A newsletter from your friends at Pull-Tight Theatre
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In This Issue
- A Letter from the President
- Bylaws Voting Results
- Check Out Our Updated Pages
- Did You Know?
- Volunteer Spotlight – Helen Carter
A Letter from the President
On October 26, a Special Meeting of the Artist Membership was held for the purpose of discussing and voting on 11 proposed changes to Pull-Tight’s Bylaws. In many ways this proved to be Pull-Tight at its very best. These recommendations were the result of a collaboration between the Board Development Committee, the Policy & Procedures Committee and the Board of Directors.
During the meeting, questions surfaced relative to Ballot Nine which sought to further clarify what constitutes a quorum for Artist Membership Meetings. Wanting to ensure that we are as precise as possible when it concerns our Bylaws, that recommendation was tabled by vote of the Members present at the Meeting. Of the remaining 10 Ballots, nine passed with overwhelming support from the Artist Membership. Ballot Three, which centered on the work and process associated with the Nominating Committee, failed to pass. Each of the ballots under consideration required 56 votes to pass, and Ballot Three received 52 yes votes and 15 no votes.
In an interesting sort of way that outcome is a very positive reflection on Pull-Tight. More than half of the Artist Members voted, and of those who voted, 78% voted in favor of Ballot Three. And yet, the threshold for making an amendment to our Bylaws was set high by those who revised our Bylaws over the years. They understood that great care is taken in crafting Pull-Tight’s bylaws, and while amendments to it should be permissible, those decisions by the Artist Membership should command a very strict standard. That was exceptional and very prudent foresight.
This occasion is yet another example of how Pull-Tight governs its affairs with diligence, integrity and the best interests of our Membership at heart. It is important to remind ourselves, that of the 10 proposed amendments to our Bylaws, nine were approved. I am delighted that in collaboration with the Policy and Procedures Committee this Board has made a very meaningful contribution to our Theatre’s long-term governance, building on the example set by our predecessors, and emphatically endorsed by our current Membership.
The Artist Membership Meeting was well attended, and after our review and vote on the proposed changes to the Bylaws, the meeting transitioned to a very productive and congenial Town Hall discussion. It was a terrific evening.
In looking ahead, the agenda for the November Board meeting includes the selection of the 2026/27 season. Recommendations from the Play Reading Committee and Director Submittals have resulted in more than 35 titles for our consideration, all of which will be fashioned into a six-show season that promises to be yet another stellar year of theatre on the Pull-Tight stage. We look forward to celebrating the new season with you soon.
Best wishes to you all for a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
Sincerely,
Cabot
Bylaws Voting Results
The Pull-Tight Board of Directors held a special Artist Membership Meeting on October 26 at the theatre to discuss and vote on eleven proposed Bylaws amendments, and here are the results!
Ballot #1 – Passed
Ballot #2 – Passed
Ballot #3 – Did not pass
Ballot #4 – Passed
Ballot #5 – Passed
Ballot #6 – Passed
Ballot #7 – Passed
Ballot #8 – Passed
Ballot #9 – To be revised
Ballot #10 – Passed
Ballot #11 – Passed
Many thanks to the Ad Hoc Bylaws Amendments Committee (Lynda Gibbs, Pat Street, Christina Sartell, Sean Aiello, Cabot Pyle, and Iain Macpherson) for their hard work on these Bylaws amendments, and to all the artist members who participated – whether by attending the meeting or submitting their ballots by mail! Our theatre thrives when everyone takes part and lends their voice to the process.
Check Out Our Updated Pages
Did You Know?
Did you know that Pull-Tight has scrapbooks going all the way back to our very first show, Our Town, in 1968? Since the early 70’s, Peggy Macpherson, our Theatre Historian, has been the diligent caretaker of these. (Thank you, Peggy!!) Many of us have had the pleasure of going through these when she would haul them all from her home to a membership meeting!
