Open House Reminder

Reminder that the OHPAA board will be holding a public open house at the Empress on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, from 7 to 9 PM. This event is open to all patrons, volunteers or anyone else that has an interest in OHPAA or the Empress Theatre. The purpose of the open house is to take feedback from patrons and volunteers about how well we are doing. Come tell us your thoughts.

Last Chance for 2nd Anniversary Gala Dinner Reservations!

If you haven't made your reservation for the 2nd Anniversary Gala yet,... do it now!

The caterer needs a guest count no later than Wednesday, October 15th, so we need to have all reservations by that time.

Don't miss out on this great party for all of our Empress Theatre friends. Call the box office at (801)347-7373 right now, or make your reservation on line at the Empress Theatre's website.
Tell your friends to get their reservations in now too!

In addition to the dinner, there will be an awards ceromony, a preview of the 2009 season, and afterwards an evening of dancing the night away.

Second Anniversary Gala & '09 Season Kick-Off

Mark Saturday, October 18, 2008 on you calendar!

That's the day we'll be celebrating the 2nd anniversary of the reopening of the Empress Theatre! And well be kicking off the 2009 Season Ticket Sales!

We're having a gala party, starting at 7:00 PM, with dinner, an awards program and a sneak peek at the 2009 season, followed by dancing. The affair will be held at Rocky Mountain Raceway, 6555 W 2100 S, Magna. Tickets for dinner, the program and dancing will be $45/couple or $25 per person. If you just want to come for the program and dancing, it's $7.50 per person. Businesses can purchase their own table for up to 8 people for $160, and will get a placard with their business name on the table.

We'll also be kicking off our 2009 season-ticket sales at the gala, so you won't want to miss it.

Dress will be semi-formal, with coat and tie suggested. Call the box office at (801) 347-7373 to reserve your tickets now!

4th of July in Magna!

We've been getting a lot of donations for the "Super Colossal Yard Sale," and the Tribune and the Provo Herald have both published our notices. Joline is going to need some help tagging and pricning stuff. We can use a couple more hands to help run the sale too. If you can help, call the box office and let Suzanne know!

In addition to the yard sale, we'll be selling concessions both in the parking lot and in the Empress Theatre lobby. And we'll be offering tours of the Empress, so bring your friends that haven't seen a show yet.

In the meantime, there are some other cool things going on in Magna on the 4th:

• Lions Club Chuck Wagon Breakfast from 8:00 to Noon!


• The Senior Citizens Center is having a rumage sale (We're the copycats!)


• The Arts Council of Magna is having an art show featuring local artists in the Magna Chamber of Commerce building


• The annual Magna-tude parade will start at 12:30. Laura Bedore will be announcing the parade from near the Empress!


• All of the normal Copper Community Park Festivities will be be happening, including the carnival.


• Fireworks after dark.

Homeschool and the Theatre

One of the cool things about homeschooling my children and being involved with the Empress Theatre is that we can build our curriculum around the shows we're working on. It can be pretty amazing where this process can take you. For example...

• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is obviously set in 1850 Oregon, so there's that whole slice of Amercian History to cover.


• Seven Brides is based on a short story by Stephen Vincent Binet called "The Sobbin' Women" which is a wonderful way to get into the writings of Binet. "By the Waters of Babylon" and "The Devil and Daniel Webster" are a couple of my personal favorites.


• "The Devil and Daniel Webster" is cited as an "unofficial" legal case in The United States ex rel Gerald Mayo v. Satan and His Staff (54 F.R. D. 282 - 1971), which opens up discussions about legal jurisdiction and procedure. Can a man actually sue Satan?


• Binet's story, in turn, is based on The Rape of the Sabine Women, from Plutarch. This opens up the history and mythology of the founding of Rome.


• The notion of bride kidnapping has been practiced in many parts of the world, and still is in some parts of the lower steppes of Asia and parts of Africa. This is a stepping off point for discussions of different marriage customs, morals, and scruples. Did you know that the tradition of carrying the bride across the threshold dates from the custom of kidnapping her first?


