Theater Provides Many Opportunties for Using Creative Energy

The final "Best" assignment from IEG is this:

Best Way For Using Creative Energy

Wow, I may even get this one in before tomorrow's deadline.

Working with the Sixth Street Melodrama and Theater has given me many opportunities to use my creative energy.

At first, I was able to sing onstage.

Then I was acting and singing.

A few summers ago, I decided to write a Melodrama, and act in it, and my husband directed the show.

Two summers ago, I put on my director's hat, and directed my first melodrama.  Plus I had to add to and rewrite a lot of the material from that show to somehow have it make sense.

Last summer, I directed another melodrama, and also produced a Kelly's Alley Revue.

Producing the revue was a lot of fun.  Taking a theme, which last summer was "The 1920's" and researching songs and historical facts about that decade, and blending them all together to create an hour musical revue was really fun.  Then to see the six actors sing and dance and perform it was even more wonderful.

This summer, PKR and I have been asked to write a couple of shows with the 1910 fire as the theme.  We will be writing a melodrama and a Kelly's Alley Revue.  The revue's theme will be full of songs having to do with fire, heat and hot.

We are also producing more of an historical narrative with some multimedia aspects to it, that will help tell some real stories from the summer of the 1910 fire.

All this will be this summer in Wallace during the month of August.  So mark your calendars, and come and learn more about this historical time in the Silver Valley's history.

Weepy, Weepy, Weepy

 PKR and I rehearsing for "I Do! I Do!"

As I have mentioned a few times, PKR and I are doing a two person musical called "I Do! I Do!", which opens next Friday, January 8th at the Sixth Street Theater in Wallace.

This has been a very interesting process, rehearsing with my own husband, where the show is about a couple's long marriage.

I find myself choking up during rehearsal.  Last night, when we got to the end of the show and we are walking out, the tears in my eyes were not fake.

It is such a touching musical.  And to have the privilege of performing this show with my own husband of 23 years.

The tears surprise me.  And, as we rehearse, it comes in different places.  But it is usually somewhere in the second act, toward the end of the show.

I keep wondering if this is going to go away, or get more intense throughout next week, as we open the show. 

This is such a well written musical, and I really wish everyone I know could see it.  And it isn't because it is PKR and I performing it, it is because it is such a good show. 

Another plus from doing this show is that most of the proceeds from the ticket sales will be going toward three local charities in the Silver Valley, "Meals on Wheels", "The Women's Resource Center" and "The Shoshone Community Health Clinic".  PKR and I  wish we could give away all kinds of money to help people in need. But we have been blessed with an enthusiasm for performing, and it is something we love to do, and can use this ability to give back to our community.  So we are.

And people have been very generous in sponsoring the show, too.  We asked people to sponsor the royalties for each night's show, so the expenses would be covered, and more of the ticket sales could go directly toward the charities.  So far, we have had over $1800 donated to help with expenses.  What a blessing.

So, we have a music rehearsal on Saturday, then three more rehearsals next week, and open on Friday.  We'll see if I can make it through opening night without needing a box of Kleenix. 

But,  if I do need that box of Kleenix, I think it would pretty cool.

V is for Vision

I'm thankful for people with a vision.

We just started working on our next play, and we are fortunate to have a director with a vision.

I'll write more later.

Okay, now I can write a bit better after a good night's sleep.

Yesterday, I finished a run of "Here We Sit" at the Sixth Street Theater.

Now, PKR and I have started rehearsal for "I Do! I Do!", a musical about a couple's 50 years of marriage, and the ups and downs they experienced. We are the only two in the show, so it will be quite a workout!!

We are fortunate to have Carrie Stuart Parks directing the show. We sat down with her for a table read last week, and it is already evident she has a real vision for the show, our characters, and what she wants us to do. It is so exciting!!!

So, call now for reservations. It isn't too early! 1-877-SIXTHST!!

We run Jan. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24.

I is for "I Do! I Do!"

