American Graffiti

The first film for the 2011 season was expected to be American Graffiti,

so if you have an act that would go well with this film

consider presenting it when we do show this film.

This film got rained out, but we have to pay for it anyway
so we may re-play it either this season or next.

Discussions: 2011 Season

I will be working over the winter to prepare next summer's season of film entertainment.  In order to implement next year's program we will need to have a solid foundation of community sponsorship.  If you would like to assist with the financial or hands-on aspect of this program please send me an email to discuss this (Arthur Greisiger- imagemindag@verizon.net) or stop by the stage to discuss it.

We continue to work at the stage on Saturday's and Sunday' from 2-4 pm whenever possible. I have other theatrical endeavors which sometimes take up my weekends, but unless it's a matinee (or raining), then I try to make sure I'm there.

Next season we will be opening up the stage an hour & a half before the film showing for live performances.  If you are an actor or musician, a juggler or a comedian, or any other type of performer, then you are welcome to inquire.  The stage is not electrified, so all music acts must be acoustic. We do have a PA which is used for the films or for a microphone if necessary, but we are not equipped with the electric required, nor do we desire, head banging rock & roll.

Ballads, folk, bluegrass, big band, musical theatre & opera- all of this sort of music/entertainment is what we seek... and of course Shakespeare and other classical writers like Moliere, Sheridan or Williams.  Other drama is welcomed as well, including new works, it is all up to your imagination, just keep it clean and wholesome we don't want to fall into perversion, foul language, and salacious or gratuitous sensuality. This is a family oriented endeavor. I will need to review any new material before it is presented.

We can produce themes in such a way as the music or stage act will be of the same nature as the film we will be showing.  In particular, I want to be presenting stage musicals, like "Showboat", "Oklahoma", "Carousel" or "Camelot" and have the live performers sing some of the music from the show.  One idea was a jazz band (possibly with a modern dance group) with the film "All that Jazz".   Anyone for "West Side Story"?  I do expect we will be showing "Henry the Fifth" and possibly "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead"

One person wants us to do a "Three Stooges Festival".  So if we do that, then we need some stand up comics for the stage show. Another has suggested that we show "Woodstock".  I like that idea, but to have a band or bands go up before that we need more power.  (I do have an Army Generator which I am working on getting going).  Next fall I hope to show "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" 'cause that's a fun film.


I will be implementing a second donation box for the stage talent to share, so until we have sponsors willing to pay for the talent, everything will be based on a free will offering. That means that the talent gets to share the twenty-bucks that they will get from donations, Ha, if you're lucky!

Well, we'll try to get more sponsorship going so we all can have some money to pay our bills.

 Keep an eye out for the schedule and offer your suggestions if you like. AG

October 16th ended the season of film showings

Thank you to all of you who have attended and helped out with this year's film showings. I think we are set up for a successful season next summer and planning will be taking place over the winter months. If you have ideas for films, or would like to sponsor a showing please send an email to discuss it.

Although I had thought it would be nice to continue the season until the fall colors were apparent in The Meadow Amphitheatre, the chill of the evening and the scarcity of audience make it clear that ending the season on the 16th is the best approach this year.  We may continue the season into Halloween next year if the public demand calls for it. 

The vandalism at the concession stand is continuing and if anyone sees a potential problem at the stage, please call the police to let them know.  We need to protect the Meadow Amphitheatre if it is something we want to have grow in the community into something we can be proud of.

Watch for next year's schedule to be posted here and keep in mind that next year we will be starting the evening an hour and a half earlier so that we can offer live performance before the film.  If you are a performer and would like to take the stage let me know so we can schedule you stage time(s).

"Rocky Horror Picture Show"

The October 30th showing has been cancelled for various reasons.  The rental cost of the film is too high, given that the income from the showings is strickley on a donation basis and it is uncertain that we will be able to generate that much income. Also, I realized, after viewing the film again, that the content of the film is not appropriate for the community park setting. I've also concluded that it is likely that it will be too cold and being that we are facing  problems with vandalism and theft, past experience has shown that Halloween is a time when these problems increase. So I'm sorry to say we will not be having a showing on the 30th and the 16th will be the last film for the season.

Live Pre-Movie Entertainment

I just realized that we are in a position to present live entertainment before the showing of the film, So if you are an actor or an acoustical musician and would like to take the stage before the film, let me know. We show the films every two weeks and the stage is already set, so why not?  We will figure out how to derive compensation, worst case scenario will be a passing of the hat.

Approach to Presenting Films

An Overview of the future approach to

Cinema Under the Stars

at

Tamanend Park's
Meadow Amphitheatre

The previous season was selected based on what films were available 

and in an attempt to mix the program 

with predominately Shakespearean films 

and a few classics.

The Shakespearean Films will remain a main feature in this program

but next year we will feature more Musical Theatre works

and a few Old Time Classics.

The Sponsorship Program will now feature the ability for a business or individual
to sponsor one or more films. The cost for doing that for each film will be $225
***
* plus hands-on assistance

with helping to set-up and promote the showing.
***

The sponsor will be identified at the showing
and in the promotional materials that are distributed,
beginning the two weeks before the showing,
or in the case of more than one showing
or the entire season,
in all relative promotional materials,
including The Shakespearean Journal
and on the web pages.

***

In addition, the sponsor may also introduce the film
and take the stage to serve as the Host
for the programs they sponsor.
***

* Hands-on assistance involves ;
distributing playbills &posters,
helping to prepare  

The Meadow Amphitheatre

on the day of the showing
which includes: mowing the field,
placing the banners, signs & lighting,
setting up the screen & projection equipment
and setting-up and operating the concession stand.

