S E A S O N 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

THE CURTAIN RAISERComing Events

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatMusicalSeptember 6-30

The Lion, The Witch, and The WardrobeIn-school touring showSeptember 18 - October 29

Canada TripOctober 3-7

The Beloved DearlyStudent productionOctober 5-14

Born YesterdayComedyOctober 18 - November 11

Beyond GloryDramaNovember 15-18

First DateMusicalJanuary 10-20

She Loves MeMusicalFebruary 7 – March 3

Silent SkyDramaMarch 7-17

Sponsored by:

Insight Credit Union ∙ K-Country 93.7 FM ∙ Ocala Style Magazine

The beloved musical celebrates its 50th anniversary this year! This humorous reimagining of the Biblical saga of Joseph (José Rivera) takes him from trials and tribulations to triumph.

Told by the Narrator (Megan Wager), the timeless tale begins with Old Testament patriarch Jacob (Jean-Pierre Leemans) in the land of Canaan. He has half a dozen wives (Brittany Beall, Claudia Durrett-Cook, Ashlyn Gibbs, Megan Hilt, Myla Minassian, Shelby Mae Randle) and 12 sons, but his favorite is charming young Joseph, whom he gives a dazzling coat of many colors.

The lavish gift doesn’t go over well with Joseph’s jealous brothers: Reuben (James R. Taylor III), Simeon (Caleb A. Velez-Rager), Levi (Gregg Bleam), Naphtali (Deion Bruce Howard), Issachar (Joshua Plante), Asher (Matthew Minassian), Dan (Guillermo Torres), Zebulun (Landon Williams), Gad (John Aleman), Benjamin (Robert Gradler), and Judah (Cordel Miner). The brothers are also sick of hearing about Joseph’s dreams, which seem to prophesy him rising even farther above them. So they sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt, where he becomes a servant to the rich and powerful Potiphar (Tom Ferreira).

After an unfortunate incident with the seductively scheming Mrs. Potiphar (Shelby Mae Randle), Joseph is thrown into jail. He is unjustly imprisoned alongside a butler (Tom Ferreira) and a baker (Gregg Bleam), whose mystifying dreams Joseph interprets.

When Pharaoh (Joshua Plante) himself is plagued by strange dreams, Joseph’s gift proves invaluable – and just might save more than king and country in a miraculous turn of events. Fun and family-friendly, with a catchy pop score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it’s an amazing Technicolor dream of a show!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is directed and choreographed by Daniel Haley. Music director is Shane Bass. Stage manager is Faith Donahue. Set design is by Timothy J. Dygert. Costume design is by Eryn Brooks Brewer. Lighting design is by Philip Lupo. Sound design is by Dave Berardi.

There will be 22 public performances from September 6-30. Reserve your tickets for opening night and join us on Thursday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. for a reception an hour before the premiere performance. Delicious refreshments are catered by HoneyBaked Ham, and beer and wine are available for purchase. Come celebrate the excitement of opening night!

Tickets are $27 for adults and $13 for full-time students (school ID required for college students). Group rates are available as well. Call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

September 6-30Lyrics by Tim Rice

Music by

Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Tickets On Sale Now

• 2018-2019 Season Tickets

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor

Dreamcoat

Tickets Go On Sale

• Born Yesterday: September 10

• The Beloved Dearly: September 10

• Beyond Glory: October 15

Announcing the Harvey Award Winners!

The 29th Annual Harvey Awards, Ocala Civic Theatre’s version of the Tony Awards, were held on Sunday, June 24. Each June, Ocala Civic Theatre supporters gather to celebrate the end of a successful season and recognize the outstanding work of our volunteers, actors, and designers. Awards are given for excellence in acting, technical aspects, and volunteer service.

The Harveys are named for the late Harvey Klein, a local attorney and longtime supporter of the Theatre, who was the emcee for the awards ceremony for many years.

Congratulations to all the winners!

