Volume 38, Issue 14
December 2015
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Letter from the President
REPorting on Character
If your family is anything like mine, you will have recently gathered together with the intention of a nice family gathering to share a meal together. I'll admit, "nice" is a term I've long-since replaced with "as long as there's no drama". I am convinced that it is within the boundaries of family holiday gatherings of this sort that we get to know the characters in our lives the most. We share stories, we interact together, we divvy up responsibilities according to plan, we adjust to spontaneity, and we carve out time in our otherwise busy lives to take a moment and be with the ones we love.
On the heels of my spirited Thanksgiving Day, I enjoyed transitioning the house from buttery yellows and amber orange to gorgeous greens and vibrant reds. My kids and I were able to squeeze in holiday cookie baking and much to our surprise, we were visited by my (future) mother-in-law Nancy as the process unfolded. I was both thankful and surprised at how many things Nancy contributed to by commenting on key aspects of our process. Nancy has one of the fullest, deepest characters of anyone I know and, in the next two months, you have two opportunities with the Rep to explore, share and develop character with your family.
First - delight in being a part of the most traditional story ever written by Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol, in limited engagement at the Valentine Theatre. This show is best served "holiday-style" in large gatherings of siblings, in-laws, grand-children, and with family. When January arrives and you need to laugh off the holidays, come embrace the Calendar Girls.
In latere sentimental ("On the sentimental side"),
Samanthia Rousos
President, Toledo Repertoire Theatre
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ON STAGE NOW:
30th Anniversary Production
December 4 & 5 at 8:00pm
December 6 at 2:30pm
By Charles Dickens
Directed by Debra Ross Calabrese
Music Director, David Jex
Join us at the beautiful Valentine Theatre and experience the musical version of this classic holiday tradition.
This timeless tale of redemption follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he is transformed by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future from a miserly old curmudgeon into a man who embodies the true meaning of Christmas.
Lavish costumes, spectacular sets and a musical score rich with carols of the era. This production is The Toledo Repertoire Theatre's Christmas gift to the community!
Performed at The Valentine Theatre (410 Adams St.)
Made possible by a grant from Theater League
For Tickets: Call The Valentine Box Office at (419) 242-2787 or click below
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ALUMNI WEEKEND
A Christmas Carol
Did you ever participate in The Toledo Rep's
A Christmas Carol? Would you love the
chance to venture back to the streets of London and reminisce about the good times with old friends? Well you are in luck!
In honor of our 30th Anniversary Production of A Christmas Carol The Toledo Repertoire Theatre invites all A Christmas Carol alumni to the alumni performance on Saturday, Dec. 5th at 8pm at The Valentine Theatre. An alumni group photo will be taken after the performance.
For Tickets for the Saturday performance
please call
The Valentine Box Office at (419) 242-2787 or
click below
No matter how long you have been away from the sights and sounds of The Rep's holiday classic, the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future, miserly old Scrooge and everyone here at The Toledo Rep would like to welcome you back home!
(Photo from 1992 A Christmas Carol)
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The Rep Gives Back!
A Christmas Carol Toy Drive
The Toledo Rep will be participating in 13abc's Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive. All toys go to local children and distribution is coordinated by the Salvation Army of Northwest Ohio.
Please bring new, unwrapped toys to
The Valentine Theatre when you come
to see A Christmas Carol the weekend
of Dec. 4th, 5th and 6th and place your toy donations in the marked boxes placed in the lobby.
The Salvation Army has a sign-up process for those needing assistance during the holidays and toys will be distributed to qualified families and individuals just prior to Christmas.
Last year, generous donors gave more than 25,400 toys during Hope for the Holidays. 13abc, the Salvation Army and The Toledo Repertoire Theatre would like to thank you, our wonderful patrons, for your generous contribution to our area children during this holiday season. You can make their holiday brighter with your kindness.
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SCROOGE'S FAVORITE THINGS
A Holiday Fundraiser to Benefit The Rep!
Tickets are $25 each and only 125 tickets will be sold!
You may also purchase tickets by calling (419) 243-9277, by visiting The Rep's Box Office or in the lobby of The Valentine Theatre during the run of A Christmas Carol.
Drawings will be held from December 4-15 with one winner and one prize announced daily on the Rep website and social media. Tickets will be sold until December 14.
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Selfie with Scrooge Giveaway!
Are you on Social Media?
Do you like to take selfies?
Would you like to win some awesome prizes?!
Well you are in luck!
When you come to see
A Christmas Carol this weekend,
take a selfie with our Uncle Scrooge cutout located in the lobby and post it on social media using the hashtag:
You will be entered into a raffle to win:
- A membership to the Toledo Zoo
- Two packs of Marsha's Homemade Buckeyes
- A Toledo Rep T-shirt!
The more you post the more entries you will receive!
Wouldn't you love to win a Toledo Zoo membership just in time to see The Lights Before Christmas?!
(photo credit: freakingnews.com)
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A Christmas Carol Ornaments For Sale!
