SCREENCAP OF THE WEEK:

JANUARY 22, 2012

Dr. James Elrod, one of the founders of Putnam County Playhouse.  Here he is onstage at the Grand Opening of the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on June 4, 1983.

Dr. Elrod talked to the invited audience about the early

years of PCPH.

Click HERE to see a program from the Grand Opening.

SCREENCAP OF THE WEEK: 

JANUARY 15, 2012

We have a few video tapes of shows that were done during our first seasons in the barn.  In this space each week we will show you a moment from one of these shows!  Enjoy!!

BRIGADOON - 1988 - Directed by Vickie Parker

On July 16, 1988, on the closing night of Brigadoon, the Board of Directors and the cast applauded Ann Cooper [Swanson].  Ann [center] had served many years on the Board and had played in the pit for many shows in her nineteen years with PCPH.  Ann had wanted to do Brigadoon for many seasons.  This was her last show with us [to date!] as she was moving to Missouri.  Jim Poor [left] gave a short speech after the curtain call, and Ann was presented with a brass music stand, a bouquet of flowers, and our best wishes!  Also pictured at right is cast member Steve Robles.

FROM GREENCASTLE TO BROADWAY!!!

As reported by Playbill.com, the play WIT directed by Lynne Meadow and starring Tony winner Cynthia Nixon will open at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 5, 2012.  The play is a Pulitzer Prize winning drama and previously was produced Off-Broadway.  It was written by Margaret Edson.

Zachary Spicer, former Putnam County resident, who appeared in such PCPH productions as Fiddler on the Roof (directed by Ernie Ford) and The Glass Menagerie (directed by Larry Sutton) will play the role of a Technician and also cover other roles in the production.

Previews will begin on January 5, with the official opening planned

for January 26 .

The theatre is located at 261 West 47th Street in New York City.

For more information visit the website:

www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com

Congratulations, Zachary!

Click on the cast photo below to see more photos

and read more about WIT.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

L - R: Chike Johnson, Jessica Dickey, Greg Keller, Carra Patterson, Cynthia Nixon, Suzanne Bertish, Michael Countryman,

Pun Bandhu, Zachary Spicer

McFADDEN PREVAILS TO TAKE HOME

"HAMMY" AWARD

At the annual meeting of the Putnam County Playhouse which was held on Sunday, October 30, actor-director Ric McFadden was awarded the heralded Upstage Award - aka The Hammy.  McFadden was recognized for his role of The Chef in September's production of Don't Drink the Water, directed by Jim Rambo.

The crowd of nearly 30 people were hushed in anticipation (with exception), as Board Member Linda Gjesvold handed Board Member Beth Bax the all-important envelope.  Bax explained in detail the criteria used for the top secret voting process.  She then read the list of nominees.  Quiet approval - in general - met each name:

Annie Weltz and Jack Randall Earles for The Music Man directed by Shelly McFadden

Ivan Glotzbach and Cy Spencer for Cheaper By the Dozen directed by Lita Sandy

Brad Sandy and Alixandra Green for Camelot directed by Jack Randall Earles

McFadden and Michael McClaine for Don't Drink the Water directed by Jim Rambo

The name of the winner was met with applause by those present, for the most part.  This is McFadden's second Upstage Award.  He previously won for I'll Be Back Before Midnight directed by Jack Randall Earles.

Earlier in the day, the award had disappeared from the President's table.  It was finally found wrapped in the coat of an unnamed person.

Our 50th anniversary season performances have now ended.

Thanks to everyone for your great support this year!

Please visit us here to read about our Annual Meeting coming up in October and for details about our 51st season.

DON'T DRINK THE WATER!

Ended its run on September 17th.

CAMELOT

The 50th season of PCPH continues with a production of the Lerner and Loewe musical Camelot.  It will be presented August 11-13 and again August 17-20.  All performances begin at 8 p.m. 

The musical is directed by Jack Randall Earles.  Musical director is Ric McFadden with Marilyn Burdsall as pit conductor and pianist. Assistant director is Sandi Rossok.

Camelot is sponsored in part by First National Bank.

McFadden plays King Arthur, a role he first played at PCPH in 1993.  Joining him as Guenevere is Ashlee Vitz, who is making her PCPH debut. Other leading players include Kenneth Lee Buchanan as Lancelot, Dan Stockton as Pelllinore, Brad Sandy as Mordred, and Chris Wurster as Merlin.

