Pitch. Keeping everyone in tune with West Towns PROGRAM. Merry Gentlemen, A big West Towns welcome goes to Ron

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1 Pitch Keeping everyone in tune with West Towns P O B o x D o w n e r s G r o v e, I L V o l u m e 5 I s s u e 4 5 N o v e m b e r 6, Mark Betczynski 2010 Barbershopper of the Year PROGRAM NOTES Merry Gentlemen, A big West Towns welcome goes to Ron Peake & Ray Wright, our newest members. Last Monday we also had Tim Grell visit us from eastern Pennsylvania (I think he came here to escape the snow). Please be advised that rehearsal starts at 7:30 Monday. We will be spending time on the combined numbers that will be on our Christmas show; let's come prepared for a great time! Bill Stob, Program VP GARB I ns ide T h is I s s ue The uniform/costume/garb/clothing/ manner of dress for the Christmas Show is; Act I A solid color, long sleeve shirt, not white, not black with button down collar if at all possible. (Makes for a uniform look) Solid color matching or coordinated long scarf Black dress pants. Tux pants probably for most, but not necessary. Black shiny shoes. Quartets: This is a must. Act II Tux with black shirt, white tie and white pocket square, black shoes Sing-cerely, Robert "the Gutter" Wahl Producer and Stage Manager WTC 2011 Christmas Show Christmas Show Help Needed Show History Calendar Birthdays Guests POSTER PARTY Gentlemen, Nine of your chorus buddies have volunteered their personal time to help promote the Christmas Show by distributing posters in their local communities. My thanks to Bruce Rhoades, Jim Brown, Dick Clark, John Streetz, Dan Murphy, Jon Hoekema, Bill Haselberger, Jack Fa- gan, and Jim Williams. I still need men to distribute flyers to Naperville, Westmont, Lisle, and Woodridge. You do it on your own time. I only ask that the task be completed by Nov. 14th at the latest. Suggested distribution locations include (but not limited to) train stations, libraries, park districts, schools/colleges, coffee houses, local businesses (where you do business is a good place to start). Please let me know ASAP that you are willing to help. I've had 200 flyers printed and they will be available at Monday's rehearsal. Thanks! Tom Erwin tberwin1624@yahoo.com

2 P a g e 2 Help needed for Home for the Holidays Dear family, friends of The West Towns Chorus, and POW! Members, We all can help to make the Christmas show a big success again. If you have time and are willing to spent a couple of hours before the show, we then can make this a hit for everyone. My preference is to help out on: Friday December 9: 8.00 PM performance: Saturday December 10: 2.00 PM performance: Hand out the programs: Saturday December 10: 8.00 PM performance: Hand out the programs: Sunday December 11: 1.30 PM performance: Hand out the programs: You should plan to arrive at the hall 1½ hour before the show starts. The dress-code is black and white with some red. A week before the show I will contact you again with the schedule and additional information. Please fill out this form and - return it to Erik Roffelsen during the rehearsal, NO LATER THAN November or sent this information by to: nelleke@innersource.com Name: Address: City: Zip code: Phone: Would you be interested in being a chairman or co-chairman for the Christmas basket raffle? We need a couple of people to help out. Because there are 4 shows we need some extra Christmas baskets for the raffle! If you can provide one or, if you have material or cash to donate that would be also great; we will then put together the basket. Please hand those to Erik Roffelsen during the rehearsal of December 5. Let us know where you might be interested in helping with. Thank you. Contact person ushering: Nelleke Roffelsen during daytime, in the evening, or me at nelleke@innersource.com.

