General Meeting

The General Meeting this month will be on Wednesday, July19, 2006, 8:00 PM at the theater, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Hospitality

June meeting hospitality will be provided by Barbara Brophey and Chrys Corbett. Thanks!

Workshop

The July workshop is a dark dramedy set in 1965 London. Directed by Gypsy Foster, it features Vada Foster, Christine Joëlle, Linda Parke, and Hillary Fitzsimmons. June (aka George) is the star of a radio soap opera - and she has the ego to prove it. But when she suspects that the BBC is planning to kill off her character – and that her boss is out to seduce her beautiful young lover – June spirals out of control. And as she is transformed from demanding diva to hair-trigger harridan, radios grandest of dames proves that underneath it all…she ain't no lady.

George Washington Slept Here, Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman
July/August Production
The show plays July 7, 2006 through August 12, 2006

Our July/August 2006 Production of George Washington Slept Here by Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman, is directed by Phil Brickey. Producers are Shari Barrett and Charlotte Lee Schildkret. GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE chronicles the trials and tribulations of Newton Fuller who craves – and gets - "a little place in the country to call his own," where locals claim George Washington slept during the Revolutionary War. But Newton's dream house turns out to be one of those rundown, waterless, and almost roofless houses that dot the picturesque countryside. Hilarity follows his every move!

Phil, Charlotte, Shari, and the Cast & Crew of GWSH wish to thank the following people for participating on our Work Sunday, June 18th, which was also Father's Day: Miriam Amster, Franczeska Angel, Barbara Brophey, Arlene Cohen, Sheldon Cohen, De Cotter, Ed Cotter, Betsy Dorfman, Ron Dorfman, Christy Engels, Gypsy Foster, Vada Foster, Yvonne Kainoa, TL Kolman, Gretchen Luna, Ben Lupejkis, Julia Maggs, Frank Olivadoti, Lori A. Marple-Pereslete, Virginia Mekkelson, Treva Merritt, Sheldon Metz, Tony Pereslete, Bob Sherman, Al Sidell, Anne Sidell, Adina Silo, August Vivirito, Ronald Wisansky. Everyone worked so hard getting the complicated set built and then enjoyed a fabulous traditional American picnic lunch of Dinah's world-famous fried chicken and all the fixings.

The show opened on July 7 with a wonderful audience, filled with many appreciative Kentwood members. Julia Maggs told us that our opening Saturday night turnout of 70 people beat all opening Saturday night Kentwood records! So make your reservations soon for this fun and special effects-filled production! Scot Renfro is to be commended for all his hard work in making the stage decor very eye-catching! And we could not have
done this show without the terrific set designed and built by Grant
Francis, with assistance from our wonderful construction team of Scot Renfro, Sheldon Metz, Russell Ham, and Nikki Corso. And we can't thank the following people enough: Tom Brophey for light design, Susan Stangl for sound design, Maria Cohen and her ladies for the wonderful costumes, Arlene Cohen for the marvelous hats, Jon Sparks and Michael Aldapa for hairstyling tips and wig design, Jim Crawford for his technical expertise, Lee Polak and especially Nikki Corso for their miraculous stage management skills, Lori Marple-Pereslete and Sheldon Metz for assisting Judy Polak with props, Dave Parke at J&N Garden Equipment for all of Mr. Kimber's tools, Betsy and Ron Dorfman for the packing crate, Logan O'Brien's mom for bringing intermission cookies to every performance for the entire run, and Hilary Fitzsimmons and Barbara McMurray for script supervision during rehearsals. What a team!

Please bring in any press clippings you see from your local newspapers and leave them in the Publicity mailbox in the box office for Shari Barrett. We have had several reviewers at the show and are anxiously awaiting their reviews in print!

