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<channel><title><![CDATA[Peterborough Players - Appeals Archive]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive]]></link><description><![CDATA[Appeals Archive]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:07:10 -0400</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[A Letter from Brendon Fox, Artistic Director]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/a-letter-from-brendon-fox]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/a-letter-from-brendon-fox#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/a-letter-from-brendon-fox</guid><description><![CDATA[As I look back on our enormously successful summer season, so many wonderful moments come to mind: our door-slamming farce Boeing Boeing kicking off the season with hilarity, audience members lining up to be volunteers onstage in our Spelling Bee, our hard-working apprentices celebrating each other with heartfelt speeches during our Whitmore Awards as we wrapped up the summer.&nbsp;These highlight so much of what the Players is about - high-quality productions, spreading joy, embracing community [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph">As I look back on our enormously successful summer season, so many wonderful moments come to mind: our door-slamming farce <em>Boeing Boeing</em> kicking off the season with hilarity, audience members lining up to be volunteers onstage in our <em>Spelling Bee</em>, our hard-working apprentices celebrating each other with heartfelt speeches during our Whitmore Awards as we wrapped up the summer.<br />&nbsp;<br />These highlight so much of what the Players is about - high-quality productions, spreading joy, embracing community, and championing education by passing the torch to the next generation of theatre-makers. All the above costs more than you may think. We need your help, and time is of the essence. <strong>National and state funding for the arts is now essentially non-existent, which means it&rsquo;s more crucial than ever to consider ways to increase your giving to the Players. </strong>Your tickets for our shows only account for roughly 30% of what it takes to produce them. Although our attendance was strong this summer, it doesn&rsquo;t cover our overall costs. For example, some of our expenses tripled in 2025 due to various economic factors, but we chose not to pass that on to our community in ticket prices.<br />&nbsp;<br />If this season was your first time in our beautiful barn, thank you so much for joining us. If you have been coming for years, thank you for your steadfast support and for bringing first-timers as your guests.&nbsp; <strong>There is only one way to keep this momentum going and to ensure the future: please strongly consider increasing your donation to our Annual Fund. </strong>&nbsp;I'm so excited by the thrilling experiences in store for you in 2026.&nbsp; Now more than ever, your support is necessary to the magic of Peterborough Players.&nbsp; Thank you in advance for taking this impactful moment for your theater seriously and being an essential part of our success.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Brendon Fox<br />Artistic Director<br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Set Designer Charlie Morgan]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-set-designer-charlie-morgan]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-set-designer-charlie-morgan#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-set-designer-charlie-morgan</guid><description><![CDATA[  It&rsquo;s a lovely summer day here in Peterborough, and I&rsquo;m thrilled to be writing to you. I&rsquo;m in the final rehearsal of Boeing Boeing, my 63rd? show at the Players.&nbsp;I know most of you haven&rsquo;t met me or even heard of me, but you&rsquo;ve probably seen my work over the years, Scenic Design for Cherry Orchard, Glass Menagerie, Annapurna, Our Town, The Producers, Ben Butler, and so many others.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m thrilled to be part of an amazing new team of artists and crafts [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph"></div>  <div class="paragraph">It&rsquo;s a lovely summer day here in Peterborough, and I&rsquo;m thrilled to be writing to you. I&rsquo;m in the final rehearsal of <em>Boeing Boeing</em>, my 63rd? show at the Players.&nbsp;I know most of you haven&rsquo;t met me or even heard of me, but you&rsquo;ve probably seen my work over the years, Scenic Design for Cherry Orchard, Glass Menagerie, Annapurna, Our Town, The Producers, Ben Butler, and so many others.<br />&nbsp;<br />I&rsquo;m thrilled to be part of an amazing new team of artists and craftsmen, led by the talented Brendon Fox. Their energy and enthusiasm for the Players are truly inspiring, and I can&rsquo;t wait to see what the future holds.<br />&nbsp;<br />Collaboration is a hallmark of theater. It is an art forms that requires a team of artists to work together. The audience may not realize the many artists and craftsmen who make up the team that brings what the audience sees to life. Boeing Boeing has approximately 30 artists, artisans and core company working behind the scenes- it&rsquo;s all part of the magic.<br />&nbsp;<br />As a Scenic Designer at the Players for 29 years, these collaborations have introduced me to hundreds of amazing artists and craftspeople who have had a profound impact on my work and life. Without the Players, I wouldn&rsquo;t be the person and artist I am today. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you.<br />&nbsp;<br />The most important collaborator in theater is you the audience. Without an audience, there is no theater. You may not know it, but the tickets you buy only cover 30% of the theater&rsquo;s operating costs. It&rsquo;s the generous donors and sponsors like you who make the difference and keep live theater thriving here at the Players.<br />&nbsp;<br />I encourage you to donate whatever you can. No gift is too small - it all adds up. And of course, I&rsquo;d love for you to come collaborate as an audience member on a show with us. We&rsquo;re here creating magic in the woods, and I&rsquo;d be thrilled to have you join us.