At this year’s Utah Shakespearean Festival, the Bards’ current challenge fund was recognized by Executive Director Scott Phillips as the “Balcony Bards Leadership Challenge,” a matching fund committed to helping the Festival fund its future. And, in related news, four-year pledges to the fund are now at $265,000. Yet again, this speaks to the quality of the Festival and the commitment of the Balcony Bards community.
Maureen and the Merchant
21
Jul
Today’s New York Times column by Maureen Dowd is an analysis of the “Merchant of Venice” with a special shout-out for a past production at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. As Ken notes, the play is as passionate as ever, even if she is wrong about the Mormons and Utah.
Balcony Bards Challenge Fund
21
Jul
While “random acts of kindness” are the hallmark of the Balcony Bards, our collective desire to support the Festival now has an opportunity to be a little less random. Spurred by Scott Phillip’s brilliant idea to name the talented David Ivers and Brian Vaughn as co-artistic directors, the Balcony Bards are banding together to pledge their next four years of USF contributions to a Challenge Fund in a show of support and admiration for Brian, David, and Scott.
The Challenge Fund will match, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, money raised by other USF fund-raising campaigns, and thus spur on those efforts. As of July 21st, Balcony Bards have pledged $240,000 to the Fund, a most noble and impressive effort. For the Balcony Bards’ generosity, we turn to the Bard and say, “O, rejoice beyond a common joy…” (The Tempest). And for the total amount, we ask only, “Can one desire too much of a good thing?” (As You Like It).
2010 Festival Attendees
18
Jul
The Balcony Bards 2010 extravaganza is nearly upon us. Confirmed attendees are listed below. If you’re not on the list, let Ken and Carol know about your plans.
- Lyla Sackin
- Ellen & Jim Adelman
- Jocelyn Adelman
- David Adelman & Melissa Eccleston
- Pat & Howard Adelman
- Jane Pinsky & Rich Adelman
- Jane & Neil Arnold
- Suzanne & Nord Brue
- Susanna, Jim, Grace, & Spenser Connaughton
- Fran & John Craigle
- Steve Craigle
- Zach & Kenzie Craigle (the 9th for this eight year old!)
- Frank Fericks (everyone’s favorite tenor not lent)
- Elaine & Bruce Hochstadter
- Marian & Mike Peters
- Jessica Adelman & Doug Sackin
- Eileen & Jerry Sackin
- Lynn & Freddy Saunders
- Gail & Norm Sfier
- Nancy & Alan Spector
- Reyna & John Teeger
- Tamara Teeger
- Carol & Ken Adelman
Balcony Bards USF 2010 Events Programme
22
Jun
Our annual pilgrimage to Cedar City is nigh upon us. In order that you may begin your planning and salivating in earnest, we present the 2010 schedule of events for the Balcony Bards. “Make the coming days overflow with joy, and pleasure drown the brim.”
- Wednesday, August 4
- 5:45 PM – Dining – Bella Italiano (formerly Cafe Orleans and Boomers before that), 5 North Main Street or “as you like it” elsewhere
- 6:45 PM – Official play orientation with Fred for “Macbeth” – Auditorium (followed by the Greenshow)
- 7:40 PM – Ken’s quickie intro to “The Scottish Play” – Pine Grove
- 8:00 PM – “Macbeth” – Adams Theater
- 10:00 PM – The Balcony Bards’ Merry Munching on “Macbeth”: Night One – Balcony
- Thursday, August 5
- 9:00 AM – Literary Seminar with Ace & Ken – Pine Grove
- 11:00 AM – Seminar with Ben Hohman – Randall Jones Theater
- 2:00 PM – “Pride and Prejudice” – Randall Jones Theater
- 5:45 PM – Bar-d–Que in Western “flair ‘n’ wear,” with masters-of-ceremony, Marian & Mike Peters – SUU Patio
- 6:45 PM – Official play orientation with Fred for “Much Ado About Nothing” – Auditorium (followed by the Greenshow)
- 8:00 PM – “Much Ado About Nothing” – Adams Theater
- 10:00 PM – The Balcony Bards’ Adoing Much on the Balcony: Night Two – Balcony
- 11:00 PM – USF Cabaret – Grind Coffee House, 19 North Main Street
- Friday, August 6
- 9:00 AM – Literary Seminars with Ace & Carol – Pine Grove
- 11:00 AM – Costume Seminar with Jeff Lieder – Randall Jones Theater
- 12:00 PM – Balcony Bards’ Bottom Bustin’ Biking; Hiking in Bryce or Zion; Balcony Poker
- 5:30 PM – Dinner – Garden House, 164 South 100 West
- 7:40 PM – Ken’s quickie intro to “Merchant of Venice” – Pine Grove
- 8:00 PM – “Merchant of Venice” – Adams Theater
- 10:30 PM – The Balcony Bard’s Ships Come in: Night Three – Balcony
- 9:00 AM – Literary Seminars with Ace & Carol – Pine Grove
- Saturday, August 7
- 9:00 AM – Literary Seminars with Ace & Ken on “Merchant of Venice” – Pine Grove
- 11:30 PM – Lunch – Scott Phillip’s glorious garden, 249 South 300 West
- 2:00 PM – “Great Expectations” – Randall Jones Theater
- 5:45 PM – Nancy & Alan’s Famous Pizza & Chicken on the Balcony
- 7:15 PM – Founder’s Room Pre-Show Tradition – Randall Jones Theater
- 8:00 PM – “39 Steps” – Randall Jones Theater
- 10:30 PM – Balcony Bards’ “Film Noir” Costume Party with (In)famous “Bad Poetry Contest”
- Sunday, August 8
- Hoarseness
- Exhaustion
- Bittersweet Departures
USF 2011 Season Announced
08
Jun
This just in! In their first major act as the new co-artistic directors of the Brian Vaughn and David Ivers have set the playlist for the 2011 summer season of the Utah Shakespearean Festival. The plays are listed below alongside the dates for the Balcony Bards shows in 2011.
