Grease Paint Online; October, 2002

Join the ACT I Events Series Halloween Spectacular at the Ray House, Monster Medley Spooktacular, directed by Mary Horst.

Alien monsters, mad doctors, spooks of all manner and species await. Mark your calendar or memorize the date!

For additional information about this production (including a full cast list and more pictures) go to the Monster Medley Spooktacular page of this website at www.act1.org/monster.htm.

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is 472-9957. Call now for reservations for Monster Medley Spooktacular!

Recently, Sue Gates, principal at Shellsburg Elementary, contacted ACT I with an offer of several band uniforms for our costume shop coffers. The donation consisted of approximately 150 uniforms, some blue and gold, and some black and gold. The bounty completely filled one new rack in the ACT I Costume Shop.

The uniforms have already been solicited for use on stage. Tilford Middle School will present The Music Man on October 17, 2002, at 7:00 PM, in the Tilford Auditorium. Come enjoy this classic musical and the classic colors of the Vinton-Shellsburg band.

Several ACT I members have volunteered to portray Vinton personalities from the past in this year’s Cemetery Walk, sponsored by Overton-Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home and the Benton County Historical Society. Presentations include Gerald Horst as Aubrey "Cobb" Smock - movie film operator at the Palace Theatre, sign painter, artist, musician, clown, dancer; Greg Walston as George Tannehill - blind math teacher, IBSSS, Board of Methodist Church, City Council, money lender; Alan Nebola as Rev. Stephen Phelps - 1st pastor United Presbyterian Church, President of Coe College; Halane Cummings as Elizabeth Williams - librarian Vinton Public Library, left her home to library, now Overton-Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home; and Pat Lyons as Frank Ray - businessman, canning, implements, coal, Mason, State Bank of Vinton.

A comprehensive packet of historical information, compiled by Rich Farmer, pertaining to a particular deceased individual was given to each participating actor. Rich Farmer is a local 7^th grade social studies teacher and Benton County history buff.

The actors themselves are responsible for putting together a short 10-15 minute script or program to present on October 19, once at 12:00 NOON, and again at 1:30 PM at the Evergreen Cemetery. October 19 is Vinton’s Fall Festival Celebration, including a performance of the Community Choir and other activities on the Court House lawn, as well as the popular Cemetery Walk.

You won’t want to miss our

Act I studio work day!

Pack up your paintbrushes, brooms and buckets, and join your fellow actors, directors, techies, makeup artists, costumers, and other assorted crazies on Sunday, November 3 at the AC T I Studio, above Clingman Pharmacy. The festivities begin at 1:00 sharp. This is your chance to make history. The carpet is coming down. Don’t leave us hanging alone in the dust.

Many Thanks to Roger Albert
for replacing the broken window
in the ACT I studio!

The month of September saw a new look at the Palace Theatre, with updated flooring, and beautiful color and movie art on the walls. As you are admiring the stylish overhaul, don’t miss ACT I’s contribution. ACT I GEM sponsors, the guardian angels of our community theatre, are now recognized publicly on an engraved plaque displayed at the Palace Theatre. The plaque presents sponsors from last season, 2001-2002. In June of 2003, ACT I’s year-end, the plaque will be updated to include our sponsors from this season, 2002-2003.

In the past, GEM sponsors have been recognized with a personal plaque for each individual or business. The ACT I board recently decided that one plaque, prominently exhibited, would better credit our generous contributors.

It’s never too late to become a Palace GEM sponsor! The donations of these ACT I supporters enable us to keep our ticket prices reasonable while providing quality theatre, including everything from programs to set design and authentic costuming. Call Marcy Horst, 472-5518, or Joan Cooling, 472-4551, to add your name or business to the growing list.

Cedar River Ink, Mike and Joyce Svoboda
Clingman Pharmacy, Jon and Julie Clingman
Expressions!, Mark and Lori Smith
Farmers Savings Bank, Bill Owens,

Steve Arnold
Benton County State Bank, David R. Horst, pres.
Horst Family Players, Gerald and Marcy Horst
David and Mary Horst
JL Wilson Construction
Vernon Research Group, Pat Lyons
Craig and Jaimie Walker
Theresa Werner

Phil and Linda Barkdoll
Carmie and Dave Behrens
Cooling Dance Center, Joan and Casey Cooling
Frazier Nursery, John and Carolyn Frazier
Rob Glass
Bill and Beth Owens
SongSpace Studio, April Noeller
Jeannie Springer, The InSeam
Dave and Rachelle Timmerman
Vinton Chiropractic, Dr. Rex and Jeanne Christy

Roger and Dorothy Albert
Dean and Nancy Beckman
The Solutions Store, Ltd., Rick and Betsy Hadley
Three Rivers Insurance, David Vermedahl

Pat and Laurie Hyland family
Matt and Robin Martin
LaGrange Pharmacy, Inc.
Mark and Deb Wilberg
4th St. Coffee Company

Grand Marshall: Long time ACT I member and board member Ron Baldwin was honored by WHS students last Friday when he was named Grand Marshall for the Homecoming parade. Congratulations, Ron!

