NEWS LETTER
"THE BACKSTAGE PASS"
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS WAS A BEAUTIFUL START TO THE SEASON!!!
KUDOS! CONGRATS! BRAVO! Everyone can say they had a great start to the Halloween season, as the reviews are in, and PW’s season-opening Little Shop of Horrors hit all the marks for success.
Audiences were large, and their responses were SO positive—superlatives were abounding—just check the comments on the Workshop’s Facebook page. It seems a good time was had by all!
To the cast, the directors, the musicians, the entire crew—Players Workshop says “thank you” for a job that went way beyond well done. Thank you for sharing your time and talents to make lasting Workshop memories.
NEXT UP ON THE PW STAGE:
GET IN THE HOLIDAY MOOD
Players Workshop ushers in the holiday season with Ken Levine’s holiday comedy On the Farce Day of Christmas, which will run at the Workshop Dec. 6-8 and 12-15, 2024.
Under the direction of Catherine Hansen, On the Farce Day of Christmas tells of the havoc that ensues when, to keep her religious mother from knowing she's divorced, Wendy pays her ex to pose as her husband and go home for the holidays.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m., except for 2:00 p.m. matinees on Dec. 8 and 15.
On the Farce Day of Christmas is presented through arrangements with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by TRW Plays, New York, NY.
MEET YOUR BOARD MEMBERS
Meet Amy Ford, one of the newly elected members of the Workshop’s Board of Directors, who brings an unbridled enthusiasm and zest to the organization!
The busy mom of two teenagers—her son Jonathan has been in two of PW’s youth productions—she is an accounting professor by trade. She made her first acting appearance since high school last season in the Workshop’s hilarious The Wild Women of Winedale, playing everyone’s “favorite sister-in-law” Jef, and had the audience in stitches.
She says she wanted to become a part of the Board because “I have always loved all parts of the theatre and wanted to get involved.”
That involvement currently includes “learning the box office ropes from Mary [Fox] in the new Ludus ticketing system.” She has also helped with the season ticket sales in the lobby during the fall show; her accounting background helps in this part of the theater.
She is on the Youth Theater committee, which is one of her very strong interests; she helped with the IVERS day last summer and is currently reading plays, to help the committee select the next youth production.
Amy enjoys “learning about the history of our little theatre and discovering all the hidden gems,” and is excited to “learn more about the various committees and behind-the-scenes work that make each production successful.” She remarked that “each and every person” she has met at PW has made her feel welcome, and she enjoys hearing all the stories from the long-timers.
In her “spare” time she relaxes by crocheting—she currently has 3 different blankets underway.
With her enthusiasm and energy, Amy Ford is another promising asset in the future of Players Workshop.
SUPPORTING CAST 2024-2025
DONORS WELCOME
Players Workshop invites you to join the Supporting Cast for 2024-2025 season .
This is a one-time financial donation to Players Workshop, which will run for the theatrical season, and contributes significantly to the financial stability of PW.
Donations may be made in one of the following
categories:
Usher $25-$99
Stage Crew $100-$249
Supporting Actor $250-$499
Star $500-$999
Director $1000-$2499
Producer $2500+
Names of all those who have joined since the last newsletter are listed in bold face type. Won’t you join them?
