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The Players 2002-03
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Wendy Almeida appeared in BRT’s productions of Working, All in the Timing, and Steel Magnolias and works frequently with Actors' Circle Theatre in Peterborough, NH. Earlier last year, driven by her acting addiction, Wendy crossed the state line into MA to appear in Rumors and Company at Theatre at the Mount, MA.
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Mary Armstrong has been in past BRT show that include: Working (Therese Carter); Crimes of the Heart (Chick); Steel Magnolias (Annelle); Box and Cox (as Mr. Cox); and in all the BRT variety and revival shows. She has been active with many music and theater groups in the area including: Raylynmor Opera, Actors' Circle Theater, Keene Lions Club Musicals and Keene Chamber Singers. In November, 2002, she performed the role of Fleta (the Fairy with practically no brain), in Raylynmor's production of Iolanthe. She lives in Harrisville with her supportive husband Mark, the man with the “mahvelous” laugh. During the day, she works in Information Technology at NGM in Keene, NH.
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Catherine Behrens had her first role as Ethel in BRT's production of On Golden Pond in 1995. Since then, she has appeared in plays with Vermont Theatre Company, Walpole Players, Actors' Theatre, and Keene State College as well as many BRT plays. She was last seen as the attendant in BRT's production of Chamber Music in 2002.
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Jennifer Bond is happy to be returning to the BRT stage in Working. You may remember her in BRT's December, 2000 production of My Three Angels in which she played Marie Louise. Since that time, she has been busy wit her own little production - the birth of her second daughter! Jennifer has two fabulous daughters, and in her non-free-time, is employed by the Monadnock Radio Group.
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Gail Connelly makes her 5th appearance on the BRT stage as Osa Johnson in Chamber Music. She has played a nurse (The Man Who Came To Dinner), a crabby old withdrawn lady (Mrs. Paddy in The Curious Savage), The ornery Weezer (Steel Magnolias), and an eccentric art teacher (Anna Trumbull, the Pig Woman in What I Did Last Summer). Gail was also a very capable Stage Manager for the BRT production of Crimes of the Heart in 2001. When not hanging out at BRT, Gail can be found at the LifeArt Community Resource Center at 43 Central Square in Keene, NH.
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Michael Delaney is excited to make his theatrical debut with Branch River Theater's production of Working. After several years of playing Who's Line is it, Anyway? in the car with his sons, and countering “Servo” of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Michael decided it was time to take the plunge and get on stage! Michael lives in Marlborough, NH with his 2 sons Ethan and Cale. During the day, he can be found at Monadnock Auto Glass in East Swanzey. He hopes this is just the first of many shows to come!
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Robert DuCharme is new to the Branch River Theatre stage but not new to the theater. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Before moving to Brookline, VT, 17 years ago, he taught film, speech and Theatre at Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, CT. He produced his own dinner theater in Milford, CT for 10 summers. He has directed a total of 59 plays and 33 musicals. He is not a dentist, although he played the role of a dentist in Working.
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Michael Duffin has appeared in several BRT shows, including such roles as a spot welder in Working, a newlywed in Here We Are and a singing cockroach in archy and mehitable. Chorus appearances for The Raylynmor Opera include Elixir of Love and Sante' et Prosperite'. Most of his musical performances are with the Keene Cheshiremen Barbershop Chorus and his barbershop quartet Grins `n' Whiskers.Before moving to the Keene area, Michael sang with the Camerata singers in ME, the Whitman College Madrigal choir in WA, and the Wiener Juenesse Choir in Austria.
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CarolAnn Edscorn graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1975 with a BFA in Acting and Directing. While she has been involved in professional and community companies in many states, she has been active locally in Actor's Circle Theatre (Peterborough, NH), Theatre at the Mount Wachusett Community College, (Gardner, MA), The Nashua Theater Guild's Shakespeare in the Park (Nashua, NH), Swanzey Player's Old Homestead (Swanzey, NH), and Branch River Theater. She directed The Typists; played Gertude Stein in Chamber Music and Diane Wilson in Working. She co-directed Conant High School's The Hamlet Project with Marjorie Marglois and has been active in the Jaffrey-Rindge School District Shakespeare Festival. She likes directing and acting, but also costuming and set design. She has been a choir director and is a published essayist and award-winning illustrator. She teachers “Experiencing the Arts” at Franklin Pierce College, as well as home educating her five children, in concert with her husband, Christopher.
