Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Kitchen Theatre Company's second show of the 2016/2017 season is Precious Nonsense by Rachel Lampert, directed by Sara Lampert Hoover, on stage October 16- November 8. The perfect antidote to today's dark political climate, Precious Nonsense is a sunny musical comedy packed with mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and gender-bending role-playing. Fun for the whole family. (Ages 7+)

Set in 1938, PRECIOUS NONSENSE introduces us to a ramshackle touring company, the Carter Family Savoyards. The founders and guiding forces of the company are the bombastic RDC Carter, and his long-suffering but equally strong-willed wife Angelina. After years of touring, they long to retire and pass on the leadership of the company to their son Frederic, who has up to now shown no interest in anything except getting away from his parents and their touring life as soon as he can. The Carter Family Savoyards also includes endearing ingenue Josephine, stage manager and philosopher, Pete, and the enigmatic music director, Herbie. Desperate to run away and join the theatre is the star-struck Samuel and the mysterious Mack, who both arrive on the scene.

Kitchen Theatre Company's outstanding cast for Precious Nonsense includes Broadway veteran Lydia Gaston* (Angelina), original Precious Nonsense cast member Eric Brooks* (RDC Carter), KTC favorite Emily Jackson, and five other New York City-based actor/singers making their Kitchen Theatre Company debuts: Patrick Halley* (Pete), Weston Allen Kemp (Samuel), Jillian Gottlieb* (Josephine), Coleman Hemsath (Frederic) and Thomas Conroy* (Herbie/Music Director). *Members of Actors Equity Association.

Precious Nonsense is by Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Director Rachel Lampert, who will be retiring at the end of this season after 20 years at the theater's helm. It was first produced in 2005 and played to packed houses. It was brought back for an encore production in 2010. With a retiring couple at its center, Precious Nonsense was a natural choice to revive for Lampert's final season.


The creative team includes: Sarah Frank (Set Designer), Erik Herskowitz (Lighting Design), Lisa Boquist (Costume Design), Thomas Conroy (Music Director), Jen Schilansky (Stage Manager) and returning director Sara Lampert Hoover, who was at the helm of the play's world premiere in 2005. Kitchen Theatre Company is offering a number of ancillary events in conjunction with this production. On Friday, October 21st, there will be a talkback with the cast, moderated by Lee Rayburn of WHCU. Friday, October 28th is Under-40 Night, which includes a free wine tasting before the show and swing dancing after the show to live music by Doug Robinson and Eric Aceto. Over-40s are welcome! On Wednesday, November 2nd there will be a free pre-show talk by Jeanne Goddard and Steve Stull on "Never Mind the Why and Wherefore: Life with Gilbert and Sullivan."

Precious Nonsense has the co-producing sponsorship of Tompkins Trust Company, production sponsorship of Cornell University Recruitment and Employment Center and the Big Red Bullet, and the media sponsorship of Lansing Star Online. Kitchen Theatre Company is grateful for the support of these businesses.

v12i39