February 2008 Newsletter

Hello Friends of Bedford Players!

We have News, News, News.... Read on to find out about....

How our next production is coming along (on stage & back stage)
The latest news from the Executive Council meeting
The upcoming Rehearsal Open-House & Social Event (Thursday, March 6th)
Upcoming Social Event (The Odd Couple, March 7th)
Upcoming Play Read (Wednesday, March 12th)
Some really BIG NEWS about a Bedford Players Member, strictly on the Hush Hush!

First the production news....

Spring is at least occasionally in the air, with March upon us and April coming up fast. And that means a mere 7 weeks until the Dress Rehearsal for No Sex Please, We're British.

The Cast and Backstage Stars have been busy and everything is on track for the production. Here are some highlights:

The set is finished! Congratulations to John Slor and his crew of oldies and new members for a job well done! Comedic farces are known for many entrances and exits, but I don't think I've ever seen so many doors on one set! Quite a job! Well done everyone!
The painters are more than primed! Last weekend Dave Parsons and crew taped and primed the set. The colours have been chosen and I believe the painting has already begun, with more to happen this weekend. Dave will be giving instruction on some specialty painting, such as the 3D effect for door panels and mouldings, and direction on painting kitchen cupboards and appliances.
Sheila Fowler and her crew have been busy rounding up the many No Sex props, which (no surprise) include a variety of sex props! They are still hunting for more old Readers Digest books, which will stand-in for the pornographic books. So if you have any around the house (the Readers Digest books, that is) send an email to: sfowler@staff.ednet.ns.ca. Shelagh has recruited Neil Stuart to paint the picture that so disturbs the mother-in-law (played by Neil's wife, Marion).
Speaking of things around the house ... I'm on the hunt for a sofa table (you know, those tables that are the height of a sofa, about 4' long and 1' wide) for the set. We would need to borrow it for about a month, starting mid-April. Also,if you happen to own (or come across) a picture of The Queen (or HRM and Phillip) that predates 1973, let me know. (Kathy O'Brien: kaobrien@eastlink.ca).
The set dressers (that would be me, and new members Diane Wallace & Rena Waters) have foraged through the back room for appropriate pictures and nicnacs, and have set aside a shelf-full of potential things.
New member Liza Hughes has been working hard to outfit all 11 cast members with costumes. She's doing a great job, but it's a lot of work for 1 person, and hopefully she'll be able to make contact with the others whovolunteered to help with costumes. At least Wendy Hutt has her own hooker outfit, which cuts down the workload. Maybe I wasn't supposed to share that with the group. (Ask Wendy about it!)
Our 25th Anniversary Gala and Show will be on Saturday, April 19th (limited seats, invitations to be sent out, more details to follow). If you're in touch with any former members, ask them to get in touch with Alleen Parsons at 835-9396.
The play will run for 3 consecutive weekends, on Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights, starting at 8 PM, starting on Thursday, April 24th. The ticket line will be up and running around March 24th.
Co-producers Dawn Patterson and Alleen Parsons have been having regular production meetings. It's been a challenge to involve all the new members, but with all the extra help the production side is even ahead of schedule! However, Alleen doeshave a message for the makeup ladies who have not already done so:Please call me! Alleen: 835-9396
Oh yes ... Almost forgot the little people - the actors, director and stage managers! Rehearsals are going well and Director Karen Waterfield says they're now running full acts, with people to be off book in just over 2 weeks. If interested, you'll get to see them in action this coming Thursday (details of rehearsal open house below).
That's all the production news I can think of right now (my apologies for any oversights), so on to ....

Executive Council News ....

I'll keep it short and sweet. These are thethings you're likely interestedin:

Sandy MacDougall (Communications) has gathered info on the needs of our database and has been working with new member Kirk Brown who has been slaving over his computer since joining our group (and is largely responsible for the new and improved look of our web site (www.bedfordplayers.ns.ca). More recently, Kirk's been designing a member database which will allow us todo a wide variety of things more readily -- e.g., keep track of people and their interests, send out notices, and handle online reservations for productions.
The new database will also allow for online ticket reservations (not payment), and we hope to have it operational for the upcoming show.
Sandy Mitchell (Membership Committee) has volunteered to become our Database Manager, so if there are any changes to your contact info, please send it along to her: chucklestheclown@accesswave.ca
Miles Leahy has volunteered to become the Bedford Players Archivist, and is collecting and sorting through photos from past productions. If you have any photos, newspaper articles, etc., you'd like to contribute, please contact him. Miles: milesleahy@ns.sympatico.ca
We have nominated Gary Bugden (lights & sound) for Theatre Nova Scotia's Volunteer of the Year Award. Gary has contributed to Bedford Players for 25 years! His many contributions are set out in the nominating statement, and I'm working to get this on the web site so everybody knows what he's done for us!

Rehearsal Open House & Social Event - Thursday, March 6th

For those new to the group (and for those just interested), this will be a good chance to see a rehearsal in action, and socialize with people afterward. If you've thought about directing, stage managing or acting but are not sure what's involved, come and see people in action. (Oldies ...I mean ... Experienced members also welcome to drop in and come out!)
If you're very keen, the rehearsal starts at 6:30 PM, but you can come later. It runs 'til 9 so that we have time to go out afterward (coffee/drinks/food depending on people's interests).
Oh yes ... Quiet on the Set! Come in and take a seat quietly and observe. We don't want to disrupt the rehearsal. (We can chitchat during the break or afterward or outside the Hall.)

Social Event: The Odd Couple - Friday, March 7th

Dawn Patterson has volunteered to organize this event. Here's the info from Dawn:

I know I'm not the Social Director, but I'm organizing an outing to see The Odd Couple on Friday March 7th at 8pm. It's being shown at the Bus Stop Theatre on Gottingen Street (if you want to know exactly where that is, let me know and I'll get the address) in Halifax and one of the stars is Jon MacDonald who is a member of our group. If you could let me know sooner rather than later if you're going or not, I'd appreciate it because I'd like to book a block of tickets. Thanks! Oh! And it's Foghorn Theatre doing the show in case you were curious.
Contact Dawn directly: kitty_kisses71@hotmail.com

Play Read of "Fast Girls" - Wednesday, March 12th

We will be having a play read of Fast Girls on Wednesday, March 12th at the Church Hall, beginning at 7:30 PM. (We'll start in the kitchen and move into the Hall once it's free at 8 PM). You don't need to RSVP, just show up if interested. Take a turn reading, or just come to listen (no pressure). Dawn will likely be directing this play next year.

And Finally ... THE BIG NEWS!!!

Gary has won the Theatre Nova Scotia Merritt Award for Volunteer of the Year!
Since the Awards Ceremony is on Monday, I'm assuming he now knows!
So ....
I'm presenting the Award to Gary at theAwards Ceremony on Monday night (March 3rd)at the Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth.
Tickets are $15, doors open at 7:30, awards start at 8:00, buy tickets at the door, tickets on 1st come basis, cash bar. Join the NSTheatre Glitteratti (all other awards are for professional theatre people - it's the NS equivalent of the Tony's).
Gary will be in town and he and his wife Cathy are attending the ceremony. We may be joining them for dinner at Keltic Corners (Irish Pub) beforehand, so if you want to come out to show your support, let me know: Kathy O'Brien - kaobrien@eastlink.ca.
I'm including our nominating statement for Gary as a PS, so keep reading, below.