Last night the board met and we did a preliminary review of The Masquerade Ball and the success it was. A pat on the back went to the board for all their handwork and the several obstacles that we encountered along the way in producing the event. A more formal meeting of the committee chairs will do a Masquerade Ball debrief after Thanksgiving. The board is also considering doing a more formal 50th Anniversary event in the spring with a dinner and a reunion of many of the people who have been involved over the years. We are checking dates and costs to do an event at present and hope to have more information coming soon on that.
Play selection committee is busy reading scripts for next season. We have lots to chose from! Mockingbird was so well received that we are looking at a few other classic plays for inclusion in our reading box of scripts.
I will be leaving tomorrow for a 3 day conference in Madison WI for the AACT Managing Directors conference. It is an every other year opportunity for people who run community theaters to sit down and share what works and what doesn't. It is run by the American Association of Community Theatres. I always come back recharged and loaded with good ideas so I can't wait. Since it's only a couple hours from my parents I'll stop by Kenosha on my way and check in.
Best Christmas Pageant is entering its final two weeks before opening. It's hard to believe December is just around the corner! Last night we did the first run through of Act Two for Fox on the Fairway and tonight will be the first full run through of the show. I can barely keep the actors focused on their lines and blocking since they are constantly cracking each other up with their characters and lines. This is also a show that allows the characters to do outrageous things and I'm not shy about asking them to do those things.
The painters are working on the back half of our office building where we have rental apartments and retail space we lease. It is long overdue for painting!
I'm still writing Thanksgiving letters to all our donors and supporters. I'm hoping to finish that up before I leave for Wisconsin, but having said that, I have spent many years sitting and listening at the conference while writing my Thanksgiving notes. Multi-tasking is required in this job.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
November 13 2013
We are in the midst of rehearsals for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Fox on the Fairway, the Youth Comedy Improv Group HA, and a Murder for Hire Troupe shows booked by local businesses as Christmas Parties, and Story Theatre's The Ugly Duckling is out on tour. Space is at a premium doing double duty on all fronts. In addition play selection is meeting to select the shows for the 51st Season and several board committees are hard at work looking at ways to help us with facilities and space needs.
Last night after rehearsal for Fox on the Fairway I spent time uploading data from the current year to the American Association of Community Theatre's web portal to prepare for the Bi-Annual Managing Directors Conference held in Madison Wisconsin November 23-26. Every two years about 70-100 Managing Directors, Executive Directors, and Business Managers all converge on Madison to share what succeeded and what failed over the past couple of years with other Community Theaters. It is always a trip that is well worth it and many of the policies and practices that are in place at MHT are a result of things gleaned from this conference. In the early days it was a group of about 10-20 directors who met around a couple of tables. During the ten years that April was the Executive Director of MHT from 1986- 1996 she would attend the conference. I began going 18 years ago when I took over as the Executive Director and have only missed once due to a production conflict.
It is amazing to see the changes that have happened at MHT even in the past two years! We are bursting at the seams with more productions and classes. In addition the 50th Anniversary Celebration this year has added even more events and a few more celebration events are still in the planning for the spring.
To Kill a Mockingbird closed on Sunday November 10 with a very successful box office run. With the added school matinee performance to the regular performances over 2,000 people attended the production. The final weekend playing to sold out houses.
I am spending every spare moment working on several projects. One of my favorites is taking time to write Thanksgiving notes to all the donors who have supported MHT over the past year. The stack seems to get bigger every year! So don't be surprised if you see me walking on the street between buildings shaking my hand to get the feeling back in it. It's a good problem to have!
Last night after rehearsal for Fox on the Fairway I spent time uploading data from the current year to the American Association of Community Theatre's web portal to prepare for the Bi-Annual Managing Directors Conference held in Madison Wisconsin November 23-26. Every two years about 70-100 Managing Directors, Executive Directors, and Business Managers all converge on Madison to share what succeeded and what failed over the past couple of years with other Community Theaters. It is always a trip that is well worth it and many of the policies and practices that are in place at MHT are a result of things gleaned from this conference. In the early days it was a group of about 10-20 directors who met around a couple of tables. During the ten years that April was the Executive Director of MHT from 1986- 1996 she would attend the conference. I began going 18 years ago when I took over as the Executive Director and have only missed once due to a production conflict.
It is amazing to see the changes that have happened at MHT even in the past two years! We are bursting at the seams with more productions and classes. In addition the 50th Anniversary Celebration this year has added even more events and a few more celebration events are still in the planning for the spring.
To Kill a Mockingbird closed on Sunday November 10 with a very successful box office run. With the added school matinee performance to the regular performances over 2,000 people attended the production. The final weekend playing to sold out houses.
I am spending every spare moment working on several projects. One of my favorites is taking time to write Thanksgiving notes to all the donors who have supported MHT over the past year. The stack seems to get bigger every year! So don't be surprised if you see me walking on the street between buildings shaking my hand to get the feeling back in it. It's a good problem to have!
Saturday, November 2, 2013
November 2 2013
Reflections on 30 years at MHT.
A dedicated volunteer and actress at MHT Betty Wise asked me, just before the 50th Anniversary party on October 14, if I pictured the Market House Theatre the way it is today when I first started here. I had to stop and think about that. Most of my career here at the theatre has been spent focused on what the next show or next challenge was right in front of me. Not what the plan was 30 years down the road. I don't know many people who can think that far out. I always joked with people about what I would be doing 10 years into the future as if 10 years was a lifetime from then. When I started in 1983 as the Technical Director/Scene Designer/Lighting Designer/ Costume Designer it was the 20th Anniversary season and the theatre was producing the 100th production in its history. (Many people are amazed to discover that I've sewed dozens of dresses and costumes in my early days at the theatre. I still am proud every time I go up to costume storage and happen to come across one of the many dresses I made for The Miracle Worker or coats from The Crucible that I designed and sewed (out of upholstery fabric.) Two seasons ago MHT hit the 500th production milestone. In the course of the past 30 years MHT has produced over 450 shows and events. Many people think that April was hired by MHT and I came along with her. April volunteered for MHT when we first got married and wasn't hired until 2 1/2 years after I started. April was hired as the Executive Director to replace Paul Meier who was the first Executive Director ever hired by MHT Paul was hired in Dec. of 1979 and left in June of 1986. April was the Executive Director from 1986 to 1996. I officially took over as Executive Director on July 1 of 1996. April did a 2 1/2 year stint as a Youth Minister for Grace Episcopal Church from 1996 to 1998 where we both attend and returned to the theatre in 1999 as the Education Director.
