September 2005

Kaleidoscope theatre offers up its second production of the 2005-06 season, By a Flared Nostril, opening Friday, September 23, at 7:30pm. Written by playwright Molly Bass and directed by Kelly Kivett, the play is a comedy about the perils and pitfal.ls of bearing and raising children. The play also runs September 24, 30, October 1, 7, and 8 at 7:30pm, with matinee performances on Sundays, September 25, October 2, and October 9, at 2:00pm.

Rita Faye Hayes is a young schoolteacher in North Carolina. Sam John Hickman is a young musician who works in a record store and plays with a band with dreams of stardom. They meet, fall in love, get married; the the "fun" begins. Plagued by well-meaning friends who offer advice ad nauseam, incompetent health care professionals who increase rather than assuage their angst, Sam and Rita embark on the adventure of their lives - having a baby and then raising him. They discover that once a child enters their lives, they are changed forever - for the better and the worse. It is a venture into the unknown and they, like all new parents, find that nothing is expected and almost everything is overwhelming. Watch them and laugh and cry as they stumble their way through parenthood from morning sickness to sending a son who has grown up too fast off to college.

The cast features Shanda Shepard, Casey Kivett Naggiar, Cathy Kivett Kearns, Michael Mackie, Linda Hawk, Jason Franklin, James Mackie, Bunnie Hibbard, Daphne Strebeck, Mary Larrimore, Josh Stansbury, Alex Rose, Uncle Harley Joseph Moon, Robert Pell, Jessica Henderson and John Shepard. For reservations, call 265-3226 (open 24 hours a day).

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President's Corner

Recent events have brought to mind the many blessings that we have to count in a community, filled not only with breath-taking elements of nature but with a teeming talent pool that bubbles to the surface on stages all around the community.

This summer we had a fabulous group of young people who came to spend time working with theatre arts. They were a microcosm of the artistic side of the community we serve, with incredible energy and a boundless joy in performing. It is a rewarding way to introduce young people to the intensely creative outlet that theatre provides.

Among the blessings we enjoy is our facility. Since buying this property in 1975 , we have been in an effort to improve its capacity. The most obvious improvement came with the "new" performance facility we opened in 1990. It is difficult for some of us to believe that we have enjoyed the comfort and protection of its walls for 15 years already. We are beginning to refurbish the auditorium and hope you will enjoy the new touches of paint and such throughout the season. Our support facility is a constant dynamic challenge to keep stored items and items under construction for sets and props form overwhelming the players themselves.

This should be a memorable season as we continue to meet each new challenge with creative spirit of a theatre community as endlessly fascinating as the kaleidoscope for which it was named. Thanks for joining us and making it possible.

Sandy Wilson

Whose Life is It Anyway?
Audition Dates: September 12 & 13; 7:00pm at the theatre

Tom Conti won a Tony Award for his performance as Ken Harrison in Brain Clark's uplifting drama about an individual's right to die. Five women and nine men are needed to complete the cast for this powerful play. Come to auditions and become a part of Kaleidoscope's stage family.

Ken, a sculptor and teacher, is a patient at a hospital in England. Six months earlier a catastrophic auto accident left him a quadriplegic. While his body is broken, his mind is keen and clear, and he wants to be taken off life support. As he struggles with doctors sworn to keep him alive,he pleads his case with dignity, reason and humor.

"A very wise and funny play" (Clive Barnes, New York Post).

"An overwhelming tribute to life" (Gene Shalit, NBC TV).

English accents are required for this topical play, which runs November 4 - 20.

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Congratulations to director Charles Wilson, assistant director Christine Habina, lighting designer Barbara Monachelli, sound designer Uncle Harley and a stellar cast including Christine Sullivan, John Miller, Paxton McCaghren, Robbie Flowers, Michelle McCaghren, Ray H. Stanley, Ben Rojek, Alex Dutton, Allison Riggle, Benita Arceneaux, Kelly Terry, Lisa Fosbender, Joyce Hartung, Chuck DeHart, Ken Nunes, and Tom Ritter for a rousing opening production of The Matchmaker. The play ran to large and enthusiastic audiences August 12-28.