Dear Grease Paint

ACT I and the editors of Grease Paint want to hear from you! What show did you love? Who cracked you up on stage? Which production would you like to see next season? We’re interested in your opinion, including your beefs and grievances. (All opinions will be reported, as long as they are tastefully presented!) Below is our first installment. Send your comments, compliments, and criticisms to Marcy Horst, 1307 C Ave., Vinton, 52349, g.horst@www.mebbs.com, or Steve Arnold, 603 West 18^th St., Vinton, 52349, SARNOLDIA@aol.com.

I am very grateful for being chosen to be the member of the month. Julie and I have always had a great appreciation for live theatre. We have attended several topnotch productions at many theaters. We have also introduced our daughter, Emma, to live theater at a very early age. The first play that I remember taking Emma to was ACT I’s production of Oliver! Emma was 3 or 4 years old and must have asked Julie 50 questions during the show. She was so thrilled to see so many kids on stage singing that she rented the video repeatedly until she knew every song verbatim. Since them Emma has been to Cats, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Riverdance, and many more. Emma’s big dream is to see Les Miserable. She already knows all of the songs. Emma is the actress of the family.

I personally have not participated in any ACT I productions. My favorite ACT I production was ACT I’s compilation of the works of Skeet Powers. I enjoyed this production because it was so indicative of the talent that can be found here in Vinton. I have known Skeet and enjoyed his humor for years, but I gained a true appreciation for his talent and his insight as a result of this production.

ACT I is leading the way in making sure that the arts are thriving in Vinton. Bringing back the Palace Theatre and steadily enhancing our live theater offers the community an avenue of expression not often found in towns this size. While hosting the artists for Vinton’s 2000 Harvest of Walls Mural Festival, one artist stated that without art we have nothing. Without art we lessen our ability to express our appreciation of the past, our opinions on issues today, and our dreams for a brighter tomorrow. Thank you ACT I for helping to nurture this ability in our youth and community.

Sherry Stout (center) as actress Lilli Vanessi is surrounded by reporters and fans as she enters Ford's Theatre in Baltimore (aka The Palace Theatre in Vinton) shortly before curtain time as part of our recent production of the Cole Porter musical Kiss Me, Kate.

For additional information about this production, go to the Kiss Me, Kate page of this website, www.act1.org/kate.htm

Who ya gonna call? Nope, not Ghostbusters. 472-2511. That’s the Greg and Diane Walston family on 4^th Street. Now, Diane may try to reign Greg in, show him the already jam packed calendar, and remind him, you’ve got to learn to say NO every once in a while, but Greg just can’t help himself. He’s just gotta help!

Charlotte’s Web – I don’t know, I’ve never done anything like that before. What the heck, I’ll give it a try; I’m just an old farmer at heart anyway.

Cemetery Walk – Write my own script? I might need some help, but I’ll do it.

That’s just a small sample of the generosity and community spirit embodied in the larger than life, exuberant, likable Greg Walston. And, while we haven’t gotten her on stage, YET, Diane is Greg’s perfect match. Make cookies, make phone calls, police kids, House Manager… Diane can be counted on for much more than her fair share of the effort.

Both Greg and Diane work outside the home. Greg works for Non-Profit Services, helping schools and other organizations raise money, and Diane is the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vinton. They are both extremely active within the church structure. Diane inevitably takes on many more duties than are part of the DRE’s job description and is an active member of the Rosary Society. Greg is a member of the Preschool Board, the RE Board, the Parish Council, the St. Mary’s Choir and Unplugged ensemble, and the Knights of Columbus.

This active, contributing lifestyle was bound to rub off on the Walston offspring. Sara, 8^th grade, and Matt, 3^rd grade, are both ACT I veterans. Sara has appeared in Charlotte’s Web, The Red Shoes, and Ogre Here, Ogre There. She’s also a server at church and an active Youth Group participant. Sarah is a dancer, in choir at school and church and involved in many other school activities including band, musicals and plays, and cross country. Matt joined us for the first time last summer as a Human Bean in Once Upon a Vine. He has recently been rehearsing to take part in Monster Medley Spooktacular and proving himself to be a chip off the old Walston block. Greg and Diane have one older daughter, Amanda, a freshman at UNI.

The Walstons are great people to count among your closest friends; in that ACT I is truly blessed. How can you become a friend of the Walstons? Just say hello.

As for ACT I, we know who to call! There’s a Studio clean up day on the horizon and we need all the willing and able hands we can muster. Walstons, if you’re not busy…..

