Sault Ste Marie

St. Mary's College production
of "That Summer"

Taylor Jaehrling as "Lady Emma a.k.a. Sister Hillen Dale" in CHICKENHEART

Sault Theatre Workshop's production of "Kitchen Witches"

Family Life Theatre's "Shirley Valentine" with Jennifer
Kersley

Sault Ste. Marie

Group News

Family Life’s director, Michael Hennessey reports:
Family Life Theatre Just finished out third production of the
season "The Long Weekend" by Norm Foster and it was a big hit for us.
We are well into rehearsals for our final show of the season with "How
the Other Half Loves" by Alan Ayckbourn, which runs May 2nd thru the 5th
We also just finished our Homeless project having given 114
presentations of "Reflections" in many parts of Ontario covering a total
of approx 16,oo0 kms since Sept. We are hoping to launch a tour of
schools with our latest play "The Way I See It" on the topic of bullying
in schools. In summary a vey busy and productive seven months.

Michael

Sault Theatre Workshop
June 6, 2008.
Since our last meeting, we offered five performances of Blood Relations April 23 to 27. This riveting drama, by Sharon Pollock, directed by Brent Vallee, was well received by those in attendance. We were especially pleased at the turnout to the Sunday matinee – almost a full house. On Tuesday, April 22, we held a benefit performance in support of the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District and raised more than $700. When added to the funds raised for the Sault Area Hospital, the Soup Kitchen and the Alzheimer Society our total contribution this season totaled four thousand dollars.
Our young company fared extremely well at the annual Soothfest, a youth drama festival held at Korah Collegiate April 21 – 24, 2008. They were awarded outstanding female actor in a supporting role, outstanding student director, outstanding production, most promising talent, adjudicator’s award for female lead, realization of the time period through costume, hair and makeup, and one of the two spunk and spirit awards to Dan O’Brien. In addition, they received five nominations Although not for a Stage 1 play, Dan O’Brien won the award for his part in Roulette, presented by Korah. We are so proud of them.
An extensive cleanup has taken place at the studio. The kitchen has a new facelift: sinks, cabinets, flooring and we purchased a newer stove. Through Chris Horsepool’s generosity, we now have a monitor and camera installed so you are now able to hear what is happening on the stage above without leaving the kitchen. The old steps at the side of the building have been replaced which represents stage one of our barrier free ramp, a future project.
We are again hosting the QUONTA One Act festival workshop June 6 – 8, 2008. We are pleased that North Bay is entered and that Timmins and Espanola are back. Welcome to all!
Richard Howard’s Directors’ Workshop June 13, 14 and 15. Has reached maximum attendance at 18.
Our Annual General Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday June 18 at 7 p.m. at the Studio Theatre.
This summer Sault Theatre Workshop and Stage 1 have two events planned, firstly Twelfth Night which will be presented at the Studio on July 23 – 27, 8 p.m. except Sunday, a matinee, at 2 p.m. Second is sketch comedy, featuring material from Monty Python, Kids in the Hall, Saturday Night Live, etc. Performance dates are set for August 20- 23.
Season 60 has been set. To open we will present Kevin Kerr’s Governor General’s Award winning PLAY “Unity (1918)”, directed by Matt Willcock.
In December, a two-week run of David Craig’s “Having Hope At Home”, directed by Richard Howard will be staged Dec. 3 – 7 and Dec. 10-13
Our QUONTA entry will be “Looking for Normal” by Jane Anderson, directed by Chris Horsepool. Show dates are scheduled for February 18 – 21, 2009 with a matinee on the 22.
As well, Sault Theatre Workshop will host the QUONTA Festival 2009 March 16- 22, 2009.
“The Pink Panther Strikes Again” by William Gleason, based on the film by Blake Edwards and Frank Waldman and directed by Kirsty Wilson will run April 22 to 26, 2009.
To close our 60th season, we will again host the QUONTA one act festival June 5 – 7, 2009. .That’s all for now.
Gail Nelson QUONTA representative
Sault Theatre Workshop.

