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NEWS: City OKs Guild Building Sign Board Selects Season 82 Lineup TGWGers GARNER AFL AWARDS

FEATURES: Prayers and Wishes Members About Town Where Are They Now? WANTED: Talented Guild members that would like to help with the Publicity Committee. We really need more than one person organizing this committee. If interested contact Linda Spall or Ginny Austermann.

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CITY OKS GUILD BUILDING SIGN Updated Oct. 23, 2007   ON MONDAY EVENING, Oct. 22, Guild President Debbie Love and Vice-President David Bornholdt attended a hearing before the Webster Groves Board of Adjustments, hoping to win a variance so that the Guild may proceed with its plan to post a sign on its building at 517 Theatre Lane.   The sign, designed by Plasti-Lite Signs, will read: ‘‘Theatre Guild of Webster Groves Established 1926.’’ It is to be installed between the porch roof and the second floor window.   ‘‘Debbie and I presented our case,’’ David said. ‘‘[The Board of Adjustments] referred to our theater as a treasure that must be protected and voted unanimously in favor.’’   The variance was necessary because of a City ordinance prohibiting building signs higher than the first floor. Because Theatre Lane is several feet lower than Summit, TGWG believes that sign placement below the second floor would hamper the sign’s visibility to drivers on Summit. BOARD SELECTS SEASON 82 LINEUP (updated Wed., Feb. 20, 2007)   ON MONDAY, FEB 18, the Guild Board selected five plays for Season 82, which begins in the Fall of 2008. They are: The Philadelphia Story, by Philip Barry Deathtrap, by Ira Levin Private Lives, by Noel Coward Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, by Alan Ball Twelve Angry Jurors, adapted by Sherman Sergel NEWS: City OKs Guild Building Sign Board Selects Season 82 Lineup TGWGers GARNER AFL AWARDS FEATURES: Prayers and Wishes Members About Town Where Are They Now? WANTED: Talented Guild members that would like to help with the Publicity Committee. We really need more than one person organizing this committee. If interested contact Linda Spall or Ginny Austermann. TGWGers GARNER AFL AWARDS Ryan Cooper, Best Comedic Actor, ‘‘Bub Frump’’ in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Judy Moebeck, Best Comedic Actress, ‘‘Sr. Mary Amnesia’’ in Nuncrackers Chris Beckner, Best Actress in a Non-Singing Role, ‘‘C.J. Scruggs’’ in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Back to Main Menu PRAYERS AND WISHES    ... for longtime TGWGer LAURIE DEBORD -- Updated Sunday, Feb. 2, 2007 ... for the family and friends of JO LOVINS. Jo passed away Friday, July 13, 2007. -- Updated Thursday, July 19, 2007 ...for the family and friends of TGWG Lifetime Member BOB LAUMAN, who passed away Friday, August 31, 2007. -- Updated Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007    ... for Ryan Cooper (‘‘Lucius Goodenough,’’ Curse of an Aching Heart), whose grandfather Glenn Cooper passed away November 29, 2007. -- Updated Dec. 6, 2007 ... for the family and friends of John Rooker (Boy Gets Girl). John passed away sometime in late November. -- Updated Dec. 6, 2007 NEWS: City OKs Guild Building Sign Board Selects Season 82 Lineup TGWGers GARNER AFL AWARDS FEATURES: Prayers and Wishes Members About Town Where Are They Now? WANTED: Talented Guild members that would like to help with the Publicity Committee. We really need more than one person organizing this committee. If interested contact Linda Spall or Ginny Austermann.

