tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19493604566852552432024-03-05T21:50:25.972-08:00Quincy Community TheatreQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-26984219952471198642012-04-05T10:31:00.000-07:002012-04-05T10:32:13.232-07:00Enchanted April & Membership MeetingEnchanted April<br /><br />After a frothy fun-filled opening musical of The Boy Friend, we at QCT are hard at work with our first straight play of the season, Enchanted April by Matthew Barber-based on the novel by Elizabeth Von Arnim. I really hope this play will draw an audience, because as we work on it, I fall more and more in love with it! I find these women heroic in their desire to find themselves and to go against convention in order to become the person they hope to be. We’ve completed the table work portion of rehearsals (that’s where we analyze and discuss the wants, desires and objectives of the play and characters) and are now hard at work on the Blocking (staging) portion. We open on April 26 and close on May 6th, and with all of the flowers already in full bloom, elongate that wonderful spring feeling by coming to see our production. The cast includes: Kylinn Flesner, Derek Hauk, Lorraine Morgan, Ann Pfaffe, Phil Quevillon, Jim Rupp, Julie Schuetz and Vonda St. Clair. I think it’s wonderful that there are veterans, newcomers and folks who have done just one or two productions all involved in this. I also have a new stage manager Katie Rodemich, who has been a non-stop ASM since Yes Virginia! Those of you that have seen both Tom Sawyer and The Boy Friend know that our new costumer, Anna Grywalsky is fabulous. As a matter of fact, why don’t you all come to our Membership Meeting on Monday, April 16 @ 6:30 PM so you can meet the cast and crew members, find out more about our production and season, as well as spend some time getting know some of the incredible people in our community that just happen to love being involved with us here at QCT. As a matter of fact, for a paltry $5 you can become a voting member and have an actual say in what goes on. Either way, we really hope to see you here either as a patron or a volunteer.<br /><br />See you at the theatre!Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-58356982788251045862012-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:002012-02-01T13:06:52.518-08:00The Season kicks off today!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZJw0nXF0P6gUI03ERujCHHhpi7iBZAX6tmSxuKxT6yYjB7c4huxS4yAWAil7qUVebp4EVS1ME67hId5ryzELp1zdN91IJbg9mLzBI9o_d53FNG0WB26RVDyhRSEQo3BrM9u7k5krnRrO/s1600/Jay+and+Wes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px; height: 310px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704275787768673778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZJw0nXF0P6gUI03ERujCHHhpi7iBZAX6tmSxuKxT6yYjB7c4huxS4yAWAil7qUVebp4EVS1ME67hId5ryzELp1zdN91IJbg9mLzBI9o_d53FNG0WB26RVDyhRSEQo3BrM9u7k5krnRrO/s320/Jay+and+Wes.JPG" /></a><br />So today officially kicked off my<br />first full season as Managing Artistic Director for Quincy Community Theatre! Now<br />a few of the handful of readers of my blog may say “didn’t theatre café kick<br />off your first season?” Technically,<br />yes-but that was a new experiment, which was very successful and that we will<br />certainly do again. So I’m thinking in a traditional way of the Kick off for<br />2012.<br />I watched the student matinée of Tom Sawyer-The Broadway Musical today<br />(Now thru Sunday, Feb. 5. Photo: Jay Stalder as Tom & Wes Friday as Huck)<br />. What fun I<br />had! I am always so proud of the work<br />our student theatre produces under the sure hand our student theatre director (Brandon Thomsen (who won the award for the Teaching Artist of the Year!!). We had a full house of area school kids and I<br />was fascinated by the responses we heard on their exiting the theatre. Seeing all their shiny faces made my<br />day. There is a very large gang of<br />adults and students involved in the cast, crew and pit—over 50 people all<br />told! It was great seeing many of the<br />performers I know up there doing excellent work, but also scoping the cast for<br />future actors for the QCT main stage.<br />We also started rehearsals for the<br />first “Season Ticket” production –The Boy<br />Friend by Sandy Wilson (March 8-18).<br />This was the first musical that QCT ever produced back in the 80’s. Sometimes I’m a bit frustrated at the small<br />turn out of performers at our auditions, so I am always beating the bushes for<br />new talent to grace our boards. The Boy Friend has five brand-new<br />performers and a few who just recently started acting with us. I get excited after the first few rehearsals<br />where we read and discuss what the play is about. It was very encouraging to hear all the<br />laughs from the cast.<br /> I hope you have an opportunity to see these<br />first two productions –one student theatre, one main stage. If you aren’t a season ticket holder—you<br />should be, because we have a fun-filled season of excellent productions lined<br />up. Take a moment to go to our web site to<br />review the full line-up of offerings and make sure you sign up to receive our<br />email blasts. It’s the best way to keep<br />yourself abreast of what is happening.Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-65903479763573227082012-01-13T11:18:00.000-08:002012-01-13T12:26:42.562-08:00Theatre Cafe and Freedon of Expression<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNWjAFwpmWAtYXCjL6RXNzCVDsFXh3LGTvyFnJvqOZEf3hr6dyZQbkUY0AZIJ35sY8_gHlRfW5skVRZXNl40L3F5DqiZi4RZ2xSPofIoeHZL5Y_PPFUqGGnLIAmAnG4pMXKb-1OTt0lXG/s1600/Theatre+Cafe+Pic.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNWjAFwpmWAtYXCjL6RXNzCVDsFXh3LGTvyFnJvqOZEf3hr6dyZQbkUY0AZIJ35sY8_gHlRfW5skVRZXNl40L3F5DqiZi4RZ2xSPofIoeHZL5Y_PPFUqGGnLIAmAnG4pMXKb-1OTt0lXG/s320/Theatre+Cafe+Pic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697215677117820770" /></a><br />I got an interesting call from a season ticket holder this morning regarding our Theatre Cafe, which is a series of short comedic plays, with strong language and adult situations, which we are stating is for "Mature Audiences" only. You see the reason behind doing this (besides helping to raise funds for three separate arts organizations) was to give our members a chance to stretch their artistic wings a bit. In order to satisfy our average season ticket holder, we do need to be a bit conservative in our choices for the main stage. But every once in a while, we need to challenge ourselves...as artists, as patrons, as human beings.<br />She was upset that we were doing something like this, and thought that the police should be on hand in case it gets out of control (it is a BYOB event). The sad part of this conversation was that this patron was informed <em>by a friend</em> who heard a radio interview and was disappointed that we were doing this. First off, how can someone complain about something they don't know anything about? All of her information was second hand. Secondly, the patron stated "us doing this show would jeopardize our area public TV station, and if someone bought tickets to Theatre Cafe, our station would close down!" How Bizarre! I don't see the connection, especially since a number of the patrons attending this event are the types that donate to causes like public broadcasting. She also mentioned that the head of the QNSFA Society was a menace and was bringing America down. How absurd, that someone who assists people to express themselves in a wonderful country like America, which was based on personal freedoms is bad for our country! One of the beautiful things about America is that if you don't want to come to a play...don't come! But if you do want to loose some the Sugary side effects of the holiday season, stop by with a beverage of your choice, spend a few hours with us and laugh a little bit. Laughter is good for the soul. So is compassion and understanding.Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-4322383471782564772011-11-11T13:57:00.000-08:002011-11-22T12:18:17.280-08:00Yes, Virginia<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGa8xeoKVvvW7n5fZXT91lV8JOglhz-2KEiBxs3iK9l7qAs7ZXXcdZyVFBoVAE5-rP66zkNOq771gf7t0YgcoUj95tWdBEd4Xnxw7AoXWmLcKsrIyJwDWG9wJ53OmZJB7Ltvk-S6V0-Uo3/s1600/QCT-22bw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 275px; height: 400px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677916594680427906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGa8xeoKVvvW7n5fZXT91lV8JOglhz-2KEiBxs3iK9l7qAs7ZXXcdZyVFBoVAE5-rP66zkNOq771gf7t0YgcoUj95tWdBEd4Xnxw7AoXWmLcKsrIyJwDWG9wJ53OmZJB7Ltvk-S6V0-Uo3/s400/QCT-22bw.