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The Citizen, 1999-05-05, Page 31THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1999. PAGE 31. Blyth company set for silver season Festival welcomes new staffer The Blyth Festival has announced that Laurel Armstrong has joined the administrative staff of the theatre as director of marketing and communications. With an extensive background in marketing and sales in the non­ profit and retail sectors, Armstrong has experience in cultural tourism itinerary development in southwestern Ontario. Armstrong, as principle of Armstrong and Associates, has focused on developing tourism products and itineraries for regions, tourism and hospitality centres. Prior to joining the Blyth Festival she was the sales manager for Benmiller Inn. Her experience also includes six seasons with the Stratford Festival as group sales and tourism manager. Armstrong has served the tour­ ism industry in Ontario and Canada in a number of significant volunteer .advisory positions: Vice-president of the Tourism Industry Associa­ tion of Canada, the Canadian Tourism Commission's Product Development Committee, Board member of Southwestern Ontario Tourism Association, a member of the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and tourism's Tourism Ontario planning group. She is currently president of the Huron Tourism Association, an organization integrating, promoting and marketing the Huron County tourism sector on Ontario's West Coast. "Laurel is an excellent addition to our team and her skills will be a definite asset to the Blyth Festival" said general manager Karen Stewart. As director of marketing and communications, Armstrong is looking forward to working with Artistic Director Anne Chislett and Stewart to build on the successful box office sales efforts and regional support of the 1998 season. "Promoting the 1999 season, the 25th anniversary of the Blyth Festival, gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Canadian premieres of productions created by playwrights David French, James W. Nichol, Dave Carley- and Peter Colley as well as Paul Thompson and Ted Johns. It's also an ideal season to welcome first-time visitors as well as familiar audience members to our theatres." Atwood Lions Bingo every Thursday Doors open 6:30 p.m. Starts at 7:OO p.m. Jackpot $500. on 54 calls Pot of Gold $500. on 51 calls Loonie Bin Welcome Laurel Armstrong is the new face on Blyth Festival's administrative staff. Laurel has assumed the duties of communications director. More matinees highlight season The Blyth Festival's Silver Anniversary Season Brochures, with the complete schedule, descriptions of plays, and details of Silver Season special events, are now in the mail to previous ticket buyers, and soon will be in racks and on counters all over Ontario. Patrons of the Festival will notice a few differences in the calendar of performances for 1999. In response to numerous requests from audience members, the Festival is adding more matinees. There will now be 2 p.m. performances on most Tuesdays, in addition to the regular matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays. And for the first time, in 1999 the Festival will offer five Sunday ■ I SURROUND SOUND STEREO^] LISTOWEL 291-3070 3 STARTS FRIDAY H CINEMA 1 7 & 9 P.M. aa GO E m u R CINEMA 2 7 P.M. pg 10 THINGS 1 HATE ABOUT YOU 9:00 P.M. aa ANALYZE THIS Billy Crystal, Robert Deniro matinees, one for each play, in August and September. In order to accommodate this change, there will be no performances on Monday nights. Another innovation that responds to audience requests is that five plays will be on stage from Friday to Sunday for two weekends in August, so that theatre lovers who travel to Blyth can experience the entire season in one short visit. There's something different happening in the Studio Space as well. A comedy thriller, When the Reaper Calls, by Peter Colley, (author of /'// Be Back Before Midnight) is in all respects a main stage entertainment. ----------------------w Buck & Doe PARK THEATRE for ANGELA COTTON & BILLY TUGWELL Saturday, May 15th Blyth Community Ce/itre 9 p.m. -1 a.m. Age of Majority For more info call 523-4964 The actors, directors, designers and technicians who will mount the Blyth Festival Silver Season are all chosen, and many have begun work on what promises to be a truly fun- filled and festive 25th season. Members of the Festival's creative team will be front and centre this year as Honorary Associate Artist, Jerry Franken, takes to the Festival stage for the 16th year in Every Dream and as Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart in the outrageously funny Big Box. Also in Big Box Blyth's Assistant Artistic Director Eric Coates, whom audiences will remember from Barndance Live!, Booze Days in a Dry County and Yesteryear, takes on a comic turn as Canada’s most inept private detective. He will also be the director of the comedy-thriller When the Reaper Calls. Newly appointed Honorary Artist, designer Shawn Kerwin, who first designed for Blyth in 1977 and last year gave audiences a visual treat with the stunning set and costumes for Thirteen Hands will be back for her 17th show. Other Blyth favourites in starring roles this season are Huron County's own Ted Johns in The Great School Crisis of '99 and the fabulous Diana Belshaw in That Summer. Terry Tweed has scored the funn­ iest role as the grey-haired owner of a failed "mom and pop" store, now turned Winnebago-driving- mad-bomber in Big Box. Both Belshaw and Tweed made their first Blyth appearances 20 years ago and the Silver Season couldn't shine as brightly without them. Someone who hasn't yet reached 20 years old, but is a Blyth veteran nonetheless, is Erin Roulston, who has two roles in the '99 season. Kate Trotter made her profes­ sional debut at Blyth in 1978 and Unlike last season when the Garage shows were toured in from other theatres, Reaper will be produced by the Blyth Festival and will star actors from the mainstage company. Prices are the same as the main stage, and patrons who purchase Blyth's money-saving vouchers may use them to attend Reaper performances as well as any of Blyth's other offerings. Multiple Sclerosis SOCIETY OF CANADA 1-800-268-758 Kathleen Turner Chnifophor Lloyd baby geniuses FRI. & SAT. MAY 7 & 8 7 PM NITELY PARENTAL * GUIDANCE LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-26^-3438 FOB TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO J has since gone on to star on stages all over Canada, as well as in film and television. She made her directorial debut at Blyth with her wonderful revival of The Tomorrow Box in 1996 and this year returns to direct Every Dream. The only director of this season who can boast of a -longer affiliation with the Festival is Blyth's founder, James Roy, the director of Big Box. Designers Pat Flood, John Ferguson and Lesley Wilkinson also have a lengthy history of creating exciting staging effects. Actress Michelle Fisk, who won kudos last season for Beth in Yesteryear and her ensemble work in Thirteen Hands, returns to leading roles in That Summer and Every Dream. Making their first appearance on the Blyth stage will be Adrienne Wilson, Eric Davis, Larry Yachimac, Samantha Reynolds, Kate Hem- blen, Michael Spenser Davis, Jill Dyke, Malcolm Xerxes, and 12- year-old professional actor, Noah Reid. For more information and to order performance tickets call 523- 9300 (toll free 1-877-TO-BLYTH). Remember to ask about Money Saving Voucher packages - on sale only until Canada Day. Happy 27th Birthday Poohy Love Carla & Keyonia ENDS THURSDAY Robert De Niro Billy Crystal analyze this FRI.-THUR. MAY 7-13 FRI. & SAT. 9 PM ONLY SUN.-THUR. 8 PM ■ I. I ....................