AIKEN COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTS
July 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 @ 7:30 PM, July 17 @ 2:00 PM 126 Newberry Street SW; AIKEN, SC 29801 803-648-1438 www.AikenCommunityTheatre.org
ACT Mission Aiken Community Theatre (ACT) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.
ACT Board Executive Director – Kyle Seconi Artistic Director – JC Crider Facilities Director – Thurmond Whatley Secretary – Chrissey Morton Treasurer – Jimmy Moore Marketing Director – Dustin Turner Youth Wing Interim Director – Steven McKinney Marcia Harris Wendy Dietzel Jim Schroeder Ellen Williams Angie Galan Collette Miller Cory Herbst Jeff Mastromonico Frances Fields Jerry West Renee Tucker-Brown Angie Richards
presents
A DOUBLEWIDE, TEXAS CHRISTMAS Written by Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten Performed by special arrangement with DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC. Directed by Janette Godwin
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A note from ACt’s Executive Director Despite an uncertain journey over the last 22 months, your commitment to ACT inspired us. Because of your support, we were able to navigate the rules and regulations designed to keep our community safe while delivering on our promise to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience. During this time, our incredible volunteers continued to serve in many capacities: teaching at our free monthly Youth Wing workshops, sharing new streaming events through Entr’Act, producing our opening show, helping with many beautification projects within the theatre, and finally hitting the mainstage again. We are excited about the many years ahead of us as we go into our 70th season, no matter what the road ahead brings. We thank you for your continued support whether it is a taxdeductible, year-end financial gift, in-kind donation, volunteer time or simply applause. ACT is pleased to bring back subscriptions for the 2022-2023 season. Ask a board member during intermission or call our box office for details. Merry Christmas in July,
Kyle A. Seconi Executive Director
COMING SOON to ACT September 9 - 17 , 2022 Roald Dahl’s
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other's lives, as Miss
Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts and could be the school pupils' saving grace!
A DOUBLEWIDE TEXAS CHRISTMAS DireCtor’s note Texas will always be special to me. Even though I have lived in Aiken since 1984, I am a native Texan. My great-grandparents were cattle ranchers in West Texas, and you cannot get more Texan than that! I attended college at Sam Houston State University during the Urban Cowboy craze, so, naturally we all had starched jeans and cowboy hats. Our major challenge was not to be thrown by a mechanical bull. On a visit back to Texas three years ago, Nan and I saw cowboy hats, starched jeans, and big trucks. Nothing has changed and I am glad! When I read A Doublewide, Texas Christmas I knew it would be a great play for ACT. I have always been a fan of the playwriters: Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. I like the theme of this play which teaches us that sometimes you do not have to be related by blood to be family. We all have people like that in our lives, and we are better for it. Directing A Doublewide, Texas Christmas has been an honor and a privilege. The cast is beyond amazing, and the play would not have been what it is without each one. A big Texas-size thank you to my stage manager and friend, Cory Herbst, who I so wanted a chance to work with. He kept us on track, and I could count on him for solid advice. Lastly, thank you Nan for being my biggest supporter. I could not have done this play without your believing in me. I look forward to our next adventure! I love you! Merry Christmas in July!
Janette Godwin
The Doublewide Story It's Christmas-time in the newest - and tiniest - town in Texas. And it's beginning to look a lot like trouble in Doublewide. Not only are the trailer park residents dealing with the stress of the holiday season, but they've just discovered that Doublewide is being doubledcrossed by the County. With their official incorporation papers in jeopardy, this band of eccentric Texans throw themselves into taking on the "Big Guys." Determined to bolster their legitimacy, they first set their sights on the County-wide "Battle of the Mangers" competition. They conspire to win this smackdown with their "Nativity at The Alamo" entry... by any means necessary.
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The Doublewide Scene PLACE: In and around the loving room of Joveeta’s mobile home in the trailer park community of Doublewide, Texas.
TIME: The present, taking place over two weeks leading up to Christmas. ACT I Scene 1: Stairway to Heaven Retirement Village Scene 2: Bronco Betty’s Buffeteria Scene 3: Outside the Doublewide Town Hall Scene 4: Inside the Stagger Inn Scene 5: Doublewide Town Hall Scene 6: Doublewide Town Hall, 5 days later ACT II Scene 1: Stairway to Heaven Retirement Village, Christmas Eve Scene 2: Doublewide Town Hall, later that day Scene 3: Cable Access Studio, later that day Scene 4: Doublewide Town Hall, later that day Scene 5: Outside Doublewide Town Hall, that evening Scene 6: Doublewide Town Hall, Christmas Day *There will be a 15-minute intermission between Acts I and II.