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Soon, Yes, virginai...opens. Over 50 cast members! Yikes!! Having a great time, and how wonderful is it that we have many new cast members that have never been on our stage, along with many veterans. We open Thanksgiving weekend. What an inspiring way to spend the holiday with loved ones. Tickets are on sale now. We've also added a matinee on Saturday, december 3 at 2 PM!</div><div> </div><div>I am amazed at how relevant this story is to our society today. Really hope you all have a chance to catch this production.</div></div></div></div>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-78090188059892113402011-09-22T13:34:00.000-07:002011-09-22T13:36:14.132-07:00The Fantasticks to Open<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQwjy7lsGHSkQqZKQlDF0TmVnNS1GV54R7WhaXftkTFFYHr0kM3Nx6YG6iYakAshm129ZPsKfTg8sJ-BmcFGc7_5GWEaRGoyXGy4sG9cGn5rxLyT9sW_mRpwFOmJgTscN4yGkhZhzar-D/s1600/Tableau+Photo.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQwjy7lsGHSkQqZKQlDF0TmVnNS1GV54R7WhaXftkTFFYHr0kM3Nx6YG6iYakAshm129ZPsKfTg8sJ-BmcFGc7_5GWEaRGoyXGy4sG9cGn5rxLyT9sW_mRpwFOmJgTscN4yGkhZhzar-D/s320/Tableau+Photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655285412944693778" /></a><br /> <br />When I accepted the position as MAD at QCT, I was pleased to learn that The Fantasticks was one of the shows on the schedule for 2011. This is one of my favorite pieces of theatre. I felt that it was a perfect time to bring in a Guest Artist as a performer for the role of El Gallo, not because we couldn't find someone capable of performing the role here, but that it is good exposure for our members to work alongside someone who is pursuing a career in the theatre. It gives our members a chance to talk about their past as well as for our younger members to get some first-hand exposure to what it is like to be a working actor. I brought in Scott McGowan, who's voice is warm and rich and his range is just right for the role. We also have a Fantastic cast of Patrick Regner as Matt, Libby Ruth as Luisa, Jim Rupp as Hucklebee, Kevin Jobe as Bellomy, Paul Denckla as Henry, Paul Wood as Mortimer and Sarah Anderson rounds off the cast as the mute. Catie Hellige serves as the stage manager. <br />In October 1980, the original production sold its millionth ticket becoming the longest running show in American history, and the longest running musical in the world. The Fantasticks eventually ran 17,162 performances at the tiny Sullivan Street Playhouse in NYC before closing in January 2002, after an almost forty-two year run (more than twice as long as Cats). In the thirty-second year of its run, the show won a special Tony Award in 1992, and Schmidt and Jones won the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award in 1993. The Fantasticks is based on Edmond Rostand’s Les Romanticks, loosely using Romeo & Juliet as source material (Star-crossed lovers, Feuding Families) as well as other strong Classical influences. It was the beginning of the end of the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, and it paved the way for unconventional shows like Anyone Can Whistle, Cabaret, Company, Celebration, Promises, Promises, and others. <br /><br />The Fantasticks utilizes the essence- the boiled down core of what makes musical theatre work. This was a musical born of one of the most fascinating periods in American history, the 1950s, when traditional domesticity was being challenged, when organized religion was being challenged, when the unquestioned authority of parents and other "experts" was being questioned, and when young Americans were becoming obsessed with individuality, with rebellion, with freedom, with art as a means to criticize social and political structures, and most disconcerting of all, with Modern Jazz. All this would find full bloom in the sixties, but the seeds were there in the 1950s with the Beat writers, when composer Harvey Schmidt and writer Tom Jones, two young New Yorkers were creating their masterpiece.<br /><br />In order for The Fantasticks to succeed, it has to be real. It has to happen every night with nothing faked. The magic has to be real. It is cynical yet a clear-eyed view of Love and Marriage. Its simplicity allows us to connect with The Greater Truths. Its unconventionality allows us to let go of some of the the trappings of a big Broadway Musical and rejects conventions for convention’s sake such as the 4th wall and realistic sets…it is something very Pure, primal, truthful and in my opinion, beautiful.<br /><br />Once again, I am so very pleased with the caliber of performances here at QCT and have had an enjoyable rehearsal process and hope you all have a chance to come support QCT and be entertained by one of the most enduring theatrical productions of all times! I hope you find the music, story and characters as charming and memorable as I do.<br /><br /><br />(Some of this BLOG was taken from an article by Scott Miller)<br /><br />Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-6726047719887546202011-07-26T08:40:00.000-07:002011-09-22T13:26:35.999-07:00My First Musical @ QCT<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLU69QI0kU2gMId2HvkT0Qa3-7lp1oWmbvlK-nfW9L8En5Wk3-IAvozsRJVdAtnm2l0y4ABlTt8xTnBGrKymj2Tin2QbuL0nFNJPpF2kfPjKyiUqRM2I9Nw51RUBLAH31gm6p9AZrYFN6X/s1600/Joseph_press_9815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px; height: 229px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633691840567600450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLU69QI0kU2gMId2HvkT0Qa3-7lp1oWmbvlK-nfW9L8En5Wk3-IAvozsRJVdAtnm2l0y4ABlTt8xTnBGrKymj2Tin2QbuL0nFNJPpF2kfPjKyiUqRM2I9Nw51RUBLAH31gm6p9AZrYFN6X/s320/Joseph_press_9815.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Well, last week Joseph...opened. My first direction of a musical here at QCT. We had spectacular crowds, a wonderful opening party and superlative words for the production were heard by regulars and newbies alike. I recently received a card from a long-time subscriber who said "Awesome, great, fabulous, incredible, delightful etc...Jospeh...is at the top of all QCT musicals I have seen!" What more could a director ask for?</div><div> </div><div>What I want to comment on is the professionalism of all involved. We are indeed a community theatre, where we depend on volunteers to help build the set, usher for performances, serve as running crew back stage and act upon our stage.</div><div> </div><div>Yet, coming from the professional world, I can't tell the difference. We have an incredibly talented pool to draw from, as is seen by not only the leads in this production, but in every role, including our talented "kid Chorus."</div><div> </div><div>One of the joys of working here is our staff. Everyone involved does such a great job, it makes me look good.</div><div> </div><div>So to everyone, from the actors who rehearsed 20 hours a week for 6 weeks, to the production team that created such fantastic work to every audience member that helps to keep the arts alive in Quincy, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart!</div></div>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-15239842020985106032011-07-26T08:37:00.000-07:002011-07-26T08:38:47.751-07:00Moving to qWatching my plane take off as the rising sun silhouetted the Manhattan skyline; I was reminded of that brash young man who 27 years ago landed in NYC for the very first time in his life. With very little cash in his pocket, no place to live, no job, just an acceptance to a classical training program for actors in the heart of the theatre district, this intrepid youth defied convention.<br />I feel only a few years older than that guy, even though my elbow creaks, my neck gets tight and I need to sport reading classes in order to screw a flat together.<br />I was leaving that Mecca of culture for the last time as a resident of that vibrant art scene and moving to the calm, quaint community of Quincy, Illinois, where rush hour lasts from 5:05 PM to 5:10 PM. Where, like cheers “everyone knows your name”. ..where the artistic community consists of a much smaller pool of fish...where the tastes of the average patron is, perhaps, a bit less adventurous.