The Citizen, 1993-12-22, Page 39As you've never seen them before
Members of the Blyth Lions Club got into the Christmas spirit when they brought their
humorous rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas" to the Blyth Memorial Hall stage as part of
the community's annual Christmas Pageant on Saturday night. From left: Andy Lubbers, John
Stewart, Steve Howson, Ron Ritchie and with five Knechtel's 'buns' Jeff Nesbitt. The
evening's entertainment followed some old-fashioned sleigh rides through town. Despite the
lack of Christmas-type weather the spirit was evident with the large number on hand to enjoy
the night's activities.
New board for Playhouse
ntertainment
Ebenezer Scrooge buys first
ticket for The Baby Grand
Season's
Greetings
from
The Blyth
Inn
Peter, Carol
& Staff
96 Take note of our
Holiday Hours
Open Thursday
Dec. 24 12 noon - 5 p.m.
Closed for holidays
Dec. 25 - Jan. 9/94
Regular hours will resume
Jan. 10, 1994
Director Craig Blackley. It was
assembled and painted by
Properties Builder Irene Fretz and
Scenic Artists Lynne Millman and
Susan Hill.
HAPPY 40TH
BIRTHDAY
CONNIE
JANUARY 1
Happy Birthday
Devin (December 25)
Larissa (January 4)
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• c, THE FAMILY I
II ii JUST GOT A LITTLE 1
II STRANGER. II
I Starts
I
A
110 Dec. 27, 1993
to Jan. 6, 1994
111 Fri. & Sat. i
a 7 & 9 pm
p See you
Sun.-Thurs.
Dec. 26-30
7 & 9 pm Nitely
"PERFECT FOR THE
HOLIDAYS.
Charming family
entertainment
that's more is
enjoyable
than the
original."
2nd
WEEK
"FUN-FILLED
AND AMUSING.
WHOOPI IS
JUST
WONDERFUL!"
"THE YOUNG
CAST HAS
ASTONISHING
TALENT AND
ENERGY."
From the Management
and Staff
Sun.-Thurs. 8 pm
CLOSED
DEC. 24, 25 & 26 1
PAPEHTAL I
•11011101N111011101111MIIMONMOMMO11011,11
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1993. PAGE 39
Huron Country Playhouse held
its Annual General Meeting on
Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Oakwood
Inn, Grand Bend. In his opening
remarks Jack Riddell, president,
Benmiller
gives to kids
Three charities will be presented
with the proceeds from Benmiller
Inn's Fundraising Duck Race. The
presentation ceremony will take
place at 11 a.m. in Jonathan's
Fireside Lounge, Benmiller Inn.
Benmiller Inn held its first ever
duck race on Sunday, Oct. 10. The
event was successful, with a total
of 955 tickets sold throughout
Huron County and surrounding
area.
Representatives from the
following organizations will be on
hand to accept the proceeds: Huron
County Community Child Abuse
Co-ordinating Committee, $800;
Child Find Huron County, $800;
and Independent Order of Foresters
Foundation for the Prevention of
Child Abuse, $1,600.
"Our children are our future.
Organizations such as these help to
ensure a safe and healthy
upbringing that each child
deserves," remarks Kathy Nichol,
innkeeper and co-organizer. "We
hope that these donations will help
to achieve these goals."
Grand extends
`Carol's' run
The Grand Theatre's presentation
of Mayor Moore's A Christmas
Carol, which opened Dec. 3 has
now been extended to Dec. 30. The
six additional performances begin
Monday, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and
continue through Thursday, Dec.
30 with 2 p.m. matinees on
Tuesday, Dec. 28 and Thursday,
Dec. 30.
In making this announcement
Administrative Director Lascelle
Wingate commented, "These
performances have been added in
response to the requests we
received from patrons who wish to
share the magic of A Christmas
Carol with their families during the
holiday period."
For ticket information, please
visit The Grand Theatre Box Office
at 471 Richmond Street or call 519-
672-8800. Toll free from area code
519 at 1-800-265-1593. Toll free
from Michigan, Ohio and
Pennsylvania at 1-800-567-5194.
thanked his fellow board members
and members of the campaign
cabinet for their tireless efforts
throughout the year on behalf of the
Huron Country Playhouse.
