S E A S O N 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

THE CURTAIN RAISERComing Events

Canada TripOctober 3-7

The Beloved DearlyStudent productionOctober 5-14

Born YesterdayComedyOctober 18 - November 11

Public performance ofthe in-school touring productionThe Lion, The Witch, and The WardrobeOctober 20

Beyond GloryDramaNovember 15-18

Marion Ballet Theatre presentsThe NutcrackerClassic Holiday BalletDecember 7-16

Marion Ballet Theatre presentsThe Sugar Plum Fairy Tea PartyDecember 8 & 15

NYC TripDecember 13-16

First DateMusicalJanuary 10-20

She Loves MeMusicalFebruary 7 – March 3

Silent SkyDramaMarch 7-17

Sponsored by: HoneyBaked Ham

Crooked businessman Harry Brock (Roy Hamlin) made his fortune on junkyards and a lack of scruples during World War II. In the fall of 1946, he’s in Washington, D.C. to bribe government bigwigs into shady deals. Harry has brought along quite an entourage: his showgirl mistress, Billie Dawn (Shelby Mae Randle); his perpetually inebriated attorney, Ed Devery (Randall Moring); and his yes-man cousin, Eddie Brock (Gene Zanetti), who keeps the drinks filled and the payoffs coming.

With all the colorful characters in and out of Harry’s suite, the hotel staff (Gregg Bleam, Susan L. Cadieux, Jenna Dickens, Deion Howard, Ken Noble) has plenty to wonder about. For starters, Billie is so ignorant and lacking in social graces that even the vulgar Harry is embarrassed by her. After a disastrous social call with Senator Norval Hedges (Ken Noble) and his wife Anna (Susan L. Cadieux), Harry decides the brassy Billie needs educating.

Devery has the idea to hire bright young reporter Paul Verrall (James R. Taylor III) to handle the task. But as it turns out, Billie is a ditzy dame with a sharper mind than anyone guessed. As she learns about history, politics, and literature, Billie also learns the truth of who Harry is – and what she really wants out of life and love. Immortalized by Judy Holliday, this clever classic is one of the longest-running comedies in history.

Born Yesterday is directed by Carlos Francisco Asse. Stage manager is Kim Wise. Set design is by Carlos Francisco Asse. Costume design is by Eryn Brooks Brewer.

There will be 21 public performances from October 18 – November 11. Reserve your tickets for opening night and join us on Thursday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. for a reception an hour before the premiere performance. Delicious refreshments are catered by HoneyBaked Ham, and beer and wine are available for purchase. Come celebrate the excitement of opening night!

Tickets are $27 for adults and $13 for full-time students (school ID required for college students). Group rates are available as well. Call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

October 18 – November 11By Garson Kanin

Halloween Costume RentalsLooking for a great Halloween costume? Rent one from the Costume Shop! We have lots of classic costume choices in stock. Costume rentals are by appointment only (no walk-ins), for 30-minute time slots. To make an appointment, call the Costume Shop at (352) 236-2851, ext. 110.

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Tickets On Sale Now

• 2018-2019 Season Tickets

• The Beloved Dearly

• Born Yesterday

• Public performance of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Tickets Go On Sale

• Beyond Glory: October 15

• First Date: December 10

November 15-18A play by Stephen LangBased on the book by Larry Smith

SPONSORED BY: Duke Energy • Lincoln of Ocala • WUFT

Ocala Civic Theatre is proud to present award-winning film, television, and Broadway actor Stephen Lang in this powerful one-man show. With grit and spirit, Lang portrays eight Medal of Honor recipients from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, sharing the true stories of these veterans in their own plain-spoken yet eloquent words. Beyond Glory was presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway in 2007.

Stephen Lang is known for such film roles as the villainous Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar, General Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals, General George E. Pickett in Gettysburg, and Ike Clanton in Tombstone. Television roles include the starring role of Commander Nathaniel Taylor in Steven Spielberg’s series Terra Nova and Increase Mather in WGN’s Salem. He currently appears as Waldo in AMC’s Into the Badlands. On Broadway, Lang created the role of Colonel Nathan Jessup in the stage production of A Few Good Men, made famous on film by Jack Nicholson.

