HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1980-07-02, Page 18Blyth Festival
Best wishes
.on your 4th* year
When visiting Blyth stop in. for your
gift or hardware needs.. •
FREER'S
Blyth, Ont.
HARDWARE
523-4246
The first stniie that
greets. you as you enter the
adminiStration office at the
Blyth Centre for the Arts, is.
Barbara. liuget's,
Barbara, back for her
second year in Blyth, will be
working as box office assist
ant this summer.
Last year working with the
children's workshop prh-
gram, Barbara said she got
involved volunteering her
time, at the, box office last
season while• waiting for a
ride home with the box office
manager.
Originally froth'. Ottawa,
Barbara is entering her third
year at York University 'in.
Toronto studying theatre
production and design,
"To break into, design is
really difficult", said
Barbara explaining her plans
minutes outside of Blyth,
Anne has a degree in nutri-'
lion from the University of
Guelph.
She explains her job in
Blyth as "selling and keep-
ing, track of:tickets, plus book
-keeping for the theatre." ,..
Anne will be handling
distribution of tickets to all
ticket outlets for both
productions and • country
suppers, along With organi-
zing bed and breakfast
accomodations for tourists.
Looking at her new job as
box office manager, and her
background as a nutritionist,
Anne isaid' she has enjoyed
both equally. She added she'
may consider going back to
school for her masters , in
nutrition in the -next few,
years but has made no
definite plans.
Originally from Belleville,
W Karen etlauffer • will be
spending her first summer in.
Blyth working as office
• assistant.
lust completing her first
year at Niagara College in
theatre nrts, Karen said she
doesn't plan to return to
school but rather hopes to
find a job as a scenic painter,
or props persons this fall.
She, said her interests in"
scenic' began in high
school where she discovered
. how much art appealed to
her. ,
Theatre work, she said,
appeals because of all the•
travel involved.
VI've always wanted and
loved to travel and Linew
that was part of the job when
'I got into it."
Included in her arts
• interests are • sketching,
painting with oils and water
colours and sculpting.
',As office assistant, Karen
describes her job as doing a
little bit of everything,
"including promotion work,
box office'work and typing."
' The Blyth Slimmer Festival is theatre that has never
betrayed the local people'," said Brenda IDoner, festival
publicist. ' •
Back for her third yeSi in Blyth, litenda explains
there is an extremely possifive reaction from local
citizens about the summer theatreAnd because of that,
they make up about 70 per cent of the audience base.
"An important thing for this ,theatre being in a small
placef is that it proves not everything,eentres around"
Torento;" said Brenda.. ,
"The plays' deal with themes surrounding ,ttIte
community", she added. "They're often new themes
which mean something to them."
In the. past six years since the theatze's first season in
1975, Brenda said there have been, 17 new Canadian .
scripts produced in Blyth."
"Most theatres shy away from new scripts because
• they can be a financial risk," She-said. —Brenda describes Blyth theatre' as informal, "very
much approachable." • -
"Theatre shouldn't be a place you have to •dre5s up
for with your nose in the air. We've • proved our
audiences want this type of substitute.'
Brenda, who grew up in Timmins, studied theatre
with options in management at York University in
Toronto. •
after graduation in proP
construction and design.
'Another field • she.has
considered entering is the-
atre adMinistratiOn.
"I think .arts adirtinistra-
don is really exciting,"
added Barbara.
She explains her job as box
office assistant as‘ "a lot of
meetingand dealing with the
Public."
When the season opens,
Barbara said she will be.
handling most evening ticket
sales.
• MANAGER
Anne Mann- will be
working as box office
manager for'her first season
with the Myth. Summer
Festival and her first time in
the box office.
Born in Sarnia, but now
living in LuCknow, about 20
From left, Karen Weilauffer, 13reoda-DOner, Kelth
Roulaton, Anne Mann and' Barbara Huoet
.
Beginning her job in'May, Brenda- said, she writes
news celeases and features which are distributed to .
Ontario papers, handles all print material, handles all
contact with the press, and deals, in public relations
with the public and'Community at large.
"My job is to fill the seats in the ;theatre," said
Brenda. ' • . ,
Different from her 'job as, publicist, this past winter,
Brenda had beep working in a field she said has
interested her , since high- school. She managed an
apartment building for`mentally, handi capped adults in
Stratford:
,"Working in,the theatre can be limiting because• it is•
so all involving," said Brenda.
Looking towards the future, Brenda said there is
room for ,expansion with public touring. She, said by
touring, the area, the theatre will expand its audience,
range and popularity.• , '
For herself, Brenda said she won't be returning to
her job with the mentally handicapped, but hopes to get
a job with another theatre in the fall.
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