Garrison Players Arts Center Kicks off 60th Season with Steel Magnolias, September 14-23

DOVER - Season opener Steel Magnolias kicks off Garrison Players Arts Center’s 60th Season. The show will be the first to be produced on GPAC's brand new stage, professionally constructed over the course of the summer thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. 

Concerned with a close-knit group of southern ladies, Steel Magnolias is hilarious, touching and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength of true friendship.  Written by Robert Harling, the dramatic comedy is set in a beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant Annelle (Kate Gilbert), the wise-cracking Truvy (Elizabeth Holcomb) dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon Ouiser (Carol Bitov), eccentric millionaire Miss Clairee (Kate Kirkwood), and the local social leader M'Lynn (Debra Martuscello Wiley), whose daughter Shelby (Teddi Kenick-Bailey) is about to marry. Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the women discover their underlying strength—and love.

Directed by Danielle Howard, performances at the Garrison Players Arts Center are September 14-16, 21-23, 28-29 at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00 p.m. on Sundays.  Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students (under 18). They can be purchased at the door, by calling 603-750-4ART or at the newly-designed GPAC website, www.garrisonplayers.org. The theater is located on Route 4, at the corner of Roberts Road in Rollinsford.

Garrison Players Arts Center (GPAC) 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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows or GPAC, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS HOSTS ROMANTIC MUSICAL

DOVER – The Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford will host, "Impersonators of Romance – A Night to Remember", directed by Carol MacDonald. The evening will feature many legends of radio, stage, and television. See your favorite singers and performers come to life for an evening filled with romance.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. on Friday & Saturday, June 15 & 16th and 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 17th.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for Senior Citizens. Cash or check only. For further information or to reserve tickets call 603-512-4210.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS CLOSE 59th SEASON WITH “I HATE HAMLET”

Photo Caption: L to R: Jessica Lyn Berman as Deirdre, Josh Brown as Andy, Megan Karas as Felicia and Leslie Hamblin as Lillian, trying to summon the ghost of John Barrymore.

DOVER – Maybe the name Shakespeare conjures up dusty memories of hours spent bored to tears in high school English classes. Or perhaps you were one of those for whom the cavorting of bawdy Elizabethans was the high point of your week. Either way, you are sure to get a kick out of playwright Paul Rudnick’s explosively funny comedy “I Hate Hamlet,” the season closer at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 1- 3, 8 - 10.

Andrew Rally (Josh Brown) is the up-and-coming young star of a recently canceled television series, who has just arrived with his real estate agent, Felicia Dantine (Megan Davenport Karas) at what is to be his new apartment in New York City. Rally, a native of Los Angeles, is more than a little put off by the brooding Gothic trappings of the apartment. The fact that it once belonged to the legendary actor, John Barrymore, does nothing to dissipate Rally's reservations. He is doubly disturbed, as he is soon to perform the difficult part of Hamlet, the role made famous by Barrymore, and he is to do it onstage at Shakespeare in the Park, away from the glitter of Hollywood. As his LA friend Gary (Seth Mazzaglia) calls it, “theatre for squirrels!”

Andrew and Felicia are soon joined by his agent, Lillian Troy, (Leslie Hamblin), and his girlfriend, the 29 year old perennial virgin, Deirdre McDavey (Jessica Berman). Troy, many years ago, had a brief fling with Barrymore in this very apartment. Excited, Felicia claims she is able to communicate with departed spirits through her mother and suggests they try to summon up Barrymore to verify Lillian's claim. Encouraged by Deirdre, Felicia begins the séance…

Under the guidance of British Director Tim Robinson, the laughs promise to be nonstop as Andrew wrestles with his conscience, Barrymore, his sword, and the fact that his fiancée won’t have sex until he has played Hamlet!

Written in 1991, “I Hate Hamlet” premiered on Broadway with huge success. It was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor, a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress, and won two Theatre World Awards. Its playwright, Paul Rudnick, was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 1993 for Outstanding New Play.

            Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org, or by calling 603-750-4ART. Show times are 8pm for evening performances, and 3pm for Sunday matinees.
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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

Double Shot of A Cappella at Garrison Players Art Center

Get set for a full night of a cappella at 8 pm on Saturday, April 28, at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford, NH, as Seacoast-based Tuckermans at 9 welcomes special guest Talk To The Hand from Reading, Massachusetts.

