Tag Archives: Ilion Little Theatre

I’m In The Play!

Posted on February 12, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to make a Pre-Rehearsal Post, then thought maybe a Post-Rehearsal Post would be better, because I could take a picture of said rehearsal.  Of course I neglected to do so.  Never mind, I’ll just bill it as a Tired Tuesday post and drive on.

I hope at least some of my readers will be interested to find out that I got a part in Prescriptiom: Murder, the play I auditioned for at Ilion Little Theatre last week (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I was very excited to be offered the part I wanted:  the wife that gets murdered!  I have two scenes, then I can spend the rest of the play in the dressing room crocheting.  I had a similar experience in And Then There Were None, back in 2011, before my blogging days.

A scene from auditions.

Here are two actors that are also in the cast, reading for two different parts from the ones they got, but I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.  I’m tired, remember?

The read-through went pretty well.  I am looking forward to working with the other actors, some of whom I have worked with before, some I have not.  It is one woman’s first play ever!  I will certainly do more blog posts about the play, eventually turning this blog into All Prescription: Murder All The Time.  Of course I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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Prescription: Auditions

Posted on February 7, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from Ilion Little Theatre, where I auditioned for Prescription: Murder.  I have not auditioned for a play since late summer 2023, so it was kind of a big deal for me.  After my bad experience on Sunday ( blog post titled “The Real Dangers of VD”), I parked on the street.  As I walked up to the door, trying to step in others’ footprints till I got to the shoveled part, I saw a friend scattering sand.  Phew!

Check out the raincoat!

Prescription: Murder was the premier of Columbo, who regular readers will recognize as one of my heroes.  I think I did a good job in my readings, but there were a lot of talented people there.

The set was from the previous play.

I asked people if they minded if I took pictures for blogging purposes, and they were very gracious about it.  Everybody was nice, clapping after each scene was read.

They were plotting!

If I don’t get a part, I hope to work on costumes, props, or backstage.  I just love community theatre and hope to become more involved.  Like the song says, there’s no people like show people!

Auditions continue tomorrow, Friday Feb. 7, at 6, if any local readers are interested in auditioning.  Performance dates are March 28, 29, 30,  April 4, 5 and 6, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

 

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The Real Dangers of VD

Posted on February 5, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I meant to blog about my snow adventure on Sunday when I wanted to attend a matinee performance of The Dangers of VD at Ilion Little Theatre.  I shall correct the omission now.

Spoiler alert! I did get to see the show!

I arrived early, in hopes of getting a cup of coffee before curtain;  I was in need of a stimulant. Also, I hoped for a chance to chat with some theatre friends I have not seen since December.  I love my theatre peeps!  My favorite parking spot, at the end of the little traffic circle underneath a tree was available.  I would be a little in the snow, but that would be OK..

No it wasn’t.  I got stuck very easily.  The two friends I was meeting, Kelly and Lisa, parked sensibly in the lot as I got out and surveyed the damage.  Kelly offered to push, but I suggested we go inside and see if more muscle was available.  Our friend Bob happily came out to help, assuring us this was more to his taste than working box office (I don’t blame him; of all theatre jobs, I hate working box office!)

Mere pushing did not help, but eventually we found a shovel.  Bob dug, we pushed, or rather they pushed; I was very little help.  For one reason I was wearing clogs.  I thought, house to car, car to theatre, let me wear comfy shoes!  Silly me!  Eventually another hefty young man helped push, and my little car was free. Yay!  Still time for my coffee!

I moved into the parking lot which turned out to be not as well-plowed as it could have been.  There was one space left.  There was a little snow, but surely it would be OK.  You can call my Shirley if you want, because I got stuck again!  Luckily Bob had not gone back into the theatre, so he dug and pushed again.  He was so nice about it!  I tried my cardboard under the tires trick, which had availed on Saturday, but all that happened was the spinning tires pulled the cardboard from back to front

Finally a nice young man came out of one of the houses across the street with some stuff to put under the tires.  Then a friend of his pulled up in a car and jumped out to help.  With the help of the three pushers, I was free!  I had the window down so they could tell me when to gas it, so I called out my profuse thanks as I carefully backed out of that benighted parking lot.  Part of me wanted to just drive home and cry, but I did want to see my friends in the show, so I drove around the block to park in the street.

Alas, there was no time for my coffee!  The director was giving the curtain speech as I walked in.  She politely inquired about my stuck car.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, which got a laugh.  Kelly and Lisa had saved me a seat, which was good, because it was almost a full house.  I enjoyed the show very much; I sure needed the laughs!  And at intermission, I finally got my cup of coffee.

 

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Back to the Theatre for Me!

Posted on November 8, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I attended the first meeting of the Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) Production Committee.  The club is trying to get a head start on the 2025-26 season.  I had meant to take a picture of the committee for blogging purposes but foolishly forgot.  Since almost everybody prefers blogs with pictures (or so I have heard), I will at least try to find a picture of the theatre in my Media Library (regular readers know this may take a while).

