HAYLOFT HAPPENINGS/ JANUARY 2010

            79 years is a long time.  I don’t think that when Doc Newell started holding meetings in his hayloft with a group of want-to-be thespians, that group would have dreamed that 79 years later their newly formed Haylofters would still be in existence!  Yet, here we still are.  We, as a group, have had many ups and downs, but I have to say, I think this season, a season of musicals, will be one of our greatest ups! 

         Here is the reason I am so proud of what’s coming:  Our spring show will be the emotional, mature and moving musical “Baby” (directed by Don Fresen), the story of 3 couples expecting a baby.  Auditions will be held March 15 at 7 PM at the theater.  Production dates will be April 29 - 30, May 1, 7 – 9 and 14 – 16.  Our summer musical will be “State Fair”, the funny story of the Frake family finding love and adventure at the Iowa state fair.  Songs like “It Might As Well Be Spring” came from this classic show.  Auditions for this show (directed by Don Fresen) will be held on May 24 & 25 at 7 PM at the theater.  Production dates will be July 14 – 17, 22 – 25 and July 29 - 31, August 1.  The final “regular” season show in fall (directed by Pamela Schroeder) will be the Tony award winning, crazy musical farce “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.  Auditions will be held on August 30 at 6:30 PM at the theater.  Production dates will be: October 7 – 9, 15 – 17 and 22 - 24. 

     The Young Haylofters play will be “101 Dalmatians”, the rollicking Disney musical about a wicked lady and some very cute dogs (directed by Julie Busch and student director, Brendan Haglund).  Auditions will be June 14 at 1 PM & June 15 at 10 AM at the theater.  Production dates will be:  August 12 – 15 and 19 – 22.  A possible Bonus show is in the works for November 2010, but, as usual, look for any updates here in the monthly “Happenings”.

As previously noted, the Haylofters are in their 79^th year of existence and that hasn’t happened by accident.  We, here at the ‘Loft, offer a great product for a minimal price.  We are offering our season ticket package for the great price of $30 a ticket (if purchased before April 15).  Your season ticket allows you to see three great “regular” season shows, all musicals, (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.  If you purchased these tickets individually, it would cost you $36 (musicals cost $12/show due to higher expense of production).  Another way to help us and yourself at the same time is to become a Patron of the Haylofters.  The Haylofters are licensed as a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, so your donation is also a tax deduction and, at the $150 level, you will receive 2 complimentary season tickets.  Learn more about season tickets and patron donations by calling the theater at (262) 763-9873 or, if you choose, send us a check for your season tickets/patron donation. Our address is Haylofters, P.O. Box 164 , Burlington , WI , 53105 .  Another way of helping us is to consider becoming active in some way.  Memberships are available at $25 for a family membership or $15 for a single membership.  We always need people – whether to help us backstage, with props, costuming, acting or crew – this is how the theater continues to run!  Remember, that you are the reason that our doors remain open after 79 years.

            The first of our annual general meetings will be a trip to the Burlington High School musical, “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”.  The Haylofters’ group will be going to the play on Thursday, March 25, at 7:00 PM.  Prices have not yet been decided, but I will update you and give you contact information on this event in February.  Please consider joining us for this fun event.  I would also like to make all of you aware that CCHS will be performing the rollicking “Footloose” this year.   The play dates are:  February 19 - 21 and February 25 – 27 (evening performances will be at 7:30 PM and the Sunday matinee will be at 2 PM).  Tickets, priced at $12.50 (adults) & $8 (kids under 12), will be sold at the CCHS ticket booth in Topper Hall at the school starting at 8 AM on February 3.  The performance on February 25 is Senior’s Night and senior citizen tickets will cost $8.  On February 4, you can purchase general tickets via email at rtadeo@cchsnet.org .  A dinner theater performance will be held on Saturday, February 20, and will cost $48 for the dinner and show.  Tickets for the dinner theater can be purchased at the ticket booth or by emailing Mary Coppernoll at mcoppernoll@stmb.org on February 4.  If you have any questions about “Footloose”, please call CCHS.

Our good friends at the Veteran’s Terrace also have an exciting upcoming event of which you should all be aware.  I was excited to hear that they will be holding their first ever fundraiser for the Terrace with a wonderful concert featuring America ’s Favorite Cowboys, The Riders in the Sky!  This group has a nationwide following because of their wonderful vocal and instrumental abilities.  They have recorded 30 albums of the finest Western music.  This event is sure to be wholesome family entertainment at its very finest!  Tickets are priced at $40 and are available at the First Banking Center , the Daily Brew Coffee House, Sentry and Gooseberries.  Tickets will also be available on line at www.veteransterrace.com .The concert date is Wednesday, March 24, at 7 PM.  Doors will open at 5:30 PM, with a cash bar available.  Seating will be open, so come early to get a good seat!  There will be an autograph signing/mercantile store following the show.  Put this date on your calendar and be sure to see this wonderful show!  

                                                Phyllis Hartwick