Happy New Year! Join us for the First Actor Party of 2012!

Please join us for our festive and fun Actor Party on Wednesday, February 8th starting at 6:30pm.  It's a great place to reconnect with friends, meet new colleagues and participate in great theater.  Listen to or bring in scenes, monologues or any other projects you would like to share.

The Actor Party will be held at our office/studio at 26 Plains Road in Essex.  If blizzard conditions occur, the snow date is Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6:30pm.  Any questions, call Jeanie Rapp at (860) 575-4767.

We are looking forward to seeing you all!

January 2011 Newsletter

JANUARY 2011

NEWSLETTER

MSC News Workshops, Classes and Parties We are excited about the new year and our scheduling for the next few months, which includes classes, workshops, lab readings and Actor Parties. The last Actor Party showcased the talents of several students from a recent MSC acting class. The students performed memorized and blocked scenes and monologues on a simple set. Afterward, other non-scene study actors used the set for their performances. The set and props were such a hit that we plan to make a minimal set available at future parties. Theater giant David Hays joins MSC Studio to teach an innovative class that will help all theater artists and enthusiasts see with the eye of a designer and director.  We hope you will take advantage of working with David. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.   We've been busy reading plays in our LAB, which we created to nurture our artistic crafts and experience the freedom to explore plays. We will continue to gather over the next few months to informally read plays which may be considered for further LAB work or production. MSC Studio Presents: Drawing for Actors, Playwrights and Directors with David Hays   "The purpose of this class is not to make you into an Ingres or Degas, but to help you see more sharply. The best directors, choreographers, actors and playwrights I worked with had terrific eyes." -- David Hays Dates:  Tuesday evenings, Feb. 15 - Mar. 15 (5 weeks) Time:    6:30pm - 8:00pm  Place:   All classes will be held at Lyme Art Association              90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371  Cost:    $140 (includes all materials)  This is not a traditional drawing class for artists; the purpose of this class is for actors, playwrights and directors to see more keenly. Inspired by a live model, you will create short sketches to hone this skill. No extended, intensely over-worked masterpieces expected. Materials will be supplied and are included in the cost of the class. Margreta Stage Studio would like to thank Lyme Art Association for the use of their space, for which we are very grateful.  David Hays is best known for the set and lighting design of over 50 Broadway plays and musicals. He was the designer for the Vivian Beaumont, the Metropolitan Opera Association and thirty George Balanchine ballets. He has won many awards for his work. Hays founded the National Theater of the Deaf in 1967 and directed it for thirty years. This ground-breaking company was the first to perform in all 50 states, the new China and South Africa, and it's the only company to have raised its banner on all seven continents. David is also the author of several books including My Old Man and The Sea, which he wrote with his son Daniel, chronicling their journey around Cape Horn. The book, which reflects their passion for sailing and the adventure of life, was on the New York Times bestseller list for many weeks. Mr. Hays currently acts as an Artistic Advisor to MSC. Participation is limited to 15 students. Please call Margreta Stage office immediately if you are interested in signing up for this class. 860.767.8943.        MSC Actor Party Wednesday, February 16 at 6:30pm at the Carriage House, 245 Main Street, Deep River Why Actor Parties? MSC Actor Parties started in the spring of 2007 and, like most other parties, began as an opportunity for us to socialize.  However, they've become much more than that. Actor Parties provide a supportive setting to get to know local actors and to develop our company talent. The gatherings are a means for us to hear pieces from new plays and revisit well-known works. A scene or monologue presented at an Actor Party can be the seed that germinates into a potential project. Actor Parties are not just for actors; directors, designers, playwrights and other theater artists participate as well. These gatherings are a forum for theater people to experiment - to hone their acting and/or directing skills. Most importantly, Actor Parties are a place to come and play, not just to observe. In the past, most scene readings at the parties were unrehearsed and sometimes cold reads. As our company develops, we are encouraging actors to prepare scenes in advance. Perhaps actors might share a scene from a show they were recently in, or an audition monologue. Actor Parties now have a delightful mix of prepared material and spontaneous readings. We ask that actors contact us in advance so that we can fit everyone into the evening's lineup. The next Actor Party will be held at the Carriage House in Deep River on Wednesday, February 16 at 6:30pm. If you'd like to direct a short piece, or perform a monologue or scene, please let us know by emailing office@margretastage.org, or calling 860.767.8943. The Director's Corner Dear Friends, We are fortunate to live in a community that supports and participates in the arts. The number of talented people who live in southern Connecticut is what inspired me to form a theater company. At Margreta Stage Company ("MSC"), we strive to raise the spirit of our community by bringing quality theater to the stage.  We also applaud other local theater companies who, like us, create theater to inspire and entertain.  We encourage you to attend not only MSC's productions but also the wide variety of plays being produced by other local companies. Jeanie Rapp Artistic Director   Margreta Stage Company 860.767.8943  margretastage.org Our Company Members at Work   Robin Fox and Chris Brown will be performing with Comedy On Demand on Saturday, February 12, at 6:30 pm for The Second Annual Karmic Relief Fund-raiser "Get Your Heart On." All proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary at Shepardfields, with support going to their Community Greenhouse Project and The Harvest House Food Bank. $20 Donation. Purchase tickets online at www.oursanctuary or call 860-319-1134. Or you may purchase tickets at the door, evening of performance, at Deep River Town Hall, 174 Main St. Ginny Wolf has developed a one-woman show about the Connecticut witchcraft scares: Panic in Connecticut; Accused Witches Have Their Say. Last fall she performed staged readings and is currently in the process of producing a staged production.  Todd Little will play prosecutor Mr. Gilmer in the Seven Angels production of To Kill a Mockingbird this spring. Please continue to send us news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects.



