#junctioncityks #clhooveroperahouse #arcadia #takemetotheoh #junctioncitylittletheater #livetheater #theatre #tomstoppard #communitytheater Junction City Little Theater is the longest-running community theater in Kansas and we are proud to house their office and to have them use our stage five times a year for their productions. The first JCLT show of 2023 is Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. I was excited to talk with Britain Stites, the director of Arcadia, and ask him a few questions. This is a new show for me so I was looking forward to learning more about the show before I see it during its closing weekend. (February 24-26, 2023) Q: This is your second show directing for JCLT. What do you love about theater? I enjoy the unpredictability of live theater. Even if (BIG IF) a show goes off without a hitch it will be different every night. Community theater highlights the community and the family, you create with a bunch of other people from all aspects, walks, and corners of life. Every show brings a new person or more into my life. Q: I completely agree. I love the fact that in community theater you can have a doctor, a stay-at-home mom, and a teacher acting together. What is your day job? By day I am the City Attorney for the City of Junction City. I've been with the City since January 2017. I represent and oversee all legal matters for the City. Q: You must be busy, and adding directing a show on that. It's like having two full-time jobs. This play must have spoken to you somehow. Why did you choose Arcadia? I debated between Arcadia and two others in my proposal to the JCLT Board. It feels cliche but Arcadia clicked and felt right at this time. It's different enough from my last show, A Few Good Men, in tone and themes. I didn't want to get pegged as only doing lawyer plays. Q: I can understand that, so did you see a production of Arcadia before deciding to direct it? No and yes. I perused online versions but I could not watch the whole thing due to my own vision. No local theater put it on too recently. Q: Then how did you get introduced to it? I only ask because before now, I had never heard of it. I went back and reread one of my college textbooks, "Beautiful Equations", a collection of short articles discussing various important mathematical or scientific equations including Chaos Theory. The theoretical ecologist Robert May wrote the article "The Best Possible Time To Be Alive" on Chaos Theory as well as the original scientific article for Arcadia. He cited a number of Valentine Coverly's scene 4 lines. Q: I love how theater shows up everywhere, even in textbooks about math and science! It shows how universal it is. What was the hardest part of directing this show? Casting. That's THE hardest part for me. You need to not only get the right person in the right role but you need to weigh the chemistry within the cast. Then you live and work with casting. I have no regrets and adore the casting in this show. Q: Having a good cast is tough but so important. You said that you "don't want to be pegged as only doing lawyer shows" if you could direct any show what would it be? To Kill A Mockingbird. As an attorney, it's a must-do after A Few Good Men. I just want the rights issue to settle down. Plus, I know I enjoy Aaron Sorkin's pace and dialogue. Q: (laughs) So a lawyer show! What about a Musical? Once. The Hansard & Inglova's music is hauntingly beautiful in that indie genre. I remember a group of friends and I saw the movie at the Liberty Hall theater in Lawrence. Q: I've never seen the movie Once, but I've listened to the Broadway cast recording and I agree, it's beautiful music and such an interesting story. What are your favorites? Play and Musical? RENT has a special place in my heart due to seeing it on Broadway with the original cast. I really like the story of The Crucible and love the resonant story it carries up to this day. Q: So, you like shows that make you think and discuss it afterward. What do you want the audience to take from Arcadia? Oh boy. This is a smart nuanced play. I hope the audience leaves entertained. I hope they leave evaluating the aspects of their lives and seeing the potential for interconnectedness compared to the separate "departments" of life. Q: What do you want the community to know about this play? If you miss this show then you're missing out. The stories it tells are compelling. It's funny and thought-provoking. I was blessed with an amazing cast embodying every character perfectly. The crew makes every technical, prop, audio, costume, and visual aspect come alive and propels the cast into their roles further. Make sure to check out JCLT's production of Arcadia this weekend at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City, Kansas. Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 PM Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 PM Sunday, Feb 26 at 2:00 PM

