Author: Rock River Players

Auditions for Rock River Players’ A Piece of My Heart

WILLIAMSVILLE – Rock River Players announces auditions for the October 27-30 production of A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro.

Auditions will be held at the Williamsville Hall on Dover Rd., Williamsville, Vermont on September 8 at 4pm,September 9 at 6pm, September 10 at 11am and September 11 at 1pm.

A Piece of My Heart is a work with the music and soul of a tumultuous era in our history: The true stories of six courageous women sent to Vietnam and their struggle to make sense of a war that irrevocably changed them and of a nation that shunned them.

The Wall Street Journal notes that the play “takes up a subject largely missing from the reams of material written about Vietnam, namely the women who served there…. The play is exceedingly moving as the women gather at the memorial wall in Washington and experience a heart wrenching expiation—one that also affects those watching them from the audience….”

According to The New York Times, “Shirley Lauro’s … A Piece of My Heart, is a catharsis as well as a coup de theatre… . There have been a number of plays dealing with Vietnam…but none with the direct, emotional impact of Ms. Lauro’s work…(she) has turned first hand impressions into a disturbing drama that evokes empathy for survivors as victims.”

At auditions, actors will be given pieces of the script to read according to which character they would like to audition for. After a cold reading some direction will be given and then the scene will be run again.

Six women of varying ages and two men are needed: For character descriptions write director Sara Vitale at mamahospital@gmail.com or call 802-348-7156, option 2.

RRP Present On Golden Pond at Williamsville Hall

Rock River Players present On Golden Pond in Williamsville
pdf On Golden Pond

WILLIAMSVILLE – The Rock River Players present On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson at the Williamsville Hall, diagonally across from The Eatery on Dover Road, Williamsville.

On Golden Pond is a beautiful love story—ageless and optimistic– of Ethel [Debbi Reed-Savory] and Norman Thayer [Stewart McDermet], who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the forty-eighth year. A retired English professor, Norman is nearly eighty, with heart palpitations and a failing memory—but still as acerbic, sharp, and eager for life as ever. Ethel, ten years younger–and the perfect foil for Norman–delights in the little things that enrich their long life together.

They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter, Chelsea [Sara Vitale] and her dentist fiancé, Bill Ray [Jeff Connor], who then go off to Europe, leaving his teenage son [Alex Bashay] behind with Ethel and Norman for the summer. The boy quickly becomes the “grandchild” the elderly couple have longed for, and as Norman revels in taking his ward fishing and thrusting good literature at him, he learns some lessons about modern teenage awareness—and slang—in return. As the summer wanes, Ethel and Norman realize the enduring strength of their love and look forward to the future, just as they’ve lived the past, together. The passage of time could highlight what’s in front of us to cherish today. As Norman says, “Golden Pond is near, wherever we are.”

cast is rounded out by Miles Keefe as Charlie and Susan O’Hara as the operator. Cris Parker-Jennings directs; Rick King and Bonnie Cramp are technical staff. Annie Landenberger is producer and RRP founders are covering crew and front-of-house. Performances are Thursday, August 18 through Saturday, August 20 and Thursday, August 25 through Saturday, August 27 at 7:30PM, as well as Sunday, August 21 and 28 at 3PM.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. For more information write verbatim@svcable.net and to reserve in advance call 802-348-7156.


Performances are
Thursday, August 18 at 7:30 PM
Friday, August 19 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 20 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 21 at 3:00 PM
Thursday, August 25 at 7:30 PM
Friday, August 26 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 27 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 28 at 3:00 PM

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. The venue is Williamsville Hall on Dover Road in Williamsville.

For more information write verbatim@svcable.net and to reserve in advance call 802-348-7156.

The Rock River Players launched last August with Our Town and produced You Can’t Take It With You in May. On Golden Pond celebrates the first anniversary of the Rock River Players with expansion of its pool of directors, establishment of an organizational structure, and plans for a four-production season interspersed with open readings of various plays. As the group grows, so will the need for more actors, designers, crew, committee members, producers, publicists, directors. To learn more about becoming involved, contact co-chair, Annie Landenberger, verbatim@svcable.net.