OPENING NIGHT! – Great Seats Available

The Providence Players open Other Desert Cities at the James Lee Community Center Theater this weekend through March 28th

Tickets Here – Order Online for Best Seat Selection

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
March 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
March 15 & 22

The James Lee Community Center Theater  2855 Annandale Rd Falls Church VA 22042

Tickets On Sale Here

Not for young children- mature themes and strong language.

Recently, one of the hottest tickets on Broadway and a 2012 Tony nominee, Other Desert Cities opens on the Providence Players stage at the James Lee Community Center Theater this Friday, March 13^th and runs until March 28^th. This Pulitzer Prize Finalist play by Jon Robin Baitz is a funny and smart drama filled with witty repartee that both dazzles and decimates. It is beautifully written and is full of both humorous and deeply felt moments. The New York Times called Other Desert Cities “the best new play on Broadway,” and audiences everywhere are finding it both entertaining and insightful. This witty and thought provoking family drama strikes the perfect balance between comedy and drama and has been called “smart, supremely entertaining and richly satisfying”.

Other Desert Cities is set in Palm Springs, California over the Christmas holidays and centers on the powerful Wyeth family. Family patriarch, Lyman, played by John Coscia, is an actor-turned-politician during the Reagan era. Matriarch Polly, played by director Tina Thronson, is a former screenwriter. The couple is set to celebrate the holidays with their adult children, daughter Brooke (played by Andra Whitt) and son Trip (Bobby Welsh). Without informing her parents, Brooke, a once-promising novelist, has written a memoir exposing painful family secrets. Trip, who is the producer of a TV reality series, tries to stay out of the crossfire as their alcoholic aunt, Polly’s sister Silda Grauman (played by Barbra Gertzog), encourages Brooke. In a series of confrontations, the Wyeths sift through conflicting memories of the past and face serious choices about how to go forward.

Jon Robin Baitz, the author of this funny and searing play is no stranger to family drama having created TV’s successful series Brothers & Sisters. His other plays include The Substance of Fire, A Fair Country, Ten Unknowns, Mizlansky/Zilinsky, Three Hotels, and The Paris Letter. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Other Desert Cities, Drama Desk winner, Humanitas winner, a Guggenheim and an NEA Fellow. Other Desert Cities received near universal acclaim for both its off-Broadway debut at Lincoln Center and its subsequent move to Broadway where it garnered multiple Tony nominations including Best Play in 2012.

Director, Tina Thronson has assembled a cast of some of PPF’s most talented veterans for this production. After auditioning nearly 30 actors, casting the show and starting rehearsals, her choice for Polly had to drop out of the show for day job reasons. Now Tina finds herself wearing two hats, as actor (having stepped into the role of Polly) as well as director. Far from the original plan for the production, she is wearing both hats with great distinction.

Andra Whitt as Brook Wyeth

Andra has moved effortlessly between outstanding onstage performances and backstage roles.  Onstage for PPF, she has performed as Claire (Rumors, 2014), Essie (You Can’t Take it With You, 2012), Terry (Sideman, 2012) and Sally Cato (Auntie Mame, 2011), in each role to great acclaim and entertaining effect. She has served as properties and stage manager/crew for PPF.  Andra also serves on the PPF Board of Directors and is an indispensable member of the Company, giving her time and skills in some way to each production, for this one, the audience gets once again to see her in another stellar performance.

Tina Thronson as Polly Wyeth

Tina has graced the PPF stage often and has directed many of the Company’s most outstanding productions. Over her 16 years with PPF, she has had lead and featured roles as Sabrina (The Skin of our Teeth, 2002), Mary Haines (The Women, 2005), multiple roles in It’s a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play (2010), Patsy (Sideman 2012) and was featured in Cash on Delivery (2004), and You Can’t Take it With You (2013).  Tina has directed the PPF Productions of Born Yesterday, 12 Angry Men, The Man Who Came to Dinner (which won two WATCH awards), Steel Magnolias, The Laramie Project and Dinner with Friends, spanning more than a decade of PPF theater history.  Tina has also performed many backstage roles with distinction and is a longtime PPF Board Member and Past President.

John Coscia as Lyman Wyeth

John has been seen often on the PPF stage, performing with great distinction in many award winning plays as lead and featured actor.  Favorite roles include (but are not limited to)  Grandpa (You Can’t Take it With You, 1998 and 2012), Harry Brock (Born Yesterday, 2002), Juror #8 (Twelve Angry Men, 2005), Tom (I Never Sang for my Father, 2006), Kit Carson (Watch Nomination, The Time of your Life, 2006), Peppino (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2007), Gal (Rough Crossing, 2008), The Father et al (The Laramie Project, 2010), Joe (The Shadow Box, 2011), and Gene (Sideman 2012).  John has been nominated and won many WATCH awards for his acting, set design and set construction with PPF.  In 2014, John marked his directorial debut with the play, Of Mice and Men, which has been WATCH nominated for many awards, including best play and best director.  He is also an original and current member of the PPF Board of Directors.

