Membership Meeting Dec. 2

Altoona Community Theatre will hold a General Meeting Friday, December 2, at 7 p.m. in the ACT Rehearsal Hall, located downtown at 1213 12th Street. Anyone interested in any aspect of the theatre is welcome to attend whether or not they have previous experience or prior participation with ACT.

At the meeting, ACT Operations Manager Steven C. Helsel will discuss the troupe’s February production of “On Golden Pond,” which will be auditioned Sunday and Monday, December 11 and 12. There also will be special entertainment and refreshments after the meeting.

"On Golden Pond" Auditions Dec. 11-12

Auditions for ACT's February production of "On Golden Pond" will be Sunday and Monday, December 11 and 12, at the ACT Rehearsal Hall. ACT Operations Manager Steven C. Helsel is directing the light-hearted family drama which debuted on Broadway in 1979 but is best known for its subsequent film starring Henry and Jane Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. ACT's production is sponsored by First National Bank and The Wolf-Kuhn Foundation.

Written by Ernest Thompson, "On Golden Pond" focuses on an couple in their twilight years, Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on a lake in Maine. Shortly after arriving this particular summer, the couple is visited by their daughter, Chelsea, with her fiancé, Bill, and his 13-year-old son in tow. Chelsea and her father have often shared a turbulent relationship, but she's arrived to ask if her parents would look after Billy while she and Bill go to Europe. Although reluctant, they agree.

Over the next month (much of it spent fishing), Norman and the boy become friends. Chelsea returns to reveal she and Bill have gotten married, and old wounds about her general sense of irresponsibility re-surface, but by the end of the show -- following a brief heart-attack scare by Norman -- daughter and father have reconciled and the parents have agreed to visit her in California.

The cast requires three men, two women and one 13-year-old boy: All roles are open and previous experience is not necessary to audition.

* NORMAN THAYER JR. -- In his 70s; on one hand boyish and peppery, having retained his vigor and humor, but (at the same time) grand, with a mannered way of speaking and carrying himself, and also frail, showing signs of the future ahead.

* ETHEL THAYER -- Upper 60s, still energetic, full of common sense and comfortable in old jeans and a jacket. After decades of marriage to Norman, able to manage his moods and run interference when he's less than charming.

* CHELSEA THAYER WAYNE -- Late 30s or early 40s, self-assured except with her father, when a nervous edginess takes over.

* BILL RAY -- 40s, a dentist, attractive, well-dressed, a tad self-serious but with a good sense of humor when he remembers to use is and doesn't push it; a little rattled at meeting Chelsea's parents.

* BILLY RAY JR. -- 13, flippant (but primarily to cover his awkwardness), eager, bright but slouches and puts on an act.

* CHARLIE MARTIN -- The local mailman who delivers his postal route to lake dwellers by boat. Jovial with smiling eyes and a constant laugh, Charmingly rustic and simple, but not "deficient."

Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Perusal copies are available at the ACT office. In addition, boys auditioning for Billy Ray Jr. are asked to memorize and prepare a short age-appropriate monologue no longer than one minute in length (of your own choosing or contact the ACT office for one to be provided). There will be one rehearsal before the holidays. Regular rehearsals will begin the first week in January. Performances are February 16 to 19.

A read-through of the script for anyone interested in auditioning (or anyone not auditioning!) will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 11, in the ACT rehearsal hall. This is simply an opportunity for people to get acquainted with the script -- whether or not someone participates in the reading will have no affect on their chances of being cast.