“There is so much a cappella talent out there"! says Tuckermans at 9 baritone, founder, and Dover resident, Mark Miller. "We perform year-round in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, and we love to share the stage. Our 'help wanted' notice for a group to open our next show generated an overwhelming response. And we’re very excited to have Talk To The Hand join us here in New Hampshire.”

Talk To The Hand is a four-woman a cappella group that rocks out venues in and around Boston. Together, Emily, Liz, Sarah, and Laura offer music from a mind-boggling variety of pop, rock, and country artists. Both groups have been longtime audience favorites for years. "The voices make all the music," explains Miller. "Neither group uses instruments or pre-recorded instrumental tracks, ever. Everything you hear, including what sounds like brass, electric guitars, or drums, is totally vocal. And we hope to bring the two groups together at the end of the show for a joint finale."

Seven-voice Tuckermans at 9, aka T9, performs a cappella versions of well-known pop, rock, blues, and light jazz favorites, mostly from the 1960s to today. Recent additions to the group’s repertoire are “Desperado” by The Eagles, Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts”, and “Beat It” by Michael Jackson. Soprano Ashley Gove, altos Kam Damtoft and Frances Lipe, tenors Walt Porter and Daryl Robertson, and bass Bill Hersman round out the group’s roster. T9 sound tech Tony Berke will mix both groups.

"Two great groups for one price," says Miller. "This really is a show for all ages and a wide range of musical tastes. There's something for everyone." Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org, by calling 603-750-4ART, or at the door.

Photo Caption: L to R: Caitlin Ray, Brooke Nevins, Sammy the cat, Savannah Carberry, Andrew Bennington, Alan Huisman and Lisa Hutchinson

GARRISON PLAYERS PRESENTS “I REMEMBER MAMA”

DOVER – Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will present “I Remember Mama,” written by John Van Druten and adapted from Kathryn Forbes’ book, “Mama’s Bank Account,” on March 16-18, 23-25, 30 and 31 at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford.

“I Remember Mama” is centered around Katrin, the oldest daughter, played by Caitlin Ray, a music student at UNH, and is about her many memories of her family as Katrin flashes back to her childhood. Lisa Hutchinson, a Rochester native who was seen in Garrison Players’ Wizard of Oz and Prescott Park’s production of Oliver!, plays Mama, with Seacoast actor, Alan Huisman as Papa. The play also features 12-year-old Brook Nevins as Katrin’s sister Dagmar; Savannah Carberry, an 8th grader at Portsmouth Christian Academy, as Christine; Andrew Bennington as brother Nels; Nash Tasker as Arne; and newcomer Chris Dunmyer.

Director Carol Seely describes the play as, “first and foremost, about family and the relationships among family members. Each character is a unique individual, as well as being part of a wonderful family faced with all that families must endure to flourish and grow. It is a very unique look at everyday life with all the laughter and some tears that come with relationships.” Award-winning set designer, Francois Lamothe, with set decorator Kristin St. Hilaire and her crew, and set builder Tom Dunnington, have managed to construct “a workable set” within the size constraints of the Garrison Players Arts Center stage. The period costumes were designed and constructed by talented costumer, Barbara Rowe, Carol Davenport, and Cindel Lamothe.

Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org, or by calling 603-750-4ART. Show times are 8pm for evening performances, and 3pm for Sunday matinees.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

Garrison Players Auditions

Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will hold auditions for two upcoming shows, “6 Rms Riv Vu” to be staged in May, and “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which will open in November.

Auditions for “6 Rms Riv Vu,” a romantic comedy directed by Donna Phofolos, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 19 and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4, Rollinsford. "Sides" will be available for all interested actors before the audition dates. They can be picked up at the Arts Center on March 12-15 and 17, after 6:00 p.m.

The play, which features roles for four women and four men of various ages, is about a couple who have never met before and find themselves locked in a vacant Manhattan apartment that they both wish to rent. An unexpected connection forms between them, and sharing their life experiences leads to a mutual attraction that drives the story. The play will be performed on May 18-20 and 25-27.

Auditions for “Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be held on Saturday March 17 from 12.30pm to 3.30pm and Thursday March 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and are open to everyone, no matter the age or experience. All roles are available, with the possibility of some “non-traditional” casting. Director Tim Robinson says, “If Shakespeare frightens the life out of you do not worry! There will be a session aimed at demystifying The Bard and his language before rehearsals start.”

Auditioners are requested to come comfortably dressed, as they may be asked to dance, and they should prepare a10-line monologue from any of Shakespeare’s plays. Robinson adds, “Some of the characters will need to dance and play musical instruments. If you can do those things well, that’s a bonus, but mostly the characters will be expected to do both comically and badly! If you can juggle, somersault, eat-fire (just kidding there) or something similar, that too, would be of interest.”

