We are pleased to announce that Brooke Casanova won the Best Supporting Actress award for her work in “The Little Dog Laughed.” Congratulations to Brooke!

And congratulations again to all of our nominees. Thanks again and great work, everyone.
To recap:

• Brooke Casanova for The Real Thing (Best Lead Actress in a Play – 1 of 2 nominations)
• Melissa Sine for The Real Thing (Best Supporting Actress in a Play)
• Jennifer Parkos for Joined At The Head (Best Lead Actress in a Play)
• Kevin Morin for The Little Dog Laughed (Best Lead Actor in a Play)
• Jennifer Shea for Doubt, A Parable (Best Supporting Actress in a Play)
• Michael C. Finke for Doubt, A Parable (Best Lighting Design in a Play)
• The Cast of Doubt, A Parable (Best Ensemble in a Play)

The 8th Annual EMACT Gala and DASH Awards took place Saturday, August 28th at Carey Hall in Lexington. The full list of winners will be available at www.emact.org. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

Brian Dowd has had an unrequited “something” for his best friend’s sister. Every time he’s spoken with Beth Finnegan, he’s ended up with his foot in his mouth. Now that Jerry Finnegan’s sister is getting married, the time has come to put up or shut up. He can’t lose the love of his life! In a series of fast-moving, funny scenes we see them from ages 7 & 6, to teen years, right up to the moment the play is happening.

Auditions are Sept 1 & 6 at 7pm. Callbacks, if necessary, will be held Sept 8th. Actors need excellent comic timing, quickly adjusting ages, body language, vocal inflection, looking early 20s, but can be older. Auditions will consist of cold readings & short monologues from the script, memorization not required. Rehearsals start week of 9/19. Performs Nov 5-20.

Auditions will be at the Abbott Memorial Theater, Joel’s Way, 9 Spring Street, Waltham, MA, next to the Waltham Public Library.

Characters:

Brian: “the boy next door” -sweet, funny, incapable of speaking intelligently to Beth, because of his massive inferiority complex. He is the primary narrator, speaking directly to the audience.

Beth: the girl of Brian’s dreams. She has spark. She is confident, outspoken, and can be mildly impatient with Brian.

Email hughes@hoveyplayers.com for monologues and questions.

Stop Kiss reveals the journey of how love’s first kiss can irrevocably change lives. Callie who lives and works in New York City, meets Sara, a Midwesterner who, against her parents’ wishes, has moved to the city to teach in the Bronx. As they get to know eachother, their shared experiences and sense of humor create a strong and unexpected bond. The tragic consequences of their kiss – the center of this powerful drama – serve as both an indictment of hatred and a moving study of the perils inherent in living life fully. The cast includes local actors Jennifer McCartney, Gabrielle Aguillon-Hatcher (Medford), Michael Soulios (Watertown), Jason Rutledge (Waltham), Andrew Boncoddo (Wakefield), Carolyn Cafarelli (Boston), and Melanie Bernier.

Hovey Players offers quality theatre, affordable ticket prices, and free parking at the intimate, 52 seat Abbott Memorial Theater. Performances are at 8 p.m. on September 17, 18, 24, 25, 30, October 1 & 2; with one matinee on Sunday, September 26th at 2 p.m. 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 continue 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 Stop Kiss is the Human Rights Campaign (http://boston.hrc.org), which represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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 2010 – 2011 Season – celebrating its 75th year – includes Stop Kiss by Diana Son, Jerry Finnegan’s Sister by Jack Neary, Alarms and Excursions by Michael Frayn, Bent by Martin Sherman, and Private Lives by Noel Coward.

• For The Real Thing:
• Best Actress – Brooke Casanova
• Best Supporting Actress – Melissa Sine
• For Joined At The Head:
• Best Actress – Jennifer Parkos
• For The Little Dog Laughed:
• Best Actor – Kevin Morin
• Best Supporting Actress – Brooke Casanova
• For Doubt: A Parable:
• Best Lighting Design – Michael C. Finke
• Best Supporting Actress – Jennifer Shea
• Best Ensemble

A number of Hovey Players members were nominated for shows with other theater groups as well. The 2010 Annual EMACT Gala and DASH Awards will take place on Saturday, August 28, 2010. Congratulations to all nominees!

