SYNOPSIS
The plot revolves around ten-year-old Mary Lennox, who lost her parents in a cholera epidemic in India in 1906. Sent to live with her embittered uncle in North Yorkshire, Mary discovers that she has a cousin of her own age who has been treated as an invalid since birth.

Together with Dickon, a lad of the moors with a mystical bent and servants of the Yorkshire mansion, Mary revitalizes a garden that belonged to her late aunt and through it brings life and well-being to her cousin, her uncle and, most importantly, herself. The show is replete with songs that touch the core of our emotions: lost love, companionship, self-confidence, compassion, and hope.

Encore! Educational Theatre Company is proud to present this thoroughly charming work, which appeals to young and old alike. Those who have seen and enjoyed recent Encore! productions of Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady and The Gondoliers will already know the professional quality that is brought to the stage in the staging by Robert Binder, musical direction by Paul Salter, and scenic design by Roxane Goodkin-Levy. Those who are new to Encore! are in for a special treat as the early twentieth-century world of India and England unfolds on the stage.

Heading the cast in Encore’s production is Sapir Nachman, a child of unusual talent who carries much of the show. Her cousin, Colin, is played by Sraya Goldstein, a veteran of several Encore! shows at the age of 12. Mary’s uncle and his wife, the lamented Lily, are portrayed by Michael Sacofsky and Aviella Trapido, both of them favourites of Encore! audiences, with Avital Sykora (remembered fondly as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof) and Dr. Robin Stamler, in supporting roles. The cast of 40 is accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra.

Performances will be held in the Hirsch Theatre, Beit Shmuel, 6 Shama Street, Jerusalem (off King David Street) on 29 and 30 May, 4 and 6 June at 8:00 p.m. Two performances will be offered on 5 June at 5:00 and 8:30 P.M.

Tickets are on sale now online or through the Encore! box office (054) 578-9006 or Beit Shmuel box office (02) 620-3463. This is one musical show you will not want to miss!

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Secret Garden Facebook event

Photo by Brian Negin

THE SECRET GARDEN
Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman
Music by Lucy Simon
based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden is scheduled for May 28, 29, 30, and 4, 5 and 6 June at the Hirsch Theatre.

Actors, singers, dancers and production crew
Leading roles for children ages 10-14

Monday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 23

7:30 – 10:00 p.m.

#317 (second floor), 2 Poalei Tzedek
(corner of Pierre Koenig)
Talpiot Industrial Zone

More information: binder@actcom.co.il or 054-546-4215

THE SECRET GARDEN

Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman

Music by Lucy Simon

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s novel of the same name, The Secret Garden was written by Lucy Simon (music) and Marsha Norman (lyrics) and premiered on Broadway in 1991, where it ran for 709 performances. The original production won, amongst numerous nominations, 3 Tony awards and 2 Drama Desk Awards, for score, lyrics, design and orchestration.

The highly successful Australian tour in 1995 starred Anthony Warlow, Marina Prior and Philip Quast, and the show also had a successful West End run in 2001.

THE STORY:

Living in a lonely manor house on the Yorkshire moors in 1906, Archibald Craven yearns for his beautiful, late wife Lily. He blames his crippled son,Colin, for his wife’s death. Although he loves Colin, he cannot cope with seeing him, and has left Colin isolated and in the care of his doctor uncle Neville. Their quiet routine is turned upside down when young Mary Lennox, a rich, spoiled child, is sent to live with them following the death of her parents from cholera in India. Mary is the late Lily’s niece, and has no relatives closer than Archie, whom she has never met. While living at the manor house, Mary discovers a secret walled garden hidden in the grounds and with the help of local child of nature Dickon, releases the magic and adventures locked inside, changing all of their their lives forever.

Roles to be cast:

MARY LENNOX
Voice type: Mezzo (B-E)
Stage age: 11-12
Role type: Lead
Character: Raised in colonial India, Mary is an orphan whose parents have died of cholera. She has no close relatives and has been sent to live with Archibald Craven, her late mother’s sister’s husband. A spoilt child, now bewildered and alone, she is initially petulant and rude, but at heart is a warm girl.

ARCHIBALD CRAVEN
Voice type: High baritone / tenor (C-Ab)
Stage age: 35-45
Role type: Lead
Character: Master of Misselthwaite Manor, Archie is a mildly handicapped man who lost his beloved wife Lily in childbirth. He is a deeply unhappy,reclusive man who has been preoccupied with his loss for 10 years. Unable to face his son, who is sickly and bed-ridden.

