www.THEHAYLOFTERS.COM - February 2010

HAYLOFT HAPPENINGS/ FEBRUARY 2010

            There is an anonymous saying that says that life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting … “What a ride!” This kind of thinking has brought us to our 2010 season. What a ride indeed!

           Our first show out of the gate, “Baby”, a musical, is the story of three couples all expecting a child and their very different responses to the news: we will see a college student couple who are surprised by their pregnancy, a young couple who have had trouble conceiving and an older couple who have three grown children and are not so sure they want more. As we all know, life has a way of throwing us curves at times, and each of these couples experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, the desperate lows and the comic highs that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. This show is suggested for mature audiences only. Auditions for “Baby” will be held at the Malt House Theater on Monday, March 15 at 7 PM. Don Fresen, director, tells me that he would like men and women 16 years or older for the auditions. Auditioners should be prepared to sing a song (a pianist will be provided) and read from the script. Production dates for “Baby” will be April 29 – 30, May 1, 7 – 9, 14 – 16.

           The ride continues with shows like our summer musical, “State Fair”, the funny story of the Frake family finding love and adventure at the Iowa state fair. 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 fall show (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. We will definitely be worn out from this very challenging and engaging ride, but bring it on!

Interested in our other season offerings this year? Our very detailed and informative 2010 brochure will be available soon. Not only will it give information about our wonderful line-up of plays for this year, tell you about season tickets prices ($30 by April 15/$35 afterwards), but it will also explain about how you can become one of the many patrons who help us to continue to provide quality entertainment to the Burlington area.

What’s that you say? You want to help us by becoming a member of the Haylofters. That’s so easy! All you have to do is fill out the form available in our lobby. Single memberships are available for $15 and family memberships for $25. Not only are you helping to support our program by becoming a member, but you will receive $2 (for a single membership) or $4 (for a family membership) off tickets (one time) for each of our regular season shows, if tickets are purchased at the lobby ticket/concession booth.

As always, we are looking for sponsors for our shows. We are excited to announce that Runzheimer International will once again be sponsoring our summer show. Runzheimer International has helped our theater by sponsoring our summer shows since 2006’s “ Oklahoma ”. Thank you Runzheimer for all your support! Also, M & I Bank will once again be sponsoring our fall show. M & I Bank has also been our sponsor since 2006 (“Steel Magnolias”). A big thank you goes out to M & I Bank for all of your support! Wow, it really is great to have such caring and community minded businesses as our sponsors. However, we could still use a sponsor for our spring show, “Baby”. Sponsorship offers positive publicity for your group by prominently featuring your business in all our ads, posters and playbills while helping us maintain our community theater program. If your business is interested in sponsoring our spring play or would just like more information about this very valuable program, call Phyllis at (262) 763-9395.

A quick word for those of you who have asked about our Ad Booklet (the booklet that we stuff all our playbills into – just imagine how many people see those ads!). Ads are available for purchase and the prices are: ¼ page Ad - $50, ½ page Ad - $75, full page Ad - $150. Anyone with interest in purchasing in Ad in our 2010 Ad booklet should call Phyllis at 763-9395. The deadline for ads is March 15.

The first of our annual general meetings will be a trip to the BHS musical, “The Putnam County Spelling Bee”. The Haylofters’ group will be going to the play on Thursday, March 25, at 7:00 PM. Ticket prices will be $5. If you are interested in reserving a ticket to go with our fun group, please call Phyllis Hartwick (me) at 763-9395 or email me at

tophartwick@wi.rr.com

by Wednesday, February 24. Hope to hear from you!

Our good friends at the Veteran’s Terrace also have an exciting upcoming event of which you should all be aware. As I mentioned last month, they will be holding their first ever fundraiser for the Terrace with a wonderful concert featuring America ’s Favorite Cowboys, 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. 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!

Finally, our March board meeting will be held at 101 S. Kane St. in Burlington at 7 PM on Thursday, March 11.

Your Hayloft Treasurer,

Phyllis Hartwick