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Stephanie Fletcher is excited to be in another BRT show. You may have seen her play the Nancy Rogers in Working, or Elsie in What I Did Last Summer. Before that, she was in the Keene Lion's Club production of Hello Dolly where she was a member of the chorus. She thinks being a part of these productions is awesome, and hopes to be part of many more! When not on the stage, Stephanie works for the after-school program of Monadnock Family Services called MANY Options, where she spends time with middle and high school teenagers. Most important, though, is the time she spends with her two beautiful children, Dominic and Bayleigh.
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Dic Ford is a retired professional aviator, lives in Brattleboro, VT with his wife, Susan and their cats, Yvette and Princess Leia. He enjoys working onstage and backstage for sever theaters in the Connecticut Valley area. As an actor his favorite roles have been Norman in BRT’s production of On Golden Pond and Pope Albert IV in The Day They Kidnapped The Pope for Ashfield Community Theater in Massachusetts. His most recent backstage enterprise was to design and build the set for Brattleboro High School’s winter production of Les Miserables, the Barricade being the most ambitious. After enjoying working with direct Robert Wellington as an actor in Ten Little Indians (produced by Vermont Theatre Company) last fall, he is having just as much fun working as an actor under his talented direction.
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David Franz was last seen on the BRT stage as one of the convicts in the 2000 production of My Three Angels. He was also seen in the Actors’ Circle Theatre production of Kiss Me Kate in the Spring of 2002. David makes his home in Peterborough, NH.
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Richard Freed first performed on stage with the Kongo Noh Theatre in Kyoto, Japan doing a dance to invoke the spirit of an aging beauty. While continuing his study of Noh Theatre, he made his English language debut in a one-act play by Jules Pfieffer as an argumentative drunk on a one night stand. In NH he was involved in projects with various groups in the early and mid 1990s. Highlights include using Noh dance to give Dracula a chance to shut up and move for ACT in Peterborough, NH performing and writing for Now/Then, a reader's Theatre group, and going to VT to help lead imbibing hotel guests through a murder mystery weekend. Since then his only role has been as Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew. Portraying Tim Devlin in Working is Richard's first show with Branch River Theatre.
SPECIAL NOTE: BRT is sad to announce the passing of Richard Freed on March 21, 2003 from cancer. He appeared only once with BRT but was well known and loved in the Theatre community in the Monadnock Region. He will be sorely missed by all ... our condolences to his family in New Jersey and his partner Wendy Almeida. BRT is in the process of adding "Tribute" page to Richard on this website for the remainder of the 2002-2003 season. If you wish to contribute please send your remembrances to mailto: branchriver@yahoo.com and we will be happy to post them for you.
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John Friede makes his acting debut with BRT’s production of Bus Stop. Originally from New York and now residing in Peterborough, John is no stranger to the stage, having made numerous public presentations as a musician, educator and community organizer. Now he has fulfilled another lifelong dream of being in a theatrical production! John can usually be found enjoying the natural beauty of the Monadnock region with his two young children, Forrest and Rowan.
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Nick Gruber is performing for the first time ever in BRT's production of Working. Okay, in the third grade he did open the curtain at a show, but he's not counting that! Nick finds his character (Brett Hauser, supermarket box-boy) very interesting - he's a typical kind of young guy, but he's also concerned about how folks in his workplace put people down all the time. He hopes to do future shows with BRT and other groups!
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Art Knowles is an Aries who likes sports, cooking and traveling ... Oh, sorry ... Although Arthur is new to BRT, he is a longtime performer from high school plays to performing in a Rock band along the Seacoast to just about any Karaoke Bar. He has been see in BRT’s Working, Just Dessert VII & VIII, the last two Keene Lion’s Club performances (Hello Dolly and Oklahoma!), and also Actors’ Circle Theatre’s production of Kiss Me Kate and A Slice of Saturday Night in Peterborough.
