Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays!

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to all who joined us for ACT ONE’s Festival of Fun at the West End Studio Theatre in Portsmouth this past August. It was great to see friends from past years ~ and a real treat to meet so many new people!

Audiences were very enthusiastic about our season of comedy, musicals, and concerts. An unexpected boon was how much everyone enjoyed the wonderfully intimate theatre space at WEST. This 60-seat house is air-conditioned, with comfortable ergonomically designed chairs and wide rows that provide plenty of legroom. And everyone agreed that it is nice to be able to enjoy a bit of refreshment while watching the performance.

We are designing ACT ONE’s 2nd Annual Festival of Fun for August 2008 and will be sending advanced word to our loyal patrons in April. Just in time to order gift certificates for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day ~ or any gift occasion really.

But before then, there are two special holiday events to tell you about:

• Michael J. Tobin (who directed this summer’s Driving Miss Daisy and played Adam in Adam & Eve ~ And What REALLY Happened in the Garden of Eden) is directing THE WIZARD OF OZ at the Garrison Players Arts Center. Filled with special effects, colorful costumes, and memorable songs, this classic family musical favorite is a “must see” this holiday season! Click here for more info.
  

• And December 21-22 we invite you to join Grammy Award-winning acoustic guitarist Ed Gerhard for his 25th annual Christmas Concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Portsmouth. As many of you know, Ed and Kelli are longtime supporters of ACT ONE, and the Christmas Concert has become an important fundraiser for us. Listening to Ed’s beautiful music in the quiet warmth of the church’s sanctuary is a truly joyous experience and has become a family tradition for hundreds of people. Last year’s concert sold out, so order your tickets early! Click here for more info.
  

We hope to see you at these events. Please remember to look for our emails about next summer in the New Year. May your holiday season be filled with happiness. And we look forward to seeing you at ACT ONE’s 2nd Annual Festival of Fun in August 2008!

Best regards,
Stephanie Voss Nugent
Executive Director, ACT ONE

The Wizard of Oz!

WHERE:
Garrison Players Arts Center
Route 4 & Roberts Road
Rollinsford, NH

WHEN:
November 30-December 16
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 11am & 3pm
Sundays at 3pm

TICKETS:
Adults $15, Children $10
Brown Paper Ticket 1-866-838-3006 or
online at www.garrisonplayers.org
or at the door (cash or check only)

This show is the perfect holiday gift for you, your family and friends ~ for the young & the young at heart. Tickets will sell out fast so order yours today!

Ed Gerhard in Concert!

WHERE:
Unitarian Universalist Church
292 State Street
Portsmouth, NH

WHEN:
Friday, December 21 &
Saturday, December 22
Concert begins at 7:30 pm
Door open at 6:00 pm

TICKETS:
$23 in advance, $25 at the door
603-664-7200 or online at
www.virtuerecords.com

“Breathtaking, exquisite, gorgeous - even the strongest superlatives barely seem adequate when describing the guitar music of Ed Gerhard. This man is a major talent…”
Record RoundUp

Celebrate this season of giving!

Bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the Family Service Food Pantry in Portsmouth and receive a $1-off coupon for any CD. (One donation per CD, please.)

A Special Christmas CD Offer from Ed Gerhard!

Another important piece of news is that Ed & Kelli Gerhard have offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from every CD ACT ONE’s patrons order this Christmas. This generous gift will help us balance the books for 2007 and begin building the shows for August 2008.

We are proud to share the work of this fine artist with ACT ONE’s many friends. Once you hear Ed’s two collections, Christmas (with music featured in the Ken Burns film Mark Twain) and On A Cold Winter’s Night, you will agree that the gentle, soulful arrangements of these well-loved carols have the power to awaken the quiet joy that lies at the heart of the Christmas season.

This music will fill your home with holiday spirit and is a splendid gift to share with family and friends – one that will be enjoyed anew every year. We suggest you order the CDs for yourself right away. Once you hear them, we know you will want to order more for folks on your Christmas list. It is a good idea to order early, as this is a gift that should be opened a few weeks before Christmas.

The CDs are $15 each (plus shipping). If you order a set of the two Christmas CDs, there is a special price of $25 (plus shipping). The best news is that for purchases of 10 or more CDs, the price is only $11 per CD and you enjoy free shipping! Use the link below to reach the Virtue Records website and order your CDs today. [For the 2 CD set, use the following code: actone25]. Or call Virtue Records at 1-800-820-8410 – be sure to mention you are a friend of ACT ONE!


http://www.virtuerecords.com

ACT ONE's Circle of Friends!

Do you realize that you are an essential part of the magic of live theatre? A play does not happen until you, the audience, are there to receive and wrestle the story into life, sending your thoughts and energy back to the actors, completing the circle of communication.

Theatre is definitely an endangered species. Every time you purchase a ticket, you are keeping theatre alive and well. But ticket sales cover only part of the cost of costumes, sets, scripts, royalties, staff, and publicity.

You can play a most important role in helping ACT ONE produce quality theatre by joining our Circle of Friends with a tax-deductible donation in support of live theatre.

Angel’s Circle $1000+

Playwright’s Circle $500-999
Ed and Kelli Gerhard
Richard and Christl Nugent
Sunset Park Campground

Producer’s Circle $250-499

Director’s Circle $100-249
Richard and Doris Pemberton
Stuart Wisong and Ryan Hadlock

Designer’s Circle $50-99
Mark and Denise Ankarberg

Actor’s Circle $25-49

Thank you for your support! And join us in August 2008 for
ACT ONE’s 2nd Annual Festival of Fun!

Mission Statement

ACT ONE is committed to developing programs that build community. Today more than ever, it is essential to draw friends and neighbors out of insular living rooms, away from televisions and computers, to join together in a shared experience of the arts and the humanities.

The exploration of ideas and emotions that live theatre makes possible is vital to the health of society, prompting dialogue and discovery at many levels.

By producing quality theatre and outreach programs for schools, seniors, and libraries, the Collaborative seeks to strengthen the bonds of community.