Archive for January, 2009

2008.  Bye.  See ya. Adios.  Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Make way for a brand new year full of possibilities.  BUT…before we embrace 2009, I feel like we must look back at 2008 in all the ways that it shaped Farmers Alley Theatre, and maybe in some ways it didn’t.

January

Farmers Alley Theatre business plan fleshed out.  Rob Weiner celebrates his birth.  Kalamazoo Civic is the first community theatre to mount a production of Avenue Q – starring our Executive Director Adam Weiner. Sylvester Stallone makes another Rambo.  It is not nominated for any Academy Awards.

February

People celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Others don’t.  Farmers Alley starts meeting with potential board members.  The New England Patriots lose a football game.  The month seemed shorter than other months.

March

Founders Jeremy Koch and Adam Weiner celebrate birthdays.  Not on the same day, that would be weird.  The color scheme is decided on for the theatre.  The men involved have very little input.  Many beers are consumed near the 17th.  For several weekends, madness occurs.

April

Jeremy Koch stars in the Whole Art’s Assassins.  Rob Weiner attends and is frightened by Jeremy pointing a gun at him.  The Farmers Alley Board of Directors is established.  The Season Calendar is fleshed out.

May

The first board meeting in Farmers Alley Theatre History occurs.  Construction begins on the new theatre.  Our opening night of October 17th is decided on.  Robert Downey Jr. declares, “Yeah.  I can fly.”

June

The Farmers Alley Theatre brochure is designed.  The Kalamazoo Gazette prints its first article reporting on our conception.  Adam and Rob travel to Las Vegas.  They return having given a donation to the Nevada Economy.  Hillary Clinton finally concedes.  I think.

July

The founders travel to the Purple Rose Theatre.  Denene almost runs a red light in Chelsea nearly ending the Farmers Alley Theatre’s short existence.  Fireworks go off.  The Dark Knight opens.  Rob sees it.  He sees it again.  He sees it again.

August

Progress in construction speeds up.  The office in which I’m writing this blog is built.  Brochures, mailings, invitations are sent out.  Farmers Alley Theatre holds its first open casting call.  A wonderful flux of actors comes out.  Casting for A Few Good Men takes place.  Michael Phelps swims.

September

The Farmers Alley Theatre has its gala fundraiser at the City Centre in downtown Kalamazoo.  It is highly attended.  Tours of the theatre space are given.  Rehearsals for A Few Good Men are going full steam.  Our first show hasn’t opened and we already have callbacks for A Grand Night for Singing.  The world is introduced to Sarah Palin.  The Detroit Lions lose.

October

Farmres Alley Theatre opens on the 17th.  A soldout production of A Few Good Men is hailed by the Kalamazoo Gazette.  Jeremy Koch can’t handle the truth.  Denene Mulay Koch has a birthday and no one in the cast knows about it.  Kinetic Affect plays for a weekend, complete with juice boxes and sitar music.  Rob’s life is completed with the release of High School Musical 3.  Kris Dalton dresses up as an Elephant for Halloween.  The Detroit Lions lose.

November

The United States elects a new president.  Farmers Alley completes its successful run of A Few Good Men.  Casting for Escanaba in Love is finalized.  James Bond underwhelms.  We give thanks.  And the Detroit Lions lose.

December

A Grand Night for Singing plays to sold out houses.  Wonderful desserts are had by many.  Hot chocolate is made by the gallon.  A Grand Night is had by all.  The play Marvin’s Room will be performed in our May slot.  Holidays are happy.  Seasons are greeted.  And the Detroit Lions lose.

08 was great.

09 is gonna be mighty fine.

Happy New Year from all of us!