Monologue auditions for “Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be individual in 5-minute time slots, so auditioners are asked to call 603-948-2796 or email whollyterra@hotmail.com for a time.

Garrison Players Holds Auditions for Musical Comedy

Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will hold open auditions for The Beckoning, on two Saturdays - February 4 and 11, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford.

Imagine if "The Daily Show" merged with "The Capitol Steps," and you'll have a pretty good idea of what The Beckoning is about - a hilarious send-up of the state of the world today and a lot of fun to be a part of.

Political comedy programs by Dan Bernard and Program Already in Progress, similar to The Beckoning have been featured on radio, as well as on stage in Portland, ME, Boston and Toronto.

The Beckoning will be staged on April 14, 2012, and calls for actors who are comfortable playing comedy, or would like to try their hand at it. All songs are parodies of well-known popular songs from the 1960's to today. This is a fun show that calls for a collaborative spirit, sense of play and an open mind. We are seeking adult actors of any age, male and female, to play various roles. An ability to sing and dance is a plus. (A must for some roles)

Auditioners are asked to bring a piece to read or perform, as well as sheet music, or a simple song to perform a cappella.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

Shaking Things Up in Rollinsford!

You may have seen juggling, but you haven’t truly experienced it until you’ve seen the explosive, inventive juggling of brothers Matthew and Jason Tardy in their show, TWO: High Energy Juggling. The Garrison Players Arts Center, located at the corner of Route 4 and Roberts Road in Rollinsford, presents the dynamic duo for one show only, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 12th. The TWO brothers are here to show everyone what high energy juggling is all about!

The Atlantis Resort calls them “AMAZING!”, Inside Edition has dubbed them "One of the hottest juggling acts in the country!" and Fox News says “They make their Momma proud!” Featuring their own brand of relentless sarcastic wit, physical comedy, live music and high energy juggling, Matthew and Jason Tardy have created an unstoppable performance that has audiences on their feet!

TWO has been touring professionally at theaters, colleges and resorts for over 17 years, with such highlights as the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, the Golden Phoenix Casino in Reno, Nevada, and even three times at The White House in Washington, DC! Matthew and Jason have also been seen on CBS Sunday Morning, Inside Edition, and David Letterman.

Come see why the Oddfellow Theater called it “A totally rockin’ experience for the whole family!”

Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org or at the door. Show time is 3 p.m. and doors open at 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.TwoShow.com.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

A Very Ida Christmas – starring Susan Poulin

December 16, 17, 18, 2011 at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. Evening shows at 8 p.m., Sunday matinee at 3 p.m.

It’s Christmas in Mahoosuc Mills, Maine and Ida LeClair’s holiday spirit could light up an entire inflatable penguin village. Come on over to Ida’s and pick up a few holiday decorating tips, discover the “secret” in the not-so-secret Santa plan and get the latest scoop on Ida’s Christmas craft project with her pals, the Women Who Run With the Moose. Ida’s no Scrooge, so banish your bah-humbug’s and prepare to laugh!

Tickets, at $18 for adults and $10 for students are available by calling 750-4ART, or online at www.garrisonplayers.org.

Garrison Players Announces Auditions for March Show

Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will hold auditions for “I Remember Mama,” written by John Van Druten and adapted from Kathryn Forbes’ book, “Mama’s Bank Account,” at 7 p.m. on December 27 and 28 at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford.

Auditioners should come prepared to cold read from the script. There are roles available for 13 women and 9 men of various ages, and all roles are open. Actors should bring a copy of their resume, but Garrison Players encourages those who haven't been onstage before to come out for these auditions, as there are several roles suitable for less experienced actors. Anyone who might want to work backstage in any capacity is also encouraged to attend the auditions. If you would like to audition, but cannot make the scheduled time, or would like more information about the show, please email k9vet@rcn.com.

Directed by Carol Seely, “I Remember Mama” is centered around the memories of Katrin, the oldest daughter, and will be staged at the Garrison Players Arts Center March 16-18, 23-25, 30 and 31, 2012.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

Garrison Players Holds Auditions For February Musical Comedy

Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will hold open auditions for The Beckoning, an original musical comedy which holds a comedic mirror to today's political world, on Thursday, December 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Featuring characters well-known from all sides of the political spectrum--politicians, candidates, pundits, protesters, terrorists, Tea Partiers, entertainers - the show is a fast-paced revue of musical political satire and much more. Imagine if "The Daily Show" merged with "The Capitol Steps," and you'll have a pretty good idea of what The Beckoning is about. Packed with song parodies, sketches, dance, fake broadcasts with faux commercials, it is a hilarious send-up of the state of the world today.

