THE Editor: Pat Boera SPOTLIGHT Web Site: www.lyrictheatrevt.org · Email: [email protected] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By Syndi Zook To paraphrase Colonel Pickering from My Fair Lady: Tonight, my friends, we did it! We did it! We did it! We said that we would do it, and indeed we did. I thought that we would rue it; I doubted we'd do it (not really). But now I must admit it That succeed we did! On March 9th Lyric Theatre Company became the proud owners of our dream facility. At a table surrounded by Lyric members from 1974 to today we signed on the dotted line. This building secures Lyric’s future, forever! But now back to My Fair Lady as Henry Higgins chimes in: Now, wait! Now, wait! Give credit where it's due, a lot of the glory goes to YOU! To date over 400 community members have pitched into the Lyric Capital Campaign and we cannot thank you enough. After six years of planning and two years of fundraising we will be bringing this successful Capital Campaign to a close on June 1st. Though we have raised enough to purchase the building, we still need to reach our final goal to renovate the property for our specific needs. Please make yourself a part of the Lyric Legacy during this exciting time in our history! Call Syndi (that’s me!) at 6581484 or pull a pledge card down off of the Lyric website www.lyrictheatrevt.org today!!! BOARD CHAIR ARTICLE By Steve Kendall March 9th, 2015, was an historic date for Lyric. That is the day Lyric became the proud owners of our new facility at 7 Green Tree Drive in South Burlington. This is a monumental step towards Lyric’s goal of having all production, rehearsal and administrative functions under one roof and helps secure Lyric’s future for many years to come. Congratulations to everyone who played a part in bringing the purchase to fruition. This truly was a grassroots project and hundreds of people played parts, some big and some small, but all vitally important, to put us in a position to purchase the building. I want to specifically acknowledge John Gravel, Capital Campaign Chair, Syndi Zook, the Capital Campaign Committee and the Board of Directors (past and current) for their dedication, commitment, bravery and perseverance on this project. What happens next? The short answer is a lot of planning and coordinating. Now that we own the building we need to hammer out the logistics of how and when we can and will utilize the space. We still own our warehouse on Leroy Drive in Williston. The new building at 7 Green Tree has tenants with lease agreements occupying two units. We still need to raise additional funds for the fit up of the new April 2015 building. We are in the process of creating a time line and developing specific cost estimates for the renovations and fit up. We will have numerous informational meetings in May for all specific areas such as costumes, props and set construction to provide input into how their respective spaces in the new building should be configured and set up. Rome was not built in a day and neither will our new facility. That said, the sun has risen and we are well into the late afternoon! We are very close to the time when we will all be under one roof in new, accessible, safe, bright, clean space. Stay tuned and we will keep you informed on the plan and the progress. APPLY FOR THIS YEAR’S DELANO-NULTY SCHOLARSHIP By Syndi Zook For over 41 years, Lyric Theatre Company has been a part of Greater Burlington’s vibrant arts community. Each year, Lyric awards a $1,000 scholarship to an area high school senior to help defray expenses during his or her freshman year of college. The scholarship honors two of Lyric’s founding members: Howard Delano and Polly Nulty. Criteria: Graduation from an area high school or technical school in 2015 and plans to attend college or a professional theatrical training program beginning in September 2015. Involvement in theater, through Lyric Theatre Company, school productions, or other area theater companies. Demonstration of a continuing interest in the performing arts. Education/career goals that relate to the performing arts (theater, music, dance or technical theater). Call the Lyric office for an application or download a copy from the website. The applicant must provide two letters of recommendation from his or her drama or music director, or an adult who has supervised/instructed the applicant in the performing arts or technical aspects of theater. These letters should be in a sealed envelope