backstage - community players of concord

The 85th award winning season of the Community Players of Concord concludes on May 3-5 with three performances of DOUBT, A Parable, a play by John Patrick Shanley. Originally staged off Broadway, the production moved to Broadway in March, 2005 and closed after 525 performances and 25 previews. DOUBT, a Parable won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for best play.

DOUBT, a Parable takes place in 1964 at the fictional St. Nicholas Catholic school and Church in the Bronx, New York. The school’s principal, Sister Aloysius, a rigidly conservative nun, insists upon constant vigilance. During a meeting with a younger nun, sister James, it becomes clear that Aloysius harbors a deep mistrust toward her students, her fellow clergymen, and society in general. Naïve and impressionable, Sister James is easily upset by Aloysius’ severe manner and harsh criticism. Sister Aloysius has concerns regarding the relationship between a parish priest and one of boys. She confers with Sister James and with the boy’s mother; then she confronts the priest. With no actual proof that any wrongdoing has taken place, the audience is left with its own doubt.

DOUBTA PARABLE

By John Patrick Shanley

Directed by Kevin Barret

Director Kevin Barrett is working with a very talented cast:

Sister Aloysius Beauvier Kathy HodgesSister James Katie DunnFather Flynn Aaron CompagnaMrs. Muller TJ Davis Mentor to the Director Wayland BunnellCo-Producers Allwynne Fine Barbara WoodmanSet Designer & Maser Builder Rick SilverbergCostumes Gay BeanStage Manager Karen BrazSet Painters Jim WebberBanner Design & Painting Lacy LongLighting Design David NelsonLight Board Technician Kevin BelvalSound Design Erik HodgesSet Dressing and Props Joey Murphy assisted by: Kendra West-Senor, EJ Cohen and Joyce Webber

Don’t miss this thought provoking, award winning drama as the Players bring the 85th award winning season to a close.

The play is produces by permission of Dramaists Play Service, Inc., New York

with the Community Players of Concord, N.H., Inc.

85th Season - Third Issue - February 2013 BackStage

April 2013

with the Community Players of Concord, N.H., Inc.BackStage

StaffBackStage

Editor ..................................... Phyllis Stuart Assistant.................................... Lacy Long Assistant.............................. Esther Crowley Design and Layout ............ Tess Hodges

P. O. Box 681, Concord, NH 03302-0681 (603) 224-4905 www.communityplayersofconcord.org

The staff wishes to thank all who contributed to BackStage.

Produced by the Community Players of Concord, N.H., Inc. and distributed to its members free of charge. A one-year nonmember subscription is $2.50.

Membership Chair: Wayland Bunnell, 199 Tarrytown Road, Manchester, NH 03103 (603) 668-5466

The Players’ Mission: “... to encourage, foster and promote the participation by amateurs in all phases of the theatrical arts ...”

BackStage has dedicated this year’s issues to Bob Burns

Three productions down for our Award Winning Season...one to go.

DOUBT is up and running under new leadershop. Kevin Barrett agreed to step into the director’ role when the scheduled director had to step down. (He said “Yes” when asked.) The cast and crew are busy rehearsing and building. Please contact Allwynne Fine or Barbara Woodman, producers extaordinaire to see how you can help.

Kendra West-Senor has agreed to chair the Nominating Committee. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, and can commit to all the board meetings, please contact her. If she calls you to serve, please consider saying “yes”

Allyson and Charles Mitchell have agreed to co-chair the Annual Meeting on June 14. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit with good friends, eat great food, be entertained AND catch up on how the Players are doing. Don’t miss it. If they call you to help, please say “Yes”.

To get ready for the Annual Meeting, Kevin Belval will host the annual Spring Clean-Up on June 8. We need lots of bodies to scrub the studio, inside and out, and make it ready for the next season. When you get the notice and reminder, please say “Yes” by showing up for the day.

See, we need you to say “Yes” to help in all aspects of the Players. Don’t let any opportunity to go by when you can step up to support the group. You know, 85 years is a long time to be around. Everyone needs help when they get to be that age!

See you at the theatre!

