Things are busy...busy...

Even after 31 years of opening/closing shows...I never cease to get excited from all the "excitement". Currently, we are rehearsing our Holiday Show at West's Wing and rehearsals for our upcoming "NIGHTMARE OFF BROADWAY" (10/29&30) are going on over at the Main Stage. I visited like a little mouse, checking up on everyone and seeing if there was any "cheese" about...It was so much fun to see all the comings and goings.

Music was being reviewed in the Wing...ghosts and goblins were getting costumed up at the theatre and basically there was lots of hub-bub and fun going on absolutely everywhere in every corner.

Creativity - LOUD and PROUD!

I love it!

Out of this World!

Our WORLD PREMIERE of Liz Orndorff's "High Strangeness" was an enormous success! This is the first play in several years that sold out every performance! How exciting is that? Not only was it a well-written play, it was well directed, well staged-managed and acted out to perfection!

If you missed this play, not only did you miss a great opportunity to laugh and cry...you missed a unique opportunity to witness the reminiscings of the only living survivor of the 1976 alien abduction! Mona Stafford was a real hit and a pleasure all by herself. She shared with the audiences and answered questions during "UFO nite" following the performance. It was quite a treat.

This comedy-drama was a one of a kind and a privilege for our theatre to produce.

After scaring ourselves to death with "NIGHTMARE OFF BROADWAY" on October 30th and 31st., we will head into the Holiday Season with "North Pole Star" our Christmas offering. Director Beth Marlowe had more than 50 audition and will have a stellar cast.

Community Theatre is more than fun - add it to your activities - you won't be sorry!

- karen

Another new season - 31 of 'em!!!

Well, here we are, about to open our 31st Season - hard to believe!

31 years of knocking out fun, educational and exciting pieces - not to mention premiering some brand new plays!

Our 31st Season opens with an ELIZABETH ORNDORFF original! "Liz" has become quite the "toast of the town recently", premiering plays both with us and Pioneer Playhouse here in Danville. Several of her plays have also played outside of Kentucky and beyond! This effort is a serio-comedy based on some real life experiences of 3 gals who lived in Casey County, Kentucky in the 1970s. "HIGH STRANGENESS" is a wonderfully funny, yet poignant account of how these 3 women were alledgedly abducted by aliens and follows them as their lives are strapped in a ride of a lifetime! It opens on September 24th for two weekends - call our box office at 319-0205 or get tickets on line at www.westthill.com.

Check our website to round out our season schedule - there is bound to be something that will grab your interest.

On the tail of "High Strangeness" we will celebrate Halloween with some strange goings on during 'NIGHTMARE OFF BROADWAY".....thrills and chills for all October 29 and 30th.

Before you know it, Christmas will be upon us and all ages can audition for a reality show of sorts in NORTH POLE STAR....Auditions October 3 & 4 - Beth Marlowe directing!

Call if you have any questions - 859-236-8607

See you "on stage, behind the stage, or in the audience".

- Karen

another opening show - this one in the Barnyard!

Another show opens tomorrow - I seem to have lost count of all those I've been involved with over the years, but it always remains exciting. I must admit I am always nervous as well. Not sure why. The cast is well rehearsed, everything is in order. I guess it is just the nervous energy that comes with something that you have worked very hard at for a very long time and the entire project is about to be "revealed"!

It's a great show, "HONK, JR!". It has a little of everything: humor, drama, a good moral and most importantly, a great cast and crew. So, who ME worry? Nah...

Community Theatre is a wonderful venue. It affords the "average Joe" a chance to experience the magic of the stage and the intimate audience. The roar of the crowd (even if it is just 100 of your closest friends and family) is intoxicating!

Come on by: 117 Larrimore Lane, Danville, KY - West T. Hill Theatre. Tickets: 859-319-0205

ducks, chickens, pullets...oh my!

Each rehearsal I am surrounding by ducks, chicken, pullets, cats and geese. It is a "fowl" world, but we get by! "HONK, JR." is a blast with 24 cast members, mostly wonderful and talented kids. The music is so much fun and we are making progress for our OPENING on July 9th!

As I get older, I'm always afraid I won't relate to kids anymore, but each time I get a hug or a laugh, I am encouraged that I still have "some kid left in me" and all is well. These kids are sooo bright and soooo talented it makes the hard work worthwhile.

Get your tickets at 859-319-0205 and don't miss this fun and energetic show!

New Season - here we come!

Well, our 31st season has been decided and it is amazing...actually we are so blessed, almost ALL of them have been amazing. We've made a few "iffy" choices, but basically we have balanced and formidable seasons. The economy has hit us more this year than any other. Folks aren't budgeting entertainment much, I suppose. Our ticket sales have been at an all time low. In my mind, "escape" to a nearby stage is therapy you must budget. But that is just me, and I'm pretty passionate about theatre arts!

You can check out our website soon and it will have all our dates and shows listed at www.westthill.com.

Quack...quack...quack...HONK!

We had nearly 70 auditioners recently for "Honk, Jr." ! We only had 10 roles for children, but they flocked in (get the pun?)! The auditions were difficult with so many in attendance, but we managed and even managed to have FUN, too.

"Honk" is a great piece and should be a lot of fun to produce. We wound up casting 25 and it will be crowed back stage, but we've done it before. With more than able help, we should have a great production.

