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Happy New Year to you all and welcome to the Dixon Studio and the Little Theatre Company’s production of “Stepping Out”.

Following on from a successful run of shows in 2009 (“Sweeney Todd” & “Buddy”), this foot tapping musical comedy will once again show off the wide range of talent that the LTC possesses and will not disappoint. For those of you who have seen the movie with Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters, the stage show (although very different from the movie) has one thing in common – it’s very funny! The show enjoyed a hugely successful West End run and won an Evening Standard Best Comedy Award in 1984. Originally written as a play, this musical version lifts the story to a whole new dimension and with our players so very close to you all, you will feel that you are part of the show – I hope you know your lines!

This is the first time we have staged this musical and the rehearsals have been challenging due to the vigorous tap routines, but the cast have assured me that it’s been extremely enjoyable.

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I look forward to seeing you all at our next production in April 2010 – “Mack & Mabel”– a Hollywood musical, back on the main stage of the Palace Theatre.

Tim Cater – Chairman

Synopsis

Scenes & musical numbers

Stepping Out chronicles several months in the life of a beginners’ dance class. Each of the eight students, who come from a variety of backgrounds, has her or his own reason for joining. For instance, Maxine, a confident, fast-talking saleswoman, is there on doctor’s orders, while self-sacrificing Andy participates because it is the only thing she does for herself. Whatever the cause, they make a point of coming every week to chat, relax and, if they can manage to, learn a couple of dance steps.

The action takes place in and around a church hall

Led by Mavis, their eternally patient instructor, and accompanied by the acerbic pianist Mrs. Fraser, the students (who range from hopeless to competent) strive to master the basics of dance. But the steps and routines are just the background for the real focus is the relationships and interactions of these ten very different people. By their final performance, not only have the class members developed some degree of skill, but they have also overcome the inhibitions, awkwardness and personality conflicts that have kept them out of sync.

cast Mavis.............................................................................................. Maddie Cole Mrs. Fraser..........................................................................Doreen Goodfellow Geoffrey.................................................................................... Steve Wilkinson Vera...............................................................................................Shirley Wolfe Lynne.....................................................................................Debbie Smallbone Maxine..................................................................................... Sarah Mummery Andy.............................................................................................. Isla Lightfoot Sylvia...................................................................................................Jo Adams Rose............................................................................................ Sally Lightfoot Dorothy............................................................................................. Sue Morley

musicians Keyboard 1.................................................................................... Liam Holmes Keyboard 2...............................................................................Maddie Maxwell

Production Team Director..................................................................................Stephanie Wilson Choreographer...................................................................................Val Wilcox Musical Director.................................................................................. Paul Day Stage Director.................................................................................. Ray Newby Lighting and Sound...........................................................................Ian Gilbert Props...............................................................................Elaine Heckingbottom Prompt............................................................................................June Vallely Stage Crew................................................................................ Lindy Robinson Programme Design and Artwork............................................... Bradley Green Photography.....................................................................................Jeff Hooker

Act I Overture SCENE 1 A church hall. February evening One Night a Week....................................................Mavis & Company SCENE 2 The hall lobby. A month later Quite......................................................................... Andy & Geoffrey SCENE 3 The church hall. The same evening Don’t Ask Me.............................................................Rose & Company SCENE 4 The hall lobby. The same evening Love To......................................................................Dorothy & Lynne SCENE 5 A wine bar. Later that evening What Do Men Think?..........................Sylvia, Maxine, Rose, Dorothy SCENE 6 The church hall. A month later Too Much..................................................................................... Mavis SCENE 7 A coffee bar. The same evening Never Feel The Same Again..................................... Andy & Geoffrey SCENE 8 The church hall. Two weeks later Definitely You...........................................................Vera & Company One Night A Week (Reprise)..................................Mavis & Company Act II Entr’acte SCENE 1 The church hall. A week later SCENE 2 The hall lobby. Later that evening Not Quite................................................................................ Geoffrey SCENE 3 The church hall. Two weeks later Just The Same........................................................................... Maxine SCENE 4 The wine bar. Later that evening What I Want.............................Sylvia, Maxine, Rose, Dorothy, Mavis SCENE 5 The hall lobby. Two weeks later What I Want (continued) .......................................................... Mavis SCENE 6 The church hall. The same evening SCENE 7 The hall lobby. The same evening Once More..................................................................... Mavis & Lynne SCENE 8 The church hall. Two weeks later SCENE 9 The church hall. The same evening Too Much (reprise)..................................................................... Mavis SCENE 10 The church hall. Three weeks later Loving Him..............................................................Vera, Andy, Mavis SCENE 11 The local theatre. A week later SCENE 12 The local theatre. A year later Stepping Out......................................................................... Company