December 2010 Newsletter

Margreta 2010 and Beyond! What a year it has been for Margreta Stage Company! We welcomed spring with David Hays' well-received adaptation of Agee's Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, and followed up with Kaufman and Hart's rumpus You Can't Take It With You this past August. The summer Studio Classes held at The Kate in Old Saybrook were a hit with our younger company members, and Kevin Spedding reprised his role as teacher this fall with an acting class for adults. Our ongoing Actor Parties continue to provide a gathering spot for area professionals and theater enthusiasts to perform and network. What will 2011 look like for Margreta Stage Company? This coming year will be devoted to exploration and innovation. We are excited to announce our first Actor's Lab, a time for creative development while honing our skills as actors, directors and writers. We will continue to offer classes, expanding our offerings to include workshops that provide a unique perspective on all things theatre. And, of course, we look forward to seeing you at our Actor Parties. We are excited to enter this creative phase and we hope you will join us on our journey as we continue to explore new edges of the stage. Holiday Actor Party! Celebrate the holidays with an evening of friends and festivities on Monday, December 13th at 6:30 pm at The Carriage House in Deep River. Enjoy performances by your fellow actors, or bring a monologue or short scene of your own.*  Remember to bring a favorite dish to share and your beverage of choice.  Everyone is welcome, the more the merrier! *If you'd like to direct a short piece, or perform a certain monologue or scene, just let us know by emailing office@margretastage.org, or calling (860) 767-8943. Why LAB? It has always been our intent that Margreta Stage be a playground where theater artists want to come to work. As such, we have decided that we need to redirect our attention to creating a space, both literally and figuratively, where artistic exploration can happen free from the worries of production schedules and timelines. We have begun referring to this incubating period as our LAB. As part of the LAB process, we will gather our company actors, directors and designers to listen to exploratory readings of various plays that interest us. From there, we will meet to read, rehearse, play, doodle and otherwise explore ways the artist taps into his or her creative process. LAB is a place that every theater artist yearns for -- a place of pure creation. Of course, we hope these various projects will culminate in great, inspirational theater for our audiences. Stay tuned! Class Performance Students from the Margreta Stage Acting Technique Class will be performing scenes and monologues at the Actor Party on Monday, December 13. The material includes pieces from the works of Neil Simon, Peter Shaffer, William Mastrosimone, and John Murrell. Theater is a communal art form, in which the audience plays an important role in the artistic equation, so please support these actors in their effort to hone their skills and present quality work to you, their friends and colleagues.  The Director's Corner   Dear Friends,   It is truly a priviledge to create inspiring theater for you and with you. The past year has been a period not only of celebration for Margreta Stage, but also of growth and insight. I am so excited about the new directions we are exploring to fulfill our commitment to honor the artist's need for the continuing evolution of craft and perspective. We look forward to sharing the fruits of our labor in the near future and, as always, producing for you some of Connecticut's most unique, relevant and lively theatrical events. Thank you so much for your incredible support.   Jeanie Rapp Artistic Director   Margreta Stage Company 860.767.8943  margretastage.org Our Company Members at Work The North Pole Express collaboration between Riverway Studio (Ira Sakolsky) and Essex Steam Train continues to grow. Company members include Amy Forbes, Beth Avery and Elijah Manning. Ailie Bednarz appears in the Hartford Stage production of A Christmas Carol. Todd Little just wrapped up a successful run of Plays & Poetry with the East Haddam Stage Company. Todd will play prosecutor Mr. Gilmer in the Seven Angels production of To Kill a Mockingbird this spring. Jamie B. Murphy's play, Promise, opened to enthusiastic audiences this November. Promise was directed by John Tillinger and choreographed by Christopher d'Amboise. Earth & Sky, Chester Meetinghouse Players most recent production, featured MSC members Nancy and David Cardone. Congratulations! Ed Wilhelms directed All My Sons for the Suffield Players in October. Joelle Jacob will be performing Dec. 18 at The Ivory in Deep River. You can also see her in the Vanishing Veins commercial "Magic Mirror," or hear her voice-over work on several commercial spots for Vivesse Laser and Skin Care. Congratulations to Elijah Manning and Maggie Davidson who were married on October 29th! Please continue to send us news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects.



