New London Theatre October - November 2008 Newsletter

The

New London Theatre Newsletter

www.newlondontheatre.org 770-559-1484 email NLTSnellville@yahoo.com

2485 Main Street East SW, Snellville, GA 30078

Oct-Nov 2008 Volume 6, Editor: Leslie Raab

Last weekend to see Agatha Christie’s original “whodunit” 10 Little Indians.

Get your tickets early!!

Dear New London Theatre friends, We are proud to announce our new Associate Artistic Director, Teagan Eley!

She will apprentice under current Executive Director, Kirk Buis for one year and then begin her two year term as Artistic Director. Teagan brings talent, energy, creativity, and a love for New London Theatre that will no doubt inspire great things to happen for us. We appreciate her willingness to donate so much time and effort on behalf of the theatre.

The New London Theatre Board

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You can now pay for your tickets on our website via and use your PayPal account or your credit card! www.newlondontheatre.org

Visit our FACEBOOK page, New London Theatre “10 Little Indians” to see video from the youth and adult shows.

OPENS THS FRIDAY! WE EXPECT A SELL OUT RUN, SO GET TICKETS EARLY Special Halloween Show Wear your costume for your chance at a special treat!!!

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NLT Journal Read about the experiences of our actors and other members of the NLT family!

Jonathan Cates is retiring from his first term on the Board of Directors. He will be recharging his energy levels, but plans a comeback, maybe in a year or two. Thanks for everything NLT does in our community! Jonathan began acting in school in 1958 and played a teacher in a school play. He is working as a Job Coach for the DeKalb County Schools, and loves to act and serve on the board for NLT. His granddaughter and daughter have been in the troupe, also. Until 1985, he lived in California, and was in theatre, opera, movies, commercials, and television.

Thanks, Jonathan, for all you have done for NLT. We appreciate you so much and hope you will be back soon!

Journal Entry by Lee Jones – General Mackenzie, 10 Little Indians

By August 2005, I had taught English at Georgia Perimeter College – Lawrenceville and lived in the Lawrenceville area for thirteen years. I had the job, the family, and the hobbies I wanted. My oldest son Eli, however, had talked for months about how much he wanted to be an actor. Finally, I gave him an ultimatum: if he’d try out for a part in the local New London Theatre’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird, I would, too. Eli discovered at auditions a mild case of stage fright. Fortunately enough, he longed less to act than to enjoy acting’s prospect of all him to meet Emma Watson (from the Harry Potter movies).

I won a part with one line, repeated three times, and began watching my fellow actors, paying special attention to how they ran lines, how they moved, and how they interacted with each other. I realized the absurdity of my having taught English to college students for all those years and, whether I was teaching Sophocles or Beth Henley, never going beyond “How should this scene be staged?” to “Why don’t I go try out for a role in this play and see how we make it work?”

Monday of tech week for Mockingbird brought tragedy to Tony Webb’s family. I unexpectedly took on the role of Heck Tate and, to my relief, played the part without embarrassing anyone. All the way through the show, colleagues became friends, offering to help with my character and assuring me they would cover for me if I dropped a line onstage.

The cooperation I felt and witnessed every day taught me how important each cast member’s success was to the rest of the cast, the crew, and the directors. Every job, from a speaking part to placing a prop at the right place, mattered to everyone.

You know the next sentence, right? I was hooked. The adrenalin, the audience response, and the hugs reminded me of everything I liked about teaching. I continued to audition at NLT, where I played parts like the John Wayne inspired cowboy in A Christmas Story, the belligerent husband and later drunk Mr. Welch in It’s a Wonderful Life, and the ever eager Mr. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (continued next page)

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Branching out to Theatre Arts Guild at GPC helped me learn, in colleague Sally Roberts’ words, that “musical theatre is hard,” and a summer part at Spotlights on Center Stage let me play a staid, middle aged professor (a character utterly unlike me, of course).

I kept returning to NLT, however, partly because I enjoyed every show and every part, largely because my daughter Esther and I were working together. While Esther was so shy she could barely say her audition monologue for A Christmas Story to me directly, she had enough physical confidence to play every crowd scene with enthusiasm. The chats and special treats Esther and I shared during the commutes to and from rehearsals gave me memories I will cherish as long as memory holds.

