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A note from the director -Animal Farm is a play about the human condition. In its most base terms, we can summarize the meaning of the story with the phrase “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Recent political events in America have caused many of us to “remember our Orwell”, as though these times were tailor made for the problems presented in Animal Farm. Could we have produced this show ten years ago? Certainly. Twenty years ago? Likely. As a matter of fact, when Animal Farm was published in 1945, people swore they recognized contemporary politicians in England portrayed within the pages of the book. The animals strive to build a better world than their master owners have provided, but ultimately they recreate the folly of man. Ian Wooldridge’s script, while following Orwell’s novel, invites us to create our own universe with our “human animals.” For example, when the animals decide to fight for freedom, the script merely states that the revolution happens. It was left to us to stage what the action of this deed could look like. Later, The Battle Of The Cowshed ensues. That one sentence was transformed into a seven minute piece of our making. Realism and realistic should not be confused here. Nobody crawls around on four legs, or wears a fuzzy animal suit with a tail. In a way it’s refreshing that the animals seem to have more humanity than the humans. The emotions are real, the conflicts are real. But actors playing talking animals that are acting humanlike, calls for a willingness of an audience to join the revolution, and on their imaginary forces, work. ~ Kevin Sosbe Director
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The Kent Singers Spring 2017 Knox Sutterfield, Music Director
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AMERICAN SOUNDSCAPE: Corigliano’s Fern Hill
Copland’s Old American Songs, others with Soprano Soloist & Chamber Orchestra Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. St. John’s Church, New Milford, CT
● MOZART: REQUIEM
Renowned soloists, chorus and orchestra Sunday, June 11th , 2017 at St. John’s in New Milford Join us for this great music! www.KentSingers.org (860) 619 - 8110
Sincere thanks to all our supporters Artists $5,000+ • Grant & Jacqui Smith • Theodore Hine Playwrights Circle $1,500+ • Connecticut Office of the Arts • Douglas & Marian Wise • Walmart • Deb Faust • Savings Bank of Danbury Directors Circle $1,000+ • John & Kathy Bolster Sponsors $500+ • Francis Arcaro • Tillie Page Laird • Stanley Newman & Dr. Brian Rosenthal • Russell Posthauer, Jr. • The Jean Widmark & Richard Widmark Foundation, Inc. • Connecticut Community Foundation-Pathways for Older Adults Partners $250+ • Norman Adler & Michele Shackelford • June Baldyga • Deborah & David Begin • Bill & Susan Dahl • Patricia & Lawrence Greenspan • Anita Grover • Donald Karcheski • Heather & Jim McGroarty • Penny Palmer • Warren Rubin • Elizabeth Smith Advocates $100+ • Anonymous • Birchleigh Parnters LLC • Barbara & Joseph Adelizi • Joseph & Angela Barna • Donald Bickford • James Booth • Cecilia & Bill Buck-Taylor • Jude Callirgos • Pat Catchpole • Joseph & Diane Czarnik • Wright Danenbarger • David & Kathy Elmore • In memory of Ray & Bea Flanders • Tom Fogarty • Cecile Forness • David Gill • Kathy & Michael Gold • Harold & Patty Jacobson • Alfred & Skip Jennings • Joe Keneally • Marilyn Lieff • Jeanne Mcroberts • Bethany Morin • James Patterson • Maura & Frederick Pauli • Joseph Prilitera • Philip & Hannah Schorr • Susan Schulman • Sherry & Stephen Seward • Natalie Slavin • Richard & Joanne Sterk • Gary Trible • Susan & Henry Tritter • Michael & Evelyn Weinstein • Steve Wright
Associates $50+
• Nancy Babington • Jody Bayer • Ben Dasilva • Karen & Ernest Dech • Lisa Doran • Kristen Gould • Robert & Antonia Grossman • Toni & Bob Grossman • Adam Halasikun • Amanda & Matthew Hill • Christy & Jeff Johnson • Elizabeth & Eric Jones • Barry & Isabol Kapan • Georgina Marek • Marie McCarthy • Ann M. Mckinney • Peg Molina • The Pace Family • Victoria Reinhold • Thomas & Linda Sprick • Hillary Stern & Arthur Kleen • Daniel Sternthal • Ron & Judy Sullivan • Grace & Tom Vetter • Lynda & Eugene Willingham
presents
ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
adapted by Ian Wooldridge directed by Kevin Sosbe
Pigs
THE CAST
Old Major ~ John Coleman Taylor Napoleon ~ Viv Berger Squealer ~ Sonnie Osborne Snowball ~ Alex Echevarria Minimus ~ Joan Wyner
Horses
Mollie ~ Izzy Watson Clover ~ Jocelyn Beard Boxer ~ Jeff Miller Young Animals
James McGuinness Lucy McKay
Benjamin, a donkey ~ Maxwell Diaz Moses, a raven ~ Terri Gatten Farmer Jones/Pilkington ~ Rob Pawlikowski Story Teller/ Young Animal ~ Adele Burke
ANIMAL FARM is performed without intermission. Running time about 90 minutes.
