of Texas: Where Something Old is New Again!

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1 of Texas: Where Something Old is New Again! Story By: Shauna S.M. Bauer Photos By: Mary Kristen Every year on December 31st, as we count down along with the throngs gathered in Time Square the beginning of a new year we all share the hope that it will be one of new and exciting opportunities. We may hope that the dreams we had in the old year will be made new again. Such has been the case recently at the historic Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe. Since 2008, the Crighton - a 75 year old theatre - has enjoyed a new beginning. STAGE RIGHT of Texas, the new resident theatre company at the Crighton, has made what was old new again. STAGE RIGHT was founded as the resident theatre company at the historic Crighton Theatre when the former resident company left to perform in a newly built playhouse. In the early fall of 2008, a group of individuals with a love for the Crighton, learned that the theatre would be dark for the holiday season. In the wake of Hurricane Ike and the steady tide of economic upheaval, they found that situation simply unacceptable. Over a loaf of fresh homemade bread it was decided, Let s put on a show! The new company almost called itself Fresh Bread but settled instead on the name STAGE RIGHT of Texas. The company s name is far from arbitrary. STAGE RIGHT adheres to the following core values: Continued on page Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition January 2011

2 presents Plan now to attend our 7th annual Dream Weddings Bridal Show! January 29 & 30 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott April 16 Crowne Plaza near Reliant Free parking in the garage off Six Pines Trendy fashion shows Tastings of all kinds Compare prices Expert advice from knowledgeable vendors Ticket price $15.00 $12.00 with advance on-line purchase Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition January

3 R Respect for the individual. Volunteer organizations are made of individuals who donate their time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of the community. Volunteers need to know that their involvement and passion are appreciated. STAGE RIGHT has no paid administrative staff, instead it strives to pays its cast and crew a stipend out of any profit made by a show. I Inspire the community. Positive energy feeds on itself. STAGE RIGHT invites the community, as individuals and as groups, to participate in its shows. With each show, a need in the community is recognized then STAGE RIGHT throws a spotlight on an organization that is trying to address that need. Some examples can be seen on the STAGE RIGHT website ( where there are videos of the orphans from Annie performing at Reliant Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenandoah, TX. Sandy, the scenestealing dog in Annie, was from M o n t g o m e r y County Animal Shelter, and a forever home was found for her by the time the show closed. Donations for the shelter were collected during the run of the show. photo by Dennis Bernhart Jack & Cindy Takac collect donations for the US Troop Support Foundation in the lobby of the Crighton STAGE RIGHT offered free admission to active duty military, veterans and their spouses during the run of No Time for Sergeants. On September 12 the guests of honor were WWII veterans from the Lone Star Honor Flights. Throughout the production, STAGE RIGHT collaborated with the US Troop Support Foundation to collect items for active duty troops. Over $1,000 in cash were collected for shipping costs and over $500 in donated goods. Care packages were shipped to the troops on Oct. 2. G Grow as individuals and as a community. Bravo Company, STAGE RIGHT s performing arts school, offers ongoing youth classes at the historic Crighton Theatre from September to May. After school classes are limited in size so that each student received optimal attention and instruc- tion. Creative Drama for ages 5-7 last for 1 hour and are limited to 12 students per class; Theatre Basics for ages 8-12, and Theatre classes for teens and tweens are each 90 minutes in length and limited to 17 students per class. This schedule continues until rehearsals begin for the spring musical production and then rehearsals then take the place of class. The rehearsal schedule is 3 times weekly for 1.5 hours until the last 2 weeks before the show when rehearsals are increased to 4 times weekly. Contact executive director Amy Sowers at amybsowers@ msn.com if you d like more information on youth classes. Adult acting classes were offered in STAGE RIGHT s very first season and will be making a return in the spring of H Heal through laughter and tears. We all need ways to renew, relax and heal. STAGE RIGHT s main focus is comedy with a message and musical comedy. We think life is serious enough. T Treasure our history. One such treasure is the Crighton Theatre. This historic gem on the square is operated by a nonprofit foundation for the benefit of Montgomery County residents. STAGE RIGHT helped bring an old theatre into the 21st century this past season by initiating testing of an online ticketing system. STAGE RIGHT identified a system for the box office to use and provided technical support which led to a smooth transition into on-line ticket sales for not only their shows, but all events at the Crighton. Another move into the 21st century was made with the creation of a patron database for the Crighton. Currently over 9,200 addresses receive a monthly newsletter published by STAGE RIGHT which highlights not just their shows but ALL events coming to the Crighton. Sign up on the website and view past newsletters in the online archives at Season of Southern Comfort The season began with a critically acclaimed production of No Time for Sergeants. NY Theatre critic David Dow Bentley III praised the show as quite possibly the best comedy performance I have seen in the great state of Texas! That was followed by a remount of their very first show the hilarious Christmas Belles. STAGE RIGHT will continue the southern flavor in February by dishing up a Texas PHOTOS BY WISHNIK PHOTOGRAPHY 10 Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition January 2011

