Fauquier Community Theatre's Spotlight

Painting Stories for 33 Years February, 2011

In This Issue

California Suite

Roundtable Discussion

Meet FCT's Business Sponsors

Neil Simon

Spotlight On

FCT Seeking Treasurer

College Scholarships

"California Suite" Ready to Shine at FCT

Neil Simon's "California Suite" will open its run at the Fauquier Community Theater this Friday, Feb. 25. The play features a perfectly balanced mix of comedy and poignancy as the stories of four sets of travelers unfold within a California hotel suite.

Among the characters are Hannah Warren from New York who, in the first episode, has come to the hotel to discuss child custody details with her ex- husband. The second episode features a British actress nominated for an Academy Award. She is preparing to attend the ceremony with her husband, who is hiding a secret life from the spotlight. Two doctors and their spouses who are in the midst of a less-than-idyllic vacation take the stage for the third episode, while the final vignette features a married man on a solo trip whose situation becomes comically complicated when both a hooker and then his wife show up in his suite unexpectedly.

The cast includes 10 actors taking on the personas of 11 characters. FCT is pleased to welcome several new talents who are making their debut in the FCT play. They include Ian Wade, who has previously been active in local theater in Maryland; Holly Czuchna, who has spent the last five years living and occasionally performing in Vienna, Austria; Nora Zanger, who has been active in community theater in Virginia and Maryland; and Daniel F. Purcell, who has been involved in other local area productions. Several familiar talents are also taking the stage again, including Joe Bersack, Carolyn Cameron, Bob Jordan and Penny Mckee and Hannah Malinowski.

Directing the production is Sallie Willows, who was previously at the helm for Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940s for FCT. Willows said she was drawn back to FCT by the opportunity to direct a play by one of her favorite playwrights. She has been involved in three previous Simon productions at other theaters. When FCT was filling out its production schedule, artistic chair Evelyn Rice, in an effort to lure Willows back to FCT, presented her with a choice of possible plays to bring to life. Willows jumped at the opportunity to helm "California Suite."

Unlike the original Broadway production, which had only five actors performing multiple roles, Willows opted for the chance to bring a larger group of actors together. "It's been a lot of fun," Willows says of working with the all-adult cast.

She predicts that the audience will have equally as much fun watching the production, which is laced with Simon's trademark one-liners. "It ends on a high note. Everyone should leave laughing."

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 13. You may purchase tickets online at www.fctstage.org, by phone (540) 349-8760 or by emailing [email protected]. Because of strong language and mature content, the play is not recommended for children.

ARTISTIC ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION SET FOR March 27th!

Calling All FCT Members, Supporters, Actors, Actresses, Techies, Directors, Producers, Season Subscribers, and Patrons:

This has been a year of change and progress for FCT, both in its business operations and in its marketing and fundraising efforts. Having sold the White Building, put our finances on a more sound footing, and increased our visibility and community outreach, we are working on a new lease arrangement with Fauquier County's Department of Parks and Recreation. As we move forward, it is a great time to take stock of the Artistic side of our operations and see where we want to go in the future and how best to get there.

To that end, Chairman Don Richardson invites ALL friends of Fauquier Community Theatre to an Artistic Roundtable discussion on March 27th, from 2 to 5 PM, at the Theater at Vint Hill. Board members, current and former members of the Artistic Committee, interested actors, musicians and technical staff, and especially season subscribers and other members of our audience are invited to come and share their ideas for ways to build upon FCT's 30-year history of quality theatre in the community.

A draft agenda of topics for discussion is posted - please take a look. If you have suggestions for other items for discussion, please email Don and let him know.

Tribute to FCT's 2010-2011 Business Sponsors

FCT sends out a BIG Thank You to all of our 2010 -2011 Business Sponsors! With YOUR support of Community Theatre, FCT has had a very successful year. FCT relies on individual member donations and Business Sponsors to bolster our season of shows. We are thankful for your gracious contribution to the arts in Your Community!

Click on any of these businesses below to visit their website!

