Busy rehearsal for the show and lots going on in the hall at Durant.
Show chairman/producer/ticket sales guru/props collector/and guy with the most positive attitude and cheerful approach anywhere, Brian Ammerman, had tickets for sale before the meeting. Don Dillingham and Chuck Powell helped staff the sales tables for the afternoon and evening shows.
After the musical warm ups, Director Joe Cerutti went right to work on the fall show music. Music vp, Terry Reynolds, and Brian helped things move along with some pointers on how the show will flow, and what the actors will do (sort of staging plans) and what the script will be like. (Never fear – it is a corny as any show we have ever done! Our audiences will love it.)
Good to see Chuck McKeever back. (He is back after a health incident (blacked out at home in his kitchen a couple weeks ago) but has gotten all-clear results from a huge list of tests.) He helped with reminders of the chorus choreography for the show songs. And he was thankful for the help from TJ Jones and Chuck Powell at previous rehearsals.
Operations vp, Mark Klostermeyer, conducted the chapter meeting portion of the evening. He encouraged the guys to take care of ticket sales, afterglow ticket purchases, picking up International chorus photos and medals.
Chapter secretary, Chris Buechler, presented a 25-year pin and renewal card to Chuck McKeever, and a 46-year renewal card to Jack Pitzer (YeEd).
Membership vp, Phil Ashford, introduced us to six guests – four are applicants.
Brian just had a few items t: reminder of the 10:30 am chorus call on Saturday; there will be time to get out of the theater for dinner, watch for email from Keith Jones and Sam McFarland about nearby eateries; the chapter could use the names of a bunch more students to give tickets to and fill the seats.
Scipio Garling reminded everyone of the special guest nite on Sept. 27th. There will be special events to welcome them and not overwhelm them. He suggested we should all follow up with the names of prospects we submitted earlier. Be there! Bring some goodies to share too – the cupboard is a little empty.
Brad Jones spoke about filling out the forms for those going to China. He sent out an email with the details. He reports about 143 going from our chapter with about 70 of them being singers. A good number are also coming from Toronto Northern Lights.
After the break it was back to show run-thru. The assistant directors also worked with the chorus on their songs.
We worked hard right up til the 10 pm bell. TJ Jones took us out for the nite and then everyone pitched in to take down and put away or load onto the truck for this weekend.
A good crowd gathered on the outside patio of the Hilton across from the Metro.
It was good to see some guys in the hall that we have missed recently – Dean Rust, Terry Jordan, Martin Banks, Mick Stamps and Craig Odell.
Busy weekend. AND then we need everyone back into the routine of regular Tuesday nite rehearsal as we dig into a bunch of new holiday music for the show.
Great to hear than Dean Martin has resumed his HarmoCast with a new one with Brandon Guyton. Dean hopes to be down to the show from his home in PA.
Until next time – editorjack!
(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Looking Back on the September 13th Chapter Meeting
(Many thanks to Jacob George and Alan Wile for taking notes for this report. YeEd)
While the risers were retrieved from under the stage and set up, a number of Harmonizers were seated behind tables for the following purposes: Show Producer Brian Ammerman – hawking fall show tickets; Bruce Lauther – returning engraved medals; Ian Poulin – scrip and fall show afterglow ticket sales; Jack Cameron distributed chorus pictures from the Kansas City contest; Bob Blair collected registration forms for the China trip [deadline is 9/15 so get ‘em in if you intend to go!]; and Dan O’Brien, filling in as VP-Membership, greeted guests. Attendance was taken by .
At 7:00 p.m., sharp, VP-Operations Mark Klostermeyer (K-12) called “Harmonizers on the Risers” and Assistant Director Will Cox warmed us up. Immediately afterwards the chorus dispersed for sectionals on page 2-3 of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Turning to the songs to be performed on our fall show, Master Director Joe Cerutti first tackled “If I Loved You.” Next, it was “New York, New York.” “What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor” followed … during which Joe invited the basses to leave the room to work out a couple of sections.
Then it was “Summertime.” Just prior to the break we rehearsed “I’ll Be Seeing You.” VP-M&P Terry Reynolds was “out front” for several songs, as was TJ Jones who coached us on the choreography.
K-12 announced the following birthdays for this week. Secretary Chris Buechler presented our newest member, Paul Douglas, with the symbols of membership. Chris also presented Joe Wagovich with his 30-year membership card and lapel pin. Other members receiving membership renewal cards were Don Thompson (19 years), Bob Wilson (34 years), and Randy Lazear (with a whopping 37 years).
VP-Shows Ken White asked all members to sign up on the paper lists for the two performances on the 24th and Brian Ammerman asked that the members do the same for the afterglow, together with the number of tickets purchased/needed.
K-12 noted that Chris Buechler had Harmonizer logo shirts for those who ordered them.
Substitute VP-Membership Dan O’Brien introduced our six guests, after which Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome song.”
