A note from our artistic director...

Welcome and thank you for visiting the Taking Flight Theatre Company blog...

Our recent production of The Fox on the Fairway marked our final production at the NOVA Loudoun campus. We have enjoyed a 9+ year relationship with this location, but a combination of current budget constraints and Taking Flight Theatre Company’s rapid growth no longer enable the campus to share this space with us, as they have so generously done in the past. While we are saddened to leave our adopted home, we look forward to our next chapter.

In order to focus on the search for new rehearsal and performance spaces, we will suspend our public operations for the remainder of the 2013 season. We look forward to presenting The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Eurydice, and many future seasons of entertainment to you in our newhome.

As our audience, our community, and the very reason we exist, we ask your help in our search for a new venue. Our optimum space would have a production booth with light and sound, wing space, a backstage, access to a scene shop to build sets, the ability to access on weekends and evenings, and comfortable seating for our patrons. Please contact us by using the Get Involved tab with your thoughts. We are a not-for-profit501(c)3 organization. We also welcome you to follow our blog, as we'll be using it to update you all on our progress.

On a personal note, I have enjoyed performing, directing and working behind-the-scenes and in the boardroom (usually the nearest restaurant) for you, from the very first show presented on this stage until today. Our productions have been recognized for their artistic merit and entertainment value, and I am proud of the reputation we have established. I have made lifelong friends and learned untold lessons within these walls. Community theatre is just that, and the Loudoun County community is one we have been proud to be a part of.

Again, thank you for your support, and we look forward to welcoming you – our old friends – to our new home.

Until then…

Matthew Randall
Artistic Director
Taking Flight Theatre Company

Equus Cast Take a Field Trip

The cast of Equus, recently took a trip to a real working farm! They were able to get to know each other a little better, delve into some deep character development, and get up close and personal with some very beautiful horses. A great time was had by all. Check out some of the photos below!

A special thanks to ALLRAND Photography for taking these beautiful shots!

Bryan Maas (Alan), Sally Cusenza (Dora) and David Segal (Frank)

Will Spilman (Nugget) and Bryan Maas (Alan)

Bryan Maas (Alan) and Shaina Higgins (Jill)

Bryan Maas (Alan) and Shaina Higgins (Jill)

Aren't they just gorgeous??

Equus Cast Hard at Work!

It's been a while since we posted anything, but we thought now would be a great time to let all our trusted readers know that the cast of our upcoming fall show Equus, are hard at work to ensure we bring you our most cutting-edge show yet!

A big thank you of course to everyone who came out to audition  and congratulations to our cast. We can't wait to see you on stage next month!
Dr Dysart: Tel Monks
Alan: Bryan Maas
Jill: Shaina Higgins
Dora: Sally Cusenza
Frank: David Segal
Hesther: Susan d Garvey
Nurse: Wayne Jacques Nugget:
Will Spilman
Horse: Sam Hall
Horse: Christoff Visscher

Plot:
Equus is a Tony Award winning psychological thriller inspired by a true story. It tells the story of psychiatrist Dr. Dysart and his young patient, Alan Strang. Alan's dangerous obsession with horses leads him to commit an unthinkable crime, which leaves Dr. Dysart trying to unravel the reason why – leading to his own crisis of self-doubt. The show is filled with confrontation and mystery as it explores the relationships between devotion, myth and sexuality.

Show runs: November 2-4, 9-11 and 16-17. Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm 

Tickets:
$10 Students and Seniors. $15 General Admission. Group rates for 10+ available. Contact Katerina Paskaris.

Don't take it from us, take it from our patrons!

Of course it's easy for those of us at Taking Flight to be proud of our shows. But its when our patrons let us know what they thought that we're really proud. As a theater company, cast, and creative team, our primary goal with every show we put up is to captivate our audience. Next to Normal does just that from the first note sang to the final bow. Take a look at what some of our patrons are saying so far...

• I saw this show twice in New York with the original Broadway cast. Alice Ripley originated Diana and, over the course of a tour, completely devastated her voice. The acting and vocal chops required to portray Diana are intense, and I was thrilled to see that leading lady Holly McDade was more than up to the task. Apparently she's a new face in the DC community theater scene and I'll be sure to see whatever she's in! Second, the role of Gabe requires a true tenor with an impressive range, and the guy in this cast nailed it. "I'm Alive" and "There's a World" gave me goosebumps. Third, the chemistry between Henry (Michael Bigley, a DC community theater veteran) and Natalie (Claire O’Brien) was perfect. O'Brien's voice and characterization combined with Bigley's solid comedic timing made their scenes very enjoyable.
  