3 P a g e 3 HISTORY ISTORY PART 3 Joy Tumea is putting together a history of this Christmas show. The last two issues have had information on the first ten years of the show, information that is limited at best. Please read through the information and if you have anything you can add, please talk to Tony Tumea or send it to Joyce (JoyTumea@sbcglobal.net JoyTumea@sbcglobal.net) ). This is a continuation of that series, with what information we have on years Again, if you have more information, be sure to pass that on. WTC X-Mas Show history, years , 3 shows, Dec.? and? Year of Show 11 Title - The Music of Christmas (no year on cover, or dates ) Location Tivoli Theatre Show Chair - Jim Ahlgrim (5 th year) Chorus Director - Barb Laukaitis Ass t. Dirs. - Mark Betczynski, Craig Ahlgrim, Joe Tomecek, George Sotos Emcee and Script - Bill Ward WTC Quartets: Alchemy (Rick Anthoney, Ken Gillie, Mark Betczynski, George Sotos), Scrambled Craigs (same members previously listed), Seasoned Sound (Sid Peterson, Roland Wiebking, John Kaindl, Bob Wahl),Kensington Road (Bob Nicodem, Joe Saintcross, John Oberlin, Ed McDevitt, ) Sweet Mae (Dave Ehst, Don Davia, Craig Ahlgrim, Jim Ahlgrim) and an Octet composed of Seasoned Sound and Kensington Road Regular Performers: The Skinkers (3 rd or 4 th time?), Karen Deegan on the organ, the Downers Grove First United Methodist Church Bell Choirs (Chancel and Westminster Handbells) under the direction of Pattie Barnes (2 nd time). Guest performers: flautist Marty Farahat (*1 st time, replacing her student, Cathy Lane), Royal Trumpet Works (Phil Feo, Dir., 1 st time), Choral Aires women s barbershop chorus (Joan Boutilier, Dir.) Opening & Closing Numbers:? Joint Numbers:? Other: George Zima danced as elf Mortimer. Sing Along during intermission. Santa and Mrs. Santa not ID d in pic. Can someone ID them? 2003, 3 shows, Dec.? and? Year of Show 12 Title- Twas the Night Before Christmas Location Tivoli Theatre Chair - Craig Lancaster Interim Directors Robert (Bob) Stone, Craig Ahlgrim, Joe Tomecek Ass t. Dirs.- Craig Ahlgrim, Joe Tomecek, Craig Adams. Emcee and Script Bill Ward WTC Quartets: Stars of the Ehst (Dave Ehst, John Morrison, Jay Bentz, Joe Tomecek), Scrambled Craigs, Alchemy Regular Performers: Flautist Marty Farahat (2 nd year), Chancel Ringers, (Pattie Barnes group again), Affinity Strings Trio under Anny Moravec (1st year? With brass?) Guest performers: organist Trevor Kahlbaum, Bonnie Burke as a soloist, women singers from the Choral Society and Melodeers, along with a couple of others, plus women s quartet the Four Bettys (Wendy Ahlgrim, Cori Albrecht, Linda Keever and Heather Mears) Opening & Closing Numbers: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year / Adeste Fidelis Joint Numbers: above, and? Other: George Zima danced as Mortimer. The program booklet had grown to 18 double-sided pages, and the singalong still took place during intermission. Nelleke Roffelsen served as House Manager for the? time, and Nina Roher worked on the set and served as stage manager for the (? ) time. 2004, 3 shows, Dec. 10, 11 Year of Show - 13 Title - Christmas Around the World Location - Tivoli Theatre (9th yr.) Chair- Tony Tumea (1 st year, took over from Craig Lancaster partway into preparations) Director- Joe Krones, 1 st year. Ass t. Dirs.- Andy Kinne, Craig Ahlgrim, Joe Tomecek, Craig Adams Emcee- Emcee Tom Sinnott (only time) Script- a new, original script by Joyce Tumea was introduced, with a line or two of narration introducing and naming each song to be sung in the first half, and telling the story of the birth of Jesus in the second half, ending with Jesus birth, not His death on the cross (more suited to Easter), which is how the other script ended. Regular Performers - flautist Marty Farahat (3 rd yr.), organist David Rhodes (1 st yr.), Anny Moravec and Affinity String and Brass Ensemble (2 nd yr.), Anacrusis (Continued on page 4)

