Patrons and fundraising events Grease the wheels of opera’s Carousel adventure
IT might be seasonably cold in the Royal and Ancient Burgh, but for some townsfolk June is Bustin’ Out All Over as Selkirk Opera signals the run-up to this year’s production – Carousel, writes Andrew Keddie.
That’s just one of the classic songs from the hit Rogers and Hammerstein musical which also features When The Children Are Asleep and the truly unforgettable You’ll Never Walk Alone.
The cast and first-time director Karen McKenna have been working tirelessly during the past few months to prepare for the opening night in the Victoria Halls on Tuesday, February 28, and she is delighted with the progress made so far. Musical director Nancy Muir has once again been putting the singers through their paces and Michelle Douglas from Kelso is choreographing. This is Michelle’s first time with Selkirk Opera and her routines have chimed perfectly with the dancers in the society.
A huge emphasis this year has been put on fundraising, as society president Alistair Pattullo explained.
“Like so many other companies in the Borders, Selkirk is struggling with the expense of putting on a spectacular musical show each year,” he told The Wee Paper.
He went on: “With costs running at about £17,000 per show, it has been necessary in recent years to dip into company funds, but obviously there’s a limit to how often this can be done and Selkirk is reaching the stage – no pun intended – where this will no longer be feasible.
“Ticket sales and advertising account for a considerable part of our income, but it’s just not enough to pay for a show.
“With this in mind we’ve had a big push this year to recruit more patrons who are a great asset to the company.”
Patrons will receive a voucher for free drinks on show nights, and get their first chance to buy tickets at tomorrow’s coffee morning which starts in the Parish Church Hall at 10am.
Alistair added: “Everyone is welcome to the coffee morning to come and be entertained by the company who will be singing songs from Carousel at various times during the event.”
There is also a big fundraiser for the society – a Grease sing-along night in the County Hotel on Saturday, February 4.
The doors open at 7pm and the cult film, starring John Travolta as Danny Zuko and Oliva Newtown John as Sandy Olsen, pictured left, will be shown – on a 12ft by 10ft screen courtesy of Selkirk Film Club – at 8pm.
There will be a special American diner style menu in the bar and prizes for the best Grease costume.
Tickets (£6, £5 concs) are now on sale at the County Hotel (21233) while further information about all aspects of Selkirk Opera’s big push towards showtime is available from Alistair on 21697.
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Weather for Selkirk
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: South west
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