Greetings, Players!

In case you haven’t heard, I’m sorry to report this year’s performance of the Concord Players Winter Welcome, scheduled for December 7, has been cancelled. This is due to several circumstances that conspired against us, making the event too difficult to produce this year. We’ll miss what has become a much-loved tradition for the holidays. However, the good news is that there are plans afoot to put a committee together in the spring to work on this for next year, so that the directors, cast, and singers can be recruited well ahead of time, a rehearsal schedule worked out, and so that all of the work of organizing this doesn’t fall on the shoulders of just a couple of people. If you are interested in being on this committee, contact Kate Henchman (369-7503) or Heddie Kent (369-2421). I’ll put a reminder in the newsletter again this spring when the committee is being formed.

Here’s a message from Shana Dirik: “Nationals Update...The Road to Pennsylvania! After winning both the EMACT and Regional competition with last year’s entry of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, The Concord Players now have the distinct honor of representing New England at the AACT National Competition in Harrisburg, PA in June of 2001. As a result, we are proud to announce our first fund-raiser to help us on our way to Pennsylvania. The event is one not to be missed, and is a 1940’s Radio Show to be performed on Saturday, January 20 by the Colonial Radio Players. It will be directed by Joe Zamparelli. Old time favorites such as Jack Benny and “Who’s on First” will have us in stitches. Seating is limited to 200 people, on a first-come-first-served basis. The event promises to sell out quickly, so call Corinne Kinsman at the Concord Players number (978-369-2990) today and order your tickets before they’re all gone! Tables will seat 8 to 10 people, and can be reserved. The cost is $35 per person, which includes a dinner buffet, two drinks, and is for a great cause. Don’t miss this one time event, which will be a night to remember! Please, let’s all do our part and show our support for sending the Players to Harrisburg by getting our tickets early!”

Speaking of the Radio Show fund-raiser, the next committee meeting for this will be at Shana Dirik’s house, 57 Lexington Drive, Acton, on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 8:00. All help is appreciated; show up or call Shana at 978-635-1967 to become involved.

Here’s exciting news - an anonymous donor has agreed to match up to $4,000 of money that we raise by March 31 to fund our trip to the AACT Nationals. We are very grateful, and hope it will help inspire you all to help us make our goal.

And while we’re on the subject of EMACT, as last season’s winners we are responsible for producing and staffing the upcoming year’s competition at Brandeis University over Memorial Day weekend. We need volunteers to usher, sell concessions, and oversee the green room, among other jobs. This weekend is a lot of fun, so consider helping out. E-mail Pat Morrow at patmorrow@juno.com for more information.

A nominating committee is being formed to consider candidates for next year’s Concord Players Board and the Executive Committee. If you are interested in serving in any of these capacities, please call Jean Devine at 617-484-2802, or E-mail her at jdevine@variagenics.com.

We would like to thank Donald and Nancy Richardson, Susan Tucker, Sally Bull, and Anonymous for recent contributions that they have made to the Players. We would also like to express our appreciation for the continued support of the Players from the funds generated by the sale of the Our Town note cards at various local businesses.

The date of the Shakespeare Acting Workshop has been changed from January 13-14 to February 10-11, 2001, due to a conflict in the schedule of the teacher, Antonio Ocampo Guzman. Because 51 Walden is not available then, the workshop will be held in Clark Hall at the Hancock United Church of Christ, 1912 Mass Ave. in Lexington Center across from the Village Greene. Ample parking is in the rear. Further details will be announced later. Anyone wishing to register early can contact Dorothy Schecter at 978-369-3259 or E-mail daschecter@aol.com.

Here’s a note from Claiborne Dawes: “How about a Show Bus to Niagara?? Bill and I spent Oct. 3-5 at a theater seminar, part of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Four plays: Lord of the Flies, The Matchmaker, She Loves Me, and Shaw’s The Doctor’s Dilemma. Plus talks with cast members, the Public Relations Director, the Production Coordinator (think 12 plays in repertory, in 3 theatres, between April 1 & Nov. 11 !!), and others. Also tours of the prop (oh, Heddie!) and wardrobe depts. Very good acting, wonderful staging. The small town is 55 minutes from Buffalo, right on Lake Ontario, a charming place: has lots of fun shops, many b&bs and hotels, a golf course within walking distance, plus several historic forts - and Niagara Falls is (are?) 20 minutes away. Fall is best time, I would think; town is quiet then, colors are gorgeous. Sally Bull and I would consider a Show Bus, or an Air Bus’, if enough people are interested. So call us, or phone the Shaw Festival for more info. at 1-800-511-SHAW, or go to http://www.shawfest.com/.”

Happy birthday and congratulations to Gladys Foreman, who has just celebrated her 85th birthday.

Iain Basin, Patrick Cleary, and Craig Ciampa have been cast in the Quannapowitt Players production of Much Ado About Nothing. Performances are Feb. 2 - 24. Call 781-942-2212 for more info.

To get into the holiday spirit you might enjoy attending the Christmas concert presented by the Concord Madrigals on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4:00 PM at the West Concord Union Church. Among the singers are Pat Kane, Kate Blair, Pamela Dritt, and Sara Ballard. The concert features Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, as well as music by Faure, Poulenc, Brahms, Purcell, and Mendelssohn, and a carol sing. Tickets are $8, $6 for students and seniors.

That’s this month’s news! Please send your news to me at: Sara Ballard, 34 Aurora Lane, Concord, MA 01742, or E-mail me at sara@sb.org. The next newsletter deadline is December 26.