Stage Door
OKTC STAGEDOOR, SEPTEMBER 2011
Editor: art@oktc.ca
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GO FOR IT!
Maybe two of the healthiest indications of a good youth theatre company is, first, that every year there lots of fresh new members, and, second, that you can speak to the youngest, newest member, and know that the oldest most experienced ones also will understand and be refreshed. So here’s my message to the youngest, newest:
You’ve joined a youth theatre company with dreams, one that can be there for you for many years as you grow up. Sometimes we’ve had 6 year-olds who were still growing up in our Company, and still working at our Camp OK in their twenties.
We love youth, energy, and creativity. And we especially value it when you offer your very best work and your most generous spirit to those you work with. You see, we are a team first, and our greatest joy comes from working together, and not from being selfish stars.
We cheer for one another. Everyone knows that we are all on the same side at OKTC, and that we value you for the individual that you are. So you can feel safe here, and not fear that you will be laughed at or put down. So GO FOR IT! You’ll fit in, not by being forced to be like everyone else, but by being the best YOU.
You will work hard here if you care. Creating beautiful things with others can be tough work, and there naturally will be times that you feel down. But when you come together and master your work, you’ll be thrilled beyond imagining.
So, OKs of all ages, imagine the best YOU, and bring that KID to a brand new season!
As theatre people say, “MY FAVOURITE SHOW IS ALWAYS MY NEXT SHOW!”
THE NEW PLAYBILL
In midsummer, I gave you a chance to guess the titles from the descriptions, and some of you got some of them correct! So congratulations!
Put all of these together, and WHAT A SEASON!
HALLOWEEN: 1 musical and two comedies.
The musical: It has one of the longest titles in musical history. The writers of it also wrote the most famous Halloween song of all time. Among the fabulous characters is Dr. Frankenstein. Its plot is eerily reminiscent of The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The title: I’M SORRY THE BRIDGE IS OUT; YOU’LL HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT; Oct. 21 to 30
Comedy 1: A brilliant murder mystery spoof of the Agatha Christie & Murdoch Mysteries kind of story, with 2 great detectives challenged to reveal a cunning killer before the entire party of guests is bizarrely murdered. The audience has the chance to help. The title: THE CURSE OF THE COBRA’S KISS: Oct. 22 to 28
Comedy 2: Without knowing it, two rival schools plan their competing haunted house Halloween fundraiser events in the same remote, deserted mansion. We soon suspect that there is a third party doing evil and malignant work in the mansion, just maybe a ghostly slasher! The title: THE BEST HAUNTED HOUSE EVER!: Oct. 23 to 30
NOVEMBER: 1 drama, 3 musicals & 2 showcases
The drama: This is one of the greatest, most mature and intelligent legal dramas ever written, and a classic of the Broadway and world stage and of Hollywood film. A life hangs in the balance as conflict and tense drama pile up, and the collective audience butt inches forward in its seat… The title: TWELVE ANGRY JURORS: Nov. 4 to 6
Musical 1: It is the 60’s- the era of the Woodstock Festival, bell-bottoms, long hair, beads and hippies! A big weekend rock festival is planned, featuring the star-powered rock group The Lemon Bugs. But then everything starts to go wrong, man! Can the Love Generation get it together? The title: GROOVY!: Nov. 10 to 13.
Musical 2: Takes us back to the 70’s era of the discotheques and the beautiful club denizens of New York and London, England. Using the greatest pop hits of that era, the musical bases its plot on the Faust legend. A man sells out his true love for fame wealth and popularity, and then tries to turn back time. The title: DISCO INFERNO: Nov. 17 to 20
Musical 3: This revue-style show is structured as an extended TV infomercial, with all the fun and comedy that comes along with that. The hook is that the product being pitched in the infomercial is a CD set of the greatest chartbuster hits of the rocking 80’s! The title: LYFE-TYME PRESENTS: COME ON FEEL THE NOISE!: Nov. 24 to 27
2 Showcases: See our TAG ( The Actor Grows) classes in action as they demonstrate all their theatrical knowledge and tricks of the trade gained in their workshops with TAG Director Kerry Hishon and her professional workshop leaders: TAG SHOWCASES: Nov. 29 & 30
DECEMBER/JANUARY: 3 Musicals:
The season is capped off with three of the most popular musical dramas ever written, all based on works by 3 of the greatest writers of all time
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The first melds beautiful music with a bitter struggle to the death and a dramatic, tragic and fiercely uplifting story. The title: LES MISERABLES: Dec. 6 to 11
The second takes us to another century when life was hard, and children devalued. It tells one of the great stories of world literature accompanied by a score of some of musical theatre’s catchiest, most hummable songs. The title: OLIVER!: Dec. 16 to 22
The third absolutely took London’s West End and Broadway by storm. Based on special writings by a famous poet, this musical introduces us to a host of the most vibrant and distinctive characters ever and tells a touching story about the lowliest being exalted. The title: CATS: Jan. 11 to 15
GETTING YOUR TICKETS
All tickets for all shows go on sale at noon on Monday. Sept. 19. Mark that down or program your iPhone! Go to www.oktc.ca and follow the instructions. Or you can phone 519-672-8800. Or you can go right into the Grand Theatre Box Office on Richmond St., where our ticket sales are managed.
