Spotlight September issue

Spotlight Newsletter

September 8 2008

Welcome back! We hope you had a great summer.

There's a lot to celebrate this season. It's our 80th anniversary; we have fabulous, lower ticket prices to commemorate this historic season; and we have an amazing slate of Mainstage, Studio, and Junior Theatre productions.

We also have a legion of dedicated, involved volunteers who spend countless hours onstage, offstage, and on committees to make Civic one of the most renowned community theaters in the country.

To celebrate the talent, passion, and dedication of ALL of Civic's volunteers, a group of Civic members has worked hard to create a Celebration Event for all A2CT volunteers and members Saturday, October 4, at WCC's College Theater. Schmoozing begins at 7pm with the event at 8pm. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. In lieu of the traditional awards for best actor, play, etc., this celebration will honor each show individually and will allow the directors of each show to highlight the efforts of their cast, staff, and crew. To keep things light, directors have devised some of their own awards, including: Biggest Loosening of Morals, Genius Actor on Loan, The "Yes, I Really /Can /Act" Award, The "I Put My Movie Career on Hold" Award, Most Willing to Lose His Life to Memorize a Million Words, and many more!!
There are a few categories of awards that need your input--check our website soon for the ballot, or pick one up at the A2CT office. Please return your ballots by September 26.

As a member-driven organization, decisions on all aspects of the organization are made by the membership itself. Even the Board is elected by the membership to carry out the wishes of their constituents. This season, a dedicated group of members put a call out for members to participate in the crafting of a new "awards" event. Through Spotlight articles and at the annual membership meeting, this group invited all A2CT members interested to join in. The result is a new approach to a traditional event, and one we trust will make all participants of the 2007-08 season feel appreciated and honored.

Please join us on October 4 as we celebrate the people who make Civic Theatre possible.

Cassie, Suzi, and Darrell

Come Into the Woods with A2CT

Forum

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's staging of the strikingly original result, Into the Woods, runs September 11-14, 2008 at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre on the University of Michigan campus.

Imagine Cinderella, Jack (of beanstalk fame), Rapunzel, Little Red Ridinghood, and company at the same table as you at a neighborhood pub. This scenario, albeit improbable, will give you a sense of the feel of this musical, as, throughout the show, you are treated to not only the frenzy of each character's own narrative, but also the chaos that results when all these tales begin to overlap. After a few drinks, we find out some interesting things about our beloved fairy-tale characters. Cinderella has admitted she sometimes enjoys cleaning, Little Red Ridinghood has eaten half of Michigan, Jack pays a little *too* much attention to his pet cow, and Rapunzel's claustrophobic childhood has become far too much for her to bear. Of course, these aren't exactly the versions of these tales we remember from our childhood. Rather, these re-imagined interpretations are likely the ones we will forever cherish as adults. If you have watched Shrek and loved the way that fairy tales are spoofed for comical plot devices and moral-filled happy endings, then Into The Woods is for you! I would not be surprised to read that the creators of the green ogre and his friends didn't actually borrow many of their ideas from this fine musical piece, now a modest twenty years young.

It always takes a great cast to pull off Sondheim's clever and vocally demanding works. We have assembled a talented team who truly give it their all! Returning from recent A2CT productions are Mark Batell (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Bat Boy, A Few Good Men) as Cinderella's Father, Jackie Gubow (Bat Boy) as Lucinda, Michael LaFlamme (Hair, Cabaret) as the Narrator/Mysterious Man, Analea Lessenberry (Music Man) as Little Red Ridinghood, Scott Longpre (Cabaret) as Jack, Marci Rosenberg (Hair, Guys and Dolls) as Cinderella, Sara Ryzdewski (Music Man, Hair, Cabaret) as Snow White, Craig Van Kempen (Jekyll and Hyde) as the Steward, and Jihan Woods (Hair) as the Witch. Rounding out the cast are a host of A2CT newcomers: Steven DeBruyne (Baker), Josh Glassman (Wolf/ Cinderella's Prince), Jenny Herzog (Rapunzel), Lance Jones (Rapunzel's Prince), Debbie Nichols (Jack's Mother), Jill Quagliata (Cinderella's Stepmother), Allyson Rosen (Baker's Wife), Chelsea Sigler (Florinda), Dayna Smith (Grandmother/Giantess), Linda Venable-Boehk (Cinderella's Mother), and Casey Wooster (Sleeping Beauty).

