“Beyond Glory” tickets on sale
Laurie Farquhar
Since it was first awarded in 1861 only 3,497 people have received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military’s highest award. On Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16, in the Renaissance Theater, you can hear the stories of eight honorees when PC Players and ShowTime present the one act play, Beyond Glory.
The eight servicemen in the play served in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War and each, in his ow.oice, recalls the combat experience that earned him the award, how he did what he had to do and how it changed his life. There is a price to heroism.
Tickets for Beyond Glory are $10 and are now on sale both online and at the Eagle’s Nest kiosk. To purchase online, go to www.pebblecreekhoa.org. Log in using your ID and password; click on Things to Do and then on Ticket Sales. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. There is no service fee for tickets purchased online for this show. For those wishing to use cash or check, tickets are sold at the kiosk on Mondays and Fridays, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Credit cards are also accepted at the kiosk.
Proceeds from the two-night production will be donated to the Homes for Heroes Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps active military.eterans, firefighters, law enforcement officers, first responders, paramedics and teachers with grants for home and home-related purchase. One hundred percent of all the money raised by the foundation is given out as grants and over the past 15 years, that has totaled more than $27 million.
Beyond Glory is a powerful presentation that is sometimes heart-breaking and sometimes humorous. It is a reminder that war is not glamorous and that heroes come from all walks of life.
PebbleCreek Singers in concert
Donna Swagger
All the joy, magic and music of the holiday season come alive as the PebbleCreek Singers, under the direction of Gail Kennedy, take center stage to Welcome Christmas. Glittering costumes and dazzling decorations set the scene as the choristers usher in the Christmas season. Performances for the popular holiday program are Tuesday, November 28 through Saturday, December 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Renaissance Theater.
The lively, high-spirited opening number, Jingle Bells, sets the tone for an evening filled with top-notch holiday music. The full chorus captures the excitement and anticipation of this magical time of the year with a myriad of Christmas carols, ballads, Christmas songs from several movies, inspirational numbers, two a cappella songs and a few fun-loving, novelty tunes. Many of the numbers feature solos, duets and live musical instruments. A mixed ensemble and a ladies trio complement the show with their festive renditions of seasonal songs. The finale, Christmas Day, is the epitome of the spirit of the season with its tender message of home, family and Christmas memories.
It’s not too late to get tickets for this great concert. Prior to each concert, someone will be available in the theater lobby selling tickets for any of the performances. Tickets may also be purchased online. If you have questions regarding ticketing, please email the PebbleCreek Singers at [email protected].
Capture all the merriment and wonder of this special season of the year. Join us in the Renaissance Theater to Welcome Christmas.
Save the date
Performances (7:00 p.m. in the Renaissance Theater) and Ticket Sales
PC Singers present:
Tuesday, November 28 through Saturday, December 2 – Welcome Christmas, Christmas Holiday Concert
Ticket sales for the concert began on Saturday, November 4 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the Renaissance Theater. The PC Singers is moving to online ticket sales, but will continue to offer in-person sales on both opening day and at the kiosk. Several computer stations will be available on opening sales day for those who would rather make on-line purchases.
PC Players and Showtime collaborate to present:
Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16 – Beyond Glory
Ticket sales began Saturday, November 18 online (see article for more detail) and in the Renaissance Theater at 8:00 a.m. Tickets are $10 and no service fee for online purchases. Kiosk sale times: Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
PC Players Readers Theater presents:
Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19 – Fractured Fairy Stories
Ticket sales begin on December 2 in the theater. Ticket price: $10. Additional sales will be at the Eagle’s Nest kiosk on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Open cash bar and refreshments at these performances in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom.
Let us entertain you
KT Tanner
Second and third grade students in the Dysart School District were entertained the week following their fall break by seven PC Players’ PebbleCreek Readers—-what a way to ease back into the school year. Led by narrator Julie Leyda, they performed some funny poems and a story describing “good old days” and fun times at school. Performers were Don Week, narrator Julie Leyda, KT Tanner, Di Week, Marilyn Roberts, Lila Garner and Richard Hinkel.
Beginning with A Bad Case of the Giggles by Bruce Lanskey, readers recited crazy little jingles like, “I’m making a commotion; the teacher is upset. I’m losing my position as teacher’s favorite pet!” and “The whole class is giggling. Not one of us can stop.” Contagious laughs filled the room—-performers, students, and teachers.
The second reading was Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard. “The students in room 207 were misbehaving again.” Miss Nelson was unable to manage their classroom capers—-paper airplanes flying around, spitballs stuck to the ceiling and no respect shown for the devoted Miss Nelson. When Miss Nelson didn’t come to school one day the students thought they were in for a fun time with the sub until the wicked Miss Swamp walked into the classroom and took charge. Her rigid demeanor frightened the students and they later realized how much they missed Miss Nelson. But indeed Miss Nelson had played a trick on them and had the last laugh.
