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!

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.



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.



Let Us Now Praise Famous Men opens March 26 at the  Chester Meeting House.

David Hays, whose captivating stage design for the box office success Wild Black Yonder, is adding director to his impressive resume. He has adapted and will direct a staged reading of James Agee’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, an honest and sometimes heart wrenching examination of the life of Alabama Sharecroppers in the 1930s. David, who was given the book 60 years ago said, “the tragedy of people ‘caught’ has haunted me since first reading it. What we are attempting with this production is a form that is often musical in the rhythm, repetition and overlap of language.” This reading promises to be a riveting evening of theater in our continued series of new play readings. The cast will feature Scotty Bloch, Jeanie Rapp, Ron Brennan, Eileen Flaherty, Jason Naylor, Jack Nevins, and Kevin Spedding. Performances will take place on Friday, March 26 andSaturday, March 27 at 8pm and on Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $20.00 at the door and can be reserved by calling 860-767-8943.  And as always, complimentary refreshments will be served after each performance.

Margreta Stage Actor Party

Our Next Actor Party is Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30pm. It will be held at our Studio at  26 Plains Rd. , Essex. Mark it on your calendar as we will be reading some new plays as well as a few scenes from old standards. As always please bring your favorite tidbits to share and your preferred beverage. Remember everyone is welcome and we always encourage new theater artists to get involved in our growing company. The Actor Party is a place where we gather and share short pieces of theater. If you have a short piece you’d like to direct, or a monologue or scene you’d like to read, please let us know by emailing us: office@margretastage.org

Company News – New E-Mail Address:

Meeting on Saturdays in May and June this class provides a “workout” for the actor. This class will include, but not be limited to work on sense memory, emotional memory, improvisation, objectives, obstacles and circumstances. This class will be taught by Margreta Stage’s own Kevin Spedding. 

The class meets five Saturdays: May 22, June 5 - June 26 from 10am to 12pmin  Essex .  $20 per class.

To register call 860-767-8943 or email us at:  margretastage.org

Summer

Acting Workshop for Young Adults

Instructor Kevin Spedding is offering two week-long acting workshops for teenagers. In each five-day workshop the students will be grouped according to age and 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. 

Workshops will be held July 19 - July 23 or July 26 - July 30 from 10:00am – 12:30pm.  Classes will be held in  Essex and are appropriate for ages 12 – 17. Cost is $125.00 per workshop.  

To register call 860-767-8943 or email us at:  margretastage.org

Please continue to send us any news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects. I hope to see you all at Let Us Now Praise Famous Men so together we can celebrate the kick-off to our 2010 New Playreading Series.

Jeanie Rapp

Margreta Stage News

The New Year Brings A New Season

Happy New Year to all our MSC family. And what a year we have planned. The year starts off in full swing with new acting classes for young people ages 10 to 17. Both Ed Wilhelms and Getchie Argetsinger are back teaching a variety of techniques to the young people in and outside our company. Jeanie Rapp will again hold her acting class for adults over a six week schedule starting in March. If you haven’t taken one of her classes here is another chance to get bit by the acting bug.  Jeanie teaches using a variety of acting exercises and scene study to help the actor, beginner or advanced, hone their skills. These classes will fill up quickly so to learn more go to  www.margretastage.org.

In 2010 we plan to continue our commitment to new works for the theater with: New Plays: A Margreta Stage Reading Series. We are currently reading some wonderful new plays and will be announcing our first play reading soon. Stay tuned for when the New Plays Series will kickoff.

MSC is off and running as we read plays, brainstorm and collaborate with our theater friends looking for the next project that would be a perfect reading or main stage production. Our website is also growing and a new blog will soon be launched. There are so many things to be excited about. As always the website will serve as your link to find out what is happening at Margreta Stage.  Check it out if you haven’t already, www.margretastage.org.

Margreta Stage Actor Party

Our Next Actor Party is Wednesday, February 10 at 6:30 pm.  It will be held at our Studio at 26 Plains Rd., Essex. Mark it on your calendar as we will be reading some new plays as well as a few scenes from old standards. As always please bring your favorite tidbits to pass and your preferred beverage. Remember everyone is welcome and we always encourage new theater artists to get involved in our growing company. If you’re new to the company, the Actor Party is a place where we gather and share short pieces of theater. If you have a short piece you’d like to direct, or a monologue or scene you’d like to prepare, please let us know by emailing us:  office@margretastage.org

Company News – New E-Mail Address:

You can now e-mail us directly:  office@margretastage.org

Margreta Stage Studio Announces 2010 Winter/Spring Classes

Story Theatre Workshop for Young Actors (Ages 10 - 13)

Taught by actress/storyteller Getchie Argetsinger, this workshop is an introduction to the art of theater, touching on basic acting disciplines and performance skills with an emphasis on fun and spontaneity. In this session, the children learn a story, stage it and then act it out in Story Theatre fashion in front of an audience. In the workshop, the children play theater games with Getchie and develop the story through improvisation.

