13th Annual Turquoise and Silver Tea in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Over 400 mostly women attended the Flickinger Theater Guild Turquoise and Silver Tea "Puttin' On The Ritz", held in the Willie Estrada Civic Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Among the attendees were twelve members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society dressed to the nines with their beautiful hats atop their heads.

As always, the tea was a lovely affair starting with a prelude by SKY Yates and Ed Dittmer, a lovely duo well known around town for their "acoustic this and that". James White and Sarina Turnbull more than ably served as emcees of the event.

Entertainment started with Monique Foster, owner/instructor of the Alamogordo Academy of Ballet presenting three of her students in a beautiful ballet movement.

Carolyn Dittmer playing the Reporter, presented a group of AMT players in a musical skit "Puttin' on the Ritz" (adapted from "Young Frankenstein") which included Tony Calderon (Dr. Frankenstein), Joel Burg (The Monster), Zack Miller (Igor) and Victoria Kennedy (Inga), also the choreographer.

Vocal with Instrumentalists were Joanne Blumenthal, Scott Hancock on flute and Don Thorp on guitar.

Refreshments were prepared by Mountain View Catering @ GCRMC and served by AHS ROTC Cadets, along with instructor USAF CMSgt (ret) Patrick Tedford.

Susie Hall moderated the Fashion Show featuring fashions and accessories from Bealls, Dollar Boots & Jeans, Elite Memories, GCRMC Auxillary Gift Shop, Instant Karma, JC Penney, Maurice's Rue 21, Seasons at the Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM and Zales.

Going on the whole time were drawings for door prizes. Five members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society won prizes as did many other people. In the meantime, a Silent Auction was also running and I bid on and got a gorgeous beaded jacket and a Venezuelan dress.

Twelve Red Hat members were in attendance looking lovely as ever in their purple attire and red hats. We made a lot of noise every time one of us won a door prize so everyone knew we were there.

Shot of the Red Hat group taken by Jan Jennings

L to R: VQ Donna, Darla, Lu and Gail

L to R: Alice, Margie, Queen Ladybird, VQ Donna, Darla, Lu, Gail and Trudy with Jan Jennings at the end of our table

Alice and Margie, our Mountain Girls from High Rolls

Lu and Gail looking lovely as ever

Trudy looking pleased as punch about something

Margie with Carmen just arriving looking quite elegant

Queen Ladybird placing a pink ribbon on Terry's hat with prospective member, Kathy, looking on. October is Breast Cancer Month and we always tuck a pink ribbon in our hats to show our support.

Dorothy E. and Terry contemplating something??

The door prize drawings started and VQ Donna won the very first one, this lovely glass swan shown in the photo

Victoria Kennedy modeling one of the fashions on the runway

The Ballet dance has begun

They were quite professional and entertaining

Joy Kosinski modeling clothes and accessories from Dollar Boots & Jeans

Alice unwrapping her door prize with Kathy looking on

Carmen with her door prize win

L to R: Joel Burg, Tony Calderon, Victoria Kennedy and Carolyn Dittmer "Puttin' on the Ritz"

L to R: Tony, Zach Miller (Igor), Victoria and Carolyn

Zach Miller and Victoria Kennedy

Tony, Joel, Zach and Victoria strutting their stuff

Tony, Zach and Victoria

Zach, Victoria and Tony

Zach and Victoria "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Tony, Victoria and Zach in the finale

Another winner - Terry with her door prize and Kathy wondering why her number hasn't been called

Gail with her door prize, two gift cards, looks very pleased

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for this official shot before I left for the tea.

The tea was a huge success as always and everyone had a grand time. Can't wait to see what they come up with for next year, but we will be there, for sure.

This is all I have to say for now.

"Smoke on the Mountain" has six day run in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Sunday, November 30, 2014

My husband, Doug, and I were involved in the NMSU-A Theater on the Hill production of "Smoke on the Mountain", a musical comedy set in 1938 in a Baptist church in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The elderly pastor has died and a new young one has taken his place with big ideas of  bringing the congregation into the 20th century. He has arranged for the first ever Saturday Night Gospel Sing delivered by the Sanders Family, a traveling group making its return to performing after a five-year hiatus. Doug plays the part of the church custodian and I am one of two wealthy spinster sisters (generous benefactors of said church) who sit in the "Amen" corner of the church and keep tabs on proper conduct. The play ran for two three-day weekends November 14-16 and 21-23, 2014.

Miss Maude (Monica Helm) and Miss Myrtle (Carla Kerr)

Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe (Michael Carrillo) has deluded himself into thinking that the sisters agree with his changes

L to R: Vera Sanders (Glenda Elser), Dennis Sanders (Brian Braga), June Sanders (Monica Harris), Burl Sanders (Jesh Barker), Denise Sanders (Desiree Nielsen) and Stanley Sanders (Rod Barnes). Pastor Oglethorpe is in background.

Dennis whispers something to Denise (they're the twins) as June looks on and the pastor looks disturbed

Dennis and Denise sing and illustrate "Christian Cowboy" while Burl joins in singing

L to R: David Prose (Cousin Sam Sanders), Don Thorp (Uncle Joe Sanders), Vera at the piano, Pastor Oglethorpe, Dennis, Denise, Burl, Stanley, Miss Maude and Miss Myrtle (hidden behind Denise is June)

Dennis, aspiring to become a preacher, practices saving his dog

L to R: Uncle Joe, June (signing "lamb"), Pastor Oglethorpe, Vera, Dennis, Burl, Denise and Stanley singing "Are You Washed in the Blood"

L to R: Miss Maude, Miss Myrtle (fainting), Pastor Oglethorpe, Dennis and Burl during the singing of "I'll Live a Million Years"

Beginning of second act, the sisters trying to decide whether to stay and June and Denise looking properly chastised after they were perceived as dancing during the last song

L to R: Vera, June, Stanley, Denise, Burl and Dennis with Stanley singing "Everyone Home but Me"

L to R: June and Pastor Oglethorpe listening as Vera tells a children's story about a couple of June bugs

Vera reacting when the imaginary June bug breaks the string, landing on her, with Stanley reacting in background

I don't think I need to tell you what is happening to that June bug here

L to R the cast: Bette Colvin (church pianist), David Prose, Don Thorp, Glenda Elser, Brian Braga, Michael Carrillo, Jesh Barker, Monica Harris, Desiree Nielsen, Rod Barnes, Monica Helm and Carla Kerr (Doug Kerr is missing because he shot the picture)

Church Custodian (Doug Kerr)

The play was directed by Kirsten Barker and Connie Breding; Music Director Scott Hancock; Set Designer Will Bartlett; Assistant Director/Stage Manager Eli Holmes.

Smoke on the Mountain was written by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey and musical arrangements were by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick.

This play was well received in Alamogordo considering that it is not as well known here as in the more southern states. There were many compliments from theater attendees. It ran for two weekends on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. After the last matinee, one lady was heard to remark, "I can't believe this is the last show. I just want to go and tell everyone to come see it."

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for the wonderful pictures and I took the one of him.

This is all I have to say for now.