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Newsletter
Archive
Words
in the Wings
May, 2005
Table
of Contents
Summer
Workshops
Looking
for something to do this summer? How about getting a little more
in depth training in one or more of the classes outlined below?
We need four students, 10 and older, to make each class a go, so
get together with your friends and let the fun begin!
Building
Relationships
June 20 – 24, 9:00 AM –3:00 PM
Intensive
workshop to build the skills of listening, reacting, honesty, making
choices, and “playing well with others” through activities,
games, improv, etc. No performance but readies students for Performance
Workshop below. One week course totaling 30 hours. Fee: $90
Playwriting
June 27 – July 8 , M-F, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM AND August 1-5, 1:00
–3:00 PM
(all three weeks for full course)
Discussion
and exercises on the art of storytelling, developing characters,
truthful dialogue, conflict, etc. Students work on a scene or very
short play at home during July. In August, students return and refine,
then share their scenes. Three week course totaling 64 hours. Fee:
$192
Performance
Workshop
July 11 – August 5, M-F, 9:00 AM-12:00 AND August 8-12, 9:00
AM-3:00 PM
(all five weeks for full course)
Exploration
of performing fundamentals (character development, relationship
building,
vocal techniques, physicalization) and adding script analysis and
production techniques. Students will perform “Fabilicious”,
an original adaptation of Aesop Fables by Kimberly Yost. Students
with an interest in technical theatre experiences are encouraged
to enroll. These students may meet at other times, as well. Performance
August 12th. (Play subject to change depending on number of students.)
Five week course totaling 90 hours. Fee: $270
Monologue
Workshop
July 11 –15, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Students
explore character development, script analysis, making strong choices,
vocal and physical characteristics, etc. through preparation of
monologues. Presentation in last class. One week course totaling
10 hours. Fee: $30
Improvisation
Workshop
July 18 – 22, 1:00-3:00 PM
Fun
workshop to challenge the imagination, develop concentration skills,
and work with others. Based on Viola Spolin techniques. No Performance.
One week course totaling 10 hours. Fee: $30
Voice
& Body Workshop
July 25 –29, 1:00 –3:00 PM
Imaginative
workshop to explore the full potential of the student’s voice
and body when creating characters and overcoming individual physical
and vocal challenges. No Performance. One week course totaling 10
hours. Fee: $30
To register for any of these classes, fill out the form located
later in this newsletter and mail it to us along with your check.
Plan to bring a lunch for classes that last over three hours.
Top
REST ASSURED IS A GREAT SUCCESS
Review By Rita Tansey
If
you missed CTW Teen Company’s production of Donald Payton’s
play Rest Assured, you can rest assured that you missed one of the
year’s best shows. The story of two fathers struggling over
the possible marriage of their children is a perfect example of
the power of parental interference to cause chaos and all sorts
of crazy behavior. When Mary Morlock and Joe Lanconi announce that
they want to get married, their fathers, played by Eric Smith and
Ian Cole, find themselves on two different sides of the fence. And
neither one plans to give up the fight. Mr. Morlock is a wealthy
up-tight business man who thinks that Joe is not worthy of his daughter
and Mr. Lanconi is a meat cutter who loves his son, Joe, and thinks
that this marriage would be a good one.
In
the midst of all this arguing, Luigi Lanconi has a heart attack
and dies but he can’t rest in peace until his son is safely
married to Mary Morlock. He begins to haunt Mr. Morlock who is the
only one who can see him. The stress causes Mr. Morlock to take
an accidental overdose of sleeping pills and still the feud goes
on. Eventually both families, dead and alive, are caught up in the
fray. The result is hilarious.
The
entire cast of this show worked together to make it an example of
the perfect ensemble cast. Outstanding performances were given by
Eric Smith (Phillip Morlock), Ian Cole (Luigi Lanconi), Erica Renzhofer
(Jessica Morlock, the younger daughter of Phillip), and Elizabeth
Rosser (Mrs. Morlock). This foursome bounced off each other and
made for great entertainment. The rest of this fine cast performed
ably; there wasn’t a weak spot in the whole show. Sierra West
and Ashley Parsons played the maid and the Morlock attorney, respectively,
and both were quite poised in their roles.
Andrea
Uribe, as Morlock’s secretary, had just the right amount of
sarcasm for the part. K. C. Schardt as Mary Morlock and Connor Briggs
as Joe Lanconi were charming as the love-birds. The very professional
doctor, Dr. Brown, was played by Hannah Renzhofer. Supporting players
Amanda Duffee, Elisha Weide and Jodie Barnes did great jobs.
Rest
assured that this fast paced production had a happy ending and everyone
rested in peace. Student producer Ian Cole and student director
Erica Renzhofer shaped this wonderful play. Even the prop girl,
Abby Bond, did a fine job. Bravo to all who worked so hard to make
this an evening of fun and frolic. Congratulations to everyone.
Top
Another Road show being put
together!
We
will be singing and dancing and possibly some improvisation. We
perform at the July 30th alumni evening and several other times
so far. We may take in some festival performances and will most
likely do Crosby Gardens again. It will mainly be evening rehearsal
from about the 3rd week in June. If interested, leave a message
at CTW phone (419.244.5061) or call Dottie’s cell phone (419.265.7823).
Top
ReMax
Preferred Golf Outing to support Children’s Theatre Workshop
Tuesday,
June 28th will be an exciting day at Bedford Hills Golf Course.
ReMax is hosting a golf outing that will include fun for the whole
family. Teams of four golfers will hit the links to make the longest
drive, closest to the pin and generally have a good time. The putt
putt course will be open for the little ones. Snacks and a meal
are included in the playing fee of $75 per person. You can make
your own foursome, or we can match you up with other golfers. Proceeds
go to support CTW’s programs. Contact Todd Momany for details
at 419.392.7744.
Top
It’s
time for the annual spring musical!
LIVE a LITTLE
Sometimes
you just have to live a little – and that’s exactly
what our talented group of teens intend to do! The combined companies
of The Children’s Theatre Workshop are most proud to present
the “hootin’ hoedown” of a musical comedy, Live
a Little (book by Tim Kelly; music by Arne Christiansen; lyrics
by Ole Kittlseson). Three performances will be held over two days
– so you’ve no excuse to miss the fun! Join us in the
Chapel Theatre of the historical Collingwood Arts Center, Friday,
May 13, 2005 at 8:00 PM and Saturday May 14, 2005 at 2:00 PM and
8:00 PM. Tickets are $6 for students and seniors, $9 for adults.
The
Redding Singers, a charming backup group for rock star Eddie Grant,
have escaped from L.A.! The trio thinks they've witnessed a murder
and they certainly don't want to cross tracks with the thug, Big
George Cosmopolitan. The girls end up in the heart of the Ozark
Mountains, where the poor town of Mulekick is about to die. Although
things don't look too good, Mulekick's spirited population is keeping
their community alive. It's folks like Johnny Hoyt, a young mining
engineer; cordial Opal Boone, head of the boarding house; and ghostly
Conjur Granny, local mountain-witch that help to keep this tiny
town on its feet. When the cast from Hollywood comes to Mulekick,
the town is saved.
