Day 3 of Our Season Reveal Scav Hunt!
Day three – what show could it be?
We hope that you’ve been enjoying this scavenger hunt through Encore memories as much as we have, friends! It’s wonderful to celebrate the fantastic productions that have come from Encore’s first 50 years, even as we look excitedly ahead to what next season has in store.
What’s this? A moving picture I see?
Perhaps a hint of royalty?
But what to make of his tale?
This year, shall fantasy prevail?
Don’t let this confusion fill you with strife –
the lad certainly brings the story to life.
Travel all the way back to October 5th, 2013 to figure out today’s clue. Keep track of your guesses and bring them to Encore’s 2018/19 Season Reveal party this Sunday, June 17th. If you’ve solved the most riddles, you could win a season subscription. We can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!
Photos by: Larry McClemons and Aileen Pangan. 2017/18 Chalk Art by: Aimee Pangan. Blog contribution by: Shannon McCarthy.
Season Reveal Scavenger Hunt – Day 2!
Happy (scavenger) hunting, Encore friends!
Were you able to crack yesterday’s code? If not, there’s still time. Hunt down clues this week and you just might be able to win a 2018-19 season subscription at our season reveal celebration on Sunday! Ready for today’s riddle?
Through stormy seas and giant waves
to sandy beaches and secret caves,
Christmas is coming, without delay!
But where shall we point our ship’s proud bow?
And what sort of captain will tell us how?
So many faces in this depiction –
but which ones match our show’s description?
A post from 03/03/16 holds the key to solving one of our show titles for 2018/19. Keep your sleuthing suspicions a secret and submit them at our Hamil-tunes/season reveal party on Sunday at Lubber Run!
Photos by: Aileen Pangan and Larry McClemons. Blog contribution by: Shannon McCarthy.
2018/19 Season Scavenger Hunt – Day 1!
Greetings, Encore fans!
With Pinocchio‘s final strings tied up, we’re left with just one more show this season. We look forward to sharing more about Seussical this summer, but we’re already looking ahead to next season’s roster of amazing shows. We can hardly wait to share the titles with you, so we wanted to give you all a chance to get in on the fun.
It’s time to don your favorite thinking cap, for we will be offering up one clue every day between now and Sunday’s season reveal event. If you can find the right post and solve the riddle, you might just guess the title of one of next year’s productions. Are you up to the task?
on surprise is how they thrive.
They bear greetings, some spooky, some serene
in this post from 2016.
It’ll be up to our heroes to hunt them down –
here, there, and all around town.
Follow your hunch to @encorearlington’s Instagram post from December 3rd, 2016 and make your guess about one of next season’s shows.
Join us this Sunday, June 17th for our season reveal to submit your guesses in person. The individual with the most correct guesses will win a complete 2018/19 season subscription. That’s right, folks – a free ticket to every one of Encore’s shows next year. What are you waiting for? Get scavenger hunting!
Photos by: Andrea Smith and Aileen Pangan. 2017/18 Chalk Art by: Aimee Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Announcing the 2017/18 STAR Award Winners!
On this joyous #FrontRowFriday, we’re happy to announce the 2017/18 winners of Encore’s STAR Award! These dedicated Encore students must have participated in at least eight Encore Stage & Studio productions: two onstage, two backstage as a member of tech crew, three in either capacity, and one as part of front of house crew. They join the ranks of many other Encore actors and technicians that have expanded their own boundaries and areas of expertise.
Henry Hubbard
Caitlyn Knittig
Hannah Knittig
Kelly McArdle
Ian Onufrak
Congratulations to all of our STAR Award winners for all of their hard work and accomplishments! We welcome you to celebrate these recipients at their award ceremony on Sunday, June 17th. To add to the fun, be a “star” of your own making by joining in on some Hamil-tunes as we celebrate Encore’s 50th birthday with sweet treats and the sweetest treat of all…our season reveal! You won’t want to “Wait for It,” so don’t throw away “Your Shot” to party with us!
Photos by Larry McClemons and Aileen Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
“A Lifetime Prize” with the Ohlweiler Family
In celebration of #TechTuesday, we continue our tale from last week. You’ve heard about author Jerry Gidner’s artistic process; now learn what it’s like to receive one of his works! We’re excited to chat with Mr. Jack Ohlweiler, the father of our book prize raffle winners.
Encore: We’re so thrilled to have your family win the raffle! Can you share with us how the lobby raffle caught your interest to enter?
Ohlweiler: Truthfully we just entered to make a donation to Encore. We certainly never expected to win.
Encore: How excited where you when you found out you were the winner?
Ohlweiler: We were totally thrilled! It was such a unique and interesting prize that we immediately began to think about the kind of story we wanted Jerry to write.