Kathryn GM Hodges

President

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Kathryn and Erik Hodges with Victoria Hogan as the Upsons in MAME, 2005.

April 2013 page 3

www.communityplayersofconcord.org

AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS!The Community Players of Concord’s Children’s Theatre Project is thrilled to announce that our 18th season’s fall show will be Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEST JR.!

Auditions will be held at the Players’ Studio on Josiah Bartlett Road in Concord on

Sunday, June 2 from 10:00 – 12:00 and 1:00 – 4:00

Monday June 3 from 4:00 - 6:00

Callbacks if needed will be held Wednesday June 4 from 4:00 - 6:00

Auditions are open to young actors ages 8 – 16 years

Interested Actors need to contact Karen Braz at [email protected] to schedule an Audition day and time. Actors will need to prepare both a short, memorized one-minute monologue as well as a song, which can either be sung a cappella (without music) or to a music cd. There will be no audition pianist. Actor will also read scenes from the script. Please also bring a recent photo you do not need returned.

BEAUTY AND THE BEASTKaren Braz, Childrens Theatre Project Chair

The following roles are available:Narrator (one or more)The PrinceThe BeastThe Old Beggar Woman/EnchantressBell (Beauty)Various Villagers (an Aristocratic Lady, a Fish Man, an Egg Man, a Sausage Curl Girl, a Baker, a Lady with a Cane, a Lady with a Baby, a Candle Man, a Hat Seller, Milkmaid, a Shepherd Boy and a Bookseller)Gaston (egotistical, dimwitted, ladies’ man)Lefou (his dimwitted sidekick)Silly Girls (gaga for Gaston)Monsieur D’Arque (the man who runs the lunatic Asylum)Maurice (Belle’s Father and inventor)Cogsworth (an English major-domo who is becoming clock)Lumiere (a French Maitre d’ who is becoming a candelabra)Babbette (a maid who is becoming a feather Duster)Mrs. Potts (a cook who is becoming a teapot)Chip (her son who is becoming a teacup)Madame de la Grande Bouch (an opera singer who is becoming a wardrobe)Various Servants (who are becoming Napkins, Silverware, a Dust Pail, an Egg Timer, etc.)

April 2013


WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS (UP TO AGE 14)Date: Saturday May 4, 2013

Time: 9:30 am – 12 noon

Where: The Studio

Instructors: Karen Braz & Tony Bonjorno

Fee: $5.00 for members & $10.00 for non-members

This is a wonderful class to help our young actors understand the auditioning process. Our experienced instructors will help you bring character, movement and emotion intoyour audition songs and monologues. Learn how to make your audition distinctive so that the director and the entire audition panel remembers you when it comes time tocast the show.

IMPROVISATION FOR KIDSDate: Saturday, May 11, 2013

Time: 10:00 am – 12 noon

Where: The Studio

Instructor: Betty Lent

Fee: $5.00 for members & $10.00 for non-members

This a great class to help our young actors make it up on the spot, participate in some theatre games and have some fun! This workshop will help kids develop the necessary skills to think on their feet and improve their future performances. Instructor Betty Lent has taught this same workshop for adults for many years and it continues to be one of our most popular workshops.

REGISTRATION FORM FOR May 2013 WORKSHOPSChild’s Name_______________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________

Age___________________________Phone_______________________

Parents’ E-mail______________________________________________

Pre-registration is important since the workshop size will be limited.

*Remember to pack water and snacks.

Auditioning Workshop – Saturday May 4, 2013________________________

Improvisation Workshop – Saturday May l1, 2013______________________

Total Number of workshops @$5.00 = _________

Total Number of workshops @10.00 = _________

Make checks payable to: Community Players of Concord, NH

Mail this form and payment to: Candy Brehm or to Karen Braz

75 Hutchinson Rd. 732 Concord Stage Rd. #15

Chichester, NH 03258 Weare, NH 03281

NHCTAAllwynne Fine, Rep.A meeting of the NHCTA was held on February 2, 2014, at the Court Street Theater in Nashua with only five community theater groups represented. Chuck Emond led the discussion which centered around planning the 43rd NHCTA Festival next fall. Joe Pelonzi of the Ghostlight Theater and the Nashua Theater Guild offered to bring the request for sponsorship to the Bedford Off Broadway board meeting the next night. He is proposing tha the group receive all revenue from the admisssions, concessions, and ads with the entry fees going to NHCTA.The entry fee will be $125.00 with paid membership. Membership dues are $25.00. So far there hasn’t been much interest shown since the festival is a state competition with no regional competition to follow.