The workshop runs:

Sunday, February 14

1pm to 5pm at The Deep River Historical Society

245 Main St., Deep River

Cost: $50

Acting Winter Workshop for Teenagers (Ages 13 -17)

This three-day acting workshop is taught by Ed Wilhelms. It is designed for both beginners and experienced actors with a focus on bringing truthfulness and deeper understanding to the work of a young actor. Teenagers will learn the basic requirements of acting technique.

The three-day workshop runs:

Monday, February 15 - Wednesday, February 17

2:00 pm - 4:30pm in Old Saybrook

Cost:   $115

Acting Class for Adults. 

Designed for actors at all levels. Taught by MSC Artistic Director, Jeanie Rapp, this six week workshop explores text and spontaneity through scene study and acting exercises. Working with a partner in scenes from plays is the actor’s drawing board – beginners build the basics of technique and experienced actors build on and improve their skills. Jeanie’s acting exercises are fun and freeing and help the actor stay grounded in his body and connected to his voice.  

 This six-week workshop will be held:

 March 1st - April 5 in Essex

 Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.

 Cost:   $170. 

For all inquiries please call (860) 767-8943 or email office@margretastage.org

Company Members at Work

Ed Wilhelms will be directing “Rabbit Hole” for The Chester Meeting House Players’ Spring production. Audition dates to be announced soon.

Ira Sakolsky is off and riding again on The Essex Steam Train with two productions. The first is a New Murder Mystery titled “The Band Slays On,” written by Ira Sakolsky and Anna Trusky, directed and produced by Ira Sakolsky,  playing 9 Friday evenings through July & August. Todd Little and Chris Brown are featured in the promo pix at www.essexsteamtrain.com. And something new for the Essex Steam Train, a Halloween show “Fright Train” to be developed and directed by Ira for 12 shows, two weekends, Oct. 22-24 and Oct. 29-31 at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat.

Getchie Argetsinger is part of a new writer’s group in New York City called Vintage Voices. The group was formed to "grow writers for the theater.”

Chris Brown & Robin Fox are appearing in Comedy On Demand’s dinner theater comedy show at The Gelston House on February 26. The food and fun will happen in the historic Gelston House’s spacious main dining room overlooking the scenic Connecticut River. The evening will begin at 6:00 pm with a rib-tickling dinner you select from a varied menu of tasty Winter Specials, followed by an 8:00 pm show that’s sure to tickle your funny bone! Tickets for the show are a bargain-hunter’s delight at $8, which will be added to the cost of your meal. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly recommended.The show will consist of Comedy On Demand’s zany improvisational comedy, in which the troupe creates sidesplitting bits and skits on the spot based on audience suggestions. The Gelston House is located at 8 Main Street (Route 82) in East Haddam, next door to the Goodspeed Opera House. For directions and reservations, please call (860) 873-1411.

Ginny Wolf is appearing at Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain from Jan 22 through Feb 20. She is in two of the four funny pieces from the show "Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln.”

Bravo to Warren Kelley who appeared in “It's A Wonderful Life” at Riverside Theatre in Florida in December. 

Cheers to Joell Jacob who rocked The Kate in January with "Wine, Women and Music" produced by The Small Town Concert Series and then again in “Women Diggin’ Dylan” at The Ivoryton Playhouse.

Please continue to send us any news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Jeanie Rapp

Margreta Stage’s production of Wild Black Yonder at The Kate in Old Saybrook played to sell out crowds for its entire run. The much anticipated play by Lary Bloom placed audiences in a jungle setting complete with bamboo and the sounds of helicopters and crickets.

The songs of the 60’s and 70’s played on their memories as they watched the story of Janet, an air force widow stuck in the past, unfold on the set created by legendary Broadway and Balanchine designer David Hays. Cast members included Margreta’s own Wil Bradford, Ira Sakolsky, Joell A. Jacob, Alva Greenberg, stage newcomer Janet Peckinpaugh and the company’s newest member from NYC, Kevin Michael Johnson. Jeanie Rapp, who directed the cast to standing ovations said of the production, “this play has taken Margreta Stage to new heights – we grew our audience from the small town theater goer to across the state from as far away as Fairfield to Groton, and our company continues to gather new members in both the acting and technical sides…we are excited at the prospects for the future of this company.” To read more about the play and see a slide show of the opening night reception go to www.margretastage.org.

