Richmond Community Theatre, 111 East Washington Street, Rockingham NC 28379

The schedule will begin with the adaptation of Earl Hamner’s Christmas classic, “The Homecoming.”

The winter presentation will be David Rogers’ “Flowers for Algernon.” The final show of the season will be Alec Coppel’s famed mystery-comedy, “The Gazebo.”

“The Homecoming” is a play based on the novel by Earl Hamner Jr. It is the popular story upon which the TV show, “The Waltons,” was based.

“Other than the story of Scrooge, this is probably one of the best known Christmas stories,” said Jimmy McDonald, chairman of the theater board.

The Spencer family awaits the return of their father who has had to find work far away from home. As the snow falls the oldest son, Clay-Boy, is sent to find out why his father hasn’t returned home.

There are roles for six teenage boys and girls, (including Clay-Boy), five children between the ages of 8 and 10, grandparents in their 60s or older, as well as men and women in their 20s through 40s.

The play will be presented Dec. 6-9 and 13-16. Auditions will be Oct. 9-11.

The winter production will be Daniel Keys’ poignant story “Flowers for Algernon.” It is the story of a mentally retarded man named Charlie Gordon.

With an IQ of 68, he undergoes experimental brain surgery to improve his intelligence. Algernon is a mouse that doctors use as a basis to judge Charlie’s mental progress. The brain surgery is successful but there are some complications.

Adapted for the stage by David Rogers, the story was made into the movie “Charly,” for which Cliff Robertson won the Academy Award as “Best Actor.”

With roles such as doctors and workers, it is a large cast production. There are roles for eight men and nine women, ranging in age from teenage to 60s.

The show will be presented March 1-3 and 8-10. Auditions will be Jan. 8-10.

The final play of the 2006-07 season will be Alec Coppel’s mystery-comedy, “The Gazebo.”

First presented by the theater in 1983, “The Gazebo” became one of the theater’s most popular plays. It’s the story of a mystery-writer, who writes perfect crimes for television, only to discover that his wife is really being blackmailed for episodes in her past. He tries to end the blackmail as he would on TV, but learns that real life doesn’t always work like life on television.

“A great person named Lloyd Johnson played the lead role in the original show,” said director David Ariail. “I’m glad it’s back on the schedule.”

There are roles for eight men and four women of various ages. Auditions will be April 2-4. The play is scheduled for May 24-26 and May 31-June 2.

“We have some great roles for children and teenagers this season,” McDonald said. “The plays we produce and select always depend on the involvement of the entire community for their success. We hope people will be willing to share their time and talents.”

By the Richmond County Daily Journal Editorial Board
Saturday, June 24, 2006 12:22 AM EDT

Richmond Community Theatre, the state’s fifth-longest producing community theater, will lose its director, David Ariail, at the end of next season.

Ariail has been with RCT since 1977 and has done a splendid job. Every year he puts on entertaining shows that are watched by standing-room-only crowds in the Harrington Square venue.

RCT board members are concerned about the troupe’s future and rightfully so. RCT is a real feather in Richmond’s cap and is asset to the quality of life here. Theater volunteers are worried they won’t be able to recruit a suitable replacement for Ariail.

“If you find someone who seems qualified to run the theater,” RCT treasurer Marty Goodman said, “it might be difficult to recruit that person to Richmond County. I think David has enjoyed living in Richmond County, but others may want a more metropolitan setting.

“That is a factor.”

Board members also are concerned they may not be able to afford a new director.

The city of Rockingham, Richmond County and RCT fund the director’s position. The city provides two-thirds of the salaried position.

“But, that may not be enough,” board member Jimmy McDonald said. “There is no question that we will be meeting with our elected officials over the next months and gauge what their position is as to the theater’s future.”

We appreciate the board’s fears, but we also think members are being, appropriately enough, a bit overdramatic. We’re confident the board will have several capable, affordable candidates from which to choose.

The board should seek out the best available talent, but it’s not realistic to expect a Broadway director or even an off-Broadway mentor to show up in the piles of resumes. Board members also should remember that community theaters across the nation maintain successful programs with all-volunteer staffs. Frankly, those outfits would love to have the luxury of paying a full-time director.

Yes, replacing Ariail will be a tall task on many counts and we hate to see him leave, but it can and will be done.

The show must go on for Richmond Community Theatre.

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