Loaded with funny dialogue and great songs like the eerie “Stirrin’
the Pot”, and the thunderous self-titled, “Live a Little,”
this musical is sure to tickle your funny- bone while keepin’
those toes-a-tappin’! Call 419.244.5061 to reserve your tickets
today. Can’t wait to see you there!
Top
The
Pied Piper of Hamlin
Review by Cynthia Snodgrass
Last
December we went to China but on April 9th and 10th it was off to
Germany! Hamelin, Germany, that is, where children play under sunny
skies, grown-ups bicker greedily over petty things, and fat black
rats run rampant, grazing ankles and nibbling on feather-beds and
linen. Gross!
Suddenly
the streets are empty, the townspeople are fed up, and the mayor
is at his wit’s end. It was then that a mysterious character
called the Pied Piper strolled into town. Clad in a cape and bright
green trachtenhut, he offered to rid Hamelin of its furry friends
for a small fee.
Desperate,
the mayor agrees to pay the piper for his work, but with no intention
of actually doing so. When the piper returns – he is angered
by the trickery and plays an enchanting melody that lures all the
towns-children away and into a cave. All the children left, except
for Dirk, the lame musician boy who was far too slow to keep up.
The
townspeople realized how wrong they had been and mourned the loss
of their children. They apologized and each gave something they
valued in repayment for their deceitful ways. With that, the Pied
Piper once again played his flute and the children returned with
the grown-ups learning that honesty and morality out-value the superficial
pleasantries of life. But most importantly, they learned to always
keep a promise; always ‘pay the piper’… And so
went the Main Company’s production of The Pied Pipe of Hamelin.
This
time around, there were quite a few bright, new faces added to the
cast. As expected, everyone pulled together to provide stellar performances,
one after the other - day after day. Highlights of the play included:
an incredible set (complete with buildings, a coin-tossing statue
and papier-mâché cave), charming costumes, and some
cleverly rigged “rat-things” - all produced by the dedicated
hands and hearts of CTW staff and parent volunteers.
Congratulations
to the Cast A and B crew and actors, your dedication and hard-work
certainly paid off. Special thanks go to the parent volunteers and
families who sacrificed time and energy to help make the production
a success.
Top
President’s Corner
by Pat Tansey
This
has been a very busy time for CTW and the board members. There are
many exciting activities currently being undertaken. We have joined
the North West Ohio Community Shares, are planning a golf outing,
a reunion, just finished our production of The Pied Piper, starting
another season of Mud Hens games, continuing building improvements
and doing another production. Without the help of our parents, board
members and just friends we could not complete all these tasks.
Thank you to all of you and to anyone that would like to jump in,
we still need a lot of help.
I
was thrilled to go to the Whitmer production of Grease and see some
of our students in important roles. I am sorry that time is not
available to see all the other productions that our students are
in.
I
am very pleased with the "sale" of seats in our theatre.
This shows a continuation of support from not only active families
and friends but from alumni as well. They remember the good times
at CTW and want to offer the opportunity to others to have that
experience.
Top
Alumni Reunion News
Reserve this date!
Saturday,
July 30, 2005 is the date of the Children’s Theatre Workshop
50 year reunion. Doors will open at 4:00 P.M. Dinner will be catered
and the night will end with a performance by the current CTW students.
Invitations will be sent out in May. The RSVP date is July 2, 2005.
For any questions or to give any information, please contact Pat
McCarty at 419.260.9925 or e-mail him at pfmccarty7@yahoo.com.
Top
You
still have time to get out to the ballpark!
Once
again this summer, CTW is workin’ the game to raise operating
funds for Children’s Theatre Workshop.
We
need 12-14 volunteers aged 16 or older for every game we are scheduled
to work. The dates are listed below.
Those
of us who volunteered last year will tell you it was a lot of
fun. The work is broken down into easy to do jobs. We do the easy
stuff like pouring pop and beer, wrapping sandwiches and taking
orders and money.
To
volunteer, call Todd Momany at 419.392.7744, Kim Jordan O’Brien
at 419.902.3546, or leave us a message on our recorder at 419.244.5061.
May 18th, Wednesday 10:30 AM
May 28th, Saturday 7:00 PM
June 8th, Wednesday 7:00 PM
June 28th, Tuesday 7:00 PM
July 16th, Saturday 7:00 PM
July 31st, Sunday 2:00 PM
August 2nd , Tuesday 7:00 PM
August 11th, Thursday 7:00 PM
August 28th, Sunday 2:00 PM
Come
see Muddy and the whole Mud Hens crew and help CTW raise money
over the summer!
Top
Spring
Cleaning and Projects
Homeowners
do spring cleaning once the weather warms up and they can open up
the windows. Here at CTW, we have to wait until all our productions
are over for the year.
With
that said, we have many cleaning projects and improvements on our
wish list this summer. We have set the dates below to get together
and work for the betterment of our cherished program. The dates
are:
June 4th
July 2nd
August 6th
September 3rd
These
are all Saturdays. Hours are from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Come for some
or all of the hours. We have a pot luck luncheon around noon. CTW
provides the burgers, hotdogs and beverages. We ask you to bring
something to share like salad, vegetables or dessert.
Top
Recap
of Chapel Theater chair sales
To
date over a dozen chairs in our Chapel Theater have been sold at
$100 each. Notable purchasers include the entire 2004-2005 Teen
Company, past active Board members the Kasner’s (now residents
of New Zealand) and immediate past president Kim Olson (and family,
now in California). There are only 100 chairs in the theater so
get yours soon. Contact the office at 419.244.5061, or send in your
check with what you want your tag to say. You can have up to two
lines with up to 16 characters each.
Top
Children’s
Theatre Workshop joins Northwest Ohio Community Shares
Northwest
Ohio Community Shares is an affiliation of non-profit organizations
serving northwest Ohio that are not part of the United Way campaign.
They have more than 25 member agencies that include Beach House,
Assistance Dogs of America, Old West End Association, Nature’s
Nursery and many others. The great diversity of organizations gives
potential donors a wider range of opportunity for their charitable
giving. Children’s Theatre Workshop will participate in the
fall campaign of 2005.
We
are trying to locate potential workplaces in the private sector
to make these presentations. If you think that your place of business
might consider this opportunity, please provide us with contact
information. This is another opportunity for CTW to receive funding
to cover our rising costs of operation. Utility increases, rent
increases and others continue to strain our limited budget.
We
desperately need to add a part time staff position to relieve our
volunteers from routine office tasks and build our audience participation.
