Dates: Friday 4/24, Sat 4/25, and Sun 4/26

Time: First Course served at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:15pm

Place: SDITC Theatre-900 West Broadway, Butte

Admission: $10 per person, group of 4=$30, 5 or more=$2 off admission

Performers: Bruce Wayne Brackett, Peytan Campbell, Melissa Ann Hansen, Brianne Holland-Stergar, Woody Kelleher, Amanda Lindgren, Megan Ness, Quincy Rohach, Randy Skates, Cheri Taylor-Trbovich, Makayla Walker, Tabitha Walks, Tishina Walks, Tristan Walks, Amy Welsh, Kaitlyn Welsh.

Menu: First Course-Soup & Salad
Second Course-Spaghetti & Bread
Dessert-Apple Crisp Ala Mode

Reservations: Please call 498-3483, space is limited

Please attend, and share this info with others who may wish to attend.

Many Thanks-
Melissa

Theater Review: ‘Last Five Years’ has right balance
By Cheri Taylor-Trbovich – 04/03/2009

Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Co.’s production of “The Last Five Years” sensitively and honestly portrays a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a writer (Landon Hansen), and Cathy Hiatt, a performer (JoAnne McAllister-Nordhagen).

They each recount the history of their relationship, she from end to beginning, and he from beginning to end.

Hansen and McAllister-Nordhagen have created complex characters that are relatable, and compliment one another beautifully. Both deliver commanding individual vocal performances, and together sound absolutely marvelous. Each proves that stage performance is his or her forte, and makes “The Last Five Years” a must-see production.

The music is fabulous and encompasses a variety of musical styles. Each of the 14 songs tells an independent story, and the author has brilliantly woven them together to create an engaging and genuine musical. My hat’s off to music director Dave Coleman and the orchestra who so capably play such a diverse score.

My favorite songs include “The Schmuel Song,” set during the holiday season. In this song, Hansen does a superb job addressing Jamie’s concern for Cathy’s future. He tells a story about a Jewish character, Schmuel, in which parallels are drawn to illustrate Cathy’s need to “take a breath, take a chance, take your time.” The portrayal is charming and endearing.

In “Climbing Uphill,” Cathy examines the balance between her marriage, career and her husband’s successes. She shows her vulnerability, insecurity and final resolve to “not be the girl who requires a man to get by.” McAllister-Nordhagen shows versatility and gives so much through her stunning voice.

“The Last Five Years” is a poignant and heartrending production that offers the right balance of emotion, reality and humor to make it an enjoyable experience. I strongly recommend this production, which is best suited for mature audiences.

Cheri Taylor-Trbovich majored in drama dance at the University of Montana, where she earned a degree in interpersonal communications. She is a veteran stage performer who has appeared with a variety of acting troupes in Butte over the past 20 years.

If you go … Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Co. presents the contemporary musical, “The Last Five Years” at the troupe’s theater, 900 W. Broadway St. Shows are Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 5, at 2 p.m. “The Last Five Years” is appropriate for mature audiences, and reservations are requested. Adult admission is $11; student/senior admission is $9. Call 498-3483.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ will be staged Fri 12/14 at 7pm, Sat 12/15 at 2pm & 7pm, Sun 12/16 at 2pm, and the following weekend on Fri 12/21 at 7pm, Sat 12/22 at 2pm & 7pm, and Sun 12/23 at 2pm.

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

For more information or to secure reservations, please call 498-3483.

March is Disabilities Awareness Month and Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Company will be showcasing two plays to highlight and address this very topic. We will be presenting Same Difference: A Developmental Disabilities Awareness Play, in addition to Braille: The Early Life of Louis Braille.

Braille is an account of the early life of Louis Braille, who lived in France in the early 1800′s. When he was 9 years old, he had an accident, and became blind. He went to one of the world’s first Institutes for the Blind, where he developed the system by which blind people read and write today. This happened when he was 15 years old! It is a remarkable story.

For more information on both these shows, including showtimes and a complete cast list for Braille, please visit this page.

We are currently in Production for Seussical for an end-of-December run of performances.

The cast list and show information have been posted on the Seussical the Musical page. Be sure to check it out from time to time. We will be adding information periodically.

Our production schedule can be viewed here. Actors are expected to be at their required rehearsals.

Let’s have fun, work hard, and put on a great show.

This show features a very diverse cast who have chosen to participate in this production.

The show schedule is as fallows:

• Friday, October 20, 2006 at 7 PM
• Saturday, October 21, 2006 at 7 PM
• Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 2 PM

Admission is by donation. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Same Difference is currently in production of The Illustrated Woman, which is a very intense drama about domestic violence, sexual abuse, and mental illness.

It is a fundraiser for Safe Space Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program, and will be October 20-21st.

This is one of the most socially sigificant productions we have undertaken, and Melissa believes it will be an extremely valuable educational tool. The cast includes: Jancee Hansen, Jean Gibson, Randy Skates, Cory Schneider, Regina Pate-Terry and Melissa Hansen.

Hope to see you there!