In addition, it was GREAT to see some members who returned from summer vacations, etc., and the following members who are not often present were in evidence: Terry Jordan, Bob Wilson, Al Herman, and Tom Kraus, and package show producer Greg Tepe.
Following the break (yes, there were goodies in the kitchen for the taking thanks to Bob Wilson), Brian Ammerman briefed us on the status of the fall show (not all good news):
o Sign up to perform – on both performances
o Riser crew needed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23rd, to help Harmo-Van Driver Bob Blair set up and dress the risers
o Catering Team – Sam McFarland and Keith Jones
o Uniform requirements: yellow and blue shirts; yellow, blue & black ties; black suit, white tie/tails
o Ticket Sales: We need to sell about 500 tickets to break even. Currently less than 400 have been sold. Use your Facebook accounts to “like” and “share” news about the show … and do it more than once. Call friends to remind them about the show and encourage them to get tickets if they’ve not done so already. There will be an ad in The Washington Post and 3,200 postcards will be sent out to our patrons. Less than 2 weeks to go.
Directors Joe and Tony worked on “Hello, My Baby” and TJ Jones and Chuck Powell helped with the choreo. Joe returned to work “What Do I Need With Love” (with and without the Front Row, which was dismissed to work in the lobby). He briefly revisited some sections of “Hello, My Baby” before turning to “O Holy Night” – which brought us to 10:00 p.m.
K-12 urged all to sell tickets to the show one more time before asking Lew Klinge to “take us out” by directing “Keep The Whole World Singing.”
Until next time – editorjack!
(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
While the risers were retrieved from under the stage and set up, a number of Harmonizers were seated behind tables for the following purposes: Show Producer Brian Ammerman – hawking fall show tickets; Bruce Lauther – returning engraved medals; Ian Poulin – scrip and fall show afterglow ticket sales; Jack Cameron distributed chorus pictures from the Kansas City contest; Bob Blair collected registration forms for the China trip [deadline is 9/15 so get ‘em in if you intend to go!]; and Dan O’Brien, filling in as VP-Membership, greeted guests. Attendance was taken by .
At 7:00 p.m., sharp, VP-Operations Mark Klostermeyer (K-12) called “Harmonizers on the Risers” and Assistant Director Will Cox warmed us up. Immediately afterwards the chorus dispersed for sectionals on page 2-3 of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Turning to the songs to be performed on our fall show, Master Director Joe Cerutti first tackled “If I Loved You.” Next, it was “New York, New York.” “What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor” followed … during which Joe invited the basses to leave the room to work out a couple of sections.
Then it was “Summertime.” Just prior to the break we rehearsed “I’ll Be Seeing You.” VP-M&P Terry Reynolds was “out front” for several songs, as was TJ Jones who coached us on the choreography.
K-12 announced the following birthdays for this week. Secretary Chris Buechler presented our newest member, Paul Douglas, with the symbols of membership. Chris also presented Joe Wagovich with his 30-year membership card and lapel pin. Other members receiving membership renewal cards were Don Thompson (19 years), Bob Wilson (34 years), and Randy Lazear (with a whopping 37 years).
VP-Shows Ken White asked all members to sign up on the paper lists for the two performances on the 24th and Brian Ammerman asked that the members do the same for the afterglow, together with the number of tickets purchased/needed.
K-12 noted that Chris Buechler had Harmonizer logo shirts for those who ordered them.
Substitute VP-Membership Dan O’Brien introduced our six guests, after which Will Cox directed the “Harmonizer Welcome song.”
In addition, it was GREAT to see some members who returned from summer vacations, etc., and the following members who are not often present were in evidence: Terry Jordan, Bob Wilson, Al Herman, and Tom Kraus, and package show producer Greg Tepe.
Following the break (yes, there were goodies in the kitchen for the taking thanks to Bob Wilson), Brian Ammerman briefed us on the status of the fall show (not all good news):
o Sign up to perform – on both performances
o Riser crew needed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23rd, to help Harmo-Van Driver Bob Blair set up and dress the risers
o Catering Team – Sam McFarland and Keith Jones
o Uniform requirements: yellow and blue shirts; yellow, blue & black ties; black suit, white tie/tails
o Ticket Sales: We need to sell about 500 tickets to break even. Currently less than 400 have been sold. Use your Facebook accounts to “like” and “share” news about the show … and do it more than once. Call friends to remind them about the show and encourage them to get tickets if they’ve not done so already. There will be an ad in The Washington Post and 3,200 postcards will be sent out to our patrons. Less than 2 weeks to go.
Directors Joe and Tony worked on “Hello, My Baby” and TJ Jones and Chuck Powell helped with the choreo. Joe returned to work “What Do I Need With Love” (with and without the Front Row, which was dismissed to work in the lobby). He briefly revisited some sections of “Hello, My Baby” before turning to “O Holy Night” – which brought us to 10:00 p.m.
K-12 urged all to sell tickets to the show one more time before asking Lew Klinge to “take us out” by directing “Keep The Whole World Singing.”
Until next time – editorjack!
(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)
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