The Burlington Footnotes Senior Performing Troupe took the stage on June 24 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts to present their seventh annual production of Gotta Sing Gotta Dance.  When the curtain rose the dancer front and centre was Ann Stevens, who was eager to see the effect of her full year’s work as costume designer and coordinator.

Ann got started in this pivotal role when she was asked to design and make a headpiece for the very first show in 2001. Now she and Footnotes Artistic Director/Choreographer Rosemarie Maurice hold several meetings to discuss the overall concept for each year’s presentation. 

The troupe has 80+ members, most of whom perform in 14 separate numbers requiring costumes.  In total there are more than 170 costumes to be designed and constructed. Once the basic themes and ideas are in place, Ann begins her real work. 

The first task is to design and create a sample costume, complete with accessories, for the seamstress to work with. Ann must find seamstresses who are able to work to a deadline and commit to completing a finished product that fits each senior dancer. She makes many trips to local  stores (58 for this year’s show) to purchase fabrics and trims.  The hired seamstresses prepare the basic costumes and volunteers from the company work on the accessories. 

Often each individual dancer must add the necessary trims.  By the time the show is ready for the performances, Ann and her team will have used 618 metres of fabric, 597 metres of sequin trims, constructed 150 head pieces and countless shoe covers, gloves, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

She will have supervised 78 fittings and listened to innumerable complaints.   Performers want each costume to be exactly right for them.  They want to show off their best features and hide their flaws. They want long sleeves, short sleeves or no sleeves. They want long skirts, short skirts, tight skirts or loose flowing skirts. They don’t want bright blue, pale yellow, black, white, gray or any number of other colours.   They want fishnets – they don’t want fishnets.

Ann puts on her game face and reminds the dancers that the overall effect is what’s important. She is always rewarded when everyone is in costume, her vision takes shape and the cast can appreciate the whole picture. The company is consistently complimented on the costumes and credit goes to Ann Stevens, Rosemarie Maurice and the costume committee of Shirley Langford, Sandra Colangelo, Kate Lowe and bookkeeper Corinne Fields.

For information about performance opportunities for the 50+ generation please visit our website at www.burlingtonfootnotes.com.

Theatre Burlington plans 2008-2009 season

Theatre Burlington is eagerly working on its 2008 - 2009 season. Rehearsals are under way for Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, a laugh-a-minute farce by Ron Clark & Sam Bobrick and directed by the award winning Vincenzo Guerriero.

Keeping us laughing in their roles will be Lynn Kasapowitsch, Quentin Brayley-Berger and John Koetsier.   Othello Innis, with the assistance of Inez Hayes, will be making sure the set and all the other details will be up to our usual high standard, bringing the best of live theatre to you.

Performances are Sept. 19-20, 25-26-27, and Oct. 2-3-4, with an 8pm curtain at the Drama Centre. Call 905-637-1728 for tickets

The following auditions are also taking place in September:

Cinderella, by Vic Hyde/Music by Gerry Webb. Directed by Sondra Learn. Musical Director/Choreography by Scott Bloxom.

Sunday Sept. 21, 2-4:30 and 7 to 9pm
Monday Sept 22, 7-to 9pm

Show dates are Nov. 28-29 30, Dec. 4-5-6 2008

This is a family show. We will be stressing old-fashioned fun in a one-hour show bringing the joy of live theatre to the youngsters. We require actors who can sing, with some dancing.

Six females, 16 – 60 yrs
Three males, 20 up
Two roles either sex, any age

For more information, call Sondra at 905-332-9764 or email at sondralearn@sympatico.ca

---

Corporate Sponsors

---