Bobby Welsh as Trip Wyeth

Bobby has engaged PPF audiences in prominent featured roles for the last five years and has created an indelible impression in each in his character portrayals.  He has been featured as Perry (Waiting in the Wings, 2010), Ito (Auntie Mame, 2011), Father (Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 2012), Jonesy (Sideman, 2012), and Whit (Of Mice and Men, 2014).  His portrayals have been thoughtful and authentic in varied character roles and he has greatly enhanced each play he has performed in for the audience and his fellow actors.  Previous community theater roles include Sancho Panza, Man of La Mancha, and The Mysterious Man, Into the Woods.  Bobby has also been indispensable in production roles for PPF, backstage and in the tech booth.

Barbara Gertzog as Silda Grauman

Barbara has performed many roles for PPF, including comic turns as a wily bank customer (The Good Doctor, 2004), a scheming fortune teller (Elmira, Good Help is So Hard to Murder, 2007), the mean cousin (Chick, Crimes of the Heart, 2003), a snobbish matron (Mrs. Upson, Auntie Mame, 2011), a British dominatrix (Mrs. Cowper, Cash on Delivery, 2003) and a lusty landlady (Is He Dead, 2013).  She was also featured as Billie Dawn (Born Yesterday, 2002), Maggie Cutler (The Man Who Came to Dinner, 2004), and Rosa Peppino (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2007).  Barbara has also directed the PPF productions of Heaven Can Wait, The Women and The Shadow Box (Ruby Griffith “Best Play” award winner and WATCH nominated Best Play) and performed numerous other production roles for the company.

The Other Desert Cities set will, once again, wow audiences and was designed and built by John Coscia. John was nominated for WATCH awards for design and construction of two sets in 2014 and has won numerous WATCH awards for his set work for PPF. Ingrid Helvig David has brought her outstanding design talents in decorating the set (having previously decorated for PPF’s production of All My Sons and Auntie Mame) with PPF veterans Robbie Snow and Beth Harrison (both WATCH recognized designers) handling costumes and make-up/hair design respectively. Jason Hamrick will be making his lighting design debut for the production but is no stranger to the tech side of PPF productions having worked on many shows as he has followed actress wife Andra Whitt (Brooke Wyeth) through various shows. Properties are being handled by Julie Janson and Beckie McNair. Mike Donahue, a talented actor, director, combat choreographer and stage manager has served the production in the dual roles of Assistant Director and Stage Manager. He has been the invaluable second set of eyes on the show as Tina stepped up onto the boards from the director’s chair. Mike Mattheisen has produced the show for the Providence Players.

If you love a smartly written, beautifully acted and stage new American play, then PPF’s Other Desert Cities is the ideal choice and a great way to spend an evening losing yourself in the words and characters of this terrific play.

ONLINE TICKETS FOR PPF’S OTHER DESERT CITIES ON SALE HERE

 Reserve Tickets By Email at providenceplayerstickets@cox.net

By Phone at 703-425-6782

Not for young children- mature themes and strong language

James Lee Community Center Theater 2855 Annandale Rd Falls Church VA

The Providence Players open Other Desert Cities at the James Lee Community Center Theater this Friday, March 13th through March 28th

Read the Connection Newspapers Preview Article Here

Read DCMetroTheaterArts.com Preview Article Here

Tickets Here – Order Online for Best Seat Selection

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
March 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
March 15 & 22

All Performances at:

The James Lee Community Center Theater

2855 Annandale Rd Falls Church VA 22042

Tickets On Sale Here

Not for young children- mature themes and strong language.

.

“A funny and smart drama that both dazzles and decimates”

Recently, one of the hottest tickets on Broadway and a 2012 Tony nominee, Other Desert Cities opens on the Providence Players stage at the James Lee Community Center Theater March 13-28^th. This latest play from Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz (creator of TV’s Brothers & Sisters) is a funny and smart drama filled with witty repartee that both dazzles and decimates. Brooke Wyeth returns to her politically conservative parents’ glamorous Palm Springs home to spend the holidays with them. But the warm desert air turns chilly when news of her upcoming memoir threatens to revive the most painful chapter of the family’s history. Perception and reality battle love and mercy as old family wounds are reopened, childhood memories are tested, and the Wyeth clan learns that some secrets can’t stay buried forever. Full of both humorous and deeply felt moments, Other Desert Cities brings dysfunctional family drama to new heights. The New York Times called Other Desert Cities “the best new play on Broadway,” and audiences everywhere are finding it both entertaining and insightful. Not for young children- mature themes and strong language.

This witty and thought provoking family drama strikes the perfect balance between comedy and drama and has been called “smart, supremely entertaining and richly satisfying”.

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
March 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
March 15 & 22

All Performances at:

The James Lee Community Center Theater

2855 Annandale Rd Falls Church VA 22042

The Glass Mendacity – Audition Announcement

By Maureen Morley and Time Willmorth

Directed by Jayne L. Victor

 Eight Roles (4 Men – 4 Woman) – All Open

The Providence Players of Fairfax is a non-profit community theater troupe. All participation is on a volunteer, non-compensated basis.

Print the Full Audition Announcement, Audition Form and Production Calendar Here

(This will open a new browser window – click on the pdf file listed)

Performance Dates and Times

Preview:   May 28, 2015 7:00pm Curtain

Evening Performances: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 7:30 pm Curtain –  May 29, 30, June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13

Matinees: Sundays; 2:00 pm curtain –  May 31 & June 7

Audition Dates

FINAL NIGHT -Wednesday March 11  7:00 – 9:30 pm (In the James Lee Urbanites Room)- FINAL NIGHT

Call-Backs (if needed – by invitation):

NEW DATE –Thursday March 12  7:00 – 9:30 pm (In the James Lee Urbanites Room)-NEW DATE

Location

The James Lee Community Center

2855 Annandale Road

Falls Church, VA 22042

Auditions will be held in the Urbanites Room – NOT IN THE THEATER. The Urbanites Room is located to the left of the main desk at the front entrance of the community center.

