The Wellesley Players

Wellesley Player 2012-2014 Board of Directors

celia — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:55:21 +0000

The Wellesley Players are pleased to announce their slate of candidates for the Board of Directors new term, beginning in June, 2012.

The slate consists of:

President, Cathy Spear
Vice President, Steven Casolaro
Treasurer, Jim Pugh
Recording Secretary, Diana Zito
Member-at-Large, Darlene Howland
Development/Marketing, Celia Couture
Technical Director, Jessica Greenfield
Artistic Director, Robby Morse Levy
Program, Diane Rothauser
Membership, Adam Sell
Box Office, Frank Furnari

The slate will be voted on at our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 3rd.

We are sad to lose the wonderful participation of Lois Goodman, Barbara Tarlin, Libby Ostrofsky, David Kimmelman and Jane Brown. Their hard work contributed greatly to the successful years we have just had.

Support Wellesley Players Participants and Friends at the EMACT Festival!

celia — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:46:32 +0000

On June 30, the Burlington Players will present Radium Girls at the EMACT Festival. Radium Girls will be presented at 5:30 on June 30. The Festival is being held at the Performing Art Center at Chelmsford High School. Over the three day festival period, you are able to view 11 different productions from our area community theatres. There are several Wellesley Players involved in the production, artistic team or members of the EMACT Festival Staff and they would welcome your support in the audience. Directing the production and chairing the Festival is Celia Couture. Alissa Palange (Stage Manager and Emily Hart, Assistant Stage Manager) are teaming up to run the crew. Bob Pascucci is not only the Sound Designer, but he will be appearing in the show. Eric Jacobsen is the Lighting Designer, Frank Furnari is part of the Festival Stage Management team and Marian Morrison is on the Festival Staff helping out with trophies and sponsors. Kate Mahoney who was on our Steel Magnolia’s crew is in the cast and Suzanne Petit who assisted with Fiddler on the Roof is the Costume Designer. Heading up the Festival Stage Management Staff is Rachel Fennell who directed the Players very successful production of Annie. Dick Rubinstein who appeared in our production of Fiddler on the Roof is the Technical Director for the Production and Doug Cooper who designed award-winning sets for our productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Steel Magnolia’s is the Set Designer.

As performers especially at a competitive venue we are always appreciative to have familiar faces in the audience to support the efforts of all of our community theatre artists. This is a great weekend to celebrate the enormous talent represented in Eastern Massachusetts. Since this is a Regional Festival year two Outstanding Production Awards will be given and these productions will move on to the Regional Festival in April. We look forward to seeing some Wellesley Players in the audience.

Annual EMACT Festival to be held at Chelmsford High School, June 28-30

celia — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:13:33 +0000

One of the highlights of the EMACT theatre season is the Annual Community Theatre Drama Festival, held in the late spring of each year. The popular long weekend event, which can maximum accommodate 18 participating member companies, entertains as well as educates. It’s an opportunity to witness a wide range of theatre and learn from professionals who adjudicate each production presented.

The Festival is highlighted by an exciting tension filled closing awards ceremony, citing the productions and individuals for outstanding performance and theatre excellence. The crowd waits nervously as each award is announced and count down to the climax of the festival — which production will receive the coveted Best of Festival trophy and cash award.

Thursday 28 June 2012 – 7:00 PM, evening session – 3 shows
$25 in advance or at the door
Acme Theater – Escanaba in Da Moonlight
Arlekin Players – The Guest
Walpole Footlighters – Thanksgiving
Adjudications for three shows, no ticket required

Friday 29 June 2012 – 9:00 AM
EMACT Annual Membership Meeting and Board Elections, open to all

Friday 29 June 2012 – 10:00 AM
Workshop presentation to be determined
$5 at the door, free with a Full Festival ticket

Friday 29 June 2012 – 7:00 PM evening session – 3 shows
$25 in advance or at the door
Theatre Company of Saugus – The Proposal
Theatre To Go – The Women of Lockerbie
Harvard Community Theater – Crossing Brooklyn
Adjudications for three shows, no ticket required

Saturday 30 June 2012 – 10:00 AM, morning session – 3 shows
$25 in advance or at the door
Theatre with a Twist – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Hovey Players – Closer
Winthrop Playmakers – The Laramie Project
Adjudications for three shows, no ticket required

Saturday 30 June 2012 – 3:00 PM – Lunch break

Saturday 30 June 2012 – 5:30 PM, evening session – 2 shows
$25 in advance or at the door
Burlington Players – Radium Girls
Nashoba Players – The Dark of the Flame
Adjudications for two shows, no ticket required

Saturday 30 June 2012 – 9:00 PM – Dinner break

Saturday 30 June 2012 – 10:00 PM – Gala Awards Ceremony
No ticket required

Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner- June 3

celia — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:05:44 +0000

Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner

Party with your Wellesley Players Theatre Friends where we will share a little business, but more importantly wrap-up our successful season. Little Women the Musical, Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and Oliver! were all highly acclaimed and played to full houses!

This year we are grateful to Cynthia Allan who is hosting our meeting. Thank you Cynthia.

RSVP by May 29th to Diane Rothauser, Program Manager at: wpprogram@gmail.com. Or call: 781-769-0347.

The Details

When: Sunday, June 3, 2012 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

Location: Century 21 Commonwealth, 592 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA.

