Theatre on the Hill at NMSU-A Rehearsal of Spring Play

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Actors who were still in Alamogordo and not gone on Spring Break reported to the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill to rehearse "The Mystery of Pirate's Cove", the Children's Spring Play. The set is coming along very well and it is amazing what these people can create with a little wood and paint.

L to R: Juls Pate, Assistant Director, Connie J. Breding, Director, Playwright and Producer, and Bob Trowbridge, Administrative Assistant to Connie, Set Designer, Actor and Playwright

Rod Barnes, Graybeard in his quarters aboard ship

Four of the children in the play known as Matty, Sofie, Colleen and David

Barbeesh (Bob Trowbridge) sneaking away from his wife

Rose (Carla Kerr) berating Barbeesh, her husband

Miranda (Victoria Kennedy) and Benjamin (Alan Gonzales)

Benjamin and Miranda getting serious about this sword fight

It was a good evening and a lot of blocking was accomplished as well as getting the young people used to their positions on stage.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

Theatre on the Hill Guild Meeting at NMSU-A

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Members of the Theatre Guild, led by President Carla Kerr, met on Sunday afternoon at 2:00PM, February 7, 2016 to discuss various agenda items and to make plans for future productions.

The upcoming play is "The Mystery of Pirate's Cove" written by Connie Breding. It is the Spring Children's Play and a large number of school children will be bused to the theater to enjoy the play. There will be two shows on Tuesday, May 3 at 9:00AM and 12:30PM and two shows on Thursday, May 6, 2016 at 9:00AM and 12:30PM and one show on Friday, May 6, 2016 at 12:30PM. Showings for the public are May 6 and 7 at 7:00PM and Sunday, May 8, 2016 at 2:00PM.

We will need a cast of 9 people, men and women and children ages 9-16. Auditions will be held on Friday, March 4 from 7-9PM and Saturday, March 5 from 2-5PM at the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill at NMSU-A on Senic Drive in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

The Guild is a big supporter of the theatre and provides extra needed items that are not in the theatre budget.

L to R: Actor Perry Lawson, Professor/Playwright/Director Connie Breding, Publicist/Actor/Playwright Carolyn Haire Dittmer

Member and Actor, Jeremiah Crosby and Perry

L to R: Actor/ Playwright/Guild President Carla Kerr, Actress and Guild Secretary Kathy Barnes and Actor/Lighting Tech Rod Barnes

Actor/Playwright/Set Designer Bob Trowbridge

As you can see by the captions, we each wear several hats in making the Theatre on the Hill successful. It is such a fun group of people and we are always looking for new people to enlarge our experiences in the theater.

Special thanks to Douglas Kerr, Photographer/Electrical Engineer/Actor for taking the photos in this article.

After our regular monthly meeting, Doug and I decided to drive to Tularosa, New Mexico, 13 miles from Alamogordo to dine at Casa de Suenos and since he was still in a photography mood, he shot a few pictures.

This shot of Doug and me was made by our sweet waitress Lindsay

Can you tell I just might be his favorite subject??

Our server Lindsay at Casa de Suenos

Doug ordered what he calls "the stop light," on the menu as Tostado Combination

This was the perfect end to a successful Guild Meeting and a delicious meal.

This is all I have to say for now.

Theatre on the Hill Behind the Scenes

July 23, 2015

Rohovec Theatre on the Hill is part of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, New Mexico,  reigned over by Drama Professor Connie Breding. We have a very active group of thespians involved from the surrounding community as well as students at the University. One might think theatre is all glitz and glamour, but much goes on behind the scenes that is not.

The photos below depict some of the hard work that has gone into just getting ready for the Theatre on the Hill Guild's Fall Fundraiser production "This and That" consisting of six short plays written by local playwrights to be showcased August 28-30, 2015.

