Company Newsletters Archive
April 2010
Limelight!
9th to 12th June. This is the title of our summer show this year. As Betty reported at the AGM, we lost money on Disco Inferno and, as ticket sales are still very poor at the Arts Complex, we decided to replace Company with a lower cost venture. The cast have turned their skills and enthusiasm to a musical revue, devised by Veronica and Stephen, based on a touring theatre company setting up for a show. Some seek the “limelight”, some had it but lost it and others are just happy to be near it. Lots of opportunities for singing, dancing and fun and there is a wonderful selection of familiar songs.Ticket sales provide the vast majority of our income so it is vital for the future of our society that we do everything we can to sell tickets for Limelight.
Gill NevinOur Chairman, Gill Nevin, is stepping aside for the next few months to undertake a fundraising venture in memory of her brother-in-law Colin. To raise money for Marie Curie, Gill and Mike are cycling 380 kilometres around Jamaica later this year. It sounds hard but it is nothing compared to what Colin had to go through and it’s a great way to pay something back to a fabulous organisation which does lots of great work for cancer sufferers. If you would like to make a donation, please go to www.justgiving.co.uk and enter friend’s name Nevin. If you are a UK taxpayer, please make sure to Gift Aid the donation. Gill is also selling tickets for a Ball at St John’s Hotel, Solihull, on Friday 25th June for Marie Curie: contact her on 01675 443614.
Committee
Jeanette White has agreed to look after our social programme and Karl Evans has joined the committee to seek business sponsorship. If you have any suggestions on either topic, please contact them; they will be delighted to hear from you.
Social Events
The “After Show Party”, to which all are welcome, will be at Gill Nevin’s house and garden in Hampton in Arden from 12.30 on Sunday 13th June. Entrance £5 includes food and fun! Then, in late June/early July, we are planning another Treasure Hunt; details later.
Spare a Thought
Spare a thought please,
for Margaret Griffiths and Pam Grieves, both lovely people who have played
important parts in our past productions and who are struggling against cancer.
A Budding Star
Gill and Nick Salter’s daughter, Hayley, has been selected as one of the two girls to play the title role in Queensbridge MTS’s production of the musical Annie at Solihull Arts Complex. If you would like to see Hayley (and Annie), she will be performing on 22nd, 24th & 26th June (evenings). We wish her every success.
Jean Amphlett RIP
We were saddened to hear that one of our members, Jean Amphlett, had died after a long period of ill health. She first performed with us in South Pacific in 1988 and was a long serving committee member taking charge of our Patrons scheme (a forerunner of the current Friends of St Augustine’s MTC) for some years.
Several of us attended the funeral at Hampton in Arden parish church when we learned that Jean had made a bequest to St Augustine’s MTC. She was always a cheerful and friendly person and she and her late husband Alf were good supporters; we will miss her.
As previously planned, our Autumn show this year will be the musical comedy The Wedding Singer. This was a popular film with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore and is now available as a stage show packed with ‘80s style music. Auditions will be announced on our website soon.
Correction
In our last Newsletter, we reported on Peter Woolley’s recent success. Peter took the part of James Bailey, not the lead role of Barnum which was played by his elder brother Paul, and the year was 1994 not 1995. Sorry.
Don’t forget our excellent web site, packed full of information, news, views, and photographs.
December 2009
Disco Inferno - 16 to 21 November 2009
The show played to enthusiastic audiences, young and old, and received good reports from the Press and NODA. It was notable for the wide range of singing talents, excellent character acting and impressive choreography. Solihull News said that “St Augustine’s can always be relied on to deliver a polished, lively show” and were “hugely impressed by the choreography, costumes and flair on show”. Margery Carmichael of NODA described it as “Just a load of fun”. While she thought Douglas (Jack) was outstanding and praised Mark (Heathcliffe), Laura (Jane), Gavin (Tom) and Krystina (Lady Marmalade), she also said “The pace and vigour put into this production by the whole cast was infectious; the audience really loved it and joined in. Well done Liane, Veronica and Stephen”. So well done everyone, cast, crew and production team. Pity we didn’t get the full houses the show merited
CharityIt seemed appropriate to use DISCO INFERNO to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. We donated half of the first night seats to them, ran a raffle each evening and mentioned them in our promotions and the show programme. Our raffles and donations raised £1211.72 and this was matched by Barclays Bank giving a grand total of £2423.44. Paula Hancox of TCT expressed their wholehearted gratitude and described it as a magnificent achievement. In the past, we have supported Acorns Children’s Hospice, Marie Curie and Children in Need.
Annual General Meeting
You are all warmly welcomed to the AGM which has been rescheduled to Friday 29th January 2010 at 7.30pm in the British Legion Hall, Union Road, Solihull. This will be followed by a QUIZ to replace the one which unfortunately was cancelled last October.
Company
Our next production from 7th to 12th June 2010, is the groundbreaking musical comedy COMPANY by Stephen Sondheim. Please note dates now. Auditions are already under way so if you would like to be considered, please contact Veronica Walsh (tel. 0121 705 3914) asap.
