NOVEMBER 2012

Friday, Nov 16 @ 8:00 PMSaturday, Nov 17 @ 11:00 AMSaturday, Nov 17 @ 1:00 PMSaturday, Nov 17 @ 3:00 PMSunday, Nov 18 @ 1:00 PMSunday, Nov 18 @ 3:00 PM

- 1 -

EVENTS CALENDAR

MAC Meeting Election DayBoard MeetingOpening Night: The Three Bears' ChristmasThanksgivingTree Trimming PartyChristmas Karaoke Party

Nov. 6Nov. 6Nov. 13Nov. 16

Nov. 22Nov. 30Dec. 1

The Three Bears’ Christmas is busy rehearsing and Director, Jake Zinke, says that he is pleased and thrilled with the cast! During auditions, PR&C and the Director agreed that the two youngsters who auditioned for Bear Cub were SO ADORABLE that Jake changed the script to make them twins and both were cast! (It helps to have the author in the theater group!) The story unfolds on Christmas Eve as Mama and Papa Bear try to put the twins down to hibernate for the winter. Each time their Christmas songs make the cubs drowsy, the doorbell rings! Storybook visitors Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood and Mother Goose all come to call! The very spirited, delightful cast is as follows:

Narrator: Sue MancusoMama Bear: Peggy Lee

Papa Bear: Martha SmithJunior Bear: Olivia Schutt

Bear Cub Twin: Theo von StadenBear Cub Twin: Jack Stoll

Red Riding Hood/M.Goose: Heather Clement

Goldilocks/Bearnice: Maggie Smith

Directing Team:Director: Jake Zinke

Assistant Director: Nat TowleProducer: Mairo Towle

Some of the Cast of "The Three Bears' Christmas": Peggy Lee, Maggie Smith, Heather Clement,Theo von Staden & Jack Stoll (Photos by Katie Kezelian)

- 2 -

Many thanks to all who auditioned for CHICAGO! It was an amazing turnout! The Directorial staff and PR&C wanted to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to be seen and heard equally, so Bravo & Thank You, for your patience!

The set committee (Tom Edson, Jon Huegli and Nate Towle) has finished building the raked stage designed by Obie Burch. What an amazing accomplishment! Come by the playhouse and check it out! But you will see it when you come to see The Three Bears’ Christmas!

The Chicago cast, that will be working extremely hard in the next couple of months, in order to razzle dazzle you, is:

Velma: Kendall DomanRoxi: Liz SchultzBilly: Chris SteinmayerAmos: Paul DorsetMama Morton: Nina KircherMary Sunshine: Skyler TarnasEmcee: Molly Dorset Hunyak: Jessica DanleyKitty: Julie NoeJune: Sara RydzewskiAnnie: Lauren CavanaghLiz: Rachel BiberMona: Stephanie PeltierJuror: Rita LeiglMale Dancer: Zak ShugartMale Dancer: Taylor Gray

Joining talents to orchestrate this fabulous show, is the star-studded crew:

Jeff Davison: DirectorDeb Tedrick: Music DirectorJohn Luther: ChoreographerNancy Teegarden Wegienek: Asst. Dir. Apprentice Director: Nat TowleKathy Brooks: ProducerAndrew McMechan: Stage Manager Obie Burch: Set DesignerTom Edson: Set BuilderObie Burch: LightingLinda Watson: CostumesAnthony Marselese: Hair & MakeupSusan Holmes: PropertiesRuth Bennett:TicketsMolly Dorset: PublicityMike Brooks: ProgramsTBD: Sound

John W. Luther will bring out the very best of the best chosen to dance in Chicago. Guaranteed. His performance resume is as extensive in theatre performance as it is in dance, and includes European tours as an apostle in Jesus Christ Superstar and as the Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof. Among many other credits, Luther has performed with the Windemere Ballet

Theatre in The Nutcracker and Rhapsody in Blue and as Dracula in Dracula with the Plymouth/Canton Ballet Co. He has choreographed Chicago three times so far for different theatre groups in the area, as well as directing many other shows. At the dance workshop held Oct. 14, there were so many in attendance, that the

dancers had to dance in shifts! When asked, many of them said they heard Luther was teaching a class, and that is why they had come. (But some of them decided to audition when they met the great members from St. D’s). See John’s web site at www.johnwluther.com for more information and loads of pictures from his shows.

Debbie Tedrick, musical whiz and Music Director for Chicago, has worked as a music and theater teacher, performer, and arts administrator

in Los Angeles, CA, Austin, TX, Orlando/Daytona, Fl, and Detroit, MI. Originally from Michigan, Debbie earned a graduate degree in Musical theatre at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She also taught as a Professor of Musical Theater at UCF. Debbie returned to Detroit to marry Alan Canning in 2010. She continues to work with youth and adults as a private voice teacher, camp & workshop director, as well as producer, director, music director, writer for music and theater shows. Debbie is also a writer—see more about her amazing background in the December Guilder! Debbie lives with her beloved husband, Alan and their goofy Blue-Headed Pionus Parrot, Trio, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

