SEASON 2017 - 2018 AUGUST 2017

COMINGEVENTSLa Cage aux FollesSeptember 7 – October 1

The Velveteen RabbitOctober 6-15

Shaw Festival Trip To Niagara-On-The-LakeOctober 11-15

Over the River and Through the WoodsOctober 19 – November 12

Man Is the Only Animal Who Blushes… Or Needs To: An Evening With Mark Twain featuring Michael EdwardsNovember 16-19

AUDITIONS

By Joe DiPietro

August 28-29Both sets of Nick’s old-school Italian-

American grandparents in New Jersey are a little too close for comfort in this warm-hearted comedy. You might think they’d be thrilled for him when he’s offered his dream job – but since it’s across the country, none of them are on board. How is he supposed to join them every Sunday for dinner if he’s two thousand miles away? And how better to keep him close to home than to find him a romance (with a nice Catholic girl, of course)? So the grandparents start scheming… This charming ode to family, food, and tradition will tie its apron-strings around your heart.

Auditions will be held on Monday, August 28 and Tuesday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. It is only necessary to attend one night of auditions. Full details are available in the August 2017 Cue Sheet.

Over the River and Through the Woods is directed by Carlos Francisco Asse. There will be 20 public performances from October 19 – November 12, 2017.

For more information, call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

Auditions for

The student production ofThe Velveteen RabbitAugust 14-15

The in-school touring showFitAugust 21-22

Over the River and Through the WoodsAugust 28-29

The student production ofThe Best Christmas Pageant EverOctober 9-10

Book by Harvey FiersteinMusic and Lyrics by Jerry HermanBased on the play by Jean Poiret

September 7 – October 1Life is fabulous in the sunny south of France

for long-time couple Georges and Albin, who run a nightclub in St. Tropez. But things get tricky when Georges’ son from a one-night fling announces his engagement to the daughter of an ultra-conservative politician. Georges reluctantly agrees to play it straight when meeting the in-laws, but Albin, the star performer in the club’s drag revue, has other plans… because doesn’t every wedding need a mother of the groom? This hysterically funny musical was the inspiration for the hit movie The Birdcage.

Director and choreographer is Kim Wise. Music director is John Edel. Stage manager is Ginny Riley. There will be 20 public performances from September 7 – October 1, 2017.

Tickets go on sale August 14 at $25 for adults and $12 for full-time students (student ID required for college students). For tickets or more information, call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

ATTENTION, SEASON TICKET HOLDERSAugust 7 is the first day for Flex Pass subscribers to make their reservations or for

Standing Reservation subscribers to make exchanges for the 2017-2018 season. You may do either one in person at the box office or by phone at (352) 236-2274, Monday

through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

CURTAIN RAISERTHE

2

Announcing The Winners of The 2016-2017 Harvey Awards

The 28th Annnual Harvey Awards, Ocala Civic Theatre’s version of the Tony Awards, were held on Sunday, June 24. Each June, Ocala Civic Theatre supporters gather to celebrate the end of a successful season and recognize the outstanding work of our volunteers, actors, and designers. Awards are given for excellence in acting, technical aspects, and volunteer service.

The Harveys are named for the late Harvey Klein, a local attorney and longtime supporter of the Theatre, who was the emcee for the awards ceremony for many years.

Congratulations to all the winners!

ACTING AWARDS• Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Signature Series Comedy or Drama: Richard Behrendt for The Mousetrap and Alex Dagg for The Affections of May• Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Signature Series Comedy or Drama: Gina England for The Affections of May and Ryan James for The Affections of May• Outstanding Performance in a Cameo Role in a Signature Series Musical: Megan Brown for The Fantasticks, Joshua Plante for Shrek The Musical, and Kelsey Plante for Shrek The Musical• Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Signature Series Musical: Celia Bills for 9 to 5: The Musical and Angie Brahim for Shrek The Musical• Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Signature Series Musical: Alex Dagg for Shrek The Musical and Deion Howard for Shrek The Musical

VOLUNTEER AWARDS• Chris Ahern Memorial Award: Joe Martinez• Bridget R. Bartlett Memorial Award: Carol Stec• Dick Conover Memorial Award: Laura Bradford• Michael Hewett Memorial Award: Herb Schmoll• Ken Hilton Memorial Award: Katherine “Jack” Foust• Marion Player of the Year: Joshua Plante• Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year: Mason Gray• ACT 4 Members of the Year: Joan Gustafson and Maxine Nelson

