Plainville Choral Society

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Plainville Choral Society

Bringing Music to Life in the Community

PCS Rehearsal & Performance Calendar

PCS is now a member of the Greater Hartford Arts Council (GHAC)

and offers "Let*s Go Arts!" members 2-for-1 tickets (door only) to regular season PCS performances.

We are also a member of the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance (GNBAA); our events appear on the GNBAA Calendar.

Click here to see information on our next PCS production!

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Welcome to the PCS 2008-2009 Season!

We're glad you're here to help us celebrate 38 years of music!

About PCS

Plainville Choral Society is a group of individuals who enjoy singing (and sometimes acting and dancing.) We are based in Plainville, Connecticut , a town of approximately 17,300 located 14 miles west of Hartford and 30 miles northwest of New Haven, roughly between New Britain and Bristol. Our members come from cities and towns across central Connecticut, including Farmington, Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Meriden, New Britain, Newington, Plantsville, Southington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, West Simsbury, and of course Plainville. We perform a range of music from classical to pop, twentieth-century (i.e. modern classical), Broadway, and jazz. We occasionally commission and perform new works by Connecticut composers. We are proud to present family entertainment to Plainville and the surrounding communities. We like each other and we have fun.

See rehearsal pictures here!

The Plainville Choral Society Mission

Our mission is to provide and promote quality entertainment in the form of choral works and musical theater productions for the town of Plainville and surrounding communities. In addition, we strive to foster a love of theater in our community's youth by encouraging children to participate in the PCS Youth Theater, and by providing scholarship money for students pursuing music in college.

About our Directors

Peter Peluso (Director) is a 1969 graduate of SUNY Potsdam. He is the head of the Voice Department at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, where he coaches the voice ensemble and teaches music theory and musical theater, and teaches voice privately at his home in Plainville. Pete directed the Wheeler Regional YMCA Youth Theater from 1985-2000 and in 2001 became director of the PCS Youth Theater. In addition to serving as musical director with several area theaters, he has prepared choruses for the Hartford, New Britain, and Wallingford (CT) Symphonies and has conducted Handel's Messiah for the New Britain Music Club. Pete is also an accomplished classical accordionist! This is Pete's 35th season as our Director.

Maryjane Peluso (Accompanist) is a 1970 graduate of SUNY Potsdam and holds an M.M. degree in piano performance from the Hartt School, University of Hartford. She is a piano ensemble instructor at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and teaches privately at her home in Plainville. As one-half of the Kelley-Peluso Duo she has recorded the complete Hungarian Dances by Brahms; the Duo released their second recording in 2004 featuring works by Dvorak, Borodin, and Infante. This is Maryjane's 36th season as our Accompanist.

The PCS 2008-2009 Board of Directors

PCS Productions 2008-2009

Our season usually consists of a themed or unthemed December holiday concert, a themed concert or Children's Concert in March, and a musical production in May. Musicals may be a Broadway or off-Broadway "book" show or a musical revue. In recent years we have presented a diverse range of shows: "Hollywood Holidays," "A Starry Night Christmas" (featuring "Amahl and the Night Visitors"), and "A Renaissance Christmas"; "Jazz You Like It," "Celebrate America!," and concert productions of Mozart's "Requiem," Orff's "Carmina Burana," and "Children of Eden," with selected accompanying works (March concerts); "Disney Revue" (I and II), "Cinderella," and "Sleeping Beauty" (Children's Concerts); and "Fiddler on the Roof," "Anything Goes," "Hello, Dolly!," "Once on This Island," "Annie," "Smokey Joe's Cafe," "The Music Man," "50s . . . and More," "Flashback to the 60s," and "Scintillating Seventies" (Broadway shows, musical revues). In addition, we occasionally (as the Director's and Accompanist's schedules and moods strike them) present a small-cast production in the fall. Recent offerings have included "Nunsense" (1994), "Heartbeats" (1998) and "Forever Plaid" (2003).

PCS productions for the 2008-2009 season include:

PCS Holiday Concert

"Christmas In Plainville"

at Middle School of Plainville . Come hear new arrangements of old favorites, and several exciting surprises!

Friday December 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Saturday December 6, 2008 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $5 children 12 and under

2-for-1 door tickets with GHAC "Let*s Go Arts!" membership card.