Dan Bernard, screenwriter and playwright for stage and radio, will be presenting his musical comedy The Beckoning as a benefit performance in collaboration with the Garrison Players in February 2012. Garrison Players is looking forward to working with Dan and producing this exciting new show. Dan enjoys bringing audiences an eclectic comedy experience, merging improvisers, "regular" actors, musicians, singers and other artists in unusual combinations, yielding a tasty product that serves a roomful.

The Beckoning calls for actors who are comfortable not only playing comedy, but doubling and tripling roles. All songs are parodies of well-known popular songs from the 1960's to today. This is a fun show that calls for a collaborative spirit, sense of play and an open mind.

Roles needed are: a large-ish guy to play Rush Limbaugh and/or Chris Matthews, among other smaller roles; two women to play Rachel Maddow (MSNBC host), an Occupy protester with monologue, and other smaller roles. Some dance is helpful for these main roles, and singing skills are necessary. Three to four other actors (two men, two women) with the ability to play comedy and various roles in one show are also needed. Singing is a real plus. A range of ages are suitable to these roles.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS PRESENTS SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY

Tom Dunnington as Dr. Watson and Phil Adams as Sherlock Holmes in the mystery, “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, opening Friday, November 18 at 8 pm at the Garrison Players Arts Center in Rollinsford.

DOVER – Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, presents Hound of the Baskervilles on November 18-20 and December 2-4 at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. Please note that there are no performances on Thanksgiving weekend. Evening shows are at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

A mystery adapted for the stage by Tim Kelly of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novel, the play is directed by Garrison Players newcomer, Chris MacEachern.

Audience members are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to place in the Dover Fire Department’s Toy Bank box at the theatre. Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org, or by calling 750-4ART.

Probably the most famous and popular of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Hound of the Baskervilles deals with the curse of the Baskerville family, and the fiendish killer hound which stalks its members. Sir Charles Baskerville has died under mysterious circumstances, and his nephew and heir, the young Sir Henry, has been threatened even before his arrival at Baskerville Hall. Enlisting the aid of Sherlock Holmes, he sets out for his ancestral home in the company of Dr. Watson, Holmes' trusted colleague, a journey which brings him to danger, mystery and suspense.

Hound of the Baskervilles features long-time Garrison Players actor Tom Dunnington in the role of Holmes’ sidekick, Dr. Watson, and Phil Adams in the role of Sherlock Holmes. Adams has performed with Seacoast Rep and Prescott Park, as well as in the Garrison Players season opener, The Butler Did It. Playing the imperiled Sir Henry Baskerville is Seth Mazzaglia, with Jessica Lynn Berman as his girlfriend, Kathy Stapleton, and Chris Gempp as half-mad brother, Jack Stapleton. The play also features husband and wife Leslie Hamblin and Tim Robinson as Lady Agatha Mortimer and the sinister butler, Barrymore. Filling out the Baskerville Manor’s household staff are Mary Irons as the fearful Mrs. Barrymore and Carol Adams Bitov as the timid village maid, Perkins.

In the true community theatre mode, this play is directed by Chris MacEachern, with her daughter Lizzie as Stage Manager, and another daughter, Katie, playing the role of the troubled and secretive Laura Lyons; as well as Megan Davenport Karas and her mother, Carol Davenport, working on the period costumes with Barbara Rowe; and Producer Carol Seely with husband Scott, who designed the sound for the production.

MacEachern says that “The inspiration for some of the plot comes from the legend of Squire Richard Cabell, who lived during the 17th century. He was known as a passionate hunter and a “monstrously evil man.” He died in July 1677, and it is claimed that on the night of his interment, a pack of phantom hounds came baying across the moor to howl at his tomb. Some people claim that on the anniversary of his death he leads the pack around the moors, and when he is not leading them, they can often be found circling his grave and howling. The villagers of the time built a large building around the tomb and placed a slab across the top to keep Cabell’s evil ghost from escaping. Cabell’s tomb can be seen in the Devon town of Buckfastleigh. With inspiration like that and Doyle’s genius for setting mood and weaving complex plots, it is no surprise that The Hound of the Baskervilles continues to engage audiences around the world.”

