HCTF 2008 BLOG

HCTF 2008 BEST OF FESTIVAL WINNERS

2008-07-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

The 2008 Hub City Theatre Festival, which ran this past weekend at Cite des Arts, announced its selections for this year's Best of Festival Awards.

The festival uses a three-person adjudication board to determine winners in six categories. This year, adjudicators included Jack Reedy, a local theatre veteran; Ronnie Daigle, a board member of PASA; and Carmen Nicholson, a board member of Evangeline Players.

This year's festival included ten productions from local theatre companies and independent artists. Awards were presented to a winner and a runner-up.

This year's winners were:

Best Production: "Gertrude Stein and a Companion," Firelight Theatre. Runner up: "Momma Jass" by Austin Sonnier.

Audience Favorite: "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," Eunice Players. Runner up: "The Lamp" by Cindy Brown.

Best Play: "Committed" by Cody Daigle. Runner up: "Momma Jass" by Austin Sonnier.

Best Production Design: "Gertrude Stein and a Companion," Firelight Theatre. Runner up: "The Exile of Joe Gagliano" by Chere Coen.

Best Actor: Cody Daigle, "Committed." Runner up: Jerrod Arabie, "The Exile of Joe Gagliano."

Best Actress: Bria Hobgood, "Gertrude Stein and a Companion." Runner up: Laura Blum, "Gertrude Stein and a Companion."

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "Regarding Moore"

2008-07-12T14:56:00.001-05:00

What did you think of the production of the musical "Regarding Moore?"

Leave your brief review of the show as a comment on the blog, and read what other people thought of the show.

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "The Last Night of Ballyhoo"

2008-07-12T14:55:00.000-05:00

What did you think of the production of "The Last Night of Ballyhoo?"

Leave your brief review of the show as a comment on the blog, and read what other people thought of the show.

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "Exile"

2008-07-12T14:53:00.002-05:00

What did you think of the production of the musical "Exile?"

Leave your brief review of the show as a comment on the blog, and read what other people thought of the show.

FESTIVAL SATURDAY: QUESTION OF THE DAY

2008-07-12T09:29:00.001-05:00

Now that HCTF is half over, what have been the highlights? Surprises?

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "The Call of Zagnuts"

2008-07-11T22:52:00.001-05:00

What did you think of "The Call of Zagnuts?"

Leave a brief review as a comment on the blog, and read what others thought of the show.

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "Committed"

2008-07-11T17:32:00.000-05:00

What did you think of Cody Daigle's "Committed?"

Leave your brief review of the piece as a comment on the blog, and see what others thought of the show.

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "Momma Jass"

2008-07-11T17:31:00.000-05:00

What did you think of Austin Sonnier's "Momma Jass?"

Leave your brief review of the piece as a comment on the blog, and see what others thought of the show.

HCTF AUDIENCE REVIEW: "The Exile of Joe Gagliano"

2008-07-11T17:28:00.004-05:00

What did you think of Chere Coen's "The Exile of Joe Gagliano?"

Leave your brief review of the piece as a comment on the blog, and see what others thought of the show.

FESTIVAL FRIDAY: QUESTION OF THE DAY

2008-07-11T00:12:00.000-05:00

This year, through HCTF Interactive, HCTF sought out more ways for audience members to interact with the festival. What other ways do you think would connect audience members to a creative festival experience?

HCTF Audience Review: "Gertrude Stein and a Companion"

2008-07-10T17:43:00.001-05:00

What did you think of Firelight Theatre's production of Win Wells' "Gertrude Stein and a Companion?"

Leave your brief review of the piece as a comment on the blog, and see what others thought of the show.

HCTF Audience Reviews: "To Protect and Sever"

2008-07-10T17:42:00.000-05:00

What did you think of Stephen Cooper's "To Protect and Sever?"

Leave your brief review of the world premiere satire as a comment on the blog, and see what others thought of the show.

HCTF Audience Reviews: "The Lamp"

2008-07-10T17:40:00.001-05:00

What did you think of Cindy Brown's "The Lamp?"

Leave your brief review of the world premiere comedy as a comment on the blog, and see what others thought of the show.

FESTIVAL THURSDAY: QUESTION OF THE DAY

2008-07-10T09:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight, festivalgoers get a mix of original material and previously published work. Does one excite you more than the other? Or do they both bring fresh voices to the HCTF experience?

HCTF 2008 BEGINS!!!

2008-07-10T09:35:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the opening night of HCTF 2008. The weeks of hard work are going to finally pay off, starting tonight.

Tonight, 3 shows make their HCTF debut - "The Lamp" by Cindy Brown, "To Protect and Sever" by Steven Cooper, and "Gertrude Stein and a Companion" by Win Wells.

Come out and support these three shows and kick off HCTF 2008 with a bang!

7.8.2007 Question of the Day

2008-07-08T11:23:00.000-05:00

HCTF 2008 is two days away!

What do you think will be the surprise of the festival?

HCTF Q&A: Committed

2008-07-08T11:19:00.000-05:00

1. What's your show?
"Committed," a solo show by Cody Daigle.

2. Describe your show in under 20 words.
It's about how I got from the closet to the chapel (one day, hopefully).

3. Who should definitely be in the audience for your show?
Anyone who thinks gay marriage is an important issue, regardless of what side you're on.

4. Who should definitely NOT be in the audience for you show?
George Bush. James Dobson. Rick Santorum.

5. What's the one thing you want people to know about your show?
It's not a polemic. Most of it's personal. If you saw and liked "Feminine Side," you'll probably enjoy this.

HCTF Q&A: Regarding Moore

2008-07-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

1. What's your show?
Regarding Moore / Nick Hwang & Christine Baniewicz, autors / featuring Mike Sage and Kayla Herrington, actors

2. Describe your show in under 20 words.
English professor Steven Moore confronts two conflicting forces: his recent literary fame and his relationship with a 19-year-old student.

