Seems as though the incredible success of the Capital Campaign presented a new problem to TUCW’s Board of Trustees—the problem of ABUNDANCE!! What did the Board (Tom Hearne, Anita Pfluger, Catherine Onyemelukwe, and Bart Stuck) decide to do with all the extra money? Well….they suggested holding AUDITIONS! And what a variety of suggestions were presented!
The panel of judges, Meg Jones, Candace Clinger, and Julyen Norman, were amazed at the number of presentations offered for use of the additional funds…
Tom Croarkin, Head Usher, whipped a new batch of ushers into shape. New recruits Gian Andrea Morresi and Ravi Sankar helped lead usher Bob Perry get the crew
Ms. Penelope Posh Pincherton, AKA Diane Bell, who represented Sotheby’s Auction House, informed Linda Hudson of the firm’s interest in purchasing the rights to our Annual Tag Sale …
Jim Luongo as Skye Dog, a very 60’s tie-dyed hippie, offered TUCW leaders Rev. John, David Vita, and Catherine Onyemelukwe, a fantastic opportunity for increasing our finances with a new use for our ”MediCation” Garden…
Kim and Rob Rogers, in beautiful voice, sang their application to become Leading Lights (and get a good parking place for a month!)….
Who would have recognized our very own Berta Russell as the incomparable Martha Stewart, offering to enhance TUCW’s image by replacing our wandering turkeys with peacocks and reupholstering our chairs in organic mulberry silk with a pattern that Inspires and Connects people and promotes them to Action….
The ChUGNOtes Beer bottle choir demonstrated their considerable musical skills with renditions of the ABC song, and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy…
The new Visiting Steward program was quite a hit as stewards Michelle and Luke Garvey visited congregants Jerusha and Ken Vogel in their bedroom…at night…while they were sleeping! Apparently visiting stewards now will help with cleaning chores, cooking, and shopping…anything to get a pledge from a member…
Arnela Ten Meer and Charles Klein, representatives of an architectural firm, suggested how to make the church more cozy, e.g. closing in the windows and creating a new focal point at the front of the sanctuary–a new pipe organ!–when the panel of judges explained we already had chosen our architects. Holding blueprints, Joann Coviello, Gian Andrea Morresi, and Sarah Bell, along with the panel of judges, broke into a rousing version of “Goody Clancy” based on Frankie Lymon’s “Goody Goody“…
Bob Perry, a very zealous salesman from The Spirit of Life Insurance Company, tried to convince the panel of our need for more insurance…
Sarah Bell and Cathy Painefrom the “Connecticut Interpretive Dance Collective,” offered their interpretive (and repetitive!) dance routine illustrating the 7 principles of Unitarian Universalism…
Rev. Shelly had the opportunity to educate member Sari Bodi about all the acronyms now prevalent in our programs, from ABCDE and NFL to RE (Religious Education) …no, LFD (Lifespan Faith Development)…No, no… finally FFF (Family Faith Formation!!!)…
Wendy Levy and Arnela Ten Meer auditioned for support for Margalie Belizaire, whose internship duties are taking an enormous amount of her time—”She do run run, run, run, she do run run“…
And the last audition was never completed, as the quiet young woman about to perform was ushered off the stage when she announced her name was Sheila Lane (LOL)…..
The grand finale included the entire cast singing “It’s up to you, UU Westport” based on Frank Sinatra’s memorable tune, “New York, New York.”
Thanks so much to the incredible writers of the show, Sarah Bell, Joann Coviello, Tom Croarkin, Linda Hudson, Meg Jones, Charles Klein, and Julyen Norman who worked on the skits and lyrics for months and months. And especially huge thanks to Rev. Ed Thompson for not only accompanying our inimitable performers on the night of the show, but also for spending many hours of practice with them all.
A wonderful evening of fun and laughter! Check out the photo gallery, and don’t miss the next Follies event, whenever it will be!