There will be five public performances from November 15-18. Tickets are $35 for adults, $33 for Signature Series subscribers, and $18 for full-time students (school ID required for college students). Please be aware: This show contains strong profanity and intense content. Group rates are available as well. Call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

Reserve your tickets for opening night and join us on Thursday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. for a reception an hour before the premiere performance. Delicious refreshments are catered by HoneyBaked Ham, and beer and wine are available for purchase. Come celebrate the excitement of opening night!

OCALA CIVIC THEATRE

2018 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

$17.00 (includes sales tax)

ON SALE NOWat the ACT 4 Gift Box or the Ocala

Civic Theatre Box Office during regular business hours

The 2018 Ocala Civic Theatre collectible Christmas Ornament is a fund-raising project of ACT 4 – Ocala Civic Theatre,

Inc. Profits from this sale are designated for use by Ocala Civic Theatre, including scholarships for youth after-school and

summer classes and college scholarships for students majoring in the arts.

There will be a special Meet-and-Greet event on Friday, November 16. Join us for a pre-show reception from 7:00-7:45 p.m., then meet Stephen Lang at a post-show reception. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and champagne will be served before and after the performance.

Limited tickets are available for this exclusive Meet-and-Greet event. If you currently have tickets for a different performance of Beyond Glory, you may exchange your show tickets for Friday night and purchase tickets for the reception (both based on availability). Tickets for the Meet-and-Greet are $40, which is in addition to the admission ticket for the show.

In October and November, Ocala Civic Theatre is coordinating a veterans history project to collect oral histories for the Library of Congress. Established by Congress in 2000, The Veterans History Project “collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.”

Ocala Civic Theatre is collecting oral histories from local veterans of American conflicts from World War II to the Afghan and Iraq wars. We will be happy to set up the interview, provide the camera equipment, record the history, provide the veteran with a copy, complete the necessary forms for submission, and send it to the Library of Congress, all free of charge to the veteran. There will be days when the public can view selected interviews, free of charge, at the Appleton Museum of Art and the Reilly Center for the Arts.

How can you help? Here’s what we need:1) Volunteers to interview, set up cameras, help with administrative tasks like scheduling, and

serve on the steering committee.2) Organizations that would like to volunteer as a group or to be trained to collect the oral histories

for their organization (such as a VFW post). 3) Veterans who are interested in being interviewed, especially veterans of WWII

and the Korean War because of their advanced age.4) Donations. While there is no cost to the veteran or volunteers, there is a limited

cost for materials, postage, and administrative expense.If you’re interested in participating, or for more information, please e-mail Project Chair Kim Wise at

veteranhistory2018@gmail.com.

Veterans History Project

“As starkly moving as ‘Taps’ at dusk.” – The Washington Post

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Volunteer Spotlight

José C. Rivera

This month, get to know the man behind the dreamcoat: José Rivera, our very own Joseph!José is a fairly new volunteer at Ocala Civic Theatre. He became involved through former

Director of Education Kirstin Kennedy, who was his Acting 1 teacher at the College of Central Florida. He also had a lot of friends he’d seen performing in shows at OCT.

So when auditions came around for last summer’s Cry Baby: The Musical, José decided to try out. He was cast in the show (as Wayward Punk), and that got the ball rolling.

Since then, he has appeared in four more OCT musicals: La Cage aux Folles, Mamma Mia!, Be More Chill, and most recently as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. “I had a lot of fun playing Phaedra, the Egyptian drag queen, in La Cage aux Folles,” he adds. “Definitely more fun than I expected to have!” He also worked crew for last fall’s student production of The Velveteen Rabbit and helped with removing our old seats this summer.

