Board of County Commissioners Presents Ceremonial
Key to NewTowne Players, Inc.
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On Monday, November 23, 2004, the Board of County Commissioners
held a ceremonial key presentation to mark the partnership between
the County and NewTowne Players, Inc. for their use of the former
Lexington Park Library as a community theatre. The Commissioners
approved the lease agreement at their regular business meeting
on Tuesday, November 16, 2004.
"The NewTowne Players' use of the former library building
will significantly enhance the revitalization of Lextington Park
and further expand cultural arts activities in St. Mary's County,"
stated Commissioner President Thomas F. McKay. The buildings
location and superior condition makes it a key asset for the
future redevelopment of Lexington Manor and the surrounding commercial
area.
"We are very pleased to work with a local group of highly
talented individuals who want to bring live theatre to St. Mary's
County. The former library building is a perfect location for
a community theatre project," stated Commissioner Dan Raley.
Thanks to generous donations from Liberty Home Builders and 84
Lumber, NewTowne Players now has the materials necessary to build
the sets and risers and they have acquired 100 theatre seats
from D.C. based Studio Theatre. |
Newtowne Players to Open Three Notch Theatre with
Comedy
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LEXINGTON PARK, MD (Feb. 21, 2005) -- The Newtowne Players
(NTP) will present Cheaters, a Michael Jacobs adult comedy about
the follies of love, marriage, and commitment. The show will
run the first two weekends of April opening April Fool's Day
running April 1-3, and April 8-10, with an extension April 15
- 17. Performances will be at Three Notch Theatre, the new home
of The Newtowne Players, Inc. in the former Lexington Park Library
building located at 21477 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park.
Cheaters will be performed at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday
evenings and Sunday matinees will be at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are
$15.00, with a reduced rate of $12.00 for seniors and students.
Discount tickets are available for groups of 10 or more. For
ticket reservations or for more information, call Three Notch
Theatre at 301-737-5447 or Michelle Cox at 301-997-0699.
Kerry Robinson is directing the show's ensemble cast, which
includes Wenday Heidrich as Monica, Morriah Cell as Michelle,
and Linda Lagle as Grace. Greg Rumpf portrays Howard, with Dan
Carrier as Allen, and Larry Mizak as Sam. Serving as stage manager
for the production is Leona Meisinger. The show's set designer
and technical director is David Group of St. Mary's College.
Props will be handled by Dawn Weber.
While attending the shows, theatre-goers will find coffee
and refreshments available in the lobby's A latte Xpressions
Concessions, managed by Helen Marquis who owns and operates the
Read A Latte coffee shop in the Lexington Park Library. In addition,
The Wylde Women Artists Group will have an art exhibit in the
lobby open for viewing beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the evening
of the performances. Future exhibits will have a theme to coordinate
with each NTP production. |
Newtowne Players to Present Scotland Road
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LEXINGTON PARK, MD (May 18, 2005) -- Plot twists and turns surface
much like shadowy icebergs in Jeffrey Hatcher’s chilling
psychological drama Scotland Road, the Newtowne Players upcoming
production about an alleged Titanic disaster survivor. The show
opens on Friday, June 3rd, at the Three Notch Theatre located
at 21477 South Coral Dr. in Lexington Park, MD.
Cheryl Thomas portrays a young woman who is found floating on
an iceberg in the North Atlantic. She speaks only one word when
rescued, “Titanic.” To all appearances, she seems to
be a survivor of the disaster. However, she is foundin 2005,
not in 1912.
The young woman is brought to a secure place in Maine, where
two people attempt to unravel her obvious deception. Dr. Halbrecht,
played by Lori Dement, and John, a mysterious benefactor played
by Dan Carrier, also have their own secrets. They seem to get
nowhere with the mysterious survivor until the surprise arrival
of Mrs. Kittle, a shadowy figure from the past played by Tas
McWilliams.
“The play is about secret agendas, skeletons in the closet,
and a dream that shouldn’t come true,” says Gregory
Rumpf, the show’s director. “No one is exactly who
they seem to be.” According to Rumpf, “The answers
are all spelled out in the end, but as soon as they are, you
realize you were asking the wrong questions.”
Scotland Road is the 1993 winner of the Lois and Richard Rosenthal's
Fifth-Annual New Play Prize. It is rumored that playwright Jeffrey
Hatcher walked into a 7-Eleven one evening and walked out with
this idea for the play. The tabloid headlines of the day were
about a survivor of the Titanic.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on June 3, 4,
10 and 11. Matinees are at 3:30 on Sunday, June 4 and 12. Tickets
are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. There is
a discount for groups of 10 or more if paid in advance. For reservations
call 301-997-0699 or order online at www.newtowneplayers.com.
While attending shows, theater-goers will find coffee and refreshments
available in the lobby’s Alatte Xpressions Concession. In
addition, Wylde Women Artists will have work on exhibit in the
lobby.
The Newtowne Players community theatre is a non-profit organization
that welcomes volunteers for all aspects of production. This
will be the players’ second show of their season. The opening
production, Cheaters, was extended due to sell-out crowds. |
The Point! Art Workshop Offered
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LEXINGTON PARK, MD (July 6, 2005) - Arts Alive!, The Wylde Women
Artists Group and The Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theatre
in Lexington Park are pleased to invite young artists, ages 6
- 16, to an art workshop at Hickory Hills North Clubhouse located
at 22501 Iverson Drive, Great Mills, MD.
