|
Richard Devlin Editor, Prevaricator, and Embellisher of this rag |
|
OF THE NEW KENSINGTON (PA) CIVIC THEATER OUR 66th SEASON December 2011 724 339 3140 P.O. BOX 202, New Kensington, Pa 15068
|
|
CALLBOARD |
|
New Kensington Civic Theatre Entertaining the AK Valley for over 65 years |
|
It’s December already, the month when snow comes down and lights go up, clusters and strings of greens and reds and whites begin to brighten the evenings and Christmas carols, incessant Christmas carols pervade the air and the Sunday papers are fattened with glossy ads, all fighting for attention. And those Christmas carols still.
But there are other things happening in December besides the singing cash registers. There’s the meeting, for instance, this Friday, the 9th at our beloved workshop, corner of Carl and George streets. This is usually a well attended event and refreshments, always extraordinary, will be even more so. Bring some wine if you like you like and come, relax, enjoy a pleasant few hours.
AUDITIONS, AUDITIONS,…….
Our next play, the second of the season, will be Drinking Habits, a farce with the title being a decided play on words. Nuns, you see, are secretly making (and selling) wine to keep the doors of their little convent open. Everything is fine except, and here’s where the complications come in, the wine wins a prize. Dear Lord! Newspapers want to find out more and the nuns suspect that the news snoops are spies from the Diocese – and that’s just the beginning. Our web site, nkct.info, has a more involved synopsis – and involved it is.
The play calls for 5 women and 3 men from early 20’s to late 50’s. The auditions are December 12 from 6 to 8 PM. Readings will be from the script.
Drinking Habits runs March 8, 9, 10 and 11 at Penn State. The director is Monica Filipone.
These tryouts are remarkable for several reasons – rehearsals get us out of the after Christmas doldrums, gives a focus to the long stretch of winter and it opens just a few days before spring. Reasons enough to either tryout or, and this is just as important, work on the many facets of putting a play together, props, costumes, set building. No experience needed.
NOTES GLEAMED FROM HITHER AND YON…..
Carla Ann, our ever vigilant (and vacation prone) Treasurer passed out her detailed account of our income and expenditures. In it we find that Lucky Stiff, our last musical, cost a ton of money for such a rather bare boned production.
The Planning Board has recommended two plays for next season, Noises Off and Last Of The Boys. Both were approved by the Executive Board. The musical is still a bit elusive but Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat has been mentioned.
For real: Workshop Manager John DelVecchio reported that The Inspector General of our insurance company (right hand up!) inspected the workshop and noted that we need exit signs. Hooee! What about fire escapes, pray tell? And what are we insuring other than a bunch of odd sizes of wood and miscellaneous debris that we should be happy to be rid of? Wot?
OLD BOTTLES, ODDS AND ENDS….
From our notes we gather that Louise Ziccarelli will be in charge for providing the food for the coming meeting. Oh joy, joy! She always does such a good job.
And speaking of food, gatherings – we were, weren’t we? – Carla announced that her Twelfth Night Party will be January 7th which makes it the thirteenth Night Party but who’s counting. You’re invited and this is how you get there. Assuming, now, you’re going up the hill past Valley High toward the bridge. At the top of the hill, at the light, look to the left and you’ll be looking at her apartment building, nay, at her very apartment. These are always a well attended parties and she has had them for so long that it’s an entrenched tradition. She’s at 105 Woodstone Lane – apt. #65.
THIS ‘N ‘AT…..
There will be a workshop at Friday’s meeting, directed by Matt Malarski and Mary Ferrara will be handling the one for March. John Lutman has either April or May so that leaves February wide open. If interested in handling a workshop contact Directing Chair Pam Farneth at queenpcf@aol.com.
As of the end of November Membership Chair Nora Ann Pastrick reported that we have 51 dues paying members – not that we have any other kind. She plans to have a new directory by December’s meeting.
Bill Mitas will do the set for Drinking Habits. He who runs the theater department at Penn State just ended their musical Avenue Q – again the title is significant. Avenue Q is a queer kind of play with sizeable hand puppets that must have taken a considerable amount of work to make. Someone remarked that it was an ‘R’ rated Sesame Street.
Thanks to the detailed report of House Chair Shawn Israel we know that some of our audience came from Monroeville, Apollo and Oakmont. So, Cindy Ansani of Marketing is being effective with her advertising.
Although the refreshment stand in the upper lobby is usually closed when we do our performances – indeed, it’s closed when Penn Stat puts on their Plays, nevertheless it was nice to have free cookies available to our audience and thanks to Meg Moio and Pat Condelli for supplying them. Wait! Pat Condelli? Now there’s a pleasant name from the past.
And so the year is winding down. We trust that this season finds you all well and that you have many blessings to be thankful for.
To all, a very Merry Christmas and a joyous season.
|
|
Look close and you will see this is not Richard’s picture….he he he |