• The "rape" in The Rape of the Sabine Women means to abduct or kidnap, and has nothing to do with the modern meaning of sexual violation, which leads to discussions of how our language changes over time. Since it comes from the same Latin root (Raptio) that is the source for "rapture," "rapine," "rapacious," "ravish," and "raptor," we can expand vocabulary.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

So here's this week's trivia question, just for Leisa: Be the first to tell me who painted the picture accompanying this post, and where it hangs and you'll get two tickets to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

The "Leo Awards"

Last Sunday, the American Theatre Wing handed out the 2008 Tony awards. In the Heights took the award for best musical, best original score written for the theatre, best choreography, and best orchestrations, and was nominated in nine other categories. If you want to know more about the Tonys or the winners, visit the official website

The Tony awards get their name from Antoinette Perry, an actress, director, producer and the dynamic wartime leader of the American Theatre Wing, who passed away just before the awards program started in 1947.

Well, I'm thinking we need to have a "Leo." We should have a black-tie (very optional) gala every year around Tony time and give awards to the best of the Empress Theatre's talent, both on and off of the stage. And at the same time we can honor and thank our patrons and benefactors for their support through the year.

And what a great way to honor Leo Ware's memory.

Tell me what you think!

In the meantime, here are the poll results from our "What was your favorite show" poll. Only 25 folks voted, so there's a very wide margin of error, but...

The first runner up is ... Pirates of Penzance with 21% of the vote
The second runner up is (and this surprised me given the smaller crowds we had)... The Mystery of Edwin Drood with 32% of the vote.

And the winner is ... (Ralph, could I have a drum roll please)...
Fiddler on the Roof. (BTW, Fiddler won Tony awards in 1965 for best musical and 8 other categories. In 1972, it won a special Tony for becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history.)

Be sure to vote for your favorite male lead in our current poll.

Cast for Seussical

Man, remind me not to invite you guys to an Easter Egg hunt. This has been on the website for a while but you have to look for it. Quick, before Horton hatches it!

Cast for Seussical:
Cat in the Hat . . . . . . . .Thomas Gasu
JO-Jo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jasmine Dean
Horton the Elephant . . . Shawn Maxfield
Getsrude McFuzz . . . . .Aubrey Vance
Maysie LaBird . . . . . . . Samanta Pace
Sour Kangaroo . . . . . . .Cynthia Johnson
Young Kangaroo . . . . . Jaden Johnson
General Schmitz . . . . . .Nolan Mitchell
Mr. Mayor . . . . . . . . . .TBA
Mrs. Mayor . . . . . . . . .Amanda Heywood

The Wickersham Brothers
Austin Wrathall
Skyler Bluemel
.Jordan Wanberg
Brandon Case.
Dallon Thorup
Adam McKinlay
Troy Larsen

Bird Girl Chorus
Macall Herpich.
Maegan Herpich
Madison Ford
Shannon Jones
Annalyn Ruth
Hannah Ruth
Cheryl Cripps
Connie Cripps
Kimberly Pettit
Krystin Christopherson

Whos
Doug Green
Jim Schroeder
Emily Herpich
Ann Herpich
Lila Cripps
Spencer Lawson
Nicole Mitchell
Alyvia Wrathall
Tianna Wrathall
Stacie Brown
Starly Bluemel
Kenichi Nakashima
Akemi Nakashima

Jungle Creatures
Jennifer Pearce
Sara Barlocker
Samantha Christensen
Kylee Clark
Amanda Shinall
TraQuell Gasu
Tyanna Gasu
Alissa Christensen
Brittney De St. Jeor
Mary Alice Nelson
The Grinch . . . . . . . .Doug Green
Vlad Vladikoff . . . . . Emily Herpich

Hunters
Ann Herpich
Lila Cripps
Nicole MitchellCadets
Spencer Lawson
Kenichi Nakashima
TraQuell Gasu
Tyanna Gasu
Alissa Christensen
Brittney De St. Jeor
Mary Alice Nelson
Amanda Shinall

Please remember that the Chorus is used throughout the show, there are a lot of group numbers and numbers where people will be playing other characters. If you decide you cannot do the show, please email Glen Carpenter at glenorcarp@msn.com..Thank you for sharing your talents with us. FIRST REHEARSAL SATURDAY JUNE 21ST FROM 10AM TO 1:30PM

And all this was in Magna!

