President's Corner
August, 2007
If you haven’t stopped by to see the new theater under construction, now’s the time. In a short time, all will be complete and the excitement of watching the progress of the builders will be over. A lot has been accomplished in the last few months, by both professionals and volunteers, and their hard work will soon be evident in the beautiful,
brand new WRCT facility. Before the dust settles and the excitement of the very first season begins, I want to acknowledge the people who are all working very hard to make this dream a reality.
A special thank you goes out to all the people who volunteered their time in cleaning and painting – something we decided to do on our own to save some overall construction costs. There are not many people you can call on at the last minute who will give up an evening or weekend to do either of these things, and we really appreciate the enthusiasm and dedication of these very special people. Some were professionals like Jay Goska who we hired to do the ceiling and stayed on to volunteer his time to coordinate the other volunteers and finish the job. Many are the dedicated group you see listed in our programs, and we would be lost without them.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fantastic job being done by Garth Larson and everyone involved with
the construction in keeping on schedule and on budget. The coordination of activities, timing and personnel have been handled efficiently and flawlessly, and the group and their leader are to be congratulated. It occurs to me this activity has many the same challenges as directing a large musical, and we can always use good directors– if you see Garth, tell him that and watch his reaction.
Behind the scenes, Peg Garber, Diane Pokrandt and their helpers have been working to raise money for the grand drape and an assisted hearing system. They’ve been selling ice cream goodies at City Band concerts, displaying their kitchen wares at every local event you can think of, and holding WRCT rummage sales in their spare time. The “Hey, That’s My Pan!” promotion has been very successful, but will only run through the end of the year. Please get your Christmas order in by the end of September to make sure everyone on your list gets these great pans personalized just the way you want them. Peg and Diane are also working on some wonderful surprises for our grand opening celebration, and we can’t thank them enough for their energy and creativity on these projects.
And my personal thank you goes to the board and the Artistic and Governance committees who are working
very hard – much harder and longer than any board member should have to – to get this new theatre up and running. We all knew it would be a lot of hard work, and yet we had no idea how much hard work it would really be. New board members Tom Ekelin and Heather Wessling took to us like ducks to water, and the non-board members of the newly created Artistic and Governance committees were like a much-needed shot of adrenalin.
Even if you’re winning, the last few steps are often the hardest to take. I am proud to be working with this very
talented group.
Top
|
|
Welcome to the premier season in our new Theatre in the Centralia Center.
Yes, “There’s No Place Like Home” and we invite you experience this great line-up of some all-time favorites. We’ve picked a season that we know you are going to love! It’s our way of thanking you for supporting us over
the years.
Our Fall 2007 production: November 8–11; 14–17, 2007
She Loves Me
By Joe Masteroff
(with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock)
Directed by the founder of WRCT,
Cathy Meils
The large cast musical “She Loves Me” is an ideal first production for our new theatre!“ She Loves Me” is a warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old world elegance and nostalgia.
THE STORY: Meet Georg and Amalia – two feuding clerks in a European parfumerie who secretly find solace in their anonymous romantic pen pals, little knowing their respective correspondents are none other than each other. Add a strong ensemble cast playing a range of vivid, memorable characters of all ages and you have a truly enjoyable theatrical experience.
Our Winter 2008 production: February 8–10; 13–16, 2008
Moon Over Buffalo
By Ken Ludwig
Directed by Susan Edgren
We welcome 2008 with “Moon Over Buffalo”. This is a rip-roaring farce that is sure to tickle your funnybone!
THE STORY:Follow the misadventures of an acting couple (not exactly the Lunts) that are on tour in Buffalo in 1953. Fate has given these thespians one more shot at starring roles in The Scarlet Pimpernel epic and director Frank Capra, himself, is in route to Buffalo to catch their matinee. Will Charlotte appear or run off with their agent? Will George be sober enough to emote? Hilarious misunderstandings pile on madcap, all of which is magnified by Charlotte’s deaf mother who manages the theatre. Don’t miss this one!