In his report Max Reimer, artistic
director and general manager, said
that when he arrived here a year
ago, there seemed very few records
to break. "Today, with the size of
our audiences, our percentage of
seats sold and our surplus
generated combined, I can safely
say we are the healthiest summer
theatre in Canada."
Reimer's first season at HCP set
some great new records: Out Of
Order generated more revenue than
any other non-musical, surpassing
the unreachable figures of 1992's
record-breaking The Mousetrap.
Fiddler On The Roof averaged 100
per cent — breaking any and all
attendance and revenue records.
Oliver! had greater production
values than any previous
production and Barefoot In The
Park quickly broke the revenue
records of Out Of Order receiving
critical acclaim, in turn, only to be
surpassed by the far-reaching
recognition of Fiddler On The
Roof. A Closer Walk With Patsy
Cline re-opened Playhouse II with
a vengeance, running an unprece-
dented six sold out weeks with the
best attendance and box office
figures in the history of that venue.
"Our productions are now being
compared to higher standards.
Letters from patrons have
overwhelmingly confirmed my
suspicions that in this past season,
many feel that they have seen the
best theatre offered on this stage to
date," continued Reimer. "Our
success will remain a mystery to
those who think that theatre cannot
be both of the highest quality as
well as popular."
Treasurer Bryan Beattie reported
that in terms of percentage the
Playhouse played to 93 per cent on
both stages, entertaining 65,000
people compared to last year's
60,000 and that administration
costs had actually decreased from
last year's levels. The box office
was budgeted at $100,000 over
than last year and yet the Playhouse
generated a significant operating
surplus.
The slate of nominees was
presented by Tom Kneale,
chairman of the nominating
committee. There were six
vacancies on he 13 member board
and were elected as presented_ The
1994 board of directors is: Jack
Riddell, president (Hay); Shirley
McIntyre, vice-president (Grand
Bend); C.R. (Bob) Tumbull, vice-
president (Grand Bend); Bryan
Beattie, treasurer (Grand Bend);
Tom Kneale, past president (Grand
Bend); Daphne Jackson, secretary
(Arva); Bill Shouldice, executive
member (Grand Bend); Bert Pullen,
executive member (Grand Bend);
Pat Venton (Grand Bend); Bruce
Woodley (London); Leni
Vermeulen (Grand Bend); A.G.
(Al) Skinner (Grand Bend); Paul
Johnson (Grand Bend); Maud
Connon (Exeter); Elia Douglas
(Grand Bend); Dr. Linda Steele
(Exeter); Dona Stewardson
(Thedford); Terry O'Neil,
campaign cabinet rep., (London)
and Shirley Platt, guild rep., (Grand
Bend).
Not content with owning The
Grand Theatre's Mainstage where
he is appearing daily in A
Christmas Carol, Ebenezer
Scrooge bought the first ticket for
The Baby Grand in a bid to acquire
it, too. The Baby Grand, a one-of-a
kind children's play stage, is being
raffled to raise funds for The Grand
Theatre.
A unique work of art valued at
$8,000, The Baby Grand measures
2.6 m high x 2.4 m wide x 1.7 m
deep (approx. 8' x 8' x 8') is
complete with built-in storage
shelves, footlights, backdrops (with
cases), curtain and stage props. The
Baby Grand will be on display in
The Grand Theatre lobby during
the entire run of a A Christmas
Carol. Tickets for The Baby Grand
are $5 each or three for $10 and are
available at The Grand Theatre Box
office or through any Grand Board
or staff member. A limited number
of tickets will be sold and a draw
will be made on Friday, March 25,
1994 following the opening night
performance of I Ought to be in
Pictures.
The project was conceived by
Grand Theatre Development
Director Megan Cameron and The
Baby Grand was designed by
Debra Hanson and Doug
Paraschuk. Construction was
overseen by Production Director
Lauren Snell and Technical