WELFAREWELL, by Cat Delaney, directed by Nancy Bondurant Couch, is a comic and deeply moving play about Esmerelda Quipp,  an 80-year-old former Shakespearean actress played by CCP veteran Diane Stammel, who finds herself living on a meager pension that can’t cover her rent or groceries.

Facing eviction and the indignities of poverty, Esmerelda devises an unusual solution: she deliberately commits petty crimes so she can be sent to jail, where at least she’ll have food and shelter. What begins as a clever scheme evolves into a powerful commentary on aging, dignity, and society’s treatment of its most vulnerable.

Full of sharp wit, theatrical flair, and unexpected tenderness, Welfarewell is both a biting satire and a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.

WELFAREWELL will run April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and April 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wieting Theatre, 168 Main Street, Worcester, New York 12197

WELFAREWELL is presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. (www.concordtheatricals.com)

The Catskill Community Players are a recipient of a Community Events Grant administered by the Otsego County Government.

CCP events are made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House. 

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Catskill Community Players
PO Box 308
Delhi, NY 13753
info at catskillplayers.org

The Catskill Community Players and CANO present TALES of TERROR – An Evening of Stories with Edgar Allan Poe

Welcome, all. Welcome to the dark room, the moonlit night. Welcome to the disembodied voice, the spirit of revenge. Welcome to the tortured mind, the abandoned heart. Welcome to the crumbled visions of a great house, a great family, a great love, a fragile hope. Welcome to the world of Edgar Allan Poe…

Join the Catskill Community Players, if you dare, at the Unitarian Universalist Society, at 7:30 PM on Friday, November 21, for an evening of Poe: seven talented actors will present six of Poe’s short works in a dramatic staged reading. Some of the stories will be familiar to you, and some will not, but they will all surprise and chill you, and leave you wondering just what kind of world you live in. And there may be a chuckle or two available as well.

The Unitarian Universalist Society is at 12 Ford Ave. in Oneonta, NY. There is no charge for admittance, although donations to CCP and the Unitarian Universalist Society will be gratefully accepted.

Join us in the shadows, between dark and light…

Welcome, all. Welcome to the dark room, the moonlit night. Welcome to the disembodied voice, the spirit of revenge. Welcome to the tortured mind, the abandoned heart. Welcome to the crumbled visions of a great house, a great family, a great love, a fragile hope. Welcome to the world of Edgar Allan Poe…

This hilarious, zany, fast-paced comedy is directed by Gary Koutnik and features local actors Ben Friedell in the roles of Father of the Bride/Larry, Colleen Bunn as Bride/Nun, Charlie Reiman as film director Bob/Bruce, Lissa Sidoli as the Waitress, Charles Sherrard as the Monk, Laurie Wehmeyer as Linda, Lee Latimer as Mr. Philips, Diane Stammel as Betty/Leslie, Marianne Johansen as Eveline, Sebastian Griffiths as Sidney/Groom, and Abbey Koutnik as Mother of the Bride.

Comedy! Romance! A fast-paced day. All served up in a crazy little café! Linda has a blind date, Bob is casting a movie, the Waitress likes the Monk, old Mr. Philips wants a séance and the Bride’s Dad is livid. Throw in a frantic Bride, her theatrical Mother, a dancing Nun, and an apologetic Groom, and you have a comedy hit! And all happening one crazy day in the Love Cafe.

PLACE A PROGRAM AD

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The Catskill Community Players are a recipient of a Community Events Grant administered by the Otsego County Government.

Catskill Community Players events are made possible with public funds from the  Statewide Community Regrants Program, a program of the NYS  Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

The Catskill Community Players are the recipient of a Creative Opportunities Grant from the NYS Council on the Arts, administered by A.C.T./New York.

Friday, November 1, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 2, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 3, 2:00 p.m.
Wieting Theatre, Worcester, NY

The Catskill Community Players present Agatha Christie’s murder mystery MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS at the historic Wieting Theatre in Worcester, November 1, 2, and 3. Written by Agatha Christie, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, and directed for the CCP by Lissa Sidoli, this iconic play takes the audience on a twisted thrill ride through the mountains of Europe during a snowstorm, as Detective Hercule Poirot races against time to solve a murder aboard the Orient Express. With a train full of suspects, will he succeed in solving the case before the killer strikes again?

