AdLib – April 2015

by Pinelands Players | Apr 1, 2015 | Newsletters

Discover Pinelands Players‘ April 2015 Newsletter:

AdLib – April 2015. Explore historic talks, musical theatre transformations, and upcoming club nights from Cape Town’s oldest amateur theatre society (established 1948).

Featured in This Edition:

🎤 Club Night Highlight (17 April):

• Tony Murray presents: “Fanny Kemble – Miss Posh Spice of 1830”

• Former chairman’s illustrated talk blending engineering history and theatre

• 7:30pm at Pinelands Players Clubhouse

🎭 Season Changes:

• Replacing Candlelight Dinner with Bonny White’s Concert (22-23 May)

• Featuring:

  • “Scott and Sam” 30-minute musical theatre piece (Samantha Sadler)

  • Act 2: Showtunes from Les Misérables, Frozen, Miss Saigon and more

  • Performers: Frances Shalto-Douglas, Stuart Brown, Georgia Bailey and more

🎶 Upcoming Musical Nights:

• Juelz & Joy with Rob – Intimate clubhouse performance

• House Guest – Thriller by Fish Hoek Dramatic (24 April-2 May at Masque Theatre)

🎭 From the Archives:

• Testing new newsletter templates (member feedback welcomed)

• Nietzsche’s wisdom: “Without music life would be a mistake”

Why Theatre Lovers Should Read This:

1️⃣ Historical Insight: Rare talk on Fanny Kemble’s Victorian theatre legacy
2️⃣ Program Evolution: Documents PP’s shift from dinners to concert formats
3️⃣ Local Arts Calendar: 2015’s key dates for Cape Town musical theatre

Perfect For:
• Members reminiscing about 2015 events
• Researchers studying amateur theatre programming
• Musical theatre students analyzing “Scott and Sam”

[Download the full PDF newsletter] for complete concert details and club night RSVPs!

AdLib – March 2015

by Pinelands Players | Mar 19, 2015 | Newsletters

AdLib – March 2015: Step Back to 2015 with Pinelands Players‘ March Newsletter

AdLib – March 2015. Discover the fresh faces leading Cape Town’s oldest amateur theatre society and get exclusive insights into their WW1 musical Till the Boys Come Home.

Featured in This Edition:

🎭 New Committee Introductions:

• Glyn Fogell (Chairman): From accidental detective in One Way Pendulum to leading PP

• Robyn Schurr: Hotelier turned musical theatre addict after Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

• Chris Laurie (Treasurer): Software architect by day, lighting wizard by night

• Lindy Srubis: Professional event planner bringing West End experience home

• Mandy Cardin (Creative): Dance captain with Waterfront Theatre School roots

• Lyle Wilson: Young vibrant newcomer (promising “introduction in person”)

🎶 Upcoming Production:

• Till the Boys Come Home (15-24 May 2015)

  • WW1 musical set in 1916 South Africa

  • Alternates between homefront concerts and trench warfare

  • Fish & Chips supper included

  • Creative Team: Helen Brain (Writer/MD), Ted Faulkner (Director)

🗓 Save the Date:

• 17 April: Tony Murray’s talk “My Favourite Actress” about Fanny Kemble

• March Auditions: Saturday sessions with post-audition braai

Why This Matters for Theatre Enthusiasts:

1️⃣ Historical Context: Documents leadership transition of 67-year-old society
2️⃣ Creative Insights: Rare look at pre-production for original WW1 musical
3️⃣ Local Arts Legacy: Showcases Cape Town’s amateur theatre talent pipeline

Perfect For:
• Researchers studying community theatre management
• Aspiring performers interested in 2015 audition processes
• WW1 history buffs curious about musical adaptations

[Download the full PDF newsletter] for complete committee bios and production details!

AdLib – February 2015

by Pinelands Players | Feb 19, 2015 | Newsletters

AdLib – February 2015: AGM Call & WW1 Musical Announcement

AdLib – February 2015. Discover Pinelands Players‘ pivotal February 2015 newsletter documenting a leadership transition and previewing their upcoming WW1 musical production.