The cast for George Washing Slept Here includes:

Tim Forsyth as Newton Fuller
Susie McCarthy as Annabelle Fuller
Jeffrey Culp as Mr. Kimber
Colleen Lindt as Madge Fuller
J.R. Killigrew as Steve Eldridge
Davina Turnbull as Hester
Vic Helford, as Uncle Stanley
Catherine Rahm as Rena Leslie
Barry Nackos as Clayton Evans
Logan O'Brien as Raymond
Marlene Grinde as Mrs. Douglas
Michael Grinde as Mr. Prescott
Corinne Dorfman as Sue Barrington
Janet Rodriguez as Marian Wilcox
Daniel Bergher as Tommy Hughes
Brett Page as Leggett Frazer.

Most Happy Fella, Music, Lyrics & Book by Frank Loesser
September/October Production

Playing Dates: September 8, 2006 through October 21, 2006.

Our September October Production for 2006 will be THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, to be directed by Ben Lupejkis. Producers on this production will be Rocky and Vicki Miller.

Auditions were held on July 8 and 9. I am sure the cast will be announced at the July meeting. Don’t miss it!

Work Sunday and a New Stage Floor

The regular Work Sunday on August 13, 2006, will be an abbreviated Work Sunday and will only last long enough to tear down the George Washington set. Continental breakfast will be served. Bagels!!!

The Kentwood Board has approved a resurfacing of the stage floor, which will be done the week of August 13 to August 19, 2006. Most of the work on the floor will be completed by Scot Renfo, Ben Lupejkis and Rocky Miller. This talented crew will need some volunteers, so be sure to speak up at the meeting and get involved!

Real Work Sunday

We will then have a Real Work Sunday on August 20, after completion of the new floor, to start the construction of the Most Happy Fella set. A lunch will be provided and a lot of help will be needed. Mark your calendars!!

Nicholas Nickleby, by Gregory Blair
November/December Production

Playing Dates: November 10, 2006 through December 16, 2006. Work Sunday: 10/22/2006.

Our November/December Production for 2006 will be NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. Producer Christine Joëlle forwarded the following info for the show: NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, Directed by August Vivirito, Produced by Christine Joëlle.

Audition Dates, Times & Place:
Saturday, September 9th, 2006 / 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Sunday, September 10th, 2006 / 6:00PM – 10:00PM
Monday, September 11th, 2006 / 7:00PM – 10:00PM (Callback night, if necessary)
Kentwood Players, Westchester Playhouse. 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045 (corner of Hindry & 83rd Street)

Brief Synopsis of Play:

Young Nicholas and his family have enjoyed a comfortable life…until now. Suddenly, Nicholas’ father dies, the family is left penniless and Nicholas, his sister, and mother venture to London to seek help from their Uncle Ralph Nickleby. Unfortunately, Ralph’s only intentions are to break up the family and exploit them. Nicholas is sent to work as a teacher at a school run by the cruel, abusive and horribly entertaining Wacford Squeers. Eventually, Nicholas runs away from the school with his new friend Smike and the two set off on an adventure to find and reunite the Nickleby family. 16 actors playing 26 roles makes “Nicholas Nickleby” an actors’ tour d’force! This adaptation, which made its world premier in Los Angeles in 2005 under Director August Vivirito’s guidance was heralded by Backstage West as Critic’s Pick! “This plum pudding of a show, overflowing with delicious ingredients, is a scrumptious holiday-season treat.” The LA Times cheered “Dickens’ would approve of this Nickleby!”

Ralph Nickleby (50)
Nicholas’ heartless uncle. A greedy, selfish money-lender, usurer and misanthrope. He is not without humor, though is smug, sarcastic and usually degrading to someone.

Newman Noggs (30-60)
Ralph Nickleby’s clerk. A man with a kind heart and a sarcastic wit; he is wiser than he appears and not the servant he seems to be.

Mrs. Nickleby (40-50)
Nicholas’ widowed mother; lovely, if a bit dizzy and silly. Overly sensitive, she will cry at the drop of a hat. She can also be a bit abrupt. But overall, she is utterly endearing.

Nicholas Nickleby (20)
Passionate and headstrong, with a good head on his shoulders and a kind heart. He will angrily fight injustice and will gently care for those weaker than he.

