Thursday July 20, 2023

For Those Attending in Person

Buffet Lunch

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

(Link Sent Thursday Morning)

At

 

Club #25’s Resident Physicist

 

Get your subatomic wrenches ready! Allen Anway will dazzle the assembly with a presentation about why it matters that subatomic particles exist and how they interact—and how that changes everything.

 

 

By Patra Sevastiades

 

What do the late-greats Cecil B. DeMille, Walt Disney, and Luciano Pavarotti all have in common? They were all Rotarians involved in the business of entertainment! Today’s luncheon celebrated the power of one particular type of entertainment, live theatre, in Duluth.
 

President Gary Melander opened the lively meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary 4-Way Test.

 

Vinod Gupta delivered the Reflection. “Why don’t affirmations work?” someone recently asked him. By way of answer, Vinod shared a story. After a six-month spell of no rain, several people decided to perform a rain dance. Sure enough, it began to rain! But only one person had believed enough to bring an umbrella. Vinod concluded, “You have to believe an affirmation will work”—or it won’t.

 

Vinod Gupta reminds us of the importance of belief.

 

David Greenberg of Midwest Communications, the guest of Past Assistant Governor Al Makynen, was welcomed, as were Carla and Allie Melander, guests of President Gary Melander.

 

President Gary Melander announced that next week’s speaker will be Allen Anway, speaking on the topic, “So You Want to be a Quantum Mechanic?”

 

Chair of the day Rob Hofmann introduced today’s speakers, Wes Drummond, Executive Director, and Phillip Fazio, Producing Artistic Director, of the Duluth Playhouse. The two leaders share a love of theatre and a strong business sense, meaning that the Duluth Playhouse is thriving financially even as some top-tier theatres have faced closure.

 

Chair of the day Rob Hofmann introduces the speakers from the Duluth Playhouse.

 

Phillip Fazio and Wes Drummond share the magic behind the Duluth Playhouse’s success: hard work, creativity, financial know-how, community support

 

Wes and Phil shared the newly announced 2023-2024 season:

 

The Youth Theatre will have three shows: “Addams Family” (August), “Anything Goes” (fall), and “Finding Nemo” (spring).

 

The Underground, which produces smaller, more experimental works, is moving from the Depot to a “The Lab” – a black box” space in the NorShor Theatre in which seating can be easily reconfigured. (This is an exciting relocation. It means that all Duluth Playhouse performances will be performed in the NorShor Theatre!) Audiences are invited to see “Misery” by Stephen King (October), “Constellation” (spring), and the “What She Said Festival” (May).

 

The Main Stage will open its season with “Young Frankenstein” (fall), followed by “The Sound of Music” (December), “Murder on the Orient Express” (January), “Next to Normal” (spring), “Peter and the Star Catcher” (May), and the new musical, “Nine to Five” (July).

 

Then it was time for Q&A.

 

“Do you have to wear kinky books if you’re going to attend ‘Kinky Boots’?” Vinod Gupta asked, to much laughter.

 

“How do you choose which shows to produce?” asked Past President Chana Stocke. Each January, they survey the community seeking ideas, which nets 1,000 submissions. The artistic staff whittles that down to 20-30 shows, prepares thumbnail descriptions and a video clip of each show, and sends the short list to the Duluth Playhouse staff, board of directors, and local artists for feedback. That yields a tentative list. The staff determines which shows are available to produce, and the list is finalized.

 

“Who is ‘the community’? I haven’t received a survey!” quipped Past President Dean Casperson. To join “the community”, all Rotarians were graciously invited to follow the Duluth Playhouse on social media, or to sign up for the Duluth Playhouse’s email (use this link: https://duluthplayhouse.org/email-sign-up/).

 

“Do you put out a call for actors?” asked Past President Barb Perrella. Yes! They post announcements for auditions on social media and send the information to local artists’ groups. Actors are to bring a resume and a headshot and to perform one minute of a song in the style of the show.

 

“Are your actors paid?” asked Past President Chana Stocke. Yes, all who appear on stage are paid. This was an important change introduced by former Executive and Artistic Director Christine Gradl Seitz.

 

“Broadway has not rebounded yet from Covid-19,” noted Rob Hofmann. “Has the Playhouse?” It mostly has, thanks to strong community support and grants help from the State of Minnesota.

 

“Are there any volunteer positions?” asked Past President Chana Stocke. Yes, 1,200 every season: ushers, shop technicians, costume technicians, etc. Call the box office (218-733-7555) and ask them. In August, the updated Playhouse website will also provide volunteer information.

 

Past President Sandy Hoff, who serves on the Playhouse Board of Directors, said, “Congratulations, you two! You have taken the Playhouse to a whole new level, even beyond what Christine made possible. You’ve purchased housing for visiting artists and purchased a building. It eliminates the need to rent spaces in 7 locations; serves as a space that nonprofits can rent; creates a space to use for summer camp; and increases the storage space, allowing the Playhouse to keep and reuse elements of the sets, thus decreasing costs.  The organization is extremely financially sound!”

 

President Gary Melander noted that he had the pleasure of touring the space. It was impressive.

 

Jon Ohman won the 50/50 drawing.

 

Overheard after the meeting: Past President Barb Perrella, contemplating the idea of Rotarians serving as ushers at the Playhouse, recalled, “I used to be the Head Usher at the Minnesota Orchestra, overseeing 120 ushers!”