Encore: What kind of guidance or feedback did you provide before the story was written?
Ohlweiler: Jerry was fantastic in how he sought our input for the story. He came to our house one afternoon and stayed for a couple of hours. We told him we wanted to story to be about our three children and we wanted it to be some sort of fantasy adventure that took place in our backyard (we have a big backyard with a creek and wooded area). Jerry took that “nugget” and started interviewing the oldest of our two kids (our youngest was taking a nap so we answered questions about him). Jerry asked the kids to describe themselves and what kind of things they liked. He also walked around the backyard and took a whole bunch of pictures. All this made us really excited about what kind of story he was going to produce.
Encore: Which part of Mr. Gidner’s book got you most excited?
Ohlweiler: When Jerry sent us the first draft of the book, we were blown away. He captured our kids’ personalities so remarkably and produced a story that allowed each of them to shine as individuals and as a family. Based on the story, our daughter drew a picture to be included in the book. And when we saw the final product with all the pictures we were absolutely amazed. Jerry even gave us extra copies of the books to give to all the grandparents . . . all of whom were so moved and touched by the story.
Encore: We hope to see you at our next show! Is there anything else you’d like to share about the process or the book?
Ohlweiler: Jerry was unbelievably generous with his time and talent in producing this book that is going to be a family heirloom forever. His process for doing this is remarkable and we feel so unbelievably lucky to have won this once in a lifetime prize. We encourage everyone to check out Jerry’s website and consider tapping into his artistry if you ever want to memorialize a special relationship or event.
Thank you, Mr. Ohlweiler; we couldn’t have put it better ourselves! If you’d like to get in on the chance to win unique experience, be sure to check out our raffle in the lobby at Pinocchio this weekend! Let your conscience be your guide and join us for this classic tale of learning and adventure. Guarantee your tickets today for your best seats, either online or by calling our Box Office at 703-548-1154.
Photos by Reiss Gidner and Aileen Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
No Strings Attached! Meet Pinocchio Actress, Ryely R.
Happy Opening Night to Encore’s production of Pinocchio! Today we’re excited to chat with Pinocchio herself, Ryely Rogers. We hope you enjoy the interview and look forward to cheering Ryely and the cast on in person tonight!
Encore: Welcome to the blog! Could you briefly introduce yourself and share how you’ve been involved with Encore, including the shows and roles you’ve played in the past?
Ryely: Hi my name is Ryely Rogers and I have been involved with Encore for 2 years now. I have been in 5 productions and have played supporting roles, lead characters and I have even been apart of backstage crew for Madeline’s Christmas this past winter. Some of the characters I’ve played were Professor stitch in The Best Haunted House Ever, Mowgli in The Jungle Book, and most recently as Gas House Gertie in Sherlock Holmes.
Encore: What’s your favorite part about taking on the role of Pinocchio? Can you share any challenges or things you’ve learned in rehearsal?
Ryely: My favorite part about taking on the role of Pinocchio is learning and growing with my fellow cast members and actors. Some of whom I’ve worked with in the past and some that I’ve never worked with before. I really enjoy getting to know everyone and also learning from different directors.
Throughout our rehearsal process, I have come across many challenges while playing such a complex character as Pinocchio. At first I did not know how to express or act out some of my lines so I did a lot of character work with Directors Mara and Amanda. It helped me dig a little deeper into the character of Pinocchio so that I could embody the core of who he really is. I’ve learned a lot during this show and hopefully I can take the audience on Pinocchio’s journey to meet all the interesting characters along the way and all the lessons that he learns.
Encore: What’s your best Encore memory and why?
Ryely: My best Encore memory would have to be during my first Encore show The Best Haunted House Ever. When I saw the set and got to try out the peekaboo picture frame where my actual face was a live painting. It was really exciting and fun for me to be on stage for most scenes as a painting just making facial expressions. I got to experience theatre and it encouraged me to audition for more roles.
Encore: How excited are you about our 2018/2019 season reveal on June 17th? We’ll be celebrating our birthday by singing Hamilton songs and announce the upcoming season and audition dates! Do you have any advice for kids who are thinking of auditioning for an Encore show next season?
Ryely: I cannot wait for 2018/2019 season reveal! I am excited to find out what’s in store for the next season. I know there will be a lot of fun and interesting shows.
My advice to kids auditioning next season is just simply be yourself and have fun! Do your best and let your personality shine through and break a leg!
Encore: In your own words, please describe Encore’s production of Pinocchio in three words or short phrases.
Ryely: The Pinocchio production is a fun, adventurous journey of a really special puppet that would do anything to become real. He is boy that just wants to be loved!
Many thanks to Ryely for sharing about her Encore experiences. “Break a leg” tonight and for the rest of the run! You won’t want to miss Ms. Rogers as Pinocchio, so join her on the adventure today. Buy your tickets online or by calling our Box Office at 703-548-1154.
