General Meeting

The General Meeting this month will be on Wednesday, August 15, 2007, 8:00 PM at the theater, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Hospitality

Hospitality for July will be provided by Lori A. Marple-Pereslete. Thank you Lori!

Workshop

Larry Jones Presents the August Workshop as a Two Character One Act Play: THE SPACES BETWEEN, an original one act play, written and directed by Tiffany Towers with Michael Allen and Tiffany Towers. I recommend this one!

After Meeting Workshop Program

Workshop Chairperson Gert Nord said Workshops are available. Contact Gert Nord to schedule one for you.

Sad News to Report

Beloved life member De Cotter died on July 30, 2007 from complications after surgery and will be missed by all. She is survived by loving husband and lifetime Kentwood member Ed Cotter, who wanted to share the following:

Ed Cotter was awarded Best Director of the year for his work on Charley’s Aunt at Theatre Palisades. The show also won best production of the year. When asked for comment Ed said, “I couldn’t have done it without De. She was my light and my beacon - for 41 years she guided me through a life of love and joy that no man on earth has any right to live.”

Mary Steelsmith wrote: I can't remember being at Kentwood when she wasn't there. Every audition, every meeting or staged reading, she was there. It wouldn't surprise me to learn she had a cot somewhere in the back.

De was round and soft, with a smile that spilled past her face and right onto us. Mostly, I recall her sweet face looking up at us from the audience during rehearsal, loving every moment of every show.

De produced many plays there, the most recent of which was two months ago. No matter how many people were (or weren't) in the audience, she would always say "It's a good house."

The last time I saw De in this world was June, when my little play TRUE BLUE was done in a workshop there. De embraced me a bit longer than usual, with a mock-stern reminder to write every day.

I heard De's service was standing room only and I was there to witness as the reception in Kentwood's lobby flowed out to the front patio and into the theater itself.

While standing in the back of the house where she sometimes stood, I felt her presence next to me. It seemed she was delighted to see all the folks in there, talking and laughing. Some were sitting on the stage drinking soda and eating cake. I thought I could hear her say, "They moved the set pieces and they're EATING in the theatre?!"

Then I'm sure I heard her say "Good house."

Ed. Note: Ed and De were some of the first members I met when I joined Kentwood in 1984. My second show here was SEE HOW THEY RUN, Directed by Ed and produced by De. De Cotter has always been supportive of all I have done at Kentwood, of Kentwood as a group, of all our members and of every Kentwood Production. She will be missed.

There was a phenomenal, standing room only, turnout for De’s memorial service and her graveside service, both in Torrance. There was also a very nice, well attended reception at Kentwood following the memorial services, again with overflowing crowds and this time with never ending food! Thanks very much to all the members, who were very supportive and actively involved in the all day affair. Thanks!

The Constant Wife, by Somerset Maugham

July/August Production

Our July/August Production, THE CONSTANT WIFE, by Somerset Maugham, directed by Gail Bernardi, with Calia Mintzer and Lori A. Marple-Pereslete as Producers, will close this weekend after a successful run. Everyone has one last chance to see this incredible production, with super actors, a super crew and a super director.

According to Calia Mintzer, the set was designed by De Cotter, Stage Manager Jim Crawford, Set Decoration by Lori Marple Pereslete, Master Builder was Dave Whale, Light Design by Tom Brophey, Sound Design by Susan Stangl, properties by Judy Polak, Costumes By Maria Cohen, Graphic and Lobby Design By Michael Cohen, Script supervisors, Barbara McMurray, and Hilary Fitzsimmons, Publicity Photos, Shellee James, Booth Crew, Mel Miller, Russell Ham, and Nikki Corso, auditions by Gert Nord and Jeanne Spain.

Outstanding Cast

Mrs. Culver by Alice Eldridge, so funny!
Bentley by Jim Crawford, stiff upper lip there!
Martha Culver by Catherine Rahm, perfect prude!
Barbara Fawcett by Cynthia Rothschild, busy body friend!
Constance Middleton by Maria Pavone, a true leading lady!
Marie-Louise Durham by Toni Loppnow, wily and cute, “other woman” done well!
John Middleton by Michael Allen, soooooo smooth!
Bernard Kersal by Jack Winnick, to the rescue!
Mortimer Durham by L. G. Ross, lights up the stage and bumps up the action!

