An Upbeat, Happy Theatrical Way “to See Red”
The Town Players Collaborates with the Historical Society’s
“Little Red Riding Hood Visits New Canaan” and
Presents Little Red Riding Hood, A Panto
that plays at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park
on December 7 & 14 at 8 PM and December 8, 9, 15 & 16 at 2:30 PM
“Lights!” “Curtain!” The Town Players are all set to open their annual Family Holiday Show, Little Red Riding Hood, A Panto, Tina and Robert Burbidge’s light hearted, happy go lucky spoof, filled with music, dancing, and colorful, sometimes ridiculous costumes. Performances will take place on Friday, December 7 & 14 at 8PM and Saturday & Sunday, December 8, 9, 15 & 16 at 2:30PM at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park.
When early this fall the Historical Society presented the Town Players with an upbeat, happy way for people “to see red,” New Canaan’s community theatre group happily agreed to do something it has never done since it was founded on December 13, 1946—bring back a very popular show one year later. “The decision was easy,” commented TPNC president Robert Doran. “The Town Players and the Historical Society have been collaborating for decades and we’re delighted to invite Little Red Riding Hood to the Waveny Woods.”
Active Town Players members “Marion Williams and Lorraine Van Loan,” explained the Historical Society’s Janet Lindstrom last week, “began the Costume Museum and staged the first exhibit in 1966 after the Town Players produced Historical Happenings that celebrated the dedication of the Rogers Studio as a National Landmark. They remembered clothing used for the play that had come from the Town House and conceived the idea of a costume exhibit.” Great grandson of famed sculptor John Rogers for whom the Historical Society’s John Rogers Studio is named, “J.R.” was the Town Players’ artistic director and an actor and song writer, while also being a creative mainstay of the Historical Society.
Before and after Hurricane Sandy Janet Lindstrom, her staff and volunteers worked with collector Peggy Rice to pull together from Mrs. Rice’s extraordinary 50 year old collection the items to be displayed in Seeing Red: Little Red Riding Hood Visits the New Canaan Historical Society, which opened last Friday night. Similarly on October weekends Town Players Anthony Medaglia, Steve Gravereaux and Katey Henninger created on the second floor of the Historical Society Little Red Riding Hood’s Village, which includes a street light, originally constructed by John Rogers for a Town Players production of Guys and Dolls. Mr. Gravereaux is also on the Historical Society’s Board of Governors.
After the power was restored to the Powerhouse, director Patrick Kiley and musical director Ken Knox began rehearsals for Little Red Riding Hood, A Panto, with new cast and music. The leading ladies are Bobbie (Bob) Filipowich as Dame Robyn Hood and Jordan Andrews as Red; Kate Billard as Billy and Mickey Raimondi as Billy’s father the Woodcutter, Christine Millardi as the Fairy; Kevin McDonough as the big, bad wolf; Marcia Cummings Vinci, Steve Whitaker and Stephen DiRocco as the three pigs Dewey, Cheetum and Howe. Shannon Riccio and Griffin Hollis will appear as Jack and Jill, and Janice Rudolph as Granny.
Appearing as the Villager chorus are Abigail Zuckert, Julia Foodman, Allison Fitzpatrick, Virginia Smith, Meghan Musto, Avery MacLear, Emily Barnard, Fiona Stevens, Alexandra Watkinson, Kaitlyn Piotroski, and Gaby Highton.
The two act play lasts an hour-and-a-half including intermission and is recommended for all ages, beginning at five years old. Continuing a 30-year tradition, Phyllis Jordan is overseeing the Town Players/ U.S. Marine Corp collection of gifts for children age six months thru twelve years old at the Saturday, Dec. 8th Toys For Tots® matinee. Before the show, after depositing his or her present in the Town Players’ Merry Wives of Windsor wicker basket, each child shakes hands with a U.S. Marine, who will make a cameo performance at the beginning of the play.
Producer Katey Henninger encourages audiences “to create for your family a very special See Red on Saturday day. Go to the Historical Society exhibit in the late morning, have lunch in New Canaan and come enjoy Little Red Riding Hood, A Panto.” Admission is just $5 to enjoy Peggy Rice’s sizeable collection of Little Red Riding Hood memorabilia as you follow the path that Little Red took through town and into the shadowy woods to her grandmother’s cottage. Exhibition hours are 10am–4pm Tuesday–Friday, and 10am–12pm on Saturdays. Admission to the exhibition is $5. For additional details please visit www.nchistory.org or call 203-966-1776.
Tickets for Little Red Riding Hood, A Panto are $10 except at the December 8th Toys for Tots® matinee when the price of admission for a child is one unwrapped, new toy. To reserve tickets, please call (203) 966-7371 or go to info@tpnc.org
