The Bill Raiten Blog

The Blue Hill Town Hall Theater has a new look - thanks to a generous grant from the Quimby Family Foundation.  The grant money allowed us to purchase a new light board (controller and dimmers), increase the available power (so the full capability of the new equipment can be realized), install new lamps in all the lights (most of the lamps were well-past their rated life), purchase some new lights and build risers for the audience.

Every seat is a good one!

New Surry Theatre is starting its 38th season this year - we hope to see you at our shows!

I strongly encourage anyone who likes Charles Dickens’ tale A Christmas Carol to see NST’s special holiday presentation of it.  I’ve seen this classic several times, done different ways (traditional, avante garde, etc.) and I like the Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Winters readings of it.  NST’s production is more like the latter.  Veteran actor Tim Pugliese (directed by Shari John) plays ALL the parts, walking about a fairly plain stage, switching back and forth from character to character, each with a different accent, intonation, pitch, etc.  At times it seems there’s half-a-dozen people on the stage (including the narrator) and in the mind of the audience, there really is.  It’s very entertaining and showcases Tim’s great talent.  Highly recommended.  It’s on at the Blue Hill Town Hall Theater for one more weekend (Dec. 18,19 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 3 p.m.)

NST has decided to add a special show to its season in May 2010: La Cage Aux Folles.  This was made into the famous movie “The Birdcage” (starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman, among others.)  The musical centers on the confusion that ensues when the son of a Saint Tropez night club owner and his gay lover brings his fiancée’s ultra conservative parents for dinner.  It will be produced at the Grand in Ellsworth.  We’ll talk more about it in the future.  Anyone interested in acting (there’s a big chorus!), contact Bill Raiten.  See www.newsurrytheatre.org for details.

Best Holiday Wishes to everyone.

NST has had an interesting project developing over the past year or so.  Resident playwright Rick Doyle approached us with an idea for a play.  A group of us worked with him in Scene Study class in autumn 2008 to develop the characters and dialog.  We would read the scene, discuss with Rick, then he would rewrite the dialog, and so on.  The initial work was presented as a scene about a year ago during Theater Arts Week 2008.  The story is about a Maine family and how they are being impacted by the shutdown of the paper mill in their town.

Rick continued to work on the play (with director Bill Raiten’s input) and it is now two full scenes.  I don’t think he knows if he wants to write more or not: it could actually stand alone as it is now.  (It’s almost 1-1/2 hrs. long at this time.)  Everyone involved agreed that this was one of the most interesting theater experiences they’ve ever had.  For Rick, he saw his words and ideas brought to life on the stage.  For the actors and director, we’ve never had the chance to work with the playwright directly.  Usually the director has his/her own interpretation of the feelings and emotions that the playwright wants to convey to the audience.  In this case, the playwright is at the rehearsals and we could ask him exactly what he wanted!  And he was receptive to our ideas!  We would like to make working with a Maine Playwright an annual event.  We think we can provide a good outlet for Maine writers.

There is a workshop production of Too Good To Be True on Friday November 20 and Saturday November 21 at 7:00 p.m.  Admission is just $10 and there will be a discussion with the audience, actors, playwright and director afterwards (that’s the “workshop” part).  This is not a lightweight play: it’s the type of thing that Arthur Miller might write.  There is strong language used.  This production has been partially supported by a grant from the Maine Community Foundation.  Please try to attend - we’d love to see you there.

Actually, this performance is part of NST’s Theater Arts Week: on Tuesday 11/17/09 there’s a scene from Arthur Miller’s The Price being presented (scene study and director’s class.)  On Wednesday 11/18/09 there’s a performance by Bill Raiten’s Truth In Acting class, on Thursday 11/19/09 there’s a show by the Musical Vocals class (with instructor Abigail Greene.)  These three shows are free admission!  And there’s still a chance to audition for The Threepenny Opera on Sunday 11/22/09 at 4:00 p.m.  There’s lots going on so please try to attend!

Hi All, 

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