Lexington Opera HouseLexington Center Corporation430 W. Vine StreetLexington, KY 40507

House Lights

The Newsletter of the Lexington Opera House

Fall 2009

In this Issue…For the First Time … p1 – 2

OZ at the Opera House … p2 – 3

For the First TimeHouse LightsFall 2009

During The Great Depression, Robert Porterfield, an enterprising young actor, returned to his native Southwest Virginia with an extraordinary proposition: the bartering of produce from the region to gain admission to see a play. When Barter Theatre opened its doors in 1933, the price of admission was 35 cents or the equivalent in produce, and the concept of trading "ham for hamlet" caught on quickly. At the end of the first season of Barter the company cleared $4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly and enjoyed a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds.

Playwrights, including Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams, and Thornton Wilder, accepted Virginia ham as payment for royalties. An exception was George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, who bartered the rights to his plays for spinach.

There are many "firsts" in the history of the Barter Theatre: first theatre to be designated a "state" theatre, The State Theatre of Virginia; first to produce Hamlet at Ellsinore Castle; founding

member of the League of Resident Theatres, longest running professional Equity theatre in the nation and first stop for a number of notable actors - Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Ned

Beatty, Gary Collins, Larry Linville and Frances Fisher to name a few.

On September 25th – 27th, we are proud to welcome Barter

Theatre to the Opera House, their first appearance on our stage. Sponsored by The Shops at Lexington Center, Broadway Live presents Barter Theatre’s production, OF MICE AND MEN. This was John Steinbeck’s first attempt at writing in the

form of novel-play termed a "play-novelette" by one critic. His desire was to write a novel that could be played from its lines, or a play that could be read like a novel.

Continued On Page 2

SeptemberOf Mice and Men presented by Broadway Live and The Shops at Lexington Center Friday, September 25, 8:00pm Saturday, September 26, 2:00 and 8:00pm Sunday, September 27, 2:00 and 7:00pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535OctoberAlltech Fortnight Festival presents Makem & Spain BrothersThursday, October 1, 7:00pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535Miss Lexington PageantSaturday, October 3; 7:00pm Call 859-351-2423 for ticketsUK Opera: River of TimeThursday, October 8; 7:30pm Friday, October 9; 7:30pm Saturday, October 10; 7:30pm Call 859-257-4929 for ticketsParagon Music Theatre: Hello, Dolly!Thursday, October 22; 8:00pm Friday, October 23; 8:00pm Saturday, October 24; 8:00pm Sunday, October 25; 3:00pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535

Kentucky Ballet Theatre: Phantom of the OperaFriday, October 30; 8:00pm Saturday, October 31; 8:00pm Call 859-252-5245 for ticketsNovemberBluegrass Youth Ballet: Dia de los Muertos Wednesday, November 4; 6:30pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535Troubadour Concert Series presents Robert Earl Keen Thursday, November 5; 7:00pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535The Wizard of Oz presented by Broadway Live and Smiley Pete Publishing and Ball Homes Friday, November 6, 7:00pm Saturday, November 7, 1:00 and 7:00pm Sunday, November 8, 1:00 and 7:00pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535Friends of the Arts School/SCAPA presents Peter Pan Thursday, November 12; 7:00pm Friday, November 13; 8:00pm Saturday, November 14; 2:00pm & 8:00pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535

Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras Fall Concert Sunday, November 15; 7:00pm Call 859-254-0796 for ticketsBall Homes Night of Hope with Chris Gardner - Author of "Pursuit of Happyness" Tuesday, November 17; 6:45pm Call 859-252-7881 for ticketsDecemberLexington Children's Theatre: Best Christmas Pageant Ever! Saturday, November 28, 2:00pm Saturday, December 5, 2:00pm and 7:00pm Sunday, December 6, 2:00pm. Call 859-254-4546 for tickets.Kentucky Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker Friday, December 11; 8:00pm Saturday, December 12; 2:00pm & 8:00pm Sunday, December 13; 2:00pm Call 859-252-5245 for tickets.Kentuckians Chorus Saturday, December 19; 7:30pm Contact Lexington Center Ticket Office for tickets: 859-233-3535

Opera HOuse Calendar

For an up-to-date calendar, please visit us on the web at lexingtonoperahouse.com. Of Mice and

Men

John Steinbeck’s

Bouchons of Chicken SaladRillette of Pork Carnitas Style

Socca Crepe with Roasted Squash and Caramelized Onions

Toasted Lemon and Chili Marinated ArtichokesEspresso Fig BrowniesLemon Curd Tartlets

Ginger Apple Popovers

Pub Menu for Of Mice and Men prepared by Sullivan University

OZ at the Opera House con.

