As Pull-Tight President this year, one of my goals was to be involved in some way on every show this season. For South Pacific, I served as Producer; I had the good fortune of being cast as Julia in Lend Me a Tenor; I created vintage posters for A Christmas Carol: Live Radio Play; painted set for On Golden Pond; served as Production Advisor for Steel Magnolias; and helped with various set decor and prop items and am currently working backstage on Big Fish. It has been a lot of a fun and a great opportunity to watch all of these wonderful shows come together. Those experiences as well as the chance to work closely with all of our various volunteers in every department and on every committee have filled me with pride for this organization that has lasted for 50 years and shows strong promise going into the next 50.
Another one of my goals this year was to work toward cultivating young new volunteers to steer us into the future. So, I am very pleased to hand over the reins to Matt Grimes, voted in as President of the Pull-Tight Board of Directors for the 2019-20 Season. Matt is a bright, energetic, talented young man with an encyclopedic knowledge of theatre and I look forward to his leadership.
Congratulations also to our three new Board members elected in May: Mark Buchanan, Jeanne Drone, and Dan Kassis.
I have also enjoyed watching the many younger folks on our production teams this year who are bringing new energy to the theatre. Being involved with Big Fish has reminded me that putting on a show in many ways involves solving a continuous series of problems, and it is fascinating and gratifying to watch the dedication and talent our volunteers bring to doing so in such a way that when the audience sits down to watch the show it all seems seamless. Bravo!!
Many thanks to Director Lenny West and his cast and crew for an outstanding production of Steel Magnolias. Our audiences were eager to see this show and they did not go away disappointed. Four holdover performances were added to meet audience demand, and many glowing comments were heard about the great attention to detail on the set, costumes, and direction and the perfect casting.
It is a true delight to end our season with the musical Big Fish. Director Justin McIntosh has a great heart for this show (see his Director’s Note). He and his cast and crew have pulled out all the stops to bring us a spectacular evening. The show is a feast for the eyes and ears, funny, entertaining, and moving, and I sure hope you have your tickets! Two holdover performances have already been added to the schedule to meet audience demand.
Please join us June 29 for a very special Knot Awards Banquet. Banquet Chairs Pat and Steve Evans and their committee members are hard at work to ensure that this will be one very special evening and you will not want to miss it.
It has been a true pleasure serving this year as your President. Thank you for the opportunity, and thank you for all of the many ways you have supported Pull-Tight, either as a patron or as a volunteer.
50 years? Let’s do it again!
Pat Street, President
Pull-Tight Board of Directors