The Balcony Bards

John Craigle has been kind enough to share the wonderful photos he captured of the Balcony Bards at this year’s festival.

Why is this summer different from all other summers — for us band of the Balcony Bards? 

         For starters, there’s Frank Mack.  He’s the new and wonderful head of USF, whom you’ll all meet, along with our favorite Brian Vaughn, now the sole artistic director.  (By the way, Brian is doing a one-man show An Iliad on July 31st; if you’re there early and would like tickets, let me know). 

         We have the treat of four Shakespeare plays (We usually get three), which cover all four genres —history (Henry VI, Part I), tragedy (Othello), comedy (Merry Wives of Windsor) and problem play(Merchant of Venice).

         Third, Nord will exalt — as much as his Nordic-Iowan background permits exaltation — over his all-time favorite musical, winner of three Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score, Big River(which, not incidentally, has a connection with his hometown of Audubon, Iowa). We’ll learn from Nord about Mark Twain, Huck Finn, Jim, etc.    

         There’s a unique visit in store for us — to some ancient Shakespearean documents (Folios) which SUU somehow managed to acquire. The custodian of these rare treasures will give us a private tour.  

         Last, there are really late activities for our night owls — not just gallivanting on the balcony, but a post-show talent display Thursday night, and the onetime-a-summer Bardway, Baby performance Friday, beginning at 11:30 pm, with Broadway tunes performed by gifted cast members.  

         We’re at the Utah Shakespeare Festival from Wednesday, August 1st to Sunday, August 5th., We will proudly sit in THE BALCONY BARDS SEMINAR GROVE, made possible by the generosity of you Balcony Bards, part of our “random acts of kindness.” And some of us will be there with our grand-Bards, the third generation of Bardians.

Jimmy’s questionnaire to you will go out in April. Please fill out all sections, to help us plan rooms and meals. 

Now you should reserve rooms at our beloved El Rey, by calling 1-435-586-6518. Tell the receptionist that you’re part of the Balcony Bards, the rooms Carol Adelman reserved.  Extra credit to those taking a room on the action-packed (noisy) balcony.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s to come: 

• Wednesday, August 1st
  • 8:00 pm – Othello
• Thursday, August 2nd
  • 8:00 pm – Henry VI, Part I
• Friday, August 3rd
  • 2:00 pm – The Foreigner
  • 8:00 pm – Merchant of Venice
  • 11:30 pm – Bardway, Baby
• Saturday, August 4th
  • 2:00 pm – Big River
  • 8:00 pm – Merry Wives of Windsor

We will relish the culinary delights Cedar City offers, including a dinner hosted by SUU President Scott Wyatt, and Kathy, on Thursday, August 2nd. There will be the fabulous seminars with Ace and hikes & bikes in Bryce or Zion or around town, cigars on the balcony, swimming in Olympian El Rey pool, and just hanging on the balcony. 

On Friday night, we will dine on the Engelstad Theater patio with favorite actors and USF execs.

Saturday night, our having seen Big River earlier that day, we will costume-up in Big River attire — top hats, bowlers or straw hats, long skirts, hoop skirts, shawls, boots or barefoot.  In such attire, what you’d wear for the 1880s Mississippi River or riverside, we’ll hold our Bad Talent contest.

And we will surely sing our 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 Cedar City to share our happiness.

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.

This year features four Shakespeare plays — USF usually has three — including two of our favorites, Henry IVth, Part I  (introducing and featuring Falstaff) and Measure for Measure,  the Bard’s examination of morality, loyalty, and leadership — hot topics then, as now.  The other two, Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night, are sure to be joyous affairs given USF’s hilarious presentation of comedies.

In the wake of the smash Pride & Prejudice a few years back comes Sense and Sensibility  this summer. Rounding out the program is Steven Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods, starring Brian and Melinda  (who also stars as Olivia in 12th Nite).

Besides the four Shakespeare plays, this summer has the other novelty of one playon Thursday, in the evening, and two on Friday. so our “free” afternoon is on Thursday and not Friday this year.

This year’s season runs from Wednesday, August 6th to Sunday, August 10th.

Carol has the breaking news that the Best Western El Rey rooms have been upgraded, including the balcony suites.  Now you may ask, “Is that possible?” and “Could it be any better?” Or, as the Bard might put it, “Can one desire too much of a good thing?”

