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Group seeks unlikely audiences
Merely Players Inc. plans to produce 11 shows by end of year
9/5/06
by
Christy Attlesey
Messenger-Inquirer
Alan Velotta aspires to bring quality theater productions to Owensboro.
However, he also hopes to bring theater to unlikely audiences.
Velotta is the founding artistic director of Merely Players Inc. The not-for-profit, founded in 2005, is dedicated to creating a member-driven theatrical community and exposing new audiences to contemporary community theater, Velotta said.
With a limited budget and few volunteers, the repertory theater company exists to produce great plays and musicals, with an emphasis on content, rather than technical rules.
"The smoke and mirrors is nice, but not necessary," Velotta said.
The group has 25 members who plan to produce 11 shows — nine plays and two musicals — by the end of the year.
Merely Players recently received a $3,500 grant from the Kentucky Arts Council, Velotta said. Most shows can be produced for $500, but the musicals cost about $2,000.
The group is always looking for volunteers — to work on-stage and off and no experience is necessary.
Velotta said the group isn't halted by its limitations.
"You have to be very adaptable and flexible to do what we do," Velotta said. "And, we have a lot of dedicated people."
The company's members collectively decide what shows to produce. The plays come from major play publishing companies and submissions from playwrights throughout the country.
The company doesn't have a theater so it uses nontraditional venues — mainly Zazu, a jazz-blues club on East Second Street, and the Daviess County Public Library on Griffith Avenue.
The nontraditional venues allow the repertory company to reach unlikely audiences.
"It fosters a love of theater in those who wouldn't normally think it was cool," he said.
The group partners with the Daviess County Public Library to offer free performances for area children, who are unable to attend the group's mainstage productions.
Velotta approached the library several months ago about offering the performances, which are based on children's books, Library Director Debbie Mesplay said.
"We thought it was a terrific idea, and we were able to tie it in with our summer reading program," she said.
The group presented selected works by Shel Silverstein in June and "Amelia Bedelia" by Peggy Parish in August.
"The programs have been really well received," Mesplay said.
Merely Players will present "Armadilly Chili" by Helen Ketteman and "Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood" by Mike Artell at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 in the auditorium on the library's second floor.
Velotta is proud of the theater company's accomplishments and excited about what lies ahead.
"It's awesome how everyone has pitched in to make it the best it can be," he said. "I never dreamed it would be such a vibrant, active organization."
To Attend
Merely Players presents "All In The Timing," a collection of four short comedies by David Ives at 8 tonight at Zazu, 119 E. Second St. The show, which is directed by Elizabeth Drake-Boyt, also will run at 8 p.m. Sept. 12, 19 and 26. The cover charge is $5 per person.
The theater company also plans to present:
— "Sorry, Wrong Number" and "The Rocky Horror Show" in October.
— "The Vagina Monologues" in November.
— "Best In Show" in December.
For more information, call 315-2413 or visit
www.merelyplayers.org.
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