Being recognized by your peers and supporters in this manner represents the highest honour that an arts organization can receive. We would also like to congratulate Singer’s Theatre for having earned the 2011 Broadway World Toronto Award for Best Youth Theatre Production for Jane Eyre.

For 28 years, TCP has set out to create unparalleled community theatre productions in Wilmot Township. “Community Theatre At Its Very Best” represents our fundamental belief and forms the foundation for everything that we do.

To our audience, our supporters and every member of the TCP family, particularly those associated with our production of AIDA, we congratulate you and we thank you.

Join TCP May 10 – 13, 2012 for Meredith Willson’s THE MUSIC MAN, onstage at the Trinity Theatre at the New Hamburg Arena.

Providing financial assistance and making a difference within the community is an important part of what TCP is all about.  With each production, the leadership team deliberates at length what organization(s) they feel they would like to support with a portion of the show proceeds.

In 2011, with TCP’s production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, it became evident that we were telling a story about countries (Egypt and ancient Nubia) where power struggles affected the lives of everyone, often displacing whole societies, and leaving those afflicted by war, with nothing.  We were launching our production at a time when that part of the world, modern day Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and others, was experiencing intense political turmoil.  With that turmoil in mind, and the effect it could have on the average person, particularly children, we felt that we wanted to reach further afield with our donations.

In looking for an organization to donate to, we came upon Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW).  SCAW provides bedkits to children of any race and/or religion who will benefit the most, typically being located in underdeveloped and developing countries.  No portion of a bedkit donation is spent on administration – 100% of it reaches a needy child.  Dedicated to the concept of “freewill giving”, SCAW strives to provide hope and always aims to preserve the dignity of the child.

In an ancient world, such as that depicted in Aida, and in our modern day world, where the needs and dignity of the most vulnerable are often forgotten, we felt that providing some of TCP’s annual donations in the form of bedkits for children in underdeveloped or developing countries was a good place to put our support.

We were pleased to receive a picture of the five children that our funds assisted, in Nicaragua.

SCAW groups have traveled to a number of other locations since May 2011 and TCP’s production of Aida, including Uganda, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Honduras.  For more information on Sleeping Children Around the World, and how they are helping those most in need, visit their website at www.scaw.org.

AUDITION LOCATION

St. Agatha Community Centre, 1793 Erb’s Road, St. Agatha, Ontario

AUDITION DATES

Friday January 13, 2012 7pm – 9:30 pm Adults (ages 14 and up)

Saturday January 14, 2012 9:30am –12:30 pm Children’s Auditions (Ages 6 – 13)

1:30pm – 8:30pm Adults (ages 14 and up)
Sunday January 15, 2012 1pm – 4:00 pm Adults (ages 14 and up)

5pm – 7:00pm Adults (ages 14 and up) IF NEEDED

CALLBACKS will take place SATURDAY JANUARY 21 between 10:00am and 2:00pm. You will receive a phone call during the following week (Jan. 16 – 20) if you will be required for a callback.

For more detailed audition information click here.

The Broadway World Awards recognize the best in theatre within Toronto and the surrounding area each year.

Simply visit the following website and cast your vote.
http://toronto.broadwayworld.com/liveupdate2011region.cfm?btype=239&region=Toronto

Voting ends December 31, 2011. All nominations are determined based on reader submissions and input, as these awards truly belong to the awesome theatre loving community in Toronto and beyond! Winners will be announced early in the New Year.  Vote now and vote often.

Plan to attend TCP’s 2012 Acting Workshop and Open House on Sunday November 27, 2011. Full details at thecommunityplayers.com

“The focus is not what they did at Waterloo-Oxford,” Silcox says. “It’s the link, that’s all.” But the school will benefit from the book. Silcox said all profits will go into a scholarship for a Waterloo-Oxford student who shows a creative spark and seems destined to “go somewhere.”

