FIRST PALACE THEATRICAL PRODUCTION

 A  ROUSING SUCCESS!

The ACT I Variety Show, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” the premiere theatrical production in the Palace Theatre, successfully closed on Sunday, December 5.  The Christmas extravaganza featuring Benton County talent of all ages drew nearly packed houses for all three shows.

Variety Show performers, Alan Woodhouse, Peggy Weideman, Gerald and Clare Horst, sharing secrets and quietly waiting behind the scenes for their moment on stage.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TO ARRIVE JANUARY 9

Welcoming Event Scheduled

Kathleen Berger, our Artist in Residence, will arrive in Vinton on January 10, and will immediately join the "Secret Garden" cast in rehearsals.  She will also complete the casting for our children’s theatre production, “Hansel and Gretel,” and will perform the following recitals:

An Evening on Broadway with Kathleen Berger

January 15 and 22, 7:30 PM

Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton

Featuring Kathleen singing a collection of her favorite

show tunes in an informal cabaret atmosphere!

With catering by the 4th Street Coffee Co.

Kathleen Berger Classical Concert

January 30. 2:00 PM

The Palace Theatre

An exciting afternoon of classical and operatic selections from Kathleen’s lyric coloratura repertory.  The first half of the program features works by 18^th and 19^th century composers,

with all 20^th century works featured after the intermission.

A murder mystery at The Lion and the Lamb Bed and Breakfast, “Murder at the Opera,” is booked for the first weekend of Kathleen’s Vinton stay.  This welcoming event is scheduled for January 14.  Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by contacting Steve Arnold at 472-5308 or SARNOLDIA@aol.com.  All ACT I members are encouraged to reserve tickets and join in on the dramatic welcome!

The December ACT I Board Meeting will be held in January.  Due to many conflicts, the December board meeting, which serves as our membership meeting, will be held on Sunday, January 9 at 7:00 PM at the Mercantile Bank Building.  All ACT I members are welcome to attend!

December Trivia Quiz

 (Technology… in the spirit of Y2K)

This month we look at various forms of technology as portrayed in ACT I shows.  Name the show in which the following piece of machinery or marvel of technology was used:

1.      Which show has running water in a sink?

2.      Which show had running water from a pump?

3.      Which show had a character riding a bicycle?

4.      Which show opened with an author seated at a typewriter?

5.      In which show was there an elevator on the set?

6.      In which play did a scene occur in which five women were talking on telephones?

7.      In which show did several characters spend extended time under hair dryers?

Answers to the November Trivia Quiz

(Shows Never Produced by ACT I)

1.       “Nunsense”

2.       “Cabaret”

3.       “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” or “Noises Off”

4.       “Annie”

5.       “Deathtrap”

6.       “Sweeney Todd”

Surfer Steve Weiss answered 4 out of 6 correctly,

but John Sweeney (of Queens, New York) got them all correct!  Congratulations John!!

Please submit entries to Marcy Horst, 1307 C Ave, Vinton 52349 or g.horst@www.mebbs.com

Former ACT I Player Passes Away

Elizabeth Young, an elderly lady from Cedar Rapids, who participated in several ACT I productions 10 years ago, died Christmas week.  Elizabeth was in her 80s when she began participating in ACT I.  She and her husband raised a large family, all without the benefit of motor vehicles.  They walked everywhere.  The first time Elizabeth came to audition for an ACT I show she came in a taxi from Cedar Rapids, with the meter running while she auditioned.  When she was in a show she would stay at the local motel.  She was a very colorful, eccentric, and delightful individual. 

Toy Story 2 opened Christmas week to sell-out crowds!

Members of the Month

Sisters Halane Cummings and Diana Lamphier

Halane and Diana performing the crowd-pleasing improvisation of “An Interview with Mrs. Claus” in the December variety show.  Grease Paint editor Marcy Horst recently caught up with the sisters on-line.

What was your first theatre experience?

