Wednesday, June 26, 2013

OUR BLOG IS CLOSING, BUT USE OUR WEBSITE!

This blog is now closed



For all the latest news 


and 


information on 


The Madrid Players 


please go to our website 


www.madridplayers.org/



Thank you!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Friday, June 07, 2013


The Madrid Players presents its last production of the season,

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN NUTS

Two short plays on uncertainty by Victor Gibson

vicposter

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN NUTS is being performed on

Friday 21st June at 8.00pm

Saturday 22nd June at 6.00pm and 8.30pm


at

Centro Gallego

C/ Carretas, 14, 3º

Metro: Tirso de Molina / Sol

Tickets cost just 8€ each

You can reserve your tickets now by emailing

ticketsmadridplayers@gmail.com


WARNING: MAY CONTAIN NUTS

is the collective title for two one-act plays which may make those who see them question their acceptance of reality. What is the truth? Is it what we perceive it to be, regardless of what those around us think?
In CONFUSION an old man, his daughter and the workers in the home where he lives are faced with problems created by his view of his world, and those who inhabit it.
BEING SECTIONED considers the relationship between a husband and wife, and whether either of them is telling the truth when one of them calls the social services.

About the Author

Victor Gibson is an experienced author who has written professionally for over 20 years and has had three books published. He has written a number of plays, some performed in both Madrid and Edinburgh during the festival.

The plays contain some strong language and occasional moderate sexual references

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Auditions for THE CONSTANT QUENE

It is with great pleasure that we announce dates for auditions for The Madrid Players Autumn 2013 Production
THE CONSTANT QUENE:
A tribute to the life of England's Spanish Queen,
KATHERINE OF ARAGON
and in memory of the fallen at FLODDEN FIELD (September 1513)

Sunday 16th June 2 sessions - 5pm and 7pm Adult ACTING auditions only
Monday 17th June 2 sessions - 8pm and 9.30pm Adult ACTING auditions only
Wednesday 19th June 1 session - 8pm till 11pm Adult SINGING auditions only
Saturday 22nd June Group Audition starts 11am – 1pm Children's auditions only.
Saturday 22nd June 2pm Adults recalls – Acting and Singing




The Constant Quene is a historical pageant with early music. There will be a large cast of substantial character roles and powerful cameos for women and men (of all ages from 16+), as well as an adult madrigal chorus and a children's chorus for nursery rhymes, ballads and dances. These are OPEN auditions, so please feel free to spread the word - especially for the children's parts – to family and friends.

AUDITION TIMES: These times are quite specific because many of the parts will be read for in small groups. For example there are three narrators and they must have a strong group chemistry. Please arrive promptly for each session.

AUDIENCE: We will welcome an audience for auditions too - so if you are not convinced you want to audition but would like to be a spectator, please feel free to come along. We anticipate many excellent performances and all that hard work deserves to be appreciated, like any performance does!!

The CHILDREN'S chorus. Children will audition together as a group so please be prompt to start at 11am. There are no child protagonists and no need for strong individual singers. Children should be at least a mature 8 years - up to 15 - with the ability to learn lines and a simple dance choreography and focus well for a 2-hour rehearsal.

PREPARATION: The most important quality we are looking for is strong vocal and physical presence. We do not expect lines to be learnt but we are looking for reading with authority and a good ability to capture the attention and imagination of your audience and the ability to express emotionally a range of intensity –in other words, to tell us the story and keep us on the edge of our seats! We are not particularly interested in look-a-likes or age-specific actors – If you believe you can tackle the character, then we say go for it!! There are larger parts and parts of few lines but all carry the same weight historically – don’t forget Judy Dench won an Oscar for one line in Shakespeare in Love!!!

To help you prepare, we are making available notes on the different characters and key speeches. Please note, the script is a confidential document - written and adapted by Jim Trainor and Susannah Jones for this The Madrid Players production thus it is not being made generally available for public downloading. However, we will be happy to send everyone who asks for it individually a copy and we ask you to respect that it is for your own private use, to help prepare for audition and must not be loaded onto the internet or generally copied or distributed.

Here’s some lateral thinking - relevant for everyone – about how one might work on developing a strong presence i.e. deliver that one line that no-one ever forgets. Thinking of our present queen: what is it about her that gives her amazing presence, and what would happen if she suddenly moved or acted in a way we didn’t expect on a great state occasion? What would that movement be? Here’s some interesting footage where she says some fascinating things about her role:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgtz16P7vk8

Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries: Susannah Jones 679234707 lewis.susannah@gmail.com and Jim Trainor on jimtrainor2003@yahoo.co.uk.

