The Concord City Auditorium recently held its season-opening gala with arts presentations, an ice cream social and a preview of upcoming shows. We asked Carol Bagan, who describes herself as the typist for the Friends of the Concord City Auditorium, a few questions about the event.
First off, tell us how things went! Did you get a good turnout?
In a word: Super!
The sun came out – finally – and crowds followed the stagecoach up Prince Street to the city’s stage.
Turnstile numbers: Outside at the arts party, a dozen arts organizations displayed their season programs while 15 barbershoppers sang, TV cameras whirred and 600 ice cream lovers mmm’d. Folks sought raffle tickets for the 10 mugs filled with restaurant and show tickets worth over $3,800.
Inside the Audi, a crew of 39 volunteers had prepared the Gala Variety Show, a preview of the season’s coming attractions. Director Allwynne Fine introduced emcee Sen. Sylvia Larsen, and the curtain rose on 18 acts with 129 performers who entertained the largest audience in years!
What was your favorite part of the gala?
What’s better than an event that brings a community together to celebrate itself? The spirit of the gala is a perennial favorite. If there must be a “favorite part,” it would have to be the launch of the flyspace project with lively performances of “Come Fly With Us” by Concord Dance Academy and Bob and Martha Kuepper’s Four Grips. The Friends of the Audi announced they will raise $200,000 by next May to mechanize the “historic” flyspace. (Ed. – the flyspace refers to iron bars and ropes that control lights, curtains and scenery.) The project will make all the shows run more beautifully and safely. Stay tuned.
What’s in store for show attendees this season?
The Audi hosts over 100 events every season and starts this year with 40 on tap just this fall, including theater productions by the Revels, Community Players, Page to Stage, Children’s Theatre Project, All Saints Church, RB Productions and Miss Capital Area.
Fall season music includes the famed NYPD tenor Daniel Rodriguez, the 50th Anniversary Barbershop Festival and the nostalgic “1944 Big Band Comedy Canteen,” plus the Granite State Symphony Orchestra, NH Opera Idol and the Scottish Gala Concert. Fall Walker Lectures highlight Yellowstone, Holland, Alaska and Canada plus Tim Sample’s Maine comedy.
The holidays are brightened by Concord Dance Academy’s “Spectacular” benefit shows, a Dickens Christmas, GSSO Holiday Pops, and two Nutcrackers.
And that’s just the first three months! The Friends of the Audi work to keep the shows affordable and accessible to all, and welcome every volunteer hand – ushering, baking, serving refreshments, helping backstage, etc.
Was the ice cream social as delicious as it sounds?
No – it was even tastier than that! Tom and Tootie Arnold scooped 625 servings for the arts party goers. All seasonal flavors are a big hit, but this year apple beat out pumpkin, maple walnut and black raspberry. Folks who missed an old favorite flavor – Indian Pudding – have a month to get to Arnie’s Place on Loudon Road for a scoop.
Since the first gala in 1991, the Arnolds have given the old-fashioned down-home treat. “It’s our pleasure to come to the Audi gala every year,” Tom says, and their ice cream is surely everybody’s pleasure.
We know an event like this takes a lot of volunteers, so let’s name names. Who should we thank for all the fun?
Take a very deep breath and . . .
The gala Production Team lists 39 volunteers, led by the show’s director Allwynne Fine and producer David Murdo, who start lining up the ducks months in advance.
The Friends of the Audi invite all the season’s presenting groups to preview their coming attractions with a three- to eight- minute act in the variety show. With 18 acts responding, Allwynne sets the order, writes the stage notes, and the acts come ready to perform. Imagine – a 90-minute show that runs like clockwork without ever having had a full rehearsal! That’s thanks to Sharon Sweet, the masterful stage manager, who calls the show every year, and the crews organized by David Murdo. Ralph McMechen ran the sound with every note and word distinct, and Steven Meier and Steven Grohosky ran the lightboard and spotlights perfectly – all without a rehearsal! Backstage, the curtains opened and closed, battens lowered and raised, and the piano rolled on and off, thanks to Kevin Belval, Erik Halter and Lori Smock-Joyal, the grips clad in black that are the unseen force behind every show.
Meanwhile, out in the theatre, house manager Lorrie Carey organized her team of nine RSVP ushers to welcome the large audience – folks 9 months to 90-plus.
The pre-show arts party, organized by Candy Brehm, started with the Concord Coach on Prince Street and filled the parking lot all the way to the ice cream stand with hundreds of showgoers. Norman and Doris Ballard provided the decorative balloons while ticket sales were run by Merwyn Bagan and Joe Andrews with early assistance from Ballard’s Party Shop and Michael Herrmann at Gibson’s Bookstore.
The great gala raffle, an annual highlight, was organized by David Murdo and sponsored by Alan’s of Boscawen, the Barley House, CC Tomatoes, Constantly Pizza, the Common Man, Domino’s Pizza, Hermanos, Margaritas, T.G.I.Fridays and by all the participating arts organizations. The prizes were presented in large mugs prepared by Sheila Knight.
More names: Raffle tickets were sold by Kevin Barker, Jennifer Brooks, Carol Carlson, Cynthia Baldwin, Nancy Drew, Jake Fanny, Max McLean, and Beth Thibeault. And everybody learned about the gala thanks to the publicity crew, including Irene Ackley, Carol Bagan, Dale Harrington, David Murdo and especially Russell Allen, the Friends’ graphics guy who has designed all its tickets, posters, flyers and programs since the first gala in 1991.
To get the theater ready for the season, 79 people gave 390 hours of work during the August “Pitch In,” led by Joye and Kenneth Olson. The place was shining!
The gala could not happen with these folks, all volunteers and all working for their Audi and for their community.
The Audi’s gala is a friend-raiser and a fun-raiser, starting each new season with a party and a glimpse of the coming attractions. The $5 ticket helps to cover the costs of producing the event, and every extra dime is dedicated to Audi upgrades. This year’s dimes will help answer the call to “Come Fly With Us” as the Friends begin the flyspace project.
