Grease Paint Online for October, 1999

At the dawn of the new millennium, as downtown Vinton gets a much-needed physical facelift, the Palace Theatre prepares to open its doors to provide Vinton and surrounding communities a well-deserved cultural boost. On Friday evening, October 15, the cast and crew of “The Secret Garden” were extremely privileged to be the first company to utilize the Palace stage. Director Steve Arnold and Music Director Greg Douma held their first rehearsal, which included a read through of the entire script, complete with music. This rehearsal marked an exciting and long-awaited moment for ACT I.

More than fifty local supporters have come forward to volunteer in the Palace box office and concession stand, saving the theatre much needed money. The only paid employees at the Palace will be the custodial service and projection staff. This generous outpouring of volunteerism, coupled with an Opening Night Fund Raiser will serve to speed up the dissolution of a remaining debt of approximately $50,000.

As the interior theatre work nears completion, and sidewalks and asphalt are being poured and finished on 4^th Street, ACT I is busy planning its first public function. The Palace Opening is set for November 14, with an Open House from 1-3 PM and the first movie showing at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and perhaps 10:00 PM. Tickets for this initial showing are $25.00 each. According to Palace committee member, Lu Karr, proceeds from the evening will go toward a video projector and the remaining matching funds needed for the grant for the marquee.

Regular movie showing will begin on Monday evening, November 15, at 7:00 PM. Ticket admission is $2.00. The first movie (TBA) will show through Thursday evening, November 18, and from then on movies will run Friday through Thursday.

The ACT I Variety Show, “I'll Be Home For Christmas,” will be the premiere theatrical production in the Palace Theatre. Auditions were held during the first week of October and the show is set to open during the first weekend in December. The Palace will not show a movie on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of that week to allow for dress rehearsals and performances.

Act I president, Steve Arnold recently appointed a committee to plan the 2000-2001 Season. The function of this committee will be to work with directors and screen shows to come up with a well-balanced season for our second year at the Palace. The committee will also endeavor to make recommendations to the board regarding calendar and budget. The committee plans to meet on a regular basis (at least once a month) and report back to the board. The intention is to have a mix of both board members and non-board members on the committee, as well as a member of the Youth Board.

The following names were selected at the last ACT I board meeting. The group represents a broad range of interests and talents, are all well qualified to contribute, and all have good performance records.

Chair: Larry Adams-Bowers; members: Joan Cooling, Gerald Horst, Rhonda Westergard, Greg Douma, Aaron Murphy, and Steve Arnold.

The members 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.

Mary...................................... Erin Horst

Lily......................................... Kathleen Berger

Archibald Craven.................. Gerald Horst

Colin...................................... Matt Meyer

Dr. Neville Craven............... David Katz

Martha.................................. Kari Nordli

Dickon................................... Jeff Cumberlin

Ben Wetherstaff................... Ron Baldwin

Mrs. Medlock....................... Lori Kerwin

Mrs. Winthrop...................... Kendra McChristian

William.................................. John Westergard

Jane....................................... Kayla Comer

Betsy..................................... Bree McClenning

Rose ..................................... Rhonda Westergard

Captain Albert Lennox......... Patrick Lyons

Alice....................................... Angie Olson

Lt. Wright.............................. TBA-baritone

Lt. Shaw................................. TBA-baritone

Major Holmes....................... Mark West

Claire Holmes....................... Sara Yedlik Arnold

The Fakir............................... TBA-high tenor

Ayah...................................... Kate Westergard

Teresa Strong, Jane Seely, Marilyn Yedlik and Ida Higgins, costume construction

With the approach of ALL HALLOWS EVE this weekend, our trivia category is especially appropriate. Death is a part of life, and it’s also a part of ACT I shows. How many of these theatrical deaths that have occurred, or will occur, on our stage can you identify?

No one returned any entries! 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!

“How does she do it? “How does she remember all those names?” “How does she remember all those dances?” “Doesn’t she ever lose it?”