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Members About Town (Last updated January 12, 2008)
CURRENT: SHAKE THAT SPEARE Look for Joe Wegescheide (The Unexpected Guest, Beanstalk! The Musical!) as ‘‘Angelo’’ and Britteny Henry (Beanstalk! The Musical,Verdict) as ‘‘Mariana’’ in CCT’s upcoming Measure for Measure. The show runs February 29 through March 16 at Concordia Seminary’s 210-seat theater in the former CBC High School building at 6501 Clayton Road. SAVAGE BONDS Joe Wegeschiede (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Stroke of Twelve, The Unexpected Guest, Beanstalk! The Musical!) directed The Curious Savage for CCT back in late October/early November. Fellow Guild member Andrea Busch (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, L’il Abner, Inspecting Carol) appeared as ‘‘Lily Belle Savage.’’ FATHER CHRISTMAS Your humble webmaster Don Love portrayed the Jolly Old Elf five times in December: at a childrens’ party, a Knights of Columbus party, a garden club party, a soup kitchen in the Soulard area, and a nursing home in Jefferson County.   Don, who attended School4Santas back in June, says: ‘‘I’ve played elderly men before. But at 1700-plus years, ‘Nicholas of Patera’ is definitely the oldest.’’ NEWS: City OKs Guild Building Sign Board Selects Season 82 Lineup TGWGers GARNER AFL AWARDS FEATURES: Prayers and Wishes Members About Town Where Are They Now? WANTED: Talented Guild members that would like to help with the Publicity Committee. We really need more than one person organizing this committee. If interested contact Linda Spall or Ginny Austermann. ADVERTISEMENT The GUILD Needs VOLUNTEERS! Contact VINCE WIECK at tgwg@theaterguildwg.org	RECENT: THREE IN TWO Three cast members from Sept., 2006’s Plaza Suite -- David Bornholdt, Bob Harvey, and Jason Meyers -- appeared in Arthur Miller’s A Memory of Two Mondays at Soundstage back in November. WOODEN GLASS BELL Hopefully you caught lovely Karen Wood at the West County Family YMCA in Chesterfield as ‘‘Isabel’’ in The Fisherman and His Wife (a children's show) in October, then again as ‘‘Laura’’ in the Tennessee Williams classic The Glass Menagerie in Nov. TUSSLE AT THE TABLE Collen Backer portrayed ‘‘Anna Reardon,’’ one of three sisters coming together for one last anxiety-ridden family dinner in Paul Zindel’s And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little for Stray Dog Theatre in November. BRATTER HALF Vince Wieck played bewildered newlywed ‘‘Paul Bratter’’ in Neil Simon’s classic Barefoot in the Park with K’s Theatrical Korps in November.   Vince, as TGWG audience members will recall, played ‘‘Carter Forstman/Lee Restover’’ in May’s Any Number Can Die. ONGOING: WORDSLINGER Longtime Guild member Allan Schickman is now a published author. His novel, Zan-Gah (Earthshaker Books, ISBN [978-]0-9790357-0-8), held your humble webmaster’s interest from beginning to end. The story, set in pre-history, follows a remarkably courageous and resourceful young man’s transformation from child to great leader. NOW YOU’RE COOKIN’! Board member and Prime Time Player Linda Spall is doing a one-woman show at Minions Restaurant in Maplewood, Cooking With Marge on Fridays and Saturdays. WEEKEND WANDERER Soccer Moms assistant director David Bornholdt does weekend murder mystery shows for Upstage Productions at various wineries across MO and IL.   TGWG patrons may recognize David as ‘‘Jesse’’ from our September production Plaza Suite. SPANISH STEPS On Thursdays, catch Carin Thyssen dancing flamenco at COCA. Carin appeared in multiple roles (as ‘‘Maude’’ and also as tap-dancer ‘‘English’’ in the World War I number, ‘‘Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat’’) in Funny Girl, 2004. TILTING AT DRAGONS Check out Boy Gets Girl stars Suki Peters and Doug Hettich, along with You Can’t Take It with You cast member Alan ‘‘Soupy’’ David, down on the Landing in the improv troupe The Dragon’s Keep the 2nd Saturday of every month. ‘‘It’s an Audience Interactive Improv Adventure Show,’’ Suki explains. ‘‘It’s like Mad TV meets Choose Your Own Adventure where the audience plays the lead characters.’’ For more info, visit: www.the-dragons-keep.com