ACTING AWARDS• Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Comedy or Drama:

Jeff Cole for The Foreigner and Joel Peterson for The Foreigner• Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Comedy or Drama:

Fred Mullen for Over the River and Through the Woods and Anthony Palumbo for The Foreigner• Outstanding Performance in a Cameo Role in a Musical:

Josh Ramko for La Cage aux Folles and Megan Wager for Mamma Mia!• Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical:

Joy Newkirk for La Cage aux Folles and Patrick Stanley for Mamma Mia!• Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical:

Shannon Guinn for Mamma Mia! and Joshua Plante for I Love a Piano

PRODUCTION AWARDS• Best Choreography Performance: Mamma Mia!• Best Costumes: I Love a Piano• Best Hair & Makeup: La Cage aux Folles• Best Lighting: I Love a Piano and Mamma Mia!• Best Musical Performance: The ensemble of Mamma Mia!• Best Set: Over the River and Through the Woods• Best Sound: Mamma Mia!• Best Stage Crew: La Cage aux Folles• Best Show of the 2017-2018 Season: Mamma Mia!

VOLUNTEER AWARDS• ACT 4 Member of the Year: Patti Cole • Bridget R. Bartlett Memorial Award: Angel Gastelum• Chris Ahern Memorial Award: Faith Pruitt and Emma Pruitt• Chuck Shannon Memorial Award for Golden Trouper of the Year: Bill Duell• Dick Conover Memorial Award: Ginny Riley• Ken Hilton Memorial Award: Rick Horn• Michael Hewett Memorial Award: Dr. Glenda “Rusty” Belote• Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year: Sydney Deines• Marion Player of the Year: Tom Ferreira

SPECIAL RECOGNITION• Outstanding Business Partner of the Year: Ted and Candy Cole, HoneyBaked Ham Company & Café

NEW SEATS!

Phase One of Ocala Civic Theatre’s exciting expansion began this summer with new seats! We have painted the auditorium, removed the old seats and replaced them with new, wider, more comfortable seats.

We would love to have you be a part of this growth and invite you to donate to this first phase. A campaign goal of $200,000 has been set to cover the expenses of Phase One. At this point we have raised more than 50% of our goal.

Each new seat has an established donor or tribute value of $500. Donors will be recognized with an individual plaque permanently attached to the seat. Donors who choose to contribute at a higher level will be recognized on a separate plaque. Gifts and pledges will be welcomed in any amount, and you may even make monthly payments. Call (352) 236-2274 and ask us for more details.

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Volunteer Spotlight

Carol Stec

When Carol Stec joined the scene-shop crew in January 2016, it wasn’t her first time wielding a hammer or a paintbrush. In fact, she majored in technical theatre and design “oh so many moons ago.” Shortly after Carol moved here from Seattle in October 2015, she attended a volunteer expo. “I was looking for ways to contribute that would also be personally fulfilling,” she says. Enter Ocala Civic Theatre!

She began with stage crew for How I Learned to Drive. When Carol found out our amazing sets are built by volunteers, she started right away with set construction and painting. Since then she has worked on the sets of almost every show. She also ran lights for The Fantasticks, in which her husband of 30 “happily married” years, Daryl Champine, played El Gallo. “OK, I had a vested interest – I got to watch my husband perform and sing every night.” But, she adds, “My true passion is scene painting and set construction.”

That passion has led her to volunteer more than a thousand hours. In 2017, she won the Bridget R. Bartlett Award for an outstanding volunteer who has worked primarily behind the scenes in a backstage or technical aspect. “It was extremely rewarding and humbling to receive,” she says. “It’s a wonderful feeling to know that one’s efforts are appreciated.”

But the work itself is the greatest reward for Carol. “I love the creative and collaborative processes in creating the scenery. It starts with the set designer’s vision and then the team efforts of the carpenters (or magicians, as I like to call them) to build anything and everything: a jukebox, a copier, a snow machine, you name it. I love the challenge and artistic process of transforming foam or bare wood into stone, marble, bricks, rough-hewn logs, or a tree. Three walls magically become a rustic cabin in the woods, an inviting grandparents’ house, or a castle in the clouds.”

Carol is known as “Double Tap” for her nail-gun habits: “What can I say: If one staple is good, then two or four must be better.” Next, she wants to learn how to weld.

The camaraderie is also terrific. “I enjoy everyone I get to work with. I’ve never had so much fun with such a great team as the designers, carpenters, painters, and OCT’s technical staff. They are absolutely the best.”