April 2013 page 5


THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE PROJECT WINTER VACATION THEATRE CAMPDirector: Karen BrazThe CTP offered its annual Winter Vacation Theatre Camp from Sunday, February 14 – Friday, March 1. Twenty-eight young actors from ages 8 – 14 participated in BUGSY MALONE, JR., singing, dancing and acting their way through this funny show where kids play at being 1920’s gangsters. Along with yours truly directing, Tony Bonjorno coached the cast vocally and student choreographer Brooke Solomon staged the dances.Nathan Smith and Griff Stuart acted as our teen assistants; finding props, pulling costumes and working backstage the night of the performance.

We were very lucky and extremely grateful to once again have Pembroke Academy open it theatre doors to us. Their director, Peter Mehegan, is a wonderful fellow who does all he can to make sure we’re all set with lights and sound for the day we are in the theatre, even finding us one of his students to run the board for the show. The facilities coordinator, Jane Darrell, quoted us an extremely generous fee for the use of the space, and then emailed me to “Oh wait, you’re a non-profit group; you’ll get it for even less…!! How nice! And the custodial staff was great to work with, very accommodating and helpful, as always.

I’m also very thankful for the parents who helped with all those things that need doing; going out to buy food for our pizza party the night of the show, helping with costumes, making props, helping with move-in and strike, cleaing up, etc. And especially for SandyStrzepek and her amazing cake making skills!! It was a busy, fun week and the cast did a GREAT job Friday night, showing off what they’d been working on all week! They did themselves proud! Thanks for a great time and see you all next year, we hope!

The cast taking a bow.

Fat Sam (center) and his gang

photos by Lynn Solomon.

April 2013


RE- INTRODUCING E.J. COHENorBEAUTY SCHOOL DROP-OUT LANDS BOARD JOB AS PLAYERS’ SECRETARY

Those of you in The Players that go back to 1985 will remember our new secretary on the Board Of Directors as an energetic stage performer. From 1985 - 1992 she performed in 8 shows while working other duties on 3 more.

Her name is E.J. Cohen (don’t ask, EVERYBODY calls her E.J.) and she first came to us when she was dragged (quite literally according to her) by Karen Braz to auditions for Grease in February of 1985. She landed the coveted role of Frenchy, the beauty school drop-out and the rest is history.

Originally from Bridgeport & Fairfield, CT, she found herself job-seeking in 1984 in VT. Not finding what she was looking for, she set out on Rt 9 and landed in Concord. She continued to search for a job in Portsmouth and other sections of the state but had to admit to herself that she liked Concord.

E.J. left Concord in 1992 and became a teacher at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, CA. She quit teaching in Oct. 1996 and became a full-time freelance interpreter. She also taught and interpreted at various synagogues in the San Francisco Bay area and then decided to return to school for another Master’s degree. After 10 years in CA, she moved to London, England to study Jewish Education where she got her degree in 2 years, but ended up staying for 8.

E.J. may have left Concord and even the USA but she never left The Players, keeping up her membership and friendships made years ago. “During the 20 years I was away, I continued to get issues of the Backstage. Most of them were accompanied by a handwritten letter by Bob Stuart, filling me in and bringing a bit of the Community Players to me wherever I was. It helped curb the bouts of homesickness; Concord (and The Players) were HOME”.

She returned to the states in May 2011 and moved back to Concord that Oct. It wasn’t long before she was back with The Players helping with props and painting sets for last season’s The Philadelphia Story, performing at the Annual Meeting and getting elected to The Board of Directors in June.

Much has changed since her return: The Studio was still in the fund raising stage in 1992 - “It’s an amazing space, where we can rehearse and build and create, instead of dividing our time in various buildings. Another big change is the Children’s Theater

with Karen Braz

with Jim Webber and Lacy Long in San Francisco

April 2013 page 7


Project; it was a dream of Karen Braz’ and I’m thrilled it’s become such a successful reality... and so many new faces,sometimes it feels like a brand new organization”.

