ZCT-18th Angel Tree Benefit - Call 740.455.6487 - Reserve your seats today & Angel Tree History

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Zanesville Community Theatre, Inc.is a wholly volunteer organization, having no paid staff positions. ZCT serves the Zanesville and Southeastern Ohio areas. ZCT is dedicated to the production of plays, musicals, and other dramatic presentations; and to the education of our members and the communities we serve in theatrical techniques and presentations. ZCT's first show was in November 1963. ZCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

The memories of the past come to life as she and her family explore letters and mementos they find in her trunk. It's a beautiful tale that celebrates the true meanings of Christmas throughout her life and those who lived it.

Zanesville Community Theatre's 18th Annual Angel Tree Benefit - It's one of Zanesville's longest traditions in celebrating what is best in all of us - helping our fellow man in a season when the need is greatest. ZCT's Angel Tree creates a fresh show from a new holiday perspective each year. They then build the show around everyone who auditions. They ask for a donation instead of their set ticket price. All of the monies raised (from the ticket donations and sale of raffle tickets with prizes donated by citizens and big hearted businesses) goes towards "the cause" - the Salvation Army's mission in helping others. 100%. Rich Tolliver and his wife Shelley head up this troupe of volunteers and this years show does it again. LETTERS TO SANTA, LETTERS FROM HOME offers two worlds as it visits Grandma GG in her family home as she prepares to move. The story is told in flashbacks to when she fell in love during WWII and her neighbors and friends who shared her history as well as her family in today's modern world.

Performances:
December 11, 12, 13, 2008 • 8:00pm
December 14, 2008 • 2:30pm
Directed by Richard Tolliver
Musical Director: Sheryl Wise
One Weekend Only! You MUST call 740.455.6487 to make reservations!
Your generous donation will be accepted in lieu of a set ticket price
Note: If you can't attend but would like to contribute, you may make your check out to
ZCT and mail to Zanesville Community Theatre, Inc., 18th Angel Tree Benefit, PO Box 2967, Zanesville Ohio 43702-2967 - Please mark "ATB18" on the memo line.
Director's Note Raffle

It's Angel Tree time again at Zanesville Community Theatre and Rich and Shelley Tolliver are back in the directors chair with another holiday tale that's fun for the whole family. What's so special about this annual benefit, you ask?

Well, for starters it's a community effort with a purpose - to help people. ZCT drops their set ticket price and asks for a donation to see the show instead. That way families can come and enjoy a show no matter what their economic status. In conjunction with the show, area community members and businesses donate goods and services to the ZCT Angel Tree Raffle. Members of the theater and participants in the production sell tickets. ($1 each or six for $5). At the close of the production ALL
monies collected from raffle sales and donations are counted. Then volunteers in the production actually use that money to shop for Angels on the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.

Over the years, ZCT's mission in helping others has expanded to include contributions to the Salvation Army's Food pantry. The children who participate in the Angel Tree Benefit bring in their gently used toys and put them towards the cause, only these items go to help families in need in surrounding communities. These donations are sorted, any that is 'loved a little too much' is donated to the animals at the Zanesville Animal Shelter. The rest voyage with ZCT's Santa and the lovely Mrs. Claus (Dick and Dru Tolliver) to Crooksville and Roseville and beyond. Toys are also shared with members of their fire departments in those cases where children are involved in accidents or house fires. Each toy finds love and each family who receives them know that there are people who care.

Believe it or not, there's more to it. The Zanesville Community Theatre and its members contribute to cover the production and operational costs of the building. Every Annual Angel Tree Benefit is wholly a volunteer effort! Headed up yearly by Richard Tolliver and his wife Shelley, this production includes everyone who auditions. That's right! EVERYONE who auditions gets a part from the young to the young at heart - everyone is welcome. Rich begins planning the framework of the next Angel Tree before the current one is over. Sometimes they are musicals, sometimes they are shows with holiday music in them. In every case, the show becomes a group effort where the real meaning of Christmas is celebrated and people carry the fact that they've made a difference into their holiday season.

This year's show promises no less. It's a story based around a great grandmother and the histories, stories and memories that she has nestled in her trunk. It's a show that celebrates the holiday music through the ages and the people that lived them. It's also a chance for members of the community to do something to help others in need.

