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Leadership

Ahearn-Chalfant, Goins and Parks to Join to Theatre Board

Left to right: Ahearn-Chalfant, Goins, Parks

Town Theatre is pleased to welcome Pamela Ahearn-Chalfant, Dr. Felicia L. Goins and Craig Parks to the Board of Governors for the Columbia Stage Society.

Pamela Ahearn-Chalfant began volunteering at Town Theatre 12 years ago when her daughters became involved on stage. This “family affair” continued as she and her girls have performed, crewed, assisted with classes, and stage-managed at Town. Pamela’s professional experience has been in teaching, leadership development and sales. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (BA Ed. ’88), and her graduate degree from the University of South Carolina (MA School Leadership ’99). Pamela taught in schools in Los Angeles County, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and South Carolina, and she also homeschooled her children for 15 years.  Pamela has long been involved in nonprofit work, volunteering for a variety of nonprofits around the country.  Some of her favorite nonprofits besides Town Theatre include the Los Angeles homeless shelter Jovenes and Atlanta-based Curing Kids Cancer.

Dr. Felicia L. Goins was born and raised in Washington, D.C.  She is a graduate of George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University College of Dentistry. Dr. Goins completed her advanced training in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center and received her Certificate of Pediatric Dentistry from Georgetown University School of Dentistry. She is well decorated having earned many accolades and honors in dentistry. Dr. Goins is extremely dedicated to the community. She co-founded the Links Inc. Dental Sealants Program at W.A. Perry Middle, the Health Reach Program at Prisma Health Tuomey Regional Medical Center and has served on many boards including the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands, Sumter Museum of Art, Tuomey Hospital Foundation, Kershaw County Historical Society, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and The Columbia Chapter of Links. She was also a Board member of the University of South Carolina Commission on Higher Learning and continues to be a member at Wake Forest University College Board of Visitors. In 2006, Governor Mark Sanford appointed Dr. Goins to the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry where she served until 2015. Since 2004 she has been a member of the State Dental Board Disciplinary Panel. For the past 16 years, Dr. Goins has administered the Pediatric Dental Specialty Examination for the South Carolina State Dental Board. She also serves on the Executive Board of the South Carolina Ac of Pediatric Dentists and has been a member of the South Carolina Dental Association Medicaid Ad Hoc Committee since 1999.  Dr. Goins has been a proud sponsor of March of Dimes and the Special Olympics for many years. She and her family established the Will Moreau Goins Memorial Fund at Town Theatre in honor of her late brother who performed at Town for 20 years.

Craig Parks is Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy for the University of South Carolina, serving as a link between the university system, elected officials and other stakeholders across the state, helping to match the university’s strategic plan with the needs of the South Carolina.  Prior to joining USC in 2018, Craig served as Assistant Director for Tax Policy for the South Carolina Senate Finance Committee and was the committee’s Senior Budget Analyst for Higher Education, capacities in which he was responsible for state tax policy and higher education finance analysis and development. In 2009, Craig was selected as lead staffer for the South Carolina Tax Realignment Commission, an independent blue-ribbon panel charged with assessing the effectiveness of the state’s tax structure. Before moving to the State Senate in January 2006, Craig was a Fiscal Policy Analyst with the SC Board of Economic Advisors, Budget and Control Board from 2000 to 2005, and he also worked as a Labor Market Analyst at the SC Department of Employment and Workforce from 1999 to 2000 after finishing graduate school. Craig received his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in Government from Wofford College and his master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina. In 2010, Craig was named Wofford College “Young Alumnus of the Year” and in 2011, was appointed by Richland County Council to serve on the Hospitality Tax Advisory Committee, a committee on which he served for many years, including serving several terms as Chairman. Craig is married to Amy, his wife of 19 years, and they have four children, Anna Grace (14), Coleman (11), Addyson Virginia (8), and Margaret Heyward (1).



