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World Premiere!

Anaheim Home Companion
by Tira Palmquist and members of The Chance Theater Company
Directed by Tira Palmquist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THEATER ARTICLE

'Anaheim Home Companion'
Chance Theater crafts light-hearted entertainment from civic history
 by Christopher Trela, OC Metro

October 26, 2006

You've heard of "Prairie Home Companion." Are you ready for "Anaheim Home Companion"? Garrison Keillor has carved a career writing and talking about his fictional town of Lake Wobegon, as heard on the popular "Prairie Home Companion" radio show. Now, the folks at Anaheim's Chance Theatre have taken the "Prairie Home Companion" concept and adapted it to ­ where else ­ Anaheim. The result is "Anaheim Home Companion," which runs Nov. 3 through Dec. 17 at The Chance Theatre in Anaheim.

Imagine a small town where the police chief himself patrols downtown at night, the high school football team is front-page news and everyone pitches in to save the oranges on a frosty night.

That's the ambiance offered in "Anaheim Home Companion." Join the cast and crew of radio station KANA for an evening's broadcast in Anaheim circa 1953. This light-hearted, high-energy variety show features songs, skits and jokes written by Tira Palmquist and Chance Theater Repertory Company members Alex Bueno, Dimas Diaz, Sarah Moreau and Annie Mezzacappa, as well as former Company member Richard Comeau.

"Anaheim Home Companion" captures a community inspired by unforgettable characters. It's The Chance Theater's theatrical salute to Anaheim's history and the people who made it possible.

According to director Tira Palmquist, "'Anaheim Home Companion' is a tribute to the town we call home. Anaheim has been vital to the development of The Chance Theater Repertory Company, and we're all very aware of how lucky we are to have such a wonderful community supporting us.

"In the show, we step back in time to 1953, an era just before sweeping changes transformed Anaheim from a small farming community to a major metropolitan area with freeways, major league sports teams and, of course, a theme park known throughout the world.

"In the beginning, we drew our inspiration from 'Prairie Home Companion,' but the show has become so much more," adds Palmquist. "More importantly, we look back on Anaheim's history to gain perspective on what we have become. We also look back at our history, personal and collective, to understand how we are to move forward as a community. This idea of community is what's most important to all of us at The Chance Theater, and what was most important in the development of this piece."

For tickets to "Anaheim Home Companion," call 714.777.3033, or visit chancetheater.com.

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CITY OF ANAHEIM ANNOUNCEMENT

'Anaheim Home Companion' Performances Salute The City's Rich Past
by John James Nicoletti, External Affairs Manager, City of Anaheim

November 3, 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. (November 3, 2006) - Anaheim Home Companion, a
theatrical salute to Anaheim's history and the people who made it
possible, opens tonight at The Chance Theatre and invites local talent
to make "special appearances" in the show.

Imagine Anaheim in 1953- a small ranching town where the police chief patrols downtown at night, the high school football team is front-page news and everyone pitches in to save the oranges on a frosty night. Join the cast and crew of radio station KANA for an evening broadcast in Anaheim circa 1953. This light-hearted, high-energy variety show features songs, skits, jokes and audience participation.  Directed by Tira Palmquist, the production captures a community inspired by real-life characters that can only be found in Anaheim.

Local talent is encouraged to participate in this tribute to Anaheim. Please contact Annie Mezzacappa, The Chance Theatre's development director, at 714-325-5511 to become a "special guest" and perform in the show's second act.

Anaheim Home Companion opens tonight, November 3 and runs through December 17, 2006.  Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.  There will be a Post-Performance "Talkback" Discussion with the cast after every Thursday evening performance. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $22 for seniors and students with I.D.   The Opening Gala, tonight at 8 p.m., will include a champagne reception after the performance.  The Chance Theatre is located at 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim.

Anaheim Home Companion is another Anaheim 150 event.  To find more information on this show and Anaheim's 150th Anniversary, please visit the City's website at www.anaheim.net .

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ABOUT ANAHEIM - Celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2007, the City of Anaheim is one of the nation's premier municipalities and California's 10th most populous city.  Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 342,000 residents and 2,117 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.297 billion.  Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as CKE Restaurants, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort.  Successful
sports franchises including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim Arsenal, and the USA Men's National Volleyball team call Anaheim home. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.  Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.

