Wednesday & Thursday, January 8th and 9th at 7 pm at Windham Middle School
Two men and two women in their forties are needed to bring this bitterly comic, powerhouse piece of theatre to life. It is the winner of the 2009 Tony award for Best Play, and was adapted into a movie in 2011. Following a playground fight between two boys, their parents meet to discuss the incident. But a rational discussion among adults quickly devolves into a childish evening of name-calling, tears and tantrums. Each of the characters reminds us of someone we know and offers a tremendous acting opportunity.
Laura LaCour returns as director for this March production which will run for just four performances on March 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2014. For more information, contact Laura at
shankstress@yahoo.com. We hope to see you there!
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2014 Windham Theatre Guild Broadway Chorus
It’s that time of the year when the Windham Theatre Guild Broadway Chorus is gearing up for another terrific concert. For this year we have chosen music from 4 terrific Broadway shows that span 70 years of Broadway excellence. From Rodgers and Hart’s ‘Babes In Arms’ we have chosen songs that have become pop standards including ‘Where or When, ‘My Funny Valentine’, ‘I Wish I Were In Love Again’, ‘Johnny One Note’, and ‘The Lady Is A Tramp’. Irving Berlin’s classic ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ provides us with fantastic familiar tunes including ‘I Got The Sun In The Morning’, ‘Anything You Can Do’, and ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’. Fun songs from the terrific ‘60’s smash hit ‘Sweet Charity’ include ‘Big Spender’, ‘The Rhythm Of Life’, and ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’. And the magnificent songs of Elton John and Tim Rice from ‘The Lion King’ will send your spirits soaring with selections including ‘Circle Of Life, Shadowland’, ‘He Lives In You’, and ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’! There is no doubt that this show will delight both singers and audiences alike.
Our Musical Directors, Larry Goodwin and Dan Pavone will be joined by accompanist Jason Phillips for this year’s exciting show. And you can be a part of the great Broadway Chorus tradition at WTG. There are no try-outs to become a member of our chorus. All you need is the $35 fee for the music (which you keep), the desire to have a great time singing, and be at least 16 years of age. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays starting on January 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 at the Windham Middle School Band Room. Our performances will be on April 25 & 26 at the Burton Leavitt Theatre. Come and join the fun! To join, please complete the attached registration form.
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Message from the President
Dear Supporter,
Thank you for the amazing year that we have had at our community theatre, The Burton Leavitt Theatre on Main Street in Willimantic. The Windham Theatre Guild produced 9 plays, an adult Broadway Chorus, and a Children’s Chorus. Many, many actors and singers performed under the direction of 12 directors, with a varied bunch of characters providing backstage and technical support; all volunteers except for the small stipend given to musicians and an occasional choreographer.
We are also getting better as we grow as an organization. We are achieving our goal of being a place where people learn the tools of theatre and where people can meet, converse and enjoy the community we live in. We are expanding opportunities for children to participate.
We passed our tenth anniversary and made plans for the future. We are working with the Office of the Arts in the State Department of Economic and Community Development in a coordinated effort to create Place making Opportunities which encourage and support new and current businesses through the use of the arts. We are reaching out to other organizations and the town in an effort to work together in creating new places for people to gather, enjoy each other, and to foster economic growth.
Increased activity has required increasing our Board of Directors to 15, expanding our Play Reading, Fund Raising, and Membership Committees, training new staff, and reaching out for more community participation. We invite you to come and join us in a capacity you feel comfortable with. The more the merrier.
Financially we bravely faced a series of crises with the heating and cooling system. As part of our lease we are responsible for the maintenance of the building and we continue to work hard to live up to our obligations. Our key sponsor, landlord and the supporter that makes this theatre possible, the Savings Institute, has helped with business advice. When we decided to take the dramatic step to replace the very old heat/air conditioning units because they were driving us out of business, we knew not how to pay for it. The Savings Institute Bank and Trust stepped forward with a non-interest loan and a freeze in future rent increases. We will pay back the loan over ten years with an addition to our monthly rent payment; a financial plan which again illustrates the commitment of the Savings Institute to ours and other communities in their role as a local bank. We are grateful for the advice and help of Rheo Brouillard of the Savings Institute who offered us this opportunity.
For the second year in a row the Savings Institute and Foster Foundation have pledged to match an amount of $10,000 for a Maintenance Fund for the theatre. Last year this fund kept us alive in paying for repairs of the two old units. This year the fund, if filled will secure the loan payments for the new units while we continue with our program.
Unfortunately, with only 10 days to go until midnight December 31, our Maintenance Fund is only at $5,827. This is a full $4,173 short of what we need to adhere to our financial plan for the theatre which included the match from the Savings Institute and Foster Foundation, for a total short fall of $8,346 in our budget. If only 84 supporters would donate $50 each or 168 donated $25 each, we would raise the $8,346.
As you plan your tax deductions for the end of the year, we hope that you will consider the efforts of so many volunteers and their countless hours and make a donation. In thanks we will include your name in a program list of “December Angels”, for like an angel you will have come to our aid in saving and promoting the theatre for our community. If you would like to make a donation, please mail a check to WTG, PO Box 802, Willimantic, CT 06226 or call the office at
860-423-2245 to use a credit card.
In any case, writing for everyone at the WTG, it has been our privilege at the theatre to serve this community in this facility the past 10 years. Have a great holiday season!
Sincerely,
Victor Funderburk, President/Artistic Director
Windham Theatre Guild
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Giant Indoor Tag Sale
Saturday, January 18, 2014, 9:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Burton Leavitt Theatre, 779 Main Street
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! START YOUR SPRING CLEANING TODAY AND DONATE THOSE UNWANTED ITEMS TO OUR TAG SALE!!
DROP OFF ITEMS TO BE SOLD AT 779 MAIN STREET ON:
Saturday, January 11, 2014 Sunday, January 12, 2014
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
NO ELECTRONICS, COMPUTERS, EXERCISE EQUIPMENT OR CLOTHING
For More Info Call 423-2245
SNOW DATE JANUARY 25, 2014
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