January 2001

The 2000-2001 season has been phenomenal so far.  We broke box office records with our productions of Art and Hysteria.   Both shows were artistic, popular, and critical successes.  Both were shows that we had been dying to do and were proud to produce.   Those of you that I had a chance to talk to reacted with both curiosity and wonder.  Many after-show conversations revolved around life, history, art, and humanity.    I felt that both of these shows truly capture the spirit of the mission of the Hipp: to explore the truth of the human experience and the human spirit through the examination and presentation of dramatic work.

A Christmas Carol and A Tuna Christmas are again filling audiences with laughter, joy, and holiday cheer.  This year we decided to run both shows on alternate nights and at more convenient times.  This has been a popular move with all of you who I have seen at the performances.

The Education Department has been as successful as the Mainstage.  Radio Active, a new explosive original production written and directed by Lauren Caldwell has been touring throughout the state for the past four months.  Thousands of students have had a chance to see this play that celebrates music throughout the ages.  The show has been a hit with students and teachers everywhere it has played.

One of the Hipp’s most respected education programs, the HITT program, has conducted a week-long drug prevention workshop in Grenada through the Florida Association of Voluntary Caribbean Action (FAVACA).  The program was so successful that the Drug Avoidance Council has requested that HITT return next year.  One of the teachers who participated in our HITT workshops in Antigua, Dale Obryan joined the HITT team for a few weeks.  FAVACA sponsored her visit to the USA, where she was able to work with the HITT program to conduct a program at the Loften Center, and participate in the Prevention First 2000 Conference.

The HITT team joined Governor Jeb Bush, Columba Bush, and Drug Czar James McDonough at the Prevention First 2000 Conference.  The HITT team conducted workshops for youth attending the conference and created a performance called “The Rave” which included 20 young conference participants and 11 students from the HITT program at the Loften Center.  The production was the final presentation of the conference.  Students performed for over 700 participants.

The Cinema is also going strong.  We have been able to book some great new films that you cannot see anywhere else in town.  With theatres closing throughout the city, we are proud to say that the Hipp Cinema is alive and well.  It also holds the distinction of being the oldest theatre in town.

Thanks you for making this year an exceptionally bright one.  We hope for more excitement in 2001!
 
 

Remember the movie, When Harry Met Sally? The story asked us the question, “can a man and a woman be great friends, best friends or even intimate soulmates without romance or sex playing a major role?” Rob Reiner’s mother made the movie forever famous with her line, “I’ll have what she’s having” as Meg Ryan acted out her very vocal reaction to “great sex” as Billy Crystal looked on with a blush in his cheeks.

The Blue Room (freely adapted by David Hare from Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde) also explores the relationships between men and women but, unlike When Harry Met Sally, there are no blushing cheeks here! Schnitzler believed that a friendship between a man and a woman is a dangerous thing. He believed that eternal fidelity is a myth and that human beings can offer no guarantee on their emotions.

The Blue Room explores the dangerous adventures that might result should one follow every stirring of the heart or the ebb and flow of inexplicable emotions. The fascination of this adventure, encouraged by the passivity of our daily lives, is really a subtle poison that acts upon our dynamic will and saps us of strength and courage. Schnitzler’s/Hare’s characters are weak-willed…But is their weakness wholly a vice? The dilemma of the 20 characters in The Blue Room (all played by two actors) stresses the importance of free will and personal choice which must be balanced by responsibility and conduct…not only in matters of one’s own life and affairs, but also in regard to society as a whole.

The Blue Room takes us into the atmospheric lives of people who satisfy their primitive urges through a daisy chain of illicit actions, crossing all social and economic boundaries. It is funny, it is erotic, it is absurd and you can be sure that when Harry met Sally, their carefree days and frivolous nights were filled with roses and candy rather than taunting and teasing.
 
 

The Hippodrome Theatre, in conjunction with many of the Downtown’s finest eating establishments, presents a great way to dine, save money and benefit the Hippodrome all at the same time.   The Hippodrome Downtown Diners Club!