- 3 -

One Night of Afterglow and a bit of Halloween

The audition turnout for Chicago was mind-boggling. More than 50 auditioned for a cast of 16. The excitement ran high as a new choreographer and a new music director helped all to shine in the audition process—and kept it SNAPPY. Some of the older members watching were asking, “How do we harness all this talent and get these people to STAY interested in being members at St. Dunstan’s?” Having fun together and being appreciated are two tried and true ways to make everyone feel valued, and kudos to Jeff Davison and PR&C for the fine job of giving everyone a fair chance and appreciating all who auditioned, regardless of whether they were cast. Here is a note from Director, Jeff Davison, to the members who were not chosen as part of the Chicago cast:

Hi my fellow St. D friends,I must say and don't know quite how to tell you how wonderful you all are and what amazing talent you have. I've worked with all of you in the past and every time I have, I am so inspired

and I learn so much. I am grateful to have been given the chance to direct "Chicago". I love directing, but I hate not casting people I care so much about. It leaves a void that is hard to explain. You all gave awesome auditions and I hope you are proud of yourselves--I know I am. Thank you so much for auditioning and for making our theatre the wonderful place it is. Love to you all, Jeff

Editor’s note:

“Enough is enough, already,” said Sandy Prokopp with her delightful Texas lilt. “I just got so tired of trying to warm food, and the door on the old oven didn’t seal, so I had to turn it up to 500 and worry that the whole place would smoke, so Ed and I just bought a new one.” Yes, there is a new oven in our kitchen at St. D’s that heats to the temperature chosen and it is BEAUTIFUL. A “THANK YOU” as big as the Lone Star state to Sandy for deciding it needed to be done and doing it, and to her wonderful hubby, Ed, (aka Little Ol’ Skinny Man) for organizing the delivery and set-up. It is a beautiful addition to St. Dunstan’s and a beautiful gesture of generosity on the part of a beloved member!

...or, Where's Janie?

Jeff Davison, Director of "Chicago"

This time of year always seems to be our busiest at the theatre. It Came From Mars just wrapped up, The Three Bears’ Christmas is well under way, and Chicago has been cast and has begun

rehearsals. It’s an exciting time for the theatre, no doubt about it.

With November arriving, my thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and what we have to be thankful for at the theatre.

We easily have the best slate of any community theatre in the area. We have a great mix of new and seasoned Directors in place for our productions. Between Mars, Three Bears’, and Chicago new, enthusiastic members have joined the Guild. Sure, we have some things around the theatre that still need attention, but by and large we are still a healthy, fun-loving group.

The month of December is shaping up to be an exciting month for the theatre. We are in discussions with local musician Stewart Franke to host a fundraiser at the playhouse in mid-December. He is about to debut his most recent studio album and will have a CD launch party at the playhouse. This party will serve as a fundraiser for us similar to the Full

Circle performances. Please clear your calendar and be in attendance, if at all possible—and bring ALL your friends!

December will also bring to us a modified Carol Sing this year. Unfortunately, we were unable to find anyone to take over Connie McEwan’s place as Carol Sing organizer. Instead of completely canceling the event, we are going to hold a Christmas Karaoke party at the theatre. We are still ironing out the final details, but plan on coming to the theatre on Dec. 1 for a night of singing, food, and holiday merriment. We think this will be a fun event for members to kick off the holiday season. So stay tuned for final details regarding these two events. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Contributors:Jeff DavisonPaul Dorset

Susan HolmesPam Richards

Nancy Wegienek

President's Notesby Paul Dorset

- 4 -

The circus is roaring onto the stage at Groves High School in the Tony Award-winning musical, Barnum. It features more than 75 cast members singing and dancing as clowns, trapeze artists, jugglers, and unicyclists, as well as the entire Groves High School marching band, and even a dancing dog. The Groves Performing Arts Company will present Barnum on Nov. 3, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. and on Nov. 4 and 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the Groves’ auditorium, 20500 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills. Tickets for the event are $12 for adults and $10 for students. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Groves main office during regular school hours. For more information email Leisa Passarelli at LP01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Bob Yazejian’s mother, Lucy, died on Oct. 17. She was a native of Highland Park, MI., and had been married to Bob’s father, Robert, since Dec. 21, 1946.

Long-time member, Hank Hendrick, died Sept. 29. There was a memorial tribute at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, Oct. 4.

Ian writes that Connie has been home for nearly a month and is steadily regaining her strength, after being very weak from an infection. Daily work on arm and leg exercises has helped strengthen her limbs. Connie has begun outpatient physical therapy three afternoons a week and has also begun occupational therapy. She is in her wheelchair for three to five hours each day, and her pain is much reduced. Ian sees very slight improvements all the time in her leg movements, and her treatment will continue for the long term. They have home help with lunch and the washing/house cleaning and the nurse comes most days just as a check/help for Ian. He sends his “love and thanks for the messages and cards of encouragement, and for the many meals that you have so kindly provided. You are all such wonderful friends.”

Instead of the Annual Carol Sing (We miss you Connie!) we are going to throw a Karaoke Holiday Party for the St. D's membership. An e-mail with details will follow in the next few weeks. If you don't receive e-mails and would like to get an update when it's available, call Susan or Gail Holmes at (248) 642-6273.