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THEATER ARTICLE

'Anaheim Home Companion' at The Chance Theater
by Sherryl Alexander, AOL Digital City

November 3, 2006

Yep, Anaheim was once a sleepy farming community, so local playwright Tira Palmquist and members of Anaheim's Chance Theater Repertory Company are riding the trend in down-home entertainment with this folksy play. The setting? Anaheim 1953, when families gathered around the radio at night, just years before Walt Disney broke ground here. Like other companion-like entertainment, this is a variety show filled with high-energy songs, skits and audience participation.

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THEATER REVIEW

Excerpts from OC Register Review of
"Anaheim Home Companion"
by Eric Marchese, OC Register

November 9, 2006

"Lightly humorous... Wholesome fun for the whole family..."

"Each of the individual elements of the script carries its own charm..."

"Tasty are the numerous references to the city's postwar identity: Carl Karcher, whose first Anaheim restaurants were Carl's Drive-In Barbecue. Ganahl of Ganahl Lumber fame. Charles Rudolph Boysen, who helped build City Park and who cross-pollinated three berries into what became the boysenberry, made famous by Walter Knott. Mayor Charles Pearson, for whom City Park was eventually renamed. And, of course, the ubiquitous Mr. Disney."

"As charming are the numerous references to local Anaheim businesses by the station's announcer (played winningly by Ray Akin) and, in period-style advertisements, by the "KANA players" (the energetic trio of Andréa de la Luz Ainsworth, Dimas Diaz and Monica Forouzesh)."

"An unplanned rant against the Red Scare and the idea of Americans taking a loyalty pledge by a citizen (Sylvia Cervantes), ostensibly on the air to share one of her recipes, creates comedy and drama."

"On the flip side is a marvelous conversation, late in the play, between crusty but tough Mayor Pearson (Akin) and the radio show's host, Johnny Taylor (Jonathon Lamer), about the seismic changes about to rock Anaheim - the advent of Disneyland not least among them. It's one of the most well-written scenes, leaving us hungry for more of same."

"Lamer has the affable, sincere manner and looks of a radio (or television) host. The crisp, dapper Akin has an earnest, trustworthy persona. Musical director Bill Strongin captures the period with catchy original songs (lyrics by Palmquist) and a self-confident onstage presence at the piano, and Cervantes and Bryan Barton fill in around the edges."

Freelance writer Eric Marchese has covered entertainment for the Register since 1984.

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THEATER REVIEW

Excerpt from OC Weekly Review of
"Anaheim Home Companion"
by Dave Weilenga, OC Weekly

November 9, 2006

"Anaheim Home Companion is a reminder of the ghosts that lay beneath all of Orange County's fresh pavement, from the beautiful re-creation of an old radio studio to performances like Jonathon Lamer's genial emcee and Sylvia Cervantes' control-freakish stage manager."

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THEATER ARTICLE

An Earlier Time Heard
by Pat O' Brien, Press-Enterprise

November 9, 2006

The long-running success of "Prairie Home Companion," a radio variety show that became a star-studded film, was the inspiration for "Anaheim Home Companion."

But it was just a starting point for an original piece by The Chance Theater Repertory Company that will transport audiences to 1953 -- before Disneyland, before housing sprawl, before freeways. It was the time of high school football making front-page news and a police chief who patrolled the streets personally.

Head writer and director Tira Palmquist, who teaches writing at UC Irvine, said the show is a tribute to Anaheim, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2007.

"It took me by surprise how we all fell in love with the stories," Palmquist said.

The group gathered information from newspapers, historical institutions and long-time residents, who talked about people like Rudy Boysen, a builder of parks and creator of boysenberries, and a fire department that taught children about preventing fires and gave them brass badges and certificates.

"Starting from that kind of personal perspective was really important -- the kinds of stories that would resonate with anybody who lives in small towns," Palmquist said.

Filled with song, skits and jokes, the light-hearted play is also thought-provoking.

"It was the idea of community and what's important to all of us," said Annie Mezzacappa, one of the writing team members.

