Town Players Of Newtown Announce 2008 Season

Town Players of Newtown is gearing up for its 73rd season of entertainment from the community, for the community, with A lineup of shows that the entire family will enjoy: Shakespeare’s The Tempest in July, Molière’s The Miser in September, and a traditional British Christmas “panto” in November and December.

“We shortened our season for just this year in order to make some much-needed renovations to The Little Theatre,” said Pam Meister, Town Players’ chairman, “but we’re confident that these family-friendly shows, under the guidance of some of our finest directors, will be well-received by our audience. We’re looking forward to another great year.”

The season will open in July with Shakespeare’s The Tempest, to be directed by Ruth Anne Baumgartner. Shakespeare really pulled out all the stops for his last solo play: magic, monsters, goddesses, sprites, drunks, a storm at sea, and “a brave new world.”

The exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, and his daughter are cast away on an island inhabited with otherworldly beings. Using his knowledge, Prospero controls their powers. The years pass and his daughter becomes a beautiful young woman, and Prospero brings to the island (via a shipwreck) the younger brother who usurped his throne… along with a thoroughly presentable young man.

The powers of imagination are unleashed in this very theatrical play, which will run July 11-26.

Rob Pawlikowski returns to the director’s chair in September to bring audiences Molière’s The Miser. The main character, Harpagon, is a man so tight-fisted he wouldn’t give you the time of day. He’s Scrooge, Jack Benny, C. Montgomery Burns and Mr Krabs rolled into one. And in this play, everyone is scheming — either for love, money, or both.

Molière has great fun with the characters, as well as traditional theater conventions like characters speaking an aside to the audience. It’s an enjoyable evening as audiences watch the characters’ schemes rise — then fall — yet live happily ever after.

The Miser will run from September 5-20.

Finally, Town Players will offer a Christmas show: a British “panto.” Traditionally performed at Christmas, British pantomime is not, as commonly thought, a silent play, but a popular family show with song, dance buffoonery, slapstick, in-jokes and lots of audience participation.

The plot is loosely based on traditional children’s stories. Some of the most popular ones are Cinderella, Puss ‘n’ Boots, Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk. It’s a show that’s fun for children of all ages, and Town Players will offer theirs from November 28 to December 13.

Community members are also invited to become a part of the fun at Town Players.

“We have a good time together,” says Ms Meister, “and we’re always looking for people to join us onstage, backstage, in the tech booth, building sets and so on. There’s really something for everyone.”

The theater offers internships for high school and college students, and any time spent volunteering is eligible for community service hours for students, Scouts, and other organizations.

Town Players’ Little Theatre is located on Orchard Hill Road, off South Main Street (Route 25) in Newtown. Each production runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, with two Sunday matinees at 2.

Ticket prices are $18; $15 for matinees. Season tickets are available at a cost of $48 for evening performance (a 15 percent savings), and $40 for matinee performances (a 10 percent savings). Evening and matinee season tickets are not interchangeable.

For inquiries about reservations, tickets, directions, audition information or anything else, call 270-9144 or send e-mail to TownPlayers@yahoo.com.