#JCOPERAHOUSE #JUNCTIONCITYKS #WICHITAWARDANCER We, as Kansans, have a long history with American Indians. Kansas, meaning “people of the south wind” from a Sioux word, was the original home to several tribes such as the Arapaho, Comanche, Kanza, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and Wichita. Historically, the American Indians were treated horribly, and there is nothing we can do to fix that, but we can empower them and make them feel more seen and accepted today. (3) In an article written by Christina Haswood, she tells us how we can achieve this. “First, it’s important to know the past and honor the sacrifices made for us Native peoples to be here today.” (4) Here is a SUPER brief history of our Native Friends: As early as 1803, President Thomas Jefferson proposed a plan that offered eastern tribes land west of the Mississippi River. This offer was extended to volunteers but proved unsuccessful. (1) In the 1820s, Kansas was permanently set aside as an Indian Territory by the US government and was closed to settlements by whites. Resettlement began to make room for eastern tribes to relocate to Kansas. The Kanza Nation ceded 20 million acres of their territory and was limited to a northeast Kansas reservation, and the Osage Nation was limited to a reservation in southeast Kansas. Although the federal government assured tribes that they would not be moved again, Kansas Territory opened for settlement in 1854 and forced the removal of native peoples. Both Kansas and Nebraska were re-designated as territories and opened to white settlement. Many settlers moved into Kansas Territory after the Civil War, accelerating the movement of Indians off the land. Some eastern and Midwestern tribes signed treaties agreeing to move onto reservations in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Kansas in exchange for undisputed ownership of the new lands. However, other tribes refused or resisted and were forcibly moved and killed by the U.S. Army. At that point, the vast majority of Kansas Indians, including many of the tribes originally native to the area, were forced to go through a second removal to Oklahoma in the late 19th century, where many still live today. However, four tribes are left in Kansas The Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas in Horton, Kansas Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska in White Cloud, Kansas Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Mayetta, Kansas Sac and Fox Nation in Brown County, Kansas (2) The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 was passed by Congress but left up to the states for enforcement until 1957. Many states prevented Natives from voting. It has been fewer than 100 years since Natives were granted citizenship and became able to exercise their voting rights. Yet, like many other marginalized groups, they are still fighting voter suppression across the U.S. (4) Patty Ferguson-Bohnee tells this story about how hard it was for her grandmother to be able to vote. “I will never forget the Navajo grandmother who spoke only Navajo and could not vote after Arizona passed its voter ID law in 2004. She tried several times to obtain an Arizona ID on her own but was denied because she was born at home in a hogan, and the boarding schools changed her Navajo name to English. She lived in a modest home on the Navajo Reservation without electricity, running water, and a traditional lifestyle taking care of her sheep. She was embarrassed and devastated when she turned away from the polls for not having an ID. Working with her, a team from the Indian Legal Clinic traveled five hours to meet her at multiple agency offices to obtain her delayed birth certificate; we then went to two separate Motor Vehicle Division Offices. The first one did not issue same-day photo IDs, and the other initially denied her request. The office rejected her delayed Navajo birth certificate until I could intervene and demonstrate to them that it was an acceptable document. The system failed to consider her reality as a Navajo woman and failed to value her as a voter. Fortunately, she was persistent in exercising her right to vote, but not all voters are, nor should they have to be.” (5) Things are looking up. On November 24, 2020, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Proclaimed November as National American Indian Heritage Month. “This type of recognition from our leaders makes us feel seen and accepted but shows a lot more work needs to be done.” -Christina Haswood “The efforts of Native American representation and inclusion have improved since I was in the K-12 public school. The future holds more work, but it is bright for Native folks. We are too often forgotten in the data and decision-making tables. A wave of momentum is changing that as more Natives file for office, the youth mobilize their voices for change, and communities celebrate their diversity. Native Americans in Kansas will continue to be resilient and honor the sacrifices of our ancestors.” (4) How can we learn about the past other than by looking things up on Google? Well, this Friday, November 4th, Wichita War Dancer will be in the Opera House at 6 pm. Wichita War Dancer is a Professional Native American performer specializing in education and the preservation of cultural dance. This will be a perfect place and opportunity to learn more about our Native Friends. This is a FREE event thanks to a grant from Humanities Kansas. Come out and celebrate and learn OUR history. Sources: https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/american-indians-in-kansas/17881 https://legendsofkansas.com/kansas-indians/ https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Indigenous_Peoples_of_Kansas https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/12/native-americans-in-kansas-have-a-bright-future/ https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/voting-rights/how-the-native-american-vote-continues-to-be-suppressed/