NEVILLE CRAVEN
Voice type: Baritone (C-F#)
Stage age: 30-40
Role type: Featured role
Character: Archie’s younger brother, who is resentful of his position as the younger brother. A humourless, bitter man, who, as a doctor, has responsibility for Colin, Archie’s invalid son.

MARTHA
Voice type: low mezzo (low F – D)
Stage age: 20
Role type: Featured role
Character: Housemaid. An extremely warm, good-hearted girl, feisty and courageous. Needs a belt vocal quality as well as vocal warmth. Requires Yorkshire accent. Needs to be able to inspire Mary when she is at her lowest.

DICKON
Voice type: High baritone (C-G)
Stage age: 18-20
Role type: Featured role
Character: Martha’s younger brother. A mystical lad, very much in tune with the forces of nature. Very sweet-natured and gentle. A music theatre vocal style. Requires a Yorkshire accent.

COLIN CRAVEN
Voice type: Boy soprano (A-Eb)
Stage age: 10-11
Role type: Featured role
Character: Archie’s invalid son who is bed-ridden and has no company other than his dour uncle and servants. Capable of being very rude and petulant,but essentially sweet-natured.

MRS MEDLOCK
Voice type: Speaking only.
Stage age: 35+
Role type: Featured role
Character: Housekeeper of Misselthwaite Manor. A very competent and business-like woman who is very severe and shows little warmth. Requires Yorkshire accent.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF
Voice type: Baritone (F-D)
Stage age: 45-65
Role type: Supporting role
Character: Gardener at Misselthwaite. Loyal servant of many years standing who dearly loved the late Lily. Can be crotchety, but essentially very gentle. Requires Yorkshire accent.

MRS WINTHROP
Voice type: Speaking only
Stage age: 40+
Role type: Cameo
Character: A school headmistress who believes in strong discipline. (Will double as a servant).

MAJOR SHELLEY
Voice type: Speaking only
Stage age: 35+
Role type: Cameo
Character: An army officer who escorts the orphaned Mary to England. (Will double as a servant).

MRS SHELLEY
Voice type: Speaking only
Stage age: 30+
Role type: Cameo
Character: Wife of Major Shelley. (Will double as a servant).

LILY CRAVEN
Voice type: Soprano (D-C: D optional)
Stage age: 25-30
Role type: Lead
Character: Archie’s late beloved wife, Colin’s mother, Mary’s aunt. A warm and loving woman who deeply loved Archie and died giving birth to Colin. In life a warm and loving young woman. In death a very benevolent presence watching over her unhappy husband, son and niece.

The remaining “Dreamers” consist of Mary’s parents, staff and friends in colonial India, all of whom died in a cholera epidemic. They appear as individuals and as a “Greek chorus”, commenting on events for the living,and in flashbacks to their lives in England and India. They are all watching over Mary. Collectively they form the vocal ensemble.

CAPTAIN ALBERT LENNOX
Voice type: Tenor (Bb-G)
Stage age: 30-40
Role type: Supporting role
Character: An army officer, Mary’s father. A warm and loving father.

ROSE LENNOX
Voice type: Mezzo / soprano (Bb-G: optional B)
Stage age: 30-35
Role type: Supporting role
Character: Mary’s mother, Lily’s sister. Beautiful, vain and spoilt. In life, lacking in maternal qualities. Can be quite petulant – rather a “princess”, but nevertheless very appealing.

THE FAKIR
Voice type: High tenor (G-B)
Stage age: 30-40
Role type: Supporting role
Character: Indian mystic / servant.

AYAH
Voice type: Mezzo (low G-G)
Stage age: 20-40
Role type: Supporting role
Character: Mary’s Indian nanny and main caregiver.

LIEUTENANT IAN SHAW
Voice type: Tenor / baritone (Bb-F)
Stage age: 25-35
Role type: Supporting role
Character: Army officer.

LIEUTENANT PETER WRIGHT
Voice type: Baritone (Bb-F)
Stage age: 25-35
Role type: Supporting
Character: Army officer.

MAJOR HOLMES
Voice type: Bass (low F#-F)
Stage age: 30-45
Role type: Supporting
Character: Army officer.

CLAIRE HOLMES
Voice type: Soprano (A-G)
Stage age: 25-30
Role type: Supporting
Character: Major Holmes’ wife – a well-to-do lady.

