A love-letter to the theatre!

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "A love-letter to the theatre!"

Oswald Reynolds
5 years ago
Views:

Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No.

Green Room & Carpentry Shop 306-565-8552 January ~ March 2017 & Vol. 75 No.

net CRYSTAL FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS Fax 306-352-5540 2016-2017 Board Members PRESIDENT

of House Volunteers, Policies & Procedures TREASURER TSI Represntative SECRETARY Nora

Arlene Janzen Shirley Brooks Archives, Green Rooms, One Acts Caterer, Play Selection

Awards Main Stage Co-Producer Electronic & Social Media Time to escape the cold

Make sure you make time in February to join us on a hilarious and farcical trip over the

Director Ken Spencer is our pilot and tells us a little about what it s taken to get

You have been involved in a few Ken Ludwig plays now, both as an actor and a director.

Ken Ludwig's plays have well-written comic characters, and he has an excellent way with

RLT originally produced Moon Over Buffalo back in April of 2003 (I got to play the

Three Musketeers (October 2011), Leading Ladies (December Facebook.

1 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 12 Thank you to all our supporters! We couldn t do it without you! REGINA LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY, INC Angus Street, Regina, SK S4T 1Y4 Box Office RLT Office Green Room & Carpentry Shop January ~ March 2017 & Vol. 75 No. 3 rlt@sasktel.net CRYSTAL FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS Fax Board Members PRESIDENT Bar, Box Office, Memberships, Publicity, Voucher Giveaways VICE-PRESIDENT Raffles, Front of House Volunteers, Policies & Procedures TREASURER TSI Represntative SECRETARY Nora Berg Amy Bouvier Peter Bruce Carri Lelliott Natascia Lypny Faye Daborn Cathy Moberly Arlene Janzen Shirley Brooks Archives, Green Rooms, One Acts Caterer, Play Selection Committee Main Stage Co-Producer Marketing Committee Costumes & Props Scholarships & Awards Main Stage Co-Producer Electronic & Social Media Time to escape the cold Saskatchewan winter with a getaway to somewhere warm & sunny or warm & funny! Make sure you make time in February to join us on a hilarious and farcical trip over the moon to Buffalo and laugh the cold away! Director Ken Spencer is our pilot and tells us a little about what it s taken to get there. A love-letter to the theatre! The team of Ken & Ken is back! You have been involved in a few Ken Ludwig plays now, both as an actor and a director. What makes a Ludwig play such a crowd-pleaser? Ken Ludwig's plays have well-written comic characters, and he has an excellent way with situations and dialogue that make up a great farce. RLT originally produced Moon Over Buffalo back in April of 2003 (I got to play the leading man) and since then RLT has produced other Ken Ludwig plays, including: The Three Musketeers (October 2011), Leading Ladies (December Facebook.com/reginalittletheatre Jewel Robbins Bryce Schlamp David Warford Workshops Grant Applications One Acts Producer Posters, Publications Masks and Faces is the official publication of Regina Little Theatre Society, Inc. and is published 4 times per year. Help RLT to be both environmentally friendly AND fiscally responsible. Let us know if we can send your newsletter electronically! Leave your address at the box office or contact us at or rlt@sasktel.net.

