Press Release: Father of the Bride

This is the press release from my Spring 2011 show with Houghton College, Father of the Bride.  This was interesting show for me, because it was the first time I directed a show that I had been in.  I played Ben Banks In Cornwell's Dinner Theater's production almost exactly ten years earlier!

Houghton College Presents Father of the Bride

                This spring Houghton College cordially invites you to their production of Father of the Bride by Caroline Francke.  The peaceful life of the Banks family is turned upside-down when their daughter Kay (Patricia Powles) announces her engagement one morning over breakfast.  As Stanley Banks (Eric Mikols) struggles to accept that his only daughter is about to marry Buckley Dunstan (Chris Tortorello), a “goon with a pair of shoulders,” the mounting bills and ever-expanding guest list begin to take their toll on not just him,

but the happy couple as well.  Level-headed Mrs. Banks (Rachel Stowe) does her best to keep things afloat, but in the face of a frazzled secretary (Aubrey Thorlakson), an eccentric wedding planner (Hannah Lily) and two rowdy sons (Nate White & Nick Cannistaci) even she begins to crack.  Will the Banks Family be able to pull together in time to get Kay and Buckley down the aisle, or will the stress of the engagement be too much for the young couple?

                Find out Thursday, Friday or Saturday March 11-12 at 7:00pm (plus a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday) in the Tysinger Auditorium of Houghton Academy (9790 Thayer Street, Houghton, NY).  With questions or ticket requests please contact director Nic Gunning  at Nicolas.Gunning05@houghton.edu.  Tickets cost $5.00.

Director's Note & Press Release: Dragnet

Director's Note: As a kid I regularly watched Dragnet re-runs on Nick-at-Nite.  I’ve always appreciated its quirky, off-beat storytelling.  Looking back on it I realize just how ahead of its time it really was.   Dragnet was the first of several scripts I read this year and something about the characters, mystery and nostalgia factor just kept reeling me in.  I think one of the challenges of doing something with such a rich history is finding the right balance of staying true to the original and still bringing new things to it.  The cast, and Michael as “Friday” in particular, has done a wonderful job in that sense.  It’s been a real pleasure to work with them and I am proud of what we have accomplished together.  I also want to send out a quick thanks to my techies Kara & Hilary and my costume gals Sally & Caroline.  They’ve been a great crew… and those are just the facts, ma’am.  (Someone had to say it.)  Enjoy the show.  –Nic

Press Release: Houghton College Presents Dragnet

            This fall Houghton College travels back to the 1950s with their stage production of the classic Jack Webb TV and Radio show, Dragnet.  When shots ring out in the Hamlin home, Nora Hamlin (Carly Trask) quickly phones the police.  Lucky for her, Sgt. Joe Friday (MichaelBlankenship) answers the call.  When Friday and his partner Frank Smith (Eric Mikols) arrive on the scene they discover the apparent suicide of Nora’s husband.  As Friday and Frank investigate they realize that even though things seem cut and dry they will need more than just the facts to get to the bottom of this mystery.  The officers begin to question the rest of the Hamlin family including Nora’s mother (Liz Raucher) and daughter (Amy Coon) and quickly see that there is a darker side to this seemingly average family.  As the plot thickens and new suspects emerge Joe Friday can’t help but wonder if Mr. Hamlin’s death was in fact a suicide… or was it MURDER?!

            Find out Thursday, Friday or Saturday October 28-30 at 7:00pm (with a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday) in the Tysinger Auditorium, Houghton Academy (9790 Thayer Street, Houghton, NY).  With questions or ticket requests please contact director Nic Gunning at Nicolas.Gunning05@houghton.edu.  Tickets cost $5.00.

Director's Note & Press Release: Guilty Conscience

This is the director's note from our third Valley Theatre show, 2010's Guilty Conscience.  