PRODUCTION AWARDS• Best Choreography Performance: Shrek The Musical• Best Costumes: Shrek The Musical• Best Hair & Makeup: Shrek The Musical• Best Lighting: 9 to 5: The Musical• Best Musical Performance: Shrek The Musical• Best Set: Shrek The Musical• Best Sound: 9 to 5: The Musical• Best Stage Crew: Shrek The Musical• Best Show of the 2016-2017 Season: Shrek The Musical

SPECIAL RECOGNITION• Outstanding Business Partner of the Year: Professional Speech & Hearing Specialists

As elected at the Annual Meeting in June, ACT 4 officers for the 2017-2018 Season are Joan Gustafson, President; Maxine Nelson, Vice President; Ginny Riley, Secretary; and

Ed Hamilton, Treasurer. Members-at-large are Tom Fuson, Lois Ann Kohlweiss, and Lizzie Lenon. John P. A. Sherman will serve on the Board as Director Emeritus.

The first MEMBERSHIP MEETING of the new season – a Wine, Cheese and Dessert Party – will be held on Tuesday, September 26, at 6:00 p.m. in Our Lady of the Springs Catholic Church Parish Hall. David Schlenker, Entertainment Editor of the Star-Banner, will be our guest speaker. For those not familiar with his column, which appears weekly in the newspaper’s State & Local section, Dave says he will “... most likely be remembered as the journalist who broke the two-butted chicken story that rattled cages from that quiet farm in Ocala to Jay Leno’s desk in Los Angeles.” Dave, who grew up in Ocala, appeared on the Ocala Civic Theatre stage in such memorable roles as “Iowa Kid No. 11 in The Music Man and Boy in White Tights in Camelot.” We invite members and non-members alike to join us as our guest at this meeting, but, if you plan to attend, please call Joan Gustafson at (352) 622-5315 to make a reservation.

ACT 4 already has great plans for the coming year, with a Fashion Show scheduled for October 8 (see our ad in this newsletter) and a Dinner Theatre Production scheduled for February 2 through February 4, 2018. Other events are pending, so be sure to watch this column for future announcements.

If you would like more information about the organization or to have your name added to our mailing list, please call ACT 4 President Joan Gustafson at (352) 622-5315.

Announcing the 2017 Winners of the 4th Annual Tech Olymic Games

On July 8, six teams met on the battlefield of the Ocala Civic Theatre stage to compete in the 2017 Tech Olympics. These titans of tech grappled for glory, fighting with great might for the honor of swag and bragging rights. But only three teams arose victorious from the battle. The champions are:

• First Place: Tyrannosaurus-Tech (Megan Brown, Trey Campfield, Kiersten Farley, Gary Sonneberger)• 2nd Place: The Green Night Furies (Dakota Brown, Luke Crafton, Meredith Gilliam, Mason Gray)• Third Place: Backstage Troupers (Laura Bradford, Patti Cole, Garrett Penning, Emma Pruitt)

Congratulations to all the worthy opponents! Many thanks to all who participated in this year’s Tech Olympics, whether as contestants or as spectators who cheered on our valiant teams.

The 4th Annual

3

Fashion Showfeaturing

RESORT FASHIONS By Tiffany

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017$25.00 Per Person

(Tax and Gratuity Included)

Proceeds Benefit Ocala Civic Theatre Scholarships

12:30 p.m. - Doors OpenSelect Cocktails and Wine Available

for Purchase

1:00 p.m. - Pre-Show Shopping

2:00 p.m. - LuncheonAssorted Fresh-Baked MuffinsChef ’s Soup of the AfternoonCrispy Fried Chicken Tenders

atop Garden-Fresh Tossed SaladHome-Made Key Lime Pie

Coffee and Iced Tea

2:45 p.m. - Fashion Show and Shopping

Ocala Elks Lodge 702 N.E. 25th Avenue, Ocala

Reservations - Ocala Civic Theatre (352) 236-2274

ACT-4 is a not-for-profit Florida Corporation designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a

501(c)(3) organization. Donations are deductible within the limits allowed by law.

