Let the games begin!
So today officially kicked off my first full season as Managing Artistic Director for Quincy Community Theatre! Now a few of the handful of readers of my blog may say “didn’t theatre café kick off your first season?” Technically, yes-but that was a new experiment, which was very successful and that we will certainly do again. So I’m thinking in a traditional way of the Kick off for 2012. I watched the student matinée of Tom Sawyer-The Broadway Musical today (Now thru Sunday, Feb. 5. Photo: Jay Stalder as Tom & Wes Friday as Huck). What fun I had! I am always so proud of the work our student theatre produces under the sure hand our student theatre director (Brandon Thomsen (who won the award for the Teaching Artist of the Year!!). We had a full house of area school kids and I was fascinated by the responses we heard on their exiting the theatre. Seeing all their shiny faces made my day. There is a very large gang of adults and students involved in the cast, crew and pit—over 50 people all told! It was great seeing many of the performers I know up there doing excellent work, but also scoping the cast for future actors for the QCT main stage. We also started rehearsals for the first “Season Ticket” production –The Boy Friend by Sandy Wilson (March 8-18). This was the first musical that QCT ever produced back in the 80’s. Sometimes I’m a bit frustrated at the small turn out of performers at our auditions, so I am always beating the bushes for new talent to grace our boards. The Boy Friend has five brand-new performers and a few who just recently started acting with us. I get excited after the first few rehearsals where we read and discuss what the play is about. It was very encouraging to hear all the laughs from the cast. I hope you have an opportunity to see these first two productions –one student theatre, one main stage. If you aren’t a season ticket holder—you should be, because we have a fun-filled season of excellent productions lined up. Take a moment to go to our web site to review the full line-up of offerings and make sure you sign up to receive our email blasts. It’s the best way to keep yourself abreast of what is happening.