Tag Archive for: theatre

It’s Spring!

2013 Summer Theatre Camp 4.jpg

“The world is shaped by two things – stories told and the memories they leave behind.” – Vera Nazarian

Celebrating the Present | Planning for the Future | Honoring the Past

Our dreams include the continuation of theatre classes and programs such as Reader’s Theatre, Theatre By the Book, and The 24 Hour Plays, plus the new Connections through History and Storytelling, beginning this summer.  

Become part of our family!  Become a Member of the Miners Foundry for as little as $5 a month.  Additional benefits for joining before May 31, 2016.

Find yourself at the Foundry in 2016!

JOIN NOW

Theater By The Book Returns With The Thriller SLEUTH – Wednesday, May 22

Theater by the Book, a series of informal play readings for the community co-presented by Sierra Stages and the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, returns Wednesday, May 22 with a reading of the Tony Award-winning play Sleuth, directed by Susan Mason and featuring local actors Jeffrey Mason and Danny McCammon.

“We kicked off the “Theater by the Book” series in April with a reading/singing of a children’s musical Stone Soup which has a musical score by Ken Hardin, Artistic Director of InConcert Sierra,” explains Peter Mason, board member of Sierra Stages. “We expected about fifty audience members, but had over one hundred and fifty in the attendance.  The feedback on the show was overwhelmingly positive.”

Sleuth has all the ingredients of a top-class thriller – a plot whose twists and turns are breathtakingly audacious and fiendishly cunning; suspense and excitement galore; and a brilliant parody of the Agatha Christie country-house thriller.  Written in 1970 by Anthony Shaffer the play is set in the English manor house of Andrew Wyke, an immensely successful mystery writer, played by Mason.  Wyke’s home reflects his obsession with the inventions and deceptions of fiction and his fascination with games and game-playing. He lures his wife’s lover, Milo Tindle played by McCammon, to the house and convinces him to stage a robbery of her jewelry, a proposal that sets off a chain of events that leaves the audience trying to decipher where Wyke’s imagination ends and reality begins.

“I love Sleuth.  It is fun, interesting, and rarely ever done because of the production challenges,” explains Susan on why she suggested the play for the series. “The play reads very well and I’m interested in the creative process of reworking a familiar play in a way that is new to me and the audience.  Plus it was a great opportunity to work with my husband again.”

Susan grew up in Grass Valley and met Jeffrey while performing in a production of Oliver! at the Nevada Theatre in 1976.  Since then the two have worked together in over thirty shows and lived throughout California and Oregon.  The Mason’s threw themselves back in to local theatre two years ago after Jeffrey retired from teaching theatre arts at the university level.  Most recently, Susan directed Assassins for Sierra Stages and Alice in Wonderland for Quest Theatreworks and acted in Sierra Stages’ production Death of a Salesman, while Jeffrey has directed The Music Man and Death of a Salesman for Sierra Stages. Both also participated in the popular 24 Hour Plays produced by Sands Hall at the Miners Foundry.

“My love of theatre comes from my love of dramatic literature,” explains Susan.  “There is so much good literature out there, you can’t run out of good material.  I also love watching the audience see something come alive in person.”

Also in the cast is seasoned actor Danny McCammon. McCammon has performed in numerous local productions, including Sierra Stages’ Assassins and CATS’ Journey to the West. He also performs in the Best Friends Club Sketch Comedy Group, and will be seen in Sierra Stages’ summer production of the musical Avenue Q at the Nevada Theatre.

The Theater By the Book readings are FREE (with a $10 suggested donation). Each reading is on a Wednesday evening – doors open at 7 and the reading begins at 7:30.

“We thought it was important that the play readings be free, but we are also asking for a suggested contribution of $10 to cover royalties for each play and the promotion and fixed costs for the Foundry,” says Peter Mason.  “Although not designed as a fund raising event (after all, admission is free), any proceeds from the series will go to the Miners Foundry and Sierra Stages, which are both 501(c)(3) organizations with a goal to provide cultural activities for our community.”

The rest of the play reading series will be entertaining as well, with a wide variety of plays: Sleuth will be followed with a comedy (Lettice and Lovage), a drama (The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds), a sprawling historical epic with music (Zoot Suit) and one reading to be announced. Jeffrey Mason will direct the Peter Shaffer comedy Lettice and Lovage the third installment of Theater By the Book on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at the Miners Foundry.