Audition Information/Instructions

• PLEASE RSVP to providenceplayers@cox.net with the date you plan on auditioning.
• Print the Audition Announcement – Click on this link and then on the .pdf file and print or save
• HOW WE WORK: Most PPF auditions have actors up and down to read multiple times in multiple combinations and scenes. Most actors find this fun. As space allows, you will be able to watch all the auditions. You may be asked to go into the hallway with audition partners and work a bit on a scene.  We will do our best to get you up multiple times reading for parts you are interested in. You will also be asked to read for other parts you may not be auditioning for. The Providence Players strives to make our productions open to interested and engaged actors & actresses, regardless of their level of experience. We try and make our auditions as relaxing and fun as possible.
• AUDITION PROCESS: Please prepare a short comedic monologue. Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Auditioners may be asked to do a brief ice breaker.
• AUDITION SIDES: Sides for the audition process will be supplied at auditions.
• AUDITION FORM: Resumes and headshots will be accepted, but are not required. Please ALSO COMPLETE the attached PPF The Glass Mendacity Audition Form and bring it with you to the audition.
• MEMBERSHIP:  The Providence Players of Fairfax is a membership organization. Membership is not required to audition. If cast, actors in addition to production team members will be asked to become members of the Providence Players ($10) for the season (if they are not already).
• RSVP: Please send us an RSVP if you plan to audition to providenceplayers@cox.net (or email us any questions you may have).

Rehearsal Schedule:

A copy of the preliminary stage rehearsal schedule is included with this announcement and will be available online and at auditions. Stage rehearsals begin April 27, 2015. In addition to the stage rehearsal schedule, additional full cast readings of the play and some selected scene study and character work may be scheduled based on actor availability in March and April prior to the stage schedule. The schedule for these will be finalized a week or two after auditions.   Unless indicated otherwise, all rehearsals will happen at the James Lee Community Center. Rehearsals will be held in the evenings roughly from 6:30/6:45 to 9:45 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays as indicated.

 Please come to auditions prepared to list any scheduling conflicts you have over this time period.

The Glass Mendacity from the Director

The fragile and damaged characters in Tennessee Williams’ plays are ideal for parody; the success of his works requires focus and concentration on his characters to bring his plays to life.  Writers Maureen Morley and Tom Willmorth have created a hilarious parody that could be re-named “ The Glass Streetcar Menagerie on a Hot Tin Roof”! It combines characters and story lines from Williams’ three best known plays.  In The Glass Mendacity narrator/attorney Mitch O’Connor visits his client Big Daddy Dubois, who is dying of a spastic colon, his daughter Blanche Kowalski (crazy as a loon) is married to Stanley who is having an affair with Maggie the Cat (who spends the entire play in an array of slips).  Laura is haunted by her love for Mitch and her collection of glass figurines that in reality are ice cubes; why do the figurines keep disappearing??

The Glass Mendacity Character Descriptions

While these characters are indeed based on Tennessee Williams’ original characters, the biggest difference is that these characters have a sense of humor.  Some of the characters are actually composites of two or more of their original selves.

MITCH O’CONNOR – male 35-65

A combination of Jim O’Connor, the Gentleman Caller from The Glass Menagerie and Mitch from A Streetcar Named Desire.  O’Connor, though successful, is a homebody, who wants something more out of life.

BIG DADDY DUBOIS – male 50-70

As the name implies, he is big and bold and no-nonsense.  He is father, here, to Brick, Blanche and Laura.  He is based on the Big Daddy character from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

AMANDA DUBOIS – female 40-70

A combination of Big Mama from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Amanda Wingfield from The Glass Menagerie.  She is flamboyant and flighty and prefers to dwell on past glories.  Her devotion to her family is never far from the surface.

MAGGIE THE CAT – female 30 and up

Maggie is a sexy scheming seductress based on the character of the same name from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

BRICK DUBOIS – male 30 and up

He is the quiet, sullen, brooding type rendered silent by self-pity and alcohol.  He has no lines in the play, but plenty of stage time.

STANLEY KOWALSKI – male 35-55

He is similar in all respects to the character on which he is based in A Streetcar Named Desire.  He is a working class brute, but here is married to Blanche Dubois.

BLANCH DUBOIS – female 30-55

She is a withered flower with a penchant for young boys.  She is based on the character of the same name from A Streetcar Named Desire.

LAURA DUBOIS female 30 and up

She is painfully shy, walks with a limp and lives in a dream world. This character is based on the character of Laura Wingfield from The Glass Menagerie.

