Gallo Center Repertory Company

The last in the Gallo Center Repertory Company’s series of streaming Virtual Theater radio plays is Arsenic and Old Lace, a delightful black comedy by Joseph Kesselring that became a Broadway hit in 1941 and later a popular film starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. This is great fun! To view Arsenic and Old Lace: https://vimeo.com/454612813 THE CAST... Dave Weltner Dyanne Durr Kimberly Ogden Dean Medek Michael Creasy Jim Johnson Wes Page Scott Mitchell Michael Lynch Based on scripts from vintage radio plays, this series was conceived by Gallo Center Rep artistic director Jim Johnson, with editing and very special effects by Wes Page. Each of the plays has featured actors familiar to audiences of numerous Rep stage productionsall of whom are generously donating their time and helped record their parts at home using cell phones, tablets and desktops! @gallocenterrep #gcrc #therep #modesto #modestoca #modestocalifornia #209community #performingarts #performingartscenter #galloarts #gallocenter #gallocenterforthearts #downtownmodesto #stanislauscounty #centralvalley

The Gallo Center for the Arts and the Gallo Center Repertory Company are most grateful to Dr. Jim Johnson, Ph.D. and Wes Page for their efforts in creating and producing the wonderful series of Virtual Theater radio plays that you can access on this page. Johnson, who conceived and directs the series, spent 40 years at Modesto Junior College as a Professor of Speech & Theatre and later Dean of the Arts, Humanities and Communications division. Following his retirement, Jim ha...s devoted himself to the Center in volunteer positions: six years as the Arts Education Coordinator in the Pathways to Creativity program, and more recently has Artistic Director for the Gallo Center Repertory Company. After retiring from a 42 year career in video and film production at Modesto Junior College, Page has enjoyed giving back to his community and especially to non-profit organizations with his video production skills. Some of his recent projects include a documentary celebrating the 85th anniversary of The State Theatre. For the Gallo Center Rep’s Virtual Theater project, Wes has committed scores of hours to shooting, editing and special effects. Thank you, gentlemen!

The Gallo Center Repertory Company’s newest streaming 'virtual theater' radio play is The Hitchhiker, a spine-tingling thriller written in 1941 by Louise Fletcher specifically for Orson Wells. This performance is by members of Sankofa Theatre Company, Modesto’s own African American acting troupe, which has collaborated with the Center on such stage productions as The Piano Lesson, Freedom Riders, Fences, A Raisin in the Sun and Seven Guitars. To view The Hitchhiker": htt...ps://vimeo.com/444986271. THE CAST Ronald Willie Williams The Hitchhiker John Ervin Mrs. Adams Cheryll Knox Female Hitchhiker Abi Nunus Mrs. Whitney Elizabeth Garmon Gas Station Attendant Michael Baldwin Storekeeper Mark Howze Based on scripts from vintage radio dramas, this series was conceived by Gallo Center Rep artistic director Jim Johnson, with editing and very special effects by Wes Page. Each drama features actors familiar to audiences of numerous Rep stage productionsall of whom are generously donating their time and recording their parts at home using cell phones, tablets and desktops!

For the Gallo Center Repertory Company’s next streaming 'virtual theater' radio play, All About Eve, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with The State Theatre as part of their free Virtual Film Education Seminar! The seminar will be about the 1951 Oscar-winning film version of All About Eve, and it will take place on July 13 and July 16. You can learn more about the seminar and register for it by going to thestate.org/special-events. Meanwhile, please enjoy the Rep’s o...ne-hour production featuring Charlene West, Alicia Dooley, David Hambley, Heike Hambley, Dean Medek, Ryan Dziadosz and Ariel Hicks. This series, based on scripts from vintage radio dramas, was conceived by Gallo Center Rep artistic director Jim Johnson, with editing and very special effects by Wes Page. Each drama features actors familiar to audiences of numerous Rep stage productionsall of whom are generously donating their time and recording their parts at home using cell phones, tablets and desktops! https://vimeo.com/435337391