 

Get Floored – Miners Foundry New Wood Floor Campaign

For the past year, the Miners Foundry Cultural Center has been hard at work quietly raising funds for a new wooden floor in the Osborn/Woods Hall, one of the two great halls. With the help and support of private donors, businesses, Nevada City, Nevada County and the Nevada City Chamber Commerce they have raised 70% of the total amount needed. With just three weeks remaining before breaking ground on January 28, the Miners Foundry is reaching out to help make this much needed facility improvement a reality for the community to use and enjoy for generations to come.

“A wooden dance floor will allow the Foundry to produce Swing, Ballroom, Salsa and Blues dance events without making excuses about dancing on cement. It’s a big step in the improvement of the Miners Foundry,” says Paul Emery, a local promoter who has produced music and theatrical events at the Miners Foundry.

Located in the heart of downtown Nevada City, the Miners Foundry is a California Registered Historic Landmark. The building retains the character of the Gold Rush days with its rough-hewn beams, iron doors, and antique fixtures and furnishings. From its earliest days as a machine shop that spawned such modern marvels as the Pelton Wheel which would go on to revolutionize hydroelectricity to the fabrication of steel that was used in the Liberty Ships of World War II to its current use as Nevada County’s premiere cultural arts and community center, the Miners Foundry has and continues to play an integral role in the story of Nevada County, and ourselves.

“Charles Woods and David Osborn had a magnificent and brilliant vision which they made a reality; to create a cultural center for Nevada County from the ruins of a once bustling but ultimately derelict industrial building which once served the mines,” said Paul Matson, board member of the Miners Foundry and friend of the late partners, Osborn/Woods. “Today what was then the American Victorian Museum is alive and well while actively fulfilling that original mission, in what is now known as the Miners Foundry.”

In 2009, the Miners Foundry brought together community members, organizers and leaders for a strategic planning session. During the meeting the floor in the Osborn/Woods Hall, along with a new sound system, stage, curtains, and kitchen, were all identified as areas that needed improvement. Since then, these areas with the exception of the floor have been updated. A new floor would beautify the hall by lightening the room and improving acoustics. It would attract more music events that involve dancing. It would also provide an elegant space for dinner dances, night-club-style events and dinner theatre. Rental business for daytime uses such as exercise, yoga and dance classes would expand dramatically.

Last year the Miners Foundry hosted over 400 events and nearly 50,000 people, local and out-of-town, visited to either attend a rock concert, theatrical production or reading, non-profit or school fundraiser, private party, wedding, or just to admire the historic mining relics and the Foundry’s famous stone walls.

Young’s Carpet One has been selected as the contractor for the job. The scope of the floor project includes sealing and leveling the existing concrete floor, and then installing a premium hardwood floor. Donors of a certain level will have their name or the name of their choice permanently imprinted on the new wood floor.

“Like many non-profit arts venues, only 40% of the buildings operating costs are covered through rental income,” explains Gretchen Bond, Executive Director. “The remainder comes from Foundry-presented events, annual memberships, fundraising events, grants and donations. Individuals and businesses that choose to support the Foundry make an enormous difference and insure the legacy of this great building.”

Hurry!  Donations of any amount are welcome.  There is a deadline of January 26th for those who donate $1,000 or more and will have the name of their choice imprinted on the floor.

To make a tax-deductible donation you can do so online here or simply call (530) 265-5040. You can also mail in your donation to Miners Foundry, attn: Osborn/Woods Hall Floor, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA, 95959. For questions or additional information please contact Gretchen Bond at (530) 265-5040 or [email protected]

Truth in Acting Workshop with Sandra Rockman ~ Winter 2013 Series

Sandra Rockman

Whether you harbor a secret desire to perform or you are already active with area companies, Sandra will guide you to a richer level of awareness and ability to inhabit your character on stage.  Class sizes will be limited and pre-registration is required.  Three class options will be offered, beginning January 7, 2013.  The series will run for 9 weeks and is $180.00 for the series.

Three class options are available:
Mondays 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Tuesdays 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Tuesdays 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.

Sandra Rockman has been involved with the local theater scene since 1978.  She is an actress and playwright, and has directed more than 25 productions, including the classic “Our Town”, recently at the Nevada Theatre.  Fore more information about these and other workshops, as well as private consults for all writing and/or theatrical projects, call (530) 265-6514 or email [email protected] .

This workshop has been co-sponsored by the Miners Foundry Cultural Center.   The Mission of the Miners Foundry Cultural Center is to preserve, enhance and utilize the historic Miners Foundry for cultural, educational and social activities.   The Foundry is a non profit organization, proud to support other area non profits such as Utah’s Place / Hospitality House of Western Nevada County.

 

 

Tag Archive for: theatre

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