Additionally, the Hovey Players took a cutting from our May production of Doubt: A Parable to EMACT’s 56th Annual Drama Festival in June. In addition to nominations for Best Actor (Kendall Hodder as Father Flynn) and Best Actress (Christine Connor as Sister Aloysius), Mark Sickler won The Barbara Harris Stage Management Award and Michael C. Finke won the Outstanding Lighting Design Award! There was a lot of good theater that weekend, and we are proud that Hovey was able to take part. Congratulations to everyone involved!

by Diana Son
Directed by Tatiana Rutledge

Monday, June 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Callbacks (if necessary) will be held on Wednesday, June 30 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).

Auditions will consist of readings and monologues from the script, provided in advance by the director. These sides do not need to be memorized, but familiarity with them prior to the audition is encouraged. Contact Tatiana at tatiana.rutledge@gmail.com prior to the audition dates to obtain the appropriate reading/monologue for the character you intend to audition for; in the email, also note the date of your intended audition date (Mon or Tues). Please note that the play explores sensitive issues. Do email Tatiana if you have any questions.

Performance dates will be September 17, 18, 24, 25, 30 at 8pm, September 26 at 2pm, and October 1 & 2, 2010 at 8pm

Synopsis:

Seamlessly alternating between past and present, Stop Kiss reveals the journey of how love’s first kiss can irrevocably change our lives.

Callie is holding down a job as a NY radio traffic reporter when she meets Sara, a Midwesterner who, against her parents’ wishes, has moved to the city to teach third-grade students in the Bronx. As they get to know each other, their shared experiences and sense of humor create a strong and unexpected bond. The tragic consequences of their kiss – the center of this powerful drama – serve as both an indictment of hatred and a moving study of the perils inherent in living life fully.

Winner of the 1999 Obie Award and GLAAD Media Award, this refreshing contemporary tale will continue to inspire you long after curtain call.

Character Descriptions:

Callie: (20s – 30s) energetic, anxious – and always cautious. she longs to be comfortable in her own skin. her bark is worse than her bite.

Sara: (20s – 30s) generally idealistic, but grounded in reality. her manner can often appear delicate and ethereal, but it is always fueled by great strength from within.

George: (20s – 30s) vibrant and outgoing. though seemingly carefree, he is most certainly a friend when you need.

Peter: (20s – 30s) calm, patient and observant. in some respects, quite George’s opposite.

Mrs. Winsley: ( 30s + ) poised and self-assured, with just one chink in her armor.

Detective Cole (can be F or M): (30s – 40s) level-headed but intense. direct and efficient with little patience for story-telling.

Nurse (can be doubled with Mrs. Winsley): ( 30s + ) comforting. understanding.

Stop Kiss
by Diana Son
Directed by Tatiana Rutledge
September 17 – October 2, 2010

Seamlessly alternating between past and present, Stop Kiss reveals the
journey of how love’s first kiss can irrevocably change our lives.
Winner of the 1999 Obie Award and GLAAD Media Award, this refreshing
contemporary tale will continue to inspire you long after curtain
call.

Jerry Finnegan’s Sister
by Jack Neary
Directed by Kristin Hughes
November 5 – November 20, 2010

Brian Dowd has spent the last 10 years of his life wrestling with an
unrequited “something” for his best friend’s sister, who happens to
live next door. But every time he’s spoken with Beth Finnegan for more
than 30 seconds, he’s ended up with his foot planted firmly in his
mouth. Now, Brian’s time is about to run out because Jerry Finnegan’s
sister is getting married! So the time has come for Brian to put up or
shut up. What’s he got to lose — except the love of his life!

Alarms and Excursions
by Michael Frayn
Directed by Mark Sickler
January 14 – January 29, 2011

A very funny evening of marital discord and technological disruption
with seven cautionary and riotous tales about gizmos, gadgets, and
humans on the blink!

Bent
by Martin Sherman
Directed by Mark Usher
March 11 – March 26, 2011

Bent is a powerful story of survival, love and self discovery set in
1930′s Germany during the Nazi regime.

Private Lives
by Noel Coward
Directed by Ronni Marshak
May 13 – May 28, 2011

Elyot and Amanda are divorced, but they meet again across an adjoining
balcony while on their honeymoons with their new spouses. Passions
flair, and together they run off to Paris to renew an affair of the
heart that leads to dangerous and comic consequences. One of Coward’s
most performed works, the play is Noel Coward at his sparkling best.

Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. for the following actors:

• Evan Bernstein
• Tom Berry
• Christine Connor
• Dee Crawford
• Julie Dapper
• Kendall Hodder
• Sharon Mason
• Margaret McCarty
• Mary O’Donnell
• Liz Robbins
• Ellen Robinson
• Tatiana Rutledge
• Deanna Swan
• Kenneth Vining
• Leeta White

A Tony Award nominee for Best Play, The Little Dog Laughed tells the story of Mitchell, a Hollywood star on the rise, and his full-time agent and part-time beard, Diane, who is doing all she can to keep his “slightly recurring case of homosexuality” from de-railing his fame. The cast of includes local actors Brooke Casanova (Dorchester), Jason Fenton (Arlington), Kevin Morin (Winthrop), and Gail Bishop Nessman (Maynard).

“One would think after all the social advancements we’ve made as a society, that America would be okay with just a part of mainstream Hollywood being gay, but those in Hollywood who attempt to keep their private lives private are constantly under attack by the media, tabloids, and bloggers,” said director Mark Sickler. “Some say this play is Beane’s retaliation for being kept at arm’s length from mainstream Hollywood and enduring the same treatment that Truman Capote received 50 years ago.”

He continued, “We have to wonder if the tabloid obsessions and ‘outings’ of Hollywood stars do more to hinder the social advancement in Hollywood, rather than tear down the barriers and reform it. I hope the audience of this show will ask themselves why, as a society, are we so obsessed to know the intimate details of people that will never personally enter our lives?”

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 Little Dog Laughed are at 8 p.m. on March 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27, and at 2 p.m. on March 21. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. For reservations, email reservations@hoveyplayers.com or call 781-893-9171.

Note: This show contains nudity and mature subject matter.

Hovey Players is also proud to continue 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 Little Dog Laughed is Community Servings, which is dedicated to providing free, home-delivered meals to people homebound with acute life-threatening illnesses.

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.

by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Nancy Curran Willis

Monday, March 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Callbacks (if necessary) will be held on Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Auditions will take place at Hovey Players’ 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 a prepared monologue from the play provided in advance by the director. These monologues do not have to be memorized, however, the more familiar you are with the material, the better your audition will be. Contact producer Tracy Sullivan at tsullivan@hoveyplayers.com prior to audition dates to obtain the appropriate monologue for the character you intend to audition for. Monologues will be heard on a first come, first served basis. In addition you may be asked to do a cold reading from the script.

Performance dates are May 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 at 8:00 p.m., and May 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Rehearsals will begin with a read thru on Monday, March 29. Thereafter rehearsals will be held on Sundays, Monday evenings, and Thursday evenings.

Synopsis:

Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, Doubt is set in a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964. This thrilling drama follows the suspicions of the schools strong-minded principal, Sister Aloysius, that new priest Father Flynn might be making improper advances toward its first African-American male student. She enlists the aid of a young teacher, Sister James, in her efforts to validate her concerns and confront Father Flynn. Flynn is as adamant in his denial of any wrongdoing as Sister Aloysius is certain that he is guilty. With Sister James and the student’s mother, Mrs. Muller, caught in the middle, the priest and principal face off in a battle of wills.

Character Descriptions:

Sister Aloysius – The head nun and principal of St Nicholas School. In her fifties or sixties, she is watchful, reserved and unsentimental. She’s a no-nonsense, hardened administrator, determined to maintain order and tradition.

Father Flynn – A new priest at St. Nicholas. His background is working class. In his thirties or forties, he is well-liked and particularly popular with the boys that he coaches in basketball. He’s rather liberal and “modern” in his religious views.

Sister James – A young nun in her twenties who is an enthusiastic but inexperienced eighth grade teacher at St. Nicholas. She is reserved, but cares about her students and wants to think the best of everyone.

Mrs. Muller – The mother of St. Nicholas student Donald Muller. She is an African-American woman, late thirties to forties, working class, weary and wary of the world. She has learned to accept what she has to accept and work with it.

Auditioning actors don’t necessarily have to be in the age ranges listed for the characters, but should be able to play in that age range.