As the Mudds musical review Christmas Love Train disappears down the tracks, and the murder mystery Wedding From Hell fades to black, a new ship load of live theatre is heading your way for Spring 2008.

The Mississippi Mudds of Carleton Place defies categorisation in the world of community theatre. What new surprises does this energetic troupe have in store for theatre goers? What you can count on is the Mudds acronym name standing for MUsic, Dance and Drama on Stage. What isn’t in the name however is the heavy dose of laughter heading your way over the next few months.

Cole Porter Musical ANYTHING GOES

Romance and laughter are in the air again in April and its Delightful. Its Delovely! Long time Mudds supporters will recall the musical review Moonlight Over Manhattan a few years ago; a tantalising glimpse of the life and work of Cole Porter. You will be thrilled to learn that the fast paced Cole Porter musical Anything Goes is to appear on the Carleton Place Town Hall stage at the end of April. This “Broadway” musical comedy filled with wonderful songs such as You’re The Top, Lets Misbehave, Friendship, I Get A Kick Out of You and Blow Gabriel Blow is set on the ocean liner S.S. American bound for London from New York. The below decks shenanigans involve an unlikely mix of characters and their complicated relationships.

Take Billy Crocker, hapless general manager for tyrannical Wall Street broker Elisha J.Whitney and madly in love with beautiful debutante Hope Harcourt. While dropping off important papers to his boss before he sets sail on the SS American, Billy unexpectedly runs into Hope, (accompanied by her socialite mother ) on her way to England to be married to stuffy English nobleman Sir Evelyn Whitney.

Deciding to stow away on board in order to win back her heart, Billy is aided by his friend Reno Sweeney, an evangelist turned night-club singer, Moonface Martin, Public Enemy #13, who is himself eluding the authorities and his friend the irrepressible Bonnie.

This cast of characters played by a mix of regular, returning and new Mudds actor/singers, including Robert Horne, Chris Jones, Kristen Widenmaier, Michele Eno, Andrew MacDougall, Meredith Millman, Trish Smith, and Richard Church will be supported by a talented chorus of singers and dancers who are already practising their tap routines.

This delightful musical opens at the Carleton Place Town Hall on Friday, April 25, 2008 and continues April 26th, 27th, May 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Tickets for reserved seating will go on sale mid March at the Remembrance Gift Shop 613 257 3931 $20/person or $15 for seniors and under 18, with a special rate of $15/person or $10 for seniors and under 18 on Thursday May 1st.

And for those of you who enjoy Muddsingers chorus, watch for announcements of an evening of gospel, inspirational and folk music to be presented in co-operation with Zion Memorial United Church some time in late Spring.

Plans are underway for a new Mudds theatrical adventure open to students from grade 5 to grade 8. The brain child of actor/singer Kate Osborne, Mudds Youth Theatre was recently given the go ahead from this Carleton Place theatre group's Board of Directors.

The Mudds is well known in the area for high quality productions of all kinds, from Broadway type shows, to musical reviews, to drama to comedic murder mysteries. The Mudds acronym name tells of their interest in bringing MUsic Dance and Drama to the Stage and for the most part participants have been in the teenage or adult range.

Ms. Osborne, the mother of two young children whose resume includes a long list of amateur theatrical experience, spoke recently of her wish to foster interest in theatre arts at an early age and her goals for the Mudds Youth Theatre project.

While Ms. Osborne worked with Deep River Youth Theatre she observed first hand the power of a well run theatre 'workshop' to develop confidence, co-operation and communication skills in youth. She wants to offer an opportunity to local children and youth to experience all this too, while developing artistic skill and friendships through theatre.

A 12 week beginner session is scheduled to start in September 2007. Details of location and exact times are still to be finalised, however for a fee of $40 per 12 week term participants can expect a high quality program focusing on risk free fun as they learn the basics of stage craft; imagination, movement, voice, character development, improvisation and above all trust. Registration for the first term will be held at the Town Hall on Wednesday September 5th from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Mudds is pleased to support Kate Osborne in this project and looks forward to reaping the benefits down the road as young participants reach the age where they can take part in a full blown Mudds production.

For more information on Mudds Youth Theatre email Kate Osborne at jakas@distributel.net.