The PebbleCreek Big Band
Are you a musician?
Bruce Birnel
Are you a musician looking to join other musicians to make some music? After a sold out performance at our Burst of Music shows this past April, the PebbleCreek Musicians is looking for residents of PebbleCreek who play a musical instrument to consider joining the PebbleCreek Big Band. We do have a few openings but all applicants must be able to read music, have the time to devote to the group and show proficiency in their instrument. The experience can be very rewarding both personally and musically. We do it mainly for fun and to maintain and improve upon our varying levels of musicianship.
We are also looking to compile a listing of residents in PebbleCreek who play a musical instrument who presently do not have the time to devote to the PebbleCreek Big Band, but might want to establish musical groups of their own.
These groups could vary in size and get together on an informal basis as often as they like and rehearse just for fun. Eventually it could develop into something else similar to The PebbleCreek Big Band or a smaller group that could be featured in our Burst of Music shows. The type of music performed would depend on the instruments and experience of the people who sign up. We are looking for all instruments including pianists and keyboardists, guitarists and bass players as well as brass, reed and percussion players. If you are not available now, simply get your name and contact information on our list and we will contact you as requests come in for musicians to form musical groups.
If you feel that you would like to get involved in a much rewarding experience, currently own your own instrument and can read music, then you are invited to join our list. For further information contact Bruce Birnel at 623-536-6660 or via email at [email protected].
The cast of Nunsense doing a first read-through of their script, from left: Alice Lewis, Pat Ingalls, Judi Alonzo, Kathy Mitchell and Patrice Cole
The “Divine” cast of Nunsense is set for November performances
Carrie Mataraza
The Little Sisters of Hoboken, aka the actors in ShowTime’s upcoming production of Nunsense, have been cast and have started rehearsals for November’s performances. The hope is that the Renaissance Theatre construction will be complete for show dates of November 14 through 19 but, if necessary, this musical can also shine its brilliant comedy light on a ballroom stage.
A bit of background: Nunsense is the story of five nuns whose cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally of course, killed the other 52 residents of the convent by way of a culinary disaster. Insuring a proper burial for the dead becomes the crux of the plot as we watch the sisters figure out how to raise the funds to give their fallen sisters their due. The plot thickens as the women plan an entertainment to raise the money they need. Nunsense is, after all, a musical comedy!
Directed by veteran actor/director Judi Alonzo, the Nunsense cast is as follows:
Sister Amnesia, upon whose head a crucifix fell—Patrice Cole; Sister Hubert, second in command to Mother Superior—Pat Ingalls; Sister Leo, Novice—Alice Lewis; Sister Robert Anne, from Brooklyn and streetwise—Kathy Mitchell and naturally, Reverend Mother Mary Regina, former circus performer—Judi Alonzo.
The original production of Nunsense had a 10-year run, 3,672 performances, becoming the second longest running off-Broadway show in history. In fact it was so beloved, it generated six sequels and three spin-off versions.
You won’t want to miss this wacky, feel-good musical so put the November show dates on your schedule now to join the crowd of Nunsense fans in the fall. And stay tuned for more about Nunsense!
PC Singers has elected new officers for the 2016-2017 season. Front row: Debby Dennington, treasurer, and Diane Piehl, secretary; back row: Walter Kalback, vice-president, Ray Hadden, past-president and Larry Eidt, president
PebbleCreek Singers has new officers
Donna Swagger
PebbleCreek Singers’ new Board of Directors assumes duties on July 1, 2016. Former Vice President Larry Eidt advances to the President position. Ray Hadden moves to the position of Immediate Past President and Debby Dennington continues her two-year tenure as Treasurer. Newly elected board members are Walt Kalback, vice president and Diane Piehl, secretary. Director Gail Kennedy serves on the board also.
Vice President-elect Walt Kalback hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has three degrees in Chemical Engineering. Walt worked for Gulf Oil in Pennsylvania and Conoco in Oklahoma. He retired from Conoco in 1998 and moved from Oklahoma to PebbleCreek. For the last sixteen years, Walt worked part-time at Sun Health Research Institute as a volunteer technician in a brain disease research lab. Walt has sung with various choral groups since second grade. He has been singing bass with the PC Singers since Christmas of 1998. He has also played clarinet, piano, electronic organ and hand bells.
Secretary-elect Diane Piehl is an Illinois native but has lived in various parts of the U.S. prior to retiring from American Airlines and moving to PebbleCreek in 1995. After graduation from secretarial school, Diane was hired initially as a secretary for American Airlines before moving into an administrative capacity for the airline. Musically, Diane was associated with Sweet Adelines for 25 years and is currently in an ensemble of retired Sweet Adelines in the valley. She has been involved in church choir, community chorus, musical theater and a double barbershop quartet. Diane is a charter member of PC Singers and served as the secretary several years ago. She also enjoys doing volunteer work in her church and the community.
Director Gail Kennedy is making preparations for the fall season. The music for the 2016 Christmas program has been selected and she will meet with section leaders in July to review the music and finalize the rehearsal schedule. Practice CDs and music packets will be made and ready for the Singers’ first rehearsal on August 8.
The chorus is accepting applications for all voice parts, particularly basses and tenors. The audition process is simple and auditions are private. Anyone interested in auditioning may contact Nancy Gustafson at 623-215-3292 or pick up an application form at the club information center in Eagle’s Nest Clubhouse.
Mystery Dinner comes to PebbleCreek
If you are missing Downton Abbey now, or you have ever wanted to try your hand at play-acting without all those rehearsals and lines to memorize, Lord and Lady Mulberry cordially invite you to their manor house Saturday, July 30, 2016, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom for a reading of the Duke’s Will.
Your invitation includes a classic English Victorian mystery dinner set in the late 1800s and hosted by the PebbleCreek Players. Guests will be greeted at the creaky door by Denton and Millicent, the very proper butler and maid. Constable Cribbs, Vicar Wrightly, Sikh Sadji Wadji, Dame Winifred Crump, Colonel Frithingham, Penelope Plumpudding, Bartlett Von Bon Bon, Captain Rumprear, Sir Walter Winston and an assortment of lords and ladies are also invited guests. Some are welcome; some not.
After our dinner join a séance conducted by Dowager Duchess when Countess Valenska will be on hand to summon the spirit world and Germaine will busily be selling potions and telling fortunes around the ballroom.
Mulberry Manor is the setting for all sorts of past mysteries, legends, ghost stories and, of course, a mysterious murder during dinner.
Each guest who accepts our invitation can choose between being a character that helps make up the story and mystery plot or an extra player, a role that you can crawl into and make your own. The cost for enjoying all the fun? Primary Character roles are $14 each and Extra Player roles are $10 each. There is an additional price for your dinner and that will be announced prior to ticket sales.
Tickets will be on sale beginning June 6, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Eagle’s Nest Kiosk (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) until sold out. What a midsummer’s night entertainment! Inquiries may be addressed to Judi Blankenship at 623-535-9414 or [email protected].