Leadership, Special Events, Youth Theatre

Beyond the stage

Town Theatre is proud to partner with FACES ~ Foreign Academic & Cultural Exchanges Services ~ to assist with a special project taking our acting chops into a classroom setting. FACES works with teachers from other countries to help them succeed in the academic arena of the United States. As one might imagine, the classroom setting in America is quite different. Teachers from other countries often encounter situations that they are not used to seeing in their home country. FACES reached out to our Town Theatre to see how we might help and we knew that many of our Town Teen Troupe actors would be perfect for the job! At the end of July, these actors will role-play classroom scenarios that showcase issues that FACES teachers might see. The action will “freeze” while a moderator addresses ways in which teachers might handle these scenarios.

We are so proud of our youth theatre program and delighted to have this very special opportunity to use our stage skills in a way that will bring such value to academia.

FACTS about FACES…
*FACES is a Columbia-based company that recruits foreign teachers for South Carolina schools K-12.

*FACES recruits international teachers, evaluates their credentials for appropriate experience and certification requirements and then provides the selected teachers for possible selection by local South Carolina districts who are seeking teachers for the cultural enrichment opportunities for the school.

*Before leaving for the school, FACES provides an intensive staff development program to prepare the teachers for their role in an American classroom.

*FACES is unique for providing training in academic subjects and classroom management before they report to school.

*To learn even more about FACES, please visit facesinc.org.

Events, Main Stage, Special Events

BE LIMITLESS with Matilda!

By Padgett Mozingo, APR

If you love theatre or children, or both, Town Theatre has a real treat in store for you. Its summer musical Matilda runs July 12-28, with a Be Limitless special event and show preview on Sunday, July 7 for all ages.

Town Theatre is partnering with Limitless Purpose ~ an organization that works to dispel the myths falsely associated with Down syndrome. Limitless Purpose was founded by Padgett Mozingo, whose 8-year-old daughter Lila was diagnosed with a heart defect and Down syndrome before birth. 

From that day in her pregnancy, Padgett found that people started underestimating their baby girl – including her doctor. She and her husband were told of all the things their daughter would not be able to do. Today, however, Lila is a thriving elementary school student who is happy, outgoing, sassy and so much more.


“Lila’s diagnosis doesn’t define her, and we won’t let it limit her, either,” says Padgett. “We might have to fight a little harder to make sure others don’t limit her, but we know she’s giving it her all, so we will, too.”

Matilda’s story is similar to Lila’s and that of many children. Once Matilda finds someone who believes in her, she too is LIMITLESS. We know that every child can be limitless when loved, accepted and included. 

We’re shouting that message from the rooftops and we want YOU to join us! Here’s how you can be a part of this awesome adventure…

·         Come to the show prepared to buy a Token of Hope handmade by Lila and other special items!

·         Bid on one of our awesome silent auction packages, available before each performance.

·         Come BE LIMITLESS on Sunday, July 7. (Fun details below!)


Limitless Purpose will receive a portion of the proceeds from these summer events. Come enjoy a great show and join us to prove that all children are limitless!

Be Limitless with Matilda, the cast and Lila too.
Sunday, July 7 will be a fun-filled day at Town as we host Be Limitless ~ an interactive day with Matilda and her friends. Be one of the firsts to see a special preview of the show, and that’s not all! Learn to salsa with Mrs. Wormwood, decorate your own chocolate cake with Bruce and have a dance party with the other Revolting Children. And, while you’re here, learn how to be LIMITLESS with LILA. Throw in some photo ops with our cast and maybe even win a ticket to see the full show. It’s sure to be limitless fun!

Be Limitless tickets for participants ages 12 and under are $10. ALL activities and photos (e-mailed after the event) included. Tickets for chaperones (ages 13 and up) are $5. After all, it is a GREAT cause! Choose between a 2 PM or 3:15 PM start time. (The first tour runs 2:00 PM to 3:30 pm and the second tour runs 3:15 PMto 4:45 PM.

Tickets are available at towntheatre.com anytime OR by phone at 803-799-2510. The box office is open 12 noon to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Tickets MUST be purchased by Friday, July 5 and will NOT be available at the door.

Technical Theatre, Youth Theatre

Summer 2019 Technical Internships Announced

Town Theatre’s mission is to provide quality, live, family-oriented community theatre to the Midlands and beyond as well as to offer the foundation for those who wish to participate on stage or backstage. As such, we are offering up to four technical internship positions for the summer of 2019.

