Was there a Nemo-nic blast from the icy north that hindered your passage to the Student Theater? Did the soporific cocoon you inhabited for the 48 hours of the storm swell up and take you whole? Hello, can you hear me?

Regardless, if you missed the meeting I've got a lovely little recap of all of the utterly IMPORTANT things coming up this month. Pay close attention, my dear membership, and keep these events and deadlines in mind.

First of all, congratulations to our casts and crews! We're so excited that things are already underway and we are fast approaching our first show of the season.

****PITCHES--DEADLINES AND HELPFUL INFO****

Interested in directing? Never done it before? Done it a million times? Want experience? Have a show you want to see Troupe do?

We have so many opportunities available if you want to direct/pitch a show! There's a lot of information here, my dear membership, so CONSTANT VIGILANCE.

If you want to pitch a show for next semester (or for ONE ACTS!), here's what you need to know!

- Be a dues paying member ($5) - Have a show you know and want to pitch - Make sure the rights are available - Get the script, make 2 copies - Download and fill out the pitch form from the website (http://bustagetroupe.com/members/forms-and-resources/) - Put all of that (the scripts and the form) into a manila envelope and bring it to 111 Cummington Mall labeled with "Stage Troupe" and this address:

ATTN: Eric Jacobsen 111 Cummington Mall Rm B17

**PITCHES ARE DUE BY 3PM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH**

(This is incredibly soon, so please please please if you're thinking at all of pitching and want help getting started, contact the board! We're here to help)

If you have any questions about the pitching process, please contact stage@bu.edu and we'll help you out. The Pitching Meeting is the next GM in two weeks, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH at 7PM in the STUDENT THEATER. The pitches will be pitched and the membership shall vote and find out the next season that same day! Yay, democracy!

If you would like to be on READING COMMITTEE for the pitches (you CANNOT do this if you are pitching), then please email Lauren at kolodkin@bu.edu.

Pitches for ONE ACTS work the same as mainstage pitches and are due the same day, so don't forget! One Acts are the perfect way to try directing for the first time or to even see your own work on stage (we encourage student-written productions!).

ONE ACTS AUDITIONS are March 4th & 5th ONE ACTS will go up on April 26th & 27th

Pitches for PARENTS WEEKEND work just a little bit differently. You still have to submit the scripts and the Parents Weekend form (found on the same page!), but the membership will not be voting on this pitch, the Eboard will select the Parents Weekend Show for next semester and announce it at the next meeting.

****HOSTS/SM for BUSTIES****

We are looking for hosts for BUSTies! If you want a chance to take control of the greatest award show ever (mostly due to the fact it gets more candid than Jodie Foster at the Golden Globes), then email Lauren at kolodkin@bu.edu. You'll get a chance to pitch your BUSTies ideas at our next Eboard meeting (February 17th at 6pm in IT).

****RUNNING FOR EBOARD****

This year's board's term comes to an end in May! Sadly, this means many of us have to leave you, BUT this also means that you all get a chance to run to be a part of Stage Troupe's Eboard next year! If you have a million and one ideas to improve the group or you think you can provide a sane voice, come to an Eboard meeting (they're every Sunday at 6pm in IT at 111 Cummington!) and check out what we do. If you're interested in specific positions, come talk to us! We'd love to have a chat about our jobs. If you have general questions, just email stage@bu.edu!

Eboard nominations will occur at our next GM (February 24th). Don't miss out.

****TECH SHOW! TA EVENT!****

You definitely don't want to miss out on a weekend of pure Troupe tradition coming up.

First, we have the TECH SHOW both at 8PM and later at MIDNIGHT this Friday, February 15th in the Student Theater.

Come support the techies and find out the secret on opening night! Tech Show is a fun opportunity we do every spring where everyone can try something new! The midnight show is a special performance, so come prepared for a fantastic time! Best way to do it (I highly recommend...) is to double-feature it. Watch it once at 8, chill, then come back and see it again! You'll laugh, you'll laugh again, and it'll be an awesome night. Do it. It's free.

Then, on Saturday, February 16th at 8pm we have Andrew's All-American Axe-Stravaganza: A Charity Event for Charity in the Student Theater.

Our TA Event/Charity Fundraiser is a night filled with skits and a sneak preview of Or, and auctions and cakes and pieing of the Eboard and all sorts of merriment. There will be a "most patriotic" dress contest, so wear some red, white & blue and come out to enjoy a Troupe night and support the Charity Show. It's $5 to attend, and bringing lots of extra cash is DEFINITELY encouraged as there will be opportunities to bid on a plethora of fabulous items...including dinner with Dean Elmore, giftcards to awesome places, and the last of our tickets to BOOK OF MORMON!

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That's all for now, folks! We've got lots of deadlines coming up so keep alert and don't be afraid to ask questions. The website is a great, quick resource (bustagetroupe.com), otherwise, follow @StageTroupe on Twitter and join the Facebook group, and don't forget you can always email stage@bu.edu.

Don't forget to come out to our events this weekend! See you there!

We have our next GM coming up very quickly on February 24th 7pm in the Student Theater.