T h e P r o m p t e r

Table of Contents

Page 1 Prez Says

Page 2 VYT’s Grease

Page 3 & 4 Mockingbird Auditions

Page 5 Sing in the Season

Page 6 Year-end Donations

Page 7 December Traditions

Page 8 Amazon / VP News

Page 9 Upcoming Events

Prez Says

93nd season, Issue 4 December 2015

HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS

Here we are, drawing the curtains on another year.

Thanksgiving looms in the rearview mirror and other holidays

are before us. I always thought my parents were nuts when

they spoke of time flying as they grew older; now I know all

too well what they meant.

As we all go through the holiday hustle and bustle, I

encourage everyone to take time for themselves, family and

friends. Those are the gifts we are given that truly matter,

through the season’s madness; I am fortunate to have the

members of Village Players in my life. Thank you!

A final note: tickets to our shows make great gifts. Our

shows provide a fabulous experience that will touch any

lucky recipient. A year-end donation to the VP is also a

welcome holiday treat (see page 6).

I wish you all health and happiness in 2016!

Paul A. Gillin

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GREASE OPENS DECEMBER 10 Grease is the word at VP as the youth theater presents Grease: School Version, December 10 – 13. This family-friendly rendition of the rock n' roll musical follows the Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies through the ups and downs of their senior year at Rydell High. Set in 1959, Grease tells the timeless story of teenage love and life through memorable, electrifyn' songs. VYT’s school version is suitable for fans of all ages and includes all your favorite finger-snapping numbers including “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning” and “We Go Together.” The show stars 32 youth actors from across Oakland County including Birmingham Seaholm freshman Carson Peasley as greaser Danny Zuko and Royal Oak Shrine High School freshman Katy Zink as good girl Sandy Dumbrowski. So, get out your leather jackets, pull on your bobby socks, and join us for this celebration of the fabulous and fun 1950s. The show runs two-hours with intermission and is appropriate for all audiences. Dates and times are December 10, 11 and 12 at 7:00 p.m. and December 12 and 13 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and $10 for groups of ten or more. Tickets can be online at www.birminghamvillageplayers .com or by calling the theater box office at 248-644-2075.

The Prompter December 2015

DID YOU KNOW?

VYT requires help from more than 20 vol-unteers for each performance and 10 for each dress rehearsal. That’s more than 150 volunteers during “tech week” alone. We also require volunteer help during the 2.5 month rehearsal process. Overall, we need-ed more than 180 volunteers working countless hours to produce a show. Special thanks to VP members Andrea Kaptur, Jo-sie Thomas, Steve Roberts, Michael Grava-me, Susie Gardiner, Helen Moltrup, Bryan Conroy, Gary Mach, Mike Dundas & Rudy Vackov for their help with Grease.

Danny Zuko ( Birmingham Seaholm freshman Carson Pea-sley) & Sandy Dumbrowski (Royal Oak Shrine High School freshman Katy Zink)

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AUDITION NOTICE

Saturday, December 19 – 9:30 am / Sunday, December 20 – 7:00 pm

Begin check-in 30 minutes early.

Audition Cuts are available by sending an email to: birminghamvillageplayers@gmail.com, type in MOCKINGBIRD in the subject line and name the character (s) in which you are interested in .

Southern accents will probably not be used. The “Revised Edition” of the play will be used.

Rehearsals will commence in early January, and (depending on cast conflicts) generally will be scheduled Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from 7:00 – 9:30 and Sunday from 2:00 – 5:00.

Directed by Tim Wittlinger - Assistant Director Carol Aaron—Producer Lori Champagne.

Performance Dates: March 4,5,6,10,11,12,13,17,18, & 19. Plus possible benefits on March 9, 15 &16.

CHARACTERS

If no age is mentioned for a character, they can be played by any age consistent with their description.

Extras have no lines and need not attend rehearsals until two weeks prior to opening.

YOUTH

Jean Louise Finch (Scout) – Age 9-11 (or looks it) – a rebellious tomboy who has a fierce disposition toward any who challenge her, but at heart she believes in the goodness of people.

Jeremy Finch (Jem) – Age 11- 13 (or looks it) – Athletic, stubborn and quite impetuous, he often acts without thinking. Works to understand his non-conventional father.

Charles Baker Harris (Dill) – Age 11-13 (or looks it) – Active imagination, adventurous, but with a less than ideal family life. As such he spends much of his time with Scout and Jem, admiring their father.

Mayella Ewell – Age 19-21 – Lives a lonely and miserable life, Abused by her father and brothers, she yearns for companionship. She cannot handle conflict, and perjures herself to avoid it.

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Audition Notice Continued

ADULT ROLES

Atticus Finch – Age 40-55 – Quiet, laid back, pensive and reserved lawyer, the town “do-gooder.” Maintains an unshakable hope in mankind, and always does what is just.

