“Oyez! Oyez!” was the cry of the medieval town crier. Oyez is Old French for “Hear ye, hear ye.” Town criers were the historical newscasters of the past centuries. They verbally shared important news with the many people who could not read, and then posted the notice on the post of the local inn. The town crier had to be educated, be able to read, and have a strong, clear voice. Town criers were even given royal protection, and the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger” had a sudden significance. Yes, there still are town criers who train to project their voices and share information, and who participate in the annual American Town Criers Championship contest.

Our newsletter, in written form, is designed to bring you the latest in Studio news, including upcoming deadlines, performance opportunities, scheduling changes, reminders, and other information. The Town Crier will be distributed throughout the 2009 - 2010 Studio year.