Somedays I have a hard time thinking about what I want to post. Not today! My wife had to work last night, and that left me with the kids... Well sorta.

Mirinda was running lights for closing night of The Foreigner (which had a really good crowd with a large contingent from the Harmon Home Senior Center in West Valley! It's always nice to see busses parked outside the theatre, and last night there were 2 of them!) Damia was rehearsing Big Bad Musical in the basement of Zions Bank. Since Lessa has left for Boot Camp in South Carolina, that left me with Mara, Peter, Neeva, Meyrick and Ephraim.

Mara & Peter wanted to go see Foreigner one last time, so I took all five of the kids to the show. Ephraim was too wiggly to sit through it, and Meyrick wasn't far behind, so I left Mara and Peter and took the three younger ones...

To the concert in Pleasant Green Park sponsored by the Arts Council of Magna! 'Seriously Evan' was playing. I chewed Starr Campbell out for not getting me date information sooner so I could post it in advance, so now I'm stuck with only being able to report after the fact. Neeva and Meyrick played in the playground while Ephraim and I listened to the music. For you Seriously Evan fans out there, the trio is going into the studio this morning to begin cutting an album.

I find it remarkable that there are so many different things going on in Magna. And the list keeps growing! There are two or three more concerts in the concert-in-the-park series; OHPAA and the Arts Council are teaming up to sponsor a Cultural Arts Celebration in August. The Arts Council is sponsoring an art contest and exhibit over the 4th of July. The Magna Parade is getting better every year. (There's a big surprise coming with the parade this year, but it gets its own post. So stay tuned!)

Amy was so jealous when she got home from work!

The Four Part Harmony SeriesVoice Workshops at the Empress Theatre

This summer, the Oquirrh Hills Performing Arts Alliance is proud to offer a series of four vocal music workshops!

The workshops are open to people between the ages of 12 and 18, and will be taught by Anna Hunter. The cost for each session is $75. You can take any or all of the sessions. Call the Empress Box Office to register, (801) 347-7373.

• Session 1: July 14-18, 8 AM to Noon. Performance at 1 PM on July 19th


• Session 2: July 14-18, 1 PM to 5 PM, Performance at 1 PM on July 19th


• Sesison 3: July 28-August 1, 8 AM to Noon, Performance at 1 PM on Aug 2nd


• Session 4: July 28-August 1, 1 PM to 5 PM, Performance at 1 PM on Aug 2nd

The workshops will be held at the Empress Theatre. The performance location is still to be determined.

OHPAA Long Range Capital Plans

Rod, Joline and I (and Nolan for a few short minutes) met on Wednesday with Bob Bailey, a consultant, and a delegation from the county working to develop Salt Lake County's "Cultural Arts Master Plan" to discuss the future of OHPAA and the Empress Theatre.
We gave them a tour of the Empress Theatre and the Magna Hardware building, discussed what we've accomplished so far and what we plan to do in the future.
As some of you may already know, the Empress Theatre is the only live theatre serving the west side of Salt Lake County (HCT, located on 2200 W is actually east of the geographical center of the valley.) The only other live performance venue to serve the west side is the Usana Ampitheatre in West Valley City. The purpose of our meeting was to ensure that OHPAA and the Empress Theatre are included in the master plan so that we don't get bypassed as arts development monies are appropriated and locations for venues are chosen.
As part of the discussion, we talked about OHPAA's longer range plans. We still need to purchase the Empress Theatre from Leo Ware's estate beofre our purchase option expires in August. We are also working on purchasing the old Magna Hardware building right nextdoor to the Empress. That building includes the parking lot to the west and the alley easement that runs from the Empress to 9180 West and the building that currently houses Walgamott Realty. Further down the road, but not much further, we are looking at acquiring the old Dyches Drug building across the street.
The hardware building will be rennovated for use as a set construction shop, costume shop, storage and possibly some office space. We might also open the upstage wall of the Empress Theatre stage to communicate with the hardware store building to allow us to move scenery back and forth between the two buildings rather than take it through the lobby as we do now.
The 6000 square foot main floor of the Dyches building would be used as a rehearsal hall, classroom, reception area, and possibly a small eatery and gift shop. We could also use that building as a black box theatre or for non-play type performances like our show choir or for events like dances. (Despite the overwhelming preference for an outdoor party with live entertainment, I still want to have a formal gala. Probably in the winter. Fortunately, we can do both!)
Finally, the parking lot west of the hardware store would be paved and marked, while the alley behind the Empress Theatre and the hardware store would either become additional parking or would be landscaped for outdoor events. And we'd probably add the parking behind the Dyches building as well.
All told, it will take about $750,000 to $1,000,000 just to purchase the buildings and do enough of the rennovation to allow us to open them up. We'll have to decontaminate the meth lab in the Dyches building, tear down that eyesore on top, and fix the roof. And probably double that to actually complete the project. But I think it is well worth the effort for both OHPAA's sake and for Magna's.
These plans are still in the development stages, and haven't even been voted on by the Board yet, but I thought folks would like to know what we're looking at in the future.