Calpurnia – The Finch’s educated and capable black cook and housekeeper, a motherly figure to Scout and Jem. She operates as a conduit between the black and white worlds of Maycomb.

Maudie Atkinson – Friend and cheerful neighbor of the Finch’s, she loves gardening and her love and com-passion help the children understand life in Maycomb. She also serves as a narrator as the play moves from scene to scene.

Stephanie Crawford – The town gossip, always stirring things up. She has an opinion about everything.

Bob Ewell – An evil, ignorant, short-tempered alcoholic who lives with his motherless children (about whom he cares little) in a shack near the town dump. He is the villain of the play, and shows and acts it.

Walter Cunningham – A poor farmer, who initially pays Finch for some legal work with farm products, but then turns against him in leading a lynch mob to the jail to kill Robinson. But under his anger is a layer of jus-tice and humanity, as he leads the mob away after listening to Scout’s kind words.

Mr. Gilmore – The County Prosecuting Attorney, who leads the prosecution of Robinson, opposing Atticus’ efforts at acquittal.

Tom Robinson – Age 25 - 35 - Young, kind black laborer, with an injured left hand/arm, unable to move them. Always ready to help neighbors (of both races). Very afraid of the situation he is in, being accused of raping a white woman.

Arthur Radley (Boo) – Age 50 – 60 - A recluse, who never emerges from his dilapidated aged house. The town has developed a myth that he is an insane monster who prowls at night, eats squirrels and peers in other’s windows. However, Atticus respects his privacy and teaches his children to do so too.

Judge Taylor – A good sensible jurist who manages a strict courtroom.

Extras – Up to 3 white men and 2 black women plus one youth. (Extras have no lines and need not attends rehearsals until 2 weeks prior to opening.)

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This year, youth and friends of Birmingham Village Players are coming together for a Christmas party...and we would love for you to join us.

This year's program has the audience peeking into the Christmas Sing-Along party of “Mr. and Mrs.” played by Dave and Coleen Genette. They will be joined on stage by 15+ singers performing some of their favorite Christmas tunes. There will also be a classic Christmas story and just maybe a visit from Santa. From tradi-tional carols to chart topping Christmas pop songs to numbers from musicals, this program celebrates the Christmas spirit.

Showtime is 2pm on December 20th. Tickets available at the box office.

Cast includes members of the Village Youth Theater and Alexa Carollo, Kate Connley, Kevin Cristbrook, James Cristbrook, Diane DAgostino, Deb Dworkin, DeAnn Ervin, Coleen Genette, Dave Genette, Dan Hart-ley, Ben Henri, Mark Konwinski, Kevin Kuznia, Sarah Kwas, Erika Movahedan, Cassie Najor, Laura Quinn, Janna Rees and Dez Walker.

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This Holiday Season, Consider a Donation to VP

Thank you for your continued membership in Village Players. We appreciate your ongoing support of our dy-

namic and important arts organization, one that significantly contributes to our community. Like us, we’re sure

you enjoy our productions and fellowship as well as the opportunity to build your skills and exercise your tal-

ents.

At the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees, we once again pledged to operate within a balanced

budget. That means for our 2016 day-to-day theater operations, we spend only what we earn through ticket

sales, show sponsorships, parking lot rentals, and program advertisements.

This commitment is no easy task. In addition to the costs of producing shows, we have a duty to maintain and

upgrade our facilities. Currently, we are pursuing a five-year plan to replace

all six roof areas on the building. The first phase, the roof over the stage,

was completed in August at a cost of $24,000. There are five more roofs to

go at an additional cost of $55,000!

At this time of year, like many not-for-profits, we ask you to consider a gift

of support to Village Players. Please note: 100% of donations go into our

“capital reserve account.” We use this fund to keep the lights on and the

building open and repaired. Currently our capital reserves primarily are

funding our new roofs.

Gifts of any size are most heartily appreciated. All gifts are recognized in

our show programs for the coming year. Your contribution is tax deductible

and may offer you some additional tax advantages, for which you should

consult with your individual tax advisor. Please also consider a future giving plan which may entitle you to a

tax advantage now, with the gift passing to Village Players at a later date.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of this request! Happy Holidays, and On with the

Show!

Regards,

Your Board of Trustees

Make a Donation Online at www.birminghamvillageplayers.com. Go to the “tickets” screen to make a

donation. (Online donations open at midnight on December 11)

Mail a Donation to Village Players, P.O. Box 172, Birmingham, MI 48012. Checks are made payable to

VP.

Make a Donation by Phone with your credit card at 248-644-2075.

Matching Gifts: Make your gift go further with a matching donation from your employer. Ask your Human

Resources Department if your company has a matching program.

