THE PROMPTER July 2017 Volume 5 Number 3 A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT Greetings Theater Friends, If you are like me, you are enjoying the summer as it generally means a time for rest and relaxation, as well as enjoying outdoor activities. But if you are an active TCP member there has been little time for any of that these past several months. What a whirlwind it has been, but a wonderful time to be a part of our theater community here in Greensburg. We have had two great productions since I last wrote you. Almost Maine was staged at the end of April to enthusiastic crowds. Directed by Megan Gehrich, this loveable show told us tales of relationships in the small Maine town of Almost. In every scene, we found a little piece of ourselves readily identifiable. On June 22, 23 and 24 the ever popular Mary Poppins was presented to packed houses. This story of everyone s favorite nanny was warmly received at each performance. Although, a bit different from the Disney movie, many were singing along to the familiar tunes presented by some of this area s most outstanding talent. It was truly a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious experience. Bravo to all who participated both on stage and behind the scenes in these two outstanding productions. And now to the big news. As many of you have heard, Tree County Players is in the process of a capital campaign to raise money to purchase and convert the former Wesleyan church on Main Street into a play house. This has long been a dream of TCP and it has come to fruition in the past several months. Although we look at this with high hopes for the future, we realize there is much work to be done which cannot be achieved without your help. In order to Open Doors to Opening Acts we need support both from those volunteering and those pledging their financial support. We are happy to have Harry and (Dr.) Mary McCullough as the campaign chairs as well as co-founder Cleo Duncan as the honorary chair. If someone from TCP contacts you about participating in this campaign in any way, please open YOUR door so that we may continue to provide opening acts of quality theater in an even bigger way for this community. IN THIS ISSUE TCP Dates to Remember..... 2 Board Members......2 Volunteer Opportunities...3 TCP Scholarship Winner.......3 Annual Meeting.4 Escanaba in da Moonlight......4 Capital Campaign Info.....5 & 6 Almost Maine.........7 Mary Poppins........8,9 & 10 Stars in Community Theater....11 This has been a busy couple of months but looking ahead it is exciting to see there are many more. Our annual meeting, on the 5th of August, is time to look backward as well as forward. We will recap the past year and look forward to the new season which will be announced at that time. Please join us at 7 pm at St. Mary s for dessert and beverage and time to enjoy each other s company. We will have highlights from the previous year s shows, and the directors will present awards in certain categories maybe you will receive one! I hope you will read this newsletter thoroughly and take every opportunity to participate in Tree County Players. We cannot do this without YOU! Theatrically yours, Cathy Lincourt 1
TCP DATES TO REMEMBER 7-12-17 TCP Monfort St. Building clean-up 4 pm 8 pm 7-25-17 Board Meeting - 6:00 pm TCP New Building 8-5 -17 Annual Meeting 7:00 pm St Mary s Church 8-22-17 Board Meeting - 6:00 pm TCP New Building 9-15-17 Escanaba in Da Moonlight reading rehearsal - 7:30 pm place TBA 9-16-17 Escanaba in Da Moonlight staged reading - 7:30 pm place TBA 9-19-17 Board Meeting - 6:00 pm TCP New Building Tree County Players Mission Enriching our community through performing arts experiences. Board Members President: Cathy Lincourt 219-613-1723 music_diva@etczone.com Vice-President: Brian Ingmire 812-212-5036 bearheartraven@gmail.com Secretary: Laura Simmonds 812-614-2598 laura.abrellsimmonds@gmail.com Treasurer: Nancy Porter 812-569-7806 nanporter56@gmail.com Member: Tammy Bates 812-371-8678 tbates87@localnet.com Member Dennis Fogle 812-614-0634 dfogle59@gmail.com Member: Megan Gehrich 765-894-5306 mgehrich@stmarysgreensburg.com Member: Abby Jones 812-212-4732 abbylynjones@yahoo.com Member: Therese Zins 812-528-5289 theresezins@yahoo.com Teen Member: Garrett Bates Teen Member: Kelsey Moorman Tree County Players -- The Prompter Published quarterly T. Zins editor Office Address: 327 S. Monfort St. Greensburg, IN 47240 Mailing Address: PO Box 423 Greensburg, IN 47240 Phone Number: 812-222-4766 Web Site: tcpgreensburg.com E Mail: tcpgreensburg@etczone.com 2
Volunteer Opportunity Production crew volunteers are needed for the 2017-18 season : producers, stage managers, set designers, light and tech designers and technicians, stage crew members, costumers, make-up and hair artists, set decoration crew members, set construction members, prompters, playbill designers, marketing managers, house/ticket/usher crew. The show cannot go on without a production crew. Try something new this year, learn a skill, and help create theatrical magic. Call Cathy Lincourt (219-613-1723) with questions, or to volunteer. Congratulations to the TCP 2017 Scholarship winner, Justin Bates, who is a recent South Decatur graduate. TCP awarded a $500 scholarship to the thespian. Justin will attend Ball State University and major in computer technologies, with minors in voice and business. Justin has been a TCP performer since 2011 s ANNIE JR. (He was Rooster see below photo). In addition to performing in TCP shows, Justin has been active on the South Decatur stage. Good luck in college, Justin! We hope to see you on the TCP stage next summer. 3