ALICE
Voice type: Soprano (Eb-B)
Stage age: 25-30
Role type: Supporting
Character: Rose’s friend – a well-to-do lady.

Additional roles for chorus and children available.

Although The Gondoliers is a delightful satire on “republican” governments (“when everyone is somebody, then no-one’s anybody”), it has long been a favourite of the English royal family, and was honoured with a command performance at Windsor Castle by Queen Victoria. In this diamond jubilee year of Victoria’s great-great-granddaughter, the wit remains as sparkling as ever and the music particularly delightful.

Featured in the company are Encore veterans Aviella Trapido, Daniel Forst, and Claire Greenfeld, along with newcomers Jay Shir, Michael Sacofsky, Maya Cohen, Maria Luibman, and Rafi Apfel. A musical treat for the entire family.

You can order online at http://www.encore-etc.com/order-tickets/ or call our box office staff (054-578-9006), or the Hirsch Theatre box-office, (02) 620-3463.

The entire libretto of the opera may be downloaded from http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/gondoliers/gn_lib.rtf

Performance dates:

Dec. 26, 27 at 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 29 at 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 at 4:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Jan. 1 at 8:00 p.m.

Photo by Brian Negin

Please advise those who may have missed the show in May-June to take advantage of this wonderful revival – and treat yourself to a “second helping” of our most successful show yet!

You can order online at http://www.encore-etc.com/order-tickets/ or call the box office of the relevant theatre.

Stage direction by Robert Binder,
Musical Direction by Paul Salter,
Choreography by Arlene Chertoff,
Designed by Roxane Goodkin-Levy.

Performed in English with Hebrew subtitles.
בליווי כתוביות בעברית

Jerusalem

Hirsch Theater at Beit Shmuel
6 Shamma Street, Jerusalem
Hirsch Theater: 02-6203455/6
Thurs., Jan 3 at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm 

Tel Aviv (Givatayim)

Givatayim Theatre
David Remez 40, Givatayim
Givatayim Theatre: (03) 732-5340
Sun., Jan 13, 8:00pm

Act I – No 1
1 SOPRANO no 1
2 MEZZO SOPRANO – no 1
3 1st TENOR – no 1
4 2nd TENOR – no 1
6 BASS – no 1
5 BARITONE – no 1

Act I – No 9
7 SOPRANO – no 9 (intro to Tessa’s song)
8 MEZZO – no 9 (intro to Tessa’s song)
9 1st TENOR – no 9 (intro to Tessa’s song)
10 2nd TENOR – no 9 (intro to Tessa’s song)
11 BARITONEBASS – no 9 (intro to Tessa’s song)

Act I – Finale
12 SOPRANO – finale act I
13 MEZZO – finale act I
14 1st 2nd TENOR – finale act I
15 BASSBARITONE – finale act I

Act II – No 1
16 1st TENOR – no 1 act II 17 2nd TENOR – no 1 act II
18 BARITONE – no 1 act II
19 BASS – no 1 act II

Act II – No 2
20 1st 2nd TENOR – no 2 act II
21 BASSBARITONE – no 2 act II

Act II – No 4
22 SOPRANO – no 4 act II
23 MEZZO – no 4 act II
24 1st 2nd TENOR – no 4 act II
25 BASSBARITONE – no 4 act II

Act II – No 5
26 SOPRANO – no 5 act II
27 MEZZO – no 5 act II
28 1st 2nd TENOR – no 5 act II
29 BARITONEBASS – no 5 act II

Act II – No 8
30 1st TENOR – no 8 act II
31 2nd TENOR – no 8 act II
32 BARITONE – no 8 act II
33 BASS – no 8 act II

Act II – Finale
34 SOPRANO – finale act II (from p. 212)
35 MEZZO – finale act II (from p. 212) – half done
36 MEZZO – Conclusion of Finale Act II (p. 224)
37 1st TENOR – Finale Act II (from p. 212)
38 2nd TENOR – Finale Act II (from p. 212)
39 BARITONESBASSES – Finale Act II (from p. 212)

is pleased to announce auditions for its
late December-early January production of

Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic opera

THE GONDOLIERS

Singers, dancers, actors, production staff
invited to attend

Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
7:30-10:00 p.m.
#317 (second floor), 2 Poalei Tzedek (corner Pierre Koenig)

For further details: Robert Binder (054) 546-4215
binder@actcom.co.il
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