Dance the night away or big picnic in the park?

Would you rather dance the night away or chill out at a big picnic in the park with friends? Over the last month, there have been more than 100 visitors to this blog, but only 12 of you have voted in the poll in the left margin. There are five days left, go register your vote. Do it right now!
The big picnic is in the lead at the moment, followed a close second by the formal gala.
While I'm on the subject... Who'd like to help plan either of these events?

They had a date with fate in ... Magna?

Marketing the Empress Theatre presents two distinct challenges, both of which are summed up in this blog post by Jason Bennion.

Magna doesn't get a lot of respect around here. It began a century or so ago as a company town housing workers for a nearby mine and smelter, and it's never managed to live down its humble roots or its rough-and-tumble reputation. It's certainly not a place you'd think to go in search of an enjoyable night of live theater.

and

I wasn't expecting much. Utah often seems to be the world capitol of community theater -- the impulse to "put on a show" is one of the strongest threads in the tapestry of Mormon culture -- and I've always reflexively dismissed that sort of thing as the worst kind of amateur-grade fromage.

In short, people don't think Magna has anything cultural to offer, are reluctant to make the drive all the way out here, and they have expectations that our "community theatre" will offer only amateur and mediocre fare.

Jason, who learned about our little secret because he came to support a friend in the cast, then found his expectations to be somewhat over met...

And then the play began. And I was very pleasantly surprised. With the exception of one cast member who seemed to keep forgetting his lines, the caliber of the performances was only slightly below the professional theater I've seen in Salt Lake.

Uh huh. Yep, its like that. Happened to me the same way.

Once the secret gets out, everyone will come to Rick's The Empress. Realizing the importance of the case, my men are rounding up twice the usual number of suspects.

Louis Jason, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

Here's looking at you, kid.

(With apologies to Casablanca and a hat tip to Bennion Gardner.)

Value Beyond the Price of Admission - My view

Okay, I guess it's time for me to answer my own question, and say what I think the value beyond the price of admission is.

Lets start with the value of the price of admission. That value is the value of the entertainment; the value of seeing the show on the stage, complete with all of the ooohs and ahhhs and teary eyes and belly laughs. The value of the one time experience. I may want to share that with a friend, and so I will buy my friend a ticket and come see the show again. I feel that the entertainment is worth more than the price of the ticket and drop some cash in the donation box or send in a check. But all of these are things that are included in the price of admission.

But the one time experience doesn't justify tax payer funded subsidies or large grants from philanthropic organizations. As I reframed the question, what is it about some performing arts programs that allows them to compete with cancer research or public education for funding? What is the common thread? Here then, is what I think...

Things like medical research or education or environmental science or poverty programs are worthy philanthropic areas of focus because they seek to improve the quality of life. Some, like environmental science or education, seek to reach the broadest possible scope; while others like poverty reduction or medical research, seek to improve the quality of live for a select sub-group of the human population. Yet even with the most tightly focused field, we all gain because we push forward the field of human knowledge. An idea or discovery in one area often translates into advances in other areas as well.

