March 2001 Westchester Playhouse

Bleacher Bums: Spring training has begun and so has Bleacher Bums! Be sure to make your reservations so you don’t miss out on the best local baseball around! Director Jamie Weintraub and producers Jeff Wallach and Fatima Potthoff have assembled an incredible cast and crew for Joe Mantegna’s baseball oriented play. It opened March 9, 2001 and performs through April 14, 2001. Work Sunday was February 18. Many people came down to lend a hand and support our latest production. Thanks from the cast and crew go out to:

David & Estelle Abrams, Miriam Amster, Terri Avila, Margie Bates, Gail Bernardi, Kelly Blair, Tom & Barbara Brophey, Arlene Cohen, Michael & Maria Cohen, Ed & De Cotter, Joe Fagan, Dick Freytag, Bill Harred, Lisa Langley, Gretchen Luna, Julia Maggs, Paul Mazerov, Treva Merritt, Calia Mintzer, Zenius Muleckis, Gertrude Nord, Dave & David Parke, Sally Pierce, Lee & Judy Polak, Richard, Fatima, & Tara Potthoff, Dorothy Rochlin, Frank Roys, Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Bob Schnauss, Adina Silo, Max Stormes, Jeff Wallach, and Dave Whale.

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. Mark your calendars early for Work Sunday which will be April 15, 2001.

Rope: This unique suspense thriller slated for July/August is to be directed by Max Heldring Stormes. He will be holding auditions 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.

Musical Concert Series: The first concert of this year’s series is Ain’t Misbehavin’ to be directed and produced by Jeff Wallach. He has assembled the following cast and crew:

Aaron Braxton, Phylliss Bailey Brooks, Carla Jimenez, Kenny Lee, and Jacquelyn Levy in the cast Dean Mora as the music director and Richard Potthoff as the technical director

It will play Sundays on March 18, 25 and April 1 and 8 at 7:00 PM. There will be a sneak preview for Kentwood members on Thursday, March 15 at 8:00 PM.

Hospitality News: Thank you to everyone who served as house manager or on hospitality for the run of Laughter on the 23rd Floor:

Frank Roys, Treva Merritt, Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Shelley McDermott, Jeff Wallach, Adina Silo, Julia Maggs, Sheridan Cole, Jim Crawford, Helen Geller, Gail Bernardi, Hal Fisher, Sheldon & Arlene Cohen, Barbara McMurray, Kim Ash, Tom & Barbara Brophey, Al & Muriel Sidell, Calia Mintzer, Joe Fagan, Dagmar Schnauss (X2), Judy Polak, Ed & De Cotter, Rudy & Dorothea Toepfer, Gretchen Luna, Toula Pessah, Dick Freytag, Barbara Boone, and two others whose names, unfortunately, I was unable to read on the sign in sheet.

This and that (that shouldn’t go unread): The new sound system is installed and technicians will be trained on it ASAP. We, like many other Californians, are suffering from a leaky roof. Bids will be taken so repairs can be made immediately.

Proposed Bilaw Change: The following is a proposed change (to add the bold italicized line) to be voted upon at the March meeting:

6. ANNUAL MARCOM MASQUE AWARDS

Kentwood Players shall present Annual Masque Awards for outstanding achievement in regular season plays as follows:

A. Categories

20. Best lobby design

AACTFest 2001: The original one act play, Behold a Pale Bronco, by Mary Steelsmith was presented at the AACTFest on Friday March 9. Although our entry did not win the top honors, two notable awards were given. Jared Kallen won the best actor award for Billy and Richard Potthoff won the award for best Technical Director. In addition, many people expressed an interest in Mary Steelsmith’s plays. Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved in the undertaking.

Kentwood Players on the Web: The board has approved spending $214/year to keep our domain name/web site. This is not a fee that is collected by Web Master Andy Klute. He maintains the site for us because he enjoys doing it! Be sure to look us up from home, work, or any public library! The address is www.kentwoodplayers.org

Membership News: We are adding young, new members! Gert Nord, Vice President and Membership Chair, announces that we have over 210 members! At the February meeting some long time members were honored with 10 and 20 year pins, and life memberships:

Maria Cohen & Lynne Ingram - 10 year pins, Irving Geller - 20 year pin, and Joyce Oshins and Shirley Spiegel - permanent membership

Congratulations to them and to KP!

Nominating Committee: A committee has be formed with Richard Potthoff, Hal Fisher, Gail Bernardi, Sheldon Metz, and Rocky Miller. 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 March and April meetings. The following is the slate assembled by the committee:

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 Stengle, Stephen Carver, and Phil Brickey

Here, There, and Everywhere: Alison Mattiza is appearing as Lola and Karen McCord is playing Gloria Thorp in Damn Yankees at Westminster Community Theatre. It’s directed by Jon Sparks, and Kirk Larson is the assistant director. The musical runs March 9 through March 31. For reservations call (714)527-5546. The Web site for the theatre is www.westminster-theater.org. Andy Kallok is appearing in Murder in Green Meadows by Douglas Post at the Actors’ Repertory Theatre. #32 Peninsula Center, Palos Verdes. The play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM until March 31. For reservations call (310)544-6555. Bill Goldyn is directing Noises Off at Hollywood High School in their Little Theatre (room 503). Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday March 20 - 22 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $3. Scot Renfro was recently seen playing the foreman of a jury on the Sunday, March 11 episode of The Practice. Kristen Miller, Vicki and Rockey’s daughter, is a regular on a new series by the South Park creator. The show is titled "That’s My Bush." It’s a sitcom about President Bush starring Timothy Bottoms premiering April 4 at 10:30 PM on Comedy Central.

On a sad note: Condolences go out to Elaine Roark on the passing of her husband Don.

Celebrations: Happy March Birthday wishes to Sheldon Metz (3/8), Ron Hastings (3/9), Jerry Less (3/11), Linda Parke (3/14), Barbara Brophey (3/15), Mary Steelsmith (3/16), Toni LaMonica (3/19), Bill Harred (3/22), Oz Shobu (3/26), Betsy Rubino (3/29), and Dorothy Naftalin (3/31). Happy Anniversary to Tom and Barbara Brophey (3/4).

Just for the record: Next month’s bulletin will be a bit trickier to write as my hands (and not my belly) will be quite full. 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,