Catskill Community Players announce cast of OFFICE HOURS


The Catskill Community Players’ next production, Office Hours, will be staged at the Worcester Theater May 19, 20, & 21. This fast-paced comedy by Norm Foster is directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch.

The cast includes Michael Breglia, Ben Friedell, Diana Friedell, Maria Johnson, Lee Lattimer, Caitlin Liberati, Rebecca Maeder-Chien, Ben Magill, Andy Puritz, Charlie Reiman, Diane Stammel, and Laurie Wehmeyer.

Image of a postcard that reads "Catskill Community Players Present 'Office Hours', a comedy by Norm Foster, directed by Nancy Bondurant Couch. May 19th & 20th at 7:30 p.m., May 20th & 21st at 2:00 p.m. at the Wieting Theatre, 168 Main Street, Worcester, NY. 'Keep your schedule open, and your therapist on speed dial.' Tickets available at catskillplayers.org."

For more information and tickets, visit the CCP website: http://catskillplayers.org or the Catskill Community Players Facebook page.

LOVE OR BEST OFFER – March 16

WHEN: March 16, 7:00, show at 7:30

WHERE: CANO, 11 Ford Ave. Oneonta, NY

Catskill Community Players present a dramatic reading of Phil Olson’s new play “Love or Best Offer”, a comedy about the trials of online dating for the Over 50 generation. Directed by Lissa Sidoli, admission is free, donations are welcome. The L.A. author plans to be in attendance via ZOOM, and welcomes questions & comments. Attend in person (seating is limited) or via zoom. Get link when you register. Desserts, wine & beverages are available by donation. This is a fundraiser for CCP, bringing quality theater to the Otsego County community since 1974!

The show features actors Linda Reese, Kristin Sloth, Mark Murphy, and J Lentner.

Phil Olson has written 18 published plays that have had over 450 productions in seven countries. Twelve of his plays are published by Samuel French/Concord Theatricals. Mr. Olson will join us via Zoom from Los Angeles and welcomes audience feedback.

MORE INFO/To Register (seating is limited) . . .

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=rlugxclab&oeidk=a07ejoldptm89d59a2c

AUDITIONS — ‘OFFICE HOURS’

The Catskill Community Players announce auditions for their spring comedy, “OFFICE HOURS”, written by Norm Foster.

Director Nancy Bondurant-Couch invites all those who are interested to give it a try. Flexible casting allows up to 16 roles with a variety of genders and ages (20s and up.)

Auditions will be held in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta.

Saturday, March 4 at 3:00

Sunday, March 5 at 3:00

Those who wish to audition may attend either of those dates.

Scripts will be provided at the Audition.  Nancy asks that you bring your calendar with you to audition, so you can submit your conflicts for creating a rehearsal schedule.

Performances will be held at

The Wieting Theatre

168 Main Street, Worcester, NY 12197

Friday, May 19 at 7:30 pm

• A possible matinee performance Saturday, May 20 at 2:00 pm

Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 21 at 2:00 pm

For further info please email Nancy Bondurant-Couch at nancybcouch@yahoo.com 

About the Play:

Office Hours is a full-length comedy by Norm Foster. Six separate stories are unfolding in six separate offices on one Friday afternoon. In true Norm Foster style, it makes us laugh at our humanity, cleverly linking a TV news producer, a pair of Canadian movie producers, a rather unsavory agent, an entertainment lawyer, a horse track owner. and a psychiatrist. This highly acclaimed theatrical comedy is a madcap race towards quitting time. It’s a wild ride with an ending that sends the audience into a collective howl.

Fundraiser for the Wieting Theatre

Pictured: Lissa Sidoli, plays “Josephine” in “Dating at the Planetarium"
Lissa Sidoli, plays “Josephine” in “Dating at the Planetarium”

Come one, come all! The Catskill Community Players are proud to be hosting a fundraising event for the historic Wieting Theatre, located in Worcester, NY, to update, enhance, and replace production lighting and stage curtains. Your support is needed!

