News & Announcements
May 30, 2008 And next year's Burns Park Show is . . . Annie Get Your Gun!
I am thrilled to pass on the news: The Burns Park Players Board met last night and finalized a show and director for 2009!
We are very excited to put on this fun, sassy, upbeat show which is chock-full of fabulous songs including "There's No Business Like Show Business", "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly", "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun", "They Say It's Wonderful", and "Anything You Can Do.".
We are also so pleased to welcome a new director, Courtney Burkett, to our group. Courtney has an extensive background in the theater and is moving to Burns Park later this month with her husband, Adam, and 2.5 year old son, Hudson. She trained at the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University where she earned her B.F.A. in performance and later attended Wayne State University's Hilberry Theatre Management Program where she received her M.F.A.. Courtney has taught and directed theater in both professional and educational settings and she is very excited to work with our group and get to know her new neighbors!
On the Board of Directors front, Kathy Koehler and I counted (and recounted) the ballots and the three new members will be Tom Bourque, Aprille McKay, and Jay Pekala. Thank you to all for participating in this process.
There are many creative behind-the-scenes roles still to be filled for next year's show including crew heads for costumes, props and sets; if you, or someone you know, might be interested in learning more about this, or if you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to contact our producers (producers@burnsparkplayers.org).
Have a wonderful summer.
Cheers!
Eva Rosenwald
Corresponding Secretary, on behalf of the BPP Board
April 30, 2008 Susan Hurwitz's Resignation as Executive Producer
I am taking this opportunity to formally resign as Producer for the Burns Park Players, a position I have held since 1989. Over these 19 years it has been my pleasure to learn about musical theater, become deeply involved in our community, meet many wonderful people and produce 20 musicals and 2 plays. Being involved in the Burns Park Players has provided a thorough and extensive training and education about all aspects of theater, and I have gained deep satisfaction as I've watched our group grow both in size and stature. When I joined the group in 1989, it was small, involving perhaps 25 people and our shows were small, as well, and fairly primitive.
Over these years, we have moved our performances to Tappan from Burns Park, and improved the overall quality of our shows to the point where they are highly regarded by local theater professionals (ie Brent Wagner, Chair of the UM Musical Theatre Department, Michelle Mountain, director and actor with Purple Rose Theatre Company) and compare favorably with high level local productions, even some professional ones. All the while, we have fulfilled our mission to provide adults in our neighborhood the opportunity to have fun putting on shows, as well as our commitment to providing families a rare opportunity to participate in musical theater together.
In fulfilling other main component of our mission, we have been able to donate over $225,000 to performing-arts related projects in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. In terms of artistic standards, community enhancement, social responsibility and family enrichment, I believe the Burns Park Players and all of its members, past and present, have much of which to be proud. I have been fortunate to have made good and lasting friendships, work with wonderful volunteers, as well as watch first graders participate in their first BPP show and then years later, return as adult members of the cast; all very satisfying benefits.
Though I am stepping away as Producer for the group, my heart will always be filled with so many warm BPP memories.
Best wishes,
Susan Hurwitz
May 3, 2008 Burns Park Players Board's Response to Susan Hurwitz
Dear Susan,
". . . parting is such sweet sorrow."
These famous words from the Bard describe the sentiment of the members of the Burns Park Players and Board in accepting your letter of resignation. It is sweet because it provides us the opportunity to recognize the wonderful work you performed during the last 19 years. You were instrumental in growing the BPP from its start as a loosely organized fund-raiser to the unique and highly respected community theater group that we benefit from today. It is sweet because it marks the maturity of the Burn Park Players as an organization as we begin the transition of production leadership.
But there is also sorrow. Many BPP members moved on after their children "graduated" to middle school - some stayed - but no one presence has been more consistent than 'our producer, Susan Hurwitz.' We will miss you - we will miss your drive, guidance and your commitment to our productions. We are sorry to see you go but we also realize there is a time for everything and everyone.
Your great work will continue and we will continue to benefit from your efforts. We know you are now producing shows with high school students at Pioneer High School. In this role many of the skills you acquired during your 19 years with BPP will be put to good use and many of the children who performed as elementary students will have the opportunity to learn and enjoy musical theater first hand.
The Board has begun the process of transition and a new chapter in the wonderful story of the Burns Park Players will be written. But, before we begin writing it we should say one final thank you and wish you well on your own next chapter.
Signed by the BPP Board
May 5, 2008 Production Team Responsibilities
This year's production team will be composed of Sara Meingast, Kathy Koehler, Catherine McCurrach and Helen Starman. Their individual responsibilities are summarized in this document.
May 6, 2008 Burns Park Players Spring Membership Meeting
Our annual Spring meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Burns Park School library. The agenda will include board elections for two-year terms. If you are interested in running for the board, or if you wish to nominate another member, please forward nominations to Eva Rosenwald (taywald@gmail.com) by Friday, May 2.
We also will review the financial statement from Beauty and the Beast and proposed disbursement of funds to various performing arts organizations within, or related to, the AAPS. And finally our new producers will report on their progress in putting together next year's yet-to-be determined show. There are many creative behind-the-scenes roles still to be filled for next year's show including crew heads for costumes and sets; if you, or someone you know, might be interested in learning more about this, be sure to come to the meeting.