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Karen Levitt was seen as the model in Working and as of Joan of Arc in Chamber Music. Karen began her local acting career when she performed as a Hot Box Girl in the 1996 Keene Lions Club production of Guys and Dolls. She went on to participate in several other Lions Club shows including Damn Yankees, Bye Bye Birdie, Hello Dolly, and played the role of Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. Karen has also been seen with other local groups, including the Elm City Players, the Colonial Theatre Follies, and Just Desserts. When not on the stage, Karen teaches history at Northfield Mount Hermon School, coaches a crew team, and competes in canoe races and marathons.
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Ray Mahoney has been seen Bus Stop, Working, All in the Timing, Ten Little Indians, The Curious Savage, and Perfect Crime. Ray has also appeared in numerous Keene Lion’s Club musicals, including Gypsy, Oklahoma, Lil’ Abner, Music Man, Damn Yankees, and Guys and Dolls. Thanks as always, to Ann, Mike and Chris for their support.
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Kristen McCaughey has been seen in Working as the tennis player and All in the Timing, in which she played a crass waitress, and southern swinger, and a well-written monkey. She has been involved in Theatre since she was a young girl, She looks forward to more shows with BRT!
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Mary McDowell is enjoying her fourth BRT show. She just played the role of Susan B. Anthony in Chamber Music and the waitress in Working and Bus Stop. She has appeared with Actors Circle Theatre as May in Once in a Lifetime, The General in Guys and Dolls, Mrs. Harcourt in Anything Goes and Mrs. Kirby in You Can’t Take It With You. She also sings with Monadnock Chorus as well as Monadnock Chorus Chamber Singers. She also appeared in the chorus of Raylynmor Opera’s production of Yeoman of the Guard. She lives in Peterborough, NH.
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Ken McGovern is proud to be on stage again with Branch River Theatre. He was seen as Vincent Maher in Working and Paul in The Typists in 2002. He also appeared in All In The Timing and played the role of Barnett Lloyd in Crimes of the Heart. Ken has also been seen on television in a commercial for the Tri State Lottery. His peak experience in Theatre was winning the coveted AIMS award in 1997 in Ireland for best male voice while appearing as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. Other Theatre highlights in this region include the role of Sky Masterson in the Actors Circle Theatre production of Guys and Dolls and the dream sequence Curly in the recent Lions Club production of Oklahoma! He lives in Peterborough with his very supportive wife, Sharon, and daughter, Candra.
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Wendy McGrath was last seen on the BRT stage as Margaret Richaes in Working. She played Sylvia in The Typists, when she also directed Chamber Music. She also directed Here We Are, a short story by Dorothy Parker, for BRT in 2001. She also appeared in BRT’s production of Ten Little Indians (in the role of Emily Brent) and The Curious Savage (in the role of Llly Belle Savage).
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John McMahon marks his eighth performance with BRT’s production of Bus Stop. He was last seen on the BRT stage in Working as George Allen and in All in the Timing. He has also performed in several Keene Lion’s Club shows. John is a teacher at the Keene Middle School and lives in Keene with his wife Margaret. He has four daughters.
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Sherri Morancie has appeared in many shows since the age of 15. They include the role of Maria in West Side Story, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Elaine in Arsenic and Old Lace, Suzi in Hot L Baltimore, Corinna in House of Blue Leaves, Dolly in Annie Get Your Gun, Myrtle Mae in Harvey, and the Bride in The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky. She also played the supporting role of Kate in a feature film entitled A Sort Of Home Coming. Her love of acting keeps her coming back for more! She has been seen in the part of Amelia Earhart in BRT’s production of Chamber Music.
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Heather A. H. Morrison has been seen in several BRT productions including the model in Working, Pearl White in Chamber Music, Bonny in What I Did Last Summer, Babe in Crimes of the Heart, Hard Candy and All in the Timing. She has performed in 5 of the last 6 Keene Lion’s Club musicals, appeared in 5 different operas with the Raylynmor Opera Company and Guys and Dolls and Once in a Lifetime with Actor’s Circle Theatre in Peterborough. She enjoys acting as well as serving as Vice President of the BRT board. She and her husband, Sherman, hope to add to the Theatre family in December!
