HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-04-13, Page 7Times -Advocate, April 13, 1988
Theatre first love of new Playhouse manager
Tim Davisson, the newly ap-
pointed general manager of the Hu-
ron Country Playhouse, plans no
drastic changes in the operation of
the popular local theatre.
"When you're ncw, you see how
the operation works first. You
don't tamper with success", Davis -
son said.
Davisson wishes to maintain the
high standards of .his predecessor,
Heather Redick. Noting that finan-
cial control is the most important
part of a general manager's job, he
secs his main function as getting
the best product 'possible while
staying within the fiscal guide-
lines.
Referring to Redick, Davisson
said "she did a superb job on the fi-
nancial side, leaving the Playhouse
in a very healthy state; she's a dif-
ficult act to follow".
Davisson's roots in the theatre
go back as far as he can remember,
and before. Ile spent much of his
early childhood in dressing rooms
while his actress mother was on
stage. 'Davisson's actor step -father;
NIcrvin "Butch" Blake, has been a
fixture at the Stratford Festival
Theatre for 30 years, and is still
going strong tri his 80s.
The family emigrated to Canada
when Davisson was 15, That year
the young Stratford high school
student get joh as u::hcr at the
Vii:;:✓t.; f'. ...a
Stratford theatre. He also trod the
boards briefly as a spear carrier in
one of the Shakespearean produc-
tions.
Davisson was a math and science
teacher in Toronto for six years af-
ter graduating from U of T with a
math major, and obtaining a post -
grad degree in business administra-
tion. He was drawn- back to his
first love with the offer of house
manager of the Avon Theatre in
Stratford in 1973.
Four -years later Davisson moved
west to become general manager of
Studio Theatre and administrative
officer for the University of Alber-
ta's drama department.
Davisson returned to Ontario in
1984. Since then, he has been
theatre coordinator for all Expo
World Festival Productions, as
well as sr>cndine. three vears as di-
rector of operations at the Stratford
Festival before coming to Grand
Bend. -
Davisson hopes to increase aware-
ness of what the Playhouse has to
offer- among tourists coming to
southwestern Ontario for the ex-
press purpose of seeing theatre. A
related goal is to generate sufficient
revenue to maintain or surpass the
present level, as the 1988 season is
two weeks longer.
'One plan is to approach Stratford
motel and hotel owners and ask
Prepare for Moonwalk
Exeter Senior Citizens are urged
to begin warming up for the Elde-
robic Moonwalk May 10-19. Ten
blocks equal one mile.
At the April meeting, Bert Fer-
wcrda of London, one of the win-
ners. of the Unsung Heroes award
for his many hours of volunteer en-
tcrtaintnent in nursing homes, was
introduced by Molly Bridges.
As a one-man band he entertained
with hymns, national songs, popu-
lar music and war songs inter-
spersed with jokes. He played in a
lower key which encouraged -the
seniors to sing, hum and clap to the
rhythm.
Alva Heywood reported on the
tours being planned, including a
trip to the Geritol Follies June •20,
-to Exeter, New Hampshire June 2-
5, to Octoberfest in Kitchener and
to Westwind in Peterborough in
October.
Chanes and Vi Ilcndy, Eldon
Heywood and Marion Porter volun-
teered to look after April bingo at
the Villa.
Our president, Pat Skinner re-
minded us to bring bingo prizes to
the next meetings as they will be
needed during the summer.
-Lunch was served by Ruth Skin-
ner's group....
Next meeting will be Tuesday,
May 3 with Graham and Marjorie
Arthur in charge of the program.
SWitaNSISSIN
SHDHS fashion show
South Huron's Intermural group
is busy organizing their spring
fashion show. The fashion show.
has been an annual event at the
school. This year, like every other;
we are overwhelmed by the support
we receive from the community.
The cooperation of area business-
es makes our job so much easier.
We have included a combination of
casual, sport, and formal wear for
spring.
