ANNOUNCING THE

2017-2018 SEASON!SIGNATURE SERIESLa Cage aux Folles

September 7 – October 1, 2017Over the River and Through the Woods

October 19 – November 12, 2017I Love a Piano

January 11 – February 4, 2018The Foreigner

March 15 – April 8, 2018Mamma Mia!

May 17 – June 17, 2018

OVATION SERIESMan Is the Only Animal Who

Blushes… Or Needs To: An Evening With Mark Twain featuring Michael Edwards

November 16-19, 2017The Giver

February 15-25, 2018The Legendary Bobby Darin:

A TributeApril 12-15, 2018

SUMMER SPECIAL Cry-Baby July 21-30, 2017Season Subscriptions On Sale Now! Call 352-236-2274

SEASON 2016 - 2017 JUNE 2017

COMINGEVENTSShrek The MusicalMay 18 – June 11

Starfish CircusJune 17

Harvey AwardsJune 24

Space PiratesJune 30 – July 1

The Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDSJuly 14-15

Cry-BabyJuly 21-30

La Cage aux FollesSeptember 7 – October 1

La Cage aux FollesJuly 17-18

AUDITIONS

June 24 The annual Harvey Awards, Ocala Civic Theatre’s version of the Tony Awards, will be held Saturday,

June 24 to celebrate the best of the 2016-2017 season! The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a social hour, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and entertainment.

The awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Awards are given for excellence in acting, technical aspects, and volunteer service. Join us to recognize the outstanding work of our volunteers and designers!

Everyone is welcome to attend the Harvey Awards. Dressy to semi-formal attire is suggested. Tickets are $10. The deadline to purchase tickets is June 19 by 5:30 p.m. For reservations or more information, call (352) 236-2274 or stop by the box office.

Don’t miss this special evening – it’s the social event of the season!

Season Ticket

Renewal Deadline June 15!

The student production of

Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas MeehanSongs by David Javerbaum and Adam SchlesingerBased on the Universal Pictures film written and directed by John Waters

Annual Get Up & Go Drawing!

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who participated in our annual Get Up & Go drawing, we raised $16,590 to help support the Theatre! Here are the lucky winners we drew on April 25:

First Prize $2,000 American Express gift card: Carolyn Crowe

Second Prize $1,500 shopping spree at local stores: Patricia Painter

Third Prize $1,000 in gift certificates to local restaurants: Krystal Liburd

Fourth Prize $700 Pamper Yourself package: Maria Paul

Fifth Prize Four One-Day Park Hopper Passes for Walt Disney World Orlando plus One Hotel Night at a Disney Moderate Value Category Hotel (approx. $700 value): Penny LeFebvre

Sixth Prize $700 in gift certificates to local restaurants: Connie Emery

Seventh Prize Two One-Day Busch Gardens Park Passes in Tampa, Florida, plus One Hotel Night at a Marriott-owned hotel nearby (approx. $300 value): Marilyn Kennedy

Eighth Prize One pair of 2017-2018 Signature Series and one pair of 2017-2018 Ovation Series season tickets with prime seating option: Barry Herb

Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you to everyone who helped support Ocala Civic Theatre by purchasing tickets, and special thanks to all the businesses that so generously donated the great prizes for the Get Up & Go drawing.

Special thanks:

Busch Gardens • Disney WorldPlease support these terrific local

businesses as they serve our community:AgapanthusApplebee’s Neighborhood Grill & BarAvanti Hair BizThe Bead StrandBeef O’Brady’sBetty Cakes Bakery & CaféBlackwater InnBlue HighwayBob Wines Camellia GardensBonefish GrillThe Braised OnionBrick City BicyclesBrick City Southern Kitchen & Whiskey BarBruster’s Ice CreamCafé HavanaCarrabba’sCharlie Horse Restaurant

Chelsea Coffee CompanyCloset Envy BoutiqueCrossFit ZooCrunchies & MunchiesD & L Bonsai NurseryDarrell’s Dog Gone Good DinerDee Dee’s DinerDiscount Daze New & Consigned FurnitureFace the Day Spa & SalonGator’s DocksideGause & Son Jewelers Harry’s Seafood Bar & GrilleHello CupcakeThe Ivy House Restaurant

