Volume 3 Issue 2 Spring 2010
Transcription
Volume 3 Issue 2 Spring 2010
Volume 3 Issue 2 Spring 2010 Bringing A Show To Our Stage - 4 Come To The Cabaret - 5 Theatre Academy - 7 New Financial Agreement - 11 From The Chairman Paul Thompson Photo by Terry Farrell Dear Supporters of Hershey Area Playhouse, Welcome to another exciting edition of Bravo!, the magazine of a neighborhood volunteer enterprise dedicated to filling an important creative niche by offering every imagination the opportunity to participate in the American stage experience. Our eleventh vibrant season got underway in a very profound manner with the January presentation of Full Moon Over Montmartre, an intense story of coping with Alzheimer’s disease by those who are stricken as well as their caregivers. This medical thematic topic is one which we fully embrace, and are revisiting again with the production of Wit. It is certainly a fulfilling role for theatre to be able to reenact such variations on the human situation, and it certainly brings new meaning to the word drama. Our gratitude to board member Skip Becker for producing Full Moon and now Directing Wit. His aptly titled report is on page 4. After the final production of Full Moon, the audience immediately reconvened for a panel discussion exploring the dimensions of an afflation that affects over 5 million residents in the US. For the next hour and a half, a very attentive group participated in a riveting discussion, moderated by board member Dr. John Messmer. treasurer Theresa Ridge have gone boldly etc, etc. Please join them by filling out the form on page 11 and sending in your contribution for 2010 if you have not yet done so. That honor roll is on page 10. A major event in April is Cabaret Night, with Beth Dunham coordinating a talented field of performers. Dress is relaxed this year from black tie, but the entertainment is as haut culture as ever. If you have never attended Cabaret, you really must come and see it in person. See page 5 for details. Also on page 5, Patrick Seeley reports on the Apollo awards and our many connections to them. You will also notice that a special donation is being sought to dedicate the Grand Lobby to one of our most ardent supporters, the late John Zerbe. Please consider joining John’s many friends on the plaque which will commemorate his great role in the growth of our theater. Finally, in the spirit that is reflective of John Zerbe and one that far eclipses any sort of petty fiscal philosophy, imagine the bravado it takes for a non-profit to donate a considerable sum from its operational proceeds to another noble organization, even while it faces a long term capital debt itself. Last year that happened when we shared significant production proceeds with the American Cancer Society and the Ronald McDonald House. That’s right. The investment you made, while experiencing critically acclaimed performances, directly contributed to the welfare and mission of other non-profits. Already this year, thanks to collaboration with Hershey Rotary, a major donation has been made to the campaign to eradicate polio. The ultimate socially conscientious director Jen Feldser, with the unanimous support and enthusiasm of the cast of I Love You agreed to stage an additional performance as a benefit. What more can we say to all that? It is what it should be! In our essential role of providing theatre related educational opportunities to the community, Cory Wilkerson has again provided a wide range of opportunities. She has big plans for a culminating production to follow the summer school. Education committee chair Randy Cline describes all that in more detail on page 7. Artistic liaison director Mark Cuddy reports on the process of bringing a show on stage. He and the committee are gathering scripts and evaluating them to determine what works for a new season. Thoughts, and scripts, should be directed to Mark. Operations director Tom Curry, when not shoveling or raking, or producing a play, is overseeing the installation of new signage for the playhouse. Soon you will be able to see us from outer space without using Google earth. Sincerely, Michelle Robertson reports on the remarkable role of our sound director Tim Banis. On the financial front, director of fundraising, financial strategist, and new board member Alex Roca, never one to leave a penny unattended, has been instrumental in crafting a new capital structure, in collaboration with Fulton Bank and Derry Township. He and our 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 ! Contents WIT 4 Bringing A Show To Our Stage 4 Come To The Cabaret 5 Apollo Awards 5 I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change 6 Theatre Academy 7 Volunteer Spotlight 8 Kids Page 9 Our Donors 10 Four Party Financial Agreement 11 Calendar 12 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 Jennifer Feldser Jeffrey Miller Michele Robertson