July 2001 Westchester Playhouse

Rope: Max Heldring Stormes is directing this suspense thriller and De and Ed Cotter are producing it. Rope opens this Friday, July 13 and plays through August 18. At the time of this printing, opening night was very undersold and twofers are being offered. Please try to come to the theatre and support the cast and crew opening night.

West Side Story: This classic Laurents, Bernstein, Sondheim musical playing September 7 through October 20 is to be directed by Jeff Wallach, produced by Richard Potthoff and Michelle Rosen, and choreographed by Vicki Miller. Auditions will be held Saturday, July 14 beginning at 12:00 PM for non-singing roles, and Sunday, July 15 and Monday, July 16 beginning at 7:00 PM for vocal and dance. All roles are open, but require an audition appointment which can be made by calling Jeff Wallach at (818)704-1221. Auditioners need to prepare 16 bars of an up-tempo and a ballad. Songs from the show are okay. Bring sheet music in the correct key (an accompanist will be provided). Actors auditioning for non-singing rolls will read from sides from the script (please be familiar with the play). The following is the cast breakdown:

(All members of the Sharks and Jets should be able to play teens-twenties and be excellent dancers or movers.)

Maria: amazing dramatic actress, soprano
Tony: attractive ex-leader of the Jets, lyric baritone/tenor, great actor
Anita: a spitfire, sassy, excellent dancer, rangy alto
Bernardo: macho leader of the Sharks, great dancer, walks with a swagger, baritone
Riff: competitive, cocky, current leader of the Jets, excellent dancer, baritone
Anybodys: tomboy trying to "pass" as a Jet, vocal range open
Action: hyper, overzealous member of the Jets, vocal range open
Baby John: youngest member of the Jets, overcompensates for his youth, vocal range open
A-rab, Snowboy, Big Deal, Diesel: featured members of the Jets, vocal ranges open
Graziella, Velma: featured Jets girls
Rosalia: Anita’s featured competitor, sings lead in "America", rangy alto
Chino: shy member of the Sharks, betrothed to Maria
Consuela, Francisca: featured Sharks girls
Pepe, Indio: featured Sharks

(The following roles are non-singing)

Doc: 50’s, a father-figure for the rival gangs especially the Jets, strong actor
Schrank: 40’s - 50’s, a lieutenant who works with Krupke, respectful but gets the job done
Krupke: 40’s - 50’s, bigoted police officer, harasses both gangs
Glad Hand: age open, male or female, mousy organizer of the dance, good heart, comedic.

Lined up for the crew are:
Set design: Scot Renfro Light design: Richard Potthoff Music: Bill Wolfe
Sound: Melanie Marshall Stage Mgr.: Frank Roys Crew: Tara Potthoff
Script: Barbara McMurray Costumes: Jeff Wallach
Props: Alison & Van Mattiza Audition Coordinators: Jackie Kotsos & Tara Potthoff

Please mark your calendars now for Work Sunday on August 19.

This and that (that shouldn’t go unread): Calia Mintzer sends out a special thank you to Nancy Burrows, a long distance member living in New Mexico, who sent a $10.00 donation to the dinner dance. There is going to be a Work Saturday and Sunday on July 21 and 22 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM to help Maria Cohen with costume clearance and sorting...and speaking of storing, is there a member who has the space to house an 8’ x 20’ storage unit on their property??? The theatre is considering utilizing posters for future productions and is looking for volunteers willing to distribute them to neighborhood businesses and organizations. There is a new face in the box office, Lori Walter has taken over the behind-the-counter reservation duties. There was a terrific turn-out on the 4th of July for the Westchester Parade. The following members participated:

Maria & Michael Cohen, Sheldon & Arlene Cohen, Hal Fisher (with his Uncle Sam make-up provided by Sheldon Metz), Dick Freytag, Steve Lee, Julia Maggs, Phil Massi, Calia Mintzer, Dave Parke, Sally Pierce, Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Bob & Dagmar Schnauss, Adina Silo, Mary Steelsmith, Rudi & Dorothea Toepfer, and Shellee James who provided a barbecue for the participants following the parade.

