February 5, 2009 Issue
Hope for the Horn—Richardson Returns as Artistic Director of Horn in the West
Auditions for 2009 Season at Watauga High School February 14
Julie Richardson is returning this year for her second season as artistic director of Horn in the West. She is hosting auditions for the 58th season of the outdoor drama on Saturday, February 14, at Watauga High School. The 2009 season of Horn in the West takes place between June 19 and August 15. Photo by Sam Calhoun
In January, the American people elected their first African-American president, Barack Obama, who won on a platform based upon freedom and change.
“Freedom and change—that’s what this show is about,” said Julie A. Richardson, artistic director for Horn in the West. “These people wanted change; these people wanted to be free and make a new world. And these are our people; people of these mountains. This summer, we want to remind ourselves that this show is on the same page as what the American people are on.”
The 58th season of Horn in the West takes place from June 19 to August 15, and the Horn in the West Board of Directors is welcoming back Richardson for another season at the helm of the outdoor drama.
Richardson spent the off-season pouring over notes from last season’s shows and working with Ed Pilkington, former artistic director of Horn in the West, on ways to improve and tighten the script. Currently, Richardson is preparing to host auditions for the upcoming season.
Horn in the West Auditions
On Saturday, February 14, Horn in the West is hosting free auditions in the Watauga High School auditorium from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All ages are invited to participate and registration begins at 9:00 a.m.
Although several cast members are returning, Richardson needs to fill approximately 30 roles, including leads, chorus members, dancers, techs, villagers and extras. During the auditions, applications will also be available for up-top staff positions, ticket office workers, concessions workers and grounds people, as well as applications for volunteers who are needed to sew and handle other duties. Community members who are interested in working or volunteering at Horn in the West in 2009 but cannot make it to the auditions can call 828-264-2120.
People wishing to audition need to bring a resume, headshot, monologue and/or song and dancing shoes, if needed, said Richardson.
Auditions for children ages 5 to 15 take place from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.; dance auditions begin at 10:30 a.m.; tech interviews take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; teenage and adult auditions begin at 11:00 a.m.; and call backs start at 2:30 p.m.
In addition to the auditions at Watauga High School, Richardson is also traveling to the Southeast Theater Conference and the Institute for Outdoor Drama auditions in the next few months to search for new cast members and crew.
For more information, call Virginia Roseman at 828-264-2120.
Improvements to the Script
In October 2008, the Horn in the West Board of Directors invited Julie Richardson—former Horn in the West cast member and production manager, as well as equity stage manager—back to be the artistic director of Horn in the West for the 2009 season. Richardson, a Boone native, returned to Horn in the West last season, and is partly credited with boosting attendance numbers for the 57-year-old outdoor drama.
During the 2008 season, Richardson said she watched the show every week and took notes on timing, set design, acting, singing and scene placement and length—basically everything. During the off-season, Richardson discussed her notes with Pilkington—a playwright, director and actor—and went over what elements could be better and what elements of the script didn’t feel right.
The revision duo shortened the scene “Indian Country” and tweaked words in the scene’s opening narration. Richardson is working on marrying two scenes in the first act to help cut down the time of the show. Also, Richardson decided to add a red brick façade to the stage during the “Garden Party” scene, as well as new façades depicting local scenic views during the entire show. We are also adding a representation of a church in Act II to show growth in the village, said Richardson, and are currently working on adding John Severe to the show as a new character in Act II.
“Hopefully, these changes will make the story a little clearer and give more insight into these people, our people,” said Richardson.
Richardson and Horn in the West Fight Choreographer Bobby Funk will also enhance Horn’s battle scenes in the upcoming season.
“The battles in the show will now be bigger and better, more guns,” added Richardson.
In order to further train the actors in stage combat, Richardson is arranging a Summer Stage Combat Workshop for Horn’s cast in the middle of the season. The three-week class will offer basic and advanced weapons training taught by Richardson’s friend Mark D. Guinn, who is certified to teach stage combat by the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat and The Society of American Fight Directors.
Assistant Director Ken McNeil is returning for the 2009 season as well. During the off-season, McNeil has been working with Emory University to research colloquialisms heard around the time period when the show is set. McNeil and Richardson hope to integrate some of the colloquialisms into the 2009 script.
“I’m very excited to see how much more growth we can get out of the company,” said Richardson. “I also hope to get more community support for the show. I’m am wanting to get the community to own, or come back to, this show and be a part of it because this is a part of their heritage.”
Needs, Wants
In preparation for the upcoming season, the Horn in the West Board of Directors is asking for donations of money, lumber, fabric, guns, a golf cart and affordable housing for the actors.
The board hopes to get a golf cart—gas or electric, new or used—to transport audience members with disabilities to a seating area closer to the stage. The board is also asking local rental agencies or homeowners for help in finding affordable housing for the out-of-town actors while they participate in the show. Money for housing comes out of each actor’s paycheck, thus the board wants to find the most inexpensive option available so actors will make more money and want to come back, said Richardson.
“We need any and all kinds of donations; it doesn’t have to be money, but we want that too,” said Virginia Roseman, public relations director for Horn in the West.
The board is asking the Town of Boone to level the stage and shore up access points to the stage before June. The board is also asking the Town of Boone to enlarge the handicapped seating area at the top of the venue, as well as add on to the backstage catwalk to create space for a dancer warm-up area.
The Horn in the West Board of Directors is looking into adding new sound equipment for the 2009 season to help broadcast the words of the cast and is currently accepting bids from sound engineers.
The Horn in the West Board of Directors is also in the process of compiling historical photos and memorabilia from the last 57 years of the show to eventually complete a book. Horn in the West Board Member Steve Canipe is spearheading the research. If community members have materials to add to the collection, call 828-264-2120.
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