Volume 2 Issue 2 Spring 2009

Volume 2 Issue 2
Spring 2009
Love Letters kicks off tenth season
page 6
Community theatres in Central PA
page 8
Tenth Annual Cabaret Night line-up
page 16
The cast of The Boys Next Door
P
T
Theatre All About!
early years for us to aspire pursuing several
score encore.
Dear Valued Readers!
Hershey Area Playhouse’s tenth season is
flourishing in dramatic fashion, with its
Theatre Academy fully enrolled, rehearsals
for The Boys Next Door right on schedule,
and the wrap of several recent, sold-out,
performances – attended by enthusiastic
audiences, comprised of many first time
visitors, as well as a steadily growing corps
of community regulars. If you were in that
select crowd, or are now receiving this
award-winning magazine because of other
involvement with the Playhouse, you are a
discerning supporter of truly monumental
productions. Or, perhaps, you are even
among that remarkable group of volunteers
who have assisted in our productions in
countless instrumental ways.
As a fitting commemoration of Hershey
Area Playhouse’s tenth season, and to
memorialize its first auspicious meeting
held at the Hershey Public Library, against
many odds, our Board held its January
meeting at that site exactly ten years to
the date of that stormy, icy night. Several
participants from that original planning
meeting provided inspirational comments:
Skip Becker, Susan Cort, Theresa Ridge,
Ken Skelly and George Nye offered
up enough heart felt sentiment from the
To illustrate just how far the Playhouse
has come since that bold inception, the
reunion evening began with a presentation
of recent proceeds from The Other Woman
to the Ronald McDonald House. What
a milestone for Hershey Area Playhouse
to be able to make such a contribution to
another visionary nonprofit, in these
strained economic times! We are proud of
what we have accomplished over the past
ten years and are especially pleased to join
other community theatres in Central PA in
providing the American stage experience
to its residents. Contributing writer
Jay Miffoluf ’s article on page 8 provides
further description of our neighboring
counterpart playhouses.
For enabling us to move forward and
intensify our tempo, we express a very
profound thanks to all who have
participated in the annual appeal to fund
our many initiatives, from classes to
productions, to attaching actual nuts to
virtual bolts. Generous contributors for
this year now number in the hundreds,
and are the noble facilitators
of the dramatic arts, a
contribution
of
telling
consequences. Many have
taken the ultimate step of
putting their name on the
walls of the Playhouse, where
naming opportunities still
exist! Whether as financial
contributor or volunteer,
please join the chorus.
To recap our robust season
thus far, we intently
listened to the final Love
Letters between Terry Farrell
and Brian Baker, and then
reluctantly watched them take a final bow
to a standing ovation. We anticipate seeing
them again soon, along with you, at
Cabaret Night. Then, the V-Day
performances at the end of February
were equally memorable, with engaging
audiences turning out to provide
considerable proceeds to benefit womens’
programs in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, and the local YWCA Domestic
Violence Program.
Finally, there is a grand announcement
accompanying this edition: Bravo! has
received its first critical review, and
auspicious recognition as a viable
publication, by the Central Pennsylvania
Business Journal. Bravo! magazine is a
finalist in the category of Non-Profit
Innovation Award in the Brand Identity/
Unique Marketing Campaign Category.
So read on with pride, valuing each word
that much more!
Paul Thompson and Jennifer Feldser present Judy Pluta
(center) with a check for Ronald McDonald House
Hershey Area Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing residents of the community with an opportunity to participate in
the creation and production of a theatrical experience.
2
!
Love INC Supports Love Letters
Contents
By Michele Chadwick
Love INC
3
The Boys Next Door
4
The King and I Auditions 5
Love Letters
6
Community Theatres
8
Playhouse Hosts
Receptions
10
Playhouse Memories
10
Theatre Academy
12
Playhouse Supporters 14
The Vagina Monologues 15
Tenth Annual
Cabaret Night
16
Volunteer Spotlight
18
Kid’s Page
19
Calendar
Board of Directors
Paul Thompson, Chairman
Tony Pingitore, Vice Chairman
John Messmer, Secretary
Theresa Ridge, Treasurer
Skip Becker, Founder
Randy Cline
Mark Cuddy
Tom Curry
Derek Dunham
Jennifer Feldser
Michele Robertson
Patrick Seeley
Past Board Members
Jim Bush, Jeff Cartwright, Susan Cerminara,
Susan Cort, Jack Hartman, Christine Hepler,
Ellen Kellner, Michael Lazorcik, Jennifer Lear,
Joan May, Debbie Nifong, George Nye, Bernie
Resnick, Nan Resnick, Jennifer Schlener, Ken
Skelly, Sunday Gallagher Strange, Leona Tinkey
3
!
Love In the Name of Christ of Greater
Hershey (Love INC) is a network
of 13 partner churches and service
agencies that work together to
help community members in need.
Recently, Love INC volunteers
served as ushers for Hershey Area
Playhouse’s Love Letters production.
Love INC matches needs that come
through its central clearinghouse
with the resources of its church
partners. In addition to fulfilling case specific needs, Love INC has three on-going
ministries: The Bicycles Ministry, The Personal Care Closet and The Parsonage.
The acts of kindness Love INC volunteers engage in every day to fulfill the needs of their
fellow community members are their way of sending love to others. Love INC donors
send their love to parents and children when they donate everything from shampoo to
diapers to Love INC’s Personal Care Closet, a ministry for patrons of Derry Township
Social Ministry’s food bank and select Love INC clients. Love is sent to young children
when the organization’s volunteers refurbish bicycles through its Bicycle Ministry for
children who otherwise would not experience the joy of riding a bicycle. The Parsonage
allows love to be sent beyond the Hershey and Hummelstown community, because
volunteers to this ministry provide adult patients and their families with a welcoming and
free place to stay while receiving treatment at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Through these ministries, there has been a lot of love sent since Love INC of Greater
Hershey officially opened in May 2007. In fact, in 2008 the organization was able to help
404 adults and children by meeting over 1,000 of their needs. The Personal Care Closet
has helped approximately 175 people, or about 35 families each month receive personal
care products. Since The Parsonage opened full-time on September 29, 2008, it has
provided 180 nights of free lodging to 36 people with 45 volunteers per month caring
for these guests and the home. Beyond these programs, countless rides to medical
appointments have been given, along with yard care services, and lap quilts and fleece
blankets.
If you would like to help Love INC of Greater Hershey continue to send its love to fellow
community members, please call the Love INC office at 717.835.0101.
Hershey Area Playhouse at Country Meadows
is located on Sand Hill Road at Cherry Drive.
