**  WE HAVE A NEW LOGAINNE! **


Tuesday / June 14, 2011

FROM DIRECTOR JIM:
Hi gang! For those of you who do not know, since Abby Toomey will not be able to make it back East for the performance, Suzy Messick will be taking over the role of Logainne effectively immediately. Please welcome Suzy (as well as Josh, our new Barfee) when you see them.

I will be sending out a schedule very soon so all will be aware of when we will be getting together. Please give some thought to your areas of responsibility and get in touch if there is anything we need to do before hand. I will be gone from June 27th through July 8th. Liz will be handling the rehearsals during that time and Deni, of course will be attending when she can to clean up choreography issues.

It looks like we are really going to pull this off and it will be GREAT. Jim.



Tuesday / June 7, 2011

It is official.  His name is Josh Wakeley.  We are very excited about him and I know the rest of you will be as well.  The major obstacle that we will all have to overcome is the fact that he cannot be with us from June 12 through June 25.  He will miss the only two rehearsals we already scheduled, but, Liz and I are convinced, as is Josh, that we can do it.  As I said before, this is going to take quite an effort, please give it your all.  Thanks, and I will see you on June 13th at Georgetown Presbyterian Church.  Jim

JOSH WAKELEY
Frederica, DE
302-331-1919
cerealbox478@yahoo.com






Monday / June 6, 2011

Hi gang: Liz and I auditioned a young man last evening who has excellent talent. We still may have one or two more to meet with, but it looks like we will be doing the show.

What I need is your schedules between now and July 14th. I need to know who is available when so we can work with whomever we select as Barfee. So, please let me know as soon as you can. This is going to take quite an effort on everyone’s part to make this as good as it was in January, but I know we can do it. Thanks. Jim.





Sunday / June 5, 2011

As I'm sure you've heard by now, we've lost our Barfee for our summer performance.  Jeff Haslow had to withdraw from the project understandably because of recent work-related issues.  As a result, we are in a rather desperate search for someone to play the part.

If there is anyone you feel would be capable, approachable, and might be interested and willing to take on the challenge, PLEASE contact me ASAP!  302-856-6166 Home, 302-381-4898 Cell, or E-MAIL jlhart8@mchsi.com (DO NOT use Facebook as I might not see the message as soon as I otherwise would by a call or an email.) I will follow up very quickly!

The summer project is indeed in jeopardy--I still have a short bit of time before I'll have to pull the plug on the performance, but time is truly pressing.  As of now, our remaining rehearsals are in place.  Please assure anyone you might think is interested in and capable of doing the job that he will have the full supoort and assistance of everyone involved in the project to make it work.

Thank you to all... I do hope we're able once again to thrill an audience with our amazing production of "Spelling Bee." --Jim





Wednesday / February 23, 2011

WELCOME JEFF HASLOW!! Based on Jeff’s availability, his need to quickly begin to assimilate himself into the cast, and my desire not to let too much time pass, I am calling two rehearsals for Bee. Tuesday, March 8 at 6 pm and Sunday, March 27 at 6 pm. I would like to use Suzy, Colby, and Linda for Logainne, Chip and Marcy in terms of dialogue (Suzy: Since I have asked you, and you have graciously agreed, to understudy Logainne’s role, I would want you to sing as much as you can for these rehearsals.) We will be using the CD when necessary to fill in the parts which are missing at the time.

Tuesday’s rehearsal will be sit down and just run through the music and dialogue. The Sunday one will be with all blocking and dances although we will have to make some adjustments because the set for Doubt will be on stage. We will just do the best we can.

Rehearsals after March 27 will depend on where we are then.

PLEASE: Make sure you let me know if you cannot make either of these rehearsals. Thanks. Jim.






FRIDAY / JANUARY 14, 2011

HEY YOU GUYS!!  You need to prepare for a phenomenal show!!

First, I need to tell you how much I appreciate all that you have given me during the past several months.  It is obvious that you have put tremendous effort and dedication into your part in this production, and for that, I THANK YOU!

