RRP’s Annual Festival of One-Acts – newly renamed in memory of Tom Ely ☀️
ONE WEEKEND ONLY!
Reserve your seats for the Rock River Players’ Annual Tom Ely Festival of One-Acts, showing May 21-24, 2026 at the Williamsville Hall (map).
PERFORMANCES:
Thursday May 21 – 7:00pm
Friday May 22 – 7:00pm
Saturday May 23 – 7:00pm
Sunday May 24 – 3:00pm matinee
Click here to jump to tickets!
ABOUT THE SHOW:
For the fifth year running, we’re thrilled to showcase a breadth of local talent with a collection of short plays by area playwrights. This year’s lineup offers moments of laughter and reflection, exploring the universal themes through three distinct lenses – with surprises at every turn.
This show marks the inaugural evening of one-acts renamed in perpetuity to honor the memory of Tom Ely, a longstanding member of the Rock River Players who passed away in 2025. Tom shared the belief that participating in theater is about “much more than just being on the stage.” Through the dedication of our cast and crew, the creativity of our directors, and the through-provoking nature of these unique original works, we celebrate the spirit of exploration Tom brought to every project – a tribute to his passion for the power of community theater to bring us together.
This year’s program includes:
“ADVOCATE FOR THE DEAD” – written by Miles Ledoux and directed by Kay Beckett – brings an original Agatha Christie adaptation to the stage with an atmospheric drama set against the cliffs of Mallorca, exploring themes of mortality and the paths we leave behind.
- CAST: Harral Hamilton as Anthony Cosdon, Miles Ledoux as Mr. Satterthwaite, Dyana Lee as The Woman in Black, and Ena Küpper as Harley Quin
“THE MOCKINGBIRD’S NEST” – written by Craig Bailey and directed by Shey Nessralla, who is making his directorial debut – is a futuristic satire examining the intersection of technology, human connection, and lengths we’re willing to go to alleviate our guilt.
- CAST: Susan Boyd Joyce as Daisy and Amy Donahue as Robyn
“WORK AND PLAY” – written and directed by RRP newcomer Jon DeAngelis – provides a riotous collision between the past and present, bringing the audience into one family’s 1940s living room, until their quintessential domestic life is interrupted by the distractions of modern life.
- CAST: Nicole Winot as Vivian, Jonathan Benney as Dan, Anne Linge as Barbara, Peter Broussard as Stan, Tobi Buchman as Danny, Aaron Buchman as Serge, Laura Lockie as Dorothy, and Tamar Mentzer as Diane
Note: The planned performance of “THE BENCH” – written by John Swartz and directed by Charlene Kennedy – has been postponed due to extenuating circumstances, but we look forward to bringing it to the stage in the near future!
Advocate for the Dead by Miles Ledoux /// Miles Ledoux as Mr. Satterthwaite + Dyana Lee as The Woman in Black
Work and Play by Jon DeAngelis /// Jonathan Benney as Dan, Tobi Buchman as Danny + Aaron Buchman as Serge
The Mockingbird’s Nest by Craig Bailey /// Susan Boyd Joyce as Daisy + Amy Donahue as Robyn
We look forward to seeing you there!
Tickets are available at the door or by using the form below.
Sliding scale ticket range of $15-$25 for general admission,
with no one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF).
Your PayPal receipt is your confirmation.
Your tickets will be held for you at the door.
Question? info@rockriverplayers.org
For group discounts, please contact us at info@rockriverplayers.org
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