Visit us online at HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
Contact us at 717.533.8525, P.O. Box 703, Hershey,
PA 17033 or info@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
For more information on volunteering, contact
us at volunteer@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com,
or for marketing/communications, contact us at
marketing@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
The Magazine of Hershey Area
Playhouse is published quarterly
and is a benefit of membership in Hershey Area
Playhouse. Copy for the Summer issue is due by
5.15.09 and should be submitted to Derek Dunham, editor,
at: marketing@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com. Special
thanks to Michael Feldser and Terry Farrell for the
photography, Michael Messmer for the illustrations
and ChocolateCovers for the design and printing.
!3
Meaning Making
By Skip Becker, Director
The Boys Next Door is a story of courage, innocence and a persistent
determination to make sense out of what appears to be nonsense.
The characters in this play fight a continuing battle against the
ever-present threat of chaos overcoming them and reducing
We may find empathy with their struggle as we watch a world
economy whirl around us but theirs is a more difficult task; they
have no solutions to a struggle they cannot understand.
We leave this theatre moved by their struggle, yet relieved we are
not they. We see them and leave them in the theatre as we go
home. Yet, they remain with us in group homes and institutions
across America. They struggle past us on the street and greet us as
we enter our shopping centers.
Ed Costik, Don Bowman, Stosh Snyder and John Mohn
them to little more than invisibility. Their arsenal of weapons in
that fight is sadly vacant but they draw every ounce of energy
from what they have. We struggle to “make meaning” out of life’s
Stosh Snyder and Paul Murray
The Boys Next Door reminds us of a world we do not know well.
A world we would rather avoid. But it is a world among us.
The Boys Next Door may help us better understand and look more
caringly at those who try to make meaning out of life and fight,
to take charge of that life.
The talented actors who perform in this show are a tribute to their
skills and we at Hershey Area Playhouse are honored they have
chosen to bring The Boys Next Door to life … and to you.
Ed Costik and Nancy Michel
normal and predictable problems. “Making meaning” out of chaos
is impossible for the boys next door. We have the advantage of
knowing what will probably happen next. The boys next door have
no such ability. Their meaning making is comic and tragic at the
same time. Every day, every hour is new and confounding to them.
4
!
The cast of The Boys Next Door
Come on Out for The King and I Auditions
By Cory Wilkerson, Director
Hershey Area Playhouse announces
auditions for Rogers and Hammerstein’s
The King and I, at the Playhouse on
May 8 and 9. This beloved musical where
east meets west is an unusual love story
about two strong-willed people who grow
closer than lovers ever could: the King of
Siam and his children’s English tutor Anna
Leonowens. Their struggle to understand
and respect each other is cast against the
turbulent times of 19th century Siam – a
country emerging from a feudal era that is
struggling to fend off British colonization.
Anna becomes the King’s chief advisor, the
one who will help him prove to the world
that he is not the barbarian King some
believe him to be.
Auditions will be held for adults and
teens (including the role of Prince
Chulalongkorn – ages 14 and up) on
Friday, May 8 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm and
again on Saturday, May 9 from 1:00 pm –
5:00 pm at Hershey Area Playhouse at
Country Meadows. Although we welcome
all who wish to try out, Asian actors
are especially encouraged to attend and
audition for the roles of the King, the
Prince, the King’s wives and his castle
guards and advisors.
Auditions for children (including the role
of Louis – ages 4 – 13) will be held on
Saturday, May 9 from 9:00 am – noon
at the Playhouse. Although we welcome
all who wish to try out, Asian actors are
especially encouraged to attend and audition
for the roles of the King’s children.
Callbacks will be held Monday, May 11
beginning at 7:00 pm by invitation only.
The show is family entertainment at its
finest, with pageantry to delight and
memorable moments in song and dance.
The large cast includes numerous roles for
a large ensemble of singers and dancers
ages 7 to 70+, a select dance troupe who
will train in Asian dance forms and eleven
featured roles as follows:
Anna Leonowens....................... female, age 33 – 50, mezzo vocal range
Louis Leonowens...................... male child/youth, age 9 – 15, tenor
The King.................................... male, age 40 – 60, baritone
Lady Thiang............................... female, age 30 – 45, soprano
Prince Chulalongkorn............... male, age 14 – 19, tenor
Tuptim....................................... female, age 16 – 25, soprano
Lun Tha..................................... male, age 16 – 27, tenor
Phra Alack................................. male, age 25 – 50
Sir Edward Ramsay................... male, age 35 – 50
The Kralahome.......................... male, age 35 – 70+
Captain Orton........................... male, age 35 – 70+
A chorus of Royal Children....... male and female, ages 5 – 14
A chorus of Royal Wives........... female, ages 15 – 40
Palace Guards............................ male, ages 18 – 50
Royal Dancers........................... ages 13 and up
Details on auditions for the remainder of the season are available at HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
Are You an Amazon.com Shopper?
Now you can show your support for Hershey Area Playhouse every time you shop. Simply
visit HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com and scroll down to the Amazon.com link. Type the item
you’d like to search for in the box, then hit “Go”! Hershey Area Playhouse will receive
a percentage of every dollar you spend – at no extra cost to you! But you must start shopping
from the link at HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com in order for us to receive your donation.
Tell all your friends and remember, even Aunt Sally in California or Uncle Joe in Florida
can use this link!
!5
Love Letters Graces the Playhouse Stage
By Marley Amstutz
to whisper, to confront, and to avert our
eyes and even our minds from. Always –
no matter what its manifestation – it
is a power unlike others. And as Andy
ultimately testifies – though no scientist
or engineer could confirm – when
encountering turbulence, it may not be
possible to foresee the route
ahead, but it sometimes is
possible to discern the way
you have come.
Opening Night Talkback
Call it a “perfect storm” of love. The
elements: a production entitled Love
Letters with a run bracketing the annual
homage to Cupid and Venus – Valentine’s
Day – co-starring a devoted married couple
enriched by a romantic personal back-story
and taking place in Hershey, “The Sweetest
Place on Earth.”
The forecast for this “storm” – success.
And indeed it was, becoming the secondmost-popular Hershey Area Playhouse
production in the new theatre, and
confirming the opinion of appreciative
audiences and potent word of mouth.
But why “storm” as the chosen figure
of speech; why not something less
ominous – “recipe” perhaps? In author
A.R. Gurney’s perceptive interpretation
of decades of correspondence between
Andy and Melissa, the essential turbulence
of love becomes clear. Love is the month
of March, both lion and lamb. It is
confounding clouds and crystalline
clarity, honesty and denial, rapture and rancor, humor and hubris – something to shout,
!6 !6
Unqualified credit goes
to the emotionally skillful
portrayal
of
Andrew
Makepeace Ladd III and
Melissa Gardner by Brian
Baker and Terry Farrell,
whose
personal
and
professional background and whose
fortunate (for us) arrival in Hershey
was profiled in the last issue of Bravo!
