The PAC Backstage Expansion team introduces the Build the Backstage thermometer to chart the heat generating the fundraising goal of $100,000. Left to right: Jeff Buda, Carolyn Weese, Bill Palmer and Ray Hadden
The PC Musicians are the first Diamond Donors
The Build the Backstage Benefit in May was one of those PebbleCreek perfect events. We have been to them over the years: beautiful room, delicious food, a fun and friendly crowd, outstanding toe tapping entertainment (by The Arizona Trio) and more.
The Performing Arts Council, composed of the four performing arts groups (PC Players, PC Musicians, PC Singers and ShowTime), is committed to raising $100,000 as their share of the construction and furnishing of the new backstage.
A component of this fundraising effort is a Patron of the Arts program formally launched and announced during spring productions. At the May dinner the PAC announced that a Diamond Donor level has been added to the Patron of the Arts Program. Diamond Donor acknowledgment will go to PebbleCreek clubs and organizations, to individual residents and to businesses that service the PebbleCreek community who give a minimum of $5,000 to the Build the Backstage Campaign. Both Patrons of the Arts and Diamond Donors will be recognized by name in all 2015-2016 season PAC production programs and on the PAC website.
Much to the surprise of everyone at the benefit dinner, Bruce Birnel, Founder and Director of the PC Musicians, along with PC Musicians Board members, Larry Tallant, Jeff Buda and Carl Halladay, presented a check of $5,000, making this club the first Diamond Donor. The PC Musicians were applauded for their interest in the project and their great generosity especially because of all the performance groups, theirs may not have the greatest need for the new backstage. The PC Musicians stepped up to pay it forward for the performance groups who will most benefit by the backstage expansion.
Another highlight of the dinner was the filling in of the Dollar Thermometer which showed the amount of money raised to date. The hard work of the past few months paid off when the thermometer registered a hot $50,000, half way to goal!
Now that the Patron of the Arts and Diamond Donor programs are formally launched, everyone is encouraged to show support for the PebbleCreek resident performing arts by becoming a Patron or A Diamond Donor. Your donation is a tax deductible gift. You can contribute by mailing your check, payable to Build The Backstage Campaign, to Mr. William Palmer, 15744 West Roanoke Ave., Goodyear, Arizona 85395. Thank you!
New officers of the PC Singers for 2015-2016, left to right: President Ray Hadden, Past President Carolyn DeCarolis, Treasurer Debbie Dennington, Choral Director Gail Kennedy, Vice President Larry Eidt and Secretary Linda Adkins
PC Singers welcomes new officers
Donna Swagger
PebbleCreek Singers’ newly elected officers will assume their duties on July 1, 2015. Vice President Ray Hadden advances to the Presidency position and Carolyn DeCarolis moves to the role of Immediate Past President. Linda Adkins continues her two year term as secretary. Newly elected board members are Larry Eidt, vice president and Debby Dennington, treasurer. Director Gail Kennedy serves on the board also.
Vice President Larry Eidt was born in New York and grew up in Michigan. He was a family physician before retiring and moving to PebbleCreek. Larry came from a musical family and sang in the church choir, school choral groups and Michigan State Honor Choir. Larry is an identical twin and he and his twin brother married twin sisters! He and his wife Jane have two children and four grandchildren.
Treasurer Debby Dennington, a native of New Mexico, has lived in Japan, Scotland, France and Switzerland. She has a B.S. in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and worked in that field until she retired and moved to PebbleCreek. Musically, she sang in church, was in a septet and was part of an A Cappella Traveling Choir during college.
Choral Director Gail Kennedy has selected the music for the 2015 Christmas concert and is already making preparations for the fall season. July will be a busy month as she meets with section leaders and finalizes plans for an exciting holiday concert! Rehearsals begin on Monday, August 10 at 2:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Theatre.
The PC Singers is currently accepting applications for all voice parts. Anyone interested in auditioning for the chorus should pick up an application form at the club information center in the Eagle’s Nest Clubhouse or contact Nancy Gustafson at 623-215-3292.
ShowTime reschedules ‘Damn Yankees’ and makes room for a special fall premier
Kathy Mitchell
If you have seen the backstage of the Renaissance Theatre, or performed in any PebbleCreek productions, you can understand how thrilled we are to know that the Backstage Expansion project is underway. Dressing in hallways and dodging set pieces in between scenes are just two of the challenges our performers have to deal with when putting on a show in the theater, so the extension of the backstage will be a great benefit to all the performing arts groups and to outside entertainers as well.
For a project this size there are lots of steps in the process from inception to groundbreaking to final construction. Groundbreaking won’t start until next summer but there is a lot to do to prepare for the changes. With all that is happening to get ready for next year, ShowTime has decided to reschedule production of Damn Yankees to the spring of 2016.
That’s not as far away as you might think since it takes almost a year to put a show together. Obtaining performing rights, preparing the music and designing sets all happen behind the scenes even before the first auditions are held. Then there are months of rehearsals before opening night. And, of course, what better time of year is there to do a show about baseball than spring when Arizona is in full swing with spring baseball training? Also, spring shows open the door for many of our snowbirds and travelers who are gone during the summer and unavailable to audition and rehearse for a fall production.
We just finished our spring production of The Drowsy Chaperone to sold-out performances and rave reviews, proving once again that PebbleCreek has some of the best talent a community theater company can offer. Our plan is to thrill and dazzle you again next spring with Damn Yankees.
As for the fall schedule, a unique treat is being planned for PebbleCreek. For the first time ever, the PC Players, PC Musicians, PC Singers and ShowTime will be collaborating on a revue that will celebrate and showcase some of our community’s marvelous resident talent to benefit the Build the Backstage expansion project. Please watch for future announcements with details as the show takes form. This very special production is scheduled for November 16 through 21. Curtain up, light the lights — the shows will go on!