Dedicated to our Clowners

To those who helped with the production of "A Thousand Clowns" by Herb Gardner, in Merritt, January 2010.

What a ride! It has been about seven months since the idea of performing this play came to mind, all because John Allison decided to download a copy of the movie for me last summer. I am siting here dead tired, many pounds lighter, with a ton of work still ahead, but
still...

I am so very very proud of all who participated and helped. Those words are blurring right now.

Somewhere in December we hit a wall and could not perform on schedule. At that point we needed help, the play proved such a large endeavour that we needed to mobilize more help and do so fast. This started with Mil Juricic's boundless energy and inspiration, Brian Sherwood's deep reach into his own network of friends, Jason Nyeste's sweat and knowledge of construction, Howard Baker's patient help and training of the technical crew, Judy Hatoum's self motivation and fund raising, Holly Obee's organizational strength, and Nedra McKay and her family's promotional efforts. Thank you, and thanks to all or your supporters when we really needed your help.

If your name is not on the list above it's because I'm afraid of making mistakes and omissions. Almost all of you worked with or for one or more of these individuals and have learned to "love them just as much as I do"

I might have given up in December but I saw that we had that "few, we happy few" of amazing actors with talent and dedication. You were impossible to let down. You tackled a play that has probably frightened away many small companies. You helped wake up the piece of Murray that is still inside me from when I was Alex's age. I hope you will all carry your talent forward to many other performances on stage and off.

WE did it, and we can do more and better yet. Keep that faith.

Jim

A Thousand Clowns: Rehearsal and Performance Schedule

The Merritt Live Theatre Society is in production for "A Thousand Clowns" by Herb Gardner. This play won the 1965 WGA Award for Best Written American Comedy. To read some of this play, and get lighting and set design information see this Google Book site.

Below is the rehearsal AND performance schedule as well as we know it at this time, updated from the first edition of September 12/09 . We need many helpers in order to make this run as close to professional as we can with our resources. The cast is already working like pros and we are excited with the endeavor. Contact Jim Bruce at jimwbruce@gmail.com or phone 250-378-1614, if you would care to lend a hand at this very special event.

Monday Sept 14 Act I (reading), done with Mil reading Albert
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Thursday Sept 17 Act 2 (reading), done with Jim Reading Leo, Mil reading Albert
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Monday Sept 21 Act 3 (reading) Busy hockey week, MAY move this to Thursday if Alex can manage the change
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Monday Sept 28 Act 1 (reading)
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Thursday Oct 1, Act 2 (reading
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Monday Oct 5 Act 3 (reading)
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Thursday Oct 8 Act 1 (reading and blocking)<--Likely moving to NVIT
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Monday Oct 12 Act 2 (reading and blocking)
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Thursday Oct 15 Act 3 (reading and blocking)
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Monday Oct 19 Act 1 (reading and blocking)
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Thursday Oct 22 Act 2 (Start off book)
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Monday Oct 26 Act 3 (Start off book)
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Thurs Oct 29 Act 1 (Start off book--from this point on)
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Monday Nov 2 Act 2
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Thurs Nov 5 Act 3
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Monday Nov 9 Act 1 Rachel (Armanda) missing next four rehearsals
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Thurs Nov 12 Act 2
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Monday Nov 16 Act 3
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Tuesday Nov 23 Act 1
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Wednesday Nov 25 Act 2
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NEW Monday Nov 30 Act 3
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NEW Thursday Dec 3 Act 1-3 (longer rehearsal)
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REHEARSALS MOVE TO THE LEGION -
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Suinday Dec 6 Setup crew at Legion, 10:00 am (?)
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Monday Dec 7 Dress Rehearsal, arrive for makeup at 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm
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Tuesday Dec 8 Merritt at Vernon Hockey
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Wednesday Dec 9 Dress Rehearsal with lights, arrive 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm
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Thursday Dec 10 Opening night play, arrive 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm
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Friday Dec 11 Merritt at Trail hockey
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Saturday Dec 12 Play night 2, arrive 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm
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Sunday Dec 13 Play night 3 , arrive 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm *
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Monday, Dec 14 Play night 4, arrive 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm *
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* Contingent on expenses all covered before show