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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From Don Hughes. November 10, 2008: The financial crisis has not only reduced the amount of money available to the organizations that care for the most needy among us, it has increased the number of people needing help.  If you have any household goods that you are not using and that could be put to better use,  please contact one of the two organizations listed below.  All of your donations will go to benefit local families. Pickup is available.  Please note that GCCC also welcomes volunteers.





For more information: http://www.furnituresharehouse.org/

http://www.gracecommunitycenter.org/

—– Furniture Sharehouse —-

Furniture Sharehouse, Westchester´s Furniture Bank, collects donations of
gently used furniture from the public and redistributes it to needy Westchester
families free of charge.  Gently-used furniture of average size is in great
demand.  Besides it being a ‘green’ choice, donors get a receipt for their taxes,
their treasures go to ONLY local people, and DSS dollars can be used for other
purposes.

Their clients include those moving out of homeless shelters; women and children
escaping domestic violence; working families struggling to stay ahead; young
adults aging out of foster care; victims of fires or other disasters.

Clients are referred by a member network of 28 social service agencies,
ensuring that your furniture goes directly to those who need it most.

Since opening in April 2007, they have served over 320 households – over 850
individuals, including 350 children.

Each household receives 5-10 pieces of basic furniture, plus accessories; to
date, they have distributed over 2000 items of furniture worth over $150,000 free
of charge to clients who could never have afforded to purchase it.

They recycle tons of furniture that would otherwise end up in landfills.

They are a NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation and tax-exempt under Section
501(c)(3) so your donations can be deducted from your taxes.

—- Grace Church Community Center —-

A new neighbor, Grace Church Community Center, Inc.(GCCC), recently moved
into the old American Lung Association Building at Exit 6 off the 287. GCCC is a
registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit social services agency whose mission is to assist
the neediest and most at-risk residents of Westchester County.

Each of GCCC´s programs needs donations of in-kind goods and welcomes
volunteers.  Below are some of the items needed by the programs.  For more
information on how you can donate goods or volunteer your help, please call
Sister Alice Conrad at 949-3098 ext. 100.

Donation Needs:

The Summer Day Camp program needs bathing suits (all sizes including adult),
towels, swim goggles, sunscreen, backpacks and paper cups.  They also need
gift certificates in denominations of $20 and over to be used for Christmas gifts
for homeless children. Gift certificates should be from Modell´s, Sports Authority,
Toys R Us, or Target.  Gift certificates form local food stores in denominations of
$50 are also welcome for distribution to the families of the campers. (914-949-
3098 ext. 100)

The Open Arms Men´s Shelter program welcomes donations for its Bus Token
Fund which enables residents to search for jobs and housing. The shelter also
requires new underwear, socks, pajamas, scarves, gloves, hats and toiletries
from airlines.(914-948-5044)

The Samaritan House Women´s Shelter needs new linens, towels, toiletry items,
nightgowns, bedroom slippers, new underwear, scarves, gloves and hats. (914-
948-3075

The Soup Kitchen needs donations of paper goods such as plates, bowls and
napkins as well as plastic cutlery and cups. In the winter, donations of coats,
sweaters, hats, socks & other warm clothing are welcome. (914-949-3098 ext.
100)

Neighbor’s Home Care Services has need of new or used wheel chairs, walkers
and hospital beds (914-949-3112)

Housing Services needs new linens and towels, non-perishable food items and
cash certificates from local grocery stores in denominations of $50. (914-949-
0925 ext. 3)

Grace Church Community Center, one of the largest social services agencies in
the county, operates nine programs and has been in existence for almost 30
years. The agency´s programs are as follows:

Services for the Homeless and the Hungry:
    Soup Kitchen
    Open Arms shelter for homeless men
    Samaritan House shelter for homeless women
    Project Trust- a daytime shelter for chronically homeless men and women
    Housing Services to prevent homelessness and eviction

Services for Children and Youth:
    Summer Day Camp for homeless and disadvantaged children
    Year-round Mentoring Program for homeless and disadvantaged children

Services for the Elderly and Disabled:
    Neighbors Home Care Services, a licensed home care services agency
    for the elderly and homebound
    Rainbow Outreach- drop-in and referral services for developmentally
    disabled children, adults and their families.

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Piaa Haas, Westchester Broadway Theatre. November 9, 2008:

It’s a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra’s classic film has been brought to vibrant theatrical life through the remarkable collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning librettist & lyricist,  Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award winning Composer, Joe Raposo.  The delightful Musical, A Wonderful Life, faithfully follows the plot of the beloved 1946 film which starred Jimmy Stewart. The film was, in turn, based on a 1938 short story by Philip Van Doren Stern called “The Greatest Gift.”  It opens at Westchester Broadway Theatre November 20 running through February 8.