2 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 2 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page , in which I acted), The Game's Afoot - Or Holmes for the Holidays (October 2013), and perhaps his best play Lend Me a Tenor (February 2015, which I had the pleasure of directing). What have been some of the most challenging aspects of this play? As with all farces it's about clear actions at seemingly break-neck speed in-and-out of several doors (we only have 5 doors this time). It takes place in 1953, so we have to be conscious of everything from styles of clothing, to figures of speech, and so on. Our leading lady, Bonnie Senger, and our leading man, Kevin Rispler, have to sword fight, which requires some practice and Kevin is also responsible for some moments of very physical humour. One reviewer described this play as a love letter to the theatre. How would you describe it? I think that reviewer was quite correct. In 1953 in a little-regarded theatre in out-of-theway Buffalo, New York, an aging husband and wife team of (famous?) stage actors, George and Charlotte Hay, and their stalwart but small company of actors are "on the road" touring in repertory, performing Noel Coward's classic comedy Private Lives and also the swashbuckling romantic drama Cyrano de Bergerac. Times are tough; "the road" is not what it used to be; money is tight because crowds have been poor, what with the advent of a television in every home. George and Charlotte never got their big break into Hollywood, and are resigned to practice their dramatic arts NOT in front of a camera. After George has an ill-fated dalliance with the ingénue actress in the company, Charlotte walks out on him. As fate would have it, however, there was a major accident in Hollywood on the set of the movie The Twilight of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the movie's director, the famous Frank Capra, is flying to Buffalo to watch George and Charlotte's matinée performance to audition them to play the leading roles in what's sure to be his latest Hollywood blockbuster. But George, distraught because Charlotte walked out on him, is no where to be found. Will Charlotte appear or run off with their lawyer, Richard? Can they find George, sober him up, and patch up the family before Capra arrives? Will Capra see Cyrano, or Private Lives, or a disturbing mixture of the two? What do you like most about the play? The characters are all larger-than-life in so many ways, but their human failings and how they deal with them and each other is what generates the humour. I love the characters! MOON OVER BUFFALO George and Charlotte are theatrical hams of the first order, who've done Shakespeare and February 8-11 Chekhov, but are still playing the vibrant young leading roles well into their 50's. Their daughter, VIMY Roz, is a headstrong spitfire who is determined to April 5-8 leave the theatre and have a "normal" life, leaving Paul, the company manager and her former fiancé All shows at 7:30 p.m. behind, and even going as far as getting engaged to a local TV weatherman, Howard (who has some TICKETS: nervous fan-boy issues where Roz's parents are From the President Jean Taylor and her cast of almost forty actors (!) brought The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus to life, almost too much as many of younger audience members were frightened by the Awgwas! We apologize to those youngsters as this was not our intent. The costume and make up volunteers really did an outstanding job. Thank you all for your dedication. Moon Over Buffalo rehearsals are in full swing. This farce, which runs February 8 th to 11 th is sure to lift our spirits in the middle of a Saskatchewan winter! I know Ken Spencer and Peter Bruce will ensure a very entertaining production. I have always enjoyed this play and look forward to an evening (in this case, four evenings) of lighthearted entertainment. In recognition of Canada s 150 th anniversary, RLT is mounting the Canadian play Vimy. This play will coincide with the 100 th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. Mark Claxton and his cast and crew will soon be working diligently on this powerful, provocative play whose message is very timely as our veterans return from conflicts elsewhere in the world. PTSD is a very serious condition that is robbing our veterans of a healthy life after service. This play features the Vimy encounter through flashbacks of four soldiers and a nurse. We break with the intensity of Vimy for the Spring One Acts which will be held May 5 th and 6 th. Bryce Schlamp and directors will hold auditions March 6 th and 7 th. Watch our website (reginalittletheatre.com) for details. Our final production of the season will be the comedy The Dixie Swim Club which is ably directed by Nora Berg. This comedy is the perfect bookend to our 91 st season. Our season began with four buddies (Beer for Breakfast) wanting to get away for a few days free of work and family. We end the season with five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, setting aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships, free from husbands, kids and jobs. Audition for The Dixie Swim Club will be held April 10 th and 11 th. A special thanks to all our dedicated volunteers that make RLT such a success!

3 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 10 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 3 DO YOU HAVE ANY OLD PROGRAMS & NEWSLETTERS? We would like to include them in our Archives! Contact RLT at or at rlt@sasktel.net Jim s Bread & Buns Homemade Proud Supporter of Regina Little Theatre Over 80 kinds of Bread + Over 80 kinds of Buns Cheese Buns ~ Cinnamon Buns ~ Cakes Website: jimsbuns.ca Facebook: Jim s Bread & Buns (306) Milestone, Saskatchewan BAKE TO ORDER Order from the website or call Jim! Delivery every Tuesday & Friday to Regina jimsbuns@sasktel.net Twitter: The Bun Man (@jimsbuns) concerned). Eileen, the ingénue actress, is in way over her head with her boss, George. Charlotte is dealing with the ineffectual advances of their lawyer, Richard, and Charlotte's mother, Ethel, who is deaf as a post and has a major dislike for her son-inlaw, is in the middle of things getting everyone mixed up. I imagine with a play like this, rehearsals have been lots of fun! Tell us a little about the overall rehearsal process. Is there anything unique in preparing for a farce? Farce is often about pace and timing, a great deal of which is at a high speed. That means plenty of repetition of spoken lines and stage actions, to ensure they can be done clearly and precisely and safely but also at full speed. It's necessary to mine the script for comic details and possibilities, so that the full force of the farce will hit the audience. I think we've done both of those things. Is there anything particular you would like to say to our audience as they look forward to Moon Over Buffalo? In February, when it's often cold outside, come inside to RLT and enjoy the warmth of some laughter and giggles. To the characters on stage it all seems very serious, but the audience gets to revel in and enjoy the ridiculousness of the characters' behaviours and reactions, and to the mess they get themselves into. It's all about fun and frivolity, so please come and enjoy some with us! Regina Little Theatre is the oldest all-volunteer community theatre group in Canada! We are excited to present outstanding plays every season but the key to our success lies in the many helping hands that work together on stage and off. And that s where you come in! Every play needs not only actors but also backstage crew, stage managers, costumers, prompters, prop wranglers, painters, movers and more! Join the Fun and Make History! You are the key! Contact us at 306~352~5535 or rlt@sasktel.net! May 5 & 6 Auditions: March 6 & 7 June 7-10 Auditions: April 10 & 11