2001 Marcom Masque Awards: And the award goes to...

Actor in a Leading Role: Rick Reardon as Max in Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Actress in a Leading Role: Margie Bates as Mama in I Remember Mama
Actor in a Major Supporting Role: Dave Parke as Uncle Chris in I Remember Mama
Actress in a Major Supporting Role: Mary Steelsmith as Aunt Trina in I Remember Mama
Actor in a Minor Supporting Role: Hal Fisher as Mr. Thorkelson in I Remember Mama
Actress in a Minor Supporting Role: Norma Northcott-Binmore as Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo
Actor in a Minor Role: Chris Roberts as Richard in Moon Over Buffalo
Actress in a Minor Role: Kim Ash as The Bag Lady in Bleacher Bums
Actor in a Cameo Role: Logan O’Brien as The Kid in Bleacher Bums
Actress in a Cameo Role: Calia Mintzer as Florence Dana Morehead in I Remember Mama
Director: Philip Brickey for I Remember Mama
Producer: Arlene Cohen and Lee Polak for Ten Little Indians
Play: I Remember Mama
Set Design: Max Heldring Stormes for Ten Little Indians
Set Decoration Design: De Cotter and Max Heldring Stormes for Moon Over Buffalo
Lighting Design: Richard Potthoff for Ten Little Indians
Sound Design: Kathi Thompson for Ten Little Indians
Original Graphic Design: Michael Cohen for Moon Over Buffalo
Costume Design: Maria Cohen for I Remember Mama
Lobby Design: Arlene Cohen for Ten Little Indians AND
Kelly Blair and Paul Mazerov for Bleacher Bums

The following people received the 2001 Production Award:

Miriam Amster, Barbara Brophey, Arlene Cohen, Maria Cohen, Michael Cohen, Sheldon Cohen, De Cotter, Jim Crawford, Grant Francis, Toni Gonzales, Shellee James, Julia Maggs, Phil Massi, Alison Mattiza, Shelley McDermott, Barbara McMurray, Treva Merritt, Sheldon Metz, Calia Mintzer, Dave Parke, David Parke II, Richard Potthoff, Tara Potthoff, Dorothy Rochlin, Frank Roys, Bob Schnauss, Max Stormes, Kathi Thompson, Jeff Wallach, and David Whale.

Finally, the well deserving, hard working 21st recipient of a Special Board Award was Maria Cohen.

Here, There, and Everywhere: Aileen-Marie Scott will be directing and co-choreographing Gypsy at the Granada Theatre from June 29 - August 5. Larry Jones is assistant director and Alison Mattiza is the co-choreographer. Susan Stangl and Mary Steelsmith have been cast in Lilies of the Field at Palos Verdes Players in Torrance. It runs June 15 - July 28. Susan is playing the lead, Mother Maria Marthe and Mary is Sister Albertine. Former member Gabrielle DeCuir Carr is directing Ed Cotter in an updated version (to 1945 Italy) of Mandrake by Machiavelli at the Knightsbridge Theatre at 1944 Riverside Drive. Performances are July 13 - August 26 (Fridays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays at 5:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM). For reservations call (626)440-0821. The same night that we were hosting our awards dinner, Westminster Community Theatre was doing the same thing! Damn Yankees directed by Jon Sparks won for best play, Karen McCord won for best supporting actress in a musical for Gloria Thorpe in Damn Yankees, and Alison Mattiza won for best actress in a musical for Lola in Damn Yankees. Congratulations! Steve Lee created a video documentary chronicling the process that those involved in Mary Steelsmith’s Behold a Pale Bronco went through in preparing and performing in the AACT-Fest competition earlier this year. He has finished editing the documentary and is looking for an audience to view it (preferably on a big screen TV in someone’s home). It runs approximately 26 minutes (!). If you are interested in watching or hosting, please call Steve at (310)216-0499. Jeff Wallach has been hired to choreograph the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival’s production of As You Like It opening Friday, July 13 and running for three weeks on the campus of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Tickets are FREE. They do offer $5.00 bleacher seats and $25.00 reserved box seats.

Special Notes: Jaz Davison wishes to thank everyone who called, wrote, and offered love and support after the recent death of her husband, Richard.

Arlene Cohen is a hard lady to keep down. She participated in the 4th of July parade in a wheel chair after falling at the dinner dance and breaking her knee cap. Our wishes to Arlene for a speedy and complete recovery.

Celebrations: Happy July birthday to Jackie Kotsos (7/1), Laverne Mizrahi (7/2), Dick Freytag (7/7), Arlene Cohen (7/10), Bill Goldyn (7/11)Renee Barmazel (7/12), Charlotte Lee Schildkret (7/12), Maria Cohen (7/18), Jeanette Lyons (7/20), John Sullivan (7/26), Valerie Sullivan (7/27), and Tom Brophey (7/28). Celebrating another year of married bliss this month are Ron and Judy Wisansky (7/1), and Frank and Elynor Olivadoti (7/19).

Just for the record: I owe a big thank you to my alternate, Eileen Cipriano who collects and sends me information during the summer months for the bulletin. If you have any information to go in next month’s bulletin please get it to me as early as possible, preferably by e-mail N6KOA.J@JUNO.COM., but as always you can leave a phone message, (310)204-1838.

Until next month,