CHANGES OF VENUE AND DATES FOR ALMOST,  MAINE
by Nan Nawrocki

Tater Patch Players has changed the dates and location for the next show.  It will still be the delightful and witty Almost, Maine. The show will  be presented at the Pickens Chamber of Commerce, in Lee Newton Park, on Highway 53.  The number of performances and dates have been changed:  The shows will be February 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 PM and February 21 at 2 PM — one week only.  The change of dates and location has caused a little delay in ticket availability, but tickets will be available soon.  The ticket prices will remain the same as previously announced.   Prices in advance at the in-town outlets of Jasper Drug and both Community Bank of Pickens County branches will be $8 for students and $10 for adults.  Tickets will also be available online through the website (www.taterpatchplayers.org).  Tickets at the door will be $2 more per show.  Pat Jewell’s series of articles, co-authored by the directors involved in this show, will resume next week.
As previously announced, the troupe will have a “Pay What You CAN” performance but it will be at the February 18 show.   This will directly benefit the CARES food pantry and also assist members of the community who might not be able to afford to attend live theater shows to do so.  The items the Food Pantry needs are canned and non-perishable food items,  rice, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and toiletries such as shampoo or cleaning products such as laundry detergent.   At the box office there will be information available and representatives to answer questions about becoming a part of Tater Patch.  Being a part of the troupe  is always a good way to see a show.  The Pay What You CAN admission is only good at the door, not for advance ticket sales.  Other patrons who pay regular ticket prices are welcomed and encouraged to bring items for the food pantry as well.The Tater Patch Players will no longer be performing at Pickens High School. The Players wished to rent the PHS small auditorium as they have past years, however the  new User Fee rates  enacted by the Board  of Education make this too expensive for the troupe. The hourly fees apply to all hours the Players would need the facility.   As many of you know, the cast and crew not  only need to use the stage for the performances, but also to set up scenery and set lights and for the actors and crew to have at least a few rehearsals on the set.  While the troupe is disappointed, they are determined that the show must go on.  During their meeting where this decision was made, members of the Tater Patch Board expressed thanks to the high school for all the years they have been able to perform in their auditorium.Tater Patch is working very hard to secure a performance venue for the rest of the shows that are scheduled for the season.  Announcements will be made as soon as anything is finalized.  Because they cannot yet predict the dates they may be able to perform for the rest of the year, season tickets and season advertising packages will not yet be sold.  However, anyone interested in advertising in the playbills on a show-by-show basis, or sponsoring a show,  is encouraged to contact the troupe through their website.Tater Patch President Bob Countryman said “We are determined to continue Tater Patch’s tradition of bringing live theater to this community.  We will work very hard to solve this venue situation.”  As many of you know, times are financially a little tough right now, but if you would be interested in donating to the troupe’s future you may send an email through the website or send postal mail to Tater Patch Players, PO Box 267, Jasper, GA 30143.  Remember their slogan “If it’s entertaining, it’s Tater Patch”.  And keep watching for more information to come out soon.

Article by Pat Jewell and Andy Kippenhan

Rehearsals for Almost, Maine are underway and excitement is building.  This week we hear from Director, Andy Kippenhan, about his portion of the show.

Where It Went

“Where It Went” is the sixth scene in Almost, Maine.  It tells the story of a married couple who finish falling out of love over skating and shoes, while revealing the surprising reality behind an old cliché.
This scene features Wayne Jewell as Phil, and Amanda Arnold as Marci.  Wayne, a Tater Patch veteran under the lights and behind them, displays a straightforward sincerity that serves him, and us, well for this part.  Amanda is new to Tater Patch, but not to the stage, and brings a nicely crafted subtlety to this role.Directing the interaction of these two players will be a pleasure in this short scene that shows another ordinary but remarkable facet of life in Almost, Maine.Wayne and Amanda invite you to come and witness their final love scene in what Kippenhan brings together to be realistic and entertaining.
All shows will be staged at the old Pickens High School auditorium.  Show dates are Feb 19 – 20 and Feb 26-27 at 7:30 pm and Feb 21 and 28 at 2:00 pm.  Tickets are $12.00 adult and $10.00 student at the door.  Discounted advanced tickets can be purchased at Community Bank of Pickens County and Jasper Drugs.  Feb. 21^st will be “pay what you can and help CARES can hunger” day.  Food donations will be accepted at all shows.  The “pay what you can” tickets are box office purchase only.  You can  learn more about the show, buy tickets, and learn more about your local community theater at www.taterpatchplayers.org

An article from Pat Jewell and Daniel Picklesimer:

Almost, Maine is a series of short plays that come together to describe life and love on a cold Friday night in Almost, Maine.  Each of the plays has a director, all of whom chose their play and their actors.  In the weeks leading up to the production, you will be introduced to the directors, actors and the director’s take on their plays.  Today, we hear from Daniel Picklesimer and his portion of the show titled “Sad and Glad”.
Shows will be at the old Pickens High School Auditorium on Feb. 18-20 and Feb 26-28.  Tickets are $12.00 adult and $10.00 student at the door.  Discounted advanced tickets, for $2 less can be purchased at Jasper Drugs or Community Bank of Pickens County and will go on sale soon. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2:00.  This year Tater Patch has added a special “pay what you can and can hunger show” on Sunday Feb 21st.  In an effort to make the unique experience of community theater available to more families in these economic times, all seats for this show are “pay what you can”.  “Pay what you can” show tickets must be purchased at the door.  Tater Patch also asks that everyone bring a canned food item that will go to the CARES food pantry.  Donations for CARES will be taken at all shows, but the “pay what you can” promotion is only good on the 21st.  For more information, see www.taterpatchplayers.org.  Beat the cold and order tickets online!  And now for Daniel’s “take” on his part of this production –

