S W hispers
tage
Vero B ea c h
Thea t r e G u i l d
Inside this issue:
Guild President Letter 2
You Can’t Take It W/You
2
Membership
2
Casting Our Future
2
Volunteer Spotlight
3
Tuesdays With Morrie
3
Ms. Senior Florida
3
Upcoming Shows
4
Ads & Sponsors
4
Ticket Hotline
4
Find Us On Facebook
4
Donations
The Vero Beach
Theatre Guild is in
need of a defibrillator
to have on hand in
case of a medical
emergency. The Vero
Beach Theatre Guild is
a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization. To
make a donation,
please contact the
Vero Beach Theatre
Guild Box Office at
772-562-8300, or visit
us at 2020 San Juan
Avenue.
March
2015
Theatre Guild’s Gypsy
Will Entertain Everyone!
Gypsy is directed by Jon
Putzke and features Eleanor
Dixon as ultimate show
business mother, Mama Rose.
Loosely based on the 1957 memoir of Gypsy Rose Lee, it focuses on the dreams
and efforts of Rose to raise her two young daughters, Baby June (Claire Collier) and
shy Louise (Lily Jaramillo), to perform on stage. With their loyal manager, Herbie
(Jerry Reichert), they travel the country singing their trademark song, Let me
Entertain You. In the 1930’s, as vaudeville is dying and burlesque is being born,
older June (Peyton Stygar) goes her own way. With her mother’s coaxing and
coaching, older but still shy Louise (Dahlia Davis) puts a whole new spin on “Let Me
Entertain You” as strip tease artist Gypsy.
Other cast members, many playing multiple roles, include Leslie Christoffel, Megan
Denson, Karine Dieuvil, Derrick Edmundson, Art Haeberle, Dani Heinig, Lauren Jenks,
Nancy Kelly, Gabriel Knott, Brian Lacerda, Janet Leger, Nash Shestak, Neil McKenzie,
Joshua Perry, Joshua Pinnock, Quintin Smith, Grace Ann Wagner and Karen Walter,
Jule Styne’s music and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics include Everything’s Coming Up
Roses, Let Me Entertain You, Rose’s Turn, Small World, Some People, Together
Wherever We Go, You Gotta Get a Gimmick and You’ll Never Get Away From Me.
Assisting Director Putzke, the Gypsy production staff includes Assistant Director:
Katha Kissman, Choreographer: Beth Shestak, Musical Director: Brady Johnson,
Assistant Musical Director: Marg Putzke, Producer: Carole Strauss, Set Designer,
Robin Volsky and Stage Manager: Lisa Keeler.
Jon Putzke has been in theatre since 1955, starting at the Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan
City, Indiana. Together with his wife, Marg, they have produced,
designed, directed, and costumed productions throughout the Midwest and
Southeast. Jon has played host and directed stars Dick Powell, Jr., Peter
Bergman, Jay Fox, Mercedes McCambridge, Cyd Charisse, Tony Martin,
Debbie Reynolds, Lou Rawels, Bobby Vinton, the Lettermen and the Stars
of Lawrence Welk. He has directed award winning productions of 1776,
Hello, Dolly, South Pacific, Shenandoah, and The Front Page.
In 1981, Jon and Marg and their son Brandon moved to Vero
Beach to head up The Arena Dinner Theatre at the Sheraton Showplace on
north A1A. At the Riverside Theatre, he produced a season of summer
Jon Putzke, Director Gypsy
stock premieres featuring Evita, A Chorus Line, and Two By Two.
For the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, Jon has directed Titanic, A
Night to Remember, Something’s Afoot, Our Town, Tenderloin and Oliver. Gypsy marks Jon’s
100th production he has directed in Vero Beach. As current owner and Artistic Producer of
Theatre-Go-Round Dinner Theatre, Jon serves on the Advisory Board for the Sunrise Theatre and
is a member of the Cultural Council’s planning committee for the Celebrate the Arts Festival.