Alexander Roca Patrick Seeley Status Alert Fiddler On The Roof Schedule Change We recently received notice from Music Theatre International (MTI), the licensing house for many musicals, that due to a scheduling change by the national touring company of Fiddler On The Roof, MTI has ‘pulled’ the rights and restricted all production in our area within the 2010 June/July time frame. Fortunately, the Playhouse’s Artistic Committee has recommended a most suitable substitution. We will be producing Hello, Dolly! as our summer musical! Director Cory Wilkerson and producer Tracey Ford are already at work on the production. If you have season tickets or have already purchased tickets to Fiddler no need to worry - your tickets will be honored and transition smoothly into the Dolly shows. The dates and times will remain the same as will any seating selections you may have made. Our apologies for any disappointment this change might cause. We can assure you that all of our resources are being re-directed toward making Hello, Dolly! one very memorable theatre entertainment experience for you. We do hope to bring Fiddler to our stage in the future, perhaps as our 2011 summer musical. We’ll keep you posted on that as we get closer to next summer. Thank you for your support of Hershey Area Playhouse! Past Board Members Jim Bush, Jeff Cartwright, Susan Cerminara, Susan Cort, Derek Dunham, 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 ! 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 6.15.10 and should be submitted to marketing@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com. Special thanks to Michael Feldser for the photography and ChocolateCovers for the design and printing. !3 No Crystal Ball WIT By Skip Becker There are those who have said a crystal ball would be a kind of secular miracle in their lives. They would gaze into that ball and learn the future. They would see what the future holds. They would become prophets and healers. They would foretell disasters and warn of the need for preparation. They would better their lives and the lives of those they cared about. They would hold answers to the unknown inside the clear glass of that ball in their hands. They would know what happens next, and next, and next... WIT tells the story of a woman who has no crystal ball. But she knows what will happen next. She knows what the future holds for her. She is not prepared nor can she heal herself. She can only go forward along an unyielding path of pain, reflection, frustration and love. Caught by the ravages of stage‑four metastatic Bringing a Show to Our Stage – Acquiring Rights By Mark Douglas Cuddy If you’re reading this, chances are you’re one of our many patrons who have attended and we hope, enjoyed, a Hershey Area Playhouse production. Have you ever wondered what’s involved in bringing a production to our stage? There are three very basic steps to every show we do: the planning, the practice, and the production itself. In this article we’d like to give you an inside look at a very important piece of what it takes to bring a show to life at our venue. Every show begins as just one of many that the Artistic Committee discusses and considers, assessing many variables, such as entertainment value, potential audience appreciation, venue benefits or restrictions, and seasonality “fit,” just to name a few. This is the beginning of the planning process. Once the Artistic Committee has recommended a season and the shows have been approved by the Playhouse Board, the next step involves contacting the organization that holds the rights to the shows to see if they will be available for the time period our Playhouse wishes to run the production. The “rights house” is a business that has contracted with the playwright or their representatives to manage their properties (musicals or plays). Most rights houses are 4 ! ovarian cancer, Vivian Bearing, PH.D. ushers us through her “play” about her treatment, doctors, nurses, family and mentors. Each character in that play represents a human being trying to do the best they can for her; sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing. Arriving on the Hershey Area Playhouse stage for the first time, Debbie Smith-Voight brings years of talented acting to her portrayal of Dr. Bearing. Ms. Smith-Voight’s interpretation of Dr. Bearing is electric. Another seasoned and highly skilled actor appearing for his first time at the Playhouse, Michael Severied, plays her treating Physician. Stosh Snyder returns to our stage as the young research physician, once again showing us the remarkable talent he brought to previous Playhouse productions of Our Town and The Boys Next Door, Hershey Library Director Barbara Ellis joins this talented cast with her own unique combination of skills and acting craft as she depicts Bearing’s academic mentor in Bearing’s doctoral study of John Donne. Rounding