One Act Play Festival Seeking Local Playwrights!

Charlene Sommer

The Cedar Springs Community Players are hosting a one act play festival in the spring of 2022!

What’s a one act play? It’s a play that can be performed in one act; specifically short plays with minimal requirements – less than 6 actors, few props and a flexible set – so that we can perform 5 of them in the same night.

We’re seeking locally written plays to perform on stage at the Kent Theatre March 4, 5, 6.  Kids are welcome to submit plays as well! We have at least one director ready to do a play by kids and/or for kids! Young creators and actors are welcome!

Here’s how it works:

By January 3, 2022, original plays are submitted to cscommunityplayers@gmail.com with “One Act Play Submission” in the subject line.  Plays must be…

…able to be performed in 20 minutes or less.

…family friendly. Please do not include foul language.

…able to be performed by no more than 6 actors.

…submitted in PDF format

  • By January 14 our play selection committee will read each submission and choose the top 10 plays that meet the qualifications. Prize for the top 10 plays will be 2 tickets to any CSCP show in 2022.
  •  By January 28 our play selection committee and team of directors will select the top 5 plays to be performed live at the Kent Theatre. Prizes for the top 5 plays will be gift cards to local businesses.
  • Auditions will take place January 31 and Feb 1 at the Cedar Springs Library.

Rehearsal schedules will be determined by each cast and director.

Performances take place March 4, 5, and 6, 2022, at the Kent Theatre in Cedar Springs.

Playwriters pick up your pens, pencils, tablets, phones, computers, or hammer and chisels, and begin writing.  Just be sure your final play is in PDF format and in our inbox by January 3rd!

Not a writer?? NO PROBLEM! Shoot us an email if you’re interested in directing, acting, or working backstage on this project! We would love to have you be a part it!

Kids Musical is happening again this summer!

Kids Musical is happening again this summer!

Charlene Sommer

Into The Woods Jr will be directed by Angela Wilbur.

Audition options include in person, at the CS Library and virtual. Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094da5a623a75-cedar

Casting kids ages 8 to 18 in Into The Woods, Jr!
Rehearsal schedule can be found by following the link above.
Performances will be August 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15.

Friday and Saturday performances are at 7pm and Sunday performances are at 2pm.

Murder on the American Express

Charlene Sommer

Check out this great article in the Cedar Springs Post!

The Cedar Springs Community Players (CSCP) is bringing a new mystery to our town in the form of its next performance written by local playwright, Scott Phillips. This is Mr. Phillips’ first mystery, but like all his other plays the script was born from conversations he had with family, friends and strangers.   

“Friends had been asking me to write a murder mystery,” explained Phillips. “I finally had enough stories and ideas to pull it into a script.” 

Murder on the American Express takes place in small Appalachian town. The town is thrown into disruption by the election of outsider Mayor Anita Mann, played by Peggy Snell. To further complicate matters, local millionaire Bobby Buick, played by Rob Kellner. fights to purchase land from Lily Mae, an independent minded woman played by Danielle Phillips. The land is also wanted by her ex-husband, Jeremiah Box, played by newcomer Dan Phelps.  Scott Phillips never fails to bring his audience a cast of delightful and entertaining characters including Georgia, the local bar owner played by newcomer Holly Russell; Jordy, the ambitious local newspaper editor played by Mark Stoll; The VanMeter Brothers played by Steve Hutchins and Dave Schmucker, CSCP local comedic actors; and the naïve parish priest played by Jack Bagins. No mystery can go unsolved without a great criminal mind and Scott delivers that in Officer “Chief” Joseph played by Russ Cole and his forensic team. CSCP member Jerry Hoye is assistant director.

The small town suspects deliver conflict, suspicion and hilarity. CSCP actor James Brosky said, “Mayor Anita Mann is the best villain Scott has ever written. Well…not including the Devil.”

Show dates are May 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and May 20 at 3:00 p.m. at the Kent Theatre, 8 N. Main, Cedar Springs, MI. Tickets are $15.00 at the door and $6.00 for people under 18 years of age.  

Advanced tickets are $12.00 and are available at the Cedar Springs Public Library or by emailing phillips4ba@yahoo.com.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR.

Charlene Sommer

Things are coming together!
We are excited to put ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR. on stage in August.

We are casting students ages 8 to 18.
Rehearsals up until the week of show will be from 1-4pm at the CS United Methodist Church.
Rehearsals during show week will be at 6:30pm in the Kent Theatre.

Dates: June 12 & 13, 2018
Time: 7-8pm
Location: Cedar Springs United Methodist Church

Show Dates: August 17 & 18 at 7pm and August 19 at 2pm
at the Kent Theatre in Cedar Springs.

Find us on Instagram!

Charlene Sommer

In an effort to share more pictures and info about upcoming events in and around Cedar Springs, we’ve started an Instagram page.

CSCPlayers :: Follow us!

Also, if you have suggestions of more things we should post, give us a shout-out here, or on Facebook, or on Instagram, or in person (though we suggest you shout out before a performance rather than during it).

