Saturday, September 30, 2006

Narrows Community Theater Celebrating its 35th Anniversary

NCT members who missed the 35th Anniversary Gala hosted by Narrows Community Theater at the Fort Hamilton Army Base on Saturday, September 30th missed a real treat. The festivities started the moment you walked in the door and didn’t end until the last song was played.

Members old and new came together to celebrate this milestone event presented by Bay Ridge’s first established community theater. NCT president, Susan Huizinga, opened the evening by welcoming everyone, thanking them for their many contributions to NCT, and remembering those wonderful talents throughout the years who were no longer with us. The party guest list included many of the theater company’s original members, most notably, David Forsyth, the founder and first president of NCT. Dave Forsyth was given the royal treatment as he approached the podium to the tune of “Hail to the Chief”.

Also present were Dawn Barry Hansen, the Director of NCT"s current production of Jekyll & Hyde. Dawn is the daughter of Maureen Barry, another founding member. Dawn's daughter, Jenn, also an NCT member and performer, and her son David, the current stage manager of the Fall Production, were also present. This family represents three-generations of talented NCT contributors!

There was a special guest appearance by City Councilman Vincent Gentile who was introduced by NCT board member Arlene Keating. Arlene thanked Gentile for both his continued support for NCT and for his ongoing effort to find NCT a permanent home. The City Councilman wished NCT a “Happy Anniversary” and talked about how NCT enhanced the small, hometown quality of Bay Ridge. Gentile described NCT as “amazingly professional” and said that the theater group makes us “feel like we are on Broadway”. He presented NCT President Susan Huizinga with a proclamation from the New York City Council, congratulating NCT and wishing them another 35 years.

Gentile was sincerely moved when he was presented with a plaque from Susan commemorating his continued support. Gentile thanked the group, saying it was quite unexpected but much appreciated, and that he will be setting it up in his office first thing Monday morning.

NCT also received proclamations from Borough President Marty Marokowitz, which Arlene described as both personal and profound, as well as from State Senator Marty Golden, who up until that afternoon was hoping to be present at the gala. Per Arlene, Golden wrote some “very funny things here” but expressed his regrets that he couldn’t be here.

All in all, the evening was a smash hit. So, NCT members who missed it this time, be on the lookout in another five years when NCT hosts its 40th gala. We hope they will be entertaining Bay Ridge for many more years to come.

The next presentation by NCT will be its fall production of the musical, Jekyll & Hyde, on October 28 & 29, November 3, 4 & 5, at St. Patrick’s Auditorium (97th/4th Ave). For more information, call 718-482-3173 or email nct@nctheaterny.com

written by: Ann Gubiotti, NCT Vice President

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