thousands of Canadian soldiers took part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Over 3500 were killed and more than 7000 were wounded.

soldiers as they are tended by a young nurse from Nova Scotia in a field hospital in France.

But do we realize the cost? FEATURING Aaron McKenzie Nolan Straightnose Abbey Thiessen Tyler Toppings Adam Tulloch Michael Vance Reece Wagner April 5-8 A powerful reflection and tribute.

4 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 4 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 9 Give a Gift ~ Leave a Legacy A drama by Vern Thiessen ~ Directed by Mark Claxton Produced by special arrangement with Playwrights Guild of Canada On April 9, 1917, tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers took part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Over 3500 were killed and more than 7000 were wounded. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of that fateful day, RLT is proud to present Vern Thiessen s poetic and poignant look at the Battle and its legacy through the eyes of four of those wounded soldiers as they are tended by a young nurse from Nova Scotia in a field hospital in France. Travel into battle and into the home towns of these young men from all across the country as well as from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Some have said that Canada became a nation that day. But do we realize the cost? FEATURING Aaron McKenzie Nolan Straightnose Abbey Thiessen Tyler Toppings Adam Tulloch Michael Vance Reece Wagner April 5-8 A powerful reflection and tribute. All shows at 7:30 p.m. TICKETS: Regina Little Theatre owes its decades of success to the extraordinary generosity of countless individuals who perhaps never graced our stage, yet who made a tremendous difference to us and to theatre in Regina as a whole by leaving legacy gifts in their wills and estate plans. These individuals have demonstrated that kindness is evident in people from all walks of life with different income levels, professions and passions. Because of their love of life and concern for others, their memories will never be extinguished and their gifts will remind us all that we, too, can make a difference in lives that follow. Please consider Regina Little Theatre as part of your estate planning. Thank you! What do you give the person who has everything? No matter what the occasion, the gift of live theatre is always the perfect gift! Contact Regina Little Theatre to purchase tickets or a gift certificate! or rlt@sasktel.net Would You Like To Reach A Bigger Audience? ADVERTISE WITH US! Regina Little Theatre welcomes companies, groups and individuals who would like to place an ad in our play programs and/or newsletter. It can appear once or repeatedly. Just provide us with the information and/or image you would like to use and leave the rest to us! For more information or to put your ad in reach of a bigger audience than ever, contact RLT: or rlt@sasktel.net

Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 8 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 5 ANNOUNCING.

Regina Little Theatre is saddened by the passing of one of its members, Sharon Giesinger, on December 6

Sharon always dreamed of being involved in theatre but illness kept her from doing so until she

Sharon lit up many RLT rehearsals with her joyful personality, gentle nature, delightful encouragement

Her dedication to a singular yet vital task in the theatrical process is a perfect example of what makes

April 24-30 The Dekker Centre North Battleford Community Theatre groups from across the province

In honour of Canada s 150th birthday, all the plays performed will be Canadian!

Regina Little Theatre will be represented by our April play, Vimy.

5 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 8 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 5 ANNOUNCING... TheatreFest 2017 Theatre Saskatchewan s Full-Length Play Festival! Regina Little Theatre is saddened by the passing of one of its members, Sharon Giesinger, on December 6 at the age of 69. Sharon always dreamed of being involved in theatre but illness kept her from doing so until she discovered prompting. Sharon lit up many RLT rehearsals with her joyful personality, gentle nature, delightful encouragement and, of course, very helpful prompting. Her dedication to a singular yet vital task in the theatrical process is a perfect example of what makes RLT members so special. RLT extends condolences to Sharon's family and friends. April The Dekker Centre North Battleford Community Theatre groups from across the province (including RLT) will present plays and be adjudicated. In honour of Canada s 150th birthday, all the plays performed will be Canadian! There s comedy and drama, fun and learning for all Saskatchewan theatre lovers! Regina Little Theatre will be represented by our April play, Vimy. For more information & to buy tickets, visit theatresaskatchewan.com What kind of play would YOU like to see? Comedy? Drama? Thriller? Period Piece? Avant-Garde? All of these? RLT s Play Selection Committee is always looking for suggestions for plays to consider for our upcoming seasons. If you have a favourite show (or type of show) then please let us know! your suggestions to rlt@sasktel.net or call us at ! Check our website: Friend us on Facebook! Follow us on

Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 6 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 7 Board member Jewel Robbins organized a workshop for directors and those who aspire to be.

Nora has been involved with RLT since the very early 80 s Nora Berg when she came on board to assistant stage manage You Can t Take it With You, directed by Marion Lee.

That was indeed a passing phase as since then Nora has done pretty much everything that is remotely connected to theatre, from working backstage and acting to directing and loyally serving on the

6 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 6 Masks & Faces ~ January - March ~ Vol. 75 No. 3 ~ Page 7 Board member Jewel Robbins organized a workshop for directors and those who aspire to be. Held on January 21st at the Performing Arts Centre and facilitated by RLT s own Nora Berg, over 20 participants enjoyed an afternoon of fun and insight into the art of play direction. Nora has been involved with RLT since the very early 80 s Nora Berg when she came on board to assistant stage manage You Can t Take it With You, directed by Marion Lee. Prior to that, she worked on make-up for various productions under the tutorship of Marilyn Wiebe and Jo Dunn and was heard to utter the immortal words I m glad all I do is make-up. That was indeed a passing phase as since then Nora has done pretty much everything that is remotely connected to theatre, from working backstage and acting to directing and loyally serving on the executive for more years than she cares to count! Drawing on her multi-faceted experience, Nora shared lessons she has learned (sometimes the hard way!) as well as tips and tools from her director s tickle trunk covering virtually every aspect of the production of a play. She particularly emphasized the need to be surrounded by a strong team and to practice firm diplomacy in leading the cast & crew. Participants also had a chance to be directed by Nora in some unique scenes gleaned from plays she has been a part of. Nora s directorial skills will be on display later this season as she helms our production of The Dixie Swim Club this coming June! Thank you to Nora for sharing and to Jewel for organizing the workshop! Keep an eye on our website as well as our social media channels (Facebook & Twitter) for announcements of future workshops! Facebook.com/reginalittletheatre Scholarship Opportunity Did you know that RLT offers scholarships to its members in good standing? If there is a course related to the performing arts (not just theatre!) that you would like to take, we may be able to help financially. There is no age limit nor do you have to be an enrolled student. Anyone can apply! The next available award is the Honourary Life Member Nora Berg Scholarship Application Deadline: March 15 Would you like to apply or just know more? Go online at reginalittletheatre.com/scholarships Call us at or us: rlt@sasktel.net Contact us on Facebook or via Twitter (@ReginaTheatre) Please help us to make the theatre experience enjoyable for everyone. THANK YOU! All performances are SCENT-FREE! Wednesday Special REGINA LITTLE THEATRE 2 for 1 One coupon per customer per day. Coupon must be surrendered to Box Office at the time of purchase. May not be used for prior and/or completed purchases of tickets, nor with discounted tickets (including block bookings) nor with any other voucher or coupon. May not be used to purchase season tickets or gift certificates. Valid only for Regina Little Theatre main stage play Wednesday evening performances. Seating is as available at the time of coupon redemption and is not guaranteed. Reproductions are not accepted. Purchase 1 Single Admission full-price ticket for a Wednesday main-stage play. Bring this coupon to the Box Office & receive 1 complimentary Single Admission ticket to the Adults (19-54): $21 Seniors / Students / Youth: $19 There is a transaction fee of $2.50 for which the bearer of the coupon is responsible. Valid until Wednesday, June 7, 2017 For more information please contact the Box Office: Regina Performing Arts Centre ~1077 Angus St. (at 4th Ave.)

Moon Over Buffalo By Ken Ludwig Directed by Jayne L. Victor

Moon Over Buffalo By Ken Ludwig Directed by Jayne L. Victor Providence Players of Fairfax AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT Moon Over Buffalo Wed July 19 th and Thursday July 20 th Call Backs (If Needed and By Invitation) Monday July 24 th 7:00 9:45 pm All Dates Moon Over