Carol has reserved a big block of those upgraded rooms, all on the balcony side and some on the inner courtyard. Please call the Best Western El Rey at 1-800-688-6518 to reserve your rooms among our block. As before, extra credit extends to those taking a room on the balcony side, thereby risking sleep deprivation.

Please email me back which play, with how many tickets, you’d like for:

• Wednesday, August 6th
  • 8:00 pm – Henry IV, Part I
•  Thursday, August 7th
  • 8:00 pm – Into the Woods
• Friday August 8th
  • 2:00 pm – Comedy of Errors
  • 8:00 pm – Measure for Measure
• Saturday August 9th
  • 2:00 pm – Sense and Sensibility
  • 8:00 pm – Twelfth Night

We will have our welcoming Bard-de-Cue on the patio in full Western attire on Thursday night, with CowPokes Mike & Marian lassoing anyone around.  On Friday night, we’ll mosey down to the Centro Woodfired Pizzeria.

There will be the usual Thursday post-show talent performance on Main Street; hikes at Bryce or Zion; biking with John; card-playing on the balcony with Norm; cigar-smoking with Howard, Freddy & Ken; and, a real highlight, seeing Harper for the first time, and swimming in the magnificent pool with Lyla and Lawson.

We will host lunch Saturday, as usual, with our USF folks addressing us at the Garden House. Saturday night dinner will be on the balcony where Nancy & Alan serve our traditional Adelman family recipes , handed down from the old country, of chicken and pizza.

After the Saturday night play, we will get in full Arden Forest garb, typical of those running around with Viola in the woods — or, actually Into the Woods.

Rather than any Bad Poetry contest, we will have another Talentless contest where Bards and Bardettes — gifted and not so, alike — present whatever it is that they present to impress, depress, even torment the rest of us, especially our esteemed judges.

Erudite discussions will be held at all hours, with loads of laughs and warm fellowship as we all experience the Balcony Bards’ culture of “random acts of kindness” amidst revelry.

See ya’ all in Cedar City to share our happiness during this wondrous week.

“Anything Goes” is Saturday Night’s grande finale. This singing, dancing, musical fantasy, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, is set in 1934 on board the S.S. American. The sky’s the limit on costumes for this extravaganza! Think 1930s cruise wear, sailor outfits, glamour gowns and formal wear, broad brimmed hats, bow ties, and feathered wraps. Or, as we say, just look at the title – “Anything Goes!”

“Make the coming hours overflow with joy and pleasure drown the brim.”

• Wednesday, August 7
  • 5:45 PM – Dinner “as you like it”
  • 6:45 PM – Play orientation in Auditorium for “King John” & Greenshow
  • 8:00 PM – “King John” in the Adams Theatre
  • 10:00 PM – The Balcony Bards’ Reveling
• Thursday, August 8
  • 9:00 AM – Literary Seminar in the Grove on “King John”
  • 11:00 AM – The Props Seminar w/Ben Hohman in the Randall Jones Theatre
  • 2:00 PM – “Peter and the Starcatcher” in the Randall L. Jones Theater
  • 6:00 PM – Dinner at the five-star Centro Woodfired Pizzeria – 50 W. Center St.
  • 6:45 PM – Play Orientation on “Twelve Angry Men” & Greenshow
  • 8:00 PM – “Twelve Angry Men” in the Randall Jones Theatre
  • 10:00 PM Balcony Bards’ Reveling
  • 11:00 PM USF Cabaret, at the Grind Coffee House on Main Street
• Friday, August 9
  • 9:00 AM – Literary Seminar in the Grove on “Love’s Labour’s Lost”
  • 10:00 AM – Literary Seminar on “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “Twelve Angry Men”
  • 11:00 AM – Costume Seminar in the Randall L. Jones Theatre
  • 12:00 PM – Balcony Bards’ Biking with John at Navajo Lake; Hiking or Hanging on the Balcony
  • 5:30 PM – Dinner at David Ivers Home – 190 South Casa Loma Lane; 435/586-9586
  • 7:40 PM – Ken’s Quickie Intro to “The Tempest” at the Cedar Grove
  • 8:00 PM – “The Tempest” in the Adams Theatre
  • 10:30 PM – Balcony Bards Celebrating Miranda’s Wedding, and other weddings & engagements
• Saturday, August 10
  • 9:00 AM – Literary Seminar in the Grove on “The Tempest”
  • 12:00 PM – Carol & Ken’s hosted lunch at the Garden House, 164 South 100 West
  • 2:00 PM – “Love’s Labor’s Lost” in the Auditorium Theatre
  • 6:30 PM – Dinner on the Balcony of Pizza & Chicken
  • 8:00 PM – “Anything Goes” in the Randall L. Jones Theatre with Marian & Mike Peters presiding
  • 10:30 PM – Balcony Bards’ “Anything Goes” Costume Party with UnTalent Show UnFairly Judged by Marian & Bruce, Followed Sunday by Hoarseness, Exhaustion, and Bittersweet Departures

In the aftermath of Elaine & Bruce’s wonderful weekend in Chicago – again, thanks & praise be to them! — we need to plan for the glorious time together inCedar City this coming August.