While I always enjoy working on large scale productions, there is something special about putting together a show with such a small group.  It’s a completely different experience.  Like Art & Telephone Roulette earlier this season, Guilty Conscience has been a group effort.  Amanda, Emily & Paul have been a capable and entertaining crew; and this cast is made up of 4 of my very favorite actors.  I love working with them and I’m happy with the way this play has turned out.

            Guilty Conscience is a unique and suspenseful show.  About 20 pages into my first reading of the script I knew I’d found our next show.  It hooked me right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down until I figured out the ending… and what an ending it was. I hope you find it just as enjoyable as I did.

Enjoy the show!

-Nic

Here's the press release.  I always enjoy writing these.

The Valley Theatre Presents GuiltyConscience: A Play of Suspense

In Richard Levinson & William Link’s suspenseful tale, attorney Arthur Jamison (Mike Cox) has a problem.  After years of putting up with his lies and unfaithfulness, Louise Jamison (Noelle Winkens) wants out.  Her desire for a divorce coupled with the career-ending secret she holds over him sets in motion Arthur’s plot to kill his wife and avoid getting caught.  With the help of a gruff prosecutor (Ethan Stowell) and a meddling mistress (Hilary Gunning), Arthur’s plan seems fool-proof.  Will he get away with the perfect crime? Or will he get caught in his own trap?

Find out Friday or Saturday May 21 & 22 at 7:00pm (with a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday) in the Houghton FireHall (Houghton, NY).  With questions or ticket requests for Guilty Conscience please contact director Nic Gunning at TheValleyTheatre@gmail.com.  You can also visit us online at www.facebook.com/valleytheater. Tickets cost $5.00.

Director's Note & Press Release: Jake's Women

This is the director's note from my second show with Houghton College, Neil Simon's Jake's Women.  Working on this show was a great experience.  This is the kind of show I love to do.

     As soon as I started reading the script for Jake’s Women I was hooked.  It was such a unique setting and intriguing premise that I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it would resolve.

     Jake’s Women takes a humorous but honest look at the difficulty of relationships.  Jake comes to realize that in order to have successful ones you need patience, trust, forgiveness and so much more.  When the reality of that sets in he turns to his imagination for support.  Therein lies the complexity of Neil Simon’s script.  It’s important to remember that many of the characters we meet are merely Jake’s mental interpretation of them.  It’s when Jake’s women stop playing along that the fun really begins.

     I’ve been lucky to work with such a wonderful cast & crew.  Special thanks to Rachel, my student director, for all of her hard work.  Whether it was reading scripts, selling ads, finding costumes or helping in rehearsals she was always game to dive in.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the show as much as I have.     –Nic


Here is the press release that went out to the local papers.

Houghton College Presents Neil Simon’s Jake’s Women

           

In Neil Simon’s clever comedy, Jake’s Women, a successful novelist (Eric Mikols) struggles with his tragic past and tumultuous present.  The distractions of his writing career coupled with his tendency to veer off in imaginary conversations with the women in his life threaten to unravel his flawed marriage.  When Jake’s current wife, Maggie (Jillian Parsons), finally walks out on him he turns to the imaginary versions of his deceased first wife, daughter, therapist and kid sister to help put the pieces back together and win her back.  He soon discovers that reorganizing his priorities and letting go of the past are easier said than done. With the clock ticking, can he get it together and reunite with Maggie before it’s too late?  Is that even what he still wants? 

Find out Thursday, Friday or Saturday March 4-6 at 7:00pm (with a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday) in the Tysinger Auditorium, Houghton Academy (9790 Thayer Street, Houghton, NY).  With questions or ticket requests please contact director Nic Gunning at (585) 567-9613 or Nicolas.Gunning05@houghton.edu.  Tickets cost $5.00.

You can also tune in to a special episode of the All the Books show podcast where Eric and I discuss the Neil Simon catalog. 

Director's Note & Press Release: House on the Cliff

Here's the director's note for my first show directing with Houghton College.  This show will always have a special place in my heart.  I loved it from the get-go.

