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THE
Editor: Pat Boera
SPOTLIGHT
Web Site: www.lyrictheatrevt.org · Email: [email protected]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
By Syndi Zook
As I sit in my office on this cold…very cold…evening in
February, I must admit that I feel nothing but warmth and
cheer coming through the walls of our creative facility here
in South Burlington. The Legally Blonde team is in the large
space behind me, working on a dance number with 30 actors
that is so hip-hoppin’ great I can barely stay seated. In the
conference room next door the team from White Christmas
(November 2015) is finalizing graphics, logos and set
designs as well as looking at color swatches and faux fur.
Perfect night for fur! In the office next to mine the Education
Committee is reading scripts so they can choose a couple of
fun shows for LyricKids summer camps this year. All in all,
there are at least 56 people busy making all aspects of Lyric
Theatre happen tonight despite that polar vortex! It is truly a
dream come true for all of us to be here, under one roof,
together. On February 7th, the Lyric Board of Directors met
in an all-day Board retreat to look at the company’s ten-year
plan. I would very much like to thank all of the Board
members who were there, helping Lyric to forge new policies
and procedures, expand the vision and move us forward
thoughtfully into the next decade. The continued dedication
of all Lyric volunteers is deeply appreciated. Thank you all
for helping to make such beautiful shows for everyone to see,
provide fun-filled summer programs for children to enjoy and
make available your business, marketing and human resource
skills to guide the small staff at Lyric in their professional
efforts. It is cold outside–but it is the Summer of Love here at
Lyric!
50 SHADES OF PINK
By Wendy Mays
The Flynn MainStage will explode with 50 Shades of
Pink April 9th-12th. Do you have your tickets yet? Great seats
for Legally Blonde: The Musical are still available, but are
going fast, so order yours today! The only “toys” in this show
are jump ropes, but OMIGOD YOU GUYS, it’s going to be
a blast! So Bend and Snap your way to the Flynn Center Box
Office to get your tickets today! Order online at
www.flynncenter.org, call 802/86FLYNN, or stop by the
Flynn Center Box Office at 153 Main Street in Burlington.
March 2015
MEMBER BENEFITS
DURING SHOW WEEK: APRIL 2ND-12TH
Thank you to the following businesses for participating
in Lyric’s Backstage Benefits! Your Lyric Theatre
membership card will get you discounts at the following
establishments during show week for Legally Blonde–April
2nd to April 12th. Please frequent them and be sure to express
your appreciation for their generosity to Lyric! New
businesses and restaurants are being added all the time.
Check the Lyric website to see additional benefits:
www.lyrictheatrevt.org.
RESTAURANTS
A Single Pebble, 133 Bank Street, 10% discount on food
only
Big Daddy’s, 177 Church Street, 2 slices + soda for $5
The Gryphon, 131 Main Street, 15% discount on food and
non-alcoholic beverages
Juniper, 41 Cherry Street, 10% discount on food
Kountry Kart, 155 Main Street, free can of soda with
sub/sandwich purchase
Leunig’s, 115 Church Street, 20% discount on food only
Manhattan Pizza & Pub, 167 Church Street, 15% discount
on food and non-alcoholic beverages
Pizzeria Verita, 156 St. Paul Street, 15% discount on food
only
Revolution Kitchen, 9 Center Street, 15% discount on food
and non-alcoholic beverages
Scuffer Steak & Ale, 148 Church Street, 20% discount on
food only
Sweetwaters, 140 Church Street, 15% discount on food only
SERVICES
Cynthea’s Spa, 102 Church Street, 10% discount on services
Dostie Bros. Framing, 308 Pine Street, #101, $25 off picture
framing; 10% off creating show posters on plaques
Fully Present with You, 528 Essex Road, Suite 205,
Williston, $20 off regularly priced session when booked
during show week
Kathy & Company Florist, 221 Colchester Avenue, 10%
discount
Lines for the Body, 2035 Essex Road, Williston, 10%
discount on dance and fitness wear
O’M Salon, 171 St. Paul Street, $10 off haircut with Don
booked during show week
UPS Store, 1127 North Avenue and Taft Corners, Williston,
20% discount, restrictions apply
THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING OF TOM MCKENNY
By Syndi Zook
On February 12th Lyric lost a dear member and friend in
Tom McKenny. Everything was BIG about Tom. A big guy,
a big talent, a big heart and a really big story teller (as in
epic, not fantasy). Tom was the sound designer/engineer for
many, many Lyric shows spanning 30 years of Lyric history.
