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The Community Players of Salisbury President’s Message Greetings and welcome to the final show of this year’s season, Laughing Stock directed by Sharon Benchoff and Ernie Matthews. Although this is a relatively new show, I am quite certain you will consider it one of your favorites. The Community Players of Salisbury is very fortunate to have so many talented individuals to be able to bring you quality local theatre. It is our goal to bring you the best possible productions we can. To all our advertisers, patrons, season ticket holders and friends, we sincerely hope you will continue your support and love of the theatre. If we can do anything to make your experience more enjoyable, please let us know. Thank you for coming!
Officers President ...................................Sherri Trader-Hynes Vice-President................................. Becky Mumford Corresponding Secretary................ Rusty Mumford Recording Secretary ..............................Cindy Gore Treasurer ............................................Charles Linton Immediate Past President ..................Don Atkinson Board of Directors Carol Alex David Allen Sharon Benchoff Kathy Panchyk Ken Johnson Susan Robinson Susan Rogers Standing Committees Advertising.............................................. David Allen Box Office ...................................................John Alex Concessions .........................................Brenda Allen Fund Raising..................................... Rusty Mumford Historical............................................ Bonnie Bosies Hospitality........................................ Debbie Dawson House ........................................................Carol Alex Maintenance ..........................................Lester Huss Membership......................................... Brenda Allen Nominations ....................................Pat Oberholtzer Patrons ...........................................Ernest Matthews Program ..........David Allen and David Oberholtzer Production ................................................Carol Alex Publicity ..........................Kristi Toadvine VanMeter Scholarship ......................................Rusty Mumford Season Tickets .............................Ernest Matthews
203rd 68th Production Year Presents Laughing Stock By Charles Morey
Directed by Sharon Benchoff And Ernie Matthews Guerrieri Hall Auditorium at Wor-Wic Community College June 16, 17, and 23, 24, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. June 18 and 25, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc This production was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council, awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
CAST (In order of appearance) Gordon Page............................ Ken JohnsonJack Morris .................................. Tom HamillSusannah Huntsmen............. Brenna ShevlinMary Pierre ...............................Jaclyn WalterTyler Taylor ....................................Tim DykesVernon Volker .............................. Jack LynchRichfield Hawksley...... Warren BloodsworthDaisy Coates ........................... Mary StarnesCraig Conlin............................. Edgar IsaacsSarah McKay ...........................Lisa RobbinsHenry Mills ........................Michael RippetoeKarma Schneider.................... Katy LikovichBraun Oakes............................ Alex SchriderIan Milliken ............................ Corey Johnson
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
The action of the play takes place in and around the New England summer stock barn theatre known as The Playhouse except for one scene at a New York city audition studio. The time is from February to Labor Day of a recent year. Act I
Scene 1: The Playhouse barn theater. A winter night in February. Scene 2: A New York City audition studio. Sometime in May. Scene 3: In The Playhouse on stage. The beginning of June. Scene 4: Dracula rehearsal in The Playhouse. The next week. Scenes 5 & 6: Charley’s Aunt rehearsal in The Playhouse. The next day. Scenes 7 & 8: Rehearsals in The Playhouse. The next day. Scene 9: In The Playhouse. Late that night. 15 Minute Intermission You’re invited to visit the refreshment stand in the lobby during intermission. Act II
Scene 1: In The Playhouse. A few weeks later. Scene 2: Dracula performance in The Playhouse. That evening. Scene 3: In The Playhouse. A few hours later. Scene 4: Backstage during Hamlet performance The Playhouse The next week. Scene 5: The Playhouse. Labor Day. Please do not take flash photographs during our performance, and please turn all cell phones and pagers off or to vibrate only. PRODUCTION STAFF Producer ............................................................................................. Carol AlexStage Manager ................................................................................... Kel NagelSet Designers ......................................Sharon Benchoff and Ernie MatthewsLighting Design and Special Effects .....Gary Finley and Travis ComegysSound ...............................................................Tom Robinson and Kim MasonProps Coordinator ........................................................................Joanne LittleCostumes ............................................................................................Carol AlexSet Construction ....................Terri Thornton, David Allen, Sharon Benchoff,Ernie Matthews, Dwayne Mears, Corey Johnson Becky McNeill, Ed Isaacs, Edison Hawkins, and Mary Veise Publicity .................................................................... Kristi Toadvine VanMeterLogo Design & Poster ...Terri Thornton, Ernie Matthews, Sharon BenchoffProgram .................................................................. David and Pat OberholtzerT-Shirts and Cast Party ..................................................................Carol AlexACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cactus Taverna Joe Andrews – Sign-Age Jones and Dryden Truck and Car Rental O’Neal’s Antiques Salisbury – Wicomico Arts Council Wor-Wic Community College Access 26 The Daily Times Mike and Sandi at Q105 WBOC-TV WMDT-TV WICO – Cat Country As in every production, there are individuals who have come to our aid and unfortunately are not mentioned in the program. We want to thank them and everyone who made this production possible. The Community Players have been saddened by the passing of Jim Phillips on May 22, 2006. His voice enhanced many of our musicals; we shall miss that and his good humor.
