Dear Theatergoer,

We are into our final weekend of our second annual production of The Homecoming. Thank you to all who have come to see it and apologies to any of you who have been unable to get tickets. You can see photos of this year's production here and here.(More to come soon.) Our sell-out success is certainly a blessing and always a happy surprise! Maybe next year...

Our next offering will be The Blue Ridge Family Chorus in the cabaret on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5:30pm. This will be a free concert and refreshments will be provided. Please note that it is a Sunday at 5:30pm unlike our usual cabarets. It is also free, a holiday gift for our audiences.

Next on the mainstage is Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, running Jan. 18 - 28, with a free preview on Weds., Jan. 17. This production replaces our originally scheduled production of Poe and All That Jazz, which has been rescheduled for the fall of 2007. (Or POE-stPOE-ned...haha!) Love Letters is a bittersweet love story told through the letters of Andy and Melissa over the course of the 50-plus years of their relationship. Four different couples will be sharing the performances - the box office will have the cast information for each performance.

If you are feeling inclined to get involved backstage, we are looking for a Stage Manager for Love Letters, as well as for Uncle Vanya which opens in March. If you would like to know more about stage managing, or would like to volunteer in a different capacity, please call the theater at 361-1999.

Auditions for Uncle Vanya will be Mon., Dec. 11 and Tues., Dec. 12 from 6 - 9pm at the theater. Director Carol Pedersen is looking for a cast of 9, 5 men and 4 women, from 28 - 82. For further information, or to schedule an audition if Mon. or Tues. is not possible, please call Carol at 970-5072. Uncle Vanya is by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov and we are excited to be working in collaboration with Doug Grissom (Head of Playwriting at UVA) on his original adaptation of the play.

Dear Friend of the Hamner Theater,

Coming this Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:30: The Dinah Pehrson Band sings the blues. From their promo: "Dinah Pehrson and Vincent Day cover songs by great American blues artists Sonny Boy Williamson, T. Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and Stevie and Jimmy Vaughan. Accompanied by Spencer Lathrop, Dan Sebring and others, they also bring their unique blues mama twist to country and rock greats as well."

What makes this cabaret extra special is that is being offered as a benefit for Amy and Brian Webb, members of the Nelson community who lost their house in a fire last week. All tickets are $15.00 and include food that is being donated so that all proceeds will go to the Webbs. We will be pouring Bourbon - Lynchburg Lemonade, Bourbon Roses - and all bar proceeds will also be earmarked for the Webbs. Doors open at 6:30 and the show will start at 7:30. So come and enjoy the blues and raise a glass to the Webbs and know that you are doing your part to help your neighbors! (361-1999 for reservations)

If for some reason you don't have plans for this Saturday night, come to Cabaret #11 - Las Gitanas . This band of four women plays original music inspired and influenced by the traditions of Old-Time Appalachian, Hungarian,French, Cajun...in short, "Gypsy-lachian!"
Visit their myspace page

And if the music isn't tempting enough, consider the fare...polenta canapes with blue cheese and Pomegranate caviar...smoked salmon mousse on garlic shortbreads...chocolate hazelnut cheesecake bars...and more...

Dear Avid Theater-goer,

Coming Friday, Oct. 13 to the Hamner Theater, for one night only:
Charlottesville Playback Theater.

This may well be their only public appearance this fall so don't miss this opportunity to see them in action!

Tickets:$7.00 Show time:7:30pm
Reservations: 361-1999

Playback Theater is a unique improvisational form - rather than taking suggestions from the audience and using those ideas in their improvs, individual audience members are asked to tell entire stories in which he or she has played a major role; the "teller" then chooses actors to play the roles and watches as the troupe plays the story back, using a variety of forms and techniques. It is fun, cathartic in some cases, eye-opening in others but always interesting and well worth the ticket price of $7.00!

On Saturday, Oct. 21, Las Gitanas will bring their unique blend of musical sounds and styles - which they call "Gypsylachian" - to the Hamner Theater for our 10th cabaret evening.

Join us for fine food and drink and wonderful music.
Reservations are required for the $15.00 ticket which includes food.
Tickets at the door are $7.00 and do not include food.
Call 361-1999 for more info, directions or to reserve a seat.

Finally, it is never too soon to reserve a seat for The Homecoming. This family Christmas event opens Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 10 for a total of 12 performances. Don't miss out this year - reserve your seat today, and have a good, old-fashioned Nelson County Christmas!

Hope to see you down here!
Boomie Pedersen
Co-Artistic Director
Hamner Theater

For those who would like to have an onstage experience, auditions for the second annual production of Earl Hamner's The Homecoming will be Sun., Oct. 1 from 3 - 6pm and Mon., Oct. 2 from 5 - 7pm. Auditions will be cold readings - no preparation necessary. Parts for children 6 - 18; 3 women 40 and over; 3 men 40 and over; 1 man and 1 woman 30s; 1 African-American man 30 and over. Performance dates are Nov. 29 - Dec. 10, Tues. - Sun. Call 361-1999 for more information.

Coming Friday, Oct. 13 to the Hamner Theater: Charlottesville Playback Theater. Tickets are $7.00; show time:7:30pm. 361-1999 for reservations.