Volume 13, Number 6                  May, 2007

Season 2006 - 2007 Concludes at the Palace Theatre  ...

Moon Over Buffalo
Opens May 11

ACT I's twenty-seventh season concludes with our Main Stage production of the Ken Ludwig comedy, Moon over Buffalo.  The production opens Friday, May 11 and runs for two weekends.  The story is about a group of traveling actors with more ego than talent, stuck in a road show of Cyrano De Bergerac.  Will that call from director Frank Capra pull them out of obscurity into the big time?   The show was written by Ken Ludwig, who wrote Lend Me a Tenor, produced by ACT I last March.  Like last year's show, Moon Over Buffalo features physical comedy and mistaken identities.  We also advise parental discretion due to adult dialogue.

The production is sponsored by Betterton Family Chiropractic, Matt Betterton.  Dr. Betterton sponsors his first ACT I show with this production.

Moon Over Buffalo is directed by David Canaday, who makes his debut as a Main Stage production director.  He has been seen onstage in numerous ACT I productions and directed our Events Series production of The Book of Murder.  He was also music director for last fall's production of 110 in the Shade.  The cast includes Rick Primmer as George, the company's leading man, and Diane Maxwell as his wife Charlotte.  Rick first appeared in 110 in the Shade.  Diane is a veteran of several recent ACT  I productions.  Also in the cast are ACT I veterans Alex Martinez-Vasquez as Paul, Rachel Kramer as Rosalind, Rick Maxwell as Harold, Suzie Westlund as Eileen, and Jill g. Lockard-Bopp as Ethel.  Peter Olander makes his ACT I debut as Richard.

Assistant Director for Moon Over Buffalo is Anthony Bopp.  The Stage Manager is Doug Martens.  The Set design and construction is by Ed Cardwell, and the lighting design is by Eric Upmeyer.  Sound is by Bill Hawk and the lighting operator is Anthony Bopp.  Jill g. Lockard-Bopp is in charge of costumes and properties are by Pam Primmer.  Anthony Bopp and Pam Hyberger created the logo design, and the House Manager is Lu Karr.

Performances for Moon Over Buffalo will be Fridays and Saturdays, May 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 7:00 pm and Sundays, May 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm.  All tickets are $5.00.

For additional information about this production, go to the Moon Over Buffalo show page of this website at www.act1.org/buffalo.htm.

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is (319) 472-9957!  Call today for Reservations for Moon Over Buffalo!

The Old Creamery Theatre Returns to Benton County ...

Season 2007 - 2008 Announced

Kids' Kabaret

Flying Colors

Greater Tuna

Ledge, Ledger, Legend

Nunsense

On Golden Pond

The Board of Directors of ACT I of Benton County is pleased to announce its season for 2007 - 2008, which includes an exciting new association with our founding organization, The Old Creamery Theatre Company.  The theme for the new season, our twenty-eighth, will be "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much."

The new season begins early, kicking off on June 16 and 17 with the first of our children's theatre productions.  Kid's Kabaret will be the first of two cooperative ventures with the Old Creamery Theatre Company of Amana, and formerly of Garrison.  It will be the culmination of Camp Creamery, a week long theatre camp for students between the ages of seven and thirteen, held at the Palace Theatre in Vinton.  Camp Creamery is a new offering by the Old Creamery Theatre, in which actors from the company spend a week with students in a camp setting, ending with public performances of their work at the end of the week.  The Vinton performances will be the pilot for Camp Creamery, but after developing the concept for us, the Creamery has marketed it to other communities as well and already has other bookings scheduled.  Working with our students will be the Old Creamery's Education Director Jackie Wynes, as well as long time Creamery favorites Sean McCall and Deb Kennedy.

Second Stage! Children's Theatre, our children's theatre production team for the southern end of Benton County, takes to the stage from June 29 - July 1 at the Benton Community High School in Van Horne with their production of Flying Colors.  Flying Colors will be directed by Mary Horst.

Our fall production will be a special treat for ACT I patrons.  As most of you know, ACT I was founded nearly 28 years ago by the Old Creamery Theatre Company, who hosted all of our early productions on the stages of their theatre in Garrison.  Now we come full circle, as we host a production by the Old Creamery on OUR resident stage in Vinton!  The show will be Greater Tuna,  performed by the Old Creamery at the Palace Theatre September 21 - 23, 2007.  The production will be seen in Amana at the company's depot stage this summer, and will move to Vinton for additional performances for us.  We and David Kilpatrick, the Old Creamery's brand new producing director, are very pleased to have this new venture occur between old friends!

In November we will present a dinner theatre at the Vinton Country Club, Ledge, Ledger, Legend.  Production dates are November 9 and 10, 2007, and it will be directed by Mary Horst.

The new season's musical will be the rollicking comedy Nunsense, presented at the Palace Theatre on March 7 - 17, 2008  The show is directed by Sue Freet.

The season ends May 9 - 18, 2008 with the heartwarming comedy/drama On Golden Pond.  Made famous by the film version of the play staring Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn, the ACT I production will be directed by Nancy Beckman.

Ticket prices for Season 2007 - 2008 will be $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and seniors.  There will be special pricing for the dinner theatre, to be announced later.

It's not to late to Participate in Camp Creamery!

We still have some openings for students between the ages of 7 and 13 to participate in Camp Creamery and to participate in the performances June 16 and 17 of Kids Kabaret!  A maximum of 75 students will participate, and there are still some vacancies; so if you are interested let us know ASAP!  Cost for Camp Creamery is $25 per student.  If you are interested, please contact us by e-mail with your mailing address at act1ofbc@aol.com or by contacting Joan Cooling or Steve Arnold, and we'll get those registration forms right out to you!  Don't miss this chance to spend a week working directly with Old Creamery actors Sean McCall, Deb Kennedy, and Jackie Wynes!

Main Stage Series at the Palace  ...

The Cemetery Club
Enjoys Successful Run in March

ACT I's Main Stage Series for Season 2006 - 2007 scored a hit and an artistic triumph with our recent production of The Cemetery Club at the Palace Theatre in Vinton.  Director Sue Freet and her cast - Bunny Fritch, Linda Merritt, Vanessa Lipscomb, Alan Nebola, and Jill g. Lockard-Bopp, did a superb job of presenting this bittersweet comedy about three Jewish widows in New York who devote themselves to monthly visits to their late husbands' graves, until romance develops for one.  The production played successfully to six appreciate houses in March.

The Cemetery Club was sponsored by the Vinton Eagle.  Assistant Director was Suzie Westlund.  

Performance Photographs

For additional information about this production, including more photographs, go to the Cemetery Club show page of this website at www.act1.org/cemetery.htm. 

The current ACT I season is winding to a close, and as we look forward to our exciting twenty-eighth season, it's time to consider some changes in Grease Paint production.  I have edited our online newsletter for seven out of the past nine years and co-edited for an additional year during that time.  I really feel it's time for a fresh perspective covering ACT I's news and a new voice at the helm of Grease Paint.

If you are interested in producing or helping to produce our long-time newsletter, I would be more than delighted to hand the reins over to an individual or individuals who are up to the task.  I promise a smooth transition and to stay out of your way.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this task, but I feel that making a change is in ACT I's best interest as well as my own, as I am hoping to gain additional time for other creative projects.

If you would like to be part of Grease Paint for next year, please contact me at act1ofbc@aol.com so we can begin to make plans for next season's coverage!

See you at the Palace for Moon Over Buffalo!

Steve

That's Grease Paint for May, 2007!

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

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