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Member News Season of Love at Twenty-two..
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The Aldershot Players (TAP) have brought back “sexy” with their 2008/2009 Season of Love. For their 22nd season, TAP has opted to make things a little hot and spicy, according to Scott Broe, outgoing president. Last October the players performed Romantic Comedy by Bernard Slade to sold-out audiences.
This April, TAP’s loyal patrons will continue to experience high energy comedy with Key for Two by John Chapman and Dave Freeman. This is a sexy bedroom romp where, unlike most farces, two females have the lead roles. “We are excited to have Byron McKim directing our spring production,” Scott beams. “Not only is he talented - he has been nominated for a couple of Geminis - but more importantly, his directorial style fits right into the fold.”
The fold to which Scott refers is the “fun fold”. TAP is the kind of community theatre group that accepts everybody and anybody, with or without experience - “as long as they’re fun,” quips Scott. “Fun is our mantra.”
Many talents have made their debuts with TAP, either on the stage, off the stage or back stage. The players are equally well known for the side splitting laughs they bring their audiences as they are for the camaraderie and parties accompanying each show.
“We are the longest running community dinner theatre in the Golden Horseshoe,” Scott says. “Our longevity is supported by a wonderful team of hardworking, hard-playing group of people. Of course, we are always open to welcome new faces. Most of us have day jobs, so any extra pair of hands or legs is warmly received.”
The troupe performs out of West Plains United Church where the space is quite intimate. Although many with TAP also perform at larger venues elsewhere, the vast majority continue to come back again and again. The actors and stage management enjoy the connection with the close-by audience. “And from what we hear from our subscribers, they enjoy the close interaction with the performers as well,” Scott says.
The subscriber base is about 35 per cent of the entire house. TAP has been fortunate in that all shows sell out on a continuous basis. Of course, the group recognizes that there are a few dedicated patrons who bring along 40-60 people for each show.
Recently, about 20 Red Hat Society members descended on TAP in full Red Hat regalia. Along with them came a mascot: a bear with, yes, a red hat. Fortunately for TAP the show was so entertaining that the mascot was left behind in its carry bag. No worries, though. It was returned to its relieved Red Hat owner. “See? Even the mascot knew she’d enjoyed our after-show partying,” Scott smiles. To read more anecdotal stories, please check out Past Productions at the TAP website. Some are quite amusing.
TAP is well underway with planning its 23rd season. After you get your “sexy” back, you’ll be able to… well, they really can’t yet say. Feel free to check out their website for more information: www.thealdershotplayers.com.
Key for Two Production dates:
April 24, 25, May 1, 2, 8, 9: Dinner & Show $35/person
April 30: Show Only $18/person
For tickets call (905) 381-1441
All shows are performed at: West Plains United Church, 549 Plains Rd, Burlington
Ilene Elkaim is an active thespian in Halton, while running Six Dynamix: “retail services behind the seen” (www.sixdynamix.com).
Sue Irmisch’s final curtain has closed...
By
Ellen Wilkes Irmisch
After an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Burlington resident Sue Irmisch-Brown, well known to many of us in the performing arts community, has passed away. Born in Bronte Harbour and growing up with three siblings, she learned the importance of family and community.
Sue married Buffalo native Kneeland “Skip” Irmisch in 1968 and had two children, Ellen and Ian, who have carried on the tradition of performing arts with the Academy of Film and Performing Arts (formerly Sundance Studios, which Sue founded) and The Tartan Terrors. In 1994, Sue married opera singer Maurice Brown, and together they performed at festivals. Sadly, both Skip and Maurice preceded Sue in death from their own battles with leukemia and colon cancer respectively.
Sue’s talent blossomed at an early age, and she began teaching at the age of 14 at Walton United Church. At the age of 21, she became the youngest judge in Canada with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance, and this certification gave her the opportunity to judge throughout Canada, U.S. and the U.K.
Always believing in community, Sue dedicated her dance studio to nurturing young people. Her students have gone on to perform and teach professionally throughout the world. She was always incredibly proud of the artistic talents of the citizens of Burlington, and in 1988 she donated the K. W. Irmisch Arts Person of the Year Award in honour of her first husband. This annual recognition is still awarded by Burlington City Council.
In 1991 she was awarded Citizen of the Year for her contributions to the community. In between teaching, she found time to support Burlington and its numerous community organizations, including service as a founding board member of Performing Arts Burlington.
Although a spotlight has gone out on the stage, a new one has lit up in heaven.
Remembering Sue Irmisch-Brown
Performing Arts Burlington is collecting donations to recognize the life long contribution of Sue, with the agreement of her family, we plan to memorialize Sue through recognition in the City of Burlington’s new Performing Arts Centre.
To make a donation:
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Visit www.performingartsburlington.com and click the Sue Irmisch Brown Memorial button.
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Call the PAB Office at 905-631-6666 and have your VISA or Mastercard ready.
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Mail a cheque made out to Performing Arts Burlington, to 2114 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, L7R 1C8, specifying your contribution in memory of Sue Irmisch-Brown.
Sue’s courage, determination & passion will live on in all of us and in the new Performing Arts Centre.
Meet the New Team at Performing Arts Burlington
Deb Tymstra - Executive Director
Deb comes to the position of Executive Director, having served on the board of Performing Arts Burlington since its inception. Passionate and committed to the mission and values of PAB, Deb looks forward to guiding PAB into this next exciting chapter in its’ future!
Contact: deb@performingartsburlington.com
Heather Ableson - Information Co-ordinator
As Information Co-ordinator some of Heather’s responsibilities include the re-design and launch of our new newsletter ‘Artworks’, maintenance of our website and co-ordination of our popular Downtown Dining event. Heather’s combination of creativity, organization and determination are key to our success. Contact: heather@performingartsburlington.com
Brenda Dushko - Director of Marketing & Development
The most recent addition to this team of professionals, Brenda is responsible for membership, communications, marketing and fundraising. She’s excited to be working on events like Downtown Streetfest, Downtown Dining, our signature fundraising event and much more!
Contact: brenda@performingartsburlington.com
As part of the city's strategic planning process, Board President Debra Tymstra made a presentation to Burlington’s Strategic Planning Team. The Performing Arts Burlington presentation focused on -- The establishment of a coordinated leadership mechanism for the Burlington arts community; the focused implementation of the Cultural Strategy; the completion of the Performing Arts Centre to a high standard of technical excellence and utility - issues that we have heard about from our members.
PAB Presentation to City Strategic Planning Process 2007.05.17
PAB Presentation C&CS Parking 2007.04.17
PAB Presentation C&CS Governance Models for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre 2007.06.19
PAB Presentation C&CS Governance Models for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre 2007.09.17
City of Burlington's Cultural Strategy
In the spring of 2006, Burlington's City Council passed a 10-Year Cultural Strategy as a framework to guide future municipal cultural planning. To read Burlington's Cultural Strategy, click here.
Performing Arts Burlington is funded, in part, by:
