LAMB Spring Caravan 2012

Check out the LAMB Caravan Spring 2012 Blog.....We are "On the Road Again..."

 www.lambcaravanspring2010.blogspot.com


Diana Guhin Wooley CEO LAMB Arts Ltd 417 Market Street Sioux City, IA 51103 712-293-0930 Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

Busy March!

 










We just closed MOMologues...and the audiences loved it.   What an uplifting FUN-draiser that turned out to be.  Another giant thank you to Siouxland Women's Health Center for being the exclusive sponsor for this production.   We had record breaking crowds in THE BOX for this show and we all wished we could have played a couple more nights....but we need to go on with the rest of the exciting season.  Thank you so much....Trudy Rants, Angela Iversen, Lacey Graves Friis, and Geana Schneider....you were delightful to work with.   I loved every minute of it.

In just a couple weeks, CABARET will be on the mainstage.  I have listened to the singing, heard the dancing being rehearsed (while I was down below the rehearsal room rehearsing MOMologues), and know that the cast and crew are pumped up for a fantastic fresh take at the classic musical.   I have been told that this one is true to the revival in rating....a truly adult presentation not suitable for children.   CABARET deals with the fall of a society just before World War II.   That great music in juxtaposition to the scary, decadent times preceding the War has created a story that represents an important milestone in American musical theatre.   My husband, Russ, is directing this production and any one who knows him will testify that he is a history nut.   In his spare time what will he read?   Historical books, biographies that sort of thing.   CABARET excites him not only for the great theatre, but for the opportunity to engage in linking his love of history to his love for the theatre.   I am really looking forward to this production which opens on March 9  and closes April 1.   You won't want to miss this one.   The box office is taking reservations now....so go ahead and make your plans.....712-255-9536.

On top of CABARET...on the off times, CINDERELLA  will be using the stage.   Just performing four times, this production could certainly sell out early.   The performance dates are March 17, March 18, March 24 and March 31...all with 2:00 matinees.  LAMB Arts, under the skilled party planning expertise of Steph Wigton, will be offering VIP parties prior to each of the matinees.  These Very Important Princess/Prince Parties will include games, refreshments, royalty "gear", photos with Cinderella and her Prince plus other things and will begin at 12:50. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as royalty themselves.  We will be limited in the number of VIPS to 20 for each Party.   VIP Admission Prices: $15.00 
Our royal guests must be at the theatre at 12:50! CINDERELLA  Show Only Admission Prices:   $13 Adults
 and $9 Students through full time College.   The show begins at 2:00 p.m.   Call Jessica at 255-9536 to make your reservations of choice.

We have had an exciting winter thus far.   Each and every day we are so pleased with the progress our students are making, of the response we are experiencing from Siouxland with more and more people opening their arms and hearts to the theatrical and arts education opportunities that we love to provide for them. Yup, March looks to be a mighty fine month.   Come and join us.

Diana Guhin Wooley 
CEO LAMB Arts Ltd
417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

MOMologues and MORE!

What perfect, happy storm!   Everything is coming together so beautifully for a wonderful production of MOMologues opening this Friday at the theatre.   This production is a benefit for LAMB Arts LTD to assist in all the programming that goes on at LAMB Arts Regional Theatre….and there is a lot going on over here! (But more on that later…I want to talk about this show and this cast)   We were so delighted that Siouxland Women’s Health Care Center became the exclusive sponsor of this benefit.  It is a perfect tie in.   Their slogan is “For every stage of a woman’s life” .   Well, ON the LAMB stage, the stages of early motherhood will be played out with humor and poignancy.   THANK YOU Siouxland Women’s Health Center!   You have been a great friend to LAMB Arts Regional Theatre.  Last season, SWHC donated the comfortable chairs that  MOMologues  audiences will be enjoying !    (THE MOMologues is performed in THE BOX Theatre at LAMB.   This very intimate theatre seats 50)

As director for this production, I am thrilled to be working with four extremely talented and dedicated ladies.   Three are able to rely on their personal experiences with motherhood, while poor little Geana is playing catch up (quite admirably, I might add) in the experience category.   This show has opened up a plethora of birthing/mothering stories and discussions; something that I am sure is going to happen after our audiences leave the theatre.   It has been so great for all of us to realize that what we thought were unique feelings are really quite universal among mothers…..of all ages.   