She’s had a great time over the years -- “Playing Frenchy, because it was my introduction to the Players and to the people who have become my closest pals. LOVED being in Music Man, as a ‘pick-a-little’ lady, because I loved the camaraderie and the fake gossip. Being in the chorus in Once Upon A Mattress was fun because there was so much to react to; I loved the dance numbers too. A BIG favorite: being in the ensemble for Not Quite Broadway with Love. It was a great, bonding (KIM! you’ll have to ask her about this one), emotional (my first Players’ solo!) and cathartic show for me. Now, I’m having fun with helping with props because I like the scavenger aspect of it, and I’d consider auditioning for a musical again...”

E.J. is joyful about being back HOME and working with her old and new friends. She plays several musical instruments which many of you witnessed at last year’s annual meeting. She even accompanied this writer on typewriter once (again, you’ll have to ask her). Still, she does miss some things -- “seeing Joan Guardino do her Romper Room greeting at the Annual Meeting”. We’re all with you there, EJ.

So, any advice you can give our members from your lofty perch on The Board? “Be involved!!! Volunteer to help build, help paint, help stuff envelopes, usher... ANYTHING! It’s a friendly, talented group of folks who welcome newbies with open arms. And as I’ve found, they welcome returnees (even offering them positions on the Board!)...disproving the ‘you can’t go home again’ theory”. Encore!! EJ My Fair Lady II

working at Audi

April 2013


I would like to nominate ________________________________________ for the 2012 Osy Strong Award. She/he has demonstrated the aforementioned qualities in the following ways: ________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Signed _____________________________________________________ Date ___________________

2013Osy Strong Award

All members of the Community Players of Concord are invited to submit their nominations for Outstanding

Contributor to our organization

Qualifications for the Osy Strong Award are: 1. Any adult Player, past or present, whose service to the

organization has been notable, shall be considered.

2. The service to be recognized should be of general benefit to the Players as a group.

3. Service recognized must be over and above the normal duties of membership in the Community Players organization.

4. The nominee need not be a current member of the Players.

5. The nomination should be made on the form shown below, using additional sheets if necessary. Service need not be confined to a single year.

6. Nominees should not be advised of their nomination.

7. The President is ineligible for this award.

1976-77 Robert A. Stuart 1977-78 Harriet N. Strong 1978-79 Winifred E. Lethbridge 1979-80 Betty Abbott 1980-81 Francis X. Gardner 1981-82 Phyllis L. Stuart 1982-83 William F. Tiffany 1983-84 Carol Kyne 1984-85 Clara Lemm Brogan 1985-86 Virginia Dwelley 1986-87 Allwynne E. Fine 1987-88 Kenneth & Edna Walker

1988-89 Wallace J. Pineault 1989-90 Irene F. Deschenes 1990-91 Joan Guardino 1991-92 Camie P. Morison 1992-93 Joseph Dwelley 1993-94 Jean and John Conlon 1994-95 Fritz Sabbow 1995-96 Lee Lajoie 1996-97 Sharon Lajoie 1997-98 Douglas Schwarz 1998-99 Craig and Mary Walker 1999-00 Gregory Stuart

2000-01 Robert Pearson 2001-02 Doris Ballard 2002-03 Wayland Bunnell 2003-04 Lacy Long 2004-05 Karen Braz 2005-06 William Golding 2006-07 Elizabeth Lent 2007-08 Kevin Belval 2008-09 Kathryn Hodges 2009-10 Esther Crowley 2010-11 Jim Webber 2011-12 Kendra West-Senor

Osy Strong Award nominations should be received by the Players Board of Directors no later than May 7, 2012. Nominations should be mailed or given to the President:

Wayland Bunnell, 199 Tarrytown Rd., Manchester, NH 03103

Past Recipients

April 2013 page 9


STUDIO SCHEDULINGKathryn Hodges, ChairThe Spring is always the quiet time for the studio scheduler, with only one show to work with. If you need the studio for a Players’ event, please contact me at 753-6653 or hodges_erik @comcast.net. I will need the date, time (from-to) and reason, as well as which room you want (rehearsal or workroom)

March Board MeetingEmergency Meeting:

An emergency meeting was held due to Pat Karpen’s resignation as Director for DOUBT and Kevin Barrett agred to replace her as Director.