For more information about Northwest Ohio Community Shares or to
provide information of potential private sector workplaces to contact,
please leave a message at the CTW office at 419.244.5061. Or you
can go the website for Northwest Ohio Community Shares: www.communitysharesnwohio.org
Top
Words
in the Wings
February, 2005
Table
of Contents
President’s
Corner
by Pat Tansey
As
students came in to CTW this semester, I wondered what had become
of the thousands of those that came before them over the last fifty
years. These bright eyed, happy faces looking for a new adventure
seemed familiar. Yet, the parents who bring them in - doing their
Saturday morning chauffeur duties - looked tired and bored with the
whole thing. I hope that after several weeks we can meet the challenge
of this new generation, and brighten the faces of the parents when
they see how excited their children become with the CTW experience.
The
loyalty of our students, even when other opportunities take them away,
is reassurance that we are doing something right. They find that what
they have learned here helps them succeed not only in other theatrical
venues but also in life's many other challenges.
During
the past months, we have started to receive the benefits of the insulation
that we placed in the attic, the "storm" windows we installed
on the second floor, and the visquene we put over the windows in the
Chapel Theatre. These capital improvements were made possible by grant
money from Lucas County and the help of volunteers. We should see
the benefits for many years into the future. We have also plans to
continue to install insulation in the Chapel Theatre and the parent
lounge. If you would like to help with this project please contact
me.
Children's
Theatre Workshop is very pleased to welcome two new members to the
board of directors. Cynthia Snodgrass and Todd Momany bring new energy
and ideas to the board. There is still a need for volunteers to join
us as board members or to work on committees and projects. If you
want to give back to the community and help us keep the traditions
of CTW alive, contact any of the present board members, come in the
office on Saturday, or call the office at 419-244-5061 and we will
contact you.
Top
Rest Assured - By
Donald Payton
Everyone enjoys a good "forbidden love" story. But Donald
Payton puts a crazy twist in this common theme that is sure to entertain
folks of all ages! And so, it is with great pleasure that the Teen
Company of Children's Theatre Workshop presents the comedy, "Rest
Assured," by Donald Payton. Show times are Feb 25 at 8 PM and
Feb 26 at 2 PM and 8 PM inside the Chapel Theater in the Collingwood
Arts Center located at 2413 Collingwood Blvd. Tickets are $5 for students
and seniors; $7 for adults.
Mr. Morlock, a miserly, feuding old man, won't let his daughter become
engaged to Joe because Joe's papa, Luigi, is poor. When Luigi comes
to plead his son's case, the two men start a feud that puts the Hatfield-McCoy
fracas to shame. Mr. Morlock says if his daughter, Mary, weds Joe
it'll be over his dead body. Luigi says if they don't, it'll be over
his. When Luigi has a heart attack, the feud appears over. Luigi's
ghost however, visible only to Morlock, haunts him unmercifully, until
Morlock accidentally overdoses on sleeping pills. But, Morlock won't
leave this earth until things are settled to his satisfaction.
What's worse is that Luigi says he can't rest in peace until Mary
and Joe are married. So 'round they go again! When Lucifer’s
agent enters to claim Morlock, the poor fellow realizes his mistakes
and pleads for another
chance. The finale to this spectacle is a happy one you're sure to
enjoy! Call (419) 244-5061 to reserve your tickets today.
Top
The Pied Piper of Hamlin - Adaptation
by Madge Miller
Rabid
rats are terrorizing the people of Hamlin, crawling and gnawing on
everything in sight! Even the stingy mayor is at his wit's end; no
one has a clue what to do. Enter the colorfully cloaked musician claiming
to be the Pied Piper, offering to rid the small German town of it's
plague of menacing mongrels ... all for a "small" fee, of
course. And so with a toot of his flute, the rats were lured into
a nearby river, where they drowned. But upon his return to Hamlin,
the mayor refused to pay the piper. In an act of revenge, the peculiar
fellow used his enchanting music to mesmerize the village children
and lead them far away. The citizens of Hamelin learned a valuable
lesson: always keep your promise ... always pay the piper.
Show
times are 1:00 and 3:30 PM on April 9th and 10th, 2005. Performances
are in the Lois M. Nelson Theater at the Collingwood Arts Center.
Tickets are $4.00 for students and seniors, $6.00 for adults and are
available at the door. See you there.
Top
Judgement
Day at CTW by C. Snodgrass
“Have
you ever committed a murder?” an “old” lady with
powdered hair and cleverly etched wrinkles asked, while peering down
into my seat. Like a deer in the headlights, I stared back –
knowing the obvious answer to her question – but I couldn’t
come up with a witty enough answer … I think she wanted to “crack-up.”
– But like the rest of her co-actors, she remained professional
and stayed in character. It’s not often that characters from
a play are able to mingle with the audience before the show.
Needless
to say, the exchange was a cool precursor to the Teen Company’s
fall production of Twelve Angry Jurors on Nov. 5th and 6th. Then the
flashing house-lights signaled it was time to begin and our young
actors took their positions in the juror’s box just right of
the stage - and the play began.
“All
rise,” the bailiff yelled into the audience – and of course
we did … oops! It was actually the introduction to the first
scene. Fittingly so, she (the bailiff) instructed the jurors to stand
while the judge left for his chambers. The jurors were further ordered
to begin deliberation for the fate of a 19 year-old boy that allegedly
stabbed his father to death. Thus, the real “meat” of
the story began.
The
stage was transformed into a small deliberation room on the “hottest
day of the year” with one table, one window, one fan, and one
water cooler. The teens were convincingly “irritated”
by the stifling heat, although, outside, it was the middle of November.
The only thing that gave the true weather away was the stuffy noses
and obvious colds many of the cast members had. And even that disappeared
into the stellar performances given by each actor.
The
cast fell into their roles quite nicely as each scene brought about
a slow dramatic build. With every scene, tension climaxed and waned
between different jurors as preconceptions and prejudices were voiced
and criticized. It was a breath-holding roller coaster ride full of
emotion, flying rants, and disintegrating testimonies. All one could
do after each scene was exhale - and anxiously wait for the final
decision.
Twelve
Angry Jurors was exciting to watch because it gave an idea of the
happenings behind the closed doors of a real murder trial and it forced
the audience to challenge their own judgments. Congratulations to
the Teen Company for professionally delivering an intriguing adaptation
of a classic.
Top
IMMORTALITY
FOR SALE
As
a new fundraiser for CTW, the chairs in the chapel theatre can now
be purchased by patrons. For $100, a chair in the theatre will be
yours, designated by a nameplate with your company/name. This one-time
event will last until all 100 chairs are sold. Please show your support
by considering "leaving your mark" here at CTW! Call 419
244-5061 to get more information or to buy one.
Note:
CTW got its first request for immortality from Ann and Steven Flagg
who ponied up $200 for a piece of eternity!
Top
Board
Members for 2005
Pat
Tansey.........................President
Ann Flagg....Vice President, Producer
Kim Axe..................................Props
Julie Barnes..........................Member
Greg Cole................Software Support
Patricia Fugee.........Capital Campaign
Patrick McCarty...........Sound Advisor
Todd Momany................Fund Raising
Kim Jordan O’Brien........Fund Raising
Robert Skinner.....Attorney, Secretary
Cynthia Snodgrass...............Publicity
Sandi Towns.......................Treasurer
Dorothy Zimmerman...Artistic Director
Teen
Board Members
Allison Dunn
Erica Renzhofer
Top
ReMax Prefered Golf Outing to
Support CTW
Tuesday,
June 28th will be an exciting day at Bedford Hills Golf Course. ReMax
is hosting a golf outing that will include fun for the whole family.
