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ATC 005 – “They Were In The French Revolution”

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On this episode of the At The Capitol with Portal Players podcast, we chat with our trio from Little Shop of Horrors. Meet Bronwyn Mairie Nestegaard-Paul, Melissa Lowe and Niklas Burton.

Podcast guests (left to right) Bronwyn, Melissa and Nik.

We chat about all things Little Shop and their roles in the show, and then take a dangerous dive into favourite musical theatre titles.

This episode was recorded on Sunday, September 23 before a Little Shop rehearsal, and before Portal Players’ Annual General Meeting held on Monday night, September 24.

At the AGM, Melissa Lowe received the highly-coveted and well-regarded Doreen Anderson Volunteer of the Year award, and podcast guest Niklas Burton was elected to the PPDS Board of Directors. Congratulations to you both!

Tune in to the podcast to hear a very entertaining discussion!

ATC 004: News Update, September 20, 2018

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Annual General Meeting, September 24

Portal Players Dramatic Society is holding its Annual General Meeting on Monday, September 24 at 7 pm, at The Capitol Theatre. New Members are welcome, as is the public – You’ll get to meet many of our members and hear our latest updates. You’ll also hear about Theatre BC’s big “provincials” of drama, the Mainstage festival, coming to Port Alberni next summer and being organized in large part by Portal Players. We’re still building the team and assembling a volunteer corps, so by all means, come to the AGM.

Season Tickets – Available Now

Portal Players’ new season of plays kicks off in October with our production of the musical “Little Shop of Horrors”. Season tickets are available now for the entire series of four shows at a discounted price of just $69.00 for adults, a savings of $10 on individual ticket purchases. You could also purchase an individual patron sponsorship for just $129.00 which includes a season ticket, a membership in Portal Players and a $50 tax receipt. Buy your Season Tickets Here; buy your Opening Night Gala Ticket Here.

Sponsorship Campaign – On Now

Our annual campaign to partner with local businesses is now underway. This is an excellent opportunity for your business to support the arts while raising your own profile in the community, including promotional mentions on this, our new podcast. Affordable business support levels start at just $250, with higher levels available too. Click here for a downloadable PDF of our Partnership Packages brochure; or e-mail us: capitoltheatre@shaw.ca and someone will get back to you.

Thank you to our season sponsors so far, Swale Rock Cafe, The Graphics Factory and Koliber Gifts.

Opening Night Fundraising Gala, October 17

Another way you can show your support of Portal Players is to attend our Opening Night Fundraising Gala for “Little Shop of Horrors” on Wednesday, October 17. Not only is it our opening night, but we’ll finally be “Raising The Reds” with our new, marquee curtains at centre stage. With grateful thanks to Lily Diotte and our many other funders, it’s a night to celebrate! Tickets are just $50 which includes a $25 tax receipt – available online now and at our box office during regular hours.

Norm Foster comedy “Looking” – Auditions

Portal Players is producing the Norm Foster comedy, “Looking”. Auditions are taking place on October 9 and 10 at 7 pm each night at The Capitol Theatre. 2 women and 2 men are needed for the cast; and we need members on our production team too – so if you have any interest in being on the stage, or off the stage, please attend the auditions to let us know. And you can also come to the AGM September 24 to let us know you’re interested.

Find out more about “Looking” at this link.

More “At The Capitol” Coming Soon . . .

Coming up soon on the At The Capitol podcast – a feature profile of three performers in Little Shop of Horrors. We’ll be chatting with our greek chorus, our tenacious trio, who are never far from the scene. Join me in chatting with Bronwyn, Melissa and Niklas very soon on At The Capitol with Portal Players.

Portal Players SEASON TICKETS Now Available!

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Click here to purchase the full season of Portal Players productions at a discounted price!

Season Tickets are now available which includes Little Shop of Horrors, at a cost of just $69 + fees – a savings of $10 over buying individual advance adult tickets.

The full season shows include:

  • Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman & Alan Menken; based on the film by Roger Corman & Charlie Griffith (October/November, 2018)
  • This Is a Play by Daniel MacIvor (November, 2018) – This includes a special tour of select non-public areas of The Capitol Theatre
  • Looking by Norm Foster (February/March, 2019)
  • Sisters by Wendy Lill (April/May, 2019)

Sponsorship Campaign Launched!

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Portal Players Dramatic Society has officially launched its 2018-2019 sponsorship campaign for individuals and businesses.

Being distributed to businesses in the coming week, our Sponsorship Brochure can be downloaded now.

Sponsorship levels start at $129 for our Individual Patron support level, which includes a season ticket ($69 value), a Portal Players membership for the year ($10 value) and a $50 tax receipt.