Looks like she’s going to stick around: “I love the warm weather, sunshine, vast blue skies, and incredible sunsets here in Florida.” Carol also has another love: “Daryl and I share a passion for dancing. Whether it’s waltzing across a ballroom floor, swing dancing an energetic jitterbug, swaying to the Latin rhythms of a rumba, or enjoying a hot salsa dance, we love it all. And no matter where we are, if there’s good music playing and a space to dance (indoors or out), you’ll find us moving to the music. As my husband says, ‘You can’t dance and be sad at the same time.’ I think it’s a great motto to live by.”

Just don’t dance with a nail-gun in hand, Double Tap. We want to keep you here for a long time! Thank you for the magic you help create and for being a wonderful volunteer.

Box Office HoursMonday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On Saturdays with a performance: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The lobby and box office open one hour before each performance.

Get information and buy tickets online any time at www.ocalacivictheatre.com (A service charge applies to online purchases.)

Box Office: (352) 236-2274Administrative Offices: (352) 236-2851

Social Media

Ocala Civic Theatre

@ocalacivic

ocivictheatre@ocalacivic

Ocala Civic Theatre and

Ocala Civic Theatre Education Department

Calling All Stage Managers!

We are looking for volunteers to serve as stage managers this season!

This is a VERY important role. The stage manager keeps a show running smoothly from auditions through rehearsals and performances. They do everything from taking notes on actors’ blocking to keeping the cast informed about rehearsal schedules to calling cues in the tech booth during performances. And it’s tremendously rewarding!

If you are an organized, efficient, take-charge person with good people skills and the ability to stay calm and multi-task when half a dozen things are happening at once, you might be a perfect stage manager. We also need assistant stage managers (ASMs) to help stage managers with these tasks.

No experience is necessary. You will be thoroughly trained. If you’d like to give stage-managing a try, call Volunteer Coordinator Craig James at (352) 236-2851, ext. 102. There’s no time like the present – so start training now!

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Announcing the winners of the 2018 Tech Olympics!

On July 7, six teams met on the battlefield of the Ocala Civic Theatre stage to compete in the 2018 Tech Olympics. These titans of tech grappled for glory, fighting with great might for the honor of swag and bragging rights. Three teams arose victorious from the battle.

Congratulations to all the worthy opponents! Many thanks to all who participated in this year’s Tech Olympics, whether as contestants or as spectators who cheered on our valiant teams.

A round of applause also goes to our generous sponsors! Special thanks to 4Wall for providing both lunch and swag. Cool technical swag was also provided by Barbizon Lighting Company, City Theatrical, InterAmerica Stage, Music Theatre International, Rose Brand, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and UsedLighting.com.

First place winners (left to right): Angie’s B’s (Tom Ferreira, Angie Brahim, Joel Brahim)

Second place winners (left to right): Sad Bois (Deion Howard, José Rivera, Joshua Plante, Elijah Newkirk)

Third place winners (left to right): The Green Night Furies (Daniel Lopez, Dakota Brown, Luke Crafton)

A round of applause for all the teams that competed in this year’s Tech Olympics!

2018-2019 SEASON!

SIGNATURE SERIESJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat September 6-30, 2018

Musical

Born Yesterday October 18 – November 11, 2018

Comedy

She Loves Me February 7 – March 3, 2019

Musical

Eternity March 28 – April 21, 2019

Comedy

The Addams Family: A New Musical May 16 – June 9, 2019

Musical

OVATION SERIESBeyond Glory

November 15-18, 2018Drama

First Date January 10-20, 2019

Musical

Silent Sky March 7-17, 2019

Drama

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Notes from the

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mary H. Britt

Hello! We are now fully involved in the new season. Hundreds of students spent part of their summer with us, from 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds to high school and college students serving as interns. Such an energetic bunch and so much talent! Our year-round education program started again in August, and I highly recommend our arts education program for students of all ages. Our teaching artists not only encourage the students’ creativity and expression, but classes also build confidence, improve memorization skills, and help students learn to focus their creative energies. All these skills translate to the academic classroom and lead to improved student performance. If you’d like more information on our education programs, just call the box office.