Roy Hensel jokes that he was here BC - Before Cochran's. There are several ticket holders who have been coming to the theatre since the 1970's. Kathy McHaney asked me who was still acting from those early years and Chuck Wilkins who started acting in the mid 70's wins that prize. Debra Harned who now does mostly program design work for the theatre directed and acted in shows during the 70's as well, but now takes care of her aging mother. We occasionally will have actors from those early days participate in a play but they are getting fewer and fewer.
On the staff Janice Peterson started out as an actress and sometime costumer has been with the theatre since the mid to late 80's and still designs and sews all of the costumes for our ever expanding youth productions. Marsha Cash who came in a little after Janice has worked on and off for the theatre for over 20 years. Carpenter Jim Keeney was a high school kid when I first met him and he would occasionally come in to help work on a show. Katie Hamilton our new Education Assistant hadn't even been born yet when I started working at MHT.
Fifty years of MHT history are being celebrated this year and I've been involved for 30 of those. From my view some things are dramatically different and some things are still exactly the same as when I walked in that door the first day 30 years ago.
On my first day of work then departing Technical Director Donna Booth (who was leaving to go to be the new Technical Director of Paducah Community College Theatre program) took me around the city in the theatre van to show me the warehouse ( a cramped borrowed space in the back of Hannon Supply- note MHT has had 5 warehouses since then from space in the old Kitchen Inc, the old Furniture City, a rented space on the south side, the back of Easter Seals new building, and the current location in the old Arcade auditorium). She took me to the lumber yards- Cole Lumber and Lumberteria, where we bought all out building materials from and Hank Brothers Hardware downtown where we got our paint and hardware. She showed me Hancock Fabrics where we bought all our material for costumes and sets. Second street was almost empty of businesses. There was an Army surplus building full of odds and ends where the studio theatre now stands, the Soap Opera company where Does restaurant is and the Red Fox Bar where JPs now stands. CC Cohens had just opened as a restaurant. There were two clothing stores on the side next to the Red Fox Bar and Finkels was still in business across the street from the theatre's front doors. The Executive Inn was brand new and so was the Mall. Sears was still in the space where the Paducah Power Company now operates out of.
In 1983 MHT had 2 full time staff and 1 quarter time office assistant. The Executive Director then was a local actor who had some theatre training and had convinced the board of directors to hire him as the first Executive Director in 1979. MHT's annual operating budget was $70,000 a year. (Of which the Executive Director received half.) There were some weeks when there wasn't enough money to pay all of the staff. The theatre used dry powder pigment paint to paint the sets and if you rubbed against a wall it would come off on your costume. The stage floor was painted white to reflect light up on the actors and the volunteer tech crews used to bring in a case of beer on the weekend before opening to attract helpers to get the sets built for the show. The shows ran for 4-8 performances. Some of the many actors who had help start the theatre had broken off from MHT to form their own theatre in what I was told was a protest against the then MHT Executive Director, a few years before I was hired. That new theatre group was The Paducah Repertory Players and later became the Brelco theatre created by Ben Bradford and Brian Eller. In some ways that is a natural progression of arts groups and churches to break off and reform into other organizations.
When I interviewed I looked at a theatre that had so many challenges that I wasn't sure I wanted to take the job. Yet the people that were on the board, acting in the shows, and volunteering were amazing. I finally decided, after a long talk with April, to take the job not because of the theatre or the salary but because of the people and the community. That also helped make the decision for April and I to get married at the same time as I started the job and move to Paducah from Kansas City. (April and I rented a house sight unseen with the help of the board of directors. We had to locate the house we were moving into with the U Haul truck loaded with our belongings driving around Paducah until we found it.) I was hired with a BA in Theatre and 2 years of graduate school completed towards my MFA degree with professional theatre credits for the annual salary of $12,500 a year with no benefits. I was hired as an Independent contractor and had to pay all my own taxes too.
That first year I was here we did 5 productions (we routinely do 15-20+ productions a year now). I laugh now when I think of it but we did not allow any liquids into the auditorium during rehearsals or performances to protect the carpet and the seats, but you could smoke in the auditorium and on stage during rehearsals! (People used to say that you could tell how badly rehearsal was going by how much cigarette smoke was coming from the directors table in the audience for rehearsal.)
The board of directors, the volunteers, and the actors who all were the backbone of the theatre made Paducah a home for April and I. We developed lifelong friendships. There are so many names that come to mind from the many years of MHT that they are too numerous to name but a few stand out. Dottie Toy and Mary Margaret Hoffman were very special to both April and I. Cathy Crecelius, Martha Emmons, Ralph Donnely, Ted Borodofsky, Dick Holland, Virginia Glover and so many more who were Presidents in those early years that believed and supported April and I in the challenges we took on. Past President Helen Trainer who was the manager of a store in the mall once convinced me to dress up as the Wizard of Prices to raise money for MHT and I walked around the store dressed as a wizard pointing at objects slashing prices. (Kind of walking Blue Light Special!) In those early days Ted would stand at the Mall selling raffle tickets for fundraisers, we did a Limelight variety show of talent as fundraising events. We had Trash and Treasure sales, Decorator Show Houses put on by a support group of the theatre called PROPS (plays rely on peoples support) headed up by Ralph and Stephanie Young and Dick Holland. So many board members like Claire Key, and Jay Collins whose kids grew up at the theatre. In the past few years board presidents like Jeane Framptom, Valerie Pollard, Renie Barger, Melisa Mast, and current President Kristin Williams have really created so much growth.
We had so many talented actors many who started as kids who developed that quality that the theatre was known for. People like Chris Black, Sherry Shadle, Richard Calvert, Al Knudsen, Steve Schwetman, Tom Dolan, Don Maley, Victoria Parrish, Sue Fletcher, Julie Price, Kim/Emily Yocum, Tony Bohannon, Audra Hall, Lisa Humphrey, Vivien Davis, Karen Kessler, Fowler Black, Diane Byrd, Elise Millizer, Chuck Wilkins, Matt and Stephanie Hinz, Cindy/Katy/Maria/Kye Miller, Roy/Emily/Travis Hensel along with Emi Chapman Hensel, Chip Bohle and so many many more that I'm afraid I'm missing other key names. Many of our alumni have gone off to professional careers in the arts like Letia Cloustin, Anne Cowherd, Jacob Waid, and of course dedicated volunteers like Betty Wise and Jaimie Smith and Jim/Ted Roush, Michael Brewer, so many more I can't remember them all! Staff members like Marsha Cash and Janice Peterson who have for over 20 years given so much to MHT above any pay they ever received.
