Things are really picking up steam now! The past week has been a whirlwind of finalizing things as we get ready for the season to start.
In addition to the new website launching, the bus/C-Train ads starting, and the first ad running in Metro (and finalizing the latter’s sponsorship agreement) I’ve been busy sorting out parking, playbills for the season, posters going to print, getting quotes for the new theatre signage, etc. To top it all off we sent Stephanie, our new box office and marketing assistant, off for CPR and first aid training for the past two days!
I’ve been trying to fill in for her by booking PlayPasses as they’ve come in via the mail, and we’ve had the odd patron even find there way up to our admin offices to book a PlayPass or Stagefright ticket in person. But I’ve been horrible about answering the phone. Apologies to everyone who’s been calling! Stephanie will be back tomorrow and will no doubt be busy returning phone messages and email.
I’ll also be lending Stephanie a hand to get the second mailout of PlayPasses out along with the tickets that were selected on the renewal form.
-DJ
PS - We had a couple of potential new theatre chairs in the office today. They were surprising comfortable. But we already know it’s more about the legroom than anything else! And the new theatre designs look like they will have plenty. I can’t wait to sit in an actual seat in the theatre itself!
What a way to start my tenure as AD at Lunchbox Theatre. Our little company won 5 Betty Mitchell Awards! A big shout out to Rona for selecting a superb season.
What a great night for Jonathan Monro. His play, With a Twist, won 4 Bettys, including Outstanding Musical Production. I went on stage with Jonathan to say a few words but before I could begin, the band played us off. Maybe they’ve heard all my pre-show chats. Too bad. I thought my speech was ever so witty.
Jonathan flew in yesterday morning just for the award ceremony and then caught the red eye back the same night as he has a matinee performance at the Stratford Festival today. I wonder how he’s going to get all those Betty statues through airport security. They are pointed, heavy and would make a great weapon. Good luck Jonathan!
Congrats also to Ethan Cole for his Betty win for The Astonishing Adventures of Awesome Girl and Radical Boy’s Composition. And of course congrats to the talented Laura Krewski for her amazing choreography in With a Twist.
All in all, a fine night with Betty.
Martie
It is an exciting time here at Lunchbox Theatre as we are about to embark on season number 34. Rehearsals for Stagefright begin in just over a week so there is a flurry of activity as we all get ready to say goodbye to summer and hello to our 2008/09 season! I am excited to welcome Mark Bellamy and a talented cast of actors. Natascha Girgis, Mallory Minerson, Kevin Rothery and Brent Rock are getting ready to sing and dance their way into your hearts beginning September 17 in this hilarious and touching musical by Jim Betts.
I always wonder when the season starts if it’s all going to work. Well we’re about to find out. When I chose this season, my first for Lunchbox Theatre, I tried to take into consideration not only what our audiences want to see but also what they don’t even know they want to see, if that makes sense. There are so many one act plays out there but not al will resonate with our audiences.
To celebrate the move into our brand new theatre at the base of the Calgary Tower, I have chosen plays that celebrate the magic of the theatre. From the rehearsal hall setting of Stagefright to David Mamet’s hilarious and moving homage to the theatre in A Life in the Theatre, to the show biz music of “old Blue Eyes” himself in Come Fly With Me, to the wonderfully theatrical The Invention of Music by our favourite playwright Clem Martini to the magic of the trailer park in Darrin Hagen’s tribute to trailer court women in Tornado Magnet (where else but in the theatre could you have an entire trailer park on stage!) and the sheer joy of brand new our holiday comedy The Christmas Tree by Canada’s most produced king of comedy, Norm Foster, these plays collectively pay tribute to the magic of the theatre and all things theatrical. At least that’s what I’m hoping you will feel when you join us this season.
Once things get under way I’ll let you know whether I am right or not. And I’m sure you will let me know too! Ah, what the hell, it’s still summer. I’m going to grab a cold beer.
Martie