The event will be held on Wednesday, October 26 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at the B Side Ballroom in Oneonta (1 Clinton Plaza Drive).

Patrons will enjoy dinner, dessert, and coffee, as well as a cash bar.

CCP cast members will be on hand to perform excerpts from the upcoming November production of Exhibit This! The Museum Comedies, directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch, and premiering at the Wieting Theatre on November 4, 5, and 6.

Diana Friedell, CCP President, and Andy O’Dell, Wieting Theatre board President, will tell the story of the historic Wieting Theatre and its vital role in the community.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/430927314197

EXHIBIT THIS! — November 4–6

Catskill Community Players

presents

“Exhibit This!” by Luigi Jannuzzi

Directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch

Produced by Diana Friedell, Lissa Sidoli, and J Lentner

This delightful, unique comedy was chosen as #1 pick by New York Magazine, featuring 13 comedic short plays and monologues based on exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Mix in artists, security guards, critics, lovers, curators and one very special night of comic hilarity! Even the artwork speaks to the audience!

FOUR PERFORMANCES

TWO MATINEES

Friday November 4, 7:30pm

Saturday November 5, 2:00pm & 7:30pm

Sunday November 6, 2:00pm

FEATURING:

Ben Friedell Diane Stammel Mark Murphy

Diana Friedell Carol Dean Maria Johnson

Gary Koutnik Ben Magill

Rebecca Maeder Chien Charlie Reiman Caitlin Liberati

Christine Juliano Lee Lattimer Abbey Koutnik

Andy Puritz Kath Roth Lissa Sidoli

Rosemary Summers Kathy Varadi

www.catskillplayers.org

The Catskill Community Players is a not-for-profit community theater group founded in 1974. Its purpose is to provide and promote high quality theater to communities everywhere in Upstate NY.     

The group has, most recently, been performing at the Wieting Theater in Worcester, NY. They have also performed at Delhi Tech’s Farrell Hall Little Theater,  Foothills Performing Arts Center, and at Stamford Central School. 

In September 2016, Catskill Community Players merged with Catskill Theatre Works, a beloved Delhi, NY based theater company under the direction of Alan Davino for 16 years.

The Players’ first production was in 1975 with Life with Father and over the years, they have put on 78 productions. Neil Simon’s Rumors in 2022 was CCP’s celebratory return from the pandemic pause.

So many dedicated directors, actors and production staff members have put in countless hours preparing for and presenting each of these productions. We love to make the audience laugh, cry, find joy and forget the world, even for a little while! Thank you for supporting community theater at its best. Your program ad, should you choose to place one, will be viewed by hundreds of your neighbors & clientele. “Exhibit This! The Museum Comedies” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Auditions — ‘EXHIBIT THIS!’

Catskill Community Players

announce

AUDITIONS for:

“Exhibit This!”

a Comedy by Luigi Jannuzzi,

Directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch

WHEN: PLEASE NOTE- TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS!!

Saturday, 8/20, 3pm at the Wieting Theatre, Worcester, NY

Sunday, 8/21, 3pm + Tuesday, 8/23, 5:30pm BOTH at the First United Methodist Church, Oneonta

This new comedic hit features SEVEN comedic plays and SIX monologues based on 50+ exhibits at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Paintings, sculptures, antiquities, & fertility gods emerge from their molds & frames. Mix in some artists, guards, critics, lovers, curators, and one very special night. In fact, even the artwork speaks to the audience!

• A great opportunity for those ready to “dip their toes” into acting!!

• Roles for a variety of genders and ages (teens and up) are available.

• Choose to work alone on a monologue, or in a scene with others!

• Scripts provided at the Audition

• Bring your Calendar for rehearsal planning

PERFORMANCES: Friday, Saturday 11/4 & 11/5 at 7:30; Sat. & Sunday 11/5 & 6, 2pm

at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester, NY

Questions? Nancy: nancybcouch@yahoo.com, Director

Diana: dianafriedell@gmail.com, 607-433-2089, Producer

“Exhibit This! The Museum Comedies” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Catskill Community Players present “Rumors”, a comedy by Neil Simon

Catskill Players presents "Rumors" a comedy by Neil Simon

We’re Baaack! Join the laughter and celebration as the Catskill Community Players bring Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy, Rumors, to the Wieting Theatre.


About this event

UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE: Safety Measures for All Performances: Wearing masks is now required at all times inside the theater building, in order to protect our cast, crew, and audience members.

The Catskill Community Players, celebrating their 48th year, are proud to present Neil Simon’s fast-paced, side-splitting comedy RUMORS at the Wieting Theatre, 168 Main St. in Worcester, NY, April 29th, 30th, at 7:30 pm, and a 2pm Matinee on May 1st, 2022.

The Wieting Theatre is a historic gem-, built in 1910, the theatre was host to many vaudeville troupes, touring across the U.S. by train and stopping to perform at the Wieting. We often hear the phrase “ If only walls could talk, the stories we would hear”- and yet in this theater, the walls DO talk: Signatures of cast members from past shows from as far back as 1920 adorn the backstage walls.

Rumors Plot Summary: On a lovely night in June, at a large, tastefully-appointed townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are about to experience a severe attack of farce! Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room, and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken, and wife, Chris, must get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.

A cast of local favorites await you in this hilarious telling of a celebration gone wrong. Maria Johnson and Ben Friedell are Ken and Chris Gorman, the first on the scene at the anniversary bash; J Lentner and Diane Stammel are the next to arrive, as Lenny and Claire Ganz; soon after that, Diana Friedell and Mark Murphy appear as Cookie and Ernie Cusack; rounding out the couples are Michael Tamburrino and Rhiannon LaCross as the young and ambitious Glenn and Cassie Cooper. Also joining the cast are Charlie Reiman and Abbey Koutnik as the officers Welch and Pudney, who show up wondering what’s true, and what’s not.

RUMORS is under the direction of Lissa Sidoli, with Diana Friedell producing, stage management by Deb Bruce, Diane Stammel in charge of costumes, and a set designed by Andy O’Dell and Charlie Reiman, with set painting & decoration by Abbey Koutnik.

UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE: Safety Measures for All Performances: Wearing masks is now required at all times inside the theater building, in order to protect our cast, crew, and audience members.

Please note that in order to protect our cast, crew, and audience members, these safety measures can change at any time.

Find out More about CCP at http://catskillplayers.org/ or visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/catskillcommunityplayers. Purchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/catskill-players-presents-rumors-a-comedy-by-neil-simon-tickets-295909101087


		Catskill Players presents "Rumors" a comedy by Neil Simon image
Ken Gorman, played by Dr. Ben Friedell, plotting with his wife Chris, played by Maria Johnson, what to do when they arrive for a fancy anniversary party and the hosts are not there!

		Catskill Players presents "Rumors" a comedy by Neil Simon image
“Ernie” played by Mark Murphy, helps his wife “Cookie” (Diana Friedell) with her back spasm.

		Catskill Players presents "Rumors" a comedy by Neil Simon image
Senator Glen Cooper (played by Michael Tamburrino) is having a little spat with his wife Cassie (played by Rhiannon LaCross).

		Catskill Players presents "Rumors" a comedy by Neil Simon image
Lenny (played by J Lentner) arrives at the dinner party a little worse for wear after someone hit his BMW. Claire (Diane Stammel) tends to her swollen lip.

Auditions — RUMORS

The Catskill Community Players host auditions for Rumors by Neil Simon, directed by Lissa Sidoli, and produced by Diana Friedell.

Auditions
Location: Foothills PAC (ATRIUM), 24 Market, Oneonta
Dates & Times: Wednesday, September 29, 5:30-7pm
Sunday, October 3, 3:00-4:30pm
And…….over Zoom by appointment
Thursday, September 30, 5:30-7

Performances will be held at the
Worcester Wieting Theater, Worcester, NY
April 29, 30, at 8 pm and May 1 at 2 pm (2022)

Seeking Actors for 4–6 female roles and 4–6 male roles, age range 30-70

Those who wish to audition should bring a schedule of conflicts from January 10 thru May 1 (2022) for rehearsal planning purposes. Those auditioning will be asked to read pages from the script, which will be provided.

Play Description:
“America’s premier comic playwright delighted audiences with this out-and-out funny offering.

Four couples are at the townhouse of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. The party never begins because the host has shot himself in the head (it’s only a flesh wound) and his wife is missing. His lawyer’s cover-up gets progressively more difficult to sustain as the other guests arrive and nobody can remember who has told what about whom. Doors slam and hilarity abounds as the couples get more and more crazed.”

Character breakdown
10 roles
4-6 men
4-6 women

CHRIS GORMAN – attractive woman, beautifully dressed, 30-60, lead role
KEN GORMAN – husband to Chris, lawyer, smartly dressed, 40-70, lead role

CLAIRE GANZ – attractive woman, evening gown, 30-60, supporting role
LENNIE GANZ – husband to Claire, tuxedo, 40-70, tax attorney, supporting role

COOKIE CUSACK – wife to Ernie, cooking show host, 30-60, bad back injury, supporting role
ERNIE CUSACK – husband to Cookie, psychotherapist, deferential, 40-70, supporting role

GLENN COOPER – handsome, 40-70, running for Senate, featured role
CASSIE COOPER – very attractive, 30-60, well-dressed, featured role

OFFICER WELCH – strong vigorous 30-50 male or female, featured role
OFFICER PUDNEY – younger 30-40, female, featured role

More information on the Catskill Community Players, this 46 year old theater company, which has recently merged with the Catskill Theatre Works of Delhi, can be seen at www.catskillplayers.org, or find Catskill Community Players on Facebook.

For more information, to review a script, or to schedule Zoom audition, please contact Lissa Sidoli at sidoli19@yahoo.com.

BLITHE SPIRIT October 25-27:

Otsego and Delaware County-based Catskill Community Players presents a Halloween weekend production of Noël Coward’s 1941 ghost story farce “Blithe Spirit,” with performances Oct. 25, 26, and 27 at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester. 

Otsego and Delaware County-based Catskill Community Players presents a Halloween weekend production of Noël Coward’s 1941 ghost story farce “Blithe Spirit,” with performances Oct. 25, 26, and 27 at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester. 

The classic supernatural comedy centers on irascible socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his scheming first wife Elvira after the séance, much to the chagrin of his current spouse Ruth. The notion of ”til death do us part” is further turned on its head when Ruth is accidentally killed and joins Elvira as a duo of blithe spirits who haunt their hapless husband with hilarious consequences in this dark comedy. 

Catskill Community Players’ production is directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch and produced by CCP President Diana Friedell. The show features Carol Dean as Ruth, Ben Friedell as Charles, Caitlin Liberati as Edith, Becky Maeder Chien as Madame Arcati, Cassandra Miller as Elvira, Mark Murphy as Dr. Bradman, and Diane Stammel as Mrs. Bradman. The production team includes stage manager Kyra Wehmeyer, costumes by Diane Geerken, and set design by Andy O’Dell and Abby Koutnik

Famous for his wit and flamboyance, the award-winning British playwright and actor Noël Coward wrote ”Blithe Spirit” after his London apartment had been destroyed in the German’s Blitz bombing campaign as an escapist comedy for British audiences. Produced more than 2,000 times since its premiere, the 78-year-old ”Blithe Spirit” is still entertaining audiences with its witty script and mystical premise. 

