Month: December 2016

Optimism.

This word invokes so many emotions and meaning to each person. Here at Abrams Spotlight Productions, this word has a special meaning for us heading into our 2017 season. Coming off a successful 2016 season, we have renewed optimism that our upcoming season will be a success, not just for us, but for our community. Abrams Spotlight Productions has always been proud of our local community, and the support we receive, and we always have them in mind with every song we put on stage, every dance move that is taught, every light that is focused. With optimism in mind, we are excited to announce our spring 2017 production, Annie! We wanted to choose a show that invoked this optimistic attitude, while bringing back the kids of our community to give them renewed opportunities and optimism heading into spring.

Annie is a family favorite and winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The score was written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charmin, and includes the smash hit “Tomorrow”. With the perfect combination of street smarts and optimism, Annie warms the audience as we witness her rise from “next to nothing” in New York City. She is determined to find her parents who left her at the orphanage years ago. Though things don’t quite work out the way she has planned, she does manage to thwart the plans of the evil Miss Hannigan and find a new family with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his secretary Grace Farrell, and her lovable pooch Sandy.

Abrams Spotlight Productions is looking forward to another successful show, and we hope you will choose to be a part of this, either on the stage or in the audience! As 2017 starts, we will be choosing the remainder of our 2017 season, so please like us on Facebook, sign up for our newsletter, or check our website for more announcements to come. Optimism is here!!

Open House- January 11th 6pm-8pm
The Byng Community Theater
5852 Maple St
Abrams, WI
ASPI will be holding an Open House for our community. This is an opportunity for anyone in the community to come see our theater outside of a show. Come tour the facility, talk with our board, and enjoy refreshments on us! Have questions about our shows? Thought about helping out or auditioning, but just aren’t sure if it’s right for you? This is your opportunity to come see what it is all about. Please contact the theater box office at 920-826-5852 if you have questions. Hope to see you there!

– Oconto Falls Lioness Club
– St John’s Lutheran Church Youth Group
– The Byng Family (and extended)
– Kari Devine
– Don and Lori Jolly
– The Koehne Family
– Steve and Linda Druckrey
– Our Spotlight Sponsors
– The Music Caterer
– WOCO 107.1 FM
– WBAY-TV2 News at Noon
– Families members that support the cast and crew during every production run
– Ushers, Front of House staff, Concessions staff, grounds keeping staff
– Set builders, painters, props facilitators, tech crew
– But more importantly… our COMMUNITY for their support of the local Community Theater!

New Milestones!

For our winter show in December 2016, ASPI presented “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”. During this show, ASPI took on a new milestone in the theater. We partnered with 2 local non-profit organizations to help operate our concession stand. The first weekend St John’s Lutheran Church Youth Group in Little Suamico helped out. The second weekend, The Oconto Falls Lioness Club. ASPI took on this effort to reach out to local non-profit organizations to help financially with their missions, trips, or other projects they are working on. This partnership consisted of a “profit sharing” of sales from the concession stand. Each organization earned money from the concession sales to go towards their organization. It was a huge success, and ASPI is very grateful for their help!

If you know of an organization that would be interested in this opportunity, please contact the box office at 920-826-5852

– Total ticket sales for 2016 were 2,394 tickets!
– In April 2016, ASPI presented Shrek the Musical. There were a record number of ticket sales for this show (totaling 1,268!!) INCLUDING a sold out show!! This is the first time in ASPI history that we have had a sold out show!
– First time ASPI went above and beyond with makeup for Shrek the Musical- special makeup was used for Shrek and Fiona- including prosthetics!
– ASPI again utilized kids in our community for Shrek- it was a huge success, once again being a family oriented Community Theater for our local community.
– The Odd Couple, presented in August 2016, had record attendances in comparison to last year’s summer’s show
– Charlie Brown, presented in December 2016, marked the first time ever ASPI partnered with other non-profits to operate our concession stand.
– All three shows received GLOWING reviews from Warren Gerds!

Open auditions will be held from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 3 or 4 at the Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. Callbacks, if needed, will be from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 5.

Performance dates will be March 31, April 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, with rehearsals Sunday and Thursday evenings beginning Jan. 8. Prior to auditioning, performers should consider their availability to attend rehearsals and performances.

There are various roles for both kids and adults, and individuals ages 8 and older are encouraged to audition.

Performers should have a song prepared from “Annie” or in the style of “Annie” to sing at the audition. They will also be asked to do a short scene read-through and a dance routine.

For more information about the show, call the box office at 920-826-5852