Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre

Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre, Inc
NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
WISC RAPIDS WI
54494
PERMIT NO. 31
220 3rd Avenue South, Ste #6
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495
715-421-0435
www.wrctheatre.org
WISCONSIN RAPIDS
Presenting live
comedy, drama
and musicals
since 1975
COMMUNITY
THEATRE
INC.
Winter 2014
President’s
Corner
From the
Executive Director
More years ago than I care to remember, I
was running the lighting for what was then
called the Community Company of Players
for a play titled Little Foxes. I don’t
remember a lot about the plot, but I do
remember that it was a heavy drama. Back
then productions were done at the Library
and the lighting equipment was run from a booth at the back of the
theater. As the lighting board operator, I had a script which had notes
written on it for the various lighting cues so I would follow the script as
the play progressed. One night the words in the script did not seem to
be the same as those being spoken on the stage causing somewhat of a
panic. After a quick search I found that the actors had skipped 5 pages
of dialogue. Fortunately there were no lighting changes required and
the actors did a great job of adapting once they realized they had
skipped these pages and the play went on without a hitch. The only
comment I heard from the audience was from a senior citizen saying to
their companion that the show seemed shorter than most of the plays
she had been to.
WRCT Board of Directors
2014-2015 Season
This is the place for great theatre!
“A Christmas Carol”
Andy Gilbert
President
December 12-13 & 18-21, 2014
Shirley Jung
Vice President
“Dancing at Lughnasa”
Amy Boettcher
Secretary/Treasurer
March 13-14 & 19-22, 2015
Linda Garski
Stephanie Hoerth
Bob Kell
Amy Scheide
Marlin Schneider
Loretta Schoechert
Ellen Roeseler
Executive Director
Cory Shaw
Production & Facility Coordinator
Cathy Meils Founder
“Almost, Maine”
May 15-16 & 21-24, 2015
This is what we call a war story - an event which you readily recall
throughout your life and probably repeat to the same people many
more times than they wish to hear it. Well, WRCT would like to give
you the opportunity to retell your war story. With next year being our
40th anniversary, we thought it would be fun to put together a
compilation of war stories which would record and play in the lobby
prior to and during the intermission of our plays. So, if you have a story
you’d like to share, please e-mail me (agilbertjr@solarus.net), call me at
(715) 572-4779, e-mail the theater at wrct@wctc.net, call the theater
office at (715) 421-0435 or drop in the theater office. It can be any story
related to the theater and can be an experience you had acting, working
backstage or being in the audience. I know I have at least three and I
know there was a great one that occurred at the recent play Leading
Ladies you don’t want to miss. Best of all, let us know if you would be
willing to tell it on camera. So please, let us hear from you!
Andy Gilbert, President
Tickets on sale
Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at
WRCT office at east end of Rapids Mall
Call 715-421-0435
The rental policy is available on the WRCT website or by contacting
the office. If you are a non-profit organization, fees will be negotiated.
Tickets will also be sold one hour
prior to performance at the box office
wrctheatre.org
715-421-0435
E-mail us at: wrct@wctc.net
Their faithful Friend and Servant, C.D.
December, 1843.
So begins the original version of A Christmas Carol by Charles
Dickens. This novella has probably been the most read, retold, and
performed fictional story ever; it has certainly influenced the way we
spend Christmas today. Why is this story so powerful and enduring?
Well, that question could take all 12 days of Christmas to debate, but
I’m sure we could agree on the fact that there is something in it for
everyone, young and old.
Dickens’ own childhood tragedies and his concern for the welfare of
children in London during his time create an underlying darkness and
a moral call to action within the tale. His love/hate relationship with
his father is the apparent basis for Scrooge and the radically different
sides of his personality. And if you didn’t know all of that (which I
didn’t before doing some research), you may do what I did when I read
it – nodded my head and thought, “that’s why it resonates so well.”
Who doesn’t have dark times and complicated relationships to reflect
upon? Who doesn’t have the wish that someone who has hurt us in the
past could be shown the effect of their actions? And, if we carry that
wish to its Christmas conclusion (and after all ‘tis the season), who
doesn’t have the desire to both forgive and be forgiven?
Dickens was a religious man, and if you are wondering whether or not
the Christian tone of the play is intentional – it is. And he is a
phenomenal storyteller. Combine all of that, and you can understand
how this jewel of a gift has continued to shine since it was first
published in 1843.
I hope you will join us for this very special holiday show. Charles
Ludlam’s version is as close to the original novella as we could find,
and we are very excited to finally be producing this play. I would
personally like to thank visiting director Gregory Konz-Krzyminski for
again making the weekly trek from Milwaukee to take on this
challenge. He and everyone involved have worked very hard to make
this especially magical for you and your family.
Community Space
The Gilbert and Jaylee Mead Auditorium and the Studio Theatre spaces are
available for rent. The auditorium seats 223, and is designed as a performance or
large meeting venue. The Studio Theatre is a multi-functional, black box facility
and seats up to 60 people, depending upon the setup. WRCT personnel are happy
to work with you to accommodate usage for your particular group or occasion.
