NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
“On The Boards”
The Newsletter of The Villages Musical Theater
May 2019
Hello everyone! Here’s an update on what’s going on with VMT!
“South Pacific”
Congratulations to Sandie Hawthorne and the entire “South Pacific” cast and crew for a wonderful performance! As a result of this great show, we donated $10,000 to MS Research for a Cure. Thanks to everyone who helped make this a show to remember.
“The Producers” Spring 2020
We are all excited to be producing this great multiple TONY winning musical. At the 2001 Tony Awards, The Producers won 12 out of its 15 nominations, setting the record for most wins in history and becoming one of the few musicals to win in every category for which it was nominated (there were multiple nominations in the same category). Our cast has been announced and what a cast it is! Led by Tim Casey and Bob Stehman, this is sure to be another outstanding production! The full cast listing can be found under
"The Producers" tab on this website
Summer Workshops Continue
Once again we will be offering workshops for people interested in knowing more about performing in musical theater.
Here’s the line-up:
'Acting Skills' with Sandie Hawthorne; Monday July 15, Coconut Cove Rec Center, 6:30 PM
'Movement and Dance' with Helene Yelverton; Friday July 19, Canal St. Rec Center, 9:30 AM
‘Vocal Performance Techniques’ with Mary Lou Merkner; Thursday July 25, 6:30 PM, Paradise Rec Center
‘Basics of Reading Vocal Music’ with Bill Davis, Friday July 26, Canal St. Rec Center, 9:30 AM
Registration for all workshops will take place on Friday June 21, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at Canal St. Rec Center. If you are unable to attend the registration, please email me at the email address below to register. Deadline for registration is June 28. There is no cost for the workshops other than a modest charge for materials for some workshops.
“There’s No Business Like Show Business” Act II!
With such a great response from our membership and The Villages community at large, how could we not present a follow-up production to our show last October? So this year we will be shining the spotlight on our past shows from the Fall of 2011, “Chicago”, through the recent “South Pacific”, and including a sneak peek at “The Producers”, with many of the people who created roles in those shows back to perform them again.
The show will once again be at La Hacienda Rec Center, this time on Saturday October 12. More details will be announced over the summer, but save the date now! Last year’s show was nearly a sell out and we expect even better results this year!
That’s it for this edition!
See you soon On the Boards!
Thanks!
Bill Davis, Board Chair, davis368@gmail.com
"South Pacific" Donation Made to
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
"South Pacific" was not only a great artistic success but a financial one as well. As a result, The Villages Musical Theater was able to present a very generous donation of
$10,000 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The donation will be used to fund research into cures and treatments for this disease.
Pictured above making the presentation to Mary Healey, the Developmental Director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, are Sandie Hawthorne, director of "South Pacific", and Ed Slivken, Assistant Director and Treasurer of the Villages Musical Theater.
ANNUAL MEETING NOVEMBER 2018
The Annual Meeting for the
Villages Musical Theater was held at Canal Street Recreation Center on November 2.
Elected to two year terms on the Board were : Mary Lou Merkner, Dave Newell, and Ed Slivken.
Sandie Hawthorne was presented with the Member of the Year award for her long time outstanding service to the organization, both as a long time Board Chairperson and multiple artistic achievements as a director.
Sandie is pictured below with her award and VMT Chairman Bill Davis.
“On The Boards”
The Newsletter of The Villages Musical Theater
October 2018
Hello everyone! Some very important information in this letter about the annual meeting, suggested by-law changes, and a casting need for “South Pacific”, among other things. Please be sure to read everything as there are some important announcements. Thanks!
“There’s No Business Like Show Business”
Our fall 2018 show, “There’s No Business Like Show Business” was performed on October 10, 6:30 at La Hacienda Rec Center to a large and very appreciative audience. (SEE THE NEWS ARTICLE AND PICTURES BELOW THIS NEWESLETTER)
Based on the enthusiastic audience response at the show and on responses many of us have heard, the audience loved the show! The show was also a financial success, and we’ll be sharing some specifics about that at the Annual Meeting. Many thanks to everyone who was involved with this production both on stage and off. The Board will be considering another show next fall highlighting the rest of our productions from “Chicago” to the new “South Pacific”. Stay tuned for more info!