<br />And yet, this town of 40-some thousand supports so much culture, takes pride in the athletic youth and works diligently to maintain the beautiful structures that proudly stand on dogwood lined streets that I once again have those butterflies in my belly-just as that brash youth did way back then!<br />How exciting to be able to direct full-scale musicals. To select a play that has more than 4 characters in it. You see, in the professional world where I came from, the economic reality to producing theatre was strangling artistic options. We needed to find ways to more with less. Now, I feel honored to work with such dedicated volunteers and have a staff that I can trust and depend on to fulfill the mission to engage our community through the exposure of the arts. <br />I can’t wait for my wife to join me so I can share with her all of the wonderful things I have discovered so far.<br />I can’t wait to finish casting my first production.<br />I can’t wait to stretch and expand my artistic muscles and the community’s sensibilities.<br />I hope you are all ready to take that journey with me. Hop on the QCT express and let’s have the ride of our lives!Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-49759443883213328562011-06-17T08:33:00.000-07:002011-07-26T08:37:39.925-07:00Trip to Chicago<div><br />The alarm was set for 4:30 a.m. and after a night of rehearsals for Joseph and the…and a champagne toast for the purchase of our new home, it was a bleary-eyed morning. But we didn’t care because my wife and I were off to Chicago on the train for the first time since moving to Quincy.<br />I was asked to serve on a grant review panel for the Illinois Arts Council, and being new to the area, jumped at the chance to get to know some of the players in the Chicago theatre scene. My wife on the other hand, was doomed to wander the streets during the day, forced to venture into museums, dine in a wide array of ethnic eateries and last but not least, be subjected to some of the finest theatre in the country (next to QCT of course!).<br />My days were spent gathered around a table with other key executives of theatres from around the state, reading and discussing the incredible programs that are offered at every level--from Tony-winning theatres to small rural barns sewing a couple of cows together to make a curtain. The one thing all of these groups have in common is a desire to put on the best darn show they can, with whatever resources they have on hand.<br />That is why I am so excited about being the MAD of QCT because we have such wonderful resources at our disposal: a beautiful facility, a caring board, a dedicated staff and talented members of our community and region to grace our stage, and last but not least, an incredible supportive business and patron base.<br /> I had a blast in the windy city, experiencing all that fine city has to offer, but it’s good to be home, ready to return to rehearsals, decorating our historic home and planting roots in our new hometown.<br /></div>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-25026630070100952282011-03-03T07:20:00.000-08:002011-03-03T07:53:21.090-08:00Boeing Boeing Cast!Well, I've cast my first production here at QCT. The play is Boeing Boeing- a classic French farce by Marc Camoletti translated by Beverley Cross. The cast is as follows: Bernard-Bill Twaddle, Robert-Greg Ellery, Bertha-Vicki Dempsey, Jacqueline-Emily Jones, Janet-Bobette Cawthon, Judith-Amethyst Zelle. It is listed in the Guinness World book of records as the most produced French play in history! It's about a French Lothario, Bernard a successful Parisian architect juggling three-that's right-THREE- fiances. All of them are "Air Hostesses" as they were called back then ( 1960). He tracks their timetables and with the assistance of his long suffering housekeeper Bertha, they change decor and menus. An old school chum, Robert arrives, and Bernard proudly explains his system for romance. However, a faster jet arrives, throwing this timetable out of kilter, weather helps to complicate the plot and Bernard, Robert and Bertha have a hard time keeping everything straight. I won't tell you how it ends, suffice to say it all works out in the end. You'll just have to come see it. <br /><br />I have to admit, I was a bit nervous, not knowing the caliber of performers the Quincy area produces. Having come from the professional world, where we get the full range from genius to awful, I was hoping we would Vere towards the former! The day before the auditions we only had one guy, so we had a phone campaign to recruit actors to audition. Fortunately, we had a great turnout, and it was sad to turn down so many wonderful actors. I'm looking forward to the first rehearsal next week.<br /><br />Don't forget about ordering your tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone. Tickets go on sale this coming Monday (March 7).<br /><br />See you at the Theatre!<br /><br />Lenny Bart<br />MADQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-53271235045955858142011-02-23T14:59:00.000-08:002011-02-24T11:28:06.210-08:00New Managing Artistic DirectorGreetings to everyone in Quincy and the surrounding areas. My name is Lenny Bart and I am delighted to be the new Managing Artistic Director for Quincy Community Theatre. I originally hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota, but have been working and living in New York City/New Jersey for the last 27 years. I am a professional actor, director and designer. I've taught theater at the middle, high school and college level. I've toured to 46 states, performed in Europe twice and have performed or directed in many off & off-off Broadway venues, as well as in many of New Jersey's finest theatres (feel free to log onto NY Times web site or Google me if you are interested in reading some of my acting or directing reviews).<br /><br />For the last 10 years I was Artistic Director for 12 Miles West Theatre Company as well as an actor and director for Pushcart Players (both in NJ). 12 Miles West led a nomadic existence for a while due to the volatile real estate market, and the company was having difficulties maintaining funding and developing an audience base or being able to offer educational programs due to the fact we were sharing other groups' spaces. When Pushcart Players offered me their Artistic Director position, I took it. I loved the company, but I discovered that I was in a place where 95% of my time was dealing with administrative duties. I felt a need to be more involved on the artistic side.<br /><br />I came across the ad for the MAD position a few months back and decided to apply for the job. When I advanced to the next round of consideration, I began to do some research on Quincy. I just couldn't believe my findings: A town of approximately 40,000 that supported a theatre, a symphony, an art center and opera company, a blues festival, a film festival, multiple museums major media outlets and more! How could it be? When the Search Committee flew me in for the final round, I decided to bring my wife Tricia along so we could see if this town was for real-and it was. Everyone has been so nice and supportive that I can only try my hardest to do a great job! I know that Barbara and Dominic had both done an exceptional job in the past and that I have big shoes to fill. But fill I will with the help and support of this exceptional community. I look forward to learning from our fantastic staff and board of directors (current & past) and in continuing to work in a cooperative manner with all of our generous donors, season ticket holders and sponsors. I know how the arts can make an impact on peoples lives, and I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work on producing and presenting some of the finest theatre Quincy can provide.<br /><br />Please come on by and say hello. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.<br /><br />Lenny Bart<br />MAD, QCTQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-86738561357072424612010-10-19T10:03:00.000-07:002010-10-19T10:05:17.270-07:00An email I received today!