THE BRANDYWINERS, LTD.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2009
March 10 (Wednesday)…Business Meeting (7:00 p.m.) and Kick-Off Meeting
(7:30 p.m.) – Aldersgate United Methodist Church
April 9 through April 11 (Friday through Sunday)…Auditions
April 22 (Thursday)…Personnel Placement Meeting
May 10 (Monday)…Friends and Family Concert by the Chorale
May 18 (Tuesday)…First Rehearsal for Principals
May 25 (Tuesday)…First Rehearsal for Chorus and Dancers
June 1 (Tuesday)…”College Try” Auditions
June 7 (Monday)…Ticket Office Opens at Aldersgate Church
July 17 (Saturday)…Family Picnic
July 19 (Monday)…First Rehearsal at Longwood Gardens
July 24 (Saturday)…First Rehearsal with Orchestra at Longwood
July 27 (Tuesday)…Preview Performance
July 29 (Thursday)…First Performance
August 14 (Saturday)…After-Show Party
October 20 (Wednesday)…ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
December 13 (Monday)…Carol Sing
P.O. Box 248
Montchanin, DE 19710
302-478-3355
www.brandywiners.org
January, 2010
ELECTION RESULTS
President...Ken Jones
*First Vice President…Joe Campbell
Second Vice President…Marilyn Haas
*Secretary…Jill Dal Nogare
Treasurer…Wendy Lindsey
*Librarian…Lynn Mahaffy
Director…John Dennison
Director…Kate Wright
(*indicates a new member to the Board for 2010)
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
For the Executive Board
Ken Jones, President
We have three new additions to the Board of Directors this year, and with them come
new energy and ideas for our organization. Joe Campbell is our new First Vice President.
Jill Dal Nogare takes over the position of Secretary, and Lynn Mahaffy is our new
Librarian. I am looking forward to their ideas and participation this year. I also want to
thank Teddi Collins, Catherine Kegley and Cathy Wharton for their work and dedication
to the organization over the past years. They have been of great assistance to me and to
the organization and are much appreciated. Special thanks also go to Ray Dunton and
Jennifer Sprout for their willingness to run for a position on the Board this past year. The
Brandywiners needs people to step up and say that they are willing to take on new
responsibilities for our organization. Thanks to all!
Like 2009, 2010 promises to be a year that requires new visions and openness. Although
Camelot was a theatrical success and a great deal of fun, the organization was able to
dedicate only $2,000 for Special Gifts for 2009. In order to increase this, all of us need to
look at ways to increase tickets sales while keeping a close watch on expenses.
(4)
The Board decided in 2009 to start on-line ticket purchasing. If you have looked at our
website recently, you’ve noticed a bright red and yellow marker that states “Buy Tickets
Now!” This connects you to an on-line ticket purchasing screen. This screen also allows
potential purchasers to print and mail a ticket order form or to call the Ticket Office as in
the past. People on the Ticket Committee either have been trained or will be trained to
use the computer screens. We received a donation of three laptops from W. L. Gore &
Associates, which will be most helpful in this process. The donation is most appreciated!
There will be a variety of reports available to use so that the Brandywiners can track
various trends, and this will help us to use our advertising dollars even more wisely. One
note: with audience members able to purchase tickets on-line, tickets may sell more
quickly. I urge you, your family members and friends to order tickets early-----and
often!
PRODUCTION & BUSINESS STAFF FOR “GUYS AND DOLLS”
The Board decided that another way to reduce expenses was to eliminate the Mid-Winter
Dinner Dance. It was not an easy decision, but we felt that we could not justify spending
over $4,800 for a social event when we were donating only $2,000 to Special Gifts. We
decided that the Family Picnic, the After-Show party and the Carol Sing were very
important to members, and so it was the Dinner Dance that was eliminated. As for the
meeting, the By-Laws say that “a second regular meeting shall be held in the spring,
which shall be devoted to disclosing plans for the ensuing summer production.” The
Board felt that this would coincide most closely with the Kick-Off Meeting, which will
be held on Wednesday, March 10. The “second regular meeting” will begin at 7:00 that
evening, with the Kick-Off meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. Judging from the amount of
business conducted at our previous Dinner Dance meetings, this should allow for enough
time. This also gives another reason for attending the Kick-Off meeting, which will
highlight the great ideas in store for Guys and Dolls.
One other cost-saving idea is one that has been going on throughout 2009, and that is the
reduction of printing and postal expenses through the use of e-mail. If you wish to
receive communications through e-mail, have not notified us already and wish to help us
reduce expenses this way, please send a note to [email protected]. This e-mail
address is only for internal communications, and these e-mails are not sent to the general
public.
So we have a year of opportunities ahead of us, for our organization as a whole and for
the excitement of the production of Guys and Dolls. Be a part of it this year, in any and
every way you can!
SPECIAL GIFTS
For the fiscal year October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009, the production of
Camelot had a net profit of $2,284, but the organization had a net loss of $10,748. After
receiving a recommendation from the Financial Advisory Committee, the Executive
Board instructed the Special Gifts Committee to distribute $2,000. The Special Gifts
Committee recommended the following distributions for musical and educational
purposes, which were accepted by the Executive Board.
Production Manager…Peter Clark – 302-638-4229
Business Manager…Sandy O’Neill – 610-793-2417
These two individuals are returning in their roles for Guys and Dolls, and once again,
they have many responsibilities for the production this year. They can use your skills and
talents to create an exciting Guys and Dolls, particularly so since this is the first time we
have staged this show. Please think hard about how you can contribute this year, whether
it’s in a manner you’ve done before or with a new approach. We need everyone’s
participation in some way, including that of your family and friends, to make this a
spectacular production for our audiences. There are places for people with different
talents and time commitment capabilities. Think about this and see in what way you can
assist.
ARTISTIC STAFF FOR “GUYS AND DOLLS”
Stage Director…Henry Porreca
Assistant Stage Director…Bob Moore
Music Director…Clint Williams
Assistant Music Director…Katie Soukup
Choreographer…Kelly Simmons
Accompanists…Katie Soukup Marion Chau, and Nancy Ebert
These are the people responsible for creating the vision of Guys and Dolls and making it
come alive on the Longwood stage. As always, they certainly can use your talents to do
this. If you have sung in the chorus before, let us know that you’ll be joining us again
this year. If you know of people new to the group who would be interested in singing or
dancing (or both!) bring them to the Kick-Off Meeting on Wednesday, March 10, at
Aldersgate United Methodist Church. That’s when the Artistic Staff will share their
thoughts on the show to past participants and newcomers alike, and so it’s very important
that we all attend. It’s a new and exciting challenge for us. Join us in the fun, and bring
others along. There’s fun for all in Guys and Dolls!
THE BRANDYWINERS CHORALE
AmeriKids of West Chester
Grace Episcopal Church
Kennett Symphony of Chester County
St. Michael’s School and Nursery
$500
$500
$500
$500
Note: any Brandywiner may encourage a group to request a special gift. All requests
must be in writing, explaining the intended usage for the gift, and must be received by
August 1 of each year.
(2)
The Chorale carries the name of The Brandywiners to the public and advertises Guys and
Dolls by singing a medley from the show, along with other music, at every concert.
Darrin Peters is the Music Director, and he and the entire Chorale invite all of us to enjoy
a performance for Friends and Family, to be held at Aldersgate Church on Monday, May
10, at 7:30 p.m. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the talents of another part of our
organization, and if you missed the fall performance, you missed a truly great evening of
entertainment. If you are interested in learning more about the Chorale, its schedule of
concerts, or possibly joining it, check out the information on the website for The
Brandywiners.
(3)