“South Pacific”
Director Sandie Hawthorne and her team will be starting rehearsals on November 5. Before then however they need to recast one important role. Please help us get the word out about this audition.
Here is the information:
An audition is scheduled for anyone living in The Villages who would like to compete for the role of Lt. Joe Cable (A TENOR) in the VMT's spring, 2019, classic musical, "South Pacific." All competing will be asked to sing one song from the show, and also be prepared to do readings from the script. "Younger Than Springtime" or "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" are the music choices. We're looking for a gentleman with tenor voice range, and someone who has had acting experience. The auditions will be open only for those auditioning for this role.
Interested Villagers should come to Coconut Cove Recreation Center, 6:30 PM on Monday, October 22nd. An accompanist will be provided and sheet music will be available.
Rehearsals will begin on November 5th and the show dates are March 22-24, 2019, 6:30 PM at Savannah, and a matinee on March 24th at 2 PM.
Please contact director, Sandie Hawthorne, with any questions, at 352 205-9600 or email: shawtho771@aol.com
Spring 2020 Production
The Board will hear presentations at our October 18 Board meeting, starting at 6 PM, at La Hacienda Rec Center. At this time we have 3 potential directors presenting shows.
Annual Meeting and Special By-Laws Meeting
Our Annual Meeting and a special meeting of the membership will be held on Friday, November 2 at Canal Street Rec center. We will have the special meeting of the membership starting at 9:30 to consider two changes to our By-Laws that the Board has endorsed. The proposed changes will be detailed in a following section of this newsletter. A membership vote and approval is required for any by-laws changes.
The regular Annual Meeting will begin immediately following the By-Law the meeting. This year there are three Board positions available, and we know at least one of the members will not stand for re-election. If you are interested in having your name placed on the ballot for one of these positions, please send an email to Bill Davis at the email listed below no later than October 30! The only requirement for Board membership is that you must be a member in good standing. Please consider serving on the board! New ideas and outlooks are always needed to keep the organization running well. New board members should be available for monthly meetings (dates and time vary by the month) and be willing and able to assist with any aspect of our work, including assisting with show productions and other work done by the board. Please note that you must be a member in good standing as of January 1, 2018, to vote at either meeting, although that might be shortened to 90 days before the meeting if our By-Law changes are approved.
Annual Member of the Year
As previously announced, we will also be celebrating Sandie Hawthorne as our Member of the Year and the Annual Meeting! Another great reason to be there!
Proposed By-Law Changes
The Board has been considering a number of changes/clarifications to By-Laws and have approved two changes for your consideration. Here is the information:
Membership Article III A Eligibility, subsection 1:
Current wording: “New memberships may be accepted as any time during the year; however, the new member must wait until the beginning of the next fiscal year before obtaining the right to vote. This provision also pertains to reinstated members who have let their memberships lapse.”
Suggested wording: “New members may be accepted at any time during the Calendar year. The new member must be an active dues paid member for at least 90 days before obtaining the right to vote. This provision also pertains to reinstated members who have let their memberships lapse.”
Membership Article III B. Dues:
Current Wording: “The annual dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and are payable at the General Membership Meetings or upon joining. The fiscal year starts in January. It is an existing Board policy to extend any new membership paid from July to December for the entire next fiscal year”.
Suggested wording: “The annual dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and are payable at the annual General Membership Meeting in the fall for the following calendar year. Any member who does not pay dues at the meeting may do so at any time to maintain membership. New members may join at any time during the year and dues paid at that time are for the current calendar year only. Upon being selected as a cast member for any VMT show, anyone who is not a current member must join no later than the first week of rehearsal for a fall show, or the date of the General Membership Meeting for a spring show the following year.
That’s it for this edition! Please feel free to email me with any thoughts or suggestions and to let me know if you would like to be on the ballot for a position on the board. Thanks!
