Author: putnamcountyplayhouse

“BAD SEED”

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Dustin Boothby and Sonora Erwin

THE BAD SEED ENDED ITS RUN 
ON JULY 18

The 54thseason of Putnam County Playhouse continues with a production of the thriller The Bad Seed. It will be presented July 9-11 and July 15-18. All performances begin at 8 p.m. 

The Tony-Award-winning play by Maxwell Anderson was first presented on Broadway in 1954 and was filmed in 1956. It is a Putnam County Playhouse premiere. The film version received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, Nancy Kelly (Christine Penmark) and Best Supporting Actress nominations for both Eileen Heckart (Mrs. Daigle) and Patty McCormack (Rhoda).

The production is being sponsored by:
Click HERE to learn more about our sponsor.


The Bad Seed is directed by Jack Randall Earles. Assistant director is Sandi Rossok. Lighting is by Dustin Bond and set design is by Linda Gjesvold. The technical crew includes Cecily Girton running the sound board and Cameron Wunderlich operating the light board.

Jack Randall directed and choreographed Guys & Dolls last season, with Sandi as his assistant. He also appeared in The Man Who Came to Dinner as Banjo, which won him his fourth Upstage Award. Jack Randall is a vice-president of the PCPH board and has appeared in such shows as The Drowsy Chaperone and Never Too Late. Sandi is also a board member and has appeared in many shows including Man of La Mancha and The Curious Savage.

Linda designs many of the sets at PCPH. She most recently worked on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Linda is also designing the set for the August production of Into the Woods. Dustin played Adam in last month’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and will direct our final play this season, the mystery-comedy The Game’s Afoot. Both are members of the PCPH board of directors.

Sonora Erwin and Bethany Bax

The play was based on a best-selling novel by William March. 


The mother of a nine-year-old girl is disturbed by her daughter’s actions. When one of the daughter’s classmates is drowned, the mother begins to wonder if things are as perfect as they seem. What influences a child’s behavior most – environment or heredity? The answer as presented in The Bad Seed may not be current science, but it is still thought provoking.

Bethany Bax stars as Christine Penmark, a mother who makes a shocking discovery about her own life and how it affects her daughter Rhoda, played by Sonora Erwin. Christine begins to realize just who is responsible for a child’s death as secrets about her own past are revealed to her.

Bethany is a member of the PCPH board of directors. She has been in several plays here including You Can’t Take It With You, The Glass Menagerie and I Remember Mama.  Bethany also directed Barefoot in the Park and The Nerd for PCPH.

Sonora appeared earlier this season in the ensemble of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Ashlee Anne Vitz and Clarence Long
The helpful – at times – neighbors Monica and her brother Emory are played by Ashley Anne Vitz and Clarence Long.  Mr. and Mrs. Daigle, a pair of grieving parents are Allison Creekmore and Bob Jefferson.

Ashley most recently appeared at PCPH as one of the trio of singers in Little Shop of Horrors. She has also appeared in Camelot and Guys & Dolls. Clarence most recently appeared as Big Julie in Guys & Dolls. He won an Upstage Award for his work in Arsenic and Old Lace.

Bob Jefferson appeared last season in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Allison Creekmore is making her PCPH debut in The Bad Seed.


Larry Sutton, Alan Zerkel, Bethany Bax

The cast also includes Larry Sutton as writer Reggie Tasker and Alan Zerkel as Richard Bravo, Christine’s father. Kathryn Dory plays the owner of the local private school, and Dustin Boothby is Leroy the handyman. TJ Tincher is Kenneth Penmark, Christine’s husband and is also production stage manager. Brandon Wunderlich is the messenger and assistant stage manager.

Larry is a long time PCPH board member and has acted in and directed many shows. He played leading roles in The Fantasticks and All My Sons. Kathryn is the secretary of the PCPH board. She is returning to the stage after her role as Lily Belle in The Curious Savage.  Alan was seen at PCPH in Harvey. Dustin is making his PCPH debut in The Bad Seed.

Kathryn Dory and Bethany Bax

TJ most recently appeared as one of the Pontipee brothers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Brandon and Cameron worked on the same show as part of the crew. Cecily ran the sound board last season for Steel Magnolias.



The season continues in August with a production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods.

SHAKESPEARED! DRAWS RECORD AUDIENCE!

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The Bard

The 2015 SHAKESPEARED! Youth Theatre Festival ended Saturday night with a capacity crowd!




The workshop was sponsored by:

                      

                        Click HERE to learn more about our sponsor.

