The LDTC is gearing up for its summer season. As our summer company is starting to arrive, we are thrilled to have been able to catch up with Emily Dennis, the sole actress in the LDTC’s first show of the 2019 Summer Season Tell Me on a Sunday. Here are a few things Emily is looking forward to, what has challenged her, and a little about her character.
What was your first production at the Lake Dillon Theatre Company?
My first production with the Lake Dillon Theatre Company was Kander and Ebbs classic musical Cabaret back in 2016.
What is your favorite part of working on a musical?
There are many aspects I enjoy – everything from learning the music, to trying on my costume for the first time, to the anticipation of opening night – I love it all! As a performer, I have acted in many films and TV shows, which is something that I absolutely love doing, but there is nothing quite like getting live feedback from an audience. The synergy that happens between the actor and the audience as they experience the moments of the show together, and the awareness that these moments will never happen again exactly the same way twice, is pure magic.
Emily Dennis In “Rock of Ages” 2018
How is doing a one-woman musical different than working with a cast?
When you work with other actors in musicals or plays, you are constantly assessing the information that is being given to you by your counterpart and depending on the way they choose to deliver a particular line will inform how you respond. In a one-woman musical, it is much more cerebral. It is important to create clear images in your head of the characters that will not appear on stage for the audience to witness. For example, visualizing how the characters dress, their age and their status are a few of the things that will definitely inform how they make you move, think, and feel about them. The background you create for the imagined people you “interact” within the show is equally as important as the work you do learning the character you are portraying yourself. The hope in doing this work is that the audience can see the characters you created as easily as if they were there in the room.
Joshua Blanchard is the director of Tell Me on a Sunday. What excites you about working with him?
I had the great pleasure of sharing the stage with Josh in Cabaret, and I was in the audience to witness his incredible work in the play Constellations. I also got to work under his direction for the LDTC’s 25th Anniversary Show. Needless to say, I am ridiculously excited to work with him again in this capacity! Josh is a brilliant actor himself, and he brings that expertise to the shows he directs. I wholeheartedly trust Josh and feel super safe to play around with different acting choices and that is so important in a director/actor relationship. He has a lot of creative and innovative ideas for Tell Me on a Sunday, and I am pumped to bring his vision to life! I feel so honored to have this opportunity, and I’m gonna savor every second!
Emily Dennis (Back Left) in “Cabaret” 2016
What is your favorite song by Andrew Lloyd Webber?
I am a huge Andrew Lloyd Webber fan so it is hard to pick just one favorite, but I have a special place in my heart for his musical Jesus Christ Superstar as it was the first Webber musical I performed in when I was 6 years old, and it was also a favorite soundtrack that accompanied many family road trips when I was growing up. “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” and “Heaven On Their Minds” are some of my favorites from that show.
What is the most challenging thing about working on a one-woman musical?
The preparation and the sheer volume of material increases greatly when working on a one-woman musical. Since this is my first experience performing in a one-woman musical, I can’t fully predict what the most challenging thing will be, but I anticipate my rest and recovery period between shows will be taken much more seriously. Even though this show will require extra groundwork, I am excited to take this challenge on!
What is the most exciting?
I am definitely excited for the new experience and creative challenge that a one-person show offers. This show is particularly enticing to me due to the wide variety of musical styles that are showcased throughout the show. I am also excited to portray a character that has such a universal story which includes: falling in love, telling Mom about said love, heartbreak, loss, more love, telling Mom about new love, and more heartbreak. It is also always exciting to be back at my second home at the Lake Dillon Theater Company too :).
Emily Dennis (right) in Summer Sunday Cabaret 2016
Can you tell us a little about your character?
My character is an English woman from Muswell Hill who has newly arrived in New York City brimming with optimism. In this interpretation of Tell Me on a Sunday, she is a singer-songwriter who sets out to seek success, companionship, and of course, love. Throughout the course of the show, you watch as she tackles similar patterns of behavior and how her anxieties, frustrations, and heartaches seem to be repeating themselves. Ultimately, she learns that you create your own happiness and that your own self-worth is not determined by another person.
How do you relate to your character?
In all honesty, I am VERY similar to this character in both her strengths and her vulnerabilities. It’s been quite cathartic to learn this music and relate it back to my own life. I would say the number one similarity between her and I is our ability to move on and bounce back after a painful life challenge. The character feels her life experiences deeply and has a wide emotional spectrum which is something I relate to very much. I admire the resilience of this character and her ability to stay strong and open in the face of adversity.
How are you different?
I’m not British…but I wish I was!
We are so excited to have you back at the LDTC. Why do you enjoy working with the LDTC?
