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Dickens Christmas Fair 2008 December Missive #2
(sent December 4th, 2008)

Hello everyone, hope you're taking care of yourselves in preparation for a great weekend! There's lots of information in this missive, so please  check out the "In This Missive" thoroughly... you may find some lovely surprises towards the end...

Cat

In This Missive:
Drivers Slow Down!
Week Day Access
Participant Tickets
Work at the Front Gate - Earn Comps
Smoking Etiquette
No Customers in the Backstage Areas, Please
Fezziwig's Safety and Courtesy Tips
Notes from the Costume Department
Dickens Fair Costume Contest This Saturday
Dark Garden Raffle
The Mad Maniacal Mixologist Contest 2008
Breakfast at the Fair
Dickens Fair Commemorative Pin
Comp Tickets to The Christmas Revels for Dickens Fair Cast and Crew!
Our Scrooge's Readings Around the Bay Area

Special Section: Evening Events
Wake for Sully This Saturday Evening
Second Leg of the Brian Dall'Armi Memorial Tour - December 13th
Saucy French Postcards Participants-Only Private Presentation! - December 13th


Please remember to respond to the person that posted each item below, rather than hitting "reply".  Please also remember that past missives (including workshop dates) can be found at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html


Drivers Slow Down!
(from the Security Team)
Safety: Please slow down when you are driving on the Cow Palace grounds. 
Several participant vehicles were driving at extremely unsafe speeds the first weekend of our event.
Because the location of the Green Room/Passhouse entrance door is in the driving lane of autos that are loading and unloading in the rear of the building - participants must walk in the driving lane to enter/exit.  Drivers need to be aware that bodies can step out of the building and into the driving lane at any moment.


Week Day Access
Access to the venue during the week is limited.  Mondays and Fridays, between 10am and 5pm are the only times available for access.  All other times, the building is locked down for all of our security and safety, and no one will be allowed in.


Participant Tickets
To clarify, purchased at the will call trailer, located outside the front gate tent at our very best rate of $15 each.


Work at the Front Gate - Earn Comps
(From Anna Schurtz)
Assistance with volunteers needed.
We are offering 1 "any day" comp ticket for each hour volunteered for front gate.  Position includes:  handing out schedules, entertaining patrons in the crowds, direction line traffic. Please  contact Anna Schurtz in the Pass House to volunteer and provide the hours you wish to offer.  She will have a schedule in the pass house so you can review the schedule times and positions.
 
We must stress that you will be required to work your hours only and not send away other performers so you can earn more tickets.  We must be fair to all that would like to share in this program for free passes for family and friends.  We need 4 volunteers at the front at all times.  If you wish to work a longer shift, you will need to discuss this with either Miche or Anna.  We know this isn't the most glamorous of jobs, but your face will be the first impression of our fair and you have the unique opportunity to individually interact and hone in your acting skills.


Smoking Etiquette
There have been complaints to me about people smoking right outside the doors of the green room.  Please, if you are going out to smoke, step at least 25 feet AWAY from the doors.  Otherwise, the smoke comes right back into the building.  Many people are sensitive to smoke, and, at the very least, it is bad for voices and lungs.  Please have consideration for others and STEP AWAY FROM THE DOORS! 

Thank you,  Teri Pope, Fair Stage Manager


No Customers in the Backstage Areas, Please
Please do not bring customers in the backstage, even for the purpose of taking them outside to inhale carcinogens. This is both for security and insurance reasons. Thanks.


Fezziwig's Safety and Courtesy Tips
Speaking of Etiquette, Cathleen Myers has graciously sent along the Fezziwig Safety and Courtesy Tips, which is now on the missive site in .pdf format. If you dance at Fezziwig's, please take a moment to peruse it.


Notes from the Costume Department
You are all so fabulous! Thank you for making the fair look so great.
I received many compliments this past weekend on how great the costumes looked - again -- Many Thanks to all of you!!  Keep up the good work!

Just a couple of notes for the rest of the run

I know this past weekend was MISERABLY HOT and yes, your costume director was seen in the streets without her shawl and gloves!
She promises to not do that any more - will all of you?
Please do remember that the addition of the outwear really does help to create the environment that we are striving towards and hopefully the weather will accommodate us with cooler days in the coming weekends.