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS ANNOUNCES ACTING WORKSHOP

DOVER – Garrison Players recently announced the beginning of a series of workshops. The first, under the direction of Debra Martuscello Wiley, a longtime member of the Seacoast theatre scene, is titled “Acting Without the Drama” and will be held weekly from October 9 to December 11 at 8 p.m. at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. This workshop for adults, with or without previous acting experience, will explore the many aspects of acting, including improv, auditioning, comedy, drama, monologues, and scene work. Cost is $180 per student, which is only $10 a class and payment arrangements are available.

Wiley previously directed the dark comedy, “Crimes of the Heart,” which was nominated for several NH Theatre awards, and has acted in “The Miracle Worker” and “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” for Garrison Players.

For more information, or to register, call 603-380-4700 or email DWiley224@live.com.

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 Community Arts Center. For more information about Garrison Players, call (603) 516-4919 or e-mail info@garrisonplayers.org. Visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS ANNOUNCES YOUTH THEATRE PROGRAMS

DOVER – Garrison Players Youth Theatre, under the direction of Ms. Autumn Allen, recently announced the 2010-2011 Season schedules of workshops, including Theatre Tots for children age 4-7 years, which begins on Wednesday, September 28 from 4-4:45 p.m. and runs through November 16. This program is an excellent way to build confidence skills in young children.

The Youth Program (Theatre Stars) for children age 7 to 13 will begin on Wednesday, September 28 from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m., and run through November 15. This is the program which starts to show your children the real fantasy of theater.

The Youth Theatre will hold auditions for the musical, “The Phantom Toll Booth” on September 29 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. Children auditioning should prepare a brief monologue and approximately 16 bars of a song. Rehearsals for this production will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. “The Phantom Toll Booth” will be staged December 3, 4, 10 and 11, with shows at 11a.m. on Saturdays and noon on Sundays. For audition appointments, please contact Ms. Autumn at 603-834-4263.

Cost for all programs are $125 per student and are held at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. No previous experience is necessary to enter these programs, as basic theatre skills will be taught throughout the rehearsal process. Only 20 students are accepted for each of these programs. For more information, call 603-516-4919 or email info@garrisonplayers.org.

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 Community Arts Center. For more information about Garrison Players, call (603) 516-4919 or e-mail info@garrisonplayers.org. Visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS OPENS SEASON WITH COMEDIC MYSTERY

Photo Caption: Tinka Finley as Miss Maple (center front) with her Ravenswood Manor guests, Laura and Rick Carlyle, played by Tracy Singer and Rich Salvati; Chandler Marlowe played by Phil Hesketh; and Charity Haze played by Jessica Berman.

DOVER – Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will open their 2011-12 season with Tim Kelly’s “The Butler Did It,” a delightful comedy that spoofs English mystery plays, but with a decidedly American flavor.

“The Butler Did It” opens on Friday, October 7 and runs through October 22, with Friday and Saturday evening shows at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org or by calling 603-750-4ART.

Miss Maple, a society dowager, noted for her "imaginative" weekend parties, invites a group of detective writers to eerie Ravenswood Manor on Turkey Island. Played by Tinka Finley, who won the NH Theatre Association’s 2010 award for Best Actress in a comedy or drama for her performance in The Importance of Being Earnest, she instructs the writers to assume the personalities of their favorite fictional characters.

Director Megan Davenport Karas, who grew up in local theatres, graduated from the UNH Theatre Department and has appeared in several Garrison Players productions, says “It is chock full of running gags, puns, melodrama, mistaken identity, as well as many other little winks over the proverbial shoulder to the ‘Golden Age’ of the detective novel. Playwright Tim Kelly nods to the likes of Philip Marlowe and Father Brown, Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man fame, Lord Peter Whimsey, Charlie Chan, and even the less known comic book heroine Modesty Blaise. The joy of The Butler Did It is that the storyline is so convoluted and the characters so delightful, that even if you don't catch every reference to the old detective genre, you are inevitably in for an evening of fun, frivolous entertainment.”

The Butler Did It also features Nellie Teeling as Haversham, the mysterious maid. Nellie, a senior at Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy, is, at a young age, a veteran of local theatre, having appeared in Gypsy and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Oyster River Players, as well as in Garrison Players’ Crimes of the Heart. British ex-pat Emily Steltzer, who played Catherine in The Foreigner last season, plays social secretary Rita Eyelsbarrow. Appearing as the Sam Spade character, Chandler Marlowe, is Phil Hesketh, who was last seen as Bernard in last season’s Don’t Dress for Dinner. Rick and Laura Carlyle, Kelly’s homage to The Thin Man’s Nick and Nora Charles, are played by Rich Salvati and Tracy Singer. The comedy also features Noah Nelsen, a first-time Garrison Player, as Louie Fan, Richard Harris, last seen as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, as Father White, and Jessica Lynn Berman, who last appeared in Crimes of the Heart and The Dining Room, as Charity Haze.