Bill Davis, Board Chair
davis368@gmail.com
Villages Musical Theater
takes all-star cast on emotional ride
down memory lane
In the beginning, there was Carol Greenfield, Diane Boorum and “South Pacific.”
That is the genesis of The Villages Musical Theater. It started 16 years ago in Greenfield’s living room. She and Boorum had appeared in a production in Leesburg and the two Villagers thought it was time to form a musical theater group here.
“We wanted to start a company and see if anyone else was interested – we had 60 people at our first meeting,” Greenfield said Wednesday during an anniversary celebration of The Villages Musical Theater at La Hacienda Recreation Center.
It was called “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” And it featured an all-star cast doing musical numbers and dances from the first decade of musical comedy for the Villages Musical Theater.
During the first meeting in 2002, everyone voted on what musical to present. “South Pacific” was the winner. There was only one problem.
“We didn’t have any money to pay for the licensing rights,” Greenfield said. “I thought we’d have to mortgage the house. But they let us pay the fees after the performances and that’s how we came up with the money.”
“We knew theater would work here,” said Boorum, who now lives in Leesburg. “I’m so glad it has become a success. It’s always changing but there are so many talented people in The Villages it keeps going, and that’s why tonight is so special.”
Billie Thatcher played Nellie in the 2002 production of “South Pacific” and returned in that role to open the show.
“This is a very emotional night for me,” Thatcher said before going on. “I cried after rehearsal, there are so many memories and so many people I’ve worked with. It means a lot to me. I just hope I can get through it.”
Thatcher was dressed in a white sailor uniform and sang “I’m In Love With a Wonderful Guy” with the same shimmering spirit she did back in 2002.
Speaking of energetic performances, Bill Davis, Bob Stehman, Marty Butler and Woody Wood teamed up for “You’ve Got to Have Heart” from “Damn Yankees.”
Then Sally Spieth slinked her way around the stage while tempting Marty Butler with “Whatever Lola Wants” from “Damn Yankees.”
Janet Maloney and Bob Stehman slowed the pace with a tender, romantic ballad, “My Cup Runneth Over,” from “I Do I Do.”
Becky MacIntyre, like the character in the musical, was stuffy and sneezy singing “Adelaide’s Lament” from “Guys and Dolls.” Sue Schuler shined with exuberance on “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady.” And Ray Leggiero took the spotlight from the same show with a bittersweet take on “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”
The always-elegant Jan Lavin had some fun with a lively “I Get a Kick Out of You.” Jim Flynn wore a toga while Bruce Greenberger showed up in a dress and earned laughs on “Lovely Reprise” from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
John Rogerson played the leading man in many of the early shows. He was romantic on “You’d Be So Easy to Love” and “Hey There.” Rogerson then hammed it up with Bonnie Williams on “Anything You Can Do” from “Annie Get Your Gun.”
Kathy Chesley-Williams and Jill Brewer scorched the stage with the dance number to “Steam Heat” from “The Pajama Game.”
Other performers included Bob Brandoni, Vanessa Russell and Richard Barth. An all joined forces for a rousing finale on “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”
Ironically, “South Pacific” will be the next big Villages Musical Theater production in March at Savannah Center. In some ways, the VMT has come full circle.
“It’s the first show we did and we may all be older, but ‘South Pacific’ never gets old,” said Sandie Hawthorne, who is directing the musical. “That musical and its themes of racism, love and war are still relevant today. People still love the story and they love the music.”
“Tonight is a culmination of the past 16 years,” said Bill Davis, chairman of The Villages Musical Theater. “It’s a night to recognize Carol (Greenfield) and Diane (Boorum) and thank them for starting all this.”
And part of that honor is bringing back “South Pacific” next year.
“It’s part of our history,” Davis said, “and also our future.”
Tony Violanti is a veteran journalist and writes for Villages-News.com.
“On The Boards”
The Newsletter of The Villages Musical Theater
September 2018
Hello everyone! Lots of fun and exciting things going on as we plan for the rest of the year! Please be sure to read everything as there are some important announcements. Thanks!
“There’s No Business Like Show Business”
Our Fall 2018 show,
“There’s No Business Like Show Business”
is coming up fast on October 10, 6:30 at La Hacienda Rec Center.
The show includes songs from our first 10 years of productions. We have a cast of 21 of our favorite performers, many performing the songs they sang in the original productions. Tickets are on sale now for $15 through The Villages Box Office. It will also serve as a chance to promote our Spring 2019 production of “South Pacific”. Billie Thatcher, the original Nellie in the 2002 production, will open our show, and Richard Barth, our new Emile, will close the show. Ticket sales are going well but we still need your help! Please help us make this show a sell out! It’s very important to us as an organization. We also need people to serve as ushers. Please let me know if you can help with this important function.
“South Pacific”
Director Sandie Hawthorne and her team will have their first read-thru on Thursday September 20, and then start full rehearsals in early November. Can’t wait for this great show!
Spring 2020 Production
The Board will hear presentations at our October 18 Board meeting, starting at 6 PM, at La Hacienda Rec Center. If you have an interest but have not yet let us know, please contact Bill Davis at davis368@gmail.com
Annual Meeting and Special By-Laws Meeting
Our Annual Meeting and a special meeting of the membership will be held on Friday, November 2 at Canal Street Rec center. We will have the special meeting of the membership starting at 9:30 to consider two changes to our By-Laws that the Board has unanimously endorsed. Another email will be sent within the next few weeks to explain the recommended changes. A membership vote and approval is required for any by-laws changes.
The regular Annual Meeting will begin immediately following the By-Law the meeting. This year there are three Board positions available, and we know at least one of the members will not stand for re-election. If you are interested in having your name placed on the ballot for one of these positions, please send an email to Bill Davis at the email listed above. The only requirement for Board membership is that you must be a member in good standing. Please consider serving on the board! New ideas and outlooks are always needed to keep the organization running well. New board members should be available for monthly meetings (dates and time vary by the month) and be willing and able to assist with any aspect of our work, including assisting with show productions and other work done by the board. Please note that you must be a member in good standing as of January 1, 2018, to vote at either meeting, although that might be shortened to 90 days before the meeting if our By-Law changes are approved.
Annual Member of the Year Announcement!
In the past, the Board has kept the recipient of this award as a secret until the actual presentation. This has led to the Board hearing from members after that fact that if the award winner was known ahead of time, some people might make an extra effort to be there. So we decided this year to make everyone aware of the award ahead of time so everyone can enjoy the celebration. That being said, we are extremely pleased to announce that the Board has unanimously chosen Sandie Hawthorne as our 2018 Member of the Year! Sandie’s history as an outstanding director of our shows and her tireless and devoted work on the Board, including a number of years as Board Chairperson, is indicative of her love for musical theater as a whole and for VMT in particular. It’s very hard to think of anyone who has given more to VMT in terms of time, talent and leadership over the last 10 years than Sandie. Please come to the Annual Meeting on November 2, where we will celebrate Sandie’s accomplishments.
That’s it for this edition! Please feel free to email me at davis368@gmail.com with any thoughts or suggestions.
Thanks!
Bill Davis, Board Chair
Summer Workshops
We have embarked on a way to keep our members and other potential musical theater people involved over the summer. We presented a series of workshops to help improve the skills needed to be in a musical.
The following workshops were held in 2018. Thanks to all who participated and made them a big success!!
Introductory “Expo”was held on
Monday May 14 at 6:30 p.m.
at Coconut Cove Recreation Center
Reading and Following Your Part
in a Vocal Music Score
with Bill Davis
Class size limit = 150
Friday June 1st 10 am at Canal Street Recreation
(one session)
Movement / Dance with Kathy Chelsey-Williams
Class size = approx. 30
Fridays June 8 and Friday June 22 Canal Street 10 am
Vocal Performance with Mary Lou Merkner
Class size = approx. 30
Mondays June 11 and June 18th
Coconut Cove Recreation at 6:30 pm
Acting Skills with Sandie Hawthorne
class size = approx. 35
Thursdays June 14 and June 21
at Paradise Recreation 6:30 pm
“On The Boards”
The Newsletter of The Villages Musical Theater
April 2018
Hello everyone! Lots of fun and exciting things going on as we plan for the rest of the year!