I am thankful that PKR and I get to perform in the two person musical "I Do! I Do!" in January at the Sixth Street Theater.

I am thankful that we get the opportunity to use our love of performing to help people in the Silver Valley.

We have chosen three different Silver Valley charities to donate some of the proceeds to from the performances.

Below is a letter from our board president, Vern Hanson, about how people can help become royalty sponsors for the show, so we have more money to donate to charities.

November 2009

Dear Sixth Street Fans—

In January, we will be presenting a two person musical titled “I Do! I Do!”. This show is special and unique because it will give our theater an opportunity to give back to the community by donating part of each weekend’s proceeds to three different Silver Valley Charities, The Shoshone Community Health Clinic, Meals on Wheels and The Women’s Resource Center.

Because we would like to donate a majority of our proceeds to the charities, we would like royalty sponsors to cover the cost of presenting the show each performance. It costs $140 in royalty fees to present “I Do! I Do!” each night. Would you be willing to help cover the cost of one night’s royalty payment, or a partial royalty payment, in order to help us give more back to our community?

“I Do! I Do!” is a musical about a marriage, and the many events happening as a married couple. The show features husband and wife team Paul and Carol Roberts. It will be directed by Carrie Stuart-Parks, and the music will be under the direction of Joy Persoon.

We hope you take this opportunity to help us with this endeavor by becoming a royalty sponsor for this production. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Vern Hanson, Sixth Street Theater Board President

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would be willing to donate: _____$25 _____$50 _____$100

Full Royalty Sponsorship _____$140

Please make checks to Sixth Street Theater and drop your check at the ticket desk, or mail donation to:

Sixth Street Theater, Box 1243, Wallace, Idaho 83873

(PLEASE INDICATE ROYALTY PAYMENT ON THE SUBJECT LINE)

What a wonderful opportunity to give back to our precious Silver Valley community. I am thankful for this opportunity!!

Here We Sit--A Comedy About Theater

Vern Hanson, far right, has theater audience members Ken Bartle, Chad Carlson, Tiffany Carney, Dee Glicrease, Jason Gilcrease, Kimara Eisler, Aimee Kinsey and Zack Whifield doing “research” during one of the scenes in the Sixth Street Theater ‘s production “Here We Sit”. This comedy about the theater experience opens Friday, November 6, and runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November 22. Tickets are on sale now by calling the theater at 752-8871.

Sixth Street Theater Rehearses for Upcoming Comedy About Theater

WALLACE—There is a lot more to the theater experience than is seen on the stage.

And most of it is pretty hilarious.

The Sixth Street Theater’s upcoming production “Here We Sit” will give you a glimpse into the life of the theater. Using a variety of different scenes to portray different aspects of the theater experience, this production shows scenes such as a director melting down at rehearsal, an actress melting down during a performance, an audience member demanding to be an audience of one after driving through a snow storm to see the play, and the trials and tribulations of two old ladies attending the theater.

The production is directed by Joy Persoon, and the cast includes Sixth Street veteran’s Ken Bartle, Cheri Bartle, Shelley Hodgdon, Vern Hanson, Carol Roberts, Kimara Eisler, Tiffany Carney, Cindy Bachman, Aimee Kinsey, Zack Whitfield and David Walter.

New comers joining the cast include Chad Carlson, Dee Gilcrease, Jason Gilcrease, and Amber Crystal-Rose Hansen.

This play is for mature audiences only, and is not recommended for children under 14 years of age.

The play opens Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m., with theater goers invited to a special Opening Night party at 6 p.m. complete with refreshments.

Other evening performances will be on November 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. on November 8, 15, 21 and 22.

For reservations call 752-8871, or 1-877-SIXTHST. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $13 for students and seniors. Tickets must be paid in advance or held with a credit card.

The Sixth Street Theater is located at 212 Sixth Street, in Wallace. For more information, visit the website at www.sixthstreetmelodrama.com.