Anyone with an artistic bent will get an opportunity to show off their talents and work with professional actors this month.

Friday, May 19, 2000

Anyone with an artistic bent will get an opportunity to show off their talents and work with professional actors this month.

Auditions will be May 21 for anyone interested in performing in "Children of Eden," a musical set for the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky., Aug. 11-13.

The play, which tells the story of the book of Genesis, is produced by a newly founded non-profit organization called "Bless Your Little Heart."

The company is organized by Debbie Fisher, mother of Mickey Fisher, an Ironton native who acts professionally in New York and throughout the country.

Fisher, who produced his own one-man show in Ironton last year, will direct and star in "Children of Eden."

"I’m doing this for the summer," Fisher said. "We formed this production company and our goal is to start off doing one show a year. We’re trying to get this off the ground. Hopefully, it will grow. We have big hopes and dreams for it. This will be our first show and we’re looking to get as many people involved in the community as we can. Hopefully, it will come to be something we can do two to three times a year. Our ultimate goal is to have our own home theater. Hopefully, that’s not too far down the line."

The formation of this production company was inevitable, Fisher said.

"Ever since I started doing jobs, Mom’s been coming to see a lot of them," he said. "She’s grown to love theater and wanted to be a part of it. She’s been looking forward to putting up a show for a long time. Now’s the right time."

Mrs. Fisher is producing this play for other reasons, as well, Fisher added.

"She wanted to do something positive around here," he said. "She wanted to give something back to the community.

"Hopefully, as we go along she’ll learn more about the producing side and we’ll grow and grow and grow."

Despite the production company’s young age, though, the Fisher family is not taking baby steps. Their first production will have a cast of about 60 performers, Fisher said.

"Anyone is welcome to come to the auditions," he said. "We need people of all shapes, sizes and ages. We’re looking for gospel singers, country singers, rock singers – as diverse a group as possible. We also need a large group of kids."

Auditions will be May 21 at the June Conn School of Dance, Winchester Ave., Ashland, Ky. All Children, ages 6-14, may audition at 1 p.m. Dancers, including those who sing, may audition at 3 p.m. And all other singers may audition at 5 p.m.

"You don’t need to bring anything," Fisher said. "We’ll have the music there. Adults that just sing or dance can just come for the individual auditions."