Brush Creek holds open auditions for “Dracula” and “Christmas Belles”

Brush Creek is holding Open Auditions for not one, but TWO GREAT SHOWS — “DRACULA” and “CHRISTMAS BELLES” — at 6 pm, Monday, August 19, and 6 pm, Tuesday, August 20 — at Brush Creek Playhouse (11535 Silverton Rd, Silverton)

Brush Creek will be looking to cast the final two shows of the 2019 season with these open auditions. Interested actors — and would-be actors — are welcome to audition for either, or both productions.

The script for Brush Creek’s “Dracula” is the classic play, written by John L. Balderston, Hamilton Deane, and Bram Stoker (the author of the classic novel on which it is based). Norman Gouveia will be directing.

In the story, Lucy Seward, whose father is the doctor in charge of an English sanatorium, has been attacked by some mysterious illness. Dr. Van Helsing, a specialist, believes that the girl is the victim of a vampire, a sort of ghost that goes about at night sucking blood from its victims. The vampire is at last found to be a certain Count Dracula, whose ghost is finally laid to rest in a striking and novel manner. The play is intended for all who love thrills in the theater, and is appropriate for all groups.

The show itself will run Friday, Oct 18 thru Sunday, Nov 3, with a special Halloween performance as part of the production.

Norman can be reached at Norman@msnproperties.com.

The same two evenings, Brush Creek will also be holding open auditions for “Christmas Belles,” written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. Brush Creek audiences have been delighted by Jones-Hope-Wooten comedies before, and this offering — directed by Franca Hernandez — promises a holiday basket full of laughs.

A church Christmas program spins hilariously out of control in this Southern farce about squabbling sisters, family secrets, a surly Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator. There are parts for 7 women and 4 men. Most characters are between ages 40/50 with two in their 20s. If you have questions, please contact the director Franca Hernandez at francahernandez@hotmail.com. Let her know if you’d like a copy of the script and she will arrange to get one to you.

It’s Christmas time in small town Fayro, Texas and the Futrelle sisters – Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye, Fayro’s lively and wacky threesome are trying to make the best of a stressful holiday season. Frankie is way pregnant, Twink is in jail for acting out over an unfaithful lover, and Honey Raye, the town’s party girl, wants to redeem herself by putting on the best, brightest, liveliest, more colorful Christmas pageant ever – Bethlehem-a-Palooza! The scenes are fast, funny and wacky, the sentiments tender and we all learn the spirit of Christmas Texas style.

“Castle of the Rose” opens August 9 for two-weekend run

Tickets are now available for Brush Creek Playhouse’s Castle of the Rose — the Real Story of the Beauty and her Beast. The opening of this year’s teen/young adult show has been delayed until August 9, but you won’t to miss this new interpretation of the classic French story of the kind and beautiful young lady and the anguished “beast” who has been trapped in his castle by a terrible curse.

Brush Creek’s production, using an original script by Emily Wood and Michael Wood, begins with the family of Belle Beauchene (who is not, in the oldest stories, an only child). But after a terrible storm and an ill-fated search for a rose, both Belle and her father encounter the castle’s beast — the seemingly young lord of the castle who has been ruling his enchanted home that vanished from the hills above the village more than 125 years ago! He is served by a handful of his original retainers, most of whom have developed a quirk or two of their own.

When Belle’s world and the Beast’s castle collide, the two begin to learn about — and appreciate — one another. But sinister forces are at work, leading to an attack by the French army that threatens to tear them apart and to end the castle’s existence forever!

Performances will be at 7 pm on August 9 (Friday), August 10 (Saturday), August 16 (Friday) and August 17 (Saturday). Brush Creek also offers 2 pm matinee performances on August 11 and August 18 (both Sundays). Reserved seat tickets are just $10 each ($8 for seniors 60 and over, children 12 and under and students) and can be purchased in advance at Brush Creek’s two ticket-selling partner locations:

Books-N-Time: 210 N. Water Street in downtown Silverton; (503)874-4311

Runaway Art & Craft Studio: 311 Commercial St NE in downtown Salem: (503)881-6270

Tickets are also available at the door beginning 30 minutes before each performance. For more tickets and for group sales, contact Michael Wood at (503)508-3682.

