General Membership Meeting

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

The meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. by President Fred Hundhammer

with 36 people in attendance.

Fred Hundhammer introduces new members, Caroline Drumheller and Jeremy David; Mike and Cherie Edwards.

The agenda was approved as well as the minutes from the last meeting, April 14, which are posted on the website. 

GM Report was presented:

September 5, 2007

●              Our new 2007-2008 season brochures are completed and have been mailed to our mailing list of nearly 4,000.  As a result, we have been receiving orders for season tickets and One Weekend Only tickets, memberships and donations.  This project is about a month ahead of the normal schedule which is giving us a great               head start on sales for the season.  As of today, we have sold nearly 100 season tickets and close to 40 OWO tickets.  If you want those special seats, call early.

●              Our playbill is in the pre-print process.  If you have a business or know someone who would be interested in advertising in our season playbill, please see me after the meeting or call me here during the day.  Cut-off time is approaching.

●              Sponsorships are also available.  A sponsorship is $500.  The sponsor receives four season tickets (a value of $280), a free ¼ page ad (a value of $100-$125), recognition on the Sponsor’s Page in the playbill as well as in the poster box on the front of the theatre.

●              Please check out the new slide advertising in the cinema.  The equipment has been updated tremendously improving the quality of the ads and allowing us to expand to more advertisers.

●              We are looking for flags to use for the USO/One Weekend Only show.  If you have one to loan, please be sure your name is on the flag so we can return it to you safely.

●              We encourage you to come to OWO dressed in USO-related attire, ie. Military (if you are veteran or active military), camouflage, MASH-themed, or good ‘ole Red, White and Blue! 

●              Last year, we started something new in working with the Visiting Nurse Association in providing a place for flu shots.  The theatre was a big hit for several reasons and we have scheduled some dates to do this again this fall.  The vaccination is available early this year so the VNA will be here on the following dates:

                                Wednesday, September 19  -  9 am to 1 pm

                                Thursday, September 20  -  2 pm to 6 pm

                                Friday, September 21  -  Noon to 4 pm

                                Saturday, October 13   -  10 am to 2 pm

●              In addition to our season schedule, I have booked Island Opera, directed by Dean Walters, to perform here at MCT in the main theatre on Sunday evening, April 20 at 8 p.m.  The title of this year’s production is “Puttin’ On the Ritz.”         

●              I always need volunteers.  I will be conducting a volunteer training class on Saturday, November 3 (depending on CS light-hanging) at 10:00 a.m. and will offer another time for snowbirds if enough interest is generated from our winter friends.  Please bring a friend and get involved as a volunteer.             

Venue Scheduling

                ●              Please remember to schedule any rehearsals, meetings, and other uses of                                                       the theatre with the general manager and/or VP of Production, Gail Burnett.  

                ●              Remember that we do rent space for outside groups as well, so if you know                                                       of someone who needs meeting space, please encourage them to call                                                                      me for details.  Our productions and our members take first priority, but room                                                              rental is an additional source of income for the theatre and we will work as                                                  cooperatively as possible.

Should you have any questions or concerns at any time, please call me in the business office, 743-0408.  Thanks.

Loretta Geotis

General Manager

Committee reports:

Finance – Alicia Merel

Cash balance $55,391 + cd in the amount of $20,000 +

The balance is lower because of money out for roof.  We are still recovering.

VP Production – Gail Burnett

Auditions to be held on Sept 15 & 16.  Start at 9 a.m. with registration on both Saturday and Sunday.  Musical portion in the mornings.  12:30 registration for reading and auditions from 1 to 4 p.m. both days.  You may pick up audition packet for information.  Membership is required for participation but not for auditions.

OWO Fundraiser – Laura Hutt, Director

26 songs, 6 skits, and 3 dance performances are scheduled plus some audience singalongs.

Rehearsals are very important and scheduling is very important

Jeremy David will be a bartender on stage

For bows, please wear white pants and red, white, and blue shirts.  We want an entire stage full of red white and blue.  Patrons will also be encouraged to wear red, white and blue.

Terry McBroom and Riet Steinmetz are available to help with costumes.