WHO’S WHO Sharon Benchoff (Co-Director) Sharon received her BA in Theatre under the tutelage of Dr. Leland Starnes at Salisbury State. While there, she provided the lighting and set construction for well over a score of productions. She later served as Technical Director of the Salisbury State Summer Theatre program. For Players, Sharon is best known for her lighting design of 1776, Our Town, The Rainmaker, Wizard of Oz and more recently Footloose. She was the director for Noises Off and An Inspector Calls.Ernie Matthews (Co-Director) Ernie has been a member of Players since 1987. Seldom seen on stage, his real interest is the challenge of designing and building the sets. He made his directorial debut in 2002 with Lie, Cheat & Genuflect. Ernie is very pleased to be Co-Directing Laughing Stock with fellow director, Sharon Benchoff. Ernie sees this as an opportunity to gain more experience, working with a talented partner, a great cast, and such a delightfully hilarious play. Cast Warren Bloodsworth (Richfield Hawksley) Warren returned to Community Players last winter playing Donald in You Can’t Take it With You. Past plays with Community Players include Blood Sweat and Stanley Poole, Come Blow Your Horn, and Life with Father. Tim Dykes (Tyler Taylor) This is Tim’s second production with Players having performed in Come Blow Your Horn in 1996. He appeared in many Salisbury University productions including, Into the Woods, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1776, Hamlet, and Antigone. Besides theater Tim has also appeared in two independent films written and directed by local playwright John Ebert.Tom Hamill (Jack Morris) Tom is a teacher of English at Snow Hill High School and has been involved with drama for the past ten years. This is his third play with Players performing in How to Succeed at Business without Really Trying and You Can't Take It with You. He is also engaged to fellow player, Amanda Welch. Tom would like to thank the cast and crew of Laughing Stock for making the past two months such a wonderful experience.Edgar Isaacs (Craig Conlin) Ed has appeared in the Players productions of You Can’t Take it With You, The Mouse That Roared, and Meet Me In St. Louis. He has worked behind the scenes helping with set construction and strike for several shows. Ed is a volunteer announcer at WSCL.Corey Johnson (Ian Milliken) This is Corey’s debut with Players. He recently graduated from Wicomico High School and will be attending Wor-Wic in the fall. Sharon and Ernie are the best (and only) directors he has every worked with. KIBs rule.Ken Johnson (Gordon Page) Laughing Stock will mark Ken’s 55th production with the Players. His numerous shows include The Wizard of Oz, How to Succeed, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and most recently Footloose. He also directed last season’s Don’t Drink the Water. He would like to thank his family and Brenna for putting up with this "acting thing".Katy Likovich (Karma Schneider) This is Katy’s fifth show with Players, previously having been in Meet Me in St. Louis, Little Women, A Christmas Carol and The Wizard of Oz.. Katy is a student at Wor-Wic. Katy would like to thank her wonderful directors, fellow cast members, her parents for their unwavering support, her brother and sister for being her best audience, and her friends for making her laugh and keeping her sane.Jack Lynch (Vernon Volker) Jack is a thrilled to return to the Players in, perhaps, the funniest and craziest play, he has ever been in. He performed in or directed Our Town, Annie, Hello Dolly, My Three Angels, and Love, Sex and the IRS. He wants to thank a wonderful, talented cast and directing team for this great experience.Michael Rippetoe (Henry Mills) This is Mike’s debut with Players. Most recently he performed in Wor-Wic's The Wedding: or How it Came to Be! which he directed and Happily Never After. He performed with the Baltimore Shakespeare Troupe’s Harbor productions for 8 seasons in the roles that included Hamlet and Romeo. In High School, he wrote and directed several one act plays, three major two act plays and two musicals. He is currently an active member of the International Thespian Society. My last words are: "Down with the Ritalin...Open the curtain!"Lisa Robbins (Sarah McKay) Lisa has been performing with Players since 1985. She was seen in Hello Dolly, Steel Magnolias, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, and How to Succeed in Business. She made her directing debut for Players last fall with the musical Footloose. She worked in many Television productions including The West Wing, The District, HBO’S The Wire, Hack, America’s Most Wanted and Top Cops. She appeared in a music video for the band Audio Slave. Her film credits include, National Treasure and Manchurian Candidate.Alex Schrider (Braun Oakes) This will be Alex’s second show with Players having previously appeared in Footloose. He just graduated from high school and will attend Wor-Wic in the fall.Brenna Shevlin (Susannah Huntsmen) This is Brenna’s fourth show with Players including How to Succeed, Don’t Drink the Water and Footloose. Thank you to Sharon and Ernie for giving her the opportunity to "direct" her first show. Thanks to the cast for some very entertaining rehearsals, to Kenny for being Kenny and always, God for giving her the talent she has. Hi Mom!Mary Starnes (Daisy Coates) Mary Starnes has served on the Board of Directors and on the Production Committee. She has also appeared in several Community Players productions, including Life with Father, Night of January 16th, On Golden Pond and It’s Never Too Late.Jaclyn Walter (Mary Pierre) Jackie is a junior at Salisbury University majoring in theatre. She has been in a number of SU productions, including Antigone, Once Upon a Mattress, A Little Night Music and The Boyfriend. After finishing her degree in theatre at SU, she plans to pursue a Master's in acting. She is thrilled to be working with the Community Players again.
