The board of directors met this evening and talked over several details about the upcoming Curtain Call Wizard of Oz auction March 20. There are some great packages like a week in Florida and a day on the lake in a houseboat. Each board member was given a packet of tickets to sell for the event. The box office will also have tickets for sale to this event.
A renewed effort is underway to followup on the annual fund drive letters that went out in January before the ice storm. Board members will be contacting past donors that we haven't heard from yet.
In another agenda item the board of directors approved the slate of plays for next season. The formal announcement of next years season will be at the March 20th auction. There will be 5 mainstage season plays with 3 productions in the youth season. Ticket prices will remain the same for next season. We are working on a couple of discounts for first time ticket holders. The 5 mainstage shows are very family friendly. Next season will be the first time in quite a while that two of the plays were written by the same writer- one is a musical and one is a comedy. That's about all of the hints I can give you.
Thursday will be a tough day. I have to hang and focus all the lights for Ramona Quimby and at 5:30 we will shoot a video segment for the show and then set all the light cues for the show. Lots of painting is left to do on the set for the show. I'm still trying to put together the digital images that will also be used in the show. The tech rehearsal is Sunday at 1:30 were actors will work with lights, sound, scene changes, and costume changes for the first time.
Jim Keeney has been working to install a new glass window to allow two follow spots to operate quietly from the control booth at the back of the audience. Janice Peterson has been putting in lots of time trying to get the costumes for Ramona Quimby completed.
In the box office we have spent the last couple of days trying to get printers to work. Our laser printer which we had for at least 15 years is now too expensive to purchase a replacement ink cartridge. We purchased a new printer but this has raised all kind of server issues with our box office software. Alexis and Marsha have been working with Computerland IT guys to try to resolve the problem. They have come up with a temporary solution.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
the creative process
As we are less than 2 weeks from opening Ramona Quimby, I'm still struggling with the design. We have the basic walls up and April held her first run through on the main stage last night. Some of the ideas and concepts we locked in on early are now at the stage that they have to be finalized after the show has evolved to this point. I know that this wall will hinge and pivot out. But what does that wall look like. I've always been a structural designer. I love the sculpting and modeling that happens in a space. When it comes time to finish up the final details it is always a struggle for me. I'm always 2 weeks behind schedule and rushed. I worked until after midnight last night sketching and drafting wall units for the show. I'm seeing that work pay off this morning but I still have to work hard at it. You would think by now it would be much easier for me.
Yesterday the results from the Economic Impact Survey was presented. Adam Shull quoted me in the paper this morning as saying that getting all the artists to turn in their surveys and get everything collected was like herding cats. That was an offhanded comment in the coffee bar at the end of the day when I was reflecting on how long it took to get everything turned in as I was getting my coffee. Not something I wanted to read in the paper the next day. I kicked myself this morning reminding myself that talking to reporters- it is never safe to try to be funny with a reporter!
The theatre received a contribution from the Rotary Club yesterday and a check in the mail for the second part of our Kentucky Arts Council Grant. Both contributions were greatly appreciated. The board of directors will meet next Wednesday to look at the last 5 months of our fiscal year and how to meet our goals in fundraising events and contributed income. They will also vote on the slate of plays approved by the play selection committee for production next season. The board votes the list up or down but does not vote on individual plays on the list. In all my years at the theatre the board has only once almost voted down the list. That one time was the year that the committee had selected Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. With a cast of 17 men the board was very concerned we wouldn't be able to cast the show. That was a time when we set this huge challenge before us and then worked very hard to make it a success. It turned out to be the only show in theatre history that sold out its entire run before opening night. That was also my first musical to direct at MHT after taking over as Executive Director. There were several times during the rehearsal process I questioned my sanity in talking the board into approving the show and my directing it. During the final weeks of rehearsals for Joseph we had to replace the air conditioning system in the theatre. Each night in May we had the theatre doors wide open to get some air into the theatre. People would stand in the doorways and watch the rehearsal process.
Having done Joseph gave not only me, but the play selection committee too, the confidence to tackle Beauty and the Beast, and this years Wizard of Oz. Each challenge that we take on makes us a little more confident that we can handle the next challenge.
