RVP Has Successful 2008 Membership Drive!
The River Valley Players finished up their annual membership drive on September 25, and we would like to say a big “THANK YOU!” to all who contributed. Costs of production continue to increase every year, but the support of all of our Saints, Patrons and Members help us to meet these costs and permit us to look at new and exciting shows without total dependence upon ticket sales to remain viable.  

The 2008 drive resulted in:

27 “Saints” – Contributors of $150 or more
57 “Patrons” – Contributors of $85 or more
8 “Single Patrons” – Contributors of $50 or more
5 “Members” – Contributors of $25 or more

Saints receive four admissions to all of our scheduled shows. Patrons receive two admissions to each show, and Single Patrons receive one admission to each show.

We again offer our deepest thanks to all for both the contributions and continued attendance at our performances. We are grateful!

RVP Fall Dinner Theater Has Successful Run in New Venue!
The River Valley Players’ fall dinner theater production of the Phil Olson two-act comedy A Nice Family Gathering completed a very successful five-night run on Thursday, October 23.   This was the first RVP dinner theater production at the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids.  

Director Jim Kennedy said it was “almost like a military operation” on the Saturday prior to production, as crews were moving in the stage materials from three different locations in Rock Rapids, while another crew was busy obtaining the light and sound equipment from a fourth location.    The stage was essentially put together in less than three hours, to permit the cast to rehearse on the performance stage two times prior to opening night. 

The thought provoking comedy delighted audiences with a mixture of family comedy, sibling rivalry and love of family. It was the winner of the 2000 Rochester Playwright Festival. 

A Nice Family Gathering is the story of a man who loved his wife so much, he almost told her. It’s Thanksgiving Day and the first family gathering at the Lundeen household since Dad died. But Dad comes back as a ghost with a mission – to tell his wife that he loved her. This is something he neglected to tell her when he was alive.   After all, they were only married for 35 years. The problem is, she can’t see him or hear him, and Dad communicates through his rather reluctant son Carl.  In the midst of several comical family revelations, more trouble begins when Mom invites a date for Thanksgiving dinner.

Cast members were:
Carl, the middle son – Brandon Pourier
Mom – Jan Meester
Dad – Doug Kraayenhof
Michael, the older son – Brent Hofmeyer
Jill, Michael’s wife – Sarah Pourier
Stacy, the younger daughter – Jackie Wells
Jerry, the gentleman caller – Dan Kruse
Mrs. Enquist, the neighbor lady – Mary Jane Mardesen

The River Valley Players thank all who attended our production!!!

Auditions for Oklahoma! Scheduled in November

Auditions for the River Valley Players’ winter musical production of Oklahoma! have been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, November 4 and 5, in the Central Lyon High School music department.   Auditions will begin at 7 p.m. Participants need only to attend. No prepared music or monologues are necessary. The production will be directed by Tom Gaspar. 

Rehearsals will begin after January 1, 2009.

Oklahoma! will be presented Friday and Saturday evenings, March 6, 7 and 8, 2009, at Forster Auditorium at Central Lyon schools.