out this terrific cast is Julie Strickland, American Cancer Society employee and compassionate nurse to Bearing and former WLBR talk show host, Don Bowman, as Bearing’s father. Following each of the two Saturday night performances, Hershey Area Playhouse will host a free talk back featuring the area’s leading authorities on cancer as well as survivors and caregivers. Dr. John Messmer will emcee both sessions. A short reception will precede so as to give the crew a chance to “remake” the stage. Make plans to journey with Dr. Bearing as she unfolds her future and visits her past in WIT! WIT opens on April 22 and continues through May 2 each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening at a new time, 7:30pm. Both Sunday matinees begin at 2pm. Tickets and information are available at www.hersheyareaplayhouse.com WIT is sponsored by The Doctor’s Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine in the PSU Hershey College of Medicine’s Humanities Department. based in NYC. They set, charge, and collect fees from community or regional theater groups that want to put on a production of a play or musical they represent. The fee is based on the number of shows your group plans to present, the number of seats in your venue, your ticket prices, and whether or not you plan to pay any of your cast. In almost all cases, musicals are considerably more expensive than plays. someone with a bigger budget acquires exclusive rights and knocks your seasonal plans askew. Even if you’ve paid in advance, your money will be refunded with an apology and a tentative schedule showing when the rights may become available again. So it’s sometimes a little challenging setting a season, and holding to your seasonal schedule oft times involves a little luck. There are occasions where a show will be restricted and the rights are not available for a period of time. This happened a few years ago with The Music Man. A TV movie was being made and the exclusive rights were acquired by a Hollywood Film company, which resulted in the rights being restricted for well over a year. You may remember that made-for-TV movie with Mathew Broderick in the starring role. On another occasion a few years ago, a production of Harvey was pulled back from a local community theater company because plans were being made to resurrect the show on Broadway. There are times when a theatrical company obtains exclusive rights to tour the country with a show and when that happens the rights house restricts any group within a 100 mile radius from doing the same show. The exclusive rights costs are negotiated by the two organizations and involve excessive funding much more than any community or regional theater might be able to afford. As you can see, the planning process involves quite a few hours of contemplation, almost endless discussion, tons of second-guessing ourselves, and a lot of people involved in a piece of theater business that many people don’t even realize occurs. By the way, if you have an idea for a show you’d like to see our Playhouse produce, please share it with one of our Artistic Committee members. They are Skip Becker, Don Bowman, Jeff Cartwright, Mark Cuddy, Michael Endy, Rene Krizan, Celia Lerner, Pam Whiteneck, Keith Wiley, and Cory Wilkerson. It can get even more complicated when a theater group obtained the rights for a show, but at what usually seems like the last minute, 4 ! CabaretN ight 11th Annual Let’s make them laugh! That’s exactly what Hershey Area Playhouse is planning for its 11th annual Cabaret Night. This year’s event, under the theme of “Make ‘Em Laugh,” promises to be a fun and upbeat night designed to raise much needed dollars for the Playhouse. On April 17th, at the Hershey Country Club, Hershey Area Playhouse will host its annual funfilled event, which is being sponsored in part by Fulton Bank. Complete with a cocktail hour, dinner, and a wide variety of entertainment, Cabaret Night is sure to be the event of the year for the Playhouse! Not only will there be a magician to dazzle the guests, but guests can participate in interactive games with a chance to win some wonderful prizes. In true Playhouse fashion, there will be live musical entertainment by a whole slew of performers. Performances by the Playhouse’s talented actors and actresses will feature Susan Cort; Mark Cuddy; Sarah Curry; Beth Dunham; Christine Hepler; Stacie Johnsen; Stuart Landon; Jen Lear; Celia Lerner; Tara Martenis; Tony Pingitore; Scott Schmittel; Martha Traverse; and Jason Whetstone. Throughout the evening, there will be an ongoing silent auction where guests will be invited to bid on a plethora of items, from the latest technological devices to one-of-a-kind art pieces, as well as hand made items. Each of these pieces has been donated by local and regional businesses and attractions. This event only comes around once per year, so don’t miss this opportunity to