Mavis Maddie Cole Maddie Cole has been performing in concert venues and on the stage for many years. Her previous theatrical roles have included Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd), Scaramouche (We Will Rock You), Yum Yum (The Mikado), Hansel (Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel) and most recently, in her first appearance with the Little Theatre Company, as the Apollo Performer (Buddy).

Maddie has performed in some of the country’s most prestigious venues as a member of the touring show “Red Hot Flashback”. She is also an accomplished saxophonist and sings and plays in a wide variety of respected function bands, including local band Soul Desire, The Floyd Effect - a tribute to the music of Pink Floyd and her own solo cabaret show. In November 2009, Maddie was the proud winner of the Actz Factor talent competition.

Tap dancing, however, is a new passion! She is delighted to be leading the Mavis Turner Tappers in this wonderful and exciting production of “Stepping Out” here in the surroundings of the intimate Dixon Studio.

Mrs. Fraser

Geoffrey

Vera

Doreen Goodfellow

Steve Wilkinson

Shirley Wolfe

Doreen has been a member of the Little Theatre Company for a number of years – she won’t say how many! She has served on the committee as Business Manager for a few years and then as Secretary, a post she is currently serving. She has taken the lead in numerous shows including “Rose Marie”, “Robert and Elizabeth”, “Bitter Sweet” and “Orpheus in the Underworld” to name but a few, plus solo items in our variety shows.

Steve has been with the Little Theatre Company for six years and has performed in a number of small roles, including Rudolph (Hello Dolly), Bill Calhoun (Kiss Me Kate) and Henry/Lady Macbeth (The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild’s Production of Macbeth).

Shirley has been a member of the Little Theatre Company since 1977 during which time she has taken numerous roles in both musicals and plays.

These include, Widow Corney (Oliver), The Queen (The Slipper and the Rose), Madam Dindon (La Cage aux Folles), Morgan le Fey (Camelot), Mrs Mullins (Carouse), Lalume (Kismet), Patricia Foder (Crazy for You) and Mrs Reece - several times - (The Farndale Plays). She was in the chorus for “42nd Street “and managed a few tap sequences as a tap dancing nun with Debbie (Lynne), so hopefully will be able to manage these wonderfully choreographed dances by Val Wilcox for “Stepping Out”.

Doreen has also directed a number of shows including our award winning “The King and I” in which her daughter and young granddaughter appeared. As well as being in charge of the company’s collection of costumes she has been wardrobe mistress on many occasions. Doreen has also taken part in our successful Farndale plays and is very pleased to be included in “Stepping Out”.

Steve works at Westcliff High School for Boys, where he teaches mathematics and is Director of Sixth Form.

In his spare time at school he continues to pursue his dramatic interests; he has directed musical productions of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Chess” and “Les Misérables” and plays, including “The Long and The Short and The Tall”, “Death of a Salesman”, “Another Country” and “An Inspector Calls”.

Shirley has been a committee member for the LTC during her membership and has thoroughly enjoyed all the friends and fun over the years. She is also a member of the East Essex Players where she has played her favourite role of all time, that of Sybil (Fawlty Towers).

lynne

MAXINE

Andy

Debbie Smallbone

Sarah Mummery

Isla Lightfoot

Debbie has been involved in every LTC production since joining the company at the tender age of 14.

Her talents are not limited to on stage performances, having also worked both backstage and in a production capacity. Debbie’s debut appearance with the Little Theatre Company was in 1991 in Gilbert & Sullivan’s hilarious comic operetta “The Mikado”. She has featured in many roles since, including Skip Snip (Little Shop of Horrors), Ernestina Money (Hello Dolly!), a Boylan Sister (Annie), a tap dancing nun (42nd Street) and, most recently, a Snowbird (Buddy).