His most recent show with us was the 2007 production of
West Side Story. He was always dedicated to Lyric and with
his sidekick, John Boy Wagner, helped Lyric negotiate the
tricky technological changes of the sound industry and the
peculiarities of the Flynn venue. He cared deeply about his
craft and will be missed by many musicians in the area. He
was my pal. And just as recently as four weeks ago, he was
visiting at the new building and talking to Marcus and I
about things both nostalgic and up to the minute. Thanks for
everything you did for us, Tommy!
SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN FOR LYRICKIDS CAMPS
LyricKids provides an enriching, high quality and funfilled musical theatre experience for youth. Through the
process of producing a musical theatre performance,
participants will increase their knowledge and skills in both
technical and performing aspects of musical theatre.
This year’s 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 is now up on the Lyric website for
the 2015 LyricKids Camps. It is our pleasure to introduce
you to the Leadership Team for this year’s camps: Nikki
Juvan, Kim Hathaway, and John Luce. Sign up now at:
http://www.lyrictheatrevt.org/lyrickids2010.html
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.
SPRING 2016: LYRIC PRESENTS MARY POPPINS
By Rob Parzych, Producer
Mary Poppins is gearing up to fly onto the Flynn stage in
one short year. Move in is March 25th, 2016, and our nine
shows will run Friday, April 1st, (no foolin’) through Sunday
April 10th. The team is busy with initial design meetings, and
if even half of our ideas make it to the stage, it will be a
spectacle not soon forgotten! A full team listing and other
updates will appear in future editions of The Spotlight.
LEGALLY BLONDE CREWS NEED VOLUNTEERS
For every person on stage in a Lyric Theatre production,
there are at least three others who contribute their talents to
behind-the-scenes aspects of the show. We need YOU to make
Legally Blonde a success! Lyric’s warehouse at 55 Leroy Drive
in Williston is buzzing with activity seven days a week. Won’t
you join us to help sew, craft, build or paint?
Costumes
Crew Work Times: Monday and Thursday, 5:30-8:30 p.m.;
Sunday, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Contact: Lyn Feinson, [email protected] or 363-6304;
Debby Dot Decker, [email protected] or 598-3987;
Cassandra Clayton, [email protected] or 608/574-8622
Properties
Crew Work Times: Work times will be determined based on
schedules of those who sign up for this crew
Contact: Karyn Dubie, [email protected] or 658-6339;
Carolyn Gauthier, [email protected] or 878-4273
Set Construction
Crew Work Times: Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 6:309:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Contact: George Walker, [email protected] or 734-7461
Set Decoration
Crew Work Times: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:00-9:00 p.m.;
Sunday, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Contact: Jane Harissis, [email protected] or 249-2039
Other committees do not maintain a routine warehouse
work schedule; however, they welcome your help! See the full
list of volunteer opportunities on the Lyric website.
LAMOILLE COUNTY PLAYERS
ANNOUNCE AUDITIONS FOR CATS
Based on the universally popular poetry of T.S.