The 2013 season looks wonderful, and Brian & David told us in Chicago that it will be amazing.  By the way, the two lads are appearing together in the Fall in one of our very favorite Shakespeare plays, Richard II, which we will go see in Cedar City.  So let us know if you’re interested in joining for the Fall shows as well, probably in October.

Meanwhile, we’ll focus on this summer’s plays, which run from Wednesday, August 7th to Sunday, August 11th.  We sure hope that some Bard favorites – Linda, Art & Annie – can return this summer, as they did to Chicago.

As usual, Carol has reserved Best Western rooms, which as usual will get a bit discombobulated until Carol makes everything perfect the weekend before we arrive.  Most of our block of rooms is on the balcony side, though some are on the inner courtyard.

Call the Best Western El Rey at 1-800-688-6518 to reserve your rooms among our block. You get extra credit – though risking sleepless nights — if you take a room on the balcony side.

Please email me back which play, with how many tickets, you’d like for:

• Wednesday August 7th
  • King John – 8:00 pm
• Thursday August 8th
  • Peter & the Starcatcher – 2:00 pm
  • Twelve Angry Men – 8:00 pm
• Friday, August 9th
  • The Tempest – 8:00 pm
• Saturday August 10th
  • Love’s Labor’s Lost – 2:00 pm
  • Anything Goes – 8:00 pm

David & Stephanie are inviting us all over to their house for another great dinner on Friday night, the 9^th, so that will be a fun evening.

While Mike & Marian Peters and many other Balcony Bards wanted to return to Dee Dee’s Restaurant, across the alley, for medium-rare roast beef and some thick, juicy salmon – otherwise known as salmon jerky — we are resisting this push, and will have a Bard-d-Cue on the patio in our Western attire Thursday night, with Mike & Marian welcoming and hosting.

There will be the usual Thursday post-show talent performance on Main Street; hikes at Bryce or Zion; biking with John; card-playing on the balcony with Norm; cigar-smoking with Howard, Freddy & Ken, and with Nancy close-by this year; and, a real highlight, swimming with Lyla and Lawson.

Lunch Saturday we will host, as usual, with Fred and other USF folks at the Garden House. Saturday night dinner on the balcony where Nancy & Alan serve our traditional Adelman family recipes, handed down from the old country, of chicken and pizza.

After the Saturday night play, we will get in full 1920’s song-and-dance garb, typical of Cole Porter and his glorious characters in Anything Goes.  And rather than a Bad Poetry contest, we will have a Talentless Show where gifted Bards, and Bardettes, led of course by Grace Connaughton, will present whatever it is that they do to our esteemed judges.

Erudite discussions will be held at all hours, with loads of laughs and warm fellowship as we all experience the Balcony Bards’ culture of “random acts of kindness” amidst riotous revelry.

See ya’ all in Cedar City to share our happiness during this wondrous week.

John has been kind of enough to share his photos from this year’s festival. I’ve posted a few of them to the 2012 photos page. Take a look. If you have photos to share, contact me at admin_at_balconybards.com. If you want anything bigger or in higher resolution, contact me or John.

Doug & Jess 2012

8 Photos

Johnny 2012

57 Photos

Johnnie sends the following sad news of the passing of his father-in-law, Frank.

Hi all,

I wanted to let you know that we lost Frank today to a recurring
lymphoma.  He took a very fast downturn on Sunday and went very
peacefully this morning about 10:00 AM.  last weekend, he was in the
Grand Teton National Park with Russ and LarryAnn and the week before
that, he was the headliner for a luncheon entertainment at a local
senior citizens center… I accompanied him with six or seven songs
that he wanted to perform for the gang in August.

We are planning a memorial service in Salt Lake City on Thursday, 21 July.

If you could forward this on to the Bards, I would appreciate it.  I
know he was everyone’s favorite tenor.

Love,

John