The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Missive
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great Dickens Christmas Fair 2014 - October Missive #4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Notes from your Missive Maven:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Workshops begin this coming weekend with the big morning meeting in the cafeteria
Saturday morning at 10:00.
I know Halloween is the night before, I have faith in your "the show must go on" spirit!

Please remember to do your online registration (see below) before you come to workshops and 
bring your receipt/reg form to workshops with you!

Cat


Please remember to contact the folks referenced in each notice above, rather than hitting "reply".

Need to change your email address for or unsubscribe from the missives? Want to read past missives? Please visit this page: http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html

Cat Taylor
Entertainment Director, Missive & Social Media Maven
In This Missive
The Workshop Schedule is Up!
Please Register Online Before Workshops!
Reminder: Daylight Savings Time Ends November 2nd!
Special Improv Master Class With Marcus Sams This Sunday
Costume Vendors at Workshops
Still Seeking Adorable Tyke
Costume Approval Schedule & Information
So You Would Like to Help Us Sing in the Holidays
Local Hotel Deals
Reminder: Directions to Oceana High School
Reminder: Public Transportation to Workshops
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The Workshop Schedule is Up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The schedule for the first two weekends of workshops and the workshop map are on the missive site here

Please read it carefully and print at home if possible, especially if you want the color highlights as the schedules we will print will be in black & white. There are all sorts of great workshops this year (thank you Robert!) so the font is pretty small, bring your reading glasses

 

The workshop descriptions will be forthcoming shortly and the Great Costume Missive should be out tomorrow. The schedule for the third weekend of workshops/dress rehearsal at the Cow Palace will come out a bit later.

If you are interested in being in the Dark Garden window, the application and information sheet is also posted on the missive site. You must take the Dark Garden workshop to pose in the Dark Garden window and it is not open to first year participants or those under 18.  It should be a fillable .pdf, which you may either print it and submit it to Miss McAvoy on dress rehearsal Sunday, or fill it out and email it to her at [email protected].

 

If you missed some of the information in previous missives, please visit the missive page here:
http://cattaylor.com/missives.html where you can also change your email address, etc. 

 

A note about workshops in general - they fill up, especially on the first weekend. If an instructor says that workshop is full, please be gracious and move on to something else. The same holds true if you arrive late and the instructor asks that you not crash the class.

Please note that there may be last minute changes to the schedule this week, so check back before the weekend. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Please Register Online Before Workshops!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are using the EventBrite system as we do for the tickets to the Dickens Fair.   

This will be for all participants in all categories.  

Everyone will enter their registration information, and by clicking the appropriate boxes will have extra fields to fill in based on what they're doing at the fair.  Once you have registered you will be emailed a receipt from Eventbrite that you will need to print out and bring to workshops.  Your registration receipt will have places for workshop sign-offs, director/booth owner acknowledgement and costume approval.  

Once you have completed the pre-fair process you will take the completed Eventbrite receipt/registration form to the Pass House to be validated (scanned) and checked against the cast lists  so you can receive your gate pass. 

This will allow us to have everyone's information in a computerized system in case of emergency etc, without having to enter every registration form manually. It will also hopefully speed up the lines.

All participants will still need to be on one of the director or booth owner lists, which will be cross-checked when each person brings their completed registration form to the registration desk or pass house. 
The Password: DCF2014Registration

So please get registered in the next week and we will see you on November 1st at workshops. Thanks in advance for your cooperation as we develop this new system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Reminder: Daylight Savings Time Ends November 2nd!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That means you get an extra hour of sleep after the first day of workshops, which we'll all probably need...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Special Improv Master Class With Marcus Sams This Sunday

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(from Anastasia Elizondo-Lossow)

 

Improv II-A really good improv friend of mine, Marcus Sams, has agreed to come and teach one of his Master Classes for one day only - Sunday Nov. 2nd from 10:00-12:15 in room 114. Please join us in this Master Class experience normally taught only at the LEELA Theatre and Training Center in San Francisco.

 

Must have taken Improv I to be eligible to take this class.  Limited to 20 people. Counts as one class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Costume Vendors at Workshops   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(from Liz Martin)


Still have a bit of shopping to do? 
The following people will be selling at workshops in Pacifica ONLY: 

 

Lynn Combs: general merchandise, clothing
Dark Garden: corsets
Robin Driskill: reticules
Barbara Ebel: gently used clothing
Annie Lore: wigs, hair pieces (time TBA)
Lynn McMasters: bonnets & patterns
Dorothy O'Hare: fabric, trim, books, buttons, etc.
Jacqueline Palacios: bonnets
Amanda Seals: bows and ribbons
Jeffery Schoenberg: Stacy Adams boots, old studio stock: shirts, pants, petticoats
Mark Shanks: used clothing
Yuly Springer: corsets (Saturday only)
Ann Tavern: aprons, petticoats and more
The company store (Liz Martin et al) gently used clothing for kids and adults, used shoes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Still Seeking Adorable Tyke

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(from Therese Porter)

 
As Mr Dickens so sagely pointed out, children grow, and we need a new nipper to fill the crooked shoes of Dickens' immortal invalid, Tiny Tim. What is wanted is a small, strong actor who can be winsome, adorable and inspirational while also small enough to be comfortably hoisted up on our Bob Cratchit's slim but sturdy shoulders.   God bless us, everyone!
 

Please contact Therese Porter at [email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

God Save Christmas Keepers!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(from Therese Porter)

The Christmas Keepers is a group for people new to the Fair to get a feel for how Dickens Fair operates as a show, as well as supporting the Fair through several practical and performance based endeavours. It is also a good way to find a new niche, and it provides a valuable dervice to the Fair.

