The Barre Players are a changing
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By Jim Lowe Times Argus Staff - Published: February 4, 2010
MONTPELIER – Will the Barre Players survive?
The new board is making changes in the longtime central Vermont community theater, known for its musicals at the Barre Opera House, aimed to revive it after a period of decline.
"We're trying to rebuild a theater group which has been around for 38 years that hasn't adjusted itself with the times," explained Charlie Cerutti, the new board president. Cerutti himself has performed in Barre Players musicals since he was a teen, some 30 shows he estimates.
The new board is holding an organizational meeting, open to all interested, on Friday, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier. The group plans to mount a production of the ever-popular musical "Grease" at the Barre Opera House in early May. Cerutti and Linda Winter, the board's treasurer, will co-direct.
"We're looking for costume and set designers, choreographer, and stage help," Cerutti said.
The board is also planning to change the name of the group, which may prove controversial after such a long history.
"We are no longer the Barre Players," Jane Napier, the new vice president, said. "We're changing the name to broaden the scope a bit – Central Vermont Community Theater (CVCT). People are more likely to give to a group that is central Vermont than just Barre."
The Barre Players have had serious money problems, and have not presented a big musical in several years. They have, however, mounted performances of the smaller cult musical, "Rocky Horror Show" recently.
"We had all the costumes so we did it to get some fast money to pay bills," Winter said. "We did accomplish it, but we now need to move forward."
But, in order to flourish both financially and theatrically, the organization needs to broaden its base.
"My vision of our organization is to be for the capital city area what the Lyric Theatre is to Burlington," West said, referring to the state's largest community theater which presents annual musicals at Burlington's Flynn Center.
"If you go to a production there, there's so much support from every business," West said. "It's amazing what they can do because they have the means we don't. We have to adapt, be a little more hip."
To do that, the company is seeking new blood – actors and stage people – and the board, now numbering eight, is open to new members;
"We would like to have 12," Cerutti said, noting that current members are fans of musicals.
"It would be great to have four people that say we love something more serious," Cerutti said. "The board, as we are now, is ready to go here or there. If someone came in and said, I want to do this, we'd say let's do it, whatever it might be."
The board has great hopes for Friday's meeting.
"We will discuss the name change, the new structuring of the group, and what we need to put 'Grease' on stage this May," Napier said. "The public is encouraged to come find out the latest and how they can help."
For information about CVCT, people can call or e-mail Charlie Cerutti, 223-0214 (cvqcerutti@yahoo.com); Linda West, 249-0414 (lmw2452@myfairpoint.net); or Jane Napier (jnapier@yahoo.com).
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