Why I chose Sad and Glad

I read Sad and Glad and knew instantly that it was the play that I wanted to direct. Sad and Glad is the story of Jimmy, a man who runs into his ex girlfriend, Sandrine, at the local hang out, much to Sandrine’s disappointment. Sandrine must have a very awkward conversation with Jimmy all while the newest waitress at the hangout insists that Sandrine and Jimmy make a lovely couple. In just a few short pages this vignette draws out so many emotions that we all feel, all the time, and I knew I had to direct it. Seeing someone you want to be nice to but don’t want to have to deal with, being elated when you are reunited with someone who makes everything in your life worthwhile, being devastated when you realize this person does not want to fill that void in your life, finding someone new who excites you and makes life worthwhile again—all of these wonderful and terrible things are in this short vignette, and they all drew my attention and adoration.
For Sad and Glad I was lucky enough to be blessed with a wonderful cast that consists of Alex Nawrocki as Jimmy, Ellen Painter as Sandrine, and Pat Jewell as the waitress. I had at first only intended to have very youthful actors try out for this vignette as I could only see someone in their early to late twenties fitting the parts; however, after seeing these very skilled actors display the exact emotions I was looking for in their characters, I knew I had to have them for respective characters. Alex Nawrocki makes the character of Jimmy so simple and loveable that everyone will be cheering for him. Ellen Painter brings sincerity to the character of Sandrine so that anyone can understand and sympathize with her and her decisions completely.  Pat Jewell makes the waitress’s character talkative and bubbly so that everyone can see that she is a nice person trying to do her job, but also brings a caring appeal to her that will make everyone appreciate her all the more.  With such a wonderful cast I am confident that Sad and Glad will be as enjoyable to others to come and see as it has been for me to direct.I have truly fallen in love with Sad and Glad and I believe that with the help of the wonderful cast I have assembled all those who see it will fall just as deeply in love with it as I have.

The Tater Patch Players are trying something new!  The next show, February’s Almost, Maine, is an opportunity for some of your favorite actors to shine as directors.  Nine Tater Patch actors are spreading their directorial wings and rehearsals have already begun.  Almost, Maine is composed of eight very short plays, plus a series of scenes that tie the overall story together.  As part of their increased involvement, the nine directors are also going to help publicize the show.  All of them are going to write short articles about their parts of Almost, Maine, and Tater Patch’s publicist, Pat Jewell will put these together in articles for each week’s paper.  This way, you’ll get a glimpse of not only the whole play, but the viewpoint of each of the nine directors, their cast, and how they look at the overall production.

The Tater Patch Play Selection committee chose this play as one that they hope will really delight the audience.  It’s a romantic  play, but not at all “sweet”.  The events of the nine “playlets”  take place at the same time, one night, in the cold village of Almost, under an amazing display of the Northern Lights.  There are couples meeting, renewing old romances, ending old romances, discovering each other and discovering others around them.  There is sadness, laughter and a great deal of amazement.  Everyone in the audience will see themselves or someone they care for in at least one of these scenes.  And maybe they will learn a little about themselves or the one they love, or used to love, or want to love.  It’s an evening of discovery and the Tater Patch Board decided that it would be an opportunity to discover the directors in its acting family as well.

The Tater Patch Board of Directors is committed to growing the troupe, even before they find a permanent home.  Members of the Board work tirelessly to find new plays, help the production team develop its skills and resources, and find a way to bring more live theater to the community.  The outgoing Board has decided to make one performance of each show for this year more accessible to community members.  In recognition of the financial times we live in, for the designated show, members of the audiences are invited to pay whatever they feel they can afford, in order to see the shows.  In additions they are asked to bring a canned food item that will go to the Food Pantry.  The Board calls this “Pay What You Can” and hopes that this effort will make live theater more accessible to all members of our community.  There will be members of the troupe at the Pay What You Can performance to talk to audience members about the opportunity  for them to be a part of Tater Patch Players — as an actor, a stage hand, an usher, a publicist, a scenery builder — the openings to be a part of the theater world are endless.

The Tater Patch Players will have their annual meeting, at which members elect the new Board, on January 14 at 7 PM at their rehearsal space.  This is located at 953 East Church Street in Jasper.  The meetings are open to the public, although only members can vote.  The slate of Board candidates, many of whom are continuing from previous years, and some new faces to the Board, have all promised to keep on growing and nurturing Tater Patch.  The effort to find a permanent location continues, as does the drive to bring as many members of our community the best of live theater, wherever it is performed.

Here’s the recipe everyone asked for:

Makes 20 servings

1 cup sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
lemon slices
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
6 cups claret (we used a hearty burgundy)
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup dry sherry

Boil sugar, cinnamon sticks, and 3 lemon slices in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes.  Strain.  Heat but do not boil the remaining ingredients.  Combine with syrup, garnish with lemon slices and serve hot

MMMMMMM! Then sing carols with your friends!  Merry Christmas from Tater Patch Players!