Teams of four golfers will hit the links to make the longest drive,
closest to the pin and generally have a good time. The putt putt course
will be open for the little ones. Snacks and a meal are included in
the playing fee of $75 per person. You can make your own foursome,
or we can match you up with other golfers. Proceeds go to support
CTW’s programs. Contact Todd Momany for details at 419/392-7744.
Top
Tsing Pe - by C. Snodgrass
On
December 9th and 10th the Lois M. Nelson Theatre was a buzz with bright-eyed
kids clamoring to see their fellow classmates perform. Normally quite
shy, “Ms. Smith” can’t wait to see her favorite
student make her acting debut. Finally, the house-lights faded and
after a brief introduction, The Emperor’s Nightingale by Dan
Totheroh began. Finally, it was time for our youngest stars to shine.
Through
the darkness, orchestral strings set the atmosphere. During which,
the Chorus, clad in all black, scurried on “tippy-toes”
to their positions onstage. There, the story was set and the “great
gong of China” could be heard introducing the royal court and
his majesty, the Emperor of China.
Members
of the court were beautifully dressed in vibrant reds, hues of blue
and regal gold. The costumes paired by dramatic hair and make-up helped
to transport us to the emperor’s palace. It was here when we
discovered the Lord in Waiting was in search for the famed nightingale
and her beautiful music. Led by Plum Leaf, the kitchen maid, they
set off to find the homely looking bird and brought her to the palace.
The
remainder of the story involved all the lessons, villains, and delightful
surprises of a true fairytale. All of which the Main Company delivered
with great energy and charm – moving the audience from bellows
of laughter to true sentiment. And though the nightingale could not
be seen, it wasn’t missed. The cast did an excellent job of
supporting her “absence” and truly making us believe.
Kudos to director Dottie Zimmerman for adding a heart-warming twist
to the Hans Christian Anderson classic. It was well received. Special
thanks also go to Erica Renzhofer, student director, for unexpectedly
having to perform the character of First Courtier … you nailed
it. Finally, congratulations, again, to Casts A and B for great performances.
We look forward to your spring production.
Top
Alumni
Corner
Reserve this Date!
Saturday,
July 30th there is an alumni event planned at Children’s Theatre
Workshop. It is an opportunity to reminisce about days gone by, stroll
through 50 years of memorabilia, enjoy dinner and a live performance
by current children enrolled at CTW. The event will start in the afternoon
with the chapel theater and classrooms open for tours. The classrooms
will be set up by decade, showcasing the people and performances of
each period in CTW’s long and, ahem, storied history. Find your
name in a program, or your picture on the wall. A buffet dinner will
be served on the stage of the Lois M. Nelson Theater for the Performing
Arts in the historic Collingwood Arts Center (formerly Mary Manse
College). The evening will be capped off with a performance by current
students (future alumni) in our Chapel Theater at 8:00 PM. Reserve
this date on your calendar. Donations accepted to support CTW’s
programs. Call Patrick McCarty at 419 260-9925 or CTW at 419 244-5061
to get more information or make your reservation today.
Top
Volunteers
Needed for Mud Hens games!
Once
again this summer, CTW is workin’ the game to raise operating
funds for Children’s Theatre Workshop.
We
need 12-14 volunteers aged 16 or older for every game we are scheduled
to work. The dates are listed below.
Those
of us who volunteered last year will tell you it was a lot of fun.
The work is broken down into easy to do jobs and if we get a booth
where cooking happens, professionals do that. We just do the easy
stuff like pouring pop and beer, wrapping sandwiches and taking orders
and money.
To
volunteer, call Todd Momany at 419/392-7744, Kim Jordan O’Brien
at 419/902-3546, or leave us a message on our recorder at 419/244-5061.
April
15th, Friday 5:30 PM
April 17th, Sunday 2:00 PM
May 1st, Sunday 2:00 PM
May 18th, Wednesday 10:30 AM
May 28th, Saturday 7:00 PM
June 8th, Wednesday 7:00 PM
June 28th, Tuesday 7:00 PM
July 16th, Saturday 7:00 PM
July 31st, Sunday 2:00 PM
August 2nd , Tuesday 7:00 PM
August 11th, Thursday 7:00 PM
August 28th, Sunday 2:00 PM
Come
see Muddy and the whole Mud Hens crew and help CTW raise money over
the summer!
Top
Teen
Company: They Really Do Have Lives By Eric Smith
Well,
you can’t expect the Teen Company to devote their WHOLE lives
to CTW, though sometimes it really seems like that’s the case.
Here’s just a hint of what else goes on with our teens outside
the walls of CTW.
Ashley Parsons is participating in her school musical, School House
Rock Jr. Live! The shows are March 10th and 11th, Thursday and Friday
at Jefferson Junior High School.
Amanda Duffey is also taking part in her school musical, Honk, at
Northview High School. Amanda is part of the chorus and the show opens
midway through April.
Erica Renzhofer took the role of a techie/chorus singer in St. Ursula’s
musical Me and My Girl which opened this past weekend.
Ian Cole has been in driver’s school for a while now and is
proud to tell everyone that he will be receiving his license soon.
Everyone stay off the roads!
Allison Dunn is currently taking jazz and ballet lessons at Toledo
Ballet and is also in the chorus for ToDay production’s Once
Upon A Mattress.
Kristin Endriss recently took to the backstage in Southview High School’s
play The Three Musketeers. Kristin was a part of the running crew
and is also working backstage for Southview’s musical which
she said she had no idea what it is.
Amanda Witkowski and Eric Smith, both students of Whitmer High School
recently auditioned for their school musical, Grease, to be held April
14th, 15th and 16th in the Nightingale Auditorium at Whitmer. Eric
is also taking voice lessons at the Perrysburg School of Music. Eric
and Amanda both participated at the Solo and Ensemble contest at Eastwood
Middle School in January where they both received superior rating’s
on their solo pieces.
This is just a small portion of what our Teen Company does when they’re
not devoting their time to CTW. Your support to any of these productions
would be greatly appreciated!
Top
Words
in the Wings
October, 2004
Table
of Contents
President’s
Corner
by Pat Tansey
As
we begin our 50th year of “theatre by children for children”
we look back and forward at the same time. We look back at all the
talent that has passed through our program and the many happy times
with good friends. We remember all night sessions at the Zoo Indoor
Theatre building sets with Murray Stahl, working with Pat Kennedy
at Westgate Dinner Theatre, The Village Players and many other venues
and the challenges of touring company shows. Some years we were full
of talented volunteers and had to turn away schools that had not made
reservations for shows months in advance. At times the few remaining
board members had to decide if it was worth one more try or should
we close the doors. Thank them for the courage to make the decision
to try one more year. Peggy and Chris Kasner with their endless energy
and talent created some of the best sets and effects in the last generation.