Starting in 2013, our webmaster Dan Kassis began creating a page for each production on our website, including cast and crew information and Jeanne Drone‘s professional photos. As each show closes, that page is then linked on our Past Productions page.
Over the last several years, Pat Street has been working to scan Peggy’s scrapbooks and link that information to our earlier shows. As Dan continues to update current seasons, Pat has been coming from the other direction, starting in 1968, with the goal of catching us up to 2013. We currently have show links up to 1986, so please explore some of these and enjoy our rich history. Additional historical details from the scrapbooks are also being added to our Archives pages, with more information to come as Pat continues working through each section.
Here is where you come in! We are looking for any show photos you might have from 1968 through 2012 to supplement the scrapbook info. Recall that back in the day, we did not provide professional photography, and any show photos were generally taken by a supportive family member or friend. We would love to have some of those! Please look through your own scrapbooks, and send any photos you have to Pat Street. (Pat.Street@pull-tight.com). Thank you in advance for helping us enrich the theatre’s archives by sharing your personal photos and memories!
Volunteer Spotlight – Helen Carter
What first inspired you to get involved with Pull-Tight, and how long have you been with us?
When we moved to Franklin in 1984, I looked for a local theatre to see live productions. My search led me to Pull-Tight, and I saw my first show, The Sound of Music, in the spring of 1985. After that I saw several other productions. In 1986’ish, I was working at Magli Realty, the leasing company for the little church building Pull-Tight was leasing. I got to know Roz Highfill, who dutifully brought the monthly rent check up to us, and through chatting about my interests, she convinced me to audition for a musical. I finally got up the nerve to audition, and was cast in the fall of 1990 in The Music Man with Cathie Stamps, Director. While I admit to being just a little intimidated by all the talent around me, I was immediately welcomed into the Pull-Tight Family and never looked back. Even during my years in Knoxville (2006-2010), I again became an audience member for most of the shows, and returned to producing and acting at Pull-Tight with Dearly Beloved.
Can you share a favorite memory or moment from your time here?
The very best memory is the fun of participating in productions as a family! My husband and son built sets, and my daughter performed onstage with me or in shows I crewed. The second best is being adopted into the Pull-Tight Family!
What roles or tasks do you enjoy most when volunteering, and why?
Favorite on-stage roles include Electra, the stripper who lit up in all the right places (!) in Gypsy, Bloody Mary in South Pacific, and Elizabeth in Angel Street. I have also enjoyed working backstage in every capacity except Costumer or Director!I love helping a director achieve their vision of a play, and assisting in any way I can to bring a quality show to our audiences. Just as there’s “no small part in acting,” there’s “no small part for crew.” As actors, we can’t put on a show without the magic of the backstage crew taking care of the details! Today, as I’ve become a senior, my best contribution is as an audition assistant. I try hard to keep the director, stage manager, producer, etc. focused on the auditionee during the auditions instead of what’s happening out front. Additionally, as one of the first people those auditionees see, I want to be welcoming and encouraging. I remember the encouragement I received as a first-timer, and try to share that with new people as they enter the lobby. And yes, I confess to getting my monthly quota of hugs with those I’ve come to know so well!
What has volunteering at Pull-Tight Theatre taught you or brought into your life?
As I did when I played sports in my younger days, I learned the value of teamwork in putting on a show the audience can enjoy, settling into the time and space of the production, and later marveling at how we did it! Nothing gives me more pleasure than to hear the comments as people come through the “receiving” line or leave the Theatre as I’m getting ready to clean up after curtain call. More important are the deep and abiding friendships I have made over the years. These friends in our Family have laughed with me, and lifted me immeasurably after Greg passed away during COVID. I wouldn’t be where I am today without every single one of them!
If you could play any role on stage or in a production crew, what would it be—and why?
After getting too old to play the part of Rosie in Mama Mia, I’d still enjoy playing Aunt Eller in Oklahoma. She’s a feisty, but loving, character and I do love those character roles! Her vocal range is still mine, and I could probably still do a mean square dance during “The Farmer and the Cowman!”
