Our theater is currently in the throes of a campaign to raise funds for a new theater in historic downtown Baytown. The property acquired and a sign proclaiming The Future Home of the Baytown Little Theater has even been erected on the corner of Texas and Main should you want to drive by for a look. The architect renderings are drawn up and the contractor hired. With the present economy like it is, some of our beloved backers are holding their money in their tight little fists until they are more comfortable to let go of it. Hopefully, the government can get their act together and balance the country’s budget for us soon. Until that happens, our executive board of directors faithfully continue to invite the arts-loving community of theater-goers to contribute any extra funding they have to our new venue. With that in mind, you are also invited to contribute to our growing capital by clicking this link . On the website, scroll past memberships (unless you’d like to join our merry band of actors) to the step 2. where you may donate to our building fund.

The Buzz is a collection of newsworthy articles about the Baytown Little Theater which might just show up in your mailbox in October. It is the hope of the news staff that most of our members will prefer reading the newsletter online and save some trees. However, to get the news-ball rolling again, this comeback issue will be sent to our entire mailing list. Yep, you read that correctly and yep, that’s a lot of licky-sticky envelopes to sort for bulk mailing. The envelope will be needed in order to enclose a free BLT brochure chock full of 2012 season information at no extra cost to our readers. That by Hamlet, is a great deal!

It will be especially exciting see the revamped Buzz with its brand-spanking new logo atop page 1 of the tabloid. Our theater held a contest earlier in the season for a new theater logo and a talented person named Amy K. Shipley won. Including prizes awarded to Ms Shipley, her artwork has already blazed the sides of BLT coffee mugs, travel mugs, decals and show posters. The new BLT 2012 season Playbill will likely display her creative talents on the covers, too!

Next up at the BLT is a detective spoof called, Three Murders and its Only Monday!, written by Houston playwright, Pat Cook and directed by charter member and theater veteran, Joy Woods.  Three murders? Wow! That’s more murders than Leroy Jethro Gibbs has to solve on Tuesday nights for NCIS. I wonder who done it? I guess we’ll all just have to wait until opening night, November 4th to find out. The play runs for three consecutive weekends through November 20th. Tickets will soon be for sell online at baytown.littletheater.org for $15.00 each. If you bring a group of at least 15 people, a free ticket will be included for an extra person to drive you all down to the theater. Sounds like a good time to me!

Well, I guess I should have given a spoiler alert at the start of this post, but you haven’t read all the great information in The Buzz.There’s a lot more coming to a mailbox of website near you. Be on the lookout and tell all your friends to watch out for The Buzz!

BLT sign at TX Ave. & N. Main St.

The Lost Tribe centered around two elderly Holocaust survivors and the one who came into the aging barber’s shop one day resurrecting feelings of revenge in the barber’s wife. New playwright, Jeff Stolzer, from the “Big Apple”, wrote his first play project as an assignment for a playwriting class several years ago. Noting difficulty getting his play on stage, Stozler chose to enter his script in the Texas Non-profit Theatre (TNT) POPS festival for new playwrights where his play earned the opportunity to be produced by one of its member community theaters. The BLT added The Lost Tribe to its regular six-play season for 2010-2011.

Delighted that Jeff decided to fly down from New York for the play’s premiere, May 20, 2011 at the BLT; the usual champagne reception was particularly festive. The TNT association was well represented by its director, Linda Lee, and other TNT members. With anxious anticipation, the show opened to a moderate crowd of regular patrons along with a handful of new faces.  As curtain came down on opening night, we sensed an acceptance of the play and the message to remember the atrocious events of the Holocaust.

Jeff Stolzer joined our cast and crew afterwards at the opening night cast/crew party.  Pleased by what he had seen on stage that evening,  Stolzer said it was “just like he had imagined it in his head.”  His comments made us feel that the play was a success.

As Kim and I relax back into our summer routine, we are happy it does not include the theater’s summer musical.  However, we will do our part to help with box office work, house managing and other peripheral production tasks.