Crew David Allen (Special Effects) David started in players in the fall of 1993 helping with lights in Oklahoma! Since then he has worked in every show Players has produced. Once or twice on stage but usually behind the scenes. He has been president and is now a board member again. He also works with Salisbury School, ESBT, Childrens Theater of Delmarva, Salisbury Dance Studio, Footsteps, Seaside and Magi. Travis Comegys (Lighting Design) Laughing Stock marks Travis’ first time as lighting designer for Community Players. For the past six years or so he has been a backstage technician. Travis has done extensive work at Stephen Decatur High School as the lighting technician for drama productions, Battle of the Bands and various touring companies. Gary Finley (Lighting & Special effects) Gary has been lighting numerous shows for Wor-Wic Community College for about five or six years including Lizzie Borden and the annual Dessert Theater and Variety Shows. For Players he has lighted You Can't Take It With You, An Inspector Calls, and Bell, Book, and Candle. Kim Mason (Sound) Kim has assisted backstage with sound for Community Players productions of Godspell, Wizard of Oz, Meet Me In St. Louis, You Can’t Take It With You, and Footloose and Salisbury School’s South Pacific, Oliver, Oklahoma and Sound of Music. Kim has also been involved with sound for many years with Christ UM Church. Kel Nagel (Stage Manager) Kel has appeared in numerous Players productions since his 1996 debut as Big Jule's bodyguard in Guys and Dolls. He was last seen as Wally Womper in How to Succeed and as the Ambassador and the Sultan in Don't Drink The Water last season. Other favorite roles include Charlie Cowell in "Music Man," Blessington in "Solid Gold Cadillac" and Uncle Henri in My Three Angels. Kel directed You Can't Take It With You in 2005, and will direct Harvey next season. Tom Robinson (Sound & Special Effects) Tom is Director of Technical Ministries for Christ UM Church. For Community Players he has been both on stage and behind the scenes. He was in the chorus for Hello Dolly and The Wizard of Oz and played Mr. Smith in Meet Me In St. Louis. Tom was in charge of special effects for The Wizard of Oz and You Can’t Take It With You and sound for Godspell, A Christmas Carol, How To Succeed in Business, Don’t Drink the Water, and Footloose. He has been in charge of sound for Salisbury School’s productions of South Pacific, Oliver, Oklahoma! and Sound of Music. Terri Thornton (Set Chief) Terri has been with Community Players for about 3 years. She has assisted in the construction of 10 stage sets including Bell, Book and Candle where she also served as set chief. She also lends her other talents in Graphic Design, helping design show posters, including the one for Laughing Stock, as well as props for many shows. She prefers the magic of the backstage to that of the spotlight and can relate to a lot of what goes on in this hilarious play.