We will be heading to the Shaw Festival in Canada from October 3-7. We leave from the Theatre and will be flying from Orlando to Buffalo, then spending our first night at the Fallsview Marriott in Niagara Falls with a beautiful view of the Falls. The next day we head to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a short drive away, and will spend the next three days at the Shaw Festival. There is a great line-up of shows this year, and you can’t beat the beautiful scenery and charming town. You won’t be disappointed! This is a small group, and we may still have room when you receive the newsletter. If you are interested in traveling with us, call the Theatre and ask for me.

So, how is the renovation going? A little more slowly than we’d hoped, but we’ll be ready when you come to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We started on Sunday, August 5, immediately following the end of the last matinee of Be More Chill. About 25 volunteers plus the cast and crew of Be More Chill pitched in, and within four hours had removed all 401 of the old seats and put them into a storage unit in the parking lot! We were expecting that it would take us two to three days to remove the seats, and that amazing group knocked it out in four hours! Local companies such as Lester Painting, Georgia Floors Direct, and Stokes Electric have been great. We’ve also been working with outside companies, like the seating supplier and the terrific company that installed the audio loop. It’s a big project! By the way, we do still have seats available to “purchase” and are looking for donations in any amount to cover the costs. If you would like to make a donation, please call or e-mail me.

In October and November, the Theatre is coordinating a Veterans History project to collect oral histories for the Library of Congress. The Veterans History Project was established by the U.S. Congress in 2000. The Library of Congress’s website states, “The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.” We have wanted to spearhead a local effort to collect oral histories and forward them to Washington, D.C. since we became aware of the project a few years ago. This year, with Beyond Glory – a one-man show which tells the story of eight Medal of Honor Recipients – on our schedule, plus the upcoming 75th anniversary of D-Day, we knew it was time. We have a large number of patrons who are veterans, and Marion, Citrus, and Lake counties have one of the largest groups of veterans in the country.

We will be collecting oral histories from veterans of several American conflicts, beginning with World War II and progressing through the Afghan and Iraq wars. Submitting an oral history is completely free to the veteran. We will be happy to set up the interview, provide the camera equipment, record the history, provide the veteran with a copy, complete the necessary forms for submission, and send it to the Library of Congress. There are very specific requirements regarding the submissions in order for them to be accepted by the Library of Congress, and we will help veterans fulfill those requirements. We also have gotten permission for two local organizations, The Appleton Museum of Art and The Reilly Center for the Arts, to schedule days when the public can view some of the interviews, free of charge. Kim Wise, a long-time supporter and participant at Ocala Civic Theatre, is chairing the project, and we have a special e-mail for the project: veteranhistory2018@gmail.com.

At this time, we are inviting you to participate in several ways:1) We are looking for volunteers to interview, set up cameras, help with administrative tasks like scheduling, and serve on the steering committee.2) We are looking for organizations that would like to volunteer as a group, either to help the project in general, or to be trained to collect the oral

histories for their organization, such as a VFW post or Spruce Creek Homeowners Association. The Theatre will provide the training, paperwork, and support, and will channel the completed interview to the Library of Congress. We also can channel completed interviews to organizations that may have projection equipment and access to allow the public to view selected histories at no charge.

3) We are looking for veterans who are interested in being interviewed – veterans of all the conflicts listed by the Library of Congress, but especially veterans of WWII and the Korean War because of their advanced age.

4) We are looking for donations. While there is no cost to the veteran or volunteers, there will be some limited costs for materials (each oral history must be submitted separately), postage, and a bit of administrative cost.

If you are interested in participating in any way, please contact us by e-mail at veteranhistory2018@gmail.com so we can include you. The finale of the current Broadway smash Hamilton asks, “Who tells your story?” The Library of Congress wants to make sure that each veteran has the opportunity to tell their own story.

See you at the Theatre!

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2018-2019 Board of Directors

President Philip Leppert

Vice President Herb Schmoll

Treasurer George Kirkland

Secretary Glenda “Rusty” Belote, Ph.D.