I know I've left out so many people. It is all these people that have always been the heart and soul of Market House Theatre. Over the years participants come back and want to see the space where so many memories were made. The side walls of the stage and some of the backstage areas look just like they did 30 years ago. Other things have radically changed with the addition of more spaces and more programming.
The Market House building is a reflection of the City's past that still stands today. Yet it also stands because it has adapted to changing times and circumstances. A building that people once brought in the labor of what they had grown in fruits and vegetables and shared it with others had good years and bad years. Years of drought and years of plenty. Times changed and the building's purpose changed. However the people of this community still bring their labor and their talents to the building to share with the community. In the early years going to MHT was one of the main cultural events in the community. During the challenging years many other arts organizations were created in town (some due to the success of the theatre) and the Market House and its occupants had to again adapt to new ways of operating and find new revenue to sustain itself.
For me I'm still find the people of this community amazing and they inspire and challenge the theatre and me every day.
A dedicated volunteer and actress at MHT Betty Wise asked me, just before the 50th Anniversary party on October 14, if I pictured the Market House Theatre the way it is today when I first started here. I had to stop and think about that. Most of my career here at the theatre has been spent focused on what the next show or next challenge was right in front of me. Not what the plan was 30 years down the road. I don't know many people who can think that far out. I always joked with people about what I would be doing 10 years into the future as if 10 years was a lifetime from then. When I started in 1983 as the Technical Director/Scene Designer/Lighting Designer/ Costume Designer it was the 20th Anniversary season and the theatre was producing the 100th production in its history. (Many people are amazed to discover that I've sewed dozens of dresses and costumes in my early days at the theatre. I still am proud every time I go up to costume storage and happen to come across one of the many dresses I made for The Miracle Worker or coats from The Crucible that I designed and sewed (out of upholstery fabric.) Two seasons ago MHT hit the 500th production milestone. In the course of the past 30 years MHT has produced over 450 shows and events. Many people think that April was hired by MHT and I came along with her. April volunteered for MHT when we first got married and wasn't hired until 2 1/2 years after I started. April was hired as the Executive Director to replace Paul Meier who was the first Executive Director ever hired by MHT Paul was hired in Dec. of 1979 and left in June of 1986. April was the Executive Director from 1986 to 1996. I officially took over as Executive Director on July 1 of 1996. April did a 2 1/2 year stint as a Youth Minister for Grace Episcopal Church from 1996 to 1998 where we both attend and returned to the theatre in 1999 as the Education Director.
Roy Hensel jokes that he was here BC - Before Cochran's. There are several ticket holders who have been coming to the theatre since the 1970's. Kathy McHaney asked me who was still acting from those early years and Chuck Wilkins who started acting in the mid 70's wins that prize. Debra Harned who now does mostly program design work for the theatre directed and acted in shows during the 70's as well, but now takes care of her aging mother. We occasionally will have actors from those early days participate in a play but they are getting fewer and fewer.
On the staff Janice Peterson started out as an actress and sometime costumer has been with the theatre since the mid to late 80's and still designs and sews all of the costumes for our ever expanding youth productions. Marsha Cash who came in a little after Janice has worked on and off for the theatre for over 20 years. Carpenter Jim Keeney was a high school kid when I first met him and he would occasionally come in to help work on a show. Katie Hamilton our new Education Assistant hadn't even been born yet when I started working at MHT.
Fifty years of MHT history are being celebrated this year and I've been involved for 30 of those. From my view some things are dramatically different and some things are still exactly the same as when I walked in that door the first day 30 years ago.
On my first day of work then departing Technical Director Donna Booth (who was leaving to go to be the new Technical Director of Paducah Community College Theatre program) took me around the city in the theatre van to show me the warehouse ( a cramped borrowed space in the back of Hannon Supply- note MHT has had 5 warehouses since then from space in the old Kitchen Inc, the old Furniture City, a rented space on the south side, the back of Easter Seals new building, and the current location in the old Arcade auditorium). She took me to the lumber yards- Cole Lumber and Lumberteria, where we bought all out building materials from and Hank Brothers Hardware downtown where we got our paint and hardware. She showed me Hancock Fabrics where we bought all our material for costumes and sets. Second street was almost empty of businesses. There was an Army surplus building full of odds and ends where the studio theatre now stands, the Soap Opera company where Does restaurant is and the Red Fox Bar where JPs now stands. CC Cohens had just opened as a restaurant. There were two clothing stores on the side next to the Red Fox Bar and Finkels was still in business across the street from the theatre's front doors. The Executive Inn was brand new and so was the Mall. Sears was still in the space where the Paducah Power Company now operates out of.
In 1983 MHT had 2 full time staff and 1 quarter time office assistant. The Executive Director then was a local actor who had some theatre training and had convinced the board of directors to hire him as the first Executive Director in 1979. MHT's annual operating budget was $70,000 a year. (Of which the Executive Director received half.) There were some weeks when there wasn't enough money to pay all of the staff. The theatre used dry powder pigment paint to paint the sets and if you rubbed against a wall it would come off on your costume. The stage floor was painted white to reflect light up on the actors and the volunteer tech crews used to bring in a case of beer on the weekend before opening to attract helpers to get the sets built for the show. The shows ran for 4-8 performances. Some of the many actors who had help start the theatre had broken off from MHT to form their own theatre in what I was told was a protest against the then MHT Executive Director, a few years before I was hired. That new theatre group was The Paducah Repertory Players and later became the Brelco theatre created by Ben Bradford and Brian Eller. In some ways that is a natural progression of arts groups and churches to break off and reform into other organizations.
When I interviewed I looked at a theatre that had so many challenges that I wasn't sure I wanted to take the job. Yet the people that were on the board, acting in the shows, and volunteering were amazing. I finally decided, after a long talk with April, to take the job not because of the theatre or the salary but because of the people and the community. That also helped make the decision for April and I to get married at the same time as I started the job and move to Paducah from Kansas City. (April and I rented a house sight unseen with the help of the board of directors. We had to locate the house we were moving into with the U Haul truck loaded with our belongings driving around Paducah until we found it.) I was hired with a BA in Theatre and 2 years of graduate school completed towards my MFA degree with professional theatre credits for the annual salary of $12,500 a year with no benefits. I was hired as an Independent contractor and had to pay all my own taxes too.
That first year I was here we did 5 productions (we routinely do 15-20+ productions a year now). I laugh now when I think of it but we did not allow any liquids into the auditorium during rehearsals or performances to protect the carpet and the seats, but you could smoke in the auditorium and on stage during rehearsals! (People used to say that you could tell how badly rehearsal was going by how much cigarette smoke was coming from the directors table in the audience for rehearsal.)
The board of directors, the volunteers, and the actors who all were the backbone of the theatre made Paducah a home for April and I. We developed lifelong friendships. There are so many names that come to mind from the many years of MHT that they are too numerous to name but a few stand out. Dottie Toy and Mary Margaret Hoffman were very special to both April and I. Cathy Crecelius, Martha Emmons, Ralph Donnely, Ted Borodofsky, Dick Holland, Virginia Glover and so many more who were Presidents in those early years that believed and supported April and I in the challenges we took on. Past President Helen Trainer who was the manager of a store in the mall once convinced me to dress up as the Wizard of Prices to raise money for MHT and I walked around the store dressed as a wizard pointing at objects slashing prices. (Kind of walking Blue Light Special!) In those early days Ted would stand at the Mall selling raffle tickets for fundraisers, we did a Limelight variety show of talent as fundraising events. We had Trash and Treasure sales, Decorator Show Houses put on by a support group of the theatre called PROPS (plays rely on peoples support) headed up by Ralph and Stephanie Young and Dick Holland. So many board members like Claire Key, and Jay Collins whose kids grew up at the theatre. In the past few years board presidents like Jeane Framptom, Valerie Pollard, Renie Barger, Melisa Mast, and current President Kristin Williams have really created so much growth.
We had so many talented actors many who started as kids who developed that quality that the theatre was known for. People like Chris Black, Sherry Shadle, Richard Calvert, Al Knudsen, Steve Schwetman, Tom Dolan, Don Maley, Victoria Parrish, Sue Fletcher, Julie Price, Kim/Emily Yocum, Tony Bohannon, Audra Hall, Lisa Humphrey, Vivien Davis, Karen Kessler, Fowler Black, Diane Byrd, Elise Millizer, Chuck Wilkins, Matt and Stephanie Hinz, Cindy/Katy/Maria/Kye Miller, Roy/Emily/Travis Hensel along with Emi Chapman Hensel, Chip Bohle and so many many more that I'm afraid I'm missing other key names. Many of our alumni have gone off to professional careers in the arts like Letia Cloustin, Anne Cowherd, Jacob Waid, and of course dedicated volunteers like Betty Wise and Jaimie Smith and Jim/Ted Roush, Michael Brewer, so many more I can't remember them all! Staff members like Marsha Cash and Janice Peterson who have for over 20 years given so much to MHT above any pay they ever received.
I know I've left out so many people. It is all these people that have always been the heart and soul of Market House Theatre. Over the years participants come back and want to see the space where so many memories were made. The side walls of the stage and some of the backstage areas look just like they did 30 years ago. Other things have radically changed with the addition of more spaces and more programming.
The Market House building is a reflection of the City's past that still stands today. Yet it also stands because it has adapted to changing times and circumstances. A building that people once brought in the labor of what they had grown in fruits and vegetables and shared it with others had good years and bad years. Years of drought and years of plenty. Times changed and the building's purpose changed. However the people of this community still bring their labor and their talents to the building to share with the community. In the early years going to MHT was one of the main cultural events in the community. During the challenging years many other arts organizations were created in town (some due to the success of the theatre) and the Market House and its occupants had to again adapt to new ways of operating and find new revenue to sustain itself.
For me I'm still find the people of this community amazing and they inspire and challenge the theatre and me every day.
Monday, May 27, 2013
May 27 2013
We are one week away from the Technical Rehearsal for Les Miserables and the opening of the final production of the 49th Season.
This past weekend the orchestra rehearsed on both Saturday and Sunday and are scheduled to rehearse again today on Memorial Day. They are in preparation for joining the cast on Tuesday night for a run through of Act One. Cindy Miller and Patt Lynch have been also rehearsing and working together almost every day the past two weeks outside of those rehearsals to work out all of the kinks in the digital music accompaniment for the show. They are constantly editing and adjusting the software to make it easier to play. This has caused several volume issues as we work through the setup. Hopefully we will have that resolved by Tuesday as I've also done some software programming to help with the set up.
It is difficult to explain to the actors how the digital orchestra works since it works like a musical instrument that has to be learned and played and improved with practice. Patt with years of musical experience has to learn to play it and all of its oddities. The joy this weekend has been to add the live musicians in which really make the show come to life and the digital instruments then become the background to help us expand the sound to a full orchestra feel with the tiny pit we have which can only accommodate 6 live musicians and their instruments.
Master Carpenter Jim Keeney and I worked this weekend on the set building set pieces and hanging masking. In addition Jason McHaney has been helping create the realistic rifles used in the show. Virginia Seigal is working on tables and chairs for the show along with the help of Jim. Dean Palmer has offered his help with working on the motorized turntable that I built back in 1985 for the show The Importance of Being Earnest. Some of our bracing has loosened up over the years and need to be re-secured to help keep the 16 ft diameter flooring section from drifting a 1/4 to 1/2 inch when the turntable runs for extended periods of time.
The Footlights troupe and held their performances of Munchkin Mediation Musical this past Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Saturday was the final day of Footlights classes for the current school year and a new set of classes begins August 24 as the next school year begins. The summer is not quite at MHT as a full slate of Youth Summer camps/classes and shows will start up in the next couple of weeks.
It seems like it was only a couple of months ago that I was announcing the slate of shows for the 49th season. Time flies by so fast as we set out to produce the shows for the season. Rehearsals start for each show and reach the opening night and then in short time the show is over and we take down the set and move on to the next production. After the show the staff puts the photos in the theatre albums for archives and file the programs and box office and show reports in binders and we quickly move on.
There is another aspect to the shows produced that don't get filed away. The friendships made by the actors, crews, and staff last long after the set is taken down. I know that many of the friendships made at the theatre are those that last a lifetime. April and I see the kids who grew up on the stage of the theatre and in the classes come back through after college classes and even years later come back to visit and want to show their families the place that magic happened for them. We see the children of the kids who participated years ago taking footlights classes or auditioning for shows. We see adults who first met in the rehearsals for a show years later still getting together for holiday and social events.
Three or four times over the past month as I've walked out of my side office door I've overheard someone from Paducah unaware of my presence telling a group of family or friends "That's Market House Theatre which does really great shows!" These are just everyday people who aren't actors, crews or volunteers but residents of our community pointing to the theatre with community pride. I meet people everywhere in the community that go out of there way to tell me how much they love the theatre and their favorite show or a moment they remember from the theatre's history.
This final rehearsal week, before the opening of Les Miserables, will be filled with very long hours and dedicated work of the actors, crews, and staff. We will all push ourselves to the point of exhaustion to give our best efforts in the creation of the show. The group of people which first met during a first rehearsal last February, has again become a tightly knit group of friends and family challenging themselves and those around them to create something magical. While the performances only last for a brief time during June. The experiences and friendships will last long beyond the end of the 49th Season.
This past weekend the orchestra rehearsed on both Saturday and Sunday and are scheduled to rehearse again today on Memorial Day. They are in preparation for joining the cast on Tuesday night for a run through of Act One. Cindy Miller and Patt Lynch have been also rehearsing and working together almost every day the past two weeks outside of those rehearsals to work out all of the kinks in the digital music accompaniment for the show. They are constantly editing and adjusting the software to make it easier to play. This has caused several volume issues as we work through the setup. Hopefully we will have that resolved by Tuesday as I've also done some software programming to help with the set up.
It is difficult to explain to the actors how the digital orchestra works since it works like a musical instrument that has to be learned and played and improved with practice. Patt with years of musical experience has to learn to play it and all of its oddities. The joy this weekend has been to add the live musicians in which really make the show come to life and the digital instruments then become the background to help us expand the sound to a full orchestra feel with the tiny pit we have which can only accommodate 6 live musicians and their instruments.
Master Carpenter Jim Keeney and I worked this weekend on the set building set pieces and hanging masking. In addition Jason McHaney has been helping create the realistic rifles used in the show. Virginia Seigal is working on tables and chairs for the show along with the help of Jim. Dean Palmer has offered his help with working on the motorized turntable that I built back in 1985 for the show The Importance of Being Earnest. Some of our bracing has loosened up over the years and need to be re-secured to help keep the 16 ft diameter flooring section from drifting a 1/4 to 1/2 inch when the turntable runs for extended periods of time.
The Footlights troupe and held their performances of Munchkin Mediation Musical this past Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Saturday was the final day of Footlights classes for the current school year and a new set of classes begins August 24 as the next school year begins. The summer is not quite at MHT as a full slate of Youth Summer camps/classes and shows will start up in the next couple of weeks.
It seems like it was only a couple of months ago that I was announcing the slate of shows for the 49th season. Time flies by so fast as we set out to produce the shows for the season. Rehearsals start for each show and reach the opening night and then in short time the show is over and we take down the set and move on to the next production. After the show the staff puts the photos in the theatre albums for archives and file the programs and box office and show reports in binders and we quickly move on.
There is another aspect to the shows produced that don't get filed away. The friendships made by the actors, crews, and staff last long after the set is taken down. I know that many of the friendships made at the theatre are those that last a lifetime. April and I see the kids who grew up on the stage of the theatre and in the classes come back through after college classes and even years later come back to visit and want to show their families the place that magic happened for them. We see the children of the kids who participated years ago taking footlights classes or auditioning for shows. We see adults who first met in the rehearsals for a show years later still getting together for holiday and social events.
Three or four times over the past month as I've walked out of my side office door I've overheard someone from Paducah unaware of my presence telling a group of family or friends "That's Market House Theatre which does really great shows!" These are just everyday people who aren't actors, crews or volunteers but residents of our community pointing to the theatre with community pride. I meet people everywhere in the community that go out of there way to tell me how much they love the theatre and their favorite show or a moment they remember from the theatre's history.
This final rehearsal week, before the opening of Les Miserables, will be filled with very long hours and dedicated work of the actors, crews, and staff. We will all push ourselves to the point of exhaustion to give our best efforts in the creation of the show. The group of people which first met during a first rehearsal last February, has again become a tightly knit group of friends and family challenging themselves and those around them to create something magical. While the performances only last for a brief time during June. The experiences and friendships will last long beyond the end of the 49th Season.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
April 10, 2013
This morning I went digging in April's craft closet for Chinese New Year decorations to use on the set of Hallelujah Girls. Each of the scenes in the Hallelujah Girls has holiday decorations to go along with one of the characters that dresses up and celebrates Halloween, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, and the 4th of July. I already raided April's decorations for Halloween and Christmas. Cast member Cat Tilker brought in some of her decorations as well. I'm still on the hunt for Valentine Decorations.
I learned that the second week of April is a bad time to shop for Halloween, Christmas, Chinese New Years, and Valentines Day decorations at stores! Surprisingly Hobby Lobby was just putting out their 4th of July decorations! After Easter that's the next big holiday to decorate for. Like Christmas it's never to early to get your 4th of July decorations.
We have 3 middle school and 1 high school student working on the set change crew for the Hallelujah Girls. They have to change out all of the decorations in each of the scenes. Tomorrow we will try to put these scene changes to music so the scene change crew can "dance" to the music as they change the set. Hallelujah Girls tech rehearsal is Sunday where we add all the lights, sound and costumes together. The cast has been doing lots of costume changes already so Sunday won't be such a shock. They have to change costumes every time the set changes. Audiences will get a kick out of the changes in the show along with the acting and directing. The show opens a week from tomorrow.
April began staging Tomato Plant girl yesterday in the Studio Theatre. She has 3 young kids in the cast and it's fun to pass through rehearsal as the characters play games like mother may I. That show opens in less than 4 weeks.
Saturday the Love Loss and What I Wore Cast will rehearse again in whatever space they can find. Since we are working on the set and lights on the mainstage Saturday and Footlights classes in the Studio and Classroom. Saturday afternoon Paducah Bank is auditioning kids for their commercial in our classroom space. (If kids are interested they need to contact Paducah Bank)
It's the never ending quest for classroom and rehearsal space at MHT. Love Loss and What I Wore is directed by Valerie Pollard and Renie Barger and the 5 women in it are all having a blast. It is a special dessert theatre performance on Mother's Day weekend that goes on in 4 weeks. (The same weekend as Tomato Plant girl.)
In Les Miserables rehearsal tonight we staged the cart crash scene, the trial, and Fantine's death scene. I have Tony Bohannon and JC Witherspoon fighting in the hospital scene with a sword and a roof piece of wood. As we did the fight choreography poor Kim Yocum was lying there trying to pretend to be dead and yet trying not to get accidentally impaled or killed by the two guys fighting around her. Tony and JC did a great job of slowly learning the choreography but when you are trying not to hurt your scene partner or get hurt the lyrics you are singing tend to jump right out of your head as your scene partner is swinging sharp objects or blunt objects at your head. I let the rest of the cast go before we started the fight choreography. It's hard enough to work on this with just the 3 people. When you add 30 people watching you learn how to fight and try to sing at the same time it adds a whole extra layer of nerves.
We have made it through staging the first quarter of Les Mis and will review the first 5 scenes on Friday. I know I already have to go back and re-work some of my blocking. I'm not happy with in the chain gang scene and outside the factory. It worked great in my head but didn't quite have the same look when I staged it with the actors. Trying to have 7 guys step in unison to the lyrics uhhh huhhh, uhhh huhhh, uhhhhunhuhhhhhhh. Isn't the easiest thing in the world. In addition trying to have 20 actors move in a revolving circular motion as they beg in unison was also not the easiest thing. Staging a show to me is always one step forward, then 1/2 a step back and then another step forward as we work through the process. Les Miserables opens in 2 months and I'm already feeling the pressure. Musical Director Cindy Miller bless her heart tells me all the time "I need more time!"
MHT is a jammed with lots of local talent creating some really great theatre!
I learned that the second week of April is a bad time to shop for Halloween, Christmas, Chinese New Years, and Valentines Day decorations at stores! Surprisingly Hobby Lobby was just putting out their 4th of July decorations! After Easter that's the next big holiday to decorate for. Like Christmas it's never to early to get your 4th of July decorations.
We have 3 middle school and 1 high school student working on the set change crew for the Hallelujah Girls. They have to change out all of the decorations in each of the scenes. Tomorrow we will try to put these scene changes to music so the scene change crew can "dance" to the music as they change the set. Hallelujah Girls tech rehearsal is Sunday where we add all the lights, sound and costumes together. The cast has been doing lots of costume changes already so Sunday won't be such a shock. They have to change costumes every time the set changes. Audiences will get a kick out of the changes in the show along with the acting and directing. The show opens a week from tomorrow.
April began staging Tomato Plant girl yesterday in the Studio Theatre. She has 3 young kids in the cast and it's fun to pass through rehearsal as the characters play games like mother may I. That show opens in less than 4 weeks.
Saturday the Love Loss and What I Wore Cast will rehearse again in whatever space they can find. Since we are working on the set and lights on the mainstage Saturday and Footlights classes in the Studio and Classroom. Saturday afternoon Paducah Bank is auditioning kids for their commercial in our classroom space. (If kids are interested they need to contact Paducah Bank)
It's the never ending quest for classroom and rehearsal space at MHT. Love Loss and What I Wore is directed by Valerie Pollard and Renie Barger and the 5 women in it are all having a blast. It is a special dessert theatre performance on Mother's Day weekend that goes on in 4 weeks. (The same weekend as Tomato Plant girl.)
In Les Miserables rehearsal tonight we staged the cart crash scene, the trial, and Fantine's death scene. I have Tony Bohannon and JC Witherspoon fighting in the hospital scene with a sword and a roof piece of wood. As we did the fight choreography poor Kim Yocum was lying there trying to pretend to be dead and yet trying not to get accidentally impaled or killed by the two guys fighting around her. Tony and JC did a great job of slowly learning the choreography but when you are trying not to hurt your scene partner or get hurt the lyrics you are singing tend to jump right out of your head as your scene partner is swinging sharp objects or blunt objects at your head. I let the rest of the cast go before we started the fight choreography. It's hard enough to work on this with just the 3 people. When you add 30 people watching you learn how to fight and try to sing at the same time it adds a whole extra layer of nerves.
We have made it through staging the first quarter of Les Mis and will review the first 5 scenes on Friday. I know I already have to go back and re-work some of my blocking. I'm not happy with in the chain gang scene and outside the factory. It worked great in my head but didn't quite have the same look when I staged it with the actors. Trying to have 7 guys step in unison to the lyrics uhhh huhhh, uhhh huhhh, uhhhhunhuhhhhhhh. Isn't the easiest thing in the world. In addition trying to have 20 actors move in a revolving circular motion as they beg in unison was also not the easiest thing. Staging a show to me is always one step forward, then 1/2 a step back and then another step forward as we work through the process. Les Miserables opens in 2 months and I'm already feeling the pressure. Musical Director Cindy Miller bless her heart tells me all the time "I need more time!"
MHT is a jammed with lots of local talent creating some really great theatre!
Friday, March 1, 2013
March 1 201H
It has been awhile since I last posted. Sometimes I feel like if I have nothing to say other than the day to day usual challenges then it's better to say nothing.
Tonight we will announce the play lineup for the 50th Anniversary Season. We have 5 mainstage plays, 2 youth productions, a murder mystery, and our big fundraiser. Our preliminary budget for next season is over a half a million dollars.
While this announcement is about the 50th Season tonight's party it is just a little teaser for what's coming up to celebrate next season. A committee has been formed and is meeting to discuss events and ideas for celebrating our big milestone next season. We are looking at a couple of special events that will celebrate our connections to family and youth and a little more formal event to gather many of the people over the past 50 years who have been a part of our history.
Part of the reason I'm writing this blog today, is that I've been thinking about the passing of Virginia Glover. Her funeral service is this afternoon at First Presbyterian Church and she and her husband Joe were one of the earliest members of the theatre. Virginia was the theatre Treasurer when I was hired and I remember going to her business called West KY Ceramics on Jefferson Street to get checks signed several times during my early years. The first meeting I had with the Market House Theatre board of directors was in her apartment where I remember laying out my renderings and my technical drawings and costume designs on the floor of her apartment and kneeling to explain them as the other board members gathered around trying to decide if they were going to hire this young guy from Kansas City, who had never worked in community theatre before.
Virginia was passionate about the theatre and always asked the tough questions that needed to be asked. She never hesitated to volunteer and lend a hand in whatever was needed for a reception or a fundraising event. She still attended the theatre and volunteered to usher and work behind the counter for many years after she left the board and retired from her business. I hadn't talked with Virginia for some years as her health and ability to get out deteriorated but her contributions to the theatre and the foundations she helped build are still felt by the theatre as we move towards our 50th Anniversary.
These past few years we have seen the passing of that generation that founded the theatre in 1963. With J.C. Dudley's passing last year and now Virginia Glover those local citizens who created what we take for granted today deserve our gratitude and a moment to remember them on this day.