This is Sarah’s 17th consecutive show for the Little Theatre Company, having first appeared in the chorus of “Oliver” in 2002. She has been fortunate to play some great parts, including Adelaide Adams (Calamity Jane), Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), Conchita Alverez (Copacabana), Ado Annie (Oklahoma), Maria Elena (Buddy) and, her favourite part to date, Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes). Musicals aside, Sarah has also appeared in the LTC play “Murder In The Wings” and on BBC Television for Texas Star Line dancers, with whom she has performed all over Britain and abroad.

“Stepping Out” marks Isla’s return to the stage after a “significant” break to have three little ones. She previously appeared in LTC productions as Anne (La Cage aux Folles), the Dancing Laurie (Oklahoma), an Ugly Sister (The Slipper and the Rose) and as a chorus member (The Wiz). She was also Wardrobe Mistress for the first LTC production of “Mack and Mabel”.

Debbie has also been called upon to act as Assistant Choreographer and Assistant Director for several LTC productions. Outside the LTC, Debbie’s other theatrical credits include the featured part of Ronette (Little Shop of Horrors) and the delightful role of Madam Renaud (La Cage Aux Folles), both shows with the New Empire Players in Southend.

Sarah is really excited to be playing the rough diamond Maxine in this tremendous cast of actors and singers.

Other roles include Juliet in the British Shakespeare Company’s touring production of “Romeo and Juliet”, an appearance in BBC1’s “Casualty”, and a season in Rep with the Tetley Brewery Theatre Company. Isla was inspired to return to the stage by her little boy, who just loves to perform.

Sylvia

rose

dorothy

Jo Adams

Sally Lightfoot

Sue Morley

“Stepping Out” is the sixth show that Jo has been lucky enough to perform in, after beginning her LTC career playing “blonde bombshell” Lois (Kiss Me Kate) back in 2006. Since then, she has gone on to play Edith (Pirates of Penzance), a Copa girl (Copacabana) and, most recently, Mary Lou Sokolov (Buddy). When the opportunity came up to be part of a tap dancing show, however, she grabbed it with both hands despite never having tapped before in her life!

Still, two left feet aside, she has found it a wonderful experience finally mastering the time step after all these years! Funnily enough, despite being brought up “right proper”, playing the role of Sylvia, the busty, loud mouthed chav, hasn’t been too tricky for Jo, apart from the busty bit, where some birdseed boobs have come in really useful!

Sally learnt her theatre craft at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she studied singing and drama, qualifying as a specialist Drama teacher.

She has been a member of the Little Theatre Company for 34 years, her first show being “Bitter Sweet” in 1976. During that time she has played numerous leading roles, including Mame (Mame), Aunt Ella (Oklahoma), Lady Thiang (The King and I), Dorothy Brock (42nd Street), Thelma (The Farndale series of Comedies) and, most recently, Mrs Lovett (Sweeney Todd). She has also directed shows, including “The Pajama Game”, “Carousel” and “Kismet”, worked as Chorus Mistress on numerous other shows and served on the LTC committee for many years as a committee member and then as Chairman. The LTC has provided many challenges for Sally over the years and “Stepping Out” has added yet another – learning to tap dance! As well as taking part in LTC productions and activities, Sally sings with RUG Opera.

Susan has been a member of the Little Theatre Company since 1987 and has performed in 28 musicals and 2 plays. She is usually happier in the chorus, but has taken a few minor character roles.

Personal favourites include the Fairy Godmother (The Slipper and the Rose) and Mrs Sowerberry (Oliver).

Susan also belongs to Southend Shakespeare Society and East Essex Players, where she performed the same part in the non-singing version of “Stepping Out” 20 years ago. She has found during these rehearsals that tap dancing doesn’t get any easier!

Susan sometimes feels “the theatre” has taken over her life.

Stephanie Wilson

val wilcox

paul day

Director

Choreographer

Musical Director

Stephanie has been a member of the Little Theatre Company for more years than she will ever admit to!

She joined for “West Side Story” and since then has enjoyed playing some fabulous parts, including Anna (The King & I), Miss Hannigan (Annie), Kate (Kiss Me Kate), Nellie Forbush (South Pacific), Mabel (Pirates of Penzance) and, most recently, Stella (Summer Holiday). However, her secret favourite is still Amalia (She Loves Me).

