Local community theatre group, Cochrane Vision Theatre, held their annual general meeting on Nov. 8, resulting in a new president.
“I am very lucky to be nominated as president,” said Lauren Hoines.
“I definitely want to make us more of a feature in the Cochrane community . . . I’m very keen on getting on board with some of the Cochrane and Area Events Society events (such as WinterFest and SummerFest) and seeing that the Mitford Pond area is more utilized.”
Hoines, who moved from Chester, England in 2010, said it took her a year to find out about the small community theatre group.
Graduating in 2006 with her Bachelor of Arts in performance and theatre arts from the University of Liverpool, Hoines brings to the table an extensive background in theatre, including experience in box office management, festival production and street performances.
Hoines said she feels that the Cochrane community has come to adopt the British pantomime genre with open arms since last year’s Vision Theatre production of Cinderella.
“I think Cochrane has come around and is warm to pantos.”
The next panto on the agenda will be the familiar tale of the boy with the magic carpet and the slapstick genie — Aladdin, directed by Lucy Mills.
“Aladdin is a fun, family adventure,” explained the president. “None of our cast are professional actors, yet they have put so much into this that you would never know.”
Running on the evenings of Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Cochrane RancheHouse and during the afternoons of Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m., tickets to Aladdin are $15 each or $10 for children; tickets are available at Bentleys Books and the Cochrane Eagle office.
The cast is comprised of adults and children, numbering around 25 aspiring thespians.
During their AGM, the board also discussed the year in review and outlined goals for the 2012-13 season, which includes building on local awareness of the community theatre group.
Other items on the agenda included discussion about continuing with the agreement for rehearsal space at the Cochrane RancheHouse, as well as plans for funds raised from their spring casino fundraiser.
Hoines said the group needs to purchase new microphones and update some of their equipment over the next year.
The board for Cochrane Vision Theatre now consists of president Hoines, vice-president Lucy Mills, secretary Mark Tilbury, treasurer Darlene Tilbury and Jessica Ingard, Lisa Wood, Jonathan Bennett and Caroline Hartford — all as directors at large. All members are newly elected. Learn more by emailing [email protected].
