CURTAIN UP - LATEST NEWS

We have received a message from Camilla Chalmers, Head of Communications at the British Embassy. The Embassy is hosting an event at the Ambassador's Residence in Geneva on the 18th of April, to mark the bi-centenary of Lord Byron's death and, as part of dinner, they would be very keen to have some suitably theatrical poetry readings. After GAOS's amazing Sister Act performance last year, the Ambassador is very taken with the idea of seeing some of us again, and wondered whether there is any chance that some members would be willing to enter into the Byron fun. Ideally in Byron-esque costume!

Please get in touch with a Committee member if you would like to organize a group of members to take part in this event. Also if you would like to participate but without organizing it yourself.

The HQ move has to be finished and we need to be in the new premises by 31st March. This is the good news, but to make this happen we need more volunteers to put in a few hours to help pack up. No heavy lifting involved. Over the Easter weekend, we need to clean our old premises ready to hand back on Tuesday 2nd April. Having Easter fall at the end of the month is not ideal, but if you are in the Geneva area over Easter, come and help us, the more the merrier!  Please contact Karin and tell her when you are free to help and she will let you know what is needed.  

David Wrigley is  doing some of the more manual work in our new space. If you fancy a bit of painting, or flooring, contact him.  Jon Nixon is coming over to do our electrics and will need a helper.  There is plenty for every age and ability, you just need to volunteer, don't wait to be asked. Here is a schedule of what's needed and when it's planned.

Karin 

David

Jon

If you are in HQ at anytime, as you walk past the costumes pick up a few off the rails and put them in a "wardrobe" packing box in the break room. Don’t be shy, go for it…..

The box office opens today for GEDS's next production, Charley's Aunt. GEDS is offering GAOS members a 10% discount for bookings made through Sunday 3rd of March. The discount code is gaos24.

Here's some more information on the show. You might recognize the name of some of the actors.

"Charley’s Aunt" by Brandon Thomas

Tuesday 19 March – Saturday 23 March 2024

Théâtre de l'Espérance, Geneva

Directed by Alexandra Shelest

Tues - Fri at 19h30

Sat at 19h00

Tickets on sale 18 February

www.geds.ch

CHF 25 - 35

Six proposals, four weddings, and a man in drag. What else could you ask for?

Opening Night patrons are invited to share a glass of bubbly with cast and crew after the show

Starring: Dibyaudh Das, David McClenaghan, David de Paiva, Clàudia Baró Huelmo, Inés Moreno Pons, Josamine Bronnvik, Malcolm Grant, Owen Boyle, Barrie Duggan, Siân Ackroyd

The final curtain closed on a very successful run - even in January most shows were practically sold out! Audiences enjoyed the music and dancing, and they loved the costumes. Some of them even lost their voices cheering on the goodies and booing the baddies!

Massive congratulations and thanks to everyone involved for a job well done!

The GAOS Choral Group started rehearsals in mid-January for their Spring concert, to take place on Saturday 27th April at Holy Trinity Church in Geneva, at 20h. Please mark it in your agendas!

Our energetic and demanding conductor, Kirsty Griffiths, is guiding us through a programme of songs by British composers, and has also kindly agreed to play some harp songs as part of the evening! The concert will be dedicated to Sue Lloyd, who founded the Choral Group, helped choose the programme and is sadly no longer with us.

Attention all talented male & female performers! Total Musical Theatre proudly presents auditions for their thrilling spring cabaret production, Leading Ladies. For inquiries and to receive detailed production and audition information, please reach out at total-theatre@hotmail.com. Your spotlight awaits!

Step into the dazzling world of TMT's Leading Ladies for a night of show-stopping performances, where we celebrate some of the most iconic female characters of the Broadway stage.

Auditions will be held on Saturday 24th February, from 10h, at Rue de l'Hotel-de-Ville 1, Vevey.

Our current Assistant Business Manager is stepping down before the end of his term. The Committee is therefore looking for a volunteer to take on the job. Here is what it would entail:

1. FOH Manager: identify a bar manager and FOH lead and liaise with them to ensure smooth running of the bar and FOH for each show. This does not mean the ABM has to run front-of-house or the bar him or herself.

2. Assist the Business Manager with the following tasks, as required:

• Researching and booking theatres for upcoming shows
• Liaising with individual theatres for access during shows and use of theatre facilities/services
• Liaising with appropriate authorities for paperwork required for events (alcohol licences, services, etc.)
• Placing orders with theatre licensing companies (e.g. MTI) for performance rights, perusal scripts and liaising with production teams on specific requirements for material
• Reporting revenues from shows (e.g., to MTI, SUISA)
• Ensuring insurance is updated and following up with any insurance claims

A good knowledge of French would be useful.

