Dorks in Dungeons at it again
Two years ago, Dorks in Dungeons gave its audience "Geeks in Galaxies," an April Fools Day treat, a sci-fi rather than medievalist fantasy show. It was well-received, returned the following year, and even went on the road to Hal-Con. This year, "Geeks" is back as a trilogy, January through March, at 3S Artspace.
"So this is why," Dork/Geek Cullen Delangie starts. "As a group, we are into more than fantasy. All of us in Dorks in Dungeons are nerds about sci-fi as well. It's a really fun and interesting universe to explore."
Think an intermission in the middle of Dorks' season, he says. "And all great sci-fis come in trilogies. ... We thought it would be cool to explore the lives of more than one crew in the universe."
Earlier "Geeks" all featured the same crew with players reprising their characters. This time they'll mix it up. Each show will feature a new spaceship and crew, with a shared thread. "Where one leaves off, the next - in some way - will pick up again."
"Much like 'Dorks in Dungeons' is a love letter to 'Lord of the Rings,' Dungeons and Dragons, and all things fantasy games, 'Geeks in Galaxies' is a homage to everything we love in science fiction; nods to 'Star Wars,' 'Battlestar Galactic,' ... 'Dr. Who.' They're all things we love."
Delangie will bring back the Great Mimoso "reimagined as Captain Mimoso, dashing and headstrong, and doing really ridiculous space stunts," he says. "The other two I'll be in the improv pit."
These Dorks go boldly where no Dork has gone before staring Jan. 26. Visit www.3sarts.org/theater-performances for tickets and more information.
PDP to present 'Godspell' at 3S
Patrick Dorow Productions will present its first off-campus production since moving to the Star Theatre at Kittery's Community Center. The teen production of "Godspell" is heading to 3S Artspace in May.
"We're very excited to produce our first show at 3S, especially considering it was the location of our first studio space," Founding Artistic Director Patrick Dorow says. "The show was the first I saw as a child at the Prescott Park Arts Festival. I've always had a strong bond with the show."
"So when an opportunity came for us to partner with 3S, the first show that came to mind was 'Godspell;' a brand new adaptation, with 30 teenagers telling the story of community, love and acceptance."
The company is also expanding its main-stage runtimes. PDP is adding Wednesday nights and a Sunday matinee to each show, making for seven-show weeks.
"A big reason for adding performances is we're having some of our productions sell out in advance now. 'Home for the Holidays,' 'Hairspray,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Les Mis' were sold-out runs."
PDP is also expanding one youth summer camp program. Both "Alice in Wonderland" and "Annie Jr." are the usual two weeks. "Seussical the Musical" will run three.
"It will have professionals to help put up the show and to work with them on dance, music and acting, and it will have professional costumes."
Up next: "Sister Act," Jan. 19 to Feb. 4. Visit www.patrickdorowproductions.com.
News from busy Chris Klaxton
Chris Klaxton has lots of happening, three of them "big ones." "First up chronologically, I'm working with a new configuration of artists," Klaxton says.
This latest lineup includes guitarist Peter Herman, "a virtuosic player that plays all styles."
"So ... Feb. 10, we have a show at the (Kittery) Dance Hall, and this involves Peter, myself and John Mettam ... another new addition to the musical family; a drummer that relocated from Brooklyn to South Berwick."
The lineup includes Scott Kiefner on bass ("probably the busiest on the Seacoast") and Taylor O'Donnell, last year's Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra's artist-in-residence. "We'll be doing it off and on in the future for sure; not a special band, but The Klaxton and O'Donnell Group."
Then it's back to the Dance Hall on March 24 "with a performance by New Orleans' trumpeter Wendell Brunious. He comes from a jazz- and trumpet-playing dynasty out of New Orleans," Klaxton says. "He was a member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for the better part of 30 years and played with the who's who in jazz."
The show will include selections from Brunious' favorite album "Clifford Brown with Strings."
"This portion will feature a string quartet, combined with the jazz combo ... sponsored by Parma Music Group."
On April 27, Klaxton performs with his "Ourbigband," at 3S Artspace . The group will host NYC's Ben Allison, "one of jazz's finest and busiest composers and bass players."
Putting it all together has been "time-intensive, but a labor of love," Klaxton says. And lots of help. Klaxton gives a list of thanks - too long for this column. Among them is Russ Grazier at Portsmouth Music and Art Center, who invites visiting musicians to teach master classes and offers rehearsal space. "I owe a lot of people."
Seacoast Rep adds staff members
Lots going on at Seacoast Repertory Theatre at the moment. For starters, "we've staffed up," Director of Marketing and Development Brian Kelly says. There are new hires and some staff shuffles.
New positions include Ben Bagley as media coordinator, Kristen Henrick as Youth Production Manager, Kim D'Agnese as Red Light Production Manager, Katie Juster as Classes Coordinator, and Tim Hackney as a director and instructor for the Senior Repertory program. Internal shuffles are Sam Smith was promoted to Mainstage Production Manager and Andrew Cameron is now full-time Sound Engineer.
"Andrew and Sam Smith were always full-time. We've just shifted them. The rest are part-time," Kelly says. "It's important to know these people are also performers, so some fill in the rest of their time here as well."
Kelly Grete Gibson is now strictly Lighting Director, dropping any production management responsibilities. "We have so many productions this year we decided she has a lot of lighting to do, so we split the production managing between three people."
The changes come now because they're needed and the organization is in a better place, Kelly says. Finances were ("and still are") a limiting factor. "But as we get healthier and more confident and sales increase, we are able to increase the programming to accommodate that."
It's a "gigantic" season for the theater, which has added shows, he says. "As many as the space here will allow."
Next up "Hunchback of Notre Dame." Visit www.seacoastrep.org for tickets and showtimes.
Take a selfie at NHAA
The New Hampshire Art Association recently closed for minor renovations. The venue was painted, and a new hanging system installed. "And we moved the small works area to the reception area," Public Relations Coordinator Suzanne Laurent says. "It's always been tucked away in the back. So now people will see it when they come in."
The former small works gallery now houses monthly exhibits. First up "Selfie," a single week pop-up exhibit, starting Jan. 21. "It's something we've never done before and it's just fun," Laurent says.
The gallery is already set with two new exhibits: "Feed the Soul" to benefit Gather (NHAA will collect food items for the food pantry) and "Looking Beyond Disability," a collaboration with One Sky Community Services, featuring works by One Sky clients, up through Jan. 29 (www.nhartassociation.org).
Jeanné McCartin has her eyes and ears out for Seacoast gossip. E-mail maskmakernh@gmail.com.