Theatre news
“Nunsense” was an incredible run for the Jewel Box Theatre. We averaged a record-setting 91 seats per performance. To those who saw the show, thank you! — to those who could not get in, our regrets.
This has brought up the issue of making advance reservations. Usually, walk-ins have been able to attend most shows. However, as “Nunsense” demonstrated, that may not always be the case.
When one show closes, we begin taking reservations for the next show. Look at your calendar and call the theater early to be sure you get to see a show on the date of your choice. The Sunday matinees have been extremely popular. The 2007/2008 season will have two matinees per production and “Uh, Oh! Here Comes Christmas” will have three.
An advance reservation guarantees a seat. We have an open seating policy with no particular seating assignments. Season Pass holders receive discounted tickets, but still have to make seating reservations. We cannot guarantee seats for any performance when the shows are selling out. However, we do have a waiting list and try to accommodate as many people as we can. There can be only 120 people in the Jewel Box Theatre, including cast and crew.
Lastly I want to thank the many people who made the additional Sunday “Nunsense” show a reality. Once the cast, crew and musicians had agreed to come in on an additional Sunday, the work began. We arranged tickets and publicity, recruited front-of-house volunteers, notified our phone crew, changed our voice and Web info, and, of course, obtained sufficient show refreshments. It was all worth it — we sold out the Aug. 12 performance in just four days!
A tremendous THANK YOU! to our cast, crew, volunteers
and community audience.
Marilyn Miller
President of the Board, Jewel Box Theatre
Volunteers: The Lifeblood of JBT
Most people, even those who perform various events at the Jewel Box Theatre, don’t realize the incredible number of man hours that are spent putting on a production and running the theater. Here are the many ways in which the Jewel Box organization functions.
First, there is set design and construction. With a crew of three, that easily can take three or four hours a night plus some Saturdays before a production even opens. Then, there is light design preparation, which can run to eight hours or more. We also have a director, stage manager, cast and any assistants that may be needed. Rehearsals typically are scheduled for evenings and weekends for eight to 10 weeks before a show opens. Add in each show’s work by the artistic director and production manager, as well as the overall artistic management of the theater, such as selecting the shows, the directors, getting the rights, ordering scripts, helping locate props and costumes and meetings to coordinate all the elements.
Next, we have the nitty gritty bill paying to make sure we remain financially sound. We have to keep the physical theater clean and in good repair. The staffing of each show requires 55 people per run. They arrive at 6 p.m. and stay until the theater clears, often after 10:30 p.m. Supplies — whether they are for refreshments, restrooms, office or stage — all have to be ordered and often picked up and delivered.
We move on to the production of tickets, including the season passes, flexipass and complimentary passes for the crew of each show. (We also receive numerous requests from local groups for tickets for their fund-raising endeavors. These tickets have to be distributed to the outlets and each night the money must be collected and the tickets accounted for.)
We internally create content and design each show program, poster and mailer card. We hand deliver and distribute show posters and flyers throughout the local area. We publish a newsletter and postcard reminders six times a year that must be produced, printed and processed for mailing. In addition, we maintain a Web site and create an online newsletter that goes out to more than 600 subscribers every other week.
We also sponsor six children’s shows per year. Nearly 300 children and parents consistently attend these Saturday events. We are the only theater in North Kitsap to provide live theater for children. We also have a comedy improv troupe, a monthly poetry series and a storytelling ensemble.
All of this work and more is accomplished by an
incredible group of volunteers. There are no paid positions at Jewel Box
Theatre, but the camaraderie, sense of accomplishment when a production
opens and the great people that you associate with more than makes up
for monetary absence. We hope you’ll consider joining our “family.”
Marilyn Miller
President of Board, Jewel Box Theatre
The
Jewel Box Theatre understands that show parking on the downtown Poulsbo
streets can be troublesome. Although theater patrons often use the Poulsbo
Post Office parking lot during performances, please note that parking
spaces, especially handicapped spaces, are intended for Post Office customers.
Theater patrons using that parking lot need to be conscientious and allow
Post Office patrons close parking access. Signs will be posted for future
Jewel Box Theatre performances.
