PALACE THEATRE

GRAND REOPENING!

On Sunday, November 14, at approximately 4:10 PM, Vinton Mayor Dave Vermadahl ascended the Palace stage to initiate the ribbon cutting ceremony to reopen the Palace Theatre, which closed in 1972.  The ribbon was cut by Palace Committee member, Ray Bookmeier.  Following congratulatory applause and cheers, the audience was treated to, “Runaway Bride,” the first movie shown in the refurbished Palace. Tickets for this special initial showing and the 7:00 PM show later that evening sold for $25, and proceeds of the Opening Night totaled more than enough to finish paying for the $6,000 video projector.

 The romantic comedy starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts was a perfect choice for opening week at the Palace.  All theatre goers departed Sunday with their hearts a bit lighter and their smiles a bit broader!  If you missed Opening Week at the theatre, take advantage of the reasonable $2.00 ticket price, and see “Sixth Sense,” which opens on Friday, November 19, and runs through Thanksgiving.  After that it’s “Tarzan.” Don’t forget to buy popcorn!  It’s delicious, with just the right amount of butter!!

ACT I VARIETY SHOW

SET TO OPEN DECEMBER 3, 4, AND 5.

The Following Acts Have Been Booked For the Show:

The ACT I Variety Show, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” directed by Kevin Bookmeier, will be the premiere theatrical production in the Palace Theatre.  The Palace will not show a movie on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of that week to allow for dress rehearsals and performances.

You won’t want to miss this wealth of talent all appearing on the same stage!  Performances Friday and Saturday evening, December 3 and 4, begin at 7:30 PM.  Sunday’s matinee showing, on December 5, starts at 2:00 PM.

 FINAL INSTALLATION

OF PALACE MARQUEE COMPLETE

Austin Karr changes the movie billing on the Palace marquee.  The last pieces of the impressive marquee were installed on Thursday, November 11.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TO ARRIVE JANUARY 9

Welcoming Event Scheduled

Kathleen Berger, our Artist in Residence, will arrive in Vinton on January 9, and will immediately join the “Secret Garden” cast in rehearsals.  She will also complete the casting for “Hansel and Gretel,” and will perform January recitals.  A murder mystery dinner 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.  Participants costume themselves for specific characters and everyone at the table is a suspect!  Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by contacting Steve Arnold at SARNOLDIA@aol.com.  All ACT I members are encouraged to reserve tickets and join in on the dramatic welcome!

ACT I 2000-2001 PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Act I Planning Committee, chaired by Larry Adams-Bowers, met on Thursday, November 11.  They have begun the process of talking with directors to choose a well-balanced season of productions for the second year at the Palace.  The committee would like to have the shows and directors selected by February so that the season can be announced by “The Secret Garden,” or soon after. 

November Trivia Quiz

(Shows Never Produced By Act I)

This month, for a change of pace, our quiz features shows which have never been performed by ACT I, with one of our previous or upcoming shows as the clue.

1. A popular musical featuring a chorus of nuns, but NOT “The Sound of Music.” 
2. A well known classic Broadway musical set in Europe in the 1930s which portrays the rise of Nazism, but again, NOT  “The Sound of Music.”
3. A classic comedy using a play within a play format, about a group of hack actors bumbling their way through producing a show, but NOT “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
4. A heartwarming story about an orphan girl who finds happiness with a wealthy bachelor benefactor, but NOT “The Secret Garden.”
5. A thriller featuring two male actors carrying out a “not what it seems” murder plot, but NOT “Sleuth. ”
6. A musical featuring a deviant old woman who bakes people in her oven, but NOT “Hansel and Gretel.”

 Answers to the October Trivia Quiz

(Death and Transfiguration)

1.  “The Miracle Worker”
2.  “Bridge to Terabithia”
3.  “The Secret Garden”
4.  “The Prince and the Pauper”
5.  “The Lion , the Witch , and the Wardrobe”
6.  “Oliver!”
7.  “Twigs”

  No one returned any entries last month!  You can win without answering every question.  He or she with the most correct answers will be next month’s celebrated player.   It could be you!  You can’t win if you don’t play!

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

  Members of the Month

Kevin Bookmeier, Austin Karr, Matt Salger

Professional volunteers, Kevin Bookmeier, Austin Karr, and Matt Salger couldn’t be happier or more proud to see the Palace Theatre up and running.  These three young men have a personal stake in the community theatre project.  They think it’s a great  way to pick up chicks!  Actually, at least one of the gentlemen has a steady girlfriend.  The real interest Kevin, Austin, and Matt have in the Palace is the multitudes of hours they’ve donated to help plan and renovate the theatre.

The three friends are well known ACT I members.  They all joined the group a number of years ago; Kevin in “Bridge to Terabithia,” Austin in “Girls in 509,” and Matt as a technician in “Sound of Music.”  The have since all acted and worked behind the scenes in many, many ACT I productions. 

“My favorite ACT I show has to be “Life With Father.”  It was the first show I was involved in where the entire cast participated in tech and props.  It was so cool to see everyone working together.”-Austin

Kevin also cites “Life With Father” as his favorite ACT I production.  “The cast was small and we all got to know each other.”

Matt, on the other hand, chose “Boardwalk Melody Hour Murders.”  “I got to see Austin in fishnets, heels, and a bra.”

The Washington High School graduates are all currently working as projectionists at the Palace.  Austin and Kevin also both work for Apex Office Supply.  Kevin holds a third job at Karr Tuckpointing, and Matt is a junior sociology and communications major at UNI, while Austin is enrolled at UNI for the spring term this year.  When questioned about other community involvement or hobbies, all three responded with a resounding “PALACE!”

“The Palace Reconstruction Project has been a huge part of my life.  I am amazed at the community support that was launched. Although frustrating at times, through the Project, I have made good friends and grown closer to old ones.  I hope everyone has memories like this.  I will have them forever.  I thank each and every one involved, Kurt, Lu, Julie, Kevin, Ray. Barb, Jan and everyone else!  A special thanks to Austin for all the great times.   See you at the movies!” -Matt

“It is so great to see the entire town coming alive; the Palace, new businesses, new downtown.  Vinton is a city to be proud of.  We want the Palace to be a part of everyone’s lives.  We love it and want it to do well.  People my age will be able to bring their children here someday and remember to day it reopened.  What a great memory!” -Austin

“Come see the Palace and all aspects…movies, plays, speeches, or anything else.  It’s a wonderful place to be.  See you at the Palace!” –Kevin

ACT I thanks Kevin, Austin, and Matt for their hard work and dedication. 

Message from the Editor

I’m pleased to report that the Horst family attended the Opening Night movie at the Palace, and managed NOT to be the first ones to spill popcorn or pop in the beautiful new facility!  It was indeed an evening we’ll all remember.

Marcy g.horst@www.mebbs.com  472-5518

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