ANNUAL MEETING TCP s annual meeting and awards night takes place on Saturday, August 5, 2017, 7 pm, at St. Mary s Church large assembly room. The church is located at 1331 E. Hunter Robbins Way (off Hwy 421). Desserts and soft drinks will be served. Come vote for board members, find out who wins the performance awards (might be you), enjoy entertainment from the past season s shows, be the first to know the 2017-18 season shows, and visit with Tree County Players friends. No charge for the event. STAGED READING Sept. 16 7:30 pm A reading of ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT by Jeff Daniels is scheduled on Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. with rehearsal Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. Six parts (5 men, 1 woman) are available. It s a quirky comedy centered on hunting and its traditions. The Soady clan reunites for the annual adventure at the family's deer camp in the Upper Peninsula, MI. The show was first staged in 1995 at Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, MI. In 2001 a movie version was released starring Jeff Daniels. Characters: Albert Soady (early 60s), Reuben Soady (35), Remnar Soady, (33), Jimmer Negamanee (ageless), Ranger Tom T. Treado (early 40s), & Wolf Moon Dance Soady (30s), wife of Reuben. If interested, contact Nancy Porter 812-569-7806 or nanporter56@gmail.com Congratulations to Vivian Adams winner of the MARY POPPINS drawing. She won two 2017-18 season show passes. 4
TCP Phone Number 812-222-4766 TCP recently installed a phone at the Main St. location. We hope to use this number for ticket ordering and other communications. Capital Campaign Chairs Harry and Dr. Mary McCullough We are so honored to have Harry and Dr. Mary McCullough serve as our chairs for our upcoming capital campaign. Here is their "Humans of TCP" story. I ve been a member (technically off and on I guess) for I m not sure how many years. Actually, Cleo Duncan got me into this, I think, back in Guys and Dolls days; that was the first thing that I had done. My husband had been in things, and we d been- over the years with our family- doing different things, kids being in it, doing backstage, occasionally onstage, just different things. I really enjoy theater. I think this building will really bring a lot more availability for the community to be able to do different programs with theater and Tree County Players, but I am hoping for other things also: potentially music, poetry readings, different presentations that the building can be used for outside of Tree County Players. But it will certainly give Tree County Players a home, a way to do performances more than one weekend; we can do it several weekends in a row, we can do more workshops, just a lot of different programs that we can do. Tree County Players, to me, means local theater, local people performing for their friends and neighbors and family and being able to widen their horizons and see things in new ways. -Dr. Mary McCullough 5
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Under the direction of Megan Gehrich, Tree County Players presented John Cariani s ALMOST MAINE, April 28 and 29 at the TCP Office. The comedy was well-received, and featured some seasoned TCP actors and some new-to-the stage performers. Cast members were: Tonya Downey Peter Harrah, Brian Ingmire, Trina Ingmire, Morgan Kramer, Jessica Seay, Ashley Snapp, Harrison Suesz, and Krista Woodhull Harrison Suesz and Tonya Downey have a strange encounter. Trina Ingmire makes her TCP stage debut sharing the stage with her husband, Brian. Peter Harrah, Jessica Seay, and Ashley Snapp rehearse a comic scene. Megan Gehrich, director, is excited about the show. 7
Summer Musical June 22, 23 & 24, 2017 Greensburg Jr. High Mary Poppins, Bert, The Banks Family and all the characters that live in Mary s magical world came to life on the Tree County Players stage, June 22, 23 and 24. Almost 1,000 patrons came to see the musical, which starred Amy Borns as Mary Poppins, Dan Borns as Bert, Macey Smith as Jane Banks, Xavier Moore as Michael Banks, Tyler Wachsmann as Mr. George Banks, Hannah Giesting as Mrs. Winnifred Banks, Dylan Powers as Robertson Ay, Emily Cornett as Mrs. Brill, Kegan Main as Neleus, Caitlin Lincourt as Mrs. Corry, and Kim Wallace as Miss Andrew. A large group of children, teens and adults made up the singing and dancing ensemble. Choreography was provided by Lydia Woodward, Mikaela Fangman and Jenny Zins. Musical direction was provided by Cathy Lincourt. Sets were designed by Jeff Lincourt. A large crew of costumers, light/sound technicians, set decorators, set constructors, props masters, make-up artists, playbill composers, stage crew, ushers, and ticket sellers helped make the show a success. Therese Zins served as the show s director/producer. The sweeps: Ana White, Jenni Hryb, Kira White, Claire Burford, Jenny Zins, Caitlin Lincourt - (back row) Samantha Mathews, Macey Smith (Jane), Kegan Main, Amy Borns (Mary Poppins), Dan Borns (Bert), Chris Ault, Xavier Moore (Michael) and, Justin Bates finish a show-stopping number, STEP IN TIME. 8