Robert Trowbridge building the elevators for the set of the play "One-Hundred and Two Stories" and Wendy Trowbridge helping Carolyn Dittmer rework outdoor  advertising signs in the background

Rod Barnes (the sandman) sanding off the old paint so we can reuse the signs

Carolyn changing a phone number on these signs

Carla Kerr and Carolyn at work. Carla has on plastic gloves and a paint apron ready to do some painting

Wendy is carpenter's helper here sorting some screws for hinges for Robert

Robert working diligently on these elevators-you must come see the play to realize how huge these are.

Carolyn giving the "sandman" a break

Robert looking for hinges of just the right size and type

This was really an enjoyable three hours of creativity behind the scenes and you will be surprised at the results when you come to see the plays. The advertising signs are up all over town. Come and be entertained the last weekend of August, 2015.

This is all I have to say for now.

"Smoke on the Mountain" has six day run in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Sunday, November 30, 2014

My husband, Doug, and I were involved in the NMSU-A Theater on the Hill production of "Smoke on the Mountain", a musical comedy set in 1938 in a Baptist church in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The elderly pastor has died and a new young one has taken his place with big ideas of  bringing the congregation into the 20th century. He has arranged for the first ever Saturday Night Gospel Sing delivered by the Sanders Family, a traveling group making its return to performing after a five-year hiatus. Doug plays the part of the church custodian and I am one of two wealthy spinster sisters (generous benefactors of said church) who sit in the "Amen" corner of the church and keep tabs on proper conduct. The play ran for two three-day weekends November 14-16 and 21-23, 2014.

Miss Maude (Monica Helm) and Miss Myrtle (Carla Kerr)

Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe (Michael Carrillo) has deluded himself into thinking that the sisters agree with his changes

L to R: Vera Sanders (Glenda Elser), Dennis Sanders (Brian Braga), June Sanders (Monica Harris), Burl Sanders (Jesh Barker), Denise Sanders (Desiree Nielsen) and Stanley Sanders (Rod Barnes). Pastor Oglethorpe is in background.

Dennis whispers something to Denise (they're the twins) as June looks on and the pastor looks disturbed

Dennis and Denise sing and illustrate "Christian Cowboy" while Burl joins in singing

L to R: David Prose (Cousin Sam Sanders), Don Thorp (Uncle Joe Sanders), Vera at the piano, Pastor Oglethorpe, Dennis, Denise, Burl, Stanley, Miss Maude and Miss Myrtle (hidden behind Denise is June)

Dennis, aspiring to become a preacher, practices saving his dog

L to R: Uncle Joe, June (signing "lamb"), Pastor Oglethorpe, Vera, Dennis, Burl, Denise and Stanley singing "Are You Washed in the Blood"

L to R: Miss Maude, Miss Myrtle (fainting), Pastor Oglethorpe, Dennis and Burl during the singing of "I'll Live a Million Years"

Beginning of second act, the sisters trying to decide whether to stay and June and Denise looking properly chastised after they were perceived as dancing during the last song

L to R: Vera, June, Stanley, Denise, Burl and Dennis with Stanley singing "Everyone Home but Me"

L to R: June and Pastor Oglethorpe listening as Vera tells a children's story about a couple of June bugs

Vera reacting when the imaginary June bug breaks the string, landing on her, with Stanley reacting in background

I don't think I need to tell you what is happening to that June bug here

L to R the cast: Bette Colvin (church pianist), David Prose, Don Thorp, Glenda Elser, Brian Braga, Michael Carrillo, Jesh Barker, Monica Harris, Desiree Nielsen, Rod Barnes, Monica Helm and Carla Kerr (Doug Kerr is missing because he shot the picture)

Church Custodian (Doug Kerr)

The play was directed by Kirsten Barker and Connie Breding; Music Director Scott Hancock; Set Designer Will Bartlett; Assistant Director/Stage Manager Eli Holmes.

Smoke on the Mountain was written by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey and musical arrangements were by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick.

This play was well received in Alamogordo considering that it is not as well known here as in the more southern states. There were many compliments from theater attendees. It ran for two weekends on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. After the last matinee, one lady was heard to remark, "I can't believe this is the last show. I just want to go and tell everyone to come see it."

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for the wonderful pictures and I took the one of him.

This is all I have to say for now.