We love to hear from you!

https://www.instagram.com/cscplayers/

UP NEXT: War of the Worlds

Charlene Sommer

Join us October 20-21, 2017 for a special presentation of “War of the Worlds”

This Readers’ Theatre radio-style performance, based on the famous 1938 radio drama that rocked the nation, is just in time for Halloween – one week before its 79th anniversary.

Aired as an episode in The Mercury Theatre On the Air series on the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network, Orson Welles narrated a story of alien invasion and chaos in such a convincing way that it sparked outrage across the country.  The play re-tells the story found in H.G. Wells’ novel in the format of news bulletins interrupting the regular programming as if the action was happening in real time.

 

Show Dates: October 20-21

Friday & Saturday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 5pm

Tickets will be $10 at the door and are also available in advance at the Cedar Springs Library

Pompeii The Musical – An Explosive Eruption of Comedy, Music and Fun!

Admin

POMPEII THE MUSICAL by Scott Phillips

A few years ago, a local theater group decided to perform Titanic: the Musical, a Broadway play.  To local playwright, Scott Phillips, it seemed rather bizarre someone would take this horrific event and add a lot of song and dance.  In keeping with Scott’s tradition of irony and sarcasm, he decided to write Pompeii: the Musical.

The play is set in ancient Rome and tells the story of two young lovers whose romance is in jeopardy.  To the rescue comes the dysfunctional family and friends, along with a prominent Roman oracle.  Adding to the mayhem is the increasing rumblings of the volcano, Vesuvius.  Obviously, things don’t go so well.  History tells us how Pompeii ends, but theater can always twist things a bit.

Pompeii is Scott’s 10th play and 5th musical.  The music is written by his sister, Jill Detroit, and his nephew Sean Anthony.

The cast includes  Sammi Kunz, Scott Herdegen, Steve Hutchins, David Schmuker, Madison Ruth, Rob Kellner, Debbie Irwin, Cathy Anderson, Doug Christensen, Jessica Talsma, Russ Cole, Annie Bagin, Savana Williams, Jack Bagin and Kirstin Bagin.

Performances are at the Kent Theatre, 8 N. Main, Cedar Springs, MI

Friday, May 19 @ 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 20 @ 8:00 PM

Sunday, May 21 @ 5:00 PM

Friday, May 26 @ 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 27 @ 7:30 PM

Adult tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door; tickets for those under 18 years of age are only $6.  Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Cedar Springs Public Library, or reserved by emailing Scott atphillips4ba@yahoo.com.

Youth Workshops – register soon, space is limited

Admin

The Cedar Springs Community Players will be putting on a series of two theater workshops for youths ages 8-18. They will be on March 25 and April 29 from 1:00 – 2:30 at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church on Main Street.

The two workshop sessions will cover different topics and are designed to be both fun and educational. Kids will have a chance to learn acting skills and stagecraft, learn about all the people who make a theater production happen, and hear about our upcoming production “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” No experience is necessary, just a willingness to join in and have fun.

The workshops are free, but space is limited and there are some rules:

– You must register in advance for the workshops – no walk-ins will be allowed. Click here http://bit.ly/2ms32gX to register. Make sure you enter the name and age of each child in the comments box and a contact number where you can be reached.

– A parent or guardian must be present for the entire workshop. They must complete paperwork for the minor children, including a photo release, and then will be part of the “audience.” If the parent or guardian needs to leave the workshop, their child must go with them.

– Attendees should wear comfortable clothing and shoes as they will be moving around and standing a lot during the workshop.

– If you have questions about the workshop, please use the link above to contact us via email and we will get back to you.

Zombies, Werewolves & Aliens Oh My!

Admin

Ghouls just want to have fun! Who doesn’t enjoy a few belly laughs now and again, even if you are the living dead? We have selected three hilarious fantasy/science fiction/monster one acts for your entertainment!

The Players are just itching to perform their next project – the third annual Springtime One Acts at the Kent. This year it’s a trio of one-act plays featuring fiendish monsters and bone-chilling characters who will be performing on the Kent Theatre stage March 24-26.

The Rot features the perils of living in the suburbs and attempting to have a nice dinner with your future in-laws and a pesky zombie who won’t leave the yard!
Then it’s action in the old West as Zombie Gunslingers head into town to stir up trouble at the local saloon! There are no customers at the Wet Yer Whistle Saloon because the Temperance Ladies done smashed all the bottles of Red Eye whiskey, confiscated all the bullets and burned up all the Poker cards. While waiting for the next stage coach to arrive, the saloon girls hear of zombie gunslingers heading their way. Quick thinking and fast action have the girls concocting their own brew of Red Eye to keep the zombies satisfied.

Set in the future, Country Folk, Lycanthropes and Extraterrestrial Entities features alien visitors to our Moon’s dark side are prepared to take a pack of werewolves off to their planet, but, alas! The ship crash lands in the southeastern US and the locals are ready to do some shootin’ to rid the countryside of the Tourist Dogs in Clothes!