Summer 2012

INSIDE: •Show News •Envision •Critics Circle Awards •Off The Page •Stage One •Garage Sale •Raffle Sales •Kiss Me Kate! •New Member •In Memoriam •Now Appearing

1 Travels With My Aunt Five Actors + Three Chairs = Smash Hit If you’re looking for a witty, the ever-elegant Joan Nelson as the creative energy, and shares literate, theatrical – and very aunt in question. Greene’s world with us with entertaining – evening, look no “Travels With My Aunt has been an panache and brio.” further than the Masquers’ current exciting challenge in many ways!” The performances are utterly production of Travels With My says John. “Be prepared for an delightful, and it’s a real joy to see Aunt. This all-Masquer show, unusual, literary, adult, and very Joan back on stage after a too-long adapted by Giles Havergal from quirky comedy. This is a theater absence. The boys seamlessly Graham Greene’s novel, was piece that pushes actors to stretch change character throughout the directed by John Hull and features and grow in ways they would never evening, each of them having their Robert Love, Coley Grundman, expect. The far-beyond-excellent moments as Aunt Augusta’s Peter Budinger and DC Scarpelli cast has risen to the challenges of nephew, Henry Pulling, who playing over 20 characters opposite presenting Travels with unlimited becomes drawn into his aunt’s life, 2 Continued: loves and travels. A retired bank manager, Henry (who choreographed some simply splendid chair learns there’s quite a world beyond dahlias. dances), Albert Meyers, and, as always, Bob Westman and Heinz Lankford for their excellent contributions to Supporting the production are Maria Graham’s our production. costumes, which add exciting color and flair to the mix and Joe Torres’ stage management. Joe Ponder’s The show opened June 1 and runs through July 7. sound design and Ellen Brooks’ exquisite lighting Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00. Sunday design create a whole world in which Henry and matinees on June 10 and 17 are at 2:00. July 1 is the Augusta can travel, with Gill Stanfield skillfully Masquers benefit performance followed by dinner at playing the cues in the light booth. Additional thanks the Hotel Mac. As always, either call 510-232-4031 go to Margaret Paradis, Lynn-Clar Elam for reservations or go to www.masquers.org to order tickets online. 3 Hound and Hamlet: Exit Laughing And we say farewell to out very successful production of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound and The 15 Minute Hamlet. Director Steve Hill thanks everyone who was involved in and contributed to the production. “And thanks to the Masquers family for allowing me to direct these plays. It was enormous fun from start to finish.” It was great fun for the audiences, too, Steve. Thanks for bringing it to our stage.

In the Wings: Miller’s All My Sons Arthur Miller’s All My Sons is one of the towering masterpieces of American theater and will be the Masquers’ fourth show of our 2012 season. The Pulitzer Prize winning drama won the Tony award for Best Direction (Elia Kazan) and a Special Tony award for the author. Based on a true story, it tells of ordinary people destroyed by lies and betrayal, with criticism of the American Dream lying at the heart of the play. Directed by Dennis Lickteig, we anticipate a wonderful opening, come late August. Start making your plans now.

4 Envision closed Painting Churches on May 6th with surgery, then picks up Deirdre in the waiting room of patrons comparing it very favorably with our main their shared psychiatrist. Their outlandish and funny season. Kudos to director Janet O’Brien, actors conversation centers on the impending vacation of Loralee Windsor, Keith Jefferds and Katrina Krasser, their "shrink," without whom neither can function. and to their terrific crew. Great job! Scooper and Deirdre almost end tragically with Before we know it, director both landing in the hospital. There, Linda Ellinwood will begin Scooper’s recovering mother adds her two rehearsals for our next Envision production, cents about life in our perilous times. Bosoms and Neglect by John Guare, which will run October 6, 7 and 8. The play centers around General admission ticket price is $10. Scooper, edging reluctantly into his forties, who Masquers members and season ticket holders get in discovers that his aged, blind mother, Henny, is hiding free. For reservations call 510 232-3888. Put it on your her cancer. With difficulty he persuades her to undergo calendar now!

MASQUERS TAKE HOME AWARDS! The Masquers Playhouse is proud to have received five 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Awards for houses under 99 seats: Best Production of a Musical, Best Music Direction and Best Ensemble for The Musical of Musicals, and Best Costume Design and Outstanding Peformance by a Principal Actor for The Mystery of Irma Vep. Thank you for our first BATCC awards ever!

Stage One, our three-week kids' theater workshop, is set for July 9-27. This year, we've added a writing component. The program will culminate in short pieces written, directed and produced by the kids themselves. Our own Suzan Lorraine heads the program and promises lots of hands-on activities. They’ll also take a break to produce and record a pre-written radio show. The age range is from 10-14. Tuition for the three-week course is $500. If you know a kid who should participate, contact Betsy Ringer; if you want to participate, contact Suzan Lorraine.

