Seminar

A clever comedy about the power of the written word

Playwright Theresa Rebeck | Director Kirsten Page

 

There's only one thing harder than writing your first novel.

Letting him read it.

Set in present-day New York City, Seminar follows four young writers — Kate, Martin, Douglas, and Izzy — and their professor, Leonard. Each student has paid Leonard $5,000 for a ten-week writing seminar to be held in Kate's Upper West Side apartment. As tensions arise and romance falls, they clash over their writing, their relationships, and their futures.

Seminar is the provocative new comedy from Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck.

 Seminar will play at Beaumaris Theatre from 1 - 16 March, 2019.

 

Director Kirsten Page

Kirsten in an experienced actor having worked with many theatre companies and performed on many stages throughout Melbourne.  

Her theatrical highlights include Helena in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Eltham Little Theatre), Molly in The Female of the Species (Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group) and Karen in August: Osage County (Southern Peninsula Players).

Kirsten has won awards on the one act play festival circuit and has been honoured with a nomination at the Victorian Drama League awards. Kirsten has had the pleasure of performing in schools around Victoria with Eagles Nest Theatre presenting classic texts and theatre workshops to teenagers.

Kirsten's previous experience directing includes Pull The Other One (Southern Peninsula Players) and August: Osage County (Southern Peninsula Players). Kirsten is thrilled to be able to present Seminar by Theresa Rebeck to you. After falling in love with the show in New York she has been biding her time, to bring the characters and story to life. Kirsten is grateful to be able to come and play at Beaumaris Theatre Company for the first time.

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'In 2012 I unassumingly wandered into a theatre in New York to watch a random show. Little did I know, it would be love at first sight. Seminar had entered my life. I was swept into the story, I was connected with every character and found myself questioning my goals and dreams. The wittiness and pace of Seminar, finely balanced with tension captures audiences attention, while the characters capture their heart. I hope you will find this show as powerful as I did.'  - Kirsten

 

Company

Friendships and marriage. Thought provoking and cleverly funny!

Music & lyrics Stephen Sondheim | Book George Furth

Director Colin Armstrong | Musical Director Malcom Huddle Choreographer Mon and Tess Sabbatucci

 

From musical theatre's most renowned composer, Company is largely regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book.

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor, Robert, contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – "those good and crazy people [his] married friends" – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

 

Company will play at Beaumaris Theatre from 24 May - 8 June, 2019.

 
 
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Director Colin Armstrong

Company marks Colin’s Directorial debut with Beaumaris Theatre having been a longtime admirer and audience member of the company.

He is more well-known for his numerous and varied performance credits on the Mornington Peninsula, with highlights including King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Herr Schultz in Cabaret (MTGV Nomination 2006) and Rooster in Annie.

More recently, he has turned his focus to direction, having directed school productions of Oliver, Barnum, and Seussical. 

Colin recently directed Blood Brothers for Mornington Players which was hailed as a huge success for a rarely performed musical of that nature.

He would like to thank his wife and two sons for their endless support and encouragement with all of his theatrical pursuits.

 

 

'The strength of the piece lies in its vivid yet real characters. Every audience member will see reflections of themselves in at least one of the characters onstage. For all of these reasons I have always wanted to direct this show. It requires a mature and experienced cast in order to present the story and music with great feeling, depth and accuracy.' - Colin

 

Pillow Talk

A story of undying love

Written & directed by Andy Payne

 

Henrietta has lived her life to the full, scared of nothing except perhaps of not being herself. After an unexplained hospitalisation, she finds herself facing an uncertain future and a loss of the dignity and control she so values. She has some support from her distracted daughter, and understanding from her son, an aspiring Member of Parliament who lives twelve thousand miles away in Melbourne, but it is her husband who is under pressure to keep the promise he made 30 years ago in a hotel bedroom and save Henrietta from her worst nightmare.

Pillow Talk is a tragic comedy about life, love and the promises we make. Set in a hospital, it references the Victorian Assisted Dying legislation and choices we make when faced with a terminal prognosis.

 

Pillow Talk will play at Beaumaris Theatre from 16 - 31 August, 2019.

 
 
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Director Andy Payne

Andy first appeared at Beaumaris Theatre in 2006 when he was cast as an appalling actor in Janine Chugg’s acclaimed production of Blackadder. He is keen to point out that ‘an appalling actor’ was the character, not the review. Since then Andy has dabbled in theatrics at Beaumaris and sung his way through various comic roles for Melbourne’s Gilbert and Sullivan opera  companies. 

Andy’s writing credits include Set Build, 2013 for Beaumaris Theatre and the musical, Acquired Taste, 2017 for the Melbourne International Singers’ Festival. He has written and directed presentations for the award winning School of Hard Knocks and wrote the libretto for Street Requiem, 2014.

Andy retired from teaching in 2018 and now writes with the University of the Third Age . Pillow Talk was developed as part of a U3A script writing course. Andy is keen to acknowledge the help and support of Helen Scott and members of the Melbourne City Scripters in the development of this play.

 

 

'History is littered with the sacrifices of lovers but would you do just anything for someone that you love? I wrote Pillow Talk to be entertaining. It is a window into the lives of a happily married couple and their family, at a time of crisis. But can we really be asked to keep the promises made in the first flushes of romance? Pillow Talk is both funny and thought provoking. It is a conversation everybody needs to have.' - Andy

 

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

The man. The music. The legend.

Written by Alan Janes

Director Debbie Keyt | Musical Director Rhonda Vaughan Choreographer Camilla Klesman

 

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story tells the true story of Buddy's meteoric rise to fame, from the moment in 1957 when 'That'll Be The Day' hit the airways until his tragic death less than two years on 'the day the music died'. The show features over 20 of Buddy Holly's greatest hits including 'That'll Be The Day', 'Peggy Sue', 'Everyday', 'La Bamba' and so many more.

The incredible legacy of the young man with glasses, whose musical career spanned an all-too-brief period during the golden days of rock & roll, continues to live on in Buddy.

 

Buddy will play at Beaumaris Theatre from 8 -23 November, 2019.

 
 

Director Debbie Keyt

Deb has been a passionate thespian for over 50 years and as an actress portrayed numerous wonderful and fascinating characters.  

In 2003 she made her directorial debut with Return to the Forbidden Planet and adores being a director. Other directorial credits include- Smiley- the Musical; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Steel Magnolias, Charlotte’s Web; Anne of Green Gables; Peter Pan; The Sound of Music; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Happy Days- a New Musical; 13- a New Musical; The Little Mermaid JR; Grease; The Jewel by the Sea; A Chorus Line, Cinderella- The Pantomime and Chicago. Deb is also on the Beaumaris Theatre committee and an extremely proud Life Member. She is also director of  D.K Productions performing arts studio at Beaumaris Theatre.

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'I first saw Buddy- The Buddy Holly Story in 1991 and left the theatre on such an incredible high the like I had never experienced before. After the show I immediately booked to go and see it again to share the experience with a group of friends. I cannot wait to share Buddy's incredible story and of course his exceptional music with our Beaumaris Theatre audiences and know everyone will be in a rock 'n' roll frenzy!' - Debbie