I read several scripts before settling on House on the Cliff.  In order to preserve the mystery, as well as the element of surprise I was determined to find a lesser known play.  I had never read anything by George Batson, but took an instant liking to this one.  It preserves the traditional aspects of a good mystery while avoiding clichés.  I thought the central plot was very unique and found the characters to be interesting and fresh. 

     I’ve had a great experience working with this cast.  We’ve had a lot of fun together.  It will be a shame when the production concludes and we no longer have an excuse to get together anymore.  They have each put a lot of hard work into this show and I, like you, look forward to seeing the finished product.

-Nic


Below is the press release that went out to local papers.  Hilary actually wrote this one.

Houghton College will be presenting a murder mystery this Halloween weekend! It’s the perfect show for a spooky evening, so bring your friends, family, everyone!

In George Batson’s House on the Cliff, a widow (Alice Browning) and her step-daughter (Rachel Stowe) struggle to heal from a recent family tragedy, while the arrival of two strangers (Eric Mikols and Carly Trask) brings an atmosphere of uncertainty into the equation.  Death lurks around every corner. Who is safe? And who will save the household? 

Join us for a time of intrigue and suspense this Halloween weekend! Shows are 7pm on October 29, 30, and 31 (plus a 2pm matinee performance on the 31^st) in the Tysinger Auditorium at the Houghton Academy (9790 Thayer Street, Houghton, NY). Tickets will be available at the door. Contact Director Nic Gunning at Nicolas.Gunning05@houghton.edu with any questions.

Hilary Gunning 

Houghton College

Press Release & Director's Note: Art

Here's the press release and director's note for Valley Theatre's second show, Art.  This one was directed by Hilary and Amanda.  These were written by Hilary.

Press Release
The Valley Theatre of Houghton, NY is back this September with a vibrant production of Yasmina Reza's

Tony award winning play "Art". This is the Valley Theatre's second show, coming after the well received musical from last September, "She Loves Me!"

Now veterans from that production Ethan Stowell and Mike Cox are joined by their former director, Nic Gunning, for this critically acclaimed comedy. In it, long-time friends Marc, Serge, and Yvan exchange amiable banter and biting sarcasm as they struggle to reconcile their mounting differences.

Join us at 7pm on September 10, 11, and 12 in the Houghton Fire Hall for an evening of comedy, irony and drama. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the door. Visit our website, [www.facebook.com/valleytheatre], or email thevalleytheatre@gmail.com for more information.



Director's Note:

     We have wanted to put on a production of Art since reading it as students.  We were immediately captured by its easy, effortlessly comical dialogue and the completely real definition of friendship it constructs, but never really thought we could pull it off until watching Nic, Ethan & Mike working on it together.  The innate camaraderie

they share gives their portrayals a natural flow.  Now, we are so pleased to be able to share it with you.  We hope you will embrace as we did the quick banter, frank phrasing and exquisitely awkward pauses that make up this Tony Award winning play.

Director's Note: Telephone Roulette

For Valley Theatre's second production we did a set of two shorter plays.  We began with Jack Finney's Telephone Roulette which centered on two bored female friends (Amanda Cox and Noelle Winkens) looking for a date for the weekend.  The main feature was Yasmina Reza's Art which focused on the strained friendship of three guys (Mike Cox, Ethan Stowell and me).  Both used the same set.  I directed Telephone Roulette and Hilary & Amanda co-directed Art.  Here's my note from the program.

Director’s Note:

     I am so thrilled to be getting the opportunity to bring some of Jack Finney’s work to life on stage.  I have been a fan of his novels since accidentally stumbling across a copy of Time& Again nearly 10 years ago.  As soon as I discovered that, aside from being a prolific novelist, he had also tried his hand as a playwright, I was determined to track down a copy for The Valley Theatre. As it is quite an obscure work by Finney, this very well may be the first production of Telephone Roulette since 1956!