Margreta Stage Actor Party

Our Next Actor Party will be held on Monday, December 14^th at 6:30 pm.  It will be held at The Carriage House in back of the Deep River Historical Society 245 Main Street in Deep River, CT. Mark it on your calendar and save the date to celebrate the holidays with friends and fellow company members.  We’ll definitely eat, drink and be merry…so bring your favorite holiday tidbits to pass and a favorite piece of theater to share. Holiday poems and stories are welcome, but our festive Actor Party tradition isn’t limited to the season so please bring whatever you like…no holds barred…it’s a party! Remember everyone is welcome and we always encourage new theater artists to get involved in our growing company. If you’re new to the company, the Actor Party is a place where we gather and share short pieces of theater such as monologues and scenes. If you have a short piece you’d like to direct, or a monologue or scene you’d like to prepare, please let us know by emailing us:  office@margretastage.org

Company News – New E-Mail Address:

You can now e-mail us directly:  office@margretastage.org

Margreta Stage Studio Announces 2010 Winter/Spring Classes

Acting Winter Workshop for Teenagers (Ages 13 -17)

This three-day acting workshop is taught by Ed Wilhelms. It is designed for both beginners and experienced actors with a focus on bringing truthfulness and deeper understanding to the work of a young actor. Teenagers will learn the basic requirements of acting technique.

The three-day workshop runs:

Monday, February 15 - Wednesday, February 17

2:00 pm - 4:30pm in Old Saybrook

Cost:   $115

Acting Class for Adults. 

Designed for actors at all levels. Taught by MSC Artistic Director, Jeanie Rapp, this six week workshop explores text and spontaneity through scene study and acting exercises. Working with a partner in scenes from plays is the actor’s drawing board – beginners build the basics of technique and experienced actors build on and improve their skills. Jeanie’s acting exercises are fun and freeing and help the actor stay grounded in his body and connected to his voice.  

 This six-week workshop will be held:

 March 1st - April 5 in Essex

 Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.

 Cost:   $170. 

For all inquiries please call (860) 767-8943 or email office@margretastage.org

Company Members at Work

Amy Forbes just finished a successful run in the musical Jerry’s Girls at the Ivoryton Playhouse.  

Ira Sakolsky of Riverway Studio along with the Essex Steam Train present the season’s popular North Pole Express.  Elijah Manning and Beth Avery are also in the cast.  Go to valley.railroad@snet.net for tickets and information.

Please continue to send us any news so we can share your work and help promote local theater projects.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Jeanie Rapp

Margreta Stage Company of Essex Connecticut is holding auditions for the world premiere production of Wild Black Yonder a new play by local author and playwright Lary Bloom. This will be a full production presented at “The Kate” (The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center) in Old Saybrook November 12^th through the 15^th.

Auditions for both Equity and non-Equity performers will be held on Wednesday Aug. 19 and Thursday Aug. 20 from 6 to 9 PM at the Margreta Stage Studio in Essex Connecticut. Equity members will be on a Guest Artist contract. Non-Equity will be paid a small stipend.

The auditions will be by appointment only.  Interested parties should call the Margreta Stage office at 860-767-8943 to schedule an appointment.  Please prepare a two minute dramatic monologue and have available a resume and head shot.

Wild Black Yonder takes place today in California.

Auditions will be for the following roles:

Lenny – Mid-60’s, Jewish, career newspaper reporter and struggling writer from Cleveland. Also a Vietnam veteran attempting to find meaning from that war in a new book of non-fiction featuring Janet.

Janet – 60ish, Vietnam War widow who has yet to remarry. At one time a beauty, less so now. Grew up in Ohio, and converted to Judaism to marry Adam. Became a lawyer after her husband went MIA. Now lives in California with Edgar, and generally avoids life as best she can.  After 40 years, she still believes her husband is alive.

Edgar – 60ish, college professor of history, wine connoisseur, lives with Janet and has proposed marriage to her several times, only to be turned down.  

Adam – 20’s, Janet’s husband that we see in flash backs. Outgoing, Jewish, Air Force Officer, jet fighter navigator in Vietnam flying secret missions. We see Adam as he records cassette tapes as letters to his wife in the US.

Michelle – 20’s, Vietnamese-American, but total California girl. She is a waitress at a sushi fusion restaurant to put herself through law school. She is smart and witty. Her parents were refugees to the US, but they never talk about the past. Michelle waits on Lenny in the restaurant, and Lenny can tell she is of Vietnamese descent. He questions her as part of his research.

TBD Rehearsal schedule will begin on September 28^th.

Wild Black Yonder
A new play by Lary Bloom

Directed by
Jeanie Rapp

November 12, 13, 14 at 8:00 P.M.
At “The Kate” in Old Saybrook

Tickets $25 at The Kate Box Office 860-510-0453

www.KatharineHepburnTheater.org
www.MargretaStage.org