Greetings Players,

Our fall production, Honk!, opens on November 9, and runs for three weekends, through November 24, with matinees on the 11th and 18th. We reported the cast list in last month's newsletter, but auditions for the children's roles were held since then, and these young actors have been added to the cast in the roles of the ducklings: Clare Kavanaugh, Joanna Nix, Amy Nosowitz,
Jessie Pearl, Sam Petrie, Stephanie Scampini, Luke Siebert, and Liz Stark. Honk!, which has won several prestigious awards itself, is directed by our own award winning team of Kirsten Gould and Susan Minor. This is going to be a fabulous show, so don't miss it!

The Friday, November 23 performance of Honk! will be a fund raiser for the Harvey Wheeler Community Center. Tickets for the benefit are $40, and $20 for children under twelve. Come enjoy the evening and have dessert and coffee served by the Friends of the Council on Aging. For tickets for the benefit show, please call Marge Stetson at 978-369-9084.

The Concord Players hope to have the new hearing assistance system installed by the time Honk opens. If you have an issue with hearing, you will now be
able to borrow a headset at the door of the theatre that will help you to hear the action on the stage. If you can also bring your own personal Walkman-style radio, please do, as headset quantities are limited. The new system transmits on the standard FM radio band, and we will post the broadcast frequency so that you can tune it in just like any other FM radio station. We hope that this make it easier for many of you to enjoy the show!

Here's a notice from Rik Pierce: "We are having another informal play-reading afternoon for our members. This time we've decided to tackle a musical! The plans are to read City Of Angels. I will bring the CD and player, and anyone who wants to is encouraged to join in and sing. The libretto is solid and the reading of it should be great fun. What with Thanksgiving and other things, we're planning this event for 4:00 o'clock on Saturday, December 1. Everyone is welcome. I would appreciate knowing via e-mail or phone who might come just to get a guess again. The number is 978 371-7491 and the e-mail is RikP@pobox.com."

We send condolences to Susie and Chris Davies . Susie's step-mother, Miriam Renhult, passed away on October 3.

We are also sorry to learn of the death of Ginny Tucker, who was Rob Tucker's mother and Susan Tucker's mother-in-law. Ginny was a long time Concord Players member who, among many things, worked props with Heddie Kent.

Dorothy Schector sends us this news about her husband, Harry: "Harry is recuperating at New England Deaconess/Rivercrest in Concord from the effects
of our automobile accident on October 10. People who run stop signs can be lethal! He's OK but moving around very gingerly." We wish Harry a very speedy recovery.

Katie Blair is performing as an ensemble member in the Savoyard Light Opera Company's production of Kiss Me Kate at Corey Auditorium in Carlisle. Craig Howard (of CP's Evita and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum) is playing the role of Fred Graham/Petrucio. Performances are Nov. 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 8:00 PM, and Nov. 11 and 18 at 2:00 PM. Call 978-371-7562 for tickets, or they may be ordered online at www.carlisle.org/sloc.

Lida McGirr has been busy directing the beautiful and poignant The Trip To Bountiful by Horton Foote at the Hovey Players in Waltham. The show opens November 16 and closes December 1. Call 781-893-9171 for tickets.

Stefanie Cloutier, currently in charge of publicity for the Players, is looking for someone who might be interested in working with her on publicity this year in order to take over the job for next year. It is not as overwhelming as you might think; there is an overall plan in place, and there are people willing to help with writing, etc., but it needs someone who is organized and can meet deadlines. She would welcome talking to anyone interested to tell them more about this interesting way to work with the Players. She can be reached at 978-369-7592, or scaruso3@ix.netcom.com.

Kate Beattie can be seen as Gretchen (a German ensemble member - in an Italian show- what can we say!) in Nine at Vokes Theatre running from October 25 -November 17, Thursday-Saturday evenings, plus Saturday matinees on November 3 and 10 at 2:00 PM. The November 15 -17 performances are an extension of the original schedule. Tickets are going very fast, so reserve yours now if you'd like to go!

Jack and Tillie Sweet are sure busy these days!. They have been cast in the next Arlington Friends of The Drama production, The Cripple of Inishmaan. Jack will play Dr. McSharry, and Tillie is one of Cripple Billy's aunties, Eileen Osbourne. The production dates are Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9. John Fogle is the director.

There was an article in the Beacon recently about the Osnake eye' camera that was developed by Rick Shamel and his colleague, Ron Boudreau. This tiny, hand held camera, with illumination in the head, can work its way to 100 feet from the base unit, and can fit into tiny spaces. Twenty five units were donated by their company, Aqua Communications, Inc., to the rescue effort at the World Trade Center. Rescue workers were able to use these devices to probe deep into crevices in the rubble to look for survivors.

Think ahead to spring! The Concord Players Show Bus will head to London from May 3-12, 2002. For more information call Sally Bull (978-369-2042) or Susan Tucker (978-369-1648).

That's all the news for this month. Please send your news to Sara Ballard, 34 Aurora Lane, Concord, MA 01742. The next newsletter deadline is November 21.

Work on Little Women has begun! Co-producers Lillian Anderson and Jiffy Read, as well as director Dorothy Schecter, are collaborating with the Orchard House to publicize the production as well as some interesting programs in conjunction with the show. More details to follow. Auditions for the show are early - starting on January 20th. An exciting Opening Night Gala party( April 19th !!) is being planned by Chris Davies, Heddie Kent, Vinnie MacLeod, Joan Wood and Fritz and Gigi Kussin to reunite former LW casts and crews. Anyone interested in helping on the party or the show should contact Lillian.