Coming up

ramas, monologues and old-time radio favorites are planned for the next three general meetings. The first, “Sorry, Wrong Number,” will be presented June 8.

Larry Della Vecchia is the director of the mystery thriller by Lucille Fletcher. Karen Bratton plays the lead role of the invalid Mrs. Stevenson, who is confined to her bed and overhears a telephone conversation about the planned murder of an unknown woman. Other cast members are Bob Marguccio, Beth Hornbostel, Dominick Wasielewski, Eileen Kenneally, Pat MacDonald, Cynthia Mancini, Irving Lipski, Bob Johnson and Carole Carl. Six of them are first-timers to the SCCT stage.

After the play, individual monologues will be presented by Bob Marguccio, Patricia Arnao, Dominick Wasielewski, Bob Johnson, Pat MacDonald, Beth Hornbostel, Cynthia Mancini and Bob McCloskey.

The play for the July 13 meeting will be Tennessee Williams’ “I Rise in Flame, Cried the Phoenix,” an imaginary story about the last days of author D.H. Lawrence’s life. Perry Molinaro, the director, notes that this is heavy drama. Bernard Anderson, new to Sun City and to the SCCT stage, plays Lawrence. Sharon Walker is Frieda and Joanne Inniss is Bertha.

“Radio Daze Revisited” will be the program for the Aug. 10 general meeting. As Joan Galasso, director, puts it: “Return to the days of radio classics when actors were heard and not seen and we gathered around the radio set for the next episode of our favorite shows.”

The actors will be using scripts, so this is a great opportunity for fledgling thespians or those who hate to memorize. Joan will be casting at 1 p.m. June 28. A sound-effects person and pianist are needed for the program. Call Joan at 705-5942 for information.

Note: Because of conflicts with the Follies 2006 schedule, the SCCT Board has decided to cancel the September general meeting.

Road show

his year marks the first time that the SCCT will be taking a show on the road. The prize-winning musical drama “1776,” by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. June 30, July 1, 2 and 3 at the Bluffton High School Performing Arts Center, off Buckwalter Parkway. The Sunday, July 2, performance will be a fundraiser for the Sun City Veterans Association.

Ticket sales start Monday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chechessee River room at Pinckney Hall (for members only who have paid dues by May 26). Tickets will also be sold from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting June 6, in the Pinckney lobby, for members and non-members.

Outside of Sun City, tickets will be available at Lorraines Place, Wines Etc. in the Publix shopping center, Christies Hallmark in Belfair Town Center and Markels Card & Gift Shop in Kitties Crossing Center. Tickets are $16 for SCCT members, $15 for youths and $18 for others (member discounts will not apply for the July 2 performance). No reserved seats.

Anne and Carl Nusbaum are directors of the play about the Continental Congress’ signing of the Declaration of Independence 230 years ago. Other production people include Sharon Walker, assistant director; Art Hansen, music director, M.M. Kimball, choreographer; Kiah O’Brien, technical director; Steve Koehl, executive producer; Ralph Spiegel, producer.

Cast members, in no particular order, are Mary Anne Gebler, Bob Bonn, Gordon Hooper, Frank Bulson, Lew Apgar, Ellis Stearns, Ed Galloway, Philip Kagan, Bob Johnson, Walter Scott, Mike Stallone, Bob Taylor, Arturo Iriarte, Wendell Turner, Ernie Gitlin, Marvin Pearlstein, Elaine Ragland, Joe Panzarino, Sam Rowan, Jack Wittmann, Lee Yalowiec, Jim McGrath, Jim Inniss, Stuart Ritchkin, Chuck Seiger and two non-Sun City residents, Rade Musulin and Devon Garbus, who have roles as young men.

Unlike Pinckney Hall, the high school has theater-style tiered seating.

Home Again

s in previous years, Follies 2006 is expected to be a sellout for the Sept. 14-16 performances at Pinckney Hall. Joan Galasso, director, has scheduled pre-registration and orientation from 7 to 9 p.m. June 7 and auditions from 1 to 5 p.m. June 14 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 17 at Pinckney.

The theme is “Ain’t We Got Fun” with emphasis on laughter, with songs and dancing thrown into the mix for good measure. Joan is looking for people “willing to cast off their inhibitions and enter into some silliness and fun.”

Ticket information for the old-fashioned, rib-tickling and foot-tapping Follies 2006 will be announced later.

Art Hansen will be music director. Others on the production team include Sharon Hutchinson, choreographer; Steve Koehl, executive producer; Perry Molinaro, producer; Hank Druckerman, technical director; Edwina Anderson, stage manager; Phillip Shuppel, audio engineer; Bette Kalmbach, props; Pat Ann Stainken, costumes/props.

Wrapping up the 2006 traditional theater season will be “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” in November, with Carl Nusbaum as director. Stay tuned for details later.

Workshops

arol Wroblewski, workshop chairwoman, has some exciting workshops coming up. First, Bob Taylor will offer his informative workshop for directors Sept. 21 and for the next three Thursdays. He is looking for folks who want to learn about another aspect of the theater. The workshop will include the director’s role,

auditions, rehearsals and giving direction to actors. Participants will have hands-on experience and, with the director, will prepare several short plays for the November general meeting.

Next is a playwriting workshop in conjunction with the OSHER Life Long Learning Institute at the University of South Carolina. Jane Henson Dow, a recent addition to Sun City and SCCT, will teach the six-week workshop in writing a 10-minute play. Jan was a professor at the University of Western Connecticut and director of playwriting workshops for many years. Her plays have won awards and grants all over the country. The workshop is planned for September and October if enough people sign up.

The makeup committee has completed a workshop in theatrical makeup, but it can be repeated. Call Rosary White at 705-7716.

A technical workshop (sound, lighting) is also planned. Call Carol Wroblewski at 705-2387 for details and suggestions for other workshops.

Reminders

at Strickland, membership chairwoman, reminds that some members still have not sent her their Sun City ID numbers as required by the Community Association. Membership at the end of May was 1,192.

A reminder, too, that actors, directors and especially sound and lighting people are always needed for SCCT productions. Call one of the board members below for information.

Congratulations

o Stephey, a Community Theatre member, is one of two new resident members of the Sun City Board of Directors. Congratulations to her and to the following SCCT members elected as neighborhood representatives or alternates:

Chuck Seiger, Blue Heron Village; Thomas Harsch (alternate), Cypress Run; George Heitman, Hampton Village; Carol Rowan (alternate), Lake Somerset; Leonora Small and Jack Watson (alternate), Palmetto Place; Bill Hornbostel, Pelican Pointe; Roy Grossman (alternate), Stratford Village; Barbara Lenta, Willow Brook Village. SCCT member Wally Hollinger was a member of the 2006 Elections Committee.

SCCT Board members: Carl Nusbaum, president; Bob Taylor, vice president; Sharon Walker, secretary; Perry Molinaro, secretary; Steve Koehl, production chairman; Pat Strickland, membership; Gordon Hooper, publicity; Carol Wroblewski, workshop; Bob McCloskey, play steering; Cindy Scott, social; Anne Nusbaum and Maya White, members at large.

(Footlights is published quarterly: March, June, September and December.)

Revised: June 04, 2006.