Songs from the score include “I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight?”, “If Ever I Would Leave You”, “Lusty Month of May”, and the title tune.

Playing  knights and courtiers in the cast are Pete Edberg, Dale Grove, Cameron Callan, TJ Tincher, George Howard, and Alex Asbell. 

Ladies at court are played by Eleanor Howard, Kayla Myer, Jodi Wingler, Katie Wingler, and Alixandra Green.

Younger roles are taken by Matthew Myer and Luke Myer.

Joining Burdsall in the pit are Alex Cole, Lynne Tweedie, and Marcia Boswell.  Production stage manager is Jessica Masner.  Emily Gill is working on the stage crew.  Technical director is Jim Green.  Special set design is by Linda Gjesvold.

Costume manager is Shelly McFadden with assistance from Rossok and Sarah Bond.  Set construction was by McFadden, Sandy, and Gjesvold.

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

IN REHEARSAL

The 50th season of Putnam County Playhouse continues in July with a production of the comedy Cheaper By the Dozen.  It will be presented July 14-16 and again July 20-23. All performances are at 8 p.m. 

Directed by Lita Sandy, the play by Christopher Sergel is based on the popular book by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. The book was made into a popular movie in the early 1950’s, and the title was used again for a film in 2003. The play most closely follows events in the earlier film.

The setting is the 1920’s, and the complications of raising such a large family result in hilarious consequences for the entire Gilbreth family.

Cheaper By the Dozen is sponsored in part by Hammer & Co. CPA.  To learn more about our sponsor, click HERE.

This production features TJ Tincher as father, Frank Gilbreth, and Lori Baker as his wife, Lillian. Other adults featured include Mary Ann Birt as the family maid, Mrs. Fitzgerald; Kim Brattain as teacher, Mrs. Brill; and Clarence Long as Dr. Burton.

The Gilbreth children are played by Aidan Baker, Elijah Brattain, Hannah Brattain, Reba Chapple, Alaine Chew, Brayden Chew, Ryan Deaton, Ivan Glotzbach, Madison King, and Thomas Whitcomb.

Logan Beck plays Larry and Cy Spencer is Joe Scales.

Kim Brattain is assistant director, and Brad Sandy is the stage manager.

YOUTH THEATRE WORKSHOP UNDERWAY

PRODUCTION SET FOR JUNE 25 - 7 P.M.

The 2011 edition of the Youth Theatre Workshop at Putnam County Playhouse is underway.  Director Caroline Good plans two productions of William Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They will both be presented on Saturday, June 25, at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $3 for those over age 12.  Audience members under age 12 receive free admission. Tickets will be available only at the door.

Appearing in the middle school presentation are Donovan Asbell, Chloe Bodnarick, Mary Allen, Lindsey Davis, Simon Foss, Ben Gellman, Lindsay Bridgewater, JenJe Studer, and Lily Spencer.

Others participating include Libby Brush, Susanna Howard, Logan Beck, David Maginity, Emma Bodnarick, Corinne Buchanan, Emma Newton, Amy Gong, Hannah Williams, Ciara Lippard, Britten Botzum, Kate Hershberger, Madi Woodall, Hannah Miller, Liam Guinee, and Jakob Foss. 

Alisa Isaacs-Bailey is directing the middle school group with assistance from Eleanor Howard and Debra Armitage.

The performers in the high school group includes Ethan Gill, Joe Pejril, Madie Egold, Joe Lippard, Jessica Maginity, Lucas Eckrich, Cody Warren, Ashley Smith, Charlie Campbell, and Rachel Jarvis.  Also participating are Chloe Maginity, George Howard, Alex Asbell, Mary Pearly Ivey, Dylan Bodnarick, Carly Rhine, Grace Merrell, Elise Merrell, Abbie Harms, CorrineTrigg, Sydney Harmon, Dominique Lafontant, Patrick Allen, and Hannah Gellman.

Good is directing the older group with assistance from Armitage and Heather Owens. Technical assistants are Lauren Good and Adam Jayne handling the lights and sound both of which are being designed by Jon Good.

The workshop consists of two weeks of intensive practical theatre experience during which the participants learn techniques in acting, stage craft, and history.

THE MUSIC MAN ENDED ITS

RUN ON JUNE 11!!

The 50th season of Putnam County Playhouse opens with Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. It will be produced June 2-4 and June 8-11. All performances begin at 8 p.m.

