Fort Findlay Playhouse Established October 13, 1954 Incorporated April 22, 1955 300 W Sandusky St Findlay, Ohio 45840 419-423-7168 Website: www.fortfindlayplayhouse.org Facebook: The Fort Findlay Playhouse (FFP)

FFP Board of Trustees Term Ends President: Samantha Henry slynnffp@gmail.com 2020 V.President: Patrick Davis sancho_43402@yahoo.com 2019 Secretary: Megan Meyer megan.falter@gmail.com 2018 Treasurer: Wes Taylor wataylor@woh.rr.com 2018 Andrew Conway Conwaya461@gmail.com 2019 Lori Foster Baldwin130@aol.com 2018 m James Foust one_and_2halfmen@hotmail.com 2020 Rob Stauffer rob091008@gmail.com 2020 Casey Wurm casey.rebal@gmail.com 2019

Other Contacts FFP Patrons: ffppatrons@gmail.com FFP Webmaster: jaysmith@fortfindlay.com

Meetings Board: 1st Wednesday of the month General Membership: 4th Wednesday of the month (If a meeting night falls on a final dress: Board meetings are moved to the following Monday, GM meetings aren’t rescheduled)

Fortell Staff Editor: Shirley Nebergall (shirleynebergall@yahoo.com) Proofing: J.R. Smith Show Clip Art: Anne Beekman Photos: Kay Arico, Tom Miller, Facebook Contributors:

Next Issue’s Deadline 5 p.m., Friday, December 15

(Deadline for all issues - 5 p.m. on the 15th of even numbered months)

October 2017

F o r t F i n d l a y P l a y h o u s e T H E F O R T E L L

OCTA Website: www.ohiocommunitytheatre.org

Shirley Nebergall, Editor

Box Office

Fort Findlay Playhouse tickets can be purchased online by going to tickets.fortfindlayplayhouse.org 24/7 during ticket sale dates only. They can also

be purchased by calling the FFP Box Office at 567-525-3636 or in person at the playhouse

(300 W. Sandusky Street) during box office hours. Box Office hours are

Monday - Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Online ticket sales close 2 hours before curtain

on show nights. Available tickets will be sold at the door. House opens 1/2 hour before curtain.)

Cast Announced for Winter Production

This Christmastime, the Fort Findlay Playhouse will offer the comedy The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr., which is loosely based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In a festive mood, the ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society mount an assault on the classic stage version of A Christmas Carol. They enthusiastically portray a dizzying array of characters from the Dickensian favorite (and a few which aren't), while bravely contending with an intrusive PA system and wrap their vocal cords and feet around two show stopping songs. Be warned that this may probably be the worst attempt at a production of A Christmas Carol that you will ever laugh all the way through. The society tries so hard, but fail so hysterically! Director J.R. Smith, producer Casey Wurm, and director’s assistant Rob Stauffer have cast Amy Berger (Mrs. Reece), Samantha Henry (Thelma), Jennifer Denike (Mercedes), Kellie Bibler (Felicity), Justin Duvall (Gordon), and Denise Mojica (The Society’s Pianist) to bring this British farce to life. If you would like to help on a technical crew, contact Casey at casey.rebal@gmail.com. Presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, The Farndale

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FFP Goes to the Hancock County Fair Making it’s third appearance at the fair on Labor Day weekend, the FFP booth was located in booth #49 in the Merchants Building.

Visitors to the booth were treated to pictures and videos of past performances as well as seeing costumes and props. They could also register for our daily and grand prize raffles. Two tickets were given away daily for the FFP productions of Over the River and Through the Woods and Bad Seed. The lucky winners of these tickets were Tina Kelly, Ericka Garver, Erin Gillepsie, Deb Crisplip, Mark Schimmoeller, and Diane Schaller. The grand prize was a patron package for the 2017-2018 season which was won by Ginger Kelbley. Congratulations everyone! A big thank you to George Rustemeyer for all his work and organization and to all the FFP members that took time out of their holiday weekend to work the booth. Those volunteers were: Andrea Adams-Miller, Sheryl Burtch, Laurie Butler, Paula Cook, Dotty Dewulf, Scott Edmonson, Sarah Elizabeth Olesky, Linda England, Juan Flores, m James Foust, Jacob Frost, Bob Henry, Wendy Henry, Samantha Henry, J Ladd, Pat Ladd, Jeff Lee, Joanne Marquart, Tom Miller, Denise Mojica, George Rustemeyer, Rob Stauffer, Jim Toth, Linda Toth, and Casey Wurm. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk to us. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

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Congratulations to the cast and crew of Over the River and Through the Woods

Seated l-r: Ron Dutton, Jonathan Seeberger, Vicki McClurkin, Jim Toth; Standing l-r: Dotty Dewulf, m James Foust, Vashti Larsen, Samantha Henry, Sarah Elizabeth Olesky, Shirley Nebergall