Business sponsorships start at just $250 and include generous benefits, including promotional mentions and tickets to our shows. Check out the complete list of sponsor benefits in the brochure.

Download our brochure (PDF), and please help to support Portal Players Dramatic Society. Thank you!

“Little Shop of Horrors” Tickets Available Now!

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Portal Players Dramatic Society launched its new season of plays on October 17 with an Opening Night Fundraising Gala & Raise The Reds event at The Capitol Theatre.

With thanks to major sponsors Koliber Gifts and Swale Rock Cafe, we unveiled our brand new Red Main Stage curtains. Thanks also to funding partners: AV Community Foundation, Little Bavaria Restaurant, Catalyst Paper, and many individual donors.

Little Shop of Horrors plays on select dates through to November 3. Tickets are available now for this show; season tickets for the entire series of plays are also now available.

Ticket purchase links as follows:

Any seats available at the door on show nights are $30 each.

Season Tickets are now available which includes Little Shop of Horrors, at a cost of just $69 + fees – a savings of $10 over buying individual advance adult tickets.

The full season shows include:

  • Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman & Alan Menken; based on the film by Roger Corman & Charlie Griffith (October/November, 2018)
  • This Is a Play by Daniel MacIvor (November, 2018) – This includes a special tour of select non-public areas of The Capitol Theatre
  • Looking by Norm Foster (February/March, 2019)
  • Sisters by Wendy Lill (April/May, 2019)
Portal Players’ incredible Fall Fair parade team promoting Little Shop of Horrors.

Individuals can also purchase a Membership Patron Sponsorship Package for $129 (only available at our Capitol Theatre Box Office) which includes a season ticket, a membership in Portal Players to support us and receive our updates, and a $50 tax receipt. These and other business sponsorship packages are available by contacting Portal Players as listed below.

It’s an exciting season and series of plays, presented by Portal Players Dramatic Society at The Capitol Theatre. For more information call or e-mail the box office, 250-723-1195 and capitoltheatre@shaw.ca

ATC 003: Season Announcement & Sponsorship Campaign Launch

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Portal Players Dramatic Society is back with a new episode of “At The Capitol” featuring special guests Brent Ronning, President; and Elliot Drew, Treasurer; in conversation with host Peter Wienold, coincidentally Vice President of the organization – recorded live in The Capitol Theatre Member’s Lounge.

Left to right: Brent Ronning, Peter Wienold, Elliot Drew.

The trio are first excited to announce the plays in Portal Players’ upcoming 2018 – 2019 season, and when Season Ticket sales will start. Then they discuss this year’s Sponsorship Campaign for individuals and businesses to help support this volunteer-run organization and theatre continue operating and contributing to a vibrant Arts Community in the Alberni Valley.

The season kicks off in October with our production of “Little Shop of Horrors”, and a very special Opening Night Fundraising Gala has been planned for October 17th. It will be the first public unveiling of The Capitol Theatre’s brand new main stage curtains, as we “Raise The Reds”. Fundraising continues to fund the $16,000 project, and after three years of doing just that, Portal Players was able to make in installation happen for the new season. More details will be released soon, as will online ticket sales. Entry is $50 to this special fund raising night, which includes a $25 tax receipt, nibblies and a chance to meet the cast following the show. You can even donate more for an even larger tax receipt!

Our annual Sponsorship Campaign has kicked off – hear all about how you and your business can benefit from partnering with Portal Players on this episode. And a special shout out to our season sponsors so far, The Swale Rock Cafe, Koliber Gifts and The Graphics Factory. High level sponsors are also being recognized on our podcast, so check out our various support levels. Our sponsorship brochure will be going out to all Valley businesses soon, and can also be downloaded now.

Lastly, the show wraps up with a quick note about next summer’s Theatre BC Mainstage Festival, which is coming to Port Alberni for the first time. This is the “Provincials” of Drama in BC, with eight productions from across the province coming to perform at the ADSS Performing Arts Theatre next July. More details coming soon.

Portal Players’ Annual General Meeting is coming up on Monday, September 24 at 7 pm at The Capitol Theatre – come hear the latest news and get involved if you’re so inclined!

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ATC 002: News Update, August 19, 2018

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One Act Plays – Auditions

Portal Players is producing a series of two one-act plays in November and invites people interested in acting in them to audition. Two more nights of auditions will be held for “Take Five” and “This Is A Play”, both comedies, about which you can read more below.

Auditions are being held on Sunday, August 26 and Monday, August 27 at 6 pm, at The Capitol Theatre.

Education Programs – Registrations

The STAGES Youth Theatre Company is taking registrations for the fall semester at The Capitol Theatre Box Office on Monday through Wednesday, August 27 to 29, from 4 pm to 6 pm. The Company One auditions will also be held then – more information on how to prepare can be found below.

