Past Events of Applegate Regional Theatre, Inc.

SPRING FORWARD!

March 21, 2009

We were tired of winter and ready for spring, so on the first full day of spring, we had SPRING FORWARD!, an event that included entertainment, a community talent show, visual art display, craft and produce market, and book sale. What a full day! Nine acts performed in the performing talent show. We had music, belly dancing, and singing. Visual artists displayed everything from charcoal portraits to hand made dolls, to paintings and needlework to welded steel art including a fire-breathing dragon! ,Izzy Whetstine read beat poetry with jazz music accompaniment. Lili blessed the event with a harmonic convergence using her singing bowls. We had a contest to name our mascot (a very pretty mannequin). And the book sale offered over 8,000 books. Non-profits in the area had tables to let people know what they had to offer for the copmmunity. Baked goods and chocolate and jewelry and plants for the garden were only some of the crafts and food available.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

January 2009

Many volunteers have helped us along the way, and we appreciate every one of them! To that end, we gave them a dinner to thank them. Several of our board members are chefs, and the dinner turned out quite well. There is no way the board can do all the work that needs to be done, and we gladly accept labor, ideas, money, material, and encouragement.

Poker Night

September 2008

We had a fundraiser "poker night" at the BEC. Several people turned out to go after the "big pot", and in the end, they all donated the money back to ART, Inc. A fun night!

Open House Preview

July 2008

In the spring of 2008, the owner of the 5th and Broadway building asked us to manage the building as the Broadway Events Center. We jumped at the chance! We asked an architect to draw up plans of how it could be used as a Theater and Community Events Center. He came up with some great ideas. We started planning and threw a community party to show off what we foresaw as the future of the building and ART, Inc. To our amazement, 350 people showed up. (The free food helped!) We had free food, entertainment, even fire dancers! The kids had their own area to explore their creative side, making ceramic tiles and painting and drawing. Zany Zoo entertained us all with their unusual animals.

Play Writing Contest

Spring 2008

In the spring of 2008, we sponsored a play writing contest. In AUgust, the winner was announced - Paul Cass and his play "Skunk!". It features a menagerie of characters and a very pregnant skunk . . . very funny! Besides $100 and bragging rights for Paul, we plan for his play to be the inaugural event on the stage in our new theater! Paul lives with his wife "in the suburbs of Crow".

Dinner and a Reading

December 2007

Just before Christmas 2007, we sponsored a dinner at Our Daily Bread, with a reading of Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory" read by Izzy Whetstine. Izzy is a wonderful storyteller. He gave life to a warm and charming story of friendship and family. A wonderful evening.

Wine Bottling Party

July 21, 2007

We bought a cask of wine from RainSong Vineyards, and then sold "wine futures" as a fundraiser. When the wine was ready in July of 2007, we threw a party at the vineyard, and everyone who had bought wine was invited to come out and help us bottle it! People filled bottles, put in corks, put on labels, packed the bottles in cases, and had a wondferful time. Good food was served, several wines were tasted, chocolate was savored, and everyone had a great time. It was a hoot of a party!

Lumberjacks and Wedding Belles

May 2007

This play, produced in May of 2007, sold out for all four performances. It was held in the West Lane Shopping Center, in the back of the space then occupied by Applegate Art Guild. It is a musical comedy set in the 1850's, and featured a cast of more than 30 local people, ranging in age from 6 to 70. The plot: A lawyer brings back women from Boston to be wooed by the lumberjacks, and all sort of hijinx occur. There is a hermit, a whip-cracking lady trapper, a sleepy judge, a slick politician (named Crook!) and other assorted characters. Auditions were held in February, and three months of rehearsals then produced a very enjoyable performance. Good fun!

2006 Light Parade and Party

November 30, 2006

ART, Inc. participated in the 2006 Veneta Light Parade and then held a party at Charlie Mac’s in West Lane Center after the tree lighting. Entertainment was provided by the Franklin Ladies Aid Society, with their eclectic mix of 'feel good' music. We then had special guest Izzy Whetstine, one of the original Merry Pranksters, reading beat poetry with acoustic jazz accompaniment..

Prizes were raffled off, including gift certificates from Ray’s Food Place and Chicago Joe’s Pizza. Mrs. Claus (aka Betty O’Brien) drew the lucky numbers.

The music was great and everyone had a good time. A wonderful start to the holiday season.

Jammin’ July

July 23, 2006

The Franklin Ladies Aid Society opened for Buster B Jones and his protégé Brooks Robinson, returning for a second year. Amazing finger picking filled the afternoon.They knocked our socks off, again. Good music, beautiful voices, and theatrics rounded out the event.

Light Parade 2005

November 2005

ART Inc. had a truck in the Veneta Light Parade. A fun way to start the holidays.

Showcase and Sugar

July 2005

Talent and dessert mixed well in this 2005 fundraiser. Finger-picker extraordinairre Buster B Jones and his protege Brooks Robinson wowed the crowd with fancy fingerwork on their guitars. Margaret Plumb and Friends blended their incredible voices to create scenes from Broadway shows and sing songs that everyone knew. Franklin Ladies Aid Society played their eclectic repritoirre. Mark Lewis and his storytelling enthrsalled us. Several others sang, acted and danced their way into our hearts. In all, there were more than 20 performers. Tasty sweets at the intermission, supplied by local restaurants and stores, were enough to give everyone a 'sugar high'.