Hovey Players

Hovey Players of Waltham continues its 74^th theatrical season with performances of Joined at the Head by Catherine Butterfield. Directed by Burlington resident Karen Dervin, Joined at the Head follows a famous writer who returns to her hometown on a book tour and reconnects with her past. The play is a colorful reflection on the process of art and the discovery of friendship. Performances run from January 15 to 30 at the Abbott Memorial Theater on Spring St, located next to the Waltham Public Library.

The cast of Joined at the Head includes local actors Kate Blair (Concord), Stephanie Garris and Allison McCann (Dorchester), Cliff Blake (Lexington), William McGregor (Lowell), Brian Zifcak (Maynard), Vivian Liu-Somers (Newton), Jennifer Hopkins (Swampscott), and Ellen Robinson (Waltham).

“When I read this play, I was immediately caught by the ease of the dialogue and the real situations that the characters were dealing with – nothing stagey or presentational about them,” said director Karen Dervin. “I wanted to show that while something like cancer has a huge effect on people’s lives, it’s not really about the disease itself, but how relationships are affected by it. Extreme situations can bring people together or drive them apart, and I really love the humanity of these characters.”

She continued, “The fact that these people have a 20 year history means that they are bringing baggage to the table when they meet again and that impacts how they view and relate to each other. An interesting aspect of this show is that it examines how we measure personal growth and what we value most in our lives, and questions the definition of a successful life. There is an important message in this play that life should be lived to the fullest no matter how much time you’re given.”

Hovey Players offers quality theater, affordable ticket prices, and free parking at the intimate, 52 seat Abbott Memorial Theater on 9 Spring Street in Waltham, Mass. (next to the Waltham Public Library). Performances of Joined at the Head are at 8 p.m. on January 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30; and at 2 p.m. on January 24. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. For reservations, email reservations@hoveyplayers.com or call 781-893-9171.

Hovey Players is also proud to announce the second year of its successful Hovey Gives Back program, which allows each director the opportunity to help raise awareness for a charitable organization of his or her choice. The designated organization for Joined at the Head is Planet Cancer (www.planetcancer.org), a community of young adults with cancer.

About Hovey Players

Hovey Players has been Waltham’s community theater since 1936, featuring regional talent both onstage and behind the scenes. An inexpensive alternative to theater hosted in Boston with five full productions each year, Hovey Player’s 2009 – 2010 season includes Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti, The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard, Joined at the Head by Catherine Butterfield, The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane, and Doubt by John Patrick Shanley.

Hovey Players of Waltham continues its 74th theatrical season with performances of the heartfelt comedy The Real Thing by playwright Tom Stoppard. Directed by Belmont resident Kristin Hughes, The Real Thing examines the difficulties and rewards of finding and sustaining love and commitment, as well as challenging our very notions about what is real. Performances run from November 6 to 21 at the Abbott Memorial Theater, located next to the Waltham Public Library.

A Tony Award winner for Best Play, The Real Thing tells the story of a clever, extremely intellectual playwright’s romantic relationships, making extensive use of play-within-a-play as he pursues the universal truth, or “real thing,” at the core of his experiences. The cast includes local actors Stephen Peters, Ted Batch, and Todd Radford (Cambridge), Melissa Sine (Burlington), Brooke Casanova (Dorchester), Brian Moyer (Jamaica Plain), and Tatiana Rutledge (Watertown).

“This play talks a lot about what love can bear in a sense – how far it can bend before it breaks and how much care you have to take to maintain it,” said director Kristin Hughes. “Compared to a lot of other Stoppard plays, this one focuses on something that everyone in the audience can key into, namely where the lines are in your relationships, and how you should take care with people and not take them for granted. The next message is to follow that up with actions and not just words.”

Hughes continued, “The end of the first Act of this play is where a lot of plays stop, but Act two starts after the happy ending and when the hard work is just starting. It’s closer to representing the real life of relationships. I hope the audience will emotionally connect with this piece and walk away thinking about how they feel about the situations presented and how they would cope with them.”

