The Citizen, 1992-10-28, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28,1992. PAGE 19.
Donations boost Festival
Due to an overwhelming
response by audience, friends, and
supporters to the fundraising
initiative undertaken by the Blyth
Festival this summer, the theatre
will end its fiscal year in a stable
financial position. The unique
Action Plan was enacted by the
Festival's Board of Directors after
mid-summer projections forecast a
deficit of $144,000 on the season.
Precipitated by a sharp down-turn
in Box Office sales, Blyth's
financial crisis was met head-on by
immediate cut-backs, aggressive
marketing strategies and requests
for donations through post
performance appeals and a highly
successful direct-mail campaign.
“The outpouring of donations
and letters was beyond belief,” says
Festival general manager Ray
Salverda. “The fund-raising appeal
coupled with an increase in ticket
sales toward the end of the season
helped greatly to off-set our
projected deficit.”
Though the complete financial
picture won't be known until the
Festival's Annual General Meeting
on Dec. 10, the bulk of the funds
raised for the theatre came as a
result of the direct-mail campaign.
Letters endorsed by 23 leading
benefactors of Blyth, including
Peter Gzowski, Roy Bonisteel and
Alice Munro, were sent out to
17,000 members and patrons of the
theatre. The appeal netted almost
$50,000 in additional donations.
“We can never begin to
adequately thank the hundreds of
people who have expressed their
faith in this theatre and its mandate
through gifts and words,” says
Gayle Waters, president of Blyth's
Board of Directors. “We can be
very proud of the esteem in which
the Blyth Festival is held. People
clearly understand and enjoy
Blyth's development and
production of new Canadian
Skate-a-thon, Sat.
Excitement is growing as the date
of the Blyth Skate-A-Thon
approaches on Oct. 31. The event is
open to anyone who skates and has
his/her pledge sheet. Because it is
Halloween, in addition to regular
prizes there will be prizes for best
costume, though the committee is
asking participants not to wear
masks.
There will be breaks with
refreshments and snacks provided
by volunteering parents. Each
skater is responsible for his/her
own lunch, the booth will be open.
It is hoped that this ambitious
venture will be a major money
raising event for both Blyth Minor
Hockey and Blyth Figure/Power
Skating with the money raised
going towards ice rentals, teaching
and referees.
Early
Retirement
plays.”
Artistic Director Peter Smith
echoed Ms Waters' sentiments,
“From this desk, I'd like to offer
my sincere thanks to all who
donated time, energy and money to
the largest play of 1992. This play
had thousands of characters,
suspense and drama and, thanks to
the cast - the audience and staff - a
future of this theatre,” says
Salverda. He adds that many letters
accompanying donations to the
Festival stressed that “this theatre is
vital to the community here and to
audiences across the country,”
The growing number of
contributions made to Blyth was
augmented last week by a highly
successful Gala Auction. Accord
E ntertainment
r ' ........ —i
Review
Singer’s show
over too soon
(October 30th)
Gerald
Th-Th-Th-That’s All Folks!
Love and best wishes
Kay, Garry, Donna, Cathy,
Jackie and grandchildren
NOW HAVE FUN!
successful conclusion. The
collective will was truly inspiring.”
In addition to the direct-mail
campaign, members of the 1992
acting company played a critical
role in overcoming this season's
financial short-fall. Many members
of the company, actors and crew,
donated wages back and made
direct appeals to members of the
audience at the conclusion of some
performances. This decision to
speak on behalf of Blyth was the
result of much soul searching and it
paid off as the ‘curtain appeals’
boosted the fundraising efforts by
an additional $17,000.
ing to preliminary reports, the
auction will add another $20,000 to
the Blyth coffers. This event, along
with all the proceeds from an Oct.
30 benefit performance being given
by Don Harron, will put the
Festival in a more sound year-end
position.
Looking toward next year,
Artistic Director Peter Smith is
well into the planning stages of the
1993 season. In anticipation of an
exciting year of theatre, Blyth has
already enjoyed strong pre-season
voucher ticket sales. Thanks to the
success of its Action Plan, the
Blyth Festival will continue to
by Erin Roulston
Heather Bishop, a musically
talented woman from Manitoba,
visited Blyth on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Many young children and parents
came to see this performance and
enjoyed it. This was just the first of
a series of children's plays coming
to the Blyth Festival this fall.
Heather sang 10 songs. In two
songs she got volunteers from the
audience to come to the stage and
dance.
During the show she taught the
audience some sign language. She
got the parents to say, “You drive
me crazy” and the children to say
“boring”.
Throughout her performance, she
made many funny remarks and
stories, including a story and song
about a duck from New York.
Heather's trusty sidekick, Sharon,
helped with the songs and did a
great job on the electric guitar.
Heather had the children in the
audience singing and some of the
parents on stage dancing.
As the show ended I heard the
woman in front of me say to a
friend, “It's over all ready and I was
having so much fun!”
There's only one thing I didn't
like about it. I wish it had been
longer.
Congratulations
Shannon!
Mass music
Ken Fleet was the conductor of this choir of 75 voices
during the workshop at Blyth Mini Fest on Saturday. The
day long event culminated in a special evening of song at
Blyth Memorial Hall. Mr. Fleet is full-time
vocal/instrumental teacher at Medway High School,
London. He is conductor of London Pro Musica and a part-
time faculty member at the university.
Enjoy a delicious
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
HOT BUFFET
Every Sunday
includes salad bar, a
variety of meats,
vegetables, potatoes,
rolls, rice pudding,
tea or coffee
Happy 85th
Birthday
Reg Schultz
NOVEMBER 3
for only $9.95
Book your
Christmas Party
Today!
A Menu that's sure to
please every guest
No charge for banquet room
Tim’s Family
Restaurant
and Banquet Facilities
Blyth 523-9623
(formerly Grand View Too)
Guess who?
*****
Family and Friends are
invited to an
OPEN HOUSE
AT SNELL'S RESTAURANT
ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
FROM 2:00 - 4:00
Best Wishes Only
50th
Anniversary
Congratulations to our
parents and grandparents,
Harold and Zora (Bolt)
Cook, who are celebrating
their 50th Wedding
Anniversary, October 31,
1992. They were married in
Brussels, Ontario on
October 31, 1942. Wishing
you both joy on this
wonderful occasion and all
our continuing love from
your children Ivan,
Margaret, Warren, Marylin,
and your grandchildren
Jeremy, Tim and Shannon.
Shannon, your hard work
and desire for excellence
pays off again. Another
successful year at the
University of Guelph, has
awarded Shannon Rice of
Brussels, two scholar
ships. On October 8, 1992,
Shannon was presented
the Shelia Esztelecky
Memorial Scholarship - an
award of $1,000. presented
to the student who
achieves the highest mark
in practicum - Child
Studies I. and the Mrs. Elsa
Hevenor Stewart
Scholarship of $100. -
which is presented to 10
students with the highest
academic standing in the
previous two semesters.
It must be very rewarding
to be recognized for your
achievements In such a
way Shannon.
Congratulations and love
from your family.
PARK THEATRE
PARENTAL
GUIDANCE
GODERICH
HELD OVER - 2nd Week
Steven
Seagal
UNDER
SIEGE
Fri.-Thurs.
Oct. 30-Nov. 5 9 PM Nitel
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