Other News
Following
the very successful 30th Anniversay Ball, some members have asked about
another formal event. Gill Nevin has booked 20 places for us at the
BALL FOR ALL organised by the Mayor of Solihull on 20th March 2010 at
the Motorcycle Museum, for Macmillan Cancer Support. This promises to
be a most enjoyable dinner/dance. Tickets, £35 each, must be paid for
by the end of January so please contact Gill (01675 443614) soon if you
would like to attend.
In September, Veronica directed five professional actresses and Malvern St James Singers in a new play entitled Survivorship - TO CANCER AND BEYOND by Monica Price at Solihull Arts Complex in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, an impressive achievement.
Peter Woolley (who played Bailey in our 1994 production of BARNUM)
was awarded a Rose Bowl for Best Supporting Performance in the role of
Alexander Molokov in Bristol St Mary’s production of CHESS. His first role with us was in 1988 as Jerome du Bec, in SOUTH PACIFIC, aged 10.
Prepared by Lawrence Conway
October 2009
Disco Inferno - 16 to 21 November 2009
Rehearsals are in top gear for this lively, fun show with a talented and enthusiastic cast which includes several new faces (welcome to St. Augustine’s MTC.).
Tickets are going reasonably well at this stage, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings, but we need to sell lots more. We aim to have a packed house every night! There are lots of Booking Forms and posters available to helppublicise the show so please do everything you can to sell tickets in these difficult times. Speak to Betty Keyte (0121 705 2789) for information on group concessions.
This year we are supporting The Teenage Cancer Trust. We have given them half of the tickets for the Monday performance and we shall run a raffle for them each evening.
STOP PRESS! New Rehearsal Accommodation
We have moved to Mill Lodge Primary School, Aqueduct Road, Shirley,B90 1BT (not far from Shirley Station) and are settling in very nicely.
Social Evening - Thursday 15 October 2009
We are planning a get-together, after rehearsal, at the COLEBROOK pub on Haslucks Green Road, not far from Mill Lodge School (see above). Everyone is welcome. If you are not in the cast, come along at 8.30pm to be impressed by the rehearsal!, have a coffee and then meet up at 10pm in the Colebrook. It’s a great opportunity to chat and catch up with everyone.
Congratulations
Veronica & Tony’s daughter Rachel and her husband Stuart Ingram who were married on 27 September. Our very best wishes for many happy years together.
Updates
The musical play 24/SEVEN - A Street Opera for which Stephen Powell wrote the score and which had successful stage runs in Birmingham and London, has now been produced as a film.
Karl Evans is thriving and has been voted 'Best Dad' in a local newspaper competition.
Sad News
Two good friends of St. Augustine’s MTC have died in recent months. + Trevor Charlton played drums and percussion for our shows for 13 years and for many other societies. He also had a long TV and Jazz career. + Geoff Farnall was our first representative when we joined NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association). He introduced Stephen Powell to us, appeared on stage and TV and was a great enthusiast of amateur theatre. Both were thoroughly nice men and will be sadly missed.
Auditions
Audition dates will be announced very soon for next summer’s production of COMPANY (7 to 12 June 2010). Full details will be posted on our website as soon as available.
Website
Stephen regularly updates our website which contains lots of news, information, picutres, personalities, competitions and even our very own blog. It's well worth a frequent visit.
June 2009
Disco Inferno - 16 to 21 November 2009
A group of us saw the show in Hinckley a couple of months ago and it was colourful, full of fun and energy and playing to packed houses all week. This is another chance to enjoy the songs and fashions of the 70s. This musical combines a hilarious script with a score of 70s hits from era of glitter, flares and platform shoes. Songs like A Night to Remember, Crocodile Rock, Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies, Village People Medley (YMCA, Go West, In the Navy), Leader of the Gang, Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word and Disco Inferno. There is an excellent summary of the story on the reverse of the booking form.
Rehearsals are in full swing with a talented and enthusiastic cast which includes several new faces (welcome to St. Augustine's MTC).
Tickets are now on sale and Friday and Saturday evenings are likely to be very popular so book your seats now. There are lots of Booking Forms and posters available to help publicise the show so please do everything you can to sell tickets in these difficult times. Contact Betty Keyte (0121-705 2789) for information on group concessions.
Fish & Chip Supper & Quiz - Friday 17 July 2009, 7.30pm, British Legion Club, Union Road, Solihull
You are all invited to this social evening: current members, families and Friends of St. Augustine's MTC. One week later than planned, this will be an ideal opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones. Laura Chinn and Duncan McLaurie are arranging a lively programme and the cost is only £5 per head, including the fish & chips.
This is also a fundraising occasion so there will be a raffle. Laura will be delighted to receive any suitable prizes you may be able to donate. Do come along and have a lovely evening.
Friends of St. Augustine's MTC
If you know anyone, former member of the Company or not, who would like to support us by becoming a Friend, please contact Lawrence Conway on 0121-705 7976. the annual fee is £10 and benefits include early information about future shows, a £2 saving on their ticket price for each show and a copy of our Newsletter.
Website
Stephen has made major improvements to our website so please visit it often for regular updates.