Three milestones await us this summer — the 27th (or so) year of the Balcony Bards. Our dates are from Wednesday, August 3rd to Sunday, August 7th.
First will be a dedication of THE BALCONY BARDS SEMINAR GROVE to honor all of you who have proven so generous — following our mantra of “random acts of kindness” — to fund the grove at the physical and intellectual center of the new theater campus.
When USF won the Tony Award in 2000, everyone in the USF community — staff, actors, directors, volunteers, hair designers, costume, etc. — stood in a circle and passed the award, showing how each individually had deserved and “received the Tony.” Likewise, we will have all the Balcony Bards in a circle and pass around a nameplate, showing how each of us made the Seminar Grove possible.
Second will be the advent of grand-Bards — third generation of our group — not only coming to Cedar City but increasingly filling the seats. Fran and John led the way with grand-Bards in the audience. Ellen and Jim soon joined them, and this summer Nancy and Alan, Marian and Mike, Suzanne and Nord, us, and hopefully others will too.
The third generation will adore “The Three Musketeers” (though Owen would prefer them armed with pistols rather than swords) and especially “Mary Poppins.” The other light (non-Bard) play is the hilarious “Cocoanuts” from the old Marx Brothers routine, which David Ivers has also directed for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Third is the engrossing mix of Shakespeare plays this summer — Henry Vth, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado. All center around leadership, uppermost in our minds as we choose a new U.S. leader. All show sadly flawed leadership, which is likewise familiar to us as well.
Jimmy has set up a questionnaire for you to fill out, so please answer all the questions to make the logistics go smoothly. And then grab one of those beautifully-refurbished El Rey rooms by calling 1-800-688-6518 and reserve your palatial suite among our block. Honorable mention goes to those willing to take a room on the balcony side.
To give you a glimpse of what’s ahead, here’s the lineup:
- Wednesday, August 3rd
- 8:00 pm – Henry Vth
- Thursday, August 4th
- 8:00 pm – Much Ado
- Friday, August 5th
- 2:00 pm – Julius Caesar
- 8:00 pm – Three Musketeers
- Saturday, August 6th
- 2:00 pm – Mary Poppins
- 8:00 pm – The Cocoanuts
We will have our usual gatherings of culinary delights and as-yet-unknown restaurant mishaps in Cedar City. There will be exciting backstage tours of the brand new theater, and the usual costume and actor and props seminars; talks by Ace in “our” seminar grove; hikes in Bryce or Zion; bikes with John; cards with Norm; cigars with Howard, Freddy, & Ken; and swimming starring the little ‘uns.
Saturday night, our having seen Mary Poppins earlier that day, we will get into Mary Poppins-ish costumes — nannies, brooms, bankers, chimney sweeps, chimneys, whatever. Dressed in such attire, we will perform our annual Talent(less) Show, as in previous years highlighted by a dazzling, never-to-be-forgotten performance by Grace. And judged so (un)fairly by Marian and Bruce.
Erudite discussions of Shakespearean scholarship will be held at all hours, with gales of laughter and appreciation of the words of our new Balcony Bard Anthem:
May I suggest, may I suggest to you
May I suggest this is the best part of your life?
May I suggest, this time is blessed for you?
This time is blessed and shining almost blinding bright
Just turn your head, and you’ll begin to see…
The reasons why, why I suggest to you
Why I suggest this is the best part of your life.
We look forward to seeing you all in CC to share our happiness.