Print the Full Audition Announcement, Audition Form and Production Calendar Here

(This will open a new browser window – click on the pdf file listed)

Order Tickets Here

Click Here For More Info

Click Here To Order Tickets

Recently, one of the hottest tickets on Broadway and a 2012 Tony nominee, Other Desert Cities opens on the Providence Players stage at the James Lee Community Center Theater March 13-28^th. This latest play from Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz (creator of TV’s Brothers & Sisters) is a funny and smart drama filled with witty repartee that both dazzles and decimates. Brooke Wyeth returns to her politically conservative parents’ glamorous Palm Springs home to spend the holidays with them. But the warm desert air turns chilly when news of her upcoming memoir threatens to revive the most painful chapter of the family’s history. Perception and reality battle love and mercy as old family wounds are reopened, childhood memories are tested, and the Wyeth clan learns that some secrets can’t stay buried forever. Full of both humorous and deeply felt moments, Other Desert Cities brings dysfunctional family drama to new heights. The New York Times called Other Desert Cities “the best new play on Broadway,” and audiences everywhere are finding it both entertaining and insightful.

This witty and thought provoking family drama strikes the perfect balance between comedy and drama and has been called “smart, supremely entertaining and richly satisfying”.

The Providence Players opens Other Desert Cities on March 13^th for a Three Week Run

 Tickets are on sale now here

This play’s adult themes and language make it most appropriate for older teens and adults. Parental discretion is advised.

Let’s meet the cast:

Polly Wyeth, portrayed by Tina Thronson

Tina has been seen often on the PPF Stage and has directed many of the Company’s most outstanding productions. Over her 16 years with PPF, she has had lead and featured roles as Sabrina (The Skin of our Teeth, 2002), Mary Haines (The Women, 2005), multiple roles in It’s a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play (2010), Patsy (Sideman 2012) and was featured in Cash on Delivery (2004), and You Can’t Take it With You (2013).  Tina has directed the PPF Productions of Born Yesterday, 12 Angry Men, The Man Who Came to Dinner (which won two WATCH awards), Steel Magnolias, The Laramie Project and Dinner with Friends, spanning from 2002 to 2014 of PPF theater history.  Tina has also performed many backstage roles with distinction and is a longtime PPF Board Member and Past President.  In Other Desert Cities, Tina is wearing two hats, as actor and director, although not the original plan for the production, she is wearing both with great distinction.

Polly, wife of Lyman, mother of Brooke and Trip, and sister to Silda, is a bright, sharp, funny woman with class and a strong sense of who she is.  As the family members relate to each other, and as with most mothers, there is no mistaking her importance to the dynamics of this family.

Lyman Wyeth, portrayed by John Coscia

John has been seen often on the PPF stage, performing with great distinction in many award winning plays as lead and featured actor.  Favorite roles include (but are not limited to)  Grandpa (You Can’t Take it With You, 1998 and 2012), Harry Brock (Born Yesterday, 2002), Juror #8 (Twelve Angry Men, 2005), Tom (I Never Sang for my Father, 2006), Kit Carson (Watch Nomination, The Time of your Life, 2006), Peppino (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2007), Gal (Rough Crossing, 2008), The Father et al (The Laramie Project, 2010), Joe (The Shadow Box, 2011), and Gene (Sideman 2012).  John has been nominated and won many WATCH awards for his acting, set design and set construction with PPF.  In 2014, John marked his directorial debut with the play, Of Mice and Men, which has been WATCH nominated for many awards, including best play and best director.  He is also an original and current member of the PPF Board of Directors.

Lyman Wyeth, family patriarch, loving husband and father, is a man who describes himself as having traditional American family values, and who has had much success in his life, while remaining true to the value he places on his family relationships.

Brooke Wyeth, portrayed by Andra Whitt

Andra has fluctuated between onstage performances and backstage roles.  Onstage, she has performed as Claire (Rumors, 2014), Essie (You Can’t Take it With You, 2012), Terry (Sideman, 2012) and Sally Cato (Auntie Mame, 2011), in each role to great acclaim and entertaining effect. She has served as properties and stage manager/crew for PPF.  Andra also serves on the PPF Board of Directors and is an indispensable member of the Company, giving her time and skills in some way to each production, for this one, the audience gets once again to see her in another stellar performance.

Mercurial, smart, funny, engaging, Brooke Wyeth can be seen as the family keeper of memories whose journey to understanding her relationship with her family is an essential part of the story for her and for the audience to enjoy and experience.

Trip Wyeth, portrayed by Bobby Welsh

Bobby has engaged PPF audiences in prominent featured roles for the last five years and has created an indelible impression in each in his character portrayals.  He has been featured as Perry (Waiting in the Wings, 2010), Ito (Auntie Mame, 2011), Father (Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 2012), Jonesy (Sideman, 2012), and Whit (Of Mice and Men, 2014).  His portrayals have been thoughtful and authentic in varied character roles and he has greatly enhanced each play he has performed in for the audience and his fellow actors.  Previous community theater roles include Sancho Panza, Man of La Mancha, and The Mysterious Man, Into the Woods.  Bobby has also been indispensable in production roles for PPF, backstage and in the tech booth.

Trip Wyeth, a loving son and brother, is a character of many dual qualities, well educated, under achieving, fun loving with some personal demons, who has a good sense of life’s priorities and the good sense to remind his family of them every once in a while.  Every family needs a Trip, to keep them grounded in the here and now.