SUMMER NEWSLETTER

MSC's "Read Thru Series" Presents An Evening Of Non-Stop Comedy Featuring You Can't Take It With You  Margreta Stage puts a delightful cap on summer activities with a playreading of You Can't Take It With You, directed by Jeanie Rapp, on Saturday, August 28, at the Chester Meeting House. This wonderfully funny play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart originally opened on Broadway at the Booth Theater in December of 1936 and went on to play for 837 sold-out performances. You Can't Take It With You won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1937 and is still a timeless favorite, thanks to its zany but loveable characters, witty one-liners and charmingly offbeat plot developments.  When a young couple brings together their wildly different families for dinner, chaos reigns.  Can Alice and Tony's romance survive their relatives?  Can their relatives survive each other - especially when the cops arrive?    It is a wild and riotous ride with a large cast, featuring veteran actors Peter Walker and Scotty Bloch as well as 16 other MSC company members. Artistic Director Jeanie Rapp started her first local company with a "read thru" of this very play and now reprises it under the Margreta Stage banner.   The playreading will run one evening only, Saturday, August 28 at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $25.  Reservations can be made by calling the MSC Box Office at 860-767-8943.  Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening of the play.   Actor Party, Monday, October 18  Be There! Join the fun this fall with an evening of food,  friends and readings from new and old plays. The next Actor Party will be held Monday, October 18 at 6:30 pm at our studio in Essex. We may refuse to say anything but 'break a leg' but we aren't superstitious about 'pot luck' -  so be sure to bring your favorite tidbits to pass and  a beverage of choice.  Remember, everyone is welcome and we encourage new theater artists to get involved in our growing company. If you have a short piece you'd like to direct, or a monologue or scene you'd like to try out, please let us know by emailing us:  office@margretastage.org. Or call us at (860) 767-8943.   What's your POINT OF VIEW? MSC wants to know...Look for this exciting new forum on our website and in MSC playbooks throughout the season.   Margreta Stage is interested in your side of the fascinating dialogue that makes theater relevant. Your response, as an audience, ignites the event on stage and it is our hope that the piece of theater we bring to you informs your life.    Your voice is very important to us and we want to know what resonates with you.  What is provocative to you? What thoughts, feelings and unique insights does the journey of live theater evoke in you? Write to us so we can share your point of view with the MSC theater community. This forum is meant to recognize and pay tribute to the vital role you play in the Margreta Stage family.   We invite you to submit your ideas - in any form that moves you - letter or note, essay or article, poem or limerick, song or sonnet, quotation or quip. What would you say?  E-mail your point of view to office@margretastage.org or head to the web page and take a look at the first post and start a discussion. Our POINT OF VIEW page is dedicated to you.

