Newfoundland Vinyl - Opening Night

"Overture, curtains, lights,
This is it, the night of nights,
No more rehearsing and nursing a part,
We know every part by heart..."

"Newfoundland Vinyl" opens tonight!!

"Could not have asked for a better cast and crew" posts Allison Crowe, from her station in beautiful Gros Morne National Park - where she's serving this Summer as Music Director to the production.

Cast and crew of "Newfoundland Vinyl" are so intent on readying for tonight's opening - Friday, July 13 - there's been no time for any back-stage scoops. Link has kept the paparazzi at bay. Here's word on this rollicking musical ride direct from Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's website - and from this Summer's Gros Morne Theatre Festival program - with more fun to come.

Here's the 45 rpm version:

NEWFOUNDLAND VINYL

Written & Directed by:
Jeff Pitcher

Musical Direction by:
Allison Crowe

COMEDY / MUSIC

The vinyl hits of the 1960's, 70's and 80's by Newfoundland's biggest recording stars come to life as Ed & Ed throw a fundraiser for themselves! For your toe-tapping, tear-jerking enjoyment the Eds feature the music and songs of A Frank Willis, Roy Payne, Joan Morrissey, Rex Hemeon, Dick Nolan,

Eddie Eastman and more! A magical evening of music and madness from Ed's remote studio in the Ethie Room at the Shallow Bay in Cow Head this program is not commercial free!

Opening: Friday, July 13, 2012 - runs to September 2, 2012
$30 Adults; $15 Students (price includes HST)
Book by calling 1-877-243-2899 or book online
Venue: Ethie Room, Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins, 193 Main Street, Cow Head, Newfoundland and Labrador- Proud home of the "Gros Morne Theatre Festival" for 17 years!
Tel.: 709-243-2471 or 1-800-563-1946

Newfoundland Vinyl - stage riser, detail of set - designed by GMTF's Derek Butt

Here's the long-play version:

NEWFOUNDLAND VINYL CAST:

COLIN FURLONG - is an actor from Mt. Pearl, NL and 2012 marks his fifth season with GMTF. Since last season, Colin has appeared in Hanlon House (New Curtain Theatre); Oedipus Rex, Antigone (Arts and Culture Centres); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Breakout Prod.); and RIG (Rising Tide/Arts and Cul-ture Centres). Other select credits include AfterImage (Artistic Fraud); Brand New Beat, The Tempest (Rising Tide); In the Backseat (Eastern Front); Whereverville, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New Curtain); Stones in his Pockets, Leaving Home, The Cripple of Inishmaan (Theatre Newfoundland Labrador), and an appearance as Harry Holden on CBC Television’s Republic of Doyle. Colin holds a BFA (Theatre) from Memorial University, Grenfell Campus. Enjoy the shows, and enjoy Cow Head!

SANDY GOW - is an actor, director and musician from St. John's, Newfoundland where she is the Artistic Director of C2C Theatre. Sandy graduated from Sir Wilfred Grenfell in 2006 with a BFA (Acting) and has since worked for RCA Theatre, Rising Tide Theatre, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland and the Arts and Culture Centre. Favorite roles include Jade in Play Me Home (dir. by Petrina Bromley) and Faith in the Oracle at Gros Morne (dir. Sarah Stanley), as well as Blandy in Fear of Flight and Emile in Emile’s Dream (dir. Jillian Keilley).

CRAIG HALEY - is thrilled to be returning to the GMTF for the first time in ten years. Originally from Grand Bank, he is something of a rolling stone - spending much of the last several bouncing between Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary working for Jubilations Dinners Theatre. Like many of his coworkers in Cow Head, Craig has a BFA in acting from SWGC.