Gold Ribbons
If you happen to see a fellow participant or a patron with a gold ribbon with a rose on it pinned to their costume - that is to signify that the costume department has noted and honored the hard work and enormous effort that has been made to make our fair look so wonderful. Now as far as patrons go - you might see someone who you think isn't quite as fabulous as they might be, and you would be right. Please remember we are also honoring those that make the effort and are going the extra step to join in with us and play.
Who knows? they might just join us next year?

Hangers - Thank you!
We now have more than enough wire hangers and pants hangers - the response was overwhelming.
For those of you who were still hoping to clean out your closet of the prodigy of your hangers might I suggest you talk to your local dry cleaners. Very often they will recycle or reuse -especially if you are a regular customer.
What we could still use is about 50 or so wooden hangers - or half wood and half heavy plastic hangers that have the notches in them for skirt loops.

Donations
I would also like to give a shout out to those of you that have donated fabric, trim & old/excess costumes to us. We truly appreciate all that you give. Thank you so very much.

Thinking Ahead
All costumes that have been borrowed need to be returned to the Costume Department by 6:30 on Sunday Dec 21st.
And,  if in looking thru your closet for those pesky hangers you have found bits and pieces that your borrowed in past years and never got around to returning - feel free to drop them by - I promise:  no questions asked!


Dickens Fair Costume Contest This Saturday
(from Liz)

2008 Dickens Fair Costume Contest Information:

11:00-1:00pm – There will be sign ups for the Costume Contest at a table in Pickwick Square – look for the sign! You must sign up before 1pm if you wish to participate in the contest. Costumes should date to the 1840s-1860s and will be judged on Historical Appropriateness, Quality of Workmanship and Completeness of Outfit. To qualify for the costume contest, you must have sewn the costume yourself (however, you may have someone else model your work).

1:00pm – Meet with the judges in Pickwick Square to view your costume and talk about your work.

2:00pm – Costumes will be shown and winners will be announced on the Paddy West Stage in the London Docks area. Winners will be announced immediately following the show!


Dark Garden Raffle
Dark Garden is again offering a raffle for 2 corsets - one Ready-to-Wear (tickets are $3) and one Custom (tickets are $5) This year (unless demand is very high) we will only sell enough tickets for two drawings - so buy early and often!
We've raffled off more than 10 corsets since the idea leapt into Autumn's mind.

Dark Garden is also running a contest for the best wedding themed window.
The winner(s) will receive a gift certificate to Dark Garden.
"Do you suppose that those two ladies are sisters having a double wedding ? Hmmm..."


The Mad Maniacal Mixologist Contest 2008
(from the Beverage Department)
 
Yep!  It's back!  Your chance for the fortune and fame (well at least the fame) of mixing the best drink at the fair happens on Sunday morning December 14th at 9:00AM (yes, I said NINE AM).
 
To enter, please email beveragechaos@gmail.com with the words Mad Maniacal Mixologist in the subject line.  You will receive a reply email with the rules of the contest and an attachment with a simple entry form.  Fill out the form, save it to your computer and then send it back to us as a new attachment.  Voila!  You will be entered in the contest.
 
I am granting requests to extend the date for entries in the contest.  Please have your entry in by this coming Saturday evening to participate in the contest.


Breakfast at the Fair
At Mr. Brown's Coffee House:
Mullah Mush, chicken apple sausage, fabulous pastries and caffeine to warm you all the way to your toes!
Prices ranging $3 to $5.

Mr. Tadich's Fine Food:
Patrick Morris' Amazing Breakfast Platters
Eggs, potatoes and meat in all sorts of combinations!
Prices ranging $5 to $6.


Dickens Fair Commemorative Pin
You are cordially invited to acquire the 2008 DCF Commemorative Pin.
Available NOW in brass and silver by Gino and Judith Schiavone.
The naughty bits on the back side will make you want to collect the whole set!
Find them at Heidi B's Pale Moon Jewelry Booth near Mad Sal's


Comp Tickets to The Christmas Revels for Dickens Fair Cast and Crew!
(from Dirk Burns)
I would like to invite your Great Dickens Christmas Fair cast and crew to attend opening night 12/12 or the second Friday night 12/19 of The Christmas Revels: A Theatrical Celebration of the Winter Solstice. for several years a number of your people attended and we really enjoy their wonderful energy.
 
