Category: Past Productions

Catskill Community Players
announce
Auditions
for
CHRISTMAS BELLES
by Jones / Hope / Wooten

Hey to all our fellow Actors, actresses, please join us in staging another really great play — it all begins with AUDITIONS!

Directed by Gary Koutnik 607-435-1783 garyabbeykoutnik@gmail.com
Produced by Diana Friedell, 607-433-2089

AUDITIONS:
Lotus Center, 41-45 Dietz St., Oneonta
Aug 28, 7-9
Aug 30, 7-9
Sept 1, 11-1
REHEARSALS:
Late October through Early December
PRODUCTION:
December 7, 8, 9, 2018
at the Wieting Theater in Worcester, combined with Dinner at the Worcester Inn!

CHRISTMAS BELLES is another Southern-fried, small-town, chaotic family comedy by the same folks who gave us “Red Velvet Cake Wars” and “Hallelujah Girls.” The story: the church’s Christmas pageant has a new director, and despite the eye rolling and hurt feelings, it looks like it’s going to come together, until the Pancake Dinner plague hits half the cast, the camel turns out to be a polar bear, and Santa is sidelined with a kidney stone. But the family pulls together, despite everything, and along with Elvis and a kid with a wagon, they pull it off to great acclaim.

(Click here for Dramatists Play Service description)

Seven female parts – two perhaps younger than the others
Four male parts – one perhaps younger than the others
Parts will all be fun and challenging

(Click here for cast list)

Please call Gary, the Director, or Diana, the Producer, with any questions. Perusal Scripts are available. If none of the audition dates work for you, let us know, and we’ll get together some other time.

Many hands make light work! Please call or email Diana dianafriedell@gmail.com if you can help with Producing, Stage Managing, Costumes, Lighting, photography, Sound, Scenery, sets, publicity, or anything else! 607-433-2089

The Catskill Community Players will present “Bloody Murder,” a parody on the British murder mystery genre, from April 13 through 15 at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester. In the diabolically different, laugh-out-loud comedy directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch, each of the story’s characters may not be quite what he or she seems to be, and the behavior and choices of the group attending a soirée at an isolated country estate are being determined by a force outside their control. With elements that salute a classic Agatha Christie tale or Madeline L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” playwright Ed Sala challenges audience members to laugh, groan, and gasp — all the while playing stage-front detective.

Expect the unexpected as the show’s cast — Carol Dean, Diana Friedell, Scott West, Roxanne Rippa, Dr. Ben Friedell, and J Lentner — portray delightfully stereotypic stock suspense characters from the tricky maid, an incompetent chief inspector, and a wealthy dowager to the egocentric Major, a secretive countess, a money-hungry nephew, and the declining stage actor. Trapped in a complex and surprising scenario, the confused party guests plot comic yet risky strategies to protect themselves from an unknown assassin.

Set Design for “Bloody Murder” is by Raphael Sasson, with Kyra McKissick as Stage Manager, and Production Management by Diana Friedell and Christine Juliano.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 15. Admission is $18 and $15 for Seniors. Reserve a special Theater Dinner at the Worcester Inn, with the play, for $42 for Adults and $39 for seniors by calling at the Worcester Inn at 607-397-8500. Dinner (**see Menu below) is served prior to the Friday and Saturday performances and after the Sunday Matinee. To reserve online advance tickets for the show only, click the link below:

Performance tickets are also available at the door, starting one hour before showtime. For more information, find Catskill Community Players on Facebook.

Don’t Miss the Fun — Come for a delicious dinner at the Worcester Inn, too! Call ahead to reserve 607-397-8500.

Theater Dinner Menu Options:

All Dinners include Salad Bar, Dessert & Soup

(Bloody Bisque)

Entrées:

*BermudaTriangle (Maine lobster Tail & Honey Lime Shrimp Skewer)

*Cannibal (Crab Stuffed Shrimp)

*Colonel Mustard Chicken (Chicken Breast)

*Third Degree Burned (Crisp Boneless Pork LoinChop)

*Dahmer Steak (Delmonico Steak)

*Titanic–(Vegetarian)

Desserts: Pirates Rum Cake or Death by Chocolate

Come Play with Us!

Audition Notice:

The Catskill Community Players will be holding open auditions for the play

BLOODY MURDER
A Mystery Comedy
Written by Ed Sala
Directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch

We will again be welcoming all aspects of production staff: Costumer, Set Design, Artistic Design, House Manager, Stage Manager, Lighting, Sound Design & Operators, Ushers, Box Office, Program, Poster, Publicity, etc. Contact Producer Diana Friedell if you are interested in helping with any aspect of design or production staff.