Chris also brought us into our present home at the Collingwood Arts
Center. He input thousands of hours making the classrooms usable in
this old vacant building.
Now
we look at the next fifty years and hope for good times, good friends
and good shows. Recent years have seen dramatic improvement in the
chapel theatre. A new box office with a second floor light and sound
control room was added two years ago. Last year saw the enlargement
of the stage and the building of the proscenium. We also added permanent
conduit and wiring for the lighting and sound system. The parent lounge
was improved this summer and work continues to make this a more pleasant
area. This year we replaced the seats in the theatre and are building
a new concession stand.
We
hope to be remembered for the drive to keep Children’s Theatre
Workshop alive for the 100 year celebration.
Top
CTW Supports Other Theater Groups
CTW
has a vast costume, prop and set piece collection, as well as talented
teens. We are often approached by other theater groups who come up
needing something they haven’t found elsewhere. Currently we
have costumes appearing in The Rep’s production of Our Town
and the Orphan Productions Inc. production of Annie Warbucks, a sequel
to Annie!.
In addition, when the Village Players or the Collingwood Arts Center
need technical support for sound or lights, they call on the teens
of Teen Company to provide the professional talent required. If you
have a need for something you cannot find or need someone to run your
technical equipment, give us a call. We may be able to help.
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Twelve Angry Juror’s
The
Teen Company is rehearsing the Emmy award-winning classic drama Twelve
Angry Juror’s. This adaptation of Reginald Rose’s play
combines men and women on the jury of a 19-year-old boy’s trial
for the stabbing death of his father. “He doesn't’t stand
a chance,” mutters the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into
the bleak jury room. It looks like an open and shut case – until
one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts.
“This is a remarkable thing about democracy,” says the
foreign-born juror, “that we are notified by mail to come down
to this place – and decide on the guilt or innocence of a man,
of a man we have not known before. We have nothing to gain or lose
by our verdict. We should not make it a personal thing.” But
personal it does become, with each juror revealing his or her own
character as the various testimonies are re-examined, the murder re-enacted
and a new murder threat is born before their eyes! Tempers get short,
arguments grow heated, and the jurors become twelve angry people.
The jurors’ final verdict and how they reach it add up to a
mature piece of dramatic literature.
Join
us on Friday, November 5th at 8:00 PM or Saturday, November 6th at
2:00 PM and at 8:00 PM. The performances will be in the Chapel Theater
at CTW on the campus of the Collingwood Arts Center. Tickets are $5.00
for students and seniors, $7.00 for adults. Tickets are available
at the door.
Top
Main
Company show brings a bit of CTW history
Back
in 1954, the very first production of the fledgling troupe known as
Children’s Theatre Workshop was The Emperor’s Nightingale.
To continue our celebration of fifty years of theater by children
for children, the Main Company is once again performing this show!
This is an adaptation of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
The
Emperor of China is not aware of the treasure in his garden –
the unassuming little nightingale whose voice delights travelers from
far and wide. When he becomes aware of this wonderful bird, he sends
an invitation to come and perform in the throne room. The nightingale’s
song so enchants the Emperor that he is forbidden to return home,
but is given a golden perch in the Emperor’s bed chamber. One
day the Emperor receives a mechanical nightingale from the Emperor
of Japan. Soon the new artificial bird replaces the real one.
Later,
the Emperor is taken ill and Death comes to lead him away. The Emperor
calls for his mechanical nightingale to sing Death from the throne
room, but the toy is broken and there is no song. Just as Death is
about to win, the real nightingale comes to the window and sings so
sweetly that Death is sent away unsatisfied. The Emperor exclaims
to his subjects: “Isn’t it wonderful to be alive in such
a beautiful world?”
Yes
indeed, it is wonderful to be alive and able to enjoy live theater!
Come and see the Main Company’s production of The Emperor’s
Nightingale on Saturday, December 11th or Sunday, December 12th. Play
times are at 1:00 and 3:30 PM both days. Ticket prices are $4.00 for
students and seniors, $6.00 for adults. The play will be in the Lois
M. Nelson Theatre for the Performing Arts inside the Collingwood Arts
Center. Tickets and flowers will be available in the lobby. The show
is approximately one hour long.
Top
CTW
Graduates
By Bethanne Towns and Erica Renzhofer
Several
students have graduated high school and left CTW in the past few years.
We caught up with a few of them to see how they’re dealing with
life without CTW.
Danielle
Flagg was involved with CTW for seven years. A freshman this
year at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Danielle is majoring in
biochemistry. Her favorite show was Kilroy Was Here. Danielle says
that CTW taught her to be more outgoing and sure of herself. She says
she’s very loud now, and no one believes she used to be quiet.
If Danielle could give advice to anyone in CTW, she would say, “Don’t
let anyone or anything hold you back, including yourself. Accept who
you are and love yourself, and it won’t matter what anyone else
thinks. Be bold and proud to be who you are, don’t compromise
for anyone, do things that will make yourself proud, think about what
you do, and ask yourself, ‘Will I be able to look myself in
the face in the morning because I do this?’ You should always
be able to look yourself in the face, because if not, you’re
betraying who you are, and that’s not fair to yourself or anyone
else.” In the future, Danielle wants to get a good job and hopefully
contribute positively to society through science. She dreams of getting
married, having a family, and participating in community theater.
Natalie
Tucker is a freshman at Eastern Michigan, with an undecided
major. Natalie was at CTW for six years, and her favorite show was
You Can’t Take It With You. Natalie says CTW taught her how
to treat others, how to treat yourself, and how to have fun with a
good atmosphere and wonderful people. Natalie would like to tell the
Teen Company members to enjoy CTW while they have it, forget all the
petty nonsense that comes with the drama of tech week, and just have
fun. “This time will be one of your greatest memories,”
she says, “and you’ll never find the bond like CTW anywhere
else.” Natalie says in the future, she would like to have her
work in an art gallery, and become a better actress.
Tim
Walsh is a freshman at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
He’s involved in the honors program at the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences with an undecided major as well. Tim was with CTW
for six years, being in the Teen Company for five and a half of them.
Tim says that his favorite show at CTW was probably The Man Who Came
To Dinner. Says Tim of the February 2004 show, “The cast was
great with their acting and improvisation, there was real chemistry
in the scenes, and there were some unexpected accidents (mostly facial
hair related).” Tim says that nothing compares to what he has
learned from CTW. Dottie (Zimmerman) taught him many methods and techniques
for acting and life lessons, and she became a person on whom he could
rely for support whenever he was in need. Tim says Mr. (Pat) Tansey
taught him a lot about the actual business of show business, and about
the technical aspects of the theater. He also learned how to open
up and not be shy. Tim told us that he loved the feeling he got when
total strangers gave him hope and courage. “There’s a
family there, and I became a part of that family,” he says.