marked confidential and included in the application package. Scholarship applications and letters of reference must be received by May 8th. LYRICKIDS SUMMER CAMPS: SIGN UP NOW LyricKids provides an enriching, high quality and funfilled musical theatre experience for youth. Camp dates are: July 13th-17th and July 20th-24th for youth ages 9 to 12 July 27th-31st for ages 13+ The registration form for 2015 LyricKids Camps is available on the website. The Leadership Team of Nikki Juvan, Kim Hathaway, and John Luce encourage you to sign up now at http://www.lyrictheatrevt.org/lyrickids2010.html. SPOTLIGHT SHOUT-OUT By Serena Magnan O’Connell The Membership and Sunshine Committees would like to thank you for being a Lyric volunteer! Every month, we will be highlighting a different Lyric member for exceptional “volunteerism” for our organization. If you would like to nominate a Lyric volunteer you believe deserves a “shoutout” for their Lyric efforts this month, email Serena Magnan O’Connell at [email protected]. We thank ALL of you for ALL that you do! This month’s Spotlight Shout-Out goes to Kathleen Leach! A Lyric member volunteering behind the scenes painting and building sets since 2003, Kathleen recently served on the Artistic Team for Legally Blonde as the Dog Trainer. She put in numerous hours with the canines, using expertise and love to turn Enzo and Joey into stars. Kathleen didn’t just give out love to those animals; her amazing smile and cheerful presence was felt by all those in the cast and crews who had the pleasure of being around her. Kathleen, we thank you for the time and energies you give to Lyric and we wanted to give you a Spotlight Shout-Out! TURN IN YOUR HOURS By Serena Magnan O’Connell A reminder to all of you to turn in your hours to the Lyric office on a monthly basis. Crew chiefs and committee chairs are responsible for their crews’ and committee members’ hours, and stage managers track cast hours during the run of the show. If you don’t fall into any of these categories, YOU are responsible for tracking the time you give to Lyric. Lyric hour tracking is important; it determines Lyric’s eligibility for certain grants, and the state actually tracks our volunteer hours as part of our non-profit status. Did you know we are second in the state to only University of Vermont Medical Center for most volunteer hours given? Please help each other to remember to turn those Lyric hours in at the end of every month to Marcus in the Lyric office at [email protected]. Any questions regarding hour tracking? Contact Serena Magnan O’Connell at [email protected]. COSTUME/VINTAGE CLOTHING FOR SALE By Donna Watts After years of costuming for the school system, I have a room of vintage clothing of my own: pieces I bought when I saw them (for “someday”), had no receipts for, or just plain paid for with my own money because they were too expensive to buy on the school's costume budget, or I didn't think they would have use for again. I am selling what hasn’t already gone to consignment stores for less than thrift store prices. Most pieces will be $1 each. Some especially nice pieces will be more like $5. Please call or email for an appointment to see them. Home Voyage line: 802-347-1333 Email: [email protected] CALLING ALL PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS, MUSIC DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS By Margaret Welch The Show Selection and Evaluation Committee is starting to look for Lyric’s fall 2016 show. If you have been thinking about proposing a show, please let us know how we can help. For information about how to propose a show, visit Lyric’s website: http://lyrictheatrevt.org/propose.html or contact Margaret Welch, Chair of Show Selection, at [email protected] or 862-2428. SUMMER CELEBRATION TO HONOR THE LIFE OF SAM C.J. PARK By Connie Kite The Lyric family is invited to a party to celebrate the life of Sam C.J. Park, who died in December. The party will be on Saturday, July 18th, at 1:00 p.m. at the St. John’s Club, 9 Central Avenue, Burlington. Sam hated funerals, so we’re throwing him a grand party instead! Come share your special memories. Please RSVP to Connie Kite at [email protected] or 802-862-4027 so that we’ll have an accurate count for catering. MUSICAL THEATER ROAD TRIP— IT’S TIME TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS By Pat Boera The Lyric Development Committee is planning a Musical Theater Road Trip to the historic Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady which gets A-level National Tours of all the latest Broadway shows. We hope you’ll join us for this special outing with fellow musical theater fans. Saturday, June 20th, 2015 Matinee performance of Kinky Boots Kinky Boots is the unforgettable Broadway sensation with music by Tony® and Grammy®-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper. Tickets for the Musical Theater Road Trip are $139 per person which includes round-trip motorcoach transportation provided by Maple City Charters, departing from Burlington, and seating in the orchestra section of Proctor’s Theater. Maple City Charters will provide snacks and bottled water for the trip down and back as well as movie-themed movies and trivia contests to make the journey to Schenectady fun. There are many restaurants within walking distance of Proctor’s Theater and we’ll allow time after the show for participants to dine on their own. To register for this trip, download the ticket order form from the Lyric website— www.lyrictheatrevt.org. Click on the Kinky Boots logo on the bottom of the page. Send the ticket order form with payment (cash or credit card) to: Attn: Lyric Musical Theater Road Trip, c/o Shawn McElwain, 11 Smith Street, St. Albans, VT 05478…or scan and email your order to the address on the form. Sponsored by: AN UPDATE FROM THE PRODUCERS OF WHITE CHRISTMAS Congratulations to everyone behind and on the stage for Legally Blonde—so pink, and so fun!! Bravo!! Hard to believe White Christmas is next in line; it will indeed be here before we know it. And while we might (maybe) put away our plaid producer’s hats while the warmer weather winds its way to Vermont (and that will (must!) happen), there is no shortage of incredible work going on in anticipation of November! Our creative teams have been digging in on brilliant and bright color schemes for costumes and sets and reviewing and refining their fabulous designs. Stay tuned for the Artistic Team’s recently developed character descriptions. This show has a wonderfully wide range of parts, for both the young and for those of more respectable years. If you are ready to dust off your dancing shoes, watch for the musical theater dance workshops to be held at Spotlight Vermont in June. A great way to test and tune your tapping and jazzing! We could not be more excited about our incredible team and this beautiful show—it sparkles with laughter, and love, and all the best that communities and caring people bring to each other—even if it takes a bit to figure it all out! We hope you’ll join us at auditions in August. Save the date and share the fun. We look forward to seeing you there! With joy, Sarah and Marc Tischler, Co-Producers MUSICAL THEATER TAP AND JAZZ DANCE TECHNIQUE WORKSHOPS Looking to improve your dance skills? Spotlight Vermont will be offering workshops this summer with a focus on Musical Theater dance technique. Spotlight owner, Jen Barden, and Broadway veteran, Susan Burk Walsh (cochoreographers for White Christmas) will be instructing along with special guest teacher, Lisa Hopkins. Hopkins, currently on the faculty of STEPS on BROADWAY and Pace University in New York, is also the creative force behind the international touring company TAP KIDS. The workshops begin the week of June 29th. Classes will be held over five weeks, meeting twice per week (Monday and Wednesday evenings). Advanced Beginner Musical Theater Tap: Monday and Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Musical Theater Jazz: Monday and Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Intermediate/Advanced Musical Theater Tap: Monday and Wednesday, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Workshops will be held at Spotlight Vermont, 50 San Remo Drive, South Burlington. Cost is $95 per workshop; $16 single class rate applies. Contact Spotlight Vermont: [email protected] or 802/865-7626. SAVE THESE DATES By Erin Evarts, Artistic Director Keep your eyes on the Lyric website and Spotlight newsletter for more information but mark your calendars now for these events related to White Christmas: Kick-Off Meeting: August 19th Kids Auditions: August 22nd Adult Auditions: August 23rd-25th Callbacks: August 26th (if needed) All events will take place at Spotlight Vermont in South Burlington. WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG THING IN JEWISH THEATRE? THEATRE KAVANAGH: JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT Yep, you heard right. The Vermont Jewish Playwriting