Dear Members
Greetings to you all. It is hard to believe that we are already into the second quarter of 2019! The year has started on an incredibly busy note with final auditions and the start of rehearsals for South Pacific.
Whilst the major show for the year is the primary concern of Mancom there are other areas which we also manage, so let us introduce ourselves to you:
James Maritz, Vice-Chair and Socials; Christoff van Wyk, Social Media, Website, Marketing and all-round IT whizz; Rosemary Wilke, Gaslight editor and Marketing; Waldo Buckle, General Manager (ex officio); Marius Steyn, Board Chair (ex officio); Melissa Marcus, Membership; Anthony Storr Lister, Chair and Heritage.
You will notice that Charlene du Toit and Kerryn Silke’s names no longer appear as part of this list. With the huge load she is carrying as Production Secretary for South Pacific, Charlene decided she might find life easier if she was relieved of her Mancom responsibilities. We thank her so much for her long service as Minute Secretary and Gaslight Editor. Rosemary Wilke has taken on the Editorship of Gaslight, a task for which she is amply qualified!
The role of the Membership Representative is being greatly expanded in order, amongst other things, to allow better and increased communication with members and an increased efficiency in dealing with applications and other membership related administration. Kerryn Silke decided that the new role will require too much time, and as she already has such a busy schedule, she feels she won’t be able work in the role and give 100%, and so she has relinquished this post. We thank her for her dedicated and efficient service over the past few years. We welcome Melissa Marcus back onto Mancom to fill this increasingly important portfolio.
It is perhaps appropriate to remind members that Mancom is appointed by the Board and is not an elected body. Mancom’s task is to run the operational side of the organisation, including appointing the Production Committee, managing major and minor productions, arranging socials, membership, heritage, and everything else! The Board, which we elect, decides on major productions, manages risk and appoints key players to positions for major productions.
As far as future, smaller performance opportunities are concerned we are investigating another concert late in the year. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a booking in the Arena so we are unable to proceed with a minor G&S production this year, but plans are afoot for several exciting productions next year. Negotiations are currently underway with the Artscape authorities to secure the venue bookings we want. So, to be informed, keep reading Gaslight and all our Social Media platforms.
The next Social event is the annual Inter-Society Quiz which it is our “happy lot” to organise this year having secured the Golden Duck trophy last year. Further details appear elsewhere in Gaslight but we urge you all to attend what will be a fun-filled event. As we have won twice in a row, though, we really feel it is the gracious thing to do to allow another Society the opportunity of hosting next year! (Hint, hint!) Do try to come along and be part of this event.
“The night has been long, ditto, ditto my song” and I am sure you will all now say “and thank goodness they’re both of them over”!
Please read about the Society’s activities and do join us whenever you can. We look forward to spending time with you at the various events and start booking for South Pacific!
With best wishes to you all,
Anthony Storr Lister
REHEARSALS CRUISING ALONG SOUTH PACIFIC
Rehearsals for our upcoming production of South Pacific started on 4 March. The cast were called to ‘Report for Duty’ on Saturday the 2nd of March, which gave them an opportunity to get to know each other.
Under the expert guidance of Musical Director, Alastair Cockburn, and virtuoso Rehearsal Pianist, Helen Broekmann, music rehearsals were finalised by the end of March. Both sets of Principal casts and Chorus had a full ‘sing through’ of the show and it sounded fabulous.
Blocking commenced on the 1st of April (no that is not an April Fool’s joke) under the guidance of Director and Choreographer Kyla Thorburn, Assistant Director Neil Leachman, and Assistant Choreographer Shayni Pappin.
The show promises to be another enchanting production, produced by G&S.
To make use of the 20% ‘Early Bird Special’ for tickets which expires at the end of April, only available online on the Computicket website, please follow this link:
To read some of the cast profiles, please visit www.facebook.com/SouthPacificCT. While you are there LIKE and SHARE the page. You can also follow all the activities on Twitter by following the @SouthPacificCT handle.
WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE
We need the following props for South Pacific, if you have any lying around or you know where we can ‘beg, borrow or ****” please contact Melissa melissa.marcus21@gmail.com or Hema hema.maskowitz@gmail.com:
Musette bag
Large sea shells
Hookah pipes
Fake “Shrunken Heads”
Metal Jerry Cans
Old telephones 1940s
Old microphone
Old flashlights
Old radio equipment / ham radio
Old headphones
1940s Willys Jeep
Old denim jeans and shirts (any condition)
Old wooden walking sticks / kieries
Empty 200litre Metal drums
MEMBERSHIP
The annual subscriptions for membership of G&S are now due. Membership fees are R385.00 per year for full membership and R220.00 per year for students and pensioners. Please remit you subscription as soon as possible.
Membership benefits include:
- Access to early announcements for upcoming shows and auditions.
- Preferential tickets, seating and discounted tickets.
- Social Events.
- Newsletter subscription.
- Performing opportunities for any level of experience.
- Opportunities to be actively involved with backstage crew, make-up, costumes, set construction and scenic art, properties, administration, ticket sales plus many more.
Please follow this link to complete the online application: https://goo.gl/forms/NiPWYmQGTfrnWCet1
Once you have completed the form Please make payment to the following bank account details:
Investec Bank Limited
Branch Code – 58 01 05
Account type – Current Account
Account name – G and S
Account number – 1001 214 2095
INTER-SOCIETY QUIZ 2019
G&S are hosting this year’s inter-society quiz and will be our first society social of 2019. All paid up G&S members are welcome to attend and don’t need to pay the entry fee (hooray).
G&S members are welcome to invite a guest to be a member of their team, also at no charge (double hooray).
Please remember to make your booking for catering purposes by 29 April 2019
Bookings: socials@gands.co.za
Please put your team together, the more the merrier! Who will take home the ‘Golden Duck’?
NEWS FROM OTHER SOCIETIES
HHDS: Auditions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat take place soon.
Roles include:
Principals
Adult Ensemble
Dancers
Children’s Choir (age 7- 15):
The ensemble and dance auditions will take place in a workshop style format so no need to be shy! Book your audition slot: hhdsjoseph@gmail.com
Cinderella the Panto is coming to the Playhouse Theatre Somerset West. Directed by Darryl Spijkers, together with the same Production Team as Shrek the Musical and Annie Get Your Gun – a show for the whole family to enjoy! A limited number of tickets are available, available from Computicket.
A reminder to please support all the Re-boot Shows at The Masque Theatre during 2019. For more information please visit: www.masquetheatre.co.za
MESSAGE FROM AUDREY ROBINSON
Dear G & S Friends,
My sincere thanks to all of you who have sent messages and phoned me when you read of the passing of my beloved Stan. I appreciate your kind thoughts and words very much.
The tribute which was paid to him in the last Gaslight brought tears to my eyes, it encapsulated everything he was. I am so thankful for the wonderful memories I have of him when we were involved in Shows together.
I miss him immensely but draw strength to carry on from the kind words and thoughts and prayers of all of you.
Love from Audrey and Family
The date of the G&S AGM will be communicated to everyone as soon as the Board have confirmed the date.
If anyone wishes to contribute to the next issue, if you have any news of upcoming auditions, shows, theatre snippets which would make interesting reading in ‘Gaslight’ you are welcome to send to rwilke@bishops.org.za.
Until the next issue, we hope to see some of you ‘treading on the boards’!
Yours in theatre
G&S Mancom