I believe that I am good at what I do!  Most of you have heard that nonsense many times before.  But what I also almost always add, is that I am blessed with some fantastic talent . . . .  and you folks are no exception!

This is such a tremendous cast and directorial staff that I sometimes feel that I should just step back . . . . . and let it happen.  But then I say to myself that even an outstanding cast and directorial crew needs a leader.  And I am so proud to be that leader!

You folks know that we fall or soar,  on our talent.  Your talents are your musical, dancing and performance skills; my talent is putting it together in a meaningful way. I truly believe in both.  I feel that what we have done and will continue to do will make this POSSUM POINT PLAYERS production, one of which we can be truly proud.

Moving forward, I need your continued support, your continued artistic excellence, and your continued belief, in both me and yourselves, that, together, we can present something truly special.

So, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I look  forward to the next several weeks when we prepare. . . . and present. . . one of the finest PPP productions ever!

Jim.





MONDAY / DECEMBER 27, 2010

WELLLLLLLL!  Obviously, there will be no rehearsal Monday evening, December 27.  Perhaps we may need to even do the same to Tuesday, BUT we will hold a decision on that one until sometime Tuesday.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, I am afraid I need to call a rehearsal for THIS THURSDAY AND POSSIBLY NEXT SUNDAY.  Everyone:  Please send me a note as to your availability for 6 pm on this Thursday and for both afternoon and evening this Sunday.  If you can’t, you can’t, obviously, but, I fear this may not be the last snow setback and we need to be as prepared as possible.  So, please look at your calendars and let me know.  Thanks.  Jim.




TUESDAY / NOVEMBER 16, 2010

Hi there again.  Well, we certainly are generating quite a bit of excitement as we “slog” toward read thru.  That is probably a good thing because once we get there we will have to hit the ground running.  We only have 9 weeks from read thru to opening night!  And that includes Thanksgiving and Christmas and (GOD PLEASE FORBID) snow dates.  (shhhhhhhhhh!!)

That means that our cast is going to be responsible, more than ever before, for working hard during both rehearsal nights and off nights.  Come to every rehearsal with pencil and script in hand and be ready to FOCUS.  Write down all blocking, and, to whatever extent you feel necessary, choreography as well.  Abby will be helping Deni with the Choreography, so you can lean on her, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to help yourself as much as possible.  Work hard right from the beginning, PLEASE.

Liz tells me that the CD is usable as a practice tool since, for all intents and purposes, it matches the score.  (Liz, please make any caveats to that statement.)  So, if you don’t already have one, I strongly recommend you purchase a copy of the Broadway CD.  Places such as E-Bay,  www.amazon.com or www.broadwaymusicalhome.com can sell you one.

Having said all that, remember that FUN is still the word..  Both for us and for the audience.  Your first clue to its popularity should have been when you heard that 31 people tried out for a nine person cast.  Currently MTI has 220 licenses on the books for Bee between now and next November, which is all the farther ahead you can book an MTI show. And, in case you didn’t know, check out the nominations listed below.  So, I leave you with this challenge and promise.  You give me your best and I will give you mine, and this show should turn out to be another PPP “special event.”

***2005 Tony Award Nominations***
-Best Book of a Musical - Rachel Sheinkin WINNER!
-Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Dan Fogler  WINNER!
-Best Musical
-Best Original Score - William Finn and William Finn
-Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Celia Keenan-Bolger
-Best Direction of a Musical - James Lapine

***2005 Theatre World Award Nominations***
-Dan Fogler WINNER!
-Celia Keenan-Bolger WINNER!

***2005 Drama Desk Award Nominations***
-Outstanding New Musical
-Outstanding Director of a Musical - James Lapine  WINNER!
-Outstanding Book of a Musical - Rachel Sheinkin  WINNER!
-Outstanding Ensemble Performance  WINNER!
-Outstanding Lyrics - William Finn
-Outstanding Music - William Finn

from the director's chair...
Jim Hartzell / The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Possum Point Players / Georgetown, Delaware