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;Thank you,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;Charles F. Morgan<br />&nbsp;Set Designer and Player since 1996<br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Board Member, Katelyn Manfre]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-board-member-katelyn-manfre]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-board-member-katelyn-manfre#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sat, 01 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-board-member-katelyn-manfre</guid><description><![CDATA[March 2025&#8203;Picture this: it&rsquo;s an August evening on Hadley Road, late enough that the sun has gone down and no more light gets in through the cracks in the barn doors. The theater is pitch black at the climax of&nbsp;Wait Until Dark, Frederick Knott&rsquo;s fast-paced thriller. The audience sits in breathless silence. Slowly, we hear the creak of a refrigerator door opening onstage. Light gets in. Just enough to see the villain&rsquo;s face illuminated before he jumps. The door slams  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph"><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">March 2025</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&#8203;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Picture this: it&rsquo;s an August evening on Hadley Road, late enough that the sun has gone down and no more light gets in through the cracks in the barn doors. The theater is pitch black at the climax of&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Wait Until Dark</em><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">, Frederick Knott&rsquo;s fast-paced thriller. The audience sits in breathless silence. Slowly, we hear the creak of a refrigerator door opening onstage. Light gets in. Just enough to see the villain&rsquo;s face illuminated before he jumps. The door slams shut. The audience shrieks. And just backstage, an 11-year-old kid in prop glasses is watching, like she does every night, completely and utterly hooked.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">This is the story I tell, at parties and on panels, when asked what inspired my career in the arts. I grew up at the Peterborough Players&mdash;acting, volunteering, running lights, building props, singing in cabarets, performing at fundraising events&mdash;and now, 25 years after my child star turn, I am proud to be writing to you today as a member of the Board of Directors.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">A key part of the Players mission is education; an investment in cultivating and nurturing the next generation of theater professionals.</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;By including emerging artists in every step of the summer season&ndash;as staff, apprentices, actors, and technicians&ndash;young artists gain a practical understanding of how a theater operates, surrounded by professionals who mentor, teach, and lead by example.&nbsp; I am a direct beneficiary of this educational initiative, and now work as an actor, director, and arts administrator, sharing a love for live performance that was born at the Players.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">With state and federal funding greatly reduced or eliminated altogether, community support for local arts organizations is more important now than ever before. I cannot overstate what a gift this theater is to the Monadnock region. How lucky are we to have access to high-quality, thoughtful, engaging, moving, brilliant artists and performances year after year? Under Brendon and Tori&rsquo;s exciting new leadership, we are gearing up for a dynamic summer season that will deliver on this great legacy, with a lineup of plays that celebrate unique characters finding community among themselves. It will be joyful and chilling and thought-provoking&ndash;sometimes all at once!</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">What was the moment that&nbsp;<em>you</em>&nbsp;were hooked?</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;What inspired you to become a patron? A subscriber? A donor? When have you told someone about a show you saw, an actor you got to know, or a set design that left you in awe? Perhaps you were even in the audience one of those nights in August 1999 and remember the moment the lights went out and the refrigerator opened.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">With that in mind, I hope you consider a donation to the Players this spring. Every dollar raised goes to producing this summer&rsquo;s season and launching our beloved theater into its thrilling next chapter. None of this is possible without you, and we are so grateful for your support, now and always.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">See you at the theater!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Katelyn Manfre</span></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Brendon Fox, Aristic Director]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-brendon-fox-aristic-director]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-brendon-fox-aristic-director#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-brendon-fox-aristic-director</guid><description><![CDATA[&#8203;I&rsquo;m delighted and honored to be writing you as the Players&rsquo; new Artistic Director. I grew up in New England seeing summer theatre and have spent a significant part of my career directing and producing a wide range of plays and musicals that dovetail beautifully with the Players&rsquo; history. I&rsquo;ve also taught in higher education, so our commitment to younger artists starting off on their artistic journeys is one of the many reasons I believe&nbsp;in what the Peterboroug [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph">&#8203;I&rsquo;m delighted and honored to be writing you as the Players&rsquo; new Artistic Director. I grew up in New England seeing summer theatre and have spent a significant part of my career directing and producing a wide range of plays and musicals that dovetail beautifully with the Players&rsquo; history. I&rsquo;ve also taught in higher education, so our commitment to younger artists starting off on their artistic journeys is one of the many reasons I believe&nbsp;in what the Peterborough Players do.