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Looking Back at Village Players History—December By Tania Velinsky

Happy Holidays, fellow Players! As we head in to the swirl of social

events that mark the holiday season, I thought we might look back at

the tradition of holding Christmas parties at Village Players. In the early

days of our organization the Village Players Christmas Party was one of

the highlights of the Birmingham social scene, including entertainment

and reverie for the entire family. Below are excerpts from the 4 pages

(!) of information and instructions for the 1935 Village Players

Christmas Party.

The Players' Program Will Start at 4:00 P. M. Saturday, December 14, 1935

It starts with a bang-up play for grown-ups and children both. It's not a children's party, but a real

performance of a play that no Player will want to miss, because it has an all-star cast of men, under the direction

of Olie Olsen, past master of pageantry. It's a family party - not a Christmas show for children. Consequently, No

Children Will be Admitted Without Their Parents.

We want the family there - and those who came last year know how swell it was to see Papa, Mama and the kids

all together in the Playhouse. So be there, with grandma and grandpa and all the others who are eligible, at 4:00

P.M.

The afternoon show is built for all ages, but at night we're going to "rough" things up a bit - not too much - but

just enough so that most Players won't want to bring the "little ones". But they'll want the grown-up boys and girls,

who like a good laugh, to be there.

INTERMISSION

This comes at 5:30, and we will ask all Players and families to go home - stay sober - and be back at 7:30

o'clock. Meanwhile, Edith Bishop, chief of chefs, will have dinner ready at the Playhouse - AT ONLY 65 CENTS A

PERSON! Prices are up, so we have to increase slightly over last year.

At 7:30

Dinner, followed by "The Return of Old George Santa Claus", another all-star production with lyrics by

Wap John and a cast of twenty odd Players, headed by George Raynale. Finally we will have dancing until the wee

hours, with music provided by the Dave Diamond orchestra.

The Ground Rules

They are the same as last year, so that those eligible to attend are:

Players ........................................................... (Papa and Mama)

The Children… ............................................................ (Regardless of size or age)

Mothers and Fathers of Players: (Who have to listen to Player gab fests all winter because they reside in a

Player's home)

Any other members of a Player's own Household (For the same reason) Any House Guests ............................................. (From out of town)

AND THAT'S ALL!

No Oakland County guests, and no out-of-town guests who aren't House Guests, (this means sleeping in

Birmingham after the show).

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AN EASY WAY TO HELP VILLAGE PLAYERS Everyone purchases gifts this Christmas and Hanukkah season, and many buy items from Amazon. Many people don’t know it, but Amazon will pay a small percentage of your purchase to non-profits, such as Village Players,. But here’s the catch; you have to tell Amazon that you want to support VP. The price for the things you buy is the same, the donation comes from The Amazon Foundation. So, how do I do this? Instead of going to www.amazon.com, go to www.smile.amazon.com. On your first visit, you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make will result in a donation. Village Players has already registered, so all you have to do is select it from the list of charities. Then, every time you buy some stuff, go to www.smile.amazon.com and shop ‘til you drop. You will see (in the upper left hand corner of the Amazon home page) a note that says: “You are supporting Village Players.”

VP Member News SAD NEWS - Long time member Jean Sweet passed away quietly on November 28. A memorial service will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3633 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084 on Tuesday, December 22 at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Northminster or the giver's charity of choice. MEMBER MOVED! - Peggy McCall has moved to 1650 W. Glendale Ave. #3108, Phoenix, AZ, 85021. Phone number is 602-544-5300 and email remains the same at morecall@yahoo.com PLAYWRIGHTS @ WORK SEEKING PRODUCER - Playwrights at Work (P@W) is a unique group, within the Village Players, that promotes playwriting among its members. Annually, every July, the group selects four original one act plays, written by its members, and presents them in a One Act Festival at the Playhouse. The group is seeking a Producer for its 2016 Festival. If you are interested, please call Diane D'Agostino, at 248-760-2146, or Penny Calcaterra, at 248-961-2377 (note: corrected phone number).

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34660 Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009

December 10, 11, 12 7PM VYT Grease

December 12 & 13 2PM VYT Grease

December 13 7PM Board of Directors Meeting - Green Room

December 14 6:30PM Board of Trustees Meeting - Mitchell's restaurant

December 19 9AM Mockingbird Auditions

December 20 2PM Sing in the Season 3

December 20 7PM Mockingbird Auditions

This edition of The Prompter was created and compiled by your newsletter team Michael A. Gravame & Tania L. Velinsky.

Please send all newsworthy articles, pictures and items to anyone in the new team.

Michael— littletevye@yahoo.com ◊ Tania—tania.velinsky@siemens.com

Upcoming Events

Prompter deadline December 21, 2015!!! View the VP online calendar at www.calendar.yahoo.com/vp_calendar