How surreal it is for me to once again direct Lacey Friis.    WAY back when she was “Lacey Graves”, I had the privilege of directing and acting with this talented young lady in many, many LAMB children’s shows and LAMB Mainstage shows.  What an honor to see young Mary Lennox from The SECRET GARDEN as a young mother –and still possessing that natural acting charisma we all loved.   Combined with her real life experiences with her own three young children, Lacey is absolutely charming to watch during rehearsals and our audiences will adore her.

Angela Iversen has also been a long time friend.   I have known Angela since her days at Briar Cliff.   She later became the children’s choral director at Augustana Luttheran Church where I am the choral director.    Her marriage to the wonderful Pete Iversen and their subsequent sweetheart, Eliana, have been so much fun to observe.   Angela has been involved in LAMB productions for several years and she has always been delightful to see onstage (Remember her in URINETOWN?…so funny!) and she is an absolute dream to work with.   Her quick and quirky wit is beautifully utilized in MOMologues.-another actress the audiences will love.

            Geana Schneider is our non-mom.  I don’t THINK we have scared her away from motherhood.   Geana is like a sponge and has absorbed the stories and quips from her fellow mother-actors and has created a very convincing mom persona.   When we were rehearsing yesterday I was thinking how lucky her children are going to be---also, I was wondering HOW she gets her face to be so wonderfully expressive.  Her face has its own spectacular dialogue!  Geana has been seen in many recent shows at LAMB including YANKEE TAVERN and 39 STEPS.  You will LOVE her in The MOMologues. 

Trudy Rants is going to be new to our LAMB audiences…as an actress.   Trudy has been a long time season member, LAMB School parent and a former LAMB Arts board member.   What most people don’t know is that Trudy was a theatre major at Morningside College a “couple of years back”.  How exciting for me that Trudy agreed to dust off her acting skills for this show.   Trudy is perfect as the ‘older mom’ and has surprised me with her fierceness toward her character.   She is going to be so much fun for our audiences.  I am hoping that as much as we hope we haven’t scared Geana from motherhood, that we haven’t scared Trudy from future acting.   She is a real charmer.

What is so great is that there are four very different actresses, voices and energies onstage.  I am very proud of what these ladies have accomplished in a very short time and deeply appreciate their efforts toward creating an outstanding production.   We hope to see some fun loving crowds at the theatre for this LAMB Arts LTD benefit.  As we have noted everywhere, this is a perfect ladies night out feature attraction!   However, men who have known mothers of any kind....and I think that speaks to all men....should have a very entertaining time her as well.  (Please note that there is some “language” in this show.   Not excessive… but this is a disclaimer in case this would be a concern for you.  Also…this material is probably not appropriate for all audiences.   I would suggest late high school through adult---we are talking about birthin' babies here....)
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So….what else has been going on at LAMB Theatre?   Someone asked me if I had trouble thinking of things to write in this blog and I said, “No.  Just the opposite.   I have the biggest trouble trying to decide how to CHOOSE what to write about!”     (I also wish that someone would pass a bill to change the day from 24 hours to 30 hours…at least!)  

The following deserve a blog on their own, but I will list some of the many things going on at LAMB.   (Now you will see why we need why benefits such as The MOMologues are so important.)

Last Sunday we closed FLAT STANLEY, the second production in THE Young People’s Theatre at LAMB season.   The show did extremely well and was so well received.   We had a school performance with 5^th graders from Irving Elementary (Thank you, Karen Bourne) and 3^rd graders from Clark School (Thank you, Clark PTO)   I am always pleased to see the progress and growth of our student-actors, but this show was especially ‘growthful’…(what a word)  So many kids really had the opportunity to shine…and we have a lot of dedicated and professional students.   What a treat. As a part of a grant, I was able to go to Irving School for some theatre workshops.   The students were so receptive and I recognized several from CAMP IMAGINATION, a program that LAMB collaborates with Mary Treglia House in the summers.