<br />&nbsp;<br />I&rsquo;ve spent the last few months beginning to fulfill a promise I made to the Search Committee: that I would immerse myself in the community. As I meet with you on First Fridays, in your homes, and in passing at our local restaurants, I&rsquo;m learning that for some of you, supporting this theater goes back generations; others have just discovered the spellbinding work in the barn for the first time. But the common denominator is your deep love and investment in the Players.<br />&nbsp;<br />That investment was rewarded with a wonderful season this summer, helmed by Interim Producing Artistic Director Charles Morey. It was full of deep laughs and poignant moments &ndash; I saw nearly the entire lineup and was incredibly impressed by the quality of the performances and the detail of the designs. The great work by our team of actors, designers, directors, stage managers and technicians among others was only possible because of your support. With your generous giving to our Annual Fund, we can expose the community to newer works like&nbsp;<em>Ben Butler</em>&nbsp;alongside powerful classics like&nbsp;<em>Man of La Mancha</em>.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />As I write this, I&rsquo;m now turning my attention to our 2025 summer season, even as our theater hosts exciting Arts on Screen events through next spring. Though the exact lineup is still &ldquo;in draft&rdquo;, I can say with certainty that my vision includes a powerful menu of stories from some of the greatest playwrights of our past and present. These tales will be produced with care, diligence and joy. And in addition to the professionals who will endeavor passionately to bring them to life, the Players will again invest in early career artists who will live, work, and grow alongside their more experienced colleagues.<br />&nbsp;<br />We are very grateful for the incredible responses we received for our 2024 season. To ride the wave of excitement that this new era is heralding and build on our momentum into 2025, we ask that you consider contributing to our Annual Fund. Though it&rsquo;s thrilling to see a full house, ticket sales only go about 30% of the way towards our budget. Your support is vital to sustaining the special magic that happens in our beautiful barn every summer.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m looking forward to meeting those I haven&rsquo;t yet had the chance to connect with- to warmly welcome you to the Players next summer and express my thanks in person for all you do to help this jewel of a theater thrive.<br />&nbsp;<br />Warmly,<br />&nbsp;<br />Brendon Fox<br />Artistic Director<br></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Christy Keefe- Director of Development]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/christy-keefe-director-of-development]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/christy-keefe-director-of-development#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2024 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/christy-keefe-director-of-development</guid><description><![CDATA[Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach when I arrived at The Players.&nbsp; I was meeting with the legendary Charles Morey to see if I would be a good fit for the Director of Development and Marketing and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I would be.&nbsp; He gave me a tour and when the doors of the theatre opened, I got goosebumps. The magic in the air is palpable.&nbsp; You can feel the echoes of memories and dreams.&nbsp; The traces of passion and dedication are buzzing around the t [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph">Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach when I arrived at The Players.&nbsp; I was meeting with the legendary Charles Morey to see if I would be a good fit for the Director of Development and Marketing and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I would be.&nbsp; He gave me a tour and when the doors of the theatre opened, I got goosebumps. The magic in the air is palpable.&nbsp; You can feel the echoes of memories and dreams.&nbsp; The traces of passion and dedication are buzzing around the theatre.&nbsp; It feels vibrant and hopeful.<br />&nbsp;<br /><strong>There is something undeniably special about our theatre.&nbsp; </strong><br />&nbsp;<br />You can see it on the faces of the audience.&nbsp; You can hear it in the voices of our interns.&nbsp; The Peterborough Players means so much to so many.&nbsp; It is resplendent with stories, legends and tales.&nbsp; Everyone I have had the pleasure of meeting has a unique connection to The Players.&nbsp; We have had 91 years of sharing community and telling stories.&nbsp; Everyone calls the theatre theirs.&nbsp; And it is.&nbsp; It belongs to everyone.&nbsp; And everyone who has set foot in theatre has helped to shape it.<br />&nbsp;<br />This summer has been inspiring.&nbsp; All day every day the theatre buzzes with the anticipation of audiences and the energy of artists bringing their very best to our stage and the anticipation of audiences to enjoy We have welcomed record-breaking audiences It is an absolute joy to come to work every day.&nbsp; To be a part of something so meaningful and important.&nbsp; It is exhausting.&nbsp; It is overwhelming.&nbsp; It is supremely rewarding.&nbsp; It fills me with pride to be involved with an organization that is a historic, cultural and economic touchstone in the Monadnock Region.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />There is nothing better than seeing the barn completely full, which we have had the pleasure of seeing many times this season so far, but even when we are at 100% capacity, our ticket revenue only covers 30% of our budget.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />You are an invaluable part of our Players team.&nbsp; You love the theatre and you have championed it, which is why I am asking you to look into your heart and remember why this place is so important to you.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br /><strong>Please join me in giving a gift today to ensure the Peterborough Players&rsquo; tomorrow. </strong><br />&nbsp;<br />Your generosity is irreplaceable to us.