For our 23rd anniversary we will feature the great comic, Geoff Hoyle, in our medieval production of The King and the Fool.  Please visit our website at http://calrevels.org for more information.
 
I have complimentary tickets available for Dickens Fair folk on opening night performance, Friday, December 12th and again on  Friday December 19th at 7:30pm.  The show takes place at the Scottish Rite Theater on Lake Merritt at 1547 Lakeside Drive in Oakland.  It's about 7 blocks from the 17/19th Street Bart Station and there are several parking lots in the area too.
 
For tickets please email your request to me at dirk@calrevels.org and include the following:
 
1) Your Name
2) Your Phone #
3) Number of tickets you want (limit 4 please)
4) Note that you are with the Dickens Faire or Red Barn Productions.
 
I will confirm by email and tickets will be held at willcall.
Please send your requests to dirk@calrevels.org
Thanks and have a happy Yule season!
 
In celebration,
Dirk Burns
Executive Director
California Revels
dirk@calrevels.org

 
Our Scrooge's Readings Around the Bay Area
Our very, very own Ebeneezer Scrooge, Martin Harris is doing readings of a "A Christmas Carol" at various locations around the Bay Area:

Fri Dec 5th/12th  7.30pm Singalong for 8pm reading: Novato Theater Company in the Pacheco Playhouse 484 Ignacio Blvd Novato 415 893 4498

Mon Dec 7th  7.00pm A Christmas evening (including a reading) Tea-Angelicas Bistro 863 Main Street Redwood City CA 94063 650 365 3226
 
Fri Dec 19th 7.30pm Berkeley City Club 3015 Durant 510 848 7800
 
The Freight and Salvage
With a big finish after Fair is over before I fly out the next day,
The Freight and Salvage, the world famous music venue in Berkeley with Shay Black leading carol-singers before the reading at 8pm.  So last chance, come in costume and celebrate together as the Dickens Fair party with the story of the true Christmas gift as given to us by our very own Charles Dickens.
 
Thanks,
 Martin
martinharrisusuk@hotmail.com


Special Section: Evening Events
(Note from Cat: please remember to have your gate pass with you and accessible at all times, especially after hours)

This Weekend:

Wake for Sully This Saturday Evening
(from Sharon Sullivan)
The wake will be Saturday December 6 after the close of fair. Meet at the print shop. For anyone who is NOT a current participant at Dickens this year, it is very important to stop by the print shop to pick up a token that will let security know that you have business being in after hours. Please come share a story about Sully. Something happy, something touching. Let us CELEBRATE a man who LIVED!!!!

Sharon

Next Weekend:

Second Leg of the Brian Dall'Armi Memorial Tour - December 13th
Saturday, December 13th, 7:30-9:30pm (Third Weekend)
Mad Sal's Dockside Warehouse Stage, The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Please bring your instruments, your dancing feet and your stories of Brian Dall'Armi to share.  Wear your favorite aloha shirt in honor of the occasion.  Ale will be graciously provided by Lagunitas Brewery (those folks are everywhere!).

If anyone would like to post and share photos of Brian, they can do so here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/briandallarmi/

(Questions can be directed to nwblackwell@yahoo.com)


By Popular Request -
Saucy French Postcards Participants-Only Private Presentation! - December 13th
Saturday, December 13, 2008  -  8 PM (or thereabouts)
 
The cast and crew of Saucy French Postcards is pleased to invite Dickens Fair Participants to a Special Showing!  We know there are many of our Fair family who don't get the opportunity to see our performances during the day.  You're out there making the magical ambience for us all to enjoy!  (And besides, our guests are filling up the seats in the theatre, anyway.)  So, just for you - our Hard-Working and Much Appreciated Colleagues - on Saturday, December 13th, after the last of those guests have swept out the front door on the lilt of Christmas carols, a Private Presentation will take place.  Be daring!  Join us at the V&A, for the adults-only show that makes folks call us "Naughty!"  


To sign up for the missives, please email missives@redbarnproductions.org, and request to be added to the missive list.


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