Another great aspect of FLAT STANLEY was that we were able to offer ASL signing for the Hearing Impaired during a Saturday matinee of this musical.   Thanks to the QUOTA Club of Sioux City, we had two signers who interpreted the musical for a special audience.   What a thrill to watch the show signed.   How proud I was of the student-actors for their attention to doing their job onstage and not watching the signing.   How heartwarming to see the faces of those who were now able to fully experience a stage production.   I was excited to discover how LAMB could play an important role in the arts life of a whole different segment of our community.   Continuing this type of service has become a new mission for us.  Thank you, QUOTA Club for this opportunity…and for opening our eyes to other ways we can serve our community.

Last week I was a guest of the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs in my capacity of Iowa Arts Teaching Artist.   It was serendipitous that the Saturday before FLAT STANLEY had been signed and that I had had the opportunity to talk with the QUOTA signers at length.  At the School for the Deaf (which, by the way, is an actual University style campus….gorgeous!!) I was asked to present a theatre workshop to juniors and senior drama students at the high school.   What fun!   Those young people are so very expressive and so open to trying just about anything.   While there we discussed other collaborative opportunities between our LAMB students and theirs.   It was a great day.

We are continuing our collaboration with Jackson Recovery’s Women’s and Children’s Unit in a Kindermusik program for the moms and their young children.   We have been there for fourteen weeks and it has been amazing to see the continuous growth and participation among all the participants.   We have gotten so large that we now hold two classes each week to accommodate everyone. 

CABARET, the next mainstage production at the Theatre, has been cast and is in the midst of rehearsal.   This production opens March 9 and the beautiful sounds and the very active dancing upstairs in the rehearsal room (THE BOX Theatre where MOMologues is rehearsing is below the Rehearsal Room) indicates that this production is going to be energy driven! I can’t wait.

The LAMB School of Theatre and Music is beginning a great second semester with an increase in our enrollment.   Russ Wooley’s ATA class (advanced high school acting) is planning a showcase for later this spring that all the students are very excited about.   More on that as their plans progress.

West Lake Entertainment from Los Angeles has booked the LAMB Caravan for a four city tour this May.   This will be the 5th Caravan Tour for us.    We will be performing BLUE HORSES.

Great news on the End of the Year Plea….Our goal of $30,000 was superceded by $136!!!   Also, our Younkers Coupon Book campaign(our first year…I had no idea how easy this campaign is…so I made $1000 our goal.) met the goal number set!!!!   We are doing so much better financially than a year ago.   We will be conducting our annual campaign April 1 – June 30 and if that goes well, we should be on a much stronger, fiscally sound footing.   THANK YOU!!!!

We hope to see you this week or next for MOMologues.  You will have a ball.  

Diana Guhin Wooley

CEO LAMB Arts Ltd

417 Market Street

Sioux City, IA 51103

712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

Wow! What a Response to Our Plea--and MORE

      Now to the greatest news!   We are only $1,831 away from reaching the $30,000 needed to keep our doors open.   What a great thrill to see how much the theatre and school means to our community and beyond.  We have a couple weeks to raise the final amount and we are so hoping that we can claim success!!!   If you would like to contribute to this campaign, please drop off a check to the theatre or mail it or just give me a call.   WE ARE SO VERY CLOSE!!!