He says that it is up to the people who have been in CTW for a long
time to show the new members how strong the sense of family is in
this theater. He says not to take for granted what you have. And.
most importantly, don’t run with scissors in your hands. As
for the future, he would love to become involved with community theater.
He wants to be as dedicated to the CTW establishment as the people
who helped create it.
Jen
Ujvagi is a junior at Wright State University in Dayton,
Ohio, with a major in Mass Communication. Jen’s favorite show
was Expressions of Life, because she loved the idea of taking bits
and pieces of lots of shows and putting them together into one show.
“It was really interesting to have to be many different characters
in completely different costumes in one show,” she says of the
show. Jen says that CTW taught her respect, not only for herself,
but for those around her. “No matter what my goal, I’ll
be able to reach it because I will have a supportive group of people
around me and help guide me along the way,” she says of her
eight year CTW experience. Jen would like to tell everyone at CTW,
“Reach for the moon, and even if you fall short, you’ll
land among the stars.” In the future, Jen would still like to
be involved in theater in some way. Her dream is to be a writer for
a magazine.
Top
Teen
Company Members Reach Beyond CTW
By Lily
Mockensturm
Our
Teen Company is branching out! A few of our class have gone to different
areas, genres and companies of the visual arts.
First
on our list of aspiring stars is Erica Renzhofer. She will be performing
in Orphan Productions, Inc. production of Annie Warbucks as Peaches,
one of the main orphans. This sequel to Annie! Is November 4-7, 2004
at the Maumee Indoor Theater.
Next
on our list is Allison Dunn who has steered herself towards dance
recently at the Toledo Ballet. Miss Dunn is also taking piano lessons
at Ursula Cauffield’s School of Music.
Madison Comerzan started at CTW when she was 10 years old. In addition
to taking dance classes, she also plays soccer and swims. After a
brief period away from CTW, we are very glad to have Madison back.
Jesse
Pacheco will be participating in Timberstone Junior High School’s
production of The Hobbit – The Musical
Last, but certainly not least, Ian Cole and Kristin Endriss provided
technical work for a Concert of Sacred Hymns, Psalms and Canticles
at the Collingwood Arts Center October 17th, 2004.
Our teens are spreading their talents and we couldn’t be prouder.
Top
Teen Spotlight
Allison Dunn
By
Chloe Mockensturm
Allison
Dunn is a shining example of Teen Company life. The actress/board
member/technical worker even seems to juggle it all, including school,
with ease. In the upcoming Teen Company play, Twelve Angry Jurors,
Allison plays Juror number one, the foreman. She feels that her character
is almost the mediator and likes everything to work out. “The
play is dramatic and I think it will touch some people,” said
Allison.
Allison,
along with Erica Renzhofer, is a student board member of the CTW board.
Her advice to teens that might want to try for the spot was that its
hard work and you have to be dedicated and creative. She says some
changes we can expect are more publicity and more enrollment.
Allison
likes working with the Main Company kids and watching them experience
theater firsthand. So, basically, Allison is a good example of Teen
Company life. Busy, but enjoying it.
Top
50th Anniversary Gala
Saturday,
August 28th was a big day, 50 years in the making. Nearly 100 alumni,
parents, current students, interested public and honored guests came
during the four hour party. The newly renovated Chapel Theater was
party central, but tours of the rest of CTW and the Collingwood Arts
Center were offered.
The
theater was decorated for the event with red and white balloons, flowers,
memory scrapbooks and displays showcasing our past. A special table
was set up to hold five birthday cakes, one representing each decade
of CTW’s rich history. Our thanks go out to Kroger who generously
donated the cakes. When it came time to blow out the candles, an appropriate
representative from each decade did the honors.
The
highlight of the event was a song and dance review by current CTW
students. The performance featured songs from recent musicals, plus
our ever popular patriotic salute to the U. S. O. and our armed forces.
The performance was enthusiastically received by the assembled audience.
Following the performance, Pat Tansey, Board President, gave certificates
of appreciation in honor of those who were responsible for getting
Children’s Theatre Workshop off and running. The American Association
of University Women and The Junior League joined together to create
CTW fifty years ago. Caryn Tilly from AAUW came to receive their certificate,
but unfortunately the Junior League representative was unable to attend.
It
takes more than good intentions to make a venture like CTW last for
fifty years. Patricia Kennedy and Murray Stahl were two of those people
whose long service was recognized during the ceremony. Pat served
as the program’s director from its inception in 1954 through
her retirement over forty years later. Murray Stahl was also there
in the beginning. He served in nearly every capacity from theater
gopher to Artistic Director and Board member. Mrs. Murray (Ellie)
Stahl was present to receive our certificate of appreciation for her
husband,
accompanied by Mrs. Jim (Pat) Rudes. Regretfully Ms. Kennedy’s
niece was unable to attend. Both Pat and Murray have passed away,
but the organization they both loved so much continues on, thanks
in great part to their energy and vision.
CTW
also received recognition. Both the city of Toledo and Lucas County
presented us with proclamations congratulating us for 50 years of
serving the children of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The
proclamations are hanging in our theater. Pete Gerkin of Toledo City
Council came to make the presentation. It turns out Pete sent his
children through our program, and shared with the audience how valuable
he finds the program.
In
the year ahead we plan to keep the celebration going. The Main Company
fall play is a repeat of the very first play put on by Children’s
Theatre Workshop fifty years ago – The Emperor’s Nightingale.
Come see it December 11th and 12th, here at the Collingwood Arts Center.
The shows are at 1:00 and 3:30 PM each day.
It’s
great to be 50! Come and join us and be a part of the next 50 years
of theater by children for children. Be a part of history!
Top
Facility
Improvements Continue
This
fall improvements to the facility continue. With the help of a $2500.00
grant from Lucas County we will add insulation to the attic of the
building as well as some walls. This will not only make the building
more comfortable but also reduce our energy costs. The first step
will be to acquire the insulating material from Lowe’s. They
have offered a 40% off cost for the purchase of the material. Henning/Saad
electrical contractors have donated the use of a truck to transport
the insulation to the theater. Volunteers moved the insulation to
the second floor in preparation for the installation. Pat Tansey has
been working in the attic to make preparations for the project. Additional
volunteers will be needed to operate the blower while Pat works in
the attic. Additional insulation will be placed along the sides of
the theater where the old heating pipes have been removed. What insulation
remains will be used to insulate walls in the parent lounge and the
wood room.
The
two broken toilets in the girl’s and boy’s restrooms have
been replaced and electric circuits have been added to the laundry
room. We now have a working washer and dryer to launder costumes before
they are returned to storage.
Members of the Trilby Rotary Club continue to contribute labor for
the construction of the concession stand. It is hoped that this will
be completed by the Teen Company show in November.
The
windows in the parent lounge still need glazing and paint and this
will be worked on as time permits until cold weather arrives. The
counter tops have been replaced in the parent lounge kitchen. This
room is now ready to serve our parents and staff. Projects still to
be scheduled include replacing the existing local area battery operated
smoke detectors with an interconnected system to provide improved
protection.
