Hello Friends of Bedford Players!
We have More News, News, News .... Read on to find out about ....
So, First Things First ....
Only 3 more sleeps until the closing night of No Sex Please, We're British and the Cast & Crew Party on Saturday, May 10th! Everyone who's given time, effort and energy to the production is invited, including Backstage Stars, those who worked the Door and Bar, and the talked-out members of the Telephone Committee.
Dave (Master Set Painter) and Alleen Evil Boss
Parsons (ask her about it) have graciously
offered their home for this event. They are at 485 Basinview Drive in Bedford (from the theatre,
head to Halifax, make a right turn at the light for Meadowbrook, and go way, way up the hill until
you run out of road. Then make a left onto Basinview, and they're just over the crest of the hill,
on the left. If you get lost, their number is 835-9396.)
The Party is potluck and BYOB and, for the first time ever, starts early at 9:30 PM (... Except for the cast & crew who should stay at the theatre until the end of the Closing Night performance! They'll join us around 11 PM.) The early start time will give the rest of the Backstage Stars time to socialize, pat each other on the back and get to know each other better.
This Event (brainchild of President, Karen Waterfield) takes place at the Bedford Players Theatre, 1408 Bedford Highway, Monday, May 12th, starting at 7:30 PM. All Friends of Bedford Players are invited to drop into the theatre after dinner for dessert, tea or coffee. This is a not-to-be missed opportunity to sample the impressive baking talents of those on the Executive Counsel (we can bake) and celebrate the amazing success of our 25th Season.
We will also be talking about (and gathering suggestions for) next year and future seasons. This is your chance for creative input as to what you'd like to see happen at Bedford Players. Add another production? Try a musical? Hold some workshops? Keep on the same as this past year? Suggestions regarding this past year? All information gathered will be brought to the Executive Council for assessment. There are always limitations to consider; but the more ideas and information we have, the better seasons we can deliver.
If you cannot attend and have input or suggestions please send them along to president@bedfordplayers.ns.ca. But, we hope to see you there!
If you can attend, please RSVP to president@bedfordplayers.ns.ca (we want to ensure we have enough dessert for everyone.)
What a Show! After opening night, all performances were sold out! With the additional Gala performance (which raised $1,500 for Beacon House), about 1,400 people saw the show over 10 performances! We had great feedback from the audience, and one woman even came 3 times to "see the guy with all the faces" (Robin).
A number of things all combined to bring out the largest crowds ever seen at Bedford Players: a very funny play, a great director (Karen Waterfield), a wonderfully talented ensemble cast, our many new members, increased awareness of our group from our membership drive and Gala promotion and, perhaps most importantly, the relentless and superb marketing campaign by Bonnie Matthews and her publicity committee (Rae Marlborough and Lillian Inglis).
Everyone who contributed to the production on stage and behind-the scenes! Including, The Cast ....
Back Row: Bryn Rowlands (Superintendent Paul), Adam O'Brien (Peter Hunter), Miles Leahy (Leslie Bromhead),
Allan Tidgewell (Delivery Man/Stage Crew/Special Effect), and Kyle Richardson (2nd Delivery Man/Stage Crew)
Front Row: Jill Curley (Barbara), Calum MacLean (Mr. Needham), Robin Saywood (Brian Runnicles),
Robin's Bosom Buddy Wendy Hutt (Susan), Marion Stuart (Eleanor Hunter),
Stacey Fownes (Frances Hunter)
The People Working Backstage (or Anxiously Watching) Every Show ...
Director Karen Waterfield (anxiously and proudly watching); Sandy MacDougall (who raised the raised the art of Stage Management to new and amazing heights); Newbie Assistant Stage Manager Donna Goyetche; and new-to-us but veteran-and-capable head-of-stage-crew Frances Taggart.
Our Stellar Cast of Backstage Stars Who Made It All Possible ...The Producers: Alleen (Evil Boss) Parsons and Dawn (I Can Do It All) Patterson not only did an amazing job of integrating all the new members into backstage roles, but saved the day by jumping in to do costumes(with seamstresses Audrey Peake and Marie Cole) when our original costume mistress went missing.
The Set Builders: Lead set builder John (Serenity) Slor did his usual wonderful job on the set directing our set-building crew which included both new members (Barry Stubbs, Jim Green and Kyle Richardson) and (ahem) not-so-new members (Robin Saywood, Barry Matthews, Bonnie Matthews and Carleton MacLean). Well done everybody!
