Who'd have thunk a winery in Sonoma could commission a 40 minute play to tell 150 years of family and winery history then get the most skeptical of all audiences, wine sales people, to gush all all over it. That is what happened Wednesday night when Towle's Hill premiered at the Marsh to a packed house of wine tradespeople, journalists, and family. The night before we had shown it for employees and theater staffers in a preview, but Wednesday was the real deal- The first time true strangers were to see it. I was nervous, of course, but managed to get together my talking points in time to deliver a meaningful introduction, and then Mark the actor took it away. Of course no one is going to come up and tell me it sucked, but I can tell true enthusiasm when I see it, and there was plenty of it. Turned out to be brilliant that the Sesquicentennial Bus Tour won't start for a few weeks so the buzz about the play will build. We expect some more written reaction soon, but here is a snippet from a few playgoers:
From Alan Cohen of Wilson Daniels:
The inaugural evening of the 150th anniversary Gundlach Bundschu play tonight was a huge success. It was a packed house, standing room only, and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Attendance by almost the entire No Cal (Estates Group Sales Force), many with their significant others, and with some folks coming from as far away as Sacramento made the Bundschu Family thrilled with the partnership with their distributor and really allowed them to connect on a very personal level with each and every person.
The feeling from all who attended can be summed up by one comment from an Estates Group Rep..........."you could have taken a lot of this information about the family's history, and their feeling about their land, and made a glossy brochure or a press kit or come to a meeting and tell the story but it would have been like every other brand sales pitch. This was an evening that we will never forget and really made us feel like we are a part of their legacy. It made you laugh, it made you cry, it made you really understand the many generations of Bundschu's and their struggle to hold onto their land and pass their unwavering dedication on to future generations. Fabulous!"
From Tom Fuller of Fuller PR
WOW
And of course the real audience, the one that will treasure this endeavor long after I am gone, will be my family. Two of my cousins' reactions below....
Reaction To Towle's Hill Premiere in SF
Dark but cool reaction to play by two of Towle's own grand kids, Caspian and Towle(!)