Sam Pazicni

Enter the Studio for Exit the King

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's Studio Series presents Eugene Ionesco's lively dramatic comedy "Exit the King," October 10 - 18 at the A2CT Studio Theater, 322 West Ann Street in Ann Arbor. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $15 reserved. Tickets are available at the A2CT office at 322 W. Ann Street, by calling the office at 971-2228, online at www.a2ct.org, or at the door. Additional information is available by visiting www.a2ct.org.

"Why was I born if it wasn't forever?"

The lines between comedy and tragedy, melodrama and farce are blurred beyond recognition in Ionesco's entertainingly twisted look at the absurdity of human mortality. Assisted by the five remaining members of his royal household, Ionesco's 'everyman,' King Berenger, faces decline, decay, destruction and death with humility and pomposity, valor and despondency, a hearty laugh and a desperate wail.

The king has been putting off his own death for over 300 years. Now the universe is collapsing, and his vast kingdom has been reduced to a single room. Only his inevitable demise can set things right, and assisting him in his final hour are his first wife, Queen Marguerite, who is focused on moving the process forward, and his young second wife, Queen Marie, intent on holding it back. The Royal Physician (who is also the Royal Executioner) observes Berenger's condition with a jaundiced eye, while the king's maid (and nurse), Juliette, struggles to maintain the remnants of the royal residence. Chorus to the proceedings is the king's Guard, who keeps the audience updated on the situation with a running play-by-play.

"Exit the King" features Tom Underwood as King Berenger, Lesli Weston as Queen Marguerite, and Cindy Chu as Queen Marie, with Julie Allen Speiser as Juliette, and David Widmayer as the Guard. It is directed by award-winning local actor and director David Andrews, assisted by Brittany Batell, with technical direction and set design by Mark Batell.

Step Up to the Plate for Civic!

Unique Fundraising Opportunity

Civic Theatre has an opportunity to be involved in a unique fundraising opportunity during Tiger games at Comerica Park in the 2009 Season. Comerica Park offers non profit organizations the opportunity to work a concession stand during a Tiger game and earn profits from food products that have been sold during the game. It has been reported that depending on the location of the concession booth, on a "good" night a group can earn as much as $1200 - $1500 a game.

Before Civic can make a commitment to the project, a core team of thirty (30) volunteers who make a commitment to working on this project needs to be identified. Twelve (12) to fourteen (14) of these volunteers would be needed for each game.

Commitment:

Each non profit group in this project commitments to running a concession stand during at least 10 Tiger games during the season. (Each group selects games early in the process. The Tigers schedule is generally released in November or December.)
All volunteers must be available for two training sessions. One training session is with the group overseeing this operation. The other training will be at the ball park so that everyone understands the operation.

Twelve to fourteen people are needed to run the concession stand during the games. These people are from the pool of volunteers who identify themselves early in the process.

A project manager will be identified for each game. Teams of volunteers must arrive prior to the start of the game to set up the concession stand.

Other details will be reviewed at the training sessions.

Next Steps: Civic Theatre can not do this project unless we know we have enough volunteers. If we can find at least thirty people who can commit to at least five games, we should be able to cover the minimum 10 games. This is an opportunity to bring large sums of money into the organization quickly.

IDEA: If you are a member of a committee that is looking for money to fund a special project, if your committee is part of this project, it might be a fun, quick and easy way to have access to funds.

Interested people should respond to this email or call Civic Theatre office. In order to determine whether or not we can do this project, volunteer names are needed by October 1, 2008.

Auditions

Rapunzel
Audition for Rapunzel, directed by M. Kate Murphy, are
September 15 & 16 from 4-6pm, with callbacks September 17
from 4-6pm. Auditions consist of theater games and cold
readings from the script. Junior Theatre is for young actors in
GRADES 4-12. Performances are November 6-9 at WCC's
College Theater.

Lend Me a Tenor

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre announces auditions for the comedy Lend Me a Tenor, directed by Cassie Mann. Auditions take place Sunday, September 21 and Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Callbacks, if needed, are Wednesday, September 24 at 7pm. Actors need attend only one of the two regular audition dates. All auditions take place at the A2CT Rehearsal Studio, 322 W. Ann St.