Not content to rest on his laurels (or rest at all!), José is going straight from starring in Joseph to working crew for Born Yesterday. “Maybe rigging? Rigging sounds fun!” Although his favorite thing to do here is “definitely performing,” he also enjoys working backstage. In the future, he wants to try working in some of the technical booth positions, such as sound board operator or light board operator.

José was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He moved to Florida in 2011 and graduated from Forest High School in 2016. He is a theatre major at CF, where he has appeared in numerous shows. José also works at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, where he is the assistant to the Director of Outreach. In his free hours, he enjoys video games and time spent with his girlfriend, Shelby Randle (who is starring in Born Yesterday as Billie Dawn).

What’s the most rewarding thing for him about volunteering at OCT?“I love singing, and I love acting, so being in a place that combines the two with such a

passionate selection of staff and volunteers really warms my heart. It’s nice to be surrounded by so many people who care so much about the art form, people who build each other up and challenge each other to be their best. It’s a magical place.”

We couldn’t have said it better. Thank you, José, for being such an amazing volunteer! Box Office HoursMonday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On Saturdays with a performance: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The lobby and box office open one hour before each performance.

Get information and buy tickets online any time at www.ocalacivictheatre.com (A service charge applies to online purchases.)

Box Office: (352) 236-2274Administrative Offices: (352) 236-2851

Hello from our Social Media Coordinator!

Greetings, thespians!Sherece, Social Media Coordinator here. Just

wanted to introduce myself and show my face. You will see me buzzing around the theatre and snapping photos at events. Make sure you tag us in your photos with hashtag #OcalaCivicTheatre to help us share your memories and experience of live theatre with the world. Let’s connect!

Cheers,Sherece Gerard

Golden Troupers

The Golden Troupers are a terrific group of age 55+ performers who travel Marion County entertaining local audiences with comedy skits and songs. They perform at no charge for non-profit organizations, but donations are gratefully accepted. To join or to book the Troupers for your club or community, call (352) 236-2274 or Marlene Harr at (352) 687-3868.

Rehearsals are held at the Theatre on Mondays at 1 p.m. from September to May. Join the Troupers – it’s a golden opportunity!

Ocala Civic Theatre@ocalacivic#ocalacivictheatre

@ocalacivicOcala Civic Theatre Ocala Civic Theatre Education Department

New York, Here We Come!Save the dates for Ocala Civic Theatre’s

popular annual holiday trip to New York City! The tour group will depart from Ocala Civic Theatre on Thursday, December 13 and return on Sunday, December 16. The trip includes round-trip airfare and transportation to the airports, your choice of two Broadway shows, one dinner, and three nights at the beautiful four-star Renaissance Hotel overlooking Times Square. Contact the box office at (352) 236-2274 to have details mailed to you. Don’t miss New York decorated for the holidays!

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The student production

By Doug Cooney

October 5-14Always looking for a fast buck, middle-school

tycoon Ernie stumbles onto a money-making bonanza: pet funerals for kids. He hires a coffin-decorator, a hole-digger, and a professional mourner, and business goes through the roof. But when Ernie’s own dog departs for the canine hereafter, he realizes there’s more to life (and death) than making money. Based on the book by Doug Cooney, this is a special comedy about friendship, loss, and learning to express our feelings.

The Beloved Dearly is directed by Terry LeCompte. Stage manager is Megan Brown. The show is presented by a cast of students ages 8-16: Sarah Beville, Breanna Blessing, Daniel Boodoo, Gavyn Brooks, Aubrey Bush, Ashlyn Engle, Mallory Fryns, Brianna Hancock, Derek Kinsey, Ava Blair Lamb, Claire Rinehart, Sofia Tieche, and Estelle Vaughn.