Next up at the BLT: Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd

PRODUCTION DATES
July 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 2011

(Pictured: Ryan Martin & Julie Bailey) February was the month our daughter in law, Amy, made her directing debut at the Baytown Little Theater. She and her co-director, Sam Estrada, put together a very talented cast and designed a beautifully authentic country kitchen on stage. As the run progressed so did the audiences. Word got out about the show at the BLT and more people were reserving seats to see, Crimes of the Heart. Our son, Ryan, played the neighbor, Doc. In the picture shown here, Doc is has just told Lenny (Julie Bailey) that her old horse has died. The whole cast & crew of Crimes of the Heart were awesome. We thoroughly enjoyed the performances of everyone on stage. If you missed the show, surely it was because you lived too far away. Good show, Amy & Sam!

It is spring in the theater and the Martins are busy on and off stage. For three days in March, Kim and I joined other community theater enthusiast at the Texas Non-profit Theater conference in Ft. Worth. The BLT cast of Rabbit Hole took a one-act cutting of their show to compete with nine other community theaters from across Texas. The theaters were competing for one of two places advancing to Regional in Lewisville, Texas in April. While our cast did not get one of those positions, they did earn 2nd alternate. We couldn’t have been prouder of our Baytown Little Theater friends and their hard work.  In addition to watching 10 one-act plays in 3 days, we attended two mornings of discussions on the artistic insight of the actor and director.  Two of the three judges for the play competition joined the discussions led by Kim.  There was much sharing of ideas and learning that came out of several leading questions and potential answers.

The first weekend in April, Kim will audition actors for an original play he will direct entitled, The Lost Tribe. The play concerns survivors of the Holocaust who made a new life in America. Kim will be assisted on this directing venture by our son, Ryan. The play will open May 20 and run through June 5.

In the meantime, I am on the theater play-reading committee to read and compile a list of plays from which prospective directors will choose to direct in next BLT season. Also, Kim is working with the building committee as they plan for our new theater to be built this year. All of our BLT community anxiously await groundbreaking at the corner of Texas Avenue and Main Street soon.

The Martins continue to be involved with the BLT.  Keep watch on the BLT website for upcoming productions and activities for your pleasure this spring.

Sadly, Kim’s 1984 BLT production of Pippin would turn tragic before the show closed.  Our actor playing the part of Pippin became violently ill after the first weekend, hospitalized and eventually passed away.  It was a dramatic, sad and very dark time in our theater’s history. The young man was such a talented actor, we all wondered what might have been if he had survived to act again. We lament his death and remember Billy each time we see a production of Pippin.

Years removed from that tragic ending of 1984, Baytown’s Lee College produced Pippin in 1993. Almost a decade after the BLT’s production, Kim’s interest revived, his love for Schwartz’s musical enticed him to audition. He was cast as Charles the king, Pippin’s father. He enjoyed the supporting role and the change in venue in which to perform a more mature role than Kim had played in shows of his past.

Fast forward to 2010 and it was not without some nostalgia that we attended a revival of Pippin at the BLT. This time our son, Ryan (only 3 years old in 1984), would now step into the role of Pippin. As the show progressed, we watched with pride as our son sang, danced and became the Pippin of this generation. We couldn’t help but smile and even sing a little under our breath as we observed our very talented son perform the same role his father almost two decades before. To add to the evening’s entertainment, in this production, Amy, Ryan’s wife, portrayed the role of Fastrada, Pippin’s step-mother.  Though a Martin by marriage, Amy is extremely talented in her own right. Her Fastrada was sexy, intriguing as she regaled the audience with her performance.

Then, just a few months later, in the first month of 2011, under our son,  Kyle’s direction produced the same musical, at the high school where he teaches theater arts. Once again a Martin is involved in a production of Pippin, this time played by high school aged students.  Kyle would tone down the erotic dance sequence portraying a disturbed Pippin frolic with women in order to “find” himself. Kyle also cut the bedroom scene between Pippin and Catherine leaving what they did behind closed doors to the audience imaginations. Kyle executed a tasteful cut for that age group, producing a more youth-friendly production of Pippin which in no way detracted from the experience and message of Pippin’s story. With immense joy and pride both Kim and I watched the product of our son’s ambitions unfold on that stage.