Undisguised chemistry existed between them,
whether in moments of longing, studied
indifference, or repudiation, reminiscent of
the mixture of passion, respect, flirtatious
amusement, and exasperated tolerance
found between Rock Hudson and Susan
Saint James or William Powell and Myra
Loy (depending on your generation).
Brian Baker as Andrew Makepeace Ladd III
Terry Farrell as Melissa Gardner
Equal recognition must go to Stuart Landon,
director, for his insight in staging Love
Letters as a moving piece, rather than as a
stationary read-through as is conventionally
done. In particularly evocative interplay,
Andrew and Melissa move from corner to
corner of the stage, entering distinct and
insular sets, and these four corners/sets call
to mind the four chambers of the human
heart – the heart that is the traditional
embodiment of the love that unfolds and is
examined in the play.
Hershey Area Playhouse’s production of
Love Letters featured a pair of “firsts.” The
Wednesday night before opening night
was designated Opening Night Premiere.
Attendees savored pre-show hors d’oeuvres
and wine, also available during intermission.
Immediately following the curtain, Brian,
Terry and Stuart appeared on stage for
15 minutes of lively audience Q&A, followed by a migration to the lower level for
more wine, snacks and desserts while mingling with the cast and crew. The second
“first” involves, coincidentally, letters: specifically, 4-letter and 7-letter combinations
creating words previously unspoken on a
Hershey Area Playhouse stage during a
performance.
“I can’t stop writing letters!” Can
you imagine this confession, penned
on the brink of adulthood by Andy,
The linguistic and thematic ground broken coming as a tabloid revelation from a
by this production – rightly noted in publicity celebrity in this day and age? Perhaps,
materials – was maturely received by the as Stuart reflected during the Opening
audiences, an endorsement of continuing Night Premiere Q&A, Love Letters
creative growth and opportunities.
has become a period piece . . .
a depiction of bygone manners
and modes. Worse yet would
be for letters to wither into
institutional
banality, as
illustrated by the selfaggrandizing
and
vapid
Christmas letter distributed by
Andy (Melissa’s deflating response
was one of the most reliable laugh
lines of the show). However
endangered letters may be –
however much some letters define
and some letters deflect, some
Brian Baker and Terry Farrell answer questions
letters sing and some letters croak,
Terry and Brian prepare for opening night
a letter – particularly a love letter – is a
captured emotion, the right brain
preserved, a capsule of personality.
A letter endures.
Buy a forever stamp and write a letter to
someone you love.
Love Letters Puts the Playhouse on the Map
What happens when a community theatre
launches its tenth season with a dynamic
staging of a classic play, starring two local
actors who just happen to be TV celebrities?
The world sits up and takes notice.
Since announcing the casting of Terry
Farrell and Brian Baker on December 4 of
last year, we were picked up by numerous
media outlets, including USAToday.com,
TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com
and dozens of global fan sites focused on
the careers of Terry and Brian. Locally,
we had tremendous support and coverage
from The Sun, The Patriot-News and WITF,
where Terry and Brian spent an hour in the
studio with Cary Burkett
discussing their careers
and our production.
Additionally, the Playhouse
sold an autographed
poster and script on eBay as an additional
means to connect with their fan bases.
All this coverage has secured a permanent profile for the Playhouse on
TheaterMania.com and has already
German Blog
led to additional coverage for
Cabaret Night on BroadwayWorld.
com. So, even with this success in
the press, we’ve only just begun!
USA Today
TheaterMania
7
!
Broadway World
7
!
Community Theatres Abound in Central PA
By Jay Miffoluf
When Derek Dunham asked me to write
an article about other local theatres for
Bravo! I was thinking, “That’s a pretty wide
swath.” In the first place, what do I consider
“local,” inasmuch as I’ve been involved with
theatre organizations in several counties?
And the term “theatre” can include
anything from producing theatres
employing union actors (as Lancaster’s
Fulton Opera House does) to edifices
like the venerable Hershey Theatre, which
serves solely as a venue for touring shows
and does not actually produce anything
of its own. There are professional troupes
and community theatres, non-profit
summer stock and for-profit dinner theatres,
acting groups affixed to church or
community-related activities, theatres that
have a singular theme (e.g., “Sight and
Sound” in Lancaster County) and theatres
that are doing nothing more than producing
variety shows. At any rate, where would
I draw the line? After all, space is limited.
I decided that, at least for this article,
I would define a theatre as a producing
organization with an announced season of
musicals or straight plays, produced solely
!8 !8
for the edification and entertainment of its
audience, and not to promote a particular
religious or political point of view. In
addition, because Hershey Area Playhouse
is a community theatre, I chose to
concentrate on theatres that are
non-professional in nature and therefore,
non-profit. Although many of these theatres
do pay directors, musicians, administrators
and others, I’ll simply say that the stage
performers are generally not compensated
monetarily for their efforts. As a result,
rehearsals are usually held on weekday
evenings and weekends and are available to
non-professional actors who are otherwise
employed. Those definitions will, I hope,
make the article manageable.
We’ll start with the area including
Lebanon, Lancaster, York, lower Dauphin
and eastern Cumberland Counties, and as
new groups are constantly popping up, we
may miss some. But this is a healthy sign,
for the mid-state is rich in the number
of community theatres and the theatre
patron has many choices. Any opinions are
strictly those of the author and should not
be viewed as a statement of Hershey Area
Playhouse. I may have missed a new group
or two, but have listed the theatres with
which I have familiarity.
Starting with the oldest of these groups
(and indeed, one of the oldest in the
country), Theatre Harrisburg, has been in
continuous operation since 1926 and was
known as Harrisburg Community Theater
for all but the past decade. Professionally
staffed and directed, it has produced
high-quality productions for many years,
having particularly thrived artistically
under the direction of Tom Hostetter,
from 1980 to 2008. It offers six or seven
productions and musical cabarets in any
given season (September to June). It
uses two venues for staging its shows . . .
the 10-year-old Sunoco Performance
Theater in downtown Harrisburg’s
Whitaker Center, which seats roughly 650
patrons, and the more intimate Krevsky
Production Center in uptown Harrisburg,
which also houses the theatre’s offices
and shops and which was formerly the
450-seat theatre that witnessed all its
productions from 1951 to 1999. Theatre
Harrisburg casts its shows from open
auditions and script readings, which are
announced for each show prior to the
season. You can reach them at 717.232.5501
or at www.theatreharrisburg.com
Another theatre known for high-quality
productions is the Ephrata Performing
Arts Center (EPAC) in northern
Lancaster County, about an hour from
Harrisburg. Ed Fernandez is an energetic
and chance-taking artistic director and
EPAC auditions (generally held at the
beginning of the calendar year, with specific
callbacks closer to the shows) are known
to draw some of the best non-professional
talent in the area. In addition, EPAC is
often at the cutting edge of producing
many shows not previously performed
in the area. Shows are performed in a
newly-renovated historic playhouse located
in Ephrata Community Park. The theatre
seats approximately 300, with additional
temporary seating available. EPAC also
offers a Family Series and several special
events. EPAC is particularly known for a
very varied season, in addition to the high
quality of their work. You can obtain more
information about EPAC by phoning
717.733.7966 or by accessing their site at
www.ephrataperformingartscenter.com
Ephrata boasts a second community
theatre in Ephrata Area Community
Theater (Ephrata ACT). This group puts
on straight shows and musicals, most
notably at Ephrata’s Grand Theater. I could
not find anything about the current season
on their website, www.ephrataact.org, but
you can contact them at 717.738.2228.
