February 2024
When We Were Young
& Unafraid
By Sarah Treem
Morgan Salpietro, Director
Samantha Hudgins, Producer
Production Dates March 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24
In the early 1970s, before Roe v. Wade, before the Violence Against Women Act, Agnes has turned her quiet bed and breakfast into one of the few spots where victims of domestic violence can seek refuge. But to Agnes' dismay, her latest runaway, Mary Anne, is beginning to influence Agnes' college-bound daughter, Penny. As the drums of a feminist revolution grow louder outside of Agnes' tiny world, Agnes is forced to confront her own presumptions about the women she's spent her life trying to help.
What’s a bed and breakfast without paying guests? Songwriter Paul and traveling handy woman Hannah bring unexpected dynamics as they too search for their own personal refuge. Against the backdrop of a changing world; Agnes’ kitchen becomes a safe haven to laugh, to cry, or to simply enjoy a fresh baked muffin.
Performances on Fridays and Saturdays are at 7:30 PM. On Sundays, curtain is at 2:00PM.
The cast includes Julia Curtain, Am Wyckoff, Lydia Johnson, Mary Paolino, and Mark Roberts.
From the Production Committee
Written By: Rachel Nadeau & Kevin Thibault
This time of year is always busy for the production committee. We’ve just closed an excellent run of God of Carnage on our main stage; congratulations to the cast and crew for their hard work and talent that lit up the stage this winter! Hats off to our president Bonnie Sullivan and vice president Jeff Sullivan for tag teaming this comedic gem as stage manager and director along with their other club duties. As we turn the page on the calendar we are coming up to our final auditions for the season. The spring show and our final season offering this year, Wonder of the World auditions this February 26th & 27th. Don’t miss the chance to join us on stage with Richard Griffin’s debut directing at The Players! We’re also in full swing rehearsing the next production in line for our membership; When We Were Young & Unafraid hits the stage this March with lots of new and familiar faces under the directorial debut of Morgan Salpietro.
While the current season is in full swing; the production committee is hard at work curating a season for next year. We’ve been reading plays, interviewing directors, and deliberating over what will offer our members an enjoyable selection of plays that tackle the question : “How do we take care of ourselves & others?” The conversations we’ve already had among our small group have been wonderfully enlightening and so we can’t wait to include you all once we have a selected season. Interested in joining the Production Committee? We will have some openings at the end of the season for new members. Please feel welcome to contact us if you are interested at Players1909@gmail.com.
Benefit Nights
Mary Paolino
Once again, Benefit Nights audiences raved about our latest production and facility. Members of Brown Alumnae Club of RI, Alliance Francaise, and the RI Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association enjoyed God of Carnage performances.
One Benefit Night for When We Were Young and Unafraid remains available, along with a half-house for Wonder of the World. Contact Mary Paolino at mary.paolino@yahoo.com if you know of an organization that would like to attend.
Green Room
Nancy Winokoor & Mark Lima
In the month of March, you will find the Green Room a very busy place! Join us on March 2nd at 7:30PM and March 3rd at 2:00PM for a special musical treat! No Pit Crew is an a cappella show with outstanding talents singing memorable show tunes and more! At the helm is the talented Stephanie Whipple. It promises to be an evening of great singing and harmonies-FREE in the Green Room-donations, of course, are welcomed.
No Pit Crew - Left to right: Stephanie Whipple, Bridgette Pressley, Emily McCarthy, Erin Malcolm, Gena Petrunyak, Karen Besson, Holly Applegate, Chris Maxwell, and Christopher Clutter. Not pictured: Kaelyn Boss and Tyler Keener
The class Shakespeare's Universality with Connelly Akstens continues on Wednesday nights. Under his guidance, the participants examine and discuss Shakespeare’s relevance to today’s conflicts, passions, exhilarations, and more. The moderated discussion continues until April 10. The suggested donation for the 7 meetings is $100, with all proceeds going to The Players. Thank you, Connelly, for your expertise and generosity!
And, speaking of Shakespeare, Strictly Shakespeare continues with Walter Cotter on March 5th and 19th at 7:00PM. During the month of March, Antony & Cleopatra will be read. In April, The Taming of the Shrew will be presented. Watch for further announcements!
So fill up your calendars with works offered by the Green Room in March.
Construction activity to make the Barker Playhouse ADA-compliant was made possible in part by grants from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and by the Champlin Foundations.
Matching funds were provided by the Barker Foundation, the Sarah Minchen Barker Endowment, and you – our members.
From the President
Bonnie Sullivan
Hope everyone is staying warm! All of a sudden it really feels like Winter, even as the birds are starting to arrive and sing in southern New England again.