 Intern Duties:
~Assist with various aspects of the technical side of theatre.
~Participate actively in preparing for the summer production of Matilda the Musical.
~Work in one or more of the following areas: carpentry, stage lighting, engineering, scenic art and design.

Qualifications:
~Some experience in technical theatre.
~Should be flexible, creative, a team player, reliable, and have a good work ethic.
~Display a willingness to assist in load in/out, as artist liaison, and setup/tear down stage.
~These internships are ideal for candidates who are looking to study technical theatre and/or design in high school, Governor’s School or college.
~Candidates should be at least 14 years of age.

Time Commitment:
In general, interns will work from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday beginning June 3. The week of July 4 will have a varied schedule. There may be some optional opportunities to work on weekends as well as backstage crew for the production which runs July 12 to 28. Time for vacations, etc. can be negotiated. Interns will receive at least 75 hours of scenic building, painting and lighting work on a realized production. Each intern’s ending date can be flexible, but a general guideline is that most should expect to work through the week of August 9.

Other Details:
Interns will be under the supervision of Danny Harrington, Technical Director. All technical internships are unpaid. Neither housing nor transportation is provided. College credit may be granted but must be coordinated in advance with the intern’s university/college. Interns will work primarily at Town Theatre which is located at 1012 Sumter Street in downtown Columbia and at Town’s warehouse located off Shop Road.

To apply:
Please send a letter of interest and, if available, your theatrical résumé to shannon@towntheatre.com no later than April 8. Selected applicants and their parents will be scheduled for an interview with Town’s Technical Director and Executive Director.

Uncategorized

Martin and Seezen Join Board of Governors

Town Theatre is pleased to welcome Lee Martin and Rebecca Seezen to the Board of Governors for the Columbia Stage Society.

Martin
Lee Martin

Lee Martin was born and raised in NYC. She graduated from Marist College with a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Communication and Music. She also has a BA from St. John’s

University and studied at Indiana University’s Musical Theatre program. Lee has performed extensively in each area where she and her family have resided. Lee and her husband Chuck are the proud parents of daughter Ashley and sons, Jordan and Justin. Lee is excited to be a member of the Town Theatre Board and the Columbia community.

 

Seezen
Rebecca Seezen

Rebecca Seezen grew up on the Town Theatre stage. A native of Columbia, Rebecca is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Communications. She has worked in radio and television and is currently the Communications Director at Saint Joseph Catholic School. She and her family are active members at Saint Joseph Church. Rebecca has extensive theatre and vocal experience and enjoys performing at Town with her whole family. She is honored to join the Board of Governors.

 

 

Special Events, Tributes

My Kind of Town ~ Al McNeely

al town t 300

“My love/love relationship with Town Theatre goes way back to the dark ages: 1964. That’s when my wife Pat and an old high school girlfriend joined forces to force me to a tryout. I hadn’t been on the stage for seven years, but shockingly got the part, the lead and later the laughs. I was totally hooked. Now, 54 years later, my total is 28 productions. They cover everything from heavy drama to second tenor in a Sha Na Na line (twice!). From warbling an Irish lullaby solo in Guys and Dolls to a not-too-bad W.C. Fields impersonation. From opening one play by falling over dead, and two others that co-starred a 6-foot invisible rabbit.

It has been a wondrous ride. Six decades of laughter and hard work.

Learning all those lines. I even wrote scenes for two plays. Offstage, there were two terms on the Board of Governors, one term as president of the Players Club, and countless hours spent in such committees as play reading. I loved it all. Rehearsals were a kick. With each new production I made new friends, and as the years rolled by, they became old friends. Other McNeelys wound up on stage and we sometimes did shows together.

It all culminated in seeing my daughter Allison morph from a kid who once crawled around under the conference table upstairs to become the theatre’s Resident Director. As such, she has directed me in three shows so far, neatly turning our relationship upside down and proving that she has forgotten more stagecraft than I ever knew.