The evening  included two versions of the comedy, one by middle school students directed by TJ Tincher. and Bethany Bax.  The second version with students high school age and just beyond is directed by YTW creator Caroline Good, assisted by Billy Burke. Eleanor Howard is also assisting with the production.
Both versions are adaptations of the original material that contain modern references, unusual costumes, and familiar music.

SHAKESPEARED! creator Caroline Good in rehearsal.

Participants in leading roles in the middle school group include Craig Robinson (Falstaff), Anna Norris (Alice Ford), Isabella Brown (Margaret Page), Grant Pettit (Pistol), Hope Roberts (Nym), Zoe Weltz (Bardolph), and Michael Thede (Narrator #1, Host).

Others in the large cast include William Roberts (Franics Ford), Brenigan Warren (George Page), Fiona Good (Dr. Caius), Leo Brown (Hugh Evans), Dale Dye Thomas (Mistress Quickly), and Gabby Roberts (Robin).

Middle school group rehearsal.
Also onstage in the middle school production will be Connor Shepherd, Callie Wehrman, Laney Collier, Ella Dye Thomas, Jadin Hill, all of whom play servants.  Ava Magnity and Katie White are also Narrators.

Props director for the show is Noah Pettit, and Zethor Peterson and Grant Pettit are on the stage crew.

Those with leading roles in the older group include Samantha Flannelly (Alice Ford), Chloe Maginity (Margaret Page), Donovan Asbell (Francis Ford), Dylan Bodnarick (George Page), Gwen Mazur (Anne Page), Bowie Foote (Master Fenton), David Maginity (John Falstaff), and Chloe Bodnarick (Pistol).

Older group rehearsing.
Supporting roles will be played by Noah Pettit (Nym), Tyler Hopper (Robin), Jerica Bean (Host), Abe Anglin (Dr. Caius), Libby Brush (Mistress Quickly), Zoe Hagymasi (John Rugby), Michael Germain (Robert Shallow), Addison Hughes (Hugh Evans), Susanna Howard (Abraham Slender), and Haley Wilson Patty Simple).

The ensemble includes Charlie Good, Joan Warren.

Congratulations to the participants AND the audience!

THEN AND NOW

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Putnam County Playhouse began in the spring of 1961. At that time a small group of determined people decided to bring live theatre to the community – and Greencastle Summer Theater was born. The next year, we were incorporated and officially became Putnam County Playhouse.

The purpose of PCPH then and now was set down by our founders:

We operate “to provide the people of the county and the surrounding area the opportunity to enjoy and participate in live theatre.”

A gazebo on our property honors those original members including the first president of our board of directors, Dr. James Elrod.

The Founders’ Gazebo

For the first two decades, PCPH presented shows in various venues around Greencastle. These included DePauw’s Speech Hall, McAnally Center, and DePauw’s Moore Theatre.  


In 1980, the hard work of a group of determined people headed by Jim Poor were instrumental in getting us the donation of the property where our theatre now stands. The generosity of Hazel Day Longden in giving us the property was key to our continued growth.

For our first two seasons on the property, our productions were given on the outdoor stage. The audience sat on bleachers. 

“The Sound of Music” – 1982

The small barn was used for many years for dressing rooms. It is now mainly used for storage, and the original stage area is now a parking area.


Small Barn.  June, 2015.

The theatre named in honor of Hazel Day Longden was given a grand opening in June, 1983. 

Hazel Day Longden Theatre. June, 2015.

Thanks to our audiences and participants for their continued support.


Since the beginning the PCPH Board of Directors has been all volunteer. Its members serve without compensation of any kind. To all of our past members and officers, we also give a hearty thank you!

2014-2015 Board of Directors

Michael McClaine, President
Jack Randall Earles, 1st Vice-President
Linda Gjesvold, 2nd Vice-President
Kathryn Dory, Secretary
Mark Hammer, Treasurer

Meghan Armitage
Bethany Bax
Dustin Bond
Drew Brattain
Caroline Good
Ric McFadden
Shelly McFadden
Jim Rambo
Sandra Rossok
Brad Sandy
TJ Tincher


Sign Up Now for “Stories Onstage” – The Children’s Theatre Workshop!

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JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL WORKSHOP!

Photo from 2014 Workshop
The Children’s Theatre Workshop for children grades 2nd-5th will be held daily July 20-24th  9:30-11:30am, with a culminating “work in progress” performance on Friday evening, July 24th  at 7:00pm in the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

Photo from 2014 workshop.