&nbsp;&nbsp; Your investment in The Players allows us to continue to dream, to grow and to plan for our future.&nbsp; Your giving grants us the ability to continue to bring you the best of the best.&nbsp; Your donation makes it possible for us to bring our community together under one roof in laughter, in delight and in hope.<br />&nbsp;<br />With much gratitude,<br />&nbsp;<br />Christy Keefe<br />Director of Development and Marketing<br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Letter from Marie Cassady, President of the Board of Trustees]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/a-letter-from-marie-cassady-president-of-the-board-of-trustees]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/a-letter-from-marie-cassady-president-of-the-board-of-trustees#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/a-letter-from-marie-cassady-president-of-the-board-of-trustees</guid><description><![CDATA[March, 2024Dear Peterborough Players Family,&nbsp;&ldquo;Why do you love the Peterborough Players and what makes it important to you?&rdquo;--a question I was recently asked at an arts forum. Beyond the beautiful, inspiring art that is presented, it&rsquo;s the sense of community. When my husband and I moved here 18 years ago it was on a part-time basis and we knew no one. One of the first things we did was to attend the Players. For the two hours that we sat in the audience of total strangers w [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph"><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">March, 2024</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Dear Peterborough Players Family,&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&ldquo;Why do you love the Peterborough Players and what makes it important to you?&rdquo;--a question I was recently asked at an arts forum. Beyond the beautiful, inspiring art that is presented, it&rsquo;s the sense of community. When my husband and I moved here 18 years ago it was on a part-time basis and we knew no one. One of the first things we did was to attend the Players. For the two hours that we sat in the audience of total strangers we became part of a community sharing an experience.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">And that&rsquo;s what theatre is -- a collaboration between those on stage, those in the audience, and those behind the scenes who create the magical atmosphere. When we laugh at a line, applaud a song, oooh over a striking set or beautiful costume, we energize the artists, and they give that energy back to us.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">And we&nbsp;<em>all</em>&nbsp;feel a part of something special.</strong><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">When the pandemic hit and the theatre went dark for a year, people got used to staying on the couch in their sweats and streaming Netflix. Since reopening the barn in 2022, our audience numbers have bounced back to 75% of their pre-COVID levels</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">.&nbsp; While we are doing better than other theatres in our region, having many empty seats is not financially sustainable and is disheartening to the artists who work so hard to produce a quality theatre experience.</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;When that strong sense of community is lost, it affects artists&rsquo; work, the economic boost to the town, and most of all, personal connections.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">The Players&rsquo; exciting 2024 season will draw us back together with comedy, mystery, romance, history, and a big musical.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">You may not be on the stage, but you play a valued role in bringing the performance to life&ndash; with your laughter, tears, applause &ndash; and your monetary support.</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;As I write this, actors and crew are being hired, rights and scripts bought, and technical plans being drawn for the 2024 season.&nbsp; Now we need your help to make it happen.&nbsp; Please join me in donating to the Peterborough Players in support of our stupendous/sensational summer season.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Like you, I love this theatre and this community. And I look forward to being with you in the barn, enjoying exceptional art, and learning about what makes the Players important to you. And personally, thanking you for your support.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Marie Cassady</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">President of the Board of Trustees</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">P.S. The Players needs you now more than ever. And now, more than ever, I thank you for your generosity.</span></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From the Desk of Charles Morey, Interim Producing Artistic Director]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-the-desk-of-charles-morey-interim-producing-artistic-director]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-the-desk-of-charles-morey-interim-producing-artistic-director#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-the-desk-of-charles-morey-interim-producing-artistic-director</guid><description><![CDATA[December 2023Dear Peterborough Players Family,&nbsp;On an early May evening in 1969, a month away from my college graduation, I drove downHadley Road in a severely battered &rsquo;63 VW bug. I sat down for an interview with Sally StearnsBrown, then Managing Director and daughter of our founder Edith Bond Stearns. A few hourslater I left with an offer to be part of the 1969 season.I had no idea that moment would have such a profound effect on my life, both professional andpersonal (I fell in love [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph"><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">December 2023</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Dear Peterborough Players Family,&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">On an early May evening in 1969, a month away from my college graduation, I drove down</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Hadley Road in a severely battered &rsquo;63 VW bug. I sat down for an interview with Sally Stearns</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Brown, then Managing Director and daughter of our founder Edith Bond Stearns. A few hours</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">later I left with an offer to be part of the 1969 season.