Novato Theater Company

01/10/2025

PRESENT LAUGHTER NOËL COWARD’S IS A MODERN & VERY HUMEROUS REFLECTION ON FAME, DESIRE AND LONELINESS FOR TODAY’S AUDIENCES! Based on Coward himself, actor Garry Essendine is the star of the London theatrical scene at the height of his fame and adored by legions of admirers—perhaps a little too much!

“What are you talking about?”
Left to Right:
Standing: Heather Shepardson & Kathryn Schott
Sitting/Kneeling: Kathryn Schott & David Abrams
Photo by Jere Torkelsen

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

01/06/2025

PRESENT LAUGHTER NOËL COWARD’S INTELLIGENT AND PROVACATICE COMEDY FOR TODAY’S AUDIENCES! As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine's colorful life is in danger of spiraling out of control. Don’t miss it!!! Make your reservations now!

Photo: “I’m not listening!”
Left to Right:
Standing: Shirley Nilsen Hall & Heather Shepardson
Sitting: David Abrams

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

01/06/2025

5 DAYS UNTIL MATILDA THE MUSICAL AUDITIONS!
Don’t miss out on NTC last show of the season!

Directed and Choreographed by Marilyn Izdebski
Musical Direction by Judy Wiesen

All genders and ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Auditions on January 11: Children-12pm-3pm, Adults 3:30-6:00pm.
Please prepare 32-64 bars of a Broadway show tune. You may also sing any song from Matilda. Adults please prepare a monologue (1-2 minutes).
Please include headshot/recent photo and resumé and your preferred audition time.
Video submissions also accepted.

Please submit form, headshot/photo & resumé to:
[email protected]
Audition form available at:
www.novatotheatercompany.org

If you are submitting video, please send by January 7 TO THIS LINK.
(If you do not have a Google account, please email me.)

All roles are open.

Callbacks by invitation on Saturday, January 25, 2025
at the Novato Theater Company
5420 Nave Drive, Novato, 94949

Performances: May 16th-June 8, 2025
Rehearsals Begin in March

Travel Re-imbursement Stipend ••• This is a non-AEA production
For more info and character breakdown please go to:
novatotheatercompany.org

01/04/2025

PRESENT LAUGHTER IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S NOËL COWARD! The play celebrates Coward's legendary wit and larger-than-life persona and in which he himself originally planned to star! You don’t want to miss it!!!

“I need a martini!”
Left to Right:
Standing: Heather Shepardson & Kathryn Schott
Sitting: David Abrams

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

01/02/2025

MEET THE DIRECTOR OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Carl Jordan brings out every single humorous trick in the book to make this show a delight to see! Carl is a multi-award winning director and choreographer working and living in the Bay Area. He comes from a professional dance background and has degrees in musical theater, dance and drama. Carl has instructed theater at community colleges and served as artistic director for several theater companies. Along with numerous nominations Carl has been named Best Director four times and Best Choreographer by the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle, along with an award for Best Entire Production. He has twice won as Best Director by Theater Bay Area, who has also named him for Best Overall Production and Best Ensemble. He has twice been awarded the Marquee Theater Journalists Award for Direction / Outstanding Production

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/31/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Jamie Montellato, who plays Garry’s rakish valet, Fred, has been active in the performing arts most of his life, from singing in choirs, acting in plays, performing in musical theater; he’s been on or backstage in some capacity for about 20 years. Most recently, Jamie performed as George Banks in North Bay Theatrics’ production of Mary Poppins, King Duncan in College of Marin’s production of Macbeth, as well as King Grin and Muscles in their production of The Snow Queen, respectively. He is thrilled to be performing as Fred in his first production with Novato Theater Company.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/30/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Kevin Allen, who plays Morris Dixon the “show biz” colleague of Garry’s, is an actor, writer and director that got his start in theater and performative media in the Bay Area. He attended Chapman University for Screenwriting and Sound Design and years later has found himself the director of San Rafael High School’s drama program — his alma mater. Within the last year he has performed in NTC's Spamalot (Herbert, Not-Dead-Fred), Sonoma Arts Live's Lend Me A Tenor (Bellhop) and Young Frankenstein (Hermit), and Avalon Player's Twelfth Night (Duke). Always burning bright with passion, Kevin brings his all to any project in which he is involved.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/29/2024

Join us for the fun! Come audition for
Novato Theater Company’s Production of
MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Directed and Choreographed by Marilyn Izdebski
Musical Direction by Judy Wiesen

All genders and ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Auditions on January 11: Children-12pm-3pm, Adults 3:30-6:00pm.
Please prepare 32-64 bars of a Broadway show tune. You may also sing any song from Matilda. Adults please prepare a monologue (1-2 minutes).
Please include headshot/recent photo and resumé and your preferred audition time.
Video submissions also accepted.

Please submit form, headshot/photo & resumé to:
[email protected]
Audition form available at:
www.novatotheatercompany.org

If you are submitting video, please send by January 7 TO THIS LINK.
(If you do not have a Google account, please email me.)

All roles are open.

Callbacks by invitation on Saturday, January 25, 2025
at the Novato Theater Company
5420 Nave Drive, Novato, 94949

Performances: May 16th-June 8, 2025
Rehearsals Begin in March

Travel Re-imbursement Stipend ••• This is a non-AEA production
For more info and character breakdown please go to:
novatotheatercompany.org

12/28/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Thomas Peterson plays Roland Maule, the naïve, foolish, exuberant, star struck admirer of Garry who brashly inserts himself into Garry’s life. Thomas is thrilled to return to Novato Theater Company. Since starting his acting career with Shakespeare in the park, Thomas has appeared around the Bay Area and has been awarded for his performances. Most recently, Thomas worked with College of Marin on their production of The Snow Queen (Reindeer) and Curtain Theater’s Midsummer Night’s Dream (Egeus, Philostrate).

