On Sunday the cast of 23 kids in the "Bugsy Malone Jr." cast completed the sixth of nine performances. There were still some raggedy edges, but over the last three performances - shows four, five and six -- the cast seems to be shaping up and settling in.

On stage anyway. Backstage, is another kettle of fish altogether/ Director Pierrette Jensen cautioned them during post-show "notes" Sunday that their backstage goofing an chattering were disruptive.

In a word, they're too noisy and too often visible playing peek-a-boo from backstage through curtains and doors and drapery. All very bush league for such a talented cast among which are a few actors are good enough to harbor professional aspirations beyond community and children's theater.

On the sunnier side of the street, individual actors are beginning to shine.
The two Kyles are showing good progress.

Kyle Jensen's voice is firming up and he's projecting well, considering his tender age of 10.

Kyle Noland, whose, sabbatical to a Boy Scout camp on Santa Catalina Island for the next-to-last week of rehearsals had some worried, has come through like a trouper.

Not only did he know his lines when he came back on the eve of opening night, but his Fat Sam character and his delivery of same has gotten better with each show.

Yuba City’s The Acting Company received nine of the 200-plus Elly award nominations for excellence in the 2001 theater season, the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance announced this week.

TAC nominees included Pierrette Jensen for her direction of Snoopy in the “Young Peoples” category, and Michael Campbell and Candee Jensen as leading adult male and female actors, respectively, in Snoopy.

Julie Bryson was nominated for best supporting actor (female) in Snoopy, as well.

The versatile Foster Campbell was nominated for best female supporting actor in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Staci Johnson’s “Lend Me a Tenor” figured large in the nominations. Johnson was nominated for best direction for the play, and the play itself was nominated for best overall production, SARTA announced.

Matt Mhoon was nominated for best supporting actor (male) for his role in Tenor, and Nancy Perillo’s set design for Tenor was nominated for an Elly.

Ellys are named for the philanthropic arts supporter Eleanor McClatchy of the McClatchy newspaper fortune.