Iberia Performing Arts League - Latest Blog Entries

IPAL announces 2012-2013 Season

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:40:00 -0500

Here's some information on IPAL's 2012-2013 Season!

First up on the stage (July 12-22) will be the IPAL’s Summer Youth Theater Production of “Disney’s Mulan” with a great cast aged 10-21 Director is Vincent P. Barras. Note this Summer Youth Theater Production is not part of the “regular season” but is always a great show!

Opening the 2012-2013 Season will be "Remember When Again." A sequel to 2010’s wildly successful “Remember When” ! The original script, by Jim Wyche, involves plans to tear down a "1950's style" soda shop to put up a parking lot and features 23 sixties era songs! The show will run August 16-26, 2012, and is directed by Donald “Doc” Voorhies.

"Lilies of the Field" (Oct. 18-28) is an adaptation by Andrew Leslie of the 1963 Academy Award winning movie for which Sidney Poitier received the Academy Award. Directed by Howard “Mac” Stears, the play is based on a semi-biographical novel by William Edmund Barrett.

"A Christmas Story" (Dec. 6-16) ,another stage adaptation, is based on the ever popular movie of the same name. By Philip Grecian this show will bring an adult and youth cast together in what will sure be wonderful holiday experience. Director is Ellen Rogers.

IPAL’s Spring Musical will be "Man of La Mancha." with script by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion, this Tony Award winning musical, a dramatic and uplifting production, is based on the Spanish novel "Don Quixote" by Cervantes and is sure to be another IPAL sellout. It urges us, even now, to "Dream the Impossible Dream." The show will run March 7-24, 2013, and will be directed by Donald “Doc” Voorhies

Closing out the season, May 30-June 9, will be "See How they Run" by Philip King. A classic British farce set during World War II with multiple cases of mistaken identities and raucous chases through an English Vicar's house, it is sure to provide lots of laughs. Director is Vincent P. Barras.

IPAL is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment of the Arts, a Federal Agency.

IPAL Awarded Louisian Division of the Arts Grant

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:55:00 -0500

IPAL is happy to announce that it has been awarded an Organizational Stabilization Grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council. THe Council seeks to promote Arts activities of all kinds within the State of Louisiana, and IPAL's grant is designed to help with operational expenses as it is faced with rising cost and increased theater usage as IPAL puts on 6 plays per year, plus occasional outside performances. The actual funding is through a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Founding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency. We are proud to be able to display their emblem!

IPAL's 2011-2012 Season

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:43:00 -0500

IPAL's 2011-2012 SeasonBilled as the "Mystical, Musical, Magical" season, IPAL's schedule of plays for the 2011-2012 season is as follows:

Arsenic and Old Lace -August 18-28, 2011

Fire Eye - October 13-23, 2011

A Carol for Tiny Tim - December 1-11, 2011

Chicago- The Musical - March 9-25, 2012

Blithe Spirit - May 31-June 10, 2012

Membership Drive and Season Ticket Sale

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:54:00 -0500

We are pleased to let you know IPAL has a great season in store for you in 2011-2012! There is still time to join us as a member! Check out the membership form. You will get our Monthly Newsletter, mention in our program, and listing in the large lobby posters. Why be a member? With the increased costs of insurance and utilities, we face the costs of about $7,500 per month to keep the doors open at the ESSANEE and shows on stage. It is obvious that we cannot keep the price of admission reasonable and exist on ticket sales alone. Your membership is crucial. If you have not yet joined. Please take a few minutes to print out and complete our membership form and attach your check and mail it to us.

We are also please to let you know the 2011-2012 Season is finalized. We will present 5 great shows, beginning with Arsenic and Old Lace, and going on to Fire Eye (an original drama), A Carol for Tiny Tim, Chicago-the Musical, and Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit. You can go to our season ticket form , attach your check and mail it to us.

Incidentally, Please be sure to add your e-mail address. We send out periodic reminders of auditions, plays, and other events and do not share or sell the list!

JOIN US and be part of a great organization in our great community.

Comments on "Remember When"

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:54:00 -0600

We got so many comments on Remember When! Here is just one. Why DON"T you all join us in being IN a show ... onstage or off. You'll love it as all of us at IPAL do!!

Was delightful!! I couldn't help singing and loved that I could dance at the end in the aisle! Plus, I laughed my you-know- what off!! The only thing that would make it better for me is being in the show itself. Maybe I'll join as a cast member in the future?Thanks for a wonderful evening.

Here's another":I had the opportunity to attend the play Sunday afternoon with my mother and enjoyed every minute of it! The cast and music was outstanding! I have recommended to friends in New Iberia and Lafayette to purchase tickets and enjoy a "blast from the past"! I attended school with Jim and was so impressed that he wrote this wonderful play! The talented cast was so incredible! Thanks for bringing this play to our area..

And Finally: The only thing that would make it better for me is being in the show itself. Maybe I'll join as a cast member in the future?

South Pacific

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:38:00 -0500

IPAL will perform the great Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific March 24-April 10, 2011. The IPAL Board has decided to dedicate the performances to the World War II veterans of Iberia Parich, and to provide 100 free tickets for those wishing to attend! This is a small payback IPAL can make to the veterans for their sacrifices, and to the community for their support of our community theater. The IBeria Veterans Association will take care of distribution of the tickets. Additionally a special student performance with reduced prices will be held March 31.