The Director's Corner   Dear Friends,   The French say that a day without wine is like a day without sunshine...and I say, ditto to laughter.   I am passionate about all aspects of theater but I especially love its celebratory spirit.  There is nothing like a comedy to rev up your endorphins and lift your spirit.  Where else but in a theater are we so willing to laugh at ourselves and have fun doing it!    Six years ago I gathered local talent and friends to do a reading of You Can't Take It With You, at River Tavern.  That 'read thru' experience of spontaneity and creative exploration has become an MSC tradition. So I decided to do a revival because theater is a great place to participate in the richness of ritual and tradition.  And I thought we should all have some fun!    Kaufman and Hart have a special place in my heart for more than their theatrical genius. This play and I have a long relationship - if it weren't for You Can't Take It With You,  I wouldn't be here.  My parents met while acting in this play many years ago, so you see, I am affectionately tied to it on many levels.   It is with respect and joy, for legacies both personal and theatrical, that I bring you this production.  I look forward to seeing you there.     Jeanie Rapp Artistic Director   Margreta Stage Company 860.767.8943  margretastage.org Our Company Members at Work   Jason Naylor  can be seen in The Buddy Holly Story at Ivoryton Playhouse. July 7 - August 1,  For tickets call 860-767-7318 or www.ivorytonplayhouse.org Kenneth Lindquist Jr. and Jonathan Saltus are performing on The Essex Steam Train in the murder mystery The Band Slayed On written by Anna Trusky and Ira Sakolsky. Friday evenings: July 30 and August 6, 13, 20, & 27.    Kandie Carle's East Haddam Stage Company is reprising  William Gillette's All the Comforts of Home. The cast includes Ginny Wolf, Rayah Martin and Kenneth Lindquist Jr.  Performances are Saturday & Sunday through July 31, 1:00 pm outdoors at the Gillette's Castle, 67 River Rd., free admission. Also at 2:00 pm indoors at the Historical Society Museum, 264 Town Street, free with $5 museum admission.   Jamie B. Murphy's play, Promise, will be presented by Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre, Wellfleet, MA, Nov. 4 -7, 11-14 & 18-24.  Tickets:  www.what.org or phone 508-349-9429. Promise will be directed by John Tillinger and choreographed by Christopher d'Amboise.   Amy Forbes of Treehouse Players is offering four, week-long acting sessions, half & full days, for children ages 5-12. New this summer is Adventures Back Stage. For more info please call 860-581-0143 or amydforbes@gmail.com.  Maureen Alfiero introduces CONNECTICUT KIDS ON STAGE, a place to find Connecticut theater auditions, acting classes, performing and technical workshops and performing arts camps for kids from pre-k to age 17. To access this terrific resource go to:  www.ctkidsonstage.com Sue Levine invites you to celebrate with her at R.J.Julia Booksellers, Wed, August 11 at 7 p.m. for her first poetry reading from her new book, Haberdasher's Daughter.  For more info go to:  www.suzannelevine.blogspot.com     Todd Little performed in the six week run of Personal Appearance at Wings Theater in New York City.   John Johmann played Oliver in Shakespeare's As You Like It at Art Farm's Shakespeare In The Grove.   Getchie Argetsinger recently played Dorothy  Parker in a reading of  Diminished Fifth, by Julie Halpern at the 913 Theatre Festival and performed in Harley Adam's new comedy, Play #4, in the Samuel French Festival in New York City.    Please continue to send us any news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects.