  
• There are THREE other DC-area community theater shows mounting productions of NEXT TO NORMAL over the next year or so, and they'll have to work hard to rival this impressive production. Kudos to the cast and crew. I'll be returning to see the show again before it closes!
  
  
• Outstanding performance....extremely powerful show...actors were all very strong with great voices...not an uplifting story but moving
  
  
• I'm still pinching myself. I really didn't think that the Taking Flight company could pull off this complicated musical. I saw it at the Kennedy Center last year, and I actually think I enjoyed this production more. The singing was excellent and the acting was pretty darn good too. Standout performances were Holly McDade and Keith Miller, but I thought that Claire O'Brien was outstanding. great singer and great actor. I really think she has a future as an accomplished actress. Really enjoyable evening. Well done!
  
  
• This was an amazingly powerful production...I saw the debut of the play at Signature Theater way back when, and this cast at TFT was in every way their equal. The music and lyrics are poetic and moving. I told my friends at the NAMI No Va chapter to get the word out about it, and also will tell everyone at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance to check it out. Bravo!
  
  
• Emotionally disconcerting! How many families have turmoil at home hidden from others? This show can really shake-up one's recollections and grab you around the heart. This is a brilliant entertaining show that I recommend to everyone.
  
  
• I had seen this at the Kennedy Center last year so I knew the story line (which is VERY powerful and very emotional!) They did a wonderful job--both in acting and singing (some really GREAT voices!) I cried the first time I saw it and I cried this time too! If you can--go see this GREAT production--there are two more weekends--BUT make sure you take tissues!
  
  
• Good script...good singing...had a good time
  

So, what are you waiting for? Buy your tickets online now, or pay with cash, check or credit card at the door!

The Reviews Are In!

Well, opening weekend has come and come, and Taking Flight Theatre Company couldn't be more proud of this stellar cast and production team. We're the first community theatre in the area to tackle this emotional and challenging show, and according to the reviewers, we've hit it out of the park. See what they have to say about Next to Normal!

DC Metro Theatre Arts
NOVA Showbiz

Show runs:
June 1-3, 8-10, 15-16
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM
Sundays at 7PM

Tickets:
$12 students/seniors
$18 general admission
Group discount available for groups of 10+
Cash, check & credit cards accepted at the door
Purchase tickets in advance, online

Location:
Waddell Theatre on NOVA’s Loudoun Campus
1000 Harry Byrd Highway (Rte. 7)
Sterling, VA 20164 

Next to Normal Opens Tomorrow!

(L to R) Michael Bigley (Henry), Claire O’Brien (Natalie), Holly McDade (Diana) and Keith Miller (Dan) 

We are so excited to be the first community theatre in the NoVa area to bring you Next to Normal. The cast and crew have been working diligently to bring you one fantastic show. Its heart breaking, moving, and yet somehow hopeful. And the icing on the cake? The music. You don't want to miss this Pulitzer Prize winning drama set to an intense rock score. We're positive you won't be disappointed!

Location:
Waddell Theatre on NOVA’s Loudoun Campus
1000 Harry Byrd Highway
Sterling, VA 20164

Show runs:
June 1-3, 8-10, 15-16
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM
Sundays at 7PM

Tickets:
$12 students/seniors
$18 general admission
Group discount available for groups of 10+
Cash, check & credit cards accepted at the door
Purchase tickets in advance online

(L to R) Claire O’Brien (Natalie) and Michael Bigley (Henry) 

Photos courtesy of Harold Bonacquist

Congratulations to the cast of The Unwicked Witch: An Unlikely Tale

Hannah Harrison - Winona

Natalie Harris - Gobble

Caroline McQuaig - Hobble

Pelin Belendir - Wobble

Bob Rosenberg - Simon

Wayne Jacques - Luke

The Unwicked Witch is the unlikely tale of a young girl, Winona, who lives with her grandmother, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother. These grandmothers happen to be the last three witches in the world - Hobble, Gobble and Wobble. Their goal is to teach Winona the ways of being a witch; but she just can't seem to get the hang of it. When some visitors wander into the house where the girl and her grandmothers live, a series of quirky and unusual events occur.

Written by Madge Miller

Directed by Colleen Stock

Show Dates:

June 9, 10, 16, 17Saturdays at 11am and 2pm
Sundays at 12pm