- Romeo & Juliet – Wednesday August 3rd @ 8:00 pm
- Noises Off – Thursday August 4th @ 2:00 pm
- Midsummer Night’s Dream – Thursday August 4th @ 8:00 pm
- Richard III – Friday August 5th @ 8:00 pm
- The Glass Menagerie – Saturday August 6th @ 2:00 pm
- The Music Man – Saturday August 6th @ 8:00 pm
For those of you keeping score at home, just last year, Brian reported that Harold Hills in The Music Man was the role he would most like to play. Stay tuned…
New USF Website
08
Jun
As just another example of their continuous improvement, the Utah Shakespearean Festival has completed a rather snappy re-design of their website at www.bard.org. Check it out for the latest news on the festival including:
- Announcement of Brian Vaughn and David Ivers as the new Artistic Directors
- 2010 Casting of Returning and New Actors
- 2011 Play Selections
Balcony Bards 2010 Invitation
29
Mar
“The game’s afoot” — as we heard from Henry the Vth (ala Brian Vaughn) last summer – for the USF’s future. More about some exciting news over the summer.
For now, know that Brian and David Ivers are back on stage in 39 Steps. The play got rave reviews in London and on Broadway, even with actors beneath their caliber. So that should be a show-stopper.
As should the other non-Bard works — adaptations of two great novels: Dickens’ Great Expectations and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
The Shakespeare plays are the strongest trio we’ve seen in our 20 years — the “Three Ms” of Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, and Merchant of Venice. All are real favorites of ours, and will cause lots of balcony debate and discussion.
We have glorious tickets for you from Wednesday, August 4th to a blurry-eyed Sunday, August 8th. Carol has reserved Best Western rooms on the balcony side, and some inner courtyard rooms for the wimps who like a night’s sleep. Call the Best Western El Rey at 1-800-688-6518 and reserve your rooms among the Adelman block. Realize, however, that the Macbeth quote “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece” applies to the annual room allocations at the El Rey. But Carol lovingly sorts the confusion out at the end.
For yet another fabulous week, email me back on which play, and how many tickets, you’d like for:
- Wednesday – August 4th
- Macbeth at 8:00 pm
- Thursday – August 5th
- Pride and Prejudice at 2:00 pm
- Much Ado About Nothing at 8:00 pm
- Friday – August 6th
- Merchant of Venice at 8:00 pm
- Saturday – August 7th
- Great Expectations at 2:00 pm
- 39 Steps at 8:00 pm
To remind you all: Our dress-up-Western Bar-D-Que — designer cowhand gear from Steve at the Jolly Rancher — comes on Thursday night. John’s bike ride around scenic Lake Navajo on Friday. Hikes in the glorious Bryce Canyon or Zion National Parks whenever, as is golf or just sitting on the balcony with Norm. Swimming with Lyla Corinne — at her first full USF — her view was obstructed last summer — to the highest bidder (Ken taking bids, even bribes). Chicken and pizza on the balcony, thanks to Nancy & Alan, Saturday night.
After the play on Saturday night will be the costume party. This year’s theme is Film Noir since we’re seeing the fabulous 39 Steps on Saturday night. Think 1940s and 50s and stylish Hollywood crime dramas with private eyes, femme fatales, black and white, trench coats, stunning 1940s suits, black wigs, and heavy eye makeup. Classic Films Noir were Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel and other bad girls like Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner; Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past, Burt Lancaster and Barbara Stanywick in Sorry, Wrong Number, and Bogart and Bacall in The Big Sleep. The theme for the Bad Poetry Contest, judged by “bad” judges Annie & Bruce will be announced later on and badly.
Erudite discussions at any hour. And loads of laughs and warm fellowship at all hours. We hope to see you in Cedar City, to share our happiness during this wondrous week.
Cheers,
Carol and Ken — 703/989-5444