As we wind down into the festive season, we would like to wish all our members and supporters a safe and peaceful year-end. Take full advantage of your hard-earned vacation, be sure to relax and rejuvenate, and let’s catch up in January just in time for our One Act Festival auditions!
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Showtime is almost upon us, opening night is this Friday! Our cast and crew are ready to entertain with a spectacular production that will have audiences laughing out loud and singing along.
As if that isn’t fun enough, there will be THREE COMPETITIONS to enter:
- Best dressed ‘Emperor’ audience member
Come dressed in your spiffiest Emperor outfit
- Design the Emperor’s new outfit
Entry forms and coloured pens will be available at front of house
- Spot Pixie Superspy
Entry forms will be available at front of house
Don’t forget we will be collecting new and pre-loved TEDDY BEARS FOR KIDS (or any soft toy) for distribution over the Christmas period to children spending the holidays in hospital. A collection box will be available at front of house.
So, for a night (or afternoon) of music, fun and laughter, join us for one (or more!) of six performances. Bookings are filling up fast so email bookings@franklin.org.za or WhatsApp Wendy on 082 366 9987 to reserve your seat. Open the poster below for all the details…
One Act Play Festival 2020
We can’t wait for the new year because with it comes another OAPF! Here’s a round-up of everything you need to know…
Rules
Whether you want to write, act or direct, be sure to familiarise yourself with the festival rules and guidelines.
Writers
For those who wish to submit their scripts for consideration, the submission deadline is 10 January. Email your scripts to committee@franklin.org.za and please don’t miss the deadline! You may also be interested in attending our writing skills workshop on Sunday 8th December (details below).
Directors
If you would like to try your hand at directing, contact us to be added to the director’s list and let’s see what scripts become available closer to the time. We are always on the lookout for new directing talent and this is the perfect way to hone your skills in a co-creative and friendly environment. Of course experienced directors are welcome too!
Actors
Don’t miss the chance to strut your stuff on stage. The plays are short (35-45min) and you have the opportunity to sink your teeth into more than one production if you like. Diarise the following audition dates:
- Sunday 19th January, 2.30pm
- Monday 20th January, 7.30pm
- Wednesday 22nd January, 7.30pm
Showtime
Before you audition, please make sure you will be available to perform on the following show dates:
- Friday 27th March
- Saturday 28th March
- Friday 3rd April
- Saturday 4th April
AGM
The Franklin Players Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 8th December from 11am to 12. Members are kindly requested to attend. The notice, proxy form and minutes of last year’s AGM have been emailed to our current members. This is a catered event with light snacks and refreshments on offer, so please RSVP your attendance as soon as possible in order to assist with catering requirements.
Members are invited to stay for the FREE workshop which follows directly after the AGM. See details below…
Writing skills workshop
Don’t miss our Writing Skills Workshop to be held on Sunday 8th December from 12.30 to 3pm (after our AGM). Attendance is free for paid-up Franklin members and only R50 for non-members. The content will cover:
- Ideas / concepts
- What do you want your audience to feel
- Research and topic compatibility
- Characters (depth, connections, back story, future story)
- Creating tones and scenes for build up (pace)
Please let us know if you are interested in attending the workshop so that we can prepare enough course material.
The Franklin family
All actors cast in our shows automatically become members and pay membership for the year (R200 for adults, R100 for students and half price after July 1st). We welcome and encourage you to join for reduced ticket prices, free workshops and a wonderful community just as interested in the stage life as you.
It’s easy to become a member – simply complete the membership form and email it to committee@franklin.org.za together with proof of payment. For more information and background about The Franklin Players, read more about us here.
Join the Franklin WhatsApp community!
Both members and non-members are welcome to join the Franklin WhatsApp group to stay informed about future auditions, events and upcoming shows. Send us a message on 082 366 9987 to join the community. And don’t worry, commenting is disabled (admin only) so you won’t be spammed with a barrage of messages!
Techies, we need you
If you think you might enjoy working with stage lighting and sound equipment, or if you are already skilled in this area and would like to get involved with our productions, please give us a shout because we are looking to expand our tech team.
We will offer training on all the equipment and you will work together with someone who already knows the ins and outs, so don’t worry you’ll never be thrown into the deep end! Since this is voluntary community theatre, there is unfortunately no remuneration other than free comps for the shows which you can give to family and friends.
Protea Stage Productions
Protea proudly presents The Musical Adventures with the Wizard of Oz in Benoni this November. The old family favourite takes on a new spin in this original production, and is sure to delight audiences of all ages! Join Dorothy and her friends on their magical journey and book today! For enquiries and bookings email tickets@proteastage.org.za or contact Carole on 083 660 2936. Open the poster for all the details.
Follow Protea on Facebook.
Startime Players
Christmas Day at Sanctuary is always one of the busiest days of the year and this year is no different. But the staff, volunteers and residents at the homeless shelter are about to learn that sometimes, it’s not what you get at Christmas that makes it special, but who you spend it with.
Startime Players’ original musical The Gift of Christmas is set to delight audiences of all ages. Call or WhatsApp Alice on 072 120 2479 or email startimeplayers@gmail.com for bookings.
Startime Players also have tickets available for Peter Pan on Ice (Teatro at Monte) on Thursday 12 December 2019 @7:30pm, R220 per ticket. And Rocky Horror (Pieter Torien at Monte) on Sunday 26 January 2020 @2pm, R220 per ticket.
Contact Alice on 072 120 2479 to book.
Follow Startime on Facebook.
RLT Productions
Under the deft directorship of Oriela van der Walt, some of RLT’s best and brightest, including Stephen Slade, Karen Zaal, Graham Shirley, Sheila Smith, Andrew Palmer and Hannah Jordaan, will be entertaining you with outrageous skits and sketches and glorious song and dance – just to remind you that another year is nearly done and those happy holidays are on their way! (And if the feel-good spirit hasn’t kicked in yet, the RLT Improvistas will certainly have you rolling in the aisles by the time the final curtain falls.)
For enquiries and SHOW-VEMBER! booking details, drop a line to RLTProductions1950@gmail.com or WhatsApp Graham Shirley on 083 332 9683. See poster for more details.
Follow RLT Productions on Facebook.
EADS
Edenvale Acting & Drama Society proudly presented Sleeping Beauty earlier this month. Watch this space for more info on their upcoming shows.
Follow EADS on Facebook.
Events calendar
- 15, 16, 22, 23 November
RLT Productions: SHOW-VEMBER!
- 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 November
Protea Stage Management: Wizard of Oz
- 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 November
Startime Players: The Gift of Christmas
- 22, 23, 29, 30 November
Franklin Players: The Emperor’s New Clothes
- 8 December
Franklin Players: AGM & Writing Skills workshop
You tell us!
When we put on a production, we try and select a script that will delight and entertain our audiences. It’s difficult to please everybody all of the time, so we are asking YOU –
What would like to see performed on the Franklin stage?
You can be specific and give us the names of plays, or just let us know your preferences in terms of comedy, drama, slapstick, mystery etc.
We also want to do our best when communicating with you, so we want to know your preferred method of communication. Is it email? Whatsapp? Facebook? In other words –
How should we communicate with you?
Telling us what you prefer will give us the opportunity to meet and hopefully exceed all your expectations. So please pop an email to committee@franklin.org.za or simply reply to this newsletter. You could also drop us a Facebook message or send a Whatsapp to 082 366 9987.
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!
Great acting quotes
“I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to free myself from any concern with my looks as they pertained to my work.”
– Meryl Streep
Source: Stagemilk.com