Christmas Remembered - Gift of the Magi
Photographer
Doug Gallant |
ACT News
Friday, July 14, 2006
Les Feux-Follets (Dance Collection Danse)
As many of you already know I spent many years as a professional dancer with Les Feux-Follets. In fact, I was with them for most of their contracts from 1967 to 1981 working under the stage name Gerry Gilbert and Gerry Gilbert-Gray (name change due to union problems).
Les Feux-Follets has had a long history—both here on the Island with the Charlottetown Festival since 1972, and before that in Montreal, where the company was born in 1952.
Dance Collection Danse, a group dedicated to uncovering Canada’s fleeting dance history, decided to do a two part story of Les Feux-Follets in their journal.
* Did you know that Les Feux-Follets represented Canada for three world’s fairs, two for the duration of their runs (Montreal and Osaka), and that these were the two largest expositions ever held.
* Did you know that Les Feux-Follets were guests on the Ed Sullivan Show six times, including the historic first broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show in colour?
* Did you know that the Montreal based Feux-Follets were part of the command performance that opened the Confederation Centre of the Arts in 1964! It was with that performance that the group turned professional.
Part I was released in November 2005. It is available for downloading at the Dance Collection Danse site, but you can download directly from this site by clicking on the link. Be aware that it is a pdf and so will take a bit of time downloading depending on your system. Feux-Follets is featured on the front cover and on pages 16-19. By the way, that is me on the front cover being carried aloft. I was a lot lighter in those days. The picture was taken at the Theatre Champs Elysee in 1968.
Part II is now available at the Dance Collection Danse site. Feux-Follets is featured on pages 28-35.
Anyone interested in Les Feux-Follets should check this out.
Thanks for your interest
Gerry Gray
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Annual General Meeting
The 2005 AGM - 18 June
This is the notice of the Annual General Meeting of ACT - a community theatre
Date/time: Saturday 18 June ... social beginning at 5:00 pm (bring what you’d like to drink) ... meeting at 6:00 ... then supper (bring something good for the potluck)
Place: Annie & Martin Carter’s home, 41 Prince Charles Drive in Charlottetown (368-3937)
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Case of the Disappearing Posters!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHARLOTTETOWN—Posters for ACT‘s upcoming production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” have been miraculously, or perhaps not-so-miraculously, disappearing.
Rob Thomson of ACT reports, “Our posters are being taken down by someone. They’re quite attractive and could be a collector’s item. However, we hope there is nothing more sinister behind their disappearance.”
On the positive side, tickets are being sold faster than the posters are being taken. “With three weeks to go before Jesus Christ Superstar opens, ticket sales are out-of this-world!” noted Thomson.
“Superstar” is on stage at Confederation Centre November 4th, 5th and 6th. Tickets are available at the box office.
Further Information:
Rob Thomson, 902-368-4465(W); 892-3288(H); rwthomso@auracom.com
Mike Wedge, 902-566-7861(W); 569-4906(H); dmikew@eastlink.ca
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ACT is an amateur association promoting community theatre on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Jesus Christ Superstar is ACT’s 25th performance.
Saturday, January 01, 2000
The Show Goes On, but is delayed!
January 2000—It is with a mix of regret and pleasure that ACT must announce a change in the ‘direction’ and schedule for its next production. The new date for the show is March 16, 17 & 18.
The regret is that Anne Putnum has had to withdraw from her role as ‘Director’. The pleasure comes comes from the good news that this withdrawal was in order to accept employment off Island as a professional stage manager. ACT wishes her well and looks forward to working with her again in the future.
Good news is that Anne leaves the casts in good shape. They have decided to continue with her project. Direction for The Ugly Duckling has been taken over by Joe Boyd. Co-Direction for Trifles has been taken on by Monique Lafontaine and Ben Kinder. All three Directors are taking on this task in addition to being members of the cast. Well done folks!
Trifles by Susan Glaspell reveals the workings of the Wright household the morning after Mr. Wright mysteriously dies. The Ugly Duckling by AA Milne is a fairy tale for adults. It explores the relations between the members of a “seen better days” royal family.
The third one act is I Remain… Jane Austen, a one person show featuring ACT favourite Barbara Rhodenhizer. She will be reprising this acclaimed portrayal of Jane Austen under the direction of Terry Pratt. This is a play by V Glasgow Koste that examines the life and work of author Jane Austen. Three In One truly promises to deliver something for everyone.
Three in One - A Night of One Act Plays, will play at the Arts Guild on March 16,17,18. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are $10.00 and $8.00 students / seniors. Advance tickets are available at Beanz Expresso Bar, The Buzz, Demi Pointe Dance Shop, Hearts and Flowers, or by calling 368-1143.
Wednesday, December 15, 1999
An Evening of One-Acts from ACT
Upcoming Production
December 15 1999—Anne Putnam makes her debut as director with two plays presented by ACT (a community theatre) in February: Trifles by Susan Glaspell and The Ugly Duckling by A.A. Milne.
Anne has worked as a stage manager for both community theatre and professionally - with the Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, and recently, with Eastern Front Theatre, Dartmouth for the remounting of David French’s Saltwater Moon directed by R.H. Thomsen.
Although she admits that up until recently she had no aspirations to direct, Anne found that from her stage manager position she had begun to “think like a director.” She began reading a lot of plays with the idea to direct in mind. When she heard that ACT was looking for directors she approached them. Her choices for two one-act plays to be performed on one night have a common theme-women - but are different, almost contrasting, in approach. The A.A. Milne play is a send-up of male chauvinism using humour and is “very silly.” Although it is written in mature language, it is suitable for families.
Trifles, a drama written in 1920, is set in a farmhouse kitchen and could be any time. Anne describes it as “a very quiet play about how women take control to protect and support each other. The word ‘abuse’ is not mentioned in the play, but that is really what it is all about.” Cast members include familiar, seasoned performers such as Erskine Smith and Doug Gallant (who are in both plays), Pam Stevenson and Norma Cameron (in Trifles) plus new faces such as Glen Strichey (Trifles), and Tawnia MacKinnon and Taryn MacLellan (Ugly Duckling). Other cast members are Kristina Heyges, Brodie MacRae and Joe Boyd (who is understudy for all male roles). James Clement is stage manager.
Also on the bill with Anne’s two plays on February 17-20 is a revival of Barbara Rhodenhizer’s I Remain… Jane Austen written by V. Glasgow Koste and directed by Terry Pratt. The evenings begin at 8 pm at the Arts Guild, Charlottetown.