In Nov. of 1983 when I was hired, the theatre celebrated its 20th anniversary. Many of those first 20 seasons the theatre produced 3-4 plays total. The opening show of the 21st Season in Sept. of 1984 MASS APPEAL was the 100th production in the theatre's history. It took 20 years to do the first 100 shows. In the fall of 1992 only 8 years later the theatre did its 200th show - a story theatre production of HOW THINGS HAPPEN IN THREES. The 300th show was only 6 years later in January of 1998 with the production of NIGHTWATCH. The 400th production was 5 years later in June of 2003 with the musical KISS ME KATE. Now 6 years later we are at 500 productions. I am always amazed when I look back at those figures. How many people have been onstage and volunteered to work on all the aspects involved in the shows. Thousands of performers and tech crews have worked to make those 500 productions a reality. I wouldn't be surprised if millions of people have watched MHT performances. MHT has truly earned through the hard work of so many people our reputation as a Nationally recognized, award winning theatre.
But there's no time to sit back. We have to get back to work to get the 500th show ready for opening night!
Yesterday the results from the Economic Impact Survey was presented. Adam Shull quoted me in the paper this morning as saying that getting all the artists to turn in their surveys and get everything collected was like herding cats. That was an offhanded comment in the coffee bar at the end of the day when I was reflecting on how long it took to get everything turned in as I was getting my coffee. Not something I wanted to read in the paper the next day. I kicked myself this morning reminding myself that talking to reporters- it is never safe to try to be funny with a reporter!
The theatre received a contribution from the Rotary Club yesterday and a check in the mail for the second part of our Kentucky Arts Council Grant. Both contributions were greatly appreciated. The board of directors will meet next Wednesday to look at the last 5 months of our fiscal year and how to meet our goals in fundraising events and contributed income. They will also vote on the slate of plays approved by the play selection committee for production next season. The board votes the list up or down but does not vote on individual plays on the list. In all my years at the theatre the board has only once almost voted down the list. That one time was the year that the committee had selected Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. With a cast of 17 men the board was very concerned we wouldn't be able to cast the show. That was a time when we set this huge challenge before us and then worked very hard to make it a success. It turned out to be the only show in theatre history that sold out its entire run before opening night. That was also my first musical to direct at MHT after taking over as Executive Director. There were several times during the rehearsal process I questioned my sanity in talking the board into approving the show and my directing it. During the final weeks of rehearsals for Joseph we had to replace the air conditioning system in the theatre. Each night in May we had the theatre doors wide open to get some air into the theatre. People would stand in the doorways and watch the rehearsal process.
Having done Joseph gave not only me, but the play selection committee too, the confidence to tackle Beauty and the Beast, and this years Wizard of Oz. Each challenge that we take on makes us a little more confident that we can handle the next challenge.
In Nov. of 1983 when I was hired, the theatre celebrated its 20th anniversary. Many of those first 20 seasons the theatre produced 3-4 plays total. The opening show of the 21st Season in Sept. of 1984 MASS APPEAL was the 100th production in the theatre's history. It took 20 years to do the first 100 shows. In the fall of 1992 only 8 years later the theatre did its 200th show - a story theatre production of HOW THINGS HAPPEN IN THREES. The 300th show was only 6 years later in January of 1998 with the production of NIGHTWATCH. The 400th production was 5 years later in June of 2003 with the musical KISS ME KATE. Now 6 years later we are at 500 productions. I am always amazed when I look back at those figures. How many people have been onstage and volunteered to work on all the aspects involved in the shows. Thousands of performers and tech crews have worked to make those 500 productions a reality. I wouldn't be surprised if millions of people have watched MHT performances. MHT has truly earned through the hard work of so many people our reputation as a Nationally recognized, award winning theatre.
But there's no time to sit back. We have to get back to work to get the 500th show ready for opening night!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
500th show
We are currently preparing for Ramona Quimby. With the fundraiser that had been scheduled for last Friday moved to March 20th we began the week finishing clearing Southern Comforts and getting ready for Ramona. Tuesday and Wednesday of last week Jim and I spent a couple of days hauling scenery back to the warehouse and picking up other scenery to use for Ramona. We have the back projection wall up and the two side walls that form the basis for the set. Friday was spent transferring spike marks from the rehearsal space in the classroom to the stage. It is a multi-colored stage floor with at least 6 different colors of tape on the floor in exact positions that mark where furniture and set pieces will go for the different scenes.