Silda Grauman, portrayed by Barbara Gertzog

Barbara has performed many roles for PPF, including comic turns as a wily bank customer (The Good Doctor, 2004), a scheming fortune teller (Elmira, Good Help is So Hard to Murder, 2007), the mean cousin (Chick, Crimes of the Heart, 2003), a snobbish matron (Mrs. Upson, Auntie Mame, 2011), a British dominatrix (Mrs. Cowper, Cash on Delivery, 2003) and a lusty landlady (Is He Dead, 2013).  She was also featured as Billie Dawn (Born Yesterday, 2002), Maggie Cutler (The Man Who Came to Dinner, 2004), and Rosa Peppino (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2007).  Barbara has also directed the PPF productions of Heaven Can Wait,  The Women and The Shadow Box (Ruby Griffith “Best Play” award winner and WATCH nominated Best Play) and performed numerous other production roles for the company.

Aunt Silda is a character who has experienced many hard knocks, most of her own making.  She is smart, irritating, knowing in a self-deluded way, full of hard edges, humor and love in her own Silda style.  Spending some time with the Wyeths and Aunt Silda will entertain, amuse, and provide an evening of great theater.

Other Desert Cities is a great way to spend an evening losing yourself in the words and characters of a terrific play.  ODC has multi-faceted characters and is the story of a family whose relationships and revelations will be entertaining and riveting.

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
March 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
March 15 & 22

All Performances at:

The James Lee Community Center Theater

2855 Annandale Rd Falls Church VA 22042

Tickets On Sale Here

With a fresh coat of snow on the ground in the DC Metro area, the Providence Players are preparing to whisk you away to the warmer climes of the Palm Springs desert. PPF is less than a month away from opening Other Desert Cities a riveting new play that was nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for Best Play and was a Finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize. This witty and thought provoking family drama strikes the perfect balance between comedy and drama and has been called “smart, supremely entertaining and richly satisfying”.

The Providence Players opens Other Desert Cities on March 13^th for a three week run. Tickets are on sale now here.

Let’s meet the cast:

Polly Wyeth, portrayed by Tina Thronson

Tina has been seen often on the PPF Stage and has directed many of the Company’s most outstanding productions. Over her 16 years with PPF, she has had lead and featured roles as Sabrina (The Skin of our Teeth, 2002), Mary Haines (The Women, 2005), multiple roles in It’s a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play (2010), Patsy (Sideman 2012) and was featured in Cash on Delivery (2004), and You Can’t Take it With You (2013).  Tina has directed the PPF Productions of Born Yesterday, 12 Angry Men, The Man Who Came to Dinner (which won two WATCH awards), Steel Magnolias, The Laramie Project and Dinner with Friends, spanning from 2002 to 2014 of PPF theater history.  Tina has also performed many backstage roles with distinction and is a longtime PPF Board Member and Past President.  In Other Desert Cities, Tina is wearing two hats, as actor and director, although not the original plan for the production, she is wearing both with great distinction.

Polly, wife of Lyman, mother of Brooke and Trip, and sister to Silda, is a bright, sharp, funny woman with class and a strong sense of who she is.  As the family members relate to each other, and as with most mothers, there is no mistaking her importance to the dynamics of this family.

Lyman Wyeth, portrayed by John Coscia

John has been seen often on the PPF stage, performing with great distinction in many award winning plays as lead and featured actor.  Favorite roles include (but are not limited to)  Grandpa (You Can’t Take it With You, 1998 and 2012), Harry Brock (Born Yesterday, 2002), Juror #8 (Twelve Angry Men, 2005), Tom (I Never Sang for my Father, 2006), Kit Carson (Watch Nomination, The Time of your Life, 2006), Peppino (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2007), Gal (Rough Crossing, 2008), The Father et al (The Laramie Project, 2010), Joe (The Shadow Box, 2011), and Gene (Sideman 2012).  John has been nominated and won many WATCH awards for his acting, set design and set construction with PPF.  In 2014, John marked his directorial debut with the play, Of Mice and Men, which has been WATCH nominated for many awards, including best play and best director.  He is also an original and current member of the PPF Board of Directors.

Lyman Wyeth, family patriarch, loving husband and father, is a man who describes himself as having traditional American family values, and who has had much success in his life, while remaining true to the value he places on his family relationships.

Brooke Wyeth, portrayed by Andra Whitt

Andra has fluctuated between onstage performances and backstage roles.  Onstage, she has performed as Claire (Rumors, 2014), Essie (You Can’t Take it With You, 2012), Terry (Sideman, 2012) and Sally Cato (Auntie Mame, 2011), in each role to great acclaim and entertaining effect. She has served as properties and stage manager/crew for PPF.  Andra also serves on the PPF Board of Directors and is an indispensable member of the Company, giving her time and skills in some way to each production, for this one, the audience gets once again to see her in another stellar performance.

Mercurial, smart, funny, engaging, Brooke Wyeth can be seen as the family keeper of memories whose journey to understanding her relationship with her family is an essential part of the story for her and for the audience to enjoy and experience.

Trip Wyeth, portrayed by Bobby Welsh

Bobby has engaged PPF audiences in prominent featured roles for the last five years and has created an indelible impression in each in his character portrayals.  He has been featured as Perry (Waiting in the Wings, 2010), Ito (Auntie Mame, 2011), Father (Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 2012), Jonesy (Sideman, 2012), and Whit (Of Mice and Men, 2014).  His portrayals have been thoughtful and authentic in varied character roles and he has greatly enhanced each play he has performed in for the audience and his fellow actors.  Previous community theater roles include Sancho Panza, Man of La Mancha, and The Mysterious Man, Into the Woods.  Bobby has also been indispensable in production roles for PPF, backstage and in the tech booth.