“Sweet Charity”
Many, many thanks to everyone who made “Sweet Charity” such a great show and so much fun for cast, crew, and audience alike! I had a lot of people tell me that they had never seen the show before and they were very happy that we produced it. We will be donating $2,000 to Villagers for Veterans from the proceeds.
“South Pacific”
Director Sandie Hawthorne and her team have chosen a terrific cast for our 2019 show! Lots of new faces which is very exciting and a great sign for the future of our group.
The principal cast is:
Emile: Richard Barth
Nellie: Laura “Dellie” Saxe
Lt. Joe Cable: Carter Poust
Billis: Dave Saxe
Bloody Mary: Brynn Neal
Liat: Yuri Sohn
Capt. Brackett: Tony Oteri
Harbison: Larry Wilson
Henry & bass solo: Ed Griggs
The rest of the cast list as well as show dates are under "South Pacific" at the left of this page.
Save the Date: Fall Musical Review!
We are planning a fundraiser concert the evening of October 10 at La Hacienda Rec Center, which will spotlight some of the great music from shows VMT has produced over our first 16 years. What a great show this will be! Many of the people who starred in these shows have agreed to participate. The Board is still working out the details of the show but the date and venue are secured, so mark your calendars!
Other notes of interest
The Board continues to work on ways to get more members involved. We are also considering minor changes to our by-laws that will make certain things easier to understand and administer, such as dues payment and membership. Again, more on this later as we get further down the road. Any by-laws changes that the Board supports would require a special meeting of the membership so the Board can review the proposed changes with you and you can ask questions. A membership vote and approval is required for any by-laws changes.
That’s it for this edition! Please feel free to email me with any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks!
Bill Davis
Board Chair
“On The Boards”
The Newsletter of The Villages Musical Theater
December 2017
Hello everyone! Lots of news to share about our club and shows!
IMPORTANT REMINDER TO UPDATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
Our fiscal year is the calendar year, so it’s important for you to update your membership and pay the $5 renewal by December 31! If you do not do so, you will not be eligible to attend our member appreciation “dinner” when it is scheduled, or vote in next year’s annual meeting. You can send your $5 renewal to The Villages Musical Theater, PO Box 700, Lady Lake FL 32159.
Annual Meeting Update
Our Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday November 14. Board members elected to a 2-year term were Bill Krone, Bill Davis, Judy Pluta, and Bruce Greenberger. Bobbie Steele-Marotta was elected to complete the one year term vacancy. In addition, we recognized out-going board member and former chairperson Sandie Hawthorne for her many accomplishments as part of the board. Sandie will continue to direct and more information on her production of “South Pacific” is included later in this newsletter. After the Annual Meeting, the newly elected Board met and designated the following positions for the coming year: Bill Davis, Chair; Bill Krone Vice-Chair and Webmaster; Ed Slivken, Treasurer; Judy Pluta, Secretary; Bobbie Steele-Marotta, membership; Mary Lou Merkner, Publicity; and Bruce Greenberger, at-large.
The Annual Meeting included presentations by Treasurer Ed Slivken updating our financial status, and Bill Davis reviewing the year just ended. We are in good financial position, however, Ed and Bill both highlighted the need to be very conservative financially going forward. In his remarks, Bill also commented on the need to cancel “The World Goes Round” to assure financial stability, and detailed the decision making process involved. Bill also commented on the need to update our marketing process for shows and throughout the year, and the need to get our membership more involved and informed about everything we do. These two subjects will be discussed by the new board in the coming year.
“Sweet Charity”
Rehearsals for “Sweet Charity” (March 5, 6, 7, 2018) have begun and are going very well! We have begun work on our sets, and can always use your help with set building and painting for this show! If you would like to help, or if you know someone who has building or artistic skills and might be interested, please contact Bill Davis at davis368@gmail.com. Many thanks to the people who have already come forward, and we still need more folks to help. Tickets will go on sale on January 11, so watch for much more info coming soon!