      

         It has been an incredibly busy couple of weeks.   We were scheduled to produce DUBLIN CAROL in THE BOX, opening last weekend.  However, with the extreme financial challenges facing us last December,  we decided that it would have been fiscally irresponsible to do that show at this time.   We did, however, have the resources available to mount The Musical Adventures of FLAT STANLEY essentially due to the quick response we received from our End of the Year Plea.   This production will be absolutely adorable and fun for everyone.   It really shows off the many talents of 38 of our LAMB School students who are in 3rd through 8th grade.   Our patrons who have been attending THE Young People's Theatre at LAMB productions have remarked about the depth of talent, the consistent professionalism and the rapid growth of these young people.   This show will be a testament to all of those.   It is a darling story with great music and high energy.  Playing without intermission, this hour long show is a great introduction to the magic of theatre for kids of all ages!

        

          As I said, this has been a very busy couple of weeks.   Our school's second semester  begins this week and if you or members of your family are interested in classes or lessons, email melissajames.lambschool@gmail.com or call us at 712-255-0536. CABARET, which runs in March, has been cast and the cast list is very impressive.   Director Russ Wooley is excited to present this show as it "has been on his list" for a very long time.  MOM-ologues has an incredible cast as well and will be ready to entertain in THE BOX beginning February 17 for two weekends. 

NOW FOR SOME FUN!   Anyone ever involved in LAMB:   actors, patrons, students, parents, teachers, ANYONE!   Do you have a special LAMB memory?   We are going to start collecting thoughts, stories, anecdotes, etc. and put together a TOP TEN LIST of LAMB Memories to share with everyone.   Have something to share?   Jot it in the comments section below or email me at diana.wooley@gmail.com and we will put it on the list.   This could be so much fun!   

         Hope to see you at The Musical Adventures of FLAT STANLEY opening this Friday at 7 p.m.

Have a great week---and think of something you would like to share....

Diana Guhin Wooley
CEO LAMB Arts Ltd
417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

I DO Believe in Miracles!

The last blog I wrote, although thankful for all the wonderful kindnesses and memories of actors, students, patrons through the past 32 years, I had a very "heavy heart".    Financially LAMB was struggling to the point of having to close her doors. (Yes, the "her" was intentional) Having to admit there is a problem is difficult for me.   I am the perennial Pollyanna.  I don't want anyone to know there is something that I can not do - or fix myself.   In other words, I HATE to reveal a problem and...even more...I HATE to ask for help.  But help was what was desperately needed.   Believe it or not, we wrestled with the idea of what would happen if we just couldn't continue.    Would LAMB be missed?  Had LAMB outlived her place in the Siouxland community? What would Russ and I do ourselves without the creative outlet of LAMB?  What ramifications/complications would there be in dissolving such a longtime institution?  We did the old pro and con comparison of closing our doors with that of trying to remain open.   We shared our thoughts with a few people and it became clear that no matter how difficult it would be for me personally, we would just have to ask for help.  As CEO, that was in my "job description".  Now that LAMB is a not for profit  organization, she is no longer "owned" by two...but "owned" by the Siouxland community at large. The decision to reveal the financial difficulties was not mine to conceal.   We knew that if we made a plea and if help came, LAMB was meant to survive and we would be charged with doing our very best to allow her to thrive into her fourth decade and beyond.

Well....as you may recall, I stated that $15,000 was needed prior to the end of December, with another $15,000 needed by the end of January.   I made the situation known on December 20. 

I DO Believe in Miracles!   

By the end of December, our supporters had raised $19,000!  This past Friday, only 18 days from when I revealed our financial challenges, we are only $4,311 away from our $30,000 goal!!!!   $25,689 has come in from over 20 different zip codes! As absolutely awesome this financial response has been, the comments/encouragement/best wishes/memories/thanks have been just as incredibly heartwarming.   I was wrong to even doubt the impact that LAMB has had in our community...and beyond.   LAMB still has a future worth fighting for.   We still have an important place to fill in our community.

Well.....we STILL need to come up with the final $4,311 in the next 21 days.   This $30,000 will allow LAMB to survive until our annual campaign in late spring, when we will be able to add the "thrive" to the "survive". 

Our community of LAMB Patrons are awesome!   We deeply appreciate your gifts.   We are heartened and encouraged by your support and encouragement. You are demonstrating to all of Siouxland that LAMB is meant to continue to offer high quality theatrical presentations and excellence in theatre arts learning experiences.  