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dear </span></span><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span contenteditable="false" class="mergefield"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dominic</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">:</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Today, Tuesday, October 19, at 2:15 p.m. EDT, the White House is holding a live chat with leaders from the President’s Committee on the Arts & the Humanities (PCAH). </span></span><span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/EOUSNKFSML/5939424051"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tune in live</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> or watch the archive afterward. You can also submit questions to be answered by the participants via the White House Facebook page. Participants in this first-of-its-kind live online chat will include: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Chuck Close, PCAH Member and visual artist (</span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/CSTLNKFSMM/5939424051" title="Chuck Close Bio"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">view bio</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Margo Lion, PCAH Co-Chair (</span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/JKPINKFSMN/5939424051" title="Margo Lion Bio"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">view bio</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">George Stevens, Jr., PCAH Co-Chair (</span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/KPEUNKFSMO/5939424051" title="George Stevens Bio"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">view bio</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Damian Woetzel, PCAH Member and ballet dancer (</span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/EFMTNKFSMP/5939424051" title="Damian Woetzel Bio"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">view bio</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">)</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Further details and instructions on how to submit a question are available on the </span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/LFYTNKFSMQ/5939424051" title="White House Blog"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">White House blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. This event is in celebration of </span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/ALSSNKFSHS/EJYBNKFSMR/5939424051" title="National Arts and Humanities Month"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">National Arts and Humanities Month</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and will be available on the White House live chat archives.</span></span></span></div></span>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-91046624513157554082010-10-12T07:34:00.000-07:002010-10-12T07:49:20.359-07:00"The World of Magic" at QCT this weekend!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dXrbYSgHGwiuc49Iw_guMS7UBc-MoU8e6KN00xLGDS7DhgJ6QqfaZMcDIH0fsE_MF3oVLP7UOTMTz5pZ4hXt8zqhXY5dSNAo-juMudEpBZtsN_3j6Zah9pc2WlfrXX-6xlGHPJUDdLjE/s1600/photo-2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">llusionist David Thomas and the award-winning "World of Magic" show presents a Las Vegas style magical stage show with amazing escapes, fire illusions, pyrotechnics, beautiful lavishly costumed dancers and stunning choreography. Below are some pictures of "World of Magic". </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#0066FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#0066FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#0066FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, fantasy;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIsYD9KwtaXjDAebiPjyJyE4ushmRqIaNAjfra2tiYmAeAK7ctqWKPyRZ9fVxMYikLj03WicGQX1wphvad6WNkRXIeEdwgKAlEruqYM7a-OnB3cc688LuFF_fOVuMn6eCjdPyVuFAIGVk/s1600/photo-4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIsYD9KwtaXjDAebiPjyJyE4ushmRqIaNAjfra2tiYmAeAK7ctqWKPyRZ9fVxMYikLj03WicGQX1wphvad6WNkRXIeEdwgKAlEruqYM7a-OnB3cc688LuFF_fOVuMn6eCjdPyVuFAIGVk/s400/photo-4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527170504199227842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 201px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Mesmerizing illusions and theatrical imagination define this enhanced realm of The World of Magic complemented by luminous scenery and spectacular magic.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#0066FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#0066FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, fantasy;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dXrbYSgHGwiuc49Iw_guMS7UBc-MoU8e6KN00xLGDS7DhgJ6QqfaZMcDIH0fsE_MF3oVLP7UOTMTz5pZ4hXt8zqhXY5dSNAo-juMudEpBZtsN_3j6Zah9pc2WlfrXX-6xlGHPJUDdLjE/s1600/photo-2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dXrbYSgHGwiuc49Iw_guMS7UBc-MoU8e6KN00xLGDS7DhgJ6QqfaZMcDIH0fsE_MF3oVLP7UOTMTz5pZ4hXt8zqhXY5dSNAo-juMudEpBZtsN_3j6Zah9pc2WlfrXX-6xlGHPJUDdLjE/s200/photo-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527170837935982258" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This is one show you won't want to miss! Purchase tickets right now at http://www.1qct.org/onstage.html.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UNFjGDm6mH1NuyqygoKdsGQr0iSqqNSeGjhaZGPxoSompo7mST6XDBUqghyPrbfpCGkmS2eTTtf9E6zyHJak0I5aluOZ8uRL2YEY_kx1admwc-S1oeWDodyDK7x3Or0s4KFLZ-3M6Lnw/s1600/photo-5.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UNFjGDm6mH1NuyqygoKdsGQr0iSqqNSeGjhaZGPxoSompo7mST6XDBUqghyPrbfpCGkmS2eTTtf9E6zyHJak0I5aluOZ8uRL2YEY_kx1admwc-S1oeWDodyDK7x3Or0s4KFLZ-3M6Lnw/s320/photo-5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527171027036812738" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 250px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-66173184791214897532010-10-04T16:47:00.000-07:002010-10-05T14:08:21.141-07:00From President Barack Obama regarding the arts!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; font-size:1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-size:12px;"></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; font-size:1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-size:12px;"></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; font-size:1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Throughout history, the arts and humanities have helped men and women around the globe grapple with the most challenging questions and come to know the most basic truths. In our increasingly interconnected world, the arts play an important role in both shaping the character that defines us and reminding us of our shared humanity. This month, we celebrate our Nation's arts and humanities, and we recommit to ensuring all Americans can access and experience them.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Our strength as a Nation has always come from our ability to recognize ourselves in each other, and American artists, historians, and philosophers have helped enable us to find our common humanity. Through powerful scenes on pages, canvases, and stages, the arts have spurred our imaginations, lifted our hearts, and united us all without regard to belief or background.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The arts and humanities have also helped fuel our economy as well as our souls. Across our country, men and women in the non profit and for profit arts industries bring arts and cultural activities to our communities, contributing tens of billions of dollars to our economy each year. Today, arts workers are revitalizing neighborhoods, attracting new visitors, and fostering growth in places that have gone too long without it.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">As we work to bring the power of the arts and humanities to all Americans, my Administration remains committed to providing our children with an education that inspires as it informs. Exposing our students to disciplines in music, dance, drama, design, writing, and fine art is an important part of that mission. To promote arts education and pay tribute to America's vibrant culture, First Lady Michelle Obama and I have been proud to host a White House Music Series, Dance Series, and Poetry Jam. We have been honored to bring students, workshops, and performers to "the People's House;" to highlight jazz, country, Latin, and classical music; and to invite Americans to listen to the music of the civil rights movement, hip hop, and Broadway.