Top
Words
in the Wings
July, 2004
Table
of Contents
President’s Corner
By Ann Flagg (standing in)
Another season comes
to a close and a new one is looming before us. The 2004-05 season is
the fiftieth anniversary of Children’s Theatre Workshop’s
existence. We have many exciting things planned for the year, starting
with an alumni call to kick off our year with a birthday party complete
with birthday cake. We’ll have five cakes, one for each decade,
and hopefully representative alumni from each decade to blow out the
candles.
The Main Company
shows this year also have significance. In December, we will bring The
Emperor’s Nightingale to life. This is the very first play ever
put on by the children of CTW – the very first “theater
by children for children”. The Spring production was selected
by popular demand from a few favorite shows in our past. The Pied Piper
of Hamlin won the competition and will be the show come April, 2005.
Wouldn’t it be great if former cast members came back to see how
this generation of actors brings the characters to life?
This time of year
brings us new Board officers, and I would like to congratulate Pat Tansey
for being selected to lead us as Board President for the coming year.
Sandi Towns joins the board as Treasurer. Robert Skinner will serve
as Secretary. Ann Flagg will once again serve as Vice President. Thank
you to last year’s officers, Kim Olson, who had to leave the Presidency
early to move her family to California, Chris Weisfelder who leaves
us after serving as Treasurer for over a year, and Julie Barnes who
served as Secretary for two years. Julie continues to serve as a board
member and teacher.
Top
In St. Louis, At the Fair a rousing
success!
The annual musical
in May was In St. Louis, at the Fair, written by Shubert Fendrich, and
featuring popular music from the turn of the 20th century. The setting
is in a French restaurant on the grounds of the St. Louis World’s
Fair, circa 1904. The story revolves around three waitresses from Hannibal,
MO who have come to St. Louis to work at the fair. Flossie Hill, played
by Amanda Witkowski, dreams of being someone special and gives her boy
friend Louie (Eric Smith) trouble when she runs off with a shady public
relations man played by Sebastian Adams. Lucille, played by Haley Matuszynski,
is pursued by Johnny Steele (Tim Walsh) who has come to the fair to
sell Oldsmobiles. Lucille gets carried away with Dick and his “Merry
Oldsmobile”, even getting a chance to drive the new horseless
carriage. Last is Rose Harris, played by Bethanne Towns. Rose is a sensitive,
sensible girl who is taken with a lowly electrician, Dick Williams,
played by Bo Durham. It is only at the end, when she has already fallen
for Dick that Rose learns he is the main electrical engineer responsible
to Thomas Edison to get the first outdoor lighting display ready for
the opening of the World’s Fair.
“Meet Me in
St. Louis, Louis”, “Hello, My Baby”, “In My
Merry Oldsmobile”, “Goodbye, My Lady Love”, “Under
The Bamboo Tree” and “Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay!” are only
a sampling of the songs from the show. The dances were inventive, yet
evocative of the time with lots of tap dancing. Though some of the production
numbers were uneven, the actors approached them all with gusto. The
audiences were all well pleased with their evening’s entertainment.
Top
Registration for Fall Classes is
set for Saturday, August 28th
Registration for
the Main Company classes is Saturday, August 28th from 10:00 A.M. to
1:00 P.M. Because of Labor Day weekend, classes will not actually start
until two weeks later, on September 11th. The ten weeks of classes end
on November 13th. Once again, class times will be 9:00 A.M. to 10:00
A.M., 10:15 A.M. to 11:15 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. for most
ages.
The ages break down
as follows: 5-7, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-18.
Classes are filled
on a first come, first served basis. To beat the rush, you can register
on-line. Just log onto www.childrenstheaterworkshop.org or by calling
us and leaving the information on our recorder at 419.244.5061.
Top
Calling all Teen Company members!
Both returning Teen
Company members and prospective members all must talk with Dottie Zimmerman
for an interview. There are no exceptions! You can call her on her cell
phone (419.265.7823) and make arrangements for an in person interview,
or possibly do one over the phone. Call today!
Teen Company classes
start August 28th, skip a week for the Labor Day holiday, then resume
on September 11th. The last Teen Company class is November 6th.
The Fall show dates
for Teen Company are November 5th and 6th, 2004. Put the date on your
calendar and block out that week for the technical shake down.
Top
Theater
Seats for the Chapel Theater
When National Cinema
announced they were going to tear down the movie theater at Westfield
Franklin Park Mall, Pat Tansey got busy asking for anything they were
getting rid of. He pestered them until they finally said we could have
some things. One day over the summer Pat and three volunteers from the
Toledo Sailing Club hauled 100 movie theater seats to CTW in a truck
borrowed from Henning-Saad electrical contractors. As of this writing,
33 of the seats have been installed. Members of the Teen Company helped
by unbolting the old pews and placing the new seats. The new chairs
have very nice, padded seats and come complete with cup holders. Our
patrons have never had it so good.
Top
CTW
2004-2005 Season
Important dates to remember
Fall registration
August 28, 2004
Teen Company
classes August 28 through Nov. 6, 2004 - 9:00-11:00 AM
Teen Co. Fall play to be announced – Nov. 5 & 6, 2004
Main Company
classes Sept 11 through Nov. 13, 2004
9:00 - 10:00 AM, 10:15 - 11:15 AM, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The Emperor's
Nightingale
School shows - Dec. 9 & 10, 2004
Public shows - Dec. 11 & 12, 2004
Winter registration Jan. 8, 2005
Teen Company classes
Jan. 8 through Mar. 12, 2005 - 9:00-11:00 AM
Teen Co. Winter play to be announced – Feb. 18 & 19, 2005
Main Company classes Jan. 15 through Mar. 19, 2005
9:00 - 10:00 AM, 10:15 - 11:15 AM, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The Pied Piper
of Hamlin
School shows - Apr. 7 & 8, 2005
Public shows - Apr. 9 & 10, 2005
CTW Musical to
be announced – May 13 & 14, 2005
Top
Improvements over the summer
A list of projects
was prepared for the summer. We worked through the month of June on
electrical and other improvements to the parent lounge. The roof over
the parent lounge has been fixed and new ceiling tiles put up to replace
those damaged by water. Carpet has been laid and new/old furniture donated.
Shelving has been installed and many books have been donated and combined
with ones we already had in the library. The books make a free lending
library, or available for sale at a modest price on the honor system.
You might like to bring in old books you or your children no longer
read and donate them to our collection. The kitchen will have been gutted
and remade. There will be a microwave oven, coffee maker and refrigerator.
Some finish work is needed to complete this before the fall opening.
Windows in the wood
room were glazed and painted by some of our Teen Company members as
a workday project. We still hope to glaze the windows in the parent
lounge before fall.
Planned for August
will be the installation of blown insulation in the main attic and some
selected walls. This will keep things warmer and reduce our heating
bills. As always we will check all smoke detectors, exit lights and
fire extinguishers in August for proper operation.