Star
Tim & Tonja Binder
Mary Fox
Kevin Liles
Carole Theesfeld
Supporting Actor
David Beckman
Carolyn Dorting
Bonnie Downes
Eva Ann Elmer
Jon Hart
Wayne & Colleen Heibner
Keith & Marlene Holsteen
Russ Leuck
Chip & Dana Readinger
Tim Roberts
Fred & Martha Wetzel
Stage Crew
Barb & David Acord
Allan G. Allsup
Cindy & Darrell Bachtell
Connie Bowen
Dan & Kathleen Cahill
Jim & Sandy Carter
Lois A. Close
Carol Copeland
Barbara Drodz (in memory of Jim Drodz)
Mary & Bill Fortin
Becky Foy
Roger & Lori Griswald
Robert Haines
Carole Halicki
Carol Janosik
Denise Johnson
Cynthia M. Leonard (in memory of Mark T. Leonard)
Mary Marsh
Linda Messer
John & Lisa Pomberg
Rheinschmidt’s Flooring America
John & Kathy Schneider
Teresa, Mark, & Pat Shaffer
Sara Sink
Pauline Spees & Jim Raudabaugh
Nancy StClair
Peggy & Earl Stott
Kathy Wolfskill
Usher
Judy Bartachek
Russell Benischek
Chad & Sally Bird
Lynne Carter
Joyce & Paul Dennison
Jaquelyn Edwards
Mary Fickel
Lori Fry
Russ Fry
Lyle & Janice Gibson
Barbara Hahn
Linda & Harry Hoenig
Katherine M. Hoth
Dean Hurliman
Dee & Wayne Johnson
Dorothy Leazer
Pat Mayle
Lucinda Milder
Kendra Robertson
Kathleen Schier
Keith Schultz, Sr.
Bev & Duane Sherbondy
Brett Shollenbarger
Jyll & Paul Sly
Laura Sly
Anita Stapleton
David Teater
Larry & Linda Turley
Christine Williamson
Kay Wilson
Eunice Winters
All those who join will have their names listed in each play program and newsletter, as well as on the PW website, for 2024-25. Thank you in advance for your support.
You may join the Honorary Supporting Cast by filling out the form at the end of this newsletter or the form in your play program.
SPECIAL THANKS. . . to the Board of the Harry and Virginia Murray Foundation for their generous $5,000 donation to Players Workshop. . . to Thomas Borton, Mary Ann Hunter, Donna Pindell, Roxy Riessen, Tanya Dunlap, Cindy Boyle, Deana Dailey, Connie Schlief, Dick Sanford, Ruby & Laverne Gerdes, Mark Vasicek, Sharon Vasicek, Lora Turner, Lou Ann Nortrup, Doc & Mim Van Winkle, Karen Shumaker, Angela Sodey, Margie Gossage, Victoria Beckman, Amethyst Biggs, Carol Ellerbroek, Krista Hartman, Larry & Lynette Heckenberg, Jane Sanford, James Stuart, Aaron Wharton, for their generous financial contributions to Players Workshop. We couldn’t keep going without you.
LEARNERS WANTED
PW WANTS TO TEACH YOU
Players Workshop is always looking for volunteers to help in all phases of our productions.
There are so many opportunities, there isn’t room to list them all here, but a few that we are in the most need of is set builders, set designers, hair dressers, makeup artists, stage managers, producers, light and sound designers, light and sound booth techs, props manager, costumer, assistant directors . . . and the list goes on.
Some of these roles need special skills, but most do not. We can teach you! Plus, it’s fun!
To learn more, go to our website, and from the ABOUT US/MEMBERSHIP dropdown, choose membership form. (www.playerworkshoptheater.com)
PLAYERS WORKSHOP OFFICERS
And BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pres. Mary Fox
Vice-President Kent Lewis
Secretary Michelle Huppenbauer
Treasurer Birttany Gerst
Libba Flores
Carol Hinkle
Lee Franklin
Njeri Patric
Jody Ellison
Linda Garwood
Starr Sattler
Catherine Hansen
Gene Anderson
Amy Ford
Jayne Gobble
Nikki Critser
Anika Morton
Christine Claeys
Jeffrey Rodriguez
AACT FEST IS COMING TO IOWA!!!!
Players Workshop and lovers of theater have a great opportunity coming their way!
The American Association of Community Theaters is holding their biannual festival in Des Moines, Iowa, next summer! It was held in Tennessee 2 years ago, and, prior to the pandemic, it was held in Pennsylvania. This is a great opportunity to attend this event so close to home. The event runs from June 25-28, 2025. Early registration has begun.
The festival is a culmination of 2 years of competitions at state and regional levels, with the winners competing nationally. The week includes 12 show cuttings performed by the winners as well as many very informative workshops.
More information can be found at www.AACT.org. If interested in attending, email Mary Fox at pw6623@gmail.com. If you are a theater lover, consider taking the opportunity to attend this event.
For past newsletters click here