Kate Nickleby (17)
A lovely young woman with empathy and guts to spare. She is also quite bright. Like her brother Nicholas, she will stand up for herself and is extremely sensitive and kind.

Smike (20)
Sickly and not very bright – in part no doubt due to regular beatings of which he lives in fear…pitiful, but wholly endearing and kind.

Mr. Snawley (30-50)
A selfish stepfather and a willing cheat. Utterly unlikable. In the plot with Ralph, he fancies himself a great actor. He is not.

Wackford Squeers (40)
A cruel, ignorant schoolmaster who fancies himself a gentleman. Everything he does is based on cost-saving, not care-giving. He is alternately hilarious and horrific. A true Dickensian demon.

Mrs. Squeers (30-40)
Worse than her husband, Mrs. Squeers is a penny-pinching, hateful sow with affection only for her husband and her idiot daughter, Fanny. Also at once hilarious and horrifying.

Fanny (20)
An utterly idiotic, vain young woman with fancy airs. She imagines herself quite a lady. She is far from it.

Lord Mulberry Hawk (30-50)
A rich, pompous, insensitive brute in gentleman’s clothing. Smarmy and smug with a sense of superiority based on his title.

Mr. Vincent Crummles (40-60)
An eccentric, jovial leader of a traveling theatre troop. He is loud, overly-dramatic and infectiously charming.

Mrs. Crummles (40-60)
The kind, slightly quirky wife of Vincent Crummles and the administrator of much of the business of the theatre troop.
Nina Crummles (the Infant Phenomenon) (20ish)
Billed as “The Infant Phenomenon” of her Father’s theatre troop. She is older than a mere child, but still dresses like one. She is a harmless and hilarious freak of nature.

Mr. Folair (20-30)
A flamboyant actor, both whimsical and witty. He is a master of his craft and can silence and impress an audience with a single line of dialogue.

Charles Cheeryble (40-60)
A warm and wise accountant, as rich in coin as he is in kindness. A father figure for both his nephew Frank and the young Madeline Bray whom he has known since she was a child.

Ned Cheeryble (40-60)
Charles’ business partner and fraternal twin – especially in affections. Warm and wise; a second father figure for Frank and Madeline.

Frank Cheeryble (20)
Frank works with his uncles and, like them, is a good soul – bright and kind. He is also rather attractive…at least to Kate.

Madeline Bray (20)
A very sweet, delicate beauty who wearily works multiple jobs to feed her and her sickly father. She is a Cinderalla without a price in sight. Until Nicholas crosses her path.

Mr. Bray (40-60)
Madeline’s sickly father. A ruined man who become ill at the time of his downfall and has feigned illness ever since to avoid debtor’s jail; though his body had begun to believe the lie and he has actually become ill.

Brooker (40-60)
A mysterious man with a past. He has come back to London to try to make amends for a crime he committed in error and to seek revenge on the man who ruined him.

WOMEN PLEASE PREPARE BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING MONOLOGUES

KATE NICKLEBY: (Standard British)
He is a vile, vulgar, horrible man – regardless of his title – and he is tormenting me more than I can bear…and it is all because of you and your machinations… which I had forgiven as an error of judgment the first time, but which I cannot and will not any longer excuse! I beg of you, Uncle, as the only one I can turn to: please help me escape this torture… and entreat him to leave me alone!

MRS. SQUEERS: (Character Yorkshire or Cockney)
If the young man comes to be a teacher here, let him understand that we don’t allow any foolery about the boys. They have brimstone and treacle partly because if they didn’t have something or other in the way of medicine, they’d always be ailing and causing me trouble – and partly because if spoils their appetite and comes cheaper than breakfast and dinner. Purify! Bah!

MEN WHO PLAY UNDER 30 PLEASE PREPARE ALL OF THE NEXT THREE

MONOLOGUES

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY: (Standard British)
Miss Bray, this may be sudden, but it comes to me as sure as anything I have ever felt. Since I am not skilled in disguising my feelings, I must admit quite openly that I desire to be your faithful servant, humbly devoted and willing to hazard my life to grant your every wish and see you every happiness…And I want you to know that my interest and admiration will not expire with the commission of the day.

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY: (Standard British)
Miss Bray, if that is true I shall go. Do you love this man? I may have been utterly foolish to have imagined that one as perfect as you could ever love a soul such as mine. And if I have been so mistaken, I shall take my leave. But know this: I shall still love you with all my heart and still wish you would flee the misery you will be shackled with if you marry this villain. So I ask you now. Do you love him?

SMIKE: (Standard British)
I… don’t have any friends. The last one I had died. (far off, remembering) I was by his side. He cried for want of his family. Then, he began to see them. All around. He said they smiled. And he smiled back. And then, lifting his head to kiss them, he died. (to Nicholas) What face will smile on me when I die? Who will talk with me that long night? They cannot come from home. They would frighten me if they did, for I would not know them. Pain and fear. That’s all I know. Pain and fear for me, alive or dead. No hope. No hope…

MEN WHO PLAY OVER 30 PLEASE PREPARE ALL OF THE NEXT THREE

MONOLOGUES

RALPH NICKLEBY: (Standard British)
I would endeavor to continue to keep you and your mother from harm. However, I can see nothing but harm coming from any association with this mountebank! I will not ask you to renounce him as I have no control over your hearts. But he shall not have one penny of my money, one crust of my bread or one grasp of my hand to save him from the gallows to which he is heading in his willful and disorderly fashion. Nor shall I be obliged to help anyone who gives him assistance.

NEWMAN NOGGS: (Character Standard British)
You know, you have a great many closets throughout your house, including the one in your office – all of which I have enjoyed hiding in from time to time. I hear all sorts of interesting conversations – like the one about your plot to steal poor Smike away – and, on occasion, I find lovely little pieces of paper like this one – which bestows a great sum of money to Miss Madeline Bray upon her wedding day. (hand the paper to Nicholas) Do see that Miss Bray gets this. It belongs to her.

WACKFORD SQUEERS: (Character Yorkshire or Cockney)
All right, then. On to our first lesson for the day! We’ll start with spelling. Now. Repeat after me: C-L-E-A-N. (spelling the word) That’s “clean”. As in the verb meaning to make something dirty become – uh – less so. Clean. C-L-E-A-N. Now, repeat after me: W-I-N-D-E-R. (spelling again) Right. Winder. As in the glass that you look through to see in or out of a building. Now, so you will remember these words and how to spell them, I want you to C-L-E-A-N every W-I-N-D-E-R in the school or no porridge for you tonight! CLEAN THE BLOODY WINDOWS!!!

Cinderella, by Blanche Marvin
Children’s Production, December 2, 9, & 16, 2006

The board has approved our next Children’s Production as Cinderella, to be directed by Carol Becker and produced by Alison Mattiza. The show will be performed on the set of Nicholas Nickleby.

Steve Allen’s The Wake
January/February Production

Playing dates: January 13, 2007 through February 18, 2007. Work Sunday: 12/17/06.

The board has approved our January February Production for 2007 as The Wake, by Steve Allen to be directed by Sheldon Metz.

12th Night or What You Will, by William Shakespeare
March/April Production 2007

The board has approved 12th Night, by William Shakespeare for our March/April 2007 Production, to be directed by Bill Goldyn.

Follies, Book by James Goldman, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
May/June Production

Our May/June Production will be FOLLIES, to be directed by Ed Cotter.

Dinner Dance

What a wonderful experience everyone had at our 2006 Marcom Masque Awards Dinner Dance. Our thanks to Calia Mintzer, Dinner Dance Chairperson, and her talented crew. According to Calia, we had 80 attendees at this year’s digs. Someone from each table was the lucky winner of the Centerpiece, created by Lori Marple- Pereslete.

Following is a list of this year’s winners!

Actor in a Leading Role Jack Winnick as Mickey Fox in 45 Seconds from Broadway

Actress in a Leading Role Elizabeth A. Bouton as Molly Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Actor in a Major Supporting Role Scot Renfro as Noah Curry in The Rainmaker

Actress in a Major Supporting Role Susie McCarthy as Nurse in Romeo and Juliet

Actor in a Minor Supporting Role Ben Lupejkis as Christmas Morgan/Ensemble in The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Actress in a Minor Supporting Role CeCe Baxter as Zelda in 45 Seconds from Broadway

Actor in a Minor Role Drew Fitzsimmons as Roberts/Ensemble in The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Actress in a Minor Role Patricia Butler as Countess Ferrante/Ensemble in The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Actor in a Cameo Role Jack Coppock as William H. Gallegher in Light Up the Sky

Actress in a Cameo Role Jeanne Spain as Grandmother Capulet in Romeo and Juliet

Director a tie, August Vivirito for The Rainmaker and Gail Bernardi for 45 Seconds from Broadway
Producer Patricia Butler and Ben Lupejkis for The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Play The Rainmaker
Set Design Ben Lupejkis for The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Set Decoration Design Lori A. Marple-Pereslete for 45 Seconds from Broadway

Lighting Design Tom Brophey for The Rainmaker

Sound Design Richard Potthoff and Rocky Miller for The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Original Graphic Design Michael Cohen for 45 Seconds from Broadway

Costume Design Valerie Wright for Romeo and Juliet

Our Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Sheldon Metz and our performers for the evening’s program of Italian songs included Elizabeth Bouton, Patricia Butler, Bevan Michael Haynes, Ben Lupejkis, Rocky Miller and Catherine Rahm. Anoush filled in at the last minute as accompanist.

Thanks to all for an incredible evening of fun and entertainment! Thanks also to Entertainment Chair Ben Lupejkis, Awards Chair Barbara Brophey. And thanks to help at the door by Charlotte Lee Schildkret and Julia Maggs, photography Hal Fisher, Centerpieces Lori Marple Pereslete, Invitations/Programs Tom Brophey and Program Ads Julie Maggs.

Our 2006 Awards Ballot Counting Committee consisted of Barbara Brophey, Julia Maggs and Dave Whale.

Kentwood extends a special thanks to Rudi Toepfer for suggesting the Elks Lodge. As always, this year’s presenters were last year’s winners.

Fourth of July Parade

According to Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Chairperson for the Parade, we had 14 parade participants this year and a fabulous time was had by all. The marchers traversed the distance from Westchester Park, along Loyola Boulevard to Loyola Marymount University. Hal Fisher was Uncle Sam for the Parade again this year. Maria Cohen provided costumes.

This year’s marchers included Franczeska Angel, Shari Barrett, Arlene Cohen, Russell Ham, Julia Maggs, Calia Mintzer, Judy & Lee Polak, Bruce Schroffel, Bob Sherman, Barbara Stone (and pooch Picasso), Fred Wolf and our new President Sheldon Metz as BIG BIRD!

Playhouse Tribute

Hal Fisher mentioned a website review of our theater and Shari Barrett was kind enough to forward the following: Here is a link to the website Hal Fisher located, which talks about us and lists the first weekend of GWSH. He gives us a 5 star rating and has a link to our website on this page. It states: Westchester Playhouse LA's most professional amateur theater group. 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045, Phone: 310-645-5156.

“When you walk into the lobby of the Westchester Playhouse, you feel as if you are in a favorite uncle's finished basement. Wood paneled walls are covered with photos and memorabilia from more than 50 years of Kentwood Players productions. This close-knit community theater group has many members with decades of dedicated service, and their commitment shows in the upkeep of the space and the quality of the productions. This being Los Angeles, the company also has the luxury of plumbing the depths of the local talent pool, often pulling in actors with television and film credits for their varied season of comedies, dramas and musicals. In the late 1960s company members transformed a former warehouse into the current theater, with a large front porch that welcomes patrons in this sleepy residential neighborhood near LAX. The 112 comfortable seats are often filled with longtime subscribers who know that Kentwood's six-play subscription package is one of the best deals in LA theater.” -- Christopher Cappiello

Member Tribute

I write to tell you I love Kentwood and every single one of you who participate in making the written word blossom into life .... pictures to entertain!!! to nurture, to open our minds to new thoughts, or even to confuse our brains so we seek new information.