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">By supporting the fields that feed our imagination, strengthen our children's education, and contribute to our economy, our country will remain a center of creativity and innovation, and our society will stand as one where dreams can be realized. As we reflect on the contributions of America's artists, we look forward to hearing their tales still untold, their perspectives still unexplored, and their songs still unwritten. May they continue to shed light on trials and triumphs of the human spirit, and may their work help ensure that our children's horizons are ever brighter.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2010 as National Arts and Humanities Month. I call upon the people of the United States to join together in observing this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to celebrate the arts and the humanities in America.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.</span></p><p class="rtecenter" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">BARACK OBAMA</span></p></span><p></p><p></p><p></p></span>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-18674304227895588972010-09-22T09:37:00.000-07:002010-09-23T05:18:39.752-07:00A letter from Dominic.Dear Patrons and volunteers of Quincy Community Theatre,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGyEjhEpY27L35HAM2ByQgANg_oCE9x2fmv2d60toelht9y7g9TqbT9XPRhSigL2zyittHkHL-g3k8PEnTkYKSUy27miI4SitFYlEQdaWS1KJuzIpAVsUzJhrQ8f5TlmD6QMxHMLr2nsl/s1600/my+head+shot356.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGyEjhEpY27L35HAM2ByQgANg_oCE9x2fmv2d60toelht9y7g9TqbT9XPRhSigL2zyittHkHL-g3k8PEnTkYKSUy27miI4SitFYlEQdaWS1KJuzIpAVsUzJhrQ8f5TlmD6QMxHMLr2nsl/s200/my+head+shot356.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519778642793211730" /></a><br />In January 2003, at twenty-one years old, I sat down for breakfast in Sandwich, Illinois, with an energetic woman from Quincy. (The woman was Barbara Rowell from a town I had never heard of.) At the conclusion of this meeting, I was offered a job directing the show “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” for the student theatre program at Quincy Community Theatre. During that short stay I began to fall in love with Quincy, its people and QCT. (Above: Dominic at age 21 - Photo: Andrew Schneider)<br /><br /><br />Following the production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, I would go on to become the Director of Student Theatre/Head of Education for two and a half years. During which time, I worked with thousands of students and hundreds of educators, learning all the while from everyone I came in contact with, no matter their age. Those two and a half years seemed to fly. By the end of them, I had met - on stage at QCT- the woman who would go on to become my wife. I also found myself entering a new stage in my professional life; I was named Managing Artistic Director of the largest and strongest community theatre in the state of Illinois and one of the largest community theatres in the country. <br /><br />Now twenty-four, married, and a father, I would go on to lead Quincy Community Theatre into a new era. An era of computerized ticketing, touring shows, new marketing initiatives, strengthened bonds within the business community and yes, “Urinetown”. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpyYyzMp6zLUaMuyTT89qt-9bTL7TGJUYyWWRn_F9_o9d_gHiuScI160CCvEy84xzTiN0AVYifvb-jwErlCtlpY1CIN2FpGJhgGUicpb4JKsQ4a7PN8QDRf0YNVMqDsgzQ6aSJ3be5PLV/s1600/dom.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpyYyzMp6zLUaMuyTT89qt-9bTL7TGJUYyWWRn_F9_o9d_gHiuScI160CCvEy84xzTiN0AVYifvb-jwErlCtlpY1CIN2FpGJhgGUicpb4JKsQ4a7PN8QDRf0YNVMqDsgzQ6aSJ3be5PLV/s200/dom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519780693118145762" /></a><br />I am now twenty-nine years old -still married (believe me, working in theatre, this is an accomplishment) the father of two children and I find myself, yet again, at a crossroads with a curtain about to fall on one stage of my life and another curtain waiting to rise on a new stage. (Left: Dominic at age 29 - Photo: Chet Coonrod)<br /><br />I will be leaving Quincy Community Theatre at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Although I was not planning to leave quite yet, an opportunity has presented itself, which will be thrilling for my family and me – an opportunity that will continue to further my experience and bring my career to the next level. I will be opening and running a 1,000-seat auditorium in the western Chicago suburbs. I grew up in this area and now I have the honor of giving this area the joy of live entertainment. <br /><br />A Nation-wide search to fill my position will begin immediately. I will continue on as a consultant on an as needed basis throughout early 2011.<br /><br />I have enjoyed every moment of my time in Quincy and truly believe I am who I am because of everyone I have had the privilege of working with—from the businesses who have supported QCT to the patrons whose applause keeps me going. Thank you for entrusting your theatre in my humble hands for the past five years. It has been a true joy making you laugh, cry, and yes, even think. Thanks for all the encouragement and applause; it has meant more to me than you could ever know.<br /><br /><br />Dominic Cattero<br />Managing Artistic Director<br />Quincy Community Theatre<br />2005-2010Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-91423338362404222862010-08-17T08:12:00.000-07:002010-08-17T08:39:37.077-07:00The 2011 Season is Anounced!Cinderella - Feb. 3-6<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span> Frank, Liza and Sammy - Feb. 11-12<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span> The Drowsy Chaperone - March 18-20, 24-27<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span> Say Goodnight Gracie - April 8-9<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span> Click, Clack, Moo - April 16<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span>Boeing, Boeing - May 5-7, 12-15<br /><br />Children's Letters to God - June 9-12<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span> IO (Formerly Improv Olympic) Improvised Musical - June 18<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span>Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - July 22-24, 28-31, 5-7<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span>The Fantasticks - Sept. 23-25, 29-Oct. 2<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span>The Giver - Oct. 27-30<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span> American Stars in Concert, Featuring American Idol Stars, celebrate Motown! - Nov. 4-5<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span>Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - Nov. 25-27, Dec. 1-4<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*</span> Signifies shows on the season ticket<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span> Signifies shows in the touring seriesQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-79821412567863139622010-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:002010-07-27T13:24:10.986-07:00Could there be an Arts in Education Week in our countries future?Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 275, legislation designating the second week of September as "Arts in Education Week." Authored and introduced by California Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), this resolution is the first Congressional expression of support celebrating all the disciplines comprising arts education. This is a very positive showing of support for arts education and comes at a key time when Congress is making plans to overhaul federal education policy. Take two minutes to send a message of support for arts education to your member of Congress!<br /> <br />The resolution seeks to support the attributes of arts education that are recognized as instrumental to developing a well-rounded education such as creativity, imagination, and cross-cultural understanding. H.Con.Res. 275 also highlights the critical link between those skills and preparing our children for gaining a competitive edge in the global economy. This is an important message for policy makers to acknowledge as they prepare to reauthorize federal education policy. <br /> <br />As a House resolution, the bill does not require signature by the President upon its passage. You can read the resolution at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.CON.RES.275:.<br /> <br />We salute Rep. Speier and the more than 101 original cosponsors for their support of arts education and for this truly special recognition of the value of culture for our country's students.Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-71158686858729120652010-06-08T08:30:00.000-07:002010-06-08T08:32:32.968-07:00The Cast of "All Shook Up" is announced!<span style="font-weight:bold;">The cast includes</span><br /> <br />Todd Rost as Chad<br />Alicia Mager as Natalie<br />Lana Anderson as Sylvia<br />Mia Bergstrom as Lorraine<br />Drew Quintero as Dennis<br />Cindy Melton as Sandra<br />Bobette Cawthon as Matilda<br />Ian Taylor as Dean<br />Larry Bugh as Earl<br />Bill Stalder as Jim<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ensemble includes</span><br /><br />Sarah Anderson, Graham Barnard, Dylan Bainter, Kara Bainter, Brendan Brand, Andrew Farnsworth, LaRon Grant, Valerie Hernandez, Michelle Kasparie, Katie Kraushaar, Larry McNett, Taylor Mullin, Patrick Regner, Jacob Rokusek, Shayna Rost, Sierra Schnack, Lee Smith, and J.D. Stalder.Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-31515056797029123912010-06-03T09:09:00.000-07:002010-06-03T09:15:02.512-07:00A letter from Shirley MadiganThe following letter is an update as to the status of Illinois Arts Council grant money, which has yet to be paid. This means many arts organizations which have not yet received their grant through the state may not receive the funds promised.<br /><br /><br /> <br />May 27, 2010<br /> <br />Dear Grantee:<br /> <br />I write today to apprise you once again of the current status of state payments. Unfortunately, there is still no change for the better. The State of Illinois is still in dire financial condition.<br /> <br />The Illinois Arts Council has sent letters inquiring after the prospects for payment to the State Comptroller and the Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. We will continue to keep you updated, and meanwhile urge you to exercise fiscal prudence in your planning for the use of State of Illinois grant funds. Note specifically the terms of Section #18 in your Grant Agreement:<br /> <br />“18. Obligations of the State will cease immediately without penalty of further payment being required if in any fiscal year the Illinois General Assembly fails to appropriate or otherwise make available sufficient funds for this agreement.”<br /> <br />Again, our thanks for your continued hard work to provide quality arts programming and artwork throughout the state of Illinois. And our most sincere apologies for the hardships these historic delays in payment are causing.<br /> <br />Sincerely,<br /> <br />Shirley R. Madigan<br />Chairman<br />Illinois Arts CouncilQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-92054588534153931332010-03-29T09:33:00.000-07:002010-03-29T09:36:17.389-07:00New study shows value of being exposed to the arts in schoolThe following is an article from the March 20, 2010 edition of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Morning Call</span><br /><br /><blockquote>When I chose to devote my afterschool hours in high school to dance classes and theater rehearsals, I wasn't trying to improve my math grades or increase my chances of being satisfied with my future career (although in retrospect, I should have played every instrument for the sake of my Algebra III grade). Being accepted into a good college was on my mind, but I didn't realize the lasting effects that show choir and ''The Nutcracker'' would have on my future.<br /><br />James S. Catterall of UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies would say that these activities do indeed have a presence in my life, even though I am not a professional performer. Catterall is a leading researcher in the fields of education and arts learning and engagement. He recently published his 12-year study concluding that ''individual artistic engagement can spark long-term positive developments for students, and cohesive arts-rich cultures in schools also produce outcomes called 'doing well' and 'doing good by doing art.'''<br /><br />His new book, ''Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art,'' details the effects of secondary school arts activities as they relate to school environment, socioeconomic backgrounds, and the lasting effects at ages 20 and 26. (He will be the keynote speaker at Lehigh Valley Arts Council's annual arts-in-education workshop at 1:30 p.m. April 14 at Penn State Lehigh Valley's Center Valley Campus.)<br /><br />Catterall's team surveyed more than 25,000 students in American secondary schools during the late 1990s and followed up with more than 12,000 of them throughout the 12 years. His original studies established ''for the first time in any comprehensible way that students involved in the arts are demonstrably doing better in school than those who are not.'' Specifically, he found correlations between music and mathematic achievement and theater arts and human development. Most of these findings would seem logical -- reading music involves counting and fractions, and being able to portray a character on stage requires reading comprehension as well as an understanding of personality traits.<br /><br />What sets Catterall's newly released data apart from other studies is the long-term conclusions he drew from following up with students at ages 20 and 26. Additionally, from the beginning he noted the socioeconomic backgrounds of all of the students and found that low-income students benefited from arts learning more so than students (regardless of arts involvement) from higher income areas.<br /><br />So what did he gather from his follow-up data? Catterall surveyed the likelihood of volunteerism, voter registration and college enrollment at age 20. About 40 percent of ''high-art'' students (those highly involved in arts activities) enrolled in college, while only 17 percent of ''low-art'' students did so. Additionally, high-art students are more than twice as likely to volunteer as adults. Surveys about job satisfaction at age 26 showed that arts involvement leads to better jobs, higher pay, more job responsibilities and promotion opportunities, and greater future aspirations. So keep practicing your piano scales, kids, it may decrease your chances of becoming a disgruntled employee down the road.<br /><br />So does my secondary school arts involvement fit in with Catterall's findings?<br /><br />I still can't explain my disdain for the subject of math, but I do volunteer, will graduate college and am a registered voter. And it looks like the chances are high that I will be satisfied with my job and will aspire to higher positions.</blockquote>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-6114076983215073842010-03-24T13:58:00.000-07:002010-03-24T14:26:36.851-07:00Some Pictures from "Some Enchanted Evening"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oaHL-CRe-VvqVOKjKcL7SLjnZ-HHXp8nxDSCc4gbxv-R3V9JNpealr_jQ_ymKgjLVmMC8n70InDAKhNI4RP-cvI9HAi9IbdzSFssO8fgyakqR3bf_lMnYYtdytfPEGavbbwIqGYIwNHo/s1600/DSC_0022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oaHL-CRe-VvqVOKjKcL7SLjnZ-HHXp8nxDSCc4gbxv-R3V9JNpealr_jQ_ymKgjLVmMC8n70InDAKhNI4RP-cvI9HAi9IbdzSFssO8fgyakqR3bf_lMnYYtdytfPEGavbbwIqGYIwNHo/s400/DSC_0022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452313281853152050" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VZYmDfN6QstH-cdHso6JrFST9nawHd7DQoNY7LdLqbZMvDoxYQo1BFxMwVABIMnGn8K7-x1mxr3aLEud_0gGELUwa6iWlqltVwJUxGSzxGSCt8lYkfkW5_HUwbHfDBgPmbJc7It-A6H4/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VZYmDfN6QstH-cdHso6JrFST9nawHd7DQoNY7LdLqbZMvDoxYQo1BFxMwVABIMnGn8K7-x1mxr3aLEud_0gGELUwa6iWlqltVwJUxGSzxGSCt8lYkfkW5_HUwbHfDBgPmbJc7It-A6H4/s400/DSC_0025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452313508454975170" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeh0wY-6n3vBd8B4C7SuIC1WW0rwJBLqU3dEdNDs9ur9urMQTEO4byAd3xKmfvTLXGUtNEIbk3mHLjZYxlI4BxGPi5AlQdpBR_VpJkSuQpAIYUFcr6mScis0zNFToESZAXNDh7qbES7HQ/s1600/tracie.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeh0wY-6n3vBd8B4C7SuIC1WW0rwJBLqU3dEdNDs9ur9urMQTEO4byAd3xKmfvTLXGUtNEIbk3mHLjZYxlI4BxGPi5AlQdpBR_VpJkSuQpAIYUFcr6mScis0zNFToESZAXNDh7qbES7HQ/s200/tracie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314092047361602" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv40uKok42T3TV3ArG4mrDCXPaVl2UMs6Ypy0NbZ3qRtWzqe-0y6vWka_digD59lpr8qgWEnEjUQfXYlRNyafS1Sp7f4AKyEcp4K2fvsmwxQhQBlcOVJTL09Eb7F0bEs4LAtQy75eWZsoq/s1600/DSC_0070.