Here is the transcription of the hand written minutes from the meeting held on Oct. 14, 1963-
The initial meeting to discuss formation of a Little Theatre Group was held Monday October 14 at 7:30 pm in the Paducah Art Gallery with Mrs. Robert Hassman serving as chairwoman pro ten.
Mrs. Hassman introduced Mrs. W.H.Beauman, president of the City Beautification board, who told of the work and actions of that board toward restoring the old Market House and converting it into a cultural and historical center. She said present plans include the use of our section of the building for a little theatre providing an active group can be formed to make use of it.
Mrs. Hassman mentioned some of the problems in starting a theatre group, such as fundraising, adequate membership, and creating and sustaining interest. She told of some methods used successfully by such groups in other communities.
As a first step she asked for approval of the following to act on a steering committee:
Mrs. Robert Hassman, chairwoman (Pro term?)
Dr. Ben Bradford
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Dudley
Mrs. U.C. Morris
Miss Greata Woodall
Mr. Charles Katterjohn
Mr. Bob Evans
Charles A. Wahl
This committee would explore possible solutions to the afore mentioned problems; consider plays for which a choice might be made for the first production; discuss areas of agreement with other groups participating in the Market House plays, and list other suggestions for discussions and actions by the membership. The committee would also prepare a slate of officers to be voted on at the next meeting.
Mrs. Charles Wahl moved that a "blanket approval" be given to Mrs. Hassman. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lee Livingston and was carried unanimously. Mrs. Hassman then asked for further suggestions and comments from those present. There seemed to be a consensus of opinion that plans should be set in motion to begin with a play right away to keep interest going while permanent plans go forward.
Mrs. Hassman said that those present and all suggested prospective members would be notified of the next meeting. The meeting was then adjourned.
Lorraine B. Morris
Sec. Pro Tem
The notes from the second meeting held Nov. 6 1963 included the following list of proposed officers and directors
President Mrs. Robert Hassman
1st Vice President Dr. Ben Bradford
2nd Vice President Mrs. J.C. Dudley
Recording Secretary Mrs. U.C. Morris
Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Molly McClure
Treasurer Mr. Charles A. Wahl
Directors
Mr. Joe Miller,
Miss Greata Woodall,
Mr. Charles Katterjohn,
Miss Judith Bray, Mr. Art Herman
A list of committees was formed including
Rules and By Laws: Mr. Herb Mack -Chair, Mrs. J.C. Dudley, Mrs. Edwin Roof, Mrs. Ted Myre, Mr. Keith Yates
Finance: Mr. Charles Wahl, Chair, Mr. William P. Smith, Mrs. Don Reed, Mrs. Emile Sauleen (*Michael's Note-I did my best guess on this name as it was handwritten and hard to read) Mr. Lee Livingston, Mrs. Ted Myre, Miss Greta Woodall
Play Selection: Dr. Ben Bradford Chair, Mrs. Molly McClure, Mr. Richard Price, Mrs. William P. Smith.
Mrs. Dudley gave a report on the developments of the building. Mrs. Saunders was asked to assume responsibilty for compling and printing lists of members and interests.
Some one suggested that coffee and doughnuts be served at the next meeting and was met with general approval and a small collection was taken up for this purpose and the meeting was adjourned.
We had a board meeting last Wednesday evening February 27 at 5:30 pm. The items discussed were play selection, annual donor drives and passing out lists of people to contact for support and fundraising events. While we didn't have doughnuts and coffee we did have pizza and soda.
So today is a moment of synchronicity where things come together in a very meaningful way. A joyful party to announce the 50th Season of plays and a remembrance of the vibrant life of one of the founding members who made the announcement of a 50th Season tonight possible.
Thank you, Virginia.
Tonight we will announce the play lineup for the 50th Anniversary Season. We have 5 mainstage plays, 2 youth productions, a murder mystery, and our big fundraiser. Our preliminary budget for next season is over a half a million dollars.
While this announcement is about the 50th Season tonight's party it is just a little teaser for what's coming up to celebrate next season. A committee has been formed and is meeting to discuss events and ideas for celebrating our big milestone next season. We are looking at a couple of special events that will celebrate our connections to family and youth and a little more formal event to gather many of the people over the past 50 years who have been a part of our history.
Part of the reason I'm writing this blog today, is that I've been thinking about the passing of Virginia Glover. Her funeral service is this afternoon at First Presbyterian Church and she and her husband Joe were one of the earliest members of the theatre. Virginia was the theatre Treasurer when I was hired and I remember going to her business called West KY Ceramics on Jefferson Street to get checks signed several times during my early years. The first meeting I had with the Market House Theatre board of directors was in her apartment where I remember laying out my renderings and my technical drawings and costume designs on the floor of her apartment and kneeling to explain them as the other board members gathered around trying to decide if they were going to hire this young guy from Kansas City, who had never worked in community theatre before.
Virginia was passionate about the theatre and always asked the tough questions that needed to be asked. She never hesitated to volunteer and lend a hand in whatever was needed for a reception or a fundraising event. She still attended the theatre and volunteered to usher and work behind the counter for many years after she left the board and retired from her business. I hadn't talked with Virginia for some years as her health and ability to get out deteriorated but her contributions to the theatre and the foundations she helped build are still felt by the theatre as we move towards our 50th Anniversary.
These past few years we have seen the passing of that generation that founded the theatre in 1963. With J.C. Dudley's passing last year and now Virginia Glover those local citizens who created what we take for granted today deserve our gratitude and a moment to remember them on this day.
Here is the transcription of the hand written minutes from the meeting held on Oct. 14, 1963-
The initial meeting to discuss formation of a Little Theatre Group was held Monday October 14 at 7:30 pm in the Paducah Art Gallery with Mrs. Robert Hassman serving as chairwoman pro ten.
Mrs. Hassman introduced Mrs. W.H.Beauman, president of the City Beautification board, who told of the work and actions of that board toward restoring the old Market House and converting it into a cultural and historical center. She said present plans include the use of our section of the building for a little theatre providing an active group can be formed to make use of it.
Mrs. Hassman mentioned some of the problems in starting a theatre group, such as fundraising, adequate membership, and creating and sustaining interest. She told of some methods used successfully by such groups in other communities.
As a first step she asked for approval of the following to act on a steering committee:
Mrs. Robert Hassman, chairwoman (Pro term?)