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois
PRODUCTION STAFF Director and Scenic Design.......................................................Kevin Sosbe Choreographer .................................................................. Regina Sweeney Stage Manager........................................................................... Beth Plotkin Costumes..................... Elizabeth Kaney, Denise James, MariBeth Winslow Lighting Design............................................................................ Leif Smith Scenic Painter.......................................................................... Kate Moncuse Set Construction.............................................................................. Jim Hipp Set Crew.............................................................. John Bolster, Frank Russo Lighting & Sound Operator..................................................... Steve Larson The Revolution Choreography...................................................Kevin Sosbe The Battle of The Cowshed Choreography... Kevin Sosbe, Regina Sweeney House Managers............................ Mary Kimball, Christine Daley, Jill Pace Photography............................................................ Ghostlight Photography Producer............................................................................... Christine Daley • Westport
Special Thanks
Country Playhouse • Rich & Suzi Pettibone • Mary Kimball • FM97.3 WZBG Backstage with Johnny O
Music Credits Pigs, Animals. Pink Floyd. 1977 Columbia Records Uranus, the Magician. Gustav Holst, The Planets 1915 Mars, the Bringer of War. Gustav Holst, The Planets 1914 Instant Karma. John Lennon, Apple 1970 WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
ROB PAWLIKOWSKI (Farmer Jones/ Pilkington) last appeared at TheatreWorks in Leading Ladies as Jack Gable/Stephanie. He’s been in over 50 area productions since 1994. He appeared as Thomas Edison in Camping with Henry and Tom at Westport Community Theater last year. At Hartford Stage Rob made his professional debut in Our Town and also appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird. At the Ridgefield Playhouse, Rob was featured in their Standup Comedy Showcase. He also appeared in the independent film “Doing Agatha.” Rob has provided lighting and sound design for dozens of shows for local community theaters.
theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
SONNIE OSBORNE (Squealer) has had a long-standing association with TheatreWorks and is a member of their Artistic Committee. An accomplished actress, Ms. Osborne has appeared on the TheatreWorks’ stage in numerous roles, most recently as Kate in The Cripple of Inishmaan and as Golda Meir in the critically acclaimed Golda’s Balcony. Directorial credits include Time Stands Still, Souvenir, Mauritius, The Fourth Wall, Moonlight and Magnolias, and Lobby Hero. Stage Manager and Assistant Director credits include The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, November, Shakespeare for My Father, Exit the King, The Shape of Things, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Lonesome West. Drama Coach: Molly Sweeney. Off stage, Ms. Osborne records audio books for the Connecticut Library for the Blind. “The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white.” ~ George Orwell. “The trouble with free elections is that you never know how they are going to turn out.” ~ Vyacheslav Molotov JOHN COLEMAN TAYLOR (Old Major) is delighted to be back at TheatreWorks. Previously you may have seen him on this stage in Night of the Iguana, Woman in Black, Gross Indecency or Molly Sweeney. At Sherman Playhouse, John appeared in The Road to Mecca, The Birthday Party, Salome, Sleeping Beauty, Opera Comique, and in 2016 The Chalk Garden. In New York he was seen in The Dresser, Death and the Maiden, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. More recently John has pursued work in film, most notably “Freedom,” “Wallabout,” “Brutal Colors,” and “Line to the Wall,” which recently won a major prize at the Manhattan Film Festival. Residing in Sherman with Beryl, his wife of 51 years, both originally hail from London, England but have lived in the US for over 38 years, raising three children here: Zachary, Charlotte and Cassandra. theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
