2024 Children’s Theatre Workshop Is Happening!

The annual Children’s Theatre Workshop is happening at Putnam County Playhouse this week, July 22-27. Creator-Director Caroline Good has assembled her staff and there are about 30 participants involved.

 

The Workshop will conclude with a presentation of three original plays on Saturday, July 27, at 7 p.m.  Admission is free thanks to a grant from Arts Illiana. 

To read about Arts Illiana, click HERE.

The plays are The Three Pigateers written MJ Cooper and directed by Cooper and Kathi Elliot. It features Alex Yuhas, Ella Haltom, Aliana Wilson, Gloria Jones, Jeriden Vaughn, Caydee Johnson, Garrett Lamb-Young, Hannah Jernagan, and Liza Tischer. 

The next play is The Summer of Elves & Shoes written by Ellen Blackledge and directed by Craig Robinson.  It features performances by Avalyn Templeton, Quinn Dory, Tatum Wilson, Wyatt Schutter, Gibson Robbins, Elijah Neeley, Clark Squires, Noah Neeley, and Colton Hessler. 

The third play is I Hate Jury Duty written and directed by Ruby Sullivan.  Performers in this production are Cheyanne Newlin, Carson Squires, Silas Glessner, Levi Watkins, Ella Yuhas, Zoey Bond, Millie Jones, Lauren Wells, Keyli Hamblet, and Elliot Wright.

 

In addition to our playwrights and directors the CTW staff includes includes: Sarah Armitage, Kathi Elliott,  Rebecca Hebb, along with our super helpful and enthusiastic interns (all CTW and YTW alumni):  Catherine Ryan-Shager, Josie Cox, MJ Cooper, Ella Tischer, Josie Tischer, and Charlotte Tomamichel. 

Join us at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on July 27 at 7 p.m. We’ll be looking for you!

“FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON” AUDITIONS!

Director Jack Randall Earles will hold two sessions of auditions for the play “Flowers For Algernon”, the final production of the 63rd season of the Putnam County Playhouse. The first will be Sunday, July 21, at 3 p.m. and the second will be Monday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Both will be at the Michael McClaine Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

The play will be produced September 12-14 and September 18-21. Assistant director is Sandi Rossok and stage manager is Bart Jones. Set design is by Anna Harris and Linda Gjesvold.

To download an audition form and audition sides click here.

The production is being sponsored by:

To read more about our sponsor click HERE.

Leading roles available include Charlie Gordon, a special needs man who has his IQ increased by a scientific process. The play tells the story of his struggle and the struggles of those around him to adjust to his new life. Other roles include Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur, the originators of the process; Charlie’s friend, Alice Kinian; his Mother and Father, sister Norma at age 8 and as a grown up, and co-workers Frank, Joe, Gina, and Mrs. Donner, Charlie’s landlady. and party guests at a teen get together and adults at a fete for Charlie at a local college. These are the adult roles male and female that will be double cast. The cast totals about 15+ performers.

Read more about the cast here.

Three younger younger performers are also needed. A girl, stage age 8, a boy stage age 8-10, and a teen age boy to play Charlie at those ages.

Read the director’s thoughts about the play HERE.

The 63rd season continues this week with performances of The Pink Panther Strikes again on July 17-20, the Children’s Workshop July 22-26, and the PG-Rated musical Something Rotten on August 15-17 & August 21-24.

THINK “PINK”!!

Dan Hankee as Inspector Clouseau & Brad Sandy as Dreyfuss

The 63rd season at Putnam County Playhouse continues with director Shelly McFadden’s production of “The Pink Panther Strikes Again”. It will be onstage July 11-13 and July 17-20. All tickets are $15 and all performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 653-5880 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily Monday-Saturday. There are no online sales.

The show is being sponsored by Greene Realty.

To read more about our sponsor click HERE.

Following the plot of the same-named movie closely, Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Dan Hankee) is being stalked by his nemesis former Inspector Dreyfuss (Brad Sandy).

Bart Jones as Cato & Dan Hankee as Inspector Clouseau

When the inventor of the Doomsday Machine Dr. Fassbender (Sam Draper) and his daughter Margot (Ruby Sullivan) are kidnapped, Clouseau is assigned to the case – and the chase is on all over Europe.  He is joined by the sultry Olga (Fawn McFadden Helmer) whose loyalty comes into question.

Dan Hankee as Inspector Clouseau & Fawn McFadden Helmer as Olga

Major supporting roles are taken by Bart Jones, Joshua Saul Bain, Brian Cox, Alan Zerkel, William Dory, Ric McFadden, and Cameron Wunderlich.

Sam Draper as Fassbender, Brad Sandy as Dreyfuss, Ruby Sullivan as Margot, and Cameron Wunderlich as Henchman Harry.

The large cast has many performers who play multiple roles including Kathy Arnold, Tara Smith, Jack Randall Earles, Anna Harris, and Brandon Wunderlich. Also appearing are Kathryn Dory and Jennifer Wunderlich.

The Pink Panthers are Joey Draper, Joe Fields, and cast members K. Dory, A. Harris, R. Sullivan and all three Wunderlichs!

To watch an interview with director Shelly McFadden click HERE.

Anna Harris is also the assistant director. Light and sound design is by Dustin Bond.  Set design is by Fawn McFadden Helmer. The light board operator is Emma (McFadden) Bousman and the sound board operators Ally (McFadden) Taylor and Jake Miller. Stage Manager is B. Wunderlich and the stage crew are The Pink Panthers and Corben Kirton.

Costumes are by Harris, S. McFadden, and Linda Gjesvold.

The cast, staff, and crew!

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