In addition during last week we re worked the break room in the offices. It had become so cluttered with different materials that it became a dumping ground for things we didn't know what to do with. We had emptied the shelves of two tall bookcases to use on stage for Southern Comforts. We had 4 bookcases that originally housed our script library. Those book cases are now in the lobby of the box office in the corner building. That freed up space to move our extra computer which volunteers and staff use for archiving and newsletters to the break room. (The break room is the former women's restroom which a couple of years ago we removed all the fixtures and stall dividers because we realized that two restrooms were more than was needed. We turned the men's room into a men's/women's restroom and created more space.) It is something that never ceases to amaze me. We have so much stuff that collects.
Alexis used the opportunity to clear out box office records that we keep for a certain number of years after the audit in case we need to go back to find something. All of the ticket stubs, reservation envelopes, and forms from the past 3 years tend to collect in spaces all around the office. Every so often we confirm that they are no longer needed and eliminate them by shredding them. Most of the forms only contain names and dates of tickets. With the rules for credit card security we never keep credit card numbers in any files. They are always destroyed immediately after processing.
Marsha has been working on processing the donations from our annual fund drive that keep coming in. We had just completed our big mail campaign before the storm hit and now are working to follow up with all those who put our appeals aside to deal with power issues. We are hoping that many will contribute after they "dig out" from the storm damage.
The insurance adjuster came and looked at our roof in the corner building where a tree punctured it. We will receive funds to repair the roof, and exhaust vent that was damaged and the ceiling walls of the apartment where water leaked in from the storm.
At the beginning of this season I totaled up the number of shows the theatre has produced and discovered that Ramona Quimby will be number 500. I'm working to get that information out in press releases associated with the show. I forgot to tell Cindy Miller that when she was working on the newsletter so we will insert some information about that in the upcoming newsletter.
Our deepest condolences go out to board member Sarah Bynum and Ilistpaducah's Mary Thorsby on the death of Mary's father and Sarah's grandfather. They have been out of town this past week to attend the funeral.
The rights for the plays for next season have been secured and we will be making an announcement soon about our exciting 46th season. Some are familiar and a couple are brand new by playwrights that audiences have liked in the past. I can tell you there will be two musicals, a farce comedy, a women's comedy and a classic comedy in the mainstage season. The youth productions have an old favorite and a brand new show with a very funny name. I'm working on the pricing details for next season at the moment before we announce the shows. We always want to be ready to sell tickets to a show when we announce something.
This week I'll spend Tuesday and Wednesday with Randy Cohen VP of Americans for the Arts announcing the results of the Paducah Economic impact of the arts survey. The numbers are exciting.
In addition during last week we re worked the break room in the offices. It had become so cluttered with different materials that it became a dumping ground for things we didn't know what to do with. We had emptied the shelves of two tall bookcases to use on stage for Southern Comforts. We had 4 bookcases that originally housed our script library. Those book cases are now in the lobby of the box office in the corner building. That freed up space to move our extra computer which volunteers and staff use for archiving and newsletters to the break room. (The break room is the former women's restroom which a couple of years ago we removed all the fixtures and stall dividers because we realized that two restrooms were more than was needed. We turned the men's room into a men's/women's restroom and created more space.) It is something that never ceases to amaze me. We have so much stuff that collects.
Alexis used the opportunity to clear out box office records that we keep for a certain number of years after the audit in case we need to go back to find something. All of the ticket stubs, reservation envelopes, and forms from the past 3 years tend to collect in spaces all around the office. Every so often we confirm that they are no longer needed and eliminate them by shredding them. Most of the forms only contain names and dates of tickets. With the rules for credit card security we never keep credit card numbers in any files. They are always destroyed immediately after processing.
Marsha has been working on processing the donations from our annual fund drive that keep coming in. We had just completed our big mail campaign before the storm hit and now are working to follow up with all those who put our appeals aside to deal with power issues. We are hoping that many will contribute after they "dig out" from the storm damage.