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv40uKok42T3TV3ArG4mrDCXPaVl2UMs6Ypy0NbZ3qRtWzqe-0y6vWka_digD59lpr8qgWEnEjUQfXYlRNyafS1Sp7f4AKyEcp4K2fvsmwxQhQBlcOVJTL09Eb7F0bEs4LAtQy75eWZsoq/s400/DSC_0070.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314401438604562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV0FN4oqEh70hm8pbcvpG_0CRV8psdn-NMUCdlw6GEw38PWZB1X9Kmrz32z8sxZ0NuTMEAwl0iBeT1MavEu485RcWViiy_xfjfzi3jK_-JaZ3n6D2Hmycd_d1PDH0OVUOKmM7j2IM44ku/s1600/cast+-+dreams.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV0FN4oqEh70hm8pbcvpG_0CRV8psdn-NMUCdlw6GEw38PWZB1X9Kmrz32z8sxZ0NuTMEAwl0iBeT1MavEu485RcWViiy_xfjfzi3jK_-JaZ3n6D2Hmycd_d1PDH0OVUOKmM7j2IM44ku/s320/cast+-+dreams.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314588847086498" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRh7EXQgZA0PkzoFI5ig11kHVpL3B3xKTsrJNhyZigvQx7qeW_lmiHc8frzzG06VvDB9I8Zx9JlfaIvufSIueqHj0To6baFUQlMImbOrq2m-Mmzu_EXtOkd8XM7pLRmRP_OLW6ltdtRA7/s1600/DSC_0101-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRh7EXQgZA0PkzoFI5ig11kHVpL3B3xKTsrJNhyZigvQx7qeW_lmiHc8frzzG06VvDB9I8Zx9JlfaIvufSIueqHj0To6baFUQlMImbOrq2m-Mmzu_EXtOkd8XM7pLRmRP_OLW6ltdtRA7/s400/DSC_0101-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314895142699650" /></a>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-58019057133461873442010-03-08T09:40:00.001-08:002010-03-08T09:42:25.811-08:00Richard and Oscar!I jumped into "Some Enchanted Evening" as I do most all shows, with a basis of research to serve as the foundation for the creative process. I especially took a concerted effort in this process for "Some Enchanted Evening", as some might know I believe Rodgers and Hammerstein to have gotten a bit dusty over time, however, during my period of research these thoughts would soon change and I would find my admiration and respect for these two iconic figures in music theatre begin to grow once more. -- I made an incredible realization. The reason my feelings for Rogers and Hammerstein began to decline was due to the stagnation of their shows by no fault of there own but rather a lack of creativity and ability to take a risk on the part of the director's and production staff.<br /><br /> <br /><br />I felt that no matter where I saw a certain show I was seeing the same show I had seen before just with a different leading man singing the same notes and an ensemble moving to different locations on the stage. This is what bored my brain. After all, TO ME, why see something you have seen before. I want to see another director's vision of a certain world--which is creative, strong and takes risks, of course justified in research, and not a recreation of someone else's creative world. During my research I found a series of interviews with Rodgers and Hammerstein that I found quite interesting. The part of the interview that triggered a bolt of creativity was when Richard Rodgers said, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OBs1-9S2Xbuc_pVU0nQD5epycBczdosZlOjUbmn3Jd4hgzGJZr7EM30htmuSCisU2Cy7X1pkWVaZgo35gOCg97OJdGwW0cQnwLICfwGSinDXGT24B2r_tRzk_CELEzJEkKSXmT6prXbj/s1600-h/rodgers.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OBs1-9S2Xbuc_pVU0nQD5epycBczdosZlOjUbmn3Jd4hgzGJZr7EM30htmuSCisU2Cy7X1pkWVaZgo35gOCg97OJdGwW0cQnwLICfwGSinDXGT24B2r_tRzk_CELEzJEkKSXmT6prXbj/s320/rodgers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446318945945404898" /></a>“If somebody wants to take a 20-year old song and do his own version of it, I encourage it. I think this is one way of keeping the 20-year old song alive. I think if it were possible, which it isn’t, to force performers and orchestra’s to stick rigidly to the way the song was written, the song would be dead in three months. It would become so tiresome, so monotonous.” To me this was a magical way of Richard Rodgers himself giving me permission to do my own version of this review. In fact he was asking me to do so in order to prolong the life of his music. <br /><br /> <br /><br />As soon as I received permission from Richard, (by now we were close friends you see), my mind became entirely free and this show began to present itself in a new way. I began to see the timeless nature of their music was buried in the presentation. We could effectively speak to today’s audience and touch them in a new and fresh way while maintaining the integrity of these two musical theatre icons. With the metaphorical box many people usually think within destroyed "Some Enchanted Evening" became truly enchanted.Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-58945034737688498832010-02-24T13:27:00.000-08:002010-02-24T13:29:54.894-08:00An update from the Illinois Arts Council.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNLW-WrO0d3a1VzgEWwnuDrGzOpGIyPhog4vDO4qxFmkWYNkIEIm2v39Nkm-wVq4FtiF58xlEvfb7mvW-16ZIzEFs9-bWiTPy_Jk8TRI6Cf28qKq7Pu5AqLbnIpzdz7glgMC79C8TqhjK/s1600-h/44.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNLW-WrO0d3a1VzgEWwnuDrGzOpGIyPhog4vDO4qxFmkWYNkIEIm2v39Nkm-wVq4FtiF58xlEvfb7mvW-16ZIzEFs9-bWiTPy_Jk8TRI6Cf28qKq7Pu5AqLbnIpzdz7glgMC79C8TqhjK/s400/44.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441924949832672866" /></a><br />February 24, 2010<br /><br />Dear Illinois Arts Council Constituents,<br /> <br />The Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) today launched www.budget.illinois.gov, a website that allows Illinois residents to provide feedback that will be used to shape the state's fiscal year 2011 budget.<br /> <br />This is the first time in Illinois' history that you can actively participate in the state's budgeting process. As you know, the State of Illinois is in dire financial condition and the budget for next year will be even worse than the current one. The potential responses for this historically difficult situation may include deep cuts or total suspension of many state programs as well as calls for additional revenue sources, as Governor Quinn has proposed. The Governor and legislators are in a very difficult position as they try to address these huge challenges. The more information they have from their constituents about how next year's budget should be constructed, the better the Governor, senators, and representatives will understand their constituents' priorities.<br /> <br />I encourage you to review this new website and make use of this opportunity to apprise the Governor's Office of Management and Budget of your priorities for the state's fiscal year 2011 budget. <br /> <br />Note that all submissions are subject to public disclosure. <br /><br />Sincerely,<br /> <br />Terry A. Scrogum <br /> <br />Terry A. Scrogum<br />Executive Director<br />Illinois Arts CouncilQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-19352187180233094722010-02-11T13:46:00.002-08:002010-02-11T13:55:22.363-08:00You Tube video of Suzanne LaRuschCheck out this video. She will be at our theatre on February 12th and 13th 2010.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ta1FRIWr53U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ta1FRIWr53U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-78797062787523163742010-02-11T13:46:00.001-08:002010-02-11T13:46:43.488-08:00http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1FRIWr53UQuincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949360456685255243.post-66621372124768251792010-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:002010-02-01T10:04:51.130-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh_WqnTf3WX4IG7p5Gi-NJ6F8GL_8eLw9y8e5GZQ8w4Cm7Tu3LeoFoOEtYVFbCXqtvQ8hIJUas8I3wvcsSNro3idfS0TrdM7Bsg8wf4DZ6P1osxSr-4Jg6QVFyjIXdbq47P1-P9__ktcD/s1600-h/295.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 48px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh_WqnTf3WX4IG7p5Gi-NJ6F8GL_8eLw9y8e5GZQ8w4Cm7Tu3LeoFoOEtYVFbCXqtvQ8hIJUas8I3wvcsSNro3idfS0TrdM7Bsg8wf4DZ6P1osxSr-4Jg6QVFyjIXdbq47P1-P9__ktcD/s400/295.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433337478578527106" /></a><br /><br />First-Person: Activists Answer, "What Motivates Me to Speak Out for the Arts"<br /><br />First-Person profiles a current event from the perspective of a member of the Illinois arts community. Please contact Scarlett Swerdlow at swerdlow@artsalliance.org or 312.855.3105 x13 if you would like to contribute to the next First-Person.<br /><br />This month, we invited arts leaders from across the state to answer questions about their advocacy experiences. We are pleased to share responses from Travis Stimeling of Millikin University, Maria Mowbray of Rock for Kids, and Penny Wollan-Kriel of the Springfield Area Arts Council as well as five Facebook fans.