BACKSTAGE by Steven Lloyd

Our next production is one of the most popular plays written for the modern stage, the tender comedy “On Golden Pond,” by Ernest Thompson. Most know the play because of the hit film with Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda in his last film appearance, but it began at the John F. Kennedy Center. “On Golden Pond” was first produced by the Hudson Guild Theatre in 1978 with a limited run of just 36 performances. The production was moved to the New Apollo Theater in New York with the help of Greer Garson, who helped champion its Broadway run.

Ernest Thompson was born in 1949 in Vermont and grew up in New England. He wrote “On Golden Pond,” when he was only twenty-eight, and the play ran for over four hundred performances. He won the Academy Award for best Screenplay, as well as the Golden Globe and an award from the Writers Guild of America.
Unfortunately, Thompson has never been able to come close to his early success.

He followed “On Golden Pond” with “West Side Waltz” which opened in 1981 on Broadway with Katherine Hepburn in the lead. I was fortunate enough to see that legendary performance, Hepburn’s last stage appearance, but the play itself was forgettable. It toured based on Hepburn’s performance in it, but has never been revived.

Thompson is also an actor and director, and in 2001 he directed his own TV version of “On Golden Pond” with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. He lives most of the year in New Hampshire, very close to where the film version of his one great play was made. Thompson continues to write, direct and perform and his fans continue to hope for another play from him to equal his first great success.

HART’s production is being directed by Mark Jones and features several of the areas most popular actors: Reta Scribner, Bob Baldridge, in the roles occupied by Hepburn and Fonda, plus Teresa Breakey, Tom Dewees, Jack Ross, and Sean Bruce. If you don’t know this play, it is a love story, filled with wry humor, and tender moments of discovered vulnerability that will stay with you long after the curtain descends.

:::

THE HART YOUTH DRAMA CAMP
June 16 - 27, 2008
Monday - Friday from 9 am until 3:45 pm
$300 per student

This summer HART will offer an excting opportunity for young people in this area interested in the theatre. The HART Drama Camp is a two week experience for youths age 7 - 15 which will include classes in musical theatre, movement, acting and technical theatre taught by professionals in each field. All classes will be held at the Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House. Students will explore writing scenes and monologues that link songs learned in musical theatre, explore movement and dance, stage combat, improvisation, and learn the in’s and out’s of design and the operation of technical equipment as things gear up on the HART stage for a major production. The experience will conclude with performances on the final day. Only 45 students will be admitted to the program with all session sizes limited to 12 students. To register, e-mail us at hartthea@bellsouth.net and we will send you a complete registration form.

:::

PAC SOUND SYSTEM ISSUES

Our sound system is aging, with some parts beginning to fail. New products on the market, including special body microphones, and improved speaker placement give us the chance to finally significantly improve the sound quality for HART productions. This comes at a cost, however, of approximately $25,000. If sound has been an issue for you, a dedicated contribution to the HART Sound Improvement Fund will help us make these improvements and enrich the experience for everyone. If you would like to help, send your tax deductible donation to HART, P.O. Box 1024, Waynesville, NC 28786 and indicate – Sound Fund.

:::

SO YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER?

Working Backstage: The key to getting involved backstage is to come to the auditions for the shows you want to work on. Introduce yourself to the stage manager, who will probably introduce you to the director. Ask about the schedule, and let them know your availability, interests, and skills if any. Offer to help in what ever way you can. You will be put to work.

Concessions: We need two people for every performance we do to work behind the concession stand. These people get to see the performance for free, but need to be flexible and quick – all of the business takes place in about 10 minutes, during intermissions. For more information about this or to sign up, contact Tom and Joanne Gregory at ncgregorys@hotmail.com or go online to our web site, and sign up for our e-mail list.

Ushers: We usually have up to 4 ushers at each performance and they also get to see the show for free. They also are responsible for making sure everyone is seated properly, and must be able to help wheelchair patrons and others with special needs. For more information about this or to sign up, contact Don and Betty Perry at 452-7122 or go to our web site and sign up.

Box Office: If you are good with people, like to solve problems, and enjoy responsibility, this is the job for you. We have a wonderful box office staff, but we always need new faces. For more information about this area of volunteering, contact Libba Feichter at 456-6918.

:::

BE A PART OF THE PERFORMING HART'S
Have you always wanted to be on stage, but are afraid of learning lines, or just don't have time for a lot of rehearsals? The Performing HART's is your chance. Part reader's theatre, part musical comedy, HART's community outreach performance group is looking for anyone interested in getting into the act. There are no lines to learn, rehearsals are minimal and age is no factor. The group presents free performances around the area and is headed by Dot Burford and directed by San Greenalch. Contact Dot Burford at 421-3544 for more information about joining the group or to schedule a performance.