We just need a "little more" in the Miracle department before January 31---and we are SO close!

If you are one of our angels....THANK YOU!   If you would like to be a part of that angelic group that is breathing new life into LAMB Theatre, please consider your gift today!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to respond to this blog and I will get back to you asap.
(The photo is from EVE'S ODDS, an opera presented by The LAMB School in January 2010---yup....those are angels there too!)

Diana Guhin Wooley
CEO LAMB Arts Ltd
417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103     712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

Merry Christmas --and don't forget LAMB this Holiday Season!

Happy Holidays to All Our LAMB Friends!

                You know...the greatest thing about holidays is that it really forces one to stop all regular activity and go into holiday mode-and in doing so, allows us to reflect and re-imagine what should and could be.  That is especially true this December.  

              We at LAMB are SO very thankful to our loyal friends--actors, directors, set designers, lighting designers, costumers, technicians, teachers, parents, students, patrons, volunteers, donors, cheerleaders, advertisers, collaborators, suppliers ...past and present.   In 32 years, that covers a HUGE territory!  It is so much fun to "run across" an old program or photo and reflect upon the shared experience of that production.   So many individuals have shaped LAMB into what it is today.....and we are so thankful for those influences.

         Many of you know that LAMB Arts Regional Theatre/School is facing extremely challenging times this December.   Not unlike what is causing other theatres across the country to close their doors, LAMB is in a serious crisis which can only be averted with the help of those who value what we have been able to bring to our community for the past 32 years. While many theatre organizations across the country are going out of business, the amount of financial help needed to get LAMB Theatre/School on a healthy footing is within reach.  We need your help to keep our creative environment alive in Siouxland. 

• LAMB Arts Regional Theatre is currently threatened with financial challenges that could cause our doors to close.

• We are struggling with paying for the very basics of services.
• This past fall’s achievements have been critically acclaimed, but haven’t financially been able to sustain day-to-day operations.
• While scary for us who are on the “front lines” at LAMB, the financial assistance needed to avert this crisis is not astronomical…it IS doable.

Last spring we held our very first annual campaign.   We are new to this nonprofit world and we thank you for your gifts. With the initial goal of $50,000, we were able to raise a little over a third of that amount or $17,143 in that effort.   That was extremely helpful in keeping us going for several months, but not enough to sustain us into the month of December and beyond until our next annual campaign.     The Board of Directors for LAMB has determined, as have all theatrical organizations throughout the nation, that theatre admissions and tuition are not enough to keep this type of operation in the black. No matter how skinny and tight we play it--- and we are playing it VERY tight--we are not able to pay our bills on ticket sales alone.   It takes support from loyal patrons, LIKE YOU, to keep the creative arts alive.   Our challenge is to keep this operation going by raising $30,000 by the end of January….with $15,000 of that needed immediately to keep our doors open to see the new year!  Raising that amount would keep us financially secure until we embark on our next annual campaign.  LAMB Arts Regional Theatre is totally a not for profit entity, donations may be made that can be reflected on your taxes.   Your tax professional is the best one to advise you on those details.

LAMB Theatre is a uniquely Siouxland institution and one that is respected and loved by people all over our country.   We have had students (numbering close to 4,000) who now live all over the United States and beyond, speak so highly of what they learned here and how the LAMB experience has enhanced their life.   We have had patrons who have moved away tell us that their new community doesn’t claim the talents and creativity that they found when they were able to attend LAMB on a regular basis.   We have been able to attract the attention of theatre/entertainment professionals from Chicago to New York to Los Angeles who are very much aware of us and appreciate our work and our work ethic. 

The amount of capital to start a new theatre is 20 times (at least) what is needed to get this institution on a healthy footing. But we don't need new.....We have a Great Theatre.   We have a Great School.   Let's Keep LAMB Alive in Siouxland!  

