AlphaOmega Players

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Alpha/Omega Players

• By
• Lauren A. Drey

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FAQs

• Non-profit 501(c)3
• Founded in 1978
• Community theater
• Located in Birdsboro, PA
• 98 seat black box

Actual seating chart of theater
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Productions

• 3 musicals per season (fall, spring, summer)
• Various cabarets and concerts
• Special guest concerts
• Childrens productions (written for kids,
  performed by kids)

Cast photo from Summer 2007 production of
Disneys High School Musical
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Our Mission

• The mission of The Alpha Omega Players is to
  provide quality theatrical productions to our
  immediate community of Birdsboro and to South
  Eastern Pennsylvania. We strive to provide
  educational and performing opportunities in an
  environment that fosters the following beliefs
• Each person has creative value and deserves
  respect and dignity
  
• Educational opportunities are an important
  component of the performing arts process
  
• Excellence in performing arts is worth the
  commitment of time, effort and financial
  resources
  
• Cultural experiences for all have value and make
  Berks County a better place to live and work
  

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The Alpha Story

• Mark Drey and Kerry Eschbach-Drey founded the
  Alpha Omega Players in late 1978 with a
  performance of Godspell to celebrate the 250th
  anniversary of St. Pauls United Church of Christ
  in Amityville. After Several years of Performing
  at the Scottish Rite Cathedral the Players have
  now Created their own Intimate venue known as The
  Alpha/Omega Performing arts Center in Birdsboro,
  PA. The Players Thank J.P Mascaro and the
  Borough of Birdsboro for making this venue
  possible.
•  Over the years, in addition to traditional
  Broadway favorites, Alpha Omega has taken a
  "cutting edge" approach to performance theater,
  offering such non-traditional shows as Sondheim's
  Assassins, Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, and
  Maury Yeston's Nine. In 1997, Alpha premiered
  Stephen Schwartz's first American performance of
  Children of Eden to the delight of an
  appreciative theater crowd who heralded this
  performance as one of the finest in the Company's
  history. The new Millennium not only brought the
  company a new venue, but a new approach to doing
  theater in intimate settings, which our audiences
  have embraced. In this new venue The Alpha/Omega
  players have brought the area premiers of The
  Madison Square Garden version of A Christmas
  Carol and Elton John and Tim Rices Aida as well
  as many other popular standards.
• Alpha Omega does more than produce high-quality
  musical theater. We offer continuing classes in
  all aspects of theater We keep all of our
  educational fees low so that any community member
  interested in any income level can participate.
  We have entire families participating in our
  productions and are proud to have watched new
  families form from within our membership. We
  believe that our 100 plus volunteers enjoy a
  nurturing and positive environment as they work
  to create all that is Alpha. We welcome all
  volunteers, all ages and backgrounds - a source
  of distinct pride for this well-established
  musical theater company. 

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National Premiers

• 1998 American premiere of Children of Eden
• 2001 Regional premiere of The Madison Square
  Garden version of A Christmas Carol
  
• 2006 Regional premiere of Elton John Tim
  Rices Aida
  

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Getting Involved

• Open-call auditions for each production
• Stage crew, lighting, sound tech positions

• Set construction, costume building
• Ushers, box office attendants, concession stand
  workers

All members of the Alpha/Omega Players are 100
unpaid volunteers
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Donors

• Ticket sales alone cannot fully fund the
  activities and goals of the company, so we must
  rely on contributions from business and
  individual donors to provide the financial
  resources necessary to cover our operational and
  programming expenses. Though we have received
  large donations to renovate our performance space
  there are still more renovation projects to
  enhance the space for performers and patrons that
  individual donations could fund. We are a
  non-profit organization dedicated to providing
  the community with the best education and
  entertainment possible. All donations are tax
  deductible and greatly appreciated. Large
  donations can be marked for specific projects at
  the donors request.
• For more information, please contact the Alpha
  Office at 610-404-4844 or by email at
  Alpha1978_at_dejazzd.com.

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Upcoming Productions

• 2008 marks the 30th anniversary for the
  Alpha/Omega Players. We will be performing
  Children of Eden Stephen Schwartzs hit musical
  tale of the story of Genesis. The musical covers
  both the first books and the story of Noah's ark.
  But audiences immediately experience that the
  relationships between Father, Adam, and Eve has
  more to do with earthly families, their immediate
  challenges and their generational legacies.
• Production Dates August 1st 17th, 2008

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Ticket Information

• Prices
• 20 for adults
• 15 for students (age 2-12)
• How to Order
• Call 610-404-4844
• Email Alpha1978_at_dejazzd.com

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Sample Clip

• YouTube - "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd

Clip of Angela Lansbury and George Hern in the
Tony Award winning production Sweeney Todd
Mark Drey as Sweeney Todd
Deanne Smith as Mrs. Lovett Mark Drey as
Sweeney Todd