OMG! a new show already?
Well, there is truly no rest for the volunteers of the Benicia Old Town Theatre Group. It seems like yesterday we were enjoying “The Game’s Afoot” and the wonderful crowds! Our next show (April 21) is 2017 Spring Production of “Intimate Apparel”, a show we discovered first at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We bought the script there and suggested that our BOTTG Play Selection Committee read it and consider it. Then the entire membership voted on this show! We started working on it months ago, hiring long-time BOTTG member Dan Clark as director (from a very talented group of prospective directors) and holding open Auditions in January. The cast was selected and the work of the “techies” started.
As the Costumer, I immediately contacted my friend Carol Berman (Benicia Historical Society and other civic organizations). She is designing 2 beautiful “vintage” corsets (we may consider auctioning them off at a later date) for the actresses Rebecca Grayce (actress from “Same Time Next Year” and “Dial M for Murder”) and the talented AnJu Hyppolite. The two play in the story, successful women in New York in 1905; one is a prostitute and one is married to a wealthy gent. Local hairdresser (Gypsy Bella Salon) Natasha Harris (actress from “The Sunshine Boys” and “Keeping Down with the Joneses”) this time is designing a special wedding dress for the wonderful actress Chelsea Bearce (from “Two Trains Running” and runs the Thursday Trivia and Comedy Nights at First St Cafe). Local talent Donna Telepak is designing and constructing a Japanese silk smoking jacket which plays a significant piece of the story in this production. There is plenty more for me to do but these are certainly the special touches!
My Publicity “hat” comes early as the word needs needs to get out once our talented local graphic designer Gordon Gray is on board and the show graphics are completed (they are beautiful!). Courtyards Signs is now up and running (from the fire) Frank is looking at the pricing of banners needed for signage around town. Then, Joe Messina Photography does the talented magic in professionally photographing our actors in his photo shoot for Publicity. Joe has been photographing our actors for nearly a dozen years for gratis and we cannot thank him enough for his support of our part in the cultural performing arts in Benicia. He is a very important part of our image for every show. Thank you Joe! So many hands make us produce the quality and ARTY-award winning shows we do. They is so much more….. more later! Buy a ticket for “Intimate Apparel”- romantic drama (but not until March 1). go online or go to Benicia Chamber of Commerce for tickets. For a group of 10 or more pre-sold, you can save money and get reserved seating- that’s good at the Historic BDES hall- nice to be up close!