Among the characters is an amiable host, a studio musician side-kick and an announcer who does news and ads. Three characters do voices and sound effects. The audience itself is the radio show audience and may be called on for contests.

Local performers can get in on the fun. A section of the second act will be open to "special guests" with a talent consistent with the era and family-orientation of the show. Contact the theater if interested.

"Anaheim Home Companion" runs alternately with "The Lying Kind," a West Coast premiere of a screwball holiday farce by Anthony Neilson about two British cops in a dither about telling an old couple that their daughter died on Christmas Eve.

"Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong," Mezzacappa said. "It's a little naughty. It has adult language."

The shows will run through Dec. 17. Family-friendly "Anaheim Home Companion" runs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. "The Lying Kind" for adult audiences will open at 4 p.m. Saturday and run at 6 p.m. Sunday. $25; $22 seniors, students. 5552 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. 714-777-3033, www.chancetheater.com

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THEATER REVIEW

Anaheim's days of yore onstage
'Anaheim Home Companion' brings city history to a play in radio show format, through Dec. 17 at The Chance Theater
by Anne-Margret Bellavoine, Anaheim Hills News

November 9, 2006

Anaheim before the mouse? Yes, Anaheim was a small town with German settlers growing oranges before the city became a household word thanks to Walt Disney.

"Anaheim Home Companion" brings us back to those days when Manchester Avenue led the way from Los Angeles before the Golden State freeway (the infamous '5') bore its way with its optimistic promise of linking the locales in just 20 minutes.

The piece was conceived by Tira Palmquist, head writer and director, with the help of Chance Theater Repertory Company members for the songs, skits and jokes, including Alex Bueno, Dimas Diaz, Annie Mezzacappa, Sarah Moreau and Richard Comeau, with music by Bill Strongin, also musical director and accompanist in the role of Lance Vargas.

Masako Tobaru's set conveys an authentic retro look while bringing stage and audience together with neon signs.

Arthur Wainwright (Ray Akin) and Johnny Taylor (Jonathon Lamer) share the air on the mike while Arthur's daughter Gertie manages from the technical booth, aided by Joshua Meyer (Bryan Barton). Annabelle McGee (Andréa de la Luz Ainsworth), Nate Goodrich (Dimas Diaz) and Sally Dutton (Monica Forouzesh) provide the background music and assorted sound bites at KANA Radio Station's Studio A.

The weekly variety program showcases local news with musical interludes and humorous sketches interspersed with the de rigueur commercial sponsor ads. Lana Larson (Sylvia Cervantes) provides catty gossip.

Folks who have grown up in the area will love the true-to-life anecdotes, with such local celebs as the two Walters, Knott and Disney, each vying for the best amusement park, one with world famous boysenberries owed to local botanist Rudolph Boysen, the other with his ambitious mouse house dreams.

Other local celebs include infamous Anaheim Colonists' coach Clare Van Hoorebeke and his top player Mickey Flynn. Early Anaheim life was bounded by East, West, North and South streets with Central, Broadway and Clementine Streets with their stately homes around Pearson Park named after debonair mayor Charles Pearson.

Other well known business residents include the Karcher family, with patriarch Carl of the golden star burger chain fame and Ganahl with its lumberyards.

More recently, Steve Faessel has chronicled the city's past and gets a tongue-in-cheek reference as a promising kid. Indeed, the play is listed as an official 150th anniversary event for the City of Anaheim.

The good clean fun will be a hit for anyone who has grown up in the area, but makes for great historical enlightenment even for relative newcomers.

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THEATER REVIEW

Anaheim Home Companion
by Joyce Rosenthal, Fullerton Observer

November 13, 2006

Chance Theater is serving up a delightful nostalgic confection with their current production of “Anaheim Home Companion.” The year is 1953, the place is Anaheim, population 17,000, and we are the live audience at an evening broadcast in Studio A of radio station KANA.

Stage Manager Gertie Wainwright comes out and asks that we respond appropriately when the “Applause” signs are lit, warns us to open our candy now and turn off anything that makes noise including telephones. Telephones? Gertie is sure this is a mistake because who would want to bring their home telephone to the theater!

