Behind the Scenes
Kathy Mitchell
Can you believe the holidays are upon us? During the summer PebbleCreek is a sleepy little neighborhood. Those who stay here spend most of their time hiding from the heat and missing their friends. But behind the scenes it’s busy. The performing arts groups are putting the pieces together for the fall programs, waiting for the audiences to arrive, and we are so glad when the summer travelers return.
It takes hours, days and weeks for performers to prepare for a show, but it’s the audience that helps the performers shine. This year the fall season was a great success and as soon as the PC Singers complete their holiday show this month, all of the work begins in earnest for the spring shows. In fact, auditions for PC Players’ The Hallelujah Girls and ShowTimes’ The Drowsy Chaperone are complete and already the casts are beginning their rehearsals.
After seeing these great shows do you ever get an urge to be a part of the performing arts? We are always looking for new people. As our community continues to grow, we know there is hidden talent yet to be discovered. Many of the performers you see on stage have been here less than five years. If you are not ready to act, sing or dance there are many supporting roles that need to be filled. You can start by volunteering to be an usher or you can work on the production team helping with costumes or makeup. We are always searching for residents that have some experience in set design, lighting or sound production. Even with minimal experience there are many skills that you can learn by mentoring with some of our more experienced talent. Think about what you might like to do. Once the crazy pace of holidays is over and you are looking for something to do that’s new and fun, think about the performing arts groups. Find our club information on the PebbleCreek website at www.pebblecreekhoa.org.
We appreciate all the PebbleCreek resident support and look forward to seeing you at the spring shows. v
PebbleCreek Events at Renaissance Theater
Carolyn Weese
Ten years ago on December 2, 2004, PebbleCreek residents attended the opening night of the Renaissance Theater. As they walked into the theater for the first time, they felt the excitement and anticipation. The wow factor had definitely kicked in. The mood was one of attending a gala event, and it is safe to say that the evening was a significant highlight for residents who were a part of the Performing Arts community as well as for all the other residents in the audience.
That night the PC Singers presented their annual Christmas Concert to standing room only audiences; their program went on for four consecutive evenings. What a treat it was for 108 voices to usher in the holiday season by performing their music in such a wonderful theater.
Before then the PC Singers, ShowTime and the PC Players had worked hard to present credible theater in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom. Makeshift staging, lights and sound were major challenges for the performers and being able to see the actors from the seats on a flat floor presented challenges for the audience. Therefore, when the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse was just in the design stage, a small group of performing arts members presented a case to Mr. Robson asking that he include a theater in the plans for the new development. There was much discussion and planning. So by opening night construction of the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse had been underway a long time and everyone was eager to see the new facility and attend an event in the long awaited theater.
Since then it is estimated that more than 500,000 people have been to the theater, either in the audience or as part of a production in a variety of events ranging from 200 LifeLong Learning Lectures to guest artist events, to plays, full scale musicals, big band concerts and choral concerts. The four performing arts clubs now number more than 350 members who work most of the year to bring top quality entertainment to PebbleCreek; Performing arts have come to be a great attraction of life in our community. Often people move here because they see a place where they can enjoy the entertainment and share their talents. The clubs continually recruit new members who want to be a part of the fun.
In an effort to give back to the community, the four groups have contributed $282,000 from ticket sales for improvements to the theater by way of sound, lighting and other effects.
This month the PC Singers present their eighteenth annual Christmas Concert, their tenth in the Renaissance Theater. As you enjoy the music, know that only 25 members of the present group performed on opening night in December, 2004. In celebrating this happy anniversary, Showtime, PC Singers, PC Players and the Musicians extend their appreciation for the support they have received from the community. What wonderful events are on tap for the coming decade in the Renaissance Theater?
The Roving Readers’ fall performances
Laurie Farquhar
The Roving Readers were on the road again this fall entertaining hundreds of elementary school children and La Loma residents with their high-energy presentations. The Roving Readers are the Readers’ Theater wing of the PC Players and over the past three years they have had more than 50 performances for local groups outside of PebbleCreek.
This fall’s lineup of presentations included an outstanding medley of Dr. Seuss pieces. Sherri Heitz, Ann Silverstein, Sue Kagan and Pam Engel brought to life Sam-I-Am and the other characters in Dr. Seuss’ most famous book Green Eggs and Ham for students at Mabel Padgett and Barbara Robey Elementary Schools. The medley also included three other short sketches, one of which was a thought provoking piece called The Little Ant which gave the children a moral decision to discuss.
In November the Roving Readers performed a series of Winnie-the-Pooh pieces directed by Dorothy Danner. Their audiences included the residents of La Loma as well as the students at Mabel Padgett and Barbara Robey Elementary schools. The children were particularly thrilled to see Tigger (Jerry Layne) bounce around the room with his very long tail. Joining him in the fun were Judy Layne, Sue Kagan, Donna Gray, Ruth McCosh and Neal Weckworth. This team also made a presentation to a small group of fellow PC Players.
The final series of performances will be in December when another group of actors will present the classic holiday poem The Year Without a Santa Claus, by Phyllis McGinley. This team is led by Jane Kelly and includes KT Tanner, Neal Weckworth, Ruth McCosh and Bev Buck. Once again they will perform for the La Loma residents and elementary school students.
It has been a busy fall for the members of the Roving Readers and Dorothy Danner says they are “grateful for such wonderful audiences of seniors and children who make all our work worthwhile.” After a brief hiatus the group will likely begin organizing in late January for the spring performances. Anyone interested in learning more about the Roving Readers can check out the PC Players website at www.pc-players.org.
SAVE THE DATE
For those who like to plan ahead, here is the Performing Arts schedule for meetings, auditions and productions for December and spring 2015.
PC Singers:
December 2 through 7 (Tuesday through Sunday) PC Singers Holiday Concert We Need a Little Christmas
Spring, 2015:
PC Players:
Wednesday, March 11 through Saturday, March 14 The Hallelujah Girls. First day of ticket sales is Saturday, February 7 in the Renaissance Theatre from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.*
PC Musicians:
Thursday, March 26 through Saturday, March 28: Burst of Music VIII. First day of ticket sales is Saturday, March 7 in the Renaissance Theatre from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.*
ShowTime:
Monday, April 13 through Saturday, April 18: The Drowsy Chaperone. First day of ticket sales is Saturday, March 21 in the Renaissance Theatre from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.*
PC Singers:
Wednesday, April 29 through Saturday, May 2: Spring Concert. First day of ticket sales is Saturday, April 4 in the Renaissance Theatre from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.*
*All productions will sell tickets in the Eagle’s Nest Kiosk following first day of sales until all are sold. We will publish the schedules of exact days and times closer to the events.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
If you are a PebbleCreek resident who loves to sing, the PC Singers need singers for all voice parts (soprano one and two, alto, tenor and bass). It is helpful to be able to read music, but not mandatory, and having some choral group experience is also helpful. Applicants receive sheet music and a practice disc of the music used for the audition. Auditions can be scheduled by contacting Nancy Gustafson at 215-3292 or Cec Daron at 623-536-3048.