The Fair is a first and foremost a show, and participants are its performers. Those accepted into the Christmas Keepers cast will train and work symbiotically with the Other Books cast, the group portraying characters from Dickens' novels and working interactively in the streets.

The principal and most important part of the Christmas Keepers work at Dickens Fair is to take tickets and greet our guests. Because of this, Keepers are also part of the Volunteers. This is an important component of our cisitors' experience, and great training for the interactive, immersive theatre that we do. You are encouraged to be a terrific "first touch" for our incoming guests.

Christmas Keepers will also be expected to participate in the parades - filling out their numbers and helping to generate interest and enthusiasm amongst the audience. When not performing those functions, Keepers will be spreading Dickensian cheer throughout the Fair.

All Christmas Keepers will be expected to draw their character from Dickens' works, and will be expected to embody that character physically and linguistically. As with all street characters, participants will be expected to provide their own, Fair-approvable costume.

Christmas Keepers is directed by Therese Porter and coordinates with the person directing Volunteers. 

If you are interested contact, Therese Porter at [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

So You Would Like to Help Us Sing in the Holidays!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(from Bob Crabb)

So you would like to help us sing in the holidays!
There is always room for more who would like to sing.  Coventry Carolers is always looking for more singers especially basses.  There will be rehearsals {and "auditions"} each afternoon at  workshops.  If you are interested or have questions, please find me and we will talk, I should be easy to spot or email me at:

Bob Crabb [email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Local Hotel Deals

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(from Kevin Patterson)
We have negotiated some good deals with local area hotels.  
These are to be used by Dickens Fair Participants and their families only.  
For each hotel, the deal is subject to availability so sooner is better.
The "promo code" is: "Charles Dickens" or "Dickens Fair".  
Please call the numbers below to inquire about price and availability.   
No online booking is possible for these promotional prices.

The Ramada Inn $69.00 (subject to availability)
721 Airport Blvd. S. San Francisco 94080
650-583-7300

The Days Inn (same owner as Ramada, smaller property) $69.00 (subject to availability)
1113 Airport Blvd. S. San Francisco, CA 94080
650-873-9300

Alpine Inn (next door to CP) (10% off for Participants) (subject to availability)
560 Carter St. Daly City, CA 94014
877-514-0737

Embassy Suites $119 (must book prior to 11/12) (subject to availability)
250 Gateway Blvd. S. San Francisco, CA 94080
650-589-3400

Wanna Stay in a boutique hotel downtown?  
Union Square's Executive Hotel Vintage Court
650 Bush St. San Francisco, CA 94108
415-544-6201 (call for prices and ask for Bill Englehardt GM - he loves the Fair!)

There is no "deal" available at what used to be the Radisson Hotel (now the Doubletree).  It is a nice place with great access, but pricey.
5000 Sierra Point Parkway, Brisbane, CA 94005
415-467-4400

Your feedback is important.   If you want, please let us know you hotel experience nearby including price, customer service, and other details. Email: [email protected]  We will use this information for future deals.  Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Reminder: Directions to Oceana High School   

401 Paloma Ave, Pacific, CA 94044

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 You can find directions here: http://ohs.juhsd.net/?PageName=%27Directions%27


or

 

From the East Bay
After the crossing the Bay Bridge, follow signs to 101 south
After passing Cesar Chavez exit merge to the right lane
At the Hwy 101/Hwy280 split, take Hwy 280 on the right
Take the Hwy 1 South exit
As you come down the hill into Pacifica, take Paloma offramp (2nd exit)
Turn left at the stop sign, onto Paloma
As you come to the next stop, you will see a sign directing you to parking.

From the North Bay and San Francisco
(After crossing the GG Bridge)
Take 19th Avenue south, which will merge into Hwy 280 south
Take the Hwy 1 South exit
As you come down the hill into Pacifica, take Paloma offramp (2nd exit)
Turn left at the stop sign, onto Paloma
As you come to the next stop, you will see a sign directing you to parking.

  

From the South Bay and Peninsula
Take Hwy 101 North

After passing the airport, take the 380 connection to 280 North

Take the Hwy 1 South/Pacifica exit

As you go up the hill stay in the left lanes

After coming down the hill into Pacifica take the second exit (Paloma)

Turn left at the stop sign (onto Paloma)

At the next stop sign look for the Workshop Parking sign.

  

From the South Using Hwy 1:

 

Take Hwy 1 north

 

Take the Oceana Blvd exit
Continue on Oceana
When you come to Oceana and Paloma Avenues you will see a sign for parking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Public Transportation to Workshops 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(from Norman Bradley)

Here's how to get to Oceana High School. Take Sam Trans bus number 112 from the Colma BART station and get off at Palmetto and Paloma and walk up the hill. The important times are: in the morning leave BART @ 08:50 arrive at about @ 09:15, in the afternoon catch the bus @ 17:42 arrive at BART @ 18:16. These are the first and last buses on the weekend. 

For the Cow Palace Take either the MUNI 9 (San Bruno) or Sam Trans 292 and walk up the hill.   

Quick Links...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Website
Dickens Fair Performer Page
Cat's Missive Page
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Facebook page
Dickens Fair Twitter
Join the Public Email List
Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For specific questions regarding performing at the Fair, please email Cat Taylor
If your group would like to perform at the Fair for just one day (school caroling groups, etc.)
please email Robert Young
For specific questions regarding vending at the Fair please email Vendors
For specific questions the beverage department please email Beverage
For questions regarding costumes, please email Costumes
To join the public email list, please click here http://dickensfair.com/involved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join Our Mailing List