English professors, I must confess, tend toward introversion. Most would rather be around books than people, and even many who teach drama would rather read a play than see (let alone perform in) one. Theatre people are exactly the opposite. Theatre people root for you to do well and will offer suggestions as long as you’re willing to listen. They’ll go out for a cup of coffee and talk about tonight’s audience, comparing it with another audience on another night. Theatre people will devote time they can’t spare to entertaining other people while everyone enjoys a respite from the ever troubling outside world. And NLT is a place for theatre people to bring their families to participate in every phase of drama, from viewing to ushering to acting to helping direct.

This December, my middle son, Ethan, will make his debut as one of the actors sharing the Tiny Tim role in A Christmas Carol. Esther will roam with the townspeople, and I will spread mirth and knowledge as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Since GPC—Lawrenceville has closed and my teaching has moved entirely online, acting satisfies the performing teacher in me. The hours I’ll spend with Esther and Ethan will etch themselves into our memories forever.

After the first read through of A Christmas Carol, Ethan danced from side to side, singing, “I’m on stage. I’m on stage. I’m on stage.” In my middle aged mind, I danced with him, a fellow community theatre actor thrilled to anticipate the next time I’d walk in front of an audience and create, if I worked hard enough, just the tiniest spark of pure magic.

Help Wanted New London Theatre is looking for people who want to be part of the family!

We have openings on our Board of Directors and several committees. If you are looking for a place to use your talents, meet new friends, and enrich your community, please consider NLT. Come by one evening and say hello, let someone know you are interested, or send an email to NLTSnellville@yahoo.com Some current areas that need help (Board of Director positions as well as committee members for each of these areas): Costuming, Lighting and Sound, Education, Funding, House Management, Special Events

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October - Ten Little Indians Now Playing!

December - A Christmas Carol In rehearsal

February - The Mystery of Edwin Drood Auditions coming Nov.11-12 – See website for monologues & info.

March - Grimm's Fairy Tales April - Neil Simon's “Fools” May - New Directors Showcase Summer Musical - Pirates of Penzance Check out the website for a synopsis of each play. http://www.newlondontheatre.org/2008-09SeasonLIneUp.html

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Ticket Information Online tickets - $12.00 + .60 Paypal user fee Tickets purchased at the door - $15.00 Ticket Policy - Please read!

To purchase tickets prior to a show, please click on the appropriate show date button on the right side of the ticket page on our website, which will lead you to the Paypal site where you can check out. On the Paypal page, you can pay by credit card or if you have your own Paypal account you may go there. If you have any problems, please call us at 770-559-1484 Thank you!

• We prefer to have tickets purchased via our website with Paypal as it helps us to keep track of the amount of tickets sold, so you don’t arrive and we are sold out!

• Sometimes shows sell out quickly. If that is the case, we will remove the Paypal button for that show and you will have to contact the theatre for reservations, if available.

• If you cannot pay via Paypal for some reason, then we ask you to please reserve your tickets in advance at Newlondontheatretickets@yahoo.com or 770-559-1484 and arrive at the theatre early, so you can pay for them. We are open one hour before the show begins. Any reserved ticket reservations not paid for by 30 minutes before showtime are available to sell to those waiting in line.

• There are no reserved seats (only reserved tickets). All seating is “general admission”. The only exception is for people with disabilities or senior seating. If you want to make sure you have seats together or seats of your choice, you have to get to the theatre early. We cannot guarantee your seats will be together if you come in after the house is open.

• Unreserved tickets, if available, are $15.00 and must be paid by cash or check. The house manager will announce when these are ready for purchase.

• Tickets are non-refundable!

• Group discounts are available for 20 or more persons. Call and reserve your group as early as possible to make sure you have seats together. $10.00 each for 20 or more.

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Enjoy some shots from the set of “Ten Little Indians” There are some 500 pictures at kathi.mardis.com for purchase. NLT gets a portion of the sales.

Copyright

To order a copy of this cast photo, contact Kathi Mardis at nltchair@yahoo.com $10.60 each, 8x10” A great keepsake for your cast member!