Page 2
A Letter From Our President
After the loss of my Mother this past Fall, I have spent time thinking about how
volunteering at the Theatre really helped her the last years of her life. The Guild was like
an extended family, a refuge, and being able to give of her time and talents kept her
going, especially after Dad died and she had her stroke. We have so many individuals
like that…the Guild becomes a second home, and we give them added purpose.
Mark Wygonik
Mark has been involved with the
Guild since 1985, and has
served as character actor/
singer, set designer,
choreographer, stage
manager, and finally director.
He is a recent recipient of the
Richard A. Stark
Cultural Leadership Award.
One of the perks of my Board position is choosing someone to receive the Steve Stahl
President’s Choice Award for continued dedication. Dave Panula has spent the last eleven
years volunteering his time and energy building sets, working in the lighting booth,
participating in Guild On The Go, ushering, and appearing on stage in nine (9!) shows. He
“missed the boat” in TITANIC…was a German butler in THE SOUND OF MUSIC…and
danced as a large wooden spoon in BEAUTY & THE BEAST, to highlight just a few of his
roles. And in the face of grave personal illness, Dave found the time to work on the set
and usher for WHOSE WIVES…, always with a cheery smile and a warm, genuinely
sincere hello for everyone. With no self-pity or demands to be treated with kid-gloves, he
has shown us what volunteering is all about: Giving of oneself for the greater good. It is
for all these reasons that I am so very humbled to honor Dave Panula with the Steve Stahl
President’s Choice Award. Please know that you are loved and respected, Dave, and an
inspiration to all who call themselves Theatre Guild volunteers.
May 14-24
Directed by Dee Ridenour
Written by George S. Kauffman and Moss Hart
This Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by George S.
Kaufman and Moss Hart starts with the budding romance
between Tony Kirby and Alice Sycamore. When Tony
accidentally brings his parents to dinner at the Sycamores’
house the night before they are expected, they encounter all the interesting characters
living in the Sycamore’s home, including ones who have stopped by and never
left. After an explosive evening, the Kirbys decide Alice is not the girl for Tony. Maybe
the Grand Duchess of Russia will change their minds.
Casting Our Future CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Membership
Are you a volunteer for the Vero Beach
Theatre Guild, but haven’t become a
member? The Annual Meeting and
election for Board of Directors is coming
up in June, and to vote for your favorite Board Members, you must be a
member of the VBTG. Membership is
only $35 and must be paid by May 11,
2015. If you are wanting to run for a
Board position, your membership must
be current. Don’t delay…stop at the
Box Office and pay by check, cash or
credit card (American Express not accepted). Season Ticket subscribers are
automatically members.
This essential East Wing Expansion Project will provide almost 5,000
square feet of space in a three-story building attached to the existing
theatre. With your generous support, the Vero Beach Theatre Guild will
enhance the facilities by providing:
 A state-of-the-art rehearsal hall and on-site storage for VBTG’s
valuable collection of costumes and props

First-rate dressing rooms that will help to retain our talented actors and attract new
volunteers
There are many ways to give and create a lasting legacy for your family through:
Naming Opportunities, Recognition Plaques or Cash Donations.
For more information on how you can Be a Star in Casting Our Expansion’s Future,
call us at 772-562-8300, or DONATE ONLINE at www.verobeachtheatreguild.com.
Page 3
Volunteer Spotlight On February 9th, George Carabin turned
George Carabin
90 and we continually celebrate his accomplishments and
contributions as a Theatre Guild director. His plays, too numerous to
mention in total, have included three Genie Shows of the Year, Rumors,
Catch Me If You Can and the riveting drama, All My Sons. From
professional actor in Romania as a young man, to professor and
director of many venues in America, his theatrical career spans over
seven decades.
