A retired History and Politics high school teacher (1978-2008). Former Publisher/Managing Editor of The Beat Magazine (2009-2014). Freelance Writer. Professional Musician (Drummer and Vocalist)
Fresh off the presses! Here’s the Program Advertising Rate Card for Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Babes In Arms, courtesy of Mary-Ellen Willard and the folks at adHome Creative. If you know of any local businesses or organizations that you think may be interested in advertising in our Program, please share the Card with them, and ask them to contact Richard Young, Program Department Head, at richardyoung51@rogers.com.
adHome Creative is also designing the Babes In Arms Program — and it’s gonna be a work of art!
Babes In Arms is being produced by Kelly Holbrough and co-directed by Art Fidler and Rick Smith, with musical direction by Janis Wallace. It opens on March 24 on the Auburn Stage at the Grand Theatre and runs to April 2.
For more information about Babes In Arms, visit www.mtplondon.ca Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased at 519-672-8800 or grandtheatre.com.
Have I mentioned that I have gotten involved with long-time London thespian and educator Art Fidler’s brainchild, Silver Spotlight Theatre, a theatre group featuring and produced by senior-aged performers and staff 55+ with a mission of presenting full-scale Broadway musicals?
Well I have, and I could not be more pleased!
The company’s inaugural show, Babes In Arms by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, is being produced by Kelly Holbrough and co-directed by Art and longtime Musical Theatre Productions director Rick Smith, with musical direction by Janis Wallace. It opens March 24 on the Auburn Stage at the Grand Theatre and runs to April 2.
“I think it’s a great idea,” says co-director Rick Smith. “I know a lot of people have an interest in doing something in theatre, but the opportunities just aren’t there. The older people often feel like they’ve been put to pasture and this opportunity will be an important outlet for them. It helps keep people young and it’ll be a lot of fun for them.”
Originally written and produced in 1937, Babes In Arms is the story of young people during the Great Depression of the 1930s looking to raise money to stay off the work farm after their parents leave them unattended to seek their own success on the dying vaudeville stage. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland starred in the 1939 “I’ve got a barn! Let’s put on a show!!” movie version. The show received a further adaptation in 1978. Silver Spotlight Theatre’s version will see tables turned by having the show’s cast and crew made up of the talents of those 55+ playing these great young roles, and singing some of Rodgers & Hart’s most successful songs that have been performed by a multitude of crooners and chanteuses ever since.
Auditions have been held, thirty roles have been cast and full rehearsals are now in progress, while the Production Crew is hard at work behind the scenes preparing for the March 24th opening.
I have been charged with the responsibility of putting together the play’s Program, a task that I am looking forward to with relish.
Watch my Blog for more news about the play and how you can purchase tickets.
As Silver Spotlight Theatre’s founder Art Fidler is wont to say: “Musical comedy, the two most glorious words in the English language.”
Well, for better or worse, it’s that time of year when many people make a list of New Year’s Resolutions.
As I have gotten older, I have all but stopped making New Year’s Resolutions. Not because I think it is a useless, futile exercise, but rather because I have chosen to continue doing the things that work for me in my daily life and reject those that do not.
The meme above pretty well captures how I feel about the coming year. I would add to the list to keep my mind active by continuing to be a life-long learner, something I have aspired to do throughout my life.
To be sure, given that I have never smoked, don’t drink or eat to excess and exercise regularly as time permits, I don’t see the need to make a list of transformative lifestyle changes in the New Year.
One thing I will commit myself to was prompted by a recent opinion piece in The Atlantic Magazine in which Abdullah Shihipar extolled the benefits of sending handwritten Notes of Thanks at years end to those individuals who had made his year better.
“I recap my interactions with the recipient that year, put my finger on what I appreciated, and say I’m grateful,” writes Shihipar.
If writing down some changes you would like to make in your life over the next twelve months is a cathartic exercise for you, soldier on. Just be realistic about what you can successfully accomplish.
Want to start off the New Year with some challenging, thought-provoking bedside reading? Consider historian Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens series. You won’t be disappointed.
#TBT – We go all the way back to the January 2010 issue of The Beat Magazine (then known as The Beat: Arts in London). On our cover, we featured Marc Bell’s Hot Potatoe. Inside, Donald D’Haene did a Q&A with Passionfool Theatre’s co-founder and co-artistic director, Eva Blahut, Beth Stewart profiled London artist, Steve Tracy, Darin J. Addison previewed the launch of the 2010 L.O.L.A. Festival, Mary Ann Colihan previewed UWOpera’s production of Don Giovanni, Robert Pegg (Sonny Drysdale) ruminated about London’s Coolest Song and more.
Rick's Blog 