Shaw Festival Trip To Niagara-On-The-LakeOctober 11-15

Our fifth trip to Canada’s Shaw (Theatre) Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11 through Sunday, October 15. We will leave from the Theatre on Wednesday morning; fly from Orlando non-stop to Buffalo, New York; and then travel to Niagara Falls for the first night, staying at the beautiful Fallsview Marriott. We will have dinner at the Canyon Creek Chophouse, with the rest of the evening free to sightsee or visit the fabulous casino next to the hotel. On Thursday, we will travel the short distance to the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake, where we will stay through Sunday at Queens Landing. The trip includes two shows out of six to choose from. You can even add tours of the beautiful wine country surrounding Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The cost is $1,838 per person, double occupancy, if paying by cash or check ($1,908 if paying by credit card). Options are also available for single occupancy. Registration and payment in full is due by Friday, August 18. The trip is limited to 30 travelers, so register as soon as possible.

For more information, contact Mary Britt at mbritt@ocalacivictheatre.com or Janice Kirk at jkirk@ocalacivictheatre.com, or call (352) 236-2274.

Sydney Deines is only in her second summer as a youth assistant, or intern, with the Education Department – but in that short time, she has volunteered close to 400 hours!

Sydney is going into her junior year at Forest High School, where she is involved with the drama program. After coming to see some of her friends perform in Into the Woods and other Ocala Civic Theatre student productions two years ago, she decided to get involved here as well.

Last summer, she worked backstage as deck crew for Dr. Coppelius’ Carnival and Urinetown, The Musical, in addition to assisting with daytime camps as a youth assistant. This summer, Sydney came back to intern. She also was the assistant stage manager for The Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS and a dresser for Cry-Baby.

Both summers, Sydney helped quite a bit with set construction and painting, which she does a lot of during the school year at Forest. And she’s even helped the OCT production staff work on projects to tidy up and organize the shop, to keep it running smoothly… no small task!

So far, she’s had more time to volunteer here in the summers, but hopes to have more time to volunteer during the upcoming school year. Does she have any desire to perform on stage? Not really… Sydney says she’s more of a behind-the-scenes girl. But even though she isn’t one to seek the spotlight, she still enjoys helping to create the magic of theatre. “I like to be part of a community of really talented people,” she says. “When I read a great review on the OCT Facebook page of a show I worked on, it makes me feel really proud.”

Any new volunteer activities she’d like to try in future? No, she likes working on set construction and as a youth assistant, and is happy volunteering in those capacities.

Sounds like you’ve found your niche, Sydney! And we’re glad you have. Thank you for being so dedicated, dependable, and such a hard worker. You’re a great volunteer and we appreciate all you do for Ocala Civic Theatre!

CURTAIN RAISERTHE

OCALA CIVIC THEATRE2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8 S E A S O NLa Cage aux Folles September 7 – October 1, 2017Over the River and Through the WoodsOctober 19 – November 12, 2017Man Is the Only Animal Who Blushes… Or Needs To: An Evening With Mark Twain featuring Michael EdwardsNovember 16-19, 2017I Love a PianoJanuary 11 – February 4, 2018The GiverFebruary 15-25, 2018The ForeignerMarch 15 – April 8, 2018The Legendary Bobby Darin: A TributeApril 12-15, 2018Mamma Mia! May 17 – June 17, 2018

Sydney Deines

Volunteer Spotlight

4

CURTAIN RAISERTHE

Box Office Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Saturdays with a performance: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The lobby and box office open one hour before each performance.

On sale now: • 2017-2018 Season Tickets

Tickets go on sale:August 7: Season ticket exchanges and Flex Pass reservations

August 14 : La Cage aux Folles:

September 11: The Velveteen Rabbit

September 18 : Over the River and Through the Woods Get information and buy tickets online any time at www.ocalacivictheatre.com (A service charge applies to online purchases.)

Box Office: (352) 236-2274Administrative Offices: (352) 236-2851

Ocala Civic Theatre

ocivictheatre

@ocalacivic

@ocalacivic

Ocala Civic Theatre and Ocala Civic Theatre Education Department

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Notes From The Education DepartmentSummer 2017 comes to a close on August 4! We had a fantastic time this summer with all our camps and

youth productions. Audiences were starstruck by Starfish Circus, Space Pirates was out of this world, The Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS was magically medieval, and Cry-Baby was a jumping, jiving good time. Another round of applause to our students for their amazing performances!

