Welcome to Temple Civic Theatre
Summer Musical Bye Bye Birdie Opens July 17
 TCT’s summer musical production, Bye Bye Birdie, will be presented July 17-19 and 23-26 at Temple Civic Theatre. Member reservations begin July 7, with sales to the general public beginning July 14. Reserved seat tickets are $20 each.
The story is inspired by Elvis Presley, who was drafted into the Army. Elvis came to Fort Hood in 1958 and was here for about six months until he was shipped off to Germany.
The main character's name (Conrad Birdie) is word play on the name of Conway Twitty, who was one of Elvis's rock-and-roll rivals in the late 50s.
A movie in the 60s starred Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde. The musical includes many famous songs, such as "Put on a Happy Face" (Grey skies are gonna clear up...), "A Lot of Livin' to Do," "Kids" (Kids, I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!), "How Lovely To Be A Woman" which Wal-Mart recently used in its commercials, plus many more.
If the singing sensation Conrad Birdie (Cory Kosel) is drafted, his agent, Albert Peterson (Jeremy Thompson), will lose his commissions and not have enough money to marry Rose Grant (Priscilla Santana).
This would be a sad state of affairs for everyone except Albert’s loving mother Mae (Betsi Chamlee), who practically collapses at even the thought of his marrying and finds herself at death’s door when Rose is mentioned specifically.
Rose, however, has a plan. Albert will write a song called “One Last Kiss,” which Birdie will sing to a carefully selected typical teenage admirer. If the song clicks, they can live off the royalties until Birdie is discharged.
The girl selected is Kim MacAfee (Corrie Hermans), and the whole entourage heads for Kim’s hometown of Sweet Apple, Ohio. Conrad is given a room in the MacAfee house and eventually comes between Kim and her loyal beau, Hugo Peabody (Morgan Crozier).
In reaction to Mae’s attempts to dissuade Albert with motherly guilt, Rose goes out on a bender and disrupts a staid, small town Shriners’ meeting. Luckily for Hugo, Kim grows weary of Conrad’s egotistical, overbearing ways even before he leaves for the army. She and Hugo and Albert and Rose are soon together again, hand in hand.
Additional cast members include Don Washek (Harry MacAfee), Paige Rendon (Doris MacAfee), Nicholas Mischtian (Randolph MacAfee), Eileen Chaffer (Ursula Merkle), Brad Hickey (Harvey Johnson) and Jana Zajicek (Gloria Rasputin).
Ensemble members include Heidi Alaniz, Brittany Clark, Evan Clawson, Craig Connolly, Katy Denis, Jacob Duncan, Carol Giesbers, Sarah Groveunder, Kathryn Hermans, Clay Hickey, Brian Johnson, Daniel Marmon, Farrell Matthews, Gloria Matthews, John Mischtian, Zoe Mischtian, Daniel Ryna Pittman, Caitlin Richardson, Sarah Sanderford, Trenton Schneiders, JC Stricklin, Jacob Thompson, Spencer Tolleson, JR Winsor.
Production staff includes Tim Campbell (director), Larry Guess (musical director), Jana Zajicek (choreographer), Jesse Wyman (technical director), Nathan Graham (technical director), Jennifer Murphy (stage manager), Claire Romano (props master), Carol Geisbers (costumes) and Kathryn Hermans (costumes).
The show is produced by special arrangement with Tams-Whitmark Music Library, Inc. The book is by Michael Stewart with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams.
Youth Summer Workshop -- July 27-31 & August 3-7
Temple Civic Theatre will offer a summer youth theatre workshop July 27-31 and/or August 3-7, led by Betsi Chamlee & Marjie Rynearson.
The workshop is Monday through Friday at TCT. Elementary students attend from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and middle school and high school students attend from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Students may participate in either one or both weeks of the workshop. The cost is $90 per student per week.