The insurance adjuster came and looked at our roof in the corner building where a tree punctured it. We will receive funds to repair the roof, and exhaust vent that was damaged and the ceiling walls of the apartment where water leaked in from the storm.
At the beginning of this season I totaled up the number of shows the theatre has produced and discovered that Ramona Quimby will be number 500. I'm working to get that information out in press releases associated with the show. I forgot to tell Cindy Miller that when she was working on the newsletter so we will insert some information about that in the upcoming newsletter.
Our deepest condolences go out to board member Sarah Bynum and Ilistpaducah's Mary Thorsby on the death of Mary's father and Sarah's grandfather. They have been out of town this past week to attend the funeral.
The rights for the plays for next season have been secured and we will be making an announcement soon about our exciting 46th season. Some are familiar and a couple are brand new by playwrights that audiences have liked in the past. I can tell you there will be two musicals, a farce comedy, a women's comedy and a classic comedy in the mainstage season. The youth productions have an old favorite and a brand new show with a very funny name. I'm working on the pricing details for next season at the moment before we announce the shows. We always want to be ready to sell tickets to a show when we announce something.
This week I'll spend Tuesday and Wednesday with Randy Cohen VP of Americans for the Arts announcing the results of the Paducah Economic impact of the arts survey. The numbers are exciting.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
KY Senate Bill 1
A Senate Bill has been submitted that would eliminate arts and humanities assessment testing from the Kentucky Core Content. Sen. Ken Winters is the sponsor. Please contact Senator Winters and the Education Committee to ask that they reconsider this bill.
I just received an email from another arts person and the video link attached to it is a very powerful reason why we need arts education now more than ever. Please take a moment to view the You Tube video by clicking on the link.
Here is the email from Lanette to Senator Winters-
THIS VIDEO IS POWERFUL. IT EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR BALANCE IN LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE BOMBARDED WITH INFORMATION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY
Please watch it and share.
Lanette Thurman
I just received an email from another arts person and the video link attached to it is a very powerful reason why we need arts education now more than ever. Please take a moment to view the You Tube video by clicking on the link.
Here is the email from Lanette to Senator Winters-
THIS VIDEO IS POWERFUL. IT EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR BALANCE IN LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE BOMBARDED WITH INFORMATION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY
Please watch it and share.
Lanette Thurman
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Final Weekend
This week began with trying to catch up on all the things that were postponed from last week. On Friday after an intense two day discussion and input from several people on the committee we made the decision to reschedule the Curtain Call Wizard of Oz auction which was originally scheduled for Friday Feb. 13. The new date will be Friday March 20 at 7:30 pm.
Tomorrow will be 3 weeks until the Tech rehearsal for Ramona Quimby. I knew that we could at least build the back section of Ramona with a big rear screen projection unit and could have used that for the fundraiser when it was scheduled for Feb. 13 so that we wouldn't be too far behind in the Ramona set build. With the rescheduling of that we will be able to still complete the build in a hurried but not impossible time. Had we extended Southern Comforts it would have been impossible to get Ramona built. April and I have evolved a set design but there is still a great deal that needs to be fleshed out before we build the first piece of scenery.
Ramona will run March 5-8. The following weekend March 14th we have the Footlights Troupes performance. The weekend after that will be the new date for the Curtain Call fundraiser. That leaves us 3 weeks to build the complete set for the Sugar Bean Sisters before it's technical and dress rehearsals.
On Wednesday Feb. 11 I will travel to Frankfort with other arts organizations from Paducah to meet with state legislators at the capitol. We will get our picture taken with the big check for this years grant. We have already received the first part of the grant back in August. This second part of the grant has been reduced from the original amount that was granted to us because of state budget cuts.
I am continuing to work with the board and staff on the remaining months of this fiscal year which ends in June. We have made cuts in several areas. One of those cuts is the orchestra for the Wizard of Oz. We will be producing the show with a total digital orchestra this year. Doug Arnold and I worked very hard to find the right balance to make the show successful and I can't tell you how much I appreciate his help.
The play selection committee selected the shows for next season and I'm in the process of acquiring the royalties before we announce the season. It is a mix of musicals and plays that are familiar with a couple of brand new comedies in the mix. I think audiences will really enjoy the variety.