Audition Location, Dates and Times

The Lotus Center, 41-45 Dietz Street, Oneonta
Saturday, Feb. 3 at 4:00
Sunday, Feb. 4 at 4:00
Monday, Feb. 5 at 6:00

• Please bring a print out of your schedule/conflicts/commitments
• You will be asked to read pages from the script in front of the director and other auditionees.
• If you are unable to attend the auditions, please contact the director by Sunday February 4^th
• or call 607-433-0575 and leave a message

Performance Dates & Location
The Wieting Theatre, Worcester, NY
Friday, April 13
Saturday, April 14
Sunday, April 15

Synopsis
Bloody Murder is a parody on the British murder mystery genre.  Six guests (3 men and 3 women) have been invited to a soirée at the isolated country estate of the elderly Lady Somerset. When one of the guests is murdered before revealing a dark secret, Lady Somerset refuses to let her party be interrupted — even by the police! When the murderer strikes again, however, the remaining guests must work together to revenge themselves on someone who controls their lives — and deaths.

Diabolically different and laugh-out-loud funny, every twist and turn of this extraordinary new play will leave you on the edge of your seat… or falling off it with laughter!

The comedy features all of the stock characters that you’d expect in an Agatha Christie whodunit.

Depending on cast size, the actors may play dual roles, with each character’s doppelganger conveniently disappearing (or dying) when a new character emerges.

The script allows for flexible casting, and so could be cast with 6 or 8 actors — evenly divided between male and female casting.

Contact Nancy Bondurant-Couch if you would like to read a script ahead of time.

CAST OF CHARACTERS
(They all are stereotypes and are meant to be so.)

1. LADY SOMERSET – In her 70s. A woman of great wealth and social standing.
2. JANE – In her 60s.Lady Somerset’s maid and head of staff.
3. EMMA RESSE – LATE 20s.The far-too-innocent ingénue.
4. The COUNTESS – Late 30s, quite strikingly well preserved.The mystery woman.
5. The MAJOR – Late 60s.Served with the military in India and constantly reminds everyone of it.
6. DEVON TREMAINE – Late 40s to early 50s.Formerly great tragic actor, now declining because of his fondness for single-malt Scotch.
7. CHARLES – Late 30s to early 40s.Her Ladyship’s worthless nephew.
8. CHIEF INSPECTOR PHELPS – 40s to 50s.The dimwitted policeman.
9. MOTORIST – Middle-aged woman – cameo – quickly snuffed in Act Two
10. NUN – cameo – end of Act Two
11. MR. WOO – very stereo-typed – cameo – quickly snuffed in Act One
12. EL GATO – French Accent – cameo – quickly snuffed in Act Two
13. PRIEST – cameo – end of Act Two in the 8 cast version (written in but not certain he is needed in the 12 cast version)

Lisa Hornick. Nancy Bondurant Couch, Danielle Purdy, Casey Thomas, Ben Friedell, Roxanne Rippa in MOM’S GIFT. Tonight & Tomorrow at 8:00 PM (Friday April 21, Saturday April 22), and Sunday Matinee (April 23) at 2:00 PM, at the Weiting Theater in Worcester, NY.

For reservations to the Dinner + Play, call the Worcester Inn at 607-397-8500. To buy tickets for the Play only, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/catskill-players-presents-moms-gift-tickets-33265459886.

The Catskill Community Players, now in their 43rd season, present the heartwarming family comedy “Mom’s Gift” by Phil Olson, at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester, on April 21st & 22nd at 8 pm, preceded by an optional special theater dinner at the Worcester Inn across the street, with a 2 pm matinee show on Sunday, April 23rd followed by dinner at the Worcester Inn.

In this comedy with a heart, Mom (played by Nancy Bondurant-Couch, CCP Director, and theater teacher at SUNY & Hartwick) has been dead for 11 months and shows up at her husband’s birthday party as a ghost with a mission. The husband is being played by a 20 year veteran of the CCP stage & local favorite, Dr. Ben Friedell.

Like Clarence in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Mom has to accomplish a task to earn her wings. Only what the task actually is, is a mystery. There are so many things to fix. The problem is complicated by the fact that the only person who can hear or see Mom is her daughter, Kat, played by SUNY theater major, Lisa Hornick.  Kat has been ordered by the court to spend Dad’s birthday with him as part of her Anger Management Program.

One by one,  the family’s secrets are peeled away revealing a shocking truth that surprises even our ghost. The cast is filled out with Danielle Purdy playing Kat’s ditzy sister, “Brittney”, Roxanne Rippa playing family friend “Trish”, Casey Thomas playing Kevin, and Bhala Jones playing the nosey neighbor Mrs. Norquist.

Director Shadow LaValley was a theater major at SUNY Oneonta, and he is supported by a strong creative team, including Nancy Bondurant-Couch & Diana Friedell as Producers,  with assistance by Dylan Thompson, Sapphira Koerner as Stage Manager assisted by Amethyst Gardner, Taylor Clark designing costumes, and Andy Frank as set designer.