Featured Highlights:

🏛️ Urgent AGM Notice (22 Feb 2015):

• Nearly complete committee turnover (only Chris Laurie remaining)

• Call for members to step up: “This is YOUR society”

• Proxy and nomination forms included for absent members

🎭 Upcoming Production:

• Keep the Home Fires Burning (15-24 May)

  • Original WW1 musical by Helen Brain

  • Alternates between homefront concerts and Delville Wood trenches

  • Fish & chips supper included

  • Auditions coming soon

🗓 2015 Season Preview:

• 17 April: Tony Murray’s My Favourite Actress talk (Fanny Kemble)

• Country & Western dance night proposal (Chenara Fenton)

• October/November musical (Director: Kyla Boxall)

✍️ Farewell from June:

• Final editorial after ~400 AdLib issues since 1981

• Tribute to outgoing committee’s dedication

Why This Matters:

1️⃣ Historical Turning Point: Documents critical leadership transition
2️⃣ Creative Development: Early preview of original WW1 musical
3️⃣ Theatre Operations: Rare look at society governance processes

Perfect For:
• Researchers studying amateur theatre management
• Members recalling the 2015 transition
• WW1 history enthusiasts

Download the full PDF newsletter for complete AGM documents and production details!

AdLib – March April 2013

by Pinelands Players | Mar 19, 2013 | Newsletters

AdLib – AdLib – March April 2013: A New Era Dawns for Pinelands Players

AdLib – March April 2013. As the Cape Town autumn leaves began to turn in 2013, Pinelands Players stood at a crossroads. This transitional newsletter captures a pivotal moment in the society’s 65-year history – the dawn of the Fogell era, the scramble for male actors in The Melodramas, and the vibrant community connections that kept amateur theatre thriving.

A Committee Transformed: The Winds of Change

The 24 February 2013 AGM marked more than just another annual meeting – it represented a generational shift in leadership. After lively debates (and with proxies bolstering attendance to achieve quorum), members ushered in:

• Glyn Fogell as Chairman: The tech-savvy sound engineer stepped up from committee member to leader, bringing his institutional knowledge from Shout! The Mod Musical‘s technical success

• Returning Stalwarts: Secretary Tanya March and Treasurer Nigel Stephenson provided continuity

• The Chenara Conundrum: The popular events coordinator’s abrupt withdrawal left a gaping hole in social programming

“We’re like a stage missing its spotlight,” joked outgoing member Tina Gough, “but spotlights can be replaced – and aimed in exciting new directions.”

Curtain Up on The Melodramas

With typical Pinelands Players flair, the mid-year Candlelight Supper production promised to turn theatrical conventions upside down:

🎭 Audience Participation Gone Wild

• Soft projectiles encouraged for villain-hissing

• Cheer cards distributed for heroes

• The most enthusiastic hisser each night won a “Boo-tiful Performance” certificate

⚠️ Casting Crisis
After initial auditions yielded just two men for five male roles, director Roché Buckle took drastic measures:

• Extended audition notices to rugby clubs

• Offered free bar tabs for successful referrals

• Considered rewriting parts for “very deep-voiced women”

“It’s like Steel Magnolias in reverse,” Buckle quipped. “Everyone wants to play the Southern belle, but where are our good ol’ boys?”

Beyond the Proscenium: Society Revival Strategies

The new committee hit the ground running with bold initiatives:

🎤 “Pinelands’ Got Talent”
Planned for September school holidays, this competition aimed to:

• Showcase undiscovered community talent

• Offer mentorship from PP veterans

• Identify future committee members (particularly those “with biceps”)

📊 Membership Drive
With numbers dwindling post-recession, the team devised:

• “Two-for-One” subscription specials

• Free workshop trials

• A “Bring a Bloke” recruitment campaign

The Cape Town Theatre Tapestry

Pinelands Players remained deeply woven into the local arts fabric:

🎪 Inter-Society Quiz (25 Nov)
After years of “gracious losing,” PP fielded two teams who stunned rivals by taking 2nd and 3rd places. “We studied like it was finals week,” admitted Chenara Fenton. “Turns out 60s girl groups count as history!”