come out to laugh and have fun while helping the Playhouse! This is a great way to contribute to your local community theatre. For more information, visit the Hershey Area Playhouse website at www.hersheyareaplayhouse.com/ happening/specialevents.html or contact Beth Dunham at cabaretnight@hersheyareaplayhouse.com. Founders, current Board members, Former Board members and many of the volunteers you have seen in or who have worked behind the scenes at Hershey Area Playhouse productions over the years have found another way to support live theatre in Central Pennsylvania. They also are supporting and volunteering for the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards as committee members, show producers, evaluators and muses (volunteers). Now in its second year, the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards recognize outstanding achievement by local high school students participating in musical and play productions. Modeled after The Tony Awards® on Broadway, the ceremony will be held at Hershey Theatre on Sunday, May 23rd at 7 p.m. Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards will be presented for outstanding performances including: Outstanding Play and Musical, Outstanding Actors/Actresses in Play and Musical, Outstanding Supporting Actors/Actresses in Play and Musical, Outstanding Dance Number, Outstanding Student Orchestra and Outstanding Featured Performer in Ensemble. A program like the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards provides monetary awards to further students’ education and encourage students’ continued involvement in the performing arts public and area schools to provide those opportunities for students.. The program is open to all public and private schools in Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon counties, in addition to Elizabethtown Area Senior High School. The association between the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards and Hershey Area Playhouse is a natural fit and continuing that association will make both of us stronger, and all of Central PA a stronger home of the arts. 5 ! known to us, had plenty for us to showcase. There were wild-eyed first daters, studs and duds, babes, overzealous movie goers, teddy bear terrorists, and a set of swivel chairs that became an out of control family car. There was a character for everyone to identify with and songs for all to laugh at and enjoy. And I’m not just saying that because I’m the director. I’m saying it because you, the audience said it to us. Many attendees loved sharing their responses to all involved in the production. One fellow board member stated that he had never heard so much laughter in the Playhouse before! Add in several standing ovations friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent, in other words- a real boy scout. The musical directors Nick Curry and Dan Fisher, complimented each other’s abilities and expectations of what our cast could achieve and really challenged them to hit their best notes always. Kristin Einsel, our illustrious stage manager who kept us, well mostly me, on track, and ran the show from the booth with a cool head. Mary Szeltner who came out of costume retirement to outfit the cast in the best and the worst wardrobes – depending on what the scene required. Maxine Oliver, prop mistress extraordinaire, who went out and stocked up on everything from popcorn, to liquids, to half a platoon of teddy bears and we can tell that you liked us, you really liked us! just so we could tear them to pieces. Susie Gruber, and Michael and Louise Feldser were a true renaissance ensemble that did everything from marketing to catering. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Don’t Change By Jennifer Feldser And the lord God said, let there be a show about men and women that reveals the lovely and lighthearted moments in relationships. Let there be a phenomenal cast of six people- Cara Giambrone, Corey Greene, Eric Mansilla, Jessica Mohney, Randy Stamm, and Sarah Zahn – who run around for two hours portraying characters ranging in ages from child to childish and neuroses that would send Freud into a tizzy. Yeah, tizzy. I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change was one of the best theatre experiences I have ever had – from the quality of the actors to the dedication of the crew. The big payoff came when the audiences finally showed up and we could show off our efforts. Love, Perfect, Change as it became 66 ! We had a blast putting the show together and performing it. You couldn’t see us when we were offstage, but the dancing and madcap silliness persisted. Speaking of people you can’t see, allow me this part of the article to go into a kind of award acceptance speech where I would like to thank all of the behind the scenes people who aided in making this production a success. My producer- Tom Curry, who was