Our music programs registrations are being held on Thursday, August 30 from 3:30 to 6 pm – this is for our Glee, Wee Glee and Sea Notes choral programs.

For more information on either of these programs, please e-mail capitoltheatre@shaw.ca

Season Tickets Available Soon

Portal Players’ new season of plays kicks off in October with our production of the musical “Little Shop of Horrors”. Season tickets will be available soon for the entire series of productions at a discounted price of just $69.00 for adults, a savings of $10 on individual ticket purchases. Keep an eye on our website for when they become available.

Business Partnerships

Our annual campaign to partner with local businesses is now underway. This is an excellent opportunity for your business to support the arts while raising your own profile in the community, including shout outs on our new podcast. Affordable support levels start at just $250, with several higher levels available too. Interested? Email us: capitoltheatre@shaw.ca and someone will get back to you.

Thank you to our season sponsors so far, Koliber Gifts, Swale Rock Cafe and The Graphics Factory.

Opening Night Fundraising Gala

Another way you can show your support of Portal Players is by attending our Opening Night Fundraising Gala for “Little Shop of Horrors” on Wednesday, October 17. Not only is it our opening night, but we finally be “Raising The Reds” with our new, marquee curtains at centre stage. With grateful thanks to Lily Diotte and our many other funders, it’s a night to celebrate! Tickets available soon.

Podcast Episodes

Be sure to listen to our inaugural episode of the podcast, featuring a chat with Carrera Schroeder and Melissa Lowe, talking about days of old and new with Portal Players at The Capitol Theatre.

Future episodes include more chats with cast and crew members of “Little Shop of Horrors”, and coming soon we’ll feature Portal Players president Brent Ronning and treasurer Elliot Drew announcing our upcoming season, and on how we work in tandem with the local business community to both our benefit.

PPDS Annual General Meeting

Finally, if you are new to the Alberni Valley or new to hearing about Portal Players, please consider attending our Annual General Meeting on Monday, September 24 at 7 pm, at The Capitol Theatre. You’ll get to meet many of our members and hear more updates. You may be aware that Portal Players is taking a lead role in organizing Theatre BC’s big “provincials” of drama festivals called Mainstage, coming to Port Alberni next summer. We’re still building the team and assembling a volunteer corps, so by all means, come to the AGM.

Subscribe on iTunes Here!

MORE DATES: Open Call Auditions . . .

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Portal Players Dramatic Society invites anyone who would like to try acting in either one or both One-Act Plays to be performed at The Capitol Theatre in November, to come to our auditions on August 26 & 27 at 6:00 pm.

“Take Five” directed by Dale Hillman, is a 45 minute One Act Play for six adults, four Men and two Women.  The play is a hilarious comedy about what can go wrong in live theatre.

The cast includes:

  • Mike – a stagehand with acting aspirations
  • Lester – a not too bright assistant stagehand
  • Greg – a person in the audience
  • Alex Cane – husband of Sharon
  • Sharon Cane – very pregnant wife of Alex
  • Gladys – Sharon’s sister

“This Is A Play” directed by Nicole Saugstad is a hilarious comedy which follows three actors who, while performing, reveal their own thoughts and motivations as they struggle through crazy stage directions and an unoriginal musical score.

Parts needed:

  • Male Actor – Thinks he’s all that. A little clueless.
  • Female Actor – Thinks she is the “It” girl. Has a rivalry with the Older Female Actor.
  • Older Female Actor – seasoned, was probably the “It” girl in her hay-day.
  • Composer – no gender, thinks they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Auditioners must be ages 15 and up. Play features some adult situations/humour so anyone under 18 must have parental consent.

The Composer part may or may not be voice over. Please mark a preference on audition page.

Please come prepared with a 2-3 min comedic monologue. (Memorized or read from the page)

ATC 001: Meet Carrera & Melissa, and preview Little Shop of Horrors

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It’s the inaugural episode of At The Capitol with Portal Players, the new podcast all about our theatre company and where we perform and play.

In this episode, we chat with Carrera Schroeder, director of Little Shop of Horrors; and with Melissa Lowe, a member of the trio in the show. Recorded live at Denman Island on August 13, 2018, we learn that summer camping is another enthusiastic pursuit of many of our local thespians. (Photo, L to R: Melissa Lowe, Carrera Schroeder, Peter Wienold). Click here to see the photo being described at the start of the show.

Learn about what a director and stage manager do in a production, and hear all about our upcoming season-opening musical, Little Shop of Horrors, which opens at The Capitol Theatre with a big Gala Fundraising Night on October 17.

Soon you’ll be able to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes with your favourite podcast playing app; until those links are up and running, please enjoy the show right here in your browser!