GARRISON PLAYERS ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON FOR ARTS CENTER

Photo Caption: President Rich Salvati presents the 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award to Scott Seely for his many contibutions to Garrison Players’ shows.

DOVER, NH—At the recent Annual Meeting at the Garrison Players Arts Center, new President, Rich Salvati, announced the upcoming 2011-12 season’s shows. Opening the season October 7, will be a delightful comedy, “The Butler Did It” by Tim Kelly, a spoof of English mystery plays done strictly for laughs. Next up is “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, a gripping Sherlock Holmes mystery adapted for the stage by Tim Kelly from the classic thriller by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which opens on November 18.

Susan Poulin, Maine’s comedic actress, brings her hilarious “A Very Ida Christmas” to the Garrison Players stage in December. On March 16, John VanDruten’s touching play about family life, “I Remember Mama” opens, followed on May 18 by Bob Randall’s modern comedy, “6 Rms Riv Vu.”

In his opening remarks, Salvati thanked his predecessors and stated his role as President as supporting the mission of Garrison Players and said, “I am still amazed at the accomplishments of this group, not the least of which is the purchase, rehabilitation and transformation of the historic Roberts Grange into the Arts Center we see today. We will continue to foster community involvement and strengthen the core assets of this organization which are the volunteers. A major part of our focus going forward will be the establishment of the “Friends of the Garrison Players” which will be an opportunity for the community to support the Arts Center in a meaningful way and allow us to continue to bring quality theatre, music and education to the community.”

Scott Seely, a Portsmouth veterinarian, was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work with sound on several Garrison Players shows over the years.

Guppie Awards, Garrison Players’ humorous version of the Oscars, were presented in various categories, including the “totally awesomeness” award to outgoing President, Francois Lamothe for his wonderful set designs. Nominations for Guppie awards are made throughout the year, usually “spontaneously following a significant gaff, goof, or other moment of distinction.”

Autumn Allen, director of Garrison Players’ young actor programs, also announced their Teen Theatre shows, beginning October 15 with “The Mouse That Roared” by Leonard Wibberly and adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel. In March, the teens will stage “A Kidsummer Night’s Dream,” book by Lynne Bartlett, Mark Leehy and Kevin O’Mara, with music and lyrics by David Billings, Rob Fairbairn, Mark Leehy and Kevin O’Mara. The Youth Theatre opens December 3 with the musical, “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster, followed in April with Roahl Dahl’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”

Garrison Players is a nonprofit, volunteer-based community theatre group dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the area by presenting high-quality theatrical performances geared for family audiences. Established in 1953, the players encourage people of all ages to enjoy and participate in the many facets of the performing arts; and to help maintain the new Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about Garrison Players and the season’s shows, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

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