🎭 Community Calendar

• Supported MADS’ Hedda Gabler (15-23 March)

• Cheered on Milnerton’s Moon Over the Brewery

• Celebrated at the CATA Awards (18 March)

Why This Historical Snapshot Matters

1️⃣ Governance Blueprint
Documents how societies navigate leadership transitions while maintaining artistic standards

2️⃣ Creative Problem-Solving
Highlights innovative responses to casting crises – lessons still relevant today

3️⃣ Network Effects
Demonstrates how amateur groups thrive through collaboration rather than competition

Perfect For:
• Theatre historians studying post-2010 SA amateur theatre
• Community leaders designing membership drives
• Directors tackling gender-imbalanced casting

[Download the full PDF newsletter] to experience the original meeting minutes, audition panic, and quiz team preparation in glorious detail!

AdLib – January 2013

by Pinelands Players | Jan 19, 2013 | Newsletters

AdLib – January 2013: AGM Notice & CATA Nominations Announcement

AdLib – January 2013. Kick off 2013 with Pinelands Players‘ pivotal January newsletter – featuring urgent committee needs and celebrating 10 CATA nominations for Shout! The Mod Musical.

Featured Highlights:

🏛️ Annual General Meeting (24 Feb 2013):

• Critical Need: Only 2 committee members standing for re-election

• Schedule:

  • 14:00 Registration | 15:00 Meeting

  • Voting rights require R90 subscription payment

• Call for: Lighting technicians (training offered)

🏆 CATA Awards 2013 Nominations (10 total):

• Shout! The Mod Musical dominates with:

  • Best Actress x5: Martine Kawalsky, Melissa Sanderson, Laura Bosman, Jennifer Moss, Luella Holland

  • Best Director/Production: Garth Tavares

  • Technical Excellence: Glyn Fogel

• Ceremony: 18 March at Masque Theatre

🎭 Community Theatre Updates:

• Recent Success: The Grand Opening (Dec 2012) welcomed new members

• Upcoming:

  • Melodramas (May 2013) directed by Roché Haupt

  • Auditions: Boy Meets Boy (Artscape), Dracula (Somerset West)

Why This Matters:

1️⃣ Turning Point: Documents critical committee recruitment need
2️⃣ Artistic Achievement: Shout! recognition highlights PP’s musical excellence
3️⃣ Local Network: Cross-society audition opportunities

Perfect For:
• Researchers studying 2013 Cape amateur theatre
• Members recalling the leadership transition
• Performers tracking 2013 audition opportunities

Download the full PDF newsletter for complete CATA nominee list and AGM details!

AdLib – November 2012

by Pinelands Players | Nov 19, 2012 | Newsletters

AdLib – November 2012: Year-End Celebrations & The Grand Opening Preview

AdLib – November 2012. Relive Pinelands Players‘ festive 2012 finale with this newsletter highlighting their December musical revue, quiz triumphs, and leadership transition.

Featured Highlights:

🎭 The Grand Opening (6-14 Dec 2012):

• Original comedy-musical revue by June Wells

• Story: Retirees revive a nightclub with reluctant family performers

• R120 includes meal + show at Pinelands Town Hall

• Director: June Wells | Musical Director: Victor Tichart

🏆 Society Achievements:

• Quiz Night Glory: 2nd & 3rd places (vs. last year’s bottom finish)

• Chair’s Farewell: Tina Gough steps down after 2 years, urges new leadership

• Crossover Success: Members star in Calendar Girls (Masque Theatre)

🎄 Year-End Events:

• Christmas Party (21 Dec): Secret Santa gift exchange (R30 limit)

• Community Theatre: Aladdin (CTP), A Christmas Carol (Milnerton Players)

✈️ Member Dispatch: Clara’s London adventures (West End vs. am-dram comparisons)

Why This Matters:

1️⃣ Historical Transition: Documents leadership change pre-2013 AGM
2️⃣ Creative Process: Behind-the-scenes of original revue production
3️⃣ Local Network: Cross-society collaborations and competitions

Perfect For:
• Researchers studying Cape Town’s 2012 amateur theatre scene
• Members reminiscing about The Grand Opening
• Theatre lovers exploring original South African revues

[Download the full PDF newsletter] for complete show details and member updates!