Kotobuki Japanese Steak HouseLa CuisineLakis Greek RestaurantLatin American CaféLa-Z-Boy GalleryThe Marketplace on BroadwayMarion TheatreMaureen Whitaker, LMTMesa de NotteMojo Grill & Catering Co.Ocala Art & FrameOcala Bicycle CenterOcala’s Chocolate & ConfectionsThe Olive ObsessionThe Olive Oil MarketOlivia & Co.Outback SteakhousePainting With a Twist

Parramore MusicPDQPerfect Paws Grooming SalonPlay It Again SportsPower Yoga Ocala The Proper TeaseRed LobsterRichard’s PlaceRoger’s Frame & GallerySalon WOWSerendipity BoutiqueShannon Roth Collection Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-QSound ExchangeStella’s Modern PantrySweet Jane’s Candy StoreVitalize NutritionYour Heart’s DesireYours Truly

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WINNERWINNER

July 21-30 In 1954 Baltimore, rebel with a cause “Cry-Baby” Walker is the leader of a gang

of “drapes,” or leather-clad delinquents. But this bad boy only has eyes for good girl Allison, who is tired of her privileged life and her squeaky-clean boyfriend, Baldwin, the king of the “squares”. Based on the cult classic film, this high-energy rockabilly musical from the writers of Hairspray is a jumping, jiving good time!

Directed by Kirstin Kennedy, Cry-Baby is presented by a talented cast of high school and college students. Music director is Shane Bass. Choreographer is Melanie Tarter. Stage manager is Tom Ferreira.

There will be seven performances of Cry-Baby from July 21-30:• Friday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.• Saturday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m.• Sunday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m.• Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m.• Friday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.• Saturday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.• Sunday, July 30 at 2:00 p.m.Tickets go on sale June 26 at $20 for adults, $16 for subscribers, $10 for full-time

students (student ID required for college students), and $5 for Marion Players

June 17 Starfish Circus is back in town! In just

one week, students will learn amazing feats of acrobatic skill and comic timing with aerial techniques, hoops, clowning, juggling, balancing, and tumbling. The week ends with two chances to see students show off their new skills in a one-hour circus performance.

Performances are Saturday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for full-time students (student ID required for college students), and $5 for Marion Players.

The student production of

June 30 - July 1 Poor Gabby gets picked on during a

school trip to the museum – but when an alien spaceship accidentally beams her and her classmates to outer space, things go from bad to worse as they’re attacked by space pirates! This out-of-this-world youth musical is performed by a cast of students ages 7-14.

Performances are Friday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 1 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for full-time students (student ID required for college students), and $5 for Marion Players.

Notes From The Education Department

Summer 2017 kicks off June 5 and goes full speed ahead through August 4. We have classes in everything from film-making to fairy tales. Disney, dancing, and Dr. Seuss… superheroes, singing, and Star Wars… comedy and creative dramatics… so many exciting adventures to choose from!

There are four great student productions on stage this summer. Three of them are family-friendly for all ages. On June 17, be thrilled by the amazing acrobatic feats of Starfish Circus. Enjoy out-of-this-world entertainment as the youth musical Space Pirates invades the stage on June 30 and July 1. Climb up into The Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS for some marvelously medieval musical adventures on July 14-15. And for teens and older, there’s Cry-Baby, the high-energy 1950s musical presented by our high school and college students from July 21-30.

We hope you’ll join us this summer, whether it’s in the classroom or in the audience!

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ACT 4 will hold its ANNUAL MEETING on Wednesday, June 21, in the Dining Room of the Ocala Elks Lodge, located at 702 N.E. 25th Avenue, beginning at 6:00 p.m. A Dinner Buffet of Tossed Salad, Fried Fish, Scalloped Potatoes, Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti with Sauce, and Fruit Cobbler will be served at a cost of $25.00 per person (tax and gratuity included). A cash bar will be available. Following dinner, the election of Board Members for the 2017-2018 Season will be held. ACT 4 2017 College Scholarship winners will perform to close out the evening. Members of ACT 4, their guests, and all interested persons are invited to attend. Reservations can be made by calling President Joan Gustafson at (352) 622-5315 by June 16.

