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Embassy Sets Auditions

September 14th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Embassy Theatre announces its staff and cast for the upcoming "Sex With Strangers", scheduled for Sept 23-25 and Sept 30-Oct 1-2.

"Sex With Strangers" was written by Laura Eason, a freelance writer on Netflix's HOUSE OF CARDS. "Embassy's two-person cast will be regional theatre fan favorites Kimberli Rowley as Olivia and Bryan Martha as Ethan," states public relations director Trish Morgan.

Tom Valentine, director, is currently teaching Acting/Theater at Potomac State and has directed shows since 1999,  including  LES MISERABLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, CHICAGO, CATS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and MY FAIR LADY among others. He has acted in or directed over 125 productions. He was awarded the ARTS-STANDING ACHIEVEMENT Award by the Allegany Arts Council in 2012. He has performed at Bedford Springs Hotel, Rocky Gap Resort, Alpine Lake Resort, Holiday Inn,  and Capon Springs Resort. His favorite roles have been Tom in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Hysterium in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, Lazar Wolf in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Charlie Cowell in THE MUSIC MAN,  Doolittle in  MY FAIR LADY, and Sentor Wingwah in BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.  Other directing credits include ANNIE, CABARET, GREASE, ANYTHING GOES, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, GODSPELL, THE FANTASTICKS, and OUR TOWN. He was Artistic Director for Cumberland’s Stage Left Theater from 1985-1995, taking a local group to the 1992 Maryland One Act Play Tournament where they won Best Director and Best Ensemble Performance for their entry THE BRICK AND THE ROSE.

Kimberli Rowley (Olivia), returns to the Embassy stage in this two-person cast, and is currently part of the artistic team of Front & Centre Stage Productions – a company she helped found and was just named one of the new Artistic Directors of the Cumberland Theatre.  Recent onstage appearances include Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Inga in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Ulla in the PRODUCERS, Van's Sister in DOG SEES DOG, and Whatshername in AMERICAN IDIOT.

Bryan Murtha (Ethan) returns to the Embassy stage in Sex with Strangers. He is a graduate of Frostburg State University with his bachelor's degree in theatre. Some of Bryan's other roles in the area include CB in DOG SEES GOD, Berger in HAIR, Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED, Eric in UNNECESSARY FARCE and Dogberry in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Embassy Theatre, built in 1931 and fully restored in Art Deco design, is located in downtown Cumberland at 49 Baltimore Street. For more information/reservations, call (240) 362-7183.

The Embassy Theatre is funded in part by The Allegany Arts Council and the City of Cumberland.

Embassy Theatreis also announcing auditions for its upcoming play entitled "The Artificial Jungle."

"Chester Nurdiger lives in the back of his kitsch exotic pet shop with his mother and his bored wife Roxanne," says director Jerard Puckett. "One day a drifter comes along and they hire him to work in the shop. Sparks are ignited between Roxanne and the slick Zachary Slade. They plot to murder Chester and feed him to the piranhas."

Auditions will be held Sunday, Sept 18 from 4-8 pm at Embassy Theatre. The play will run Oct 14-16 and Oct 21-23, with the Sunday performances being matinees.

Roles available are as follows: Roxanne Nurdiger, Roxy for short, a hot-blooded vixen who conspires to bump off her pet store owner of a husband; Chester Nurdiger, a loveable, unwanted husband; Zachary Slade, a slick rake and aspiring murderer, preening about in tight black jeans and a white T-shirt; Frankie Spinelli, an unsuspecting cop.

Actors will be expected to read sections from the script at auditions, and those earning roles must be available for all six performances. For more information, call (240) 362-7183 or visit Embassy Theatre on Facebook.

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