You're Invited: Tues. Eve. Opening Nighter's Theatre Club

Before I launch into the subject of this blog entry, I'd like to offer an apology to Mari Stewart, the subject of my previous entry, "Thirty Years for Mari Stewart's Side Street Gallery & Frame Shoppe," www.dickinsoncountynews.com/blogs/1403/e....

I included some incorrect dates in that entry. Mari quickly pointed out the factual errors, and I made the necessary corrections within a few hours of the original posting. My thanks to Mari!

OKOBOJI SUMMER THEATRE 53RD SEASON

The Okoboji Summer Theatre (OST), www.okobojisummertheatre.org, 53rd Season began a week ago, when the OST Box Office opened on Monday, June 14, 2010. The opening performance is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22, 8:00 p.m., followed by the annual opening night post-performance party. This season kicks-off with a production of the PG-13 rated musical "The Fantasticks," with book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt, and directed for OST by Lamby Hedge, OST Associate Artistic Director.

The annual opening of each OST season is a high point for fans of live theatre in and near the Iowa Great Lakes, and I'd like to take this opportunity to remind readers of a summer social group for theatre fans: The Opening Nighter's Theatre Club.

The club is an informal weekly social and discussion group, kind of like a book club for theatergoers, but without anything to read or attend between meetings. The group will meet on Tuesday evenings during the remaining nine weeks of the OST 53rd Season, June 14 - August 22, 2010.

OPENING NIGHTER'S THEATRE CLUB

The schedule is tentative and subject to change and, other than the 5:00 p.m. start time for the Chamber's Business After Five (BA5) and the 8:00 p.m. start time for OST performances, all times are approximates.

Tuesday evenings from June 22 to August 17, 2010, (nine weeks)
5:00-6:00 p.m., Meet at the Chamber's BA5 - locations provided below
6:00 p.m., Welcome, announcements and prize drawings for the Chamber's BA5
6:30 p.m., Relocate from the Chamber's BA5 to either the Arnolds Perk Coffee House, a.k.a. the Perk, 141 W. Broadway St., or the Wine Bar and Art Gallery, 139A W. Broadway St., www.winebarandartgallery.com, two neighboring businesses across from the Central Emporium in Olde Town Arnolds Park
6:30-7:30 p.m., Social time, discussion, drinks, etc.
7:30 p.m., Relocate from establishments in Olde Town Arnolds Park to OST, 2001 Hwy. 71 N., Okoboji
7:30-8:00 p.m., Pre-performance social time on OST Weaver Patio
8:00 p.m., Curtain time for opening performance of OST mainstage production
10:00 p.m., After performance, return to either the Perk or the Wine Bar and Art Gallery in Olde Town Arnolds Park for post-performance discussion and social time

THE CHAMBER'S BUSINESS AFTER FIVE

Business After Five (BAF) is sponsored by the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (IGLACC), a.k.a. the Chamber, www.vacationokoboji.com. Here's a description of BA5 provided by the Chamber...

<< Business After Five is held on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at various member businesses. Chamber members pay an admission fee of $2.00 each and non-members pay $5.00 each. Business After Five is a program of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and is designed to provide an opportunity for Chamber members to meet other members and cultivate relationships. Sponsor businesses have the opportunity to showcase their business, introduce staff or feature new products, services, etc. Chamber members are encouraged to attend and to invite another member who hasn't attended recently. >>

BA5 is open to the general public, and all are welcome, regardless of business affiliation or lack thereof. I'm not a member of the Chamber because, even though I'm a dues-paying member and an active volunteer of several Chamber member nonprofit organizations, I'm not an owner or employee of a Chamber member business. Even though I'm not a Chamber member, I attend BA5 most weeks because it's an enjoyable social opportunity, complete with beverages and food, for only $5.00, the non-member admission fee.

The BA5 format is the same each week: Doors open at 5:00 p.m., at which time drinks and hors d'oeuvres are made available. There's a relatively brief presentation beginning around 6:00 p.m. which usually includes a welcome by the sponsoring business owners, announcements by the Chamber staff, and drawings for door prizes. Most people leave after the presentation, which usually lasts around 15 or 20 minutes, although guests are welcome to stay until 7:00 p.m.

PRIZE DRAWINGS FOR FREE OST TICKETS

As an OST Theatre Subscriber, I purchase two tickets for the same two excellent seats, RD1 and RD2, (Right Section, Row D, Seats 1 and 2 on the center aisle), for the same performance, Tuesday evening, of all nine mainstage productions of each OST season.