Actor training is the focus of this fun summer workshop, customized to fit the age and experience level of each student. The workshop will include basic theatre terminology and practice, movement, voice work, text work, mime, improvisation and a variety of theatre games designed to increase the actor’s skill and confidence on stage.
On each Saturday (Aug. 1 & 8) at 11 a.m., a Showcase will be presented featuring the work created by the workshop students during the previous five days.
SPECIAL PLAYWRIGHTING CLASS -- From 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Marjie Rynearson will be teaching playwrighting for middle school and high school students.
Classes are limited to 18 students per session. Reservations are non-refundable and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. A non-refundable $20 deposit will hold your reservation until July 17th. Checks may be mailed to the theatre, you can pay in person at the theatre or you can charge by phone during box office hours (Tuesday-Friday, 9:30-1:30) at 254-778-4751.
 “A View From the Pit” to Honor
the Life and Work of Ann Chamlee
On August 22, 2009, TCT will host an evening of songs, stories, and talent honoring the memory and passion of Ann Chamlee. This ONE NIGHT ONLY memorial concert will benefit both Temple Civic Theatre and the Ann Chamlee Piano Fund.
Come join us as we celebrate the life of one of the region’s most beloved musicians and arts advocates.
The evening begins with a reception in the Saulsbury Room at 7 p.m. followed by the performance at 8:15. Tickets will be sold at
the door.
TCT's Jesse Wyman Headed for Alaska!
Jesse Wyman, TCT’s Technical Theatre Intern and Guest Technical Director for Bye Bye Birdie, will be leaving at the end of August to pursue his undergraduate degree in technical theatre at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
Jesse began serving on the light crew at Temple High School during his freshman year. After graduating from THS, he enrolled at Temple College in 2006 and became the first TC/TCT work-study student. Since then, Jesse has served as the lighting designer and/or board operator for numerous shows. He has become an indispensable, greatly valued and much-loved member of the TCT family. He will be sorely missed . . . break a leg, Jesse!
TCT Granted $30,000 –
Challenged to Raise
a Matching Amount
Two months ago, TCT received a grant in the amount of $30,000 from an anonymous donor. The grant came with a challenge for TCT to raise an additional $30,000 in an effort to make some much needed additions and improvements to the theatre’s lighting and sound equipment.
We are asking everyone to pitch in and help us purchase or locate the following items:
• A new sound board to improve our ability to mix cues, effects, amplify actors;
• Upgraded digital technology (sound card, and/or I-Pod);
• Speakers to replace several which no longer work;
• Body microphones for actor amplification;
• Two new computers for mixing and executing sounds cues and designing sets;
• Auto-Cad programming for scenic and lighting design;
• A color ink-jet printer for reproducing high resolution graphics;
• New lighting instruments which can project high resolution graphics.
We also need funds in order to make ongoing repairs to our physical facility. Every donation, in any amount is greatly needed. We urge you to help us steady our way through the storm of a difficult economy.
TCT Offices To Be Closed August 4-17, 2009
The Business Office and the Box Office will be closed from Tuesday, August 4 though Monday, August 17 and will re-open on Tuesday, August 18.
You may leave messages which will be checked periodically.
The Youth Theatre Workshop and the Playwriting Class will continue as scheduled during this closure.
The Wilson Family
General Memorial Fund
Temple Civic Theatre has instituted a new fund to honor the work of Dr. Ralph Wilson and family.
During his life, Dr. Wilson gave tirelessly to Temple Civic Theatre. He believed that the theatre was/is a vital cultural contributor to the community of Temple and the region.
Over the years, he and his family have aided and enlivened the work of the theatre in countless ways. We share his enthusiasm, vision and belief in the importance of TCT’s mission.
If you would like to acknowledge the support shown by Ralph and his family, you may make a donation to the fund by mailing a check or by calling the box office (778-4751).
 Photos from Productions
CLICK HERE for photos from Neil Simon's The Dinner Party.