Our Spring 2008 production: April 11 –13; 16–19, 2008
Jake's Women
By Neil Simon
Directed by Cynthia Welling
We refer our spring production of “Jake’s Women” by Neil Simon as a “dramedy”- it’s lighthearted at times, but also has some serious and heartfelt moments.
THE STORY: In the world of modern relationships, we find Jake, a novelist who is more successful with fiction than with life. He is facing a marital crisis by daydreaming about the women in his life. The comic and moving flashbacks played in his mind are interrupted by visitations from actual females. The cast includes l man and 7 women.
Our Next Production:
By Joe Masteroff
Presented November 8–11; 14–17, 2007
Time: 7:30 PM
The Gilbert and Jaylee Mead Auditorium
Centralia Center
 From the Director, Cathy Meils
The perfect musical to open the new Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. There's plenty of spice thrown in between "boy meets girl" becomes "boy gets girl" in this show about a pair of lovers whose wires are amusingly crossed. More than two dozen lucky performers will have the opportunity to test the boards of our new theatre for the production opening November 8.
Based on a 1937 Hungarian play, you may know it under one of its several other incarnations: as the Judy Garland movie musical "In the Good Old Summertime," or more recently as the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks comedy "You've Got Mail." "She Loves Me" was a Broadway hit in 1963 and again during its
1993 revival; the show won the Tony Award for best musical during its first Broadway run, and captured the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical the second time around, along with 13 more assorted Tony Awards among its many laurels.
The writing team is composed of Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock ("Fiddler on the Roof") and Joe Masteroff ("Cabaret"). You'll fall in love with songs such as "Vanilla Ice Cream," which the legendary star Barbara Cook turned into a highlight of the show. Or the wonderfully comic "A Romantic
Atmosphere" set in a romantic cafe during an off-night. Or the beautiful ballad "Will He Love Me?", which promises to tug with full force on your heartstrings. "She Loves Me" is a rare jewel of Americal musical theatre, and a show you won't want to miss.
Now, for those of you with aspirations to sing or dance or act, auditions will be spread across three days, to allow for end of summer holiday plans. We'll hold first round auditions beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, and Thursday, August 31, with callbacks on Tuesday, September 5. If you'd like to audition but can't make the first two days, you can sign up to audition during the callback session. Auditions will be held
at the new WRCT theatre in the Centralia Center.
There are roles for 8 men (age 15-70), 7 women (age 20–70), and several additional chorus members of all ages. The principals include Georg and Amalia, the wire-crossed lovers; Kodaly, a two-timing cad, and Ilona, a co-worker with bad luck in the romance department; Sipos, with a wife and kids to support he can't afford to lose his job; Arpad, the messenger boy who'd like a chance to move up the ladder; Mr. Maraczek, the aging bon-vivant owner of the parfumerie where the others work; and a terrific comic cameo role for
the maitre d' of the romantic cafe. We're also looking for tango dancers or a couple who can tango! (No singing required.) A complete list and description of the parts is available at the WRCT office in the Rapids Mall, along with audition materials.
Help us inaugurate the new WRCT Theatre in style! Auditions are open to everyone, and we're always looking for new faces to join our returning thespians. And we'll see the rest of you in our beautiful new theatre for eight performances (including a new Sunday matinee!) beginning November 8 through November 17.
|
It's Grand Affair Time!
Circle Sunday September 23 on your Calendar. You are invited to attend the 7th Annual Grand Affair in downtown Wisconsin Rapids. The festival will he held from 10 am-3pm on Grand Avenue and features all types of vendors, music, food, children activities, and a car show.
WRCT and the South Wood County Humane Society will co-host the 2nd Annual Dog O Rama in Veterans Park . Have fun with your dog! There will be games, human/dog obstacle course and many other events. Does your dog look like you? Let our judges determine that! There will be food, "The Pamper Me Boutique" for both dogs and humans, Fido Photos, raffle items, dog treat cookbooks.....as much fun as your dog and you can handle in one day! The Dog O Rama will run from 10 am-3 pm.
