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BBQ, Annual General Meeting & Open Mic

It’s time to kick off summer with your friends at KW Musical Productions. Reconnect with cast and crew mates and join us for a BBQ potluck followed by our Annual General Meeting. This is a time to celebrate the 2014/2015 Season and hear about what’s coming in the year ahead. The BBQ & AGM will take place on Thursday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the KW Musical Productions Rehearsal Space at 14 Shaftsbury Drive, Kitchener.

Meat and veggie burgers are supplied, but please feel free to bring your favourite side dish or appetizer. At the meeting members will hear the report and statements required by the Corporations Act, to be read and laid before the Members of the Corporation; elect Directors to our Board; and appoint the auditors and fix, or authorize the Board to fix, their remuneration.

Want to join the Board of Directors? We are always looking for new people to help govern this longstanding organization. By-Laws state that anyone wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must file their intentions in writing with the Secretary of the Corporation, at least 72 hours in advance of the Annual General Meeting. Send us an email of interest to info@kwmp.ca.

The Board of Directors invites you to join us for this fun-filled event – we are having a blast and getting down to business at the same time!

DETAILS

Kitchener Waterloo Musical Productions BBQ & AGM
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2015
BBQ: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AGM: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Open Mic Night: 8:30 p.m. onwards
Location: 14 Shaftsbury Ave, Kitchener, ON

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, June 11, 2015

Members may vote either in person, or by proxy by one of the following:

Mail: 14 Shaftsbury Ave, Kitchener, ON
Scan & Email: info@kwmp.ca

Get Ready to Rock with Bye Bye Birdie

• WHO: KW Musical Productions
• WHAT: Bye Bye Birdie
• WHEN: February 12th to 21st at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
• TICKETS: $35 plus HST
• BOX OFFICE: 519-747-7788
• ONLINE: www.kwmp.ca

WATERLOO REGION – Before Beatlemania, before Bieber Fever, came the original rock ‘n’ roll heartthrob, the one and only Conrad Birdie. KW Musical Productions brings you back to the 1950s with the Tony-Award Winning musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. On stage from February 12th to 21st, this is one musical hit you won’t want to miss.

Bye Bye Birdie centres around rock ‘n’ roll superstar Conrad Birdie (loosely based on Elvis Presley), who, to the dismay of his adoring fans, is about to be drafted into the army by Uncle Sam. Birdie’s manager, Albert, and his secretary/girlfriend, Rosie, cook up a plan to send him off in style with a hit new song and one last kiss from a lucky fan on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” A town full of colourful characters including crazed teenagers, a jealous boyfriend, and spotlight stealing father make for a rollicking good time.

The upbeat score of Bye Bye Birdie features classic songs such as “Put On A Happy Face,” “A Lot of Livin’ To Do,” “The Telephone Hour,” “Kids,” and “One Last Kiss.” Winner of 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Bye Bye Birdie will keep you humming these classic tunes for days.

“If you loved Hairspray, you won’t want to miss Bye Bye Birdie,” says John Bigelow, President of KW Musical Productions. “Delightfully humorous and wildly entertaining; this family musical brings you back to a simpler time.”

The story is anchored by Tim Clarke as Conrad’s bumbling manager Albert, the role made famous by Dick Van Dyke. Local jazz singer Rebecca Binnendyk takes on the leading role of his sultry secretary and would-be fiancée Rosie. Binnendyk is well known for her stellar voice and charisma having performed regularly in town at The Jazz Room, as well as in the U.S. and overseas. The show further stars Reuben Eby as the teen idol superstar Conrad Birdie and Sarah Bowman as Kim, the lucky fan who gets to give Birdie one last kiss. Trevor Middleton plays Kim’s boyfriend Hugo, Rob Bridel and Sarah Willett portray her father and mother, and Ryan O’Donnell joins the family as Kim’s little brother Randolph. Other leads include Amy Leis as Kim’s best friend Ursula, Shelagh Ranalli as Mae Peterson, and Amie Debrone as Gloria.

This show features a cast of over 40 local actors including Jocelyn Bannon, Caitlin Bergauer, Conor Bergauer, Nathan Chaytor, Shaylynn Diebolt, Gabe Guerra, Maya Holmes, Charlotte Kingston, Kelsi Knowles, Madeline Lehmann, Kayla Liebig, Ciara Moules, Monika Plauszta, Destiny Rettinger, Hayley Sopik, Ruth Tierney, and Alten Wilmot in the Teen Chorus. Diana Barber, Amy Barber-MacLean, John Bigelow, Steve Brown, Sebastian Mateus, Gabe Namtu, John Payne, Amy Sproule, and Randy Streich round out the talented adult ensemble.