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G. Sherman. H. Morrison most recently directed Working for BRT. He has been seen acting and singing in the area with many groups, including Branch River Theatre, The Raylynmor Opera, Keene Lion's Club Musicals, WKNH Radio Theatre, and the Keene Cheshiremen. Working marks his second effort at directing, having very much enjoyed directing What I Did Last Summer. He also directed a high school production of Alice in Wonderland for the Compass School in Westminster, VT. He has also been seen in several television commercials for Autex Mazda, Bennington Motor Cars and Credit Angel. Sherman is the Bass Soloist for the Senior Choir at the United Church of Christ in Keene. He is the Manager of the Community Research Center at Keene State College.
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Allison Pascucci is pleased to be working with BRT. Bus Stop makes her fourth performance, having previously appeared as Mrs. Trotsky and Ruth in BRT’s All in the Timing. Most recently, she was a Bali Hai Islander in the Lions Club production of South Pacific. She is a 3rd Grade teacher at Walpole Elementary, where she also co-advises Student Council and coordinates their recycling program. Although teaching is her first priority, she can't resist the stage!
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Nancy Preus has been seen on the BRT stage in their production of The Dining Room, but her love of Theatre spans more than 30 years as a director, actor, and backstage crews. When not involved in a show, Nancy spends her days working at the National Grange Mutual Insurance Company in Keene, NH.
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Shanda Reynelli is pleased to make her first appearance on the Branch River Theatre stage as Queen Isabella in Chamber Music. She hopes it will not be her last! You might recognize her from one of her recent roles in KSC production of The Vagina Monologues. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling/Psychology at Antioch New England Graduate School. She would like to thank the Reynelli family for their support and encouragement during this endeavor. Thanks, Angelfish!
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Lori Stoffel began doing Theatre in college where she played the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Amy in Stephen Sondheim’s Company. After a several year hiatus, she returned to the stage in BRT’s Here We Are. Recently, Lori played the role of Beryl Simpson in Working and Grace Higgins in BRT’s production of What I Did Last Summer. She is currently a school psychologist at Keene High School.
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Jeff Stout first appeared on stage at the age of ten, playing the title role in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Then, after a short (26-year) dry spell, he emerged on the local Keene acting scene as a waiter in the Lion’s Club presentation of Hello Dolly. Jeff has also performed several numbers in the last two productions of Just Desserts, the annual benefit for AIDS Services of the Monadnock Region. However, he is best known as the spokesperson for Autex Mazda, where he has masqueraded as dozens of screwball characters, including the notorious recurring portrayal of his fictional grandmother, Grandma Stout.
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Eric Walther is a native New Yorker that has been active in the Theatre world since he stepped onto the stage to emcee his home church talent show in 1991. Since then he has been involved in over 25 full length productions with such groups as the Keene Lion’s Club (with leading roles in Fiddler on the Roof and Bye Bye Birdie), Branch River Theatre (leading role in The Importance of Being Earnest, What I Did Last Summer, and Conrad Swibel in Working), and Keene State College (leading roles in Midsummer Night’s Dream and Meet Me In St. Louis), where he graduated in 2000 with his BA in Theatre. Directorial credits include three BRT productions (All in the Timing, The Dining Room, and Hard Candy). He’s a full-time employee at C&S Wholesaler Grocers and recently became an Assistant Manager at Maurice’s, a new clothing store at the West Street Plaza in Keene, NH. “Hey, ladies, go shopping!”
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Amanda Guthorn Warman reigns under the designation of Director of Campus Safety at Keene State College by day, and by night as the wacky wax-spinning “Woman Who Plays Records” (aka Constanze Mozart in Chamber Music). Active in the Manasquan High School (NJ) Drama Club and recipient of the school’s coveted Jack Nicholson Drama Award, she recently returned to the stage in the Lions Club production of Oklahoma! as the woman in the chorus wearing the salmon colored dress and the large doily. Amanda lives in Keene with her husband Don and a precocious 3-year-old miniature schnauzer named Schatzie. When asked to comment on her experience in Chamber Music, Ms. Warman could say only, “VAT?! Dese vomens make quite a racket, but I vouldn’t have it any odder vay.”
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Robert Wellington was last seen on stage in Vermont Theatre Company's Ten Little Indians which he also directed for BRT in 2001. He most recently directed BRT's production of Bus Stop. A veteran of several local companies, when not acting or directing, he enjoys international travel and collecting frogs.
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