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/27/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Nic Moore, who plays the assured and charming Jo Lyppiatt, has worn many hats at Novato Theater Company. He has served on the Board of Directors and directed Shakespeare in Love in 2023. He acted in Fiddler on the Roof, Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike and The Fantasticks. Nic has also performed at the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Alter Theater, the New Conservatory Theater Center, 6th Street Playhouse and the Curtain Theatre.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/26/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Ashley Kennedy plays Helen Lyppiatt, who finds herself in the middle of all the “drama,” is excited to make her debut at Novato Theater Company in this fabulous Noël Coward production! A Chicago area native, Ashley most recently played Annette in God of Carnage and Judith in Hay Fever on local stages. Other favorite roles include Eliza Doolittle (Pygmalion), Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Marcy (Ravenscroft), Cindy (Agatha Christie Made Me Do It), Abigail Williams (The Crucible), Cecily (The Importance of Being Earnest) and more. She thanks her family for their unending support of her theatrical pursuits.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/20/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Kathryn Schott who plays Liz Essendine, Garry’s charming, no nonsense ex-wife, is grateful to be making her debut with the NTC in Present Laughter. Classically trained, she earned her MFA from UCLA, and studied Shakespeare at Oxford. Favorite roles include: Catherine Proof (Oceanside Theater), Nina The Seagull (La Jolla Theater Company), Maria Twelfth Night (North Coast Rep). Kathryn was recently nominated for Best Lead Actress in City of Love at LA’s First Glance Film Festival. When not in front of the camera, she can be found behind it, directing. Love to her best friend, fiancé, partner-in-crime: Mike, to her family, and especially her parents Linda and Rob - two of her favorite people.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/18/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Shirley Nilsen Hall, who plays both Miss Erickson, the eccentric, Scandinavian housekeeper and Lady Saltburn, a wealthy dowager and majestic society woman, is delighted to join this talented cast and crew. A longtime member of NTC, she was last seen here as Anne Marie in “A Doll’s House, Part 2”. Other favorite roles: Violet in “August Osage County” (SFBATCC Award, Principal Actress), Vera in “4000 Miles” (SFBATCC Nomination), Fraulein Schneider in “Cabaret”, Ouiser in “Steel Magnolias”, Ethel in “Moon over Buffalo”, Aunt Eller in “Oklahoma”, Mrs. Higgins in “My Fair Lady” (MTJA Nomination), Stella in “Light up the Sky” and Fonsia in “The Gin Game”, which she performed with her husband Norman A. Hall.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

12/17/2024

MEET THE CAST OF PRESENT LAUGHTER AT THE NOVATO THEATER COMPANY!

Tina Traboulsi, playing the naïve but scheming debutante Daphne Stillington, is thrilled to make her Novato Theater Company debut with Present Laughter! She most recently portrayed Sally Applewhite as Mary in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play and Cynthia Weil in Beautiful (at Spreckels), Louise LeBreton in The Hello Girls (at Sonoma Arts Live!), Emily in Our Town, Laura in The Glass Menagerie (both at Ross Valley Players), and Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (at Cinnabar). During her free time Tina enjoys long walks. Her longest walk to date is walking across California (San Francisco to Yosemite). She thanks her family, friends, and mentors for their constant love and support! B.A. Music & English (cum laude): Santa Clara University.

PRESENT LAUGHTER January 23-February 16, 2025.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

10/15/2024

Novato Theater Company announces the cast Noël Coward’s PRESENT LAUGHTER! The production is directed Carl Jordan runs January 23-February 16, 2025.

DAPHNE STILLINGTON Tina Traboulsi
MISS ERIKSON Shirley Nilsen Hall
FRED Sky Collins
MONICA REED Heather Shephardson
GARRY ESSENDINE David Abrams
LIZ ESSENDINE Kate Schott
ROLAND MAULE Thomas Peterson
HELEN LYPPIATT Ashley Kennedy
MORRIS DIXON Kevin Allen
JO LYPPIATT Nic Moore
LADY SALTBURN Shirley Nilsen Hall

Present Laughter depicts a few days in the life of the successful and self-obsessed light comedy actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his impending mid-life crisis (he has recently turned forty). The character is a caricature of the author's real-life persona, as Coward acknowledged.

Information and tickets at www.novatotheatercompany.org.

10/13/2024

Thanks to everyone who came to see NUNSENSE and to our Comedy Weekend the last two nights! We hope you all had a great time! NTC is taking a little break until the new year, when we will be presenting the NEXT in our 2024-2025 Season... PRESENT LAUGHTER by Noel Coward, directed by Carl Jordan. We have an amazing cast to announce soon, and if you haven't got your tickets or subscriptions yet, keep an eye on this page or our website early next week for a special offer! More info as always at http://www.novatotheatercompany.org

10/12/2024

8pm tonight! ***NOT*** sold out! Please come and have a laugh with us!

COMEDY THIS WEEKEND! Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Ten of the Bay Area's best comics right here on the NTC stage. $25 per night or $40 for the Both Nights Bundle. Wine & Beer too! Come and laugh with us! Tickets at the door, or in advance at http://www.novatotheatercompany.org/comedy-festival-oct-2024