More later if need be...

Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman

October 16th

at Dusk 

in

The Meadow Amphitheatre

Kenneth Branagh's " Hamlet"

Join us for a screening of the 

First,

Full Text
Cinema Version

of

William Shakespeare's 

"Hamlet"

Join in before the showing 
(from 12:00 - 1:00)
for a few scenes
from "Hamlet" with
"Spontaneous Shakespeare"

Cold beverages and snacks available.

Contributions to help support "Cinema Under the Stars" appreciated.

Overview and Schedule

The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park

& The Southampton Free Library

invite your participation with

"Cinema Under the Stars"

a program of

admission free

Community Sponsored Films

presented in

Tamanend Park's
The Meadow Amphitheater

on Selected Saturday Evenings

from May until September

 

a view of the screen set-up

NOTE: As these screenings take place (approximately) 

every other week,  

Films are shown at Dusk  
 (look for the approximated time on the count-down)

*  THE RAIN DATE WILL BE THE FOLLOWING WEEK * 

if it rains on the second attempt, 

it will be rescheduled

May 15th

 Max Reinhardt's 1935 Version of 

"A Midsummer's Night Dream"

June 12th

 Mel Gibson in Franco Zefferelli's Version of   
"Hamlet" 

(as part of the summer long primer to a "Hamlet festival")

June 26th

 Lon Chaney Jr in the 1941 Version of  

"The Wolfman"

(in honor of the full moon on that night)

 July 3rd

Errol Flynn in 1938's  
"Robin Hood"

(as part of the theme for the Southampton Days Parade)

July 24th

"Shakespeare in Love"

August 7th

 Lawerence Olivier's  
"Hamlet"

August  21st
Boris Karloff in 
 "Frankenstein"

September 4th
Kenneth Branagh's  
"Much Ado About Nothing"

September 18th
Howard Keel & Kathryn Grayson in

"Kiss Me Kate"

 September 25t
The full text version of

Kenneth Branagh's

"Hamlet" *

*shown at the Southampton Library

in lieu of a performance at the stage

September 26th- Performance Dates begin

 ** Spook-Fest **
in 
The Meadow Amphitheatre


October 16th
 Boris Karloff & Lon Chaney Jr in 

"Frankestein Meets The Wolfman" 

October 30th
  We are working on getting 

"Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Also check out Tamanend Park's 
Ghost Stories, Haunted Trail, and Campfire
on
Friday Night, October 15th

Help keep this program alive and growing

by becoming a sponsor

If you care to help with;

set-up, makings signs, lighting & watching the trails, 

helping people find their way to the stage

putting out flyers or doing concessions 

Your help would 
make this program come alive 

and continue to be there 
for the community.

Special thanks to these contributors;

Image of the Mind Studios

For Design, Implementation and Investment

 Paul, Shirley, Rick & Ray at

Tamanend Park & The Southampton Parks & Recreation Department

For help with publishing materials

Kim, JL, Jeannie, Kareena & all the staff at

The Southampton Free Library 

For providing the projector and films

the folks at

The Southampton Public Works

who help us groom the field just in time

Lois McDonald at

Swank Motion Pictures

who is helping to make these films available 

First Federal Bank of Bucks County

for their purchase of advertising

 

RC Kletzing Incorporated

for use of their resources

Hampton Cleaners

for their maintenance of our parade costumes 

and the numerous businesses who are helping to distribute our schedule 

And a most hearty thanks to these volunteers
who have extended themselves
to lend a hand with set-up 
strike & operation;

Gian, Lise Sibson & Gary Sheesley, Julia Schmucker, 

Mike & Cindy Lally, Neil Goldstein

Your assistance is most appreciated ! 

Sponsorship program

• It is clear that it is most appropriate to seek sponsorship for the entire season of films at Tamanend Park.  Therefore a budget will be developed and posted here as a means of informing our sponsors of the total cost of presenting films in Tamanend Park. 

• It is expected that those persons who avail themselves of this program and attend the films, will contribute what they are able when attending a showing. 

• The costs of presenting these films and developing new programs at the park, must be shared by all those persons who enjoy this entertainment.  

• At some point, as soon as possible, we will be attempting to develop sufficient resources so that the performers and technicians can be paid for their contributions.  

• We are striving to bring professional thespians into the park and thus, compensation must be a part of that scenario.  Your assistance with this is most gratefully appreciated.

Details regarding sponsorship will be posted here at some point.  In the meanwhile , contact Arthur Greisiger at imagemindagt@verizon.net to discuss your interest in sponsoring our program in whole or in part.

Current Hand-out

I will place a copy of the latest hand-out here when I can succeed at doing it.

I've run out of time today.

If you care to assist by distributing this around town
that would be very much appreciated.
If you do, let me know what you spend on copies and
that will be applied to your membership / sponsorship in
The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park.

How you can help

We are presenting these film free to the public, but the films are not free and the cost of promoting and managing these films is also not free.  So if you would like to see these film continue in our community, you can help by volunteering to help set-up and take-down the film showing,  passing out flyers in the community, helping to operate the showing, telling your friends, or donating money.

If you would like to help, send an email to Arthur Greisiger at imagemindag@verizon.net 

and express how it is you would like to help.

Here is a link for donations if you would like to contribute
to the cost of presenting these films.

If you would like to become a sponsor for one or more films, your name or business
will become appropriately associated
in the publicity materials and hand-outs at the showings.

There is also display advertising available in "The Shakespearean Journal" which will help to support these programs and the publication of the Journal.

Details on this program will be posted on 
The Shakespearean Journal: Online Edition