Purchase Advance tickets for the Play only ($18 & $15 for Sr. Citizens) online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/catskill-players-presents-moms-gift-tickets-33265459886, or if Dinner + Play Ticket is preferred, make Reservations for the special rate of  $42, $39 for Sr. Cit. by calling the Worcester Inn at 607-397-8500. Tickets  are also available at the Door at the Wieting Theatre, starting one hour before performance times. For more information  find Catskill players on Facebook (Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65056613773/)

“A humorously poignant and thought ­provoking story… Touching and hysterical in turns…Heartwarming and compelling…This story is a heartfelt cross between family dynamics, the loss of a loved one, and the power of love.” ­ -Tolucan Times

The Catskill Community Players and the Wieting Theatre are thankful to be the recipients of a 2017 Otsego County Community Events Grant.

Audition Notice:

The Catskill Community Players will be holding open auditions for the play

Mom’s Gift

by Phil Olson

A family comedy in two acts.

Seeking a cast of 7 (5 women and 2 men)

Directed by: Shadow C. LaValley

Audition location:

First United Methodist Church

66 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

• Saturday, January 21^st from 4pm-5:30pm

• Sunday, January 22^nd from 1pm-2:30pm

Callbacks:

Location will be made available to those who are called back

By Invitation Only

• Sunday, January 29^th from 1pm-2:30pm

Performance Dates:

Option 1:
• Friday, April 28th
• Saturday, April 29th
• Sunday, April 30^th

Option 2:
• Friday, May 12th
• Saturday, May 13th
• Sunday, May 14th

• Performance Location: TBA

Things to bring:

• A complete print out of your schedule, conflicts and prior commitments.

• A headshot/resume

• If you do not have a resume, you will be need to write down your previous acting experience on forms that will be made available to you.

• If you do not have a headshot, you will have your photo taken for the director’s reference.

How auditions will work:

• You will be asked to read pages from the script in front of the director and fellow performers.

• If you are unable to attend either audition, please contact the director before January 22^nd: 607.434.5025 or lavalley_shadow@yahoo.com

Synopsis:

• In this family comedy, Mom has been dead for almost a year and suddenly shows up at her husband’s birthday party as a ghost. She is sent back to her home to complete a mission so that she can clear up unfinished business. With so many things to fix, Mom turns to her daughter (Kat) for help. One by one the family’s secrets are unearthed to reveal a surprising twist at the end.

Character Description:

Kat (25-32)

• The oldest of two sisters. Plain, extremely smart, sharp, forthright, but likeable. Has a sense of humor. Vulnerable and sympathetic. Playfully sarcastic. Not a mean spirited character.

Mom (50-60)

• Good sense of humor. Deeply caring. A Vikings fan.

Dad (50-60)

• A doctor. Nice guy. Reserved. Holds cards close to the vest.

Brittney (19-23)

• The younger of two sisters. Pretty. A Hooters girl. Peppy, ditzy, sincere, genuine, not sarcastic.

Trish (35-40)

• She’s pretty and is kind at heart. Works as a nurse.

Kevin (25-32)

• The neighborhood boy, now turned adult. Good looking, successful business person, jock in high school.

Mrs. Norquist (65+) (Voiceover)

• Neighbor. A little loopy. We never see her.

The Catskill Community Players present the award winning romantic comedy “Duets”, by Peter Quilter, at the Wieting Theater in Worcester, on October 21^st & 22^nd at 8 pm, preceded by an optional special theater dinner at the Worcester Inn across the street, with a 2 pm matinee show on Sunday, October 23rd followed by dinner at the Worcester Inn.

DUETS is a hilarious tribute to the strength and madness of the human heart.  It is a romantic comedy made of four sets of characters,  having four crucial moments.  In the first scene, Jonathan and Wendy (played by Ben Friedell and Diane Stammel) are on a blind date and hoping to get it right this time even though they’ve never got it right before; In the second scene, Barrie (played by Scott West) is not really interested in women but Janet (played by Roxanne Rippa) sees that as no reason to stop trying; Shelley (played by Rebecca Maeder Chien) and Bobby (played by Shadow LaValley) have decided to holiday in Spain to finalize their divorce whilst drowning in cocktails; Angela (played by Diana Friedell) is marrying for the third time to the dismay of her brother Toby (played by Bill Goertemoeller) and amidst a barrage of bad omens and a dress resembling a parachute.

Diana Friedell, President of the Catskill Community Players, is producing, Nancy Bondurant-Couch, who teaches theater classes at both SUNY and Hartwick, is directing, with Lisa Hornick, a Theater major at SUNY Oneonta serving as stage manager, and Charlie Reiman constructing sets.

Purchase Advance tickets and Dinner Reservations ($42, $39 for Sr. Cit, $18 for Show Only) for the October 21^st-23rd show by calling the Worcester Inn at 607-397-8500. For more information go to www.catskillplayers.org or find Catskill players on Facebook (Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65056613773/

“This bittersweet quick-change comedy is streaked with pathos and is effortlessly charming, with each character sketched with verve and skill” (Sydney Morning Herald)