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MARCH 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
MARCH 2017
CURTAIN UP! LIGHT THE LIGHTS : RPE PRESENTS THE MAGIC OF BROADWAY
By Jody Morgan
Role Players Ensemble Theatre (RPE) presents a one night only opportunity to discover the secrets that have kept audiences endlessly entertained by the best of Broadway’s musicals. On March 18th, Curtain Up! Light the Lights gives patrons the chance to support Danville’s award-winning theater company while enjoying an evening of
Curtain Up! Light the Lights in rehearsal. L to R Music Arranger Ed Goldfarb, vocalist Robert Brewer, Music Director Sharon Sprecher, and vocalist Charles Woodson Parker (photo by Martin J. Silverman)
fine food, wine, and performance. In addition to staging four outstanding plays each season, RPE introduces local high school students to the skills required for bringing scripts to life through internships and classroom programs. Master classes for RPE donors and early subscribers as well as script-in-hand performances open to the public extend the opportunity to learn how plays are put together to adult theater enthusiasts. Founded in 1983 by a group of Danville residents, RPE is a non-profit organization dedicated to producing plays that are both entertaining and enlightening. Now in his seventh season as Artistic Director, Eric Fraisher Hayes is pleased by audience response to thought-provocative material. Although Incident at Vichy did not draw record-breaking crowds, those who attended the 2012 performances continually remark about the powerful impact of that experience. Narrowing the selection of scripts down to the ideal balance for each season is a difficult task. RPE Marketing Director Martin Silverman explains, “Role Players is very fortunate to have Eric as our Artistic Director. He has a deep and loving knowledge of theatre content, performance and production, which he uses to propose plays that span the breadth of the theatre experience, from lesser known but excellent plays that make audiences think about the tough questions in life, to charming and even raucous Gary DeAtley will share his extensive comedies, to well-known crowd pleasers.” knowledge of the secrets behind Praise from the press and multiple award Broadway musicals. (photo courtesy of Wendy Cooper, RPE)
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ECRWSS
PLEDGE TO HUMANITY By Jody Morgan
Pledge to Humanity demonstrates daily that every child has the innate ability to improve the life of someone less fortunate. Projects matched to their interests and skills engage Pledge to Humanity Ambassadors in hands-on experiences serving other people both locally and globally. Since Alamo resident Gaby Ghorbani founded PTH in 2009, the organization has grown exponentially as young people share with friends the delight they discover in opening their hearts to awareness of the need for their compassion and their eyes to the incredible impact of each small act of kindness they perform. SRVHS PTH Club members serve at Loaves at “The greatest gift we Fishes soup kitchen. Photo courtesy of PTH. can give our children is helping them understand their power to improve the lives of others,” Ghorbani explains. “The sense of self-worth they gain from helping others out of kindness rather than charity gives them an amazing feeling of empowerment and belief in their ability to make a difference in someone else’s life.” Recipient of the 2015 Diablo Magazine Threads of Hope Award and recognized as a Hometown Hero by Contra Costa Times, Ghorbani insists Pledge to Humanity kids deserve the credit for PTH success. “The Ambassador Alannah Scott connects with kids are making the PTH children in school in India PTH helped to build. difference,” she says. Photo courtesy of PTH. “They’ve told me time and time again that their lives will never Volume VIII - Number 5 be the same.” 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Parent Advisor to San Ramon Valley Alamo, CA 94507 High School’s 375-member PTH Club (925) 405-6397 Beth McKnight concurs with Ghorbani. Fax (925) 406-0547 “Club members aren’t signing up just because they need service hours. These Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ kids love this club. This year our club yourmonthlypaper.com more than doubled in size, and it has mostly been because of word of mouth.” The opinions expressed herein belong the writers, and do not necessarily McKnight’s favorite part of a PTH trip is toreflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not the drive home. “I love hearing the stories responsible for the content of any of and hearing the teens tell me how much the advertising herein, nor does
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publication imply endorsement.