The creative team for Bye Bye Birdie includes Director David Atkins, Music Director Michael Brown and Choreographer Christine Watson. The 1950s set is designed by Samantha Burson with complementary lighting design by Laura Johnson-Sherratt and lavish period costumes designed by Ann MacKenzie. Props created by Claudia Riggi with hair, wigs and make-up by Ene Billings. Nadene Riehl is the Stage Manager with Ian Huggins, and Stephanie Bradshaw as Assistant Stage Managers.

For the past 66 years, KW Musical Productions has given local residents an opportunity to shine both on and offstage. No one in the cast is a professional performer and for the majority of the production team theatre is not their full time job. Having successfully produced over 75 productions since 1948, KWMP continues to stay true to its mandate and provide community members of every age and background the opportunity “to experience and participate in high quality musical theatre.”

“You don’t need to have any experience to be involved with KWMP, just a passion for musical theatre,” says Bigelow. “I encourage anyone who is interested in being involved onstage and off to contact us through our website – we are always happy to welcome new members. Our members not only have a fabulous time putting on shows, but also form lasting friendships.”

Bye Bye Birdie is proudly sponsored by Ottawa Heritage Dental, Swanson’s Home Hardware Building Centre, Rogers Radio Group including 96.7 CHYM FM, 106.7 Country and 570 News, 98.5 CKWR, The Waterloo Region Record, Kitchener Post and the Waterloo Chronicle. One For The Wall Photography is the photography sponsor.

Don’t miss the knee slapping excitement of this smash hit family musical. Bye Bye Birdie is on stage at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from February 12th to 21st. Tickets are $35 plus HST and can be purchased online at www.kwmp.ca, in person at the Drayton Entertainment Box Office, or by calling 519-747-7788.

For more information please contact:
Brenden Sherratt
Publicist, KW Musical Productions
marketing (at) kwmp.ca
519-591-0095

A New Stage for KW Musical Productions!

Many of you may have noticed the recent media coverage about the Centre In The Square. Over the last two years the Centre In The Square has gone through substantial organizational changes in order to streamline their business, including increasing their rental rates for community groups. With so much competition for entertainment dollars in Waterloo Region, the Centre In The Square faces the same financial challenges as most not-for-profit arts organizations in the country. We have encountered many of the same hurdles and can appreciate their situation.

KWMP has produced musicals at the Centre In The Square since 1980. Over the last five years, our sales for shows at that venue have declined substantially due to the rising costs and the number of seats in the theatre that must be sold in order to reach our budget threshold. After disappointing sales for Anne of Green Gables last fall, the Board of Directors made the difficult decision not to renew our annual contract. We are extremely proud of our 34 years at this world class venue, but we must be financially prudent in order to preserve the legacy of our organization.

Over the last few months, the Board of Directors has diligently explored other venue options. It is with great excitement that we formally announce our plan for the coming Season. As many of you know, rehearsals have already begun for The Drowsy Chaperone which will be produced at The Registry Theatre from November 6 to 15, 2014. We are very excited that longtime performer Eric Da Costa will step behind-the-scenes to direct this fun-filled comedic production. Eric was part of our mentorship program as the Assistant Director for Anne of Green Gables last fall. It’s exciting to see him take the next step and be at the helm of a production.

Earlier this year, we had the great fortune of returning to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse after a seven year hiatus. Our production of The Full Monty, staged in February, was a bit of an experiment to see if we could produce larger scale musicals in this venue. The Full Monty was a critical and financial success paving the way for a new vision for KWMP.

Our major musical for the coming Season will be Bye Bye Birdie presented at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from February 12 to 21, 2015. We anticipate a cast size of around 40-50 people, so although our big musical will not be quite as large as it was at the Centre In The Square, there will still be plenty of cast and crew positions available for aspiring artists on stage and off. David Atkins and Michael Brown will return as Director and Music Director, and Christine Watson, who choreographed The Full Monty will join their ranks as Choreographer.

This season was full of new projects – we undertook our first fundraiser in May and it was a rousing success both artistically and financially. We have decided to make this an annual event and look forward to the return of Broadway Our Way next spring, which will be extended over two weekends from May 21-30, 2015. We will produce the fundraiser at our building on Shaftsbury Avenue – this is the first time we will have produced a show in our own space and we look forward to that exciting challenge. Please watch for our call for volunteers in early 2015.

We know that change can be unsettling, but we want to assure you that the organization you know and love will continue to produce high quality musical theatre and provide opportunities for the community to be involved at all levels. The big bonus here is the reduction in ticket prices – you’ll notice that all our shows are now under $40 before tax. We are thrilled that our musicals are more affordable than ever.

