Theatre Workshop unveils 2008 season lineup
BY RAIN HARBISON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Theatre Workshop of Nantucket has announced much of its schedule for the 2008 season. The schedule which is still subject to changes, is as follows:
ROUNDING THIRD
March 13 - 29
Written by Richard Dresser.
Directed by Laura Gallagher Byrne.
Performed upstairs at the Methodist church
This play is about two opposing little league baseball coaches who are at very different stages of their lives. It is not just about baseball, it is about their lives throughout the season. It is a comedy starring Chuck Gifford and Chris Witte. Chuck plays a freeform, freestyle veteran baseball dad, who has been coaching for 10 to 15 years and he has seen many of his own children go through the baseball seasons. Opposite Chuck is Chris Witte the straight laced, uptight, semi - neurotic rookie coach whose son is playing baseball for the first time. The dialog between them is about life, love, kids and baseball.

It is a witty, well written, beautifully delivered story about life that appeals to everyone not just baseball fanatics.
DOUBT
April 17 - May 3
Written by John Patrick Stanley

Directed by Michael J. Feeney
Performed upstairs at the Methodist church
Doubt is a four-time Tony award winner and also a Pulitzer Prize winner. It is a drama with adult content, based in a Catholic church. This play is about a sensitive relationship between a young, troubled African American boy and a priest. The boy does not seem to fit in anywhere, until he becomes an altar boy. The priest takes a great interest in him and provides the only male influence that this boy has. The stoic nun, played by Pam Murphy, is curious about their relationship. She rules the church with an iron fist and through intimidation, while the new priest, played by Ciaran Byrne, is a loving man who makes his decisions based on what his heart tells him.

The Nun accuses the priest of an improper relationship with the boy, even though the boy's mother defends the priest. This play creates doubt in the form of whether their relationship is pure or tainted.

This controversial production was actually approved by the Pope. The Pope wrote a letter saying that he thought this was a very important piece to be done, because it brings in values of people. Reverend Nancy Nelson of the Methodist Church also approves of this play.
SHORT PLAYS FOR KIDS
May 15 - 24
Director to be announced
Performed upstairs at the Methodist church

TWN, with the support of the Nantucket Children's Charity Foundation, will present Short Plays for Kids, a program for school children encompassing the entire artistic process from pen to stage.

The first step is writing the play. All of the plays must be written by children and young people in grades 2-12. TWN Producing Director Joanna Fleischut will visit classes to which she is invited to help start the process. Each play will be based on the same six stock characters and stock setting. Plays may be written by one individual or up to three collaborators. Each play should be of a length to be read aloud in about 15 minutes. The deadline for entries is April 1, 2008.

Six finished plays will be selected for performance. Cash prizes will be awarded to the classes of the winning entrants at each of the elementary, middle and high school levels to be used for class projects and savings bonds will be given to the playwrights.

After the winning plays have been selected, they will be cast in an open casting call open, again, to children and young people in grades 2-12. The winning authors will also have an opportunity to participate in the rehearsal process. .

The plays will performed Friday - Sunday, May 9, 10 and 11 and May 16, 17 and 18.

Admission will be $5 for children and $10 for adults.

For further information or to schedule an appointment for Fleischut to visit a class, call 508-228-9001 or email producing@theatreworkshop.com. Also keep an eye on www.theatreworkshop.com for additional details.
STORY TIME WITH A PRINCESS
June 30, July 7, 14 and 21
Directed, played, propped, costumed and written
by Tiffany Page, Donald Dalaire,
Jessica Cody and Joe Gilmore.
Performed at the Bennett Hall Playhouse
This show was unbelievably popular last year, so it is moving over to the Bennett Hall Playhouse to provide more seating. It is a great program for the wee ones to get involved with. This year any child who wants to be in the show, gets to be in the show.

Tiffany Page writes a new story every week about a different princess, but based on princesses we all know, like Sleeping Beauty, Princess Jasmine and Rapunsel. Connor Gifford plays Nantucket's resident 'Prince'.
SYLVIA
June 25 - July 12

Written by A.R. Gurney
Director - to be announced
Performed downstairs at the Methodist church
Wednesdays - Saturdays
This is a romantic comedy from Broadway. This story centers around the title named dog and a troubled relationship between a man and woman. A man named Greg adopts Sylvia from the pound and falls in love with her, but Greg's girlfriend does not. Surprisingly, though, in the end the dog helps brings the couple together. This show was done by Theatre Workshop 10 years ago and it was a tremendous success so it is back by popular demand. On Broadway, Sara Jessica Parker plays Sylvia. Jordana Fleischut, the producing director of the Theatre Works of Nantucket says that they are looking for Nantucket's counterpart to Sara Jessica Parker to play the part.

There will also be a poster contest. Nantucketers will be able to submit pictures of their dogs on the internet where people can vote for Nantucket's 'Sylvia'. The winning dog will be featured on a poster for the play.
To be announced July 8 - 26
Directed by Laura Gallagher Byrne
Performed at the Bennett Hall Playhouse
15 MINUTE HAMLET
July 15 - 19
Directed by Tiffany Page
Performed at Bennett Hall Playhouse
Wednesday- Saturday
This production is a spoof on Shakespeare's Hamlet and it actual runs about 25 - 30 minutes due to the necessary pauses for all the laughter. It is an extremely animated, hysterical interpretation of a trajic play, written by a man who is not often known for his humor. Yet this play is aimed at children and everyone else, whether a Shakespeare fan or not. This production will take place during the Shakespeare Festival. It has a core troop of six people, plus there will be an open casting for it in April.
MOON OVER BUFFALO
August 20 - September 13
Written by Ken Ludwing
Directed by Jane Kurakula
Performed downstairs at the Methodist church
Wednesdays - Saturdays
Moon Over Buffalo is the story of George and Charlotte Hay, traveling actors, performing Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives in a repertory theatre in Buffalo. Charlotte has grandiose dreams of becoming a Hollywood film star. George, on the other hand, is quite satisfied as a stage actor and sees live theatre as being superior to film.