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Last updated October 5, 2007 In early October 2007, a source close to Jack Seline informed the Guild that ‘‘he has since moved on from ‘atmospheric’ work to producer, ironically much like the role in Epic Proportions. He has just [w]rapped his first film, as producer, entitled The Source due out sometime next year and is currently in pre-production for his second feature also due out sometime next year.’’   Epic Proportions was a hilarious 2005 Guild production about two brothers in the 1930s, who head west to Molten Rock, Arizona and become ‘‘atmosphere people’’ (i.e., ‘‘extras’’) in a sweeping Hollywood epic about all of ancient history, entitled Exeunt Omnes. Just before curtain for Robin Hawdon’s Perfect Wedding at MASC in Waterloo, Illinois last night (Feb. 17, 2007), we spotted SAM BAKER in the audience. (Sam, you may recall, played ‘‘Mayor Dogmeat’’ in 2003’s summer fundraiser, Li’l Abner.)   ‘‘I moved here about 14 months ago,‘‘ he told us. Proud of his new hometown, he informed us that Waterloo boasts plenty of restaurants near the theatre building. ‘‘So the next time you come to see a show,’’ he advised us, ‘‘stick around and make an evening of it.’’   Sam’s even performed on MASC’s stage in the historic Capitol Theatre building. ‘‘Last year [during You Can’t Take It With You],’’ he related, ‘‘the weather was just like it is now [cold, windy, and snow on the ground]. With that big cast we had to use the building next door. During the scene changes, we’d run across the street.’’ While dropping off items at the Guild for the opening of Soccer Moms, your humble webmaster had the good fortune to meet JON WOODWARD (Dracula [1999], Detective Story [1999], and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof [2000]). Jon was in the St. Louis area visiting relatives, and had decided to stop by.   After asking permission to mount our stage once again, Jon eagerly stepped onto the boards. ‘‘Right about here,’’ he said, pointing to the stage floor just above the apron, ‘‘I spilled blood on the stage. I was in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, holding a glass, and Big Daddy bumped into me.’’ When I expressed concern about the injury, he smiled and said, ‘‘I was proud that I had spilled blood for my craft.’’   Jon says that his experiences in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof convinced him to ‘‘take the plunge’’ and move to California to pursue a career in acting. ‘‘This is where I really fell in love with the craft,’’ he told me. ‘‘I owe a lot to this place.’’   Upon arriving in California, Jon enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he studied theatre for 2 1/2 years.   Jon told me that he hopes to ‘‘put up’’ American Buffalo as the Academy’s summer alumni show, emphasizing that the plans are ‘‘only tentative.’’ While rehearsing for the Carondelet Historical Society’s docudrama A Simple Assassination, your humble webmaster was pleasantly surprised to learn that MARY-ELLEN TOBIN, who portrays the 19th century-actress ‘‘Laura Keene,’’ is a TGWGer from way back.   The tall, svelte actress is just as lovely now as she was in Harvey, Night Watch, and other Guild productions of the early 80s.   ‘‘Oh, that was so long ago!’’ she exclaimed when I asked her about her time on our stage. ‘‘But it was fun. Harvey is where I first met Mike [Missouri Smith],’’ she added, referring to the docudrama’s director, who is the subject of another article in this same column. The last word we had on REYNARD FOX is that he is now working with The Arch Rivals division of The Entertainment Group. Regular TGWG patrons are sure to recognize the young actor (also known as Reynard Dippold), as he performed in three consecutive shows during Season 78: as ‘‘Flo Ziegfeld’’ in Funny Girl, ‘‘Tom’’ (the other-dog-owner-in-the-park) in Sylvia, and ‘‘Inspector Thomas’’ in The Unexpected Guest. Another Arch Rivals member, the lovely and ebullient KATHLEEN WEBER, appeared as ‘‘Janice’’ April 21 in Mount Bill, in the Emerging Playwrights Festival, Surfacing, sponsored by Webster University’s Chain Link Theatre and Improv and Literature Club. Kathleen last trod the TGWG stage in 2004’s Barefoot in the Park. AMY THOMPSON, who played ‘‘Gloria’’ in the 1986/87 production of Wait Until Dark, now lives in Texas. She writes: ‘‘I can’t believe it’s been 20 years! I’m happy to see that TGWG is still going strong. I’ll have to stop by next time I’m in St. Louis. Keep up the good work.’’ CHUCK LAVAZZI, who directed Arsenic and Old Lace for us back in 1980, and has made a career out of My Three Angels (including a 2001 stint as ‘‘Uncle Henri’’ on our stage), recently wrote to tell us that he ‘‘stumbled across by accident’’ our ‘‘rather flattering entry’’ about him on our site. Chuck informs us that although he’s ‘‘no longer doing Stage Left for KDHX,’’ he remains ‘‘the producer and voice talent for the Arts Calendar as well as Senior Critic and producer for the performing arts reviews.’’ In January, Chuck appeared as ‘‘Second Voice’’ in Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas at West End Players Guild, with an encore performance at Dressel’s Pub in the Central West End in February. Chuck’s written articles can be found on sites all over the Web. We’re amazed at the breadth of his interests and expertise, ranging from Sherlock Holmes to B5. MIKE ‘‘MISSOURI’’ SMITH will direct the Carondelet Historical Society’s September offering, A Simple Assassination. Robert Friedman’s script explores the circumstances, and some of the principal personalities, connected with the Lincoln assassination.   Last November, we spotted Mike at the Schalfly Branch of the St. Louis City Library in the Central West End, giving readings from his novel, Bissell Point (BookSurge Publishing, ISBN 1-59109-720-7). When not authoring, Mike is the show manager at Dave and Buster’s. He also writes and performs mystery dinner theatre for both the Bissell Mansion (near Grand and I-70) and the Die Laughing Theatre company in St. Peters and Alton. Be sure to catch Mike’s Telly-winning performance in the film Variations on a Theme the next time KETC runs a fund-raiser. ‘‘Kirkwood Crew’’ member SARAH HOLT, who appeared in multiple roles (‘‘Dogpatcher/Wife’’) in the 2003 TGWG summer fundraiser L’il Abner, can be seen in the indie film, Hooch and Daddy-O.   The last time we spotted Sarah, we found her working calmly behind the scenes at Marble Stage Theatre in Shrewsbury during a tech emergency in MST’s opening production, Fiddler on the Roof. MARTHA ARMES, who directed Ladies in Retirement for us back in 1971, informs us that she directed a young man by the name of Bob Lauman in a summer one-act, Harry Rothstein, also in 1971. She writes: ‘‘I am following my theatre bliss in New York; haven't made it to Broadway yet but I'm still trying.’’ Bob comments: ‘‘Martha is one of those theatre veterans that did an awful lot for the Guild. She was a ‘lover of theatre’ and she knew it backwards and forwards. Her memory of shows and casts simply amazed us all. Wish she was still at the Guild.’’ DEBORAH L. SHERMAN, who graced our stage in The Nerd and Cry Havoc in 1999, and Wife Begins at Forty in 2000, has appeared in a commercial, a TV pilot, a TV series, and three feature films. Her latest project is the newly-formed Promethean Theatre Company, which now produces plays at The Main Street Playhouse in Miami, Florida. Promethean’s first production, Orange Flower Water, opened in February, 2005 to excellent notices. PST followed up with Desdemona, a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello. In October, 2005, Deborah coproduced a new play entitled Buck Fever, by Juan C. Sanchez. Choreographer GREG MATZKER, who choreographed 2002’s Grease and 2003’s Li’l Abner, and directed 2004’s The Stroke of Twelve, is now the Artistic Director for Marble Stage Theater in Shrewsbury.

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