The workshop will be from 10-2pm on July 23, 2005. Cost for the
workshop, which includes all materials, is $15. Attendance is
limited to 20, first-come, first-served. Call Tammy Vitale, 410-326-9473
for reservations. Light snacks and drinks are included. Parents
are required to attend with children, aged 6-10.
The Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theatre are presenting a
rock fable, "The Point!" August 5-14, 2005. Participants
will create artwork which gives their own version of the story.
Artwork will be sent home for framing (with how-to instructions)
and all participants will be invited to show their finished,
hanging-ready art in the lobby of Three Notch Theatre during
the presentation of "The Point!."
Participants will view a DVD presentation of "The Point!"
an animated classic written and produced by Grammy award winner
Harry Nilsson. "The Point!" tells the story of Oblio,
a round-headed boy living in the land of Point where everything
and everybody has one. Since his head isn't pointed like everyone
else's, Oblio - along with his trusty dog, Arrow - is banished
to the Pointless Forest. Once there, the adventure begins.
Adults are also invited to enter this themed show about "being
different." Applications for the show for non-workshop attendees
are available by contacting Tammy Vitale at 410-326-9473.
Three Notch Theatre located at 21744 South Coral Drive, opened
Friday, April 1, 2005. "Since its opening has had a wonderful
response from the community and surrounding businesses,"
says Wendy Heidrich the theatre's artistic director. "Not
only are people enjoying the shows, they are also enjoying the
new theatre itself. Having the art workshop is a wonderful way
to bring in children from our community to display their art
work in the lobby for our patrons to view during the performances."
Arts Alive! and The Wylde Women Artists are projects of Southern
Maryland Area Self-Help, Incorporated (SMASH) a 501 (c) 3 non-profit
organization.
The Newtowne Players, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization
that has started the community theatre run by volunteers. All
proceeds from ticket sales, donations and contributions go back
to the theatre for further renovations and future productions.
If interested in becoming a part of the players, volunteering,
donating or information about the shows, call 301-737-5447. Or
check out our website at newtowneplayers.com. |
St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners signs Memorandum on Lexington Park Revitalization
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LEXINGTON PARK, MD (October 18, 2005) - On Tuesday, October 18, 2005,
St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the St.Mary's County Community Development
Corporation, Inc. authorizing the Corporation to manage the
redevelopment process for 91 acres of commercial and recreational
property in the core area of Lexington Park. The principal portion of
this property is the 84-acre Lexington Manor neighborhood acquired
by the County in December 2004 to eliminate residential encroachment
of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and spur revitalization in
Lexington Park. As part of this agreement, no residential uses will
be allowed and all commercial development will be strictly compliant
with the Air Installation Compatibility Use Zone (AICUZ). The AICUZ
overlay zone restricts the commercial capacity of this land to
approximately 393,000 square feet or a total developed area of no
more than 20 to 25 acres. "We are moving forward in our continued
commitment to protect and support the United States Navy and the
business community and to return substantial amounts of publicly
held land to the tax rolls," said Thomas F. McKay, President, Board
of County Commissioners. "It is a sound business decision by this
Board of Commissioners and a positive step forward for the future
of our County." The Corporation will receive assignable options
on county owned land including the 34-acre Lexington Manor Northern
Parcel, the Three Oaks Center and Three Notch Theatre and a 1.29 acre
parcel of undeveloped land adjacent to the Lexington Park Post Office.
The Corporation intends to secure a contract for sale with a qualified
company or individual for the redevelopment of this land for office
and retail use. Selection of a developer will be managed through
a competitive process. Transfer of options on County owned land to
the Corporation will require a public hearing, tentatively scheduled
for early next year. As a condition of the MOU, the Corporation is
required to develop a plan for the recreational use of the county-owned
50-acre Lexington Manor Southern Parcel. This land will remain in
public ownership for recreational use. The future use of the Southern
Parcel is intended to support activities at the adjacent John G.
Lancaster Park and to compliment new commercial development on the
Northern Parcel. The Corporation will also acquire assignable options
on privately owned Bay District Fire Department and Whitlow properties
with the expressed purpose of incorporating these parcels into the
commercial and recreational redevelopment plan for the 91 acres.
"The Board of Directors of the Development Corporation stands ready,
willing and able to serve the County with this important project,"
stated Barbara Horn, Chairperson, St. Mary’s County Community
Development Corporation. The Community Development Corporation is
an independent, non-profit organization created to champion commercial
and community revitalization in economically depressed areas of St. Mary's
County. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is composed of bankers,
commercial and residential developers, business owners and institutional
representatives experienced in funding and managing projects of this size
and complexity. The Corporation has developed a comprehensive marketing
plan to involve the public, the United State's Navy, the State of Maryland,
and the Board of County Commissioners in review of the redevelopment plan
throughout the developer solicitation process. Developers and other
interested parties are directed to contact the Community Development
Corporation at 240-725-5786 for more information about this project. |
2005 Stuff-A-Bus Event Provides Thousands of Pounds of Food for the Needy During the Holidays
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On Tuesday, December 13, 2005, the St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners, with help from supporting County departments and staff, and the NewTowne Players delivered more than 4,000 lbs. of non-perishable food items to two local food pantries in St. Mary’s County. The items that were delivered were received as donations from the community through the first annual Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive, sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners.
We have a special community where people like to help people," said Thomas F. McKay, President, Board of County Commissioners. The citizens and community groups who contributed to the Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive can feel good knowing that they have truly made a difference in the lives of the less fortunate this holiday season."
This is the first year County Government sponsored the Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive, through the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Division of Community Services. The event was held on December 9, 10, and 11, 2005, in an effort to help feed the needy of our County during the holidays.
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