Please contact the committee if you are interested.

How to give joy to 4 times more people, exceptionally this Christmas

Until December 25th, choose Pinocchio tickets as Christmas gifts!

For each ticket, GAOS will make a donation of CHF5 to Coeur-à-Coeur.

4 times more joy!

- Joy for those offering to see Pinocchio.

- Joy for the public applauding Pinocchio.

- Joy for those* involved in Pinocchio, and of course

- Joy for the recipients of the donation, thanks to Pinocchio, Coeur-à-Coeur, for the education of young people.

* A hundred passionate volunteers either on stage or backstage.

How to proceed:

Go to this link. Where it says "Réservez votre billet ici!", click on the word "ici". This will bring you to the GAOS ticketing site. Book your tickets as usual, adding the code COEURACOEUR.

To make absolutely sure we don't miss anyone, send a pic of your tickets to Frou-Frou, mentioning "PINOCCHIO-COEUR".

                                                  

Chairman’s Corner

Dear All,

We have had a busy year and it seems odd that we are about to go into Christmas and we haven't yet had panto. I don't know about you, but not having a panto in early December has thrown my Christmas preparations and planning. However, Pinocchio cast and crew are ready to go. The rehearsals have been going extremely well, with everyone having fun. Whenever I have been to watch, there is always a lot of laughter, as well as hard work. That is what GAOS is all about. Those of you who have visited the Barn recently will know that there are some superb sets ready and waiting to move into the theatre. The construction and lighting teams are already moving their attention to Rent. The fun never stops in GAOS!

As you all know GAOS relies on volunteers and participants to achieve anything. Both of those seem to be in short supply at the moment and, as a society, we are relying on the same people time after time. If you look at the production teams for every show, you will see the same names time and time again. My worry is what happens when those people are not available? I would really like to encourage you to try something new. If you are normally on stage, have a go at something else, learn a new skill, we have so much to offer. GAOS is one big family, so why not encourage your partner to come and join in the fun, you on stage and them working on a different part of the show, or the other way round? GAOS is a great way to have fun doing something together. Your committee is always looking at new ideas for social events and we have some fun things planned. These only work if everyone joins in. Look out on Curtain Update for events as they come up. We have also introduced a WhatsApp reminder group. If you would like to be quickly and easily reminded of events a few days in advance, join this group. The link is https://chat.whatsapp.com/F6E3KrwHcBZ83yXjqWBXt1

There can be no chat on this group, so you won’t be inundated with lots of people replying or asking questions. Only the administrators of the group can post. If you use WhatsApp, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so give it a try.

This year, thanks to Chelsea Middleton, we have introduced a GAOS film night. In it we present recordings of musical theatre shows. GAOS can now transport you to the theatre, where you can enjoy a West End or Broadway show in the company of friends whilst sipping a glass of wine from the bar.

The big news is that we are finally, after over a year of discussions, MOVING! Permissions have been granted and now the work starts. There will be some professional work done first and then David Wrigley and a team of volunteers will start dismantling the costumes rails and the kitchen and start rebuilding them upstairs. This will need help from many people. I am compiling a list of volunteers. It’s a very short list at the moment, my theme continues…! We hope to have it all done by the end of either April or June, depending on how quickly we can get the professional work done. Of course we aim to have as little impact on Rent rehearsals as possible. The rehearsal space will always be available for them and moving will have to work round rehearsals. We very much ask for patience and flexibility during this time AND volunteers…

As I write, I have just heard that sadly the Fringe have cancelled the Roaring Twenties Show, they did not have enough interest. The June show date didn’t seem to work for many people. They will be back in January 2025!

Whilst talking about volunteers, is there anyone out there who would like to try their hand at directing and would like to put on the 2024 Youth Show? Have a look at the MTI website https://www.mtishows.co.uk/, and see what is available. (Make sure you only look at Europe and not the States website).

We have also confirmed that if all our actors are under 18, we can officially put on a "school version", this opens up many more possibilities.

If a Youth show isn’t interesting, how about trying your hand at a panto? The theatre is booked for December 2024, we just need a show.

My theme, as you have probably gathered by now, is that there are many people in GAOS working hard for the society and getting a lot out of it.

Give something new a go, it might be fun…

Contact any member of the Committee if you would like to volunteer.

The Committee and I wish you all a very festive season and Happy New year.

Jo

At the last two rehearsals of The Roaring 20s, there were few participants. Alas, if we do not have more people, especially men, we'll be obliged to postpone the show or even to cancel it.

If you would like to participate in the Fringe, either as a member of the cast attending the Wednesday rehearsals, or as solo, duo or ensemble, which can be rehearsed at any other time, please contact Wolfgang Schutt by the 17th of December.