A Letter from the Artistic Director

February, 2012

Happy February everyone! The month for Sweethearts, Presidents, Black History, a Ground Hog, Ashes, the Super Bowl, and more Primaries and Caucuses than you can wave a campaign yard sign at!

And things are just as busy here at The Rep as we’re well into rehearsals for our April Main Stage production of Bordertown Café. But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve got our sold out February 11th Edgy Rep Reading of In a Dark Dark House, and then there’s the auditions for two more Edgy Rep Readings, A Number and Becky Shaw, and of course the upcoming Young Rep (ages 6-13) production of The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet running February 24th through 26th. All I can say is thank goodness this year we get that extra day in February!

But not to fear, we’re even putting that extra day to good use as well. On Wednesday February 29th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm it’s Toledo Rep Night at the Oregon Buffalo Wild Wings. Ten percent of your food bill that evening, (and that evening only) will be donated to The Toledo Rep. But you must bring this coupon/voucher thingy with you that evening. So on Wednesday, February 29th leap on in to the Oregon Buffalo Wild Wings with your appetite, your wallet, your purse, (or man purse) and several friends! We thank Buffalo Wild Wings for their generosity and we thank you in advance for promising to run up one of your highest food bills in recent history, all to help your local friendly thespians.

And while we’re thanking people, I want to take a moment to send a special shout out to our theatre photographer Norman Freelan for his superb work with our production shots this year. Norman travels from quite a distance to take the pictures you often see in the local newspapers and I want Norman to know just how much we appreciate his fine work. We’re lucky to have you on board Norman. If I could I would buy you a pony. But I don’t have that kind of money and I don’t know if you’re even allowed to have a pony where you live so it’s really a moot point.

And finally, a special thank you to our audience. Our numbers are consistently moving in the right direction. And with our most recent production of Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 we hit nearly 80% of our capacity, up from 55% capacity last year at this time. That’s nothing to sneeze at. And as you know January and February are two months that you’ll usually see lots of sneezing.

Okay, one more thanks while we’re at it, to those of you who took part in City Paper’s recent “Best of” polling, and voted your Toledo Rep as your choice for the best local live theatre group. We’re grateful for your vote and we hope we won’t let you down.

While everything on our website is certainly worth a visit please make a special effort to check out Running for The Rep, Volunteers, and Auditions.

You know many folks have asked me when we’re announcing our 80th Anniversary 2012-2013 Season. We are so close to putting the final touches on our selections, and as soon as all of our ducks get in their respective row, then we’ll announce. But it’s gonna be big, believe me. If it weren’t big we wouldn’t be lining up ducks before we announce our season. I don’t know what I meant by that.

Kind Regards,

Steve