The community that Chris, Josh, and the rest of the incredible staff have fostered at the Lake Dillon Theater Company is something so beautiful and rare in the professional theater world. I have made numerous lifelong friends from performing in shows here – both in the cast and in the audience – and that is something I absolutely don’t take for granted. The audiences here are whip-smart, and I love hearing their various observations from the show when talking with the audiences afterward. Lastly, we all know Summit County is one of the most picturesque places on earth so that’s an extraordinary bonus!
Performing arts and conservation are two topics that in theory don’t necessarily fit together, that didn’t stop Sonya Meyer from creating a cabaret that did just that. On May 4 & 5 LDTC patrons can experience Ms. Meyer’s new cabaret “A Day of Sky: A Cabaret of Climate Change” in the intimate Henry Studio Theatre.
When Meyer left the Big Apple for a 6-month stay in Breckenridge she didn’t expect to stay. Now four years later, Meyer has fully embraced the year-round outdoor lifestyle while still finding opportunities to perform, direct and teach at theatres in the area.
Meyer was most recently seen on the LDTC stage at the 2017 New York New Year’s Eve Celebration and was first seen as Melody in Bad Jews during the LDTC’s 2016 season. Meyer now uses the stage as a catalyst for preservation and answers the questions of how to get involved locally as a parting gift for the audience.
Meyer’s passions of performing and conservation were a part of her motivation to create a cabaret based on the timely subject of Climate Change. “For me, even as someone who cares about climate change and wants to help and support these organizations, it’s hard to know what is actually being done and what I can actually do to get involved.”
You can experience this unique and intimate event May 4 at 7:30 PM and 5th at 6:30 PM.
As we say farewell to the Winter and welcome the Spring, the LDTC is already gearing up for a summer season bigger and better than any season that’s come before. If you’ve been a long time LDTC patron you may be wondering how could this be possible? Well even after 25 years we’ve still got some tricks up our sleeves to keep bringing you high-quality entertainment right here in Summit County.
We’ve Closed The Cake, Now What?
You read that right we’ve already opened and closed our first show of the season. Thank you to all who attended The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter. We truly enjoyed producing it. But what’s next? Well, we’ve got just the thing to soothe your LDTC itch before the summer season begins. Join us for a two night only Signature Cabaret May 4 & 5! Stay tuned for more details. This will be a night to remember!
Youth Camps are Open!
Our Summer Youth Programs are open for enrollment! Do you have a little dancer, singer, storyteller, or a little one who is just curious? We’ve expanded our summer youth programs to include camps and classes for a variety of skill sets and ages. Check out our entire list of offerings and enroll your child today!
Travel to NYC with the LDTC!
That’s right our annual New York City Theatre Trip will take place October 15-18 and October 22-25, and you can Enroll today! The trip includes
Four divers NYC theatre performances curated by the LDTC staff
Plenty of time to see the sights and take in the Big Apple
For more info and to register, please call Colt Neidhardt, Director of Education and Community Outreach at 970.513.1151 ext. 106
Purchase a Summer Season Subscription and Flex Pass
Season passes will no longer be on sale after June 23. That gives you plenty of time to purchase a flex pass or summer pass before they are gone! Have questions? Call the Box Office at 970.513.9386 or email Nina Waters, Patron Services Manager at Nina@LakeDillonTheatre.org.
Purchase Single Tickets to our Summer Shows
Season pass not your thing? That’s ok! We still encourage you to purchase your tickets now! Tickets for our entire season are on sale now. Get them before they’re gone!
We are so excited to continue our 25th Anniversary Season with long time and new patrons alike. We’ll see you at the Theatre!
Have you ever been curious about how we put up a show? Or what things are important for actors and directors in a rehearsal process? Want to learn more about theatre in general? Introducing the Lake Dillon Theatre Company Mini-Series, where we take you behind the curtain to learn more about what we do and why.
In episode 1, we explore the rehearsal process. Stay tuned throughout our entire theatre season for 5 more episodes.
At the LDTC the cast has a 2 week rehearsal period. In that time they will learn their lines, staging, and in the case of The Cake learn to work with buttercream. Here are a few delicious photos of cast members working hard in rehearsal.
Victoria Bundonis says one of the great things about being an actor is having to learn, very quickly, skills that are not necessarily in your wheelhouse. Here she is learning very quickly how to work with buttercream frosting.
Even scenes that seem simple need quality time in rehearsal. Here Claire Kennedy, Nina Waters, and Melissa Livingston (director) work to create a beautiful moment between Macy and Jen.
Learn more about The Cake and Purchase Tickets here! Don’t miss this hilarious new comedy by Bekah Brunstetter!
