The Richmond Community Theatre is seeking community artists to create poster and program art for its upcoming theatre production. The play, “The Dining Room” by AR Gurney Jr., is set in a single formal dining room where 18 scenes from different households — during different time periods — overlap and intertwine. Overall the play examines how culture changes through time and generations.
The back of the playbook describes the play: “The play is set in the dining room of a typical well-to-do household, the place where the family assembled daily for breakfast and dinner and for any and all special occasions. The action is a mosaic of interrelated scenes — some funny, some touching, some rueful — which, taken together, create an in-depth portrait of a vanishing species: the upper-middle-class. The actors change roles, personalities and ages as they portray a wide variety of characters, from little boys to stern grandfathers, and from giggling teenage girls to Irish housemaids. Each vignette introduces a new set of people and events; a father lectures his son on grammar and politics; a boy returns from boarding school to discover his mother’s infidelity; a senile grandmother doesn’t recognize her own sons at Christmas dinner; a daughter, her marriage a shambles, pleads futilely to return home, etc. Dovetailing swiftly and smoothly, the varied scenes coalesce, ultimately, into a theatrical experience of exceptional range, compassionate humor and abundant humanity.”
According to Director Shelly Walker, the theatre is looking for this concept: two eyes, or pairs of eyes. One should be old. One should be young. One should be male. One should be female. They both should have a formal chandelier and dining room table reflected in the pupil of the eye. But each eye should show a different perspective, emotion, or both.
All artists who submit well done and detailed work will be invited to a final dress rehearsal and the opening night celebration. Artists may submit only one piece of work. The artists’ work that is selected to appear on the program and poster will receive two complementary tickets to opening night.
“All art must be received by Monday, April 8,” said Walker. “Art work may be in black and white, or in color. All artists must agree to allow the theatre to make necessary changes to the work due to formatting and printing. Art work may be submitted by e-mail, mail or in person at the theatre on Monday, April 8. Electronic submissions are preferred, however drawing and paintings are acceptable.”
E-mail submissions may be sent to rctdirector@gmail.com. Mailed submissions should be sent to: Richmond Community Theatre, P.O. Box 635, Rockingham, N.C. 28380. Artists who wish to submit their work in person should bring it to the theatre Monday, April 8, between 6 and 7 p.m. All questions can be directed to Walker at rctdirector@gmail.com.
“The Dining Room” will open April 25 and run through May 5. Performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday are at 8 p.m. and performances on Sunday are at 2 p.m. All tickets are $10. There will not be a performance on Friday, May 3. The theatre will be dark to honor Richmond County’s Relay For Life event.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@civitasmedia.com.
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