The cast:
Hercule Poirot: J Lentner
Monsieur Bouc: Jay Goldman
Mary Debenham: Kelsey Stearns
Hector MacQueen: Sebastian Griffiths
Michel, the conductor: Emily Travisano
Princess Dragomiroff: Diane Stammel
Greta Ohlsson: Rebecca Maeder Chien
Countess Andrenyi: Colleen Bunn
Helen Hubbard: Sheila Ayres
Colonel Arbuthnot: Nick Kocieniewski
Samuel Ratchet: Charlie Reiman
Head Waiter / ensemble: Lee Lattimer
Soldier / ensemble: Dan Ayres

Stage management is by Rosemary Summers, with assistance from Kathy Varadi. Set design and construction is by Charlie Riemann, assisted by Andy Odell. Scenic design is by Abbey Koutnik. Costume design is by Diana Friedell and Diane Stammel. Lighting design is by Nancy Bondurant-Couch. Sound design is by Dan Chien, with operation by Kelly Chien. Publicity is by Evelyn Kinnear. Production is by Diana Friedell.

Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig, was originally staged by McCarter Theater Center, Princeton, NJ Emily Mann, Artistic Director, Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director. The production subsequently transferred to Hartford Stage, Harford, CT Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, Michael Stotts, Managing Director.

Murder on the Orient Express is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Check out our Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/catskillcommunityplayers

The Catskill Community Players are a proud recipient of a Community Events Grant administered by the Otsego County Government.

This project is funded by Earlville Opera House’s Arts in the Community Grants Program, made possible by the NYS Legislature with support of the Office of the Governor, and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.

Join us for a hilarious murder-mystery filled with twists and turns you have to see to believe!

The Catskill Community Players’ next production, THE PSYCHIC, will be staged at the historic Wieting Theater in Worcester, April 26, 27, and 28. This hilarious murder-mystery by Sam Bobrick is directed by Lissa Sidoli and produced by Caitlin Liberati.

THE PSYCHIC follows the chaotic life of Adam Webster, a down-on-his-luck writer, who has put a sign in his apartment window, in desperation to make the rent: “Psychic Readings $25”. The sign soon draws the interest of the lovely and conflicted Laura, her shady husband Roy, Roy’s mistress, Rita, a gangster named Johnny Bubbles, and ace Detective Norris Coslow. In the surprising twists that follow, THE PSYCHIC entangles in a hilarious murder-mystery that you won’t want to miss.

Come join us at either of the evening shows, or at the matinee!

The cast, in order of appearance:
Ben Magill as Adam
Colleen Bunn as Laura
Ben Friedell as Roy
Emily Begin as Rita
Mark Murphy as Johnny Bubbles
Charlie Reiman as Detective Coslow

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Interested in supporting us in other ways? Consider buying an ad for our program! Besides the benefit of spotlighting your business for hundreds of theater attendees in the audience, your program ad helps keep theater ALIVE and THRIVING in our community! Visit http://catskillplayers.org/place-a-program-ad-the-psychic/ to view ad specs and purchase yours online.

The Psychic is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

The Catskill Community Players are a proud recipient of a Community Events Grant administered by the Otsego County Government.

Catskill Community Players events are made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

Rehearsals for The Psychic are well under way, and we would also like to welcome Emily Begin to the cast! Emily will be taking on the role of Rita Malone, and we are SO happy to have her join us on our stage again after a fantastic appearance in The Savannah Sipping Society last fall.

Mark your calendars for April 26, 27, and 28 – this talented and hilarious group will make you think AND leave you in stitches!

The Psychic is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Catskill Community Players productions are made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

Rehearsals are underway for The Catskill Community Players’ production of Sam Bobrick’s The Psychic at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester, NY.

Mark your calendars for April 26, 27, and 28, because you really don’t want to miss out on this hysterical production – it’s unlike any murder-mystery you’ve seen before! 🕵️‍♂️

The Psychic is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Catskill Community Players productions are made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

The Catskill Community Players are proud to announce the cast of the upcoming production of The Psychic, directed by Lissa Sidoli and produced by Diana Friedell & Caitlin Liberati, with set construction and painting led by Charlie Reiman & Abbey Koutnik.

Adam: Ben Magill
Laura: Colleen Bunn
Roy: Ben Friedell
Rita: Cassandra Miller
Johnny Bubbles: Mark Murphy
Detective Coslow: Charlie Reimann

Congratulations to all, and mark your calendars for April 26, 27, and 28. This is one show you won’t want to miss!

Catskill Community Players productions are made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.