Sonofagunn Time Again

“The Producers – Waaay Off Off-Broadway” will be the title of the Gunnison Arts Center’s 2012 “Sonofagunn” FUNdraiser, with production scheduled for March 8-10 and 15-17. The theme and focus, as always, will be a lighthearted look at life in the Upper Gunnison valley, past imperfect and future present.
An “audition” meeting for those interested in participating will be held at the Arts Center, corner of Tomichi and Main, Friday, January 13, from 5:00-7:30.
The “audition” is very informal, according to Director Todd Kramis, “mostly to establish vocal strength and how big a bucket one needs to carry a tune”; the main purpose is to get potential participants to surrender their email address and to check off times on a calendar when they know they cannot be present for rehearsals. If one is in a hurry to get to other TGIF events, this process should take no more than 15-20 minutes. No previous experience in either theater or singing is required, although of course it is appreciated.
Children older than eight are welcome to audition, so long as they are accompanied by an adult or older sibling (16-plus) who will either also participate in the show (including props and scenery), or will commit to a couple evenings as a “backstage parent” during the final rehearsals and performances.
The Sonofagunn is an original musical theater presentation that has been assembled out of local talent and material more or less annually since 1988. A team of writers, led by Anthony Poponi, is already at work on the script and songs, but some of the best bits have often been added during the course of rehearsals, inspired by unfolding local events. Todd Kramis – known locally for his performances as “President Hellbent” – will direct the show this year.
Those who know the Mel Brooks movie, “The Producers,” will have a sense of the thread running through this year’s show, but the action will range from “the pirates of the Blue Mesa,” to an “Occupy Main Street” movement, to vampires in flight from Garlic Ike’s, to the Governor’s “Bottoms-Up Economic Development” program for whatever is brewing on that front.
One longtime Sonofagunn participant asked to remind the community, “You might as well participate in Sonofagunn because you’re probably in it anyway, and the best defense is a good offense – or something like that.”
If one is interested in participating, but unable or unwilling to attend on Friday the 13th, please call Adrian King at the Arts Center (641-4029), or Todd Kramis (596-6690).