At the Guild, we know the warm and popular George Carabin as an
actor’s director. For a Playbill article, George was once asked to
comment on the art of directing:
“The director needs to encourage and guide the actor through a metamorphosis from what he is to
what he must become as a stage character…. Every element of a play- the set, costumes, props,
lighting, sound- requires a collaboration of artists to create a functional environment in support of the
actors. It’s rewarding as a director to observe both on and off stage, persons with different
backgrounds, different responsibilities, different talents working together towards that mesmerizing
moment when the curtain goes up.” Happy 90th Birthday George!
Tuesdays With Morrie
Written by Mitch Albom, Directed by Robin Volsky
Have you ever promised to stay in touch with someone and didn’t? Tuesdays With Morrie
is a true story of such a severance. Two men, Morrie Schwartz, a college professor and
mentor to his student Mitch Albom, were once close during Mitch’s college days at
Brandeis University (in the 70s), but after graduation, life got in the way. Their reunion
may never have happened if not for chance. During Mitch’s channel surfing late one
night, he stumbled upon Nightline with Ted Koppel and a fateful interview with Morrie
Schwartz, who was dying of ALS, (Lou Gehrig's disease). Their reunion and subsequent
visits (always on Tuesdays), are the source for the material Mitch uses for the book, movie
and play.
John Houx and Jim Daly bring this tender story to the Vero Beach Theatre Guild stage
for a one weekend only Fundraiser April 10th, 11th and 12th . Tickets are $20 and can
be ordered online at verobeachtheatreguild.com or call the Box Office at 562- 8300.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED The 58th year of
Community Theater for the Vero Beach Theatre Guild
is coming quickly. The line-up for our 2015/2016
season is on page 4, and we are needing talented
Directors, Set Designers, Stage Managers, etc. to make
these productions come to life. Directors, please list
your top three (3) choices to direct. If you would like
to be an integral part of our Community Theatre
family, please contact Mark Wygonik at
[email protected] or send him a letter
indicating your interest to VBTG, 2020 San Juan
Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960 by April 1, 2015.
Helen Hartman
Jim Daly
John Houx
CONGRATULATIONS Helen
Hartman is the Indian River County’s
entrant for the MS. Senior Florida
Pageant and has been a volunteer in our
Costume Department since 2011. Did
you know Helen is a professional
genealogist, taught line dancing for 13
years, learned to play the guitar and
write songs and learned Spanish so she
could communicate with a new friend
from Argentina. Come out and support
her on March 7 at the Vero Beach
Performing Arts Center.
Vero B ea c h Th ea t r e G u i l d
P. O. Box 1502
2020 San Juan Avenue
Vero Beach, FL 32960
VISIT US AT:
verobeachtheatreguild.com
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
TICKET HOTLINE:
772-562-8300 or
PAID
verobeachtheatreguild.com
President: Mark P. Wygonik
Vice President: Art Haeberle
Treasurer: Carole Strauss
Secretary: James Schorner
Directors:
Debbie Chastain
Don Croteau
Marlys Kauten
Bill Lembeck
Roberta Rose
Vero Beach, FL
Permit No. 62
CURRENT OCCUPANT OR
FOLLOW US ON
INSTAGRAM
2015 /2016 Season
TEAR OFF AND SAVE THIS SECTION FOR QUICK REFERENCE
TICKET
HOTLINE:
772-562-8300 or
Dates To Remember
 Gypsy March 12-29
 Tuesdays With Morrie April 10-12
 You Can’t Take It With You May 14-24
 Genie Awards June 20
 Annual Meeting/Election of Board
of Directors June 25
T
he Guild needs help in soliciting playbill ads and
show sponsors for next season. If you can give us a
few hours of your time over the next two months we can
supply you with selling materials outlining the costs and
business building benefits derived from ads or sponsorship
in our playbill. Your job will be to get the ad or sponsorship commitment. We will follow up in seeing that the ad
or sponsorship is placed in the playbill Please contact Bill
Lembeck at 772-205-2872 or: [email protected]
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS ONLINE:
verobeachtheatreguild.com
Hearing Assist Devices Available
Inquire at Box Office
Sorry, no refunds. Reservations by phone or online: VISA, Master Card or Discover.