VLO News

Annual Meeting Edition

January, 2009

CALL TO ANNUAL MEETING

The Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of Valley Light Opera, Inc., will be held on Friday, March 6, in the auditorium of the Amherst Regional High School, off Triangle Street, in Amherst, Massachusetts at 7:30 p.m.

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 2009-2010. 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

But read on . . .

One of the things that make our Annual Meetings different is that they are usually very short, leaving time for music directly afterward. This year is no different, except that the music will once again be a dress rehearsal for members only before our public performance of The Beauty Stone (see below). We'll give our members a chance to become familiar with this practically unknown piece by Sullivan.

Another noteworthy spring performance

We will present a concert performance of The Beauty Stone on Saturday evening, March 7, in the Amherst Regional High School auditorium with soloists, chorus, orchestra and narrator. Music for The Beauty Stone was composed by Sullivan in 1898. Unlike much of Sullivan's musical output, it is definitely not a comedy, but is described as a romantic musical drama.

The Pirates of Penzance next fall

Next, look for the Audition Edition of the VLO News in April, which will contain information about auditions for next fall's production, The Pirates of Penzance. It will be our thirty-fifth 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!

What is special about The Beauty Stone?

Following the happy success of Victoria and Merrie England in 1897, Sullivan began work on a new opera for the Savoy. The idea of the libretto - that true beauty is an inner quality - came from Joseph William Comyns Carr (1849 - 1916). Carr, a competent dramatist, had written the book for Henry Irving's 1895 spectacular production of King Arthur, for which Sullivan had composed the music, and Sullivan was pleased to be offered the chance to work on something in a similarly romantic vein. Carr wisely confined himself to writing the lyrics, and the distinguished dramatist Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was drafted in to work out the plot and write the dialogue. The piece, styled as 'An Original Romantic Musical Drama'; was titled The Beauty Stone. Learn more about The Beauty Stone at http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/.

And what is special about The Pirates of Penzance?

Next fall will be our fourth fully staged production of Pirates, one of the Big Three and a favorite with VLO audiences. Subtitled The Slave of Duty, Pirates tells the love story of Ralph, a lowly foremast hand, and Mabel, the Captain's daughter, with wonderful support characters and beautiful music. Can Gilbert get the happy couple together? Of course he can, but getting there is more than half the fun!

Valley Light Opera is on the World Wide Web!

The VLO has a web site, courtesy of Michael D. Bathrick, President of BerkshireNet, who donates space on internet provider BerkshireNet. Heather Davies is our webmaster (webmistress?). Check us out at www.VLO.org. You will find information about the VLO and, in addition, links to other G&S web sites through the nation.

And a final sad note . . .

Over the holidays the VLO lost two stalwarts, Kevin Hutchinson, our president, and Kurt Gordon, our clerk. It is impossible to write this without remembering the contributions both made to the VLO, and to offer our thoughts and prayers to Kevin's wife, Marese, and Kurt's wife, Courtney.

Membership Renewal Time!

Membership provides valuable support for Valley Light Opera, which gets all of its income from members, friends and patrons. At $10 for individuals and $15 for families, annual dues for VLO are among the best deals in town. It puts you in a special category of VLO supporters. We send you advance notification by first class mail of ticket sales and you get a vote at the Annual Meeting. Just fill in the form below and mail it with your check (or bring them to the Annual Meeting). It's that easy! (And, if you wish, you can make an additional, tax-deductible donation.)

Last year we moved into the twenty-first century by providing an option to pay your membership dues (and make donations) via the Web. Just go to www.vlo.org, choose "Membership and Donations" from the menu on the left and click the appropriate button.

Cut off and mail to: Valley Light Opera, Inc., P. O. Box 2143, Amherst, MA 01004-2143

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Family membership: $15 _____

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You may wish to return to the VLO Home Page.

Send Questions/Comments to: info@vlo.org
Feb. 15, 2008.

Individual membership:		$10 _____
Family membership:		$15 _____
Additional donation (optional)		$ _______

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Address:	______________________________________________________________________
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