Click HERE to sign up online.

Photo from 2014 Workshop


The workshop is being sponsored by:

Click HERE to learn more about our sponsor.

The mission of the Children’s Theatre Workshop is bringing to young people the love of theatre, providing them a venue to explore their creativity, and allowing them to collaborate and express themselves on stage. 

Photo from 2014 workshop.

In addition to learning basic theatre skills and vocabulary, the performers will be given instruction in basic acting technique, movement and voice for the stage, character development, and how to work with an ensemble.   The actors will then apply these skills through theatre games and as they rehearse a short play.

Photo from 2014 workshop.

ROAD CLOSED AHEAD!

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If you are coming from the east and usually take U.S. 40 to S.R. 240 into Greencastle to get to us, there is an alternate route. S.R. 240 is currently closed.

The easiest alternate route is to continue on U.S. 40 for about six miles and turn right (north) at the stoplight on S.R. 231.

Coming into Greencastle, turn right at the first light which is U.S. Veterans Highway. After a four-way stop, turn left at the first turn bubble – Warren Drive.  Continue straight at the stop light and you will find Putnam County Playhouse on the right.

BAD SEED CAST ANNOUNCED!!!

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The cast for the July production of Bad Seed has been chosen. Thanks to everyone who auditioned.

The play will be produced July 9-11 and July 15-18. 

Tickets will be on sale at 5 p.m. on July 6.

Click HERE to read the Cast List!

Bad Seed is being sponsored by:

Click HERE to read more about our sponsor.


View From the Sky!

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Just in case you ever wondered…..here is a satellite photo of the Hazel Day Longden Theatre with the shop area and Rehearsal Center clearly in view. The small barn and parking areas are also visible.  The driveway to Round Barn Road is in the center of the picture.  Come and get a closer view this summer!

Step One: You Audition!!!!

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So you want to be onstage? The first thing you do is audition for a part in a show!  The audition dates for the Mainstage Productions at PCPH have been selected.

The musical 7 Brides for 7 Brothers directed by Shelly McFadden will hold its auditions on Sunday, March 29 at 3 p.m. and Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. It will be produced June 4-6 and June 10-13.

Director Jack Randall Earles will audition performers for Bad Seed on Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m. and Monday May 18, at 7 p.m. The suspense play will be produced July 9-11 and July 15-18.

The auditions for the musical Into the Woods directed by Lee Reberger will be on Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m. and Monday, June 15 at 7 p.m. It will be produced August 6-8 and August 12-15.

The Game’s Afoot directed by Dustin Bond will have auditions on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. and Monday, July 20 at 7 p.m. It will close our season September 10-12 and September 16-19.

Auditions will be held in the Rehearsal Center or in the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

More information and notes from the directors will be on the website in the next few weeks!  Stay tuned!




DIRECTORS CHOSEN FOR MAIN STAGE 2015!

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The directors for the main stage productions of the 2015 PCPH season have been chosen. 

The season opens in June with the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It will be directed by Shelly McFadden. She has directed many productions at PCPH including The Music Man and The Drowsy Chaperone,  Shelly has also appeared onstage, most recently in The Man Who Came to Dinner as Harriet Stanley. She has also appeared at PCPH in The Odd Couple, Man of La Mancha, and Clue The Musical.

The season continues in July with the thriller Bad Seed. Helming this production will be Jack Randall Earles. Among his PCPH directing credits are last season’s Guys & Dolls and also The Curious Savage, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, and Angel Street. Jack Randall most recently appeared in The Man Who Came to Dinner as Banjo and also has been in The Drowsy Chaperone, The Sunshine Boys, Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Music Man.


The August musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, will be directed by Lee Reberger. He last appeared on the PCPH stage as Underling in The Drowsy Chaperone. Lee is the President of the Board of Directors of Community Theatre of Clay County. Lee has directed many plays and musicals at the Lark Theatre, home of CCTC in Brazil, Indiana. This will be his first directing assignment at PCPH, and we welcome him!

The 2015 season will close with the mystery-comedy The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays. The director of this production will be Dustin Bond.  He has been in many productions at PCPH, most recently appearing as Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors in 2014. Dustin has worked on the technical side of many productions. He has also appeared in Don’t Drink the Water, The Drowsy Chaperone, and The Music Man among other productions. This will be his directorial debut at PCPH. He most recently directed A Christmas Carol at CCTC.

Audition dates and other show information will be available here on the website in early 2015!