With a set designed by local performer, Tim Robinson, and lighting and sound design by Paul Barton and Scott Seely, this show promises to be one of the highlights of the theatre season. The Garrison Players Arts Center is air-conditioned and handicap accessible.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS OPENS SEASON WITH COMEDIC MYSTERY

DOVER – Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will open their 2011-12 season with Tim Kelly’s “The Butler Did It,” a delightful comedy that spoofs English mystery plays, but with a decidedly American flavor.

“The Butler Did It” opens on Friday, October 7 and runs through October 22, with Friday and Saturday evening shows at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available online at www.garrisonplayers.org or by calling 603-750-4ART.

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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Boston's a cappella vocal group "Ball in the House" performing at Garrison Players Arts Center

Boston’s a cappella vocal group Ball in the House will be coming back to the Dover area to perform live at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13 at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. The concert will benefit the Dover Food Pantry, so attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item.

Ball in the House is five guys, five voices, that's it. Maybe you’ve seen them on NBC’s The TODAY Show? Or from CBS’s The Early Show? America’s Got Talent? As the voices on the KRAFT Cool Whip commercials, or on local radio stations WOKQ or WTSN-AM?

Tickets, at $18 for adults and $12 for students, are available by calling 603-750-4ART or online at www.garrisonplayers.org.

GARRISON PLAYERS ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR FALL SHOWS

DOVER – Garrison Players, the Dover area’s all-volunteer community theatre group, will hold auditions for their first two shows of the 2011-12 season at 7 p.m. on July 12 and 13 at the Garrison Players Arts Center, Route 4 in Rollinsford. Call backs will be on Thursday, July 14. Auditions are being held for the comedy,

“The Butler Did It” by Tim Kelly, and “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, a mystery adapted for the stage by Tim Kelly of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novel.

Auditioners should come prepared to cold read from the scripts, and may try out for either, or both shows. There are roles available for 5 men and 5 women for each play and all roles are open. Actors should bring a copy of their resume, even if it's a little dusty, as Garrison Players encourages those who haven't been onstage in awhile to come out for these auditions. Anyone who might want to work backstage in any capacity is also encouraged to attend the auditions.

“The Butler Did It” is a delightful comedy that spoofs English mystery plays, but with a decidedly American flavor. Miss Maple, a society dowager noted for her "imaginative" weekend parties, invites a group of detective writers to eerie Ravenswood Manor on Turkey Island where they are to assume the personalities of their favorite fictional characters. This play successfully interweaves all the classic elements with an imaginative approach. It is great fun and strictly for laughs. It will be directed by Megan Davenport Karas and staged on October 7-9; 14-16, 21 and 22, 2011.

“The Hound of the Baskervilles” is perhaps the most famous and popular of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries and deals with the curse of the Baskerville family, and the fiendish killer hound which stalks its members. Sir Charles Baskerville has died under mysterious circumstances, and his nephew and heir, the young Sir Henry, has been threatened even before his arrival at Baskerville Hall. Enlisting the aid of Sherlock Holmes, he sets out for his ancestral home in the company of Dr. Watson, Holmes' trusted colleague, a journey which brings him to danger, mystery and suspense. Directed by Chris MacEachern, this show will be staged on November 18-20 and December 2-4, 2011.

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 Garrison Players Arts Center. For more information about auditions, shows, or the Garrison Players, visit the website at www.garrisonplayers.org.

The Garrison Players' invites the public to their Annual Pot Luck Dinner

The Garrison Players’ invites the public to their Annual Pot Luck Dinner on Sunday, May 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Garrison Players Arts Center on Route 4 in Rollinsford. This fun event is open to the public and there is no charge, but attendees are asked to bring a favorite “Pot Luck” dish to share. The 2011 Guppy Awards will be presented, as will the new “Minnow Awards” for participants in the youth program. Soft drinks, utensils and paper goods will be provided.

At the Annual Meeting, Garrison Players will announce the upcoming 2011-12 season’s shows, and introduce the new Board of Directors. Anyone interested in learning more about community theater, Garrison Players, or in joining a committee or volunteering with Garrison Players is also encouraged to attend.