SPOTLIGHT! Featuring: "Sweet Charity" Director/Choreographer Michael McWaters

Last week PAUPER PLAYERS sat down with Michael McWaters, the sophomore Political Science and Spanish double-major from Wilmington, North Carolina. Michael proposed "Sweet Charity" as the fall production to open our 21st Season, and he is currently both directing and choreographing the show. Though it's only his second year, Michael has already established a rich history with Pauper. Last year he debuted as "Jackie" in the 2009 fall production, Andrew Lippa's "Wild Party." He also choreographed the winter show "I Love You Because," and was brought on as assistant director for spring's "Into the Woods." Michael has already shown himself to be a leader with a powerful vision and incredible talent. His training is hugely based in dance, and he is also involved in Blank Canvas on UNC's campus as a dancer/choreographer. He is known backstage as "Silent Killer" for his ability to slice through dance moves like its nobody's business, knocking any competitor into the nosebleed seats with his magnificent form and impeccable timing. :-) Here's what he had to say about the progress of "Sweet Charity" as rehearsals just started picking up speed....

"Sweet Charity" is off to an AMAZING start! The cast is so much more incredible and talented than I could have imagined. We have already tackled 3 musical numbers and a few scenes! "Big Spender" looks amazing!! And only after 2 days of work! Obviously, we have tons left to do, but at this rate we will have lots and lots of time to perfect every little detail. From a technical aspect, lights/sound/and sets are moving along quite fast as well... All in all this will be a show NOT to be missed! Also, most of the cast is composed of first-year students, which is awesome and I have been thoroughly impressed by their talent and professionalism. Of course, the veterans in the cast are STELLAR as well! More updates to come!


Check in next time on our SPOTLIGHT featuring some Pauper newbies who will rock your eardrums and melt your heart!

Something new and exciting from PAUPER!

Every so often, PAUPER PLAYERS will feature comments and interviews from current members who are active in production or administration. This SPOTLIGHT will exist in an effort to make the rehearsal process more visible to the Pauper fans! :) Let us know who you would like to hear from and what you think of Pauper Players! If you're not already, follow us on FACEBOOK! And be on the lookout for the new website being launched later this week, thanks to the phenomenal efforts of graphic designer Lauren Josey!

And, as always, keep eyes peeled for lovely Paupers around campus, at work and play!! :-) !

Sweet Charity CAST LIST!

The cast list is up!!! Check it out! And don't miss Pauper Players' fall musical production of Sweet Charity THIS November! We'll keep you posted with the details :-) !

Charity – Margaret Burrus

Oscar – Ben Boecker

Nickie – Olivia Myrick

Helene – Taylore Woods

Vittorio Vidal – Quinn Matney

Ursula – Jessica Cruz

Herman – Cameron Nadler

Daddy Brubeck – Nick Culp

Fandango Girls:

- Cydney Swofford

- Emily Ellis

- Julia Adelman

- Kayla Lively

- Emily Bohbrink

- Caroline Bowden

- Rosalee Lewis

- Stephanie Linas

Ensemble:

- Alexii Lardis

- Ashley Fagert

- Elise Hartley

- Hayley Wright

- Nick Culp

- Elizabeth Adams

- Hunter Gray

- Turner Popalis

- Nick Sanford

- Travis Wright

Frug Dancers:

- Meleah Faucette (Frug Girl)

- Hunter Gray

- Turner Popalis

- Nick Sanford

- Travis Wright

- Julia Adelman

- Emily Ellis

- Cydney Swofford

- Emily Bohbrink

- Caroline Bowden

- Rosalee Lewis

- Hayley Wright

Sweet Charity Callback List!

Hello Auditioners!

Thank you all so much for auditioning for the UNC-CH Pauper Players fall production of Sweet Charity. We were absolutely blown away by the amount of talent we saw over the past two days, and were thrilled to see so many new faces!

All callbacks will take place today (THURSDAY) in the Student Union Room 2518 (where the auditions were held). Please be sure to arrive for your callback at least 10 minutes prior to your call time.

Below is a list of callbacks divided up by character. Please read over this list carefully as some people have been called back for multiple parts.