Last year, through the generosity of the community and neighboring communities the ZCT Annual Angel Tree Benefit raised over $5,000 to help others. (Mind you, that doesn't include all the toys that were donated by the kids or the groceries that were brought in by their families. It took 2 trips in a rather large van to deliver the donated toys last year. My Bravada was loaded to the gills with food!) It's a beautiful moment in life when a whole bunch of "little" adds to quite a lot.

Director's Note:

Our theatre, being wholly subsidized by our patrons and members from Zanesville and surrounding communities, needed a way to say 'Thank You' and give something back to the community. I thought a community Christmas show would be just the ticket. With the help of an old friend (Bruce Revennaugh) we came up with some guidelines

We'd put on two shows
We would write and produce it ourselves
We would give all the monies we garnered to the Salvation Army's Angel Tree (ZCT's shoppers using the money raised and actually buying the presents delivered to the Salvation Army)
We would take only donations (no set ticket price)
and
We would cast everybody that auditions
(this would help us find new talent)

Our goal was to put on a quality theatrical production, family oriented, celebrating the season and ultimately help some kids in the
process.

That was 18 years ago.

Friends, family, professional and amateurs - our people have come together to entertain the community, provoking laughter, tears, introspective thoughts and rejoicing. Raising thousands of dollars and helping hundreds of children - dreams become reality and on Christmas morning, the gifts we help give seemingly come back ten fold.

Painting from the Leslie Cope Gallery

5 piece SKIL Tool Kit with canvas tote from Goss

New Toys and Games

(2) Oil paint sets

Clay Bird Bath from Burley Clay Products Co

Reflections of Time Photography gift cert for sitting fee and photo

Oil change gift certificate from Napa Care Center on 6th Street

Bottle of Wine from Carlwick Stop & Shop

Matrix Hair Care Gift Set from Carlwick Stop and Shop

Fleece Blankets - for adults and children

Gift Baskets - cookie jars and baking goodies, hot chocolate mug sets, mixing bowl set and more

Deluxe Canvas bag ($45 value)

Lion King Deluxe Special Edition DVD

Dora the Explorer DVD

Yankee Candle (great scent) From the Putnam House of Candles

Hat & Scarf set

Thomas Kinkade Night Light from Frames, Flames and More

$25 Gift Certificate from Ken Brown's Auto

(2) $25 Gift Card to Applebee's

(2) $25 Vouchers for the Home Depot from the Home Depot

1 Live 6' Christmas Tree courtesy of the Home Depot

1 Month Curves Membership courtesy of Curves

1 Bob Evans Gift card

60 Minute massage ($55.64 Value) from Genesis Complimentary Medicine

60 Minute reflexology session from the Genesis Complimentary Medicine ($59.92)

Holiday decor items like music boxes, knick knacks and festive decorations

Super Man Memorabilia set - ornament, lunchbox and hat

Flight/Game system bags

A 3 Piece Vase Set from the Family Dollar on Maple

A New Boy's Bike (md size)

A New Girl's Bike (md size)

Girls TV Beanbag Seat

Pfaltzgraf Winter Berry Serving Platter

A heavy Cherub Glass Serving Platter

A Gingerbread Spoon holder

A Travel/Vacation Set - a deluxe folding chair, towel and floating vest from the Mudget's Monuments

Bowling Passes from Sunrise Bowling

(2) $5 gift certs to the Ladybug Gallery courtesy WYBZ and The LadyBug Coffee Gallery

More Goodies on the Way! This is the list as I have it! Don't forget - new this year - we have several "thank you prizes" that can be exchanged incase you win puppy chow and don't have a puppy.

Ticket Pricing

Musicals
$15 - Full, $10 - Senior, $9 - Student, $5 - Youth
Dramas/Comedies
$12 - Full, $8 - Senior/Student, $5 - Youth
Group rates for 10 or more are available

Tickets may be reserved by phone or ordered on-line - see link at the top of the page
Note: Patrons & Advertisers MUST call 740.455.6487 to reserve their seats - all others may order on-line or call.