Center Street Community Theater Performing ‘Clue’
September 2, 2020 at 7:49 p.m.
By Carol Anders-
Center Street Community Theater will be performing “Clue” Sept. 10-13. The 16-member cast has been rehearsing for three nights each week for the last eight weeks and will continue rehearsing every night and weekend until the opening.
All of the regular summer Wagon Wheel for the Arts inside performances had to be rescheduled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. They were able to hold an outdoor concert, “Always Patsy Cline.”
The decision to hold the “Clue” performances as scheduled came on Wednesday after Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb laid out the updated parameters for public gatherings. A number of special measures for the performances are being implemented for safety including, but not limited to, having audience members wear masks until they get seated with social distancing, no intermission, sanitizing of seating and having sanitizing dispensers throughout the venue that have a sanitizer that lasts for six hours when applied to hands. The number of people allowed in the venue at any one time will be capped at 250 including the audience, performers and other staff.
Kathryn Anders, Community Theater member, is directing the comedy that is based on the murder mystery boardgame with the same name. Anders said, “Those coming to watch the performance may not see the twist ending coming.” The play starts at dinner party hosted by Mr. Boddy when he reveals that he has been blackmailing the guests. Guests then gather clues to discover who is the real murderer.”
Anders said, “The entire cast, backstage crew and the many people involved in staging and costuming have continued to move forward even when we didn’t know if the performances would be held in September as scheduled, postponed until 2021, or canceled altogether. And remarkedly, several of the 42 people who auditioned and not cast have offered to step up if any of the actors were not available if changes had to be made.”
All of those helping in the production are volunteers.
Anders indicated that the time and efforts of those helping with the production are sacrificing a lot but do it for the love of the arts.
“Community Theater is an outlet for adults who want to perform or just be involved and are willing to commit to long hours of rehearsals and stage preparations,” she said. “Two of our cast members are from Columbia City, so we feel that we are branching out to give more adults an opportunity to be involved.”
Anders has a full-time day position at Warsaw High School working with students in the resource room who have special accommodations. Additionally, she formed a competitive WHS speech team who practice after school hours and compete on a number of Saturdays against teams throughout the state.
She said, “It has been a joy to have three of the team members working on this production. Kylee Anders and Reagan Polk are helping with props and costumes back stage and Ian Peloza has a part in play.”
Cast members have stepped up to help promote the event. Ed Davis purchased eight tickets to be used a give-a-ways such as an online look-a-like contest on Facebook and at the upcoming Sept. 4 First Friday activities in downtown Warsaw.
“Equally as remarkable is the support from the public as evidenced by the pre-sale tickets. There were 389 paid tickets prior to the announcement on Wednesday and the number increased to 500 within the next two days. By Sunday, the number had risen to 562,” Anders said.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the Wagon Wheel box office or online at www.wagonwheelcenter.org.
Center Street Community Theater will be performing “Clue” Sept. 10-13. The 16-member cast has been rehearsing for three nights each week for the last eight weeks and will continue rehearsing every night and weekend until the opening.
All of the regular summer Wagon Wheel for the Arts inside performances had to be rescheduled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. They were able to hold an outdoor concert, “Always Patsy Cline.”
The decision to hold the “Clue” performances as scheduled came on Wednesday after Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb laid out the updated parameters for public gatherings. A number of special measures for the performances are being implemented for safety including, but not limited to, having audience members wear masks until they get seated with social distancing, no intermission, sanitizing of seating and having sanitizing dispensers throughout the venue that have a sanitizer that lasts for six hours when applied to hands. The number of people allowed in the venue at any one time will be capped at 250 including the audience, performers and other staff.
Kathryn Anders, Community Theater member, is directing the comedy that is based on the murder mystery boardgame with the same name. Anders said, “Those coming to watch the performance may not see the twist ending coming.” The play starts at dinner party hosted by Mr. Boddy when he reveals that he has been blackmailing the guests. Guests then gather clues to discover who is the real murderer.”
Anders said, “The entire cast, backstage crew and the many people involved in staging and costuming have continued to move forward even when we didn’t know if the performances would be held in September as scheduled, postponed until 2021, or canceled altogether. And remarkedly, several of the 42 people who auditioned and not cast have offered to step up if any of the actors were not available if changes had to be made.”
All of those helping in the production are volunteers.
Anders indicated that the time and efforts of those helping with the production are sacrificing a lot but do it for the love of the arts.
“Community Theater is an outlet for adults who want to perform or just be involved and are willing to commit to long hours of rehearsals and stage preparations,” she said. “Two of our cast members are from Columbia City, so we feel that we are branching out to give more adults an opportunity to be involved.”
Anders has a full-time day position at Warsaw High School working with students in the resource room who have special accommodations. Additionally, she formed a competitive WHS speech team who practice after school hours and compete on a number of Saturdays against teams throughout the state.
She said, “It has been a joy to have three of the team members working on this production. Kylee Anders and Reagan Polk are helping with props and costumes back stage and Ian Peloza has a part in play.”
Cast members have stepped up to help promote the event. Ed Davis purchased eight tickets to be used a give-a-ways such as an online look-a-like contest on Facebook and at the upcoming Sept. 4 First Friday activities in downtown Warsaw.
“Equally as remarkable is the support from the public as evidenced by the pre-sale tickets. There were 389 paid tickets prior to the announcement on Wednesday and the number increased to 500 within the next two days. By Sunday, the number had risen to 562,” Anders said.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the Wagon Wheel box office or online at www.wagonwheelcenter.org.
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