We need your help.   We need your help now.  Please consider making a donation TODAY, which will allow us to continue to operate into the future.   Contributions of $100, $500, $1000, $5000 or more are needed!   Your gift will be  greatly appreciated.   We will send you the form necessary to give your tax preparer for the 2011 tax year.  

LAMB Arts LTD Tax ID #20-3694629

Please feel free to call me with any questions or comments.  I will be checking my messages whenever I am away from the office, so please leave a message. 
I look forward to hearing from you.  Happy Holidays!

 
Diana Guhin Wooley CEO 
LAMB Arts Ltd 417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

One for the Memory Book!

              OK....it happened!   Mrs. Wooley totally lost her singing voice and ...you know the old adage:  "The show must go on!"    And on Friday night it did.   

                 What does one do when there are only 4 people in a cast....and it is a musical....and one of your actors has 'pulled' up with laryngitis?  This was certainly one for the memory books.   Friday night at warmups (6:30 p.m) it was apparent that this voice I have lived with for .....well, MANY years....was not going to be functioning.  Donny Short, musical and stage director extraordinaire, offered to be Vinnilly to my Minilly.   (or however that was spelled!).   At 7:00 (with the show starting at 7:30) it was decided that an announcement would be made that one of the actresses in the show was suffering from laryngitis and that it might be necessary for Donny to sing the songs for her.   Donny and I worked out signals to be used during the show for whatever needs my voice would have.....brushing my hands through my hair (just in time for him to take a breath) would indicate that the entire song would be his.   If I tugged on my ear Carol Burnett style during a song, it would mean that he was needed to come in as soon as possible.   We decided that I would continue lip-syncing so the audience would ignore (if possible) the man bopping up in the first row on the side and could stay connected to the plot line and characters onstage.   Donny was plenty busy except for a couple of times in the show.  I decided that it would be best for me to sing the silly Viagra song to my husband...no matter how bad it would come out...rather than have embarrassed Donny.   After all, who was doing WHO the favor! The other three actors--Amanda and Reed Gibson and Russ Wooley said that it was a totally surreal experience as they had this disjointed voice coming at them from the audience and this woman "lipping" the lyrics at them.   I was amazed at their professionalism in this challenging situation.  From reports from the audience, many stated that it was a really unusual experience that they would remember for a long time and that it certainly didn't detract from the overall production.  In fact, there was one couple that said they were excited that they had decided to come to this performance as it was such a unique one.  Several others stated that they stopped noticing that a male voice was coming out of a female body. (I wasn't sure HOW to take that comment.....)

               After talking to Cassie, our daughter in New York, she stated that the same thing had happened on Broadway with the great Linda Eder losing her voice during Jekyll and Hyde.   Emily Skinner(Next to Normal fame) sang for her as Linda acted the role.   So Donny....maybe instead of being Vinilli (who I don't know how to spell anyway) we can say you were Emily to my Linda.  

                 A big Thanks to Dr. Mike Jones, who was so kind as to prescribe some magic pills which allowed me to get through the last two performances last weekend. Thank you, Dr. Jones.  I am well on the way to recovery and look forward to really singing the last four performances of MARRIED ALIVE.   (Whoever said that theatre was dull and boring and repetitious.....never have seen that in 32 years!)

Now....Take Your Bow, Mr. Donny!   Thank you so much for "sharing your voice" with us---and especially for me.....last Friday!  

(Photo from Wizard of Oz.....I thought that at the very least I could try to keep Donny's privacy by not showing his true colors!  Take a bow...you little scarecrow you!)

DON'T MISS THE FINAL FOUR PERFORMANCES OF MARRIED ALIVE!   IT IS A BLAST!

Playing Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 (Dec. 15, 16, 17) and closing Sunday, Dec. 18 with a 1:30 matinee!   BOX OFFICE:  712-255-9536 or http://lambtheatre.com/current-show.html  for purchasing tickets online 24/7.

Diana Guhin Wooley
CEO LAMB Arts Ltd
417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com