Pull-Chain Theatre -
Pull-Chain Theatre made the big move out of the Windsor Park and have sorted out the storage problems and acquired rehearsal space. “The next production scheduled for May has to be moved to the first week of June. The planned production of “Mary’s Wedding” had to be scrapped because the rights have been pulled by the author. Richard is currently reading a stack of scripts (lots of Gurney) so expect to see an announcement soon. It will be presented at Sault Theatre Workshop’s Studio Theatre. Richard will also be adjudicator/workshop leader for our One Act Festival in June.
If you are not on Richard’s mailing list, contact him, Bonnie Forsell or Sandra Houston. When Richard picks a show, we’ll post it on Sault Theatre Workshop’s web site under “Studio Productions”, and also on the Quonta web site.
For tickets call (705) 946-4081
Sandra Houston,
Executive Producer PULL CHAIN THEATRE

SAULT YOUTH THEATRE
Quonta Report -- The Sault Youth Theatre

Feathers flew in February when our Winter Semester Junior Ensemble presented "Chickenheart", the story of Lady Emma who flees to the Abbey of the Little Sisters of St. Mead to escape the crummy clutches of slimy Sir Cleaver all the while hoping her true love, Norman the Tailor, a not-so-brave-knave (nicknamed Chickenheart) would save her! (sigh) Our Winter semester class of 14 performed three shows to wonderful houses at St. Mary's College Theatre!

We look forward to working once again with The Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre to coordinate "Summer Theatre School '07". Out of town guest artists Jack Wetherall, Adam Paolozza and Naiomi Tyrell will join local instructors Loretta Durat, Steve Ballantine and Dar Charlebois who are slated to teach two "camps" in July/ August. A senior class (ages 15 and up) will work on presenting Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of her Teeth" which will be showcased during the first week of August. Our junior students (ages 9-14) will bridge classes into the performance of a collective creation mid-July. A grant was received from the Ontario Arts Council (Arts Education Projects) to assist with these professional-calibre theatre training opportunities. For information contact saultyouth@hotmail.com or phone (705) 941-9509

That's all till our next meeting!

Theatre SMC -
Last year's creative team of Joseph Lauzon and Loretta Durat are once again working together in tandem on Theatre SMC's production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Much Ado is a wickedly funny treatise on the fickle, often-fierce nature of love. One of Shakespeare's liveliest comedies will be re-imagined in Canada at the end of World War II, circa 1945. Underscored by the big band sounds of swaggering brass and pounding rhythms, the battle of sexes will be fought and won!
On the surface, Much Ado About Nothing focuses on the stories of two couples and their convoluted paths towards love and marriage. Benedick and Beatrice share an adversarial relationship peppered with sharp barbs and mutual scorn until they are brought together via a delightful deceptive trap that reveals a hidden truth. The other couple, Claudio and Hero have their path to wedlock disrupted by a scandalous hoax that sends the summer festivity into disarray. The shenanigans, duplicity and witty word play reveal a treatise on friendship, revenge, deception, courtship, love and marriage. Shakespeare combines a mature cynicism with an awareness that the social realities surrounding courtship may detract from the joys of love.
Theatre SMC , through its 17 year history, has impressed audiences with its commitment to quality productions and development of young actors. In keeping with our traditions, this production of Much Ado About Nothing will feature hard-working, passionate young actors: Stephanie Russell, Andrew Lorimer, Conor Doan, Nicole Marasco and Stephen Piazza along with a highly enthusiastic and talented young ensemble. The cast also includes some of the best vets in town: Carol Colombo, Brent Vallee, Jeannine Jefferson, Alar Poldmaa and Marty Frolick.
Much Ado About Nothing
will be presented May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th at the St. Mary''s College theatre. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for seniors and students and can be purchased at the Community Theatre Box Office in Station Mall or by calling 945-5540.

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