LAKEPORT — The Lake County Arts Council (LCAC) is forming partnerships with both Mendocino College Lake Center Theatre Class 220 (Acting/Performance) and the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in presenting “The Dastardly Doctor Devereaux” by Billy St. John, a December family production. This is the third production of the acting course, following successful productions of “Cinderella” and “The Pajama Game.”
Lake Center Theatre Class 220, taught and directed by Carol Dobusch, a long-term theater director and actress in Lake County, gives anyone and everyone the opportunity to be on stage or backstage and earn undergraduate college credit for participation. The first class will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the arts council gallery at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport.
The partnership of the Lake County Arts Council”s support has made this production possible for the Mendocino College ? Lake Center Acting Class to go forward and produce the musical melodrama in December. By expanding its repertoire from visual arts into the dramatic arts, the LCAC is demonstrating the commitment of the arts council to the larger community and to a broader public education in the arts. “This partnership is a great opportunity for Lake County Arts Council to complete its mission by extending arts and education about the arts to the community,” says Shelby Posada, executive director and board member of the arts council.
The Soper-Reese Community Theatre facility was made possible for Lake County to purchase when Jim and Florence Soper donated the money to the Lake County Arts Council to purchase the nostalgic old Main Street cinema, previously owned and operated by the late Bob Reese. The deco movie house is in the second stage of renovation, and has evolved into a charming community playhouse and multi-purpose facility designed for all types of programming, meetings and productions, including concerts and dance reviews.
Current fundraising efforts culminating in a dinner and dance at the theater facility on Oct. 3 will support the completion of a building in the back of the theater for dressing rooms, wheel-chair accessible rest rooms and a green room. The third phase of fund raising and construction will include the renovation of the lobby, box office and new public restrooms in the front of the building and a new theater fa?ade that will finalize the long-term construction plans of the community theater project, directed by Mike Adams, chair of the Construction Committee.
The collaboration between the three nonprofit organizations was facilitated by Mark Rawitsch, dean of the Lake and Willits Center of Mendocino College; Shelby Posada, executive director of the Lake County Arts Council; Carol Dobusch, class instructor and production director; and John Ross, chair of the Soper-Reese Community Theatre project. Taira St. John, producer of the upcoming play; and Jenna Radtke, assistant producer; assisted in the organization of the project.
You can register for Theatre (Acting/Production 220) at Mendocino College ? Lake Center, located at 1005 Parallel Drive in Lakeport, to be part of the fun and community theatrical effort.
“The Dastardly Doctor Devereaux” is a hilarious melodrama-opera about an ambitious doctor, a smitten nurse, a wealthy widow and a young lady who just can”t stop herself from singing out her life story to everyone she meets.
Auditions are open to anyone registered for the class and are scheduled to take place shortly after classes begin on Sept. 15. The first two classes will be launched at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 and 22 at the Lake County Arts Council Gallery, located at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport.
For more information, call Carol Dobusch, 279-1169; Taira St. John, 262-0400; or Jenna Radtke, 533-7472. Or you may call the college at 263-4944, the Lake County Arts Council at 263-6658; or the Soper-Reese Community Theatre at 263-0577.
