Khepera Cosplay, will host.
Also new is a call for musicians to play downtown stages. “This year we’re taking applications (which is new),” DiBernardo says. “This year we’re inviting musicians to apply that want to … share their talents.”
To contact or apply, check out the website at jetpackcomics.com.
Jeanné McCartin has her eyes and ears out for Seacoast gossip. E-mail maskmakernh@aol.com.
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