HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1980-07-02, Page 21The perfect spot to stop on that
afternoon drive. Look at the
hand made' quilts and
early Canadian furniture and enquire
about custom refinishing in the
Antique Loft, wander through
the Calico Shop and pick up
your quilting materials --- see the
Country Craftsman's work including
folk-art toys, pine and hardwood
accessories, jewellery chests etc.,
then sit down and enjoy lunch
or tea in the Miller's
Country Kitchen.
Torn & Carol Miller
"A lot of it is simply
finding material and sup-
pliers at , the best possible
price."
He said one of the biggest
parts of his job is to make
sure all of the materials used
for set construction meet the
safety regulations involved,
including fire codes.
Bruce will be employed as
production manager until the
end of September. Prior to
his teaching position, the
25-year-old worked road.
houses and for a- Toronto.
based theatre company'
called Angel.
GREAT DEMAND
"Most technicians can just
walk into a job, because the
demand is so great," he
said.
But, he warns, you don't
want to make any mistakes,
because the industry is small
and word gets around fast.
"Budgets are usually
small and to make a mistake
would cost a company too
much money."
After he has finished with
his job' at the lestival, Bruce
said he plans to look to the,
western provinces for a job.
He' added that the only
reason he took the teaching
job last year, was to pay off
his car.
"Out there it is a business.
In Ontario, it •is considered a
cultural experience."
-At the moment, he said
salaries are much higher in
the west and the deMand
constantly increasing.
To go far in the field of
production management,
Bruce said it is important to
have a good background in
business.
"It's also important to
have a good ;administrator
like Keith Roulston, who
knows what is going on• in
theatre' and understands,"
he said.
This season, he said, has
been "very well thought
out" and should be well
appreciated.
The Van Egmond House, Egmondville
THE VAN EGMOND HOUSE AS IT APPEARED IN 1846
Left, Ron Ferguson, Kathy Kama and Leslie Hogan.
Prodiiction .rtiittaket are costly.
p rp4
•THE...11n.YTH 'SUMMER FESTIVAL. j8.4114E.'
Fergie's sixth yoqr, as production
Kitchener, 'Ron is about to complete his
final year in sOcisIi services course at
Conestoga College.. The veteran :stage..
manager explained this will be his final
,year at Blyth,
Although it looks like he's taking almost
a totally different career direction from
'were no blinds on the theatre windows, theatre, Ron said his job as stage manager,.
they, had to borrow stage lights frorn a high was almost a breaking ground for social
school and they had to make their oWit
dimmer' board to control the lighting,
"it really hadn't been used as a theatre
for some time," he said.
He explained one 'of the biggest reasons
he pulled through that year was the
satisfaction he got from his job and a
collective production he was involved with
called Mostly -in Closer..,
"It was 'a great feeling when the
audience stood up , clapping opening
night."
Over the past six years, Ron said the
theatre has obtained better equipment and
expanded the-company, but even during
those days of turmoil; they always aimed
for high quality productions.
"I think we've always tried to remain
consistent over the last six years," he said.
OVER THE'PHONE'
Originally hired by James Roy, artistic from York University, Kathy has worked
director for five years, Ron said he was for Theatre Passe Marline, Toronto Fac-
interviewed and hired by James over the tory Theatre, and' last summer at Huron
telephone. Country Playhouse in Grand Bend.
As stage manager, Ron describes him-
self as being in the middle of things.
"The stage manager is sort of the person
in the 'middle of all the actors, designers,
directors and technical people," he said.
Ron organizes rehearsal schedules, puts
together the production book, calls cues
and generally acts as a communications
person between the actors, directors and
production staff.
During actual performances, he said it's
his „job to see that everything runs
smoothly.
Originally from Toronto, Ron trained in She said during rehearsals, she is
theatre from 1972 to 1974 at Ryerson in the responsible for taking notes and making
theatre , productions course. Now living in diagrams. Not only for the benefit of the
"In the beginning there was nothing,"
said stage manager Ron . Ferguson, des..
cribing the Blyth Summer Festival in its
first, season silt years ago.'
Roo, who has been with the festival
every, summer since its creation, said when
he arrived at the hall six years ago, there
KITCHEN OPEN
11 • 4:30
LUNCHEON SERVED
if - 2:06
NOTE SUNDAY HOURS
ft..14.111 MITCHELL ONT.
Nok INS
work, explaining the concentration of work
just handling people. •
Since his school years at Ryerson, Ron
has worked at Theatre New Brunswick with,
productions of The Taming of the Shrew,.
Vanities and The 'Price, as well as 'Other
productions in Toronto and London.
ALL-CONSUMING
Ron describes the summer job as all
consuming.
"Over the summer before it gets better,
it gets worse," he said.
Looking ahead, Ron said he wants to
continue with, school and work on his:
master's degree in social work:
Joining Ron as' stage manager this
summer will be Kathy Kaszas.
It's her first year in Blyth, but Kathy has
been working in theatre for the, last three
years. =" .
Obtaining 'her B.A. -in fine arts in 1976
She describes her job as being the
"organizer."
"I make -sure people are there for
costume fittings, rehearsals, just making
sure that everything gets' done."
"I act as liason person between directors
and production people," she said.
This year as the stage manager 'for St.
Sam of the Nuke Pile, Kathy said her job
doesn't have to dominate all of her time.
"If you're organized it• doesn't have to
be all-consuming," she said. "It depends
on the other people doing their jobs too."
actors, the, diagrams help in arranging
stage lighting wIth —tlie "ligiting techni-
cians.
MEANS. TO AN END
She added she has no direct involvement
in the "`artistic creation" as stage manager
but, "it is a means to an end.' She said it
is a step towards her other interest—direc-
ting and writing.
Helping Ron andKathy, as an assistant
stage manager is Leslie Hogan.
'Leslie, who's just completing her first '
year at Niagara College in theatre arts
describes her job as "common sense."
When Bruce Specht was
phoning employers last win-
ter trying to find his students
summer jobs, he heard of a
position that sounded so
attractive, he took it himself.
rte was teaching at Nia-
gara College in the Theatre
Arts program and Bruce said
the job as production mana-
ger at the Blyth Summer
Festival sounded too good to
pass by.
As manager, Bruce is
responsible for all of the
technical scheduling) making .
sure the sets are built on
time, staying within a budget
irr constructing costs and
meeting all deadlines.
A graduate from York
University with a B.A. in fine
arts in production and design,
Bruce 'worked as a set and
costume designer for awhile,
but decided it wasn't for him.
He said as production
manager, he works with the
plans and designs resulting
from the director and
designer's work together.
"Gofer is a nice teriiifor what it hui"she
said with a smile. ,
Her job is. funded 'by an Experience 'SO
Program and Leslie is originally from
Benmiller,
She said it was while she worked in
Toronto as a bank teller, that she decided
,to, get involved more seriously in theatre.
"It was in Toronto that .1 volunteered my
services to several theatres to do technical
things," she said, explaining it helped her
gain some practical theatre experience.
In September, Leslie said she is not
thinking of returning to Niagara. College,
but would rather continue her, apprentice
,work in another theatre.
HOME OF THE 'COUNTRY CRAFTSMAN'
OPEN GAILY
10:30. • 5:30 -
SUNoAY
•tt3i1 5:30 -
APRIL tO DECEMBER'
Wel 2211-6420
Visit the Van Egmond Reserve, 1 km south of Seaforth. Immerse yourself
in' an important chapter Of Canadian history, (Restoration in progress.)
Donations for the building fund are tax deductiblc:yan Egniond.FourdAtion,
Box 1033, Seaforth, NIA< 1W0