Now it’s time to move on to a fabulous fall! First, we have auditions coming up August 14-15 for a stage adaptation of the beloved children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s a lovely opportunity for students ages 6-13 to explore some touching material and imaginative roles. This poignant play will be live on stage October 6-15 for

six performances. Then, auditions for Fit, this year’s in-school touring show, will be held August 21-22. See more details on this page .Our Fall 2017 classes begin Monday, September 4 (yes, that’s Labor Day), kicking off with our first all-day “School’s Out” class

of the new term. And this one is Pokemon-themed! Fall 2017 class brochures will be out this month, available in the Theatre lobby or online at www.OcalaCivicTheatre.com. Make sure you grab one, or call us to be put on the Theatre For Young Audiences mailing list. Don’t miss out… sign up ASAP!

In this gently humorous dramatic comedy, Lucas is forced to wear a protective helmet due to his unexpected seizures. Wanting to know how it feels to be “normal,” Lucas asks his mom if he can stop wearing the helmet, just for his 12th birthday. She allows him to do so for one hour… and by the end of his birthday, he has discovered something surprising about everyone in his life.

Fit is directed by Kirstin Kennedy. Auditions are Monday, August 21 and Tuesday, August 22 at 10:00 a.m. Actors will be asked to read from the script. Four to five actors and a stage manager will be hired for this show, which will be performed in local schools. All positions are paid. Daytime availability on weekdays is required.

Rehearsals are September 1-18. Performances are September 19 – October 31. There also will be a public performance at Ocala Civic Theatre on Saturday, October 21 at 11:00 a.m. Full details are available in the August 2017 Cue Sheet.

The student production ofTHE VELVETEEN RABBITBy James Still • From the classic story by Margery Williams

October 6-15In this adaptation of the beloved children’s classic, a young man looks back on his

childhood in an emotional journey through time. By reliving the relationship between his four-year-old self and his favorite toy, he rediscovers the true meaning of friendship. This poignant play explores themes of loss, loyalty, and love as the old rocking horse teaches the velveteen rabbit what it means to become real.

The Velveteen Rabbit is directed by Melanie Tarter and presented by a cast of students ages 6-13. The production will be performed in the Theatre’s rehearsal hall, with limited seating for each show. There will be six performances:

• Friday, October 6 at 7 p.m.• Saturday, October 7 at 7 p.m. • Sunday, October 8 at 2 p.m.

• Friday, October 13 at 7 p.m.• Saturday, October 14 at 7 p.m.• Sunday, October 15 at 2 p.m.

Tickets go on sale September 11 at $10 for adults and $5 for full-time students (school ID required for college students).

Auditions for the in-school touring production of

FitBy Kim Esop-Wylie

August 21-22

ocala-civic-theatre-ocala

5

2017-2018 Board of DirectorsPresidentPhilip Leppert

Vice PresidentJim Ross

TreasurerGeorge Kirkland

SecretaryLois Kohlweiss

MembersGarry D. AdelDr. Glenda “Rusty” BeloteJeffry DavidAna DunwoodyLeslie Hagan, MD

Sarah LankesterJoy NewkirkAndrea PizzutiDarrell RileyHerb SchmollGordon Schwenk, MD

StaffExecutive DirectorMary H. BrittProduction Manager/ Technical DirectorJeff DavisAssistant Technical DirectorWilliam SprattGeneral Technician/CustodianKen NobleScene Shop InternGrace TrudeauAdministrative AssistantsJanice KirkMelody MurphyBox Office Manager/ Volunteer CoordinatorCraig JamesBox Office AssistantsNancy E. BennettAnn DietrichDirector of EducationKirstin KennedyEducation Department AssistantMelanie TarterDirector of Marketing & PromotionsLarry KiernanSocial Media CoordinatorJessica WatsonComptrollerMarilyn PriceCostume DesignerEryn Brooks BrewerCostume Shop AssistantSherece GerardCostume Shop InternAbigail Barbier

Hello! We’ve had a great summer with over 300 students participating in youth classes and productions. Cry-Baby showcased some truly amazing talent from the large cast of high school and college students! Soon the students will be back in school and our education department schedule switches from daytime classes to after-school sessions. Our Fall Class Brochure will be available soon, so if you know of a student who might be interested, contact the theatre for more information. In addition to the skills classes – singing, dancing, acting, etc. – there are two performance classes in the fall with opportunities to participate in two classic family shows: The Velveteen Rabbit and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Arts education is a great learning experience for students of all ages.

Season ticket sales are going well, and I wanted to remind subscribers of one of the benefit changes. This year, subscribers who are interested in purchasing additional tickets are able to do so any time after August 7. As an example, if you have season tickets for the Signature Series and would like to see the Mark Twain or Bobby Darin shows that are in the Ovation Series, you may purchase tickets for those events at any time after August 7. In the past, you would need to wait until those shows go on sale to the public about 30 days prior to the opening of the show. Also, if you would like additional tickets for a show in your subscriber package, you may purchase them now. Let’s say you have family coming to visit during the run of Over The River and Through The Woods and you’d like to bring them with you. You will now be able to purchase those extra tickets anytime after August 7, regardless of which show you need.

August 7 is also the first day for subscriber exchanges and for Flex Pass holders to begin making reservations. That week will be very busy as people both call the theatre and come in person to make their reservations. All of our box office staff is dedicated to doing our best to give each subscriber the needed attention. It does often take as much as 20 to 30 minutes per subscriber when the individual is reserving five to eight shows, and it’s not unusual for one person to make the arrangements for several patrons who have Flex Passes and attend together. Is it better to come in person or call? We have the staff set up to handle both equally. Some staff just handle the phone calls and others are dedicated to assist the people who come in person. As I said, the first week will be very busy with some delays.

It’s not too late to purchase season tickets. You save 20% off the regular box office price when you purchase one of the season ticket packages. We’ve got a great schedule and would love to have you join us. If you are interested in a standing reservation and would like to know what seats are available, just call or stop by the box office and we will be happy to assist you.

The Theatre has added several benefits over the years to help our patrons enjoy our shows. We offer large-print programs, an FM Hearing Enhancement System, and also an audio loop for the auditorium and box office. This year, we are adding a new benefit. For the Signature Series, there will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at the performance on the fourth Thursday of each production. There will also be specific performances of the youth productions with ASL interpreters present. If you are interested in these performances, please contact either me or our box office manager, Craig James, for assistance. If you’d like a schedule of performances for this season, just let me know and I can e-mail you the dates. A subscription package is available for the interpreted performances in the Signature Series.

Lots of excitement on the horizon! See you at the Theatre!

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTIONS There’s nothing like the excitement of opening night! Reserve your tickets for opening night and join us for a reception in the Theatre lobby, one hour before curtain time for the premiere performance of each

show this season. Complimentary light refreshments will be served, and beer and wine are available for purchase through The Frugal Wine Snob. Come celebrate with us!

.

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDOCALA, FL

PERMIT NO. 9

4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Curtain Raiser is the official newsletter of The Marion Players, Inc., dba Ocala Civic Theatre. The Theatre is located at 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, 34470. The Curtain Raiser is published monthly and is available free of charge to anyone who is interested in our activities. For information about the organization or to be added to the mailing list, call (352) 236-2274.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture.

CURTAIN RAISERTHE

SEASON 2017 - 2018 AUGUST 2017

LARGE PRINT

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Britt at (352) 236-2851, ext. 104, or mbritt@ocalacivictheatre.com.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

AUGUSTSeason ticket

exchanges and Flex Pass reservations begin

Tickets on sale for La CageAuditions for

Velveteen Rabbit 5pm

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

SEPTEMBERLa Cage8pm

Tickets on sale for The Velveteen

Rabbit

La Cage8pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage2pm

La Cage2pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage2pm & 8pm

Tickets on sale for Over the River and Through the Woods

La Cage2pm

La Cage8pm La Cage 8pm

La Cage2pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage8pm

La Cage2pm & 8pm

Auditions forVelveteen Rabbit

5pm

Auditions forFit 10am

Auditions forFit 10am

Auditions forOver The River

7pm

Auditions forOver The River

7pm