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

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

THE GREAT KOOSHOG LAKE HOLLIS MCCAULEY FISHING DERBY


Buy Tickets Here

The Catskill Community Players, a Community Theater Company in their 44th season, will present “The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby”, a heartwarming comedy, on April 5, 6, and 7 at the Worcester Wieting Theater, in conjunction with a dinner at the Worcester Inn. The production will be directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch, and is produced by Diana Friedell and Raphael Sason with sets by Raphael Sason and Abbey Koutnik.

The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby is a beautifully written story about one small town, five big-hearted people, and a big fish. Written by award-winning Canadian playwright Norm Foster, this quirky, funny, and heartwarming comedy comes complete with romance, broken hearts, and the hunt for the elusive catfish named Hollis McCauley.

Uptight investment banker James Bell (played by Scott West) is on his way to present a very important speech when his car breaks down in the wilderness town of Kooshog Lake. Finding himself stranded with little to do, he is lured into participating in the annual fishing derby, which offers a prize of $92,000 to the angler who can catch Hollis McCauley, the legendary catfish named for its resemblance to the local high school shop teacher! Soon James realizes that he is the fish out of water, and we follow this city boy as he is bewildered and beguiled by the people he meets. Lissa Sidoli plays Sienna, the owner of the town’s only store; Dr. Ben Friedell plays Kirk Douglas, the owner of the town’s garage and bait & tackle shop; Abbey Koutnik plays Rhonda, the flirty hotel owner; and Caitlin Liberati plays Melanie Morningside. James gets a crash course in fishing, but the real lessons he learns are about life. There’s laughter all through this charming and funny fish story, a story that’s filled with real people and real heart.

Performances are at 8pm on Friday & Saturday, April 5 & 6, 2019; and on Sunday, April 7th there is a 2pm matinee. Tickets are $18, and $15 for Students & Seniors. There is a special Dinner Theater rate when you reserve Dinner & Play Tickets at the Worcester Inn, (across the street from the Wieting Theater) of $42 and $39 for Seniors. Reserve Dinner and Show by calling the Worcester Inn at (607)397-8500.

Sunday’s dinner is served AFTER the matinee. Coming from out of town? The Worcester Inn is discounting an overnight stay for theatergoers! For those not attending the dinner, tickets may be obtained online at www.catskillplayers.org (see the “buy tickets” link above), or at the door of the Wieting Theater starting one hour before performance time.

 

 

AUDITIONS – THE GREAT KOOSHOG LAKE HOLLIS MACCAULEY FISHING DERBY

‘The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby’
Written by Norm Foster • Directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch
Produced by Catskill Community Players • Spring 2019

Performances will be held at
The Wieting Theatre
168 Main Street, Worcester, NY 12197
Friday, April 5 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 5 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 pm

Auditions will be held at the ISD
(Institute for Spiritual Development)
41-45 Dietz St., Suite #1, Oneonta, NY 13820 
Thursday, January 31 at 6PM
Saturday, February 2 at 4PM
Call-backs will be held Sunday Feb. 3

Rehearsals will be held in Oneonta until 2 weeks prior to the performance date.

Production Description
If you are growing tired of real-world stresses, then cast away your troubles and savor a Canadian comedy that traffics unabashedly in human goodness.

“The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby” is a beautifully written story about one small town, five big hearted people and a big fish. Written by award-winning Canadian playwright Norm Foster, this quirky, funny, and heartwarming comedy comes complete with romance, broken hearts, and the hunt for the elusive catfish named Hollis McCauley. 


Uptight investment banker James Bell is on his way to present a very important speech, when his car breaks down in the wilderness town of Kooshog Lake.  Finding himself stranded with little to do, he is lured into participating in the annual fishing derby, which offers a prize of $92,000 to the angler who can catch Hollis McCauley, the legendary catfish named for its resemblance to the local high school shop teacher! Soon James realizes that he is the fish out of water, and we follow this city boy as he is bewildered and beguiled by the people he meets.  James gets a crash course in fishing, but the real lessons he learns are about life. There’s laughter all through this charming and funny fish story, a story that’s filled with real people and real heart.

CAST (3 Female, 2 Male)

SIENNA GREY: Female, 50-60+
dry-humored, divorced, and missing her only son, who moved away months before and still hasn’t called; she owns the only store in town; she and her store are the hub for the town’s news and gossip; she enjoys playing with out-of-towners, and James Bell is no exception.

JAMES BELL: Male, 30-35
focused, driven, slightly awkward investment banker, who gets stranded in Kooshog, on his way to a conference; by play’s end he’s learned how to fish, but he’s also learned how to live.

RHONDA BORKOWSKI: Female, 40-55
dry-humored, somewhat over-sexed local; she’s flirty, fun, and looking for love; she owns the only hotel in Kooshog which means that single banker James has to be on his guard while he’s stuck in town.

KIRK DOUGLAS: Male, 50-60+
the owner of the town’s garage and bait & tackle shop; he’s wise, witty, and sometimes a little confused. He has an interesting catalog of stories, analogies, and sayings; and he’s the founder of the Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby, based on the mighty fish story he tells.

MELANIE MORNINGSIDE: Female, 25-35
dry-humored, sunny, a little bit vulnerable, independent local, who owns the town’s antique shop. She’s fiercely protective of Kooshog’s friendly, slow-paced way of life. She was once in love with Sienna’s now-estranged son, and is nursing that heartache.