Join WRCT veterans actors, Mike Edgren, Mark Gundman and Steve Martin when they bring the "Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged" to the stage in the WRCT Studio Theatre in the current Jazzerise Room. This hilarious production, directed by Susan Edgren, will be performed at 7:30 pm on Saturday, Sept. 22 and at 2 pm on Sunday, Sept. 23. Admission is $5. On your way to the show on Sunday, you will be able to view the fine art work in the River Walk of the Centralia Center sponsored by the Arts and Heritage Cluster.
Historic Point Basse will again offer narrative pontoon rides on the river and there will be the opportunity to take a historical trolley ride through the downtown area organized by the South Wood County Historical Society.
On your way to the show on Sunday, you will be able to view the fine art work in the River Walk of the Centralia Center sponsored by the Arts and Heritage Cluster. The Grand Affair will certainly provide entertainment for
everyone’s interest. The event is sponsored by the City Centre Committee, a non-profit organization established in 2000 to promote activities in the downtown area.
A Theatre in the Theatre?
By now everyone is excited to see the grand opening of the new Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. But did you know that there is a second theatre in this new complex?
It is called the Studio Theatre and is located behind and connected to the new main stage theatre. In this changeable space we will launch several exciting productions each season. The purpose of the Studio Theatre is to provide Wisconsin Rapids audiences with an opportunity to experience new and varied theatrical productions they would not have the chance to experience on the main stage here or anywhere
in the vicinity. Want to know more? Watch the newsletter or sign up for our e-mail announcements. There
is a world of adventurous theatre for young, old, and everyone in between, and we will bring it to you.
For more information, contact the Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. Call 421-0435, e-mail wrct@wctc.net.
Do you have an idea for an exciting theatrical production, but it doesn’t seem right for the mainstage? Too strange? Too controversial? Not long enough? Then talk to us. We are the new Studio Theatre Committee, and we are soliciting ideas for productions in the Studio Theatre.
What is Studio Theatre? It is in a space adjacent to the new mainstage theatre, sometimes known as the blackbox. It is currently being used for Jazzercise until 7:00 pm, but is available for us after that hour. In this changeable space we hope to launch several productions that will bring in new audiences and allow them to experience new and varied forms to theatre.
All you have to do is write up your ideas in a few sentences.Tell us what it is and why it would be a good fit for the studio theatre. Send you ideas by email to Mike Edgren, Chair of the Studio Theatre Committee, medgren@wctc.net or mail or drop off a letter to the Studio Theatre Committee at the WRCT office. We will take ideas as they come in. So the available slots could fill up quickly. Please be aware that by submitting an idea you are agreeing to direct the production or act as producer and find a director for the production.
Thanks.
Studio Theatre Subcommittee,
Mike Edgren
Ellen Roeseler
Traci Stinebrink
|
THAT'S MY PAN!
Looking for a unique gift idea?
Well, we have just what you are looking for, AND you will be helping WRCT raise funds for the "grande drape" in the new theatre.
Diane Pokrandt has graciously volunteered to coordinate this fundraiser. What is it? A personalized, heavy-duty 9 x 13 baking pan and lid. Choose from over 100 designs on the lid with the person's name on BOTH the lid and the pan. The cover comes in a choice of 4 colors—black, navy, cranberry, and forgest green, with white lettering. The caption can read "Made With Love by" or "From the Kitchen of".
Cost of the Pan is $30 with proceeds benefiting WRCT. ORders can be placed with any board member, or stop by the WRCT office.
That's right—it's "My Pan" and "Our Community Theatre!"
Add a Cookbook to Your Pan Order!
Create your own treats for your pet by purchasing the Dog-O-Rama cookbook. This recipe book is filled with healthy and tasty treats your pet will love.
Proceeds will be split by the Wood County Humane Society and The Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. Purchases can be made at the WRCT office or the SWCHS office.
Top
|
WRCT Board of Directors |
Ellen Roeseler
President |
Mary Beth Rokus
Administrator |
Linda Garski
Vice President |
Shari Day
Secretary |
Tom Ekelin
Secretary |
Charles
Buchs-Hammonds |
Mike Barrett |
Heather Wessling |
Diane Schroeder |
|
Andy Gilbert |
Rick Stensberg
|
|
James Zabel
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
Newsletter Archives |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