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Bad Seed

Front l-r: Kellie Bibler, Jeff Lee, Zoe Cross-Nelms, Megan Meyer, Andrew Packard, Anne Cross; Back group l-r: Casey Wurm, Paula Cook, Rob Stauffer, George Rustemeyer, Alan Stephens, Janet Wittenmyer, J Ladd, m. James Foust, Aeryn Williams, Emily Crabtree, Samantha Henry, Vickie Garner

Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol will run December 7-10 and 14-16 at the playhouse. The Sunday performance begins at 5 p.m.; all other performances begin at 8 p.m. The house opens 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Benefactors and Angels may make ticket arrangements beginning Monday, November 20, and Patrons and Single Patrons on Tuesday, November 21. General public tickets go on sale November 27 and are $12.

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How to Suceed in Business Without Really Trying November 3 - 11

Oregon Community Theatre - Oregon www.oregoncommunitytheatre.org

419-691-1398

Godspell November 3 - 12

Harlequins, Inc. - Sandusky www.harlequinstheatre.org

419-621-1311

The Rocky Horror Show November 4

Stone Productions - Toledo www.facebook.com/StoneProductions2015/

419-450-1183

First Date November 9 - 12

Cutting Edge Theatre Company - Toledo www.cuttingedgetheatre.org

419-494-4814

Antigone November 9 - 12

University of Findlay - Findlay www.findlay.edu

419-423-2787 (marathoncenterarts.org)

Betrayal November 10 - 18

Village Players - Toledo www.thevillageplayers.org

419-472-6817

Once Upon a Mattress November 16 - 19

Waterville Playshop - Waterville www.watervilleplayshop.org

419-270-1204

The Night Before Christmas - The Musical November 17 - 18

Williams County Community Theatre - Bryan www.williamscountycommunitytheatre.com

419-636-6400

A Christmas Carol November 24 - December 3

Amil Tellers of Dramatics - Lima www.amiltellers.org

800-944-1441

It's A Wonderful Life November 30 - December 10

Van Wert Civic Theatre - Van Wert www.vwct.org 419-238-9689

What to see in the Northwest Region and other local theaters

Northwest Region Delegates Meeting

November 11, 2017 - 10 a.m.

3B Costumes, LLC

217 Mechanic St., Waterville, Ohio 43566

Let me know if you are interested in going. Shirley Nebergall, OCTA Delegate

(shirleynebergall@yahoo.com)

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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever December 1 - 3

Black Swamp Players - Bowling Green www.blackswampplayers.org

bsplayer@wcnet.org - subject line "tickets"

Elf The Musical Jr December 1 - 3

Crawford Theatre Co. - Bucyrus www.crawfordtheatrecompany.com

419-563-4481

A Christmas Carol December 1 - 3

Toledo Repertoire Theatre (Main Stage) - Toledo www.toledorep.org 419-243-9277

Happy Hollandaise December 1 - 10

Archbold Community Theatre, Inc. - Archbold www.archboldcommunitytheatre.com

419-264-5717

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat December 1 - 10

Bucyrus Little Theatre - Bucyrus www.bucyruslittletheatre.com

419-562-0731

Plaid Tidings December 1 - 10

Fremont Community Theatre – Fremont www.fremontcommunitytheatre.org

419-332-0695

Fruitcakes December 1 - 10

Playmakers Civic Theatre - Port Clinton www.pcplaymakers.org

419-734-5044

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)! December 1 - 10

Williams County Community Theatre - Bryan www.williamscountycommunitytheatre.com

419-636-6400

Songs for a New World December 7 - 8

Perrysburg Musical Theatre - Perrysburg www.perrysburgmusicaltheatre.org use email

We Wish You a Broadway Christmas December 11 - 12

Waterville Playshop - Waterville www.watervilleplayshop.org

419-270-1204

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University of Findlay Orientation Service Project In August, during the University of Findlay orientation

weekend, new students, along with faculty and staff of the university, volunteer at many local non-profit agencies, churches, and schools. The Orientation Service Project introduces all first-year students to the community while meeting the local community’s needs at the same time. This year, there were a total of 584 first-year U of F students and 98 project leaders participating in the project. These students served in 47 non-profit organizations in Findlay and Hancock County. Director of Service and Community Engagement for the University, Crystal Weitz explained the importance of this event. “The Office of Service and Community Engagement links UF to the local community through beneficial service projects. We believe that learning through service will benefit the individual as well as the community in lasting ways.” August 19

th was the 14

th annual Orientation Service Project for the

University and the 11th year that FFP benefited from this day.