Photos by Aileen Pangan and Larry McClemons. Graphic design by Aimee Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Tips for Audience Members!
Our production of Pinocchio opens tomorrow! So you’ve purchased your tickets – what comes next? Luckily, Brian Tatum, our Front of House Manager from James and the Giant Peach has some tips for audience members just like you!
#1 – *Be on time.*
Leave yourself enough time to purchase concessions, learn about the lobby raffle, and get settled in your seats. This will make the performance the most enjoyable for you and your surrounding patrons.
BONUS TIP: Our ticket scanners can read the ticket barcodes off your smartphone. If you’ve purchased your tickets online in advance, simply locate the email confirmation you received and click the link to “Print these tickets.”
#2 – *No electronics.*
To make this the best possible show-going experience, please turn off any cell phones, smart-watches, or other electronic devices. This allows you to focus on all of the hard work that the actors, crew, and creative team have put into crafting this production for you and your family.
#3 – *React!*
Performers always love when audiences match their energy levels. Feel free to laugh, applaud, and support the actors with your reactions. However, please save any plot discussions for the lobby!
BONUS TIP! *Stay connected!*
Share your experiences with family and friends, using the hashtag #EncorePinocchio. We can’t wait to hear what you thought of the show! Tag us at @EncoreArlington and join the conversation.
Still need to purchase your tickets? Don’t delay- buy them today online or by calling our Box Office at 703-548-1154.
Photo by Rosemarie O’Connor. Graphic design by Aimee Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
The Story Behind the Story w/ Author Jerry Gidner
In honor of #WaybackWednesday, we’re thrilled to share a special interview with former Board president and 2018 Celeste Award winner Jerry Gidner – all about his passion for writing! Jerry generously donated his services as a raffle prize this season, and we’re excited to hear more about the result and his process.
Encore: Welcome back Jerry Gidner! Could you briefly remind our friends of the various roles in which you’ve served at Encore?
Jerry: Sure. I got involved with Encore when my daughter was cast in a show. Over the years, I was a parent volunteer for 13 Encore shows. A couple years after she started, I joined the Board of Directors, and served on the Board for seven years. For three of those, I was the President of the Board.
Encore: When did you fall in love with writing?
Jerry: I have always loved writing. I remember typing out stories on my mom’s typewriter back when I was in elementary school. I had a great imagination. Unfortunately, in a couple instances, teachers read things I had written out loud to the class, to embarrass me. So I became self conscious and lost my writing voice for many years.
Encore: We’re so thankful to have kicked off the season with this one-of-a-kind raffle! Can you tell us more about your services and the kinds of stories you provide?
Jerry: I recently started writing personal short stories for people for wedding gifts. The first one was for a family member. She and her fiancé were both graduating with oceanography degrees. So I wrote them a mermaid love story, called Saltwater. The next was for a friend. He and his fiancé wanted a superhero romance. So I wrote Love Blossoms, set at the tidal basin during cherry blossom time, which is where they took their engagement photos. Then I offered one for the Encore raffle, which is not a wedding story at all. My latest one was for a couple’s 30th Anniversary. Each book ends up being a hard-covered book around 24 pages, which is beautifully illustrated and laid out by a business partner of mine.
Encore: Could you briefly describe the original short story you wrote for the Ohlweiler family and the process of writing it? Can you tell us what you enjoyed the most from the process?
Jerry: This book, The Problem with Dragons, was fun to write. The Ohlweiler’s wanted a story about their kids in their own backyard. So I went to meet them and see the backyard. We had a great conversation. I started asking the kids what kind of story they wanted and we settled on a fight between a good dragon and an evil dragon. All three kids had a role in defeating the bad one, with a special role for their pet bunny Beatrix, who was turned into the good dragon by the kids’ magic.
Encore: Do you think you’ll ever write something for the stage?
Jerry: I would love to! Several years ago, I wrote an ABC book, called If You Were an Aardvark: An ABC Book Starring Mammals (available at www.xlibris.com). I have played around with turning it into a kids’ play, If You Were an Aardvark: The Musical. We’ll see.
Encore: How can others learn more about your writing services?
Jerry: Visit my website at www.jerrygidner.com. There are pages there for short stories and poems that I have written, as well as a page titled “Wedding Stories.” If you go to that page, you can find out how to order a book. They are not inexpensive, but they are a personalized story of the genre of your choosing. They are not limited to weddings. They can be for anniversaries, graduations, any big life event warranting a personalized present. Or just for no reason at all.