Spring Newsletter

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Applause for Famous Men Cast left to right: Jason Naylor, Jeanie Rapp, Eileen Flaherty, Scotty Bloch & Jack Nevins (seated). Photo by Erik K. Johnson, theartofseeing.com   In late March, Margreta Stage Company debuted David Hays's adaptation of the literary masterpiece Let Us Now Praise Famous Men at The Chester Meeting House.  Director, David Hays, photo by Erik K. Johnson, theartofseeing.com In staging this iconic journal, Hays's goal, both as director and writer, was to make the daunting hardships tenant farmers endured during the Great Depression resonate viscerally. Theatergoers were transported back to 1936 Alabama where they witnessed a sharecropping family's story unfold. Actors in tattered clothing played upon a stark set surrounded by Walker Evans' powerful black and white images.   Audiences applauded Margreta Stage for producing "a bold evening of theater," calling the piece " intelligent," "moving" and "a work of art." In turn, we applaud the director, cast and crew. Margreta Stage wishes to thank all of you who spent the evening with us. And we extend a special thanks to the volunteers who helped make the production a resounding success. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee and Walker Evans. Copyright © 1939, 1940 by James Agee, Copyright © 1941 by James Agee and Walker Evans, Copyright renewed © 1969 by Mia Fritsch Agee and Walker Evans, text used electronically with permission of The Wylie Agency LLC. Actor Party Join us Thursday, June 24! If you missed our last party, you missed a terrific evening!  Lots of new faces joined in the fun. We heard some great readings from new plays as well as old, including Arthur Miller's comedy, Creation of the World.  The next Actor Party will be held Thursday, June 24 at 6:30 at our studio in Essex.  Bring your favorite tidbits to pass and your preferred beverage. Remember, everyone is welcome and we encourage new theater artists to get involved in our growing company. If you have a short piece you'd like to direct, or a monologue or scene you'd like to try out, please let us know by emailing us:  office@margretastage.org. Or call us at (860) 767-8943. MSC Studio Photo by Erik K. Johnson, theartofseeing.com Spring/Summer 2010 Spring Acting Workout Meeting on Saturdays in May and June, this class provides a real  "workout" for the actor. The class will include, but not be limited to, work on sense memory, emotional memory, improvisation, objectives, obstacles and circumstances. Margreta Stage's own Kevin Spedding will teach the class. Date:   Five Saturdays: May 22, June 5 - June 26 Time:   10:00 am - 12:00 pm  Place:  Margreta Stage Studio in Essex Cost:    $20.00 per class   Summer Acting Workshop for Young Adults Ages 12 - 17 Instructor Kevin Spedding will conduct two, week-long acting workshops for teenagers. In each five-day workshop the students, grouped according to age, will explore the techniques used to create an honest portrayal of a character on stage. Both beginning and experienced young actors will learn the value of relaxation, concentration and imagination through exercises and scene work performed in a safe, open-minded and non-judgmental environment.   Dates:  July 19 - July 23 or July 26 - July 30 Time:   10:00 am - 12:30 pm Place:  Classes will be held in Essex Cost:    $125.00 per workshop   For inquiries, please call (860) 767-8943 or email office@margretastage.org. Jeanie Rapp The Director's Corner Dear Friends,    Spring is here and with it lots of new growth in the company to share with you. It is your interest that makes us bloom.   We have designed this newsletter both to keep you in the loop and to offer opportunities for your participation. In this and future issues, you will find information on recent or upcoming performances, special events, actor parties, studio programs or projects, and company member news. Another way to stay connected: our constantly evolving website, margretastage.org. You may enjoy viewing two recently posted slideshows - one showing the cast and crew in rehearsal for ...Famous Men; another of a recent MSC Studio  Acting Class. What do I love most about our company? The fusion of new talent and experienced professionals. The enthusiasm of theater artists, audiences, patrons, and volunteers. The creativity discovered in our small corner of the world that produces world-class theater. Be a part of it. Help us grow. Jeanie Rapp, Artistic Director         Our Company Members at Work Todd Little performs in Westerly, RI, in the Granite Theatre's production of The Ladies Man. The show runs April 23 - May 16. To purchase tickets call (401) 596-2341.   Jessica Nevins appears in CONCORA On the Town! Sunday May 9, 7:30 pm at TheaterWorks in Hartford. The cabaret ensemble will present Sing Out, Louise! - a spin-off of TheaterWorks' production of Stephen Temperley's Souvenir. Tickets may ordered by calling (860) 224-7500 or at: www.concora.org. Jack Nevins sang and danced in John Winthrop's production of Oklahoma on April 23 - 24 at Deep River's middle school.   Suzanne McCormack  enlivened the role of Mrs. Bennett in the Flock Theater and the New London County Historical Society's presentation of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. The show ran April 6 -12 in the Shaw Mansion.   Ed Wilhelms directs David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole for the Chester Meeting House Players. The cast includes Rayah Martin.  Rabbit Hole runs April 30 and May 1, 7 - 8, 14 - 15.  For tickets call (860) 526-3684. Kevin Spedding performed in an acting workshop showcase at Hartford Stage on April 12. It was an evening for actors from The Complete Actor class at Hartford Stage to present their work. Nick Pollifrone directs Keith Bunin's The Credeaux Canvas at the Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain, CT. Auditions are June 6 - 7 at 7:00 pm. Seeking two Men (20's - 30's) and two women (20's - 40's). Actors will read from the script.  Please call Nick at (203) 927-0848 with any questions.   Marc Deaton, American operatic tenor, performs works by Barber, Bernstein, Copland, Faure, Puccini, Strauss and Wagner on Friday, May 14 at 7:00 pm at the Andrews Memorial Town Hall in Clinton. A reception follows the concert. For more information:  info@marcdeaton.com.   Don't miss Alden Murphy as Aunt Abby and Kevin Spedding in the role of Officer O'Hara in the Ivoryton Playhouse production of Arsenic and Old Lace, from June 9 - 27.  For tickets call:   (860) 767-7318 or visit www.IvorytonPlayhouse.org   Nancy Richardson and David Cardone are engaged to be married! Congratulations from MSC!   Please continue to send us any news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects.