April 2001 Westchester Playhouse

Bleacher Bums: The official baseball season has opened, but soon Bleacher Bums will close. Be sure to see this entertaining play before it closes on April 14. Director Jamie Weintraub and producers Jeff Wallach and Fatima Potthoff thank their crew:

Stage Managers: Jim Crawford and Rudy O’Brien Set Design: Max Stormes

Scenic Artist: De Cotter Lights: Richard Potthoff Props: Gretchen Luna

Sound: Richard Potthoff and John Spence Booth: John Spence and Tara Potthoff

Lobby: Kelly Blair and Paul Mazerov Script: Fatima Potthoff

Costumes: Maria Cohen Recorded Organist: Barbara Brophey Singer: Jeff Wallach

Auditions: Jeanne Spain

Painting Churches: This "dramedy" directed by Gail Bernardi will perform May 11 - June 16. (There will be no performance on Mother’s Day, and an extra performance will be added on Thursday, May 24.) It will be produced by Calia Mintzer who will be assisted by a new member, Fran Leslie. This Sunday, (Easter)April 15, 2001 is WORK SUNDAY. The following cast has been assembled:

Fanny Sedgwick Church: Alice Lunsford Gardner Church: Bill Buhler

Margaret Church (Mags): Jaz Davison

The following crew has been assembled:

Auditions: Jeanne Spain Script: Barbara McMurray Set: Bill Buhler

Lights: Richard Potthoff Sound: Kathi Thompson Props: Shelly McDermott

Construction Supervisor; Dave Whale Set Decoration: Jeff Wallach

Set Artist: De Cotter Costumes: Maria Cohen Crew: Tony Tinajero

Lobby and Graphics: Michael Cohen Booth: Dick Freytag

Rope: This unique suspense thriller playing July 13 - August 18 is to be directed by Max Heldring Stormes and produced by De and Ed Cotter. Auditions will be held on Saturday, May 12 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and Sunday May 13 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM. Callbacks, if needed, will be held on Monday, May 14 from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. The following is the cast description:

Brandon: Early 20’s upper class Oxford student. He’s tall and slender, with the build of a boxer with large strong hands. He has a rich, smooth voice.

Granillo: Early 20’s upper class Oxford student. He’s smaller and more aristocratic than Brandon and less athletic. He is of Spanish descent without the accent.

Sabot: Mid 30’s - 40’s (can be male or female) middle class professional butler/caterer. He/She is a long time servant for hire to Brandon and Granillo.

Raglan: Early 20’s upper class Oxford student. He is younger than Brandon by a year or so. He tries hard to be classy, but isn’t. He’s a bit of an airhead. (Actor must be able to Fox Trot, Charleston, and Tango.)

Leila: Early 20’s upper class. She’s about the same age and airhead type as Raglan, only sharper, more clever. She’s sophisticated and a bit of a sexual predator. (Actress must be able to Fox Trot, Charleston, and Tango.)

Kentley: 50’s - 60’s upper class. He’s a warm, professorial, intellectual, bookish sort. He’s not fully connected with the real world.

Debenham: 50’s - 60’s upper class. She is elegant, pleasant, and unfocused. She rarely speaks and is not fully connected with reality or much of anything else.

Rupert: Late 20’s upper class. He’s somewhat fey, but not effeminate. He’s an established poet who is intellectually, mentally sharp and self assured.

All ages are approximate PLAYING ages and all characters MUST HAVE BRITISH dialects or good stage English.

The following staff has been established for Rope:

Choreographer: Vickie Miller Costume Design: Maria Cohen

Light Design: Richard Potthoff Graphic Design: Max Heldring Stormes

Sound Design: Kathi Thompson Set Decoration: Max Heldring Stormes

Set Dressing: De Cotter Props: Arlene Cohen and Helen Geller

Special Props Creation: Kathy Knox Auditions: Jeanne Spain Script: Jackie Kotsos

Stage Manager: Sheldon Cohen Asst. Stage Manager: Arlene Cohen

Booth Crew: Kathi Thompson, Catherine Karklyn, and Tim Boeck

New Plays: The Ruling Class to be directed by Jaz Davison for the November/December 2001 timeslot and Forty Carats to be directed by Sheridan Cole for the March/April 2002 timeslot were approved by the board.