<br /> <br />Travis Stimeling, Assistant Professor of Music, Millikin University, Decatur<br /><br />Travis Stimeling participated in the January 13 Responsible Budget Call-In Day.<br /><br />Motto: "If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough."<br /><br />What motivated you to speak out for the arts with your elected officials?<br /><br />The arts play a key role in helping the residents of Illinois to understand one another. Especially in these times when it seems that, as a nation, we are more divided than we have been in recent history, access to the arts is essential, as they offer us the opportunity to share our basic humanity, to publicly express our differences, and to start productive dialogues about ways to improve the quality of life for all.<br /><br />(Pictured below: the Perkinson Music Center at Millikin University)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWkOdTp-qziLd5k-n16M4PLu032lVhTYj-xJTsV-YlQRQnsGrvHzl-MuAH6Rd_-9Bue0DJn8yjLAbKxLN2vtyspGmIuMRi44hCTx2GkOYppBzULAAVHw_k3UfMPuWEsqjZXBl50de3GJw/s1600-h/348.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWkOdTp-qziLd5k-n16M4PLu032lVhTYj-xJTsV-YlQRQnsGrvHzl-MuAH6Rd_-9Bue0DJn8yjLAbKxLN2vtyspGmIuMRi44hCTx2GkOYppBzULAAVHw_k3UfMPuWEsqjZXBl50de3GJw/s200/348.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433334841898276546" /></a><br />When was a time you saw the world differently?<br /><br />Shortly after my son was born, I was teaching about Mahler's Kindertotenlieder in my music history class, which I had done several times before. In the opening piece of this song cycle, we find a father facing the sunrise after his son died in the night. Exhausted physically and emotionally from the prior night's tragedy, he reflects that the sun rises with the promise of a new day without regard for his own sorrow. Standing before my students, I suddenly understood this piece in a way that I never had before, connecting the father's experience to my new fatherhood, and I wept.<br /><br />_________________________________________________________<br /><br />Maria Mowbray, Executive Director, Rock For Kids, Chicago<br /><br />Maria Mowbray met with members of Congress in 2009 at National Arts Advocacy Day and then traveled to Springfield to meet with the state representatives and state senators who serve Rock for Kids stakeholders. Maria is pictured below with State Senator Antonio Munoz (D-1) in Springfield.<br /><br />Motto: "There are no problems -- only solutions." (I use this as my motto, but I have to admit I stole it from Maestro Paul Freeman of the Chicago Sinfonietta.)<br /><br />What motivated you to speak out for the arts with your elected officials?<br /><br />As a nonprofit organization that provides services for children living in poverty, we are often in the position of giving a voice to those who do not have one, and as arts educators, we share with students the tools to voice the abstract. It is imperative that arts organizations like Rock For Kids utilize the political system to add their voices to the discourse on what is important to us as a society. There is no better way to do this than make the effort to meet face to face with elected officials and share with them concrete evidence of the positive impact the arts are having among their constituents.<br /><br />Proactive advocacy and a unified message are our strongest allies in the fight to preserve the arts and arts education in this country.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9hnadezu_SrRqTjeso_F4ZjslOGqWlv-J1R1mXTd-UJYtHja3_O-sTN4QNqGYfj_1HL3VIgalkxob3Hg_3Z5uhKscAS4GA90B7LAZx0OWp6UbLeaVhZzrLyPwKMD0GNh9S_hOp0FDHV4/s1600-h/350.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9hnadezu_SrRqTjeso_F4ZjslOGqWlv-J1R1mXTd-UJYtHja3_O-sTN4QNqGYfj_1HL3VIgalkxob3Hg_3Z5uhKscAS4GA90B7LAZx0OWp6UbLeaVhZzrLyPwKMD0GNh9S_hOp0FDHV4/s200/350.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433335803818790706" /></a><br />Why do you think people should care about the arts?<br /><br />There are so many reasons to care about the arts! Arts tourism produces a significant amount of state and municipal revenue. Providing arts education early on in a child's life has a significant impact on cognitive development, and the creative thinking skills developed while learning in the arts can easily translate into the competitive job market. But beyond that, the arts give us the means to define and document where we've been individually and as a nation, as well as the freedom to imagine where we are going.<br /><br />When was a time you saw the world differently?<br /><br />Recently a student enrolled in Rock For Kid's Songwriting for Teens class in Pullman shared song lyrics about her cousin who was killed by gun violence. The resulting conversation among the students about how to interpret those feelings in music demonstrated the transformative and healing capabilities of the creative process. <br /><br />_________________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />Penny Wollan-Kriel, Acting Director, Springfield Area Arts Council<br /><br />Penny Wollan-Kriel participated in the January 13 Responsible Budget Call-In Day.<br /><br />Motto: "Hang in there -- the arts will be around long after we are gone."<br /><br />What motivated you to speak out for the arts with your elected officials?<br /><br />The arts are critical and the budget allocation for the Illinois Arts Council has been decimated over the past few years. Further cuts just cannot be considered. As the administrator of an arts organization which has felt the results of the reduced budgets, I needed to voice my opinion. <br /><br />(Pictured below: an art show at the University of Illinois at Springfield.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_NG2AAqacog7sWyid-pK6qi7OtuiEx91Spe_CZRwGKbHIVSPblhG8-TD-c0mZuTR5FNPhYVBJQVNHzZ_u6INFiR3YFRQgN0IEqeBHVwMcOef8-zLBan0lb4jh5i7xupPEDZ_yu9XZk0t/s1600-h/349.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_NG2AAqacog7sWyid-pK6qi7OtuiEx91Spe_CZRwGKbHIVSPblhG8-TD-c0mZuTR5FNPhYVBJQVNHzZ_u6INFiR3YFRQgN0IEqeBHVwMcOef8-zLBan0lb4jh5i7xupPEDZ_yu9XZk0t/s200/349.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433336290893521218" /></a><br />What, if any, obstacles did you face in speaking out?<br /><br />None. Since our service area is in two districts, I called both Representatives Poe and Brauer as well as Senator Bomke. The staff members I spoke with listened, thanked me for calling, and indicated they would relay the message.<br /><br />Why do you think people should care about the arts?<br /><br />As has been said before (and I couldn't express it any better or more succinctly): "The arts are the soul of a people."<br /><br />_________________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />Heard on the Arts Alliance Illinois Facebook Page<br /><br />Members of the Arts Alliance Illinois Facebook community were asked, "Why do you think people should care about the arts?"<br /><br />Pat Navadomskis -- The arts develop critical thinking skills, open people up, and [let us] build and share community.<br /><br />Sandra Ahten -- I don't think people SHOULD care about the arts. Care about art if it is in you to care about art. If it is not, you probably get your fulfillment in other ways. Expression will come forth in different ways for everyone. That said, I think children should be exposed to many different things, including the arts.<br /><br />Chris Milostan -- Arts -- being engaged in the creative process -- is holistic integration and balance of body, mind, and spirit. It reduces stress, helps people adapt to change more effectively, and fosters innovation of new ideas, products, services, etc. Our country, planet, and the human community needs creative expression.<br /><br />Beverly Holmes Hughes -- The arts hold the core of the story of who we are by sharing what we are about.<br /><br />Martha Frish Okabe -- The arts provide insight into ourselves and others, and can be a source of sheer joy. Sometimes that joy comes instinctively, and sometimes one needs to be taught some basics before that art form can be appreciated. It's not always easy, but it's worth the effort.<br /><br />Add your voice to the conversation at www.facebook.com/artsallianceillinois.Quincy Community Theatrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09534488789682802174noreply@blogger.com0