Whether you believe that Man was created by deity or evolved from a primordial sludge, one thing we can agree on is the one of the more remarkable things about human beings, which sets them apart from all other forms of life on Earth, is the use of language. All animals can communicate with each other, but only Man uses language to communicate ideas. In fact, the ape named Ape from George of the Jungle aside, Man is probably the only creature that thinks in terms of ideas. We not only think and communicate ideas, but we have developed the ability to record ideas and save them for people that come after us. So ideas, and the ability to communicate those ideas, is what makes Man unique, and also gives Man both the ability to rise above a base existence, and the ability to befoul his existence.

Were it not for this ability in Man to create and then communicate ideas, then the medical research, the poverty program, the environmental science, and education would not be possible. Is it not then, extremely important to support the further development of both ideas themselves, and the means through which they are preserved and communicated? And since Man can both elevate and debase himself depending on which ideas he chooses to pursue, is it not in the best interest of Mankind to support the higher ideas?

Mortimer Adler, one of the chief editors of Encyclopedia Brittanica, calls it the "great conversation." He collected close to a hundred of the best works of classical literature, from Plato to Shakespeare to Freud, in to a large set of books he calls "The Great Books of the Western World." Each of the books was chosen because it makes a major advance in human thinking; each book is a classic in its field. But books are only part of the story... and not always the right way to preserve or transmit an idea.

Theatre, Dance, Opera, and Symphony (I didn't chose these categories... they came from a comment in the Salt Lake Tribune), and in fact each of the fine and visual arts, embodies both a means of communicating ideas and a means of preserving ideas. Performance actually came before the written media, and it is likely the oldest means of transmitting and preserving ideas. All of these prompt us to use our brains differently than we might otherwise. And by stimulating our brains differently, prompt us to look at our worlds differently; they encourage us to create new ideas.

So, to summarize, the performing arts are a means of preserving and communicating classic ideas that are part of the Great Conversation, and stimulating new ideas that will advance that conversation. They are worth the support of governments and the donations from wealthy foundations because they not only improve the human condition, but because they preserve and advance the mechanism that makes all other improvement to the human condition possible. They are not just a part of what humans do, they are what makes us human.

Donate to OHPAA Through Google Checkout

Google Checkout, the online shopping service operated by Google, has agreed to allow OHPAA to use their service to collect donations from visitors to our website and blog. The really cool part of it is that Google isn't going to charge us the normal credit card transaction fees and gateway fees and such that we'd be charged if we used a conventional merchant account. So 100% of your donation goes to support OHPAA's operation. Now that's kewl!

I'm still working on the details for various sponsorship and membership levels. If you have any ideas, post 'em as a comment or send 'em in email.

I will be answering my question about why organizations like OHPAA can operate as non-profits in the near future, (It'll probably be a couple of posts to do it justice), but in the meantime, consider this:

• The Empress Theatre is the only live theatre west of I-215 in the Salt Lake Valley.
• The Empress Theatre building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for both its role in local history and its architecture.
• The Empress Theatre is dedicated to providing family friendly entertainment; which means wholesome and clean shows at an affordable price.
• The Empress Theatre is becoming the social "center place" in Magna.
• The Empress Theatre provides a place for local youth to work and learn after school, and provides a significant educational experience.
• The Empress Theatre is helping to revitalize Magna Main Street by attracting patrons from around the valley and beyond.
• The Empress Theatre and OHPAA partner with other local organizations to help bring a measure of culture and art to the West Bench.

If continuing any of these things is important to you, then please click on the 'Donate Now' button on the left side of this blog or on our main website, and make a generous contribution.

2009 Season! New Board Member!

The OHPAA board of directors approved the schedule for the 2009 season last night. We haven't secured the rights to these shows yet, so there's a chance that something might change, but here is the list we approved:

• William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew Jan 22 - Feb 9
• A "Valentines Special" Feb 13-14
• Guys and Dolls, Feb 27 - Mar 30
• One Act Play festival, Apr 10 - 18
• The Big Bad Musical (with an all star grown up cast), May 1-18
• See How They Run, May 29 - Jun 29
• Young Performers Theatre, actual show to be announced
• Once Upon a Mattress, July 31 - August 31
• Arsenic and Old Lace, Sept 11 - Oct 2
• Little Shop of Horrors, Oct 16 - Nov 13.
• A Christmas show to be announced later.