It’s Saturday morning, 9:15, and a group of veteran dance moms are sitting in the back of the studio atop the exercise mats because the front entrance is impassable, watching their 5 and 6-year-olds shuffle step right and left. And even though they’ve witnessed it week after week, for years, they’re still amazed. Joan effortlessly coaxes a reluctant dancer into the group, makes her way through the crowd of budding ballerinas rearranging places, smiles and coos easily and sincerely over each little pigtail and frilly skirt, nods to her young assistant to start the music, and off they go. Non-stop, until the last cartwheel is turned as the next class is tying on their tap shoes. Joan then has a quick word with about fifteen moms while her assistant readies the next group, and with a quick grin, turns to her new class to do it all again. Different dances for this class, of course, but the energy and love are the same.

Pretty soon, in walk Casey and Corey to pick up Clare. Casey (who built the steps for the alley entrance and maintains the studio for Joan) waits for the music to stop, whispers something to Joan, gathers up Clare, comfortably quips something to the “moms,” and waves on his way out, heading home to hold down the fort until the close of the Saturday morning sessions.

This month, ACT I is proud and pleased to spotlight the Cooling family! We first saw Joan and Casey in April of 1991 in “Daddy’s Dyin, Who’s Got the Will? Casey debuted as singing hippy Harmony Rhoads, and Joan was both backstage crew help and House Manager. Since then they’ve appeared frequently and continuously both on and off stage. Casey acted in “Twigs,” “Knock ‘Em Dead,” and “Life With Father.” Joan has choreographed numerous productions; most recently “Bye Bye Birdie,” in which she also portrayed the lead role of Rosie, and “Velveteen Rabbit,” which she consented to do while rehearsing for the lead role of Stella in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

This committed and dedicated involvement that ACT I members and viewers admire, appreciate, and have come to expect is second nature for Joan and Casey, and can also be witnessed in their family life. It comes as no surprise that they have two talented offspring, Corey, a second-grader, and Clare, in kindergarten, both also ACT I veterans. Corey appeared as Small Boy in “Oliver!” and this summer brought the house down as Toy Clown in “Velveteen Rabbit.” “I’d like to play an army guy next time.” Clare debuted in “Velveteen Rabbit” as one of the show-stopping Dancing Bunnies. “I want to be a bunny again. I liked everything about the bunny costume.”

While commending ACT I on the variety of productions it offers, from light-hearted musicals to poignant dramas, Joan says she loved “Velveteen Rabbit” because both of her kids were in it. “I actually cried at the first dress rehearsal during the curtain call.” Joan is also a big advocate for involving as many children as possible, often volunteering to expand and create dance roles for any willing young participant. This practice is carried over from her own dance studio, where she maintains that every child deserves the opportunity to be all he or she can be, and show the world, especially Mom, Dad, and Grandma and Grandpa. Building the self-esteem of Benton County youth through teaching seems to be what Joan does best. “I’m happiest when I’m creating something to teach…I don’t know, I guess I have a knack for it?”

The Coolings do have interests beyond the theatrical. Casey, who designs sophisticated avionics communications equipment for Rockwell Collins, also enjoys snow and water skiing, snowmobiling, rock climbing, flying, and skydiving! He’s a Webelos Den Leader, teaches 10^th grade religious education, and holds the record for number of dance recitals videotaped. Joan enjoys writing and photography, volunteers at West Elementary portraying various storybook characters like “Cat in the Hat,” choreographs the WHS Show Choir, and is a 4-H judge and volunteer. She’s on the State 4-H Theatre Committee and hopes to see Benton County become more involved in that area. Corey, who aspires to be “a computer whiz like his dad,” plays piano, hockey, and football. Clare plays piano, as well, is very artistic, and loves make believe games. The Cooling family can also boast of a thrilling tree swing in their backyard, which visitors of all ages are encouraged to try.

“Vinton is a great place to raise a family, and the arts available to us in this town are a blessing!”

Casey, Joan, Corey, and Clare, ACT I of Benton County is blessed by your membership and proud to have your family as part of its family. We look forward to your participation again and again. (Look for Joan as choreographer in the upcoming productions of ”Secret Garden” and “Hansel and Gretel.”)

Sunday afternoon Gerald and I took Patrick and some of “the guys” to Cedar Rapids to see STAR WARS Episode I for Patrick’s birthday. (Thank goodness it was still playing in the theaters. I think we were the only ones seeing it for the first time!) As usual we were running on Horst time, LATE, hoping and praying to make it by show time without risking a speeding ticket and the lives of “the guys.” Won’t it be wonderful when the Palace opens! I’m so excited!