ACT 4 has begun its ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN. If you have previously been a member, we invite you to rejoin us. If you have never been a member, we invite you to find out what we are all about. We have great plans for the coming season, including a fashion show and a dinner theatre production, while we continue to sponsor our Gift Box and Gift Basket sales. Membership envelopes are available in the Theatre lobby. If you would like to find out more about the organization and its goals, please call ACT 4 President Joan Gustafson at (352) 622-5315.

ACT 4 Casino CruiseJuly 29

ACT 4 is sponsoring a One-Day Scholarship Cruise from Port Canaveral on Saturday, July 29, at a cost of $60.00 per person (photo identification is required). The excursion includes round-trip bus transportation, boarding, one meal, and $20.00 Promo Slot Play after 8 points accumulated. Live entertainment and free drinks will be offered when gambling. The bus will leave from Ocala Civic Theatre to Port Canaveral at 8:00 a.m. (Please arrive at 7:00 a.m. for complimentary coffee and donuts.) The bus will return to Ocala Civic Theatre at 7:00 p.m.

For reservations, call Ocala Civic Theatre at (352) 236-2274 by July 21. All proceeds from this cruise will benefit Ocala Civic Theatre and its Education Department.

July 14-15When siblings Jack and Annie are whisked

away to the Middle Ages, they experience a grand medieval feast, escape through secret tunnels, and dance with enchanted suits of armor as they find their way back home. This magical musical is presented by a cast of students ages 8-14.

Performances are Friday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 15 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale June 12 at $12 for adults, $6 for full-time students (student ID required for college students), and $5 for Marion Players.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

If you’ve seen a show at Ocala Civic Theatre in the past few years, chances are very good that you’ve seen Deion Bruce Howard on the stage. From his first appearance in The Full Monty to his most recent role as the wisecracking Donkey in Shrek The Musical, Deion is a familiar face to OCT audiences. He also has appeared in The Mousetrap, 9 to 5: The Musical, Sister Act, If I Loved You, Blood Brothers, The Kitchen Witches, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Sleuth, Crazy For You, Camelot, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?, and Almost, Maine. (Whew! What a list!)

But Deion can also be found working hard behind the scenes. He served as the assistant stage manager for The Affections of May, Something’s Afoot, and The Dixie Swim Club; worked crew for Menopause: The Musical; and ran the light board for A Tribute to the USO. He also has helped distribute brochures for the Education Department.

So out of all those roles, onstage and off, does he have a favorite? Of his stage appearances, he says, “Donkey is my new favorite role, because of how much fun I have with it, but Louie in Black Patent Leather Shoes is a really close second. I also loved being a part of Almost, Maine, which was so much fun.” And while performing in

musicals is his favorite activity, he adds, “Really, I love all aspects of theatre. I enjoy operating the light board, being a dresser, and working backstage, too.” In the future, he’d also like to learn how to run the sound board and the body mics worn by actors in shows.

Deion is an outgoing and personable young man, so it’s no surprise that interacting with people is what he enjoys most about volunteering at OCT. “The most rewarding thing is all of the people I’ve met and gotten to talk to just because they’ve recognized me from being onstage,” he says. “I also really love the joy and appreciation that I get from people for entertaining them.”

But even an entertainer likes his quiet time. When not at the theatre, Deion’s favorite pastime is reading. He particularly loves to read fantasy, fiction, and sci-fi. In fact, he’s even begun writing his own book. “I just recently started working on a YA fantasy novel. It’s a slow process, because it’s hard to find time to just sit down and write, but I’m excited about it!”

Deion… in our book, you’re one of the very best characters. Thank you for your enthusiasm, your generosity with your time and talents, your kindness and positive attitude, and your dedication to Ocala Civic Theatre!

