January 2013

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

“ANYTHING GOES”:In the last few years our shows just seem to reach a higher standard each year. This was no exception and enjoyed by everyone.
“HELLO, DOLLY!” October 2013. The Society has only performed this show once before, in 1976. It has not been performed in Stockport since.
SOME FACTS OF INTEREST:
The original design of Barbra Streisand’s gold-beaded gown shown in the Harmonia Gardens scene weighed 40lbs and cost $8000. The Harmonia Gardens scene (where the song”Hello Dolly” is sung) took an entire month to shoot. The back wall, behind the hat-check girl,is the wall from the ballroom of the Van Trapp Villa in “The Sound of Music”.
The scenes set in turn-of-the-Century Yonkers, New York were actually filmed a few miles up the Hudson River in Garrison, New York.
None of the original Broadway cast appeared in the film version.
FEES 2013:
MEMBERSHIP; Acting ; £30 .Under age 18; £20 Non-Acting; £20
COSTUMES; £15
REHEARSAL FEE; £1 payable at each Company rehearsal. Used to offset some of the cost of the room hire of up to £1700
DATES FOR 2013:
SHOW WEEK IS TUESDAY 22nd TO SATURDAY 26th OCTOBER 2013 at 7.15pm nightly plus a matinee on the Saturday at 2.15pm.
GET-TOGETHER: Wednesday 20th February 2013 at 8.30pm
WORKSHOPS: Wednesdays 20th and 27th March 2013 at 7.30pm
AUDITIONS: Sundays 7th and 21st April 2013 from 2.00pm onward
COMPANY REHEARSALS: Every Wednesday from 15th May 2013 at 7.30pm
PRINCIPALS/DANCERS: Every Monday from 20th May 2013 as called.
SUNDAY REHEARSALS :Sundays 22nd & 29th September & 6th &13th October. All evening rehearsals will start at 7.30pm prompt and the Sunday ones from 2.00pm unless otherwise stated and will be at St. Andrew’s Church, Stockport TECHNICAL AND DRESS REHEARSALS AT THE PLAZA THEATRE: Sunday 20th (All day) &Monday (Evening) 21st October 2013.
IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE COMPANY YOU MUST ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS.

SOCIAL EVENTS: The Christmas party was attended by about 30 members and friends. Many thanks to Carol Ackers (food), Roger Browne(artistes) and Marjorie Dunn for accompanying the soloists,and George Wood for setting the Quiz.
Any suggestions for future events will be welcome.

A FEW FACTS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST:
WHAT IS THE TREASURER’S ROLE IN THE SOCIETY?
The role of the Treasurer is to manage the treasury! – in our case this is a small amount of money,our capital, that is the asset that allows us to put on annual productions. It is not only a role of common sense,but also a sense of when to say “yes” and “no” to requests for expenditure over and above the planned & intended cost of putting on a show. The most important is to maintain our very high standards. Control of our finances is vital.
Some examples of the large sums involved each show the Society produces incurs.
Theatre Hire £12,000 +
Royalties £4500 +
Costume Hire £3500 + . Our Costume fee of £15.00 does not cover the cost of one costume hired. These range from £19 to £30 per item. Most of the cast had 4 or more costumes. We even had to have 27 totally new costumes made ,at £30 each (for “Anything Goes”)
Scenery/Props/Lighting £7500+ Rehearsal Room Hire £1700
Add also the cost of the Orchestra, Insurances, Wigs, Publicity, Stage Crew Subscriptions and other General Expenses.
So you can see we easily spend £30,000. It usually costs us up to £40,000 in total to put on a big costly production. This is why we need ALL the cast to sell tickets. 2 or 3 is no help . Proper effort is needed. We do not have unlimited funds,wealthy sponsors or underwriters,nor are we a rich Society as we have to rely on ticket sales as our main source of income. Each show is potentially a gamble. (D Williams Treasurer)
MEMBER’S NEWS: Jenny Boyd go0.
t engaged during rehearsals for “Anything Goes” and Nicola Clayton in December whilst on holiday in New York. Every good wish to them and their fiancés for the future.
In December both Gemma Harrop (nee Richardson) and Dawn Lister (nee Wilde) gave birth to baby girls. Best wishes to them.

ANY QUERIES: PLEASE CONTACT MRS PAT MARNEY0161 427 7121 E-MAIL patbrimarn@aol.com www.stockportoperaticsociety.co.uk