Now where’s that fourth wall?

Not surprisingly, I can’t find it.  Instead I went with a picture of a production in progress.  I’m not sure what play this was for, but I suspect it was Shattered Angel,  one of the historical dramas ILT put on in cooperation with Herkimer County Historical Society.  Shattered Angel came up in our discussion, as we talked about old plays, new plays, and plays yet to be written. I volunteered to write a couple of the yet to be written ones.

A thoroughly wonderful theatre experience.

I talked about how I would like to direct again but was having trouble finding a script.  I found the script for Leading Ladies, the cast of which is pictured above, by sheerest good luck.  A few directors had submitted proposals of scripts they would like to direct.  One director had submitted three possibilities, which I think is marvelous.  I need to start reading more plays.

I enjoyed the meeting and left feeling inspired to read plays, write plays, and possibly act in a few.  I realize I have not said anything substantive about plans for ILT’s next season.  Well. no solid decisions could be made at this point, and I do not want to get anybody’s hopes up for a production that may not happen.  For more information about or to get involved with Ilion Little Theatre, you can visit their Facebook page or website, ilionlittletheatre.org.

 

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Pop Fly to Lame Field!

Posted on September 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been sitting here trying to think of something to type for a blog post.  A baseball game is on the television.  I don’t follow sports, but I do enjoy to see a game.  Live is more fun, but sometimes television will do.

“OOOPER DOOPER!”

I turned to my Media Library for inspiration and found this picture from Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, one of my all-time favorite movies.  Earlier today I had “Puttin’ on the Ritz” playing in my head, especially the version shown in this movie.  I considered posting as my Facebook status, “OOOPER DOOPER!”  but forgot till just now.  Anyways, I have not spent much time on Facebook today.

An excellent theatre memory.

Another memory that popped into my head today was Splitting Issues, which was presented by Ilion Little Theatre in 2015 (I think). It is a series of short scenes having to do with relationships between the sexes.  I was not going to audition but went with Steve, my late dearly missed husband, who did want to audition.  I read a scene with him, just for fun, and, well, these things happen in community theatre.  We had a great time with our little scene.

 

 

I just realized my headline is about baseball, but I barely mentioned the game in the first paragraph.  I do not think I have any baseball pictures in my Media Library.  Oh dear.

Also blog posts.

Oh well, it is Lame Post Friday.  Will I have a better blog post on Saturday?  No promises, but I hope you’ll tune in.

 

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But Not a Metaphorical Blog Post

Posted on July 15, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  As regular readers know, this is the day I get all dramatic and swoon, the back of one wrist to my forehead.  I shall substitute the living room couch for a chaise lounge.  I really would like a chaise lounge to swoon upon.  Then again, it is a metaphorical swoon most Sundays, so I suppose I could make do with a metaphorical chaise lounge.

One of my all-time favorite scenes.

This is me actually posed with my wrist to my forehead, in a scene from Dirty Work at the Crossroads, directed by my late, much missed husband Steve at Ilion Little Theatre in 2013.  Wow, over ten years ago.  The lady in the scene with me, an ILT stalwart, Julianne Allen, sadly passed away too, some years ago.  Oh dear, all I wanted to do was laugh at myself for dramatically dreading Monday, and I am bringing up sad things.  I do try to keep a positive outlook and treasure good memories.  So there’s that.

This is one way to ensure a really bad Monday.

Full disclosure:  I am not really dreading Monday.  But I am discouraged with myself, because once again I did not get a whole lot done on the weekend.  And I got not much done during the past week.  What the hell, me?  However, yelling at myself does not seem to improve matters.  Where’s that positive outlook I was touting in the last paragraph?

You said it, Captain!

So I try to end on a positive note.  I plan to make more substantial blog posts in the week ahead. I did have a few Mohawk Valley adventures this weekend, complete with pictures (preview of coming attractions).  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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I Remember Roxy

Posted on June 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

And it’s another late post, but one can be late on Non-Sequitur Thursday, yes?  Or will it be a Throwback Thursday?  Once again, I resort to my Media Library.

He was so handsome.

I was just thinking about Roxy the other day.  This was a play, beautifully researched and written by Jack Sherman and presented by Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre in 2015.  Wow, almost ten years ago.  My late beloved husband Steven had several roles.  This is him as Dr. Suiter.  He was such a good actor and had quite a way with a monologue.

He had it coming.

I had the honor to portray Roxalana Druse, who killed her husband with a gun and an ax.  She did not feed his body to the hogs, as legend has it, but tried to burn him up in the stove (the play doesn’t show that part).  She may have had better luck with the hogs, because it was the nasty scent of burning body that first alerted the neighbors that something was wrong.

I thought the poster was cool.

The play had a huge cast of ILT regulars and newcomers.  Things got a little crowded backstage and in the one dressing room, but we all got along, and I made a lot of new friends.  That is the best part of community theatre:  the friends we make.  Come to think about it, that is the best part of life.  Sorry to get a little sentimental, but one might as well say it.