- 2 - - 3 -

Are you surprised to know that The Wizard of Oz has never before been presented on the Broadway Live series at the Opera House? The production is most often produced by schools and community theatre groups. The popularity of this title is indisputable, largely due to the 1939 Judy Garland film. We all grew up watching Dorothy find new friends, and more importantly, find herself along that yellow brick

road. And in some way, most of us identify with her journey.

Our Broadway Live production was originally conceived in the UK, at the newly refurbished Royal Festival Hall and directed by Jude Kelly in 2008. It began its USA tour last year

with rave reviews and strong box office sales. In a press

statement, Kelly commented, "The Wizard of Oz has left an indelible impression on over four generations.

Lexington Center Corporation430 West Vine StreetLexington, Kentucky 40507(859) 233-4567Chief Executive Officer - William OwenOpera House Program Director - Luanne FranklinOperations Manager - Tom HabermannMarketing Director - Sheila Kenny Graphic Designer - Matt JohnsonBox Office Manager - Jeff Bojanowski Group Sales - Jana CurdTechnical Services - Bob StoopsHouse Manager - Paul Thomaswww.lexingtonoperahouse.com

From its beginning as an American folk-fairy tale, it has grown into something that lies at the very heart of what we feel about courage and homecoming. With its stunning visual iconography, glorious music, and the unabashed vulnerability of its cast of characters – be they lions, wizards or men of tin – it fulfils the evergreen role of a true classic. I've directed The Wizard of Oz once before, and the great thing about it is that it responds equally well to the imagination of theatre making as to the wonderful technicolor of film."

This production promises to deliver at every level! And to make things more interesting, we will see a cast of local Munchkins – local children, selected at a special audition scheduled for October 10th! The purpose of this promotion is to provide an opportunity for local young performers to continue arts education and participate in the unique experience of performing with a National Tour. The Munchkin Coordinator will travel to Lexington next month in search of twelve local kids from an existing local dance school, choir or theatre group to perform the roles of munchkins and winkies. The audition will consist of both singing and dancing

and will take place in the Rupp Arena lobby at Lexington Center. The public is invited to attend on Saturday, October 10th at 10:00am. Groups may register on-line at www.wizardofozontour.com on a first come/first served basis. A maximum of 12 groups will be auditioned.

Only one group will be selected by the national representatives on the basis of best overall group talent and the winner will be announced at the conclusion of the audition. Once selected, the group leader will be provided with the sheet music, lyric sheets and choreography. During the weeks leading up to the performances, the local group leader will instruct and rehearse the new munchkins and winkies as they prepare to make their debut with the national company. Ball Homes and Smiley Pete Publishing proudly sponsor the five performances at the Opera House, November 6th – 8th and lend their support to this exciting endeavor for arts education in our community. Like Dorothy, twelve lucky young people will journey down the yellow brick road on an exciting adventure in OZ at the Opera House!

For the First Time cont.

Of Mice and Men, published in 1937, tells the tragic story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression in California. Steinbeck is self-described as a bindlestiff (I had to look this up). Bindle is a term used to describe the bag, sack, or carrying device stereotypically used by hobos. The person carrying a bindle was called a bindlestiff,

combining bindle with the Average Joe sense of stiff. The story is based on Steinbeck’s experiences as a travelling migrant worker and the characters he creates are composites of real persons he knew. Steinbeck wrote these words in his journal in 1938.

In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.

Throughout the play, Steinbeck emphasizes the dreams of people and the powerful stimulus they provide. Written seventy years ago – and during an uncertain time of national economic stress, Steinbeck’s work is as powerful and meaningful today and when it was conceived. And somehow, it seems fitting that the historic Barter Theatre company creates this performance for the first show of the 2009-2010 Broadway Live season.

Dorothy (Cassie Okenka) and Toto (Snickers) in Kansas.

© Jo

an M

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OZ at the Opera House

– Notice – UK plays two home football games on Broadway Live Saturdays.

Of Mice and Men, 9/26 – UK vs. Florida The Wizard of Oz, 11/07 – UK vs. EKU

And a UK home basketball game Friday, November 6. The Wizard of Oz, 11/06 – UK vs. Clarion

Please plan accordingly for traffic, parking, dinner reservations, etc.

The cast of the National Tour of The Wizard of Oz in Munchkinland

© Joan Marcus

October 3 – 4, 2009Lexington Center & Rupp Arena For Tickets Call (859) 233-3535

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