The Doublewide Cast Big Ethel Satterwhite…………………………….....Gina Vitgenos Georgia Dean Rudd………...………………………………Sallye Rich Lark Barken……………………………………………..Meredith McCoy Haywood Sloggett…………………………………….…..Gayle Gulick Patsy Price……………………….…………………………….…Peg Tribert Norwayne “Baby” Crumpler……………………Ken Hendricks Caprice Crumpler……………………….……………….Jeanne Webb Jovetta Crumpler……………………...Betsy Wilson-Mahoney Harley Dobbs.……………………………….…….Jeff Mastromonico Nash Sloggett..……………………….……..…………..…….Tom Nance
The Doublewide Crew Director…………………….………………………………………………………….………Janette Godwin Stage Manager………..…………………………………………………………………….…Cory Herbst Assistant Stage Manager……………………………………………………………...Ella Dietzel Line Coach………………………………………………………………………………….….…..Nan Parker Stagehands……………………………………………………………….………..Alex Mastromonico Lori Mastromonico Costumers..........................................................................................Collette Miller Marcia Harris Marilyn Pfisterer Props………………………………………………………………………………..……Lori Mastromonico Set Designer………………..……………………………………………………………..Duane Berning Set Construction…………………………..…………………………………………..Duane Berning Jim Schroeder Cast and Crew Lighting Designer………..……………………………………………………Thurmond Whatley Light Board Operator…………………………………………………...…Thurmond Whatley Sound Design..……………………………………………………………………Jeff Mastromonico Sound Board Operator..…………………………………………………..Jeff Mastromonico Travis McNeil ASL Interpreters………………………………….......................................Lesley Kleppac Bridgett Krol
A GREAT, BIG, DOUBLEWIDE THANKS Carolyn McCoy Bill Bassham
South on Whiskey
Janette Godwin, Director Janette made her ACT directorial debut in A Christmas Story in 2019; however, she has been involved in ACT productions for many years as an actor, assistant director, stage manager or crew member. Additionally, she has served two terms on the ACT Board of Directors. Janette is a retired ACPS teacher and today, she and Nan enjoy life by traveling and spending time with their two dogs and cat. She is an avid Peanuts & Snoopy collector. As a native Texan, Janette is especially excited to direct A Doublewide, Texas Christmas!
GINA VITGENOS
Gina (Big Ethel Satterwhite) acted through school with roles such as the Songbird in Once Upon a Mattress, Mrs. Peirce in My Fair Lady, a Phantom in Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Violet in A Charlie Brown Christmas. After graduating high school, she balanced work and various acting classes at the Denver Center of Performing Arts and has also performed and directed performances with her Church's youth theatre group Forged by Fire.
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SALLYE RICH
Sallye (Georgia Dean Rudd) first appeared on the ACT stage in 1979. Most recently, she was in The Drowsy Chaperone and Noises Off. She is a performer and writer of the Aiken Woman’s Heart Board Annual Benefit and has worked with the USCA Players and Main Street Theater in Edgefield. She is thrilled to be in her second Jones, Hope, Wooten play after performing the Savannah Sipping Society on her front porch with Betsy Wilson-Mahoney and Jeanne Webb! Sallye is married to Buzz Rich and they have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren.
MEREDITH MCCOY
Meredith (Lark Barkin) is thrilled to play Lark as her first role at ACT. She was in some ensembles a few years ago, and she helped with the set design for Gibson and Sons in 2019. Since then, she's been supporting her mom and brother in the audience. She's looking forward to the next season--maybe auditioning for a play or two---while training to be a producer for WRDW in Augusta. 15
GAYLE GULICK
Gayle (Sloggett) is making his ACT debut. He is a native of Henderson, NC and grew up in Belvidere, NJ. He is a graduate of Graham Junior College, High Point College and The University of South Carolina. He was a speech and drama teacher prior to becoming a secondary school administrator. Gayle retired from Aiken County Schools in 2011 and currently serves as board chairman of Public Education Partners of Aiken County.
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PEG TRIBERT
Peg (Patsy) has been involved with ACT for over twenty-five years, contributing as actor, crew, director and board member. She performs most often in the ACT comedies and has a special fondness for the Christmas shows. It’s her first Christmas in July! In the real world she is a sole proprietor at the Law Offices of Margaret Tribert, where she is assisted by her husband Doug, with a focus on family law. When not on stage or in court, Peg can be found on horseback.
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KEN HENDRICKS
Ken (“Baby” Crumpler) is a veteran of the Aiken Community Theatre and is pleased to have Doublewide as his 14th show. Ken most recently appeared in A Place called Mayor's Income Tennessee and Murder on the Orient Express. Ken lives in Aiken with his wonderful wife, Karen.
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BETSY WILSON-MAHONEY
Betsy (Joveeta Crumpler) loves nothing more than to spend her free time with family or with friends on stage. In the last 10 years she has been a part of six productions by the same writers of A Doublewide Texas Christmas. Betsy says, “Jones , Hope and Wooten know how to make me laugh, so I hope we can do the same for you. I hope you enjoy our Christmas in July!”
JEANNE WEBB
Jeanne (Caprice Crumpler) is so pleased to be returning to the ACT Stage. She was last seen here as Vernadette in ACT’s The Dixie Swim Club. She performs annually in the Aiken Women’s Heart Board Benefit Show, the Encore Show, and the Heartfelt Christmas Show. She would like to thank Janette, the cast, and crew for all the fun and the laughs they shared this summer preparing for this performance. 20
JEFF MASTROMONICO
Jeff (Harley Dobbs) has worked behind the scenes for many productions for almost 11 years whether it be running sound or creating graphics or in his role on the ACT Board of Directors. He finally moved from behind the scenes to play “the old man” in a production of A Christmas Story with the rest of his family, a role that he says was not much of a stretch. Jeff is a 40-year resident of Aiken. He, his wife Lori, and sons Jacob and Alex enjoy all the ways they have been able to be involved with ACT over the years. 21
TOM NANCE
Tom (Nash Slogget) is excited to be in his first play! Tom has performed in 37 musicals but none of them were in Texas, so do they really count? Tom wishes everyone a Merry Christmas! 22