A newsletter from your friends at Pull-Tight Theatre
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In This Issue:
- A Letter From the President
- New Theatre Wi-Fi
- Membership Survey
- Artist Membership Meeting & Bylaws Amendments Vote
- Christmas Party
- Save the Date – Pull-Tight Banquet
- Did You Know
- Volunteer Spotlight – Carly Gresham
A Letter from the President
Highlights from the September Board of Directors meeting include:
Lynda Gibbs, as Chair of the Policy and Procedures Committee, met with the Board regarding proposed changes to our Bylaws. Materials regarding 11 proposed changes will be sent out shortly, and we will convene a Special Meeting at Pull-Tight on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. to vote.
I am very impressed by the thoughtful care that Lynda’s Committee has taken in presenting these changes. Your attention to this is vital, and I believe the collaboration between the Committee and the Board will equip you to make an informed decision about each proposed change.
Johnny Peppers provided a report from the Box Office that prompted a discussion as to whether the demand for tickets warrants adding a date to each show’s schedule. With no consensus emerging, it was suggested that we poll our Members for their thoughts. A survey was recently sent out, and we hope you will take a moment to share your views with us, completing the brief survey by Oct. 10.
We also looked ahead to the next two months, when our energy will be focused on selecting the 2026-27 season. We observed that during the past three full seasons, 184 roles were cast, 95 in musicals and 89 in dramas or comedies. Of note, 40 percent of those 184 roles were entrusted to persons who had never performed in our theater. Quite frankly, we find those results to be remarkable, uncommon actually, and a statement that Pull-Tight is a genuinely welcoming theatre family. To help ensure equal opportunities for all actors and uphold our theatre’s integrity and enviable reputation, I made a motion that Directors be prohibited from casting family members.
We recognize that Pull-Tight has always been and will continue to be a place where families can enjoy working on a show together. The Board respects that this would represent a big change, and it was not a motion that we took lightly. The discussion that followed was one where every voice in the room was heard.
Simply put, though, the Board believes it is imperative that we install guardrails when appropriate that will serve to avoid any perception of favoritism and to maintain fairness in the audition process. After a thoughtful debate, my motion passed, and that policy is now in effect.
My fellow Board Members and I are honored to serve on your behalf.
Sincerely,
Cabot
Good News: New Theatre Wi-Fi
The Board heard your concerns about unreliable Wi-Fi at the theatre, especially for door workers who require quick access during check-in. After investigating the issue, we’ve selected a new provider to improve service!
Your Board is working hard for the Pull-Tight membership!
Send your ideas for improvements to our Board Secretary, Stephanie Dillard.
Pull-Tight Membership Survey: Show Schedule
The Board is considering adding performances to each show run and needs your input! On Friday, Sept. 26, members received an email from our new polling system, Election Buddy, with a unique access key to complete the survey.
The deadline to respond is Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. Your vote is anonymous and limited to one per member. For assistance with the survey process, email Carmela Hofstee.
Keep an eye out for more chances to quickly and easily voice your opinion in the future using our new online polling system! Many thanks to Carmela for handling the transition to this new and improved program.
Artist Membership Meeting & Bylaws Amendments Vote
The Pull-Tight Board of Directors is calling a Special Meeting on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. at the theatre to discuss and vote on 11 proposed Bylaws amendments.
Our Bylaws govern how Pull-Tight operates. Article 8, Section 1 states that changes require a majority vote of eligible members, making your participation essential.
The amendments were developed jointly by the Policy & Procedures Committee and the Board. Each will be presented, discussed, and voted on individually.
If you cannot attend, absentee ballots must be returned by Oct. 23.
Each ballot includes:
- Current Bylaws language
- Proposed amendment language
- Reasoning for the change
Your time, attention, and vote are vital to shaping Pull-Tight’s governance. Thank you for your help!
Christmas Party
It’s time to put the annual Pull-Tight Theatre Christmas Party on your calendar! Once again, our friends, the Peppers family, are opening their home for this cherished holiday tradition.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025
5 to 8 p.m.
Come enjoy an evening filled with holiday cheer, tasty treats, laughter, and fellowship with your Pull-Tight family. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, we hope you’ll join us as we wrap up the year in true Pull-Tight style—with joy, friendship, and maybe even a little Christmas magic.
Make plans now to be part of this merry gathering—you won’t want to miss it!
Save the Date: Pull-Tight Banquet
We’re excited to welcome Myna and John Sowell as the new chairs of Pull-Tight’s Banquet Committee! Thank you both for taking on this special role.
Mark your calendars now for July 11, 2026, when we’ll gather for the Knot Awards Banquet and celebrate another fantastic season together.
Did You Know?
Pull-Tight has launched a brand-new Get Involved page on our website, and we’d love for you to check it out! There you’ll find links to our wonderful sponsors and donors, a sign-up form for door workers, and an easy online volunteer interest form. With 19 different categories, from stage management to fight choreography to wardrobe and more, there’s a place for every talent and passion. Community theatre thrives because of volunteers like you, so we invite you to share your special skills and interests with us!
Volunteer Spotlight! – Carly Gresham: Board Member, Readers Theatre Director, Featured Actor in Lucky Stiff
What first inspired you to get involved with Pull-Tight, and how long have you been with us?
Back in the day, when I was young and beautiful and had nothing but time on my hands, I was involved with as much theatre as possible. I was part of Pull-Tight’s Youth Guild and in 2013 I played the little old, Irish grandmother in The Match Girl’s Gift. Stephanie Dillard was the director of that show, and then we reconnected when we were both cast in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 2023! I found a really wonderful and supportive community at Pull-Tight during Cuckoo’s Nest and have been heavily involved ever since!
Can you share a favorite memory or moment from your time here?
Helping build and paint the Cuckoo’s Nest set will always be a favorite memory of mine. I was fUN-employed right after moving back here from a stint in New York. At the time I really needed support and community, and Tim Massey took me under his wing and brought me into the fold. I loved smearing poopy-looking paint all over that set!
What roles or tasks do you enjoy most when volunteering, and why?
The spirit of giving comes over me, and I don’t know what or how or when, but I end up in volunteer situations that I am actively enjoying. Which do I love most? I would be lying if I said anything but acting. I would say “I live for the applause…” Lady Gaga. “Applause.” Artpop, Interscope Records, 2013.
What has volunteering at Pull-Tight Theatre taught you or brought into your life?
Pull-Tight has brought me a community when I really needed one. I always look for places to volunteer and give back to my community wherever I’m living. Sometimes that’s rewarding, and sometimes it’s just extra work. Pull-Tight has given back to me as much and more than I’ve put in, and that makes it easy to stay.
If you could play any role on stage or in a production crew, what would it be—and why?
I would like to either direct Fun Home or play Medium or Adult Alison. I would also give my left knee cap to direct or be in Heathers. Just give me a gritty teen dramedy!
