SJRCC PRESS RELEASE October 2004 Florida School of the Arts presents "Lend Me a Tenor" at Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts; Four FloArts Alums Featured as Guest Stars in First Performance at Newly Constructed Center Combine four successful Florida School of the Arts graduates, a comedic play, a newly constructed performing arts center, talented student actors, and what is the result? A truly memorable performance of Lend Me a Tenor at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts (THCA) with Amber Ryan, Jack Holloway, Kyle Villella and Page Deulin flying in from New York, Tampa, Los Angeles and Chicago, respectively, as the guest alumni performers of this November production. Florida School of the Arts (FloArts) will present Lend Me a Tenor as the first show in the THCA's Studio Theater. It opens Thursday, Nov. 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the THCA, located on the Orange Park Campus of St. Johns River Community College, 283 College Drive. Lend Me a Tenor will continue to run Nov. 12th and Nov. 13th at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 14th at 2:30 p.m. Some scenes may contain mild adult content. Admission is $8 for all tickets, and seating is limited. For ticket information, call (904) 276-6750. "Lend Me a Tenor is a rollicking fun-filled farce that pokes fun at our obsession with celebrity. The plays takes a light-hearted look at the way people turn their world upside down in order to rub elbows with the rich and famous. It is full of silly misunderstandings, mistaken identity, chase scenes and comic chaos of all sorts," said Patricia Crotty, director and acting professor at Florida School of the Arts. Lend Me a Tenor, often described as a farce or romp, centers on the biggest night in the history of the Cleveland Grand Opera. World famous Italian tenor Tito Morelli, known to his fans as 'II Stupendo," is scheduled to sing the title role in Otello as part of a $50,000 fundraiser. However, it appears the tenor has plans of his own, and the show must go on at all costs. Dr. Gary Piazza, Dean of FloArts, stated: "Tenor audiences are in for a real visual treat when the actors move through the stunning set of Scenic/Lighting Design Professor Robert O'Leary and attire themselves in festive costumes designed by Costume Design Professor Lynnsey Slanina. FloArts is also thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to open the THCA inaugural theatre season and look forward to developing new artistic and community relationships with Clay County resident audiences." Three of the four guest alumni performed the show when they were students at FloArts back in the late 1990s, so this reunion holds special meaning for them. Ryan will once again play "Maria," Deulin will also reclaim the part of "Julia," and Villella, who played "Max" in the past production, will now play the part of "Tito". Holloway said he is the "new guy," so to speak, because he did not perform with the other three guest alumns while at FloArts. However, he said it took very little time to connect with his fellow actors, and he said he starred in Private Lives at FloArts, which has a similar feel as Lend Me a Tenor. All the former FloArts students said they are honored to be in this show. Recently, Deulin, Villella and Holloway spent an entire weekend rehearsing the play at FloArts. All of the guest actors will return to rehearsals later this month, which means they must work independently on their roles in the meantime. "I spend a lot of time on my own doing script analysis,' said Holloway. Ryan, who once played "Emily MacIver" on ABC's One Life to Live, describes her character as passionate and bold. "Maria loves life in a big way. She is possessive and jealous. She is sensual, and, yes, a little crazy. But, like everyone else, she just wants to be loved," said Ryan. After Lend Me a Tenor, Ryan plans to explore ritual movement theatre in New York City. "Dance has always been in my bones, and it is time for me to return to my roots," she said. Deulin, who this year will join the cast of Measure for Measure at the renowned Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Company on Navy Pier, said she is thrilled to return to the creative and supportive environment of FloArts. Deulin said she finds much more depth in the character of "Julia" the second time around, and she is excited about working with Crotty once again. "I would like to dedicate this performance to Miss Crotty for teaching me about life and for