Greetings, Players!

Our Fall production, Private Eyes, by Steven Dietz, is coming up on November 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, and 25. Be sure to see this "comedy of suspicion", where nothing is quite as it seems. The cast features Larry Peterson, Shana Dirik, Bob Hannan, Debra Butler, and Rik Pierce. Bob Stachel is directing, and the Producer is David Atwood. Get your tickets early; this is certain to be a crowd pleaser.

Many thanks to the following people who assisted in the Cleanup Day on September 23: Betsey Connelly, Gladys Foreman, Franny Huxley, Dolores Carabillo, Sally Bull, Heddie Kent, Rick Shamel, Miranda Reinhard, Jean Reinhard, Marlene Mandel, Laura Weiss, Jeff Harris, Peter Yensen, Michael Salerno, Artty Kinsman, Karen Sinclair, Judy Perkins, Cathie Regan, and Peggy Elliot.

The Fall Huddle was a great success. We were treated to "Senior Moments", two short, politically incorrect (and hilarious) plays that were created for the Theatre Marathon at Boston's Playwrights Theatre by Lowell playwright Jack Neary. Patricia Till, from the original cast, was joined by Louise Hannigan and Tillie Sweet for our Concord performance; Susan Tucker stage managed. We also enjoyed the scenes from this season's upcoming shows, which were performed by Tillie Sweet, Jack Sweet, Lillian Anderson, Bill Maxwell, Rik Pierce, Iain Basin, Kate Beattie, Jackson Royal, Kate Blair, Shana Dirik, and Larry Peterson. Thanks to Artty Kinsman for emceeing the evening.

The Concord Players Winter Welcome will take place on Thursday, Dec. 7. The town tree lighting ceremony in Monument Square will occur at 6:00, and immediately following that costumed players will lead the assembled crowd in a parade to 51 Walden for a revels style entertainment. It will feature the mummers play St. George and the Dragon, Morris Dancing, holiday songs performed by our own Madrigal Singers, and a singing game for the children. Join us for this free, festive event to welcome the holidays.

Bill Butcher would like me to remind everyone that membership renewals are due now. Only members receive the newsletter, so if you'd like to be kept up to date on all of the Players Happenings, and the activities of your fellow Players, be sure to renew right away so you won't miss an issue. Send renewals to Bill Butcher, 100 Keyes Road, Concord, MA 01742. Call him at 978-369-9526 with any questions.

Pat Morrow, the EMACT Host Committee Chair, sends along news that there will be a meeting of the Host Committee in the Green Room on Monday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 PM. Anyone interested in helping out should attend, or contact Pat. She says "Lisa Sacks will be developing some additional graphic ideas for us when we meet. Please bring your enthusiasm and ideas with you on the 6th - we need to decide on a theme and a logo. We also need subcommittee chairs for refreshments, greenroom and stage managers, and food service!" Get involved, it will be fun.

Here's a note from Shana Dirik, who is heading up the fund-raising effort to take Jacques Brel to the Nationals in Harrisburg next summer: "The first meeting of the Nationals Fund-raising Committee will be held on Tuesday November 14th at 8 PM at my home at 57 Lexington Drive in Acton Mass., telephone # 635-1967. The alternate meeting night would be Monday the 13th if enough people can't make the 14th, so please let me know asap what works best for you. I invite everyone who is interested in all areas of fund-raising, be it working directly on a specific event or working in the background with marketing etc., or even those of you who want to come with some new and terrific ideas for any upcoming events to be planned throughout the year. The first event is an old time Radio Show which is set to go on Saturday January 20th and I am eagerly looking for people to help out for that evening with a vast array of positions from ushering, food servers, raffle helpers etc. This first meeting is a good way for all of us to pool together all of our ideas, and once we come to some concrete decisions we'll bring them to the board for approval. This will be a wonderful team effort and with a group of talented and dedicated individuals, we can make this a fun time for all of us!!! So please let me know if you can make it, and if everyone will bring a small appetizer, I will supply the drinks, coffee and dessert!"

Carissa Burkhart (last seen in our award winning Jacques Brel...) is cast as Jacqueline in the Quannapowitt Players production of Don't Dress For Dinner. Performances are Nov. 17 - Dec. 9. Call 781-942-2212.

Giselle Ganz sends this information about the show she's performing in at Turtle Lane in Newton: "The spirit of Christmas comes alive when Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is transformed into the singing and dancing spectacular Scrooge. It's a warmhearted holiday treat for the entire family. The show runs Nov. 3- 5, 9-12, 16-19, 24-26, 30, and Dec. 1- 3, 7-10, and 26- 30, so there are plenty of shows to see. The roles that I'm playing are Mrs. Carstairs, Fezziwig Guest, Mrs. Pringle, Toy Ballet, Church Choir Member, Party Guest, and understudy for Christmas Past of which I will be playing the role of Nov. 9, 10, 11, & 12 Call 617-244-0169 for tickets and performance times."

Thomas Caron is performing in the American Globe Theatre's production of Julius Caesar in NYC on Nov. 13, 16, and 19th at 8:00 PM. The theater is located at 145 W. 46th St. between 6th and 7th avenues. You can get more information by calling 212-869-9809.

Eric Rubin (of last season's Rumors), as Major General Stanley, and Sara Ballard, in the ensemble, are in the Savoyard Light Opera Company's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. This delightful comic opera will be performed at Corey Auditorium in Carlisle on Nov. 10,11, 17, and 18 at 8:00 PM, and Nov. 12 and 19 at 2:00 PM. Call 978-371-7562, to order tickets.

Kate and Michael Henchman have started a new venture, Emeritus Tours, with two partners: Ron Richardson, former head of the French Department at Concord Academy, and Graham Rowe of Concord Travel. They plan to offer related seminars and trips, starting in Spring O01 with "The Impressionists in Context". Call Kate or Michael for information at 371-2058 or 369-7503.

Please send your news to me at: Sara Ballard, 34 Aurora Lane, Concord, MA 01742, or E-mail me at <sara@sb.org>. The next newsletter deadline is November 22.