Lebanon Community Theatre is a venue,
I assume, that may be familiar to many
Hershey Area Playhouse veterans.
A converted barn which sits in a lovely
park adjacent to Stoever’s Dam, LCT
boasts a rich history dating back to 1962.
In 2009, it will produce seven productions
(mostly straight plays, with an occasional
musical or two each season). Its facility is
climate-controlled and handicappedaccessible (it was rebuilt in 1975 after a
fire destroyed the original theatre) and
seats close to 200 patrons. LCT also is a
leader in promoting new artists, as it holds
an annual play-writing contest and stages
the winning script. During the season,
it employs guest directors for each
production and holds open auditions for all
of its productions. The dates can be found on
its greatly improved website at www.lct.cc
or by calling them at 717.273.5151.
In York County, the York Little Theatre
(founded in 1933) has been housed since
1953 in a building which can be easily
spotted as you drive south on I-83, near
the Market Street Exit. Currently led by
Artistic Director Eric Bradley Long, YLT
boasts one of the busiest programs in the
vicinity, with a mainstage season performed
in its 250-300 seat theatre, a studio
series geared to do provocative and less
family-oriented fare (the theatre also
houses a “black box” performing space
which can be easily modified), and a
children’s series featuring many of the
products of their extensive education
program. In addition, their season has lately
included a number of cabarets and special
events. Auditions are open to the
public and may be by cold script readings
or monologues, and, where applicable,
vocal selections. Possibly because of the
fact that York is smaller than Lancaster
or Harrisburg, YLT has strong corporate
and community support. Like any theatre,
it has had its financial and artistic ups and
downs, but recently celebrated its 75th year
in the midst of an artistic upswing, and has
made a concerted effort to choose shows
which bring diversity and challenge to its
actors and patrons. Their site is www.ylt.
org and their number is 717.854.3894.
Harrisburg’s West Shore is represented by
two intimate but energetic stages. In the
Camp Hill area, Oyster Mill Playhouse
is a 91-seat theatre which produces eight
plays and musicals during the calendar
year. During the last few years, OMP has
revamped its marketing approach and
customer service options, and has greatly
increased its season subscriptions, resulting in a number of sold-out shows and an
extremely high ratio of occupied seats. It
employs guest directors (there is no fulltime staff ) and all positions are voluntary.
Audition dates are published and roles are
filled via open auditions which are generally script readings. Its website is very comprehensive and is at www.oystermill.com.
Or call 717.737.6768.
Finally, we come to a theatre dear to
my heart, the 64-seat Little Theatre of
Mechanicsburg, located about 10 miles
west of Harrisburg. An all-volunteer group,
it was incorporated as Little Theatre of
Mechanicsburg in 1950. It produces seven
shows in a season that runs from September
through June. Its playhouse is a former
one-room schoolhouse, built in 1863.
LTM took over the building in 1964 and
for several years, the actors had to change
their costumes in their cars. The theatre’s
facilities have been greatly expanded over
the past 30 years, but it remains a place
where an actor and an audience can “reach
out and touch each other.” Some of the
area’s best known directors have a history
of working there. And LTM has been
a great supporter of original works, as
well as a supporter of lesser-known
and controversial plays. The site is
www.ltmonline.net. Their phone is
717.766.0535.
Well, that’s about all for this issue. I’m
sure that I’ve failed to include some of the
newer or smaller venues. But this partial
list of area playhouses gives evidence of
a rich, varied community theatre scene
in the immediate vicinity. There’s usually
something for everyone, and it’s hard to
find a weekend when someone isn’t doing
a play, so…see you at the theatre!
JAY MIFFOLUF (jaymiff@comcast.net) has
been an area actor and producer for over 35
years, both in an amateur and professional
status. He has been seen at many of the area’s
venues, has performed in almost 70 area
productions, and has served on the governing
boards of a number of theatre companies.
He also is instrumental in helping to
communicate casting needs for artistic and
commercial companies.
9
!
Happy 10th Birthday, Hershey Area Playhouse!
By Susan Cort, former Chairperson
It seems almost impossible that our
community theatre is turning ten years
young this year. Wasn’t it just yesterday we
met for the first time as a group and came
up with the name – Hershey Area Playhouse?
I had the honor and privilege of being a
founding Board member of the Playhouse
and after our first year, held the position of
chairperson for seven years. Some of my
fondest memories are connected to the
Playhouse – from the early days of planning
and dreaming about our new community
theatre, to being in numerous productions
(some with my daughters and even my
husband), to the joy and satisfaction when
we opened the doors on our new theatre
at Country Meadows of Hershey in
April 2007.
We’ve staged more than 33 productions,
produced nine Cabaret Night fundraising
galas (see article on page 16 for
information on joining us for the 10th)
and entertained thousands of people
from Derry Township and all of Central
Pennsylvania. We’ve taught dozens of
kids about the art of theatre and engaged
hundreds of people, perhaps including you,
in volunteer roles on stage and behind the
scenes. Together, it’s amazing what we’ve
been able to accomplish.
I am proud of all we’ve done together but
I have to say the most impressive part of
our theatre is not our building and it’s
not the number of shows we’ve done. The
most impressive part of our theatre is you.
All of the people connected to Hershey
Area Playhouse, whether you volunteer
year-round or have just seen one show, are
a part of our community theatre family.
As I reflected back on our ten year history,
I opened up the many Hershey Area
Playhouse boxes in my house and looked
at old play programs, newsletters, photos,
press clippings and board notes. I came
upon my notes from our first board
meeting, February 9, 1999, and saw my
chicken scratch notes with possible names
for our theatre and the final choice, Hershey
Area Playhouse, with a circle around it.
We chose that name because we wanted
people to know that our theatre, while
based in Hershey, is for everyone to enjoy.