Onward and upward my fine feathered friends!

Busy...busy...busy

PLAY READING WEEK was the most successful ever! We averaged about 12 each evening and the "goodies" served were as always, scrumptious! The play were well received. Even the serious dramas were appreciated, but we aren't sure we will produce too many, as our survey this year overwhelming showed our patrons was COMEDY! "Life is too dire," many said. We will continue to try and balance our season in an artistic manner.

So...now the task of fixing a slate of plays for the Board to approve and setting the calendar for NEXT SEASON...it comes by so quickly!

Onward and upward!

"Play Reading Week" up soon

Well, "Doubt" has closed...what a powerful show it was! Our ticket sales were low on this one. Folks don't seem to prefer much drama in their lives these days...can't say as I blame them. But this was a goodie! Pulitzer Prize winning, lots of layers, incredibly well-constructed dialogue, it was a pristine drama. 2 NEW actors took the stage with storming talent. It was a great experience for this director.

Now onto our next project: The vehicle that helps us plan our seasons - PLAY READING WEEK. We will all sit around a table and read the plays we are considering for next season. Diverse and fun.

Until next time - see you "on stage, behind the stage on behind the scenes"....!

3 show rehearsing at same time!

It isn't often that we have THREE SHOWS rehearsing at the same time...but we do right now! "Doubt" is about to open next week and that cast and crew is in the main theatre. "Sylvia" is having some transition, one of the cast members, a dear friend and player is having some health problems and had to drop out. But they WILL survive and so we pray real hard will our dear friend. "Sylvia" is rehearsing in the Wing until after next week. "The Miracle Worker" is rehearsing whenever/wherever they can hang their collective hats until "Sylvia" moves.

Confused? Me too. But what FUN we are having!

onward and upward!

"Doubt" coming soon

I wasn't supposed to direct "Doubt"....Liz Orndorff, one of our directors and long time supporters was supposed to direct it. But Liz is a playwright, an author and all around busy gal trying to make her mark in the literary world so...she up and "won" a fellowship to write in Taos, New Mexico for 3 months. I can't imagine that she chose that opportunity over directing community theatre! At any rate, she is out there in the mountains trying to create and be famous and we are struggling back here in Danville to mount this incredible play by John Patrick Shanley!

It opens on March 17th for just 5 performances! To get tickets call our Box Office at 859-319-0205.

Our cast is incredible, featuring our founders' daughter, Paula Hill, Marc Roland, newcomers - Jo Newton and Dawn Baker. The talented Alice Berka is assisting me and we are well on our way in presenting this incredible drama.

The theatre is busier than ever with prep for PLAY READING WEEK. We've auditioned and cast two shows in the last month, "Sylvia" and "The Miracle Worker"...so THREE SHOWS are in rehearsal at the same time.

Personally, I feel a little spent, but exhilirated at the same time. I've been involved in this process for so long, I mostly take it in stride. But the process can be tedious and worrisome. There is so much "undercover" work that has to be done, i.e., costumes, set pieces, props, set dressing, painting, procuring unsual props, lighting, advertising, paperwork...it goes on...It is amazing how much work and energy goes into a community theatre production. The idea of Judy Garland's famous line - "let's put on a show" is ludicrous. It take a village, a community, and lots of effort.

In spite of everything, I am thrilled to be a part of it all!

See you "on stage, behind the stage, or in the audience"!

Play Reading Week coming soon...

Our ANNUAL PLAY READING WEEK is upon us. This is a great tool to help choose our season. We started this in an effort to give folks who don't like to be on stage, don't want to audition, but DO like to read good plays in an informal setting. So, for a few days we meet, have scrumptious snacks and good coffee and read outloud all the plays that we might be considering for the next year. It is fun, alive and informative. This year, we will begin on Sunday afternoon, March 7th and each evening thru Wednesday. IF you have a play, let us know so we can get it ready to read!

It's been awhile...things got crazy at the theatre. My intent was good, but you know what they say about "good intentions". The film "Julia and Julie" really inspired me...but inspiration took a back seat to busy-ness. So...I must admit that my resolutions to write every day, went to every week, to once a month, to virtiually nothings since ... whatever...

The theatre had its wonderful 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. Food was great, the theatre facilities looked great, the company was great...everything was great! Now we are down to the business of the season and my job as Managing Director is never done.

We have an incredible schedule, which opened with the culmination of a 10-Minute Play Contest in September. We produced the top 8 plays. The judges received 75 plays to review and it wasn't easy to pick the top winners. But we did and had a wonderful run of producing them. There was a diverse cast - lots of new folks and it was successful all around. Then we produced "The Fantasticks" - the first (and only to our knowledge) musical that West Hill himself ever directed, some 25 years ago! This time the director's chair was occupied by his daughter, Paula Hill. It was a FANTASTICK! show and enjoyed by all.

Then we had a sweet, original play "CLAUS AND THE KING" that debuted to large, happy and pleased crowds. Another show that involved new people on stage and in the audience. Beth Marlowe always does a great job with the kids and this was NO exception!

We just recently finally cast "Doubt" to be produced in March. This intense play found us having difficulties casting the role for the African American mother. But we finally did and we have a dynamite cast!

Well....too much information for one catch up blog. Would love to get some more followers, but in the meantime, I'm glad to be back to writing....

Happy New Year!