always saying yes," said Deulin, who is currently pursuing her Master's degree in psychology. Villella, a Regional Theatrical Sales Manager for Lion Gate Films, said he is excited to return to a place where he only has fond memories. "It's an honor. The school has been very good to me, so I like to give back in any way I can," he said. On the horizon, Villella said he is going to be producing and coordinating live events, including work with Universal Studios Hollywood. Villella said both characters, Max and Tito, demand a certain amount of physicality, and he is looking forward to playing Tito this time. Holloway, founder of a Tampa theatre company, acted in over ten productions while a student at FloArts. After graduating from University of South Florida with a bachelorÕs degree in Theatre Performance, he performed as "George" in All My Sons at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. "It's nice to get back to your roots. I fell in love with the theatre here at FloArts," he said. Holloway describes his character "Saunders" as frantic and nervous. "He's the exact opposite of me... Nothing goes right for him on this night. It is a big example of Murphy's Law," he said. The cast list for Lend Me a Tenor includes: Tommy Buckner (Max), Holly Williams (Maggie), Jack Holloway (Saunders), Kyle Villella (Tito), Amber Ryan (Maria), Mitchell Walker (Bellhop), Abby Burke (Diana) and Page Deulin (Julia). FloArts is Florida's first state-supported professional arts school that serves the entire state of Florida. FloArts awards the two-year associate degree and is located on the Palatka campus of St. Johns River Community College. For more information, call 386-312-4300 or visit the website at floarts.org. The THCA is located on the Orange Park campus of St. Johns River Community College, 283 College Drive. For ticket information, call (904) 276-6750. All Lend Me a Tenor tickets are $8, and seating is limited. For more information about THCA, visit the online site at www.thcenter.org. Biography sidebars on guest FloArts alumni: Amber Ryan Homebase: New York City Education: Associate in Science degree in Musical Theatre, Florida School of the Arts Associate in Arts degree in Acting, Florida School of the Arts Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Florida State University Film/Television: unREAL, Kate, Self Conscious Ent. One Life to Live, Emily MacIver, ABC Daytime The Americans, Clara Wilks, Black Rabbit/Abt Films Gothic Angel, Lillian, Kipling Productions Theatre: Savage Love, Featured Dancer, One Arm Red, NY Sleeping with God, Maggie, Producers Club, NY, West Side Story, Velma, Dance Capt., Arkansas Repertory Fort Chaffee, Joyce, Dance Capt., Arkansas Repertory A Funky Fairy Tale, Cindee, Hershey Park Dino's Extravaganza, Featured Dancer, Glenn Campbell Theatre A Doll's House, Nora, FSU Mainstage Importance of Being Ernest, Cecily, FSU Mainstage The Merchant of Venice, Portia, FSU Studio Theatre Page Deulin Homebase: Chicago Education: Associate of Science degree in Acting, Florida School of the Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre, Roosevelt University Meisner Technique Core Curriculum, The Actor's Center in Chicago Theatre Experience: The World According to Cosmo, Sharon, Abbie Hoffman Festival, Chicago Chrysalis, Athena, WomenÕs Theatre Alliance, Chicago Jerry's Girls, Myself, The Village Players, Oak Park Picnic, Rosemary, Roosevelt University, Chicago The Mandrake, Sostrata, Roosevelt University, Chicago Wonderful Town, Ruth Sherwood, Roosevelt University, Chicago Philadelphia Here I Come!, Lizzy, Roosevelt University, Chicago Babes in Toyland, Widow Piper, American Family Theatre, Philadelphia Jack Holloway Homebase: Tampa Education: Associate in Science degree in Theatre, Florida School of the Arts Associate in Arts degree in Theatre, Florida School of the Arts Bachelor's degree in Theatre, University of South Florida Theatre Experience: 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Vasques, USF My Foot My Tutor, Warden, USF Lone Star, Ray, USF The Tempest, Caliban, USF Of Mice and Men, Lennie, USF Lucky You, Shiner, USF Tale of Tsuru, Yasuhide, USF Kyle Villella Homebase: Los Angeles Education: Associate in Science degree, Florida School of the Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Theatre, Florida State University Work Experience Worked in North Carolina for Eastern Federal Theatres, a regional movie exhibitor Currently the regional theatrical sales manager for Lions Gate Films in California