Our theatre works very well with so many dedicated people trying to do more than you can ever imagine!! Just think, 56 years devoted members have been working to the best of their ability trying to bring to our stage ways to entertain, -- showing all the ways plays with creativity can reach into our hearts, help us laugh, cry, teach, or change our perspectives, and to open our minds and enrich our beliefs -- or contemplate them.

Actors, just to learn your lines, keep your sense of humor, and work at the same time amazes, impresses, and inspires me (and so do those husbands, wives, and sweethearts you commit to).

Theatre lovers are a breed of their own, and deserve more credit than the applause I know you will always get. Wishing and wanting I had your talent many a time, I still realize how grateful I am to be a part of the creativity that begins when a fine director says okay, I'll do it, -- and then you do it, and breath the life into the written words all the time with the fine tuning fork of the director. Love always, Barbara McMurray (aka Jonidea)

Telephone Tree

Charlotte Lee Schildkret announced the Kentwood Telephone Tree to be Maria Cohen, Hal Fisher, Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Barbara Brophey, Jeanie Spain and De Cotter. The telephone tree is designed for rapid dissemination of only very serious and immediate news or information to the membership.

Announcements
According to Michelle Rosen, Fire Rose Productions and the Secret Rose Theatre present Boxcar and Eugenia, written and directed by Art Shulman, starring Michelle Rosen: June 2 to July 23, Fri/Sat 8PM, Sun 2PM, 11246 Magnolia Bl, North Hollywood, Reservations 818 782 4224 ($20/ $3 off with flyer & $3 off for seniors).

Jack Lyons reported wife Jeannette Lyons is directing the Terrence McNally comedy It's Only A Play for Manor Productions of Indio, CA. The play will be presented at The Joslyn Center Theatre in Palm Desert, playing Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. The play opens Tuesday July 11th, running to July 30th. Anyone coming out to Palm Springs can call for tix and reservations by dialing 760-340-3220, ext 109.

Ed Cotter would like to announce he will be appearing as Polonis in Hamlet with Shakespeare by the Sea, starting June 29. See Ed for details.

Rocky Miller and Alison Mattiza wrote to announce Rocky is playing Bill Sykes and Jack Mattiza (son of Alison & Van) will be making his debut performance in Oliver! He and his 8-year old cousins will be playing orphans in the Westminster Theater production. This show runs for 4 weekends and opens on July 14th. This should be a very cute production, all of the kids and adults are great!!! Also, Alison is the official "kid wrangler" so she'll be at every performance.

Rocky suggests when making reservations, ask to sit in the front of the house rather than on the sides. If you must sit on the sides, try to sit in the lowest number seats you can get. Seats 1-5 on the side are best. Also, try to sit on the audience left side seats as opposed to the audience right seats.

OLIVER, book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, is directed by Sandi Newcomb with Musical Direction by Bill Wolfe. The show is choreographed by Marie Madera and opens July 14, playing through August 5, 2006. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM on July 23 and July 30.

July Birthdays

Jackie Kotos 7/1, Laverne Mizrahi 7/2, Arlene Cohen 7/10, Bill Goldyn 7/11, Charlotte Lee Schildkret 7/12, Mary Manley Green 7/12, Maria Cohen 7/18, Jeanette Lyons 7/20, Tom Brophey 7/28 and Pat Kelly 7/28. Happy Birthday!

July Anniversaries

Judy & Ron Wisansky 7/1, Frank & Eleanor Olivadoti 7/9, Steve Lee & Mary Steelsmith 7/19 and Bill & Nancy Goldyn 7/30. Congratulations to all!

New Members

Barry R. Nackos
Tim Forsyth

Respectfully Submitted,

Larry Jones