TERRI GATTEN (Moses, a Raven) is delighted to be making her debut at TheatreWorks.Aformer teacher, Terri also brings past experience as a stage manager, along with several years of improv and physical comedy. She has also been involved with community outreach programs that include writing and performing skits for various children’s events. When not on stage, Terri attends school, runs a small business with her husband and works part time for area non-profits. JOAN WYNER (Minimus) is thrilled to be back at Theatre Works after her first production here as Reba in The Last Night of Ballyhoo. She has also enjoyed being part of many other community theater productions: most recently in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at The Sherman Playhouse, Annie Get Your Gun at The Gary-The Olivia Theater at The Abbey of Regina Laudis and Fiddler on The Roof at The Warner Theater. Other favorite productions include The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Bye Bye Birdie, The Diviners, Peter Pan, Carnival, and Harvey. In her “other” life, she works as a mental health therapist at The New Milford Hospital Outpatient Behavioral Clinic. Thanks to Kevin for giving me the opportunity to work with a terrific cast and crew in such a unique play. IZZY WATSON (Mollie) Isabella Watson is a sophomore at Pomperaug High School in Southbury. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the viola and petting dogs. Favorite roles of include the Indian Girl Ancestor in The Addams Family Musical and Kate from Shakespeare’s, The Taming of the Shrew. Shout out to my fantastic mom and dad, my grandparents, and my brother John; for making me laugh every day.
theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
VIV BERGER (Napoleon) In a minor reversal of Darwin, it appears that domestic farm animals may have evolved directly from mankind, gathering such common human traits as greed and despotism in the tapestry of their DNA. The audience should be assured that no real humans have been harmed or imitated in this portrayal of lies, fake news and abuse of power. It is an honor to work with director Kevin Sosbe again and wallow in the mud with my other farmyard friends. ALEX ECHEVARRIA (Snowball) can’t wait to return to the main stage at TheatreWorks. He was last seen portraying Winston Smith in 1984 at Sherman Playhouse, also under the expert direction of Kevin Sosbe. He would like to thank the wonderful cast for making this show such a joy, and his wife Marilyn for taking care of our little “squirrel” during rehearsals! JOCELYN BEARD (Clover) is thrilled to have been asked to join such a fantastically rambunctious cast, and thanks Kevin Sosbe for giving her the opportunity to investigate her inner Clover in such a timely piece of theatre. Many thanks to my fellow cast mates, you all rock! A huge thank you to TheatreWorks for continuing to push the envelope and for bringing excellent theatre to our community, no matter the obstacles. Your bravery is inspiring. Thanks and much love to my family, without whom, I’d simply be a lump in a corner somewhere…and above all, many, MANY thanks to Ginger, my Belgian-Morgan mare, who I’m sure is now thoroughly convinced that I’m nutters as I’ve been staring at her for the past 6 weeks trying to figure out how to be a horse at least as cool as she is. Long live Animal Farm! The Revolution is NEVER over!
theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
MAXWELL DIAZ (Benjamin) I am not well versed in beginnings nor ends. However, middles are my forte. In my 19 years of life I haven’t had much experience dealing with actual stage productions. Instead, I have acquired extensive cunning and trickery throughout my lifetime. After all, isn’t that what theater is at its core basics? I study psychology at Naugatuck Valley Community College to further my understanding of emotions and human thought patterns. This helps me even further when taking on new characters. Usually I am quiet and reserved. Most people look at me and think the worst. However, appearances are deceiving. Instead of being “cold” or “distant,” like most people think I am, I’m actually quite friendly. In truth I’m constantly thinking about new personas I may use upon the stage. I take great pride in developing my characters into a near perfect reflection of the author’s original intent. That is who I am and always shall be. JEFF MILLER (Boxer) is a 30 year veteran of the stage, having worked in various theaters in Connecticut, Tennessee, and Kentucky as an actor, director, scenic designer, and scenic carpenter. Jeff currently lives on a farm in Kentucky with his wife Diane, where they grow fruit and berries. JAMES McGUINNESS (Young AnimaI) has many parts in Animal Farm - a pigeon, sheep, goose, pig and has at least one line with each animal. Other productions include Once on this Island as Daniel (male lead). He was in a Disney review where he was Chef Louis and had a solo song was a Spanish Amigo in the Odd Couple which were all for his school. James has also done shows for his local country club when he was little. In the country club he was Slave Jeremy in The Emperor’s New Clothes, a flying monkey in Wizard of Oz, and Tweedle Dum in Alice in Wonderland and now is a comrade in Animal Farm. theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