Coming Sunday June 10: Love in the Time of Caller ID On June 10, 2012, at 7:00, Off the Page, the Masquers Playhouse ongoing series of readings of new plays by Bay Area playwrights, will present Love in the Time of Caller ID written by Rod McFadden, directed by Fellow Masquers Suzan Lorraine and Bill Chessman, and featuring Loretta Janca, Melissa Keith, Mark Holobetz, Claire Stevenson, and Kate Willet. Love in the Time of Caller ID is a classic comedy of mistaken identities, but updated for our time, when identities reside in hand held devices, and everyone is just one phone call away. When Dennis’ girlfriend, Julie, mistakenly takes his phone after a party, she finds a long list of women’s numbers stored in it. To divert her suspicion, Dennis convinces his friend, Vincent, to tell Julie that she has his phone. But the complications are just beginning as more phone exchanges occur, and everyone’s wireless wires get crossed. All Off the Page productions are free to Masquer Season Ticket Holders and Masquers Members. General admission is $5.00. There is no need to make reservations.

5 FUNDRAISING NEWS

Bargains By The Boxful: Masquers Garage Sale 2012

Nineteen years ago, Santa Fe Market owners Bob and The group worked all day selling stuff, keeping things Marie Peckham came up with a Masquers’ fundraiser organized, selling maps of the participating homes, idea , which has become a historic tradition: a Point selling raffle tickets, etc. Of course we were aware of Richmond community-wide garage sale. The 19th annual the dozens of vendors setting up their own sales spots (yes, 19th!) sale was held on Memorial Day, May 28. around the Point, thanks to the foot traffic our Memorial Organized once again by the indefatigable David Day sale created. Though many had not officially Vincent, 80 Point Richmond homes signed up to have signed up, several of them came to the theatre at the end their own sales, pledging 10% of their proceeds to the of the day with their donations. At 5:00 PM, we started Masquers. Over the past year, items were donated to the the “strike,” loaded the remaining goods to truck off to Masquers to be sold at the theatre’s own sale, following the Salvation Army, knocked down the 18 tables, cut up a lot of work and dedication of many volunteers. the boxes for re-cycling, and then went home or to the Lots of thank you’s are in order for this Memorial Day Mac for a welcome beverage! Many thanks, too, for event: Marti Baer, Joe Ponder, Jo Lusk, Pat King, Bob those who collected, organized, sorted, and priced the and Greg Goshay, Kris Bell, Arthur Atlas, Nikki Gage donations over the last month or two. and friend Ling, Linda Bradshaw. Ron and Ellie This important fundraiser is a fun event, but is very hard Anderson, Linda Ellinwood, George Adams, Jan work. It is particularly significant for another reason: Stenland, Carol Reyes, Kathe Kiehn, Heinz Lankford, community relations. We learn much about our Nancy Benson, Linda Woody-Wood….and, needless to audiences and supporters from this event. And not a few say, David Vincent who supervises collections, pricing, wandered by, never having even had a look inside until advertising, load-in and load-out. Apologies if you Memorial Day! The numbers are not final, but we know pitched in and we omitted your name. this year’s not as robust as the last, but every little bit As always, it was a long day. We loaded two trucks helps! Again thanks to Masquers members for all your Sunday at the warehouse, unloaded them Monday hard work and to the Point Richmond community for (6:45AM) at the theater, with coffee and doughnuts. your continuing support. 6 ...and MORE FUNDRAISING NEWS! Masquers Annual Raffle - SELL! SELL! SELL! The annual raffle ticket sale continued on Memorial BENEFIT FUNDRAISER: KISS ME KATE! Day. Again, the prizes are exciting to contemplate: a progressive dinner for eight guests followed by a Perennial stage manager Joe Torres will direct a performance of All My Sons, vacation home weekends concert version of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate! Pat in Monterey and Cambria, gift certificates at Point King music directs this Masquers-ridden extravaganza. Richmond restaurants, Masquer season tickets (for Performances will be held Friday-Sunday, July 13-15. 2013, of course). There are still tickets available! The Details will appear on your computer or in your prize drawing will be on July 7 during intermission of mailbox closer to performance dates. When making the final performance of Travels With My Aunt. your mid-July plans, be sure to leave a spot for this Thanks to all our supporters, and congratulations to the sure-fire winner. lucky winners to-be! MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS Reminder: The second quarterly meeting for Masquers members will be held Wednesday, June 13, at 8:00 at the theatre. If you can’t attend, please either notify Steph Peek, our secretary, or leave a message on the theatre phone. Look forward to seeing you all there! NEW MEMBER Please extend a hearty welcome new Masquer Georgie Craig! Georgie appeared in our recent production of Broadway Bound. She passed the rigorous new-member requirements and is rarin’ to go, looking forward, I’m sure, to lobby duty, work days, etc. etc.

