August 2001 Westchester Playhouse

Rope: This suspenseful thriller directed by Max Heldring Stormes and produced by De and Ed Cotter is underway. If you have not yet made reservations to see it, do so! Rope plays through August 18. Thank you from the cast and crew to the following people who participated in Work Sunday:

Miriam Amster, Margie Bates, Gail Bernardi, Barbara Boone, Barbara & Tom Brophey, Arlene & Sheldon Cohen, Maria & Michael Cohen, Carla Coppock, Helen Geller, Bill Harred, Shellee James, Julia Maggs, Sheldon Metz, Rocky Miller, Gary Page, David Parke, Jess Pentecost, Sally Pierce, Richard Potthoff, Dorothy Rochlin, Frank Roys, Dagmar & Bob Schnauss, Adina Silo, Jeanne Spain, and Dave Whale

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. The following is the cast:

Maria: Lynette Rothnam Tony: Jonathan Nelson Anita: Sarah Deavitt
Bernardo: Jonathan Scott Riff: Harris Doran Anybodys: Rene Fulton
Action: Andrew James Baby John: Aaron Strange A-rab: Bo Bigley
Snowboy: Chris Isaacson Big Deal: Ryan McCormick Graziella: Erika Whalen
Velma: Jennifer Richardson Rosalia: Maria Jacobs Chino: Roy Okida
Consuela: Kelly Myersfield Francisca: Tracy Rainsbury Pepe: Tito Canett
Indio: Dan Abrams Doc: Chris Roberts Schrank: Gregory Daniels
Krupke: Michael Clark Glad Hand: Calia Mintzer Margarita: Lucia Renteria
Teresita/Soloist: Tatjana Boskin-Divovic Minnie: Kristine Ritterbush
Clarice: Julie Rechsteiner Pauline: Brittany Bianchi Jet Girl: Natalia Bizic

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.

Ruling Class: Director Jaz Davison has scheduled auditions for Ruling Class on Saturday, September 8 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM and Sunday, September 9 from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Many parts will be double cast. The following is the cast of characters:

Jack - 14th Earl of Gurney: 35-40 Grace Shelley: 30's
Charles Gurney: 55-65 Claire Gurney: 50-55
Dinsdale Gurney: 30-35 Daniel Tucker: 60-70
Dr. Paul Herder: 50's Mrs. Treadwell: 50-70
Mrs. Piggot-Jones: 50-70 Matthew Peake: 40-50
McKyle: 50's McKyle's Assistant: 30-40
Kelso Truscott, QC: 35-50 Detective Brockett
Detective Frasier 1st Lord (voice)
2nd Lord (voice) 3rd Lord (voice)
Toastmaster - not seen 13th Earl of Gurney: 65-75
Bishop Lampton: 60 - 70

Set Designer: Max Stormes Producer: De Cotter
Stage Manager: Dave Parke, Jr. Booth/Spot: Tara Potthoff
Book: Barbara McMurray Set Decorator: De Cotter
Costumes: Jeff Wallach Lights: Bill Wilday

They are still looking for a sound person.

Hospitality Thank you from Painting Churches:

Al & Muriel Sidell, Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Sue Beber, Tom & Barbara Brophey, Hal Fisher, Bill Harred, Kim Ash, Barbara Boone, Lynne Ingram, Michael & Maria Cohen, Adina Silo, Toni La Monica, Bob & Dagmar Schnauss (X3), Gretchen Luna, Larcenia Freeman, Larry Jones, Bob Sherman (X2), Jim Lunsford (X4), Jenny Martin, Toulah Pessah, Julia Maggs, Kay Walsh, Ron & Judy Wisansky, Monica Castagnasso, & two illegible names!

This and that (that shouldn’t go unread): The theatre will be purchasing two costume racks and a new fog machine! Speaking of costume racks...Maria Cohen sends her special thanks to the following people for their great help and support in the sorting and inventory of costumes on July 21, 22, and 29:

Julia Maggs, Dagmar Schnauss, Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Richard Potthoff, Treva Merritt, Adina Silo, and Sheldon Cohen.

Maria will continue to have inventory every Sunday until it is finished. Anybody who is interested in joining the project, please call Maria at (310)379-2635.

Here, There, and Everywhere: Elizabeth Bouton is playing the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Huntington Beach Playhouse. The production also features Melanie Marshall. Performances are Thursdays - Sundays July 27 - August 26. For more information, log on to: www.hbph.com/Joseph.htm. Katie Amstutz from Laughter on the 23rd Floor will be performing in Towards Zero at Theatre Palisades August 24 - September 29 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. 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. Long distant member Jerry Less received rave reviews for his portrayal of the Prince of Aragon and the Jailer in the 42nd Street Workshop production of The Merchant of Venice (set in San Francisco in the 1840’s). James Manley Greene is appearing as Will in Bus Stop at the Huntington Beach Playhouse from September 14 until October 7. For tickets and information call James at (310)377-7927. Former member Chris Belyea wrote a book titled As Long as You Want Me To. (Adina Silo purchased the last copy from Amazon.com.)

Celebrations: Happy August Birthdays to Judy Wisansky (8/2), Houston Jack (8/3), Joyce Croft (8/4), Van Mattiza (8/4), Jaz Davison (8/5), Estelle Abrams (8/7), Susan Stangl (8/7), Rosemari Lehr (8/8), Jim Lunsford (8/8), Shellee James (8/9), Mary Ann Schwarz (8/14), Bob Martz (8/15), Catherine Karklyn (8/20), George Rametta (8/20), Kristen Miller (8/20), Richard Potthoff (8/29), and Alison Mattiza (8/30).Celebrating another year of married bliss this month are Lee and Judy Polack(8/3), Scot and Virginia Renfro (8/8), Bill and Mary Buhler (8/12), Gene and Lynn Warech (8/15), Alfonso and Larcenia Freeman(8/20), and Hetty and Conny Sless (8/23).

Roster Info: Please make the following changes to your roster:

Pat Gunter (new zip code) 94503

Just for the record: Remember you can keep informed about the theatre through our web site www.kentwoodplayers.org. Thank you again to Eileen Cipriano for collecting and sending 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,