THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL - Judson Theatre Company April 27-30

What a joy to bring a cast of Judson Theatre Company returnees (and one newbie!) back to Pinehurst for a production of Neil Simon’s The Star-Spangled Girl. This story of people who see the world from opposing ideologies who go from disliking each other, to liking each other, to loving each other and being able to work together certainly speaks to our times. It’s also a play about a trio of young people moving to a big city and making their place in the world, and a wacky meditation on physical attraction vs. intellectual differences in a relationship.

Thanks to SandhillsSentinel.com for the praise. A producer couldn’t ask for a better quote than “The Star-Spangled Girl leaves audiences starstruck!”


Or these kind words from The Pines Times:

“Judson Theatre Company outdid themselves once again as their 10th season continued with Neil Simon’s BOYS-Meet-Girl Romantic Comedy Romp, "The Star-Spangled Girl." Five exhilarating performances took place in the lovely Owens Auditorium of the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center, all with packed houses. Under the expert artistic direction of Daniel Haley and Executive Producer Morgan Sills, the play was a complete delight!

"The Star-Spangled Girl" is a classic romantic comedy that has stood the test of time. First premiering on Broadway in 1966, it has remained a beloved staple in the theatre world.The cast was a dream team of talent with Mari Blake as Sophie Rauschmeyer, Nicholas Talbot playing the role of Andy Hobart and Calvin Noble as Norman Cornell. The three had quite a chemistry. There were plenty of one-liners and witty banter between the characters, with outstanding delivery by the entire cast. Although comedic, the play undoubtedly delivered on emotional depth, romance and thrilling conflict. There was definitely a great balance between seriousness and silliness. The set, designed by Production Designer and Stage Manager TJ Daniels, was detailed and charming. The wardrobe, overseen by Rebecca Smith, was equally impressive. All did a fantastic job bringing the play to life with their outstanding talent and a professional theatre production. It was evident that the audience was enthralled and smiles filled the auditorium.

It was a truly entertaining and funny play. I am sure everyone left feeling lighter and happier after such a night of laughter. Bravo, Judson Theatre Company, for yet another unforgettable performance. Your dedication to delivering exceptional theatrical experiences to our community is greatly appreciated!”


We were a “Best Bet” in The Pilot, too:

Judson's Wonder Summer

So grateful to Joyce Reehling for putting a spotlight on Judson Theatre Company’s summer season with this excellent appreciation and recap. Like many arts groups, JTC is working constantly to receive even scant editorial media attention—so to have our theatre work, and our vision for JTC’s future, seen so clearly and lovingly validated by a true Broadway professional like Joyce is a big, big deal.

To find out more about what JTC has coming up, or to support Judson Theatre Company (a 501c3 not-for-profit organization) with a tax deductible contribution, visit JudsonTheatre.com

Starting Something: The JTC Summer Theatre Festival

Who starts something new in uncertain times like these? Well, Judson Theatre Company did. For years, Daniel Haley (Judson Theatre Company’s Artistic Director) and I had talked about how great it would be for JTC to have a smaller space than the 600-seat Owens Auditorium to perform in—as glorious as that space is, sometimes certain shows will be better served in a non-traditional space.

Our wish for the space was granted when, during Bradshaw Performing Arts Center’s renovation in 2018-19, the McPherson Theater space was created in Sandhills Community College’s Wellard Hall, just across the breezeway from Owens Auditorium, thanks to the generosity of Tom & Kathy McPherson. It’s a beautifully appointed, intimate, modern black-box space. JTC used it for rehearsals for Witness for the Prosecution in 2019. We had been rehearsing The Odd Couple (Female Version) for three days in March 2020 when the pandemic hit and we had to shut down the show.

Flash forward to 2022, and the space had been there for a few years, but hadn’t been used much, due to the shutdown. Here was an opportunity: Judson Theatre Company could present the first major production in the space.

But when? Daniel and I had both, separately, done years of summer theatre: stock, repertory, festivals…what about something like that? What about doing not just one show, but a festival of three, in the summertime? It would be something new in the Sandhills.

“Everybody’s gone in the summer,” people told us. “No one will care. No one will come. No one has heard of these shows you’re thinking of.” Plus we knew that, like a new business, any new artistic venture needs to be capitalized for at least three years if you really intend for it to catch on and become an annual event. And the constant drumbeat, “why don’t you do musicals?”

We decided the JTC Summer Theatre Festival (Oh, the agony over what to name it! We kept it simple.) would focus its first season on entertaining, exciting, contemporary shows. All three were 21st century off-Broadway hits in their Sandhills area premieres. Plus, we programmed JTC’s first two musicals.

We chose shows that were enjoyable and accessible, suitably breezy for the summer, but also with some takeaway. The first season’s shows had several common threads running through them: Gutenberg! The Musical; Buyer & Cellar; and tick, tick…BOOM!

Michael Santora (Doug) and Jacob Pressley (Bud) in Gutenberg! The Musical!

Making a micro-budget work, as you have to in a smaller space, presented challenges. I made an exception to a rule I’d previously made: Buyer & Cellar was the first show I directed at JTC. In fact, I was so busy doing three shows in a row I didn’t have time to write about them here individually.

Here’s what we knew we had to have: the funds to go forward no matter what; a season of shows that had audience appeal that we knew we could produce well; and casts and creative teams who would be pleasant, professional, and prepared to get the shows done on a festival-style schedule.

Poster for Buyer & Cellar

The upshot of it all: Gutenberg! The Musical! and tick, tick…BOOM! basically sold out their entire runs. Buyer & Cellar consistently played to full houses. So yes, there will be a 2nd annual JTC Summer Theatre Festival in 2023.

Thanks to everyone who joined us this summer, taking a chance on a new venue, enjoying a show they might not have been familiar with…for being willing to go out and enjoy live theatre again.

Drew H. Wells, Michael Santora, and Danielle Standifer in tick, tick…BOOM!