Libretto Newsletter - May 2024

LIBRETTO

May 2024 Issue

President's Message

With the month of May comes our last production – First Date. This means our season has almost come to an end, and what a magnificent season it has been. Thanks to you, our family, for making it successful again. Through the productions, our family has grown with new members. I love seeing the new faces both on stage and in the audience. This is how we continue to grow and become stronger.

Along with the end of the season comes the planning of the next, 50th Anniversary season. We will have a few new positions opening and will need to seek new volunteers on the Executive. Please reach out to the current Executive if you are interested in being a part of the team as a director or volunteer. We always need helping hands with costumes, props, sets, painting, marketing, or whatever your talents may be. Many hands make lighter work for all. Feel free to reach out to all who are on the Board. 

We're looking forward to seeing you at our final production of the year! Enjoy those May flowers as spring brightens your lives as you brighten ours.
 
Randy Bridge

President

Drury Lane Theatrical Productions

Call For Front of House Staff

Evenings at 8:00 PM: May 3, 4, 10, 11, 16*, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 2024

Matinees at 2:00 PM: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024

*Charity Thursday performance

Are you interested in being a part of our Front of House Volunteer Staff for First Date? We are looking for enthusiastic theatre-goers to help out by being ticket takers, ushers, House Managers, and Bar Tenders! Sign up here for a night that works for you. Contact Jennifer at jenmclen@gmail.com if you have any questions and need more info before you sign up

First Date: We can all relate to trials, tribulations thanks to

Drury Lane Theatre

Latest production sure to take audience back to their first date; shows are every May weekend

Dating. It’s pretty much a universal experience that provokes delicious, breathless anticipation and excitement while simultaneously invoking supreme anxiety and ultimate terror.

Starting on May 3 and running through to May 26 at Drury Lane Theatre, characters Aaron and Casey will be embarking on this ubiquitous of human experiences, the First Date. 

Originally on Broadway in 2013, First Date takes the audience along to watch Aaron, a blind date rookie, and Casey, a serial dater, as they meet one another for the first time at Lucky Mae’s Restaurant. The show, as described by The Hollywood Reporter (on MTI’s website), is a “winning crowd-pleaser, delivered with comic verve and charm”. 

Set in the present day, First Date portrays dating in today’s technologically-dependent environment, while exploring the timeless themes of love, hope, and the search for human connection. 

Accompanied on the journey by an array of supporting characters representing Aaron and Casey’s family members and friends as well as the outrageous Restaurateur Lucky Mae, First Date delivers an evening of witty as well as heart-string tugging dialogue, interspersed with delightful and clever music and song.

As the final offering in Drury Lane’s 2023/24 Playbill, First Date welcomes back the perennial favourite Anne Barnshaw as Music Director and Marc Richard as Director, who is returning to Drury after many years in academia. 

He remarked that First Date is built upon a universal theme in dating that we can all understand. “As time goes by there are things that change and things that don’t; like ‘will he like me?’, ‘is she the right one, the one?”

Katharine Costa, who is in the cast and also participated on the Drury Lane Reading Committee that chose First Date for the company said “this touching show is so relatable. Anyone, young or old, who has dated in this technological age has been through what Aaron and Casey are experiencing and will say ‘I did that’ or ‘that happened to me’ when trying to find your first person or the your next one.”

Richard said Drury Lane Theatre is the perfect venue to experience First Date because of the intimacy of the theatre. “You will feel like you are right there with them, experiencing this first date with this twosome, the trials and tribulations. Often the characters talk right to the audience.” Barnshaw agreed the audiences will enjoy the contemporary sound of the piece that is a mash up of different music styles. Richard said: “the music is current with a blend of pop and rock, but even showing some Broadway swagger.” The show has a “small but super talented cast that get to flex different parts of their musical chops”, offering songs that help “inform us where the characters have been and where they are going”, added Barnshaw. 

Costa, who plays Woman #2, said “the songs are beautifully written and will no doubt be earworms for people.” Audiences are encouraged to take in this charming show during May. Costa assured that “the audience will leave laughing and smiling."

Richard concurred that First Date will provide an evening of entertainment with appealing universal themes. He likened the well-written comedy to some of the classic situation comedies such as The Carol Burnett Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show. While poking fun at the mishaps and mistakes of a blind date, First Date offers a delightful glimpse into Aaron and Casey’s special night. We watch as they work through their insecurities and personality quirks, feeling vulnerable yet hopeful that true love is possible.

Don’t miss First Date, playing weekends from May 3-26 at Drury Lane Theatre.

