Published: July 01, 2008 11:45 am            

Sneak peeks | Three theater groups will preview works tonight at coffeehouse

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company, Nail Soup Theatre Company and the brand-new Theatre Matters will stage productions this month.

To celebrate the convergence of three local plays, a theater preview night will be held at 7 tonight at Jumpin’ Joe’s Java House, 137 Clinton St. in downtown Johnstown.

“Everyone will have 15 minutes to promote their show,” said Lori Howsare, a member of Theatre Matters, who was transplanted in Johnstown in January from State College. “We suggested they have minimal costumes and set. Each presentation will have an introduction, and they need time to set up in between. They’ll be split up as people come in, get coffee and get settled.”

Howsare, who is a big fan of entertainment in coffee shops, was surprised to find there were no evening hours or entertainment at Jumpin’ Joe’s.

The idea for the theater preview was hers, and coffee shop owner Allen Mock was happy to accommodate.

“I talked to Allen, and he said that’s what the stage is there for,” Howsare said.

“He put this space together for that purpose.”

The shows that will be previewed will be Nail Soup’s “The Really Hip Adventures of Go-Go Girl, Episode 9: Space Vixens With Sassy Attitudes,” which will be performed at 7 p.m. July 10-12 and 17-19 at Roxbury Bandshell, and Theatre Matters’ production of Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame,” which will be performed at 8 p.m. July 17-19 at Artworks in Johnstown, 413 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Members of Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company will not be able to attend because of their rehearsal schedule.

Their production of “The Merchant of Venice” will be performed at 7 p.m. July 11-12 and 16-19 at Stackhouse Park.

“We want to give people an idea of the flavor of the shows,” Howsare said. “They can come in for coffee and see what it’s about.

“After seeing them performed in a small venue, they might want to see the whole play.”

Howsare said that in a larger city, artists would be vying to get on a coffeehouse stage such as Java Joe’s.

“We tried lunch theater, but people didn’t seem to be interested,” Howsare said. “I think the best time will be evening.

“It will give us a reason to open up Jumpin’ Joe’s and get back into the coffee-shop mentality of spreading ideas and talking over coffee.”

There will be no admission charge to the preview, but if guests save their receipts from their purchases of coffee and pastries, they will receive a $2 discount on tickets for “Endgame.”

Admission to Nail Soup’s production is free, but donations will be accepted.

“I have seen things happen with something like this, and I wanted to bring the idea here,” Howsare said.

Howsare, who has had some good experiences with professional theater, is considering bringing her one-woman show to Jumpin’ Joe’s in August.



On stage

What: Theater preview night.

Where: Jumpin’ Joe’s Java House, 137 Clinton St., downtown Johnstown.

When: 7 tonight.

Cost: Free.

Information: 533-4247.

        

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