Eliot, CATS tells the story, in song and dance, of the annual
gathering of Jellicle cats at which time one special cat is
selected to ascend to the Heavyside Layer. A true musical
theatre phenomenon, CATS opened at London's New London
Theatre on May 11, 1981, and ran for a record-setting 21
years. CATS' London success was nearly matched on
Broadway where it ran at the Wintergarden Theatre for just
over 18 years. It won the 1983 Tony Awards for Best
Musical, Book, Direction, and Original Score. Songs
include Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats, The Rum Tum
Tugger, and, of course, Memory.
Auditions will be held on March 28th and 29th, starting at
1:00 p.m., at the Hyde Park Opera House. Show dates are
July 23rd-26th and July 30th-August 2nd. For more information
including the production team, character descriptions and
more, visit http://lcplayers.com/Shows/CATS.html.
Questions about auditions or about the show? Email
Director Patty Jacob at [email protected].
Sponsored by:
WE’RE DREAMING OF WHITE CHRISTMAS
By Erin Evarts, Artistic Director
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is a classic show biz
musical filled with fantastic songs, dances and characters.
We are looking forward to honoring the original movie,
celebrating the beauty of the music, and the opportunity to
bring this show about community, family, and generosity to
the Flynn November 12th-15th, 2015.
I’m an excitable person by nature, but can’t begin to
describe the joy and enthusiasm I feel each time we work on
some aspect of White Christmas. I’m overwhelmed and
humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with such talented
and passionate people, and can’t wait to share all the work
we have already done with an audience who will cherish the
show as much we do.
On behalf of our entire team I’d encourage you to
become a part of Lyric Theatre’s White Christmas by
auditioning or joining the team. We would like to thank TD
Bank for their show sponsorship. Their generosity in
supporting the arts in our community is truly appreciated.
Keep your eyes on the Lyric website and Spotlight
newsletter for more information but mark your calendars now
for these events related to the production:
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 on Dance in South
Burlington.
THE MUSIC OF WHITE CHRISTMAS
By Nate Venet, Music Director
Christmas may seem a long ways away (though the cold
and snow could confuse you), but the team members for this
fall’s upcoming production of White Christmas have already
got a little jingle in their steps!
The stage production of White Christmas features all the
charm of the 1954 movie, blending idyllic Vermont
atmosphere with the glitz and glamour of post-war showbiz
...in a barn. In addition to White Christmas, the show
contains some gems from Irving Berlin’s catalogue,
including Blue Skies, How Deep Is The Ocean, Happy
Holidays, The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing,
and I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, among others, all
set to a lively, swinging score.
If you’ve been waiting for your chance to sing hot
arrangements of songs from one of the most important
contributors to The Great American Songbook, and if you
love a piano, then keep your eyes on the Spotlight for more
information from other team members as we get closer to this
fall.
UPDATED INFO ABOUT MUSICAL THEATER ROAD TRIP
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. It’s a feel-good celebration packed with
nonstop fun...and a kick of pure joy!
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
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.
MARDI GRAS FUN FOR ALL
Thank you to Don O’Connell, Ian Ferris, Michael Tutt,
George Henry, Jeff Gadbois, Rob Parzych and Stephen
Porter for organizing, decorating and driving our Lyric Mardi
Gras float. Lyric is happy to support this annual event and
proud to make a monetary contribution to The Vermont Food
Bank. See our Facebook page for more pictures of the event!
P.O. Box 1688
Williston, VT 05495
OMG! It’s time to get your tickets for Legally Blonde!
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 April issue: March 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
April 9th-12th, 2015 | Flynn MainStage
Presented by Downtown Burlington restaurants collectively
known as “Elle’s Elite Eight”—Daily Planet, E.B. Strongs,
Ken’s Pizza & Pub, Leunig’s Bistro, Pascolo Ristorante, The
Scuffer Steak & Ale House, Sweetwaters & Pizzeria Verita.
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 spring 2015 production of Legally Blonde-the
Musical. Tickets are currently on sale through the Flynn Box
Office; online at www.flynntix.org; or by telephone at
802/86-FLYNN. Make the next special occasion extra
special with the gift of live theater.