efficient, trustworthy, loyal, helpful, So it’s over. Nine performances with over 1,000 tickets sold, more than any other February show at the Playhouse. I’ll leave you with pictures of a few of our favorite moments. We are all proud of this production and we were delighted that those you who came out got to see it and shared in this experience. We love you, we were perfect, and so were you! Broadway Comes To Youth Theatre Camp This Summer Hershey Area Playhouse Theatre Academy is pleased to announce its educational programs for the summer of 2010, including the Hershey’s area’s first full length musical theatre production camp. In addition, the Theatre Academy will conduct its traditional performance Day Camp programs during a two-week period on weekdays in June. Details follow. Musical Theatre Camp and Performances During a three week period beginning August 2, 2010, students will attend classes and rehearsals from 9 AM until 4:30 PM weekdays, which will culminate in performance of a full scale musical production at the conclusion of the camp on August 20, 21 and 22, 2010. Students in grades 4-12 will be invited to enroll. Age appropriate roles will be assigned through an audition process once a student is registered for the camp. Class meets daily from 9 AM until 4:30 PM with intensive study of dance, acting and vocal music production culminating in a weekend of performances of a full scale musical. Each week of the camp registered students will experience a master class with a working artist in the field of dance or musical theatre. Final planning for this exciting new opportunity for students is ongoing as of press-time. Details and registration fees are not yet completely finalized, but will be posted soon at: www. hersheyareaplayhouse.com. Summer Day Camps in June 2010 Three performance Day Camps and a Theatre Camp for Techies will be offered during a twoweek period in June, from Monday June 14th through Friday, June 25th. Sessions include: • Kid’s Camp Jr. - Tell Me a Story for students in Grades 1 – 3 • Kid’s Camp - Murder, Mystery and Mayhem for students in grades 4 – 6 • T heatre School Studio – Zounds! Gadzooks! And Huzzah! for students in grades 6 – 12 • Theatre Camp for Techies The Day Camp will be held on weekdays at Hershey Area Playhouse at Country Meadows, Sand Hill Road at Cherry Drive, Hershey, PA. The schedule and length of classes vary, based on the camp and the age/grade of students. See the write-ups that follow on each camp for more information. Experienced teachers return for another summer Camp veterans Cory Wilkerson and Jennifer Feldser are returning to give leadership to our camp once again. Cory Wilkerson is a director and performer specializing in theatre for youth, and former artistic director of WOW! Theatre. Ms. Wilkerson has taught acting both here and in Atlanta, Georgia public schools. Ms. Wilkerson is a 2004 recipient of a Pennsylvania State Legislature Certificate of Achievement for her work with children and youth. Ms. Wilkerson directed Oliver!, Annie, The Sound of Music and The King and I for the Playhouse. When not directing or performing, Ms. Wilkerson is an arts education consultant for the PA Department of Education. Jennifer Feldser has been with the Playhouse since the beginning, working behind the scenes as stage manager for many of the productions. Jennifer directed the premier of her original production The Other Woman in 2009 and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! for the Playhouse earlier this year. The Other Woman was awarded Best New Play of the Region by the Kennedy Center during the American College Theatre Festival. When Jen is not doing theatre she is busy keeping track of dramatic elementary students as a teacher. Summer Performance Day Camp Offerings 2010 Kids Camp Jr. – Tell Me a Story Performance Camp Grades 1- 3...9 AM – 10:30 AM Campers will learn acting skills using classic tales from many different times and cultures. A fast-paced class for elementary children with an emphasis on developing imaginations and learning to create a character. $130.00 early bird - $145.00 after 6/1. - Limit 16 Kids Camp – Murder Mystery and Mayhem Camp Grades 4- 6...10:30 AM – Noon Good fun in the guise of the classic murder mystery. Children explore the “whodunit” style of theatre by performing plays that are a spoof on some of the greatest detectives of fiction. Students act as both actor and author creating their own original piece. $130.00 early bird - $145.00 after 6/1 - Limit 18 Theatre School Studio – Zounds! Gadzooks! Huzzah! Grades 7 -12...1:00 PM – 4:00 daily High school aged students explore the art of spectacle utilizing scenes from Shakespeare and other classics to learn acting and stagecraft. Sword fighting, stage combat, music, costume and farce all will add to the mix to make an unforgettable experience. The resulting scenes and monologues will be staged as a