So this is my theatre throwback post.  I often do throw back to theatre memories, because community theatre is a big part of my life.  I need to get back into a play.  And finish writing that murder mystery I mentioned yesterday.  At least I made my Thursday blog post.  A little late, but over 300 words.  Yay me?  I hope so!

 

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Remember the Alamo?

Posted on June 24, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Late posts lead to more late posts.  This is how bad habits start, or return as in this case.  I had two genuine Mohawk Valley Adventures yesterday, which is why I was too tired to post.  Yes, I need more vitamins, vegetables, or exercise. Or maybe a vacation.  AAaaahhhh… (pause for fantasy of sleeping in and doing nothing for days).

Be that as it may, yesterday afternoon I went with my friends Kelly and Jim to the matinee of The Savage Dilemma at Ilion Little Theatre.  It was really funny.  I not only laughed out loud at parts of it, I laughed out loud when I could tell a funny line was coming up.  Alas, I did not get any pictures.  Of course, we are forbidden to take pictures during performances by copyright laws and consideration for the actors.  Still I could have gotten a couple pictures of them still in costume after the performance.  Only I liked some of the Act I costumes best.

After the show, we went to The Alamo Bar and Grill in Poland, NY.  They wanted to take me someplace I hadn’t been, or at least hadn’t been often.  In fact, I had been there once for lunch a long time ago, so I was delighted to return.  We enjoyed the decor, and the food even more.  We shared loaded fries, which could have made us too full for our sandwiches.  Kelly had Brisket, while I had a Classic Burger.  Jim had a Slider Train, which included burgers with different stuffings.

None of my picture turned out very well.

All over were past-used tap tops (is there a better name for those things?).  We speculated that some of them might be valuable antiques.  We also liked the fake fish.  At least, I’m sure some of them were fake.  Some may have been real.

You can see more tap tops behind it.

I noticed a picture of an old stone fort. “What is that?” I asked, pointing, then immediately realized.  “Oh, it’s the Alamo.  Remember the Alamo?”  I said it in a conversational tone, not like a war cry.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon and evening.  The Savage Dilemma will be presented again next weekend at Ilion Little Theatre.. For more information, you can visit their website or Facebook page.

The Alamo Bar and Grill is located at 8773 S. Main St., Poland NY. You can also visit their Facebook page.

 

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Sunday Blog Posts Can Be Murder

Posted on May 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am so excited about being on a 26 day streak, which according to WordPress I am, that I cannot bear to not make at least a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post today.  Full disclosure:  I have little reason to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, because I have tomorrow off, and I have very little else to make a blog post about.  Nevertheless, let us see what I can come up with (some pundits would say  that since you should never end a sentence with a preposition, I should say, “Let us see what up with I can come”).

Me, posing dramatically with the back of one wrist to my forehead.

As you can see I have had myriad opportunities in my past for Wrist to Forehead moments.   This was from Dirty Work at the Crossroads, a period melodrama which my late husband Steven directed at Ilion Little Theatre some years ago.  It was a very dramatic moment for my character.

“One more thing!!”

As usual on a Sunday, I am looking at an episode of Columbo on DVD while I post.  The murder is about to happen, always a bad moment for me.  This is actually the first episode of Columbo I ever saw, back in the 1980’s, when the show returned to the air.  As time went on, I caught as many episodes as I could as re-runs, and now I have all the episodes on DVD, thanks to a lovely Christmas present from my parents, as regular readers know.

EEE!  That was a horrible murder!  And I am over 250 words.  Happy Sunday, readers.

 

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There’s No Place Like Lame

Posted on May 18, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am almost entirely through Saturday morning as I sit down to make my Lame Post Friday blog post.  I am once again ten-finger typing, because I successfully remembered my Chromebook password.  I think I mentioned how I locked myself out, goodness knows how.  I finished one post and made another on the Tablet, which I used to always do.  But nobody needs to hear about my computer trials and tribulations, least of all me.  On with the post!

Ah, the theatre!

I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up and came across this gem in my Media Library.  It is my friends Kim and Jim in a play at Ilion Little Theatre.  The young lady in the background is a friend, too, of course.  I am meeting Kim, Jim, and Jim’s daughter Kelly for lunch at Salvatore’s in Herkimer, NY for lunch in — yikes, little more than an hour!

It has not been a real good week for me, blog-wise or health-wise (or come to think of it getting-my-house-clean-wise), but you’ll have that.  Yesterday I was asking people if it was really Friday, because I just wasn’t feeling it.  This you will also have.  But never mind that.  I hope to have  (continue to have; it is almost noon on Saturday, for heavens’ sake) a good weekend.  I went for a run of over 2 miles (not much over, but I must celebrate every small win).  I guess this post is in the nature of a place-holder, so I have made a post for every day (if not on every day).  Will I manage to make Saturday’s blog post on Saturday?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

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