OSCAR:

• Ben Boecker
• Quinn Matney
• Nick Sanford

HERMAN:

• Seth Barkley
• Cameron Nadler
• Alex Thompson

VITTORIO:

• Ben Boecker
• Brainard Burrus
• Quinn Matney

CHARITY:

• Margaret Burrus
• Kayla Lively
• Olivia Myrick
• Nicola Vann

NICKIE and HELENE:

• Jessica Cruz
• Emily Ellis
• Olivia Myrick
• Nicola Vann
• Taylore Woods

URSULA:

• Julia Adelman
• Jessica Cruz
• Rosalee Lewis
• Stephanie Linas
• Cydney Swofford

The schedule for callbacks is as follows:

• 6:00-6:20 Vittorio Song
• 6:20-6:50 Vittorio and Ursula Scene
• 6:50-7:15 Herman Song
• 7:15-7:45 Charity Song
• 7:45-8:30 Nickie and Helene Song
• 8:30-9:15 Nickie, Helene, and Charity Scene
• 9:15-9:30 Oscar Song
• 9:30-10:00 Oscar and Charity Scene

Attached are your sides and songs for tomorrow. Please print your sides and songs out and bring them with you to your callbacks tomorrow. I will only have one spare copy of each side/song.

REMEMBER, not getting a callback does not equate to not being cast in the show. We did not callback some parts, nor did we callback the ensemble or frug dancers.

Again, thank you all so much for auditioning for Pauper Players Fall production of Sweet Charity. Please do not hesitate to contact producer Matt Jacques (mjacques@email.unc.edu) with any questions regarding callbacks, casting, etc.

Be on the lookout for a cast list via e-mail late tonight.

Sweet Charity Auditions!

To open our 21st season, Pauper Players will present "Sweet Charity" as our fall musical production! "Sweet Charity" will be directed and choreographed by Michael McWaters and produced by Matt Jacques, with Grace Lloyd as the music director. All three are undergraduate students at UNC Chapel Hill. Auditions are open to the general public and will be held on Tuesday, August 31st, and Wednesday, September 1st, with callbacks on that Thursday, September 2nd. All auditions and callbacks will be held from 6PM-10PM in the Student Union room 2518. Sign-up sheets will be available in the Union Hub beginning... the first week of school. More details and reminders will follow. CLICK HERE to join the Facebook event for more details!

A quick note from the director...
"Please note that for this specific audition, everyone should bring a 1-2 min selection of a musical theatre standard that shows off your vocal range and quality. An accompanist will be provided, and a resume is optional. There will be no scales done prior to your audition, so please plan accordingly. In addition, please be prepared to dance, preferably on the night that you sing. The dance auditions will be held that Monday and Tuesday from 9PM-10PM. Everyone will be required to come to one of the dance auditions."

Break legs!

EBOARD 2010-2011

The new executive board members have been selected for the 2010-2011 school year! Please contact pauperinfo@gmail.com or these Paupers directly with any specific questions that may arise. Looking forward to the new school year!

Executive Directors:

- Executive Publicity Director: Olivia Myrick

- Executive Business Director: Elissa Rumer

- Executive Production Director: Ben Boecker

Publicity Team (To be headed by Olivia Myrick, Executive Publicity Director):

- Graphic Designer/Production Artist

o Lauren Josey

- Publicity Staff

o Michael McWaters (1st Semester)

o Josh Peterson (2nd Semester)

o Stephanie Linas

o Emily Ellis

Business Team (To be headed by Elissa Rumer, Executive Business Director):

- Treasurer

o Matt Jacques

- Co-Properties Managers

o Jeffrey Sullivan

o Kelsey Reinhard

- Secretary

o Cierra Hinton

Production Team (To be headed by Ben Boecker, Executive Production Director):

- In-House Photographer

o Braxton Kinsey

- Front of House Manager

o AJ Kiehner

- Co-Social Coordinators

o Erin Farley (1st Semester)

o Turner Popalis

- Co-Orchestral Coordinators

o Laura Hartley(2nd Semester)

o Grace Lloyd

Our 20th Anniversary Season!

The 2009-2010 school year marked our 20th anniversary as UNC's premier musical theater group! We had an excellent season, beginning with Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party"--directed by senior Nick Culp.




Our winter show was "I Love You Because", a modern interpretation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" directed by Matt Jacques--a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. "I Love You Because" was performed in the Bingham blackbox theater on campus and was a wonderful success.



The "Broadway Melodies" musical revue, performed in late January, featured artistic parodies of Robin Hood, Dr. House, Jacob (Black) and Sons, and hilarious Disney characters. Respective directors--Travis Wright (freshman), Kevin Shaffer (sophomore), Ben Phillis (junior), and Cameron Simmons (senior)--did a spectacular job putting together a hysterical show with only a few short weeks of rehearsal!






Finally, we closed the season with Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" as the spring musical production. "Into the Woods" was directed by Leah Thomas and was a beautiful way to end a memorable year.

Stay tuned for this upcoming year, when PAUPER PLAYERS TURNS TWENTY-ONE!

(Photo Credit: Braxton Kinsey)