The Set Painters: Lead set painter Dave (You-Can-Do-It!) Parsons gave direction and encouragement to a whole new crew of set painters. These non-artistically-challenged and talented people were: Judy Huskins, Jim Greene, Jane Nauss, John Howlett, Rena Waters and Neil Stuart (who also painted the disturbing Legumes Varies for the show).
The Set Decorators: Kathy O'Brien and Rena Waters mined our memories, scrounged, and scoured 2nd hand stores to give the set that '70's look and feel. It was deja vu all over again! I think we did a pretty awesome job!
The Props People: Ooooh! Those naughty, naughty (and numerous and hard-to-find) No Sex props! Congratulations to Shelagh Fowler and to her hard-working committee (Marie Cole, Avis Degaust and Natalie Stuart) who (with Stage Manager Sandy MacDougall) spent many hours tracking them down and rounding them up.
The Tech Crew: Our outgoing King of Technical Direction, Gary Bugden (after basking in his more-than-15-minutes of fame as recipient of the NS Theatre Volunteer of the Year Award) did the technical design and trained two new Techies, Keith Sudds and Greg Nason, who "flew solo" to operate the lights and sound for many performances. Great job guys! You're both very, very welcome additions to our group!
The Make-Up Crew: Busy downstairs were our makeup artists: Delene Hardy, newcomer Sarah Flemming, Bonnie Matthews, Alleen Parsons and newcomer (and keener) Judy Huskins (who was there for every show, has volunteered to head up makeup for future productions and recruit new makeup people).
Publicity: Already talked about the fabulous job done by Bonnie Matthews, Rae Marlborough and Lillian Inglis.
Programs & Posters AND Canteen Manager: John Slor (again). What can we say? He wears so many hats at BP he must need a separate room for all of them. Congratulations on doing a great job on the extra-big 25th Anniversary show program.
Ticket Reservations: Newcomer Kim Moore (who had to sneak calls while working a new job) and Jen Johnson handled all those reservations and confirmations (plus cancellations, rescheduling, and telling disappointed patrons we were sold out). Also, for the first time ever, we had online reservations (thanks to our Webmaster Extraordinaire Kirk Brown) -- more on that later.
The House and Lobby Set-Up Team:These people were around every Thursday afternoon during the run to create a Theatre out of a Church Hall and a Theatre Lobby out of an entrance Hall. Every group needs "a few good men", and for a long time we had too few -- but 2 of the new good men are Jim Green (also set did painting) and John Howlett (also did set construction) who set up 175 chairs every week. Dave Parsons (another good man with many hats) was also there to help out. The Lobby decorators were Alleen Parsons, Kathy O'Brien, Linda Green, and Nancy Ardenne (with welcome assistance by the men). Thank you to all these unseen and hard-working people!
The Front-of-House People:Delene Hardy rounded up a roster of new and not-so-new member / mentors to work at the door and canteen for each night of the show. Handling the hordes were: Jennifer Johnson, Jo-Anne Howlett, John Howlett, Maureen Harding, Lynde Harding, Anjie McKay, Maxine Clarke, Dawn Patterson, Lisa Sutherland, Dee Wilkinson, Murray Hartwell, Diana Chandler, Peter MacIntosh, Louise Mark, Avis Degaust, Natalie Stuart, Janet Godsell, Richard Denson, Alleen Parsons, Dave Parsons, Joyce MacDonld, Greg Boutilier, Barry Matthews, Bonnie Matthews and Nancy Ardenne. Thanks to everybody for a job well done!
Our House Managers: were Kathy O'Brien, Alleen Parsons, Dawn Patterson, Bonnie Matthews and Sandy Mitchell. Our job was a lot easier thanks to the amazing new headsets found by Sandy MacDougall.
Our Photographer: Many thanks to Ted Misztela who took the photos of the cast and crew and photos at the Gala. The Gala photos are now on the website.
Video Production:I haven't seen it yet, but I hear Ken Shipley did an amazing job filming and producing the video, with zoom-ins and extras (it's a 2-DVD set). As usual, copies were distributed to the cast and crew at the Cast Party, thanks to John Slor who copied them with his usual timely efficiency.
The Memento Magnet Maker: Kathy O'Brien made lovely (if I do say so myself) No Sex Please, We're British / 25th Anniversary fridge magnets, which were given to cast, crew and backstage stars at the Cast Party and Monday's Dessert Social. (If you didn't get one, ask me or Alleen Parsons for one at the next event.)
More to come...