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Dickens Christmas Fair 2005 November Missive #3
(sent November 17, 2005)

Well here we are going into dress rehearsal weekend! There has been so much excitement in the air, I think this is going to be a great year!

I know everyone is really busy, and many of you do not have time to read the whole missive, but at least examine the "In This Missive" to see what information would apply to you. It's very frustrating for us to have to repeatedly answer questions about information that was in the missive. Heck, print it out and take it into your er... reading library for further perusal.

I have also expanded the information and links at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html, I hope you find it helpful.

I will be forwarding a special promo missive as soon as I get it, but let me quickly remind you how important it is that we let everyone know what a great event we have here! We have a number of promotions running with radio stations, interviews with newspapers, mini billboards and taxi top lighted signs. But the most important of all promotions is word of mouth form you, the converted, the obsessive, the dressing funny-fun-loving participants!

What you can do:
--Continue to put out posters and flyers everywhere you go
--Direct people to visit dickensfair.com
--Email everyone on your lists with the statement that can be found here or one of your own.  Cut and paste and send today! Ask everyone on your list to send it to their list too!


In This Missive:
This Weekend's Schedule
All Character Round Robin
Dressed Rehearsal, Please
Props & Costumes
Special Appearance by Brassworks Opening Night!
Friday 11/25 Ticket Takers Needed!
Thanks from Le Can Le Can Can Bijou
Scrooge Needs a Holiday Home
Miss Twinkleton Needs Box Springs
Do You Need a Chandelier for Your Set?
Rare Editions of Dickens
Special GBAC Costume Awards


This Weekend's Schedule
Please see revised schedule, attached.
Saturday we will have limited workshops and lots of rehearsals.
On Sunday, Dress Rehearsal Day there is a mandatory morning meeting at 10:00AM, followed by the All Fair Character Round Robin. We will not be running a fair day schedule as it's the stage shows first time on their stages and they'll need the time to figure out the tech, etc. Please check with your director for specifics.


All Character Round Robin
Don't try and escape right after the mandatory general meeting Sunday morning at 10:00AM in Fezziwig's, I've cancelled all other rehearsals so we can try an experiment. We do something similar each year, with all the book characters, but this time we mean to get all you Dickens denizens to know who everyone else is.  After the general meeting on Sunday, all books and shows cluster up with your casts, in large clumps, in a big circle in Fezziwig's. We will go around the circle and each director will lead their cast into the center one at a time. The group will walk around the circle until they return to the place they started. We won't have time to introduce the individual characters, but each of you will get to show off who your character is, with only your costume and mannerisms, in a few short seconds as part of your group... in just the impressive way the Cal Shakes actors did in their production of  Nicholas Nickelby.  At the end of character introductions, the entire cast will be broken into small groups to do individual introductions, tea/cocktail party conversation, etc. for 5-10 minutes. On the cue from us, everyone scatters into another group and does it again. (lather, rinse, repeat) Should be fun and informative.


Dressed Rehearsal, Please
Please be in your costumes if at all possible this Sunday (If you're building something, we understand) We would like to take photos and if sets do not work well with your costume you should know NOW rather than opening.


Props & Costumes
And now a word from the prop master and Costume Director!
Please follow up on all props that you think you may have in storage or need made or refurbished! Time is now short! Anyone wanting group approvals for characters, please contact me ASAP in order to schedule a time on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in their best (or their best worst),
Alexandria
costumes@redbarnproductions.org


Special Appearance by Brassworks Opening Night!
We all love Bangers and Mash, Dickens Fair would not be the same without their lilting waltzes and rousing polkas! But it's nice to stir things up a little and goose our opening night. So from 4:00-7:00 on opening Friday night, we will have Brassworks at Fezziwigs! Tell your friends!

 
Friday 11/25 Ticket Takers Needed!
The fair opens Friday, November 25 to capture the After Thanksgiving Shoppers!  A special call is going out to volunteers, in approvable costume, to take tickets at the front gate that Friday.  Volunteers are also needed
for the run of fair.  For further info contact Lori Wilson at faireone@att.net for further details.

Thanks, and see you soon!
Lori


Thanks from Le Can Le Can Can Bijou
Le Can Can Bijou would like to thank everyone who supported us last weekend during our Bijou Cafe.
You were all patient and marvelous as we tried to make sandwiches and coffee. You let us tease you and even a few folks let us talk you into buying stuff! All in all you all helped us to raise nearly 30% of the cost of our boots.
Grande Merci mes amis, grande merci! *Thank you very much friends, thank you very much.*


Scrooge Needs a Holiday Home
Martin Harris will be crossing the big water again this year, to be our own, our very, very own Scrooge.  Martin is still looking for places to stay in or around the city during his stay for Dickens, starting around dress rehearsal weekend and ending with our closing weekend. You can contact Martin at MartinHarrisUSUK@hotmail.com


Miss Twinkleton Needs Box Springs
If you need to dispose of an old box spring of any size, Miss Twinkleton will be pleased to take it off your hands. We use these as foundations for our Play Garden hedge.  Contact Annie Lore at ImminentIdea@aol.com .


Do You Need a Chandelier for Your Set?
Miss twinkleton finds that she has a surplus brass chandelier, very handsome and ornate. It takes small candle bulbs and would look very nice somewhere! If you'd like to borrow it contact Annie Lore at ImminentIdea@aol.com .


Rare Editions of Dickens
Frank Davis forwarded this link about rare Dickens first (and other rare) editions
http://www.abebooks.com/docs/RareBooks/charlesDickens.shtml
Look at those prices!


Special GBAC Costume Awards
In conjunction with the regular Costume Competition held every day during the run of the fair, the Greater Bay Area Costumer's Guild will again be presenting two very special awards. Both patrons and participants are eligible. Costumes made by the theatrical department or by a commercial seamstress are not eligible for these awards or the daily costume competition. We will be giving the GBACG awards ONLY at the last day of the Fair run. The Costume Competition has usually been held every day on the "Father Xmas" stage around 2:30. Please see the schedule for exact time and place.

The GBACG gives the "Rising Star" award to the best new costumer, and the highly coveted "Fine Workmanship" award to someone who has take special care in the workmanship, construction, trimming and accessorizing of their costume.

The Dicken's Faire judges will be trying something new  for the daily competition this year. A few of our judges will be concentrating specifically on Men's clothing and we will strive to have Men's and Lady's divisions. We'd like to encourage all gentlemen to put their best cravats forward, and ready themselves to be singled out as the best "well turn'd out" gentleman, (See Rydell Downward on the proper way to tie your cravat.)

One more note: the Greater Bay Area Costumer's Guild will be visiting the fair as a group on December 11th. We hope to be able to repeat last year's successful turn out. Please check www.gbacg.org for more information on our plans for the day. The guild is very fond of Dicken's Fair so please be patient while they/I examine at every aspect of your costume!

We look forward to seeing your work at the Faire,

Jwlhyfer de Winter
aka 'Lizzie Siddal" at Dicken's,.
co founder of the GBACG and current Costume Clinic and Sewing circle coordinator.
www.gbacg.org
www.jwlhyferdewinter.50megs.com


Schedule for Workshop/Dress Weekend #3



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