Brush Creek announces the cast of “Castle of the Rose” (updated June 24)

Director Michael Wood is pleased to announce the cast of Castle of the Rose — the Real Story of the Beauty and her Beast, the 2019 summer teen & young adult production.

Brush Creek has a large number of talented young actors who will help make this show a success. The show, which runs from August 9-18, brings to life an original script, written by Emily Wood and Michael Wood, that provides a fresh look at the classic tale. About the Brush Creek production, Michael said, “This is not Disney’s show, of course. Belle has a lot more going on in her family than just a widowed father. And the beast in Brush Creek’s tale is no stranger to tragedy, and there is certainly more to him than a simple spoiled prince.”

The cast is led by Anna Hall as Belle and Leo Barker as the Beast, but Michael notes that the real strength of the production is the ensemble of characters that will bring both Belle’s family home and the Rose Castle to life.

The Cast of Castle of the Rose: The Real Tale of the Beauty and Her Beast

The Beauty and her Family and Friends:

Anna Hall plays Belle Beauchêne: The beautiful and kind young lady wants more than the ordinary life of a French country lady – but Belle isn’t entirely sure what that means. 

Tristan Craig plays Pierre Beauchêne: Belle’s father, Pierre is a widower who has, perhaps, indulged his children throughout their lives more than he should have.

Eleri Rodrigues plays Eloise Beauchêne: Belle’s younger sister, Eloise has a sharp, quick wit and knows more than her siblings realize.

Catie McCarty plays Marie Beauchêne: Belle’s older sister, Marie treasures the stories of the family’s wealthy past and is always looking to bring the return of that prosperity. How far will she go to get her way?

Grace Payton plays Nicolas Beauchêne: Belle’s younger brother and the youngest sibling, Nicolas is shrewd and calculating. He cares more about his family than he would admit, but will his games bring them all to ruin?

Dakota Thompson plays André Beauchêne: The oldest of the Beauchêne siblings, André is the most straightforward of them all, with a strong sense of honor and a simple approach to the world. He will fight to protect his sisters.

Dylan Vandehey plays Jean-Baptiste Fortier: A noble soldier and a friend of André’s, Jean-Baptiste has set his cap for André’s middle sister, much to the chagrin of both Belle and Marie (and to the amusement of Eloise and Nicolas). He, too, is willing to fight for at least one of André’s sisters.

Evelyne Rose Smith plays Nathalie Beauchêne: André’s wife, Nathalie tolerates – but only just – living with her husband’s family because of their reduced means. She is proud of her connections and her family’s past, but they may hold a surprise or two.

Zack Parsons plays Martin Charpentier: A friend and fellow officer to André and Jean-Baptiste, Martin is also a bit of a rogue who is always on the lookout for a profitable adventure. Looting a castle is right up his alley!

Reese Johnston plays René Gagné: A trooper in Martin’s cavalry unit, René is also Martin’s confidante when it comes to making mischief. He may be an even bigger rogue than his commander and mentor.

Eli Stenerson plays Young André, who is André’s older son and namesake.

Tess Dettwyler plays Adélaïde, who is André’s daughter, named in memory of André’s mother.

Emmett Stenerson plays Young Pierre, who is André’s younger son, named after André’s father.

The Denizens of the Castle:

Leo Barker plays Gaspard L’Evere: Angry at the world and believing that he failed his parents, Gaspard has become a true beast in the isolated splendor of what was once a grand castle.

Jewell Manley plays Ysabeau L’Evere: A mother alive only in the Beast’s memories (or perhaps?), Ysabeau died protecting her son from attack, but her death plunged him into the depths of despair and self-loathing.

Emily Wood plays Pascal Lemaire: The Seneschal of the Castle of the Rose, Pascal has sacrificed a great deal in service to the L’Evere family – and he remains at the post despite the passing decades…or is that centuries?