Happy researching and see you at the auditions!


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Production meeting this Sunday, 2nd June at 5pm

Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting and help us work towards our October production of THE CONSTANT QUENE. 


Preparations for the October show begin with a PRE-PRODUCTION MEETING on Sunday 2nd June 2013 at 5pm in the Clubhouse: Plaza Perseo 9, metro: Conde Casal (for the uninitiated). We are very interesting in including members who have previous production expertise and those members who would like to try their hand at something new as well as prospective new members, or those who would like to join The Madrid Players and feel they have something to contribute to our production. 

Please consider whether there is an area of production that interests you, even if you have not been involved in production before and please let us know:
a. that you would like to come to the meeting (numbers are relevant for setting up the meeting and providing refreshment!!)
b. tell us beforehand what you are interested in doing for this production - ie. costumes, set, publicity, house manager etc. and if we don't know it already, a little about your experience.
Please feel free to pass this email on to someone if you feel they may be interested in becoming a member and helping out with this production.

Please either email one of us directly: Jim Trainor (jimtrainor2003@yahoo.co.uk) or Susannah Jones (lewis.susannah@gmail.com) or directly back to Kevin (madridplayers@gmail.com) as president of The Madrid Players and our Executive Producer.


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Thanks to everyone who came and made STEEL
MAGNOLIAS such a success! 

See you again soon, The Madrid Players


Sunday, March 31, 2013

THIS YEAR'S SPRING CLASSIC


The Madrid Players is proud to present this year’s 
Spring Classic
Steel Magnolias
by Robert Harling



Steel Magnolias is being performed on



Thursday 9th May at 8.30pm
Friday 10th May at 8.30pm
Saturday 11th May at 5.30pm and 8.30pm
Sunday 12th May at 6pm


at
Instituto Cardenal Cisneros
C/ Reyes, 4
Metro: Plaza de España / Noviciado



Tickets cost just 12€ each



You can reserve your tickets now by emailing



Don’t miss this wonderful Spring Classic
Steel Magnolias is sponsored by 
and 







Saturday, March 30, 2013



The Madrid Players is very excited to announce the auditions next Tuesday and Thursday for our big June production, 



WARNING: MAY CONTAIN NUTS
Two short plays on uncertainty by Victor Gibson.






These two one-act plays will be performed in mid-June.

Auditions are Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th April 20.30 - 22.30 in the clubhouse - PLAZA PERSEO 9, (opposite C/ Perseo, 14) METRO CONDE DE CASAL, MADRID

Please email madridplayers@gmail.com to receive the synopses of the plays, a list of characters and some script excerpts to help you prepare.

There is a great range of characters of both sexes and all ages, so we hope to see you down the clubhouse on Tuesday or Thursday. Break a leg at the audition!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Sunday, March 17, 2013

A wonderful finale to this spring's Kids Workshop. Congratulations to Anne Lydon and to all the children.

The future of The Madrid Players is in safe hands! 

Photos kindly reproduced with parents' permission.













Thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed For Love Nor Money.  Two full houses, two lovely audiences!
See you at the next show!



Monday, February 25, 2013

Next weekend!

The Madrid Players
has the pleasure of inviting you to an entertaining evening of songs and sketches,


For Love Nor Money

       

Entrance is just 10€
Buy your tickets on the door

Come along and enjoy a sparkling show in speech and song on:

Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March at 20.00

Centro Gallego
C/ Carretas, 14, 3º

Metro - Sol
See you there!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Get involved in a production!


Rehearsals are well under way for May's production of Steel Magnolias, so now it's time to turn to production for the play and this is a great chance for you to get involved. 

It doesn't matter whether you are a regular member of a production team or it is your first time, we would love to see you at the first production meeting on Wednesday 27th February 8pm-9pm in the clubhouse.  Plaza Perseo, 9.  Metro - Conde de Casal.

We're looking for people to volunteer in the following areas.


BACKSTAGE
During the performances, the stage manager is in charge of everything that goes on back stage: set changes; getting actors on stage on time; keeping everybody quiet backstage.  The stage manager needs to attend a few rehearsals as the show gets closer in order know what's going on and learn what needs doing when.  The stage manager will run a small team of backstage hands, who help to move the set and put the props in place etc.