Emcee Johnny Taylor appears, the “On the Air” sign lights up, and announcer Arthur Wainwright opens the show with the station identification. The broadcast is basically a variety show featuring the station's employees doing songs, skits, and jokes between ads by the show's sponsors. Featured are Lance Vargas at the piano and the young trio of Nate Goodrich, Annabelle McGee and Sally Dutton who participate in everything. We also learn local gossip from the station owner's wife and cooking tips on how to make orange marmalade which takes an unexpected turn.

A poignant and memorable moment is provided by visiting guest Stephen Faessel who spoke about the devastation caused by the 1938 flood in which many people
lost their homes, businesses and even their lives.

The Mayor visits the show and is excited about both the prospect of Walt Disney bringing a theme park to Anaheim and the new highway that would be built to
accommodate visitors. Johnny said he liked Anaheim just the way it was now, a small, friendly, agricultural town, but the Mayor insists that change is coming and
Anaheim will prosper from it.

Near the end of the show, an argument between Gertie and the Station Manager in the control room reveals a secret which everyone hears because the “On the Air” sign is on. But never fear, this is 1953 not 2006 and all ends happily.

“Anaheim Home Companion” is an original show written by Tira Palmquist and the Chance Repertory Company; Tira is also the Director. Original music and musical direction is by Bill Strongin who plays Lance Vargas and the outstanding set design was by Masako Toburu.

All of the actors played their parts to perfection; they made it easy to believe you were in a radio station in 1953 Anaheim. Especially entertaining were Sylvia Cervantes who played the Stage Manager, owner's wife and lady with marmalade recipe and Jonathon Lamer, who as Johnny Taylor held everything together.

“Anaheim Home Companion” is running through December 17, 2006. Go see it-you will walk out smiling.

• CHANCE THEATER:
5552 E. La Palma Ave, Anaheim Hills
TICKETS: (714) 777-3033
www.chancetheater.com

“ANAHEIM HOME COMPANION” by Tira Palmquist -thru Dec 17. Imagine an Anaheim
before the mouse. Also “THE LYING KIND” by Anthony Neilson -thru Dec 17. A dark screwball holiday comedy where two cops decide that witholding the truth would be nicer than breaking bad news on Christmas Eve.

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THEATER REVIEW

Anaheim Home Companion
by Melinda Schuppman, Back Stage West

December 6, 2006

Theatre companies frequently bring out their most lighthearted shows for the holidays. Such is the case with this cheerful compendium of historical facts about Anaheim. Taking a cue from Garrison Keillor's radio show "A Prairie Home Companion," it transports the audience back to 1953 Anaheim. The setting is radio station KANA, Studio A (nicely done by Masako Tobaru).

The principal characters include the Host with the Most, Johnny Taylor (Jonathon Lamer); the venerable announcer with the baritone voice, Arthur Wainwright (Ray Akin); his daughter and stage manager, Gertie Wainwright (Tira Palmquist for the ailing Sylvia Cervantes); and the unctuous but suavely talented piano man, Lance Vargas (Bill Strongin). Doing yeoman work playing assorted characters and providing sound effects and backup music for much of the play are Bryan Barton, Andréa de la Luz Ainsworth, Dimas Diaz, and Monica Forouzesh.

For those who remember old radio shows, much is familiar. For younger audiences, the show provides a glimpse back to a time when things were less sophisticated. On KANA's weekly program, the performers follow a typical format of music, jokes, audience participation, and local news. A visit from the fire chief, the wife of the station owner who adds her own brand of gossip, and the high school football coach bring us up to date on the happenings around town. Writer Palmquist and Chance company members have done their homework. Many geographical references might be lost on nonresidents, but dramatic irony works well as the players talk about the new "theme park" that is being built nearby. References to a local named Bill Boisen leads to Walter Knott, and so the story spins out events of the '50s.

Palmquist is also the director, and her ambitious scenes keep the actors hopping. Local talent is invited to participate, and this evening it was provided by high schooler Sohina Sidhu, who did a fine job with "Cry Me a River." Lamer and Strongin also acquit themselves well vocally. I don't know if phoning Keystone 3-2121 as suggested will get you KANA, but it would be nice if it would, because it's a pleasant jaunt back in time.

Presented by and at the Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. Thu.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Nov. 3-Dec. 17. (714) 777-3033.

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