Theatergoers love to eat out.  Dinner and a show go together and make for one of the great ways to spend an evening in Gainesville.  We wanted our club to be unique.  We have put together a list of great restaurants most of which you will not find in any other promotion of this kind.  Our restaurants include: The Sovereign, The Brasserie, Steve’s Café Americain, Porters on the Avenue, Emilianos, Gator Greats, Dragonfly Sushi, and Fusion Forest Cafe
 

The Details of the Hippodrome Downtown Diners Club Card:
? The cards will sell for $50.00, the value to the cardholder will be over $200.00
? Eight of the finest downtown restaurants who will be participating.
? The Cardholder may use their membership card to get one entree of equal or lesser value free at each participating restaurant.
? The Waiter or Cashier at each restaurant simply crosses out the corresponding circle on your card when it is used. There are no coupons to fuss with, simply present your card when you pay your bill.
? The card will be good through 12/31/01
? Diners Club members will be encouraged to compute the gratuity based on the check amount before the discount.  The waiters will appreciate that.
? The Club Card can be used anytime the restaurant is open and the cardholder will be told to call ahead on major holidays and special events (graduation, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day) to confirm if the card will be accepted.
? The card may not be used in conjunction with other discounts.
With the caliber of participating restaurants, you will recover your $50.00 donation in two or three visits.  If you would like a card call Betty Mayers at 373-5968 and she will sign you right up!

The history of the play has, much like the plot, come full circle. Arthur Schnitzler wrote Reigen (or “round dance”) in 1897. This dramatic expose led characters of different ages and social strata through a round robin of sexual encounters. So scandalous for its time, the play wasn’t produced until 1921. Closed by Vienna police soon thereafter, Reigen remained in the spotlight: the actors had to endure a six-day trial on charges of obscenity! In 1950 Max Ophuls boldly entered the circle when he turned
Reigen into the screenplay La Ronde (earning an Oscar nomination against A Streetcar Named Desire). English playwright David Hare entered this roundelay with his version of the story in 1998, changing the title to The Blue Room. Sam Mendez (American Beauty) directed the two-person, ten-character cast starring Nicole Kidman (who stirred a lot of attention with her bare-all performance) and Iaian Glen (ditto). In one century, the story went from scandal to success yet still remains faithful to
the original.

“The play,” according to director Lauren Caldwell, “is an examination of the primitive sexual needs of people in all social categories.” Set in present day, The Blue Room introduces us to characters we have seen and perhaps touched before: a cab driver, a married woman, a student, a playwright, a model, a politician, etc. Through a sexual daisy chain, the play explores the twilight world of its characters’ hunger. Without sacrificing humor, The Blue Room’s quick-paced change of characters and settings makes for an evening of thought-provoking, entertaining and memorable theatre. Join us for this “funny, intelligent and razor-sharp satire that strips bare not just the follies of the flesh but also the delusions of desire itself.” (N.Y. Daily News)

We are exited to announce the debut of our newest summer program for teens: ACT UP!

This program is for young actors ages 13 to 18 that have been looking for a more advanced theatre program to help them develop their artistic skills in a creative environment with professional actors and designers.

ACT UP! is a four-week intensive theatre program that does just that. During the course of the program the young actors will select a play and learn how to produce it.   In addition to acting and directing their own show, the participants will design the set, props, lighting, and costumes! Teens will be given a budget and will make the majority of budgetary decisions.  The Hippodrome professional staff and summer program teachers will provide creative insight and professional training to the teens as they develop their production with one of the best artistic teams in the country.  ACT UP! Will run concurrently with the Summer Spectacular sessions. Give your teen the best summer vacation ever. Class space is limited so sign up today!

Two ACT UP! sessions will be offered: June 4-29, 2001 and July 9-August 3, 2000.
For further information, please call Bonnie Harrison or Sandra Dietel at (352) 373-5968.
 
 

In September, Naomi Shersty was promoted to office manager at the Hippodrome State Theatre after working as a box office representative for 2 ½ years.

Naomi graduated from the University of Florida in August 2000 with a B.F.A. in Photography and a minor in Art History.

Naomi would like to attend graduate school in Fall 2001 to earn her Masters in Photography.  Her top-3 choices are University of New Mexico, Ohio University, and the Art Institute of Chicago.  “I would like to do my artwork and have shows, while working as a professor,” Naomi said.

Rocky Horror, Beehive, and Art are Naomi’s three favorite Hippodrome productions so far.  She enjoyed Rocky Horror “because it’s a cult classic and Mark Chambers, as Dr. Frank N. Furter, sure was sassy! Oh my!”
Her first trip the Hippodrome was to see a film.  She attends cinema events regularly at the Hipp.  The Hippodrome showcased Naomi’s work in the East Gallery in January 1999.  The show consisted of black and white self-portraits with text.

She enjoys working at the Hippodrome for it’s creative environment, fun people, and interesting work assignments(i.e. typing letters from Freud, artful & hysterical brainstorming, helping with display and poster designs, elevator driving, and being in touch with Gainesville’s colorful community)!

Naomi currently resides in Gainesville with her beau, Tom, and her two kitties, Romeo and Nyoko.

January 2001