Today, at the precarious age of 83, it’s the people I remember more than the shows, people like my good friend John Wrisley. John and I played Holmes and Watson twice and did essentially the same two characters for My Fair Lady. At one time or another, my talented niece Leah, my comedy-improv son Alan, and of course my awesome daughter Allison were in shows. Many of our rehearsals were more like parties and some of the cast parties were held at our house. Occasionally, even today, someone in a restaurant or grocery store will call out “How’s Harvey?” and I have been “made” as Elwood P. Dowd, the angelic friend of Harvey the Rabbit. I played Elwood twice, 15 years apart, and a portrait of Harvey and myself, paw on shoulder, hangs on our bedroom wall. I can still use lines from that play anywhere I need to kill some time. Only the remnants of other lines from other plays are still in my feeble memory bank today, remarkable when you consider the sweat and tears once necessary to pound them in.

There were other plays that came under the “Heavy Lifting” category. Doing Sleuth with Bill Arvay as a two-actor grind wore us down to the nub every night. I thought about walking away from my TT hobby/habit. But new plays came along with roles I liked, so I was still moderately hooked. In 1999 Allison tricked me into doing a very long role in Over My Dead Body. It proved to be my swan song for retentive memory. I did two more walk-ons and am sneakingly searching for another. Three years ago, at age 80, I played the one-scene one-laugh cop in Singin’ in the Rain. By all the evidence I can conscientiously collect, that makes me the oldest actor ever to appear in a TT show. I’m proud of that.

I was lucky enough to do shows in both the 50th and the 75th anniversary seasons. So if anybody desperately needs a walk-on for the 100th, I’m your man.

Or the rabbit.”

Special Events

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Kathy Hartzog

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Kathy Hartzog

Kathy photoKathy Hartzog is a well-known Columbia actress having appeared in numerous musicals and comedies at Workshop Theatre, Town Theatre and Village Square Theatre in Lexington.  She appeared as Mame at Village Square, as well as Rosie in Bring Back Birdie and a soloist in All Night Strut.  At Workshop she played Noleta in Sordid Lives and Mrs. Meers (for which she was awarded Best Supporting Actress by On Stage Columbia) in Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Some of her memorable roles at Town Theater have included Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma, Ouiser in Steel Magnolias, Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, Daisy Werthen in Driving Miss Daisy, The Duchess in “Nice Work if You Can Get It”, Sue Ellen Smith Barney Fife in Honkey Tonk Angels, as the Ghost of Christmas Future in A Christmas Carol and most recently as Mrs. Kirby in You Can’t Take it With You, plus countless others.  Her favorite role, however, has been Louise in Always…Patsy Cline, which not only has been presented at Town Theatre several times but has toured all over the state including Newberry Opera House, Bishopville Opera House, Dillon’s Performing Arts Center and Greenwood Theatre. A transplant from Montgomery, Alabama, Kathy appeared in over 30 productions with the Montgomery Little Theatre.

Kathy started painting in watercolors and oils 20 years ago under the guidance of renowned South Carolina artists, Michele McNinch and Anna Kaye Singley.  She has been juried in the South Carolina State Fair art exhibit for several years and has won several Purchase Patron Awards.  Some of her pieces are in private collections across the South. She is a member of the Corley Mills Artists’ Group and her work can be viewed on their website, www.corleymillart.com.

IMG_8144Title:   “Making an Entrance”
Inspiration for the work:  An actress getting ready to step onto the stage during Town’s production of South Pacific.
Medium:  Oil on canvas                    Size:  11” x 14”

This piece was already purchased, but see Kathy’s other submission and check out all of the other art pieces here!

Main Stage, Tributes

Moonlighting Math Teachers

Guest blog by Hans Boeschen
Director of The Buddy Holly Story

In 2011, three years after moving to Columbia from Nebraska, I walked into my first ever community theatre audition. I had been involved in school productions since the second grade, was just shy of a minor in theatre, and had, at that time, been teaching high school theatre for three years. I had never tread the boards in a community production, however. That first audition, almost eight years ago, would change my life.

