WinterNewsletter

If you have visited the Playhouse over the past month, you have seen that, well, the joint has been abuzz with activity. The first two weekends of March witnessed the performances of Almost Maine. Kudos to Director Dom Degnon and a wonderful and talented cast and crew for bringing a romantic, whimsical entertainment to life.

Of course, rehearsals in the rehearsal hall and north mezzanine area for our Spring musical, Guys and Dolls, have been going on since February, and while many in the cast are now speaking in "Runyon" sentences, all indications are that the final results will be anything but "snake-eyes."

Over the weekend of March 27-28, our friends at the Dorset Theatre Festival conducted open auditions for its upcoming season. A week ago, DTF’s new Artistic Director, Dina Janis, graciously invited the Players Board to her home in Dorset to discuss the many ways the two organizations can work closely to benefit one another.

On April 23, Dom Degnon, who has worn many hats over the past few seasons, will give a slide presentation of his solo circumnavigation of the globe in a small schooner many moons ago. The evening is part of a continuing effort to raise funds to meet our considerable operating expenses. And speaking of expenses, just how are we doing? A mild winter has helped - we can now anticipate that total propane expenditures for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, will be approximately
$8,500.00, far below the $15,000.00 paid in 2008-2009 and budgeted for this season. Also, the very tough decisions to charge a participation fee for the Missoula production and to require all cast members of Players’ productions to join the Players’ formal ranks have borne fruit. In sum, we still face a deficit this season, but not quite as painful as once envisioned.

As stated in my recent letter to the members, there is still much that needs to be accomplished to put our financial house in order. Also, three members of the Board are stepping down after years of service, namely, Production Co-chair Kathy Penge, Treasurer Joanne Beck and me. While Kathy, Joanne and I are not moving to Montana and certainly anticipate remaining involved with the Players, it is important to inject new blood into our Board. Contact Office Manager Sheila Conway at 867-5570 if you are interested in serving on the Board, or want to help in other ways.

Bill Aupperlee
Paul Michael Brinker
The Chandler Family
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Childs, Jr.
Richard Cole
Erika Coolidge
Don DiChiara
Anne D’Olivo
Carrie Dopkins
Ruth H. Dowden
Garry DuFour
Tom Ferguson
William Ferrone
Cord Grabarz
Corey Hazelton

It is a tradition that before each show, the director says a few words of welcome to the audience, while standing in the "Maxine Schner" spot. For many years, the Players also have sponsored a Maxine Schner scholarship to seniors at BBA and Long Trail.
Who was Maxine Schner? Maxine was a former President of the Dorset Players, who produced countless shows. She held play reading committee meetings over tea at her home in Manchester Village. I understood that once, she had understudied for Jeanette MacDonald on Broadway. She made her last acting appearance with the Players in 1988's Cole but introduced all of the plays for many, many years after that. The opening spotlight speech before each show always began with "Good evening. I'm Maxine Schner." Maxine had standards, and she let you know about them, too. She would not brook less than 100% effort. Her message to all, sometimes delivered bluntly, was that all of the details do matter. If we care enough, the theatre can be an experience that transports us and transcends our daily lives of quiet desperation. That's what we choose to remember about Maxine, a real grande dame.

Ron Nagle
Caroline Parker
Amaia Perta
Christopher Restino
Brad Ring
Melissa Runnels
Patrick Schelle
William Sease
Jack Sleigh
Sarah Solari
Basia Sowulewska
Karol Sowulewski
Elizabeth Winters
Frances Yackel

Our workhorse office manager, Sheila Conway could not do all she does without the help of dedicated members who volunteer
their time. This winter Barbara Trafford has helped out in the business office, which is now better organized than ever!
Barbara’s long career in community theater began in 1953-54 when she and her husband did summer stock in Troy. Barbara says her lead role in Peg ’O’ My Heart “scared me to death” but it prepared her to appear next in Playboy of the Western World, another Irish role. In 1954, Barbara moved with her husband, a cultural attaché, to Europe, where her children were born. In 1960, the family returned to the Washington area and Barbara became active in the Little Theater of Alexandria, along with two of her children, Peter and Barbara Langstaff. Later, she and Peter joined The Shakespeare Society of Washington and did two plays, including Richard III in which she was Queen Elizabeth and Peter was the young Duke of York and later the ghost. In 1969, Barbara moved to Vermont with her children. She says she was too busy raising her children and opening a real estate agency and then an art supply shore to take up theater until 1995, when she joined The Dorset Players. Barbara has acted, directed, stage managed, handled props, and worked the box office. Most recently she was assistant stage manager in last season’s The Secret Garden. In September 2009, Barbara produced a musical revue, which was a highly successful fundraiser for the Players. Thanks, Barbara, for all you do!