Richard's Blog

When my long-time friend and former teaching colleague, Art Fidler, asked me back in January if I was interested in taking on the task of preparing the Program for Silver Spotlight Theatre’s inaugural production, Babes In Arms, it did not really take a lot of persuasion on his part.

The prospect of being part of a new Broadway musical group made up of people 55+ was intriguing (I am a young 71) and the chance to work alongside the human dynamo known as Art Fidler was a bonus.

Putting together the program also reminded me of the five years I published The Beat Magazine (2009-2014), “London’s premier leading source of informed local arts news, commentary and timely reviews,” as we billed ourselves. Here was another chance to roll up my sleeves and get busy turning out the best print publication possible.

What started out as a modest plan of producing a 16-page B&W program with a colour cover, soon grew to a 20-page full colour program, then 24 pages, then 28 pages, and finally a 32-page final product.

Soliciting sufficient advertising to cover the costs of a 32-page full colour Program proved to be relatively easy for two basic reasons: The novelty of a theatre group comprised of adults 55+ (it’s a demographic that buys stuff) and the name Art Fidler.

Is there anyone in London who was not a student of Art’s or who came into contact with him at London Musical Theatre (which he helped found in 1988), or the Original Kids Theatre Company?

The mere mention of Art’s name immediately got my foot in the door in most cases. Programs often lose money. In our case, the Babes In Arms Program not only covered all the costs incurred in its production, it turned a tidy profit.

The high quality of the program was due in large part to the overly generous donated branding and graphic design work put in by BIA cast member and former student of Art’s, Mary-Ellen Willard (Daisy) and her team at adHOME Creative, one of London’s premier full-service advertising and digital agencies. In my humble opinion, the agency has created a program that will be a keepsake for all cast and crew members and their families and friends.

While the play was in rehearsal for weeks leading up to the March 24th opening, my partner in crime, Val Cavalini and I worked away behind the scenes putting the program together.

We saw the production for the first time on Saturday, March 25 on the Grand Theatre’s Auburn Stage. As I wrote in my Saturday night Facebook post: “Wow, Babes, just wow! I don’t think I have ever been as thoroughly entertained for two hours as I was tonight. Great performances, costumes and musical numbers. Congratulations to all cast and crew members for staging this wonderful production!”

Unrestrained laughter and applause were the order of the night and a much deserved prolonged standing ovation ushered the cast off the stage after two hours of pure delightful community musical theatre.

Afterwards, cast and crew members mingled with family and friends in the lobby in what can only be described as a mutual love-in. Flowers were given and hugs and kisses were exchanged.

Isn’t this what community theatre should be all about?

The play continues its run on the Auburn Stage until Sunday, April 2 when the Babes will say farewell for the last time. If you are one of the lucky ones to have tickets to this SOLD OUT show, enjoy!

Now, I wonder what Art has up his sleeve for next year’s Silver Spotlight Theatre production?

Here’s a Link to the Flipping Book version of the Babes In Arms Program for those people who will not be able to attend any of the performances: https://adhomecreative.com/BabesInArms/

(Photo Credits: Babes In Arms Cast & Crew – Ross Davidson, Art Fidler Pic – Jim Cressman.)

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.”

In the meantime, check out Musical Theatre Productions Facebook page for posts about the play https://www.facebook.com/mtplondon

You can read Joe Belanger’s story about the launch of Silver Spotlight Theatre here https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/new-musical-theatre-company-for-older-actors-crews-opens-in-london

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.

You can access the article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/12/new-years-resolutions-gratitude-thank-you-notes/672599/

I will let you know how I did in a future Blog.

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.

Happy New Year! See you in 2023.

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.