#jcoperahouse #hauntedtheaters #Halloween #junctioncityks If you are a theater person or know theater people, you know that they are a superstitious lot. Such as saying "Break a Leg" instead of "Good Luck" (they believe it's bad luck), don't whistle backstage (it used to confuse the stagehands), and NEVER say The Scottish Play. If you need to learn about the Scottish play, you can check out the blog from last week. But there is one superstition that has proven helpful for modern theater. The Ghostlight is a single bulb left on whenever the theater is dark. It's believed that the ghost light is left on in case the resident ghost wants to use the stage. Some say it's to chase away the spirits from the stage. In reality, it's there, so no one takes a tumble off the stage. The theater is pitch black when everything is turned off, and the edge of the stage can go right into the orchestra pit so that it could be perilous. But let's be honest, theater folks would still use the ghost light even if it didn't have a modern explanation. Another superstition is that every theater has a ghost. We attend the theater for all kinds of thrills - suspense, romance, and unexpected plot twists. But theaters themselves, with their long histories of players, staff, and patrons coming and going, are the stuff of legend. It could be because the buildings tend to be old and creaky. Either way, here are some haunted theaters around the world... New York City The Belasco Theatre in New York City is haunted by the one-time owner, David Belasco. Belasco loved theater so much that he spent nearly every waking hour at the theatre, writing, managing, or directing his plays. His apartment was even above the theater! Shortly after he died in 1913, he began to show up around the theater. He is said to be one of the most alive-looking theater ghosts. Actors stepped out on stage and noticed a lone, dark figure sitting on the balcony, watching. The ghost has a voice, too. He has been known to walk right up to actors, shake their hands and tell them they did a fine job at a performance. Veteran actors look forward to seeing Belasco; seeing him is a good omen. If you're interested in The Belasco Theater, check out this 7-minute video. Los Angeles California The Warner (Pacific) Theater is in Los Angeles and is allegedly haunted by Sam Warner of Warner Bros Pictures. Warner died of pneumonia a day before the film he had been working on - the "Jazz Singer" premiered. Warner is said to use the elevator until it stopped working in 1994. He has also been blamed for things going missing, only turning up in different locations hours or days later. Lincoln, Illinois The Lincoln Theater in Illinois has had stories about hauntings since the 1930s. The most famous ghost is named "Red." During the vaudeville days of the theater, Red was a stagehand and was devoted entirely to the theater. So devoted that he never left the theater. He sat down after lunch to nap and never woke up. Over the years, dozens of witnesses have reported strange sounds and footsteps in the otherwise empty theater, and these are sounds that cannot be explained away as simply the theater's acoustics. Paris, France The Paris Opera in France found a mysterious apartment and a male corpse were found. Yep, The Phantom of the Opera is rooted in legend! However, there haven't been any Phantom sightings. Instead, the theater's resident ghost is a woman that committed suicide in the 19th century and is said to roam the streets outside the Opera House in search of the man who jilted her. London, England The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is the most famous haunted theater. The "man in gray" is reported wearing riding boots, a powdered wig, and a tricorn hat. The story goes that the apparition is the spirit whose skeletal remains were found in a walled-up passageway in the late 19th century. If you want to know more about Drury Lane, watch this video... Junction City, Kansas The C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City, Kansas, has a resident ghost that lives in the bell tower. The staff calls her "Isabella." When Junction City Little Theater was housed in the building on 18th street, there was a rumor that Bettina Coover (one of the founders) haunted the building. When JCLT moved to the Opera House, Bettina followed. Whether that be true or not, strange things happened, such as money being taken and then found days later in the same place it was left. People have reported feeling the temperature drastically drop when they go down in the basement and have felt the presence of a spirit. It has been said that you can see spirits in the rehearsal hall windows toward the last few days in October. Sources: https://playbill.com/article/the-real-life-ghost-stories-behind-broadways-9-haunted-theatres https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2020/10/31/haunted-theatres/ https://www.hauntedillinois.com/realhauntedplaces/lincoln-theater.php https://www.theatrecrafts.com/pages/home/topics/stage-management/theatre-ghosts-superstitions/ https://www.budgettravel.com/article/budget-travel-halloween-ideas-haunted-theaters_12566

Mark as Starred WANNA GO TO BROADWAY WITH US??? ​ At the C.L. Hoover Opera House, we present top-class performances across various artistic genres. Our schedule is jam-packed with exciting shows sure to entertain all ages. What's next for the Opera House?