CLICK
HERE for photos from the musical review Jerry's
Girls.
CLICK HERE for photos from the musical The King and I.
CLICK HERE for photos from Rodgers & Hart: A Celebration (Nov. 2006)
CLICK HERE for photos from the musical She Loves Me (Feb. 2007)
CLICK HERE for photos from A Streetcar Named Desire (April 2007)
College Classes Taught at TCT
Did you know that college-credit
classes for Temple College and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor are being taught at Temple
Civic Theatre by TCT Managing & Artistic Director
Tim Campbell and TCT Tech Director Mac Lower?
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Volunteer Opportunities
Tired of TV shows
that have the same basic lineup every night? Can’t
get the latest best selling novel from the library
because of the endless waiting list?
Tired of dining
out as your main entertainment, not to mention
the unwanted extra pounds?
Have we got a deal
for you! Try volunteering at TCT. Everyone doesn’t
have to perform onstage. It takes a lot of fun
people working together to bring our season alive.
We promise not to
overwhelm you or take all your free time. Come
when you can for as long as you can.
Can you type? Stuff
envelopes? Paste labels? Sweep a floor? Make new
friends? Learn how to drive a nail? Scavenge for
needed props or set pieces? Laugh at a good joke?
Find a place to create? Learn to crew backstage?
Pick up a Volunteer
Opportunities brochure from the lobby or download
from this website; talk to another volunteer;
or give us a call at 778-4751 and try us out.
No experience necessary—just a willingness
to learn.
CLICK
HERE to download our Volunteer Opportunities
brochure in PDF file format. You must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view
or print out this PDF file. |
 Managing
& Artistic Director
Tim Campbell is the
theatre's Managing & Artistic Director. Tim began
his duties in August 2004, and directed five of the
six shows in the 2004-05 Main Series Season.
Southwest Theatre Association
awarded Tim the August Staub Young Director's Award
in October 2004. The annual award is presented to promising
directors in their first five years of their professional
career.
Tim holds a master of fine
arts in theatre (directing) from the University of Oklahoma,
where he served as a graduate teaching assistant.
He also holds a bachelor
of science degree in music management from the University
of Colorado. To read more about Tim, click
here
Did you know...
• Guests who are hearing impaired may obtain
amplification units from the Box Office.
• Our Box Office is fully equipped to handle
your need for single tickets or season tickets, and
also offers group rates and coupons which act as gift
certificates. Purchasing tickets at TCT is simple and
quick. A transaction can be made by phone or in person.
All sales are final. Unusable tickets may be donated
back to TCT for resale prior to the performance. In
such an instance, you will be issued a tax-deductible
donation receipt.
• The Box Office is open Tuesday
through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It's also
open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the Saturday immediately
before a main-series show opens, and on the Saturdays
during the run of the show. It is also open one hour
before all performances.
• Office Hours are Tuesday through
Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Theatre offices are
closed on Mondays.
• Parking at Temple Civic Theatre is free, but
it is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Arriving early is encouraged for the best parking.
For Your Comfort and Safety...
• Smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas
of the building.
• We ask that you mute and refrain from using
all beepers and cellular phones while inside the theatre.
• Latecomers will be seated in the Saulsbury
Room and will watch the first act on the in-house television
monitor system.
• Soft drinks and Coffee are available during
intermission(s) at the concession booth in the lobby.
Refreshments are prohibited inside the theatre.
• The use of any photographic and/or recording
devices is forbidden.
Temple Civic Theatre Mission Statement
The mission of Temple Civic Theatre is to produce
theatre of the highest caliber, to enlist regional talent
through open auditions, to educate youth and adults
in all aspects of theatre, and to provide opportunities
for and encourage participation by volunteers, thus
enriching the artistic and cultural base of the communities
of Central Texas.
Website Volunteers Needed
If you would be interested in helping with our webite,
please contact the TCT Business Office. Thanks.
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