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">I had no idea that moment would have such a profound effect on my life, both professional and</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">personal (I fell in love with my wife 47 years ago in that old barn!) I returned in various</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">capacities every summer over the next twenty-five years, twelve as Artistic Director, then</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">sporadically thereafter. I certainly had absolutely no notion that May evening that fifty-four years</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">later I would return to serve the Players once again as the interim producing artistic director. But</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">here I am!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">That old barn had all the charm it retains today but none of the advantages. There was neither</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">heat nor air conditioning, the audience sat on 147 uncomfortable folding chairs, the production</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">facilities were primitive to say the least.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">But it was filled with magic!&nbsp;</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">The sense of family,</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">community and shared commitment to great theatre was palpable to audiences and artists alike.</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">That magic remains and must continue!</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m back with The Players and why I am</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">writing to you.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">I&rsquo;m sure you are all aware that since the on-set of the pandemic, theatres large and small face</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">serious financial challenges. The Peterborough Players is no exception. I won&rsquo;t focus on that.</span><br /><br /><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">What I am focused on is creating a 2024 season that is upbeat and positive with known and<br />loved titles - and a big musical! It will be a season filled with laughter, joy, romance,<br />optimism, and inspiration, in the hope that the Players&rsquo; community will respond with full<br />houses of enthusiastic and happy theatre goers sharing the 91-year-old magic of the<br />Peterborough Players!</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">That&rsquo;s the plan. But we need your help. This is YOUR theatre, and we count on you to keep it</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">strong. We literally would not be here without you. The end of the year annual fund appeal is an</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">enormous part of our revenue, so your generosity is crucial to our success. I deeply appreciate all</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">you have done for the Players in the past and ask you now for your generous donation in this</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">holiday season to ensure the future of the Players.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">With deep appreciation and optimism.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&#8203;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Sincerely,</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Charles Morey</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Interim Producing Artistic Director</span></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Richard Cox | Peterborough Player since 1956]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/richard-cox-peterborough-player-since-1956]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/richard-cox-peterborough-player-since-1956#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:49:09 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/richard-cox-peterborough-player-since-1956</guid><description><![CDATA[A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively, wrenchesit from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his own image.Joan Didion&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively, wrenches</em><br /><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his own image.</em><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Joan Didion</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Spring 2023</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Dear Peterborough Players Family,</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">It&rsquo;s an honor to be writing to you as we celebrate the Peterborough Players&rsquo; 90th year.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">How extraordinary is what Edith Bond Stearns started in the Hadley Barn in 1933?!</strong><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Though she hardly ever allowed a photo, I can vividly remember my &ldquo;Aunt Edith&rsquo;s&rdquo; smile that could light up a room and she&rsquo;s sure smiling down on us now!</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">I have no memory of&nbsp;</span><u style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">not</u><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;being a Peterborough Player since my first summer here was when I&rsquo;d just turned one. My mom, Rosanna Cox entered that magical barn as an apprentice in 1939 only 6 years after Johnny Stearns mucked out the place and built a stage.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">My first memories were the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd in the barn.