Dr. Ben Bradford
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Dudley
Mrs. U.C. Morris
Miss Greata Woodall
Mr. Charles Katterjohn
Mr. Bob Evans
Charles A. Wahl
This committee would explore possible solutions to the afore mentioned problems; consider plays for which a choice might be made for the first production; discuss areas of agreement with other groups participating in the Market House plays, and list other suggestions for discussions and actions by the membership. The committee would also prepare a slate of officers to be voted on at the next meeting.
Mrs. Charles Wahl moved that a "blanket approval" be given to Mrs. Hassman. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lee Livingston and was carried unanimously. Mrs. Hassman then asked for further suggestions and comments from those present. There seemed to be a consensus of opinion that plans should be set in motion to begin with a play right away to keep interest going while permanent plans go forward.
Mrs. Hassman said that those present and all suggested prospective members would be notified of the next meeting. The meeting was then adjourned.
Lorraine B. Morris
Sec. Pro Tem
The notes from the second meeting held Nov. 6 1963 included the following list of proposed officers and directors
President Mrs. Robert Hassman
1st Vice President Dr. Ben Bradford
2nd Vice President Mrs. J.C. Dudley
Recording Secretary Mrs. U.C. Morris
Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Molly McClure
Treasurer Mr. Charles A. Wahl
Directors
Mr. Joe Miller,
Miss Greata Woodall,
Mr. Charles Katterjohn,
Miss Judith Bray, Mr. Art Herman
A list of committees was formed including
Rules and By Laws: Mr. Herb Mack -Chair, Mrs. J.C. Dudley, Mrs. Edwin Roof, Mrs. Ted Myre, Mr. Keith Yates
Finance: Mr. Charles Wahl, Chair, Mr. William P. Smith, Mrs. Don Reed, Mrs. Emile Sauleen (*Michael's Note-I did my best guess on this name as it was handwritten and hard to read) Mr. Lee Livingston, Mrs. Ted Myre, Miss Greta Woodall
Play Selection: Dr. Ben Bradford Chair, Mrs. Molly McClure, Mr. Richard Price, Mrs. William P. Smith.
Mrs. Dudley gave a report on the developments of the building. Mrs. Saunders was asked to assume responsibilty for compling and printing lists of members and interests.
Some one suggested that coffee and doughnuts be served at the next meeting and was met with general approval and a small collection was taken up for this purpose and the meeting was adjourned.
We had a board meeting last Wednesday evening February 27 at 5:30 pm. The items discussed were play selection, annual donor drives and passing out lists of people to contact for support and fundraising events. While we didn't have doughnuts and coffee we did have pizza and soda.
So today is a moment of synchronicity where things come together in a very meaningful way. A joyful party to announce the 50th Season of plays and a remembrance of the vibrant life of one of the founding members who made the announcement of a 50th Season tonight possible.
Thank you, Virginia.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
December 19, 2012
The Board of Directors met tonight for the last meeting of 2012 to reflect on the first half of the 49th Season. It seems hard to believe its already been 6 months since we kicked off the season. The theatre is in solid financial conditions with strong box office performances for 9 to 5, Willy Wonka Jr, and A Christmas Story. The annual fund drive is still getting donations in on a daily basis. The Masquerade Ball was a big success again this year. The Board of Directors has done a great job of raising money and working extremely hard to help MHt plan for the future! Story Theatre Tour and the Downtown and Oak Grove Cemetery walking Ghost tours were also successful. Overall we ended the first half of the year in the black.
The Play selection committee has been reading lots of plays for the 50th Anniversary Season and has a deadline of the last week of Jan. to make selections and have the board vote on the slate of plays. We apply for rights and if everything goes okay we announce our new season on March 1. They've been given the task of finding a balance between new plays and favorites from the past. Denise Bristol is the chair of the committee.
April produced several school plays and finished this final week of school before break by having auditions today for Clark Elementary's school play. You can look on the website on the newsletter page. Click on the January 2012 Newsletter and see photos of the Lone Oak Elementary show Pirates of Grammar Island.
The cast for Duck Hunter Shoots Angel has been hard at work for months and they finally moved onstage Tues night. Jim Keeney has built a large tree that for the actors to climb during the show. We have just a couple of days left before the cast goes on Christmas break along with the theatre staff. When we come back we have about 4 days before dress rehearsals begin and then opening night on Jan. 10.
Last night at the City Commission the City of Paducah agreed to partner with Market House Theatre to apply for an Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for a $100,000 matching grant for planning that MHT has been conducting for an expansion project.
It feels like the story The Night Before Christmas. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in the hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. The theatre has worked very hard for the first half of the year and now we're getting ready to close for a well deserved winter night's sleep (break) to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. When we come back we will open up the second half of the the season like opening presents. Excited to see what new challenges lie ahead as we finish up the 49th season and get ready for the 50th Anniversary season.
A huge thank you goes to all the actors, technical crews, ushers, volunteers, and board members who help keep MHT running, to all the donors who helped provide the funds to do our programming, and our audiences who support the stage productions that we do!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The Play selection committee has been reading lots of plays for the 50th Anniversary Season and has a deadline of the last week of Jan. to make selections and have the board vote on the slate of plays. We apply for rights and if everything goes okay we announce our new season on March 1. They've been given the task of finding a balance between new plays and favorites from the past. Denise Bristol is the chair of the committee.
April produced several school plays and finished this final week of school before break by having auditions today for Clark Elementary's school play. You can look on the website on the newsletter page. Click on the January 2012 Newsletter and see photos of the Lone Oak Elementary show Pirates of Grammar Island.
The cast for Duck Hunter Shoots Angel has been hard at work for months and they finally moved onstage Tues night. Jim Keeney has built a large tree that for the actors to climb during the show. We have just a couple of days left before the cast goes on Christmas break along with the theatre staff. When we come back we have about 4 days before dress rehearsals begin and then opening night on Jan. 10.
Last night at the City Commission the City of Paducah agreed to partner with Market House Theatre to apply for an Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for a $100,000 matching grant for planning that MHT has been conducting for an expansion project.
It feels like the story The Night Before Christmas. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in the hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. The theatre has worked very hard for the first half of the year and now we're getting ready to close for a well deserved winter night's sleep (break) to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. When we come back we will open up the second half of the the season like opening presents. Excited to see what new challenges lie ahead as we finish up the 49th season and get ready for the 50th Anniversary season.
A huge thank you goes to all the actors, technical crews, ushers, volunteers, and board members who help keep MHT running, to all the donors who helped provide the funds to do our programming, and our audiences who support the stage productions that we do!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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