That was when I met Lou. Boeschens

Since that time, either Lou or I have been involved with 25 productions ~ on the stage or on the production team. (I am well aware of Lou’s extensive involvement in Columbia community theatre long before we met. I will forever be trying to catch up.) In seven of these 25 shows, we were lucky enough to be working together.

This production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is not only my first time directing for Town Theatre, but it is also the first time Lou and I have joined up as director/musical director. It has been such a joy to have Lou by my side throughout the process. Many times our dinner conversation has been about the show. To be able to ask her about a directing choice or work through a transition has been such a wonderful resource. She has been my biggest supporter, my rock, and my sounding board (pun intended). Not to mention, she is an amazing musical director.

I believe the true power of the theatre is in the connections it builds. Whether those connections be amongst the cast working together for months, the audience who see the raw emotions of each actor, or within the community at large as we examine what life is about through the stage, theatre unites us. I consider myself extremely lucky that the theatre brought Lou and me together and that I get to be a part of such a vibrant community theatre environment.

I am continually thankful for Town for providing a safe space for two math teachers to moonlight as thespians.

Special Events

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Hans Boeschen

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Hans Boeschen

Hans Boeschen

Hans Boeschen, a high school math teacher by day, has made many appearances on the stages at Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre. At Workshop, he appeared in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as Phineous Trout, Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella as the Steward, Doctor Dolittle as Matthew Mugg, and Crimes of the Heart as Barnett. Hans made his directorial debut in the Columbia community theatre two years ago with Barefoot in the Park at Workshop Theatre. He has also directed Shrek Jr: The Musical for Workshop last June. At Town Theatre, Hans has appeared as The Professor in South Pacific, Naphtali in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Park Keeper in Mary Poppins, Mr. Smythe in A Christmas Carol: The Musical, and most recently appeared as Amos Calloway in Big Fish” Hans makes his directorial debut at Town Theater this season with Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.

Hans is a self-taught painter after having picked up some oils, brushes, and a Bob Ross instructional book 7 years ago. He finds painting as a hobby a great way to relieve stress and reconnect with his creative side.Hans

Title:  “Life of Stages”
Inspiration for the work:  Growing up in the theatre and continuing the cycle by sharing it with the family.
Medium:  Acrylic on canvas  Size: 10” x 20”

Bid on Hans’ piece here ~ or check out all of the pieces here!

Special Events, Tributes

My Kind of Town ~ Gabe Flores

gfloresheadshot“My only performance with Town Theatre was as Jerry, the drummer for The Crickets in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story during the 2008-2009 season. This was a pivotal moment in my life and, looking back, I can see how that time was so formative. Having extensive performance experience in the rock and roll and marching band worlds, I had a minor interest in live theatre. On a whim, I decided to show up to an audition and try something new. I decided to audition for the drummer and rest, as they say, is history.

In a previous life, I was dragged to the theatre unwillingly. I begrudgingly sat with arms crossed and barely allowed myself to enjoy the show. During my brief residence in South Carolina, I had a hard time finding a home or community to call my own. Little did
I know it was going to be in the theatre. My fondest experience of Town Theatre was realizing I was part of something wildly different than I had ever expected. One of my favorite memories of our show was the first time I was told we were sold out. To me, that validated my choice to spend time in the theatre. Another memorable time was finishing the show to a standing ovation that lasted long after the curtain had dropped. It only got louder when we returned for the curtain call.

After returning to my native Florida, theatre became a borderline obsession. I spent years as a theatre reviewer and used that time to “educate” myself about all types of shows. I have since directed multiple plays and musicals for schools and theatre festivals. I also
started writing my own plays and eventually wrote a musical. Shows I have been associated with as director, playwright, composer, musical director, actor and stage manager have been seen in New York, Florida and Kansas City.

My time at Town reinforced my drive and desire to work in collaboration. It also taught me the magic of the theatre. Many of life’s problems can be solved, or at least examined, in some sort of way by the theatre. Whether it’s a series of solving problems, relating to strangers with similar interests or just turning off the world for a couple of hours, these are skills I learned in the theatre. I now put art and passion first. Thanks to my time at Town Theatre, I live a very fulfilling life. I look forward to an opportunity to return and repay my debt someday, somehow.”crickets