Ever wonder what’s going on out there? We do! Which is why we created our Out There series featuring new shows from beyond our borders. These daring and delightful performances deliver a dose of “wow, that was different!” to Nevada County. Their runs are short, so don’t miss out!
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Cthulhu the Musical
Brought to us by Puppeteers for Fears
RATED R - ADULTS ONLY - NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
Cthulhu the Musical
Brought to us by Puppeteers for Fears
RATED R - ADULTS ONLY - NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
After sold-out performances all over the west coast, Puppeteers for Fears, Oregon's only dedicated puppet musical horror troupe, will bring its original show, Cthulhu: the Musical!, to Nevada Theatre as part of the company’s 2023 summer tour.
Far from the lo-fi puppet show stereotype, this R-rated production features a full cast of five actors with elaborate custom-made puppets, a full-rock band, and projected multimedia backgrounds.
The play is adapted from the 1929 short story, The Call of Cthulhu,” by horror icon, H.P. Lovecraft, and tells the story of his most famous creation: Cthulhu, a giant, malevolent, octopus-faced elder god who hibernates beneath the ocean, communicating to humans through their dreams, slowly driving them mad. Though Lovecraft is not as much of a household name as writers like Stephen King or Edgar Allen Poe, he is widely considered to be the creator of the genre of gothic horror, and the creatures and themes he created are highly influential on modern literature of all genres. The story PFF chose to adapt is dark, disturbing, and totally unfit for musical comedy—all qualities that make it a perfect fit for their irreverent style.
“We are always looking to turn classic themes on their head instead of rehashing tired storylines,” says PFF Artistic Director Josh Gross. “So when thinking about what our next piece might be, I sometimes add the words, 'the musical,' to different phrases in conversation to see how people react, if it has that magic combination of familiar hook, and new twist. When I said, 'Cthulhu: the Musical,' for the first time, a bunch of heads immediately turned in my direction, and strangers started asking where they could see it. So I knew we had to do that as a show, even though the challenge of turning something so dark into musical comedy was pretty daunting. It was definitely worth it though. There was a lot of comedy to be found and this show is so much fun to perform.”
Cthulhu: the Musical! will be directed by Katy Curtis, and with a script and original songs from playwright Josh Gross. Performances will feature live puppetry, a full rock band, and multimedia backgrounds courtesy of visual artist and Production Designer, Aubry Hollingshead. It stars Hunter Prutch, Alyssa Marie Mathews, Alex Giorgi, Jake Raiter, Forest Gilpin, and features special musical guests, The Elephant.
Run time is approximately two hours with an intermission.
Far from the lo-fi puppet show stereotype, this R-rated production features a full cast of five actors with elaborate custom-made puppets, a full-rock band, and projected multimedia backgrounds.
The play is adapted from the 1929 short story, The Call of Cthulhu,” by horror icon, H.P. Lovecraft, and tells the story of his most famous creation: Cthulhu, a giant, malevolent, octopus-faced elder god who hibernates beneath the ocean, communicating to humans through their dreams, slowly driving them mad. Though Lovecraft is not as much of a household name as writers like Stephen King or Edgar Allen Poe, he is widely considered to be the creator of the genre of gothic horror, and the creatures and themes he created are highly influential on modern literature of all genres. The story PFF chose to adapt is dark, disturbing, and totally unfit for musical comedy—all qualities that make it a perfect fit for their irreverent style.
“We are always looking to turn classic themes on their head instead of rehashing tired storylines,” says PFF Artistic Director Josh Gross. “So when thinking about what our next piece might be, I sometimes add the words, 'the musical,' to different phrases in conversation to see how people react, if it has that magic combination of familiar hook, and new twist. When I said, 'Cthulhu: the Musical,' for the first time, a bunch of heads immediately turned in my direction, and strangers started asking where they could see it. So I knew we had to do that as a show, even though the challenge of turning something so dark into musical comedy was pretty daunting. It was definitely worth it though. There was a lot of comedy to be found and this show is so much fun to perform.”
