How can I become involved with Clinton County Showcase?
Clinton County Showcase will soon begin its 16th Season!
As you are wondering how you can be a part of our organization in the next year, here are a few ideas:
1) Become a member:
For a $10 membership you can receive our newsletter and always know what's to come!2) Become a Season Ticket Holder: For $36 you will receive a Reserved Seat for our August Musical & September Play (both in the park), plus four shows in the theatre. For an additional $5, you can also reserve your seat for our Youth Musical in June!
3) Become a Patron:
Buy an ad in our program insert: get great exposure for your business and receive a newsletter.4) Audition for a show:
We are planning a great season of shows. Even if you've never thought about joining us, give it a try!
5) Work on a stage crew: We are always look
ing for talented and willing people who love what we do and want to be a part of it. If you are skilled in painting, construction, or simply like to help, we'd love to have you!6)
Volunteer to usher: It's a great way to get to see the shows you love and help out!7) Join a committee: We want people to be involved! Box Office, Newsletter, Membership, Production, Publicity these are all big jobs, and if you have ideas you think would help, volunteer to work with our Committee Chairs!
Clinton County Showcase is here for our community, but it takes a lot of work to produce the great shows you see on the stage. We want to continue to provide live theatre for Clinton County, and in order to keep our organization strong, we must continue to receive support from our members, patrons, audiences, and volunteers. We have come so far, and we look forward to continuing to grow! Thank you for everything you do!
Questions from our Patrons
Clinton County Showcase volunteers frequently receive questions and ideas from audience members. Knowing that other CCS patrons may have the same questions or thoughts, the newsletter committee is publishing the first installment of a FAQs column. Our hope is to publish this column twice a year.
Will the theater ever show movies again?
When Clinton County Showcase initially purchased the historic Avon Theater in downtown Breese, it was our hope that we would someday feature old movies in addition to live theater. However, there are a few obstacles to overcome before we can bring movies back to Breese.
The first hindrance is equipment. Bringing movies back to the theater will require an up-to-date projector as well as a screen. These are major expenses not currently within the CCS budget.
The second issue is rehearsal schedules. When the theater is not open for audiences to come and see a play or a musical, there are typically teams of people practicing for an upcoming production (including summers, as rehearsals for our busy summer production schedule frequently overlap). With seven shows a year, the season doesn't leave much time for movies.
Why doesn't Clinton County Showcase offer more opportunities for children to be in the shows?
This is a fairly common question. And judging by the immense popularity of the annual youth musical in July, it is a fairly logical one. Occasionally, CCS will produce a non-summer play with roles for children. The recent production of A Christmas Story is a good example. However, the limited size of the theater's stage makes it impossible to present a show the size of Annie, which featured over 70 young performers, inside the theater. There simply isn't enough space. Directors also find it challenging to schedule rehearsals around sports, extracurricular, and homework during the school year. At the present time, there are no plans to introduce an additional "youth-only" show to the season, but the production chairman is aware of the interest in including more roles for young actors in the fall, winter, and spring productions.
How do I get involved ''behind the scenes" at Clinton County Showcase?
If you'd like to help usher, sell concessions, assist with set construction/painting, help make costumes, offer your musical talents to a pit orchestra, operate the light or sound boards, or get involved in any other capacity, contact a CCS board member. If there is a specific upcoming show you'd like to be involved in, it would be a good idea to contact the director. Directors' names and phone numbers are published in press releases, all CCS programs, CCS newsletters, and our website ccshowcase.com.
Excerpt from the January 2004 issue of Show Time ( the newsletter of Clinton County Showcase)
Where Does the Money Go?
One frequent question people ask the board members of Clinton County Showcase is what we do with the money we take in. Season ticket sales, concessions, 50/50 tickets, individual ticket sales, program ads, and charitable donations generate a fair amount of revenue for our non-profit organization. So "what are our expenses and why are we always trying to raise more money? In addition to regular maintenance expenses, Clinton County Showcase occasionally needs to replace electronic equipment. Lights and microphones wear out, especially when exposed to the elements during outdoor shows. The theater also tries to upgrade its equipment as technologies improve. CCS recently purchased a $2500 electric piano offering many synthesized sounds and electronic music technologies the outdated piano did not. Future needs include spotlights for the theater, improved house lights, better speakers for the outdoor shows, and additional stage microphones. The CCS Board of Directors also recognizes the need to make structural improvements to the theater itself. These would constitute major expenses.
There is another expense many people are not aware of: licensing rights to a show. Before Clinton County Showcase can even begin rehearsing for one of its plays or musicals, it must secure the rights to produce the show from the licensing company that owns the rights. The rights to a musical can cost anywhere from $1500 to $2500. Additional royalties fees are often required for multiple performances. Other expenses that vary from show to show include costume materials, costume/wig rentals, set materials (such as paint and lumber), advertising costs, printing costs, and postage. Without the generous financial support of the members of our community, Clinton County Showcase could not exist. We are deeply appreciative to all who contribute to the theater, and we encourage everyone to introduce our organization to friends who enjoy the performing arts.
Excerpt from the October 2003 issue of "Showtime" the newsletter of Clinton County Showcase