Birthday Reflections
From the beginning,all of the volunteers were concerned
about funding, finding locations for our next show, and
gathering community support. I vividly remember the
challenge of moving props and sets to different
locations around town. We spent a lot of time
moving things in and out of the old Weis Market
where Sheetz is today, the boiler room in the old
Hershey Middle School, and then to our storage
barn north of Palmyra. All of the Board members,
actors and others were so passionate and dedicated, it
just affirmed my belief that people really wanted the
Playhouse to succeed.
Happy Birthday, Hershey Area Playhouse
George Nye
Founding Board Member
! 10
I
also
found
a
file
of
postcards
people sent to show
their support of the
inception of community
theatre in Hershey.
I read the card I sent
in, along with many
other
people,
like
Maxine Oliver, Marcie
Warner, Ken Skelly,
Nan
Resnick
and
Jeff Cartwright, who
are still very involved
with the Playhouse
today.
And
every
day, new people get
involved – guaranteeing
our community theatre
is thriving.
Hershey Area Playhouse is much more
than a theatre building or a place where
you can participate in or enjoy quality
amateur theatre. It’s a connection to our
community – a place where everyone can
feel welcomed; where everyone has a role
to play.
I’ve been involved in theatre since I was 5
years old, performing in dozens of school
and community theatre productions in my
hometown of Westfield, NJ. When I think
about the shows I did in my early years, it
fills me with a sense of pride and nostalgia
and a connection to my hometown.
As an adult, I performed in a few shows at
the former Annville Community Theatre
and with an educational outreach program
with Mt. Gretna’s theatre. I’ve lived in
Hershey since 1988 and had often thought
how wonderful it would be if we had our
own community theatre, so I could feel the
same connection I had in my hometown.
So, when Skip Becker decided to pursue
the idea of a community theatre in Hershey,
I jumped in with both feet. Skip first
met with community leaders John Zerbe,
Jack Hartman, Susan Fowler and George
and Cindy Nye in order to get their
thoughts. Then, he tested the waters with
the community at large, by asking people
to send in cards of support to The Sun and
Hershey Chronicle.
A Board was formed from many of the
people who sent those postcards and
after meeting in late 1998, we planned a
community meeting for January 13, 1999.
You’ve heard the story by now, no doubt,
of 50-some theatre supporters who braved
the elements to show their support of a
community theatre in our town.
The rest is history. And memories.
Everyone involved with the Playhouse has
his or her own special memories. Maybe
you’re the mother of a child who performed
at the theatre, or you worked the box
office, hung theatre posters or ushered.
Perhaps you acted, directed or produced. For
me, I have so many special memories, they
could fill a book. The early years were filled
with long hours, determination and a lot
of positive thinking as we struggled to find
the next location for a show, raise money,
and move sets in and out of countless
locations. Founding Board member George
Nye still pokes fun at me for saying the
nomadic nature of our theatre (and the
moving back and forth) was kind of
romantic. Now that’s positive thinking!
I still remember vacuuming the artificial
turf inside the Penn Hershey indoor soccer
field, where we staged Forty Carats. That
motivated me and our fundraising team
even more to raise the money needed to
build our permanent theatre home!
Whenever I’m involved in a show, I always
take the time to tell the new people about
the history of the Playhouse so they have
a greater appreciation of who we are and
how we got there. I hope they will, in turn,
pass the stories on to the next generation
that comes through the theatre doors.
Aside from my role in helping develop the
Playhouse, I also am proud of the many
shows, community events and galas in
which I’ve participated. Best of all, are the
memories of performing in shows with my
daughters, Meredith and Mallory. They’ve
grown up with the Playhouse, having been
involved in some way since they were six
and three, respectively.
Like a proud parent, I smile when I think
about how Hershey Area Playhouse has
grown up and touched so many lives.
We’re all a part of continuing this legacy,
for our children and our community.
I know my daughters someday will bring
their children to the Playhouse and tell
them their memories and explain how
they and their mother were a part of
Hershey Area Playhouse and our
wonderful community.
Happy Birthday, Hershey Area Playhouse.
Here’s to the next ten years and beyond.
11
!
Original notes when brainstorming the name of the theatre.
I recall right after Church, during our social gathering, when Skip Becker
approached me and asked me what I thought about getting serious about a little
theatre venture in Hershey. I answered that I thought the time was right for this
kind of venture and that we should pursue such a program including a facility for
it. The next meeting I remember was the one in the Hershey Library on a terrible
wintry evening during which we more or less solidified the concept, as I recall.
Lastly, there was the On Golden Pond reception at Country Meadows during
which Mike Leader and I had a discussion and I suggested that the theatre really
needed a permanent home, and as we all know, Mike and the Leader family took
it from there.
My hope for the theatre was and is that it would live forever as a theatre program
for the community by the community for all ages and all levels of skill and talent.
It is well on its way to providing those opportunities and meeting its community
cultural purpose. In economic times of challenge, programs such as community
theatre are more needed and more important than ever.
We knew going in that raising building money was going to be challenging
and that raising operational funds would be tied to product excellence and
community service. While I haven’t been a part of your governance, or the hard
work all of you are doing, I hear many good and appreciative comments from
members of the community. Keep up the good work!
John Zerbe
Hershey Area Playhouse supporter
Visit The Imagination Blog at blog.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com to share your
own memories of Hershey Area Playhouse from the past ten years.
11
!
Coming Soon to a School Near You...
By Cory Wilkerson, Lead Teacher and Director
Take one group of excited young actors,
several vans, some period costumes and
a play written to whet the middle school
appetite for Shakespeare and what do you
have? The Theatre Academy Players Spring
tour!
This semester, thirteen dauntless Players
have set about accomplishing a whirlwind
schedule of performance throughout area
schools with guts, gusto and glory. They
will be preparing a fanciful production
which mixes Shakespeare and magic
specifically written to appeal to middle
school groups. In the play – entitled Classy –
two teens are trapped in detention in
the dusty archives of the school library
until they gain a respect for Shakespeare’s
work. One of the pair, M.J., is searching
an antiquated computer for data when
she stumbles on the mysterious Prospero’s
spell – said to have been deleted from
Shakespeare’s play The Tempest by the
bard himself when one of the actors reads
it aloud and disappears. When M.J.’s
fellow detainee Pat mutters the spell aloud,
Shakespeare’s characters jump out of the
pages with a clap of thunder and a bolt
of lightning. The characters lead M.J. and
Pat on a journey through the best that
Shakespeare has to offer – a sampling
of Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, King
Henry V, The Taming of the Shrew and
A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Performances will be followed with a
talk-back session of question and answers,
allowing middle school students to learn
about Shakespeare and acting from their
peers.
