The agenda for the meeting will include announcements and action on reports from officers of the corporation and from committees, as well as election of the Board of Directors for 2004-2005. The Board does not anticipate any other business, but questions and suggestions from members of the VLO are always in order.
The Board of Directors
Stephen Tanne, President
But read on . . .
One of the things that make our Annual Meetings different is that they are usually very short. This leaves time for entertainment. The program at this year's meeting will be very special. Over the years we have used the Annual Meeting to do a nunber of different things--introduce new people to Gilbert and Sullivan, try out new works, present works of different composers, even on one occasion to present a newly reconstructed Gilbert and Sullivan work, Thespis. This year we're trying out a new (to us) SWOG (Sullivan without Gilbert) work, the final opera Sullivan completed. The libretto is by another Victorian era librettist, Basil Hood.
We will present a concert version of The Rose of Persia for the public on Saturday, February 28 at the Amherst Regional Middle School. This concert will be a fund-raiser for new curtains for the Middle School stage, sorely in need of replacement. But for the Annual Meeting, we'll be presenting a full run-through, our dress rehearsal. Attendance at this rehearsal will be open only to members of the VLO. You won't want to miss it. You may even want to hear The Rose of Persia twice! Come again on Saturday night.
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Ruddigore next fallNext, look for the Audition Edition of the VLO News in March, which will contain information about auditions for next fall's production, Ruddigore. It will be our thirtieth fall show. In addition to singing, though, there are lots of jobs in the VLO, and we're looking for volunteers, folks who have interest, time and energy and want to learn more about how a community theater really works. Can you work with sets, sew costumes, do make-up or publicity? Organize the ushers or sell souvenirs? Just let us know what you'd like to do. For most jobs experience is not required and you decide how much time you are able to give! |
| Despite poor health, Sullivan fashioned a memorable score, superbly orchestrated and generously broad in musical style. The composer was alive to Hood's witty libretto, reveling in his comedy songs and set piece choruses. The Rose of Persia attracted enthusiastic audiences to the Savoy Theatre following its premiere on 29 November 1899, the production running for 213 performances. The work was revived in London in 1935, when it was described by the Times as 'a marriage of The Mikado and Arabian Nights.' |
Next fall's performances will be the third VLO production of Ruddigore, which we previously staged in 1982 and 1991. So it's been thirteen years since the wicked baronet has darkened the stage of the Amherst Regional High School -- help us bring him back to life in 2004!
The VLO now has a Web site! Michael D. Bathrick, President of BerkshireNet, donates space on internet service provider BerkshireNet. Kurt Gordon is our WebMaster. Check us out at www.vlo.org! You will find information about the VLO and, in addition, links to other G&S Web sites throughout the nation.
SavoyNet-- Another note about the Internet and Gilbert and Sullivan --Here's another G&S resource. SavoyNet is the international Gilbert and Sullivan Bulletin Board. It offers a chance to communicate with G&S lovers all over the world. To subscribe, without obligation, send an e-mail message to list-serv@bridgewater.edu (leaving the "Subject" line blank) that says only subscribe savoynet [your full name] and instructions will follow. |
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Finally--it's Membership Time. If you haven't become a member of the VLO before, why not consider it now? Membership provides valuable support for the Valley Light Opera, which gets all of its income from members, friends and patrons. None comes from advertising! Almost everyone in the VLO is a volunteer. At $10 for individuals and $15 for families, annual dues for the Valley Light Opera are among the best deals in town. Membership puts you in a special category of VLO supporters. We send you advance notification by first class mail of ticket sales for the annual fall production and you get a vote at the Annual Meeting. (And this year you can get a sneak preview of The Rose of Persia!) Just fill in the form below and mail it with your check (or bring them to the Annual Meeting). That's all there is to it! (And, if you wish, you can make an additional, tax-deductible donation.)
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Cut off and mail to: |
Valley Light Opera, Inc. P. O. Box 2143 Amherst, MA 01004-2143 |
| Individual membership: | $10 _____ |
| Family membership: | $15 _____ |
| Additional donation (optional) | $ _______ |
| Name: | ______________________________________________________________________ |
| Address: | ______________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________ZIP__________________ | |
| Phone: | ________________ Email: ________________________________________________ |
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Send Questions/Comments to: info@vlo.org