On Wed. Feb. 18 Randy Cohen Vice President of Americans for the Arts will present the results of the economic impact of the arts in the Greater Paducah Area at the Rotary club meeting. I think everyone will be impressed by the numbers. We will wait until that time to release the Market House Theatre economic impact numbers as well. With all the talk of stimulus there is a strong case for supporting the arts and its return in jobs and local and state government revenues.
Southern Comfort has received standing ovations for every performance. Tom, Renie and Phil have all done a nice job creating the show. Crew members Susan Anderson, Jaimie Smith, Pam Benzing, Jim Keeney, and Betty Wise have all contributed to make the show a wonderful production. This afternoon at the matinee we had one of those "live theatre" moments when Renie slammed the screen door and a print on the staircase wall adjacent to the door came tumbling down the stairs. I'm sure the audience thought it was a well planned out bit. Tom did a great catch at the foot of the stairs to rescue the painting as the scene ended.
On Sunday we will have the final performance, strike the set and the show will become part of MHT history on many levels. Ramona Quimby will get ready to move onstage and we are off and running again in the buildup for opening on March 5.
Tomorrow will be 3 weeks until the Tech rehearsal for Ramona Quimby. I knew that we could at least build the back section of Ramona with a big rear screen projection unit and could have used that for the fundraiser when it was scheduled for Feb. 13 so that we wouldn't be too far behind in the Ramona set build. With the rescheduling of that we will be able to still complete the build in a hurried but not impossible time. Had we extended Southern Comforts it would have been impossible to get Ramona built. April and I have evolved a set design but there is still a great deal that needs to be fleshed out before we build the first piece of scenery.
Ramona will run March 5-8. The following weekend March 14th we have the Footlights Troupes performance. The weekend after that will be the new date for the Curtain Call fundraiser. That leaves us 3 weeks to build the complete set for the Sugar Bean Sisters before it's technical and dress rehearsals.
On Wednesday Feb. 11 I will travel to Frankfort with other arts organizations from Paducah to meet with state legislators at the capitol. We will get our picture taken with the big check for this years grant. We have already received the first part of the grant back in August. This second part of the grant has been reduced from the original amount that was granted to us because of state budget cuts.
I am continuing to work with the board and staff on the remaining months of this fiscal year which ends in June. We have made cuts in several areas. One of those cuts is the orchestra for the Wizard of Oz. We will be producing the show with a total digital orchestra this year. Doug Arnold and I worked very hard to find the right balance to make the show successful and I can't tell you how much I appreciate his help.
The play selection committee selected the shows for next season and I'm in the process of acquiring the royalties before we announce the season. It is a mix of musicals and plays that are familiar with a couple of brand new comedies in the mix. I think audiences will really enjoy the variety.
On Wed. Feb. 18 Randy Cohen Vice President of Americans for the Arts will present the results of the economic impact of the arts in the Greater Paducah Area at the Rotary club meeting. I think everyone will be impressed by the numbers. We will wait until that time to release the Market House Theatre economic impact numbers as well. With all the talk of stimulus there is a strong case for supporting the arts and its return in jobs and local and state government revenues.
Southern Comfort has received standing ovations for every performance. Tom, Renie and Phil have all done a nice job creating the show. Crew members Susan Anderson, Jaimie Smith, Pam Benzing, Jim Keeney, and Betty Wise have all contributed to make the show a wonderful production. This afternoon at the matinee we had one of those "live theatre" moments when Renie slammed the screen door and a print on the staircase wall adjacent to the door came tumbling down the stairs. I'm sure the audience thought it was a well planned out bit. Tom did a great catch at the foot of the stairs to rescue the painting as the scene ended.
On Sunday we will have the final performance, strike the set and the show will become part of MHT history on many levels. Ramona Quimby will get ready to move onstage and we are off and running again in the buildup for opening on March 5.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Ice Storm
It has been over a week since my last blog. It feels like a lifetime ago in some ways. The dress rehearsal for Southern Comforts ended at 8:45 pm on Monday night. As we walked out to our cars the rain was instantly freezing on the windshields. I scrapped my windshield off and then turned into the drive way to turn around. When I pulled back onto the street my windshield was frozen over again.
