READERS THEATER
With so many of our cast away on vacation, we have had to put the brakes on our performances until later next month. We have been invited to perform at a Capitola mobile home park and will reprieve one of the shows originally performed last year on Zoom, as well as select two or possibly three from our most recent, most successful, live performances.
Readers Theater is always looking for new talent and performance venues. Email sally@sallybookman.com for more information.
HOLIDAY SHOW
It might seem strange to be reading about our annual Holiday Show in June, but putting together a 45 minute, well-rehearsed show, takes a lot of effort and time. We will be holding auditions at the end of August and rehearsals will be twice a week at 1pm on Wednesdays and Fridays for 90 minutes. Rehearsals will take place in Aptos and Soquel.. We will be looking for a cast not to exceed twelve, preferably ten.
If you have ever sung in the shower or in your car, or wanted to entertain seniors, send Sally a message! sally@sallybookman.com, or call me at 831 818 9959, Come and sing us your favorite holiday song. We are particularly looking for someone who can perform a few magic tricks for our seniors.
NOTE: Growing Up In TV Land is on pause, planned to resume for early 2023.
READY FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE?
Below is a list of current job vacancies that are particularly needed to help NSP run smoothly during the 2022/2023 year. Our volunteers are the backbone of all of our programs and performances that bring vital energy to the Santa Cruz community. If you have a desire to join in the EXCITING ADVENTURE of sharing and building relationships with highly motivated and energetic folks, please consider one of the jobs below.
Rewards include: free attendance at performances and special events, making strong friendships, developing and maintaining skills, receiving our total appreciation.
Social Media Administrator- Adds and monitors information on Facebook and other platforms as needed. Works with Webmaster, Faith Zack, and is part of the Media team. The team meets bi-monthly on Zoom to coordinate information between print/social media and the website. Facebook page can be updated as needed. Time commitment is self-determined.
Corresponding Secretary/Membership- Keeps membership contact information up to date with home addresses and phone numbers and submits contacts to Faith Zack for import into MailChimp. Works with the Board on special projects to coordinate volunteer help. Requires phone calls.
News Correspondent- Attend NSP events, write news articles and develop relationships with the print media outlets: SC Sentinel, GoodTimes, Aptos Times, Soquel/Capitola Times, Scotts Valley Times, San Lorenzo Post. The News Correspondent is part of the Media team. The team meets bi-monthly on Zoom to coordinate information between print/social media and the website.
Vice President- This board position assists the President (Kathryn Adkins) in numerous ways: representing NSP at civic functions; developing business plans; gathering information for grant submission/reports; administering NSP events. Time and skills may vary. Attendance at the monthly Wednesday board meeting on Zoom is requested.
Site Assistant- Assists the set-up and return of small Taiko drums and chairs and dispenses drum sticks to participants in the Drumming for People Living with Parkinson’s class. Set-up for class is Monday at 9:20 for the 10-11:00 class. Class meets in 8-week sessions throughout the year at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Santa Cruz. Assistant must be able to lift chairs on to folding chair rack. Assistant may also assist participants in drumming (optional).
For more information contact Risa at info@nextstagesantacruz.org
Please contact Kathryn at info@nextstagesantacruz.org or leave a message at (831) 688-4337.
Speech and Movement Class for People with Parkinsons
We are getting such encouraging reviews from our students and the combination of speech and movement (dance) is proving not just health enhancing, but also toe-tapping and finger-snapping fun! These classes are on Zoom, so no matter where you are geographically, you are welcome!
Our next 8-week session of Speech and Movement classes begins Feb 1. Please contact risa@nextstagesantacruz.org if interested.
Happy New Year! Message from the Board President
Happy New Year! We are so excited to share with you the creative energy that has been brewing. As of this letter, NSP has set in motion our next Players show, “Something’s Comin…Wake Up… Look Ahead” as well as an Open Mic and more to come. Now is the time to get your calendars out and SAVE THE NEW DATES. Don’t forget to go to the website and register for Pat Timberg’s workshop.