The show will be presented in the Theatre’s rehearsal hall, with limited seating for each performance. There will be seven performances from October 5-14:

• Friday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m.• Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.• Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.• Sunday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m.Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for full-

time students (school ID required for college students) or $5 for Marion Players. For more information, call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

Public performance of the in-school touring production

Based upon the story by C. S. LewisDramatized by Le Clanché Du Rand

October 20

During the World War II bombing of London, four siblings are sent to their family’s country home for safety. Once there, they stumble upon an enormous wardrobe which transports them to the world of Narnia. Once a peaceful realm filled with talking animals, fauns, giants, and dwarves, Narnia is now under an eternal winter, cursed by the villainous White Witch. With aid from the majestic lion Aslan, the four siblings lead Narnia into an all-out war as they fight to outwit the Witch and restore peace to the land.

Creatively adapted from the beloved classic by C. S. Lewis, this one-act play challenges young audiences to use their imagination and co-create with the two actors (K. Leo Anderson and Melanie Spratt) who bring this timeless tale to life using creative movement, sound, and costumes in an engaging theatrical experience. The play is directed by Terry LeCompte.

Each year for the past 12 years, Ocala Civic Theatre has presented an in-school touring show to expose Marion County students to the performing arts. This year’s show tours local elementary schools from September 18 through November 2.

There will be a public performance on Saturday, October 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Ocala Civic Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for full-time students (school ID required for college students) or Marion Players. For more information, call (352) 236-2274 or go to www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

2018-2019 SEASON!SIGNATURE SERIESBorn Yesterday - Comedy October 18 – November 11, 2018

She Loves Me - Musical February 7 – March 3, 2019

Eternity - ComedyMarch 28 – April 21, 2019

The Addams Family: A New Musical - Musical May 16 – June 9, 2019

OVATION SERIESBeyond Glory - Drama November 15-18, 2018

First Date - MusicalJanuary 10-20, 2019

Silent Sky - DramaMarch 7-17, 2019

NEW SEATS!Phase One of Ocala Civic Theatre’s

exciting expansion began this summer with new seats! We have painted the auditorium, removed the old seats and replaced them with new, wider, more comfortable seats.

We would love to have you be a part of this growth and invite you to donate to this first phase. A campaign goal of $200,000 has been set to cover the expenses of Phase One. At this point we have raised more than 50% of our goal.

Each new seat has an established donor or tribute value of $500. Donors will be recognized with an individual plaque permanently attached to the seat. Donors who choose to contribute at a higher level will be recognized on a separate plaque. Gifts and pledges will be welcomed in any amount, and you may even make monthly payments. Call (352) 236-2274 and ask us for more details.

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Notes from the

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mary H. Britt

Hello! Wasn’t Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat amazing! The cast, crew, and orchestra did a great job kicking off our 69th Season with almost 7,000 people attending the show. The results of the summer renovation were well-received, and there will be a few more finishing touches visible when you return for the next show. We are still waiting on a resolution from the manufacturer of the seats regarding the installation of the incorrect armrests, but we hope that will be coming soon.

We have a great season lined up for you. Next on stage is Born Yesterday, which is a terrific comedy written in 1946 and adapted into a very successful film in 1950 starring Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford, and William Holden. Many plays that are written to be contemporary to the year they are written don’t stand up over time as our culture changes, but Born Yesterday couldn’t be more timely. Uncouth tycoon Harry Brock goes to Washington, D.C. to “influence” a politician or two and brings along his brassy girlfriend, Billie Dawn, and his crooked lawyer, Ed Devery. When Brock hires a tutor to polish Billie and make her more presentable to Washington, he gets more than he bargained for, as it turns out that she’s a pretty smart cookie after all. Make no mistake: Born Yesterday leans neither Republican nor Democrat. It’s a fun comedy that can help us laugh at some of what we see in politics today.

Some things have actually changed since the 1950 film was produced. At the time, the censors forbid the actors from using the word “broad” to describe Billie. In the play, Harry says, “I love that broad.” Boy, would the censors be surprised at the language allowed on television today! Times have changed. The play enjoyed another film version in 1993 starring John Goodman, Melanie Griffith, and Don Johnson. We’ve got a great cast ready to present Born Yesterday for you, so make sure to mark your calendar.