Membership Drive and Season Ticket Sale

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:17:00 -0500

Membership Drive

Incidentally, Please be sure to add your e-mail address. We send out periodic reminders of auditions, plays, and other events and do not share or sell the list!

JOIN US and be part of a great organization in our great community.

IPAL presents its 50's era musical "REMEMBER WHEN"

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:36:00 -0500

Tickets are now available for the Iberia Performing Arts League's presentation of its original 50’s era musical, Remember When, opening on Thursday, August 19, and running Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons thru August 29. Evening performances are at 7:30 and Sunday Matinees are at 3:00. Performances will be at the Essanee Theater, IPAL’s Art Deco home. Tickets or other information can be obtained by calling the theater at 364-6114, e-mailing ipal@cox.net, or by checking the IPAL website www.iberiaperforms.com . Tickets can also be obtained in New Iberia at Paul’s Flower Shop, Delaune’s Pharmacy, or Accentrics on Main Street. All tickets are $15 and there is no reserved seating.

IPAL Sponsors "Newspapers in the Classroom Program"

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:58:00 -0600

As part of its service to the community, IPAL has donated money towards the Newspaper in The Classroom program of the Daily Iberian. IPAL's sponsorship provides 85 newspapers each week throughout the school year to local students, as well as special lesson and idea plans for teachers. The Iberia community has been so generous to IPAL -- we thank them in this small way.

IPAL Board Retreat

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:27:00 -0600

Iberia Performing Arts League Board of Directors met for a retreat on
Saturday, January 30. The retreat was presented by Mr. Keith Dixon who
is the current Theatres of Louisiana President, Executive Director of
the Baton Rouge Little Theater and the Louisiana contact person for
the American Association of Community Theatre.

Iberia Performing Arts League, better known as IPAL, is going
into its 12th year of bringing live theater entertainment to our
community and the surrounding areas. Mr. Dixon led the Board to a
discovery of strengths, weaknesses, and issues that will be developed
into a strategic plan for continual growth for the organization.
Those in attendance were Donna Berard (President), Robin Bull (Treasurer), Michael Weber (Secretary), Mike Boroto, MIchael Caffery, Lynn DeRouen, Carmen Nicholson, Donald "Doc" Voorhies

Iberia Parish Enhancement Fund Makes Grant to IPAL

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:29:00 -0600

IPAL was privileged to be awarded a grant from the Iberia Parish Enhancement Fund. The fund is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Acadiana, and the Fund's purpose is to provide resources to meet the current and emerging needs and opportunities in Iberia Parish. The Grant will be used to provide necessary and continuing maintenance to the body microphones used for IPAL Performances.

Eagle Scout Adds Dressing Room to IPAL

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:44:00 -0600

Congratulations to Andrew Elias who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in January. Andrew performed in IPAL's Little Shop of Horrors and Oklahoma! His Eagle Project consisted of of building a new dressing room for IPAL. This helped add dressing room space in the Essanee backstage area.

IPAL thanks everyone who has contributed so much over the years and invites community members to join us in improving our community theater! See other places on this website to see how to help!

IPAL plays received accolades

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:02:00 -0600

IPAL fans were pleased to read the Friday, January 1, 2010, issue of The Daily Advertiser. Advertiser reviewier, Ray Blum, rated five Acadiana Productions as outstanding -- two were IPAL plays. 2009's Best Musical was Oklahoma! presented by IPAL in March and 2009's Best Comedy was IPAL's Moon Over Buffalo presented in September! Get the paper or check it out online!

Want to Volunteer?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:40:00 -0500

VOLUNTEER AND HELP KEEP IT BRIGHT

The marquee is blank………the lights are down and the curtains are drawn; but the ebb of activity grows…………. Before each production has its final call, IPAL is busy turning the next production into another memorable community event.

With all of this being said, IPAL is looking to bring it’s organization to the standards of those theatres in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and even Houston and Dallas. Our goal is to have members on call and trained to handle many of the duties that are necessary to present our productions in a more efficient manner; leaving less work for the director and more opportunities for its membership.

We are calling our members to come in and sign up to be a trained volunteer in these areas of need

Lighting Sound Stage construction Publicity Fundraising Membership Drives Who Knows?

While we do already have experienced volunteers who do a phenomenal job in all of these positions, IPAL wants to broaden our base and train newcomer’s and those who once worked in theatre and want to come aboard and make a difference.

Please feel free to call IPAL and leave a message at 364-6114, or contact us via this website, or e-mail us at ipal@cox.net . Come and be a part of what you, your family and your town can call the best experience of a lifetime.

Membership Drive

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:54:00 -0500

Membership Drive

We are pleased to report that IPAL is having a memorable and successful season 2009-2010 Season. There is still time to join! Check out the membership form. You will get our Monthly Newsletter, periodic e-mails if you wish them, and be part of a great organization in our great community.

Why be a member? With the increased costs of insurance and utilities, we face the costs of about $3,500 per month to keep the doors open at the ESSANEE. It is obvious that we cannot keep the price of admission reasonable and exist on ticket sales alone. Your membership is crucial. If you have not yet joined. Please take a few minutes to print out and complete our membership form and season ticket form, attach your check and mail it to us. Please be sure to add your e-mail address.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Musical, Guys and Dolls in March!.