Four very different productions of the musical Pippin, directed and performed by different Martin family members, has elevated this show to a cherished place in my heart. Wouldn’t it be something if one day in the future, we could attend yet another showing of Pippin staring, directed or produced by Aidan, Regan or Olivia Martin making it a third generation show?  How cool would that be!

Another Martin on stage with such vibrant talent all her own. Yep, that’s our girl!! Good show Amy!

Texas is divided into Quads of which the Houston area is Quad IV.  The Quad IV theater festival was held last January 7, 8 at Beaumont Community Players in Beaumont, Texas.  Of the four companies competing, two plays advanced to the state level and will compete March 17-19 in Fort Worth, Texas, to advance to the Regional festival.

At the Beaumont Quad IV Festival, Baytown Little Theater proudly presented “Rabbit Hole”, directed by Randy Daily.  The cast did a superb job and won a place in the state competition in March. Randy received a special director’s award from the adjudicator in Beaumont and two members of the cast were named to the All-Star cast, Jessica Megginson and Dawn Daily.

Kim joined the crew to run sound for the BLT company during this competition.  We are both members of TNT and AACT and have enjoyed many of the festival/conferences over the years.

The competition continues as follows:

Texas State Festival: William E. Scott Theatre, Fort Worth, March 17 – 19, 2011

Region VI AACTFest: Lewisville Center for the Creative Arts, Lewisville, Texas, April 14-17, 2011

National AACTFest 11: Rochester, New York, June 20-26, 2011

Sending our “Rabbit Hole” cast and crew positive vibes to make it all the way to New York and hoping to see lots of friends in Ft. Worth this March!

Our life in theater marches on!

However, we parked so far out that by the time we got back to the parking garage (in my car) and into the theater, the show had already been playing for 8 minutes.  Although we had to sit at the back, we could see very well and thoroughly enjoyed watching Scrooge and his visitors, the three spirits of Christmas.

That morning, before I left our house to join Kim at his high school, I Tweeted about going to the Alley with his students. Our son, Kyle, who teaches theater arts at a high school in Ft. Bend ISD, replied that he would also be there. During Act I, as the spotlight hit an actor down stage left, there on the end of the 2nd row, we spied Kyle. For me, personally, that warms my heart to see any of my sons, especially when I had not expected the pleasure.  We were able to visit with him a bit during intermission.

Back for Act II, and we were in our seats being entertained with pyrotechnics and electronics sharing center stage with the actors.  I loved every minute of the performance.  The classic Dickens’ tale was sprinkled with just enough humor to be lighthearted, and at the same time send the serious Christmas message of the story. That is to do your leave a legacy of acts of kindness, embrace the Christmas spirit and you will be blessed in this life and the next.

Before the play ended, Kim left to drive himself to the bus. I remained at the theater with the students who were very well-behaved.  When Deer Park ISD was called to line up outside, we only waited a short while outside before Kim came driving up with our school bus.  I loaded the bus with the students who were talking about their favorite parts of A Christmas Carol. It’s so wonderful that had the opportunity to observe professional actors in live theater.

Kim drove the bus back to where he had left my car and I got back into my car to again follow the bus. By the time we stopped for lunch and reloaded the bus, it was time to be back at their school.  Upon arrival at the school, I headed back to Baytown and the grocery store.

In an hour Kim met me back home where we rested and ate some dinner before heading back out to watch another Christmas performance. This time we sat in the cafetorium at our grandson, Aidan’s, elementary school.  We were just as amused and entertained by this group of Santa hatted 2nd graders as we were with Ebenezer Scrooge. Of course, our unbiased opinion was that our Aidan was the best and delivered his lines into the microphone clearly and distinctly.  It was the perfect end to a most entertaining day at the theater.

It is my plan to attempt to post entries here more often as the plays roll by.  We are a very busy family in theaters near you.  The Baytown Little Theater is in the processes of building a new theater.  Plans have been drawn, building committees are in the throws of meetings and actors are awaiting their chance to shine on the new theater stage.  Kim is on the building committee and the theater’s board of directors. Consequently, he is among those who are making the decisions for the new facility.