Our business meeting will run from approximately 5:30-6:00. Our new Board of Directors will be elected and who will serve on the Board through June of 2014. We will also conduct some additional business.

At 6:30, we will enjoy our potluck dinner followed at 7:30 with musical entertainment and dessert. Members will be asked to bring an appetizer, an entree, or a dessert for our Pot Luck Dinner. We will let you know what do bring when you R.S.V.P.

The Players provide the beverages.

Baby

juree — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:12:38 +0000

Music by David Shire and Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. Book by Sybille Pearson and based upon a story developed with Susan Yankowitz Production Dates: November 2-4 and 9-11, 2012 Arsenal Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre

My Fair Lady

juree — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:11:02 +0000

Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and Music by Federick Loewe Based upon George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion'. Production Dates: February, 8-10 and 15-17 Directed by Celia Couture, Music Director, Art Finstein, Choreographer, Kelly Murphy Arsenal Center for the Arts, Mosesian Theater

On Golden Pond

juree — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:09:09 +0000

Play written by Ernest Thompson Production Dates: May 3-5 and 10-12, 2013 Arsenal Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre

Players to Collect Food Items!

celia — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:48:32 +0000

The Wellesley Players will be collecting “Food Glorious Food” for the Wellesley Food Pantry during the performances of Oliver! Audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Wellesley Food Pantry. High protein canned meat, chicken soups and stews and tuna fish are especially needed. Food collection bags will be in the lobby at Sorenson Center for the Arts, Babson College. Thank you for being generous.

The Wellesley Players

Oliver set to open this Weekend

celia — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:20:32 +0000

The Wellesley Players are proud to announce the presentation of the classic musical Oliver! Consider yourself invited to experience the story of an orphan boy who is banished from his orphanage for daring to ask for more food. The title character falls in with a group of petty thieves led by Fagin, who teaches Oliver the ways of a pickpocket.

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the show has book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The original production ran on Broadway for six years, won three Tony awards, has been revived several times, and was made into an Oscar-winning movie. Favorite and familiar songs in the show include Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, It’s a Fine Life, Oom-Pah-Pah, Reviewing the Situation, As Long as He Needs Me, and Who Will Buy? What better way to celebrate the 200^th birthday of Charles Dickens than to attend this sure to be dazzling production.

Oliver! is directed by Richard Repetta, who has led several Wellesley Players productions in recent years. Chris Holownia returns to music direct, following his success with last year’s production of Annie. Choreography is by PJ Terranova , a veteran performer himself with several national tours as well as in off Broadway performances and choreographer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the US Open. Performances will be March 16^th, 17^th and 23^rd at 7:30 pm and March 18^th, 24^th and 25^th at 2:00 pm at the Sorenson Center for the Arts at Babson College in Wellesley. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors or students. Special rates are also available for groups of 10 or more.

Visit Wellesley Players website to purchase tickets, or get directions and additional information. http://wellesleyplayers.org/boxoffice/

The cast of 40 actors includes many Wellesley Players veterans as well as some newcomers well known to area theatre. Principal players include Andrew Cekala of Weston as Oliver; Erik Rodenhiser of Salem as Fagin; Joseph Nedder of Westwood as The Artful Dodger; Beth Rontal of West Roxbury as Widow Corney; Lonnie Powell of Natick as Mr. Bumble; Jim Fitzpatrick of Attleboro as Bill Sykes; and Nicole Vander Laan of Somerville as Nancy; Jim Tabor of West Roxbury as Mr. Brownlow; Lauren Sabbag of Norwood as Bet; Darlene Howland of Wellesley as Mrs. Bedwin; Jennifer Wiley-Cordone of Clinton as Charlotte; Valerie Gates of Wellesley as Old Sally; Lois Goodman of Wellesley as Mrs. Sowerberry; Mike Ciccolella of Framingham as Noah Claypole; Jim Pugh of Wellesley as Mr. Sowerberry; Tony DeMarco of Wellesley as Dr. Grimwig, and Michael Roth of Cambridge as Chairman.

Members of the adult ensemble include Michael Roth of Cambridge; Anne Ludlow (also Rose Seller) of Chelmsford; Diana Eng-King of Dover; Karen Ieong (also Milkmaid) of Watertown; Corinne Settlow(also Strawberry Seller) of Wellesley and Alan Singer of Weston.

Youth playing the Workhouse Orphans or Fagin’s Pickpockets include Anya Beletsky of Brookline; Abby Fournier of Natick; Bethan Wiley-Cordone of Clinton; Isaac Hargrave, Caroline Kapp, Nicola Lynch-Collier, Luca Marcino and Molly Retik of Needham; Michael Gankin of Newton; Natalie Hall and Casey Monteiro of Sudbury; Olivia Friedman, Matt Lieberman, Caroline Murphy Racette, Will Olszewski, Alexander Perry Caitlin Pfaff and Grace Zientara of Wellesley.

The Wellesley Players is in its 86^th season serving Wellesley and surrounding communities. Recent productions include: Annie (3 EMACT nominations), Fiddler on the Roof (11 EMACT nominations, 2 EMACT awards),Steel Magnolias (First Runner Up EMACT Festival and winner of 5 additional awards),One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , and this year’s productions of Little Women, the Musical and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.

Oliver Cast Members to Perform at Wellesley Books, March 3rd

celia — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:45:14 +0000

For more information about this sneak preview of our spring musical, Oliver! please click on the following link:

http://www.wellesleybooksmith-shop.com/event/oliver