I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little
book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which
shall not put my readers out of humour with
themselves, with each other, with the season,
or with me. May it haunt their houses
pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.
This season is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with
funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
wrctheatre.org
Merry Christmas!
715-421-0435
E-mail us at: wrct@wctc.net
The WRCT
Silver Foxes
WRCT Presents:
A Christmas Carol
Performance dates:
December 12-13 & 18-20
7:30pm
This season is supported in part by a grant
from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds
from the State of Wisconsin and the
National Endowment for the Arts.
December 21
2:00pm Sunday matinee
The cast and crew is Central Wisconsin
based except for me. I live in
Milwaukee and perform under my
stage name, Gregory Valentine. The
cast consists of some very talented
people of all ages. Some are theater
veterans, including some of the
children, and others are new to the
stage. It's been a cooperative and
collaborative group. We've been in
rehearsal since mid-November and are
excited to bring this wonderful holiday
classic to life.
A Christmas Carol is a great kick off to
what many consider the most festive
and family-oriented time of the year.
This is a family show but very young
children could be frightened, as this
production is based directly on the
original story with much of the same
wording and all of the same ghosts! All
ages can expect a live performance of
the familiar story, but staging rather
than filming presents some interesting
special effects and other technical
challenges. I feel our creative team is
up to the task and that the production
will have some surprises for the
audience.
wrctheatre.org
www.wrctheatre.org
for all the latest information!
WRCT’s Silver Foxes Club meets the
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
in our Studio Theatre at 1:00pm.
By Charles Ludlam
I began acting with WRCT in 1989 and
continued until I retired from
Mid-State Technical College in 2003. A
Christmas Carol is the fourth play that
I've directed for WRCT. The story was
written by Charles Dickens in 1843,
and has been performed as staged
readings (by Dickens himself until his
death), staged plays, and many films.
This is the first time performed at
Wisconsin
Rapids
Community
Theatre.
Visit our web site
The theme of A Christmas Carol is
redemption and the message of second
chances. We all have the ability to self
analyze and self correct harmful
behaviors. I enjoy how this story has
made yearly reflection and New Year's
resolutions a part of life for millions of
people. Hope is uplifting and helps
create a positive perspective.
Gregory Konz-Kryzminski
Director,
A Christmas Carol
Help us
Celebrate
Boxing Day!
In Dickens’ time, Boxing Day
was the first weekday after
Christmas, and is devoted to
charity. Gifts of money are
given to servants, tradesmen,
and the needy. This year with
your help, WRCT will
celebrate the spirit of Boxing
Day by collecting items for the
Food Shelter. We’ll have a
“box” outside the theatre door
for your donation. A complete
list of items
needed can be
found on the
WRCT website.
Come Join the Fun!
The Silver Foxes are currently
booking off-site performances
for 2015. If you are interested in
having them come to perform at a facility or for your social
group, please contact Mary Beth Rokus at 715-421-3115.
Upcoming Auditions:
WISCONSIN RAPIDS
COMMUNITY THEATRE, INC.
DANCING AT LUGHNASA
Directed By Cathy Meils
Meetings are every 3rd Monday (September - May),
6:30-8:30pm in our Studio Theatre.
Join the group and have a ball!
It’s almost time for
the 2015 ARTi Gras!!!!
AUDITION DATES:
Monday, December 29
Tuesday, December 30
6:30 - 8:00pm - WRCT Auditorium
Scripts are available for checkout from the WRCT office.
This Christmas classic has many roles for all ages and genders.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
March 13-14 and 19-21, 2015
Thank you!
WRCT tickets make
great stocking stuffers!
Gift certificates are
available for any amount,
or purchase ticket coupons
to be used for any show
at any time in any season.
Call the office or stop in
for more details.
7:30pm
March 22 (2:00pm Sunday matinee)
Thank You
To Our
Sponsor:
This year’s event will run
February 11–15
and features multiple events
at multiple locations.
Circle Saturday, February 14
and make plans to bring
your valentine to the
Masquerade Ball!
A list of events is available
on the WRCT website.
Click on the ARTi Gras link.
This season is funded by
grant funds through
Incourage Community Foundation
715-421-0435
E-mail us at: wrct@wctc.net
wrctheatre.org
THE STORY: Widely regarded as Brian Friel's
masterpiece, this haunting play is Friel's tribute to the
spirit and valor of the past. The story is told through the
memory of the son of one of five unmarried sisters eking
out their lives in a small village in Ireland in 1936. He is
only seven when his elderly uncle, a priest, returns after
serving for twenty-five years as a missionary in a
Ugandan leper colony. For the young boy, two other
disturbances occur that summer. The sisters acquire
their first radio, and he meets his father for the first time.
Winner of the 1992 Tony Award for Best Play, the Outer
Critics Circle Award for Best Broadway Play and the New
York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. Chosen
by Time magazine as one of the ten best plays for 1991,
saying it is "The most elegant and rueful memory play since
The Glass Menagerie."
715-421-0435
E-mail us at: wrct@wctc.net