Trip Wyeth, a loving son and brother, is a character of many dual qualities, well educated, under achieving, fun loving with some personal demons, who has a good sense of life’s priorities and the good sense to remind his family of them every once in a while.  Every family needs a Trip, to keep them grounded in the here and now.

Silda Grauman, portrayed by Barbara Gertzog

Barbara has performed many roles for PPF, including comic turns as a wily bank customer (The Good Doctor, 2004), a scheming fortune teller (Elmira, Good Help is So Hard to Murder, 2007), the mean cousin (Chick, Crimes of the Heart, 2003), a snobbish matron (Mrs. Upson, Auntie Mame, 2011), a British dominatrix (Mrs. Cowper, Cash on Delivery, 2003) and a lusty landlady (Is He Dead, 2013).  She was also featured as Billie Dawn (Born Yesterday, 2002), Maggie Cutler (The Man Who Came to Dinner, 2004), and Rosa Peppino (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2007).  Barbara has also directed the PPF productions of Heaven Can Wait,  The Women and The Shadow Box (Ruby Griffith “Best Play” award winner and WATCH nominated Best Play) and performed numerous other production roles for the company.

Aunt Silda is a character who has experienced many hard knocks, most of her own making.  She is smart, irritating, knowing in a self-deluded way, full of hard edges, humor and love in her own Silda style.  Spending some time with the Wyeths and Aunt Silda will entertain, amuse, and provide an evening of great theater.

Other Desert Cities is a great way to spend an evening losing yourself in the words and characters of a terrific play.  ODC has multi-faceted characters and is the story of a family whose relationships and revelations will be entertaining and riveting.

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
March 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
March 15 & 22

All Performances at:

The James Lee Community Center Theater

2855 Annandale Rd Falls Church VA 22042

Tickets On Sale Here

Last evening (Sunday January 18, 2015), the Washington Area Community Theater Honors (WATCH) organization announced the 15th Annual 2014 WATCH AWARDS Nominations for community theater productions mounted in calendar year 2014. There are currently 31 member companies in WATCH from throughout the DC, Maryland and Virginia area. A  total of 111 productions (34 musicals, 77 plays) were adjudicated in 2014. The Providence Players have been a member of WATCH since 2004.

The Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) is an organization founded for the adjudication and presentation of annual awards recognizing artistic and technical excellence in community theatre throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, and that these honors will:

• Foster and encourage the growth of community theater
• Promote and enhance the image of community theater; and
• Educate and inform the general public about the theatrical opportunities provided by the member theaters.

The Providence Players have been honored with a total of 19 WATCH nominations for 2014 including two each in the Outstanding Play (“Best Play”) and Outstanding Direction of a Play (“Best Director”) categories. Prior to these nominations, PPF had previously garnered 75 nominations and 18 awards since joining WATCH with some 69% of all PPF productions having been honored with one or more WATCH nominations and awards.

Congratulations to all our nominees and to all PPF members who contributed to the success of these and all PPF productions during 2014. Congratulations as well, to all our colleagues in the 31 DMV WATCH member community theater companies. 2014 was an outstanding year in Washington area community theater with a huge number of outstanding productions and hundreds of wonderful performances and technical achievements.

PPF Production of Rumors – Spring Production 2014 – 8 Nominations

Outstanding Play – Rumors

Outstanding Direction of a Play – Liz Mykietyn

Outstanding Cameo in a Play – Eric Jones as “Officer Welch”

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – Don Myers as “Lenny Ganz”

Outstanding Hair Design in a Play – Beth Harrison & Robbie Snow

Outstanding Set Construction in a Play – John Coscia

Outstanding Set Design in a Play – John Coscia

Outstanding Set Painting in a Play – Craig Geoffrion

PPF Production of Of Mice and Men – Fall  Production 2014 – 11 Nominations

Outstanding Play – Of Mice and Men

Outstanding Direction of a Play – John Coscia

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play – Kyle Keene as “Lennie”

Outstanding Properties in a Play – Julie Janson & Andra Whitt

Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play – Lisa Church & John Coscia

Outstanding Set Design in a Play – John Coscia

Outstanding Set Painting in a Play – Lisa Church

Outstanding Light Design in a Play – Chip Gertzog

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play – Chip Gertzog

Outstanding Special Effects – Julie Janson, Beth Harrison, Andra Whitt

Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography – Mike Donahue

The full list of WATCH nominations may be found on the DCMetrotheaterArts.com website or in PDF format on The WATCH website.

Join us for our next outstanding production – “Other Desert Cities” which opens March 13, 2015 and runs through March 28, 2015

Tickets On Sale Here

Very few years can be seen as more emblematic of the growth, development and evolution of the Providence Players as was 2014. Our 10^th year at the James Lee Community Center Theater and our 17^th season as a company, PPF shined in 2014 with four outstanding audience and critically acclaimed productions indicative of our commitment to artistic excellence as well as our commitment to creative expression and personal fulfillment for our company members. Moreover, we successfully continued our commitment to the broader community in many ways in 2014.  Join us as we take a brief look back on ’14 and a look forward to what’s next in 2015 AND how you can be a part of the PPF experience!