George receives a phone call from Frank Capra, a very famous film director, who says that he needs replacements for the two stars of his current film, The Scarlett Pimpernel, and that he plans to see one of George's shows and consider George and Charlotte for the parts. Charlotte, however, doesn't believe George when he gives the news; she has just learned that George has had an affair with one of their actors, Eileen, and that Eileen is pregnant with George's child. To further complicate issues, another of the actors in George's company walks out. Soon after, Charlotte leaves with alcoholic lawyer Richard.

When Charlotte hears that Capra is losing his actors, she returns to the theatre, only to find that George has left. Charlotte and Rosalind, her daughter who has recently come to visit, contact all the bars in the city, looking for him. They can't find him, but Charlotte does meet Howard, Roz's new fiancé, whom Charlotte's hard-of-hearing mother , played by Jetti Ames, mistakenly introduces as "The Frank Capra". Thinking that Howard is the famous director, Charlotte treats him like royalty, for which Howard is grateful, but confused. And when George returns, he believes that Howard is actually Eileen's brother, seeking revenge for George's affair with Eileen. George reacts by tying up Howard and locks him in a closet.

When the troop is preparing for the afternoon's showing of Private Lives, which Capra intends to see. George, in his drunken stupor, decides he would rather do Cyrano, and dresses appropriately. The resulting show is a disaster, as George is several minutes late to arrive onstage. Howard, still bound in ropes, then hops onstage and calls out for help; which causes George to lose his balance and tumble off the stage

After the show, a sober George offers his apology to Howard. Howard is not satisfied, though; his encounter with Roz's parents frightens him into breaking his engagement with Roz. He announces that he and Eileen have decided to get engaged instead, and plan to start a family right away. Howard isn't aware that Eileen is already carrying George's child, and Eileen seems satisfied to keep him in the dark. Paul, reappears to sweep Roz off her feet, and they get engaged again on the spot. Charlotte forgives - or at least forgets - George's infidelity and decides to stay with him instead of Richard. Finally, in a dues ex machine-like plot twist, but you will have to buy a ticket to see that.

Jordana Fleischut says, "It is one of the funniest shows. On Broadway Carol Burnett and Philip Bosco played the two leads. It's a really fun show and your not sure who's on first and what's on second. We have not done our job if you don't leave the show with stomach cramps from laughing."
WAIT UNTIL DARK
September 24 - October 18
Directed by Fritz Michel
Performed downstairs at the Methodist church
This is a thriller about heroin dealers, who stuff their illegal substance into the doll of a blind girl. However, she finds out about it and then the dealers come after her. The girl turns the tables on them by putting them in her world, which is complete darkness. About 35 percent of the show happens in absolute darkness. "It is awesome; you're on the edge of your seat. It's like sitting in the middle of a CSI story," says Jordana Fleischut.
COMEDY IMPROV
with Christy Kickham
June - October on Sundays
Performed downstairs at the Methodist church
This show features Christy Kickham along with 6- 8 other comedians who garner ideas from the audience and build their show off it. It is a 'by the seat of their pants' kind of show similar to 'Who's Line is it Anyways'. It is great for all ages. Jordana Fleischut says, "If you don't laugh, you must be dead. It's funny, funny, funny."
ACK FUNNY
With Kevin Flynn will run on Mondays
from July 27 - August 2
Location TBA
This is a very popular, Nantucket-based comedy show. This show features comedian Kevin Flynn, along with different weekly guests. In the past, Kevin has had such guests as Amy and Ben Stiller.
ALMOST, MAINE
November 5 - 22
Directed by Jane Kurakula
Performed upstairs at the Methodist
church
This play received great acclaim off Broadway. It is a comedy about what happens at nine o'clock at night, in nine different places in the town of Almost, Maine.

There will be three or four different directors and around twenty different actors will grace the stage. This production is being used as a vehicle to help bring in aspiring actors from the community. The TWN is encouraging Nantucketers who may not have acted before, but who want to give it a try. It is set in a workshop forum, with casting in September.
KIDS/FAMILY HOLIDAY SHOW
December 5 - 21
To be announced
GREASE: THE MUSICAL
August 6 - 27
Directed by Roberta Esposito
Performed at the Bennett Hall
Playhouse
Grease is one show that doesn't need a preview, I think everyone has seen or at least heard about this production. What is interesting is that, since 'Grease' is still playing on Broadway, the rights for this play have only been released to three theatre troops and Nantucket is lucky to be one of them. Jordana Fleischut says, "This is the play of the summer." She also went on to say that the TWN will be bringing in a resident company for this (and several other plays), but there will also be auditions for Nantucket High School students grades ten and up. This provides an amazing opportunity for up and coming actors to work with professionals and form bonds with actors from across the country.
Pinocchio
August 12, 19 and the 26
Directed by Roberta Esposito
Performed at the Bennett Hall
Playhouse
This is not exactly the traditional story, it's 'Pinocchio' with a seaside twist. The actors will be from the resident company and also local children. Auditions will be held on April 26th and 27th.
THE LITTLE MERMAID
August 14, 21 and 28
Directed by Roberta Esposito
Performed at the Bennett Hall
Playhouse
This story is not the Disney adaptation, it is based on the original Hans Christian Anderson version. This production will also include the resident company along with island youths. Auditions will be held on April 26th and 27th.

Auditions for TWN open summer casting call Sunday April 27, Monday

April 28, and Tuesday April 29. I