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Follies 2006

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f you missed out on buying tickets for Follies 2006, you’ll also miss out on a lot of foot-tapping, fun-filled entertainment. Director Joan Galasso expects this year’s version of the annual show to be every bit as good as the others. It will be similar in many ways to some earlier Follies with a revue-type format.

   The show, scheduled for Sept. 14, 15 and 16, includes a matinee performance Sept. 14 to give more people an opportunity to attend.

   Twenty-two acts, plus a sprinkling of quick skits, and music by the Sun City Band fill out the program. Art Hansen is music director. Sharon Hutchinson and Betty Jane Shaw choreographed some of the routines.

   More than 200 people are involved in the show, from performers to production crews, to ticket sellers, to ushers.

   Steve Koehl is executive producer. Others involved in the production include Perry Molinaro, producer; Edwina Anderson, stage manager; Hank Druckerman, technical director; Phillip Shuppel, audio engineer; Gordon Hooper, set design; Bette Kalmbach, props; Pat Ann Stainken, costumes; Len Galasso and Bob Boxer, in charge of ushers; Kathy Fitzmaurice, ticket sales.

   The title of the show is “Ain’t We Got Fun,” and that’s what the audience can expect.

Calling all writers

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playwriting workshop will be held Sept. 25 and continue each Monday through Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at the University of South Carolina at New River. Jan Henson Dow, an accomplished playwright, will conduct the class. It will cover all aspects of creating a short play, the best of which might be performed at a monthly membership meeting. Call Carol Wroblewski, workshop chairwoman, at 705-2387 for more information.

Coming up

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ecause of conflicts with the Follies 2006 schedule, no general meeting will be held in September. Auditions and work- shops are planned, however. Arturo Iriarte and Bob Taylor will lead a directors workshop Sept. 21 and 26 and Oct. 3 and 11. This hands-on course will cover the director’s role; play selection and staging; auditions and rehearsals; guidance to actors.

   Workshop participants will team up to direct scenes from A.R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room” for the November general meeting.

   Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 23 and 24 for “The Dining Room” and Pat Cook’s “Murder is Bad But Monday Can Kill You.” The first show has roles for three men and three women; the latter for five men and five women. To participate in the directors workshop or to audition for the two plays, contact Bob Taylor at 379-5242 or bobtaylor@davtv.com.

New play

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eadlining the Oct. 12 meeting will be a new play by SCCT member Marvin Pearlstein titled “You Don’t Send Me Flowers.” It tells the story of lifelong friends trying to adjust to the marital conflicts that have strained their relationship. The play stars Dominick Wasielewski, Carl Lehmann and Arturo Iriarte as three buddies who get frustrated in their attempts to enjoy a Super Bowl and beer, while the women from whom they are estranged – played by Patricia Arnao and Janice Kraimer – talk about them in an adjacent apartment with a new friend, played by Elba Laino.

Fall production

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arl Nusbaum will direct “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” Nov. 2, 3 and 4 at Pinckney Hall. Auditions were held in August and early September. The play, by Neil Simon, has roles for three women and one man who has no experience in adultery but attempts three seductions. Of course he fails, but his efforts with the three totally different women make for a comedy full of laughs. The play has been described as “delightfully hilarious and witty, as well as filled with wisdom about human nature.” Ticket information will be provided later.

Membership

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at Strickland, head of the membership committee, reports that the club had 1,218 members by the end of August. She anticipates that many more members will be joining following the Oct. 21Club Fair at Pinckney Hall. Pat receives many calls from new members asking about the theater and says she reminds them that the $10 annual fee entitles them to more than reduced ticket prices and first choice of seats. They also get 10-12 entertaining evenings at the monthly meetings and opportunities to become involved, from ushering to performing.

Magnolia Hall

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on Avedon, chairman of the activities building committee, informed Carl Nusbaum, SCCT president, that he, the Pulte architect, its project manager, and Jo Stephey, a resident member of the community Board of Directors, came away impressed after a recent visit to the Bluffton High School Performing Arts Center. The architect felt that construction costs would probably be less per square foot than estimated originally for Magnolia Hall. Pulte has $13 million earmarked for various amenities, including Magnolia Hall.

FYI

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arl also reports that Al Reuben, president of the community Board of Directors, and Jo Stephey (both SCCT members) met with Performing Arts Council members and, after considerable discussion, it was determined that the council would be a more effective organization if it were not classified as a club or an advisory council. It would work through the Interclub Council and still have direct access to the board. The PAC is made up of presidents of performing arts groups – music, theater and dance.

   Still more: Carl Lehmann has been appointed chairman of an advertising committee. Ralph Spiegel also will serve on the committee. This new approach to advertising will involve doing one campaign for the entire year for playbill advertising.

   2007 schedule: Although the schedule has not been decided yet, the SCCT is planning a fourth production at Bluffton High School. Details on the 2007 season will be presented at a later meeting.

   SCCT news: Make it a habit to keep up-to-date with SCCT news by logging on to oursuncityhiltonhead.net or schhca.org and watching Channel 51.

9/11

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ommunity Theatre members are urged to participate in the 9/11 Commemoration outside the Purrysburg Fitness Center. Bob Taylor, vice president of the SCCT, will be one of the speakers. The program will start at 8 a.m. Details are provided in the current SunSations.

‘Murder Is Bad’

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f you enjoyed “Detective Sketches,” you’ll love “Murder Is Bad But Monday Can Kill You.” When Sam Spade wannabe Harry Monday investigates three deaths at the psychiatric ward of Restful Glen Hospital, he finds that it is a haven for patients with multiple personalities. He also finds that  the three deaths were all the same person. The zany, entertaining detective spoof promises to provide an enjoyable evening of laughs at SCCT’s annual holiday dinner and show the second Thursday of December. Details of the dinner (tickets, menu, etc.) will be provided later this fall.

SCCT Board members: Carl Nusbaum, president; Bob Taylor, vice president; Sharon Walker, treasurer; 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: September 10, 2006.