In honor of our 30th Anniversary production of
A Christmas Carol
, we are selling Vintage 1996
A Christmas Carol
ornaments for $3.00. All proceeds benefit The Rep.
If you would like an ornament, please stop by our table at The Valentine Theatre during our production of
A Christmas Carol
or visit The Rep during normal business hours.
They make great stocking stuffers for that
A Christmas Carol alum in your life!
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Blast From The Past
In honor of our 30th Anniversary Production of
A Christmas Carol, let's take a stroll down memory lane...
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January 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 2016 at 8:00pm
January 17 & 24, 2016 at 2:30pm
By Tim Firth
Directed by Wes Skinner
Winner of the What's On Stage Award for Best New Comedy 2010
After Annie's husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris devise an innovative way to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow WI members to pose nude with them for an "alternative" calendar. The news of the women's charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and the calendar is a success. Chris and Annie's friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame.
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Auditions:
One Slight Hitch
Valentine's Day Special Event
Auditions:
December 12, 1pm at the 10th St. Stage
Callbacks December 13, 1pm
Cast Description:
3 Men (ages 20's-60's)
4 Women (ages 20's-60's)
Will cast anyone who looks like they fit the age.
This is a situational comedy, so have fun with it. Be prepared to read from scripts (provided) and take minor direction. Contact Greg Kissner at (419) 459-2701 if you have any questions.
Synopsis:
It's Courtney's wedding day and her mom, Delia, is making sure that everything is perfect. The groom is perfect, the dress is perfect, and the decorations (assuming they arrive) will be perfect. Then, like in any good farce the doorbell rings and all hell breaks loose. So much for perfect!
Show dates:
February 12, 13, 14, 2016
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The Rep Ed Winter Classes
Rep Ed Winter Classes
will take place January 16 - March 5, 2016.
The first session of classes this coming New
Year is
titled
"Puppets and People"
and will culminate
March 5 with a performance showcase.
Children ages 7 to 16 will receive instruction in singing, dancing, acting and theater basics from
our return team of Rep Ed instructors Amber Breault-Albain, a Music Education/Performance Concentration major at Owens Community College, who will be teaching Acting; Dom Glover, Company Principal dancer at The Toledo Ballet, who will be teaching Dance and Jill Reinstein, seasoned
Young Rep music director, will be teaching Music.
Improv at The Rep
Congrats to The Rep's "Level 1: Introduction to Improv" Class as they performed their first ever showcase last month
! It was a packed house with many new first time visitors to The Toledo Rep! Due to the huge success of this class, we will be holding two more sessions of Improv starting in January with another Level 1 Intro to Improv Class and a more advanced Level 2 Class!
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Rep Spotlight Series
Introducing The Rep's Spotlight Series!
The 'Rep Spotlight Series' is an ongoing series of interviews with the many individuals who contribute to making The Toledo Repertoire Theatre the strong community theatre that it is today.
These interviews serve as a way to learn more about life in the theatre and the history of Toledo's oldest community theatre, The Toledo Rep.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for new videos and updates. To see information about our current Season, ticket prices or upcoming programs including Rep Education and Improv Classes, please visit us at
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Rep Spotlight Series with
Dave DeChristopher |
Actor's Spotlight
I
n honor of our 30th Anniversary of A Christmas Carol, we would like to dedicate this month's Actor's Spotlight to Mr. Scrooge himself, Jim Rudes. Mr. Rudes played Ebeneezer Scrooge in The Rep's A Christmas Carol for 14 consecutive years, ending his run as the miserly old curmudgeon in 2002.
He was inducted into the Lake Erie West Hall of Fame for the Performing Arts in 2001 and the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2003. Jim passed away of leukemia in 2004, but his love and dedication to The Toledo Repertoire Theatre and his wonderful portrayal of Uncle Scrooge live in our hearts forever.
We present you with an article from our April 2000 REPorter featuring Jim Rudes:
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Rep In The News:
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(click on photo to listen to the interview)
Eric Hillenbrand, Toledo Rep Theater, talks about this year's A Christmas Carol |
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(click on photo to read the article)
"There are improvements throughout the show, and small changes - and one big surprise!" Calabrese said, declining to say more about that surprise. The show has become a holiday tradition for many families who look forward to seeing it year after year, she noted, recalling one person who comes back "just for the waltzes." |
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(click on photo to read the interview)
"[I]n the Rep's 30th anniversary edition this weekend at the Valentine Theatre in Toledo, Jacob [Goodson] plans to dazzle audiences as Charles Dickens' frail, diminutive but ever cheerful hero, Tiny Tim." |
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(click on photo to watch the promo)
iLoveMy419 promo video. Watch on our YouTube Channel |
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Community Outreach:
The cast and crew of the 30th Anniversary Production of
A Christmas Carol
have partnered with
Mercy
Children's Hospital to host a toy and supply drive for the
Mercy
Children's Child Life Program.