Frank Capra’s classic film has been brought to vibrant theatrical life through the remarkable collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning librettist & lyricist,  Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award winning Composer, Joe Raposo.  The delightful Musical, A Wonderful Life, faithfully follows the plot of the beloved 1946 film which starred Jimmy Stewart. The film was, in turn, based on a 1938 short story by Philip Van Doren Stern called “The Greatest Gift.”

Set in 1945, the musical tells the tale of George Bailey, an average Joe, who spends a lifetime sacrificing his own ambitions for the sake of others and continually setting aside his own dreams in order to keep his late father’s building and loan business afloat.  When the greedy banker, Mr. Potter, manufactures a scandal that threatens to send him to jail, George contemplates suicide, and it’s up to a wingless angel named Clarence, coming down from Heaven by order of St. Matthew, to convince him of his own worth. 

A WONDERFUL LIFE was performed for the first time at the University of Michigan in 1986 and had a successful run at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage in 1991. The show continues to be a favorite of regional theatres across the country.

Our production stars Duke Lafoon as George Bailey and Darin DePaul as Angel-wanting-wings, Clarence. Arch nemesis, Mr Potter is played by William McCauley. Juli Robbins will be seen as George’s model wife, Mary Bailey. Featured are Ann-Ngaire Martin (of Chappaqua) as Ma Bailey,  Ryan Foy (of the Vaudeville Foys!) as Harry Bailey, Bob Stoeckle as Tom Bailey,  Jack Hallett as Uncle Billy, PJ Baccari as Ernie, Darrel Blackburn as Bert, Julie Cardia as Mrs Martini & Mrs Hatch, Brian Cooper as Sam Wainwright, and Tara Geisler as Violet Bick.   The ensemble includes; Kendall Kelly, Peter Marinos, Ronnie Nelson, Michael Scibillia, Katie Sina, and Shannon Lea Smith.

The Bailey Children will be played by Sofia Hantzaridis of Tarrytown, Sarah Heinzmann Of Ridgefield, Ct., Sharon Rosenthal of Armonk, Sofia Singer of North Salem and Cosmo Zappoli of Dover Plains      

Richard Stafford, who directed our critically acclaimed BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, GYPSY, THE FULL MONTY and CATS, is the Director and Choreographer, with Jonathan Stahl as Associate Director and Stephen Purdy is the Musical Director.  The winning production team includes Steve Loftus (Set Designer), Andrew Gmoser (Lighting Designer), Jon Hatton (Sound Designer), Gail Baldoni (Costumes) and Victor Lukas (Production Stage Manager).

DUKE LAFOON (George Bailey) is reprising this wonderful role at WBT. He was last seen here in Are We There Yet?  Duke last appeared as Edward in the new musical Ace at Signature Theatre. New York credits include I Love My Wife (Queens Theatre), The Drama Desk nominated production The Audience (Transport Group) and as a singing Bill Clinton in Monica the Musical at MTC. Some favorite regional credits include Father Flynn in Doubt at Barksdale Theatre, Clifford in Sideman with Company of Fools and Ace at The Old Globe. TV/Film: Iron Clads for TNT and as Jack Epps in the CBS miniseries Sally Hemings starring Sam Neill

DARIN DEPAUL (Clarence) Broadway: “Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas”. National Tours: “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Guys & Dolls”, “Funny Girl”.  Off Broadway: Classical Theatre of Harlem, NYMF.  Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, California Music Circus, Stages St. Louis, Barter Theatre.  Film: “Julie & Julia”, featured voice in “Ice Age”, “Robots” and the short “No Time For Nuts”.  Television:  “Law & Order”, “Miami Vice”, “USA Up All Night”, Nickelodeon’s “Welcome Freshmen.

RICHARD STAFFORD (Director/Choreographer) On Broadway, Mr. Stafford was the choreographer for In My Life (Music Box Theatre), the associate choreographer for Aspects Of Love (Broadhurst Theatre), and dance supervisor for CATS (Winter Garden Theatre) Off-Broadway he was the associate director for Summer’69 (John Houseman Theatre) and associate choreographer for The Middle Of  Nowhere (Astor Place Theatre) National Tours include CATS (director/ choreographer), My Fair Lady (choreographer), Joseph/Dreamcoat (choreographer, starring Debbie Gibson and Patrick Cassidy)-Troika Entertainment.  Mr. Stafford also has extensive Regional credits, including Dreamgirls (North CarolinaTheatre), Director and Choreographer for Singin’ In The Rain, Crazy For You,  Fame,  Swing,  Cats (North Shore Music Theatre), Disney’s Beauty And The Beast (Walnut Street Theatre and Ogunquit Playhouse), The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (Ogunquit Playhouse starring Sally Struthers),  Grossinger’s (premier, starring Gavin Macleod) and Dodsworth (premier, starring Hal Linden) both at Pittsburgh CLO.  Mr. Stafford won the Barrymore Award for outstanding choreography for La Cage Aux Folles at the Walnut Street Theatre.  He is happy to return to WBT, where he previously directed Gypsy starring Karen Mason, The Full Monty, and CATS.

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