dhctstage site updated

Gosh its quiet around here..

I updated the dhctstage website finally. A week later than planned. Stuff happens, its Christmas time. Check it out, let me know what you think.

Also can someone get me the final official cast list of Stepping Out? I don't think I have an up to date version. I want to post the cast on the site.

"Stepping Out" Props / Costumes

Currently there are 3 rubbermaid tubs full of props and miscellaneous costumes for "Stepping Out" in the prop room. Please do not touch them or move them- we are trying to keep our collection growing and utilize things as we get them.

Thank you!
Carissa...The Producer

Rehearsal Schedule

Here is the schedule for Stepping Out rehearsals for this week.

Of course, board members are always welcome to come and see our incredible progress and AMAZING dancing!

Tuesday, November 18 7:30 pm
Thursday, November 20 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 22 12:00 pm

The cast is having a great time learning the dances and doing blocking for Act One. This show is going to be a riot to be in -- and watch!

Attention All Giftwrappers!!!!

As every year, the DATA organization is sponsoring gift wrapping days at both Borders (on Mercury Drive in Dearborn) and Barnes & Noble (Fairlane Green, Allen Park). As always, we would like some show of support from our group. I normally go and wrap, but I am unsure what I am doing this holiday season and am not sure if I'll be in town at all. Please consider the following dates, times and locations and let me know if I can put any of you down to help. Each time slot is for two hours.

Friday, December 19th- Borders
11am to 1 pm
1 pm to 3 pm

Sunday, December 21st- Barnes & Noble
9 am to 11 am
11 am to 1 pm
1 pm to 3 pm
1 pm to 3 pm
3 pm to 5 pm
5 pm to 7 pm

Monday, December 22nd- Borders
5 pm to 7 pm
7 pm to 9 pm

Tuesday, December 23rd- Barnes & Noble
11 am to 1 pm
1 pm to 3 pm
3 pm to 5 pm
5 pm to 7 pm
7 pm to 9 pm

Please let me know as soon as possible if any of these dates and times interest you so that I can mark us down. Thank you in advance for helping during the busy holiday season!

~Carissa

Rehearsal tonight!

Just reminding everyone that there is a rehearsal tonight at 7pm at Berwyn. Can't wait to see you there!

Read-through Reminder

Just a reminder, our first read-through will be tomorrow, Thursday November 6 at 7:30pm. We'll be reading at Berwyn.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

Website revamp

So, the website sucks right now. As Brian started this trend of owning up to things, I will own up to this and say its completely and totally my fault. It was sort of a half-vision. I started it and got sidetracked and never finished. If you are curious, take a look at the website thru the years:

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.dhctstage.org/

In 4 years, we've tried some different things. The 4 main people working on the site were Me (Jerry Kondraciuk), Catherine Parkins, Allison Walentowicz & Cynthia Frabutt. Some worked and some didn't. But I don't think any of them had a "WoW" factor about them. Not that we need a wow factor, but we need something to grab their attention to want to click down thru the menus and submenus. Without that, they would just look at the front page and leave. This was one of the reasons why I wanted all the pertinate info on the main page. So, as Cathy pointed out, its more of a Web PAGE now and not a site. She wants the site back. I want the site back too.

So how do you propose we do it?? I'm all ears..

Stepping Out Cast List

Here's our cast list!

Mavis- Nicci Der-Stepanian

Lynne- Jennifer Altimore

Dorothy- Ann Mulligan

Maxine- Cathy Adamkiewicz

Andy- Carissa Madley

Geoffrey- Chase Montgomery

Sylvia- Cayla Kolbusz

Rose- Becky Whyte

Vera- Katherine Lennon

Master of Ceremonies- Aaron Adamkiewicz

Techie- TBA, probably an actual techie or Rachel LaPointe

Mrs Fraser- Dale Godell

Thank you to everyone who spent time at auditions! We're so excited about this cast and we're all looking forward to having a fun time with this show!

Audition Update

So, we had auditions yesterday and today! We had a pretty good turnout and we're working on calling everyone and offering roles. As soon as that's verified we should have a cast list up on here! Keep an eye out over the next 24 hours!

Anyone who is interested in helping out with tech should let me (Rachel) know. We're going to have set builds/paints done around Christmas break time, probably in the week off or early January. We need lots of willing hands! Any teenagers who need service hours for school or elsewhere can talk to me and I'll see if we can fanangle it so the hours they put in will count.

Thanks everyone! Remember, cast list will be up in the next 24 hours or so!

Stepping Out Production Meeting

Hey everyone!

We had a production meeting this evening for Stepping Out and really accomplished a lot!

Just so everyone knows, Rob Martin is directing, Carissa Wallag is producing, Cathryn Ecclestein (I hope I spelled that right!) is assistant director/deck manager, and I'm the stage manager/assistant director.

One of the big things we discussed was publicity for the auditions. They are fast approaching and we really need to get the word out! Flyers are being made and will be distributed to business in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, various universities and colleges as well as other locations. We're looking into getting ads in the Detroit News and Free Press and the Press and Guide (definitely trying for online, if not print as well). If anyone would like a copy of the flyer emailed to them to print/distribute/email to others, comment on this post and let me know, I can get it to you! We also have a Facebook event, so add yourself if you're auditioning or just so you can invite others!

We discussed a lot of elements of the show.

• Costumes are moving along well and we're planning on contacting some other venues that we know have certain costume elements to see if we can borrow/rent them. If we can't borrow a tux and the tails we need, we're thinking about contacting a tuxedo rental place to find out if they can donate/discount rentals. We brought up Miracle Wedding Village, if anyone knows how they worked with us last time, please let us know.
  
• Some props have already been collected and the rest are easy to find/buy/make so we're strong on that front.
• Set wise, we're going to build flats for the main set of the show. They will be movable as the last two scenes occur in a different location. Rob is looking into obtaining some fabric for the last scene as a backdrop.
  
• Technical elements (lights and sound) are in the begining stages of planning. We'll keep you updated on how that goes! But we do realize that this show has several sound effects that have "special needs" so we're going to have to come up with creative ideas to make this work.
  

One of the big things we discussed is getting some volunteers for backstage help. Cayla (Mina from Dracula) is in charge of the Drama program at Crestwood and is looking to get them into the Thespian society. So if the students volunteer and help out we can get them points! We're looking to use them as deck crew memebrs (dressers to help assist the actors as well as crew) and possibly even house staff (selling tickets/concessions, ushering). We're also going to ask them for help when we have set builds (the flats need to be painted and we might need to build a few).

There's a lot of work to be done, but we feel well prepared!

Auditions are Novemeber 1 and 2, from 1-5 pm. Spread the word!

Sound for Dracula

I'm just curious if Bruno did anything special for the sound. I was there for the first half of the final performance and I could hear everything and everyone clearly. I was in the last row stage left.

How many mics were used and what kind were they?? That is definitely what we need.

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