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January 2002 Westchester Playhouse

General Meeting:	Wednesday, January 16 at 8:00 PM
Hospitality:	This month’s goodies provided by ??? (Thank you whoever you are!)
Workshop:	Tonight’s workshop is a scene from Lillian Hellman’s The Children’s Hour, directed by Aileen Marie Scott.

The Elephant Man:  Sheldon Metz is directing this poignant, uplifting true story  by Bernard Pomerance and Calia Mintzer and Bob Sherman are producing it.  The Elephant Man  plays January 11 through February 16, 2002.  There has been a change in the cast:

                John (Joseph) Merrick - Rob Duval

                Pinhead Manager (English Policeman, Porter, Lord John) - Don Heath

Please call and make reservations now.  Opening weekend at the time this was written had small audiences, so please come down and support this play early on!

Forty Carats:  This classic comedy by Jay Allen will be directed by Sheridan Cole and produced by Rocky Miller.  It will open March 8 and play through April 13, 2002.  Auditions will be held Saturday, January 12 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and Sunday, January 13 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM.    Please return borrowed scripts at the auditions.  The following is the character breakdown:

Ann Stanley:  Lead.  40	successful real-estate agent who, after two unsuccessful marriages is smitten with a young man
Peter Latham:  22	smart, mature, charming, sincere, and sexy
Mrs. Adams	Older, prospective house buyer, but really a “looky-loo”
Mrs. Margolin	Middle-aged, Ann’s secretary (think Thelma Ritter)
Billy Boylan:  43	Ann’s ex-husband, established actor, but mostly in B movies, witty, lovable, but rather helpless
Eddy Edwards:  45	confident, friendly, uncomplicated and rich - a widower looking for a wife
Maud Hayes	Ann’s spunky mother, opinionated and loving to both her daughter and granddaughter
Trina:  17	Ann’s attractive daughter with lots of energy and a mind of her own
Mr. & Mrs. Latham	40’s, Peter’s elegant, rich parents.  Mr. Latham is a bit full of himself, Mrs. Latham has more underneath the surface, warm and witty
Pat	young, good looking pro golfer, flirts mercilessly

Sheridan and Rocky have already begun assembling a crew:

Set Design:	Max Heldring Stormes
Costumes:	Maria Cohen
Graphic Design:	Michael Cohen
Script Supervisor:	Barbara McMurray
Stage Manager:	Jim Crawford
Light Design:	Dave Parke

Forty Carats (Continuted):  More help is needed backstage, in the booth, and they still need a sound designer.  If you are interested in working on this play, please contact Rocky Miller or Sheridan Cole. Work Sunday is February 17...mark your calendars now!!

The Boys Next Door:  The May - June offering written by Tom Griffin will be directed by Charlotte Lee Schildkret and produced by Calia Mintzer and Lee Polak.  Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 9 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and Sunday, March 10 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  The Boys Next Door is a comedy with substance that focuses on the lives of four mentally challenged men who live in a communal residence under the supervision of a social worker.  The cast breakdown follows: (for more information contact Charlotte at (310)280-0943.)

Arnold Wiggins:  40’s	Marginal intelligence, nervous type, depressive
Lucien P. Smith:  50ish	African American, severely retarded, childlike, very sincere
Jack Palmer	Social worker, earnest but suffering from burn-out
Norman Bulansky:  30ish	Nickname “Billy Bulimia”, sloppy (ballroom dancing a plus)
Barry Klemper:  28ish	Schizophrenic “golf pro”
Mr. Klemper	Barry’s father, one-armed, coarse, middle aged man
Sheila:  Late 20’s	retarded (ballroom dancing a plus)
The following roles may be played by one actress and one actor:
Mrs. Femus	deaf widow
John Hedges	Taking golf lessons from Barry
Mrs. Karen Warren	new neighbor  Senator Clarke - Dignified middle aged man
Clara	clearly retarded
Mr. Corbin	Mild mannered, middle aged, Arnold’s boss
The following people have volunteered to work on The Boys Next Door:
Stage Manager:	Frank Roys
Light & Sound Designer:	Richard Potthoff
Costume Designer:	Maria Cohen
Graphic Design:	Michael Cohen
Publicity Photos:	Hal Fisher
Script Supervisor:	Barbara McMurray
Set Designer:	Bill Buhler
Set Decorator:	De Cotter
Auditions:	Jeanne Spain
Choreography:	Scot Renfro

If you are interested in being the construction supervisor, prop person, or lobby designer, contact Calia, Lee, or Charlotte.