I was honored to serve as Stage Manager for God of Carnage last month, working with my favorite Director. Given my obvious bias, just a brief mention on how much I enjoyed it. But the best part? By also serving as the Sound/Light operator (not as hard as it might sound - try it!) from our balcony, I naturally end up near the front door after each performance. Talking with members and guests who gush over our beautiful theater and the warmth of our welcome - never gets old.
We are gearing up for a strong second half of Season 115 on the Main Stage. When We Were Young and Unafraid is a powerful, tender, unforgettable story with an incredible cast, crew and Director. I cannot wait to see this show. Not only for its already-evident production quality, but also for the illumination of stories that connect us to more people than we realize in our community.
My gratitude to our Green Room Committee continues. Offering Love Letters provided three performances of timely and timeless entertainment, beautifully hosted by our own Nancy Winokoor. Walter Cotter’s Strictly Shakespeare on alternate Tuesday evenings continues to provide informal yet organized opportunities to dive deep into each play (drop in!). Ian Hudgins’ Saturday Stage Construction Classes are “building” our future (still open!), Connelly Aksten’s “Shakespeare’s Universality” offers opportunities for deep discussion with an actual Professor, and the No Pit Crew an capella group, led by our own Stephanie Whipple, is ready to entertain us with a unique art form.
Walter Cotter and Liz Messier doing the Sunday performance of Love Letters.
Be sure to check our website ( www.playersri.org ) for more information! Can you tell? I am actually biased on everything happening at The Players. And incredibly grateful to the people who make it happen!
Calling All Ushers!
We are always looking for ushers to help with seating during our Main Stage performances. If is this something you would like to help during our next performance, please contact either BellaMarie at bellamar7074@gmail.com or Connie at cbakht@verizon.net.
You will just need to be at the threatre 45 minutes before the show starts (easier to find a parking space).
From The Vice President
by Jeff Sullivan
Thank you to the Vice President's committee for the successful Mid -Winter Party -Sullivan's Speakeasy! Once we entered through the hidden door ( the one on Transit Street) we stepped onto a place where friends gathered to unwind and strangers become fast friends. Members cosied up in front of the fireplace for some cool jazz and a special cocktail from our resident mixologist Paul Altieri.
Up next: mark your calendar for Saturday April 27th for a special fundraiser in the main theater with entertainment provided by ROMPS (Retried Old Musicians Playing Swing). Come and experience this 18 piece swing big band in a classic 1940's night club setting. More details to follow but you don't want to miss this one of a kind event. And don't forget the Studio Party and the Barker Awards on June 8th.
An Interview with the Director
by Rachel Nadeau
Join us for a sneak peak into the production of When We Were Young & Unafraid through a discussion with director Morgan Salpietro as we talk about the process of mounting a show and what this particular production has to offer our members this March.
Question : What part of the directing experience on this production are you enjoying the most so far?
Answer : The best part so far has been the collaboration with the actors and production team on this piece. Getting to come into a space and explore topics and getting to have real discussions about how we navigate the world. This process has been a reminder of what’s so special about theatre, this ability to connect with those around you and create a product that's a reflection of these bonds.
Question : Is there something that you love to do as a director that builds community within your cast during rehearsal?
Answer : I like to create a space where we are prioritizing actors’ and crews’ well being and enjoyment. When we tackle a serious scene we take breaks and end on a high note. After an intense rehearsal we try to go out. We leave that space at each rehearsal to process our feelings but also laugh and enjoy each other's company.
Question : This show has a wide production team including an intimacy coordinator, which is a newer position for many community theaters. Can you speak a little to why an intimacy coordinator is valuable to the work you are doing on this show?
Answer : I’m really passionate about engaging in trauma informed theatre. Creating a space where we can discuss and portray sensitive topics while making a safe space for everyone. Intimacy coordinators are trained to come in and take what can feel uncomfortable, like an intimate scene that involves making out, and make it choreographed and precise. It’s also about giving actors a voice and making sure they are only being given blocking that they are comfortable with. Intimacy coordinators should be a staple for all theaters portraying intimate moments.
Question : If the audience walks away with only one thing after seeing this show, what do you hope that is?
Answer : I want the audience to leave with a different understanding of domestic violence survivors and what the recovery process looks like. The show is set in 1972 but the challenges and barriers faced by our actress parallel challenges survivors face today when they choose to leave a violent home. There is so much gray area and complexities with domestic violence.
Question : Is there anything else you would like to share with us about When We Were Young & Unafraid and/or your experience directing at Players?
Answer : This show can be intense but it carries with it a powerful message told by some of the most empowering people I’ve met. It’s not in any way a lament, this show is at its core about resilience. I don’t think I’ve felt more supported in a theatrical space like I’ve been by The Players with this piece. We have such a strong group on and off stage working to bring this piece to The Players stage. And we are so excited for everyone to see the final product.
Thank you Morgan for taking the time to share your process and production vision with us. We’re looking forward to the final product!
