Current Production: 'Silver Dagger' runs October 16-24

Silver Dagger
by David French

Director Don Hastie and his cast and crew have moved into the Theatre and are working diligently to create a wonderful thriller to start off our season.

The Cast
Jane Talbot.............Sandra VanRyswyck
Pam Marsh.............Shelley Dougherty
Steve Marsh............Mark Killeen
Chris Dodd..............Jennea Smith
Tony Bishop............John Hammond
Gemma Dodd..........Kim Serafino

Producers: Lenore Butcher and Mary Mitchell
Stage Manager: Sue Veaudry
Set Builder: Rene Veaudry
Set Designer: Donald Hastie
Sound Design: Jason Paquette
Lighting Design: Donald Hastie and Chris Shoreman
ASM/Props: Catherine Hoare and Niecey Snow

Director's Notes

David French's Silver Dagger has been on TW's list of potential plays for many years and so I chose to direct it this year. This modern day thriller has as many curves as a spiral staircase which provides the cast an opportunity to keep you the audience guessing just who did what to whom.

I have had the pleasure of working with a great group of actors and am very pleased to be introducing five new faces to our stage. Shelley Dougherty and Mark Killeen are from London while John Hammond, Kim Serafino and Sandra VanRyswyck live in Woodstock. TW veteran Jennea Smith rounds out the onstage members of my team.

I'm really pleased to be working with Sue Veaudry again. Her calm presence as the Stage Manager has been a bonus for me. When you get one Veaudry you can usually count on two as Rene has built the set. Mary Mitchell and Lenore Butcher have been in the background as production helpers and Catherine Hoare is learning the ropes working on props. Special thanks to Jason for his soundscape.

Some directors use this page to provide some profound thoughts about the show but I'm just not that deep to write profound things. I have however been around this theatre for forty years and have been involved with a good majority of the shows presented both here and in our former home on Hunter St. I guess in that time I've learned a few things, one of those being that failure to say thank you is a mortal sin. Thanks to all of you for coming to the show and thanks to all who have worked on it.

Donald Hastie, Director

Opening Night for Silver Dagger is fast approaching! Come early and visit us in the lower lounge for a pre-show cocktail. Then, after the show, enjoy the Opening Night Reception where you can meet and congratulate the Cast and Crew.

The bar will be open from 7:15 pm until the last patron leaves the building.

Wine, Beer, Coolers at $5.00 with 'tips and donations' going to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Help support Theatre Woodstock and CAST's fundraising efforts!

See you there! --Sally Johnston, Social Director for TW

Call the Box Office now -- phone 519-537-2582 or visit Party Central.

A Note from the President

Welcome to another great season of Theatre Woodstock! Our season opens with the suspenseful play Silver Dagger directed by Don Hastie. Cast with some returning veterans and some new faces, it's sure to get your spine tingling in time for Halloween. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever directed by Kath Oliver has seen a record number of talented auditioners. This heart warming family favourite is sure to please, so don't wait to get your tickets. Romance with a comedic twist fills our Valentine slot. Love List directed by Cheryl Hylton is another Norm Foster classic. We welcome back award winning Director R.D. Bell for The Drawer Boy, a beautifully written Canadian story. And make sure you add Urinetown directed by Jen Paquette to your season tickets, as you don't want to miss the Senior CAST musicals. Speaking of CAST, be sure to check out the Junior and Sophomore shows as well. The quality of these shows is outstanding!

Many thanks go out to our volunteers who assisted in preparing for our 'dramatic' garage sale. We managed to purge some of our precious costumes and props. The work continues as we reorganize in our new spaces. Let us know if you'd like to help.

Thank you to our staff, primarily Laurie Markham and Taffy Weir. You do a wonderful job with the box office and various challenges that come your way. Summercamp was another successful venture. You need lots of energy to be part of this group! I still can't figure out how they managed to present the delicious Willy Wonka in the short time available. Congratulations and thanks to our summer camp staff.

Thanks also to our dedicated returning Board members and welcome to new Board members Mary Mitchell, Sue and Rene Veaudry and Dan Grass.

Here's to another great year!

Deb Prentice
President, Theatre Woodstock

Upcoming Productions

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
Directed by Kath Oliver
Produced by Sue Robinson

December 4-12, 2009

The children have already been cast and are busy with their rehearsals. The adults should be cast by the time this newsletter comes out.

