Category: Past Productions

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

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.

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.

 

 

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, 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)