After scraping and defrost set on high I finally made it home. I walked in and told April that I thought Jade would be out of school the next day. Little did I know what was in store for us. On Tuesday morning I made my way to the theatre and worked for part of the day. April called to say we had lost power mid-day. I tried to get in touch with Phil the director but his phone service was out. I talked with Tom Dolan and Renie Barger by phone and we decided not to have rehearsal but to get together early the next afternoon before the final dress rehearsal. Phil finally called me and I told him what Tom and Renie had decided to do. The ice/rain continued to fall. April cancelled her Ramona Quimby rehearsals for Tuesday. At 4 pm April called me at the office to ask me to come home as it was getting a little scary with the tree limbs starting to fall. I suggested the Marsha spend the night with us as I knew that we had at least heat from our gas logs in the fireplace at home and there was no guarantee that the power would stay on there. Which meant no heat and no one around to help her.
We spent the evening in front of the fire with at least 10 candles burning in the room. Each time a tree limb fell, everyone inside would tense up not knowing if it was going to come crashing through the windows. April and I texted family to tell them about the situation and texted friends to check on their status. I went outside about 10 pm that night and stood in our back yard with my daughter in a clearing that had no overhead hanging branches. We watched as limb after limb snapped and then crashed to the ground. We made our way around to the front of the house and stood in the street watching the same scene.
The cell phones lost their final signal and we were cut off. The next day we made our way out of the house and to the theatre. We discovered that the power had gone out at the theatre but only for a few hours. There was heat and light. The bad thing was that a large branch had crashed onto the roof of the guest artist apartments and water was dripping in through a 10 inch gash in the roof. Jim Keeney and I made a temporary patch and then headed to the coffee shop where all of the theatre refugees had gathered. Renie and Don Barger were at the coffee shop and Phil and Ann Counts showed up as well. It was a difficult decision but I decided to cancel opening night and Friday night as well. MHT Board President Renie Barger and I talked about some of our senior ticket holders traveling on icy roads to attend the play and risking getting injured was not something anyone wanted. We planned to try to get in touch with Tom to rehearse in the afternoon on Friday. We cancelled the Executive Committee meeting and the Board meeting scheduled for that night. My family returned to our home for another night of candles huddled around the fireplace. Marsha Cash stayed in the artist apartment along with Alexis who was also without power. The two of them watched videos late into the night.
On Thursday things really became clear that this was no temporary situation for the power in peoples’ homes. We worked on finishing the set a little to add the last touches of set dressing and then everyone left for their homes before the 5 pm curfew. April, Jade and I went back down to the theatre Thursday night to do some work and avoid the darkness at home until about 9 pm. Sandy Harbin, the theatre bookkeeper, and her family decided to spend the night in the theatre’s classroom. Marsha opened up the small apartment for showers for the Harbins and everyone made the best of the evening. At 9:30 we left Jade with the Harbins for a sleepover in the classroom and slowly made our way home and settled in for another cold dark night.
Friday morning we found everyone down at the coffee shop when we arrived. Cell phone service had been restored briefly. At about 2 pm Renie, Tom, and Phil finally rehearsed. I talked with the city manager’s office and the curfew was now moved back to 11pm. They were telling businesses that had power that they could stay open until 10:30pm. It was a difficult decision. I went back and talked to the cast telling them that we would go ahead with the performances on Saturday afternoon, evening and Sunday afternoon. There were ticket holders who were shocked that were doing the performances. Other ticket holders were thrilled that we were. In the end the decision was made because we did not have the ability to add a 3rd week to the run of the show. Thursday and Friday were cancelled. All the ticket holders from those shows could still exchange their tickets and come on the second weekend. If we cancelled the entire first weekend there was no way we could accommodate everyone for the second weekend of performances. With very mixed emotions I told the cast what the decision was. Jim and I were prepared to cover all of the crew positions with just the two of us if needed. Michael Brewer offered to fill in on the crew for Saturday. Pam Benzing, who was to stage manage, was helping out several people in her neighborhood who were staying with her because she had gas logs and a gas stove- but no power. She felt bad that she couldn’t be there for the shows but we told her not to worry. We would cover for her. April decided to hold footlights classes for whoever could make it. We thought that it might give a place for the kids who could make it just to have somewhere fun to go to escape their cold homes just like we were. Friday night we stayed down at the theatre again until 9 pm and then headed back to the cold dark house.
