November 2007

THE HEIRESS UPDATE

We are nearing “tech week” with The Heiress. See enclosed flyer for performance dates and tickets. We’re very happy to have the talents of several members of Westfield Community Players for this show: namely, Naomi Yablonsky, Barbara Goldstein and Bob Murray. The cast and production crew are as follows:

(in order of appearance)

Maria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniela Dragomir

Dr. Austin Sloper . . . . . . . . Randy Parker

Lavinia Penniman. . . . . . . . Paula Gray

Catherine Sloper. . . . .  . . . . Geri Kennedy Moss

Elizabeth Almond. . . . . . . . Stephanie Turner

Arthur Townsend. . . . . . . . .Lee Grabelsky

Marian Almond . . . . . . . . . .Valerie de Leon

Morris Townsend. . . .  . . . . Christopher Whitely

Mrs. Montgomery. . . . . . . . Janice Iannelli

* * *

Director . . . . . . . .Naomi Yablonsky

Stage Manager. . .Barbara Goldstein

Set Design . . . . . .Rick Roberts

Construction . . . . Bill Dembaugh, Rick Roberts

Set Decoration . .  Barbara Godzinski

Costumes . . . . . .  Paula Gray, Naomi Yablonsky

Lighting . .. . . . . .Bob Murray

Sound . . . . . . . . . Randy Parker

Backstage . . . . . . Garry Tamburro

Program/Flyer. . . Susan Rosenthal

Advertising . . . . . Darlene Lloyd

Tickets . . . . . . . . .Jean Dembaugh

Producer . . . . . . . Randy Parker         

Set in upper-middle-class New York in the 1850s, The Heiress tells of shy, plain

Catherine Sloper, daughter of a prosperous physician, who falls desperately in love with a delightful young fortune hunter. Catherine's lack of worldliness prevents her from realizing that the young man proposing to her is not entirely drawn to her by her charm. Dr. Sloper sees through the fortune hunter and forbids the marriage, but his daughter proposes an elopement which fails to materialize because

the young man knows that most of her expected fortune will go elsewhere if he marries her. Two years later, the fortune hunter returns and proposes to her again. What will Catherine do?

IOLANTHE AUDITIONS

Auditions for Iolanthe by Gilbert and Sullivan will be held December 1-3 at Oakes:

Saturday, December 1, 2pm-5pm , Sunday, December 2, 2pm-5pm, Monday, December 3, 7pm-9pm

Accompanist provided. Greg Parvin, who directed our memorable G&S productions of HMS Pinafore and The Mikado, is enthusiastic about directing Iolanthe. We are still looking for a musical director.

The performance dates, previously announced for April 5-20, may be adjusted to accommodate cast and crew who wish to celebrate Passover, which begins at sunset April 19. The next issue of Curtain Call will provide the confirmed dates, and if necessary, new tickets.

OPEN HOUSE AT OAKES CENTER

Stony Hill Players held an Open House at Oakes on Sunday, September 23 to celebrate our official return to Oakes as tenants. We have a one-year lease through September 2008. The highlight of the open house consisted of a brief presentation in the theatre, consisting of several  arias by SHP veterans Victoria Cannizzo, Nancy Mion and Bill Dembaugh; two readings from The Heiress; and “The Schmuel Song” by Dennis Ryan.

The open house is a good way of rekindling excitement among our members after the summer hiatus. And, per our mission statement, “fosters an appreciation for theatrical excellence in the community.” I hope that we can make the open house to be an annual event to kickoff the new season.

GENERAL MEETING DECEMBER 2

Mark your calendars for 7pm-9pm Sunday, December 2 for our semi-annual General Meeting at Oakes Center . (Note: This is an evening meeting.) We will elect members of the Nominating and Playreading Committees for the 2008-2009 season. We will also vote on a proposal to amend our Bylaws to change the start of the fiscal year from July 1 to August 1.

TICKETS FOR 2007-2008 SEASON

Those of you who have paid your membership dues or subscriptions for the 2007-2008 season will find your tickets enclosed with this mailing. If you have not renewed your membership, you are urged to do so now so that you can vote at the General Meeting.

Please note that the possibility that the production dates for Iolanthe will change. If so, members and subscribers will be issued new tickets.

NJACT

Now that SHP has returned to Oakes, the Executive Board is considering renewal of SHP’s prior membership with the NJ Association of Community Theaters. NJACT consists of over 140 community theaters throughout the state and annually dispenses the Perry awards. Think of them as the “Tony’s” for NJ community theater.

Each member theater volunteers two members to serve as reviewers for other member theater productions. These reviewers are trained to review a performance and complete a questionnaire covering over 65 categories. The awards are presented at a dinner at hotel in Bridgewater in September. (Ron Mulligan, who directed A Man for All Seasons for SHP last November, received a 2007 Perry nomination for directing I Hate Hamlet for Nutley Little Theatre last March.)

Further information can be found at njact.org and njtheater.com/NJACT/default.asp. Our membership could benefit SHP for recruiting performers and technical staff. WE might also learn a thing or two about how other community theaters work. It might be a lot of fun to be part of the larger NJ theater community. If you’re interested in being a reviewer, please email stonyhillplayers@yahoo.com or call 908-277-1732.

TRICOUNTY CTA

Looking for another local production (that is when SHP is dark)? Check out the calendar at www.TriCountyCTA.org. The TriCounty Community Theatre Association consists of representatives from eight community theatres in Essex , Union , and Morris counties. Its mission is to share resources and access to information for our members and audiences. It maintains a website which includes a common calendar for auditions and performance dates. All members and subscribers to member groups are entitled to a $2 discount to all member group productions. For further information please visit www.TriCountyCTA.org.

Randy Parker

President