free form play at the end of the session. Emphasis on skills to help you get the part! $170.00 early bird. $185.00 after 6/1 - Limit 20 Theatre Camp for Techies Grades 6 - 12...Meets June 21st thru 24th...4:30-6:30 PM & 9-4 PM June 25th Tech camp students explore the other half of the world of theatre - learning what goes on behind the scenes. Students will receive training in lighting, sound, and design with guest artists teaching the roles of a production team. Tech Camp students will put their skills into action supporting the final performance. $100.00 early bird - $115.00 after 6/1 - Limit 6 Class sizes are limited. Early registration is encouaged to ensure enrollment.Early registrants for the day camps may qualify for a discount in the registration fee. In addition, a discount is offered when multiple students from the same household enroll. More information and an enrollment form is available at www.hersheyareaplayhouse.com or by contacting Playhouse board member Randy Cline at rkc4@comcast.net or 717.497.2315 7 ! Volunteer Spotlight Tim Banis When did you begin doing theatre work? I began with plays at the jr. high school level. It seems like I was always involved in some kind of production from simple plays to playing in school bands. I found I had a knack at fixing mics and amps and building sound and light systems out of anything we could find at Radio Shack or hardware stores. I also found that working behind the scenes, making those with real talent sound and look better, was where I could best use my talent. During the 90’s, I worked for several production companies. I also had the opportunity to work with several “Sesame Street” and “Muppet Baby” shows during this period in both sound and the costume department. At the time I didn’t realize I was building experiences that would lead me to community theatre. What’s your area of expertise within the theatre and outside the theatre? I am an electrician by trade with training and experience in industrial power, the big stuff, generating equipment, motors, transformers, control systems, etc. But my interests have always been with sound systems. Sound can trigger predictable responses from crowds and can really bring a performance to life. At the theater level, the type of sound effect, the level and direction of the sound are all very important and critical in creating a mood or a setting that can be difficult in our small theater. For example, in Our Town, a horse-drawn milk wagon was needed, ya right, but with sound it was possible. After many hours of recording and mixing this 8 second cue, the audience heard a large old horse approaching, with the clop-clop of heavy hoofs on an old gravel road, the wheels of an old wagon squeaking, milk bottles tinkling, leather tack groaning, a snort, a neigh, moving to center stage and stopping as the milkman says “whoa Bessie.” You could almost see the horse, smell the horse. On Golden Pond, The Odd Couple, Little Women, A Mid Summer Nights Dream at Country Meadows, we did shows like Oliver!, Anne, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, large shows that needed the large stages of Lower Dauphin and Hershey high schools. We transformed a dance studio at One Broadway to do Nuncrackers, turned an empty Hershey Outlet store into a theater for A Christmas Story, and somehow, used an empty Hershey Volunteer Firehouse bay for a New York city apartment for the hauntingly, emotional 911 play, The Guys. How did you become involved with Hershey Area Playhouse? Tough question! Probably On Golden Pond was my favorite. It’s like your first born, or your first girlfriend or your first taste of chocolate. The magic was all there for that play. At the turn of this century, Ellen Kellner and I owned and operated Addeys Inn, a small B’n’B and motel in Hershey. Around Christmas 2001, Paul Thompson stopped by to look at and book a nice room for his mom and dad visiting from my home state of Maine. Esther Thompson and I instantly became very good friends and spent many hours trading memories and stories. Her warmth and spirit were so familiar to me that I felt like family. Around this time, I heard that a local theater group was looking for a soundman for their upcoming play, On Golden Pond, so I went to their first meeting and got the job. I didn’t, at the time, put 2 and 2 together. I was excited to be able to bring the sounds of the woods and lakes of Maine to the intimate surroundings of Country Meadows, where many of our earlier shows were held. Director Jeff Marsh gave me the freedom to express myself in a way that would bring justice to this wonderful play. With several speakers hidden on stage and around the room, the audience was able to hear birds sing in the trees, crickets all around them, Charlie’s mail boat approaching and the waves from its wake lap on the shore. And of course, Ethel’s loons calling to her from around the