More about the Players - Join us!

Greeting, Players!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new members. Bill Butcher informs me that the membership brochure that was included with the season ticket mailing resulted in approximately 77 new members. That's fantastic! I've been asked to pass along, however, that there was an error in the brochure and one important piece of information was left out, which is that members who join at the $5 level are expected to volunteer 2 hours per year to help the Players in some way. This could include ushering or working at the box office for a performance, helping to build or paint sets, working on costumes, helping with makeup, working backstage, or attending a work day or strike. Since this information was omitted from the brochure we certainly won't enforce this for our new members, but we strongly encourage you to get involved anyway. It's a great way to make new friends, help ensure that we can continue to mount quality productions, and have a lot of fun too. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the Concord Players, and we wouldn't be able to function without them. Opportunities for a larger commitment are there as well for those who would like to get involved with producing, technical crews (lighting, props, sets, costumes, etc.), stage managing, or committees. We love to add newcomers to our production teams!

Speaking of opportunities to get involved, we are looking for someone who would like to be a Co-Producer with Patricia Till for Neil Simon's Rumors, our Spring Show. Patricia, who is a seasoned Producer, will be happy to mentor a first timer and show them the ropes. She promises it won't be too much work; she says, "Its less daunting than you might think, and it's a lot of fun!" This is a good chance to get your feet wet if you've ever thought about producing. The show dates are April 21, 22, 28, 29, and May 5 and 6. Call Marlene Mandel if you are interested.

If you are a current member but have not yet renewed your membership, this is the last newsletter you will receive. So renew today and keep these missives coming so you can keep up on all the latest Concord Players news!

Rik Pierce, our illustrious webmaster, sends this along: "I thought I'd spend a little time today seeing if the Players webstie had been included in some of the major search engines and discovered that it is more represented in some than others. I was quite amazed to find this one, however: If you have been active in any CP productions in the past ten years go to www.northernlight.com (a major search engine) and enter in the search window "concord players" and "your name." Use the quote marks and include the word "and." If you would like to update, alter, or remove the resulting entry, please email me with your request to concordplayers@concordplayers.org."

Herewith follows, verbatim, a message I received via e-mail: "Hello, fellow thespians; This here is Giovanni Cappello, who played Andrew Carnes in Oklahoma! A little update on where I have been lately: just finished playing the turtle in Alice in Wonderland at the Hovey Theatre, and now I am in rehearsal for the part of a doctor in Look Homeward, Angel. This show will be on stage the week before Thanksgiving in Andover, however I look forward to trying out for a part in Our Town, 'cause I really miss the Concord Players."

Kate Blair will be singing and dancing in the Savoyard Light opera Company production of George Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing, the longest running show of the 1930's, a skillfully comic satire of ineffective politicians and empty political campaigns (sound timely, anyone?) Performances are Fri. and Sat. Nov. 12, 13, and 19 and 20 at 8:00 pm and Sun. Nov 14 and 21 at 2:00 pm at Corey Auditorium in Carlisle. Call 978-371-7562 for tickets or more information.

Laura Sweet is playing the part of the Spanish Ambassador's Daughter in the Arlington Friends of the Drama's production of Ben Franklin in Paris. Iain Bason is a Production Manager for this show. Performances are Dec 3,4,5, 10, 11, and 12. Tickets are $16, call 781-646-5922 to reserver them or for more info.

The weekend Shakespeare Study Group will take place January 22 and 23 at 9:45 am - 5 pm. A 10-20 line monologue from Shakespeare must be prepared and memorized. Those able to participate in a performance of scenes on March 19 at the Annual Meeting will meet on their own on selected Tuesday and Thursday evenings (two of which will be coached) and on March 19, all at 51 Walden. We are very lucky to have Lisa Wolpe, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Womens Shakespeare Company, faculty member at Shakespeare & Co., MIT, teacher, actress (she has been invited to perform Richard III at the Globe next summer!) and director, to lead the study group and direct. Cost is $100; make check payable to The Concord Players, Inc, and send to Lida McGirr. Class is limited to 14, acceptance is on a first come basis - we expect the class to fill up quickly so sign on soon!

Most of you have received a letter explaining our urgetn need to renovate the stage and grid at 51 Walden and asking for your support. These renovations are a serious safety issue and could not be delayed, so we are really depending on our members to come through for us and help us pay for these repairs. If you have't done so yet, please send your contribution to the 51 Walden Stage Fund and help us keep the curtain up in our treasure of a theatre. And to those of you who have already donated, many, many thanks!

Remember to send your news to me at sara@sb.org...