Each person who participates in the Opening Nighter's Theatre Group will be eligible for a free ticket to the following Tuesday's opening performance. During Tuesday gatherings of the group, each person present can write her or his name on a scrap of paper, put it in a container, and then we'll draw one name. That person will be given my extra ticket, RD2, to the following week's mainstage performance.

If the winner either can't or doesn't want to use the ticket, he or she is free to give it to someone else.

CLARIFICATIONS & DISCLAIMERS

The Opening Nighter's Theatre Club is my idea, and it's not affiliated with the OST, the Chamber, the Perk, the Wine Bar and Art Gallery, or any other organizations or establishments.

All are welcome to participate in the Opening Nighter's Theatre Club regardless of theatre affiliations or lack thereof.

The Opening Nighter's Theatre Club has no formal structure, there are no membership dues, and there's no need to call ahead. Interested individuals can just show up at the Chamber's BA5 or call me on my mobile phone, 712-339-7015, to locate the group.

Discussions will be about live theatre in general. They may include but will not be limited to discussions about OST productions.

Participants can get involved to whatever extent they choose, participating in the entire evening, beginning after 5:00 p.m., or for any part of the evening, participating weekly or only once. They are not required to attend performances of OST mainstage productions or to order beverages or food at any establishments.

2010 SCHEDULE FOR CHAMBER'S BA5 & OST 53RD SEASON

Tuesday, June 22
5:00 p.m., Mediacom & On Media, Great Lakes Mall, 1539 18th St., Spirit Lake
8:00 p.m., "The Fantasticks," Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt, June 22-27, Musical (PG13)

Tuesday, June 29
5:00 p.m., Higgins Museum of National Bank Notes, 1507 Sanborn Ave., Okoboji, www.thehigginsmuseum.org
8:00 p.m., "The Girls of the Garden Club" By John Patrick, June 29 - July 4, Comedy - Family (children 10 and up)

Tuesday, July 6
5:00 p.m., Lakes Community Land Trust, 2650 Enterprise Ave., Spirit Lake, www.lakesclt.org
8:00 p.m., "See How They Run" By Philip King, July 6-11, Comedy (PG13)

Tuesday, July 13
5:00 p.m., Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County (CFDC) & Dickinson County Nature Center (DCNC), Kenue Park, 2279 170th St., Okoboji, www.cfofdc.com
8:00 p.m., "The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" By Paul Zindel, July 13-18, Drama (Adult)

Tuesday, July 20
5:00 p.m., Erpelding Voight & Co. LLP CPA & Northwest Bank, 1807 Hwy. 71 N., Okoboji, www.bank-northwest.com
8:00 p.m., "Company," Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by George Furth, July 20-25, Musical (PG13)

Tuesday, July 27
5:00 p.m., Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, 1405 Hwy. 71, Okoboji, www.arrowwood-okoboji.com
8:00 p.m., "Unnecessary Farce" By Paul Slade, July 27 - Aug. 1, Comedy (PG13)

Tuesday, August 3
5:00 p.m., Milford Nursing Center & Stonebridge Suites, 1600 13th St., Milford
8:00 p.m., "The Chalk Garden" By Enid Bagnold, Aug. 3-8, Mystery (PG13)

Tuesday, August 10
5:00 p.m., Keelson Harbour: Assisted Living Community of Spirit Lake, 2810 Aurora Ave. W., Spirit Lake, www.wtohdevelopment.com/KeelsonHarbour.h...
8:00 p.m., "Rabbit Hole" By David Lindsay-Abaire, Aug. 10-15, Drama (Adult)

Tuesday, August 17
5:00 p.m., Cocktails, Fox Plaza, 575 Hwy. 71 S., Arnolds Park, www.okobojicocktails.com
8:00 p.m., "Beauty & the Beast," Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton, Aug. 17-22, Musical (Family)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Okoboji Summer Theatre (OST)
Location: 2001 Hwy. 71 N., Okoboji, Iowa
Mail: PO Box 341, Spirit Lake, IA 51360-0341
Phone: Box Office, 712-332-7773
Phone: Business Office, 712-332-2875
Phone: PR & Production Office, 712-332-7876
Email: okobojisummertheatre@gmail.com
Web: www.okobojisummertheatre.org

Okoboji Tourism: A Committee of Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (IGLACC)
Location: Okoboji Spirit Center, 243 W. Broadway St., Arnolds Park, Iowa
Mail: PO Box 215, Okoboji, IA 51355-0215
Phone: 712-332-2209
Toll-free: 800-270-2574
Email: info@vacationokoboji.com
Web: www.vacationokoboji.com

Thank you for your time! Please support the arts!