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From
Issue #3, Autumn 2003 From Grand Rapids to Hibbing - an interview with Roy Booth This all began with a chance contact on the Internet. Cynthia Booth picked up the thread first. Following is an excerpt from her response. Roy and I have moved
to Hibbing, Minnesota and have resurrected our readers theatre gig - we've
done six new plays for three different productions starting last August
at Amelia's, an Italian restaurant. They serve, we perform, they get more
business, we keep the gate. Wonderful set up. If you need to know more,
please contact Roy So we did. RTD: Roy, could you tell us a bit more about your RT group; its name, for instance? Roy: The Hibbing Playwrights Guild. RTD: And a little of how it came to be? Roy: A few of us that did shows in Grand Rapids transplanted the entire operation to Hibbing. RTD: How many are involved, Roy: About 20, off and on. RTD: What are some titles of plays you've performed as RT? Roy: Broken Sacrament by Gary Eustice and Roy C. Booth; X Equals by Eustice and Booth; The Sucker Bet by Booth; Grandpa Jim Is Dead by Michael Paslawski and Booth. Plays by Cynthia Booth, Jaime Tintor, and others to soon follow! RTD: How do you stage your performances ... simple stools and stands? Roy: Tables, chairs, whatever we can fit onto the stage. RTD: Costumes? Roy: Few - hats, dresses, suits - that sort of thing. RTD: Props? Roy: Yes - bottles, guns, newspapers, et al - whenever we can fit them in without getting in the way of the script! RTD: Music and sound embellishments, etc?. Roy: A little. RTD: Are you the first RT group in the community? Roy: Yes! RTD: How has RT been received in Hibbing? Roy: Wonderfully! RTD: What other theaters are there in town? Roy: A community college, a children's group, the high school, and a few independent dinner theatre troupes. RTD: What is the admission? Roy: $3. RTD: Seating? Roy: 50+. RTD: How often are performances given. Roy: Once
a month on the third or fourth Fridays and RTD: What specific problems have you experienced in performing in a restaurant venue? Roy: Timing out the first play (usually a ten-minute comedy) to help out with the serving and the intermission following to help boost sales. We shoot for at least one hour+ of stage time, so the entire affair usually runs about 2 hours all told. RTD: What are the outstanding plus's? Roy: Good food and drink, good ambiance, and decent theatre all in one package. Lots of good publicity, too. The others are learning quite a bit - especially the beginning actors. RTD: Any further information you feel would interest our readers? Roy: All of
our plays are written by local playwrights and are RTD: Thanks Roy.
Why does the word 'taciturn' come to mind? Ed.
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