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Box Office Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Saturdays with a performance: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The lobby and box office open one hour before each performance.

On sale now: • Shrek the Musical

• 2017-2018 Season Tickets

• Starfish Circus

• Harvey Awards

• Space Pirates

Tickets go on sale:June 12: The Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS

June 26: Cry-Baby

Get information and buy tickets online any time at www.ocalacivictheatre.com (A service charge applies to online purchases.)

Box Office: (352) 236-2274Administrative Offices: (352) 236-2851

Follow us on Facebook! “Like” our pages at Ocala Civic Theatre and Ocala Civic Theatre — Education Dept.

Deion Bruce Howard

Announcing The 2017 College Scholarship Winners!Ocala Civic Theatre and ACT 4 are pleased to provide several college scholarships each year to students planning to pursue a degree in

the performing arts. Many local students get their start in our Education Department programs, and we are delighted to watch them develop their talents and remain active in theatre as they grow up. Since Ocala Civic Theatre’s scholarship program was established in 1981, more than $139,800 has been awarded to Marion County students majoring in the performing arts.

This year, Ocala Civic Theatre and ACT 4 are honored to provide a total of $7,500 in scholarship funds to 11 talented students. We are proud to support their pursuit of higher education as well as the future of the performing arts. This year’s winners are:

• ACT 4 Scholarships: Rachael Gomez, Zoe Proeber, Xzavier Wegner

• Barbara Purvis Memorial Scholarship: Kiersten Farley• Bill Bartlett Memorial Scholarship: Sarah Redheffer• Bridget Bartlett Memorial Scholarship: Shelby Randle

• Founders’ Scholarship: Ramona Shiwbaran• Fran Clemons ACT 4 Scholarship: Krystal Ortega• Harvey Klein Memorial Scholarship: Madison Youngblood• Leon Schmehl Memorial Scholarship: Soulange Beaudet• Susan and Randall Moring Scholarship: Joseph Coombs

Congratulations to all of these outstanding students!

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2016-2017 Board of DirectorsPresidentJim Ross

Vice PresidentPhilip Leppert

TreasurerGeorge Kirkland

SecretaryFrank Rzepecki

MembersGarry D. AdelSharon AltanyJ. Scott AndrewsJeffry DavidAna DunwoodyLois Kohlweiss

Joy NewkirkPaulette MillhornPatti MoringHerb SchmollG. Edward Stewart, MD

StaffExecutive DirectorMary H. BrittProduction Manager/ Technical DirectorJeff DavisAssistant Technical DirectorWilliam SprattGeneral Technician/CustodianKen NobleScene Shop InternGrace TrudeauAdministrative AssistantsJanice KirkMelody MurphyBox Office Manager/ Volunteer CoordinatorCraig JamesBox Office AssistantsNancy E. BennettAnn DietrichDirector of EducationKirstin KennedyEducation Department AssistantMelanie TarterDirector of Marketing & PromotionsLarry KiernanSocial Media CoordinatorJessica WatsonComptrollerMarilyn PriceCostume DesignerEryn BrooksCostume Shop AssistantsSherece GerardJessica WatsonCostume Shop InternAbigail Barbier

Hello! On Sunday, June 24, we will celebrate the end of the season with the annual Harvey Awards. It’s a time to say “thank you” to volunteers in many categories as well as our version of the Tony Awards to recognize outstanding performances from the season. Tickets are only $10 each this year, so I hope you will join us. There is more information about the Harveys on the front page of this newsletter. Named for Harvey Klein, a long-time supporter and season ticket holder, the night is also a chance for us to cheer the nearly 500 volunteers who donated their time and talent to Ocala Civic Theatre this season. Over 46,000 hours are donated by folks who work as actors, crew members, set builders, seamstresses, ushers, box office workers, members of the Golden Troupers, interns in the Education Department, office workers, and the “A Team” that handles all the mailings the Theatre regularly sends. The Theatre has a small staff – 8 full-time and 7 part-time employees – so we rely on our amazing volunteers to execute the many activities that help us serve almost 70,000 people every season. They deserve a standing ovation! Call soon for reservations to join us for the Harveys.