4 P a g e 4 HISTORY ISTORY PART 3 CONTINUED Bells under Marilyn Wilgocki from the First Congregational Church of DG (only time), Len Schlaak as Santa, with, for the 1 st time, about a dozen children total, a few for each show, going onstage with him, as George Zima danced as Mortimer the elf WTC Quartets- Scrambled Craigs, Alchemy Guest Performers- soloist Angela Presutti, Trinity Irish Dancers There is no mention of the Skinkers in the program book Opening & Closing Numbers: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year again introduced the show, with joint numbers also closing it; Joe Krones tried a double finale, with The Hallelujah Chorus following Adeste Fidelis Other- The sing-along during intermission was discontinued. Female singers for the joint numbers came from several places; they included chorus members wives and singers from groups in the community. A subgroup of the Downers Grove Choral Society made a special guest appearance onstage for the finale. The DGTV Cable Station taped the show to air on channel 6/21. The Tivoli stage crew that year was Steve Margison, John Basco, Pat and Deb Garner, Rick Hessel and Mary Tallman. The set was new, designed by Nina Rohrer. WTC guys wore Hawaiian shirts for Jamaican Noel and the set included blown-up palm trees for that song. The song lineup focused on international Christmas songs, such as Russian Sleigh Ride. Bob Nicodem soloed, singing the second verse of Silent Night in German. 2005, 3 shows, Dec. 9, 10 Year of Show 14 Title - Peace On Earth Location Tivoli Theatre (10 th yr.) Show Chair Tony Tumea (2 nd yr.) Director - Joe Krones (2 nd yr.) Ass t. Dirs. Craig Ahlgrim, Andy Kinne, Bob Stone, Joe Tomecek, Mark Beteczynski. Emcee Dennis Treadwell (only time) Script - Joyce Tumea WTC Quartets - Chipmunks Roasting (Dave Ehst, John Morrison, Tony Caruso, Don Kaap) Regular Performers - flautist Marty Farahat, Affinity String and Brass Ensemble, the Skinkers, Alchemy, David Rhodes at the organ, Chancel Bell Ringers of the First United Methodist Church, Len Schlak as Santa, children onstage, George Zima as Mortimer dancing to Jingle Bell Rock Guest Performers - mixed octet Local Vocal, DGN high school student Ryan Barrett who did syncopated signing (sign language in a kind of ballet of the arms) to several songs (only time), soloist Melissa Claussen (1 st yr.), George Sotos from Alchemy did a walk-on as Scrooge Opening & Closing Numbers - same as year before, including double finale Joint Numbers same, plus Do You Hear What I Hear? Other- Tony Caruso and Joe Krones soloed. During the We Need a Little Christmas number, a couple of WTC members came off the risers to decorate a small tree onstage for a little action and color. Joyce Tumea, serving as stage manager, was joined backstage by Debbie Guptill 2006, 3 shows, Dec. 8, 9 Year of show 15 Title - Joy to the World Location Tivoli Theatre (11 th yr.) Show Chair Tony Tumea (3 rd yr.) Director - Joe Krones (3 rd yr.) Ass t. Dirs. - Craig Ahlgrim, Joe Tomecek, Mark Betczynski, Casey Clements Emcee - WTC member Barth Richards (1 st time) Script Joyce Tumea WTC Quartets - Scrambled Craigs (same members), Sound Investment, Ti Amo (members were?) Regular Performers - organist David Rhodes, Affinity String and Brass Ensemble under Anny Moravec, Alchemy, the Skinkers, Chancel Ringers, Len Schlak as Santa, George Zima as Mortimer, *Don Bradley joining him (only time) as elf Maximilius, children onstage Guest Performers - Carpe Diem Fri. only (members not listed in program), soloist Melissa Claussen (2 nd yr.), The Debe Welch Band (only time), Angel ballerinas Julia Franzen and Cassandra Fox from Midwest Ballet Theatre (directed and choreographed by Mim Eichmann), women singers mainly from the Downers Grove Choral Society and North High School Choirs Opening & Closing Numbers same as before, except the finale was back to just Adeste Fidelis Other this show had several colorful bits, in addition to ballerinas dancing onstage during Angels We Have Heard On High - Dave Shepherd played Melissa s Dad in a short skit, plus a dancing Christmas tree along with Chase Krones and Ed McDevitt, (Continued on page 6)

5 V o l u m e 5 I s s u e 4 5 Schedule of Events November Rehearsal 14 Rehearsal Nov 20. Downers Grove Library (Paid performance at 2 PM; Call Time 1 PM) 21 Rehearsal 28 Rehearsal *Note: The town of Elmhurst has decided to do some different things at their annual tree lighting ceremony so we will NOT be singing at that event this year. N ov e m b e r P a g e 5 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat D e c e m b e r Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Dec 8 - Tech rehearsal Dec. 9, 10, 11 Christmas shows 2012 Jan 21 Installation Dinner LaGrange Country Club Mar. 3 St. James the Apostle Apr. 15, 5:00 PM Spring Show, Wentz Hall J a n u a ry Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

6 P a g e 6 PO Box 1005 Downers Grove, IL West Towns rehearses every Monday evening, 7:00 PM at Horizon Community Church in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center, rd Street, Downers Grove, IL Phone: V o l u m e 5 I s s u e 4 5 Members only: PITCH Editor Bob Nicodem Illinois District BETY winner in 2008, 2009 & W109 Claremont Dr Darien, IL RNicodem@comcast.net Work: (708) Cell: (708) The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Chicagoland West Suburban Chapter aka The West Towns Chorus 2012 Board President Jack Fagan Music VP Ed McDevitt Chapter Development VP Jay Bentz Program VP Bill Stob Marketing VP Tom Erwin Treasurer Jim Williams Secretary Bob Nicodem Member-At-Large Mark Johnson Past President Don Davia s Board@WestTowns.org MusicTeam@WestTowns.org Jon Hoekema Nov. 12 Welcome to our Guests of October 30 Russ Fletcher Tim Grell Congratulations to Ron Peake and Ray Wright our newest members! HISTORY ISTORY PART 3 CONTINUED (Continued from page 4) George Sotos reprised his Scrooge cameo, Art Dusenbury, Ed McDevitt and Jack Roller told a joke, Ken Gillie and a different high school girl for each performance played Joseph and Mary in a Nativity tableau in the 2 nd half, Children Cassi Kollmeyer and Kara Anthoney had walk-ons as Sugar Plum Fairies, colorful scarves were thrown at the director for Deck the Halls. The show s title song was sung in the second half by the chorus the first time through. Afterwards, Joe Krones turned to the audience, which rose to its feet and joined the chorus in singing it a second time through. Having the entire Tivoli Theater, packed with people, sing Joy to the World at each show was truly magical. Door prizes and gift basket drawings were held during intermission, begun when?

Pitch! Frank Glas 2017 Barbershopper of the Year! Carrie s Cues. President s Pen

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