Lend Me a Tenor is an energetic comedy about a much-anticipated guest performance of a world-famous tenor at the Cleveland Opera's performance of Otello. When Tito, the talented but temperamental tenor arrives late for the rehearsal, it sets in motion a madcap series of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and misadventures.

Lend Me a Tenor has roles for four men ages 18-70 and four women ages 20-80. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script and movement games. Those auditioning for Max, Tito, and the Bellhop should prepare 16 bars of an operatic song or ballad to sing a cappella-no sheet music needed. Trained singing voices are not required; those cast in the singing roles need only be able to carry a tune and sing loudly.

Production dates are November 20-23, 2008, at U of M's Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre.

Civic Open

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre announces auditions for its first-ever open vocal competition, Civic Open, produced by Curt Waugh. Auditions take place Saturday, September 27 from noon-4pm and Sunday, September 28, from 3-6pm. Singers need attend only one of the two regular audition dates and may show up at any time

during either audition period or call A2CT to reserve a time slot. All auditions take place at the A2CT Rehearsal Studio, 322 W. Ann St.

Civic Open is vocal competition for musical theater-style performers. The ten best women and the ten best men from auditions will be invited to perform a full song in front of a live audience at the final competition taking place at Ann Arbor's renowned Firefly Club. The first and second-place winners at the final competition will receive cash prizes. Those auditioning must be 21 years or older and must prepare a song to be sung using a backing track. Those auditioning may bring their own MP3, CD, or CDG or visit a2ct.org for selections from Civic's inventory.

The Civic Open final competition will take place at the Firefly Club Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm.

Follies

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre announces auditions for its production of the Sondheim musical, Follies, directed by Brian Hilligoss. Auditions take place Saturday, October 4 at 10am, Sunday, October 5 at 6pm with callbacks Saturday, October 11 at 10am. Actors need attend only one of the regular audition dates, but should be available for callbacks. All

auditions take place at the A2CT Rehearsal Studio, 322 W. Ann St.

Follies is a richly nostalgic tribute to the Golden Age of musical theater. Cast members of the original Weisman Follies reunite on the eve of the demolition of their beloved theater in one of the best musicals in American theater. There are featured roles for 14 men ages 20-85 and 18 women ages 19-85, plus an ensemble of men and women. Actors should prepare a song from the show listed online at a2ct.org (music online soon) and should come prepared to dance. Auditions will also consist of cold readings from the script. Rehearsals begin October 27.

Production dates are January 8-11, 2008, at The Lydia Mendelssohn Theater.

All auditions take place at A2CT's rehearsal studio at 322 W. Ann St. For more information and character descriptions, visit www.a2ct.org or call the office at 734-971-2228.

Volunteers Make the World Go 'round!

Special Thanks to:

Tiff Crutchfield for helping set up the ticket system printer
Paul Bianchi, from the Tech Committee, for providing support in the office
Eileen Goldman for helping to fill season ticket orders
Andrea Van Heerde for helping in the office
Matt Steward, who has been delivering brochures to Ann Arbor businesses
Tom Steppe for importing the patron files for the new ticketing system

June Work Day Volunteers

18 volunteers pitched in for the June Work Day. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the following volunteers who helped make the June work day very successful!

Linda Lee Austin, Brittany Batell, Mark Batell, Kathleen Beardmore, Alix Berneis, Susie Berneis, Cathy Cassar, Doug Harris, Cassie Mann, Brad Peters, Suzi Peterson, Emily Rogers, Matt Rogers, Mike Sielaff, Wendy Sielaff, Bob Skon, Andrea Van Heerde and Sam Zwetchkenbaum.

Volunteers pitched-in to paint the lobby, hallway and bathroom floors. The studio was cleaned and painted. Costumes were organized, props were repaired and many more improvements were made to the building. Thank you, Volunteers!

Civic Goes to Hollywood

When the movie Whip It, starring Ellen Page, comes out, look for a few Civic actors in the background. Anne Bauman, Linda Lee Austin, and Doug Harris answered the casting call A2CT forwarded to the audition group and actually got paid to be extras in a feature film! If you're not on our audition e-mail group and want to be, e-mail us and we'll add you to the list.

Emily Rogers, Volunteer Coordinator

Our 07-08 Season Sponsors