Airlie Conference Center Appleton Campbell Bertuccis Italian Restaurant Charles Joseph, DDS, Modern Dentistry Christine Fox Comfort Inn CommonWealth Medical Lab Country Chevrolet Designs by Teresa Dok Klaus Fauquier Bank Fauquier Times Democrat GFWC Dominion Woman's Club Heritage Financial Iron Bridge Restaurant Jung H. Suh, Optometrist Leather Therapy Mary's Alpaca McClanahan Camera McKinsey Development Mid Atlantic Home Health Miller Brothers Moser Funeral Home Oakview National Bank Outback Steakhouse Pawsitive Pet Services Pepsi Cola Settlement Company Smith-Midland Tirvelda Real Estate Union First Market Bank The UPS Store Vint Hill EDA Warrenton Jewelers Warrenton Toyota Woodside Pediatric Dentistry WPRZ 88.1 Praise Radio

About Neil Simon

Neil Simon is probably America's best-known playwright. He has had dozens of plays produced, and many of his works have also been made into films. Some of his best-known works include "The Odd Couple," "Barefoot in the Park," "Biloxi Blues," "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Sweet Charity."

Some other interesting facts about Simon:

 "California Suite" was made into a 1979 star- packed movie. The cast included Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Walter Matthau, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor. Smith won an Oscar for supporting actress for her role, and Simon was nominated for a screenplay award.  The divorce of Neil Simon's brother Danny and his subsequent roommate arrangement with another divorced man inspired "The Odd Couple."  Simon once had four Broadway productions running simultaneously. His phenomenal successes led to the naming of a theater after him, the Neil Simon Theater on W. 52nd Street. He is the only living playwright to receive this honor.  In the 1950s, he was a writer for Sid Caesar's comedy television series, "Your Show of Shows," along with Woody Allen, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks.  Some of the most memorable film adaptations of his work include "The Odd Couple," with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau; "The Goodbye Girl," with Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason (Simon's second wife); "Barefoot in the Park," with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda; and "The Sunshine Boys" with Matthau and George Burns, who won the Oscar for supporting actor for his role in the film, a part he had inherited from his ailing friend, Jack Benny.  Simon has received more Academy and Tony Award nominations than any other contemporary writer.  He won both a Tony and Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for "Lost in Yonkers." He has been nominated four times for an Academy Award but has yet to win an Oscar.  Simon was born on the Fourth of July 1927, making him 83 today.

Spotlight On: Joe Bersack as Angus McGuffie in Brigadoon

1999... Cole Porter's Anything Goes... Laurie and son Joey were already in the cast when she drafted husband Joe into filling a vacant part as a sailor. He contracted an incurable case of stage fever and soon was back as Roderigo, one of the villain's bumbling cronies in Babes in Toyland. Next year, Joe was truly in his element as Angus McGuffie and a New York bartender in Brigadoon, as David in Watch on the Rhine, and later as Herr Schultz in Cabaret. Then there was the bit part as reporter in the hilarious Run For Your Wife. When the call went out to fill the mostly all-male cast of 1776, Joe Bersack was there to not only play the role of Judge Wilson who cast the deciding vote to establish our independence, but to recruit co-worker Bob Cohen as a founding father, who also continued to embellish FCT's stage in other shows. That summer he was in Peter Fakoury's The Big Pop, FCT's entry in Northern Va. Theatre Alliance's one-act play festival. In My Fair Lady, Joe played dual parts (again) as bartender (again) and as Lord Harrington. In 2004 he was in Neil Simon's Rumors, sharing the stage with daughter Lindy, and was Virginia's father in Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. In Much Ado About Nothing he played Verges, yes-man to blustery constable Dogberry. In 2007 he was the bank examiner in No Sex Please, We're British and Murray in The Odd Couple. 2009 saw him as Mr. DePinna in You Can't Take It With You and Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap. Last season he was Sgt.Kelly in the Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940s, and Pastor Rick in The Meeting, which won awards at the NVTA one-act festival. Only last month he played Mr. Dussel, in hiding with Anne Frank and her family until their tragic discovery by the Nazis, and, opening the 25th of this month, Joe is onstage again in California Suite, making it hard to keep up with his accomplishments!