But, first things first – We thank and honor all of you!  We could not do it without you – our patrons, donors and members.  Again this year, we offer you a chance to support the company with a tax-deductible contribution. Ticket sales alone cannot cover all of our costs and we rely on our generous donors to help make all of this possible. New for 2015 is the ability to make a secure tax-deductible contribution online if you choose. Many of you have donated in 2014 and we thank you for your patronage and support of Providence Players and we hope it will continue in 2015.  Make a Donation Online Today

Last January, we opened calendar 2014 with the news that PPF had garnered seven WATCH award nominations for calendar 2013 productions with our production of Is He Dead?  receiving six nominations (and one award) from the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors. WATCH Nominations for 2014 will be announced later this January.

Our 2014 winter production of John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves  marked Michael Donahue’s PPF directorial debut.

DcMetroTheaterArts said “Well directed by Michael P. Donahue and performed by a super cast.. Providence Players of Fairfax once again offers audiences a chance to revisit a classic and provides a funny, yet poignant production, featuring fine performances by a very talented cast. Don’t miss it.”   DCMTA Full Review Here – Falls Church News Press Here – Connection Newspapers Here

Audiences loved the production and it was honored by a runner-up designation from the Ruby Griffith awards for Outstanding Achievement in a Play. Recently, DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with six ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:

PPF’s The House of Blue Leaves Best of 2014

 DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – The House of Blue Leaves

Michael P. Donahue Best Director of a Play – Community Theater

Acting Honors:

Best Scenic Design – John Coscia

Our 2014 spring production of Neil Simon’s Rumors was also a directorial debut, this time for Liz Mykietyn.

DCMetroTheaterArts.com reviewer Francine Schwartz echoed audience sentiments with a GLOWING  5 Star “Its’ A Blast” review.  She sums it up with “Providence Players of Fairfax’s Rumors is a blast! Rumor has it that you will have a belly-laughed filled time in the theatre. And rumor has it that Mr. Simon would be beaming! The Providence Players of Fairfax wring every possible laugh out of it. The zingers fly everywhere, and Director Liz Mykietyn and her hilarious and hard-working cast make sure those funny one-liners land-and land they do. At the performance I attended, the audience was howling! So if you need a good laugh or several dozen-make your way to the James Lee Community Center.” DCMTA Full Review Here – Falls Church News Press Here – Connection Newspapers Here

Also an audience favorite, DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with no less than ten ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:

PPF’s Rumors Best of 2014

DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – Rumors

Liz Mykietyn Best Director of a Play – Community Theater

Acting Honors:

Best Costume Design – Robbie Snow and Courtney Fonnesbeck

Best Lighting Design – Chip Gertzog

Best Scenic Design – John Coscia

Our 2014 fall production of John Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men was yet another directorial debut for PPF.  John Coscia, multiple WATCH award winning actor, set designer and one of the company’s founders, took the directorial reins for the first time and touched audiences and critics alike.

In their five star review of the production, DCMetroTheaterArts said “Providence Players of Fairfax’s Of Mice and Men is a superb production. I encourage anyone, especially if you have not had the chance to see the stage production of the show, to take a trip out to see it. The top-notch design and direction by John Coscia, his designers and team of actors, make this a ‘must-see’ impressive production.” DCMTA Full Review Here – Connection Newspapers Here

DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with five ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:

PPF’s Of Mice and Men Best of 2014

DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – Of Mice and Men

John Coscia Best Director of a Play – Community Theater

Acting Honors:

We closed a diverse and entertaining 2014 in December with our holiday season offering of  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the C.S Lewis classic adapted by award winning playwright Joseph Robinette. Veteran PPF holiday show director Brian O’Connor returned with another outstanding family production. As always, Brian’s shows are rich in inventiveness with strong performances and an outstanding directorial touch. Once again, PPF partnered with The Young Hearts Foundation on the holiday production to raise money to improve the lives of young people and their families affected by long-term illness. And once again, the production was both a critical and audience hit.

DCMetroTheaterArts said “FIVE STARS! “As a treat for the entire family, or an early Christmas gift, there is none better than C.S. Lewis’ classic tale of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe now playing at Providence Players of Fairfax…Providence Players of Fairfax’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a ‘must see’ production this holiday season that the entire family will enjoy.”   DCMTA Full Review Here – Connection Newspapers Here

DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with eight ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:

PPF’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Best of 2014

DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

 Brian O’Connor Best Director of a Play – Community Theater

Acting Honors:

Best Scenic Design – Brian O’Connor

Best Costume Design – Robbie Snow 

Best Lighting Design – Jimmy Gertzog and Jason Hamrick

Four out of four productions garnered DCMTA’s Best of 2014 Best Play honors and all four directors were recognized for their artistic achievements. Sixteen actors and 9 designers were also recognized by DCMTA for “Best Of” achievements. Coupled with the audience reception of these productions, 2014 was an outstanding year artistically for PPF.

Strengthening Our Link to the Community

We continue to develop strong ties to the community, and are so proud of the organizations we work with.  Here are just a few of the wonderful offerings we provide students and underserved members of our community:

Scholarship Program – Working with community leaders, PPF will again offer awards to students who have demonstrated leadership within their respective theater programs or contributed to the theater arts in some way and plan to do so in the future.