Halane:  My first theatre experience was in high school. We did "Oliver" and I played the Artful Dodger.  I was also Mama in "Bye Bye Birdie", Lucy in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and Jessica in "Murder on Center Stage."
Diana:  My first acting experience came in 5th grade when I had a sizable part in our school's Christmas pageant.  I also learned at this time the importance of keeping your legs together while on stage!!!

How did you become involved with ACT I?

Halane:  I became involved in ACT I when a production that Diana was in needed a fast replacement. That was as Trixie in "The Broadway Melody Murder Mystery" (or whatever it was, I can never remember the real name). From there I was hooked.
Diana: My first Act I experience was with “The Foreigner.”

What was your favorite role?

Halane:  My favorite would have to be Mama in "Bye Bye Birdie.”  I loved the over-the-top character!
Diana:  My favorite would probably be the same “Foreigner,” because it was fun being at the Old Creamery in Garrison, thinking about all of those who had also been on that stage.  Also because it was a fun cast to work with.  Boardwalk Mystery was also a fun one because of Sisters Ron and Halane (it was the first time working with her).

What do you do in your real life?

Halane:  In my real life I'm a high school teacher at Center Point-Urbana. I teach health and career planning. Before that I was a camp director for Camp Hitaga. My hobbies include reading, gardening, canning and camping.
Diana: I teach k-4 physical education and health at Center Point-Urbana.  Besides plays and movies, I love to read, play golf, and just plain loaf with my family.  (Notice nowhere does it say anything about cooking and cleaning!!)

Family?

Halane:  Currently my husband Phil and our dog, Ding. We are expecting our first child in September.
Diana:  I have two older, married step children, Ron and Deb, plus my daughter Carrie who is a sophomore at Kirkwood and James a Jr. at CPU. Can't forget my biggest kid, my husband Marion who works at Rockwell.

What future show would you most like to be involved in?

Halane:  I would love to be Mama Rose in "Gypsy." She's another pushy mama type. I seem to be drawn to those characters that are larger than life. I can't see myself playing a Julie Andrews type. I saw "Rent" last year and would love to be involved; I just don't think Vinton will ever be ready for it.
Diana:  The show I would love to do??? Is Vinton ready for Hair??? Probably not, so I would have to say a musical comedy where it wouldn't matter that I can't sing, even though I love to.

Do you enjoy working with each other?

Halane:  Do I enjoy working with Diana? What did she say? I guess it's OK. A person has to be careful, though. Did you ever see the movie "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"  Crazy sister keeps much more talented sister (me) locked away because of jealousy. (Just kidding)
Diana:  Working with Halane?? What can I say but she had to learn her acting talent from someone and I have been acting as the big sister for years. In reality, I actually think it’s a little harder because she will yell at me if I mess up or give her the wrong cue where everyone else is nice and understanding!!!!

ACT I is fortunate to count among their membership Halane and Diana.

Message from the Editor

Across America, the number one gift for the 1999 buying season may very well have been Yellow Pokemon, but here in Benton County it was certainly the $2.00 and $5.50 movie passes!  I’m so thrilled that my seventh grader has a fun, SAFE place to go with her friends (if the rating’s right!) and that Ger and I have a convenient, no excuses date opportunity.  And Toy Story 2 for Christmas week!  It was too good to be true.  Add to all that big screen excitement a bit of culture with coloratura soprano Kathleen Berger, “The Secret Garden,” and “Hansel and Gretel,” and you’ve found yourself at the Palace Theatre at the TURN OF THE CENTURY!  Happy New Year.

Marcy g.horst@www.mebbs.com  472-551

That's Grease Paint for January, 2000!

To look back at previous online issues, visit our Grease Paint Archives page by clicking here!

Home
Grease Paint Online    Current Season    Scrapbook
Palace Theatre Virtual Tour    ACT I STAGE!   Gems
E-Box Office    Auditions and Calendar   All About Us    Links