Valerie has been a member of the Little Theatre Company since 1974 and has been actively involved in over 50 shows and plays – too many to list! She has also been a long standing committee member and was Chairman of the club for several years.

This is Paul’s 6th show with the Little Theatre Company, having joined for “Copacabana” as Chorus Master, and his 3rd as Musical Director. Before this, he spent a number of years onstage with Rainbow 2000 and has played roles such as Arvide Abanathy (Guys & Dolls), Percy Fortesque (Fings ain¹t wot they used t’be), Asher (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Sparkish (Lust) and Monsieur LeClerc (Allo Allo). Notable chorus parts have included a Munchkin (The Wizard of Oz) and a “conducting frog” (The Frog Prince).

Over the last ten years she has moved to the other side of the stage and has enjoyed directing shows including “42nd Street” (twice!), “Crazy for You”, “Singing in the Rain” and “Sugar” (a version of “Some Like It Hot”). She was also the driving force behind our very successful Farndale plays, helping to develop another string to the LTC’s bow.

Stephanie is also a member of Rug Opera and in her “spare time” works as a creative arts teacher at a local further education college. She is thrilled to be directing “Stepping Out” as it has been on her wish list for many years. She has enjoyed every minute of it, working with a committed cast and production team for what she is sure will be another great success for the Little Theatre Company.

Her choreographic debut was for LTC’s award winning production of “42nd Street “(which she has now choreographed twice). She then went on to choreograph many other shows, including “Crazy for you”, “Singing in the Rain”, “Me and my Girl” and “Mack and Mabel”.

As tap dancing is her speciality, she was really pleased to be given the opportunity to choreograph “Stepping Out”, and has embraced the challenge of making (in 3 months) a non-tapping cast with little or no dancing experience into real hoofers!!! There has been much fun and laughter at rehearsals and she can only praise the hard work and dedication the cast has shown. Valerie still attends tap classes and recommends it as a real fun way of keeping fit.

Paul has MD’d for many local operatic societies, including Rayleigh Operatic, Thundersley Operatic and Ingatestone Operatic and was Chorus Master with Rainbow2000 for many years.

He started his musical career at the age of 8 playing flute and guitar. He is currently Chairman of the Southend Philharmonic Orchestra where he plays flute (and percussion when “persuaded”) and also sings in local choral societies. Paul has enjoyed the rehearsal period for “Stepping Out”, but has found it challenging distinguishing what is rehearsal and what is “real life”!

Past Productions 1949-2009

Treasurer & Vice Chairman Joanne Ellis Bailey Secretary Doreen Goodfellow Business Manager Steve Wilkinson Entertainments Officer Laura Wilson Press and Publicity Officer Bradley Green General Committee Paul Day & Darren Harper President Lady Dorothy McAdden Vice Presidents Mrs Sandra Burford Ms Joanne Ellis Bailey Mrs Doreen Goodfellow Mrs Sally Lightfoot Mrs Iris Lucas Mr Michael Matlin Mrs Sheila Melville Mrs Sheila Nicol Mr Brian Odell Mrs Pat Odell Mrs Lynne Young Honorary Patron Gemma Craven Life Members Mrs Annette Blake Mr Michael Burford Mrs Pat Collop Mrs Ann Couldridge

Mr Ron Couldridge Mr Gerry Davis Mr Paul Green Mrs Wendy Hatton Mr Brian Houser Mrs Sue Morley Mr Ray Newby Mrs Beverley Onslow Mr John Onslow Miss Madeline Palmer Mr Colin Simmonds Mrs Debbie Smallbone Mrs Olive Smith Mr Derek Smith Mr David Stokes Mrs Sheila Thomson Mr Brian Topsfield Mrs Valerie Wilcox Mrs Stephanie Wilson Mrs Shirley Wolfe Mr Jim Wolfe Mr Roger Young

1967 1968 1969

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

If you would like to be part of the Little Theatre Company, please contact our membership secretary Doreen Goodfellow on 01702 349277 or email doreen.goodfellow@blueyonder.co.uk Find out more about the LTC at our website:

www.littletheatrecompany.co.uk

1978 1979 1980

No No Nanette The Girlfriend Mr Cinders Please Teacher Me & My Girl Blue for a Boy Anything Goes South Pacific Love from Judy Kiss Me Kate Girl Crazy South Pacific Annie Get Your Gun Flower Drum Song++ The Music Man++ Carousel Love from Judy Oklahoma!

