January 2023
The Normal Heart
By Larry Kramer
Directed by Tom DiMaggio
Produced by Stephanie Post Whipple
The Normal Heart is a searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man’s lonely fight to awaken the world to the crisis. Based on playwright Larry Kramer’s own experiences founding the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York in the 1980s, The Normal Heart follows Ned Weeks, a gay activist, as he campaigns for awareness and tends to his own friends and lovers who are dying all around him. Weeks is enraged at the government, public officials, and even the gay community at their lack of awareness and concern about the disease.
The play is both a strong indictment against ignorance and a heartfelt story of love and compassion.
The Cast: Richard Marr-Griffin (Ned Weeks), Justin Pimentel (Felix Turner), Katie Preston (Dr. Emma Brookner), Erik Dethlefsen (Bruce Niles), Paul Oliver (Ben Weeks), Andrew Lugo (Mickey Marcus), Warren Usey (Tommy Boatwright), Chris Verleger (Hiram Keebler), Mark Perry (Craig/ Grady), Ximene Sanchez (The Orderly), Michael Pugliese (The Examining Doctor)
FYI: This play contains graphic dialogue of a sexual nature, adult language, and intense situations.
Show Dates
January 27th, 28th, 29th, February 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Membership
Written By: Judith Clinton, Membership Chair
As a brand-new member of The Players and the new Membership Chair, Judith Clinton is moving forward with wonder and curiosity, learning about the history and heritage of this venerable organization. She’s read stories about the determination and tenacity of the members of the original Players who started it all before they had a permanent home at the Barker Playhouse. It is an amazing story! And the story of creativity and determination continues.
Like so many entertainment organizations, a dent was put in the number of members we enjoyed prior to COVID, and we’re now in the process of welcoming back members with open arms. With lockdown a thing of the past, we are slowly but surely coming back together to celebrate and enjoy the magic of theater created by The Players. We look forward to seeing both new and renewing members at upcoming shows, starting in January with The Normal Heart, followed in March by Bernhardt/Hamlet, and rounding out the season in May with our musical, Avenue Q.
You don’t need to be a member to attend any performance at The Players: single-ticket buyers are welcome, as well as members. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Green Room
Update provided by Nancy Winokoor & Mark Lima
We kicked off the Green Room season last fall with the scene study/monologue/storytelling class led by the masterful Vince Petronio. Next, be on the lookout for our Green Room gem – “Directing: From Stage to Page” – a class led by Vince Petronio, running from January 14 through February 18, with a showcase for members and friends on February 25. If you ever aspired to direct any type of theatrical stage show, this is the class you need to take! We need to limit the size of the class to eight participants for efficiency and effectiveness – so it’s first come, first served to reserve your spot.
Strictly Shakespeare continues with All’s Well that Ends Well on January 10 and 17 in Talma. Everyone is welcome. The lighting is good, but dress warmly! Information will soon be forthcoming regarding a class new to The Players – a stage-combat class that’s scheduled for two consecutive two-hour sessions, Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12 from 2:00 to 4:00PM. Here’s your chance to let out your frustrations while learning many helpful and safe techniques for stage fighting.
We are also finalizing a spring treat – an original one-woman production that is just spectacular and about which we are very excited. And we are looking to next fall for a showcase of original short plays/scenes to bring our members some very interesting work from some highly talented artists. So, hang on – this is just the start!
Have an idea of something that could be done at the Green Room? Click here to submit one!
Construction activity to make the Barker Playhouse ADA-compliant was made possible in part by grants from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and by the Champlin Foundations.
Matching funds were provided by the Barker Foundation, the Sarah Minchen Barker Endowment, and you – our members.
From the President
Bonnie Sullivan
Happy New Year, Players!
I hope this newsletter finds all of you having enjoyed your holidays! I hope everyone had a chance to see The Wickhams, Christmas at Pemberley. Thank you to the cast and crew, who delivered a fantastic, funny, and unique holiday treat. As is typical, The Players take just a quick breath before diving into the new year with gusto.
Kudos to our Green Room Committee for their upcoming events, beginning with Directing: From Page to Stage, with Vince Petronio.
Next, our Mid-Winter Blues party, the antidote to these gray, cold months, will rock the house on Saturday evening, February 11. As ever, we deliver so much more than our main-stage productions. Speaking of which, The Normal Heart is not to be missed, and there are no more able hands to tell the story than Director Tom DiMaggio.
In other news, be on the lookout for the launch of our new website, enhancing our community and member engagement, as well as updates on the next phase of our building preservation in partnership with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. We are a busy and vital community at Players.
As always, we are looking to build our theater group! Have any interest in the following?
General Volunteer: let’s talk about what interests you.
VP Committee: host parties, usher on show nights, and make everyone welcome.
Membership: attract new members, focus on member experience.
Benefit Nights: bring in outside groups to attend special performances of mainstage shows.
Green Room: seek out and stage original works, cabarets, classes, and special events.
Outreach: work to bring Players’ work to community partners.
If you are interested in joining the behind-the-scenes fun, please contact our General Manager, Bill Whitehead, Jr., by email or calling 401-273-0590, or click the button below.
There is plenty of fun to be had, and we look forward to seeing you at the Playhouse!
From the Vice President
Jeff Sullivan
Everyone is invited to join us for The Players’ Mid-Winter ’70s Dance Party!
Break out your polyester shirts, bell bottoms, jumpsuits, and platform shoes as we shake off the mid-winter blues with our ‘70s-era dance party. DJ Jeff (Stayin’ Alive) Sullivan will be spinning the tunes.
Valuable prizes will be awarded for the best ’70s outfits. So, put on your dancing shoes, shake your booty, blame it on the boogie, and let’s get down tonight!
Mark your calendars and make plans to dance till the sun comes up on Saturday, February 11, 7:00PM, in The Players’ Green Room.
Refreshments, beer, and wine will be provided.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Becky Mindard, DEI Committee Chair
It’s no secret that our stately building at 400 Benefit Street is a rather austere neighborhood presence, despite the creative joy that is happening inside. On a recent walk sponsored by the Mile of History Association, a new neighbor commented on the mysterious look of the building.
Claire Andrade-Watkins, who has made films about Fox Point, grew up a few blocks from Barker Playhouse. As a child she had no idea what was happening in there, even though she and a friend regularly played right outside.
The question is: How can we invite more people in our neighborhood and beyond to want to play inside?
We cannot literally keep the doors open all the time to make our theater a more welcoming space. However, we can have events to which the public is invited, events that allow people to share something of themselves and thus be part of the creative spirit. One event our committee is working on is a “Spoken Word Night,” involving poetry, comedy, storytelling, and musical pieces. We will keep you posted, but it’s likely to be in late spring.
Our committee continues to look at issues of inclusion as broadly as possible. It is a humbling process. We were pleased, however, to be included by Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, of Mixed Magic Theatre, in his recent Valley Breeze article, in the list of theaters that are working on DEI issues. We will keep at it, and we welcome all comments and suggestions!
The Players Cookbook!
Our long-awaited cookbook, featuring more than 90 treasured recipes from Players members, and friends, is now available. The cost is $35 each.
You can order your cookbook(s) by clicking here or emailing us. Cookbooks must be picked up at the theatre.
Remember: This is a fundraiser for the Raise the Roof project: $17 of the purchase price is tax deductible.