But better yet, Subscription Packages are on sale right now, and they provide you with a whole season of theatre-going at a price per production that is irresistible. And this gives you a simple and perfect way to encourage your family to really be a part of everything that goes on in OKTC, way beyond rehearsing and performing in one show a season. You and your kids have a perfect way of making theatre a regular part of your lives, and of enriching your Company’s spirit!
We’ve had a 5 Production Subscription flex pass in the past, and still have it. Several of our most valuable audience members suggested that we offer a subscription package for ALL of the productions in a season! So, here you are! The Theatre-Lover’s 10 Production Subscription!
You should have received hard copies of these in your Casting Package. You can also find both on your own Company website: www.oktc.ca. Just follow the simple instructions, and enter our world of theatrical magic!
NEW OK STAFF
With the retirement of Georgina Smith last spring, Kerry Hishon has stepped in as permanent Family Liaison and Coordinator of Volunteers, a position she filled last winter during Georgina’s indisposition.
The new OK Costumes Coordinator is Tania Harvey. Nancy De Souza was our magnificent Costumes Goddess for several years, and is now using her scant spare time being a grandma. Tania has very capably crewed and headed costumes for shows since her daughter Sydney joined the Company, and has already rolled up her sleeves in eager anticipation of the challenges and excitement ahead!
We hope that many of you enthusiastic and eager parents and grandparents out there will join our circus and volunteer with us. We need people in costumes, properties, set building and painting, fund-raising, stage managing etc. Don’t think that you need all kinds of experience and expertise! Eagerness and the wish to help make great things happen are the qualities that count. And you’ll find, very quickly, that you’ll be proud to have become not just an enthusiastic parent, but also a competent and forward thinking theatre person. And the great cleanup batter of our operation!!
So never hesitate to contact Kerry to tell her you’ll help. Kerry@oktc.ca / 519-679-0598
SECOND ANNUAL SOUNDS OF LOVE GALA ANNOUNCED
Last February, we raised over $14,000- for improvements to our theatre sound equipment, a direct benefit to every member, and to our audiences. And we did that by doing our theatre thing: we held a big event at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club, with lovely food, a silent auction of great stuff (let me tell you!!), a professional auctioneer, who is also on our Board of Directors, and the finest entertainment in London- our own talented Original Kids! It was the middle of a big snow storm- and it JUST DIDN’T MATTER! Did I mention the bar??
Anyway, in theatre there are always improvements to make, things to be replaced and new sound, lighting and technological additions to finance. So our volunteer Board of Directors is doing it again, on Sat., Feb. 11, same place from 7pm to midnight.
Board member Jennifer Meister is in charge again, and avidly awaits volunteers to help in various ways. 519-438-4435 / Jennifer@meister.ca Jennifer is one of our theatre people who began, as I described above, as an enthusiastic mom who offered to be on a costumes team.
IMPORTANT KIDBITS
- **Sign-ups and Registrations for the OK NYC Trip (March 8 to 15) have already started. If you are in high school, get info now from Art at art@oktc.ca while space is available (if you haven’t contacted him already)! The plan at this point is to aim for 8 OK guys and 24 OK girls. Adding 8 supervisors and me as Tour Leader, that would be 41 total. You should know, though that 14 guys have professed interest , so it could get tight for everyone as the bus fills. Better to register now if you feel comfortable with this traditional trip. (Sorry! Not a parents’ trip!)
- All 48 places on our Oct. 12 trip to Jesus Christ Superstar at the Stratford Festival are sold. Sometimes people’s plans change, so if you are desperate to see this sold-out, sensational, maybe Broadway-bound production, let me know and I’ll make a waiting list.
- September brings us around to the Grand Theatre’s High School Project and this year’s Footloose. There are always OKs involved it. Both Ciana Danbrook and older sister Chanel are in the cast, Chanel as the female lead, Ariel. Chanel and Ciana really hope to meet lots of OKTC friends at the stage door after a performance!
- It is now audition time! I provided a lot of good advice in my special Midsummer Stagedoor. I hope you check out our online archives, and go with the best advice!
AND NOW…LET THE AUDITIONS BEGIN!