Call Rite (289-1887) for help with costumes she will meet you here at the theatre any time.  All costumes need to be put away by the costume dept, please.

OWO’s do not normally have sets; however, this year we will need some camouflage curtains etc. to decorate the gallery and bar.  If you can donate a dollar or two to decorate, please chip in.  All costumes are needed by September 22 and 23.

California Suite – Jorg Gobel-Staib

California Suite is a successful play and movie that won an Oscar – it is funny and very popular.  It’s about one hotel suite and the stories of the different couples that stayed in the suite.  You will be surprised at the story – it is quite interesting.  It features four actors – two women – two men – one non-speaking role.  Please come and audition, we need strong actors for strong characters.  The last vignette will feature all four people.  We will use two women and two men who play different roles.

Smell of the Kill – Rita Irwin

This show is very interesting and features three men and three women.  You will not see the men. The women are on-stage throughout the entire show.  It’s about three marriages going through their moments and reaching a point that brings us to a very important question we all ask ourselves from time to time ……..  If I could kill my husband and get away with it, would I?

Be prepared to come into the show off-book.  We need the commitment due to holidays etc.

Winter Reading – middle week of February – Adrienne Hutt

Me and My Girl – Fred Hundhammer

Me and My Girl is a British comedy that played on Broadway in 1987 and won five Tonys.   It addresses itself to the upper class of British society.  The newest Earl of Hereford is a Cockney gentleman.  The music is very tuneful and Kathryn Rummery will direct the music.  Jackie O’Neil is the choreographer.  A cast of 25 is needed including people in the chorus.  We need men for the chorus and lots of dancers and singers.  If you can sing – this play is for you.  Some dancers can be in the background if you are not a great dancer.

Cactus Flower – Alicia Merel

Cactus Flower is farce/situation comedy.  Goldie Hawn won best supporting actress for her performance.  It’s about a dentist on Park Avenue in NY who likes women but doesn’t want to commit so he lies about being married.  He eventually decides he wants to marry one of his conquests and divorce his wife.  The girlfriend wants to meet the wife so he gets the secretary to pretend to be the wife. 

Participants can be in the first show and the third or last show if you want to do two shows per season.

VP Production encourages us to tell everyone to come to auditions. This is an upbeat season.

Playreading Committee – Arnie Steinmetz

Arnie is reading catalogues right now.

There are a couple of possibilities and suggestions are welcomed. Directors feel free to suggest

Membership Committee – Lauren Spinelli

Please become members. We are a non-profit organization and our membership requirements are for insurance and liability purposes.  Dues are $10 for a single person and $15 for family for one year. 

Renewals are due in August.

Nominating Committee – C. J. Geotis

C. J. was in a panic to prepare for this meeting but then realized that he has eight months to get this job done.  He will need five members for the committee – members only – no board members or directors.  During the next eight months, please call Loretta and let her know if you want to be on the committee.

Nominations will be earlier this year (April) to avoid having elections at the Pampered Palms dinner.   See C.J. after the meeting if you are interested.

Stage and Sound - Tom O’Neil

Headsets need to be re-worked for communication between the stage and sound.

Building – Paul Buckley

We always have on-going projects.  Please notice the new paint new colors around the building.

Historian – Paul Buckley

Paul is going through old programs and articles and will put together a new collage for the hallway before OWO.

Ward Saylor and Christine Leird have contributed some old videos and Mary Beth Martel has contributed a lot of pictures. 

Entertainment Committee – Ginger Michael

Everyone in OWO, please bring a dish and contribute to the food needed for the buffet after the show. 

Bob Rowand has the calendar on the website with rehearsal dates etc. Please check the website often.  Bob – GREAT WEBSITE!  All minutes are on website and lots of pictures. It’s great!

Old Business

No

New Business

Mary Beth has offered to help with photos for any of our productions. 

Last announcement regarding auditions... PLEASE COME …. every year we discover new talent!  Thank you for donations for decorations.

Rita Irwin says we need new people and old people – please talk it up and get your friends and neighbors in here to try out – work back stage etc. 

Motion to adjourn at 7:48 p.m.