JESSY MATTHEWS - is from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and is in her third year of the acting program at Grenfell. With ten years of guitar lessons and general musical training, Jessy is excited to bring her passion for music to the festival. This is her first summer at Cow Head and she is honored to work with the talented cast and crew. Memorable shows include The Winter’s Tale, Hotel Paradiso, Sweeny Todd and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

STEPHANIE PAYNE - Home town gal, Stephanie, just completed her Education degree last summer and has spent the fall and winter substituting along the lovely Northern Peninsula. She still finds time to be Mommy extraordinaire to her beautiful little girl and of course sing and play music, at various local concerts and events on the West Coast, most recently at the annual March Hare in Corner Brook. She is thrilled to be back at the GMTF again!! Have a great summer everyone!

MIRANDA POWER - is originally from Chapel Arm, Newfoundland. She has been involved in various musical groups for several years and worked with TNL since she started Grenfell’s Theatre Program in 2011. Previous shows include It’s A Wonderful Life and Sexy and Dangerous. Miranda is sending love to her family and friends from coast to coast. Enjoy the show everybody!

LEAH PRITCHARD - is from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. She’s a fourth year student at MUN-Grenfell campus in Corner Brook, third year theatre. Leah has been lucky enough to play Aniello in Hotel Paradiso, and Paulina in The Winter’s Tale. She has worked with GMTF as an usher, but is delighted to be back, and as an actor this time!!

RORY LAMBERT as Ed - Rory is an actor/writer from Central Newfoundland with BFA in Performance. As an actor he most recently in Revue 2010 (Rising Tide Theatre), Art (c2c theatre) and in the title role of the Arts and Culture production of Oedipus Rex. As a writer Rory’s have been produced by the Victoria Playhouse, Tide Theatre, the Grand Bank Theatre Festival, End Theatre and Rebel Island Theatre. He is to return to the GMTF and to reprise one of favourite roles; Old Ed.

ADAM BRAKE (as Ed II) - Adam is proud to be returning for his fourth season at GMTF. Previous credits for TNL include: Young ED, Ed and Ed’s B&B; Jacob Mercer, Saltwater Moon; and Jim, A Rum for the Money. More recently Adam has been working as a Youth Theatre Instructor for TNL and working as a teacher in the western school district. After a short hiatus from the stage, Adam is happy to be back in beautiful Cow Head this summer!

PRODUCTION:

Director - Jeff Pitcher
Musical Director - Allison Crowe
Stage Manager - Kirsti Mikoda
Asst. Stage Manager - Stefanie Power
Set Design - Derek Butt
Costume Design - Lindsay Code
Sound Design - Dirk Ave
Lighting Design - Johnny Cann
Head Carpenter/Crew Chief - Lisa Lahue
Scenic Painter - Natalie Tsang
Props Person - Cristin Barr

Director’s Notes:

The music in tonight’s show was the soundscape of growing up in Newfoundland and Labrador in the 60s and 70s. It was a time when our musicians had left home for greener pastures on the mainland but they found themselves writing and singing about the place they left behind. As fast as they could cut the vinyl, our radio stations were making them hits with the listeners back home – Newfoundland Country we called it and we cheered on our musical stars; A Frank Willis, Roy Payne, Harry Hibbs and a host of others in our hope they would strike it big in Nashville and Toronto. And some of them did! And all of them were stars. Our stars! And we’re very fortunate to have our very own Canadian star as our musical director – who better to arrange this musical journey than Allison Crowe! ~ Jeff (Pitcher, Artistic Director, TNL)

Musical Director’s Notes:

When TNL first asked me to be a part of this show, I was in equal turns excited and totally nervous. I was not alive in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s -- on top of all that, being from British Columbia - I come from away! What could I do? The answer proved simple - I completely immersed myself in the music - music that is touching, often humorous, and always filled to the brim with stories that are both heart- wrenchingly real and beautifully told. To take myself back to somewhere I’d never been until a few years ago - all I have to do is listen, and I’m welcomed with open arms to Newfoundland. No matter where you’re from or where you’re going, these stories and songs speak with a clarity and a kind word of wisdom that only comes from truly living. I hope that this show is as much fun for you to experience as it is for me to help create. ~ Allison (Crowe, Music Director, Newfoundland Vinyl)

Playing from July 13 to September 2, 2012