3. Who should definitely be in the audience for your show?
Anyone intersted in musical theatre would enjoy this production; playwrites/musicians with questions about the process of co-writing a musical; audiences interested in seeing new theatre; supporters of student work.

4. Who should definitely NOT be in the audience for you show?
Young children--due to suggestive subject matter; audiences expecting a completely finished work.

5. What's the one thing you want people to know about your show?
It's the best musical in the festival! :)

07.07.08 Question of the Day

2008-07-07T09:26:00.001-05:00

HCTF 2008 is just a few days away. For our former participants and festivalgoers, what advice would you give newcomers to HCTf about enjoying the festival?

HCTF Q&A: To Protect and Sever

2008-07-07T09:23:00.000-05:00

1. What's your show?
To Protect & Sever. Written and directed by Steven Cooper. Starring Chris Deshazo, Angelle Bellard, and ensemble.

2. Describe your show in under 20 words.
It is a play about the threat of terrorism, domestic spying, and the education of our young.

3. Who should definitely be in the audience for your show?
People should come see this show if they are looking for a more interactive theater experience. People who are frustrated by extremists will enjoy this show. People who are looking for a laugh will be satisfied.

4. Who should definitely NOT be in the audience for you show?
People who are expecting Neil Simon might not get what they are looking for.

5. What's the one thing you want people to know about your show?
I want people to know that this play is about change. It's an absurd satire about the things I have watched happen over the past number of years and places I fear our education system could go. I hope people will find it funny and frightening at the same time.

HCTF Q&A: The Exile of Joe Gagliano

2008-07-03T16:12:00.000-05:00

1. What's your show?
The Exile Of Joe Gagliano/written by Chere' Coen/directed by Bruce Coen, featuring all local actors including Jenny Felder and Jerrod Arabie, two veterans of Acadiana stages.

2. Describe your show in under 20 words.
The Exile of Joe Gagliano takes place shortly after Hurricane Katrina as we see the Gagliano family dealing with the situation of evacuation after landing in Lafayette.

3. Who should definitely be in the audience for your show?
Most young adults and adults would definitely enjoy this show.

4. Who should definitely NOT be in the audience for you show?
Young children are probably not the right age considering there are a few colorful words peppered throughout the play.

5. What's the one thing you want people to know about your show?

The play was written by one of New Orlean's own. It deals with Chere'
Coen's personal feelings and experiences in regards to Katrina. The play is being directed by her husband, Bruce.

HCTF Visual Advance

2008-07-03T16:06:00.000-05:00

Here are some shots of some of the shows you'll see this year at HCTF 2008:

Gertrude Stein and a Companion-

The Lamp -

The Last Night of Ballyhoo -

07.02.2008 Question of the Day

2008-07-02T13:41:00.000-05:00

Since the Blog is a new componement of the festival, what are some ways you'd like to see the blog used during the festival?

06.30.08 Question of the Day

2008-06-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

What's the one show missing from this year's HCTF lineup (genre, artist, local company) that you wish was on the bill?

HCTF Q&A: The Last Night of Ballyhoo

2008-06-27T13:40:00.000-05:00

We sent a brief Q&A to all HCTF participating productions, in order to get to know a little more about the shows. Here's the first -- our festival closer, Eunice Players' The Last Night of Ballyhoo.

Feel free to add comments or questions to get to know each show a little better.

1. What's your show?
The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry. Cast includes Claire Anding, Deborah D. Ardoin, Jody L. Powell, Abby Deger and Ryan Buxton of Eunice; Gabe Ortego of Opelousas; and Wesley Saunders of Pine Prairie.

2. What's your show about, in 20 words.
Light comedy underscores the tensions that arise when family of Jewish southerners prepares for Ballyhoo, the annual German-Jewish ball.

3. Who should definitely be in the audience for your show?
People who appreciate a period piece with writing that allows the story's characters to have a sense of humor mixed with their flaws.

4. Who should definitely NOT be in the audience for you show?
Young children.

5. What's the one thing you want people to know about your show?
It is a published work, condensed from its original length, with a major storyline excluded.

6.27.2008 Question of the Day

2008-06-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

This one's for the participants past and present...

What's one thing you hope people come to appreciate about local theatre from attending HCTF?

6.26.2008: Question of the Day

2008-06-26T12:58:00.000-05:00

For the second year, HCTF features a large number of world premiere works by local writers. Are you surprised at the number of original works, or is it something you've come to expect from local theatre?

06.25.2008 Question of the Day

2008-06-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

What's the one thing you're most looking forward to seeing at this year's HCTF?

HCTF Poster

2008-06-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

Here's a look at this year's HCTF poster:

6.24.2008: Question of the Day

2008-06-24T10:22:00.000-05:00

This year slate of shows includes a lot of faces from last year's HCTF. For all the returning HCTF-ers and audience members from last year, what's your best memory of HCTF 2007?

Welcome!

2008-06-24T08:07:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the HCTF 2008 blog!

From here through the end of this year's festival, the blog will serve as an online gathering place for participants, festival staff, and theatregoers to connect and discuss the shows and events of HCTF 2008.

Features of the blog will include:

-- Q&As with show creators, giving you some insight into the pieces you'll see at HCTF 2008/

-- "Question of the Day," to generate some conversation about the work we're all doing to prepare for festival.

-- posts with photos of our shows in progress

-- updates from HCTF staff on how the festival is going

-- some other surprises along the way!

Also, look for the blog to be an integral part of the festival itself -- it will be updated live throughout the festival with feedback, audience notes, and other fun items.

It's going to be a terrific HCTF this year, so let's get blogging!