In our recent production of Kiss Me, Kate, Greg (right) played a gangster who arrived by car in full view of the audience with Cody Robison (left) during the first ever use of a motor vehicle during an ACT I performance.

View the past articles in our Member of the Month series! All previous Member of the Month features (beginning with September, 1998) have been archived and can be accessed in one convenient place. Older articles have been updated to make the members' accomplishments current! To visit the Member of the Month Archives, go to www.act1.org/mom.htm.

As we go into the Halloween season with our production of Monster Medley Spooktacular, we look back at our own previous supernatural portrayals.

1. In which production did half the cast die at the beginning of the show to become ghosts haunting the other half of the cast for the remainder?

3. In which play does the ghost of a murdered character make a chilling appearance to a relative?

4. In which ACT I production were ghosts played by Ron Baldwin, Nancy Beckman, and Ed Dickerson?

5. In what play did Kordereau Sellers play the ghostly memory of Emily Zimmer’s little brother?

6. Name an ACT I production in which a witch was dressed in white instead of black.

8. Name the ACT I production in which numerous characters were falsely accused of witchcraft.

9. In which past show was a spell cast on a pair of shoes that forced a little girl to dance continuously?

1. "A plague on both your houses!" Mercutio to the crowd in Romeo and Juliet

2. "You're a pompous twit!" Leslie Tate to Dr. Mortimore in It Runs in the Family

3. "Hey, _____ , when was the last time you called up a girl and she said 'yes?'" Walter Hollander to Krojack in Don't Drink the Water

4. "You are a booby, and I'm going to have to put you in the booby hatch!"
Wife to the husband during "The Unicorn in the Garden" sequence of A Thurber Carnival

5. "You squashed cabbage leaf! You disgrace to the noble architecture of these columns!" Henry Higgins to Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady

6. "There's a name for a man like you! You're . . . a jilt!" Clyde Miller to Clarence Day, Sr. in Life with Mother

7. "You got the screwiest uncle that ever stuck his puss inside our nuthouse!"
Wilson to Myrtle Mae in Harvey

8. "You are also one of the biggest slobs in the world. And completely unreliable. Undependable. Unappreciative, irresponsible, and indescribably inefficient."
Florence Unger to Olive Madison in The Odd Couple, female version

Wielding her deadly ladle, Nancy Beckman as Florence Unger tells off Bunny Feller as Olive Madison in our June, 1993 production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, female version

Congratulations to Jessica Rundlett who answered 3 out of 8 questions correctly!
Florence Unger to Olive Madison in The Odd Couple, female version

The next meeting of the Board of ACT I of Benton County will be Saturday, November 2, 2002, at 1:00 PM at the Pizza Ranch.
Members and visitors are always welcome at board meetings!

Quarterly Membership Meetings are held in the months of March, June, September, and December.

Minutes of previous meetings of the ACT I board from July, 2000 on can be accessed from a link on the "Everything You Need to Know About ACT I" page, or on the "Minutes" page of our website, www.act1.org/minutes.htm.

My sister-in-law, Mary, recent summer director, grant writer, set designer, costume shop custodian, and esteemed head of the B-town Horst Contingency, this month takes on yet another directing role as coordinator of Monster Medley Spooktacular. I’ve been privy to just a few of the varied acts, and can promise a hair raising, spine tingling, funny bone tickling good time will be had by all, young and old. Don’t forget your costume!

If you enjoyed our recent hit production of It Runs in the Family by Ray Cooney, then you'll be interested in this opportunity to attend another sidesplitting British farce by the same author! Currently running at the Old Creamery Theatre Company in Amana is Caught in the Net by Ray Cooney, a boy meets girl comedy about two sixteen year olds from different parts of London who meet online and then decide to meet in person. The odd thing is, they both have fathers named "John Smith" and both their dads are taxi drivers! Watch the hilarious revelations that unravel a mile a minute when ten lies follow one as "John Smith" tries everything he can pull to keep his two children from meeting each other! Don't miss it!

Roger and Dorothy Albert Dean and Nancy Beckman The Solutions Store, Ltd., Rick and Betsy Hadley Three Rivers Insurance, David Vermedahl

Pat and Laurie Hyland family Matt and Robin Martin LaGrange Pharmacy, Inc. Mark and Deb Wilberg 4th St. Coffee Company

Dear Grease Paint

Answers to Last Month’s Quiz Insults

Roger and Dorothy Albert
Dean and Nancy Beckman
The Solutions Store, Ltd., Rick and Betsy Hadley
Three Rivers Insurance, David Vermedahl

Pat and Laurie Hyland family
Matt and Robin Martin
LaGrange Pharmacy, Inc.
Mark and Deb Wilberg
4th St. Coffee Company

Answers to Last Month’s Quiz

Insults