46,000 may sound like a lot of hours, and it definitely is. You might wonder how that breaks down. The biggest category is volunteer time donated by the actors. Last year, 80 different actors donated 18,958 hours! For the Signature Series shows, actors commit 11 weeks to rehearsals and performances. The technical volunteers who crew the shows – working to move scenery, as sound board operators, light board operators, in rigging, as dressers, and stage managing – combined to donate over 10,000 hours. Set construction alone totaled 2,784 hours. In addition, there are the 8 ushers every night, the folks who help build the costumes and props, and those who hang and focus lighting. I was impressed to see that our youth assistants in the Education

Department donated 2,255 hours this year. As you can see, the passion and dedication of our volunteers is key to a successful season. You may see the final product on stage when you attend a show, but we are grateful to all the individuals working in all the jobs that are not as visible, but are equally important. Their generosity in donating their time means that we can keep our ticket prices affordable to the community. If we paid the volunteers even minimum wage, which is well below what their talent commands, our budget would increase by $372,000, and ticket prices would rise to about $35 to cover the additional expenses. So when you have a chance, thank a volunteer. And remember to stay for the curtain call after the show. The work that goes into each performance is amazing, and your way to thank them is with your applause. Or send me an email or letter, and I will post it for the cast and crew and share it with our board of directors (who are also volunteers, by the way).

We also celebrated volunteers at our annual picnic on Saturday, May 20. Almost 200 volunteers and their guests gathered at the theatre for a fun meal of barbecue chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, and boiled corn – all served up by members of the Theatre’s staff. Over 70 door prizes were given out and, although it was a hot day, there were a lot of smiling faces.

Speaking of smiling faces, you’ll see a lot of them on our Instagram account. If you have an Instagram account, you should start following us @OcalaCivic to see lots of cool behind-the-scenes photos of rehearsals, performances, and special events. Shrek and Donkey made a surprise visit to the Paddock Mall one Saturday and posed for pictures with the shoppers. We were only there for an hour, but, oh my! They were a big hit and we posted a lot of photos on our Instagram account. Special thanks to Patrick Stanley and Deion Howard for volunteering to come in on one of their only Saturdays off to make the surprise visit at the mall. We were only at the mall for an hour, but it took them another two hours to get into makeup and costume. We had fun waving at other cars stopped in traffic as we traveled back and forth to the theatre, too. It’s not every day that you see an ogre and talking donkey up close. Oh, my! The reactions!

See you at the Theatre!

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NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDOCALA, FL

PERMIT NO. 9

4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Curtain Raiser is the official newsletter of The Marion Players, Inc., dba Ocala Civic Theatre. The Theatre is located at 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, 34470. The Curtain Raiser is published monthly and is available free of charge to anyone who is interested in our activities. For information about the organization or to be added to the mailing list, call (352) 236-2274.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture.

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SEASON 2016 - 2017 JUNE 2017

LARGE PRINT

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Britt at (352) 236-2851, ext. 104, or mbritt@ocalacivictheatre.com.

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

JUNE

Starfish Circus2pm & 7pm

Harvey Awards6pm

Tickets On Sale for

Magic Tree House

Shrek The Musical8pm

Shrek The Musical8pm

Space PiratesAuditions 10am

Shrek The Musical2pm & 8pm

Shrek The Musical2pm

Shrek The Musical8pm

Shrek The Musical8pm

Shrek The Musical8pm

Shrek The Musical2pm

Shrek The Musical2pm

Tickets On Sale forCry-Baby

Space Pirates7pm

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

JULY

HAPPY 4th of JULYTHEATRE CLOSED

Knights at Dawn7pm

Space Pirates2pm

Knights at Dawn2pm

Cry-Baby7:30 pm

Cry-Baby7:30 pm

Cry-Baby 2 pm Cry-Baby7:30 pm

ACT 4 Casino Cruise

Cry-Baby 7:30 pm Cry-Baby 2 pm 30 31Cry-Baby7:30 pm

Season TicketRenewal Deadline