Noises Off:  It’s really true this month...This farcical comedy was approved by the board for March/April 2003 to be directed by Bill Goldyn. 

Musical Concert Series 2002:  Sweeney Todd, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, is being directed by Jeff Wallach.  Be sure to come down and support the cast and crew. Performances are Sundays January 20, 27, February 3, and 10.   Remember, members are entitled to see the concerts just like the regular season shows.  Call and make your reservation today (preferably for the first or second weekend)!  Forever Plaid is the second in the series.  It’s being directed by Kirk Larson for the March - April timeslot.  Auditions will be Tuesday, January 15 at 7:00 PM.  The cast is made up of four men: one baritone, one bass, and two tenors.  For more information call Kirk Larson.

This and that (that shouldn’t go unread):  Production chairman Sheldon Metz has scheduled a Work Saturday on January 26 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM to further clean up the garage.  Lunch will be provided.  Please be sure to come down and help out.  At the close of The Ruling Class a cutaway coat was missing.  If you have any information about this mysterious and disturbing disappearance, please contact Maria Cohen.  On that note, please remember to keep doors locked and keep track of your valuables.  If you are working as hospitality or theatre manager take a moment to review the procedures.  It is important that the gate be closed, but not locked during performances.  In this year’s collection of “10 Best” list in the Daily Breeze, Painting Churches was listed as #7!  Kudos to all involved in that terrific production.

Board Actions:  If you are interested on serving on the nominating committee please contact a board member prior to the January membership meeting.  The board made the following clarification of Section A of the Standing Rules relating to open auditions:

Having appointments required is inconsistent with the policy of open auditions. Directors may, at their discretion, enact a policy of audition appointments that are available upon request, but not required.

Here, There, and Everywhere:  Jaz Davison will be appearing at the Knightsbridge Theatre in a production of A Month in the Country directed by Don Schlossman.  It plays Saturdays at 8:00 PM (except 2/2 which will be a 2:00 PM matinee) and Sundays at 3:00 PM through February 3.  Following her appearance in that, Jaz was just cast as Buttercup in the L.A. Knightsbridge production of Pinaforetta (the 1/2 hour curtain raiser) as well as one of the Major General’s (being played by Don Schlossman) wards in Pirates of Penzance, both are being directed by Gabrielle De Cuir. Jenny Martin (I Remember Mama) will be appearing at the Morgan Wixon as Connie in Come Blow Your Horn.  It opens January 11.  Doris Shoumaker is still singing and dancing with the Swamp Fox Follies.  They did ten shows during the holiday season.  Hetty and Conny Sless will be moving mid-month (see roster additions/corrections).  They wanted to let everyone know they miss the members and the camaraderie of KP.

In Passing:  I am sad to report the passing of past KP president Ken Bohard.  Ken passed away on December 2.  His wife, Urchyl, who was also very active in Kentwood still resides in Oregon. Our condolences and  prayers go out to Urchyl and her family.

Celebrations:        Happy January Birthday wishes to Gregory Daniels (1/6), Gert Nord (1/10), Lauren A. Jarvis (1/13), Dee Turquand (1/13), Reita Pitt (1/15), Jack Weintraub (1/16), Pat Newkirk (1/18), Virginia Renfro (1/21), Jan Wilson Morris (1/22) and Lisa Langley (1/27).  I have no anniversaries to announce this month!

Just for the record:  I hope 2002 has begun with good health and happiness for you and yours.   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.