</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;Mom was then the leading lady here during her more than 50 years of doing wonderful roles on this stage.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">As I grew up, I learned so much by watching her and her fellow thespians and feeling&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">that extraordinary love affair, that energy exchange with the audience, that magic.</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;It was so exciting and, chomping at the bit when director Jimmy Welch offered me a juicy child lead at age 8, I was off and running.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Like it did for my mom and me,&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">the Peterborough Players experience sparked the imagination and careers of so,&nbsp;<em>so&nbsp;</em>many and that special compact between audience and Players strengthened</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;with the talent it attracted and collective good will year after year. And it still does.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Mom loved to describe her early days of discovery and opportunity at the Players.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">I came of age at The Players and I felt that same magic. When I lunched with James Whitmore in Malibu, he described the same thing, as did William Hurt when I worked with him on Broadway&hellip;the same from Robert Morse when Mom and I talked with him backstage after his Tony winning performance in&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Tru</em><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">...same from Tom Moore and Chuck Morey and so many others, even those whose entire experience in theater may have been only one summer as an apprentice in the barn.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">The extended Players family always remark about that magical feeling and their gratitude&nbsp;for it.&nbsp;&nbsp;That&rsquo;s why so many of us return. We just have to get back to where we once belonged. I&nbsp;married my wife Sarah here and buried my dear mom here last summer.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">There&rsquo;s something about this place, something one can&rsquo;t really define, something uniquely</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">nourishing to the soul, transformational, indelible</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">. Players and audience members have felt that since the 30&rsquo;s. When James Whitmore mentored me as a young actor, we talked about the rush of creative energy, fellowship, and pure fun we had both felt in different decades at the Players. He smiled and whispered with emotion, &ldquo;The sap was running.&rdquo; And the sap is&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">still&nbsp;</em><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">running.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Actors can be guides, shamans. They take you to new places, remind us of truths.&nbsp;Fine theater&nbsp;can open our souls, enhance our beings. An experience in the theater can be life&nbsp;changing. The ritual of coming to a theater, sitting down and being transported by a storyteller&nbsp;is as old as mankind.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">The Players in Ou<em>r very special&nbsp;</em>Town is an especially good place for that.</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;It has stood the test&nbsp;of time and evolved into possibly the finest summer theater in the nation and an invaluable cultural resource in winter as well.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">The consequences of the pandemic have been profound on our theater.&nbsp;Now more than ever&nbsp;as the Players works to rebuild audiences</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">, the theater needs our help to meet the challenges of&nbsp;</strong><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">continuing to produce exceptional, professional theater.</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Please join me in making a gift today to ensure that this special place survives and thrives</strong><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">for many decades to come.&nbsp;</strong><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">On this special occasion of our 90th&nbsp;year, let's celebrate this amazing theater together with&nbsp;great pride.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here&rsquo;s to our inimitable, visionary founder EBS and all the Peterborough Players over the past nine decades as we move forward in a new auspicious era with Tom Frey.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">How lucky we are! Peterborough Players is an&nbsp;<em>extraordinary</em>&nbsp;<em>gift to us all.</em></strong><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Much love,<br /><br />Richard Cox</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">Peterborough Player since 1956</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">We are&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&ldquo;As rich in having such a jewel&nbsp;</em><br /><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,</em><br /><em style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold."</em><br /><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shakespeare</span><br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From the Desk of Allison Deutsch, Director of Production]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-the-desk-of-allison-deutsch-director-of-production]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-the-desk-of-allison-deutsch-director-of-production#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/from-the-desk-of-allison-deutsch-director-of-production</guid><description><![CDATA[July 2023&nbsp;Dear&nbsp;Peterborough Players Family,&nbsp;It is not an overstatement to say that theatres in this country are in a perilous time. It seems like every week I hear of another closure. The 20+ year old Triad Stage in North Carolina, 46-year-old San Diego Repertory Theatre, 56-year-old Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and 33-year-old Book It Theatre in Seattle are among the 30+ regional theatres that have closed in the last 18 months.