Free Tickets – We continue to promote our free ticket program to community organizations that reach underserved members of our community.  We ask for your help in identifying reputable organizations that serve those who may be unable to afford the price of admission.  Please send an email to providenceplayers@cox.net with your ideas or suggestions.

Free Previews – We remain committed to and continue to grow our preview audience of students, teachers and parents.  This special Thursday performance (the night before opening) is free and helps encourage our young people to experience live theater.  Attendees participate in a post-show discussion with the director, actors and production team as well as a backstage tour.

As we noted above, PPF again joined up with The Young Hearts Foundation, to create the magical and meaningful world of Narnia on the James Lee stage and provide a quality holiday production in support of those young people in our community struggling with leukemia.  It is unfortunate that we know so many who are in a fight for their life, and Young Hearts is there to help.  Prior to the December production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (LWW), PPF and Young Hearts together had leveraged more than $16,000 toward the cause.  With the tremendous audience success of LWW  this year, and with half of all net proceeds from the holiday production once again supporting the Young Hearts important work, that figure will grow.  PPF remains committed to its community, and this continuing collaboration is just one small way of demonstrating it.

We are honored to have been recognized with a “2014 Best of Special Award” by DcMetroTheaterArts.com for our community commitment. DCMTA said:

“We honor Providence Players of Fairfax not only for its high-quality productions, but also for its community outreach with its Theater Community Inclusion Project. “To serve, providing quality, affordable theater to existing patrons while building new audiences for the future, particularly youth and underserved communities.” They provide concessions for each mainstage production, where the proceeds from concession sales are donated to that organization. They provide free tickets to students and their teachers and families and guests and work local non-profit partners- including Young Hearts  and Capital Caring. In fact, their current production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is raising money for Young Hearts). We salute Providence Players of Fairfax for their fine work and for their generosity.

A Stronger Financial Base Today and for the Future

The company remains in a strong financial position.  Again, the board’s focus on artistic quality and sound financial management helped create a small surplus at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2014. The generous support of our patrons and donors helps make that possible.  A copy of the company’s financials can be found on our website at www.providenceplayers.org.

More Great Shows to Come

We are proud of our successes this past year, and have an exciting season remaining for 2015:

OPENS March 13, 2015 – Order Tickets Online Now

March 13 – March 28, 2015

Other Desert Cities, by John Robin Baitz and directed by Tina Thronson.  In this searing comedy-drama, young writer Brooke Wyeth returns home to Palm Springs to celebrate Christmas with her politically-connected parents, and announces her plans to publish a tell-it-all memoir of crucial events in the family’s past.  This riveting new play was nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for Best Play and a Finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize.

OPENS May 29, 2015 – Order Tickets Online Now

May 29 – June 13, 2015

The Glass Mendacity, by Maureen Morley and Tom Willmorth, and directed by Jayne Victor.  A hilarious comedy that parodies some of Tennessee Williams’ most popular southern dramas.  It’s Big Daddy’s birthday and the entire blended family have gathered at Belle Reve to celebrate with sweet tea, cheese balls, cards and brutish, unfettered, southern charm. If you don’t know Williams’ work, don’t fret. These off-kilter and dysfunctional family shenanigans can be enjoyed by all!

And, we will be announcing our 2015- 2016 season in the near future!

Becoming a Part of the PPF Experience

Once again, we thank you for a wonderful 2014 and we look forward to seeing you in this new year.  As we say JOIN US! On Stage, Back Stage, or In the Audience! We could not do it without you – our patrons, donors and members.

NEW ONLINE DONATION LINK

(New for 2015, we now offer you a chance to support the company with a tax-deductible contribution that can be made securely online.   Ticket sales alone cannot cover all of our costs                                                                                                       and we rely on our generous donors to help make all of this possible. Thanks again for your patronage and support of Providence Players, and we look forward to seeing you at the theater soon)

MEMBERSHIP INFO LINK

AUDITION INFO LINK

DCMetrotheaterarts.com honors four (4) Providence Players’ productions and sixteen (16) performances in their “Best of” 2014″ series! Congrats to all honored in DCMetrotheaterarts’ shout outs and to all the other great PPF performances of 2014!

Best Directors in a Play

• Mike Donahue, The House of Blue Leaves
• Liz Mykietyn, Rumors
• John Coscia, Of Mice and Men
• Brian O’Connor, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Best Actor in a Play

• Mike Donahue as George Mitchell in Of Mice and Men 
• Adam Downs as Artie Shaughnessy in The House of Blue Leaves
• Bill Fleming as Asian in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
• Kyle Keene as Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men

• Beth Whitehead as Bananas in The House of Blue Leaves

Best Featured Actor in a Play

• Roberto “Rob” Cuevas as Fenris Ulf in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
• David James as Candy in Of Mice and Men
• Eric Jones as Officer Welch in Rumors
• Zell Murphy as Glenn Cooper in Rumors
• Don Myers as Lenny Ganz in Rumors

Best Featured Actress in a Play

• Beth Hughes-Brown as Cookie Cusack in Rumors
• Lauren Sullivan as Officer Pudney in Rumors
• Jayne Victor as Bunny in The House of Blue Leaves
• Roxanne Waite as Cassie Cooper in Rumors
• Beth Gilles-Whitehead as The White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
• Andra Whitt as Claire Ganz in Rumors