Saturday morning footlights was held and lots of kids showed up. I think many of the parents hung out at the coffee shop and Kirchhoffs bakery trying to at least warm up on coffee and bagels. The Saturday matinee had 49 people. The cast got a standing ovation at the end. Saturday night we had 60 people and another standing ovation. Tom Dolan, and crew members Betty Wise and Susan Anderson still didn’t have power. April and Jade hung out at the theatre again Saturday night until the end of the show and we all returned to our cold dark house.
Sunday afternoon the audience was again close to 60 people. Tom and Susan had gotten their power back that day. The cast again received a standing ovation. I returned home to discover our power had been restored just in time for the kick off of the Super Bowl.
This week we will look at the financial costs in terms of lost ticket sales from the bad weather last weekend. The big fundraiser Curtain Call- The Wizard of Oz auction which is scheduled for Friday Feb. 13 is also a topic of discussion because of the ice storm. The theatre was already having a tough year. We know that we will run a deficit this year. We are in the process of planning how to cover that shortfall for the last 6 months of this season. The theatre had never cancelled a mainstage performance in the 25 years I’ve been at MHT. Cancelling the shows this past week was a first. But then again this past week broke records for number of people without power, trees down, and probably several others things that will be remembered for years to come. What I will remember most was the group of MHT volunteers and staff who reached out to others in need, and who checked on the welfare of those who might need a little help. I was also impressed by the staff who came in every day during the storm to make sure that the theatre was still able to open a show. Alexis worked hard on a paper system to overcome the loss of the computerized ticketing system. Marsha worked on trying to coordinate volunteers and sharing her space so that others could benefit as well. Jim salted, shoveled, and helped patch the roof. April planned activities for the kids on Saturday and kept her cast informed about rehearsals. Each of them offered advice and support when tough decisions needed to be made.
After scraping and defrost set on high I finally made it home. I walked in and told April that I thought Jade would be out of school the next day. Little did I know what was in store for us. On Tuesday morning I made my way to the theatre and worked for part of the day. April called to say we had lost power mid-day. I tried to get in touch with Phil the director but his phone service was out. I talked with Tom Dolan and Renie Barger by phone and we decided not to have rehearsal but to get together early the next afternoon before the final dress rehearsal. Phil finally called me and I told him what Tom and Renie had decided to do. The ice/rain continued to fall. April cancelled her Ramona Quimby rehearsals for Tuesday. At 4 pm April called me at the office to ask me to come home as it was getting a little scary with the tree limbs starting to fall. I suggested the Marsha spend the night with us as I knew that we had at least heat from our gas logs in the fireplace at home and there was no guarantee that the power would stay on there. Which meant no heat and no one around to help her.
We spent the evening in front of the fire with at least 10 candles burning in the room. Each time a tree limb fell, everyone inside would tense up not knowing if it was going to come crashing through the windows. April and I texted family to tell them about the situation and texted friends to check on their status. I went outside about 10 pm that night and stood in our back yard with my daughter in a clearing that had no overhead hanging branches. We watched as limb after limb snapped and then crashed to the ground. We made our way around to the front of the house and stood in the street watching the same scene.
The cell phones lost their final signal and we were cut off. The next day we made our way out of the house and to the theatre. We discovered that the power had gone out at the theatre but only for a few hours. There was heat and light. The bad thing was that a large branch had crashed onto the roof of the guest artist apartments and water was dripping in through a 10 inch gash in the roof. Jim Keeney and I made a temporary patch and then headed to the coffee shop where all of the theatre refugees had gathered. Renie and Don Barger were at the coffee shop and Phil and Ann Counts showed up as well. It was a difficult decision but I decided to cancel opening night and Friday night as well. MHT Board President Renie Barger and I talked about some of our senior ticket holders traveling on icy roads to attend the play and risking getting injured was not something anyone wanted. We planned to try to get in touch with Tom to rehearse in the afternoon on Friday. We cancelled the Executive Committee meeting and the Board meeting scheduled for that night. My family returned to our home for another night of candles huddled around the fireplace. Marsha Cash stayed in the artist apartment along with Alexis who was also without power. The two of them watched videos late into the night.
On Thursday things really became clear that this was no temporary situation for the power in peoples’ homes. We worked on finishing the set a little to add the last touches of set dressing and then everyone left for their homes before the 5 pm curfew. April, Jade and I went back down to the theatre Thursday night to do some work and avoid the darkness at home until about 9 pm. Sandy Harbin, the theatre bookkeeper, and her family decided to spend the night in the theatre’s classroom. Marsha opened up the small apartment for showers for the Harbins and everyone made the best of the evening. At 9:30 we left Jade with the Harbins for a sleepover in the classroom and slowly made our way home and settled in for another cold dark night.
Friday morning we found everyone down at the coffee shop when we arrived. Cell phone service had been restored briefly. At about 2 pm Renie, Tom, and Phil finally rehearsed. I talked with the city manager’s office and the curfew was now moved back to 11pm. They were telling businesses that had power that they could stay open until 10:30pm. It was a difficult decision. I went back and talked to the cast telling them that we would go ahead with the performances on Saturday afternoon, evening and Sunday afternoon. There were ticket holders who were shocked that were doing the performances. Other ticket holders were thrilled that we were. In the end the decision was made because we did not have the ability to add a 3rd week to the run of the show. Thursday and Friday were cancelled. All the ticket holders from those shows could still exchange their tickets and come on the second weekend. If we cancelled the entire first weekend there was no way we could accommodate everyone for the second weekend of performances. With very mixed emotions I told the cast what the decision was. Jim and I were prepared to cover all of the crew positions with just the two of us if needed. Michael Brewer offered to fill in on the crew for Saturday. Pam Benzing, who was to stage manage, was helping out several people in her neighborhood who were staying with her because she had gas logs and a gas stove- but no power. She felt bad that she couldn’t be there for the shows but we told her not to worry. We would cover for her. April decided to hold footlights classes for whoever could make it. We thought that it might give a place for the kids who could make it just to have somewhere fun to go to escape their cold homes just like we were. Friday night we stayed down at the theatre again until 9 pm and then headed back to the cold dark house.
Saturday morning footlights was held and lots of kids showed up. I think many of the parents hung out at the coffee shop and Kirchhoffs bakery trying to at least warm up on coffee and bagels. The Saturday matinee had 49 people. The cast got a standing ovation at the end. Saturday night we had 60 people and another standing ovation. Tom Dolan, and crew members Betty Wise and Susan Anderson still didn’t have power. April and Jade hung out at the theatre again Saturday night until the end of the show and we all returned to our cold dark house.
Sunday afternoon the audience was again close to 60 people. Tom and Susan had gotten their power back that day. The cast again received a standing ovation. I returned home to discover our power had been restored just in time for the kick off of the Super Bowl.
This week we will look at the financial costs in terms of lost ticket sales from the bad weather last weekend. The big fundraiser Curtain Call- The Wizard of Oz auction which is scheduled for Friday Feb. 13 is also a topic of discussion because of the ice storm. The theatre was already having a tough year. We know that we will run a deficit this year. We are in the process of planning how to cover that shortfall for the last 6 months of this season. The theatre had never cancelled a mainstage performance in the 25 years I’ve been at MHT. Cancelling the shows this past week was a first. But then again this past week broke records for number of people without power, trees down, and probably several others things that will be remembered for years to come. What I will remember most was the group of MHT volunteers and staff who reached out to others in need, and who checked on the welfare of those who might need a little help. I was also impressed by the staff who came in every day during the storm to make sure that the theatre was still able to open a show. Alexis worked hard on a paper system to overcome the loss of the computerized ticketing system. Marsha worked on trying to coordinate volunteers and sharing her space so that others could benefit as well. Jim salted, shoveled, and helped patch the roof. April planned activities for the kids on Saturday and kept her cast informed about rehearsals. Each of them offered advice and support when tough decisions needed to be made.
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