Regular Board Meeting:

Charles and Allison Mitchell were appointed Chairmen of the Annual Meeting; Kendra West-Senor was appointed as Chair of the Nominating Committee; Jim Webber was appointed as a member of the Publicity Committee to do calendar listings. Eric Halter resigned as Chair of the Website Committee as May 31.

Bob Pearson reported that 2 copies of the new Producer’s manual are in the Library. (one cannot be removed). It was voted to accept the tentative budget for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. E J Cohen volunteered to serve on the committee for the Chamber of Comerce Business Showcase in April. Karen Braz and Candy Brehm will represent the Childrens Theatre at the Jr. Service League’s Breakfast April 7.

DATES TO REMEMBER

APRIL

26 DOUBT, a Parable Move-in Audi

MAY

3-5 DOUBT, a Parable Performance Audi

9 Board Meeting Studio

JUNE


8 Spring Studio Clean-up Studio

14 ANNUAL MEETING Studio

JULY

11 Board Meeting – Nuts & Bolts Studio


MOVED AND SECONDEDJanuary Board MeetingBob Pearson reported that the Producers Manual is ready to go to the printer. Jim Webber announced that Boston/Manchester Airport will be sponsoring BOEING BOEING. Alwynne Fine and Barbara Woodman were approved as producers of DOUBT, a Parable and the budget for this play was approved. It was voted to increase the main stage director’s fee from $500 to $750 and the choreographer’s fee from $400 to $600 starting with the 2013-2014 Season. Policy and Procedures: Discussion occurred as to who is responsible for diction and projection during a show, both for rehearsal and production. After much discussion, it was voted to add to the Director’s Agreement; that the Director shall create and implement a plan to address diction and projection during the rehearsal process and shall share the plan with the Board. Videotaping: The Players will comply with all applicable laws restricting the recording and videotaping of copywrited material.

February Board MeetingWayland Bunnell, chairman of the 2013-2014 Season Selection Committee reported thatscenes were read from several comedies at the members’ open meeting. There was overwhelming support for KING KONG’S NIGHT OUT and THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE and it was voted to accept the Season Selection Committee’s recommendationfor these two plays.

April 2013


COME ONE, COME ALLAllison and Charles Mitchell, ChairmenThe Players’ Annual Meeting is on June 14, 2013. We will gather at 6:00, with a POTLUCK meal soon thereafter.

Please bring the following item, depending on the FIRST letter of your last name.

A-R Main Dish

S-V Salad

W-Z Dessert

The Committee will provide drinks (ice tea, soda, water, coffee)

Entertainment is still to be determined. But we promise you an exciting meeting!

SOUNDErik Hodges, ChairFinally, the Players have a complete sound system! After two productions with ‘in the field tests’ and a lot of trial and error, we now have an easy to use, great sounding system ready for whatever the group throws at it. All primary components are made in the USA by Peavey Electronics, and are designed for anything from rock & roll to classical sound re-enforcement. We will be using the new rig for the first time in May with our production of DOUBT. I want to encourage any and all members who have any interest in learning about the new system to join me beind the desk at the Audi or production week, April 28 through May 5. I’m also available for training any and all members who want to operate the system in the future. Because it’s our equipment, Players’members don’t need any special certification, just two good ears, a fondness for space age knobs and buttons, and an afternoon with an owner’s manual. Feel free to contact me anytime at 753-6653 for further info.

FRIENDS OF THE AUDIErik Hodges, Rep.A brief report on the Friends Quarterly Meeting

The Friends of the Audi had their quarterly meeting on Sunday, March 10 in the Audi lobby. Topics of discussion involving the Players included the January promo mailing that used, in part, info from the Players’ data base. The Friends are, also, planning to move the large stack of folding chairs in the basement by the rear stairwell to a mobile chair rack that will be stored along the backstage wall. This will require each show to take the mobile chair rack into account during the production week. If removed from this area at the start of the week, it will have to be returned during set strike.

