COME TO THE ANNUAL MEETING!
The
President and Board of Directors invite you the the Annual Meeting of
The Concord Players on Sunday, March 20, at 7p.m. at 51 Walden.
Various members will present updates on the activities of the Board
this past year and what's in store for the coming year. 
The
slate of shows for 2011-2012 will be announced, along with the
vote for new officers. Enjoy some refreshments and an
entertainment from the Concord Traveling Players. Please join us as we
celebrate another successful year!
BOX OFFICE MANAGER NEEDED!
The
position of box office/subscription manager is open as of June/July
2011 and offers a stipend. The Players produce three shows/year and sell
subscriptions late summer to early fall. We will provide hands-on
training this spring during our production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. If you are interested in filling this key and very important position for us, please email jnewlon@logixinc.com
NEW MEMBER JOINS BOARD
Cheryl
Carter-Miller will be joining the Players Board of Directors. She has
been a familiar face on stages all over Worcester County for the past 30
years. She holds a degree in theatre education from Bridgewater State
College, and is currently the drama teacher at R.J. Grey Junior High in
Acton.
BACKSTAGE, A SENSE OF FAMILY
The following is adapted from a story in the Boston Globe, February 10, 2011, by Lenny Megliola.
In the case of one community theater, the back story is as compelling
as the productions it puts on. The history of the Concord Players dates
to 1856, when Louisa
May Alcott helped form the Concord Dramatic Union. In 1872, it became
the Concord Dramatic Club, and in 1919 The Concord Players. Two years
later, it added a stage to an armory at 51 Walden St., the group's home
to this day. The Walden Street building also serves as home to the
Concord Orchestra, the Concord Band, and a ballet studio, all under the
umbrella of the Friends of the Performing Arts in Concord.
The Players put on three major productions a year. Every 10 years since
1972, the ensemble stages a version of Alcott's Little Women, which is always box office gold.
Doing strong productions is the lifeblood of theater. And it's just as
much about the people behind the scenes, the ones handling lighting and
sound, set construction, props, and makeup; the stage manager
quarterbacking cues. "The thing that impresses me is the depth of the
talent offstage,'' says John Alzapiedi, an actor and director for The
Players. "Everyone knows their jobs. It's a wonderful group of dedicated
people.''
The Concord Players
ensemble has relied on a core of actors, directors, and stage hands who
stay on for years or even decades, in many cases. The record is held by
Heddie Kent, who joined as a teenager and was a member for 73 years
before she died in 2009. Sally Bull, with the troupe since 1980, calls
the Players "my second family.'' It's a sentiment a lot of theater
people in The Players have voiced through the years. Louisa May Alcott
would be proud.
PLAYERS ACTOR ALSO AUTHOR
Christopher DiGrazia, who was in 1776 (Secretary Thompson) and The Odd Couple (Roy) has just published his first novel, The Director's Cut. Set in 1914, it's a mystery starring Theda Bara, the silent screen's first
sex
symbol, who goes searching for a killer after two 'accidents' shut down
her movie. This is the first of the Theda Bara Mysteries series. The
series website is www.kissmemyfool.com
The publisher website is www.1921PVG.com
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DON'T MISS OUR SPRING MUSICAL!
Be sure to come see the spring musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
a show with an interesting, fast-moving and complicated set. Placed
among the breezy beaches and glitzy fashions of the French Riviera, this
musical comedy pays tribute to the shows of the 1920s and 1930s with
catchy tunes in the style of Cole Porter. The set changes will take
place during the action, with crew members dressed as bellhops, waiters,
and hotel clerks.
Directed by
Michael McGarty, with musical direction by Mario Cruz. Performs April
22, 23, 29, 30 and May 1, 6, 7.
The
cast is shown above. The Pit singers are Kate Alexander, Connie Benn,
Emily Earle, Paula McNabb, and Dennis Roach. The Dancers are Rachel
Bruce, Kelly Flanagan, Chris Karaleskas, Jay Newlon, Jake O'Hara,
Katrina Rotondi, Maryellen Skulski, and Kate Wendt.
DON'T MISS PRODUCER-DIRECTOR APPEARANCE ON CCTV
Marilyn Cugini, host of Discussing Creativity on CCTV, has invited producer Doug Cooper and director Mike McGarty of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
to appear on the show. They plan to focus on the challenges of bringing
a Broadway musical to the stage of a community theater, with an
emphasis on the Players' set design. If all goes well, the episode will
be broadcast on Channel 8 (local access cable for Carlisle and
Concord) on April 11 at 9 p.m., April 13 at 5 p.m., and April 15 at
9 a.m.
PLAYERS PERFORM ELSEWHERE
Chuck Holleman is in Laughter on the 23rd Floor
by Neil Simon, as Max Prince, the Sid Ceasar character, a part
calling for an over-the-top performance. Anyone who has seen Chuck
knows he will be up for it.
Chuck
says, "In this show I literally drop my pants to get a laugh. And the
first time I had to do that was at Concord Players, in Cinderella, directed by Paul Murphy. Now I can start a list of shows where I have to drop my pants to get a laugh."
Presented by Nashoba Players opening March 11 at the PCA in Westford, the show is directed by Ben Delatizky (directing a show next winter for The Players). Also starring is Michael Gilman, last seen as Sam the Pickle man in our Crossing Delancy. For info, go to www.nashobaplayers.org
Lis Adams will be appearing in Bus Stop at Vokes, March 4-19.
Tom Frates will perform as Captain Corcoran, and Mike Lague as the boatswain's mate, in Sudbury Savoyards' HMS Pinafore, directed by Kathy Lague, March 11 and 12 at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School. (All three were in Scarlet Pimpernel.)
Andy Swansburg, Tricia Akowicz and Jenny Gratz will appear in Curtains at Arlington Friends of the Drama, directed by Paul Murphy, with costumes by Tracy Wall. OPERA AND BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS Come
enjoy favorite tunes from the world of opera and Broadway. Featured
vocalists are Robin, Kim Moller, Ben Clark, Rebecca Haines, Ray Bauwens,
Kim Peck Lamoureux, Tom Frates, Connie Benn, Lonnie Powell, Thom
Kenney and Jeramie Hammond. They will be joined by the FOPAC Chorus and
Orchestra. Two performances at 51 Walden: April 2 at 8 p.m. and April 3
at 2:00 p.m. Tickets $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students.
On Saturday, March 12, 8:00 p.m., at 51 Walden, Amanda Carr,
well-known vocalist, will appear with the Silver Fox Jazz Quintet,
featuring favorites from The Great American Songbook. Tickets
are $30 per person (or reserve a table for six for $160). Dance
space is available with cabaret seating and cash bar. More
information about Amanda at www.amandacarr.com
These two events are sponsored by FOPAC, to benefit building
maintenance and operations. For tickets for both events, call 978
369-7911, go to www.51walden.org or email fopac@verizon.net
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