Cthulhu: the Musical! will be directed by Katy Curtis, and with a script and original songs from playwright Josh Gross. Performances will feature live puppetry, a full rock band, and multimedia backgrounds courtesy of visual artist and Production Designer, Aubry Hollingshead. It stars Hunter Prutch, Alyssa Marie Mathews, Alex Giorgi, Jake Raiter, Forest Gilpin, and features special musical guests, The Elephant.
Run time is approximately two hours with an intermission.
CURTAIN CLOSED
Patty from HR
Patty from HR
From the Union:
Sierra Stages brings a unique theatrical experience to the Nevada Theatre in June. “Patty from HR: A Zoom with a View” is a one-person show created by San Francisco-based performer Michael Phillis, and it promises to be one of the most different — and hilarious — shows of the summer.
“Patty from HR: A Zoom with a View” brings the audience into the world’s worst Zoom meeting run by Silicon Valley’s most incompetent HR manager. It is a laugh-out-loud lampoon of today’s tech culture, as well as an incisive commentary on the importance of connection in an increasingly fractured society. Played with comedic brilliance by Michael Phillis, Patty proves that HR truly is a drag.
Patty from HR is the first of Sierra Stages’ “Out There” series — a new program dedicated to bringing fresh theatrical voices from the Bay Area to Nevada County. “This is the first time we have brought a show in from outside of Nevada County, and I’m incredibly excited to be a part of it,” said Sierra Stages production associate, Laura LeBleu. “Sierra Stages is still very much a theater company by and for the community, but every now and then it’s fun to experience performances a bit off the beaten path.”
Michael Phillis is an award-winning writer, director, actor, and filmmaker who has performed his one-person shows in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and in schools and universities around the country. “A Zoom with a View” is the third in a series of Patty from HR performances. “Patty is a delight to bring to the stage because her heart is in the right place, but she fails miserably at her job. She has all of the responsibility but none of the competence — which might sound familiar to anyone who has worked in corporate America. And when Zoom came along, well — I just knew I had to see how Patty would handle it. Or, more accurately, ruin it.”
You can learn more about Michael at his website, michaelphillis.com.
Both performances of “Patty from HR: Zoom with a View” will be hosted by local drag queen luminary Cloaca, and will feature pre-show performances by comedians Jori Philips and Trevor Wade, and performer Laura LeBleu.
Sierra Stages brings a unique theatrical experience to the Nevada Theatre in June. “Patty from HR: A Zoom with a View” is a one-person show created by San Francisco-based performer Michael Phillis, and it promises to be one of the most different — and hilarious — shows of the summer.
“Patty from HR: A Zoom with a View” brings the audience into the world’s worst Zoom meeting run by Silicon Valley’s most incompetent HR manager. It is a laugh-out-loud lampoon of today’s tech culture, as well as an incisive commentary on the importance of connection in an increasingly fractured society. Played with comedic brilliance by Michael Phillis, Patty proves that HR truly is a drag.
Patty from HR is the first of Sierra Stages’ “Out There” series — a new program dedicated to bringing fresh theatrical voices from the Bay Area to Nevada County. “This is the first time we have brought a show in from outside of Nevada County, and I’m incredibly excited to be a part of it,” said Sierra Stages production associate, Laura LeBleu. “Sierra Stages is still very much a theater company by and for the community, but every now and then it’s fun to experience performances a bit off the beaten path.”
Michael Phillis is an award-winning writer, director, actor, and filmmaker who has performed his one-person shows in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and in schools and universities around the country. “A Zoom with a View” is the third in a series of Patty from HR performances. “Patty is a delight to bring to the stage because her heart is in the right place, but she fails miserably at her job. She has all of the responsibility but none of the competence — which might sound familiar to anyone who has worked in corporate America. And when Zoom came along, well — I just knew I had to see how Patty would handle it. Or, more accurately, ruin it.”
You can learn more about Michael at his website, michaelphillis.com.
Both performances of “Patty from HR: Zoom with a View” will be hosted by local drag queen luminary Cloaca, and will feature pre-show performances by comedians Jori Philips and Trevor Wade, and performer Laura LeBleu.
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