The Gallo Center Repertory Company’s series of five streaming 'virtual theater' productions continues with our third entry, "The Time Machine." This radio play, adapted from H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novella, has been made into three movies and two television presentations. Performed in a reader’s theater style, The Time Machine features John Mayer, Dan Ogden and Ariel Hicks. View the play by clicking the image below. This series, based on scripts from vintage r...adio dramas, was conceived by GCRC artistic director Jim Johnson, with editing and very special effects by Wes Page. Each drama features actors familiar to audiences of numerous Rep stage productionsall of whom are generously donating their time and recording their parts at home using cell phones, tablets and desktops! Join us they time travel into the future and a world populated by the innocent Eloi and the evil Morlocks! See more

It’s the second in the Gallo Center Repertory Company’s series of five free streaming Virtual Theater productions! Join us for the adventures of private eye Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, inspired by Dashiell Hammett’s classic novel and the unforgettable movie starring Humphrey Bogart, and performed in a reader’s theater style. The Maltese Falcon features Ryan Dziadosz, Robin Bjerke, Dave Weltner, Michael Cresey and David Keymer. View the play by clicking below. Base...d on old-time radio dramas, this series is produced by GCRC artistic director Jim Johnson, with editing and post production by Wes Page. Each drama features actors familiar to audiences of numerous Rep stage productionsall of whom are generously donating their time and recording their parts at home using cell phones, tablets and desktops! Coming soon: All About Eve, The Time Machine, and Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. https://vimeo.com/423314822

Gallo Center Repertory actor Dan Ogden rehearses his part for an upcoming Virtual Theater production by the company. Using this ‘green screen’ technology, editor Wes Page will add backgrounds and effects to help bring the story to life. GCRC’s first production, Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, is streaming now at https://vimeo.com/421404964. The next production, The Maltese Falcon begins streaming on Wednesday. Watch for the announcement!

The Gallo Center’s stages may be temporarily dark right now, but the Gallo Center Repertory Company is stepping in to entertain our patrons with a series of free, streaming Virtual Theater productions performed in a ‘readers theater’ style. Based on old-time radio dramas, they are produced by GCRC artistic director Jim Johnson, with editing and post production by Wes Page. Each drama features actors familiar to audiences of numerous Rep stage productionsall of whom are gen...erously donating their time and recording their parts using cell phones and desktop computers! First up is the Edgar Allen Poe classic, The Fall of the House of Usher, with Joe Hypes, Colton Dennis, Wes Page, Dave Weltner and Ariel Hicks. You can view the play by clicking below. In coming weeks the Rep will present The Maltese Falcon, All About Eve, The Time Machine, and Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. These also will be announced on our social media platforms. Enjoy!

Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 13) four F-15C fighter jets with the California Air National Guard will fly over parts of California in a tribute to health care worker...s, first responders, and others on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fighter jets with the guard’s 144th Fighter Wing based in Fresno will take off at 10 a.m. and fly over Modesto sometime around 10:20 a.m. Thank You to our California Air National Guard for your support of our front-line first responders. #CalGuard

Happy Testimonial Tuesday! We enjoy hearing about our patrons memorable experiences! Have a Gallo Center Repertory testimonial? Leave us your testimonial in the comments.

Happy Easter! We hope you share the joy of the holiday with every "bunny" you love and maintain social distancing. Stay safe and have a blessed Easter Sunday.

The Gallo Center Repertory Company is celebrating World Health Day and we’d like to thank all of the people in the medical field, giving us the knowledge, comfort and hope that we need right now. Don't forget to take a step back and invest in your own physical and mental well-being. The simple practice of proper handwashing is key to remaining safe. Also have an alcohol-based hand rub (hand sanitizer) within reach as you visit banks, markets, supermarkets etc, to protect you till you can wash your hands. Practice hand hygiene as religiously as possible and educate others.

In honor of World Theater Day here are a few pictures of some of the great productions the Gallo Center Repertory Company has performed!

What does working from home look like? Gallo Center Repertory Company Artistic Director Jim Johnson working on Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner in his home office. What’s your home office setup look like?

In honor of Memory day we wanted to share this fun photo of the Gallo Center Repertory Company production of Little Women! We would love to hear your fondest memory from previous performances by the Gallo Center Repertory Company.