BOX OFFICE and SUBCRIPTION CHAIRDavid Murdo, ChairThe Community Players 85th “Award Winning Season” is drawing to a close, and with success. We are also ending our second season using Vendini as our ticket vender. Over the past two years, it has provided actual tickets for our patrons, ticket sponsors which brought in an additional income and most importantly, ability to balance the box office after each show successfully.

I would like to thank our show ticket sponsors: Imagination Village, Nadeau’s Sub, Hermano’s Mexican Restaurant, and Ballard’s Ice Cream and More. If you are dining out, I encourage you to consider one of our ticket sponsors and thank them for their sponsorship. Finally, thank you to the volunteers who came forward to help staff the box office: Ellen Burger, Allwynne Fine, Louis Rosenthal and Theresa Neves. It is because of these fine volunteers that the box office has run so smoothly.

As we gear up for the start of the Community Players 86th Season, I would invite you to step forward and volunteer to work in the box office. Some of our volunteers who were uncomfortable with a computer, have discovered it is very easy to use. If you aren’t convinced, there is a need for a volunteer for performance night to help greet our patrons and pass out the reserve tickets.

Please note that I have discontinued my home phone land line 225-7474. I can now be reached by my cell phone 233-3737 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Again, thanks for a job well done and I look forward to our 86th Season.

April 2013 page 11


JUNE6 Barbara Woodman8 Gary Evans12 Reed Marmy-Cotton13 Jean-Marie Peterson16 Abby Lange18 Jim Rogarto18 Marc Willis20 Norman Ballard21 Barbara Lawler21 Elizabeth Perrin-Vigil22 Kathleen Beliveau23 Alene Allegretti23 Bob Pearson25 Andre Tremblay29 Mary Walker

JULY2 Kevin Buckly2 McLane Heckman2 David Murdo3 Joan Kelley4 Wayland Bunnell5 Allwynne Fine8 Chris Demers8 Carole Neveux10 John Conlon10 Elizabeth (Tess) Hodges11 Rick Broussard15 Colleen Schwarz17 James Kruse16 Eric Skoglund20 Robert Lethbridge23 Ginny Dwelley24 Sally Argeriou26 Milton Argeriou28 Allie Piper31 Kristopher Hanks

AUGUST1 Barbara C. Beelle2 Tamara McGonagle9 Victoria Hogan10 Karen Braz12 Jeanne Bailey-Clemans12 Kevin Roberge15 Geri Veroneau16 Maggie Faneuf17 Katherine Duncan17 Kelly Doremus Stuart18 Tom McAloon21 Colleen Jay Paquette21 Cheri Birch25 Candace Azotea31 Craig Walker

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Betty Thomson is back at home in Epsom after spending the winter in FL. Shortly after arriving in the Sunshine State, she suffered a stroke but is well on her road to revovery - demonstrating a time step for the nurses in the re-hab hospital. We’re certain she’d appreciate a call.

Mary V. Case (HARVEY II, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE) and her husband, Bill have decided to return to their home state of RI. Mary enjoyed discovering her theatrical abilities with the Players and performed in 6 shows with us since becoming a member in 2008. Break A Leg,

Mary! We will miss you.

Clara Brogan was in the Concord Hospital during the Christmas holiday season with pneumonia and is now well on her way to recovery.

THRU THE STAGE DOOR

NOMINATIONCOMMITTEEKendra West-Senor, ChairThe Nominees are…

Betty Lent, Lacy long, and I are the members of this year’s Nominating Committee. We are interested in hearing from you if you have a member in mind who would be an asset to the Board of Directors. Please consider that being on the Board is a big commitment and an integral part of what makes the Community Players of Concord such a reputable organization. Please send me an email with your nominee’s name and contact information. Thank you. Kendra West-Senor – [email protected]

April 2013


Community Players of Concord P. O. Box 681 Concord, NH 03302-0681

The Players’ Mission: “... to encourage, foster and promote the participation by amateurs in all phases of the theatrical arts ...”

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