General Meeting:	Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at 8:00 PM
Hospitality:	Bob and Dagmar Schnauss will provide the refreshments this month.
Workshop:	This month there will be a staged reading of an original play by Tom Hickman to be directed by Phil Brickey.

Kiss Me Kate: This delightful musical being directed by Max Heldring Stormes and produced by Calia Mintzer and Charlotte Lee Schildkret is winding down. If you haven’t seen it yet, make your reservations today. Kiss Me Kate closes Saturday, August 23.

Dial “M” for Murder: Director Phil Brickey held auditions for this suspenseful play opening September 12 and playing through October 18. The cast was not available at the time of this printing. Come to the General Meeting and see who’s who! Remember Work Sunday is August 24. Please come on down and pitch in.

The Supporting Cast: There has been a change in directors for this comedy. Originally Gail Bernardi was going to direct, but unfortunately she had to withdraw. In her place, Ben Lupejkis has been approved to direct it. Calia Mintzer is still producing. It will open November 7. Auditions will be held Saturday, September 13 from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM and Sunday, September 14 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. The following is the cast breakdown:

Ellen: Early - mid 40’s - alive, optimistic, happy, but careful, she will try many things to keep balance in her friends’ lives. She is the intelligent and smartly coutured wife of a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist.

Mae: Early - late 60’s - energized, feisty, attractive, enthusiastic. However, she is not a Pollyanna and expresses her feelings of displeasure or disgust through humor. She is the well-tailored mother of a world famous musician. Sally: Mid 30’s - Early 40’s - represents all that is fashionable to people with too much money. She is self-obsessed, neurotic, and doggedly holds on to things, like her failed marriage to her congressman husband.

Arnold: Mid-late 40’s - casually well-dressed husband of a famous and successful playwright who does not share his name. He talks a great “New York” game, but it’s all bravado, as he’s happy to be in the background where he can’t screw things up.

Florrie: Late 30’s - mid 40’s - married to a movie star and one-time lothario, who she has under control. She has a wicked sense of humor and enjoys a good laugh, unless she thinks the laugh is on her. Coming from a working class background she feels inferior to her more polished friends.

This and that (that shouldn’t go unread): Beginning in 2004 Thursday performances are being eliminated. In addition, for the last two productions of 2003 there will only be one Thursday performance per show. Check our website (www.kentwoodplayers.org) for new photos of the Marcom Masque Awards dinner and the Fourth of July parade.

Fourth of July Parade: One last note, I inadvertently left out Jim Lunsford from last month’s credits for this parade. He was a most enthusiastic flag bearer! Thanks Jim!

Here, There, and Everywhere: If you’re in the Santa Barbara area in August, Rob Duval is playing Tranio in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. It opens at the Fess Parker Winery Friday August 8 and plays Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 6:00 through August 31. Visit www.Shakes-SB.com for more information. Barbara Brophey was senior of the month at the Culver City Senior Center! Chris Sands is appearing in Pinafore in a festival in New York. Catherine Karklyn is getting involved lending her artistic talents in the Contra Costa Civic Theatre in Northern California. Scot Renfro is producing and performing in Minor Demons at Company of Angels Theatre. It opened August 8 and plays through September 13 Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 7:00 PM (except 8/24 and 9/7 matinees at 3:00 PM). For reservations call (323) 883- 1717. Rocky Miller is Fred/Petruchio, Ryan McCormack is Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, and Peter Miller is Paul in Kiss Me Kate at the Whittier Center Theatre. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM September 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20 and Sunday, September 14 at 2:30 PM. For reservations call (562) 693-1105 or call Rocky or Vicki Miller. Toni DiModica is playing the part of Beatrice in A View from the Bridge at Theatre Palisades from September 5 - October 11. The director is also looking for crowd participants for the second act, if you are interested e-mail Toni at ms.tonid@verizon.net or call (310) 450-7821. Steve Lee and Mary Steelsmith recently staged quite a production (running without a closing date!) when they got married at Palos Verdes Players Theatre on Saturday, July 19. The event was complete with lights, sound, special effects and a memorable kiss. Congratulations!!

Get Well Wishes and Prayers: Jeannette Lyons has been fighting for her life in a hospital up in Vancouver, BC. She and Jack were up there on a golf tour when she took ill very quickly. Day by day she’s proving to be the fighter we know she is and she’s beating the odds. She is on a ventilator and dialysis, and is making gains every day. She is now able to respond to questions and is aware of what has happened. Jack, Jeannette’s three sons, and now her sister have all spent time there. Jack is renting an apartment near the hospital. Cards and phone calls are very welcome:

Celebrations: Happy August Birthdays to Judy Wisansky (8/2), Huston Jack (8/3), Joyce Croft (8/4), Van Mattiza (8/4), Jaz Davison (8/5), Estelle Abrams (8/7), Susan Stangl (8/7), Jim Lunsford (8/8), Shellee James (8/9), Bob Martz (8/15), Catherine Karklyn (8/20), George Rametta (8/20), Richard Potthoff (8/29), Jeff Ircink (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), and Gene and Lynn Warech (8/15).

Just for the record: Thank you to Eileen Cipriano, my alternate, for all the information gathering and for attending meetings on my behalf in summer! 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,