Joe also lends his talent elsewhere; at West End Dinner Theatre he was again in 1776 - this time as Rev. Witherspoon of New Jersey. With Prince Wm. Little Theatre he played H.C. in The Rainmaker, with Rhapsodic Theatre he was the court clerk in Witness For the Prosecution and Mr. Mushnik the skid row florist in Little Shop of Horrors, and in the Capital Fringe 2010 one-act festival he played Abel in After the Garden.

Whenever he's not on stage, or umpiring soccer matches, Joe is an Information Assurance Analyst with SRC after serving twenty years in the Air Force.

Laurie is an accomplished pianist, lending her talent to many of FCT's shows, in the pit, auditions and rehearsals, and was Music Director for Babes in Toyland and Charlotte's Web. For the past ten years she has given tireless duty, experience and common sense as a member of FCT's Board of Directors. And she, assisted by her whole family, has worked for years planning and catering the delightful 'meet the cast' receptions on opening nights, usually cleverly themed to the show. These are meant to be membership benefits but without a private space in the theatre, they have become open to everyone. However, when FCT had use of the building in the parking lot across the street, her extravaganzas there for members and casts (and others who were asked to pay) were decorated delicious delights with room to move and enjoy, and with wine allowed since it's not on Parks & Rec property.

Laurie has worked for years as Music Director at Marshall Middle School, training and nurturing many young performers who have delighted FCT audiences, and found an outlet for their talents. And hopefully, more are on the way.

By Henry Baxley

Opportunity to Serve Your Community Theatre

FCT is currently looking for a volunteer to serve as Treasurer. The time commitment is approximately 5-10 hours per month and the duties include:

 Processing Expense Reimbursements  Paying Monthly Bills  Filing Quarterly Payroll Taxes  Light Filing & Bookkeeping (cash basis)  Attending a Monthly Board Meeting

The processes are fairly streamlined at this point and conducted online for the most part. The current Treasurer will assist you as you learn the ropes. If you have a desire to support community theatre, are comfortable with online banking and bill paying, and have experience working with Quicken or Quickbooks, you're qualified. Although some experience dealing with business accounting is helpful, it is not essential, as FCT runs on a cash basis, not an accrual basis.

Please consider helping FCT and the community by filling this vital role by contacting [email protected].

Scholarships

FCT would like to make you aware of theatre scholarships that are available.

Fauquier Community Theatre is offering the opportunity to apply for a $500.00 scholarship. This application is open to all high school seniors, regardless of where they live or whether they are public, private, or home schooled. We are looking for youth who have demonstrated a commitment to the theatre arts, with preference given to those who have worked with FCT in some way. Please download the application.

Northern Virginia Theater Alliance, NVTA, has two scholarships offered for high school seniors graduating in 2011. One is for performance and the other is for technical theater, including set design, lighting design, costuming and makeup/hair design. Students may apply in both performance and a technical category, however, they can only receive one award even if they win in both categories. They are required to state which award they will turn down if they win first in both categories.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION concerning the NVTA scholarships:

All applications must be postmarked by March 30, 2011. Please send your application to FCT, PO Box 3046, Warrenton, VA 20188.

Auditions for the NVTA scholarships will be held in April, specific date and location to be announced. Please review or print the requirements for the technical scholarship. The NVTA scholarship application can be printed.

Applicants:

 be sponsored by a NVTA member theatre, like FCT.  In 2010, two $1,000 scholarships will be granted; one in the area of performance, one for technical merit.  The scholarship is for tuition only, and will be sent directly to the registrar of the college or drama school in which the recipient is enrolled.  Applicants must be residents of either the District of Columbia or the metropolitan area counties of Maryland and Virginia.  Applicants must graduate from high school in May/June of the year they are applying and plan to enroll as a student in a dramatic/musical theatre performance or technical theatre program. Applicants are not required to major in theatre, musical theatre, or technical theatre; however, an intent to pursue these areas in their curriculum should be shown.  No application fee is required for these scholarships.