TheatreFest preparations underway

The Paper Bag Players are in the middle of preparations to bring one of the biggest events in Saskatchewan amateur theatre to Yorkton.

As the hosts of TheatreFest 2012, the Players are responsible for assembling a seven-day drama festival for April 8-14 that does justice to the best that the province's community theatre groups have to offer.

A different full-length play will be performed at the Sacred Heart Performing Arts Theatre each night of the festival, beginning with Yorkton's own production on Sunday.

"We love going to festival and we are very proud of our community club, and we want to host it for other communities to come and see Yorkton," says Teresa Weber, chair of the festival committee.

"Festivals are a lot of fun, because not only do you get to participate in it, but the adjudication is the next day and you learn so much."

The week of TheatreFest is an important one for all of the participating groups. It's an opportunity to exchange ideas both onstage and through the apprenticeship workshops that run throughout the week.

"That's where we glean ideas for how to make our group even better," Weber says.

Weber is directing the Players' entry into the festival, a production of Dream World by Fred Carmichael. Auditions for the show were earlier this week.

Yorkton did well when it last hosted TheatreFest in 2006. The Paper Bag Players' version of Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun by Norm Foster won awards for Best Director and Best Characterization, and was shortlisted for the award for best overall entry.

This weekend was a busy one for the Players. Leslie Moldenhauer of Theatre Saskatchewan, the group responsible for coordinating the festival, was in town for a planning session with the local committee and a technical meeting with some of the groups scheduled to attend.

"To be honest, a lot of people got excited when Yorkton got [the bid], because last time they hosted festival, they did an awesome job," said Moldenhauer. "It was well-run, well-organized, and we expect nothing less this time."

Actor/director Ken Spencer, who will be representing last year's hosts Regina Little Theatre at the festival with a production of Irva Levin's Deathtrap on the fourth night, is looking forward to the week. He toured the Sacred Heart Performing Arts Theatre along with representatives of the Kamsack Players for Saturday's technical meeting.

"It's an excellent, excellent theater," he said. "I'd love to perform here on a regular basis if I could."

Between producing Dream World and preparing for the arrival of much of Saskatchewan's theatre community in April, the Paper Bag Players will have their work cut out for them in the coming three months. Their next requirement will be volunteers.

"Everything from taking tickets at the door to serving food to the cast and crew during the day to cleaning up the green room at 3 am," says Weber.

Community members can also show support with financial donations, by purchasing travel voucher raffle tickets from Paper Bag Players members, and by attending the performances in April.

"Obviously you need bums in the seats," said Moldenhauer.