ADELE BURKE (Story Teller/Young Animal) was last seen in the role of Stage Manager in Our Town with NBYT. Previous shows include: Baby Snooks and Daddy Show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Once Upon a Mattress. She is delighted to be working with such a talented and enthusiastic cast. LUCY McKAY (Young Animal) is beyond delighted to be making her debut with TheatreWorks. Recent roles include the Baker’s Wife in a shortened version of Into the Woods with Fine Line Theater Arts, and a Narrator in Aladdin. She also recently performed with the treble choir at the Northern Division CT Music Educators Concert. She is a student at Schaghticoke Middle School and is involved in the 7th grade chorus as well as the singing group Voices also at the school. For the last four years Lucy has taken Acting and Musical Theater classes at Fine Line Theater Arts. She loves teaching herself how to play the ukulele and wants to expand to the piano and song writing. REGINA SWEENEY (Choreographer) is a fitness trainer by day, a dance teacher by night and creates choreography in her “spare time.” TheatreWorks choreography credits include: Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge; The Great American Trailer Park Musical; and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other choreography credits include Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson and Spring Awakening for The Ridgefield Theater Barn and Teenage Time Warp (writing, directing, and choreography) for the Brewster Theater Company. Directing Credits include: Three Tall Women (TANYS award winner) and Wonder of the World both for BTC and numerous children/High School productions. Thank you, Kevin and TheatreWorks, for the opportunity to work on this production!
theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
BETH PLOTKIN (Stage Manager) has been with TheatreWorks for over 4 years. She is an active member of TheatreWorks Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee as well as an outstanding volunteer. Beth accomplishments includes: Stage Manager for Animal Farm and Leading Ladies; Stage Crew for Times Stands Still; Dresser for Souvenir; and Lighting and Sound for a number of Page to Stage Productions. Ever since the first day Beth walked through the doors she fell in love with TheatreWorks and has worked hard to learn the many aspects of this very special community theatre. Beth looks forward to being a part of TheatreWorks for many years to come. KATE MONCUSE (Scenic Painter) is a scenic painter, ceramicist, and digital illustrator who graduated from Belmont University in 2012. She has been the assistant scenic and specialty props fabricator at Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret Theater as well as the scenic charge at TheatreWorks in Hartford and Playhouse on Park in West Hartford. Past credits include scenic painting for Passing Strange, Annapurna, Fiddler On The Roof, and Fancy Nancy. Kate works part time as a ceramicist at Bantam Tileworks. LEIF SMITH (Lighting Design) Leif Smith is a designer, artisan and musician from Redding. He is currently the Resident Scenic Designer for the children’s theater program at the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport. Past credits at New Milford include lighting Jesus Christ, Superstar and scenery for Lettuce and Lovage. He was scenographer for Mr. Sosbe’s productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Inherit the Wind and Desire Under the Elms; and lit The Adding Machine, all at Sherman Playhouse. Leif is a member of the musical trio, My Dad’s Truck and hosts Pickers’ Night Out, a weekly acoustic jam at the Redding Roadhouse. KEVIN SOSBE (Director/Scenic Design) Previous director credits include 1984, The Adding Machine, Desire Under The Elms, and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Kevin directed the staged reading of The Irish Curse, at TheatreWorks. Animal Farm marks the first full theatreworks.us
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
production at TheatreWorks. Area acting credits- Seminar, Barefoot In The Park, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Rabbit Hole, and a staged reading of Rosebud, The Lives Of Orson Welles. Kevin has been the head carpenter of the Westport Country Playhouse for 15 seasons, was the property supervisor for ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for two seasons, an adjunct professor in the theater department of WCSU, along with numerous jobs on television and stage productions. He lives in New Milford with his wife, Vicki, and their three children.
TWKids Summer 2017
This three-week program runs Monday through Friday beginning Monday, July 24 from 9am to 3pm each day. Performances: August 11-13. For more details visit http://theatreworks.us/kids.php
Chapter Two
Going To A Place Where You Already Are by Bekah Brunstetter March 9
Marjorie Prime
by Neil Simon July 27
Last Chance Romance
by Jordan Harrison May 8
theatreworks.us
by Sam Bobrick December 21
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2016-2017 ON THE MAIN STAGE
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