SET 
set designer is needed to create the set and then work with a group of set construction volunteers to build the set.  For this play there is just one set, the interior of a hair dressing salon run from the back of someone's house in the southern states of the USA.

PROPS 
We also need someone to take care of props (all the smaller objects that are seen and used on stage).  The person in charge makes out a list of all props and then with team of props volunteersbegs, borrows, steals or, as a last resort, purchases all necessary props, both personal (to be handled/carried by actors) and stage (to 'dress' the set).

COSTUMES
We are looking for someone to run the costume department and possibly a small team of costume volunteers.  This may involve making costumes, but this production should be very straightforward, with all the clothes sourced from the actors or our costume store in the clubhouse. As a result, it's the perfect role for someone who's keen to help, but doesn't want to be overwhelmed.

MAKE-UP
The make-up designer designs the make-up to be used by actors and at some point should have a session with them to show them how to put it on.  Again, this should be very straightforward for this play, so the perfect play to cut your teeth on.

LIGHTS
The lighting technician designs lighting for the play and is in charge of hanging, operating and taking down lights. The lighting for this play is simple, and the lights in the theatre are basic, so again it's nothing complicated but I find it a really rewarding role in production.

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP
A team of advertising volunteers led by one co-ordinator contacts potential sponsors and advertisers, using a specially created dossier.   They then oversee the collection of the adverts to be put in the programme.

TICKETS
The person in charge of tickets controls the box office.  This includes getting the tickets printed, distributing them to vendors or possibly academic group bookings, co-ordinating the sales, running the box office during the shows.  Again, I've really enjoyed doing this in past shows.

BAR
We are looking for someone to run the non-alcoholic bar.  Basically, selling soft drinks and sweets during the interval as well as before and after each performance.


This is a great chance to be involved in what promises to be a wonderful production,the more the merrier!  We really hope to see you next Wednesday at 8pm down the clubhouse.  However, if you can't make it but you are still keen to help out then email us at madridplayers@gmail.com and we'll make sure your name is down in the area you want to volunteer for.

See you there!

Monday, February 18, 2013


                  The Madrid Players present:


               
              "FOR LOVE NOR MONEY"   
                




Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of March at 8PM
Centro Gallego (Calle Carretas, 14)
Tickets 10 euros

Sunday, January 27, 2013





           
        *****AUDITIONS*****

STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling.

Auditions will take place in the Clubhouse, Plaza Perseo 9 (Metro Conde de Casal)

Tuesday February 5th. 8.30 – 10.30

Thursday February 7th., 8.30 -10.30
Possible call-backs on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 9th.-10th., at a time t.b.c.



Performance dates: 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of may.

Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling, is a comedy-drama set
in a beauty parlour in Natchitoches, Louisiana, visited over time by the same group of women, and explores the bond they form there.
Come and be part of this beautiful story about life, love and friendship that will stay in people's hearts long after they have left the theatre.

List of Characters:

Ouser Boudreaux - 55-65 - "crazy", always in a bad mood, but actually very kind hearted
Clairee Belcher - 55-65 - an eccentric millionaire
M'Lynn Eatenton - 40-50 - the local social leader, people look up to her
Truvy Jones - 35-45 - owner of the beauty parlor, wise-cracking, outspoken
Shelby Eatenton-Latchene - 17-21 (no problem if a little older) - M'Lynn's beautiful daughter, she is about to get married and is a diabetic
Annelle Dupup-Desoto 18-25 (no problem if a little older) - Truvy's helper - eager, initially very shy and very religious, undergoes a transformation throughout the play.


The ability of speaking in a southern accent is important, BUT not essential.

Please come with one very short monologue prepared. You will be asked to do a cold reading from the script as well.
For more information please contact Parisa at: parisa1979@gmail.com

Friday, January 25, 2013

                           
   THE MADRID PLAYERS PRESENT  



         ---THE PARTING GLASS---

 A Dramatised Play-reading by Dermot Bolger. 
 
      
February 15th and 16th.8PM

Centro Gallego (Calle Carretas, 14, 3º)                           

Sunday, January 06, 2013

                            ******** AUDITION**********




AUDITIONS for THE PARTING GLASS by DERMOT BOLGER ( a rehearsed play-reading ) will take place this THURSDAY JANUARY 10th. from 8.30 to 10.30 p.m.  
 
 Clubhouse, Plaza Perseo 9. (Metro Conde de Casal)
More information from madridplayers@gmail.com