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Oct 24, 2011 -
Strathspey Place Players puts out
casting call for spring production.
For immediate Release Strathspey Place Players puts out casting call for a spring production of John Archie and Nellie, a Romantic Musical set at Glencoe Mills. Strathspey Place Players (a subcommittee of Strathspey Place Board of Directors) is putting out a casting call for the twelve speaking roles in their upcoming musical production John Archie and Nellie. This play is set at a square dance in Glencoe Mills and the characters are dealing with challenges well known to Inverness County. The well known songs will entice all to sing along! This is an opportunity for anyone interested in theatre and telling Cape Breton stories to take the stage. They are looking for interested budding actors, singers, and dancers to come to Strathspey Theatre on Friday, November 4th for a casting call. Formal rehearsals will not begin until March, but cast role members will be expected to master their lines through the winter. A range of ages is needed in this play, so anyone from ages 16 to 66 is welcome to attend the casting call on November 4th from 7-9 pm at Strathspey Place Theatre, Mabou.
For immediate release Strathspey Place began this season with a sold out show with The Rankins in October 2010 to launch what has been an incredible year of performances and special “nuggets” of talent. The Strathspey Place stage has hosted comedians such as Gerry Dee and Tommy Tiernan, and drama’s such as Jake’s Gift and On Golden Pond. In August the Second Annual Literary Festival featured local writers and illustrators such as Peter Rankin, Jim St. Clair, Alexander MacLeod, and Sheldon Currie, inviting all to explore their imagination and personal stories. Strathspey Place hosted a tribute to local author Frank Macdonald. Over the past ten years, there has been music and dancing, stories and songs, and for all this to keep happening Strathspey Place needs the support of the community. On Saturday, November 12th at 7:30 pm the doors to Strathspey Place will open for a special evening devoted to celebrating and thanking all who have made the past ten years possible. This list is long with artists, organizers, staff, board members, technicians, and volunteers who have made countless presentations come alive on the Strathspey Place stage. The evening will give everyone a chance to reflect on how important this theatre is to the area, and to remember all those who have pounded the stage and made music within its walls. For the first time in almost a decade Strathspey Place will bring together a Reunion of Celtic Crew members who have gone on to great careers with their chosen instruments. David Rankin will be featured for his incredible talents on the stage, rather than in the sound booth for this night; and the Grand Piano, which is a part of the memory of John Morris Rankin, will see the ivories flashing under the fingers of the incredible Mac Morin. The Eddie Cummings Band will demonstrate why they have a budding career as they play a few selections from their new release that is climbing the charts. Kinnon and Betty Lou Beaton will once again generously share their talent. Square sets, Step Dance and Highland Dance will fill out the evening, so come and enjoy a lively night of entertainment! The board of Strathspey Place and the friends of the theatre invite the people of Cape Breton to come and celebrate as they pay tribute to a theatre that provides an incredible opportunity to the area. Everyone is asked to come early for a “Reflection Reception”, a chance to chat and reminisce before the concert. Tickets for this fundraising event are $20 which will support the theatre’s 11th year’s programming line-up. Members: $16 until November 4. Kids under 16: $10
Strathspey Place
2011 AGM welcomes new Board Members The Strathspey Place AGM held on September 14th, at the theatre, welcomed four new Board members, defined priorities for the performance facility after the strategic planning done during the Spring of 2011, and reported on a productive year. Jill Smith, Strathspey Place Board Chair, welcomed the new Board members – Ben Cowan-Dewar, Diana MacKinnon, Josephine MacEachern and David Greenwell to Board service mentioning the gratifying and challenging aspects of Board membership. Strathspey Place is grateful to attract members with such diverse skills and competency in their fields. In addition, Smith thanked retiring Board members – John Baird, Diane Mouland, Mary Anne MacKeigan , and Peter Murray for their contributions to Strathspey Place and its to its ongoing success. In particular, Diane Mouland’s significant contributions of an annual literary festival for Strathspey Place as well as her past executive committee service were noted. Also, Stanley Beaton was also thanked for his excellent work as Treasurer during a difficult financial time. New Board and Executive Members are as follows: Jill Smith, Chair (on leave from September until January 1, 2012); Brenda Dunphy, Acting Chair; Jim Maclean, Vice Chair; David Greenwell, Treasurer; Charlotte Miller, Recording Secretary. Members- at- large include Stanley Beaton, Ben Cowan-Dewar, Diana MacKinnon and Josephine MacEachern. Donna MacDonald remains an ex-officio Board Member and a representative of Inverness Municipality. At the general meeting, Smith reported that Strathspey Place received more funding in the 2011-2012 year than it had in past years but that audience attendance numbers were still declining despite excellent presentations by musicians and actors. This fact continues to limit Strathspey’s ability to present a comprehensive season of activity. On an upbeat note, Smith also noted the very positive impact of the Strategic Planning exercise conducted by the Board, in conjunction with consultants Leah Hamilton of Genesis Consulting and Andrea Arbic of A.L. Arbic Consulting. A new mission statement and mandate can be found on the Strathspey Place website and the Board is following the work plan that was generated through the review. Smith acknowledged the support of ECBC in its partial funding of the Strategic Planning initiative as well as the continued support of Inverness Municipality and the Province of Nova Scotia (Communities, Culture & Heritage division). Diane Mouland presented a report on the success of the 2011 Literary Festival. She noted that while keynote author, Donna Morrissey, was ill and was thus unable to attend the gala reading on Saturday evening, Cindy O’Neill stepped into the breach and read wonderfully from Morrissey’s work. Authors Sheldon Curry and Alexander MacLeod also read from their writing and answered audience questions. The Program Committee report was presented by Brenda Dunphy who listed the many and various shows Strathspey Place hosted over the past twelve months including the likes of Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Café and dramatic performances like the award-winning “Her Wake”. Of course there was plenty of wonderful music. Dunphy drew attention to the upcoming 10th Anniversary Show to celebrate the John Morris Rankin Stage and ten years of fabulous shows at Strathspey. This gala fundraising event will be held on November 12th. More information on the 10th Anniversary event will appear in The Oran shortly. To volunteer at this or any other Strathspey Place event, or to ask about becoming a member of the Board, please contact Patrick Lanctot at 945-5300. K.C. Beaton organizes volunteers to Strathspey and is also the Chair of the 10th Anniversary show. She can be contacted through the Strathspey Place office. The meeting commended Patrick Lanctot, Theatre Manager, for his work over the past year and for his ongoing commitment to Strathspey Place.
For information contact:
Strathspey Place is currently recruiting volunteers to fill the
following roles:
If you have any questions or more
information, or are ready to take on any of the roles listed above,
please contact K.C. Beaton, Volunteer Coordinator at 258-5616 Thank you!
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