The West Toledo
Rotary has plans to complete the construction of the concession stand
in the chapel theater. The Rotary members will donate the labor and
Home Depot and Janney’s Ace Hardware are donating the materials.
In additional to four walls and a door that locks it all up, there is
a refrigerator in it to keep pop and water cold and opens up the possibility
of selling frozen treats!
Once completed and
stocked, we plan to have it staffed on the mornings we have classes
so that you and your children can purchase beverages and snacks with
CTW making the profit rather than the vending machines installed in
the Collingwood Arts Center lobby. We will need volunteers to staff
the stand. If you have an interest, apply in the office
There are many small
and large projects still on the list and any volunteers are always welcome.
A priority on many people’s list is the replacement of the two
broken toilets in the girls’ and boys’ restrooms.
Top
Announcing
CTW’s 50th Birthday Bash
The Children’s
Theatre Workshop will celebrate it’s Fiftieth birthday on August
28th. An open house from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. will provide alumni
and friends as well as interested parties the opportunity to tour our
newly improved facility. At noon, we will blow out the candles on five
birthday cakes; one for each decade of CTW’s history. Our traveling
company will provide a short program following the cake cutting ceremony.
We are trying to get a few representatives from each decade of our history
to blow out the cake candles. Past Board members and alumni will be
present. Look for the one page flyer in this newsletter and hang it
on your refrigerator so you don’t miss this big event! Please
join us.
Top
CTW Graduate Studies in New York
City
Arden Walentowski,
a recent graduate of CTW, has completed a six week comprehensive program
at Atlantic Acting School in New York. William H. Macy and David Mamet
started the school. She plans to continue for two more years starting
in September. She will be home in August and hopes to attend the birthday
party at CTW.
Top
CONNED
makes it’s Debut July 23-25, 2004
Patrick McCarty,
CTW board member, teacher and alumni, joined with his friend Brian Smith
to write, produce and direct a play entitled CONNED. The show was presented
at the Ohio Theatre. CTW provided support by renting rehearsal space
and providing other assets to the production.
The cast included
members of the CTW Teen Company. Tim Walsh, Allison Dunn, Katrina Bacome,
Meredith Victoria Goff, and Randy Warshaw were seen on stage during
the show. Bo Durham and Kristen Endriss provided back stage support.
The show, as you
may deduce from the title, involved a scheme. But it turns out that
the people who were CONNED were the audience as the story takes a twist
at the end.
Congratulations
to Pat and all the CTW people involved for a good production. All proceeds
from the show were given to Hospice of North West Ohio.
IMPROVISATIONS
Words in the Wings
December 2003
Table
of Contents
Special
points of interest
- Teen Company
interviews going on now.
- Teen Company
classes begin January 3, 2004
- Registration
for Main Company classes is January 3, 2004
- Main Company
classes begin January 10, 2004
Questions?
419-244-5061
Children’s
Theatre Workshop to Turn 50!
The Children’s
Theatre Workshop will mark our 50th continually operating year in September,
2004. We believe that we are the oldest continuing theatre for children
by children program in the United States.
A committee has
been meeting concerning how to celebrate this occasion, and we’ve
discussed various ideas . The consensus of this committee was that we
should utilize our anniversary as an opportunity to make the community
at large aware of The Children’s Theatre Workshop and our fantastic
programs.
How do we do this?
We hope to present a representation of our students at every available
public performance during the summer of 2004. Although plans are still
progressing and we have nothing yet in stone, a sampling of these public
appearances may be at the Citifest Independence Day celebration, the
Lucas County Main library Brown Bag Lunch series or their Summer Reading
program celebration, and more. A listing has been made of events, dates,
and contact persons, but if you have ideas, please let us know!
A meeting is planned
with the parents and children of the Teen Company, and all interested
parties on January 3 at 12:30 in our Chapel Theatre.
This is a great
opportunity for the growth of CTW, but with the opportunity comes responsibility
and time commitment. If you would like to be a small part or large part
of the Fiftieth Anniversary Committee, please contact Pat Tansey at
(419) 244-5061 or via email
We are looking forward
to another fifty fabulous years !
Top
President’s
Corner
By Kimberly Olson
I’ve learned
more about The Children’s Theatre Workshop in my past two months
as President of the Board of Directors than I ever realized I didn’t
know in the two years prior. I had spent one year as “just a CTW
mom” hanging around during classes and rehearsal. The following
year found me creating costumes—with very limited sewing experience—for
“The Legend of Pocahontas.” During that two years getting
to know the other CTW volunteers, the teachers, and the students, I
never appreciated or even realized what a rich past this organization
posses.
The Children’s
Theatre Workshop began in 1954 with the purpose of providing theatre
opportunities for children by children ages 5-18: that much most of
us know. What never occurred to me was that time period was 49 years
ago: before Sesame Street and The Children’s Television Workshop,
before President Kennedy, before Vietnam, before the “me”
generation, before Generation X-ers began having kids of our own. We
believe this organization is the oldest continually operating group
of it’s kind in the country! We even have former students back
now contributing in huge ways to seeing that CTW continues on into another
half of a century!
What makes Children’s
Theatre Workshop special? I find myself quoting long-time CTW corner-stone
Ann Flagg on this topic: “We’re not about great theatre,”
she said, “We’re about great people.”
While many of our
students are very talented individuals, only maybe 2 percent of nearly
fifty years’ worth of students have actually gone on to work in
theatre. One hundred percent of them have gone on in life to use what
they learn inside our walls:
- Personal responsibility—Our
kids know they have to be responsible for themselves to a great degree,
whether that means bringing a prop to class, a script to rehearsal,
or a make-up shirt on a performance day they learn to depend on themselves
to make the show—and life—work for them
- Teamwork—Each
student knows the rest of the gang will rely on all the others to
do their part. We all pick up our trash, we all learn our lines, and
we all help others be the best they can be
- Public Appearances—Each
student, whether they choose to be in a performance or not—will
learn they can speak in front of an audience of 6 or 600 and be heard
(and not die!)
- Projection—Each
student learns how to use his or her voice to be heard and understood
in front of others
- Articulation—Each
student learns to annunciate and pronounce words clearly.
- Communication
skills—Through improvisation and classroom skits, our students
learn how to effectively relay and read emotions.
- Business—The
older students learn the “business” of production: Costs,
income, advertising, and the bottom line.
And more! CTW continues
on when other programs fail because we work to let the kids see themselves
succeed. While that seems simple enough, there is nowhere else they
can do it—not school, not at church, not at some other program.
It’s the support of family through rehearsals and calls. It’s
the applause. It’s the praise from family and friends. It’s
looking out from the stage and seeing the world smiling back. Kids are
naturally astute, and can feel that we’re on their side. No matter
what the balance sheet says at the end of a show, we haven’t done
our best as a group until every individual has done their personal best...and
if so, that’s enough. The last couple of months have brought changes
to the scenery at CTW. Ann Flagg graciously agreed to use her 4 years
of experience as past president to stay close-by as Vice President and
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