4 classic: Always Patsy Cline. Written and originally directed by Ted Swindley at Stages in Houston, the show has experienced national as well as international success and is much more than a tribute to the legendary country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in The show is based on a true story about Cline s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a honky-tonk in 1961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. The musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation, includes many of her unforgettable hits. The show s title was inspired by Cline s letters to Seger, which were consistently signed Love, Always. Patsy Cline. This is definitely a production to put on everyone s 2011 must see list. Performances of Always.Patsy Cline will be February 18 March 6. Please call the box office at (936) for ticket information or purchase on-line at the Crighton theatre web-site: org. In the spring, a season for new beginnings, STAGE RIGHT will bring Harvey to the Crighton stage. Sweet, affable Elwood P. Dowd never met a creature he didn t like including his six and a half foot rabbit friend Harvey. If only his family felt the same way! Auditions will be on Feb. 20 & 21 and performance dates are April 22 May 8, Last summer STAGE RIGHT filled the Crighton stage with little girls in Annie, many performing for the very first time. This coming summer STAGE RIGHT will need many boys and girls to follow band leader Prof. Harold Hill in The Music Man. A large cast of children and adults will be needed. Auditions will be on May 15 & 16. The show runs July 15-31, The New: In the world of theatre, there is nothing more exciting and new than a world premiere of a brand new play. In September of 2011, STAGE RIGHT will be kicking off their Season of Enchantment with the world premiere of a hot-off-the-presses comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. STAGE RIGHT audiences may remember that this is the trio that penned the popular Fayro TX trilogy of plays including Dearly Beloved, Christmas Belles and Southern Hospitality. They are the three most produced comedic playwrights in the country right now and they are writing a brand new comedy titled Mama Won t Fly to be produced for the first time anywhere by STAGE RIGHT at the Crighton Theatre. The playwrights will be present at the premiere and prior for a week of celebration you won t Continued on page 12 1 Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition January

5 want to miss! Mama Won t Fly tells the story of An overwhelmed bride that places her older sister in charge of getting their mother from Alabama to her wedding on the West Coast. There s only one problem: Mama won t fly. With only three days to make it to the big event, the determined daughter and her equally willful mother hastily set out on a cross-country drive, experiencing hilarious misadventures, wildly eccentric Texas relatives and a rapidly growing urge to ditch each other anywhere along the way. But the race to get Mama to the church on time proves to be more than just a road trip. It becomes a journey of two women embracing their differences and discovering a delightfully wacky side of the country, their family and themselves they never knew existed. As with all Jones, Hope & Wooten plays this one is sure to be laugh-out loud funny yet with an uplifting message of hope; you ll laugh until you cry. The rest of the season will consist of (pending rights approval): A Christmas Story - Dec. 2-18, the story of a boy and his quest for a BB gun. Barefoot in the Park - Feb. 17 Mar. 4, Neil Simon s valentine to the newly married. The Carol Burnett Show - April 40 May 6, 2012-some of Carol s most beloved comedy sketches with singing and dancing acts-a good old fashioned variety show! Cinderella July 13 29, 2012-Rogers & Hammerstein s magical classic. Purchasing STAGE RIGHT season tickets offers the following benefits: Reserved seats in the Crown Jewel of Montgomery County for all shows Seat preference for renewal the following season Complimentary ticket exchange Over a 20% discount on tickets One free Friends of a Subscriber ticket to any show of the season (invite a friend to join you for a night of theatre for free!) Your name in every playbill Season tickets for our Season of Enchantment will go on sale in February 2011 and can be purchased by calling the Crighton Theatre box office PHOTO BY KYLEE HUDDLESTON What s Old is New Again Long time Conroe resident Jenny Mae Morgan, who turned 100 this past year, remembers when the Crighton Theatre was built back in When she was asked recently about what she remembers about the Crighton Theatre of old, she reminisced just how beautiful it was and also how folks would say they were going there. You d say; are you goin to the show? Which meant: are you going to the Crighton? The theatre may be old, but it still is beautiful and with the help of STAGE RIGHT still provides new shows to be seen and enjoyed. Are you goin to the show? u 12 Dock Line Magazine, Inc. - The Woodlands Edition January 2011