&nbsp;Why are so many theatres closing, and what  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph"><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">July 2023</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Dear&nbsp;Peterborough Players Family,</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">It is not an overstatement to say that theatres in this country are in a perilous time. It seems like every week I hear of another closure. The 20+ year old Triad Stage in North Carolina, 46-year-old San Diego Repertory Theatre, 56-year-old Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and 33-year-old Book It Theatre in Seattle are among the 30+ regional theatres that have closed in the last 18 months.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Why are so many theatres closing, and what can we do to prevent it from happening to our beloved Peterborough Players?&nbsp;</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Unsurprisingly, a lot stems from the pandemic. Most U.S. theatres are non-profits operating on extremely thin margins in the best of times. The forced closures sent many into financial crises, only partially propped up by federal relief funds. Those resources are gone, and audiences have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Meanwhile, expenses have been skyrocketing. Material costs continue to rise at alarming rates, and the very structure of how theatres operate is evolving. For decades, theatres have often produced at the expense of the people creating the shows, who have routinely been asked to work extremely long, grueling hours for very little or no pay.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">How can theatre as an institution survive if the very people who create it can&rsquo;t pay their own bills?</strong><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">The Players have been driving progress in the field, adjusting our production schedules to create a more sustainable model that prioritizes the welfare of our artists, technicians, and staff. We are at the forefront of the industry, demonstrating that it is possible to produce beautiful, engaging, entertaining theatre without exploiting the people who create it.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">As we celebrate our 90th year, our existence can&rsquo;t be taken for granted.</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;Our wonderful Artistic Director Tom Frey and I have over 30 years of love and respect for the Peterborough Players and the Monadnock Region between us. We know the importance of our playhouse to the community and the theatre world at large. We are ready to meet the moment and lead the Players into the next 90 years.&nbsp; But those of us at the end of Hadley Road can&rsquo;t do it without your help.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Can you make a tax deductible donation now to help ensure we&rsquo;re here to serve the Monadnock region for years to come?</strong><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">What would Our Town be without the Peterborough Players? We are integral members of the region and a source of art and community. But with ticket sales covering less than 30% of our expenses, we need your support. To help us continue to grow and evolve, expanding our offerings and season with special one-night events, more programming for children, including our new Players Junior classes, exciting new plays, engaging talkbacks, and so much more.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Please don&rsquo;t delay.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">We need your support now,&nbsp;<em>before</em>&nbsp;we are in crisis.</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;We all have different means, but as you are deciding how much you will donate, please think about all the theatres that are closing across the country and what that means for those communities: the loss of local business, culture, and art. The shared experience of live theatre is powerful.&nbsp; Help us preserve it.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">As I am writing this letter, we are getting ready for opening night of our second show, and the energy in the air is absolutely electric.&nbsp;</span><strong style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Theatre is the ultimate team sport - we only succeed when we all work together. That&rsquo;s when the real magic happens!</strong><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;Please join us in our goal to remain on the leading edge of theatres in this country and being a vital part of the Monadnock Region for years to come.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Thank you in advance for your consideration and generous contribution at whatever level is right for you. I hope to see you in the Barn on Hadley Road very soon.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Best,</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Allison Deutsch</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">Director of Production</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&nbsp;</span>&#8203;</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Matthew McGloin | Member of the Acting Company]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/matthew-mcgloin-member-of-acting-company]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/matthew-mcgloin-member-of-acting-company#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.peterboroughplayers.org/appeals-archive/matthew-mcgloin-member-of-acting-company</guid><description><![CDATA[Year End 2022Dear Peterborough Players Family,&nbsp;Tom Frey sat across from me in the studio in midtown Manhattan, spring of 2019. It was the end of my audition for&nbsp;2 Pianos, 4 Hands. I&rsquo;d just performed scenes from the script, played a Chopin waltz, and tackled the first few pages of the Bach concerto.&nbsp;&nbsp;It became what felt like a sacred space as Tom spoke:&nbsp;&ldquo;So&mdash; why do you want to do this play?