Thirteen UF students spent the day at FFP helping with various projects. Their activities included yard work, painting, costume organizing, document scanning, set building, and general clean up. We are very pleased to have their help each year. Tom Miller organized the day and FFP people leading the students were Samantha Henry, Aeryn Williams and Jeff Lee.

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Congratulations to the cast and crew of Seussical Jr. Director: Julie Lane, assistant stage direction and choreography: Kristina Pritchard and Lindsay Taylor, technical Direction: Isaac Steinhour, musical direction: Zach Thomas and Erica Bickhart, makeup design: Marsha Steffan, costume design: Debra Searls, and producer: Craig VanRenterghem

Condolences to… … Linda Toth and family on the passing of her mother, Lucille Mae Woodward on August 25th.

Congratulations to…

… Tara and Kyle Slagley on the birth of their daughter Margo Evangeline who arrived about 5 weeks early, but is now home and all are doing well. She weighed in at a mere 5 lbs, 1 oz and was 19” long. … Maggie Hardesty and Kristian Cunningham who were married on October 14. … Kylie Rose who was a princess on the Findlay High School homecoming court. … Andrew Conway, who played Dawson in the Bucyrus Little Theatre’s production of It Was a Dark

and Stormy Night. … Patrick Davis, who played Dr. Scott in the 3B Productions musical, The Rocky Horror Show. … Jim Toth on his premiere production of Death at Haversham Manor at The Inn on the campus of Ohio Northern University. Playhouse regulars involved in the production were Andrew Conway, Lori Foster, John Garner and Kedryn Roether. ... Paula Cook who is the musical director for the Ten Mile Creek Theater Company’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. This will be performed December 15-16 at the McCord Road Christian Church in Sylvania.

OCTA 2017-2018 Board Executive Board: President: Jesse Bernal (NW) jessebernal@hotmail.com 1st Vice President (Programming): Wayne Kirsch (SW) kirschwe@earthlink.net 2nd Vice President (MM/PR): Susan Metz-Guthrie (SE) 3rd Vice President (Fund Raising): Kate Charlesworth-Miller (C) Secretary: Susan Barzda (SE) suebarzda@gmail.com Administrative Assistant: Aara Wise (C) OCTA1953@gmail.com 2018 Conference Chairs: Susan Barzda (SE) suebarzda@gmail.com, Susan Botdorf (SE), Christi Thomas (W) clthomas@woh.rr.com, John Falkenbach (W) jfalkenbach@cs.com Immediate Past President (Admin): Dawna Kornick (NE) drkornick@att.net Northwest At-Large Members: Grant Perry, Michelle Johnson: msjcatmom@gmail.com, Joe Barton: jbarton@msn.com

“The Magic Show” (OCTA 2017 Do you Believe?) By Shirley Nebergall, FFP’s OCTA Delegate

“The Magic Show” (OCTA 2017 Do you Believe?) was the theme for this year’s Ohio Community Theater Association annual conference. Thespians from Ohio and beyond gathered over the Labor Day weekend in Worthington, Ohio, at the Crowne Plaza North. This year’s festivities began differently than in the past because of the elimination of the OCTA JR excerpts. The expenses and scheduling problems for these young thespians make it difficult for them to participate in the state festivities. They still have their own festival and awards (see article in August Fortell), they just don’t present the top two excerpts at state. So this year’s OCTA festivities began with a wine tasting, a beer tasting, a responder training class and, in keeping with the theme, a professional psychic medium . There were 378 people registered for the weekend with 131 of those being first-time attendees. They could watch 14 excerpts invited to perform at state from the 32 presented at the six regionals held over the course of the summer. After each excerpt, a panel of three adjudicators gave three-minute critiques to each cast and crew. These critiques often include ways that could possibly improve the production. The excerpts can also give a look into plays and musicals that theaters might want to see performed in their local theater. This year attendees were treated to comedies, dramas, and musicals. When not watching the excerpts, there were also seven different workshops that could be attended in addition to the weekend long responder training program. During the annual meeting on Saturday, board members and delegates voted to change the name of the Finance Division to Fundraising Division, were introduced to those running for the board, and board elections were held.

During the evening hours there was an MTI sing-a-long, games, parties and, of course, time to catch up with OCTA friends. On Sunday evening there was a banquet, a magic show, lip sync costume contest, and games.