South Pacific Audition Information
Sandie has already put the information on the website about auditions for our Spring 2019 show, “South Pacific”, which will take place shortly after “Sweet Charity”. There is a lot of good information, so please be sure to check it out! www.thevillagesmusicaltheater.org.
Activity from Board Meeting on December 5
The following are key points from our Board meeting on December 5:
- Voted to donate $500 to Honor Flight even though “WGR” was not produced. They were to be the beneficiaries of proceeds from the show
- Voted to designate Villagers for Veterans as our designee for proceeds from “Sweet Charity”.
- Received a presentation from Lynne Greenberger as to how to approach marketing, not just show-specific, but throughout the year. After a great discussion, the Board moved to create a new Marketing Subcommittee with Lynne as Committee Chair. Mary Lou Merkner will serve as Board liaison for Lynne. Lynne will be looking for others to join the committee.
- Discussed the possibility of conducting various workshops during the year when we are not in rehearsal for a show, using the times we have at the Rec Centers. More on this in the future as plans begin to come together
- Discussed the possibility of a Fall production that would be a review of songs from our past shows and would also serve as a promotion for “South Pacific”. Again, more on this as plans are developed.
- At our next meeting, we will discuss how to get the membership involved
That’s about it for this edition of “On the Boards”! Please give us feedback on this newsletter and any other items discussed.
Bill Davis
Board Chair
VMT Presents First Spirit Award
to Karen Martin
The Villages Musical Theater presented our first ever "Spirit Award" to Karen Martin on June 10 during a special presentation at the Bridgeport
Recreation Center.
“This is historic,” said Sandie Hawthorne, vice chair of the VMT. This is the first time we’re giving out this award and it might be
the last. We may not do it again, but this one is for Karen.....We honor Karen because she is so special and we recognize her courage in battling pancreatic cancer,” Hawthorne said. “We’re here to
recognize Karen’s spirit. She has shown us how to hold on to life and how to live life. No matter what, Karen is determined to stay active and alive in theater.”
“Karen’s talent is what makes her special,” said Bill Davis, Chairman of The Villages Musical Theater who also leads the Villages Pop Chorus. “You combine her talent with her spirit and drive, and you truly have a special person. She inspires people.”
Sandie Hawthorne, Vice Chairperson of the Villages Musical Theater, presents the first ever Spirit Award to Karen Martin with her husband, Charlie.
Sadly, Karen lost her battle with cancer just two weeks after the award presentation.
Her memory remains an inspiration for us all.
Members' Awards Dinner
April 20, 2017
Hacienda Recreation Center
Ron Spieth receives the Member of the Year award
from VMT Chairman Bill Davis
VMT Chairman Bill Davis and Sandie Hawthorne, director of "Thoroughly Modern Millie", present a check with donation of $1500 from proceeds of that show to David Houck, CEO of SOZO Youth, which provides essential services to the children and families of the Ocala National forest
MEMBERS’ AWARDS DINNER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29TH, 2016 LAKE MIONA REC CENTER
Approximately 125 people attended the dinner, themed for Mardi Gras.
Our annual award recipient was Jean Butler, recognized for her outstanding contributions as orchestra conductor and musical director for many Villages Musical Theater productions.
Previous award recipients were:
Barbara Martin- Costume Mistress
Jan Wagner- Costume Mistress
Don Hausmann - Actor, Set Designer, Backstage crew, Board member
Joanie Young - Actress, Hospitality Chair
Awards Dinner January 2016
Board Members (L toR) Bill Davis, Bobbi Marotta, Award Recipient Jean Butler, Sandie Hawthorne, Bill Krone, and Ron Spieth
Annual meeting November 2015
The Board of the Villages Musical Theater
presents our new logo for the organization
Pictured with the Board is Nancy Knight who made this logo as the winning entry in our recent logo contest. The logo is also displayed on the main page of this website.
Pictured (L to R):
Front : Luma Green, Sandie Hawthorne
Rear: Ron Spieth, Nancy Knight, Bill Krone,
Bobbi Marotta, Bill Davis, Brenda Jacobsen
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