Scenes from MARY POPPINS Mrs. Corry (front blue wig)- Caitlin Lincourt, along with the chatterboxes help Mary, Jane and Michael create a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious word. The Banks family, Michael (Xavier Moore), Jane (Macey Smith), George (Tyler Wachsmann) and Winnifred (Hannah Giesting) Bert, Dan Borns, sings to the audience. 9
More scenes from MARY POPPINS Michael (Xavier Moore), Jane (Macey Smith), and Mary Poppins (Amy Borns) at the Banks home. Miss Andrew (Kim Wallace) arrives at the Banks home. Jenni Hryb, Jessa Wagner, and Brian Knueven FLY A KITE. See our Facebook page for more show photos. Winnifred Banks (Hannah Giesting) stands up for George (Tyler Wachsmann), and gives the bank Chairman (Chris Ault) a piece of her mind. 10
Stars who started out in Community Theaters Now a veteran performer of Broadway stages (not to mention a Tony and Emmy winner), Kristin Chenoweth started out learning the ropes on a community theatre stage. The Wicked star played in musicals such as Anything Goes at the Theatre Tulsa during her college years. Located in Oklahoma, Theatre Tulsa is the seventh longestrunning community theatre in America and strives to educate artists through training and experience. The mega-famous Twilight star says he owes everything to community theatre. Before sinking his fangs into the hearts of teenage girls everywhere, Robert Pattinson discovered his love of acting in community theatre. Propelled by the desire to meet girls, he auditioned for a local amateur dramatic society, the Barnes Theatre Club, in Southeast London. Although he didn t find a girlfriend there, a talent agent spotted him during a show at the theatre. As fate would have it, the agent introduced Pattinson to the then-director of Harry Potter, Mike Newell, who cast him as Cedric Diggory. The rest, of course, is history. The 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star credits community theatre for fostering her love of acting. In fact, Krakowski practically grew up at the Barn Theatre in New Jersey. My parents were involved in community theatre in New Jersey. Instead of hiring a babysitter, they would take me with them, Krakowski told Newsday. So my love of acting seeped in from watching my parents and seeing them have fun. When I was very little, I was in A Christmas Carol, and my mom was Mrs. Cratchit. I also was in Gypsy, and my dad was Herbie. Every time there was a part for a kid, they would see if they could sneak me in. 11
Membership Form Fiscal Year August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018 Name: Address: City: Phone: State: Email: Zip: Please select your membership level. All membership is tax deductible. Value of show passes is not tax deductible ($12 value per pass) If you wish to make your membership fully tax deductible (no show passes awarded), please check here Please make checks payable to: Responses should be sent to: Tree County Players Tree County Players PO Box 423 Greensburg, IN 47240 Membership Level Show Passes Individual membership renewal $ 10 no show passes Family membership renewal $ 20 no show passes Benefactor Membership Level Fan $ 50 2 show passes Rising Star $ 100 3 show passes Star $ 250 4 show passes Award Winner $ 500 8 show passes Director's Club $ 750 12 show passes Patron of the Arts $ 1,000 16 show passes Financier of the Arts $ 1,500 30 show passes Sustainer of the Arts $ 2,000 35 show passes Individual Show Stage Sponsor $ 3,000 40 show passes Individual Show Tech Sponsor $ 5,000 50 show passes Individual Show Sponsor $ 10,000 75 show passes Other (please fill in amount) number of passes TBD In kind donation (please describe) Benefactor name as you wish it to appear in the playbill Comments: Membership and Benefactor Benefits All members and benefactors receive the following benefits: * 20 % discount on all adult performance tickets (limited to 10 discount tickets per membership per show) * 10 % discount on all other programs/camps * The TCP quarterly newsletter * Voting membership (cast your vote in TCP business matters - must be present at meetings to cast vote) * An open invitation to all cast parties * First chance to purchase tickets to TCP events before tickets go on sale to the public Additional benefits to benefactors at the $50 or above level: *Show passes (see above for number of passes). May be used at any current season show. *Name listed as a TCP supporter in all event playbills Additional benefits to benefactors at the $100 or above level: *Preferred reserved seating (please call to request reserved seats for each event) *Additional benefits to benefactors at the $1,500 or above level: *Special mention as a TCP supporter in all pre-show announcements and TCP publicity tcpgreensburg.com Unless you tell us otherwise, our communications with you will be by e-mail. 12