General Admission Tickets
Performances of CCP’s production of ”Blithe Spirit” are at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. The show is about 2 hours, 30 minutes, with one intermission. General admission tickets are $18, and student/senior tickets are $15 with ID. Tickets are available at www.catskillplayers.org or at the door starting one hour before performances at the Wieting Theatre, at 168 Main St. in Worcester. Tickets are also available at the Green Toad Bookstore in Oneonta and the Worcester Inn in Worcester. 

Dinner and Theater Combination Tickets
In conjunction with CCP’s production, The Historic Worcester Inn, across the street from the Wieting Theatre at 151 Main St. in Worcester, is offering a combination dinner and ticket package, as well as a discount on overnight stays at the Inn. The combination tickets are $42 ($39 for seniors) and include a ticket to the show and a buffet dinner. Pre-show dinners are offered before Friday and Saturday’s 8 p.m. performances, and a post-show dinner is offered after Sunday’s 2 p.m. matinee. For reservations, call the Worcester Inn at 607-397-8500.

About Catskill Community Players
Catskill Community Players is a community theater group founded in 1974 with the purpose of ”promoting and presenting theater in the community.” Based in upstate New York’s Delaware and Otsego counties, its membership is drawn from the communities of South Kortright, Hobart, Stamford, Jefferson, Delhi, Franklin, Oneonta, and surrounding areas. The group typically produces two shows per year: one musical and one straight play. Most performances are currently presented at The Wieting Theatre in Worcester. Past performances have been presented in South Kortright Central School’s Harbaugh Hall, Stamford Central School, and the Farrell Hall Little Theatre on the campus of SUNY Delhi.

AUDITIONS — BLITHE SPIRIT

Catskill Community Theatre announces AUDITIONS for

“Blithe Spirit,” a comic play by Noël Coward

Director – Nancy Bondurant-Couch

Producer – Diana Friedell

Production Description:

The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles’s marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

Roles:

Charles Condomine (Lead): Male, 30-70

Husband to Ruth and, before her passing, to Elvira. A sophisticated and urbane novelist who is dabbling in spiritualism to use it as a subject for a book.

Ruth Condomine (Lead): Female, 25-70

Charles’s second wife, and eventually a ghost. Ruth is witty and sophisticated but also a bit stuffy and predictable.

Elvira Condomine (Lead): Female, 25-50

The ghost of Charles’s first wife. She is spirited, outgoing, wild – and jealous of Ruth. She aggravates Charles, and continues to do so, even when joined by his second wife Ruth. 

Madame Arcati (Supporting): 30-80

Known as the local eccentric, she considers herself a spiritualist and a medium who conjures up Charles’ first wife and eventually his second. 

Doctor Bradman (Supporting): Male, 45-70

A good friend of the Condomines who is invited to dinner and a séance.  Skeptical of anything to do with the occult.

Mrs. Bradman (Supporting): Female, 40-70

Doctor Bradman’s wife.  Simple and naive, she is excited about being in the presence of a medium.

Edith (Supporting): Female, 18-28

The Condomines’ new maid. She is nervous and tears around at breakneck speed trying to do things right.

Audition, Rehearsal and Production Dates & Locations:

Auditions will be held at Institute for Spiritual Development, 41-45 Dietz St. Oneonta, NY.

  • Thursday, August 22 at 7:00 pm
  • Sunday, August 25 at 2:00

Scenes from the script will be provided for the audition

Those who wish to audition should bring a schedule of conflicts for dates from August 26 – October 27 for rehearsal planning purposes:

Rehearsals will be held in Oneonta until the first few weeks of October where the rehearsals move to the stage of the Wieting Theatre in Worcester, NY.

Performances held October 25 & 26 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2:00 pm in the Wieting Theatre, Worcester, NY  

If additional information is needed please email the director, Nancy: nancybcouch@yahoo.com

or the Producer, Diana B. Friedell:  dianafriedell@gmail.com, 607-433-2089