The Cake opens March 15, 2019, at the Lake Dillon Theatre Company. We sat down with the cast to learn more about why they are excited about the show! Today we feature Kenneth Wayne Bradley. The Cake is Kenneth’s LDTC debut!
What excites you about your first show in Summit County and with the LDTC?
Have you seen this place? Wow! The breathtaking mountains, the lake, the incredible Theatre! Every picture I take is a postcard straight from the chamber of commerce! And getting to work with Melissa Livingston again is a dream come true! I couldn’t pass this up!
What can audiences expect when they come to The Cake?
I think they will see a version of themselves in at least one of the characters, and pieces of themselves in ALL the characters! I think sometimes in our new hyper-social media world we sometimes get duped into the falsehood that things are either black or white. These people are very real, multi-dimensional, warm and rounded…and they all have a heart. The writer has captured each character’s inherent human warmth along with their flaws. She has taken a complete 360-degree view of EACH character which I as an actor, love, but so will the audience.
How do you relate with your character?
Tim lives life as he sees it. He doesn’t intentionally judge, he just doesn’t know any better. I think we’re all a bit guilty of that. Recognizing it is key. Change doesn’t come with the snap of a finger. It takes encouragement, and love and civil conversation for your eyes to start to open…and it takes time. And a bit of mashed potatoes!
What is most exciting about being in The Cake?
The “family” created when staging a live production is dear to my heart. The bonds we create with each other and that live connection to the audience is something that I have always deeply treasured. It is very real and organic and there’s nothing else like it on earth! That’s what makes the theatre experience, and the audiences who come to witness it, the best in the world! And THIS story is sure to connect on all levels; humor, tragedy, philosophy… it’s timeliness, and it has it all. And I think it will open up real face to face conversation, patience and an understanding of how the other person lives, without judgment… which we desperately need right now.
What is the most Challenging?
Well, dodging the snow avalanches!! I’m more the guy who grabs an inner-tube and floats down the river in 113 degree weather!!! I am learning a fast lesson about another side to Mother Nature! But I love it up here!
Don’t miss out on the instant mashed potato hilarity!
The Cakeopens March 15, 2019, at the Lake Dillon Theatre Company. We sat down with the cast members to learn more about why they are excited about the show! Today we hear from Nina Waters, a summit county local and LDTC full-time staff member who will play the role of Macy.
What most excites you about coming back to Summit County and the LDTC?
Well seeing as I live here all the time, it’s nice to be able to be on stage again in a play. I’ve spent most of the past 2 years working full time in a staff capacity and only onstage in cabarets, and prior to that, I was on stage by myself in Pretty Fire. So it’s nice to be in a play with other people again!
What can audiences expect when they come to The Cake?
To laugh, to cry, to maybe question your beliefs and to see a perspective from a point of view that you may not have expected.
How do you relate with your character?
Oh, IN. SO. MANY. WAYS. Macy is a lot of me and some more. She is always trying to stand up for the little guy, the underrepresented, and that’s maybe because she sees a little of that in herself. Much like me, I’m always playing the devil’s advocate. Trying to push the envelope, and sometimes forgetting when it’s best to just quiet up and listen.
What is most exciting about being in The Cake?
The cast is so fun! I’ve worked with almost all of them at some point, which is really nice to come into a rehearsal room with people you know and trust.
What is the most Challenging?
Other than the 11 day rehearsal period!?!!? I would say keeping it fun. Playing and activist type character like Macy, it’s hard to not always go for anger or disillusionment. There is joy and love, and so many more layers to this character so being able to play in those moments is sometimes easy to forget.
Don’t miss this hilarious new comedy by Bekah Brunstetter!
The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter opens March 15, 2019, at the Lake Dillon Theatre Company. We sat down with each of the cast members to learn more about their characters and what excites them about the Show. Today we caught up with past LDTC performer Claire Kennedy who will take the role of Jen in The Cake.
What most excites you about coming back to Summit County and the LDTC?
I love the people here. The artistic vision and integrity of the LDTC family and the kind community throughout Summit County…I’m excited to be back with such good people.
What can audiences expect when they come to The Cake?
Audiences can expect to laugh, hopefully, be inspired and moved. They can expect to see multiple sides of important issues, and maybe be opened to new perspectives.
How do you relate with your character?
My character Jen is full of life and energy and she loves her family. I relate to her sense of wanting to give and love all she can. I’m a people person and I always love to learn all I can about everyone I meet.
What is most exciting about being in The Cake?