We also approved Babes in Toyland as the replacement for this year's Christmas show.

Other developments from the Board of Directors: Bennion Gardner was unaminously approved as the newest board member, and has accepted the position of Treasurer, replacing Stephen Burton. Bennion brings his experience as a branch manager for Zion's First National Bank to this board postion and will be working to create OHPAA's accounting procedures manual and develop our operating budgets. Bennion also occasionally writes articles for the Magna Times, the Kearns Dispatch, and the West Valley News as "a hobby." Bennion and his wife, Kiera, both residents of Magna.

Steve will remain on the board as an "at large" member, and will continue to be a member of the finance committee. He is stepping down from the role of Treasurer due to increasing time pressures from his other committments.

The Value Beyond the Price of Admission

Every now and then I am confronted by someone who complains, as did a commentor in today's Tribune (see the comments associated with the letter): "What is it about dance, theater, opera and symphony, that they can't finance themselves like so many other artistic genres?"

This person is probably suffering from a common delusion that most of the operating money for live theatres like the Empress and organizations like OHPAA come from government grants. For the record, OHPAA received a whopping $3,000 in government subsidies last year; compared to over $500,000 in donated cash, volunteer labor, and materials from private sources and over $70,000 in earned income from ticket sales, etc. And that was just our first year of operation. We expect to make about $150,000 from ticket sales this year.

Nevertheless, the question is valid and deserves an answer. I think however, that we must first reframe the question slightly. Dance, theatre, opera, and symphony and all of the other performing and fine arts are all able to "finance themselves," but they don't do it strictly from the money collected from admission to events or sale of artifacts. These art forms are funded by a combination of "earned income," sponsorship revenues (from the sales of advertising and promotional partnerships) , and donations or grants from private and public sources.

For what it's worth, TV, movies and even professional sports wouldn't make it on admissions alone. They need sponsors and they get subsidies too! There is just a different mix and visibility, as well as different production & distribution efficiencies.

Next, I think we need to ask the question: Why is this this model used? This question is really two questions: What are the alternative models and why is this model chosen over them? And Why does this model work at all?

We can take up the first question at a later time, but for today, lets examine the 2nd. Why is it that "dance, theatre, opera and symphony" can finance their art and the operation of their venues with tax subsidies and private donations?

What value exists in the performing arts that justifies governmental subsidy programs like the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program or a grant from the Utah Arts Council or the National Endowment for the Arts? What prompts a charitable foundation like the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation to establish arts as a philanthropic focus? What inspires a private donor to write a check for several thousand dollars and give it to an organization like OHPAA? And what's up with all the donated labor and time?

I have my thoughts on this, but I think I'm going to leave the question open for today. Instead, I'd like to hear your ideas about why it is even possible for a performing arts organization to acquire funding beyond what it can earn from the sale of tickets. Click on the comment link below and tell me what you think.

Help Wanted

Do you like to work with Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign? How about Dreamweaver? Do you like to write or is photography more to your liking? Would you like to plan parties and events? OHPAA and the Empress Theatre need people who like to do all of these things and more to help out in our Development and Marketing Departments.

We need artists to design and produce our posters, fliers, postcards and programs. We need photographers to take publicity and production pictures, and to take "head shots" for our programs and other printed material. We need copy writers and proof readers, and people to chase down errant actors to get their biographies. And people to deliver fliers to businesses and other locations around town.

We need folks to work with our web team to maintain and update our website, our blog and our presence on Facebook and other "social networking" sites. There's a need for people to work on our email newsletter and announcements.

And we need folks to help plan fund raising events and campaigns; help develop our sponsorship program and maybe even help with designing T-shirts and such. And if you'd prefer to be more of a behind the scenes player, we need people to manage our patron and donor database, research grant opportunities, and manage grant programs.

There's a ton of fun stuff to do. And it is all important and rewarding work. Exeprienced or just learning, we need your help! Come join our team! This is a great opportunity to exercize your creativity and do something for the community at the same time.

If any of this sounds interesting, shoot an email to twimmer@empresstheatre.com and let me know what you'd like to help with.