Thank you, once again, to Jerry for all of the time and service he’s dedicated to Encore over the years. If you’d like to get in on the chance to win an exciting prize, be sure to check out our Pinocchio raffle in the lobby over the next two weekends! Everyone’s a winner when it comes to seeing a great show. Secure your tickets today for your best seats, either online or by calling our Box Office at 703-548-1154. And make someone’s special day with a one-of-a-kind gift by Mr. Jerry Gidner!
Photos by Reiss Gidner, Larry McClemons and Aileen Pangan. Graphic design by Aimee Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
“A [First] Day for the Cat and the Hat” – A Seussical Rehearsal Update!
Summer’s almost here and we’re all feeling cool –
both citizens of Who and the Jungle of Nool.
We hope you’re ready for something really fun –
rehearsals for Seussical have officially begun!
Last night the cast of our wacky summer production came together for the first time to read through the script and set off on our adventure. Here are a few ways you can join in on the excitement.
1) Revisit the wisdom of our awesome creative team! We’re thrilled to reunite last summer’s dream team of Elizabeth Pringle (director), Sarah Markovits (music director), and Kelsey Meiklejohn (choreographer). If you enjoyed last summer’s Music Man, then you’re certainly in for a repeat treat. Tide yourself over by revisiting our previous interviews with these wonderful creative minds.
2) Think some new “Thinks” and create something new. From recipes to DIY crafts, our Seussian Pinterest board has something for every type of Thinker. With school letting out soon, find your way to Solla Sollew or McGelliot’s Pool!
3) Secure your best seats today! With a cast of beloved larger-than-life characters, catchy tunes, and incredible adventure, you won’t want to miss out on this world of fun. Purchase your tickets today to ensure your most favorable seats for this wild ride.
4) Get the whole jungle involved! RSVP to our Seussical Facebook event and invite your friends and family. We can’t wait to hear about your audience experiences and your Seussian hijinks (crafts, activities, and more). Use the hashtag #EncoreSeussical to join the conversation and follow us at @EncoreArlington.
5) Get hyped for next summer’s production! Excited to see or participate in next summer’s performance? Join us at Lubber Run on June 17th for our Birthday Celebration and Season Reveal to learn about our upcoming roster of shows – even jump in to perform some Hamiltunes!
I can’t wait to share an inside view of our rehearsal process this summer – hopefully with some help from my fellow cast members. We’re all so thrilled to present this collection of childhood favorites. We look forward to seeing all of you in the audience!
Photos by Larry McClemons and Aileen Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Our 5 Favorites from April at Encore Stage & Studio
Happy #FrontRowFriday, everyone! Can you believe it’s almost halfway through May already? We’re so excited for everything the next few months have in store – Pinocchio, season reveal, Seussical, oh my! Before we get of ourselves, let’s review some of the fantastic highlights from Encore’s April.
#1 Spring classes kicked off! From Seuss-ian adventures to wacky tales from Wayside School, our students and teachers worked together to learn new theatre skills and, most of all, having a blast!
Missing out on the fun? It’s not too late to register for an Encore summer camp. We’ve got programs for ages 4 through 18, so there’s surely something for everyone!
#2 MTI presented a master-peach. Our Musical Theatre Intensive culminated in two weekends of wonderful performances, bringing Roald Dahl’s classic children’s tale to life. With beautiful voices, costumes, and puppets, it was a triumphant finale to an 8-month journey for MTI’s young actors.
Does this kind of artistic process sound appealing to you? Come out to our 2018/19 Season Reveal at Lubber Run on June 17th to learn what MTI’s final project will be next season!
#3 Susan is our champion! Artistic Director Susan Keady was named a 2018 Connect with Kids Champion by the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families. This came as no surprise to any of us who’ve been taught by, interacted with, or mentored by Susan, but it’s wonderful to have such a special person recognized by others.
If you’d like to join us in celebrate some more Encore champions, join us on the blog on June 8th for the announcement of the 2017/18 Star Award winners, then cheer them on in person on the 17th!
#4 We partied like it was 1967! Encore students, donors, and patrons joined us at the Columbus Club of Arlington for an evening of song, dance, and creative cocktail attire. Lucky winners walked away with fantastic prizes from the silent auction and we grossed over $50,000 in honor of 50 years of “Theatre by kids, for kids!”
If you too would like to be a champion for children’s theatre in the DMV, please consider making a tax-deductable donation to the Theatre for All! Fund today to increase access to the arts for children in our area.
#5 They’ve got no strings! The cast of Pinocchio has been hard at work in rehearsals as they prepare a lively and adventurous production for all of you. Opening night is just two weeks away and we just can’t wait!
Be sure to buy your tickets today to guarantee your best seats!
What a whirlwind month it was! We can’t wait to share the highlights of May with all of you – after we see you in the audience of Pinocchio, of course!
Photos by Erin Poplin, Aileen Pangan and Larry McClemons. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.