Is it possible that Thanksgiving is next Thursday and Christmas right around the corner?  You say you have turkey yet to stuff and gifts yet to buy?  Stressed yet?  Sorry about the stuffing part, but I can help with a great suggestion for a wonderful Holiday or Christmas gift.  A gift certificate to the 2012 season of the Haylofters is great way to give a much appreciated gift. 

 

We are offering our season ticket gift certificate for the great price of $30.  A season ticket allows you to see three great “regular” season shows (our spring, summer and fall shows) and gives you first chance at the sometimes hard to get tickets before they become available to the general public.  This seems like a great stocking stuffer to me and a great deal as well!  If you want more information about purchasing a gift certificate for season tickets, call Mary Skwierawski, our ticket maven, at (262)763-3296.  Gift certificates are a wonderful way to both give a great gift at Christmas (or for whatever event you choose) as well as to help your community theater! (Season tickets are also available online for $31.25; includes Paypal fee. Click the ticket tab above).

 

Excitement is in the air!  Our bi-annual “Winter Cabaret” is back again!  Don’t you just love Christmas concerts, plays and music?  Well, this year, you can hear music and also see a play!  Directors Christy Heinzelmann and T.C. DeWitt have a wonderful show planned for everyone with their upcoming “Winter Cabaret”.  I can tell you that it promises to be a very fun event that’s sure to set your feet tapping, your mouth humming and your mind transported into the Christmas spirit.  Production dates for the Winter Cabaret will be November 26 - 27, December 2 – 4 (Friday & Saturday at 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM).  Tickets cost just $5 and are available at the Grater Tater ( 140 W. Chestnut St., Burlington), on-line at www.thehaylofters.com (until 24 hours prior to each show) for a slightly higher price, and at the concession stand on the night of the event (pending availability).  

You ask if we will be doing any more plays before Spring.  Yes, I say!  Imagine this:  the Haylofters will be working closely with Plymouth Congregational Church in Burlington .  For the first time ever, we will be joining forces with these good folks to produce a wonderful bonus show for the 2012 season!  What show, you ask.  Ahem, ahem!  We are pleased to announce that we will be presenting “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on February 3 – 5 and 10 – 12.  Tickets for this exciting event will be priced at $12 and will be available in January at the Grater Tater and on-line.  Auditions for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will be held at the Malt House Theater on Sunday, December 18 for children aged 5 – 13 (for the Children’s choir) between 1 – 3 PM.  Adults will get their turn to audition that same day from 3 – 5 PM and also on Monday, December 19 at 7 PM.  All auditioners should be prepared to sing a prepared piece of music (accompanist will be provided) and adults can also expect to learn some simple dance movement.

 Did I mention that we will be having an amazing new season in 2012?  I did already tell about our first show, a bonus show, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, but I didn’t announce the others.  Well, here they are:  With much pride we announce that our Spring show will be the delightful Noel Coward comedy “Blithe Spirit”.  Production dates for this show will be April 26 – 28, May 4 – 6, 11 – 13.  Auditions will be held on March 11 & 12.  Our summer musical will be the World Premier of “The Princess Knight”.  Production dates will be July 12 – 15, 19 – 22, 26 – 29.  Auditions will be held on May 21 & 22.  Our fall show will be the musical comedy “Trailer Park”.  Production dates will be October 4 – 6, 12 – 14, 19 – 21.  Auditions for this show will be August 20 & 21.  The Young Haylofters’ production will be “Mulan” (pending availability).  Production dates will be August 9 – 12, 16 – 19.  Auditions will be held on June 11 & 12.  As always, look for more information about these exciting shows in future additions of Happenings.

 

Do you want to do a wonderful thing for your community theater and have fun at the same time?  We are looking for a few great people or businesses to sponsor each of our shows.  Sponsorship offers positive publicity for any sponsoring group by prominently featuring their business in all our ads, posters and playbills while helping us maintain our community theater program.  Sponsorship (dependant on the level) will also offer a performance with a wine & cheese event at intermission!  This is a great way to treat your customers or employees to a memorable event.  If your business is interested in sponsoring a play or would just like more information about this very valuable program, call Phyllis at (262) 763-9395.

 

Our annual meeting (and general/board meeting for December) will be held on Thursday, December 15 at 6:30 PM.  This meeting is open to anyone interested in our theater.  During the meeting, we will have a short business meeting where we will hold elections for board positions, review and vote on approval of Bylaw revisions as well as have a dessert/appetizer potluck (you are invited to bring a dessert/appetizer to pass).  Drinks will be provided.  We will once again be holding our world famous white elephant gift exchange. 

 

If you come, and would like to participate in our gift exchange, please bring a wrapped white elephant gift to be shared with your fellow Haylofters.  The evening will also include Bill Corey’s amazing karaoke. 

 

 Two positions on the board will be voted on during the meeting.  The terms for these positions will be three years.  The two board members whose terms are ending are Don Fresen and Jennie King.  These board members have the right to run for re-election.  If you are a paid member of the Haylofters and would also like to add your name to the group of people running for the board, please call Lenore Swoboda (262-763-8602) or email her at lenoreswoboda@gmail.com. by November 30. 

 

If you choose not to run for the board, are a member and are interested in voting, please come to the annual meeting to cast your vote (if you have a single membership, you have 1 vote, a family membership, you and your partner have a total of 2 votes).  If you are a member, want to vote and cannot be at the December 15 meeting, please either call Lenore or email her by December 14 with your vote.  This election (and any future election) is important because the people on the board will be guiding the Hayloft through any possible changes to our much loved community theater.  Also, a vote will be taken on whether to approve the revisions to our Bylaws.  Again, only members may participate in this revision vote.  Bylaws will be on display for perusal in the lobby of the theater during the run of the “Winter Cabaret”.

Happenings will be on hiatus until January so until then, have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!

 

Your Hayloft Treasurer,

 

Phyllis Hartwick