Return with an Honorable Broken Leg...

Two of our favorite Empress actresses, Catherine Cripps (Narrator in Joseph) and Mandi Jensen (Narrator in Joseph and Kim Macafee in Bye-bye Birdie) have received performing mission calls from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both young ladies will be spending their summer performing in Nauvoo, IL. They leave this Friday for "the City of Joseph."
Only 20 performers, out of hundreds that apply, are selected for this 4 month Church Service Mission.
I wasn't taking notes when I talked to Catherine yesterday (I was eating a ham sandwhich at her farewell open house), but if I remember correctly, they will be performing in Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo, Just Plain Amanda, Sunset by the Mississippi, and High Hopes and River Boats - A Nauvoo Adventure. (Okay, I cheated and looked it up.) They could be doing up to six performances per day! (And I thought they worked hard doing four performances of Joseph over two days!) And they may have chorus parts in Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration. (I guess they just like doing shows about prophets named Joseph.)

Blog Makeover

Boy, take a day off, and when you come back all of the furniture's been moved....

Do you like the new look of the blog? Manelle Oliphant, the illustrator who has done several Empress Theatre posters and other art work for OHPAA and the Empress Theatre found the key under the mat, slipped in and added all of this cool artwork.

Manelle not only draws and paints these yummy pictures, but she does layout work too. (She's been the art director for our last three programs and has done some of the ads. When she isn't doing the art herself, she coordinates the other artists that do it.) Go check out her blog and see some of the other stuff she's willing to share on the Internet.

She makes me want to write a children's book just so I can have her illustrate it!

By the way, we are always looking for others to join our "art department." Writers, artists, photographers, or if you just like hangin' around with 'em, if you have an interest, give me a shout.

"O brave new world"

The Star Trek: Tempest seems to be coming along nicely.

"O brave new world that has such creatures in't"

I'm so grateful that the Klingons developed the art to such a high state. Here are a few snipets of Shakespeare in Klingon:

Sonnet #18 -- "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
qaDelmeH bov
tuj pem vIlo'choHQo'.SoH 'IH 'ej belmoH law', 'oH belmoH puS.jar vagh tIpuq
DIHo'bogh Sang SuS ro'.'ej ratlhtaHmeH bov tuj leSpoH luvuS.
rut tujqu'
bochtaHvIS chal mIn Dun qu' .rut DotlhDaj SuD wov HurghmoHmeH, HuvHa'.'ej reH
Hoch 'IHvo' Sab Hoch 'IH, net tu'.'u' He choHmo', San jochmo' joq
quvHa'.
'ach not wovHa'choH jubbogh bovlIj tuj,'ej not ghomHa'choH Hochvetlh
'IH Daghajbogh,'ej "QIbwIjDaq bIleng" not mIy Hegh nuj,bovmey DaDontaHvIS,
DojwI' nIHajbogh!
tlhuHlaH 'ej legh, wej 'e' lumevchugh nuv,vaj yIntaH
bomvam, 'ej DuyInmoH quv.
Translated by Nick Nicholas. KLI, 1994.
----
Khamlet (Hamlet) III.i.55ff. ("To be, or not to be....")
Khamlet: taH
pagh taHbe'. DaH mu'tlheghvam vIqelnIS.quv'a', yabDaq San vaQ cha, pu' je
SIQDI'?pagh, Seng bIQ'a'Hey SuvmeH nuHmey SuqDI','ej, Suvmo', rInmoHDI'? Hegh.
Qong --- Qong neH ---'ej QongDI', tIq 'oy', wa'SanID Daw''e' jecho'nISbogh
porghDaj rInmoHlaH net Har.
Translated by Nick Nicholas & Andrew Strader.
KLI, 1995.

The Photo is of Brent Spiner, as LCDR Data, performing the role of Prospero from The Tempest in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Emergence." According to "Memory Alpha" The Tempest was a partial inspiration for the film, Forbidden Planet, which in turn was a major inspiration for Star Trek's creator, Gene Roddenberry. Patrick Stewart played Prospero in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production from July 28 - Oct 12, 2006.

"The hour's now come; the very minute bids thee ope thine ear. Obey and be attentive."