In brief: New Play Festival at MJC, music and more
The Modesto Junior College theater department presents its New Play Festival featuring original one-act plays written and directed by MJC theater students.
The short works staged each night include “The Decision” by Christopher Wells; “The Case of Doctor Chase” by Sam Mellor; “A Party of Catherines” by Mar De La Cruz; “Omaha!” by Shane Meyers; “The Brothers Martelli” by Nick Salvucci; and “Running in Circles” by Salvador Vasquez.
MJC professor of theater Michael Lynch promises “an exciting theater evening with new and fresh voices for the stage,” according to a press release. Performances will be held June 11-13 and June 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cabaret West Theater on the college’s West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Modesto.
Tickets are $10 general, $8 for students and senior citizens. A June 11 preview night features all tickets for $5. Tickets may be purchased in advance at http://mjc.tix.com and will be available at the door beginning 90 minutes prior to each performance. The full production runs approximately two hours, with an intermission.
Morgan James show
Modesto-bred singer Morgan James returns to her hometown on June 16 for a show at the State Theatre. The Broadway actress and 1999 Johansen High School graduate brings her current tour and music from her album “Hunter” to the downtown venue.
James will play an all-ages show at the State, 1307 J St., beginning at 8 p.m. June 16. Tickets are $20. Call (209) 527-4697 or visit www.thestate.org.
Modestan wins concerto competition
Alex Hunn, a senior at Modesto High School, won first prize in the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition this year. He performed in May as a soloist with the orchestra.
According to the Oakland Symphony website, Hunn began playing the cello at the age of 4 under the tutelage of his mother, cellist Jana Hunn. This is his second year performing with the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra. He also has been a member of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Stanislaus County Honor Orchestra and the California All-State Honor Orchestra. He also volunteers by mentoring young cellists for the Modesto Suzuki Association.
Hunn has played his cello every day for nearly 11 years, a total of more than 4,300 consecutive days. After graduation, he plans to study mathematics and continue his study of the cello.
Playhouse Merced shows
Playhouse Merced’s 2014-15 season closes with four comedies presented over four consecutive days.
Two actors will attempt to perform more than 30 different characters in “The Greater Tuna Quadrilogy”: “Greater Tuna,” “Tuna Christmas,” “Red, White and Tuna” and “Tuna Does Vegas,” all written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard.
Each show will be featured on a different day. Set in the fictitious “third-smallest town” in Texas, “Greater Tuna” features Rob and Joseph Hypes as every resident of the town, more than 30 characters.
“Well, it’s a unique idea for Merced. I don’t know if this kind of thing has been tried before,” artistic director Robert Hypes said in a press release. “We usually spend weeks rehearsing one show and then perform for a few weekends. For this, we are doing four shows back to back to back to back and with just myself and my brother on stage, there is nowhere to hide. So it’s something that Merced has done that most other theaters in the country have never really attempted.”
“The Greater Tuna Quadrilogy” opened Thursday and will repeat two weekends through June 14. Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. at Playhouse Merced, 452 West Main St. Tickets are $15-$20. Discounts are available for those who want to see multiple shows over the course of the run. For more, see www.playhousemerced.com or call (209) 725-8587.
This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 3:52 PM with the headline "In brief: New Play Festival at MJC, music and more."