Students and teachers have been
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• CHALLIS $4)99
:IPrinted Rayon
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chosen within our school to model.t.
Right now is the busiest time. We
arc working very hard -to ensure our
desired result.
- On April 14 at 2 o'clock we will
be able to sit back and relax, view-
ing what we have worked so hard
for.
We extend an invitation to any-
one who would enjoy'a presentation
of spring fashion. Admission will
be S2. We hope to sec you there.
then to put Playhouse brochures in
their rooms.
"Stratford is only 45 minutes
away, and there are no performances
there on Mondays. The Playhouse
could also be an alternative to those
who can't get tickets to Stratford
performances", he said.
* * * *
Artistic director Sandy Macdcn::td
is reviving The Young Company,
first formed at the Playhouse in
General Manager
Tim Davisson
1981 and again in 1982 under the
aegis of Elaine Tanner -Smith.
Macdonald said these youthful
troupes mere the models for Young
Companies elsewhere, and "were clic
precursors of Playhouse Two; they
performed in that space, which be-
came the second theatre".
N-tacDonald has recently returned
from a series of auditions atnong
colleges and universities with drama
departments. He has hired four ac-
tors and a musician. (Two of the
lour actors arc from London.)
The Young .Company's time at
the Playhouse will be divided into
three segments. They will spend
the initial period from arrival on
May 9 until the end of the month
putting together three shows - a
song and dance cabaret, a humorous
look at local history and a clown
and mime show aimed at young au-
diences.
The troupe will take their shows
on the road to schools, nursing
homes, libraries and whoever else
wants to txx>k them, until July 2.
For the last part of their stay, The
Young Company will be holding
on-site workshops for ages six to
15. Workshops for the younger
ones will concentrate improvisa-
tion, play -making and related sub-
jects, while the curriculum for the
older groups will be more perfor-
mance -oriented, focussing on theat-
rical skills. -
Both Macdonald and Davisson are
certain The Young Company will
pay. -for itself. They expect the
529,000 cost of bringing the youth-
ful entertainers to Grand Bend for
four months will be offset by the
S50 plus travel expenses the compa-
ny will charge for each of the ir per-
formances: The workshop registra-
tions will bring in additional
revenue Davisson has also applied
for a S7,500) grant from Theatre On-
tario.
Although none of the selections
on the main Playhouse stage call
for children this year, Macdonald
said local youngsters can participate
by applying for jobs as ushers, or
in the wardrobe and other depart-
ments.
"With the musicals l'in consider-
ing for next year, it's highly likely
there will be opportunities for
young people to perform on stage,
and -the workshops will be back as
well:..Crne year there's a focus on
one thing, and the following year a
focus on another; everything comes
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* * * *
The 1988 playbill for the main
stage of the Huron Country Play-
house offers four presentations.
The veteran .musical. "A" Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum" will be the open the season
on June 21, and continue until July
9. The light farce "Key For Two"
follows, from July 12 to July 23.
Comedy and thrills will be com-
bined in "Stagestruck", from July
26 to August 6.
"Win hall"; another comedy, will
be performed from August 9 to 20,
and "Little 'Shop of Horrors" will
round out this year's playbill.
' :Wingfield"s Progress", a sequel
to "Letter from Wingfield Farni,
will open at Playhouse 11 on July
5 and run until July 16.
The --next offering is
"Superwomen" from July 19 to
30. This musical, written by Ar-
lene Dunbar from Ethel in collabo-
ration with Carol Oriold, takes a
look at three of today's women,
different in some ways from their
mothers; very similar in others.
The final presentation at Play-
house II is "Mercer! Beaucoup!",
Artistic director
Sandy Macdonald
Award winner Johnny -Mercer. It
%ci11 run front August 2 to 13. •
* * *
Playhouse management are
puzzled by the lack of advance
group bookings this year. Usually
by the end of March, more than 100
group bookings have been received,
and this year only 35 have come in
so far.
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