Meet One of SLCT’s Brightest Stars
Phyllis Novy was born in Trenton, N.J., but her family moved to Chicago when she was still in diapers. She cites Chicago as her real hometown. It’s where she spent her formative years, attending school and performing in the Chicago Park District Children’s Theater. (Cinderella was her favorite role.) Following her graduation from high school, she left home to attend the University of Iowa. She then began teaching at U of I in the Laboratory High School program. Her students were the children of the professors at the university, and as it was the ‘60s, they knew a lot more about drugs than Phyllis. She related that her creative writing class students were wonderful writers, and until they told her, she had no idea that they were using LSD to inspire their writing.
In 1969 she and her husband moved to Phoenix. Nine months later, they welcomed Amy, their first child. Phyllis worked for Phoenix Children’s Theater, running the Stage Struck Saturdays and Stage Struck Summer Camp for several years. Simultaneously, Phyllis pursued her master’s in theater at ASU while working as a teaching assistant. She was offered a position as a teacher at ASU and taught Acting 101, Theater History, Intro to Theater, Improvisation, and her own nighttime class, Creative Drama, which she taught as a continuing ed program for her fellow teachers.
By this time, Phyllis had another child, Andrew, but that didn’t slow her down a bit. During the 1980s, she was very active performing in the improv group called Group Therapy, as well as Actors Theater, an ensemble group at Herberger Theater, and the Lunchtime Theater, also at Herberger. She was also doing Playwright’s Workshop Theater and participating in a Storytelling group run by Don Doyle, a favorite actor and storyteller in the Phoenix area.
Phyllis and her husband divorced in the early ‘90s, and in 1992 she began teaching at South Mountain High School, a Title I school in a rough area of Phoenix. She loved it and her students. She taught Honors Sophomore English, incorporating theater into the class assignments. She met her husband Dennis at a group for divorced and separated people. In 1996 they married. In 2006 they began building their home in Sun Lakes, and Phyllis retired at the conclusion of the 2007 school year.
As soon as she moved to Sun Lakes, Phyllis dove into Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) activities. Her first role here was in Penny Peterson’s original play A Few Good Years. It wasn’t long before she was teaching various workshops, was invited to be on the board, and served as president. In 2011 she founded The ImproVables. Phyllis estimates she has performed in nearly 30 plays with SLCT. Her favorite place to be is on the stage. We’re glad the stage she graces is ours!
Third Annual Variety Show
Sally Holberg
The Third Annual Sun Lakes Variety Show will be on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, at Sun Lakes Country Club in the Arizona Room. Tickets are $35 and include a buffet dinner at 5:15 p.m. and the show at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are on sale beginning Feb. 1 at www.ticketsource.us/slhoa1.
Get ready for a fun-filled evening of talent, music, and comedy. If you have attended the Variety Show in the past, you already know that the food is great and the show moves along at a fast pace. We invite you to come and support your talented Sun Lakes residents.
If you have any questions, contact me at sally.holberg@yahoo.com or 480-349-6690.
The winning one-act authors (left to right): Barbara Trumpis, Diana Perez, Mimi and John Zoeller, Anna McCauley, Phyllis Novy
Fun and Games with SLCT
Business meetings for Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) aren’t only about the business of the organization. We also have fun and creative projects. After the January meeting, each table was challenged to construct a one-act play, complete with title, genre, main plot, cast of characters, and the most memorable quote. All that in just 15 minutes! Each table then summarized its play with an oral presentation to the rest of the group. Not surprisingly, several chose comedy as their genre. But the winning writing team opted for a murder mystery and even acted out the whole play using a mime with the presenter of The Black Widow of Oakwood. Will we see it in an upcoming production by SLCT? Stay tuned to find out!
SLCT Invites All HOA Residents to a Theatre Arts Extravaganza
On Thursday, Feb. 12, in the San Tan Ballroom, members of Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) and residents of Sun Lakes will be treated to free performances by each of the Chandler Unified School District’s Theatre Arts departments. Chandler high schools are known for their extraordinarily talented students and productions. Each Theatre Arts department brings its current production stars to perform. Audiences are treated to a variety of songs, dances, dramatic scenes, improv, and comedy.
Sun Lakes Community Theatre presents each theater director with a donation to support their Theatre Arts program. This tradition has been taking place annually for over a decade.
This year, SLCT is excited to invite Sun Lakes residents to get a sneak peek at the school’s upcoming offerings. Attendees may bring beverages from the Cottonwood restaurant, but no bar will be provided inside the ballroom. Seating is open, and the event is free of charge.
For a wonderful two hours of entertainment unlike anything you are likely to see elsewhere, join us and help support high school thespians. We promise you will be amazed at the talent you will see. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Cottonwood San Tan Ballroom. There will be a short business meeting afterwards.