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CALLBOARD OF THE NEW KENSINGTON (PA) CIVIC THEATER OUR 66th SEASON January 2012 724 339 3140 P.O. BOX 202, New Kensington, Pa 15068
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Richard Devlin Editor, Prevaricator, and Embellisher of this rag |
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“Another year older and deeper in debt”. – A refrain.
The first meeting of 2012 will be this Friday, January 13th at the Workshop, corner of Carl and George, just a few blocks up from the pastoral glades of Buffalo Bills in the Valley Heights of our fair city. The uncanny, almost balmy weather we’re having – well, maybe that’s a stretch – should bring out a reasonable attendance considering that there will be free food and a workshop. But reports too. The bitter with the sweet.
The next production, the second of the season, has been cast and rehearsals are in progress. The play, Drinking Habits, directed by Monica Filippone is a farce and of late we’ve done very well with farces. This one concerns a small convent that tries to keep afloat by make wine, clandestinely, until – the inevitable. The wine wins a prize and with it, notoriety, the inquiring press, Rome and, while trying to handle these difficulties they must still make their wine, the rascals. It sounds like a fine romp and the cast, a mixture of the old and new, should have a fine time with it.
Drinking Habits runs March 8 – 11. The second bit of interest surrounding that date is that Spring is knocking at the door. So, in the meantime and the best way to wile away the winter blues is to get involved in some aspect of the play. Come to the meeting Friday while the play is just getting into rehearsals to find out what is needed. While there, try some of the refreshments and wine if, of course, you are of age to buy some.
BILL MITAS, Production Department head and all around nice guy, he tells us, will be designing the set for Drinking Habits, being well versed in the subject. In the play, the play! He’s currently doing research, corkscrew in hand. He’s also directing Penn State’s Cabaret with auditions this Sunday, at Penn State at 7 PM. Prepare a song with sheet music or recording.
COLLEEN SULAVA is directing the workshop for Friday’s meeting. It’s an old play, an old classic, a strange old classic, one that we have never done. Beth Minda and Natalie Moretti are in it along will Denny Sulava. Production Head Bill Mitas (see above) arranged for lights and a semblance of a set. Denoir and the Workshop Warrior assisted Billy. There should be more such interdepartmental cooperation to give everyone, the director, the actors and especially the audience a better sense of ‘theater’.
Incidentally, the set for Drinking Habits, this just coming in, has been designed. That’s the good news. The better news is that it involves no platforms!
Old bottles, odds and ends…
We began 2012 with two fresh faces in attendance at the 12th Night Party annually hosted by Carla Guzzo – Gaylin Mitas, now living in NYC and Gene Centricelli who we haven’t seen in years.
For next season it seems that the selected plays are Noises Off and Last Of The Boys. Noises Off, if you will recall, shows the first act then, in the second, the complete set is turned around and we see what went on backstage during that first act. Again, it’s a farce and Sylvia directed it when last it was done here. Steve Pastrick designed the 1989 set. Back then we were doing five shows a season which would include a children’s show in December, a real money maker.
Joseph and The Amazing Tech Color Dream Coat seems to have the inside track for the musical. So! Sometimes there is honest reliable information contained herein even though it’s all based on hearsay and subject to change.
And that brings us to the close of this, the first month of the last year – or so the Mayan calendar tells us. But that shouldn’t happen until December so don’t do your Christmas shopping early. In the meantime there are things to do – like this Friday’s meeting. See you there. |
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New Kensington Civic Theatre Entertaining the AK Valley for over 65 years |
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January 2012 Callboard |