It’s a wonderful cast and crew, which is always exciting. And I’m excited to share the hearts of these very different, but loving characters. I think they’re all striving to do their best, to stand up for themselves and what they believe, while also learning and changing along the way. This play showcases very real, and at times challenging, conversations that are happening all across this country. Sharing that and hopefully opening hearts and minds is why I love my job.
What is the most Challenging?
There are wonderful moments of fun and laughter and moments of strong feelings and thoughts throughout this play. So if I had to name a challenge, perhaps striving to maintain the balance of those two things, to create a joyous and thought provoking experience.
Well, not only the producers have left but so has Kevin Carson our Production/Company Manager. He left on Saturday morning to get back to snowy Summit County for the arrival of the cast and crew of The Cake(by Bekah Brunstetter), our first show of the 2019 Theatre Season. So, it was just Josh and I in the room.
We woke up to a little bit of snow – nothing like what Summit County received but…….snow in NYC is different. Wet and slushy.
Today was solely dedicated to callbacks for Tiny Beautiful Things – which will be our final show of the 2019 season. It was a busy morning but we saw some really touching and hilarious auditions. The cast needs to be a diverse representation of the world around us….it was great to see such variety in performances and people. We should have a great group to choose from.
The rest of the weekend was dedicated to seeing more theatre – most Off Broadway. This was a chance to really see where the pulse of theatre is in NYC. We started with The Roundabout Theatre and Fiasco Theatre’s revival of the Stephen Sondheim classic flop – Merrily We Roll Along. The show was cut and reduced to a cast of 6 performers. (The original cast had 26 performers). I thought the show worked with 6 – it certainly makes the show more producible……
That evening we saw Be More Chill at the Lyceum Theatre. This off-Broadway smash hit with a huge internet cult following is still in previews. The audience was made up of both young and old. The young enjoyed it more, I would say, and certainly appeals to a niche audience.
The next day we walked a couple of blocks to 2nd Stage Theatre to see the world premiere of Superhero the new musical by John Logan (Red) and Tom Kitt (Next To Normal). I enjoyed this touching tale of a single mother and son as they maneuver through life without their husband/father. I also love the superheroes genre- so it was up my alley.
Our final show of the week was the new musical Alice By Heart at MCC Theatre in there new space in midtown. The complex is nice (although the lobby is a bit awkward and cramped) with three performance spaces. Alice By Heart is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland tale…..this time told “from memory” by a character named Alice during what appeared to be WWII. The music by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) and book by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson. It was beautifully staged with the ensemble of 12 portraying a myriad of characters and objects. The music was very Duncan Sheik.
And that was the end of that……flew back the next morning and now are ready to start putting the summer casting and crew together and try to put on the best summer productions we can……
Well, the producers have made their way back to Colorado. We continued to audition today with callbacks but the room was lonely not having Peg, Lee, and Jon with us.
We started with callbacks for Sophie and Sky in Mamma Mia! We had the men sing “Lay Your Love On Me” and the women sang “Honey Honey” and “Thank You for the Music”. They also read sides from a couple of short scenes from the show.
Next were the Ali’s and Lisa’s – who are Sophie’s best friends. This was a really fun callback as they read one of the first scenes fro meh show but also sang “Honey Honey” as a trio. It was a really fun vibe in the room with lots of energy.
After that, we had some men in for Pepper and Eddie. It was a short scene and more “Lay Your Love on Me”. They were a lot of fun.
We then switched to Tell Me on a Sunday with about 8 women in for the role of Emma. They sang a couple of songs from the show and were given some direction from Josh Blanchard – the director of the show. We narrowed them down to 4 and are sending them some “homework” to record themselves playing an instrument and singing from the show. We can’t wait to see what they put together.
Then it was full on to Barefoot in the Park callbacks. This was for the entire afternoon. We called back 4 Corries and about 15 Pauls. It was fun to see the variety we had in the room. I tell you, those four Corries were working reading about 5 times each. It was so great to see their character choices vary and grow.
Finally, it was reading for the Velascos – with the same Corries. Again, a really fun time in the room with some great takes on the quirkish Velasco.
WHEW….what a long day of callbacks. A couple of things to take from this…..1) we saw some great talent today and look forward to putting the casting puzzle together, 2) Josh Blanchard was our reader today…..if we ever need a Tanya, Donna or Sophie…..Josh did a great job…..look out, ladies. 🙂
After a long day, we decided to end with a long show…..a three hour and 45-minute version of King Lear starring Glenda Jackson. Not being a huge Shakespeare fan….I was…..well….let’s just say not a huge fan. The performances were good and the director had a clear vision…..but if you really want to learn more about the show – stop Josh Blanchard in the theatre sometime and let him give you his thesis of the production. He will happily bore you with it. 🙂