The Theatre Academy Players are now
accepting bookings for spring tour dates
after April 30. We will be thrilled to
entertain for your school assembly or
club function for a nominal fee to cover
our travel expenses. Please contact the
Playhouse at 717.533.8525 and leave
a message for Cory Wilkerson or
send an e-mail to TheatreAcademy@
HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com to arrange for
bookings.
Summer Drama Camps to Include “Camp for Techies”in 2009
By Randall Cline, Coordinator of Educational Programs
Hershey Area Playhouse Theatre Academy
has announced plans for its Drama Camp
programs this summer. For the first time,
the programming will include a new Camp
for Techies.
Students enrolled in the “techies”
session will learn about the technical side of
theatre productions: costumes, set design,
stage management, lighting and sound.
In every show, there is production team,
working backstage, that helps to ensure
the success of the presentation. Typically,
these individuals are not seen on stage, like
actors and actresses, but they are equally
important.
Camp for Techies is a great way to expose
interested students to this area of theatre
arts. Even the best actors and actresses
need to understand and appreciate all of
the elements that comprise a production.
Students in this camp will learn the basics
directly from guest presenters that work on
Hershey Area Playhouse productions. Then
they will put their newly acquired skills
into action by helping to manage the stage,
run lights, enhance sound and call cues for
!1212!
the dress rehearsal and final performance
of the camp.
Summer Drama Camp is a two week day
camp-type program beginning Monday
June 22 and concluding Thursday evening,
July 2. Three different acting sessions are
offered: Kids Camp Jr. – Tell Me a Story
Performance Camp, for students in Grades
1-4; Middle School Studio – Mystery and
Mayhem Performance Camp, for students
in Grades 5-8 and High School Studio –
The Play’s the Thing, for students in
Grades 9-12.
These programs run on weekdays,
Monday through Friday of the first week
and Monday through Thursday the
second week. There will be an evening
performance on the last day of the camp.
The schedule for Camp for Techies is
different, with the first session beginning
on Friday, June 26 and continuing from
Monday, June 29 through Wednesday,
July 1. On Thursday, July 2, Camp for
Techies students will work the dress
rehearsal in the late afternoon and the
7:00 pm performance that evening.
Leading the 2009 Summer Camp staff
is Cory Wilkerson, lead teacher. Cory is
a director and performer specializing in
theatre for youth, and former artistic
director of WOW! Theatre. Cory has
taught acting both here and in Atlanta,
Georgia public schools. She is a 2004
recipient of a Pennsylvania State
Legislature Certificate of Achievement
for her work with children and youth.
Cory directed Oliver!, Annie and
The Sound of Music for the Playhouse.
She will be directing The King and I
for Hershey Area Playhouse later
this summer. When not directing
or performing, Cory is an arts
education consultant for the PA
Department of Education.
Jennifer Feldser is the assistant teacher.
Jen has been with the Playhouse since the
beginning, working behind the scenes as
stage manager for many of the productions,
and serving on the Board of Directors.
Jennifer most recently directed the
premiere of her original production The
Other Woman in February 2008 at the
Playhouse. The Other Woman was awarded
Best New Play of the Region by the
Kennedy Center during the American
College Theatre Festival.
Glenn Hoy is a high school intern for
summer camp. Glenn has been an acting
student at the Playhouse for several years
and is active on the Palmyra area stages.
We welcome Glenn to this new role.
All drama camp programs will be held
at Hershey Area Playhouse at Country
Meadows, Sand Hill Road at Cherry Drive
in Hershey. Register early. Space is limited.
For more information or registration
information about Summer Drama Camp,
visit HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com or contact
Playhouse Board member Randy Cline
at 717.497.2315 or TheatreAcademy@
HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
13
!
Support Your Playhouse’s 2009 Season Appeal
By A.J. Pingitore, Vice Chairman
We are extremely appreciative of the responses to our new approach to raising
funds for Hershey Area Playhouse. To date, we have received over 100
contributions totaling over $18,000. Thanks to your commitment we are
continuing to provide first class productions and programming for our
community. We are confident that with your continued support, we will cover
our operating expenses and continue to pay down our building debt.
While we are pleased with the initial response to our 2009 season appeal,
we urge those who have not been able to contribute to date to continue to
keep Hershey Area Playhouse on their minds as they are able to consider
charitable contributions throughout the remainder of 2009. For your
convenience, we continue to provide self-addressed envelopes if you are able
to send us a contribution of any level.
As promised, our list of our Capital Campaign contributors is now easily
available on our website with a link on the homepage. We are forever indebted
to those of you that gave to our cause…our own building. There is permanent
naming recognition of those who gave $1,000 or more ranging from seat
plates, to show posters, to individual plaques and, of course, permanent recognition
on the donor board in the lobby for those who gave $2,500 or more.
Thanks again for your generous support in these difficult economic times. If
you have any questions, feel free to call at 717.919.9785 or at fundraising@
HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
13
!
2009 Playhouse Supporters
Thank you for your commitment to Hershey Area Playhouse. Below is the list of 2009 supporters as we go to print with this issue.
We look forward to adding your name to this list – contact Alexander Roca, our Director of Fundraising at fundraising@
HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com to learn how.
Bronze Sponsor
$2,500 - $4,999
Alexander and Claudette Roca
Keystone
$1,000-$2,499
Ray and Patricia Brace
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Conway
Dr. Wesley Davis and Brenda Abbott
Richard and Elise Hann
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts
Patron
$500 - $999
William Hennrikus Family
Contributor
$250 - $499
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Aber
Ms. Judith Bond
Ray and Gretchen Cameron
H.J. Lewin
Mary Jane Mease
Tony and Leah Pingitore
Andrew and Lynne Shapiro
Paul and Maria Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. John Zerbe
Sustainer
$100 - $249
John Abel
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Aichele
Dr. and Mrs. J. O. Ballard
Mrs. Anna M. Belser
Kevin and Saralyn Black
Randall and MaryAnne Cline
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Copenhaver
Mr. Tom Curry
Jethro J. and H. June Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Foulkrod
Thomas and Janice Fowlston
Donald I. and Helen F. George
Frederick D. Giles
Dennis Gingrich
Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Ginter
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Hardy
Mr. Robert Harner
!1414!