The third reading was a poem, The Teachers’ Talent Show, also by Bruce Lanskey. Our illustrious cast juggled meatballs and danced with a bear among other antics inviting the classroom teachers to participate. One teacher even did the splits! Teachers and students alike enjoyed our fun look at learning.
PC Players’ PebbleCreek Readers rehearse one hour a week beginning one month before performance. The schools, teachers and students are delightful. If you would like to join us, contact KT Tanner at [email protected].
Spring performance update
Norma Whitley
The PebbleCreek Musicians are busy preparing for their upcoming spring performance, Burst of Music XI, which will take place in March of 2018.
Each week these musicians get together for an hour and a half to practice and play their instruments in the big band. In addition to playing, many of the members have formed other musical groups and forged friendships from this common thread of music.
If you would like to stop by to see and find out more about the PC Musicians, they meet on Tuesdays in the Renaissance Theater in the Tuscany Clubhouse now through March. The director of the big band is Bruce Birnel and he may be contacted at [email protected].
Musician of the month
Norma Whitley
Gene Fioretti was born in Chicago and was adopted from reportedly musical parents. He began piano lessons at age 8, but didn’t care for practicing scales in the basement. As time went on, he discovered he had an “ear” for music and would remember it so well, he never learned to sight-read.
He was into the music of the day and found he could reproduce the tunes on the piano. He formed a band in high school, The Intruders, and entered a citywide Battle of the Bands and won! The final segment was held at his high school, Brother Rice in Chicago, where his then steady girlfriend and eventual wife JoAnn solicited many of th.otes.
Gene attended St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. In his first year he joined an existing rock band as a lead singer and organist. He was fascinated with Simon and Garfunkel and taught himself to play acoustic guitar using fingerpicking. After one year away at college, Gene returned to Chicago with an engagement ring for JoAnn and then went to DePaul University where he studied pre-med.
At DePaul University, Gene found a couple of other classmates with goo.oices and guitar abilities and they played and sang three-part harmonies. After DePaul University, Gene went to Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and that began his long break from music.
Following medical school, Gene had a private cardiology practice in Tucson, lived in Phoenix for a short time, then started a cardiac catheterization lab at Navapache Regional Medical Center. Eventually, Gene retired from cardiology in 2012 from Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Gene and JoAnn have three children, Christopher, Jennifer and Gina, and three grandchildren. They chose PebbleCreek because they liked the way it looked and were impressed with the quality of homes and facilities. They are actively involved in many activities here.
After responding to an advertisement in the PebbleCreek Post regarding a guitar group, he met Howard Brodbeck and they “clicked”. Today Gene plays with Howard in Pebble Rock Band with fellow residents Steve Jensen and Robert Hoever. He also plays in an acoustic duo with Howard.
Gene enjoys classic rock and loves amateur astronomy. He has owned a non-computerized telescope since 1988 and has learned about the sky from over 37 years o.iewing it. He attend.arious Star Parties to study the night sky and has taught many others about it.
Gene has been bread making since the 1970s and was apprentice cook while working for his grandmother as a child. He taught a bread making class for Life Long Learning and his 2018 classes are already sold out!
As Gene has gotten older he has had spine problems, which have prohibited him from continuing in skiing, tennis, racquetball and golf. His hobbies, especially music, have helped fill that gap every day and he is so grateful to his parents for making him stick with piano lessons.
PC Players and Readers’ Theater present “Fractured Fairy Stories”
Keith Longley
Definitely not the fairy stories you read to your grandkids; on January 18 and 19 this production of the PebbleCreek Readers’ Theater asks som.ery pointed questions. For example:
Is Chicken Little suffering a U.F.O. invasion or is this the end of the world?
Is Rapunzel in danger of losing her hair?
Is the Frog Prince really The Case of the Missing Realtor?
There are many more twists to many formerly familiar fairy tales during this funny, clever production. These have been adapted from the book Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner, and presented by a 17-member cast of your friends and neighbors as you have never seen them before!
To add to your enjoyment there are also refreshments. So here’s the scoop:
When: Thursday and Friday, January 18 and 19
Where: Tuscany Falls Ballroom
Schedule of Events: 6:00 p.m. – Open cash bar; 7:00 p.m. – Performance, Part 1; 8:00 p.m. – Interlude with hot chocolate and cookies; 8:20 p.m. – Performance, Part 2
Ticket Sales begin on December 2 in the theater. Ticket price: $10.
Additional sales will be at the Eagle’s Nest Kiosk on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Seating is limited so do yourself and friends a favor – do not miss this special evening. Get your seats now.