The Board of Directors is confident that the changes to the venues and structure of our Season will maintain the vitality of our community theatre organization for generations to come.  In closing, we invite you to become a member and reconnect with the KWMP family. Whether you were involved last season, or haven’t been a member for years, we want you to be part of the 2014/2015 Season. KWMP is built by and for the membership. Email us at info@kwmp.ca to renew your membership today.

John Bigelow
President

Call for Volunteers for the Drowsy Chaperone

KWMP is looking for a number of volunteers to help bring its production of The Drowsy Chaperone to life. If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of a KWMP production, or are wondering what happens behind the scenes to make these shows happen, this is your opportunity! This is also a great opportunity for High School students looking to complete their volunteer hours.

See the volunteer positions PDF for details on all the volunteer positions we have available.

Book Your Audition for the Drowsy Chaperone!

CALL for AUDITIONS for KWMP’s The Drowsy Chaperone, on stage at the Registry Theatre November 6-15

General Information

• Auditions will be held July 7, 8, and 9 evenings
• Callbacks will be held July 10 in the evening
• All auditions and callbacks will take place at the KWMP Rehearsal Hall, 14 Shaftsbury Dr, Kitchener
• Auditions are open to anyone aged 17 and older
• Auditions can be booked at appointment.com/kwmp
• Character breakdowns can be found here: CastingBreakdown-TheDrowsyChaperone

Audition Requirements

• Please fill out and print this audition form to bring to your audition. Please bring a head and shoulders photo to attach to your audition form
• Please come prepared with 16-32 bars of two contrasting musical theatre pieces, one being in the style of the show (but not from the show). You may be asked for one or both. You may bring sheet music (a pianist will be present) or an MP3 of the instrumental music to accompany you. You may bring an accompanist if you so choose
• Movement/dance will be a component of the callbacks
• Lead roles, then named roles, then ensemble will be notified within three days. All auditionees should be notified by July 15th

Video Auditions

• Video auditions will be accepted from those who are unable to attend one of the audition evenings, but must be received before July 7. A video should include both styles of songs and evidence of movement/dance ability (YouTube links are acceptable). Please send to auditions@kwmp.ca; include the completed audition form and a digital photo in your email

Cast Requirements

• Cast are expected to learn parts before September 4 (subject to change). Costumes and sets may begin in intervening months. Individual and/or group dance , and/or vocal rehearsals may occur over summer at the discretion and availability of cast and Directors
• All cast will be required to purchase a membership ($25), a script ($10) and provide a $50 cheque as deposit toward production hours (refunded on completion of 10 hours)

Important Production Dates and Times

• Rehearsals: begin September 4th and run Thursdays from 6:30pm to 10pm, and Sundays from 1pm to 10pm (optional Wednesdays if needed for choreography or leads dependent on availability of space and at discretion of directors)
• Load in/ set-up at The Registry Theatre: Nov 2
• Tech/dress: Nov 3, 4, 5
• Performances: November 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 (Matinee), 15

Book your audition now!

Now Accepting Creative Team Applications for The Drowsy Chaperone and Bye Bye Birdie

KWMP is now accepting applications for the creative teams for their next two shows: The Drowsy Chaperone and Bye Bye Birdie. All applications must be received by May 10, 2014. Audition information will be posted at a later date.

• Click here for information on Drowsy Chaperone creative team applications
• Click here for information on Bye Bye Birdie creative team applications

A breakdown of responsibilities for the various creative team positions can be found at this link: Creative Team Descriptions

Broadway Our Way: A Cabaret Fundraiser

Join us as we celebrate KWMP’s 65-year history and look towards a bright future! Enjoy performances of some of the biggest Broadway hits as well as some undiscovered gems by contemporary composers. This event includes live entertainment, cash bar, silent auction, and door prizes… all in support of KW Musical Productions, Waterloo Region’s premiere community theatre company and one-of-a-kind training ground for aspiring performers. Buy your tickets here.

KWMP’s Annual Dinner Dance

Members of KW Musical Productions are invited to attend the Annual Dinner Dance Saturday April 5th at the Walper Terrace Hotel. Attend on your own or bring a guest and enjoy a great meal with friends along with a few surprises. Cash bar.

To buy tickets you will need the code: 65Years. Buy your tickets here.

Advertising Rates and Sponsorships for The Full Monty

Broadway’s smash-hit comedy The Full Monty is coming this February to Waterloo Region! More information on the production can be found here.

Advertising

Tickets On Sale for The Full Monty

Tickets are now on sale for KWMP’s production of The Full Monty, coming this February to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.

Audience Advisory
Please note this production contains explicit language and content. Recommended for audiences 13+.

Dates
February 13-22, 2014

Location
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
40 Benjamin Rd. E.,
Waterloo, ON N2V 2J9

Prices
All tickets are $35 plus HST. Groups of 20 or more can buy tickets at a rate of $30 per ticket plus HST.

Buy Tickets