To bring you up to speed on what plays Kim & I have been involved in since I last posted about “Mame”, 2 years ago, here is the line up:

Kim Martin appeared in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 2 summers ago. Then, in a Christmas special, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown last year.  Next, he performed in last summer’s BLT musical, My Fair Lady. This current 2010-11 BLT season he will direct (with my assistance) an original piece entitled, The Lost Tribe. In between the community theater work, Kim is still directing plays at Deer Park High School, North, where he has been teaching for the past 3 years.

My theater involvement has consisted of choruses for Beauty and the Beast and My Fair Lady. I was also in charge of box office when Kim worked on You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The next production I will work on will be managing box office for Crimes of the Heart for which our daughter in law, Amy, will co-direct in February.  Lastly, I plan to assist Kim on The Lost Tribe in May.

There will be a lot of theater activity to report as the months tick off the calendar in 2011.  Not only will I report on Kim and my theater involvement, we have two other sons teaching theater arts and our oldest son likes to stay involved in community theater in his hometown. That is not to leave out our daughter-in-law, Amy, who has prominently established her place with the BLT.  So, don’t be a stranger and check back in every month or so to see what’s going on with Dramawife.

BLT's "Mame"

BAYTOWN LITTLE THEATER

Mame closed on December 14. Theresa Moore, who played Mame Dennis, was superb in the role.

Kim directed the play and I was his assistant, costumer, props mistress, and anything else that needed to be done.  Whew! were we ever tired when it all ended.  We were very pleased with the outcome, but getting there was as difficult a task as we have ever had to undertake.

First of all, the play had to follow another musical and a hurricane.  Two things that seemed to effect the participation of actors, set construction, crew members and musicians.  This was not a good time for a play and many people were tired and dealing with not only the approaching holiday season, but the general fatigue following the hurricane.  But, we muddled through and turned out a satisfactory play.

The Monday after Mame closed, Kim held auditions with the students from school for a play he will be directing at Deer Park High School.  He just goes from one to another.  He just can’t take too long off or he goes stir-crazy.  So here it is the day before New Year’s Eve and one of the first days that he doesn’t have to do anything, and he has called a rehearsal.  He just can’t sit still.

Well, here we go again. Fortunately, I can sit this one out and just go to the performances.  We had our anniversary on December 21, 2008 and celebrated 34 years of marriage.  That translates to 34 years of plays and a lot of theatrics along the way.  I guess there is no turning back now.

The musical is the story of the flamboyant Mame Dennis her life raising nephew, Patrick Dennis during the 1920′s-1946.  Having never been a mother herself, Mame wanted to expose Patrick to life and all it could offer him.  She wanted Patrick to live without regret and learn about life from experience, not a textbook.

The music in “Mame” is very memorable with such favorites as the theme song, “Mame”, “We Need a Little Christmas”, and “Bosom Buddies”.  Our moderate cast sings those songs as if we had a large chorus singing the well-loved verses.  The very rafters will sing the choruses for audiences for 6 performances.

Something that I find to be very difficult about working on any play whether I am performing on stage or helping my director husband off stage is working with costumes and props.  Costumes and props seem to be those jobs I can not seem to unload on anyone else.  It has been quite an undertaking to track down 1920′s clothes as well as 1946 costumes for our actors.  I will however state that I rather enjoy the gathering props for the plays.  It is fun and quite challenging to gather or make props to represent a real item on stage.  For the musical “Mame” our actors needed to be holding riding crops in the scene where Mame goes on a fox hunt.  I had a good time finding the materials and making 8 riding crops for our dancers to use in the Fox Hunt scene.

Kim is working hard to meld together a new theater experience for our audiences and a fresh look at a theater classic, “Mame”.

I believe the show will be well received by our audiences.  The people working on our play are dedicated artists and like us want the BLT to enjoy the company of many community theater goers come the first two weekends in December.

What better way to start the holiday season than at a play with the family?