Do you dine out before or after attending one of our shows? If you do, don’t forget that there are six terrific restaurants that offer you a discount when you show your theatre tickets. They are all locally owned and there is a wide variety of menus from which to choose. The restaurants are Blue Highway, La Cuisine, Braised Onion, Ivy on the Square, and Mojo’s Grill (the location near the theatre only), plus we also have – new this year – Carmichael’s, which issued a card to season ticket holders that they should show when they dine. The other restaurants offer the discount for all patrons as long as they have their show tickets to present. Why not try them all? It’s a great way to save money on dinner and see a great show!

Following Born Yesterday, we will be presenting Stephen Lang in Beyond Glory. I am really excited that we are able to bring this show to Ocala. Lang adapted his one-man show from the book, also titled Beyond Glory, and has performed it on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre, in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre, and on military bases in the U.S. and abroad. Now you can see this powerful show on our stage. The stage version includes the profile of eight Medal of Honor recipients, including individuals from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Be aware that there is strong language and intense material in the show. For those who are interested, Stephen Lang will be doing a special meet-and-greet event following the Friday evening performance. This is a separate ticketed event, and tickets are very limited. Check out the articles in this newsletter for additional information. There are only five performances, so you are encouraged to call early to make your reservation.

Last month, I mentioned the Library of Congress Veterans History project. There is an article in this month’s newsletter with more information. I hope you will join us in making this project a success.

See you at the Theatre!

2018-2019 Board of Directors

President Philip Leppert

Vice President Herb Schmoll

Treasurer George Kirkland

Secretary Glenda “Rusty” Belote, Ph.D.

Members

Garry D. Adel

Deborah Barckhausen

Jo Crowder

Jeffry David

Ana Dunwoody

Leslie Hagan, MD

Sarah Lankester

Joy Newkirk

Andrea Pizzuti

Darrell Riley

Gordon Schwenk, MD

Staff

Executive Director Mary H. Britt

Production Manager/Technical Director Dave BerardiAssistant Technical Director William Spratt

General Technician/Custodian Ken Noble

Scene Shop Intern Mason Gray

Administrative Assistants Janice Kirk Melody Murphy

Box Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator Craig James

Director of Marketing & Promotions Larry Kiernan

Social Media Coordinator Sherece Gerard

Director of Education Terry LeCompte

Comptroller Marilyn Price

Costume Designer Eryn Brooks Brewer

Costume Shop Intern Brittany Hardison

SEASON 2018 - 2019 OCTOBER 2018

THE CURTAIN RAISER

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDOCALA, FL

PERMIT NO. 94337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Curtain Raiser is the official newsletter of The Marion Players, Inc., dba Ocala Civic Theatre. The Theatre is located at 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, 34470. The Curtain Raiser is published monthly and is available free of charge to anyone who is interested in our activities. For information about the organization or to be added to the mailing list, call (352) 236-2274.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture.

LARGE PRINT

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Britt at (352) 236-2851, ext. 104, or mbritt@ocalacivictheatre.com.

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

OCTOBER

The Beloved Dearly7pm

The Beloved Dearly

2pm & 7pm

The Beloved Dearly2pm

The Beloved Dearly

2pm & 7pm The Beloved

Dearly2pm

Tickets on sale for

Beyond GloryBorn Yesterday

8pm Born Yesterday

8pm Lion/Witch 10am

Born Yesterday2pm & 8pm

Born Yesterday2pm

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday2pm & 8pm

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday2pm

Born Yesterday8pm

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

NOVEMBER

Beyond Glory2pm

HAPPY THANKSGIVIING!

Theatre closed

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday2pm & 8pm

Born Yesterday2pm

Tickets on sale for Nutcracker & Tea Party

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday8pm

Born Yesterday2pm

Born Yesterday2pm

Beyond Glory8pm

Beyond Glory8pm

Beyond Glory2pm & 8pm

Theatre closed