Backstage

FORT DODGE, IOWA MAY 2011

his living wife, Ruth is currently the love of his life. However, when Elvira’s ghost returns to the earthly world, things get complicated. At first Charles is shocked by Elvira’s appearance. But then the experience becomes pleasant and soothing, much like their old life together. Charles’ suggests that it would be “fun” to have Elvira’s ghost stay with them. But that “fun” turns into a deadly duel, made all the more cunning by Coward’s surgically incisive wit. Ultimately, Cow-ard suggests that a husband can be in love with two people at the same time. However, once the women find out about each other, disastrous results are sure to follow! Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit playfully mocks the traditions of love and marriage. It also thumbs its nose at the Grim Reaper. What a perfect defense mechanism against the harsh realities England faced during World War II. West End audi-ences embraced this darkly amusing comedy. Blithe Spirit be-came a resounding success that continues to haunt the British and American stage.

The Cast

Edith-Ann Powers Ruth-Joan Meyer

Charles-Dana Westphal Dr. Bradman-Buzz Powers Mrs. Bradman-Amy Porter

Madame Arcati-Timi Jordison Elvira-Heidi Nelson

The show is directed by Michael Shoopman under authority of Samuel French, Inc. NYC, NY, USA.

Will be providing concessions. Bring your sweet tooth!

The June Show for 2011 is the farce Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. The show opens June 5th with a matinee at 2:00pm, followed by a run of six nights at 7:00pm.

Charles Condomine is a successful novelist. Ruth is his charming, strong-willed wife. In order to conduct research for Charles’ latest book, they invite a medium to their home to per-form a séance, expecting that the eccentric psychic, Madame Arcati, will be a humorous shyster. Well, she is humorous – in fact, her boisterous character practically steals the show! How-ever, her ability to connect with the dead is genuine. After prancing about the room reciting nursery rhymes, Ma-dame Arcati summons a ghost from Charles’ past: Elvira – his first wife. Charles can see her, but no one else can. Elvira is flirtatious and catty. She enjoys insulting Charles’ second wife. At first Ruth thinks her husband has gone insane. Then, after watching a vase float across the room (thanks to Elvira), Ruth accepts the strange truth. What follows is a darkly funny com-petition between two women, one dead, one living. They battle for the possession of their husband. But as the haunting and the hollering continue, Charles begins to wonder if he wants to be with either woman at all.

Ghosts on Stage - “You Mean You Can’t See Her?!”

Spirit characters have been part of theater since its Greek beginnings. In Shakespeare’s time, ghosts were prominent in his tragedies. Hamlet can see his father’s doomed specter, but Queen Gertrude sees nothing. She thinks her son has gone coo-coo. It’s a fun theatrical concept, perhaps now over-used in plays, television, and movies. After all, how many sappy sit-coms feature a protagonist that talks to a ghost which no one else can see? Despite this, Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit still feels fresh. Coward’s play goes beyond the comic mix-ups inherent in most supernatural comedies. The play explains love and marriage more than it explores the afterlife.

Torn Between Two Lovers? Charles is caught in a farcical trap. He had been married to Elvira for five years. Although they both had extra-marital af-fairs, he claims to have loved her. And of course, he explains to

BLITHE SPIRIT APPEARS AS JUNE SHOW

BACKSTAGE - PAGE 2 MAY 2011

AUDITIONS FOR ARSENIC & OLD LACE

Showing July 10 - 16, 2011

May 23 & May 24 ~ 7:00 P.M. 11 men, 3 women

In Arsenic and Old Lace we meet the charming and innocent ladies who populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously "acceptable" roomers. Also are the antics of their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt; and the activities of the other brother—these require no further description or amplification here. Director Ashley Garst, a 2010 graduate of Coe College, is happy to be joining Hawkeye Community Theatre this summer in her second directing gig. Her theatre experiences include lighting, set, stage management, grow-ing more into costumes along with some directing in there. Currently, she resides in Fort Dodge, where she works for the family business, Party Pro-ductions. She loves theatre and gives a big “thank you” to Hawkeye for this great opportunity to get involved.

AUDITIONS FOR KITCHEN WITCHES

Showing August 7 - 13, 2011

June 1 & June 2 ~ 7:00 P.M.

2 men, 2 women In Kitchen Witches, directed by Kim Dosland, Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two "mature" cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food! Dolly's long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly's dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel's, it's a los-ing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Mar-tha Stewart and Jerry Springer!

In loving memory of Bob Higgins Fort Dodge lost a wonderfully warm and extremely talented man on March 11, 2011. Bob Higgins was both an actor and a director in many shows, sharing his talents with generations of aspiring actors. Hawkeye Theatre would like to thank the family of Bob Higgins for memorial donations made to the theatre in his honor. His many talents will be greatly missed on stage and off.

If you would like to help improve the quality of shows performed on our stage, we are accepting donations toward the purchase of new lighting equipment and microphones. Please contact us at 576-6061 if you would like to help.