“With TCP’s long-standing Dramatic Arts Award scholarship for a W-O student going on to study in the dramatic or musical arts, we feel a special kinship to what is being established with Nancy’s book,” says Celia Jones, TCP’s president. “Like the work that TCP does each year, the efforts of Nancy, and of all the students featured in the book, exemplify so much of what TCP stands for.”

Copies of Star Quality: 50 Waterloo-Oxford Students Who Soared are for sale at the following locations:

All proceeds going directly to support the newly established scholarship.

(And congratulations, Brent!)

There’s never been a better time to get involved with The Community Players!

Join TCP’s 2012 director, Christy Ziss as she leads an Actors Workshop. This one hour session is open to everyone and will benefit actors at any dramatic skill level.

A source of community pride for 28 years, The Community Players of New Hamburg have been presenting musical productions and have earned a widespread reputation for creating visually stunning, professional-calibre theatre. Whether your interests are onstage or off, we definitely have opportunities for you.

Meet the individuals directly involved in many of TCP’s key areas and find out first hand what is involved in being part of a TCP musical. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. We look forward to seeing you!

Schedule of Events

It’s our pleasure to announce that Celia Jones has been selected as this years Wilmot Citizen of the Year in the Culture Category.

For over 10 years, Celia Jones has contributed to the growth and success of The Community Players of New Hamburg and bettering the Wilmot Township Community through these actions.

Celia has (and continues to) contribute to her community as an actor, volunteer, TCP management team member, president and everything in between. Celia works tirelessly year round, helping  to ensure that The Community Players of New Hamburg live up to their mandate of ‘Community Theatre at its Very Best’, with a very strong focus on Community. Celia instills confidence and leadership in others, sharing the importance of teamwork, compassion, community and a strong work ethic. Celia follows in the footsteps of many TCP alumni for their dedication not only to TCP, but for their passion to our community and making it a truly better place.

The Citizen of the Year presentation will take place Friday September 16th, at the 157th New Hamburg Fall Fair during the opening ceremonies.

Please join us in congratulating Celia on this award.

As TCP enters its 28th year we do so reflecting on our past. ‘Community Theatre At Its Very Best’ is not a catch-phrase that we created – it is an honest expression given to us from a passionate advocate of the arts – Harry Currie – and has become a considerable source of pride as we build our shows from year to year.

The Community Players of New Hamburg and those associated with us can be extremely proud of the fact that in our 28 years we have presented new, leading edge and challenging musicals – all to critical success – including Children of Eden, Titanic: The Musical; Cats and most recently Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA.

The challenges for audience, performer, production and management team alike are numerous when undertaking shows that are relatively unknown and untested, demonstrate unparalleled complexity or represent a regional ‘premiere’. For those brave enough to come on that journey – the rewards are numerous.

There are shows however over the course of time that remain very dear to the heart of TCP. Shows that represent and exemplify the values of family, simpler times and fun. Shows that represent a high watermark in the history of this group in a representation of a leap of faith as we have moved from one home to another.

These are shows that have become mainstays in the constellation of musical theatre for all the right reasons. An enchanting storyline – lively and engaging music – inspired dance numbers – and the overall sense of being thoroughly entertained.

All of these ingredients are evident in our 2012 show choice, of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man.

TCP is extremely privileged to have attracted some of the greatest talent onstage and off that would be the envy of any group that takes on an annual musical production. As we move forward into the future we realize as well that the people who have graced our stage with standout performances and other significant contributions – have other gifts to offer this group that deserve further exploration.

Onstage in Titanic: The Musical, as Drama Coach for Carousel and as Assistant Director for The Wizard of Oz – we are delighted to announce Christy Ziss as the Director of The Music Man.

With a solid commitment to mentoring and encouraging growth and opportunity from within – we are equally delighted to announce Lance Green as Assistant Director.

Further to that point, we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Danielle Guistini-Crouse as Vocal Coach who will be supporting our returning Musical Director Jen Hoffman.

Our announcement concerning our choreographer for 2012 will follow shortly.

We look forward to having you all a part of getting River City out of the “Terrible Trouble” it’s in, with truly one of the best and most memorable musicals that there is … The Music Man.

