| FOLKS – so I have received a fair bit of email lately, wondering why my President’s messages have dropped in frequency from previous years. My answer (somewhat sheepishly) is that during the period between 2019 into early 2022, which we theatre people understate as the “COVID hiatus”, I felt positionally obliged to keep up a message of optimism. “The next production was going to be just around the corner,” etc. Well of course, it wasn’t, and the corner turned out to be a 2-year very large pivoting turn!
But the real motivation for my previous periodic missives – which became quickly evident as time moved on – was our building was not taking a hiatus! Facility expenses just kept piling up with no show-revenue to offset the deficit. Admittedly I enjoyed writing the emails, even if couched within the messages was a thinly disguised plea for your support/donations to sustain operations. By the way, thank you again, every one of you (you know who you are, big hugs!) for your very generous contributions over those years. Now, since the return to the “new” normal, I have recognized that you are kept pretty well up-to-speed – our promotional machine has been “e-blasting” you on upcoming productions and show-nights, and things of interest on each show. The promotional team even suggested that I ease back on messaging. And thankfully, since you folks came back to the theatre in significant numbers, you were spared further dispatches with the constant solicits for contributions. At this penning, we are just closing out the first full season (2023) since the “hiatus; one show (Love from a Stranger) on the stage and the last show (Christmas Carol) in rehearsal. And here we are in October, so I have some points to share, which hopefully you might find worthwhile. Are you familiar with the term “October surprise?” It came into the lexicon in the early 1900s, when companies – like The Bay – would roll out pre-Christmas specials – joyfully announcing an “October surprise” to pump up Fall sales (this was pre-Black Fridays). The term even entered politics. Late in the 1980 presidential election, Ronald Reagan’s team worried that Jimmy Carter would reveal that he had negotiated the release of the American hostages just before Election Day. Politicos started referring to this sudden reveal as an “October surprise,” and it has happened often prior to the November elections (remember Hillary?). Weren’t those simpler and happier times? Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be. These days it seems we are not waiting for October for surprises. Every month brings its own surprises and few are pleasant – floods, fires, famines, tornadoes, wars, conflagrations, the Blue Jays’ October… But, on a happier note, why not our own “October surprise.” We could make it a tradition. Since we have changed our season opening to the Spring each year, I could do an annual “reveal” just before the new season launch. Something like this: |
| “The 2024 Season will not be officially launched until mid-November, but (just between us, right?) our 111th season kicks-off with Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, and closes 8 shows later, with our annual homage to Christmas.” |
| There done! Our own little October surprise “reveal” is out into the inter-web-verse!
Now a titbit like that should really pump up anticipation for the Season 2024 brochure drop, which will be in a couple of weeks. Somewhere in the second or third week of November (specific dates are dubious – it is coming snail-mail…), you folks will be receiving a season renewal package from the Box Office. Included will be:
Then it is over-to-you to just send money (and maybe consider a donation). And get this! There is no increase in ticket prices, or the bar prices for that matter – inflation-fighting prices at the OLT! A vintage October Surprise (mic-drop)!! OK, what else do I have for you? Oh yes. This is sure to build even more excitement. Wait for it… the Annual General Meeting takes place on November 25th this year at 4pm in the theatre’s auditorium. As well as the thrill of the operational and financial reports, we’ll be having elections for the Board of Directors. (And you thought the OLT was just nine great shows). Oh, and after the AGM you are invited to join your fellow members around the bar for happy hour! Now that is nostalgic! So, you are invited to attend and if you can’t attend in person, you can still let your vote count by appointing a “proxy” – just click on this link for more information. Please note, if you are – or you know someone who is – interested in volunteering on the administrative side of the lights (actually quite a long way from the lights) – this note is also a call for nominations for OLT’s Board of Directors. Candidates should have solid skills and experience in areas like finance or legal, or property management; and good knowledge of theatre operations is an asset to our hard-working Board. If interested and for more information, just contact one of the nominating committee members noted below. With your nomination, please include the names of two members of the theatre who second your nomination and send it to one of the committee members by Friday November 17th 2023.
Well, that’s about it for me. Enjoy nature’s leafy creations before the wintery snows descend, and I leave you until next time with this thought: “the early bird may get the worm, but apparently the second mouse gets the cheese.” Warmest regards gg |