A Newsletter for Members & Patrons
Fall 2005 Edition
Issue date: October 2005
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
Oct. 29th: Volunteer Appreciation Tea (& Training!)
Nov. 2nd: Board Meeting
Nov. 10th - Dec. 4th: Anne of Green Gables
Dec. 8th - 11th: Madcap Players Christmas Show
Members, members, everywhere, but what you are doing these days? Use the SST newsletter to promote your theatrical activities! We don't want to miss a thing! Our newsletter is published quarterly in Sept., Jan., April & June (okay, so it's sort of quarterly!)
Please send information to us! Upcoming shows, special events, workshops & classes, fundraisers. Deadline for the next issue will be Jan. 16th.
Please send to or by mail:
1 Hamilton Street,
Cookstown, ON L0L 1L0
Remember you can still sign up for e-mail delivery of your SST newsletter. Send an email to barbara.derbyshire@sympatico.ca with "Subscribe me to the SST Newsletter" in the subject line, or go to any page on our website and click 'Submit' under "get SST news by email".
Our 40th Anniversary
The Town Hall in Cookstown was the place to be on Saturday, September 18th as South Simcoe Theatre celebrated its 40th Anniversary in true award winning style.
The day started mid-afternoon with an open house & archive display of memorabilia from past productions.
A fundraising drive to improve the Town Hall's exterior was kicked off with the unveiling of a painting by resident artist & set designer, Christina Luck. Prints of the beautiful caricature of The Town Hall and various characters from past performances are available for purchase this season (see below for details.)
A light supper was followed by a brief Annual Member's Meeting and awards ceremony recognising volunteers and special contributions including four of the Playhouse's founding members who are still active on and off the stage.
The highlight of the celebration was certainly the evening concert arranged by Scott A. Hurst and Renee Cingolani, with musical accompaniment by Greg Gibson and Renee Cingolani . Playing to a full house, a cross section of the Theatre's alumni showcased a breathtaking collage of excerpts from South Simcoe's 100 plus past productions. With Scott Hurst as Master of Ceremonies, the performances repeatedly brought the audience to their feet as standing ovations, laughter, tears and goose bumps were ever present throughout the evening.
Individual appearances by three founding members, Joan McGraw, Jim Johnstone & Blake Constable were testament to the amazing talent that put this theatre company on track to success. The line up also included numbers by some of SST's youngest members with excepts from last year's Annie and this season's upcoming Anne of Green Gables. A special 'rap' performance by Dinah Christie and a light-hearted number by current president, Janet Lord-Genyk, rounded out a night of unforgettable performances.
SST's regular season will commence in November with a gala presentation of the Canadian musical classic Anne of Green Gables. With Scott A. Hurst directing and an all-star cast of local talent, this will definitely be a highlight of the fall theatre in Simcoe County.
Prints of the beautiful caricature of The Town Hall and various characters from past performances by Christina Luck are available for purchase this season.
$35. for members
$40. for non-members
Call 458-4432 for details
Attention all Kindred Spirits (and those who would like to be!)
This wonderful family classic tells the poignant and funny story of a freckle-faced, red-haired orphan named Anne Shirley who arrives in Avonlea full of hope for a new life. She arrives at the home of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, and is devastated when she discovers that they were expecting a boy, (but they choose to keep her anyway.) With her fiery temper, love of melodrama and romance and penchant for misadventures, she brings laughter, love and more than a little consternation to the Cuthberts' quiet life. In return, Anne finds the happiness and the home she has longed for all her life.
Director Scott Hurst and Musical Director Greg Gibson have created an energetic, thoughtful and fresh interpretation of Canada's favourite story. The musical version, based on the original novel by Lucy Maude Montgomery, was written by Don Harron and Norman Campbell and combines the beauty of the original work with a lively score and a sensitive script. Christina Luck's sets are sensational (how do you show a two-storey house on our tiny stage?), and Audrey Turner (Into the Woods) is creating, as always, exquisite period costumes.