IN MEMORIAM Betty Baker Bindner It is with great sadness that we report the death of our dear friend and colleague, Betty Baker Binder. Betty was a long- time Masquer. As an actress and singer she graced our stage in A Little Night Music, Gianni Schicchi and Sweeney Todd. As a director (and very inventive set designer) she was responsible for some of the Masquers’ greatest successes: A Few Good Men (Betty liked nothing better than a cast full of handsome men), Amadeus, Into the Woods and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. In addition she skillfully directed K2 and Assassins for our Envision program. Betty often directed and appeared at other Bay Area theatres including Pittsburg Community Theatre, Altarena and Pinole Community Players and was a constant at the annual McGucken theatre camp. One of Betty’s great Masquers triumphs was assembling 50 years’ worth of archival material – programs, audition notices, photos, reviews – into binders, finally giving us a complete and organized history of our theatre. She and Nikki Gage wrote the theatre history that appeared in the programs during our 50th anniversary season. It was a Herculean task, and a major accomplishment. Aside from her work and theatre life, Betty was an ardent volunteer for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots and the battered women’s shelter. She was a person of energy, enthusiasm and unwavering good will. Regrettably she developed early onset Alzheimers and her decline saddened us all. Our hearts go out to her daughter E.D. (Evelyn) and best friend Debbi Sandmann, who were both family and caregivers. Betty left quite a legacy and she will be sorely missed.

7 John W. Magee Jr. IN MEMORIAM John Magee, Masquers board member, also died recently. A huge supporter of the Masquers, John yearly donated a weekend at his vacation home at Monterey Dunes as one of our raffle prizes.

Theo Collins remembers him: “I first knew John Magee when he was a board member for Oakland Civic Theatre. He was amiable and friendly and he turned up for almost every activity. We all liked him. He was not a theatre man and yet he became a part of us quite easily.

“One year an OCT show was a finalist in the national American Community Theatre Association Festival in Racine, WI. John was in Chicago at the time and met our delegation in Racine. Somehow my reservation for a seat at the performances had been fumbled and I couldn't be admitted. John, his badge in place, was free to come and go. He returned to the auditorium, borrowed someone else's badge for me, and escorted me in. It was a wonderful evening.

“John, as a Masquers Board member, for some years had the responsibility of the Stage One program. Several of us would gather at my house to organize the mailing for it. I discovered that John could add a column of figures in his head faster than it could be done on a calculator. I often wondered and I asked him once, ‘Why do you, a successful business man, a man with your background and experience, take an interest in a bunch like us, a little theatre?’ His answer was, ‘I like the people.’ He was a remarkable man.”

Bob Goshay, Masquers board president, adds: “John was a gruff, hearty fellow, very full of life. John enjoyed a presence with several theater groups, but his heart always seemed with the Masquers.”

Several years ago John returned to the Philadelphia area to be with daughters Melina and Nanda. A McGucken regular, he continued managed to visit the Masquers (and the Hotel Mac) frequently on trips back here. Thanks, John, for the years of support. We will miss him a lot.

Bertha Western Love Barton

The Masquers also extends its heartfelt condolences to Robert Love, managing director, on the death of his legendary grandmother, Bertha Western Love Barton, at the age of 102. An independent woman who lived at home until very recently, age never slowed her down. She was known to take motorcycle rides in her 100th year. She had 4 children, 19 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and 22 great-great grandchildren. Over the years we’ve heard so many wonderful stories about her, it sort of seems like she was our grandmother too, in a way.

8 Linda Ellinwood directs Our Town for the 16th Street Players in San Francisco. The cast includes Masquers Mary Kidwell and Georgie Craig with Margaret Paradis stage managing and Jo Lusk costuming. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays, June 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 8:00 with 3:00 matinees on Saturdays and Sundays, June 16, 17, 23, and 24. Performances will be held at the Notre Dame Senior Plaza Community Room, 347 Dolores St., between 16th and 17th Streets, San Francisco. Admission is free, though a donation is requested.

Patricia Inabnet appears in Orinda Starlight Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Also featuring Masquers friends Ken Sollazzo and Marian Simpson, the show runs June 1-23 at the outdoor amphitheater in Orinda Community Center Park. Bundle up. It can get chilly out there in the evening. www.orsvp.org will have more information.

Betsy Bell Ringer had some more body parts fixed or replaced or something. However, on a theatrical level, she’ll be supporting director Joe Torres for the Kiss Me, Kate! July fundraiser.

Bill Chessman and Suzan Lorraine really were planning to slow down this year, but it hasn't happened yet. Both were involved in the Marin Fringe - Bill as writer, director and author and Suzan as director (winning both audience vote and Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle Best Director awards) and then mounting a delightful and successful run of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor for Pittsburg Community Theatre. Suzan is also seriously pursuing a voice-over/audio book "career" by starting with reading books for the blind and dyslexic with Learning Ally in Palo Alto. Both are directing the upcoming Off the Page piece Love in the Time of Caller ID. Suzan is also running the spotlight occasionally for Spelling Bee at Chanticleers in Castro Valley where she is also Managing Director.

Jim Colgan was awarded best director in the Fringe of Marin just ended.

PAC chair Jerry Telfer says preparations for this year’s 36th Annual McGucken Theatre Workshops are coming along nicely. “The Roaring 20s may never be the same. We will Charleston Back to Charleston; there will be a speakeasy, casual evening shows, water volleyball, EANABS, and of course, theatre workshops.” The event takes place Friday through Monday of Labor Day weekend, August 31-September 3. New this year is the availability of installment payments through the McGucken web site, using PayPal, to ease the strain of a single lump payment. Details aplenty at www.mcgucken.org

Until next time…. “It's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... it's summertime!” 9