* * * * *

PCS Kid's Concert

PINOCCHIO

at Middle School of Plainville . Our series of Kid's Concerts continues with the classic tale of the wooden puppet who wants more than anything to become a real live boy. Bring the kids for a magical family experience!

Friday March 20, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Saturday March 21, 2009 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $5 children 12 and under

2-for-1 door tickets with GHAC "Let*s Go Arts!" membership card.

* * * * *

PCS Presents

"A Trip Through The 70s"

at the newly remodeled and refurbished Plainville High School auditorium!

A musical trip through the seventies

featuring many of your favorite hits of the decade.

Friday May 1, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Saturday May 2, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Friday and Saturday May 8 & 9, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door, $5 children 12 and under

2-for-1 door tickets with GHAC "Let*s Go Arts!" membership card.

Ticket Information and Outlets

For tickets and information, call Mal Cummings at (860) 747-5695.

Tickets may be purchased at:

Family Barber Shop - 122 East Street, Plainville

Feet First - A Family Shoe Store - Route 6, Bristol Commons, Bristol

J.P. Jewelers - 47 Whiting Street, Plainville

Plainville Senior Center - 200 East Street, Plainville

Saint's Restaurant - 1248 Queen Street, Southington

OR FROM ANY PCS MEMBER

Order Tickets Now! Send us an e-mail while you're thinking about it. Please include the show name, performance date and time, number and type (adult or child) of tickets needed, and your name and telephone number. Please include "Tickets" in your subject line. We will contact you about your order.

Other PCS Appearances 2008-2009

PCS is rapidly becoming one of the most popular musical groups in the area, due to our performances at various local events. One of our most satisfying appearances was with jazz legend Dave Brubeck in the "Jazz and Voices" concert at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in June 2001 (see link to reviews.) Here are just a few of the special appearances we will be making during our 2008-2009 season.

Bristol Mum Festival Parade, September 28, 2008

New Britain Music Club - TBA April 2009

Norton Park Concert Series - June 2009. Expect either rain or sweltering heat (or both)!

Watch this space for additional dates throughout the year.

Available for weddings, mall openings, house parties, bar/bat mitzvot - e-mail for details!

PCS Scholarships

Each year the Plainville Choral Society offers two $500 scholarships to any Connecticut resident, full time college student majoring in a music-related field. Auditions for the Isabel Watt Memorial Scholarship and the Suzanne Beckius Memorial Scholarship will be held on Saturday January 3, 2009 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church . Scholarship winners are invited to perform at our March concert. For applications and complete audition information, contact our Scholarship Coordinator Skip Burritt at 860-793-1230.

For an overview of the PCS Scholarships click here.

PCS Youth Theater

The PCS Youth Theater was created in 1987 with a production of "Babes in Arms" after a successful Choral Society production of "Annie" which featured local children. Pete and Maryjane Peluso, choreographer Chris Kuzia, and PCS member Sue Beckius, among others, realized that a Youth Theater would fill a need in the community. The following year the Youth Theater became affiliated with Wheeler Regional YMCA. Over the past 16 years the Youth Theater has involved an average of 80 children per year aged 8 to 15 in a summer theater experience, culminating with performances in early September. Productions have included "Tintypes," "Godspell," "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Leader Of The Pack." In May 2002 the Youth Theater came full circle, rejoining the Choral Society in our revival production of "Annie." And in a return to their roots, the Youth Theater presented a revival production of "Babes in Arms" in September 2005.

The Plainville Choral Society Youth Theater mission is to provide an educational and enjoyable artistic experience in theater for youth aged 8 to 15 in Plainville and surrounding communities.

Call Foster White at 860-747-6907 if you would like to help with any aspect of our Youth Theater productions.

PCS Players

PCS Players is a new performing group established in 2005, affiliated with and formed under the auspices of the Plainville Choral Society. Its mission is to bring a broad range of quality live family entertainment to the Plainville area.

PCS Players is "on hiatus" this year while Mike Fox works on an oriiginal script for a future production. Check back frequently for updates!

Photo Gallery, Reviews and Articles

Click below to read reviews and articles about PCS, and see photos from some of our recent shows.