At the Monday breakfast buffet, awards were presented for all areas of theater. FFP’s season brochure was given an Excellence in Overall Design (Lindsay Taylor and Betty Hipp patron chairs) and our production of Other Desert Cities received an Excellence in Lighting Design for Julie Lane, and Excellence in Lighting Execution for Jordan Gottschalk and Vashti Larson. The playhouse’s website received awards for Outstanding in Website Functionality, Outstanding in Website Design, Outstanding in Website Content, Outstanding in Website

Originality, Excellence in Website Professionalism and Effectiveness and Outstanding in Overall Website. The website was created and is maintained by J.R. Smith. In my role as Fortell editor, I received awards for Outstanding in Writing and Overall Quality, Outstanding in Masthead Design and Layout, Excellence in Use of Graphics and Photography, Excellence in OCTA News and 1

st Place Overall Newsletter

Design. FFP’s production of The Minister’s Wife received awards for Merit in Set Design ( Aeryn Williams), Merit in Supporting Ensemble (Elizabeth Orley and Dan Stanowick), Merit in Vocal Performance as James (Seth Carey), Merit in Musical Theatre Performance as Candida (Samantha Henry), Excellence in Costumes (Samantha Henry and Elizabeth Orley) and Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Eugene (Tyler Strayer). Tyler graciously served as a substitute actor as Eric Hertenstein was unavailable Labor Day weekend. Congratulations to all the award winners.

Those representing FFP over the weekend were: Jeff Bury, Seth Carey, Tom Carey, Andrew Conway, Paula Cook, Desra Dabney, Jordan Gottschalk, Bob Henry, Samantha Henry, Zachary Huffman, Julie Lane, Vashti Larsen, David and Kim Marquart, Jeff and Megan Meyer, Tom Miller, Shirley Nebergall, Dan Orley, Elizabeth Orley, Caity Paynich, George Rustemeyer, Dan Stanowick, Tyler Strayer, Wes Taylor, Zachary Thomas, Jim and Linda Toth, Aeryn Williams, Kristen Wilson, and Seth and Casey Wurm. The finale of the luncheon on Monday was the presentation of the theme for the 2017 state conference. Conference will again be held in Columbus Ohio at the Columbus Crown Plaza North over the Labor Day weekend (August 31 – September 3). The theme is “OCTA Rocks” celebrating the years 1953-1965 and is hosted by the Southeast and West Regions. OCTA is trying to have conferences more centrally located to avoid any theater having to travel 4-5 hours just to attend which why it will be located in the same hotel as this year. There will be lots to look forward to, so dig out your poodle skirt and bobby socks, pack your pjs and make plans now to be in Columbus next Labor Day weekend. Looking further ahead, the 2019 state conference will be hosted by the Northwest Region. Many volunteers will be needed so watch for information as the time draws closer. The theme and location will be announced at next year’s conference.

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2017-2018 NW Regional Reps

Lead Rep: Mitchell Antesky: bumrrr@gmail.com

Harley Antesky: boyharly@hotmail.com Millie Butts: millieb1962@aol.com

Derek Daniel: derekdaniel4991@gmail.com Karen Finn: ksfinn@earthlink.net

Sara Ledzianowski: sledzian@toast.net Jaymes Mull: stoneproductions2015@gmail.com

Jason Neymeiyer: jasonn1979@gmail.com

Facebook: OCTA's Northwest Region 2018 Regional: June 8-10 - Owens Community College Website: www.octanorthwest.com Center for Fine and Performing Arts Email: octanorthwest@gmail.com 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551

LOOKING AHEAD (all events take place at FFP unless otherwise noted)

Board Meeting Wed., November 1 7:30 p.m. OCTA NW Delegate’s meeting Sat., November 11 10:00 a.m. 3B Costumes, LLC; Waterville, Ohio Tickets for The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of “A Christmas Carol”

Benefactors & Angels Mon., November 20 567-525-3636 Patrons & Single Patrons Tue., November 21 Mon. - Wed. General Public Mon., November 27 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. General Membership Meeting - cancelled Wed., November 22 7:30 p.m. (due to Thanksgiving holiday)

Board Meeting - Note: moved to Monday Mon., December 11 7:30 p.m. (due to final dress rehearsal)

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Thu. - Sat., December 7-9, 14-16 8:00 p.m. Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of “A Christmas Carol” Sun. December 10 5:00 p.m.

Fortell Deadline Fri., December 15 5:00 p.m. General Membership Meeting Wed., December 27 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting Wed., January 3 7:30 p.m. Auditions Lend me a Tenor Sun. - Mon., January 14-15 7:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting Wed., January 24 7:30 p.m. Tickets for Lend Me a Tenor Benefactors & Angels Mon., February 5 567-525-3636 Patrons & Single Patrons Tue., February 6 Mon. - Wed. General Public Mon., February 12 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Board Meeting Wed., February 7 7:30 p.m. OCTA NW Delegate’s meeting Sat., February 10 10:00 a.m. Anthony Wayne Community Center; Waterville, Ohio Fortell Deadline Thu., February 15 5:00 p.m. Lend Me a Tenor Thu. - Sat., February 22-24, March 1-3 8:00 p.m. Sun. February 25 5:00 p.m Auditions Anything Goes Mon. - Tue., February 26-27 7:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting Wed., February 28 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting Wed., March 7 7:30 p.m.

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