A special thanks to a great costume construction crew which included Sandy Wilson, Adrienne Herrell, Sharon Harvey, Dani Akana, Elizabeth Berman, Janet Robinson, Sue Webb, John Miller, Michelle McCaghren; and hat-makers Christine Sullivan, Chuck DeHart, and Lainie Sullivan.

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Kaleidoscope Theatre is now collecting drama masks to be displayed in the lobby. These masks will serve as sound baffles to decrease the noise in the lobby as well as add a decorative thematic touch. The comedy and tragedy masks will adorn the walls of the concessions stand, joining the ones donated several years ago by Fred Scheer, and we think they will make an attractive addition to our decor.

If you have or come across any masks that you would like to donate to the cause, we would appreciate the contribution. Any size, shape, color or materials will work - variety is the goal.

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Kaleidoscope Theatre announces that its 2005-06 Young People's Theatre has been cancelled. We regret the cancellation, as last year's program was enjoyed by a number of young people and their families, and it it one of our goals to expand our theater audience by the inclusion of programs which will bring more young people into the theater. We also hope to reinstate the program in the future when we can work out the problems of balancing a full season of productions with a challenging program such as this has been.

Our thanks to Bunnie Hibbard for spearheading last year's Young People's Theatre and for the excellent job she did initiating young people into the world of theater.

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Kaleidoscope celebrated the end of the 2004-05 season with its annual Katy Awards banquet held on Sunday, June 19, 2005. The festivities began at 5:30 with dinner, followed by the awards presentations and show at 7:00pm.

Emceed by Charles Wilson, with entertainment provided by The Gulftones, an a cappella singing group, the evening featured video clips from each of the six productions, Young People's Theatre participants were cited and the Board of Directors honored outstanding service to the theater during the season. The newly elected Board of Directors for the upcoming season was also introduced.

Kaleidoscope also honored Martin Hendrickson as the latest winner of the Elbert Dukate (Duke) Award for outstanding contributions to the theater over the years.

Voting on the winners of this season's awards in production, acting and technical categories was done by members of our audience. This season, for the first time, voters were able to cast their votes online through our website. Our thanks to David Goldflies, Barbara Monachelli, and CYberSYtes, Inc. for arranging this convenient service.

Dominating this season's awards was Jesus Christ Superstar, the Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice musical drama of the final days of Christ, which was Kaleidoscope's opening play of the season. The play won honors for directors Martin Hendrickson and Barbara Monachelli, as well as three acting awards and four technical awards.

Kaleidoscope Theatre expresses its appreciation to all of the participants and audience members who came out to help celebrate the 2004-05 season and make the Katy Awards banquet a success. It was a fun way to recognize whose who helped make Season 34 a strong one. We also invite all of you to the next Katy Awards banquet to be held next June to celebrate Season 35.

To view the winners in all categories of the Katy Awards, please click here ...

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Kaleidoscope patrons should note that this season new reserved parking spaces have been assigned. The former handicapped parking spaces directly in front of the support building have been moved, and new reserved spaces have been assigned. Please make a note of these newly designated spaces.

Now, directly in front of the support building are spaces reserved for Shakespeare and Othello donors, who are encouraged to use the spaces when attending our productions. Handicapped parking has been relocated to the area nearest the north door. Note that a new access ramp has been installed, as well.

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In May Kaleidoscope concluded its 2004-05 season with the perennial favorite, Auntie Mame, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert T. Lee, based on the book by Patrick Dennis. The story of a madcap aunt who raises an orphaned nephew from the Depression through World War II was an audience pleaser.

Our thanks to director Barbara Monachelli, her able crew and a large cast headed by Bunnie Hibbard as Mame for giving our audiences a comedic gem to remember and for finishing our 34th season in style.

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