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New London Theatre fundraiser

Holiday Craft Bazaar Attention all of you crafty people out there! Rent a table with us.

NLT is hosting a craft bazaar as a fundraiser for the theatre. We would love for you to rent a space from us, come and bring your craft items or represent your business and spend the day with us. We will have our snack bar open as well with munchies, cider, hot dogs, etc. We will advertise but we ask that you help out by promoting this event to your customers, friends, neighbors, and family members as well. Set up at 8:00 a.m.

We will charge $25.00 for your space if you provide the table (card table size please) or you can rent the space and a 6’ table from us for $60.00 If you want to reserve your space, please send a check to New London Theatre, 2485 Main St. East, SW, Snellville, GA 30078. Include your contact info and tell us what you will be selling please.

Calling all SHOPPERS!!!

Please put the date of the Bazaar On your calendar and come and shop with us! You can find lots of great gifts and help out NLT as well.

NOVEMBER 29 - 9-4 p.m.

Questions about any of this, please call us or email Tasha Jones, bazaar coordinator, at prissitasha@gmail.com

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Fundraisers Here is how you can help!

New London Theatre is participating in

Belk Charity Days This is a great fundraiser for both you and NLT. This is the way it works: You purchase a coupon from us for $5.00. We get to keep that $5.00 And you take the coupon to Belk’s on November 15th from 6 am – 10 am for a fantastic sale including 20-50% off, throughout the store, even brands that are rarely discounted. The $5.00 coupon is yours for a $5.00 savings on your first purchase.

They are even having the Bonus Bucks program going on. For every $50 you spend you get a $10 Bonus Bucks coupon. You can’t lose with this fundraiser and we can’t either.

If interested in purchasing a coupon, come by the theatre or look for our table at Belks Nov. 2-14th and buy one from us! They will of course be available for purchase if you come to see Ten Little Indians!

Questions? Email Sharyn at sharynvb@gmail.com of call her at 770 334 0254.

We need volunteers to man our table at Belks, day or evening, Nov. 2-14th. Easy job, just sit and sell the coupons and hand out fliers for us. Two people per shift. And people to sell tickets to their friends and associates. Call or email Sharyn, info above.

M&M Fundraiser This fundraiser is over soon, so please jump right in there! You come to the theatre and take a tube of M&M minis. You fill it with quarters that you donate or collect from friends and family. It will hold $14.00 Then just bring it back to NLT. We have a contest to see who fills the most containers and you will be given a prize. The candy is of course, yours to eat! This program is ending Sunday, November 2nd but I think we will still take them when ever!

Thanks for helping to support New London Theatre! The money we raise goes right back into the next show and to pay the bills. We can’t do it without you!

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Do you have a business, or know someone who does, that could benefit from ads placed in our programs? Our programs can reach 800-1200 people per show. This is one way that New London funds our production costs. See the info below for more details.

Thanks!

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Where we are located‌

We are Here!

Our new address is: 2486 Main Street East SW, Snellville, GA 30078 12

WORK DAY – November 1st, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Thanks for helping!!

Watch the website for future dates!

ACTIVITIES for Everyone to Enjoy Halloween Party –Friday, Oct. 31st after the show of “Ten Little Indians”.

After the Friday production of Ten Little Indians, we all get together and have a Halloween party at New London Theatre.

Food: Bring snacks to share. Everyone bring a 2-liter to share. Only Coke products (Coke, Sprite, and Diet Coke). Any leftovers will be donated to New London Theatre.

Entertainment: Improv games and Broadway music or board games.

Price: A minimum of $5 to get in the door. However more is greatly appreciated!!

Decoration: We are going to decorate the lobby before the show. There won’t be much decorating of the stage itself for the purpose of not interfering with Ten Little Indians.

Time: 10:30 P.M. - 12:30 A.M. Attire: Costumes are not mandatory, but are welcome.

Possible Improv Games: Questions Only Freeze Change Whose Line --These are just a few games that we can do. If you have any others to suggest don't hesitate.