lake. For me, and I hope for many others, it was a magical time. The cast was brilliant. For me, the reality of Ken Skelly’s cabin set, Theresa Ridges’s lighting, and my sound effects hit me when, after the show, Esther Thompson, the real Ethel Thayer, turned to me with a tear in her eye and said “ it was so beautiful, I thought I was back at the lake.” I was hooked, and I’ve been with the Playhouse ever since. Which productions have you worked on? Which was your favorite? Which was more challenging? All the shows are challenging. Tech wise, I think the toughest was The Wizard of Oz at Lower Dauphin HS. The sound system, at the time, had some issues. If that wasn’t enough, hours before The Wizard of Oz opened, a real tornado had chewed its way thru parts of Campbelltown destroying many homes and causing power outages and fires. Talk about an eerie opening show. The magic of theater, somehow it all worked and at the time it was our biggest show ever. What do you like about volunteering for Hershey Area Playhouse? That’s an easy one. The people. The many volunteers who put in their time and talents to work together for a show. It’s all about the show and the “whatever you need” attitude is the common thread that links us to the show. I’ve never known anything as open and inclusive as community theater. We come from all walks of life, all backgrounds and talent levels, rich or poor, we’re all in it together. Some are better at acting, others are better at showing others how to act, some know how to raise money or sell tickets, or paint a set. We’re all the same, no better, no worse. When it all works we laugh and shake hands and pat each other on the back. When things so wrong, lines forgotten, cues missed, props break, bulbs burn out, we still laugh and shake hands and pat each other on the back. After a long grueling rehearsal schedule and shows that never seem to end, end they do. What do we do with ourselves then? We pick up the phone and say “what’s next, give me a call.” I’ll be there. For the first several years, I ran sound for every show we did. Not only did we do shows like 8 ! Kids Corner Maria Goldman Fourth Grade 1. How did you get interested in theatre? Well, my sister Sara was always in plays and it looked like fun and I wanted to do it too. Once I got my first role, I fell in love with theatre. 2. What other ‘skills’ do you have and that you have maybe taken classes on to help you? I take dance, voice lessons and acting camps at the Playhouse to help me with theatre. 3. What shows have you participated in? I have been in The Homecoming as a Town Person (Winter 07) The King and I as a Royal Child (Summer 09) Wait Until Dark as Gloria (Fall 09) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Winter 09) and I have been in the acting camp plays for last 5 years. 4. What’s your favorite thing about doing theatre? My favorite thing about theater is acting and developing the character and understanding who they are. 5. What do you find the hardest/most challenging thing about theatre? The hardest thing for me is waiting to find out if you get into the play or not, and memorizing all the lines, and trying not to make a mistake on stage. Maria Goldman has been involved in various Playhouse shows for the past five years. A fourth grader, Maria lives in Hershey with her family- her mom, who Maureen claims to just be the driver, but we know theatre moms do more than that; her sister Sara who has been involved with many shows at the Playhouse as well; her dad, her brother John, and dog, Oscar. This past year Maria was in triple back to back main stage performances. As one of the many kids that have walked the boards of the Playhouse stage, I wanted to get her point of view about the world of theatre. 9 ! 6. What has been your favorite role/character so far? My favorite role has been Gloria in Wait Until Dark because that was my first speaking role ever. 7. What other areas of theatre are you interested in trying or doing? An area I would like to try would be directing and seeing how different it is from being in the show. 8. Do you have a dream role or show you would like to do, what is it? A dream role for me would be to play Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz because I love that movie and the show. 9. If you were going to encourage other kids to do theatre, what would you say? I would tell kids to try it because you can never know how good something is until you do it. John Zerbe Lobby Donors Steve Dailey 128 1/2 A Hair Salon Mac & Shirley Aichele Joan & Jack Bishop Susan Cort Black Jack & Mary Bogrette Judith Bond & Gaylen Bradley Rosalie & Ken Bowers Clarence & Helen Brockman Miles & Louise Daub Jethro J. & H. June Davis Kathy Denton Bruce & Eleanor Dieffenbach Mr. and Mrs. Allen Fasnacht Neil & Barbara Fasnacht Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fogarty Mr. and Mrs. S. Walter Foulkrod III Herb & Susan Fowler L. Suzanne George Richard & Elise Hann Elizabeth Harry Karen & Michael Leader Urs & Paula Leuenberger Ed & Rose Maloy Bruce & Sally McKinney Marc & Susan Moyer Scott & Susan Newkam Todd & Linda Pagliarulo George & Lou Porter Wanda Reid Neal & Linda Rhoads Betsy & Ed Richards Pete & Theresa Ridge Alexander & Claudette Roca Vincent Rudisill Barbara Zerbe Runyan Doris Shearer Franklin, Louise, Michael & Diane Shearer Trudy Spangler Richard & Gwendolyn Wright Mary Jane Zerbe Nancy & Dick Zimmerman 10 ! 