Wanna Go to Broadway? Immersive Broadway Adventure with the C.L. Hoover Opera House in celebration of our 125 anniversary season! During our Broadway adventure, you'll enjoy Front Orchestra seats at three Broadway shows of your choice. You will connect and engage with cast members and Broadway movers and shakers. In addition, you will have exclusive access to Broadway's most beautiful theatres - and much more! Thursday, September 14th - Sunday, September 17th 2023 Our host hotel for the duration of the tour will be the legendary, historic Knickerbocker Hotel, a NYC landmark located at 42nd St. & Broadway. Here, you'll enjoy being steps away from the Theatre District, Bryant Park, and the Knickerbocker's spectacular rooftop bar overlooking Times Square. Thursday, September 14th Day 1 We will gather in a private space at the hotel, bringing together, for the first time in New York, the executive staff, board members, patrons, and friends of the Opera House. Then it's on to a Welcome Dinner, with complimentary drinks, in a fine Theatre District restaurant. We will be joined by a mover and shaker of the Broadway community. Tonight, you will see the first Broadway show of your choice, from Front Orchestra seats. In order for you to make your show choices, we will send you a list and description of all Broadway shows! Friday, September 15th Day 2 Transport by private coach A private visit to the Art Nouveau New Amsterdam Theatre, a Beaux Arts architectural gem is first on our agenda for Day 2. Our visit will be hosted by Disney Theatricals and led by the person instrumental in saving the theatre from demolition. Next, we'll explore the Renaissance of 42nd St, led by the person in large part responsible for preventing the demolition of six 42nd St. theatres. Visit The Players, our country’s most prestigious private club for people in the theatre – located in a mid-1800s townhouse designed by Stanford White. Take a stroll around Gramercy Park, New York’s only private park, with its mid-19th Century brownstone mansions. Tonight, you will see a second Broadway show of your choice, from Front Orchestra seats Saturday, September 16th Day 3 An exclusive experience for our very special guests: An entertainment salon and discussion with three principal Broadway cast members, each from a different hit musical, accompanied on the piano by the keyboardist and assistant conductor of “Wicked.” Exploration of the Theatre District, led by the person in large part responsible for the NYC landmark designations of 35 Broadway theatres. This afternoon, explore New York on your own - and possibly take in an additional Broadway show This evening, see another Broadway show of your choice, followed by a post-theatre reception at a NYC nightspot, with unlimited drinks, featuring informal conversations with a mover and shaker of the Broadway community. Sunday, September 17th Day 4 As a prelude to our visit to the Museum of Broadway, we will have an immersive discussion with a leading Broadway historian, who will guide us through Broadway’s history, including the year our Opera House opened its doors. Visit the newly opened Museum of Broadway, which celebrates Broadway’s pivotal moments. We will have a private discussion with one of the museum’s founding staff members Lunch, with complimentary drinks, will be served in the National Arts Club, located in one of New York’s most beautiful Victorian townhouses. After lunch, we will follow the history of skyscrapers, in plain sight around Madison Square, with the 1902 Flatiron Building, the 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Building, the 1928 New York Life Building, and the 1931 Empire State Building Our NYC Hosts Joseph Rosenberg, Ph. D., Founder and President of V.I.P. Tours of New York; Cofounder of NYC Historic Districts Council; Co-founder of Save the Theatres Inc.; Principal advisor, the Showpeople’s Committee to Save Radio City Music Hall; Board Member, League of Historic American Theatres; NYC licensed tour guide. Alejandro Almaguer, Executive Director, V.I.P. Tours of New York; B.A. Economics, University of Havana; M.S. in Tourism and Travel Management, NYU School of Professional Studies, Dean’s Scholar; NYC Licensed Tour Guide. I'm ready to register! If you have questions or want more information, contact Sheila Markley at the C.L. Opera House: sheilajmarkey@gmail.com

FRIENDS OF THE OPERA HOUSE ​ Greetings from the C.L. Hoover Opera House! What an exciting year it’s been for the Opera House. The Opera House is becoming well-known as a beacon of the cultural arts in this region. In addition, we are welcoming an increase in our use and awareness as a community event venue. Our future is bright. Have you attended some fantastic shows at the C.L. Hoover Opera House? Have you thought about supporting this amazing venue, right here in your own community? Don’t put it off another minute - let’s keep a good thing going! This is your invitation to join us as a Friend of the Opera H ouse for this Season. Your support, right now, is necessary for the upcoming season. 100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to support the Opera House. It is our goal to grow our number of Friends of the Opera House to 100 members. We recognize our donors on our website and in each of our show’s programs throughout the season. We want to include YOUR NAME! ​ Our donation levels are: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ($10,000+) PRODUCER ($5,000+) ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (1,000+) DIRECTOR ($500+) STAR ($250+) ACTOR ($100+) STAGE MANAGER ($50+) STAGEHAND ($1-$49) ​ To contribute by check, make out your check to CL Hoover Opera House and send to: Friends of the Opera House PO Box 3005 Junction City, KS 66441 We look forward to having YOU on board this season! Joe and Sheila Markley, Directors ​ ​ ​ Thank you to our 2021-2022 Friends of the Opera House ​ EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ($10,000+) Central Charities Bramlage R2B4 Foundation Jellison Benevolent Society Sue & David Lauseng Josephine & Ruth Rago Eunice Rolfs Weary Foundation PRODUCER ($5,000+) Crosby Family Foundation Shelia Burdett ​ ​ ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ($1,000+) Mary Devin Reginald and Regina Eggleston Hoover-Koken Foundation Edie and Michael "MJ" Hoyte Hampton Inn Margaret Kilpatrick Lisa Deibler-Miller Nicole Printz Karen Salyers Patti and Gery Schoenrock Betty Waters John York Florence Whitebread ​ ​ Director ($500+) Dotty Blacker Chris and Randy Heldstab Ann and Justin Hoover J.C. Noon Kiwanis Club Kollhoff Pharmacy Helen and John Kovac LaVeta and Charles Horner Pat and Kelly Landes Betty and Stan Lewis Sheila and Joe Markley Chris and Robert Munson Lisa and Leon Osbourn Noel and Judy Park Calvin and Shari Pottberg Kay Schmidt John and Kathy Triplett Donald Wolf Janette and Doug Vogelsang ​ ​ STAR ($250+) Anonymous Ellie and Ken Dillon Jackie Burgoon Sally Jardine Nellie and Chuck Mowry Mary Kay Munson Rick Munson Peterson Monuments & Designs, Inc Kent and Lynn Stuckey Stuart Workman ​ ​ ACTOR ($100+) Anonymous Leslie and Curtis Blount Alva Bowyer Vicky Budinas Gaylynn Childs Barbara Craft Michelle and Lance Custer Sally and Mark Edwards Paula and Allen Dinkel Diana Dowling Lisa Eickholt Dr. Todd and Sue Frieze Phyllis and Buck Gibson LaDonna Junghans GlenNora Jung In honor of Pat and Kelly Landes Ronna Larson Karen and Steve Locke John and Susan Moyer Janet and Gene Parrish Mary and Don Rickley Sheila and Mike Ritchie Steve and Angie Roesler Phyllis and Francis Sanders Rebecca Sanders Twin Valley Communications David Walker ​ STAGE MANAGER ($25+) Anonymous Tricia Austin Peggy Bennett Alva Bowyer Linda and Tom Brungardt Ron Coryell Vickie Cramer Janet and Chip Edwards Phyllis Fitzgerald Lois and Frank Galiher Peggy and Terry Heldstab Collette Matthews Tom Maurer Bruce McMillan Mary Kay Munson Dr. Teran and Tiffany Naccarato Carol and Bill Powers Judy Rosa Donna Weeks Zita West ​ ​ STAGEHAND ($1-$25) Anonymous Allyson Driscoll Beverly Greenwood Harold and Susan Jagerson Robert and Jane Mackey Richard Mathes Kathryn Mead Eunice Polgreen Alvin and Helen Simpler Pat Weber Carolyn Zumbrunn Become a Friend!