Musical Concert Series: Ain’t Misbehavin’ directed and produced by Jeff Wallach with musical director Dean Mora went very well. Thanks to all who participated! The next in the series is The World Goes ‘Round, the music of Kander and Ebb, to be directed by Vicki Miller. The preview for Kentwood members is on Saturday, May 19 at 2:00 PM. Performances are Sundays May 20, 27, June 3, and 10 at 7:00 PM.

This and that (that shouldn’t go unread): Membership Chairperson, Gert Nord, requests that people renew their membership in person at the April meeting to save postage and some extra work! Remember membership renewal is due by May 1. Single membership - $15, Couple - $20, non-active - $45

Try to get your points!!!!! The Westchester Chamber of Commerce has a new web site: www.wlaxmdrchamber.com.

Bylaw Change: The change voted upon at the March meeting was approved.

Nominating Committee: Richard Potthoff, Hal Fisher, Gail Bernardi, Sheldon Metz, and Rocky Miller have assembled the following slate:

President: Richard Potthoff Vice President: Gert Nord

Post Cards/Programs: Fatima Potthoff Technical Manager: Jamie Weintraub

Secretary: Mary Steelsmith Publicity: Linda Parke

Treasurer: Lee Polak Season Tickets: Margie Bates

Box Office: Dave Parke, Sr. Theatre Parties: Calia Mintzer

Bulletin: Jenny Boone Workshops/Scheduling: Jeff Wallach

House Manager: Bill Harred Plays Reading Chair: Scot Renfro

Production Manager: Sheldon Metz Plays Committee: Alison Mattiza, Susan Stangl, Stephen Carver, and Phil Brickey

If you are interested in serving on the board of directors in any capacity during the 2001 - 2002 season, please contact one of the committee members and throw your name into the ring! Nominations will be taken from the floor at the April meeting.

Here, There, and Everywhere: Norma Northcott-Binmore is appearing as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma at the Elizabeth Howard Curtain Call Dinner Theatre at 690 El Camino Real in Tustin. Performances are March 8 through May 27 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and twice on Sundays. Long distance member Jerry Less appeared in "Carmella’s Indecision" by Rahti Gorfien, a piece specifically written for him. Arnold and Charlotte Schildkret will be taking a five week trip across America, seeing Jerry Less and Doris Shoemaker along the way. Elizabeth Bouton, Melanie Marshall and Aileen-Marie Scott recently performed in the concert version of Into the Woods at the Granada Theatre. Aileen-Marie Scott will be directing and co-choreographing Gypsy at the Granada Theatre. It auditions April 30 and May 1 and runs from June 29 - August 5. Larry Jones is assistant director and Alison Mattiza is the co-choreographer. Kristin Towers is playing Young Violet in Violet at the Sierra Repertory Theater in the Bay area. She is also engaged to be married to Ben Gonio on Novermber 18, 2001. CONGRATULATIONS!

Keeping the membership growing: I am happy to announce that Larry Boone and I have a new son. Brandon Douglas Boone was born at 6:38 AM on March 31. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 inches long. Brandon and I checked out of the hospital on Monday, April 2, and have been getting along very well at home with lots of TLC from Larry and big sister Erin.

Celebrations: Happy April Birthday wishes to Sally Pierce (4/1), Lizzie Bartels (4/6), Max Stormes (4/12), Adina Silo (4/13), Ron Wisansky (4/15), Dassa Kalmanson (4/16), Doris Shoumaker (4/16), Dorothea Toepfer (4/17), Alice Lunsford (4/22), and Lynn Warech (4/30). Happy Anniversary to Larry and Jenny Boone (4/8), Rosemari and Sam Lehr (4/12), and Pamla and Jon Abramson (4/20).

Just for the record: Thank you to Sheridan Cole and Eileen Cipriano who helped get notes to me from the March general meeting and the April board meeting. Please get any information you want in the April bulletin to me as early as possible, preferably by e-mail N6KOA.J@JUNO.COM., but as always you can also leave a phone message, (310)204-1838. Until next month,