The children's roles are double cast, with Danielle Kostrich (Annie, BIG) and Natalie Baillargeon sharing the title role. Robbie Woods and Darren Andrews (Into the Woods) play "Gilbert Blythe." They are supported by a talented, energetic group of young actors who represent the youth of Edwardian Prince Edward Island. The adult roles, which are not double cast, include Janet Lord-Genyk (Dining Room, Drood, etc.) as "Marilla," Greg Gallagher (Annie) as "Matthew" and many names familiar to SST audiences in supporting roles.
This promises to be yet another show which maintains SST's reputation for high quality and excellent audience appeal and entertainment value. You may think you have seen it before, but never quite like this!
Anne runs Nov. 10th to Dec. 4th. Please join us for at least one performance…but buy your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Sales are already brisk!
Reserve your tickets online or
Call the box office at 705-458-4432.
Volunteer Appreciation Tea (and Training Session)
Not all of you may know that there is a small group of dedicated women (and David Nurse!) who have been tirelessly making and serving coffee and treats at intermission at SST for the last 40 years! We think it's high time to recognize these behind-the-scenes salwarts - by serving them coffee and treats!
If you are, ever have been (or would like to be!) one of our refreshment/usher volunteers (also know as the Ladies Auxiliary !) you are cordially invited to come down to the Town Hall on Sat. Oct. 29th at 12:30 for tea and goodies!
We would also like to take advantage of this gathering to make this season run smoothly by: tapping the experience of this diverse group in a training session, merging the jobs of refreshment preparation and ushering, and doing the scheduling of duties for the 2005/06 season.
Thus, this event will prove fun and fruitful! Please plan to attend.
Blackhorse Village Players
Five Women Wearing The Same Dress Sep. 21- Oct. 8
Written by Alan Ball
Director: Harry Lavigne
Chapter Two Nov 30 - Dec. 17
Written by Neil Simon
Director Lynn Kherli
Sadie Flynn Comes to Big Oak Feb. 15 - Mar. 4
Written by Norm Foster
Director Margaret Phillips
Auditions Nov. 6 1-4 pm & Nov. 9; 7pm @BVP theatre
Characters:
Tom Shaw- 40's; Orson Hubble- 40's; Sadie Flynn- 30's; Bev Dupuis- 30-45; Rachel Blessington- retired (50's 60ish)
The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The Moon Marigolds May 3 - 20
Written by Paul Zindel
Director: Harry Lavigne
Box Office 905-880-5002
Me and My Girl Mar 1 - 5/06
Director Scott A. Hurst
Gryphon Theatre
This is the funny, often touching, story of Bill (played by SST veteran Stephen Bainborough Deathtrap, Madcap,etc.), an ordinary guy, who is the heir to a nobleman's fortune. Before he can acquire the castle, the fortune and the title he must show that his intended wife will be able to hold her own socially among the landed gentry.
The great score will have you tapping along with the actors to songs like The Lambeth Walk and Leaning on a Lamp Post.
The Sound of Music May 31 - Jun 5/06.
Director: Bob Buckley (Director of SST's Annie) & Deane Hay
Gryphon Theatre
The last and most popular of all R&H musicals has thrilled audiences for over forty years. Based on the true saga of the von Trapp family, a witty libretto and a beautiful music score combine to make this an unforgettable show.
Barbara McCann, the musical director, will work her magic with the cast in a large number of well-known songs.
Love Letters Oct 20
St. James Anglican Church, Orillia
Featuring SST member Geraldine Barnard (Shirley Valentine, The Music Man)
This is part of a Gala Evening in support of the Mariposa Arts Theatre's new Workshop space.
Dinner and show is $40.
Tickets - L. Crawford 705-325-6917
Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing Nov. 17 - 27
SST member Candy Pryce (Deathtrap, Into the Woods, BIG, etc.) is lending her talents for this one.
Tickets 705-326-8011
Talk Is Free Theatre (Barrie)
Sophie Tucker, the Last of the Red Hot Mamas Oct. 6 - 29
The Glass Menagerie Nov. 3 - 19
Featuring SST member Jason Allin (The Dining Room, Cabaret, etc.)
Home for Christmas - May 31 - Jun 5/06.
A Leslie Arden musical
Box Office number: 705-792-1949.
Hans & I are moving Oct. 28 to a quaint and cosy (c.1870 fit for hobbits) house in the village of Cookstown. Needless to say there is not enough room for ART and US until a workshop is built next year.