We feel it is time to put a new organizational structure in place to formalize the contributions that so many are already making within TCP, and to create opportunities for more people to get involved.

If you have a love of TCP, sensitivity to our role in the community, and are interested in being a part of shaping TCP’s future, we want to hear from you!  Whether you have been performing on stage with TCP over the years, or working backstage and behind the scenes, your input and energy will be invaluable to us as we move forward!

Getting involved with the management team ensures that you are part of the strategic direction of TCP in the future, as well as restructuring how TCP operates, making us more effective and closely connected to our community.  Your participation will help us to pursue many new initiatives to keep TCP even more community oriented and active.

We invite you to participate in building our future.  It can be as exciting as you want it to be!

If you are interested in serving on TCP’s Management Team, please provide us with the following:

• What has been your association with TCP in the past, if any?
• What unique skills do you have that you feel will be beneficial to TCP?
• Please provide us with some details of your work and hobby related experiences over the years.

Please respond to Celia Jones at celia@thecommunityplayers.com, by Friday, August 12.

We are looking for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 individuals to join the management team.  Successful candidates will be invited to join the current management team in a planning session, scheduled for Saturday, August 27, from 9 AM – 1 PM, to create our new structure

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Celia Jones,

President – The Community Players of New Hamburg

By Scott Cressman, New Hamburg Independent – May 19, 2011

The Community Players’ production of Aida was a grand love story that tackled universal themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. It was a colourful tale, originally an opera, that TCP ambitiously brought to a modern Wilmot audience.

Their version of ancient Egypt was flashy and dramatic, with a soundtrack written by Elton John and Tim Rice. Aida told the story of a Nubian princess enslaved by Egyptians, who then falls in love with her captor, the prince Radames. Their romance must struggle to survive war and politics.

This epic storyline was balanced in the first act by some light-hearted songs and moments. The show’s opening number, “Fortune Favours the Brave” grabbed the audience’s attention with a strong ensemble performance, catchy music, and flashing lights. Male lead Lance Green has princely strutting down to an art.

That song showed many of Aida’s strengths. The Egyptian ships that appeared at centre stage were impressive props, and the stage’s dramatic red and blue lighting was a very effective mood-setter.

The large cast was also used well and it was a lot of fun to watch all the costumed slaves and soldiers move in co-ordination onstage. Aida’s most entertaining moments were when the audience’s attention wasn’t focused only on the lead characters. TCP’s supporting cast shone during the dance numbers and crowd scenes.

Aida’s costumes and stage choreography were impressive. These production values were displayed again a little later in the play, when Egyptian princess Amneris enthusiastically sang about her love of fashion.

The production leans heavily on its lead actors and they were mostly up to the task. Lead actors Green and Joni NehRita carried their many songs well.

As parental meddling and their countries’ war threaten their relationship, the characters’ sadness is their strongest emotion. Their love, however, lacked some spark and the passion between enslaved Aida and her captor Radames seemed to happen too easily. The fast-blooming romance in the show’s script, tries to fit Aida’s tragic tale into perhaps a too-simple plot.

Joanna Guistini, as the Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris, especially put her strong stage presence to good use. Her character might have been the show’s most appealing personality, as she moved from a spoiled, pouty princess to a mature and noble personality.

In the second half, the plot moved more quickly, and the show benefited from the faster pace and increased intensity.

Throughout the production, it’s the setting that really stood out in TCP’s Aida. The stage was impressively set with giant lanterns and Egyptian-style gates. The spotlighting was dramatic and attracted the eye as it danced over the actors.

The music was catchy and many songs have tunes that sound like classic Elton John creations. The live 10-piece orchestra performed well from their hidden backstage location, playing both strong dramatic and upbeat arrangements.

Aida’s music, setting, and costumes were fun and beautiful, and the cast brought enthusiasm to the stage. The show was bold and dramatic, even if the story and characters seemed less than complex and lacked the gravitas needed to make a big emotional impact.

Aida was ultimately a fun-to-watch musical and another success for the Community Players.