&rdquo;&nbsp;Not a question I&rsquo;m used to hearing at an audit [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph"><font color="#818181">Year End 2022<br /><br /><br />Dear Peterborough Players Family,<br />&nbsp;<br />Tom Frey sat across from me in the studio in midtown Manhattan, spring of 2019. It was the end of my audition for&nbsp;<em>2 Pianos, 4 Hands</em>. I&rsquo;d just performed scenes from the script, played a Chopin waltz, and tackled the first few pages of the Bach concerto.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />It became what felt like a sacred space as Tom spoke:&nbsp;<strong><em>&ldquo;So&mdash; why do you want to do this play?&rdquo;</em>&nbsp;</strong>Not a question I&rsquo;m used to hearing at an audition, a frank query about the material itself. But apparently, I was itching to answer it.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />I still don&rsquo;t remember everything I said &hellip;&nbsp;<strong>Something about wanting to be a part of stories that I truly care about.</strong>&nbsp;Something about being able to lend to the show while also to learn from it. I shared that I suspected the show might even be beyond my abilities &mdash; something I was not planning to admit in front of people whose task it was to cast an able actor for the part.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />But it was when I spoke of what I saw at the heart of the story that there seemed to be a held breath shared among us: this show was about being really good at something, but possibly &ldquo;not good enough.&rdquo; As an artist living and working in New York, that&rsquo;s a feeling I&rsquo;ve known well.&nbsp;<strong>For a moment in time, it felt like we in the room all pondered our own relationship with that human emotion:&nbsp;<em>self-doubt.</em>&nbsp;</strong>But what it sparked was a conversation about how we challenge ourselves as artists, and how a play about stepping into that is triumphant.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />I was fortunate to begin to work with Tom. Together with my colleague Jefferson McDonald, the three of us have now collaborated on three productions of&nbsp;<em>2 Pianos 4 Hands</em>&nbsp;pre-pandemic at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, this past summer at Peterborough Players, and most recently at the Mayfield Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta. Tom has welcomed me into this adventure of a lifetime.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />And it is no small deal to me that - by way of his vision and direction -<strong>&nbsp;one of my dreams has come to pass: to play the Emcee in&nbsp;<em>Cabaret</em>.</strong>&nbsp;For years I&rsquo;ve wanted to explore that role, and I shared that with Tom. A few months later, he invited me to do it at the Players as the show that would welcome audiences back to performances beneath the rafters of the barn.<br />&nbsp;<br />When I arrived in early June, I started to understand how rare a gem the Peterborough Players really is. The staff, volunteers, and interns welcomed me as if I were an old friend and part of the family. That kind of nurturing is something that can too often be missing from the&nbsp;<em>Business</em>&nbsp;of Theatre.&nbsp;<strong>This was a home, a place for me to delve into my artistry, where I was trusted and celebrated. I felt safe to go big and sink my soul into that story.</strong><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />I remember our sitzprobe for&nbsp;<em>Cabaret</em>&nbsp;(the day when the cast first gets to sing live with the orchestra), when love itself seemed to pour out from the walls of Rehearsal Hall. Several of us were literally crying at the quality of the incredible musicianship embodied by the superb musicians that the Players brought together.&nbsp;<strong>That day solidified the fact that we were all a part of something special, here at this intimate theater tucked away in rural New Hampshire.&nbsp;</strong><br />&nbsp;<br />You don&rsquo;t really know what to expect on an acting contract until you&rsquo;re physically present at&nbsp;&nbsp;the theater. A theater may be prestigious, but that does not guarantee a positive experience. It boils down to the people and the energy.&nbsp;<strong>It&rsquo;s hard to articulate this precisely, but there is a glow about Peterborough, never lacking a friendly face or kind words to remind us of what a gift it is to be a performer</strong>.&nbsp;<em>H</em><em>ere&nbsp;</em>at the Players, joy is both a focus and a reward.<br />&nbsp;<br />I won&rsquo;t ever forget how warm and loyal you, the audience, were &mdash; so many of you have&nbsp;&nbsp;been seeing shows at the Players for years, even decades.&nbsp;<strong>You clearly,&nbsp;<em>dearly&nbsp;</em>care about the work happening in the barn. Thank you.&nbsp;</strong>And the Second Company is second to none; I really cannot emphasize enough how the vitality and hard work of these young artists uplifts and sustains the work that is produced by the Players. It&rsquo;s refreshing!&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Every day as I drove to and from the theatre through the rising and falling hills &ndash; the scenery dappled in sunlight or shadowed beneath a regal moon &ndash; I felt my battery recharge amidst the land, its people, and this company.<br />&nbsp;<br /><strong>It is with honor and humility that I ask you to consider making a gift to the Peterborough Players&rsquo; at this especially important time.</strong>&nbsp;The Players has made a profound impact on my life and my artistic journey, as I know it has on so many others&rsquo;.&nbsp;<strong>A place with such heart is an unmistakable treasure.</strong>&nbsp;Let&rsquo;s keep this tradition going strong for the next 90 years and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />With love and respect,&nbsp;</font><br /><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42)">&#8203;&#8203;</span></div>  <div class="paragraph"><font color="#818181">Matthew McGloin<br />Member of the Acting&nbsp;Company&nbsp;<br /><br />PS - Here&rsquo;s to the telling of more stories in the barn, more laughter and tears, more of the magic that brings us all together in the dark and the light of theatre.<br /><br />&#8203;</font></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>