The musical is being directed by Shelly McFadden who directed last season’s comedy Never Too Late.  Music director and pianist is Marilyn Burdsall. Others in the pit include Michael McClaine, Drew Brattain, Marcia Boswell, and Luke Smedley. Vocal direction is by Kathryn Dory.

The show is being sponsored in part by:

Duke Energy Foundation

Click on the logo to learn more about Duke Energy Foundation

and

First National Bank

Click on the logo to learn more about First National Bank

Playing the leading roles are Ric McFadden as Harold Hill, who arrives in River City, Iowa, to raise money for a boy’s band; and Caroline Good as Marian Paroo, the local piano teacher who sees through his scheme.

Performers in featured roles include Eleanor Howard as Marian’s mother; Donovan Asbell as Winthrop, her brother; Scott Armitage as Marcellus Washburn; and Annie Weltz as Ethel Toffelmeier.

The cast also includes Jack Randall Earles and McFadden as Mayor Shinn and his wife; Alixandra Green and Arianna Pershing as their daughters; and Kenny Buchanan as Tommy Djilas. The local school board, a singing quartet, is Alex Asbell, Dustin Bond, Troy Pierce, and Jim Rambo.

Others playing roles are Jim Green,  Susanna Howard,  Mira Hoffman,  Kyla Scheuermann,  Kayla Myer,  Don Wilson,  Clarence Long, and 

Deb Gannaway.

The ensemble includes  Amelia Beck, Sidney Cassida, Kaila Thurston, Fiona White, Carly Rhine, Elise Merrell, Seth Miller, Joe Lippard, Alex Briones, Ethan Gill, Sarah Bond, Josie Wood, Kay Wood, Kristen Hutcheson, Owen Boatright, Bailey Hornsby, and Matthew Myer.

Also in the cast are Gayle Baugh,  Mia Muckey,  Fiona Good,  Marin Nally, Kensie Bumgarnder,  Mary Katherine Asbell,  Lindsey Bridgewater,  Seelye Stoffregan,  Alice Howard, and Shelby Paxton. 

Assistant director is TJ Tincher. Choreographer is Lori Briones. Linda Gjesvold is the scene designer, and Matt McClaine is the technical director for the musical.  Costume design is by Pat Armitage and Sarah Bond, who also constructed the costumes along with Heather Hastings. Running the

lights is Melissa Green.

Production Stage Manager is Jessica Masner. On the stage crew are Josh Masner, Heather Muttart, Cy Spencer, and Sarah Dory.  Special scenic painting was done by Sarah McClaine and Carrie Howe.

                                                                        Banner-Graphic Photo by Eric Bernsee

L-R: Vickie Parker, Jack Randall Earles, Peggy McClaine, Michael McClaine, Mayor Sue Murray,

Deb Grammel, Linda Gjesvold, Larry Sutton, Jim Poor

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

On Friday, May 20, Greencastle Mayor Susan V. Murray proclaimed the week of May 22 - May 28, 2011,

Putnam County Playhouse 50th Anniversary Week.

Those present at the reading of the proclamation included current PCPH Board President Michael McClaine, and seven past presidents of the organization, Jim Poor, Larry Sutton, Linda Gjesvold, Vickie Parker, Peggy McClaine, Deb Grammel, and Jack Randall Earles.  Gjesvold, Parker, and Earles currently serve on the Board of Directors, as well.

The celebratory week will end with an Open House at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on Saturday, May 28,

from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Click on the proclamation below to read the text of the official document!

HERITAGE WALL DEDICATION HELD

The Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County recognized Putnam County Playhouse for 50 years of cultural contributions to the community with a plaque on the Heritage Wall in Greencastle.

The event was held on Saturday, May 14.

Speakers included Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray, Putnam County Heritage Preservation Society President Phil Gick, and HPS treasurer, Ken Eitel.

PCPH President Michael McClaine and board member Vickie Parker also spoke to the guests.

The Heritage Wall, created on a building owned by Lester and Judy Wilson located on the west side of Vine Street just south of Washington Street, has been made possible by gifts from the Putnam County Foundation, the Heritage Preservation Society, friends of the society in Greencastle, DePauw University alumni and many others.

NEW!!

Most programs from our past seasons can now be viewed on our "Attendance History" page. 

Click HERE to view them. 

If you have a program that is not included and would like to share JPEGS of it, we would appreciate your sending them along to us!

Don't forget to return your Fund Drive Letter!

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