A newsletter from your friends at Pull-Tight Theatre
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In This Issue:
- A Letter From the President
- Meet Our New Board Member
- Volunteers Needed for Lucky Stiff
- New Props Committee
- Get Involved – Community Outreach Committee
- Pull-Tight Theatre Christmas Party – Dec. 7
- New Awards Voting System
- Speaking of Awards – Did You Know?
- Artist Membership Meeting – Oct. 26
- Volunteer Spotlight – Dustin Greenleaf
A Letter From the President
The agenda for the August Board of Directors Meeting was a very full one. The pages that follow are evidence of that. In this letter, I will focus on three recent developments.
During the meeting, I made a motion that Pull-Tight suspend its Youth Actors Guild, and based on respectful debate, the motion passed. Youth theatre as we know it in this area was essentially invented by Peggy Macpherson and a small group of volunteers at Pull-Tight, a little more than 40 years ago. One does not idly turn the page on a legacy like that. I can assure you that your Board of Directors did not. We ultimately agreed, however, that now is an appropriate time to pause our youth programming to take stock of its future prospects.
Often, the Board discussion reflects on tradition and “the way we used to do things.” With that in mind, your Board of Directors will host a Past Presidents Reunion on Nov. 9 at the theatre. This will be an opportunity, in a private setting, for the Board to hear from this distinguished group of leaders. We are eager to learn their opinions about where they believe Pull-Tight is at its best, what our blind spots are, and what we mean by the words “community” and “theatre.”
Finally, subsequent to the August meeting, Mark Buchanan and I spoke, and he informed me that he needs to step down from serving on the Board. Mark is not only fond of Pull-Tight, he is very loyal to it and his many friends here. It is, however, the best decision for Mark in light of the demands on him personally that command his time and energy.
The Board of Directors named Lenny West to fill the vacancy until the next annual membership meeting, when a replacement shall be elected to fulfill the term. Lenny’s résumé includes serving on the Board of Directors, directing, acting, committee leadership, you name it. As your President, I am personally grateful that Lenny has accepted this appointment.
Our season now transitions from an epic historic drama to a musical comedy farce. One thing that will stay the same, though, is a commitment to excellence in theatre. That has been and always will be non-negotiable around here.
Sincerely,
Cabot Pyle
President, Pull-Tight Board of Directors
Meet Our New Board Member
A self-proclaimed (and proud of it!) and lifelong theatre nerd, Lenny West’s journey with Pull-Tight began in 1999 when he was cast as “Clifford” in Deathtrap. Roles in Oklahoma!, Camelot, and Into the Woods followed in quick succession. After a hiatus, he returned to Pull-Tight’s stage in The Glass Menagerie in 2008 and Godspell in 2011. Since 2018, Lenny has been a consistent presence at the theatre, directing recent productions of Steel Magnolias, The Book of Will, She Loves Me, and the upcoming Lucky Stiff, as well as appearing in The Odd Couple and All My Sons, in addition to working on the costume crew for numerous productions. Behind the scenes, Lenny has served on various committees, most notably the Play Reading Committee, where he is proud to have served as chair for the past three years.
Step Into the Spotlight—Literally! – Volunteers Needed for Lucky Stiff
Pull-Tight is on the hunt for three amazing volunteers to join the tech and backstage crew for our uproarious production of Lucky Stiff—yes, that includes a spotlight operator who’s ready to shine (literally) on the action!
If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the behind-the-scenes hilarity—cueing lights, managing props, or just helping the chaos run smoothly—this is your chance. Email Producer Savannah Aiello to grab your spot on the team and help bring this laugh-out-loud musical to life.
Come for the camaraderie, stay for the laughs, and join Pull-Tight in making Lucky Stiff a show to remember!
New Committee – Props
As our productions continue to grow, so does our collection of props. To help organize and preserve these important pieces of Pull-Tight’s stage magic, the Board has established a brand-new Props Committee.
It will be headed by Carmela Hofstee, who will lead the effort to catalog, maintain, and manage our expanding inventory. With her guidance, we’ll ensure that future productions have easy access to the right props—while keeping our collection in top shape for years to come.
We sincerely thank Carmela for all she does for the Pull-Tight community!
Get Involved
The Pull-Tight Community Outreach Committee will be participating in several upcoming community events, and we’d love for you to be part of the fun! Event volunteers play an important role in sharing Pull-Tight with the wider community, and it’s a great way to connect with fellow members.
Keep your eyes open for the upcoming SignUpGenius, or email Bre Hall to learn how you can get involved.
Join us in representing Pull-Tight beyond the stage and help spread the word about the theatre we all love.
Pull-Tight Players Christmas Party
It’s time to put the annual Pull-Tight Players Christmas Party on your calendar! Once again, our friends the Peppers family are opening their home for this cherished holiday tradition:
Sunday, Dec. 7
5–8 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!
New Awards Voting System
For this season, we’ve switched to a new and simplified Acting Awards voting platform, and we encourage you to give it a try! Voting emails have already been sent for our first production, so be sure to read through the ballot and cast your vote!
Your voice is important to us, and we thank you for sharing your thoughts. However, if you don’t wish to participate in the opportunity to provide feedback on our shows and performers, email Carmela Hofstee to be removed from the list. Thank you for playing a part in recognizing our outstanding artist members!
… and speaking of awards, did you know:
On our website, you can access a list of Hall of Fame and Player of the Year award winners going all the way back to 1972! Spend a few minutes looking through the names of all the volunteers who have given so much to Pull-Tight over the years, and while you’re there, be sure to check out the list of Pull-Tight Lifetime Voting Members, too!
Artist Membership Meeting
** Important** – Mark your calendar now to attend a special Artist Membership Meeting at 5 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the theatre. We’ll vote on proposed amendments to our Bylaws, so this is an important event! If you earned voting rights for the May elections for Board members, Hall of Fame, and Player of the Year, you are eligible to vote, and every vote will be important! Watch your mail for a voting packet arriving in late September with a full explanation of the proposed amendments.
Volunteer Spotlight – Dustin Greenleaf, Chair of the Finance Committee
What first inspired you to get involved with Pull-Tight, and how long have you been with us?
Well, I guess you could say it was money. I was between jobs, as they say, and the accompanist for Grease back in 2006 had to drop out. She asked if I was interested and told me how much they paid. I had never played for a theatre production and had never heard of Pull-Tight, but figured I’d give it a try. Fast-forward 19 years, and I still love volunteering for Pull-Tight.
Can you share a favorite memory or moment from your time here?
My favorite memory was working on The Play That Goes Wrong. I stage-managed the show under the amazing direction of Sarah Kieffner. It was just such a crazy show, with so many things that went right. Perfect cast and crew, hilarious script, and just a lot of fun that made all the time put into it worth it.
What roles or tasks do you enjoy most when volunteering, and why?
I still love playing the piano for musicals when I get the chance because it allows me an outlet for my creativity, but I have really enjoyed stage managing. I love seeing a play grow from the very beginning: reading the script, picking the cast, watching the actors find their characters and then finally putting the show on with everything that can happen from show to show during a live production.
What has volunteering at Pull-Tight Theatre taught you or brought into your life?
I could never have imagined how theatre has completely changed my life. Just making that simple choice to play for a production all those years ago has offered me so much fulfillment through all the shows I’ve been a part of and through all the wonderful friends I have met over all these years. It was truly a watershed moment in my life.
If you could play any role on stage or in a production crew, what would it be—and why?
I don’t consider myself an actor, so there aren’t any roles that I’m dying to play, but I guess at some point I may try directing. I feel like I have a lot to bring to a production and would love to find a script that speaks to me and that I would want to share.
