Winton Club Producer Excited for the Show

The following article was submitted by Buck Locke on behalf of the Winton Club.

Jean Buckley smiles a lot and bubbles over with energy as Producer of this year’s , “It’s About Time.”  The genesis for her theme goes back to 1999 when she was working with two other artists in a cold room on their hands and knees painting a scrim for that year’s Cabaret. 

The scene they were painting had to do with clocks and over the following decade Jean distilled the concepts into this year’s theme. Time is the fourth dimension of our lives, relevant to every activity in our crazy 24/7 schedules.

Jean and her husband David moved to Winchester 20 years ago. She and David met working at an architectural firm. They got married and then decided 14 years ago to start their own firm, Buckley and Associates, here in Winchester. 

Their main focus is healthcare facilities as well corporate and legal offices.  Jean majored in Interior Design and David has an Architecture degree. One of their unique designs was for a Jazz Club.

Being Producer of the Cabaret is a major time commitment. Jean feels David has carried most of the load of their business this past year as well as being a loyal supporter of the show working on the stage crew. She gives him credit for being a great collaborator. Jean’s background in design gives her insights into the use of space and providing scenery for the musical numbers.

The number of roles that the Producer has to manage is awesome. Leader, supporter, counselor, organizer; a list that is truly endless. Pulling folks together planning and giving direction, all with the knowledge that these folk are volunteers as well as friends. 

Everyone is committed to making the Cabaret a success.  

It makes the long months, weeks and days worthwhile for at its foundation the objective is to support while having lots of fun.

This Cabaret is about Time, and Jean has put in many 14 hour days at Town Hall. There are over 50 committees involved in a cabaret production. 

These range from advertising and tickets to makeup and props. The show has almost 40 numbers with a cast of over 100 eager amateur performers. It is easy to see why it takes a full year to organize and produce the Cabaret.

Before becoming the Cabaret Producer this year, Jean had worked on many aspects of the show as well as being Chair and Co-Chair of the Scenery and the Costume Committees. One of Jean’s biggest challenges is getting information out to folks so that she doesn’t hold people up from their tasks.

Besides producing the show, Jean is in the opening and closing numbers. She is also in the annual Drill Team number which is a traditional highlight of the show.  In addition, she will be in performing in the Winton Ladies ensemble. 

To put on a show that lasts about 2.5 hours takes over 12 months and many thousands of person hours to stage.   It is certainly not the poet William Blake’s “….Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and hold eternity in an hour.”;  however,  as one of the show’s numbers, “Time in a Bottle”, provides an apt description of the effort!  Watching all this activity it is amazing that Jean is calm and at ease in the midst of all this activity, with a smile ready to help with any request.

How precious time is.  “It’s About Time” is a labor of love. Somewhat of a trite expression but true. Clearly Jean loves all aspects of the show and has put in 13 years in Winton as well as bringing much unique strength in design to this year’s production.  The long days of this labor come to fruition when the stage comes alive at Town Hall with this years production of “Its About Time!”  Jean’s greatest pleasure is seeing the show come to fruition with talented people bringing the Cabaret to life.