2010 Contributors Sustainers Mr. and Mrs. John Aichele Gene & Jan Cary MaryAnne & Randy Cline Nelson & Ethel Damschroder Maxine Haynes Ted & Jane Janeczek Nancy & Jay Krevsky Pete & Theresa Ridge Carmine & Tamara Sarracino Shirley & Don Stratton Supporters William & Bonnie Chambers John N. & Margaret B. Goldman Christine Hepler Mitzi & John Hines Drs. Michael Katzman & Margery Wasko Judith L. Pfeiffer Melvin Shenk 2009 Donors Missed in the year end list. We are grateful for your continued support. Supporters Mr. and Mrs. Robert Buckingham Jim & Susan George Joseph & Debra Heisler Thomas & Nancy Kitzmiller Friend Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lavine, Jr. Vernon & Mildred Miller Dave & Gerry Myers Patrons Friends of Neal Rhoads Ms. Marilyn Downing Hershey Rotary Club Sustainers Gene & Janice Cary William & Bonnie Chambers Susan & Richard Foxx Ms. June Gibbs Tom & Susan McGarrity PNC Foundation Alf Rix & Nellie Huber Sallyann & Clinton Talley 10 ! Four Party Agreement Ensures the Show will go on forever at Hershey Area Playhouse March 24th We have completed an arrangement to refinance our remaining construction debt of just over $550,000. This new loan will allow us to make regular monthly payments as part of our regular operating budget. Since we have been able to generate a strong revenue stream through profits from productions, fund-raising events, and community donations, we expect to be able to pay off our debt within the next 5 to 7 years. Please remember that we are having the signing ceremony for our new loan this Wednesday at 6 pm in the theatre. We have completed an arrangement to refinance our remaining construction debt of just over $550,000. This new loan will allow us to make regular monthly payments as part of our regular operating budget. Since we have been able to generate a strong revenue stream through profits from productions, fund-raising events, and community donations, we expect to be able to pay off our debt within the next 5 to 7 years. 11 ! The financial arrangement is especially noteworthy in that it involves Fulton Bank, and the Industrial Commercial Development Authority of Derry Township. The financial arrangement is especially noteworthy in that it involves Fulton Bank, and the Industrial Commercial Development Authority of Derry Township. You are cordially invited to attend a very brief document signing ceremony at 6:00 on March 24th on center stage in the Playhouse. You are cordially invited to attend a very brief document signing ceremony at 6:00 on March 24th on center stage in the Playhouse. Champagne to follow! Please remember that we are having the signing ceremony for our new loan this Wednesday at 6 pm in the theatre. Champagne to follow! 12 ! Look for the links on our homepage (see above) to our Facebook page, Twitter feed, YouTube channel, Flickr photostream, LinkedIn group and The Imagination No doubt you’ve heard about “social media” and “social networking.” Well, Hershey Area Playhouse is tapping into all these resources to keep our community theatre community connected. Let’s Get Social December 2 – 5, 2010 December 9 – 12, 2010 April 17, 2010 April 22 – 25, 2010 April 28 – May 2, 2010 May 7 – 8, 2010 July 15 – 18, 2010 July 22 – 25, 2010 August 15 – 16, 2010 October 21 – 24, 2010 October 28 – 31, 2010 September 26 – 27, 2010 February 11 – 14, 2010 February 18 – 21, 2010 Feb. 28 – March 1, 2010 March 20, 2010 If you ever have any general comments, suggestions, random thoughts or any point you want to get across, send us an e-mail at feedback@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com. And don’t forget, at Hershey Area Playhouse, all imaginations are welcome. Blog. Get involved with Hershey Area Playhouse, and spread the word to your friends! I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change performances Wit auditions Theatre Academy Final Winter Session Cabaret Night Wit Performances Fiddler on the Roof Auditions Fiddler on the Roof Performances Harvey Auditions Harvey Performances The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Auditions The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Performances Calendar NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG, PA PERMIT #776 P.O. Box 703 Hershey, PA 17033 Visit HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com for the most up-to-date calendar listings.