
April is upon us, and theoretically the start of spring. We have been hard at work rehearsing for our spring show, That Darn Plot by David Belke which opens on May 27th. Under the leadership of director Ron Gardener, the play is really starting to take shape and the characters are developing nicely. You really don’t want to miss this one. The box office is now open, so book your seats early!
Also on the horizon is project Sandhills. If you have been at the community centre in the last few months you will have seen the progress that is being made with the new extension. Rural Root has been a great supporter of this project, and we have been asked to design the second floor renovations which will start once the expansion project is complete. Martin Weeden has assembled a team to come up with ideas and a design to improve the facility for all users, while improving the theatre audience experience. We can’t wait to see the amazing improvement to our community centre. See you all there!
– Ivo Mokros, RRTC Board President
Board Always Looking for New Volunteers
The RRTC board has various projects we are working on and are always eager to accept new volunteers. If you have time and might be interested in helping (it does not have to be on the stage!), we continuously need help with writing, social media, play support, odd jobs…
Be sure to check out our volunteer page on the website or send a message to volunteers@ruralroot.org.
Box Office for That Darn Plot Open
The Box Office for That Darn Plot! opened April 1, so be sure to book your tickets soon. Performances are scheduled for May 27-30. For more information, check out the show page. You can book your tickets and choose your seats at the box office page.
In the meantime, rehearsals are well underway for That Darn Plot! The team gets together twice a week allowing the actors to develop their characters, establish some good identities and interactions. The resulting zany antics are hilarious.
Upcoming Play Readings
Would you like to help to select our next play? For our Fall 2015 production, we will be looking to put on a family-friendly play and are hoping to entice participants from the existing Rural Root family, as well as attract new talent from young actors in our community. With so many plays to choose from, we’d appreciate your input!
We’ve already held a few readings in March, and have another reading planned this week. If you would like to participate or host a future reading, please contact Kellie at plays@ruralroot.org Hope to see you there!
Play Readings in April
Oftentimes, we know the story before we even read the play, just like movies or books we enjoy re-watching/re-reading. In much the same way, play readings are enjoyable, but in a play reading you are directly involved in the unfolding of the story, and each adaptation has some new twists. Consider participating in at least one of the remaining readings.
Our most recent reading was April 9th, 7 p.m. at Nicole d’Entremont’s house, 1519 Monaghan Lane, Kanata, “Mr Scrooge’s Christmas.” Of course, everyone in attendance knew the story, but thoroughly enjoyed the reading which had the ghost of Jacob Marley use spirits to change Scrooge such that he became less miserly and celebrated Christmas dinner with the Cratchit family.
Thursday April 16th, 7 p.m., Kellie Shrimpton’s house, 127 Shirreff St., Fitzroy Harbour, “First Annual Boughs of Holly Country Club Christmas”
While Deborah tries to impress the Boughs of Holly Country Club board with a new Christmas show, the country club’s president, Jocelyn, tries to impress Gertrude Webb, the club’s loan officer, to secure a loan to refurbish the club, as Gertrude keeps approving loans so that she is entered to win a trip to Hawaii. There’s only one thing missing from this Christmas show – Christmas! And if it weren’t for Josh, who manages the country club, there’d probably be no Christmas show. Deborah soon realizes that the only way for the theatre group to impress the board is to cast several board members in their show and what follows is a riotous seasonal romp of yuletide fun. Hilarious situations and oddball characters race in and out as opening night draws near and just when everything seems to be falling apart, in steps Santa Claus.
Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. Pat Weir’s house, 170 Shirreff St., Fitzroy Harbour, “Treasure Island” by Dan Neidermyer
Young Jim Hawkins and his widowed mother run an old inn in Western England centuries ago. One foggy, dreary morning, an eye-patch-wearing pirate on the run lands up in the inn, befriending Jim and pressing into the lad’s hand a tattered, old, wrinkled and torn piece of paper. Suddenly, unexpectedly, a band of cut-throat pirates show up at the inn!-feverishly searching for what Jim’s been surreptitiously given! This interactive version of “TREASURE ISLAND” is a breathtaking tale told by two hilarious narrators who, at times, become part of the play’s fast-moving action! It offers several opportunities for spontaneous audience participation so that your audience becomes a part of the re-telling of this classic tale. Easy-to-stage, “TREASURE ISLAND” sails both cast and audience from the rain-drenched English coast to a steamy tropical jungle on a deserted island. Produced easily and quickly with simple props often moved by the two always-talking, always-amusing narrators and sometimes by the cast themselves, creating first the Admiral Benbow Inn, then the “Hispaniola,” and finally, “Treasure Island” itself.
End of April – Date & location to be confirmed, “The Jungle Book”
In this action-packed play adaptation, by Monica Flory, of the classic adventure story, precocious Mowgli grows up believing he’s as fierce a wolf as any of the members of his pack. When he learns he is actually a human, he must discover how to reconcile these very different identities, and decide whether to remain with the pack, or return to the human world from which he was born. What will he choose? And will he be trained in the Law of the Jungle in time to defeat Shere Khan, the most feared animal of all?”
Workshop Planned for May 9
New to Acting? Interested in learning more about community theatre? Join us for our workshop on Saturday May 9th, 1 to 4 p.m. at the CBBCA. This fun, interactive afternoon will cover topics such as:
- what to expect from an audition,
- how to deal with stage fright,
- how to be believable onstage,
- and so much more!
Whether you are an aspiring actor or would just like to pick up a few new pointers, there is something for everyone! Ages 7 to 99. Cost is $10 per person – adults are free with a paying youth. Refreshments will be provided. For more information see the Facebook event.
Ready to take the leap? Register here:
EODL One Act Play Festival
As announced last month, RRTC is pleased to be hosting the EODL (Eastern Ontario Drama League) One Act Play Festival in November 2017.
We are looking to establish sub-committee chairs for the organizing committee already now, to make the planning easier. If you are interested in participating on this committee you will find a list of sub-committee chair persons required (complete with a short description of associated duties) on the RRTC website or contact the Chair, Lee Powell at festival@ruralroot.org.
- Program – to collect material and print the festival program
- Adjudicator – to coordinate accommodation and activities of the adjudicator
- Hospitality – to coordinate hospitality for VIPs and coordinate social functions
Feedback or ideas?
Send us a note at bod@ruralroot.org. We’d love to hear from you.
