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New Kensington Civic theatre |
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" Entertaining the A-K Valley for over 60 years" |
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OF THE NEW KENSINGTON (PA) CIVIC THEATER OUR 64th SEASON November 2009 724 339 3140 P.O. BOX 202, New Kensington, Pa 15068 www.nkct.org
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CALLBOARD |
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We are now entering what the farmers would call their fallow period, the time of rejuvenation when their fields are left unplanted, a time for them to rest, to have their energy replenished while expanding so very little of it. But like the farmers there still are many things to do, a lot of stuff to shovel. It happens. Then the shoveling.
In the apparent tranquil time following the play there is much to do, much to do and some day it’ll get around to being done. For starters, though, there’s the regular general monthly meeting this Friday, the 13th, oh my gosh, at the workshop, corner of Carl and George in Valley Heights. Here we’ll have the wrap up of the musical that, we hope, brought a smile and chuckle to our very best attendees, the women who spend entirely too much time in the kitchen. Or church.
THE FULL MONTY…. Director Laura Wurzell did an excellent job of keeping this musical from spilling over the edges, working well within the multiple scenes and set changes and levels, keeping it taut, lively and altogether enjoyable. It was a very large cast and progressed smoothly from the idea of doing a strip act as the direction a group of unemployed mill workers desperately decided to go, through their rehearsals, doubts, problems, apart from learning how to dance, on to the culmination of their tantalizing act.
The strike went well. John Noble, Harold Nichols in the cast, the one who wore the spiffy clothes and held Pam Farneth, generously paid for the strike party and he made donations to the scholarship fund in the name of Sam Burford and Steve Pastrick. Thank you John. The name never fitted one so aptly.
BITS AND PIECES…. The set for Monty reflected the gritty nature of the theme – an old steel factory long out of service with its iron beams and struts – reflected the desperation of the times. The transitions from a men’s room to the night club to peoples’ homes worked smoothly.
Did we mention that the set was by Bill Mitas? He’s also engrossed in the play at Penn State where he teaches theater (too). The Little Shop Of Horrors, a dark musical comedy, centers on Audrey, now get this, “a blood-thirsty plant that grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore.” Bring the kids. It runs for three performances, the 12th through the 14th of this week (Nov. 12 – 14) at Penn State. Tickets are $8.
OTHER NOTES…. Representatives from the Executive Board will meet with the head of Valley High concerning the price they are charging for running the lights. The lighting was not good. We are much more capable of doing our own lights – did we mention that this is our sixty forth season? One would think that the schools and organizations like the theater would run on parallel tracks but evidentially not.
The total audience for the run of Monty was 520. Besides ticket sales, the 50 50 raffle and the lobby concession help to defray some of the costs. Some, though not all. The Scholarship Fund is supported mainly by the 50 50 raffle. Smaller audiences and mounting costs can be a lethal combination working the Valley as the elm blight is working the hills.
Oh, we’re still viable. Oh, yes. Keep in mind that this is an all volunteer organization with payment only to specialists such as the band. We use our imaginations, cut expenses, work hard to make theatre come alive and get a lot of enjoyment doing it. Where else could you be in a play, could you learn to direct, to work backstage with live theater. There are few things to compare with it, really. And there’s the social life. Some day we’ll have to explore the marriages that were the direct result of working in the theater. Speaking of which…..
Nancy Planitzer, Membership Chairman, announced that her son, Terry, recently married at the tender age of 36. Sounds about right. Terry used to do lights and sound especially at Penn State some years back. He is now a structural engineer for Delta Airlines at the Cincinnati airport. He, his wife Leslie and step-daughter Arleigh live in Milford, Ohio. He can be reached at tpplanitzer@hotmail.com.
OLD BOTTLES, ODDS AND ENDS…. John DelVecchio who is in charge of the workshop threatens to have a cleanup session soon, one of these days, eventually. While that’s going on there’s the prop room that is even more demanding. Doesn’t anything, get thrown away? Ever?
At last month’s General Meeting many shared stories of Steve Pastrick and Sam Burford. Colleen tells of the time, for instance, when she was running lights for Camelot, manipulating leavers with hands and feet. In the seemingly backstage chaotic milieu Steve, who was directing and wanting to speed up the pace loudly whispered ‘knights out!’. Leavers were frantically pulled and in the middle of a scene..…..,the stage went black.
There were many tales by many people from which evolved a rich tapestry of the Civic Theater through the years. More pieces are fitting into place, season by season, play by play, and even meetings by meetings. The next meeting is this Friday, as mentioned, eight PM.
The next play, a mystery thriller, is Wait Until Dark which will done in March, followed by the British farce Out Of Order in May. Musical, mystery, comedy. Something for everyone.
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Callboard November 2009 |
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Richard Devlin Editor, Prevaricator, and Embellisher of this rag |