Mercy Children's Hospital is a regional resource for advanced pediatric care located in Toledo, Ohio. Since 1999, the hospital has brought together a broad spectrum of physicians, researchers, educators, nurses and allied professionals specializing in the unique needs of children. Mercy Children's Hospital has become the leading healthcare resource in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
On a daily basis the hospital is helping take care and saving the lives of children in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan regions.
Mercy Children's Hospital prides itself on being the only pediatric facility to offer teaching, research and patient care all in one facility to make it easier for their patients.
Mercy Children's Hospital focuses on a family oriented strategy by getting the parents and family as involved as possible in the healing process of their young children.
Mercy Children's Hospital is based on five core values: compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice and sacredness of life, and service. The cast and crew of
A Christmas Carol hope that the t
oys and supplies they collect for the Child Life Program will help bring cheer to children and their families this holiday season.
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Please think of The Rep when you begin your holiday shopping!
AmazonSmile
is a simple and automatic way for you to support the TOLEDO REPERTOIRE COMPANY every time you shop, at no cost to you! When you shop at
smile.amazon.com
,
Amazon
will donate a portion of your purchase price to The Toledo Rep!
Simply go to
smile.amazon.com and select
TOLEDO REPERTOIRE COMPANY to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping.
Amazon will remember your selection and every eligible purchase you make will result in a donation. Products marked "Eligible for
AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages are eligible for donations.
Thank you for supporting The Toledo Rep!
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Volunteer at The Rep!
Want to be a star without being on stage? Whatever your interest or talent, we welcome your help at The Rep. It's a great way to be part of the show without having to take a bow. In most cases, no experience is needed - we'll train you! Here are just a few of the areas where we are looking for dedicated people:
- Backstage crew
- Light board operator
- Sound board operator
- Stage Management
- Set construction/painting
- Props
- Costumes
- Makeup/hair
- Office work
- Usher (see the show for free!)
- Marketing/PR Team
- Fundraising/Development Team
- Season Selection
- Education Committee
- Community Outreach
- Hospitality
- Building Committee
To get started, please complete and submit the form below:
You may also contact Susan McCann at
smccann@toledorep.org or by calling (419) 243-9277, ext. 5, and we'll find a role for you. To contact specific committees directly, please see below:
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Help Us Select Next Year's Season! 
Do you have a favorite show or playwright that you would like to see performed on the Rep Stage? We are planning the 2016-2017 Season and would like to ask you, our patrons, to help!
Write down your ideas on the provided ballots when you are at The Rep and place them in the suggestion box located underneath the headshot display in the lobby. You can also email your suggestions to:
SeasonSelection@toledorep.org
Thank you for helping us make our 84th Season the best one yet!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Season Selection Committee at
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REP FUN
Did you know that longtime director Jonnie Mack Myers got married on the set of A Christmas Carol back on December 19, 1999?
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The Rep would like to thank:
- Dan Rogers, President and CEO of the
Cherry Street Mission for the continued use of their Center for Life Revitalization for our rehearsal space.
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Check Us Out!
Check out our new YouTube Channel. Click icon bellow.
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Give to The Rep This Holiday Season!
In operation since 1933, The Rep is a cornerstone of Toledo's artistic tradition. Contributions make the difference, and we appreciate the contributions of many individuals and organizations that help to support live theatre in the Toledo area.
We offer giving opportunities in many denominations. If you would like to support The Rep this Holiday Season, please click the link below. The
donation page allows donors to give directly to the theatre. Your tax-deductible donation will help us continue the tradition of great theatre and enable us to make our building accessible to all our patrons.
Please consider becoming a partner with the Toledo Rep and help us provide year-long theatrical programming and outstanding educational classes for people of all ages!
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Follow The Toledo Rep for up-to-date News, Events and Programs!
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Upcoming Rep Events
Performances:
A Christmas Carol
December 4, 5, 6
Calendar Girls
January 15-17, 21-24, 2016
Auditions:
Agatha Christie AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
January 23, 2016, 1pm, 10th St. Stage
Callbacks January 25, 2016, 6pm, Brown Building
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Wish List
* 22-gallon plastic tubs
* Consistent additional rehearsal space
* Stage Crew Volunteers
* Ushers for our shows
* Reliable audio/sound & visual equipment
* Two 220 window air conditioning units for the newly renovated rehearsal space in the brown building
* Gift cards to Home Depot and Lowe's
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Thrifty Thespian Thursday
Would you like to enjoy the excitement of live theatre on a budget? Take advantage of our Thrifty Thespian Thursday! Simply come to the box office in person between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM prior to that same Thursday evening's Mainstage performance and if any available seats remain, you can purchase your ticket in person for that evening for just $10.00! That's a 50% savings off the regular ticket price!
This special applies to our Thursday night Mainstage plays only. No other discounts or coupons apply with this special.
Thrifty Thespian Thursdays are made possible by generous grants from the Baumker Family Foundation and the France Stone Foundation
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The Toledo Repertoire Theatre
16 10th Street, Toledo, OH 43604
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