Gregory and Susan Marie Kadel
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kleisner
Fortuna P. Kostelac
Chris and Amy Ladd
David C. and Leesa Leader
Bob and Freda Longenecker
Philip, Rebecca and Benjamin Masters
Joan May
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Miller
Jeffrey and Kathleen Miller
Todd and Linda Pagliarulo
Neal and Linda Rhoads
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Richards
Pete and Theresa Ridge
Barbara Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Stratton
Bill and Ginny Suhring
John E. Wolgemuth
Supporter
$50 - $99
Mr. and Mrs James Albus
Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Buchan
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Byrnes
The Cunfer Family
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Decock
Luke and Kelly Drayer
Michael and Louise Feldser
Susan Frankeny
Robert and Kathleen McKinney Gavazzi
John and Margaret Goldman
Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Graybash
R. Kevin and Martha Grigsby
James and Clara Hess
Michael and Suzanne Ioffreda
David and Lisa Janssen
Michael Katzman and Margery Wasko
Chuck and Sarah Kray
Harry and Ellie Kuntz
Todd and Clara Layser
The Leonard Family
The McErlean Family
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Moffett
George and Cindy Nye
Bill and Gail Pauza
John and Deb Payne
George
W. Porter
Alexander
Roca
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Poulk, Jr.
Tim and Anne McGraw Reeves
Wanda Reid
Dr. and Mrs. Corey Rigberg
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sekol
Melvin P. Shenk
Mr. and Mrs. William Q. Sinnott
Kevin and Elizabeth Splaine
Mrs. Stefania M. Tiwari
Drs. Alfred and Elizabeth I. Traverse
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Weber
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Wilson
Mr. and Mrs. Craig B. Wisman
Who Would Have Thought?
By Jennifer Feldser, Fundraising Committee
The cast of The Vagina Monologues
On February 27 and 28, sixteen diverse and amazing women took
to our stage for just three performance of The Vagina Monologues.
The majority of these women had been rehearsing their pieces
separately from one another for about two months. It was not
until the week of February 23rd that they all finally gathered
together to put on a stellar show. This merely demonstrates the
extent of their talent. Friendships and bonds quickly formed
among them, which only propelled the dynamic of the show further.
And oh what a show it was. And I’m not just saying that
because I was front and center on a red, velvet couch. I’m saying
that because the receipts speak for themselves. A grand total of
363 tickets were sold at $15.00 each…you get the idea. And it’s
going to charity. Employees of the YWCA of Harrisburg, one of
the groups that benefited from this show’s take, were on hand
with ushers and information about their organization.
To say that the cast and crew were pleasantly surprised by the
turnout would be a bit of understatement. If you had told me
that we would have sold out the opening night of The Vagina
Monologues in Hershey, and would have had a grand total of 363
tickets (did I mention that already), I would have told you how
nice that would be, but to not expect it. I would maybe even have
called you crazy like Patsy Cline. I would not have expected to
turn people away on opening night.
But filling the seats is only part of the accomplishment. It’s no
good to have a house full of people that don’t connect with the
show. Again, we were lucky. While they may have been leery at
first when they were warned about interactive participation, all
three of our audiences were enthusiastic crowds. They embraced
and applauded each of the women to the extent that both
Saturday audiences gave them standing ovations. An interesting
fact that we discovered about many of these attendees, over half of
them had never seen this particular show before. They had heard
of it, or had family or friends in it, but they had not purchased a
ticket before now.
The measure of this show goes beyond merely raising funds. It is
about raising awareness of the beauty and the tragedy of women
around the world and here in our community, which makes this
far more than just a successful fundraiser. It proves anything can
happen in Hershey given the chance. They are already talking
about when the next production will be!
! 15
Tenth Annual Cabaret Night to Feature
Broadway Entertainers with Hershey Roots
By Susan Cort, Cabaret Night Chairperson
If that wasn’t reason enough, the stars of
Hershey Area Playhouse’s production of
Love Letters, Terry Farrell and Brian Baker,
will emcee this year’s gala. If you saw this
husband and wife duo in our show, you
know that Terry appeared in numerous
television productions, including Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine and Becker. Brian has a
long list of credits, but may be best known
as the former spokesperson for Sprint PCS.
The Tenth Annual Cabaret Night gala will
feature Hershey natives and Broadway
performers Jane Brockman and David
Michael Felty, along with his wife,
professional entertainer Jennifer Felty.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 18
at the Hershey Country Club for this notto-miss event!
Jane Brockman
David Michael Felty
David’s Broadway and National Tour
credits include: Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil
War, Schonberg and Boubil’s Les Miserables
( Jean Valjean) and American Rhapsody a
Gershwin review. David soon will return
from a two-month run performing the
role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the
Actor’s Playhouse in Coral Gables, Florida.
Jennifer Felty, a Lancaster County native,
has performed in numerous musicals as
well as opera productions. Her Regional
favorites include Smoke on the Mountain
(Denise), Sanders Family Christmas
(Denise), My Fair Lady (Eliza), Carousel
(Carrie), Pirates and Pinafores (Mabel and
Yum-yum), and singing while playing the
banjo, fiddle, and upright bass at the Grand
Ol’ Opry and accompanying TV program,
Opry Backstage.
Most recently Jane Brockman was seen
playing Marme in Little Women and
Chelsea in On Golden Pond. New York
credits include Lady Anne in Camelot with
the NY Philharmonic broadcast “Live
from Lincoln Center” starring Gabriel
Byrne, Christopher Lloyd and Marin
Mazzie and as the Mother Superior in
ShowBoat at Carnegie Hall. Other New
York performances include The York
Theatre’s Musicals in Mufti series Zorba,
and Encores! Kismet. Jane also played the
Tour Guide and covered (and performed)
the role of Margaret in the National Tour
of The Light in the Piazza.
Cabaret Night features a cocktail hour,
silent and live auctions, sit-down dinner and fabulous entertainment from a
cast of talented singers from our backyard
and Broadway. Other performers include:
Amy Allen, Susan Cort, Mark Cuddy,
Nick Curry, Sarah-Krista Curry, Beth
Dunham, Christine Hepler, Jennifer
Lear, Celia Lerner, Tony Pingitore, Scott
Schmittel, Beth Splaine, Jason Whetstone
and Denise Young. Piano accompaniment
will be provided by Dr. William Curry and
Cristal Sheaffer. Piano selections during
cocktails will be provided by Dr. Roger Levin.
In celebration of the tenth year of Cabaret
Night, the performers will share their
favorite selections from Broadway shows
that have graced the Great White Way in
the last decade.
Auction items will include an array of
entertainment and dining packages, plus
jewelry and exclusive tours. Auction
services once again will be provided by Erica
Taylor of Classic Edge Auctions.
Tickets are $100. Seating is limited so don’t
delay and respond today! Just send back
your response card or visit HersheyArea
Playhouse.com to download the response card.
CabaretNight
Tenth Annual
16
!
Jennifer Felty
The Playhouse Hosts Special Receptions
By Michele Robertson, Volunteer Committee Chair
During the run of Love Letters, Hershey Area
Playhouse held two receptions organized and
hosted by members of the volunteer committee
(Louise, Michael and Jen Feldser, Rae Kouvelis,
Jonette Lawn, Maria Thompson, Maxine Oliver
and Patricia Roth).