Written by Carrie Mines

Photo by Heather Pierorazio

Call the Box Office: 905-637-3979 or click here:

Announcing Our Creative Teams for the 50th Anniversary Season...

November 2024 - Irving Berlin's HOLIDAY INN

Director and Choreographer: Michael MacLennan

Music Director: Donna Dunn-Albert

February/March 2025 - THE 44th ANNUAL MUSIC HALL

Director: Danny Harvey

Music Director: Donna Dunn-Albert

Choreographer: Aislynn Curran

Producers: Carol and Rick MacKenzie

May/June 2025 - A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER

Director and Choreographer: Michael MacLennan

Music Director: Anne Barnshaw

We are still seeking DLTP volunteers to fill the critical role of Producers for Holiday Inn and Gentleman's Guide. Please contact Artistic Director Carol MacKenzie (cmackenz95@gmail.com) if you are interested or have questions.

Young Artist Contest

We are excited to announce our 2024 Young Artist Competition, happening on Saturday, June 8^th. Drury Lane supports and encourages promising young artists from Burlington and surrounding areas by offering them the chance to win up to $300 per category and to perform as a soloist at our yearly Awards Gala in June.

Artists under the age of 19 are encouraged to apply! For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please click here. Applications are due by May 22nd. 

Pictured: Participants from last year's inaugural YAC

Game Night

Thanks to everyone who attended the second games night! We enjoyed a beverage or 2 and some excellent conversation while playing Euchre. We will continue to meet the FIRST Monday of each month in the Loft when available or downstairs in the Green Room. This month’s date is May 6 at 7:00 pm until we leave. Bring your favourite game and we will decide which one or ones we play. Come for the competition or just come for the social and bring your friends. Let’s see where this leads. GAME ON!

2024-2025 Season Auditions 

Mark your calendars now!

• June 1 - for either Holiday Inn or Gentleman's Guide

       (audition once even if interested in both shows!)

• June 2 - Holiday Inn
• June 3 - Gentleman's Guide
• June 9 - Call backs for Holiday Inn and Gentleman's Guide
• June 11 - 44th Annual Music Hall
• June 15 - 44th Annual Music Hall

More details (how to sign up, what to prepare, available roles/characters, etc) to follow soon! Keep an eye on our Social Media and the Website. We are a non-equity community theatre - all acting positions are voluntary and non-paid.

Drury Lane is committed to diverse and inclusive casting, welcoming applications from all performers without regard to age, sex, race, gender identity, disability, or any other basis.

Become a Monthly Donor

Have you wondered how you can help out your favourite Community Theatre?! Become a monthly donor and earn a tax receipt while helping Drury Lane stay beautiful and with the latest comforts and technology! Every little bit helps and is as easy as signing up on our website for a monthly donation. Interested, but you have questions? Call the box office today for more information! 905-637-3979

Volunteer Spotlight: Jennifer McLennan

Jennifer McLennan is our current Volunteer & Membership Manager and a Member at Large on the Drury Lane Board of Directors. You may have recently seen her choreographic magic on stage during The Sound of Music, which was her Drury Lane debut. 

Jennifer has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has always been moving, grooving, and creating in any way she can. Jennifer performed and competed internationally for nearly two decades and enjoyed sharing the stage with amazing performers and some became lifelong friends. As much as she loved being on stage, Jennifer knew her calling was behind the scenes creating and in arts education. 

Jennifer has teaching certifications from the BATD in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Step Dancing, Lyrical, Highland and Hip Hop. With over 25 years as a dance and musical theatre teacher, Jennifer works with the babies just learning to skip all the way up to the adults looking for some exercise and joy. Teaching is what she loves most - watching her students crush their goals and actually land a step they never thought they would really makes her heart happy. 

Creating movement to tell a story is a lot of hard work, but when the performer you are working with brings your vision to life, it really is a magical moment. That is what keeps Jennifer coming back to the theatre space. Those Magical Moments. 

After being a patron of Drury Lane for most of her adult life, she was influenced by her bestie Lauren to throw her hat in the ring as Choreographer for Sound of Music, then convinced her to join the board… and now she practically lives at the theatre! 

When she isn’t at her day job working as Administrator for a Pediatrician's office, she is either at Shepherd Private Coaching, teaching some classes, or in her garden with her cat Mr. Darcy reading Jane Austen and drinking tea. Or, of course, you can see her running around at Drury Lane with the Front of House staff making sure everyone enjoys their evening at the theatre! 

Drury Lane has been an incredible addition to Jennifer’s life and she will forever be grateful for the friendships it has created and the opportunities it has presented.

Photo by Heather Pierorazio