Hovey Players offers quality theater, affordable ticket prices, and free parking at the intimate, 52 seat Abbott Memorial Theater on 9 Spring Street in Waltham, Mass. (next to the Waltham Public Library). Performances of The Real thing will be at 8 p.m. on November 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21; and at 2 p.m. on November 15. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. For reservations, email reservations@hoveyplayers.com or call 781-893-9171.

Hovey Players is also proud to announce the second year of its successful Hovey Gives Back program, which allows each director the opportunity to help raise awareness for a charitable organization of his or her choice. The designated organization for The Real Thing is The MSPCA-Angell, a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine that provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year.

About Hovey Players

Hovey Players has been Waltham’s community theater since 1936, featuring regional talent both onstage and behind the scenes. An inexpensive alternative to theater hosted in Boston with five full productions each year, Hovey Player’s 2009 – 2010 season includes Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti, The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard, Joined at the Head by Catherine Butterfield, The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane, and Doubt by John Patrick Shanley.

Joined at the Head

by Catherine Butterfield
Directed by Karen Dervin

Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Call backs (if necessary) will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Auditions will take place at the Abbott Memorial Theater, 9 Spring Street in Waltham, MA (next to the Waltham Public Library, in the D’Angio Law Office building).

Director Karen Dervin and Assistant Director Nicole Sparks seek a diverse cast of nine for this Boston area premiere production. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script and monologues to be handed out at auditions. Familiarity with the script is strongly suggested. The script is available through Dramatists or in the anthology “Women Playwrights: The Best Plays of 1992.” Any questions, please contact the production staff at joinedatthehead@gmail.com

Performance dates will be January 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8:00 pm, and January 24 at 2:00 pm.

Synopsis:

Best-selling author Maggie Mulroney has returned to the Boston area to promote her latest novel when she receives a call from her high school sweetheart. She hasn’t seen Jim in 20 years and their reunion leads to an unexpected result – Maggie’s budding friendship with Jim’s wife, Maggy. Though Maggy is terminally ill, the story of the intersection of her life with Maggie’s provides what the New York Times calls “a jaunt into the writer’s mind, a vibrant reflection on life, art and friendship.” This is a play about living- with many laughs, a few tears, and a wonderful collection of characters.

Character Descriptions:

Maggie Mulroney – The narrator and “sometime protagonist” of the story. She is a woman who lives life by her own rules. Her connection to Jim and especially Maggy is a catalyst to make some real changes in her life. Note: This role runs the gamut of emotions in the play and requires an actress who is adept in communicating both with the audience and with her fellow actors.

Jim Burroughs – High school English teacher who dreamed of being a musician. He lives the small-town existence he swore he would never live, yet has managed to be truly happy in his life with Maggy.

Maggy Burroughs – Not your typical former cheerleader, she is a no-nonsense woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. Though her life has been irrevocably altered by disease, she still maintains her wonderful sense of humor.

The above characters are preparing for their 20-year high school reunion. They are certainly not 29, nor are they 55. Anywhere in between should be workable – the important aspect is the relationship between them.

The remaining six actors form the “Chorus” and they play all of the other characters in the story. We are particularly interested in finding a diverse group of actors, ranging in ages from 20s to 80s, to portray these characters. A variety of sizes, shapes, ages, colors, and genders is desired. Since each actor will play multiple roles, versatility and a sense of fun and adventure are highly recommended. Some of the roles to be filled are:

Nora – The maternal innkeeper where Maggie hangs her hat for a time

Mr. and Mrs. Mulroney – Maggie’s parents

Raymond Terwilliger – A very PBS television host

Doctor and Nurse – Atypical medical professionals

Salesclerk – Clerk in a New Age shop

On September 19th, the 7th Annual EMACT Gala and DASH Awards were held at Carey Hall in Lexington. A number of participants in our 2008-2009 Season were nominated for EMACT’s annual Distinguished Awards and Special Honors (DASH), and some took home awards!

