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Contact:
James Ramsey
Phone:
303-791-0659 x23
Email:
jim@stlukeshr.com
ST.
LUKE’S WESLEY PLAYERS TO PERFORM RODGERS AND
HAMMERSTEIN’S THE SOUND OF MUSIC NOV. 2-5
Performance
Marks St. Luke’s As Emerging Leader in Faith-Based Community
Theatre
Highlands
Ranch -- With its upcoming presentation of Rodgers and
Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, St. Luke’s United
Methodist Church continues to emerge as a leader in faith-based
community theatre. St. Luke’s drama ministry group, the
Wesley Players, will perform The Sound of Music on November 2-5, 2006.
For
several years St. Luke’s has been dazzling local audiences
with increasingly ambitious theatrical productions, including
2003’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
2004’s Jesus Christ Superstar, 2005’s Fiddler on
the Roof, and Godspell earlier this year.
With The
Sound of Music, St. Luke’s continues its tradition of
presenting quality drama weaved with profound spiritual and ethical
themes. Popularized by the 1965 film starring Julie Andrews
and Christopher Plummer, The Sound of Music is set in 1930s Austria on
the eve of Nazi occupation. It tells the story of Maria, an
out-of-place postulant in a convent who is sent to the home of Captain
Georg von Trapp, a wealthy and decorated Austrian naval hero, to serve
as governess to his seven children. Maria brings joy to the gloomy
household, and although Captain von Trapp is engaged to a baroness,
Maria and Georg fall in love. Their budding romance is clouded,
however, by powerful Nazi officials who want Captain von Trapp
– a devout Austrian patriot -- to lead the German navy. The
family is faced with a heartbreaking decision: either succumb to
Hitler’s forces or flee their beloved homeland.
 The
production is packed with extraordinary local talent. Dr. Leigh Holman,
director of education and outreach with Opera Colorado, is stage
director for The Sound of Music. She received a Doctorate of Musical
Arts in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado
at Boulder and has sung professionally with the Resident Artists of
Portland Opera, Nashville Opera and Opera Theatre of Rochester. She has
also toured nationally with the National Opera Company singing over 70
performances of the title role in L'Italiana in Algeri.
 James
Ramsey, director of worship and arts at St. Luke's, is the
show’s music director. Ramsey also serves as music director
and conductor of the Littleton Chorale and has served as assistant
conductor of the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony
Chorus, chorus master for numerous programs including the Colorado
Music Festival, music director for the University of Colorado Summer
Opera Program and various national conferences for the United Methodist
Church. Ramsey received a Master of Music degree from the
Eastman School of Music and is a candidate for Doctorate of Musical
Arts in Choral Literature and Performance at the University of Colorado,
Boulder.
 The
role of Maria will be played by Leigh Ramsey, co-founder of the St.
Luke's Wesley Players. Leigh earned a
Master of Arts degree in Theology from the Colgate Rochester Divinity
School and is active in St. Luke's music ministries
in addition to teaching workshops and courses in
discernment. She has enjoyed roles in community
theater productions of Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, Crazy for You, Guys & Dolls, Brigadoon, My
Fair Lady, Kismet, Lettice & Lovage, Little
Merrie Sunshine and The Pajama Game. Leigh is a
freelance communications professional in Littleton.
 Patrick
Griggs plays Captain Georg von Trapp. Patrick has been seen in a
variety of commercial and stage roles including Karl
Mecklenburg’s nosy next door neighbor for Accent Windows and
as a juggler on a Metro Brokers’ spot. Patrick played Jesus
in St. Luke’s 2004 production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Other roles include “Tom” in Yasmina
Reza’s Art, “Bill Sykes” in Oliver,
“Eddie” in Pump Boys and Dinettes and ensemble in
The Dining Room. Through his company, Sound Planet, Patrick produces
radio and television commercials.
The The
Sound of Music performance date and times are Thursday, November 2 at
7:00 p.m. (open dress rehearsal); Friday, November 3 and Saturday,
November 4 at 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, November 5 at 3:00 p.m.
Thirty minutes prior to each performance, the Edelweiss Singers, a
group of 40 St. Luke's children, will perform favorites from the
musical such as “Do-Re-Mi,” “The Goatherd
Song” and “So Long, Farewell.”
A Gala
Dinner featuring authentic Austrian cuisine precedes the Saturday night
performance at 5:30 p.m. Dinner reservations are $50, $40 of which is
tax deductible. There is a $2.00 reservation fee to attend a
performance, and freewill donations will be accepted. Performance and
dinner reservations can be made in person at the St. Luke’s
church office during business hours and in St. Luke’s
fellowship hall before and after Sunday services. Reservations will not
be accepted by phone.
All St.
Luke’s Wesley Players' productions have benefited
local and international charities, raising nearly $50,000 for over the
last five years. The 2006 production of The Sound of Music will
benefit the following local and international charities:
-
Agape
Support Centre for AIDS Orphans, in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, is a
care centre and home for children who have been orphaned or whose
parents are unable to care for them. Website: www.childrenofagape.com.
- Denver
Urban Ministries (DenUM), in Denver, provides outreach services
including a food and clothing bank, job training, furnishings, crisis
funds, legal assistance and case management. Website: www.denum.org.
- Ecumenical
Refugee Services, Inc., in Denver, helps resettle refugees who are
legally in the U.S. by providing assistance with education, family and
social services, medical attention, employment and cultural
orientation. Website: www.ersden.org.
- The
Haven Mother's House, in Denver, provides therapeutic
services for recovery from and co-occurring illnesses to pregnant women
and their infant children. Website: www.artstreatment.com/haven.aspx.
- John
Wesley School, Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala, is a primary and
secondary school opened by the Methodist Church of Guatemala. Website: gbgm-umc.org.
A portion
of all funds raised will also be set aside to assist other local
missions as needs arise.
Guided by
the spirit of God, St. Luke’s UMC is an inclusive community
of faith, seeking to meet people where they are, growing together
toward full humanity, through living the teachings of Jesus: Love,
Acceptance, Justice, and Hope. St. Luke’s is located at 8817
South Broadway in Highlands Ranch, one-quarter mile south of C-470.
Regular office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Sunday services, led by Rev. Janet Forbes, are held at 8:00,
9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday school and free child care are available
during the 9:30 and 11:00 services.
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