The Playhouse presents DRACUL Prince of the Undead By Gordon Page CAST Van Helsing .............................Richfield Hawksley Jonathan Harker ..................................Jack Morris Dr. Seward .......................................Vernon Volker Mina Seward......................................... Mary Pierre Dracul, Prince of the Undead ..........Tyler Taylor Peasant Women/Bride ...................Daisy Coates Peasant Women/Bride ....Susannah Huntsmen Peasant Women/Bride........... Karma Schnieder Workman ...........................................Braun Oakes
DIRECTORS’ MESSAGES Every once in a while, a script comes along that makes you say, "I’ve got to direct this". Laughing Stock is that type of script. Two years ago, Charles Morey, the playwright, sent Ernie the manuscript. Ernie had me read it with the hope that I would think it as funny as he did. Ernie was correct. We knew this would be the perfect show for us and for Community Players. With a background in technical theatre, I have been through the audacious auditions, runaway rehearsals and problematic performances. But believe me; you don’t have to have a career in theatre to appreciate the quick wit and broad humor of Laughing Stock. This exceptional cast and crew have made me remember why I love theatre and I know they will make you glad that you shared a couple of hours with us today. Please sit back, relax and have a great time. I know I did. SharonLaughing Stock is a delightfully funny way to end our 2005-2006 season. We read the script about two years ago and then had the pleasure of seeing this play at the Peterborough Players barn theater in New Hampshire in July of 2004. Sharon and I absolutely loved it, and quickly decided to put it on the list of plays for future consideration. To our delight it was chosen for 2005-2006. Anyone who has ever experienced Summer Stock Theater or has been a part of a theater troupe can relate to this play. The author, Charles Morey, has expertly and cleverly captured, in this play, the essence of what can go wrong will go wrong while still showing us the affection and bonds that are created among the actors. ErnieWe would also like to share with you a quote from the author’s note in the script. "Everyone in the theatre has their own "Playhouse" The place where there was never enough of anything: time, staff, money, and sometimes simply not enough talent or skill; where sometimes the doors fell off their hinges, the sound cues ran backwards and the occasional entrance was missed — but where you gave yourself over wholly to the making of plays, to telling stories in the dark on a summer night — and along the way made a little family as well for a few months. It is those places, and especially those people, this play celebrates. I hope what finally comes through Laughing Stock is a genuine affection and respect for those mostly honorable and sometimes inspired fools who inhabit this profession." (Charles Morey, 2005) Upcoming Events
Children’s Theatre Workshop July 17 – 28, 2006 For Boys and Girls 7 through 13
2006-2007 SHOWs
Cole Porter’s Anything Goes Directed by Rusty Mumford At Wicomico Senior High School Auditorium November 3, 4 and 5, 2006 Harvey Directed by Kel Nagel At Wor-Wic Community College Late February/ Early March 2007 The Fantasticks Directed by Robert Forester At Wor-Wic Community College June 2007
PATRONS 2005-2006 Guardians Dr. Lynne Everett Kel and Debbie Nagel Tom and Susan Robinson In Memory of Mary E. Spencer Benefactors Barbara S. Hanson - Dance Unlimited Pat and Rod Layton Fred G. and Clara S. Livingood MSC/ Mail Movers Mrs. Harry L. Palmer Carol and Ed Prager Angels John B. and Sandra Atkins Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bloodsworth Andy and Marilyn Booth Lloyd and Alice Foard Mr. and Mrs. Gordon D Gladden Paul Klaverweiden and Michael T. Williams Pepsi of Delmarva Lillian and Lester Simpson Mr. and Mrs. George V. Stroup Barry P. Wilson Donors Fred and Nancy Althaus Ron and Jackie Ayers Ms. Jane W. Bailey Philip and Melody Bankert Ann Marie and Chris Barnes Mrs. Jane S. Buckley Michael and Annette Conger Nina S. Downs Hamilton and Kathleen Fox Julia A Hancock and Edward Fooks Bernice and Irving Herrick Edgar Isaacs Dr. Lewis and Adrianne Kadushin Jack Lynch and Joe Poveromo Elinor H. Lynch Mary Frances Macon Mr. and Mrs. P. Curtis Massey Susanne Morris Marian and David Patterson John and Vickie Pick Tom and Carolyn Plotts Ms. Gerry Schmidlin Josephine E. Smith Lee and Manya Sterner Ann B. Suthowski - In memory of John J. Suthowski Mary and Stephanie Taylor Shirley Thomas Taylor M. William and Francis Tilghman Terri and Chuck Woodward Anonymous Sponsors Carroll Banks Interior Design Barbara Benton Doris V. Hammond Mary-Alice S. Hawkins Alfred C. Huffer Startech Communications Marjorie Poisker Daniel J. Whealton
Friends Monica Anthenelli Merry Widows and Widowers Social Club Elizabeth Betts Marie Calafiura Anne J. Cuomo Bob Fisher Ruth and Fred Handte Eleanor and Robert Hoekstra Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Hutchinson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McEntegart Dorothy P. Moon David and Kathy Outten Mr. Richard Sames Thank You
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