Hansel and Gretel, Adapted from the Grimm fairytale by Maria Pavone and Directed by Michael Allen

The Kentwood Players presents HANSEL AND GRETEL, skillfully adapted by Maria Pavone and wonderfully directed by Michael Allen, at Westchester Playhouse on Saturdays 7/28, 8/4 and 8/11. The show, produced by Sheridan Cole Crawford and Shellee Lynn James, is a huge success and may be extended. The audiences, including children and adults alike, have been very responsive with laughter and applause to the hilarious antics and slap stick comedy on stage. The talented and very funny cast includes Jerad Callen as the zany stage manager Mr. Blister, Michael Allen as the ever present Wizard, Toni Loppnow as Vanessa/the Evil Stepmother and Witch, Tiffany Towers as Natalie/Gretel, LG Ross as Johnny/Hansel, Jerad Callen (voice) & Michael Allen (sock puppet) as Tim the spineless father and Larry Jones as the narrator. A special mention for the never ending props used in the show and the user friendly gingerbread house/witch’s oven must go to director Michael Allen. Well done sir! I hope everyone manages to see this amazing ensemble production! Kentwood expanding to include children’s entertainment and education!

The Mystery of Edwin Drood, by Rupert Holmes

September/October Production

Our September/October Production is THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, by Rupert Homes, directed by Catherine Rahm and produced by Lori A. Marple-Pereslete. According to the director, the cast members are members of an Acting Troupe in Victorian England and the show has alternate, audience involved, endings.

The Show opens Friday night, September 7, so make your reservations now and be sure to support Opening Night!

The fabulous cast includes!

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD presents some unique challenges as well as unique opportunities for performers. The general set-up is that of the “show-within-the-show” format. The setting is a small theatre company in a small town well outside of London in Victorian England. To perk up their lagging box office, they have decided to present something that no other theatre has done – staging Charles Dickens’ final work, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. Most other companies would be deterred by the fact that Dickens died before finishing the book, but the Westchester Music Hall Royale has figured out a way around that. They will let the audience vote on how the play should end.

Romantic Comedy, by Bernard Slade

Our November/December Production, Playing November 9 through December 15, will be ROMANTIC COMEDY, by Bernard Slade, with Sherman Wayne directing, Ed Cotter and Lori A. Marple-Pereslete producing.

Director Sherman Wayne sent the following show and character breakdown: Arrogant, self-centered, and sharp-tongued Jason Carmichael, successful co-author of Broadway romantic comedies, is facing two momentous events. He's about to marry a society belle, and his collaborator is retiring from the fray. Enter Phoebe Craddock, mousy Vermont schoolteacher and budding playwright. Presto! Jason acquires a talented and adoring collaborator. Then things start getting really complicated. The set is Jason's study in his New York townhouse.

Auditions are Sat. Sept 8 -10:00 AM to 3:00 PM & Mon Sept 10 -7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Proof, by David Auburn

January/February 2008 Production

The Board has approved the play PROOF, by David Auburn, to be directed by Sheldon Metz and assistant directed by Jim Crawford. Valerie Ruel will produce. Sheldon forwarded the following short description of the play.

Proof was the winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play and also won the Pulitzer prize. It is a wonderfully compassionate and knowing play about a young woman, who, on the death of her father, must sort out and deal with a number of long denied feelings and fears. Her father was a brilliant mathematician who crossed the thin line from genius to insanity several years earlier, leaving his daughter as his sole care giver for all her adult life. Now she must adjust not only to his death, but come to grips with her fear that his mathematical genius, which she has inherited, comes with a dreadful price, that she may be fated to the same mental degeneration and insanity as her father. In a dazzling series of scenes, David Auburn gradually reveals and embellishes this situation, which is exacerbated by the presence of the girl’s older sister, and a former student of her father's who she finds attractive, but who may only be out to further his own career.

Gypsy, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents.

The Board has approved the musical GYPSY for March/April 2008, to be directed by Susan Weisbarth and produced by Ed Cotter.

Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist. The story focuses on her mother, Mama Rose, whose name has become synonymous with the ultimate show business mother. In particular, it follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform on stage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The character of Louise is based on Lee and the character of June is based on Lee’s younger sister, actress June Havoc.

