"Underneath the Lintel" is up!

- and NPT is officially launched, with this first full production, which opened last night to a near-sellout-house!  Read all about it, and get your tickets today!  See the details to your left, in The Hot Spot!

Jeb! Punch! Kick(starter)!

What a couple of weeks it's been for NPT!

On Sunday, April 10, three (count 'em, THREE!) of NPT's founding members garnered recognition for their work in several of 2010's acclaimed local theatre productions.  The "Jebby" awards, presented by Columbus' own theatre-performer-and-aficionado Jeb Bigelow, went to:

• Emily Bach - Local Performer of the Year, Lead Female, Play, for her performance in the title role of Curtain Players' March production of Hedda Gabler.  Bonus: NPT founding member Matt Hermes directed Ms. Bach in the role.
• Dani Karshner Mann - Local Performer of the Year, Supporting Female, Musical, for her turn as Joanne in Company, Gallery Players' March production.
• Mark Mann - Local Performer of the Year, Lead Male, Musical, for his portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins in Weathervane Playhouse's June production of My Fair Lady.

We're off to a good start!

On Sunday, April 17, cast and crew members of NPT's summer Shakespeare festival "meeted-and-greeted" at a potluck held at the company's rehearsal headquarters - the lovely home of NPT friend Dr. Scott Hockenberry.  Capulets and Montagues chatted across the punch bowl, while 12thPMers wondered what an updated version of Malvolio's "cross-gartered yellow stockings" might be.  Performance dates for both Romeo + Juliet and Twelfth Night have been set:

• The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Mark Mann:
  June 16, 17, 18 ,19, 26, & 30 and July 2, 9, & 10
• Twelfth Night, or What You Will, directed by Tim Browning:
  June 23, 24, & 25 and July 3, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, & 17

All performances are at Dublin's Coffman Park Amphitheatre, and curtain times are 8:00 p.m.  This is a FREE event, but NPT welcomes any and all monetary support.  Our free events and progressive pricing (Pay What You Want for Underneath the Lintel) are made possible by donations, fundraisers (like NPT's February staged reading of Love Letters and the upcoming Cabaret on May 21 [details on that coming soon!]), and our Kickstarter campaign.

"What's a Kickstarter campaign?"  We're so glad you asked!  Watch this spiffy video presentation, and we're certain you'll be inspired to join us in taking the first steps of an exciting journey for NPT.  We have a tremendous team of artists who are devoting their considerable talents to this inaugural "Summer of Shakespeare" and to the vision of things-to-come.  Revenue raised by this effort will be used for sets, lighting, costumes, and promotional materials.  Donate generously, receive some outstanding incentives (wanna be onstage?  OK!) - and come see us play!

LINTEL scoop

Mark Mann as the Librarian

When a Dutch librarian finds a book returned 113 years overdue, his curiosity transforms him from a mild-mannered civil servant into a globe-trotting detective.  As his search leads him around the world and into surprising revelations of a long-forgotten past, he ultimately discovers what can only be described as a miracle.  Tim Browning directs, and Mark Mann stars in this quirky and charming "twisty mystery of a tale" by Glen Berger.  Performances run April 28, 29 & 30 and May 6 & 7 at Cafe Bella's Sunflower Room (2593 North High Street in Clintonville).  All curtain times are 7:30 p.m.  Admission is Pay What You Want.  Call 614-582-3147 to reserve seats – and we’ll see you Underneath the Lintel!