If you are interested in helping with this production, especially in the areas of lighting or sound, please contact the producer, Sue Robinson 519-533-7704. This show will sell out early, so get your tickets now!

The Love List
by Norm Foster
Directed by Cheryl Hylton

February 12-20, 2010

This play is a wonderful comedic exploration of the concept of perfection.

Auditions at the Market Centre Theatre 22 Reeve Street:

• Sunday, October 18, 7:00-9:00 pm
• Monday, October 19, 7:00-9:00 pm
• Call back: Wednesday, October 21, 7:00-9:00 pm

Needed :

• 2 men 45-55
  
• 1 woman 30-40, some singing required.

Please memorize a very short poem or some verse for the audition.

For scripts or information contact producer Laura Earle at 519-421-9062.

The Drawer Boy
by Michael Healey
Directed by R.D. Bell

April 9-17, 2010

Cast requirements: Two males 45-55, one male 20-30

This award winning play is a wonderfully poignant story with a lot of rural humour. Auditions will be in January, but if you'd like a script now call producer Bonnie Hartley at 519-537-5836.

Subscriptions - 4 Shows for $65

It's not too late to buy a subscription. Call the Box Office at 519-537-2582 to get your seats for the upcoming season. Remember, even if you go away or can't get to a show, you can use those tickets to bring friends or family to another performance. Having a subscription ensures that you won't miss a moment of these wonderful productions. Ask about adding Urinetown, the CAST musical, to your subscription.

Ideas?

We are already reading prospective plays for the 2010-2011 season. If you have any suggestions or would like to be part of the Reading Committee, please call Bonnie Hartley 519-537-5836.

CAST 2009-2010 Presents:

William Shakespeare's
Comedy of Errors
Directed and Adapted by Jason Paquette
and
Once on This Island Junior
Directed by Betty Ford
Musically Directed by Teale Poirier
Choreographed by Taylor Markham

Show dates are: January 7, 8 and 9, 2010 at 7pm

School House Rock Junior
Directed by Jason Paquette
Musically Directed by Betty Ford
Choreographed by Taylor Markham
and
The Life and Death of Sneaky Fitch
Directed by Joanna Sweete
Adapted by Joanna Sweete and Jennifer Paquette

Show dates are: May 6, 7 and 8, 2010 at 7 pm

Urinetown
Directed by Jennifer Paquette
Musically Directed by Chuck Baxter
Choreographed by Christina Cannella

Show Dates are: May 28-30 and June 3-5 at 8 pm

For Tickets call the Box Office at 519 537 2582 or tickets are available at Party Central.

CAST Profiles

John Kozak

John is very excited to be joining CAST as stage manager for the juniors. He has a degree in English and Drama from the University of Toronto where he had the chance to work backstage on lights, set, costumes and stage managing. Now he is employed as a teacher-librarian at Hickson School, where he has directed and co-directed several plays, including Clowns, Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, and last year's How to Eat Like a Child.

He becomes the fifth member of the Kozak family to join CAST, following in the footsteps of his children, who love being onstage. John is looking forward to working alongside of Jason on The Comedy of Errors and picking up some valuable directing tips.

Teale Poirier

This is Teale Poirier's first time involved with Musical Directing at the theatre. She has been a part of CAST for 6 years and has loved every minute of it. She has also been involved in a lot of dancing and singing outside of CAST. She is looking forward to the challenge of teaching children what she loves most and would like to thank Jen and Betty for giving her this amazing opportunity. She would also like to thank her friends and family for all of their support throughout her journey.

Thistle Theatre presents Oliver!

Thistle Theatre's production of Oliver! features many Theatre Woodstock members including Debbie Prentice as Nancy and Jacob Paquette as the Artful Dodger. Susan Garner is the Director, Doug Shippey is the Musical Director and Lara Larmour is the Choreographer. Break a leg! Have a great show!

A Sweete Anniversary

Jeff and Joanna Sweete won a contest held by Theatre Sarnia for people celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in the year 2009. Sarnia was putting on the play Opening Night by Norm Foster, and in the play a couple is celebrating their 25th.

Jeff and Joanna were treated to opening night tickets on June 5th, flowers, drinks at intermission, a gift, and a picture in the Sarnia newspaper with the cast. Their actual anniversary was September 2nd. Congratulations!

Contact our Editor

Backstage is edited by Claire Lewis. You can reach Claire by telephone at 519-421-4425. Please make submissions for the newsletter to clairebear@bmts.com. "The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away."