Fourth of July Parade

The Fourth of July Parade was a huge success, but some of the worthy participants were inadvertently omitted from last month’s recognition and praise by yours truly, however,
Charlotte Lee Schildkret was kind enough to slap this writer into shape and provide more accurate data. Thanks Charlotte! Charlotte also wanted to emphasize the Parade as a family friendly affair, because all family members can march in the parade and still have time to make it to the family bar-b-q. Special thanks go out to Patty Crockett for providing the convertible used by Kentwood in the parade. According to Charlotte, the following members, friends and family marched in the 2007 Westchester Fourth of July Parade:

Charlotte Lee Schildkret, Chairman
Hal Fisher, Uncle Sam
Dave Parke, Big Bird
Julia Aks, a surprise, adorable, Johnny-came-lately
Shari Barrett, pushing publicity for Kentwood as usual
Russell Ham, his Turn of the Century (20th Century!) swimming suit got plenty of attention
Yvonne Kainos, one of Maria’s “Ladies” and Ashley’s Grandmother
Gretchen Luna, as a forest fairy
Julia Maggs, masquerading as Martha Washington
Sheldon Metz, President of Kentwood Players
Calia Mintzer, red, white and blue just for fun
Judy and Lee Polak with grandsons Philip and Dylan, daughter Hillary and Hillary’s friend Mera
Robyn Rothstein, Carlotta Campion in Follies
Justin Rozell, Charlotte’s great grandson all done up formally with a silk top hat
Bob Sherman, Kentwood’s perennial Tiger
Barbara Stone, a loyal patron of Kentwood Players
Adina Silo, as the Widow
Fred Wolf, all red, white and blue and proud of it!!
Ron Husner, who volunteered to drive the convertible donated by Patty Crockett.

Publicity

Publicity Chairperson Shari Barrett updates her myspace page daily with Kentwood information and suggests members check it out at: http://www.myspace.com/kentwoodplayers

Theater Parties

Calia Mintzer, Theater Parties Chairperson, would like to remind all members to please refer Kentwood Players and our Fund Raising Theater Parties to all the organizations you belong to. Theater Parties are great way for any organization to raise money, have fun and see a great show.

LAX Expansion

To make your feelings about the intended LAX Expansion known, write to Councilman Bill Rosendahl, 11th Council District, 7166 W Manchester Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. The planned expansion could seriously impact our theater operations. Charlotte urges everyone to send a letter to Councilman Rosendahl as soon as possible. Hal Fisher wrote: As the Airport wants to expand and as it seems to concern Kentwood I thought members might want to check two websites I found. www.regionalsolution.org and www.westchesterneighbors.org. He said they are anti-expansion websites, but do provide some information. He said most members do not live in Westchester, but what happens in Westchester affects them and our theater.

Announcements

Lifetime member, Klair Bybee, will be playing Dr. Einstein in the comedy "Arsenic and Old Lace" at Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601, August 17-Sept. 22. Tickets at goldstar.com LATheatreAlliance or (818) 700-4878 and www.lcgrt.com Free previews (no reservations) August 15 & 16 at 8pm.

Tim Forsyth wrote with: I want to pass along more info regarding CINDERELLA WALTZ showing now through August 26 at Marymount College Auditorium, 30800 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275. Call (310) 303-7620. I'd never seen a production of the show, before, but found it note-worthy enough to tell everyone I know about it. Just follow Narbonne south past where it intersects with Palos Verdes Drive North and wends and wends and wends its' way to Ramon/Crest Rd and turn left into the Marymount College bearing left (still) into the Auditorium parking area. The production and performances make it well worth the trip.

The Helford Prize winning, ISAAC, I AM, a sordid tale of love, life, death and AOL, by Mary Steelsmith, will be presented at the Fritz Blitz festival. Directed by Katie Rodda.
Thursday, August 23 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 24 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 25 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 26 3:00 p.m.
The Fritz Theatre at the Lyceum Theatre Complex, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, Tickets 619-544-1000 or visit fritztheatre.com.

Phil Brickey suggests people check out his Band site: www.myspace.com/therelaxatives. He’s added new songs.

Kentwood Website

Check out the Kentwood Players Website. Go to www.kentwoodplayers.org. If you have questions or comments regarding the site, please contact Hal Fisher at fisherforphoto@hotmail.com.

Larry Jones