In our last newsletter, we wrote of our need for actors and actresses.

But, there are many other areas of the theatre with which we always need help.

One simple job is to help market our shows by distributing posters and table tents. About 30 days before each show, we ask about 100 businesses to put posters in their windows as a method of advertising our play.

Also, table tents need to be delivered to all local restaurants and placed on the tables.

Several people are required to make these distributions. The time spent is flexible in both the number of hours and when they are given.

We’ve found both posters and table tents to be good and inexpensive ways to market our plays and want to continue the practice. All you need is a vehicle and/or a good pair of feet.

Please call us at 913-483-4057 and leave a message if you can help.

Another area for which help is needed is keeping displays in our windows at 839 Main.

If you have ideas for window displays and/or can help in putting up the displays, please call Judy Arthur at 913-483-4856. It’s a chance to be creative and have your creations seen by the public.

You know you’re in a small town when you dial a wrong number and end up talking for 15 minutes anyway.

You know you’re in a small town when you mistakenly write a check on the wrong bank account and they cover it for you anyway.

Our next production is Marvin’s Room. When we saw this show performed by Sterling Community Theatre a couple of years ago, we fell in love with it. It’s perfect community theatre fare. It’s funny and sad, a comedy-drama.

Bessie has learned to cope with her father’s endless death and her aunt’s numerous maladies with a dry wit and selfless love. When she discovers her own illness, Bessie renews her relationship with her estranged sister and two nephews and, eventually enfolds them all in her love.
 

Eyes that glaze over when lines are forgotten - telephones that ring after you pick up - luminescent eyes - Basil Price - a leather divan from England - Twigs - a garter left backstage - a whiskey bottle with unremovable cork - cigarettes - Debbie Parks - the musty smell of old furniture and clothing - special effects - tears - 30 second set changes - Debi Lahmann - cast parties to 5:00 a.m. - and the 8:00 a.m. set strike - friendships - actors seeing a finished set for the first time - fire marshals - an audience of 30 - Billy Richards - laughter - applause - Agnes of God - posters - the lights - "My God, are they going to keep us here all night!" - the feel and smell of makeup - Marci Hill - the sweat - 25 coats of paint on the middle school stage - Karen Karner - the damnable 14 inch drop from the proscenium to the thrust - a tree on stage - down in the back - Tom Ponzo - music - The Fantasticks - bananas and chocolate syrup - the magic…

For the past many years, Henri Wenthe has done a yeoman’s job as the hair stylist for the theatre. Our scripts have called for hairdos from the 1930’s to the present. We give Henri a picture and before we know it, some actress is sporting a look-alike "do". Sometimes 8 - 10 actors and actresses need Henri’s attention. If one considers all the shows she’s worked on, Henri has given scores and scores of hours to the theatre.

Also, she’s a packrat and if she doesn’t have some item needed for a show, she knows where it is.

She won’t step on stage but, nonetheless, she’s a very valuable asset for any theatre to have.

Thanks Henri!

Alas, Christmas is past and those gifts we still want or need just might be on our next year’s list. RCT has a few and we would like to share them with you. Can you help?

If you have any of these items to donate, please call the RCT office at 483-4057 and leave a message on the answering machine.