The Concord Players
NEWSLETTER
November 1, 2004

“The event is yet to name the winner.”
William Shakespeare, Cymbeline

It’s time we gave our Newsletter a name! Put on your thinking caps and come up with a cognomen! Submit your best show-biz rubric to playersnews@mac.com, or mail a theatre-themed moniker to Players Newsletter, PO Box 22, Concord, MA, 01742. The winner will receive two tickets to the CP show of their choice!

ON THE BOARDS

Our 85th season opening show, “Sunday in the Park with George” proceeds apace. Our most ambitious presentation ever, everything about “Sunday in the Park” is BIG. The set, the crew, the cast, the challenge - not to mention the budget! - are carrying The Concord Players to a new level of expertise and passion. In the words of the show’s signature song, we’re “putting it together” to deliver a production of surpassing theatrical magic.

You can savor a preview of “Sunday in the Park” by tuning into “Standing Room Only,” on WERS at 88.9 FM. On Saturday, November 6, at 10:30 am, Bill Toll as George and Nancy Berger as Dot will perform two songs from the show, preceded by an interview with CP president Jean Devine and musical director Don Boroson. You can learn more about this special sneak peak by going to http://www.wers.org/sro/.

“Sunday in the Park with George” takes the stage on Friday, November 12, at 8 pm. Join us in the lobby of 51 Walden Street at 7 pm for hors d’oeuvres and an exhibition of Impressionist prints, hosted by Frank Crocitto from the Renjeau Gallery.

AUDITIONS for “Angel Street” will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, December 1 and 2 at 7 pm, with callbacks at 7 pm on Sunday, December 5. For character descriptions and additional details, visit our web site at http://www.concordplayers.org.

It’s that time of year again! Our annual “Winter Welcome” will be held on Thursday, December 2, following the lighting of the Christmas tree in Monument Square. Join us at 51 Walden Street for our holiday performance of “St. George and the Dragon.” This year’s extravaganza will feature the return of The Madrigal Singers and The Orion Sword Dancers, plus an all-new audience participation presentation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Directed by Judith Broggi, with musical direction by Sara Ballard, Concord’s very own winter Revels will be led by David Gould, Pamela Dritt, Michael Salerno, Myron Feld, Adam Winegarden, Chuck Schwager, Pilar Broggi, and Lisa Astbury. It’s a night not to be missed, for kids of all ages.

Lida McGirr directed a successful run of "A Piece of My Heart" at The Center for the Arts in Natick. Lis Adams played Sissy, Rick Shamel designed the lighting and Rich McGirr directed the sound and the music. Her short play, "The Next Big Thing" will receive a reading at the Arlington Center for the Arts Writers Series this month, featuring Lida and Lis Adams in the leading roles, and Rich McGirr composing the music. In January, Lida will direct several one-acts for the Ritalin Series at the Theatre Cooperative in Sommerville. She’s also slated to direct the late winter/early spring production for the Lexington Players.

Lis Adams will be appearing in the Quannapowitt Players production of “Reckless” from November 12 through December 4.

The Concord Ensemble and The Town Cow Theater Company presented Igor Stravinsky’s "The Soldier's Tale" at 51 Walden Street. Conducted by Alan Yost, this unique collaboration was narrated and directed by Thomas Caron, and featured fellow Players Myron Feld, Giselle Ganz and Jay Newlon. On the same bill, "Walton's Facade," a musical presentation of short poems, was performed by The Concord Ensemble and Myron, Giselle and Jay.

Leslie Wagner is playing the part of Vi in the Burlington Players production of “The Memory of Water,” from November 5 - 20. The box office number is (781) 229-2649, or tickets may be purchased on-line at http://www.Burlingtonplayers.org.

Chuck Schwager is playing Duncan, Lennox, the Doctor, and a soldier in “Macbeth,” with ShakespeareNow, a troupe that’s dedicated to performing Shakespeare in schools. Performances are November 3 - 23, weekdays at 10 am, and Saturday, November 13th at 8 pm. The cauldron boils and the blood cakes in the Tower auditorium at the Massachusetts College of Art, 621 Huntington Ave, in Boston. Call 781-326-3643

In the same vein, Pamela Dritt plays First Witch in The Baron’s Players presentation of “Macbeth,” Friday and Sunday, November 5 and 7, at 7:30 pm, in The Little Theatre at Newton North High School. For further information call the box office at (508) 875-9371, or go on-line to http://www.baronsplayers.org.

Jackson Royal is a cutup as the Coroner in “Lizzie Borden Had An Axe...” on the Discovery Channel, Saturday, October 30, at 9 pm and midnight.

JulieAnn Govang directs "Criminal Hearts," November 12 - December 4, at Acme Theater Productions in Maynard. The cast includes Concord Players Susan Condit-Rice and J. Mark Baumhardt. Visit http://www.acmetheater.com for details.

Birgitta Knuttgen served the Arlington Friends of the Drama production of “I Remember Mama" in the capacity of Scandinavian Consultant. She provided advice on decor, props, interiors, music, costumes, and Norwegian accents! Look for Birgitta in a commercial for Jordan's Furniture.

Tom Sikina is stage managing “The Nutcracker” for The Commonwealth Ballet Company, in Acton, November 16 - 28, and December 4 and 5 in Westborough. He’ll also stage manage “The Nutcracker” for the Massachusetts Youth Ballet, at Regis College, in Weston, December 12 - 14.

OUR BACK PAGES

10 YEARS AGO: “Into The Woods” - precisely ten years prior to “Sunday in the Park with George,” and ten years after “A Little Night Music.” Is a decennial show by Stephen Sondheim our musical answer to Lousia May Alcott?

25 YEARS AGO: The Concord Players wins the NETC Moss Hart Award for “The Glass Menagerie”.

50 YEARS AGO: “Angel Street” Should we do it again for the 2054 - 55 season?

100 YEARS AGO: In New York, George M. Cohan writes and stars in “Little Johnny Jones” and makes his name immortal with “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Give My Regards to Broadway.” “Peter Pan” premieres in London.

IT’S YOUR CUE

The Concord Players Newsletter introduces a forum for your feedback. We want to know what you, our members, have to say. Each month we’ll pose a question for your consideration. A representative selection of your thoughts will appear in the subsequent issue. E-mail your opinion to playersnews@mac.com, or post your reply to Players Newsletter, PO Box 22, Concord, MA, 01742.

The Concord Players have attained a technical proficiency that’s second to none. As our production values have become increasingly sophisticated, so have the demands that we make on our performers, which often require casting actors far afield of Concord and its contiguous communities. (For example, highly skilled dancers for “Chicago.”) In your view, is it the purpose of The Concord Players to serve our community by providing the highest level of entertainment possible, or is it more important to provide our residents with the opportunity to be in a play?

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IN A SHOW? LET US KNOW!
playersnews@mac.com

Thomas Caron, editor