On February 11, we held an opening night
premiere for Love Letters. Patrons could purchase
tickets for what could be Hershey’s own version
of a Hollywood event. A sky spotlight and a red
carpet runway greeted the 50+ guests as they
arrived. They received autographed programs and
a talkback session at the end of the show. To wrap
up the evening they enjoyed refreshments and
hors d’oeuvres. It was a memorable night for all.
Anna Belser grew up playing in the barn where
the Playhouse now resides. On February 14,
she invited a group of more than 50 people
from her church for a reception, a tour of the
Playhouse and an opportunity to see Love Letters.
She had also brought scrapbooks filled with her
childhood memories. We would like to thank
Anna for bringing in her group and speaking
about the barn.
Hershey Area Playhouse can accommodate a
group of 20 to 50 people. Prices will vary. If you
are interested in setting up a special reception
for your group you can call me at the
Playhouse at 717.533.8525 or send me an e-mail
at volunteer@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
17
!
Volunteer Spotlight
By Mark Cuddy, Volunteer Committee
Theresa Ridge
Q. Can you give us a little
insight into your theatre/performance
background?
A. My interest in theatre actually began
at a very young age when I would take my
beloved Nancy Drew books and turn them
into plays that I wanted all of my friends
to perform, under my direction of course.
Then I was involved in school productions
at Hershey High School (pre-HHS
Productions, which is much more
advanced now), and served as the president
of the Thespians, the high school drama
club. I attended Point Park College (now
University) in Pittsburgh where I worked
at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and in a few
small local theatres, as well as in summer
stock at Mt. Gretna. My concentration was
in lighting design and stage management.
After Pittsburgh, my husband and
I moved to Washington, DC where I did
some more local theatre work. I decided
I wanted more of a “normal” life
(whatever that is), so I left the theatre
world and spent the next 14 years
18
!
working in more
conventional jobs that
allowed me to have
evenings at home, to
actually make some
money, and to start
a family. When our
daughter was ready
to go to school, we
didn’t want her to
attend DC or Maryland
public schools, and we
moved back to Hershey
in 1990, where we
knew the school
system was wonderful and the streets
much
safer
than
those in DC. I had
thought about going
back to theatre work but knew there
was no longer a community theatre in
Hershey, and I thought how great it would
be to be able to start one up again – but
I had no idea how to do that.
Q. How did you become involved
with Hershey Area Playhouse?
A. One day I saw a notice in the Hershey
Chronicle asking for anyone interested in
starting a community theatre in Hershey
to send in a postcard detailing our level
of interest. Evidently enough people sent
in postcards to warrant an informational
meeting, which I attended – the nowfamous ice storm meeting in January 1999.
We each filled out a survey asking for
information about our background and interests. A couple of days later, Skip called
me and asked me if I would be interested in
being on the Board of Directors. I said yes!
Q. Tell us a little about any
favorite or memorable theatre
experience, either with the Playhouse
or another theatre group.
A. It seems every theatrical experience is
unique and memorable in some way, either
good or bad. I always love the way a group
of people who may or may not know each
other come together for a couple of months
and form this really tight-knit family, and
then all go their separate ways. No two
shows are the same; even if directors, cast
and crew members are the same, each show
has its own dynamic. Lasting friendships
are formed. You develop your skills and
learn what works and what doesn’t; how –
and how not – to produce the best possible
shows. My most memorable experience has
to be opening night of Our Town, the first
show in our new theatre, and the immense
feelings of pride and accomplishment that
came with that event.
Q. Share a little personal info with our
readers – tell us a little about your family,
your work, your hobbies, or anything else you’d
care to share.
A. I’m married to Pete, a wonderful man
with whom I have shared 34 years. He
has evolved into my Number 1 light crew
member! We have one daughter, Megan –
we had one perfect child, and stopped. She
has a BA in Theatre Arts from Bloomsburg
University; the acorn doesn’t fall far from
the tree. I work for Country Meadows, next
door to the theatre, and have worked there
for 18 years. If anyone would have told me
that I’d work anywhere for 18 years I would
have told them they were crazy! But I enjoy
my job and love my co-workers, and I’m
very grateful to the Leader family for
the donation of the barn on Country
Meadows’ property. They have certainly
helped the Playhouse to evolve into the
amazing place it is today.
Thanks so much for agreeing to be in our
Spotlight and thanks for all you do for Hershey
Area Playhouse!
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By Evan Sassaman, age 12
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Hershey Area Playhouse is one of my favorite places in all of Hershey! I always get
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or if you haven’t been in a play at Hershey
I have been in three plays. My first was
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another, I played a boy named ‘‘Luke’’ in the The Homecoming (which was my main role). In the third play, I was a character named “Hobie” in The Best
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Christmas Pageant Ever! And every single experience I’ve had at the
Hershey Area Playhouse has been a great one.
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To find out how you can be involvedm
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to HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com for audition dates and to find out the dates
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of great plays that you can come see!
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A Christmas Story
Our T
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! 19
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT #776
HERSHEY AREA
PLAYHOUSE
P.O. Box 703
Hershey, PA 17033
Calendar
Calendar
Tenth Annual Cabaret Night
April 18, 2009
The Boys Next Door performances
The King and I performances
April 23 – 26, 2009
April 30 – May 3, 2009 Wait Until Dark performances
May 8 – 9, 2009
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
July 9 – 12, 2009
performances
July 16 – 19, 2009
Wait Until Dark auditions
August 16 – 17, 2009
The King and I auditions
HERSHEY’S
HOTTEST NEW
RESTAURANT!
Come enjoy many unique
Fire Alley specialties along
with traditional menu
selections, in a friendly
and authentic atmosphere.
(Located in the Hershey CocoaPlex Center)
1144 Cocoa Avenue
CocoaPlex Center • Hershey
717-533-3200
20
!
Mondays
4pm-10pm
Tues -Thur
Fri & Sat
Sundays
11:30am -10pm
11:30am -11pm
4pm-10pm
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever September 27 – 28, 2009
auditions
October 22 – 25, 2009
October 29 – November 1, 2009
December 3 – 6, 2009
December 10 – 13, 2009
Save with group sales
What better way to spend an evening - great friends and great
entertainment and the more the merrier! Did you know that
you can do both at Hershey Area Playhouse? To make it even
better you get a discount on each ticket for groups of 20 or
more. This is a wonderful opportunity for Red Hatters, civic
organizations, scout troops and senior citizen groups, just to name
a few. For more information or to purchase tickets call our box
office at 717.533.8525.