Contest is back, and you get to cast the deciding vote to determine which of three semi-finalist plays will advance to the final round in New York City. Let’s take a look at our three outstanding contenders, shall we? Belfast Kind by Margot Connolly A 12-year-old girl struggles with her identity as a Northern Irish Jew as she prepares for her bat mitzvah during The Troubles. Diaspora by Gary Jaffe Latino and Jewish heritage collide in the body and minds of two sisters. One searches for Jewish meaning on a LGBT Birthright trip, while her more wild sister gets in a car accident with her immigrant boyfriend. The Owl Girl by Monica Raymond A Palestinian family returns to the house they left, now given to an Israeli family. One of the daughters turns into an Owl, the fathers play chess with the remains of tragedies, and the mothers bond. Is this peace? Music! Food! Audience voting! And three exceptional plays. Sunday, April 19th, 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 20th, 7:00 p.m. Temple Sinai, 500 Swift Street, South Burlington Open to the public. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets/info: www.theatrekavanagh.org ON OTHER STAGES Shelburne Players present Calendar Girls by Tim Firth through April 18th at Shelburne Town Center. Tickets/info: www.shelburneplayers.com or 802/343-2602. Essex Community Players present William Shakespeare’s The Tempest May 16th through 24th. Tickets/info: www.essexplayers.com or 802/878-9109. Lost Nation Theater presents Eurydice, April 16th through May 16th; Treasure Island, April 23rd through May 17th; and Always, Patsy Cline, June 4th through 21st. Tickets/info: www.lostnationtheater.org or 802/229-0492. Lamoille County Players present The Play’s The Thing, May 8th through 17th; Cats, July 23rd through August 2nd; Curtains, September 24th through October 4th; and Wait Until Dark, November 13th through 22nd. Tickets/info: www.lcplayers.com. P.O. Box 1688 Williston, VT 05495 Spring is upon us, but we’re planning for Christmas—White Christmas! The Spotlight: A monthly publication of Lyric Theatre Company. To submit material for the next issue, email [email protected]. Distribution questions? Call 802/658-1484. Deadline for May issue: April 28th, 2015 AT YOUR SERVICE--LYRIC THEATRE COMPANY BOARD & STAFF Marna Bisaccia [email protected] 238-4896 Christopher Brown [email protected] Andrea Cronan [email protected] Karyn Dubie [email protected] 658-6339 Susan Geise [email protected] Geri Ann Higgins [email protected] Stephen Kendall [email protected] Sean Leach [email protected] 363-4599 Serena Magnan O’Connell [email protected] 233-2516 Brian Meyer [email protected] Julianne Nickerson [email protected] Donna Riera [email protected] 922-1946 Nanette Stevens [email protected] Doug Viehmann [email protected] Margaret Welch [email protected] 862-2428 Syndi Zook, Exec. Dir. [email protected] 658-1484 Doris O’Brien, Bookkpr [email protected] 658-1484 Marcus Certa, Adm/Comm [email protected] 658-1484 Kristina McSalis, Campaign [email protected] 658-1484 Sponsored by: November 12th-15th, 2015 | Flynn MainStage Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 333 Burlington, VT 05401 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED MEETING TIMES FOR LYRIC’S STANDING COMMITTEES Board (Chair: Stephen Kendall): 3rd Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Lyric temp office, 7 Green Tree Dr., South Burlington Building (Chair: Doug Viehmann): Monthly, Time TBA, Location varies PR/Development (Chair: Geri Ann Higgins): 1st Tuesday of the month, 6:00 p.m., Lyric Office, 7 Green Tree Dr., South Burlington Education (Chair: Andrea Cronan): Meeting details TBA Finance (Chair: Nanette Stevens): 3rd Tuesday of the month, 5:30 p.m., Lyric Office, 7 Green Tree Dr., South Burlington Membership (Chair: Serena Magnan O’Connell): 4th Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., home of the O’Connell’s, Burlington Show Selection (Chair: Margaret Welch): Monthly, Time TBA, Location varies GIFT IDEA FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS Is there a musical theater fan in your life? If your answer is “yes,” then we have the perfect gift idea—tickets to Lyric’s upcoming season which features White Christmas in November and Mary Poppins in April. Tickets will go on sale to Lyric members this summer and to the public in September. Make the next special occasion extra special with the gift of live theater.
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