Lauren Stenerson plays Annette Fournier: A lowly cook’s apprentice when the great tragedy occurred, Annette is now the only cook the Castle of the Rose has known for many years.

Rianna Nowlin plays Gabrielle Neuville: A relatively new tutor for the young prince when the great tragedy occurred, Gabrielle has remained at her post longer than she planned…and longer than anyone had a right to expect.

Macie Nowlin plays Céline Leclerc: The loyal personal maid to Lady Ysabeau, Céline no longer had a role when Ysabeau left the castle – so she has become a gardener, in order to ensure that her lady’s precious roses thrive.

Alaina Reed plays Brigitte Dubois: The Castle of the Rose’s housekeeper, Brigitte decided after the Crisis that it was more important that the castle had effective defenses than that the rooms were swept regularly, so she took it upon herself to become the castle’s new Marshal, turning the chambermaids into castle guardsmen.

Charlie Dettwyler plays Thérèse Moulin: One of only two remaining chambermaids-turned-guardsmen, Thérèse misses her days lighting the fires and questions the value of Madam Dubois’ drills and exercises. 

Jewell Manley plays Sophie Robert: A chambermaid-turned-guardsman, Sophie has reached a point where she is satisfied with her new life and is certainly not interested in seeing any further changes.

Come join the fun opening night — Friday, August 9 — at 7 pm!

Auditions for “Castle of the Rose” May 27 & 28

Open Auditions: 7 pm, Monday, May 27 and 7 pm, Tuesday, May 28 — at Brush Creek Playhouse (11535 Silverton Rd, Silverton)
Brush Creek will be holding open auditions for Castle of the Rose, written by Emily Wood and Michael Wood.  It is a romantic fantasy based on the classic tale “La Belle et la Bete” aka “Beaty and the Beast.” Michael Wood will be directing, with the capable assistance of Michele Nowlin again this year.
This is NOT Disney’s show, of course — but Belle has a lot more going on in her family than a widowed father. And the beast in Brush Creek’s tale is no stranger to tragedy, and is certainly more than a simple spoiled prince.
This is going to be fun! But it will require a full cast of solid actors. As always, actors and would-be actors aged teens thru mid-20s are welcome to audition, because we have a range of parts to fill of all shapes and sizes!
So—-auditions will be at 7 pm Monday, May 27 and 7 pm, Tuesday, May 28.
The show itself will run weekends from August 2 thru 18, so you’ll want to get those dates (and Tech Week) on your calendars as well.
Feel free to contact Michael at 503-508-3682 or at mdwelpis@comcast.net with any questions. Or if you can’t make either of the auditions but you’d like a part in the show. He can figure something out to give you a chance to read.

Melodrama “Little Nell” runs from May 10 through May 26

Brush Creek Playhouse is bringing back on of our favorite melodramas — after a hiatus of nearly 14 years! Tickets on sale now!

Be sure to get your tickets for Brush Creek’s annual melodrama, “Little Nell,” written by John Nash and directed by Norman Gouveia. This is one of our favorite melodramas, but it has been quite a while since we last performed it. We are happy to have Nell and her family “grace” our stage again.

All the beloved characters are present – the large awkward, wig-wearing heroine, Little Nell; the slinky mustachioed villain, Carlton Bainbridge; and the affable, lovable, but-oh-so-slow hero, Hector Skyscraper. Revolving around the classic plot of “Marry-me-or-I’ll-foreclose,” you’ll want to cry with the heroine, hiss the villain and applaud the hero! All in great fun!

The production opens on May 10 for a three-weekend run ending May 26. Performances are at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 pm matinees on all 3 Sundays. You can purchase your reserved-seat tickets for just $10 ($8 for children, seniors 60 and over, and students) at either of our two ticket-selling partners, Books N Time on downtown Silverton’s Water Street or Runaway Art and Craft Studio on downtown Salem’s NE Commercial.

You also can purchase tickets at the door beginning 30 minutes before each performance. For group sales or questions call Michael Wood at (503)508-3682.