• Kevin Peterson in second. (Supporting Actor in a Play)
• Robin Gabrielli for second. (Sound Design in a Play)
• Robin Gabrielli for Zombies from the Beyond (Sound Design in a Musical)
• Kimberly McClure in second. (Supporting Actress in a Play)
• second. (Ensemble in a Play)
• Gordon Ellis for second. (Director in a Play)

Each year groups that are EMACT members may submit an application for any or all shows in their season that they wish to have considered for awards. Members of an award nominating committee view shows submitted to the program, and score each element of the show based on standard criteria. Hovey invited DASH reviewers to attend both second. and Zombies from the Beyond.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

The Real Thing

by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Kristin Hughes

Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Callbacks (if necessary) will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2009

Auditions will take place at the Abbott Memorial Theater, 9 Spring Street in Waltham, MA (next to the Waltham Public Library, in the D’Angio Law Office building).

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. British accents are required for this production. Familiarity with the script is highly encouraged. All age ranges are approximate and relative.  Any questions please contact the director, Kristin Hughes, at hughes@hoveyplayers.com.

Performance dates will be November 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 8:00 p.m., and November 15 at 2:00 p.m.

Plot Overview:

Henry and Annie are in love – but is it the real thing? Can love last? Can a marriage? In this heartfelt comedy – a Tony winner for Best Play – Tom Stoppard examines the difficulties and rewards of finding and sustaining love and commitment, as well as challenging our very notions about what is “real.”

Character Descriptions:

Henry (40-ish): Henry is married to Charlotte and in love with Annie. He is a playwright; brilliant with words and infinitely less brilliant with emotions.

Annie (30-ish): Annie is married to Max and in love with Henry. She is an actress; and is much more comfortable with emotion than words.

Charlotte (35-ish): Henry’s wife. Also an actress; very witty and self assured. Probably does a lot of Noel Coward.

Max (40-ish): An actor, married to Annie. He’s Henry, if Henry were a really good looking actor and not a brilliant writer. Or, at least, he’s what Henry writes his altar ego to be. As Charlotte says, “You don’t really think that if Henry caught me out with a lover, he’d sit around being witty about Rembrandt place mats?”

Billy (early-mid 20s): An actor who Annie meets. Young, brash, charming. Can do a Scottish accent in addition to British.

Debbie (17 years old): Henry and Charlotte’s overly mature daughter. One scene, but it’s a good one!

Brodie (early to mid 20s): A Scottish soldier and political prisoner. Loud, boorish, and not all that political, when it comes right down to it.

Hovey is pleased to announce that a number of participants in our 2008-2009 Season were nominated for EMACT’s annual Distinguished Awards and Special Honors (DASH) for their work. Each year groups that are EMACT members may submit an application for any or all shows in their season that they wish to have considered for awards. Members of an award nominating committee view shows submitted to the program, and score each element of the show based on standard criteria. Hovey invited DASH reviewers to attend both second. and Zombies from the Beyond.

• Kevin Peterson in second. (Supporting Actor in a Play)
• Mike Bash in second. (Supporting Actor in a Play)
• Robin Gabrielli in Zombies from the Beyond (Supporting Actor in a Musical)
• Robin Gabrielli for second. (Sound Design in a Play)
• Robin Gabrielli for Zombies from the Beyond (Sound Design in a Musical)
• Kimberly McClure in second. (Supporting Actress in a Play)
• Melissa Sine in second. (Supporting Actress in a Play)
• Susan Aliger for Zombies from the Beyond (Props in a Musical)
• Matthew Silverstein for second. (Lighting Design in a Play)
• second. (Ensemble in a Play)
• Paul Zak for second. (Stage Manager in a Play)
• Gordon Ellis for second. (Director in a Play)
• second. (Best Play)

The 7th Annual EMACT Gala and DASH Awards will take place on September 19th.

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated!