May 2013 Volume 1, Issue 5

ENCORE Oyster Mill Playhouse – 1001 Oyster Mill Road – Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 – 717.737.6768 – www.oystermill.com

Upcoming Auditions for “Exit The Body” Kate Bixley: Crane’s secretary, dressed in a tailored outfit, with an irrepressible sense of humor that often borders on Director Greg Merkel will hold open auditions for “Exit The th th the sarcastic, but she doesn’t really mean it. She and Crane Body” on Sunday and Monday, May 12 and 13 beginning at have a wonderful relationship, more that of friends than boss 7:00 PM at the Oyster Mill Playhouse in Camp Hill. Sunday and secretary. Kate is a New Yorker that would just as soon callbacks will be held on Monday evening. never leave City. (Slightly older than Crane, Age 30- Production dates are July 12th – 28th. Samuel French, Inc. has 50) authorized production of this “gem” of a mystery/comedy Crane Hammond: An author, she is the type of woman one written by Fred Carmichael. The following paragraph is a brief likes immediately. She is attractive and possesses charm to description of the play. the highest degree. She is bright, gay, and witty; an A mystery writer rents a New England house that is the altogether likeable person. Crane has rented the New rendezvous point for some jewel thieves. The focal point of the England country house to get away from and set is the closet which opens into a living room and a library. A write. The previous tenant was a jewel thief who died before body found in the closet promptly disappears only to be unloading the goods from the last heist. (Age 30-50) succeeded by another. The hunt for the jewels reaches a climax Vernon Cookley: A middle-aged New Englander who has at 2 am when four couples unknown to each other turn up to never seen any more of the country than ten miles outside of search. Not since the days of Mack Sennett has there been such Birchville. He rarely lets an expression creep over his face and a hilarious series of entrances and exits. in true New England fashion, Vernon is leery of everyone and The cast for “Exit The Body” features a total of 5 women and 5 everything. He wears glasses and speaks with a New England men, ages 18 to 50. Please note that the ages listed in the twang. Vernon is the local employment: , sheriff, descriptions below are "playing ages." dog catcher, Justice of the Peace, and sexton of the Church. (Age 30-40) Lillian Seymour: An attractive as well as a exceedingly well- dressed woman. Lillian is a top-flight designer and a friend of Lyle Rogers: Lillian’s new second husband, he is a charming, Crane. She lives in the New England country home down the very attractive man. Wasn’t he dead? Why is he introduced as Crane’s husband? (Age 30-50) hill. (Similar age to Crane, Age 30-50)

Jenny: She is a young country girl who is dressed in gaudy, Philip Smith: A man of average physique with amnesia who inexpensive cotton with hair in pigtails or a ponytail. Jenny is joins in on the evening of diamond hunting, just who is he, anyway? (Age 30-40) loud, but the epitome of innocence; she is mesmerized by Randolph. Jenny is the less than helpful maid of the rental Richard Hammond: Crane’s husband, a typically nice looking cottage. (Age 18 to 25) businessman who arrives late and probably wonders if he

Randolph: He is a cheap crook and proud of it, trying to look could go out and come back in again. (Slightly older than like TV’s idea of a hoodlum with a pencil-thin moustache, Crane, Age 30-50) slicked-down hair, flashy sport coat, dark shirt, and bright tie. Scripts may be available before the auditions. If you would Randolph’s speech is not the best and he is determined to like your own copy, you can buy one from Dramatist Play work at it until he becomes a top crook. He uses Jenny to make Service, Inc. Any additional questions prior to auditions can a name for himself as a crook by finding the diamonds that the be submitted by email to [email protected]. dead jewel thief must have left in the New England country home before he died. (Age 23 to 30) Did you know…? This will be the second time that the Helen O'Toole: She is a very efficient real estate saleswoman, Oyster Mill Playhouse has presented “Exit The Body”. (perhaps a trifle too folksy and straight-laced at times); but she In 1997, the production was directed by the late Gary means well… carrying a purse, wearing a severe summer dress Bloom, and featured Laurie Moore , Kari Stepanik and Joyce with an almost peculiar hat perched on her head. Helen rents O’Donnell just to name a few… the cottage and helps Vernon solve the mystery. (Age 30-40)

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“…Greasepaint…” Cast Announced INSIDE THIS ISSUE Congratulations to the following actors who were recently cast in “Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd” at open Upcoming Auditions for “Exit The Body” 1 auditions on March 16th and 17th. Director S. F. J. Martin, “…Greasepaint…” Cast Announced 2 Musical Director Ellen Carnahan and the cast have already OMP Annual Yard Sale 2 begun rehearsals for this musical production that gives you a New Cumberland Community Day 2 comic tale of the English class system; the “Haves vs. Have Nots", "99% vs. 1%". This Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley Spotlight On – Ron Richcreek 3 (Willy Wonka, Stop The World...) is being produced by special Play Reading Committee Update 3 arrangement with Tams Whitmark, Inc. Production dates are Number Please – May Puzzle 3 May 31st through June 16th. The cast list is as follows: Five Questions by Larry Wineland 3

COCKY SAMUEL EISENHUTH May Calendar of Events 4 SIR RON RICHCREEK An Empty Seat in the Front Row 4 GIRL EMILY WESTON “Moon…Brewery” Enchants 4 Miscellaneous Items 4 KID ELIZABETH VINARSKI

BLACK MAN DWAYNE LEE

URCHINS GAVEN ATKINS OMP Annual Yard Sale BULLY JIM “BLUTO” FISHER Oyster Mill will be having their annual yard sale from 7am to 2pm BEN FOWLER on Saturday, May 4th. Vice President Howard Hurwitz will be HANNAH HESS leading this effort. A group of people will be at the playhouse EMMA HOLT “spring cleaning” in April to gather items for the yard sale.

ALLIE HYNOSKI We are looking for donations from the membership to contribute ERICA KENSKI to the theater for the yard sale. Items such as DVDs, CDs, and furniture (or anything that you think would sell at a yard sale) are AUSTIN LEHMAN greatly appreciated. All funds collected help support the CATY MACDOUGALL playhouse. The theater will be open from 10am to 4pm on May nd rd EMILY REUSSWIG 2 and 10am to 8pm on May 3 to accept the donations.

SOPHIE REUSSWIG Additional help for setup and running will be needed that Friday and Saturday. If you can contribute some time, please contact ALYSSA RHODES Howard Hurwitz at [email protected]. TAYE SCHAFFNER ASHTON SCHREINER MAYA WASILEWSKI ASHLEY WESTON LILY YOUCH

DIRECTOR S. F. J. MARTIN MUSICAL DIRECTOR ELLEN CARNAHAN PRODUCER STEPHEN M. JAHN New Cumberland Community Day STAGE MANGER LOIS HEAGY Also on Saturday, May 4th, Oyster Mill will be participating in New REHEARSAL PIANIST ART THOMPSON Cumberland’s “Community Day” from 10am to 2 pm. Public Relations Officer Jack Eilber will be leading this effort. This event

has proven to be a good way for us to get the word out about the Order your tickets now by calling the box playhouse. office at 717.737.6768 starting on Monday, May 20th or go online anytime at Additional help for setup and promoting the playhouse will be www.oystermill.com needed that Saturday morning. If you can lend an hour or two to the cause, please send an email to Jack at [email protected].

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Spotlight On: Ron Richcreek May Puzzle: Number Please By Melissa Hurwitz By Stephen Jahn Performing in “Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd” in There are many Broadway musicals that can be associated with the role of “Sir” is one of the things that Ron Richcreek can now a particular number. They can appear as song titles, symbols or cross off his “Bucket List”, since he has been cast in OMP’s other hidden meanings. Can you match the show title on the upcoming production, opening May 31 and running through left with the associated number on the right? Some are straight June16. Ron decided to retire from his long career in forward, and some are tricky. See Page 4 for the answers. community theater in 2006 after playing the role of Scrooge at Little Theater of Mechanicsburg. However, this was one of the 01. 1776 a. 1 roles that he has always wanted to do, and so he will be back on 02. Nunsense b. 5 stage. The show became one of his favorites when he stage 03. Les Miserables c. 7 ½ managed a production of it while a student at Lebanon Valley 04. Brigadoon d. 13 College. Ron also did a little acting in college, but as music 05. Fiddler On The Roof e. 25 major, he mostly directed the orchestra for the college’s 06. A Chorus Line f. 52 musical productions. He became actively involved in 07. Rent g. 76 Community Theater after graduating, and he has performed in 08. The Producers h. 100 many shows throughout the years at various theaters, including 09. The Music Man i. 665 Chambersburg Community Theater, Carlisle Community 10. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown j. 24601 Theater, Little Theater of Mechanicsburg, and the Molly Pitcher 11. Phantom Of The Opera k. 525,600 Troupe. One of his favorite roles, which he played in three 12. The Pajama Game l. 2,000,000 different productions, was “El Gallo” in “The Fantasticks.” Ron has been on OMP’s stage only once before, in the 1996 The next GMM will be held on June 9th. production of “Annie”, where he even brought his dog to the The key topic will be the election of show to play the part of “Sandy”. officers. Keep an eye out for a special ENCORE edition in the next two weeks for Ron grew up in the Carlisle area and remained there after more information!!! college, marrying and raising a son and daughter. He taught music education for 10 years at the Carlisle High School, and then decided to join the family optical business, eventually Five Questions by Larry Wineland becoming the owner of Brown Optical in Carlisle. Now that Ron is retired, he and his wife enjoy spending time with their James Lipton from “Inside the Actor’s Studio” hits all of his children and two granddaughters. guests with a set of ten questions, a concept originated by French television personality . Larry Wineland Ron said that his fellow cast members are a “great group of kids introduced the OMP version in previous newsletters with the who are extremely talented” and he is happy to be a part of the following five questions. This month’s edition features S. F. J. show. Martin, who is directing our upcoming June production of “Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd”:

Play Reading Committee Update 1. What is your favorite play?

The Play Reading Committee, led by Production Coordinator Arsenic and Old Lace Lois Heagy, has been reviewing the plays and musicals that 2. What is your favorite musical? have been submitted to the Committee. Many Saturday City of Angels meetings have taken place in which discussions were held and decisions made as to what should constitute the OMP. 3. What character would you love to play that you haven't

been able to up to this time and why? As of 20 April, the Committee has come up with a proposed season that will be presented to the Board of Directors at the King Lear (I’m too old to play Hamlet) May Executive Board meeting. Once the Board approves the 4. What acting role has been your favorite? season, it will hopefully be presented to the membership at the June General Membership Meeting (GMM) on June 9th. It's a tie: Charlie Baker in Foreigner; Timothy Westerby in (Just another reason you should attend the meeting.) There Goes the Bride.

5. What show would you like to see produced at OMP and why?

Something funny I write after I retire…

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May Calendar of Events An Empty Seat in the Front Row By Stephen Jahn MAY 2013 A lot of the newsletters article talk about the inner workings of SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT the playhouse, as well as actors, actresses and those who work 01 02 03 04 behind-the-scenes. But one of the facets that sometimes get overlooked is our audience members. Some of them have been 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 patrons since the creation of the organization when we started over thirty-seven years ago in Faith United Church of Christ. The 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 second you see them walk into the door, you know them by name. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I am sad to report that Joyce Hillman has passed away. She has 26 27 28 29 30 31 been one of those patrons mentioned above. Dick and Joyce

Hillman attended practically every performance and sat in the

OMP Yard Sale front row cheering us on. In most cases, they were the first ones on their feet during curtain call. 04 –7:00 AM So the next time you are onstage or working staff for a show, OMP Community Day (New Cumberland) please take a moment and look at the middle of Row A. Without 04 – 10:00 AM those loyal patrons, we would not be able to do what we love.

OMP Executive Board Meeting “Moon Over The Brewery” Enchants 05 – 5:30 PM

Roar of the Greasepaint -- Postcards Once again, congratulations to the cast and crew of our last production, “Moon Over 11 – 10:00 AM The Brewery”. In addition, OMP would like Exit The Body – Auditions to give a special welcome to Jonathan Morgan, Megan Giles and Taylor Guarente 12, 13 – 7:00 PM for their first appearances on the Oyster Roar of the Greasepaint – Performance Mill stage. The show received a great

31 – 8:00 PM review, and a lot of hard work was put in by everyone associated with the show.

Miscellaneous Items

Congratulations to our Megan Davis on her recent engagement to Dave Grasso. Megan Answers: May Puzzle serves many roles with Oyster Mill such as By Stephen Jahn Playbill Designer, Marquee Creator and OMie Committee Chairwoman (just to name Thirteen colonies in 1776 01=D – a few). We hope to see her in person more Number of nuns killed by bad dinner 02=F – often, but… 03=J – Prisoner Number of Jean Valjean Number of years each time the town appears. 04=H – Congratulations to Megan Davis and her Song about length of Tevye & Golde marriage 05=E – fiancé Dave Grasso on the news that they Main song title in the show. 06=A – will soon be the parents of a bouncing baby Number of minutes in a year, song reference 07=K – boy! 08=L – How much Max and Leo want for a “flop”. 09=G – Number of trombones in “the big parade” Congratulations also to Sherry and Ryan 10=B – Lucy’s fee for any advice Boyles, who will also soon be parents for 11=I – Lot number for the barrel organ music box the first time. Sherry was recently in our 12=C – Amount of raise employees want to get. production of “Lucky Stiff” last season.