Big thanks to all of you who support our work and donated in the end-of-year campaign. Your support allows us to bring joy and healthy living experiences to so many seniors and community members. If you forgot, no problem. We always have the donate button on the website, www.nextstagesantacruz.org.
Let 2022 be our year to “Wake Up… Look Ahead” because “Something’s Comin”.
- Kathryn Adkins, Board President, NextStage Productions
NextStage Presidents Message
NextStage Presidents Message 10/2021
By Kathryn Adkins
The Autumnal equinox has come and gone. Night grows longer than day. We want to begin our winter hibernation. But NO! NextStage participants resist the pull inward and now prepare to step out into the “new normal”. If you are vaccinated and wear a mask, you are ready to take that step forward into rehearsals and performances or working with People Living with Parkinson’s.
At the May “Party in the Parking Lot” and the July Fundraiser for the Parkinson’s program at El Vaquero, we felt the energy, we felt the joy, and we are ready to move forward!
New classes are meeting in the Parkinson’s Program on Monday mornings. NSP Players are rehearsing small cast November shows for senior residences. Mark your calendar for the outdoor full-cast performance, “Singing for the NextStage” November 20 or 21 (details to come).
The new Media Team will keep you informed through: newsletter, community paper, radio announcements and social media.
The new and energetic NextStage board is working to help all of you find your next stage. WE NEED YOU!!! Check out the calendar and join the fun.
New Leader Biographies
CAROL HALES Training as apprentice sound technician. I’ve been in Next Stage a while, love it. Also am in the Choraliers and the Follies. Have always sung. Studied Anthropology and watched monkeys in the Caribbean before I became a nurse. Worked labor and delivery for 28 years. Enjoy time with my 3 grandkids and 4 dogs and 2 cats. Love to go places and nowadays I’m going around town delivering food for grub hub.
LINDA JOHNSON We now have a NextStage Marketing Director who will coordinate our profile and information that goes out to the public. Linda Johnson brings vast experience in marketing for various tech companies as well as small businesses. She has worked as a marketing coordinator and will bring these talents to NSP.
CLAIRE PAUL brings her experience as an event planner and a Threshold Choir singer in many of our venues to her new role as booking agent for Next Stage. She also has produced many musical concerts for her band, the Healer Trio, and her duo with husband Jerry, the Bear Hugs. Her musical bio includes a cappella groups, jazz singers, an Andrews Sisters style trio, Mount Madonna Choir, Full Spectrum Chorus, Pacific Voices, and Amica women’s choral collective. She is also a management consultant and trainer, and former speech teacher at Cabrillo.
PHYLLIS PETROCELLI I was born and raised in Santa Cruz, and in a wonderful relationship for the last 12 years I am a proud mother of two wonderful daughters and have two beautiful granddaughters. Have been doing bookkeeping for 50 years and very happy to be a part of Next Stage Productions.
SUZANNE SKERNESS is a RN who recently retired after 41 years of experience in healthcare. The last 30 years were spent in management at health plans, cancer care, palliative care, hospital utilization management and home health. I have lived in Aptos since 2011 and enjoy traveling, gardening, hiking, entertaining and cooking for friends and family. Now that I am retired, I am looking forward to using the right side of her brain.
CHRISTA TAYLOR Music and travel have sculpted my life. Born into a military family, one day I got curious and counted the number of schools I could remember attending..28!..finally completing my education at San Jose State University in the early ‘70’s. I ran a music store there, and fell into becoming a DJ at KLRB in Carmel in 1974, one of the first FM free form radio stations in the country. My radio career continued with KFAT, KPIG and many more including Hawaii and Nevada until 2005, as well as the Strawberry Music Festival which I continue to enjoy. Introduced to Next Stage Productions in 2014, I have enjoyed singing, acting and working with others to create works of joy and laughter, the things that keep us young!