Game Nights –- 5pm on November 8th and the 22nd, & Dec. 27th Everyone is invited to come and play games, good old fashioned board games!

We get together and play, eat, laugh, and have a really great time together. If you like games, come join the fun. We ask a $5.00 donation to help support the theatre and we pitch in money towards pizza.

Everyone bring a snack to share and your favorite game.

Christmas Party - December 14th, 7pm -Put this one on the calendar so you don’t miss the fun. Santa will be there too! Watch the website and emails for more details.

New Years Eve Party – Adults Only this time! 9pm – 12:30 am Watch website and emails for details!

Holly Theatre Trip - NLT is planning on seeing "Into the Woods" at the Holly Theatre in Dahlonega on Saturday, November 8. Tickets are $19.75 if you get them online at http://www.hollytheater.com and as of midnight, Oct. 23, there are a couple hundred seats available.....If you want to spend the night instead of driving the 90 minutes back to town, there are 4 places Jonathan recommends: the Smith House, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, and Days Inn Dahlonega....If we go to the Nov. 8 show, we could meet at the Holly Theatre box office at 3PM, shop around the town square, choose a restaurant, and eat together at 5-7, then see the show, or just break for dinner from 5-7, and meet up for the show. If there is enough interest for the tour of the Holly Theater, LET ME KNOW, ASAP, and I will try to arrange something between 3 and 5.... jonathancates@yahoo.com

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The New London Theatre Wish List

Urgent needs, can you help with these items?

The next big project for us is to clean out the storage area. We have a huge need for donations of large Rubbermaid type storage containers, shelving, cabinets, and clothes racks. If so, please let us know and drop them by any evening. Thanks very much!! Email us at nltsnellville@yahoo.com Other wish list items:

Always needed:

Things we would love to have:

* Paper goods such as 12 oz. styrofoam cups, lids, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, large trash bags, small trash bags, computer paper

* Sewing machine that actually works

* hand soap, dish soap, bathroom cleaner * coffee, creamer, sugar, coke, diet coke and sprite * Black paint, painting supplies like rollers, brushes, disposable liners for paint trays, painters tape, black duct tape

* Canister vacuum cleaner and bags, so we can clean under the seats * PA system for front of theatre * large foldaway tables * 4 unit walkie-talkies with headsets * storage cabinets for bathroom supplies * Gift certificate to Fabric World We want to cover the bulletin board in the lobby to match our curtain.

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Interested in seeing pictures of our past and present productions? If you would like to look, order prints or other goodies, please visit:

http://www.kathi.mardis.com New London Theatre earns money on all of your purchases!!

Thanks for helping.

Audition Info Everyone is invited to come and audition, whether you have done it before or not.

You never know, you may be the next “Snellville Idol�. No seriously, it is a lot of fun and whether or not you make it into the cast, there is still plenty of good stuff to do.

Just check our website for audition dates and watch your email for further info. If you have a question about auditions, please email us. We are happy to answer any questions you have about the process. You can download the adult/youth audition forms from the website also! Fill them out and bring them with you.

We are also looking for people who have had experience in Directing. If you would like to get involved in that aspect of the theatre, please let us know.

House Crew Volunteers Needed!

Not part of the cast? Not ready to audition? Or maybe you have interest in the theatre but don't know where to lend a hand. Why not consider joining the House Crew. The "crew" is an important component to each show production. It helps round out the total experience for our patrons. House crew members help as ushers and with ticket and concession sales. Patrons who have an enjoyable evening or matinee at the theatre are interested in returning for another show. Part of their decision rests not only on an outstanding performance but also on how they view the entire theatre facility...the welcome at the ticket counter, the service at the concessions booth, the assistance with finding a seat and the overall perception of quality. You can help build a positive perception by volunteering to help with one or more shows as a member of the house crew. If interested or if you'd like more details, please contact Sharyn Berg at 770 334 0254 or sharynvb@gmail.com.

Please do us a favor and forward this newsletter to all of your friends and family who live in the area! That will help us get the word out!!!!

Thank you.

Would you like to receive this newsletter from us?

Go to www.newlondontheatre.org and click the newsletter button.

Thanks for reading and for your support of New London Theatre!!

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