The Pajama Game Flower Drum Song Camelot Half a Sixpence** Showboat How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Carousel West Side Story The King & I Half a Sixpence No No Nanette Me & My Girl Charlie Girl The Music Man Rose Marie Camelot Robert & Elizabeth Variety ‘75 Bitter Sweet Variety ‘76 Kiss Me Kate Variety ‘77 Mame West Side Story The King & I Variety ‘79 Love from Judy The Dancing Years *

Regional Premiere

1981 Variety ‘81 The Sound of Music Salad Days 1982 Orpheus in the Underworld Golden Variety ‘82 1983 Oklahoma!

Variety ‘83 1984 South Pacific 7 Brides for 7 Brothers**## 1985 Fiddler on the Roof Variety ‘85 1986 Showboat How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying 1987 Guys & Dolls Camelot 1988 Sweet Charity The Pirates of Penzance 1989 Variety ‘89 7 Brides for 7 Brothers 1990 Carmen++ The Pajama Game## 1991 The Mikado Gentlemen Prefer Blondes++ 1992 Carousel Godspell 1993 Half a Sixpence Variety ‘93 1994 Guys & Dolls 42nd Street*## 1995 The Pirates of Penzance Kismet 1996 Will Rogers Follies*## Little Shop of Horrors* 1997 Singin’ in the Rain She Loves Me*##(2) 1998 Oklahoma!## La Cage Aux Folles 1999 Some Like It Hot* The Wiz 2000 Mack & Mabel*** The Slipper & the Rose* 2001 Annie Crazy For You## 2002 The King and I## Oliver!

South East England Premiere

**

2003 Anything Goes Me & My Girl 2004 Calamity Jane 42nd Street## 2005 7 Brides for 7 Brothers Hello Dolly!

2006 Guys & Dolls Kiss Me Kate## 2007 The Pirates of Penzance Copacabana 2008 Oklahoma!

Summer Holiday 2009 Sweeney Todd

Our last production: Buddy

South East Essex Premiere

***

© Gareth Poxon

Chairman Tim Cater

1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966

UK Amateur Premiere

++

NODA Award Winner

##

Hard to believe Buddy is an amdram show WHEN much of the amdram world’s idea of daring and ambitious is a Gilbert and Sullivan chorus, Little Theatre Company drives forward the benchmark for what amateurs can achieve with this fabulous production of Buddy.

At the heart of the Buddy Holly musical biography is a title role performance

by Tim Cater, so mesmerising and so convincing it is hard not to believe you are in the ambit of a genuine rock god.

Musically – and the show is pretty much wall to wall music – the main challenge is to recreate the Holly sound and style without making the show look like an impersonators’ night out.

Cater, along with Jamie Redgate and Darren Harper as his backing group the Crickets, carried off this technical task with precision, but also injected T-bone sized helpings of passion and humour into the act.

Cater is as good an actor as he is singer and audience-rouser, and he brings alive Buddy Holly the man, as well as Holly the singer. Here was a compound of Texan hick, gentleman, driven visionary, jokester, bully, good ol’ boy and charmer, but, above all, a man who stamped his presence on to everyone he encountered.

All of these sides of Holly’s personality emerge with force from Cater’s performance. He succeeds in turning a man known to the world mostly just as a grin and a pair of giant specs into a fully-fleshed human being. In the end, though, it’s the music that really matters, and this comes in giant, delicious scoops.

The audience also revelled in supporting turns by cast-members performing as the Jingle Singers, and a positively knockout performance of Chantilly Lace from Bradley Green, as the aptly-named Big Bopper.

Overall, it is hard to believe this is an amateur production. What a shame the LTC cast have to go back to their day jobs next week. Buddy is sufficiently terrific to keep the Palace packed for months.

TOM KING - Echo News

The Little Theatre Company Proudly Presents

A hollywood love story book by michael stewart

music and lyrics by jerry herman

21 - 24 a[pril 2010

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken Based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith

20-23 October 2010 for more information visit out website:

littletheatrecompany.co.uk ADVANCE BOOKINGS

020 8133 0582

01702 351135 palacetheatresouthend.co.uk