	Stage Chat January 2006 – Edited by Stephen Oakes *Stage Chat* is the official publication of Dandenong Theatre Company, Inc. Print Post approved: PP 32699/0011 DTC is proudly supported by the City of Greater Dandenong community grants programme.
Dandenong Theatre Company PO Box 8028, Dandenong, VIC, 3175.	www.dandenongtheatre.org.au info@dandenongtheatre.org.au		ABN: 42 707 241 939 ASN: A 0007855 Z
From the President Hi everyone, hope your Christmas was merry and the year is starting well for you all. It promises to be an exciting one for us all here at DTC as we have three fabulous productions coming your way and an even more exciting move to “the Drum” in store. Our first production Popcorn by Ben Elton the English comedian, opens in two weeks time and is a clever satirical look at the darker side of American crime and values, with Hollywood as its backdrop. The talented Kym Davies (congrats on your two Lyrebird Nominations) is Directing an extremely talented (and might I add good-looking) cast. All is set for a sell out season with only 5 shows on offer (including a special midnight performance for you night owls!) so ring Natalie and Bill and book your tickets early! Les Misérables is back to the grindstone after Australia day and is already sounding awesome thanks to the expert guidance of Neil, Roz and Anthony. Stephen has been doing an amazing job of organising everything and keeping us all on track. Matt has already produced an article for the local journal Moondani increasing the profile of DTC and Les Mis. Thanks guys! Unfortunately we have had a few cast leave so if there are any men who would like to audition for ensemble in Les Mis please contact Stephen (0416 059 408) to book an audition time. All other positions in the cast and production team are filled other than costume designer/coordinator... so if anybody knows of someone who is able to fulfil this demanding role, once again please let Stephen know. We are currently taking expressions of interest for the production team of our second season production West Side Story. So contact us by email or phone for more details. I will also take this opportunity to thank the committee members from 2005 for all their hard work and congratulate and welcome the new committee for 2006. Of course, the saying that “many hands make light work” is very true so if you missed the AGM and would like to help with the background workings of the company (we’re such a fun bunch of people!!!) then give me a buzz and join our committee! Well that’s enough for now... you all know I’m verbose at the best of times! See you all at Popcorn!!!!! Cheers... Victoria Zainal, DTC President			DTC Committee, 2006 President - Victoria Zainal Vice President - Jason Bovaird Secretary - Elizabeth Fowler Treasurer – Anne McKay General Committee - Stephen Oakes Scott Hili Andrew McCormick DTC’s Calendar of events January 27^th-February 4^th Performances of Popcorn. April/May Performances of Les Misérables May Auditions for West Side Story. September Performances of West Side Story. From our Friends Windmill Theatre Company presents Monash Secondary College Theatre, June 2006 http://www.wtc-theatre.com/
		*Dandenong Theatre Company is proud to present Popcorn, by Ben Elton.* Directed by Kym Davies Monash Secondary College Theatre, January 27^th-February 4^th. 9790 0149

Bruce makes movies about serial killers. Wayne and Scout are serial killers. What does one have to do with the other? What happens when life actually imitates art imitating life? Academy Award nominated director and self proclaimed good guy Bruce Delemitri is about to find out that fame and notoriety sometimes come with obligations, whether he chooses to admit them or not.

Kym Davies (Popcorn director)

With a theatre career spanning over 10 years, Kym Davies has a fair idea of how to put a show together. This multi-multi- talented individual is currently in the middle of directing her second show, POPCORN by Ben Elton. But just to make things harder on herself, Kym is also acting in the show, designing the logo, the set and costumes, as well as playing an important part in the publicity; all this on top of being a single mum and holding down a busy full-time job.

2005 was a very successful year for Kym. She starred as ‘Truvy’ in Phoenix Theatre Company’s Steel Magnolias, in which she was nominated for a Lyrebird award for Best Leading Actress in a Drama, as well as being nominated for her set design. Kym, a DTC committee member for a number of years, also worked extensively on DTC’s FAME: The musical, designing both the costumes and of course the set – which earned her another nomination in this year’s Lyrebird awards.

Kym started her acting career at University, where she studied a Bachelor of Arts at La Trobe University Bundoora, majoring in Drama. Over the years, Kym has performed in countless productions and has covered almost every aspect of theatre, including Production Coordinating, Stage Managing, Lighting Operation and even Front of House. Kym’s first production with DTC was in 1997 in The Hot Mikado, directed by Robert Harvey (who, coincidently, Kym is currently directing in POPCORN!) Since then, she has acted in The John Wayne Principle, Gypsy, It’s My Party (and I’ll Die If I Want To) and designed sets for The King and I, It’s My Party, Carousel and FAME: The Musical.

POPCORN is Kym’s second go at Directing, after last years King Oedipus with BATS Theatre Company. Being an avid Ben Elton fan, she describes the opportunity to direct this play, something she has wanted to do for many years, as “Too good to be true. It’s just a good old fashioned dark satire. Nobody hits the nail on the head as precisely as Ben Elton and so far, the production is far exceeding my wildest expectations.”

If you are interested in Kym’s work, then come along and see a lot of it in action when POPCORN hits the stage on January 27. See page 3 for more details!

Production team wanted - West Side Story

DTC is delighted to announce that our second musical for 2006 will be West Side Story! We are seeking a production team to help us bring this show to the stage.

Those interested should contact Victoria Zainal on 0410 485 320 or email us at info@dandenongtheatre.org.au. Applications may also be mailed to our PO box.

Expressions of interest should be received by January 31^st.

Les Misérables - update

Rehearsals began last year for DTC's Les Misérables, to be performed in April and May. We have assembled an excellent cast, and have started learning the music, building the sets and many of the myriad other things required to bring such a huge production to the stage!

Tickets will go on sale at the end of January - please watch our website for updates! dandenongtheatre.org.au

POPCORN

DTC is proud to present Ben Elton’s theatrical adaptation of his best selling novel, POPCORN.

POPCORN is the story of Hollywood director Bruce Delimetri on the eve of the Academy award ceremony in which he has been nominated for Best Director for his graphically violent movie, Ordinary Americans. Right-wing America is of course outraged by both the movie and more so his Oscar nomination, quickly drawing comparisons between the movie and real-life ‘copy-cat’ killers, Wayne and Scout; AKA, the Mall Murderers.

Bearing a more-than-slight resemblance to movies such as Natural Born Killers, Kalafornia and Reservoir Dogs, Ben Elton, in his usual confronting style, explores such issues as cause and effect, fictional violence, mental depravity and social responsibility. POPCORN is as funny as it is shocking and as brutal as it is relevant. If you enjoy going to the movies, then this is the play for you.

This season will see the introduction of a midnight performance on Saturday January 28, something that DTC has done with success many years ago. Interest for this show has already been phenomenal, so it may pay to book your tickets early. (Audience numbers are restricted to 100 per show.)

Popcorn will be performed at:

Monash Secondary College Theatre

Corner of Duerdin Street & Nantilla Road, Clayton

Friday 27^th January – 8pm

Saturday 28^th January – 8pm

Saturday 28^th January - MIDNIGHT

Friday 3^rd February – 8pm

Saturday 4^th February – 8pm

TICKETS: $18 Adult, $16 Concession

Bill & Nat - 9790 0149

Dandenong Theatre Company would like to warn people that this play is rated MA 15+ and is not recommended for the weak-hearted. It contains satire, strong language, violence, drug use, sexual references and occasional people in their jocks.

The cast of Popcorn