Photos

PCS Gallery Reviews
Smokey Joe's Cafe - Plainville Hometown Connection June 2003
Dave Brubeck concert - Hartford Courant June 3, 2001 Articles
Flashback to the 60s - New Britain Herald May 2001
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PCS Patron Drive
Each fall we mount a Patron Drive to raise operating funds from area businesses and individuals.
Suggested levels of funding and patron recognition are indicated below.
Archangel ($200 and above) - 4 tickets to each regular-season PCS performance, with reserved seating "down front" (excluding the fall series)
Angel ($100-$199) - 2 tickets to each regular-season PCS performance (excluding the fall series)
Patron ($50-$99)
Sponsor ($35-$49)

All four levels of funding are recognized in our programs.
All contributions of funds or materials are gladly accepted. PCS is a registered non-profit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible. If you would like to become a PCS Patron, please call treasurer Mal Cummings at (860) 747-5695, or any PCS member.
Double your Contribution! Enhance your Patron level!
If you work for a company that has a "matching funds" program, PCS is an eligible non-profit under applicable laws. Make your contribution go further with company matching funds - contact your company's employee relations or human resources office for details.
All company matching contributions apply towards your PCS Patron status - i.e. a $100 contribution plus a $100 company match entitles you to recognition at the $200 (Archangel) Patron level!
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How to Find Us
Click on an address below for maps and directions to our rehearsals and performances. Once on the map site, you will need to complete the "Directions To" information below the map with your own home or other starting address.
Rehearsals and Scholarship Auditions at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church - 355 Camp Street, Bristol
Performances/Rehearsals at Plainville High School - 27 Robert Holcomb Way, Plainville
Performances/Rehearsals at Middle School of Plainville - 150 Northwest Drive, Plainville
Maps and directions provided by Mapquest.com
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Good of the Society
"Good of the Society" is the next-to-last agenda item at our PCS board meetings. It's an opportunity to announce other activities PCS members may be involved in, such as individual performances, performances with other groups, news about past members, etc.
Watch this space for future "Good of the Society" announcements!
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JOIN US!
Membership in Plainville Choral Society is open to adult singers of all experience levels. High School students are eligible by invitation of the Director, with approval from the Board of Directors. Sorry, but we can't accept new members after the third rehearsal for the holiday, March and May shows.
Rehearsals are held every Monday, 7:00 to 9:30 pm, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Camp Street, Bristol. Rehearsals for the 2008 holiday concert begin on Monday, September 8. We hold auditions within the membership for solos and small groups for the holiday and March concerts. Principal and speaking roles for "book" (May) productions are by audition and are generally limited to PCS members. Audition dates and times are announced at rehearsals.

Dues for membership in PCS are $35 per member. New members are asked to pay a one-time $5 sheet music deposit.
For more information on PCS or any of our activities, call Mal Cummings at (860) 747-5695, Mike Fox at (860) 747-0700, or e-mail us at: pcsontheweb@aol.com
Please note, NO ATTITUDES ALLOWED. If you think we're not good enough for your talent, you're probably right. There are no stars in PCS except the ones in our eyes.
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Links
If you are a PCS Patron or friend and would like to add a link from/to our site, please contact the webmaster.
Curtain Call! Connecticut Community Theater Groups on the Web
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
Plainville Chamber of Commerce
Plainville Public Library
Town of Plainville
PCS Home / About PCS / PCS Mission / About our Directors / Current Season / Tickets! / Other Appearances / Scholarships / PCS Youth Theater PCS Players / Photos, Reviews, Articles / Patron Drive / How to find us / Good of the Society / Join us! / Links / Legal Notices, Etc.

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Legal Notices, Etc.
Plainville Choral Society, PCS Youth Theater, and PCS Players are non-profit organizations under the laws of the State of Connecticut.

This and associated PCS web pages created on a Macintosh G3 with WebWeaver 2.5.2

Some content created or formatted on a Windoze PC. Just because.

PCSWeb v. 3.7.7 - updated 04/15/2009

Comments/problems? E-mail the webmaster at: pcsontheweb@aol.com
Thanks for visiting our site - come see our shows!
Contact PCS by snail mail at: PO Box 255, Plainville CT 06062
All content copyright 2002 - 2009 by Plainville Choral Society except as otherwise noted.
"Society is good."
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