Members

Garry D. Adel

Deborah Barckhausen

Jo Crowder

Jeffry David

Ana Dunwoody

Leslie Hagan, MD

Sarah Lankester

Joy Newkirk

Andrea Pizzuti

Darrell Riley

Gordon Schwenk, MD

Staff

Executive Director Mary H. Britt

Production Manager/Technical Director Dave BerardiAssistant Technical Director William Spratt

General Technician/Custodian Ken Noble

Scene Shop Intern Mason Gray

Administrative Assistants Janice Kirk Melody Murphy

Box Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator Craig James

Director of Marketing & Promotions Larry Kiernan

Director of Education Terry LeCompte

Comptroller Marilyn Price

Costume Designer Eryn Brooks Brewer

Costume Shop Intern Brittany Hardison

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

During the World War II bombing of London, four siblings are sent to their family’s country home for safety. Once there, they stumble upon an enormous wardrobe which transports them to the world of Narnia. Once a peaceful realm filled with talking animals, fauns, giants, and dwarves, Narnia is now under an eternal winter, cursed by the villainous White Witch. With aid from the majestic lion Aslan, the four siblings lead Narnia into an all-out war as they fight to outwit the Witch and restore peace to the land.

Creatively adapted from the beloved classic by C. S. Lewis, this one-act play challenges young audiences to use their imagination and co-create with the two actors who bring this timeless tale to life using creative movement, sound, and costumes in an engaging theatrical experience.

For the past 13 years, Ocala Civic Theatre has presented an annual in-school touring show to expose Marion County students to the performing arts. This year’s show is directed by Director of Education Terry LeCompte and will tour local elementary schools from September 18 through October 29.

The Beloved Dearly

Always looking for a fast buck, middle-school tycoon Ernie stumbles onto a money-making bonanza: pet funerals for kids. He hires a coffin-decorator, a hole-digger, and a professional mourner, and business goes through the roof. But when Ernie’s own dog departs for the canine hereafter, he realizes there’s more to life (and death) than making money. Based on the book by Doug Cooney, this is a special comedy about friendship, loss, and learning to express our feelings.

The Beloved Dearly is presented by a cast of students ages 8-16. There will be seven performances from October 5-14:

• Friday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m.• Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m.

• Saturday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.• Sunday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m.

September 18 - October 29Based upon the story by C. S. LewisDramatized by Le Clanché Du Rand

In-school touring production

October 5-14By Doug Cooney

Student production

WARDROBE

LIONThe

WITCHTheAndThe

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Shaw Festival Trip To Niagara-On-The-Lake

October 3-7 O, Canada! Our sixth trip to Canada’s Shaw (Theatre) Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, October

3 through Sunday, October 7. We will leave from the Theatre on Wednesday morning; fly from Orlando non-stop to Buffalo, New

York; and then travel to Niagara Falls for the first night, staying at the beautiful Fallsview Marriott. We will have dinner at the Canyon Creek Chophouse, with the rest of the evening free to sightsee or visit the fabulous casino next to the hotel. On Thursday, we will travel the short distance to the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake, where we will stay through Sunday at Queens Landing. The trip includes two shows out of six to choose from. You can even add tours of the beautiful wine country surrounding Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The cost is $1,692 per person, double occupancy, if paying by cash or check ($1,757 if paying by credit card). Options are also available for single occupancy. The trip is limited to 24 travelers, so register as soon as possible. For more information, contact Mary Britt at mbritt@ocalacivictheatre.com or Janice Kirk at jkirk@ocalacivictheatre.com, or call (352) 236-2274.

OCALA CIVIC THEATRE

2018 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

$17.00 (includes sales tax)

ON SALE NOWat the ACT 4 Gift Box or the Ocala Civic Theatre

Box Office during regular business hours

The 2018 Ocala Civic Theatre collectible Christmas Ornament is a fund-raising project

of ACT 4 – Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. Profits from this sale are designated for use by Ocala Civic Theatre, including scholarships for youth after-school and summer classes and college scholarships for students majoring in the arts.

SEASON 2018 - 2019 SEPTEMBER 2018

THE CURTAIN RAISER

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDOCALA, FL

PERMIT NO. 94337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Curtain Raiser is the official newsletter of The Marion Players, Inc., dba Ocala Civic Theatre. The Theatre is located at 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, 34470. The Curtain Raiser is published monthly and is available free of charge to anyone who is interested in our activities. For information about the organization or to be added to the mailing list, call (352) 236-2274.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture.

LARGE PRINT

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Britt at (352) 236-2851, ext. 104, or mbritt@ocalacivictheatre.com.

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Joseph8pm

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Born Yesterday & Beloved Dearly

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