MAY 2011 BACKSTAGE - PAGE 3

Intermission concessions are donated or sponsored by local businesses for summer and fall shows. If you are interested in sponsoring or donating concessions, please contact us at 576-6061.

Hawkeye Community Theatre Membership Basic Membership (Extra) includes: membership card, name on program, newsletter, invitation to all theatre social events and voting rights at annual meetings and is included at all membership levels. In addition to the Basic Membership the following items are in-cluded at various donor levels: Cameo - 1 ticket for each summer show; Supporting - 2 tickets for each summer show; Starring - 2 tick-ets for each summer show, 2 tickets for Spring Dinner Theatre, 2 tickets for Fall Dessert Theatre, 2 tickets for Holiday show; (Single Starring role is for one person versus two); Director - 8 tickets for each summer show, 4 tickets for Spring Dinner Theatre, 4 tickets for Fall Dessert Theatre, 4 tickets for Holiday show; Producer - 16 tickets for each summer show, 8 tickets for Spring Dinner Theatre, 8 tickets for Fall Dessert Theatre, 8 tickets for Holiday show. Please see form below for qualifying donations. NOTE: Single ticket prices: Summer Shows & Dessert Theatre $15; Dinner Theatre $33 (meal included).

2011 Hawkeye Community Theatre

Special Promotional Discounts

Cast or Board Member Discount: Anyone of-ficially affiliated with the Hawkeye Commu-nity Theatre in any capacity shall receive 15% off of labor when contracting with Paint The Town for painting services. Painting can be interior or exterior and is good for this calendar year 2011. Simply contact me via cell or email for a free, no obligation estimate. There is no limit to the availability of applied discounts. If you choose to have painting in the spring and then perhaps more needed in the fall you shall

receive 15% off of labor each time.

Referral Program: Perhaps you don’t need painting in 2011 but you know of someone who does. Simply refer them to me and if the cus-tomer decides to have painting performed you will receive your choice of cash or gift certifi-

cates. Here’s how this program works:

1. Receive $50.00 cash or an equivalent valued gift certificate of choice when my labor rates are between $500.00 to

$999.00.

2. Receive $100.00 cash or an equivalent valued gift certificate of choice when my labor rates are between $1000 and

up.

(Cash or gift certificates cannot be used in

conjunction with HCT Member discounts)

This is a great way to save money and a way in which I can thank you all for entrusting me to paint your beautiful theatre. It has been a pleasure working with you and getting to know some of you during this process. Thank you. Tim Averill. Contact me at 515-571-5106 or

by email: Averill@frontiernet.net

Membership levels from Starring through Pro-ducer now include tickets to the Holiday show for the same low price!

__ Extra ($15 - $34) __ Cameo ($35 - $74) __ Single Starring ($65 - $114)

__ Supporting ($75 - $129) __ Starring ($139 - $499) __ Director ($500 - $999)

__ Producer ($1000 & up)

If you are interested in actively participating in HCT please check one or more of the following:

__ Acting __ Make-up __ Costumes __ Props __ Set Construction __ Ticket Sales __ Greeter/Usher

Name ____________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ____________________________________________

Phone ____________________________________________________

Email ____________________________________________________

Please detach & mail your membership donation to: Hawkeye Commu-nity Theatre, P.O. Box 32, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-0032

Your gift supports quality theatrical productions. Thank you for your continued support!

Hawkeye Community Theatre P.O. Box 32 Fort Dodge, IA 50501-0032 Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D

Permit No. 4 Fort Dodge Iowa

2011 Board of Directors/Trustees: Jeff Bluml, Dawn Farr, Stephen Hoesel, Colleen Kaiser, Randy Kaiser, Joan Meyer, Michael Shoopman, Sarah Livingston Smith, Alyssa Sparks, Dylan Drummond, Karla Skaggs, Martha McColley, Kim Dosland and John Metier

2011 Committees Building: Jeff Bluml, Randy Kaiser Newsletter: Alyssa Sparks Box Office: Dawn Farr, Karla Skaggs Membership: Kim Dosland Nominating: Mike Shoopman Community Service: Karla Skaggs Publicity: John Metier, Michael Shoopman Scholarship: Dawn Farr, Karla Skaggs Historian: Colleen Kaiser Costumes: Martha McColley Play Reading: Sarah Livingston Smith, Alyssa Sparks, Mike Shoopman Set Building: Jeff Bluml

HCT: 521 North 12th Street, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Phone: 515-576-6061

IMPORTA

NT DATES

TO REME

MBER

June 5 - 11, 2011

Blithe Spirit

See Page 1 for additiona

l details!

May 23 & May 24

Auditions: Arsenic a

nd Old Lace

See Page 2 for additio

nal details!

June 1 & June 2

Auditions: Kitchen W

itches

See Page 2 for additio

nal details!

SPECIAL NOTE

See Page 3 for membership info

rmation!

2011 Officers: President: Sarah Livingston Smith; Vice President: Randy Kaiser; Business Manager & Secretary: Dawn Farr; Treasurer: Stephen Hoesel; Trustee Chair: Michael Shoopman