Welcome to our Staged Play Reading Series. I am excited to be able to share theatre with all of you in this new way. As you may know we announced our fifth season at The Studio recently, it will include: Spike Heels by Theresa Rebeck, Pipeline by Dominique Morriseau, 9 to 5 The Musical music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, book by Patricia Resnick and Ada and the Engine by Lauren Gunderson. We chose those stories to highlight seminal moments in herstory so we can celebrate how far women have come and keep an eye on how far women have yet to go. We have selected those stories around the theme: “Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History.� Now as we embark on this new chapter in our global history, I wanted to find a way to continue to bring theatre to our patrons in a way that will support the work we will be doing in the future. We continue our Staged Play Reading Series with Elenna Stauffer's The Auntie Network. This modern day tale explores the realities of making choices for a baby as an adolescent. Enjoy The Show, Whitney Morse, Artistic Director
Elegies A Song Cycle
Has been postponed. All ticket holders will receive a full refund. All ticket holders will be called by a box office representative to process their refund in the coming weeks. If you are not contacted by August, please call 352-753-3229 to update your contact information and receive your performance refund. NEW DATES: PREVIEW: 8/19/21 | OPENING: 8/20/21 | CLOSING: 8/28/21
All patrons will need to purchase their tickets new for next year's performances to Elegies. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to hosting you at the theatre in the future. #TheStudioTheatreTDS #TheAuntieNetwork
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THE AUNTIE NETWORK By Elenna Stauffer
Producer Jason Goedken
Artistic Director Whitney Morse
Director Nathaniel Niemi
Video Producer/ Company Manager Ryan Loeckel
Set Designer Kenneth Constant
Lighting Designer David Krupla
Sound Designer Nick Erickson
Master Electrician Lindsey Young
Production Manager Danielle Paccione
Technical Director Clayton Becker
Stage Manager Grace Zottig
Assistant Production Manager Layna Hoopfer
Assistant Production Manager Leslie Munson
Video Assistant David Bost
Audio Engineer Luke Bezio
Assistant Stage Manager Stephanie Horn
Tish Roberta Emerson
Bex Leslie Munson
Anne Matia Prescott
Des Alyson Johnson
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THE AUNTIE NETWORK By Elenna Stauffer Streaming Only Available: AUG 14, 21, 28 & SEPT 4, 11 | 7PM EDT | $10 You have a choice. Anne, a desperate, pregnant young woman makes her way to the sanctuary city of New York, as abortion rights have been stripped away across America. Two friends, Bex and Tish, open their home and hearts to her through a secret underground community called The Network, an organized network that aids young women seeking abortions. When Anne makes an unexpected decision she forces Bex and Tish to reckon with the consequences of their best intentions. This modern day tale explores the realities of making choices for a baby as an adolescent.
COSMO ST. CHARLES IS DEAD AND SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM KILLED HIM By Nicole Zimmerer Streaming: SEPT 18 | 1PM EDT A Murder Mystery Memory Play It is a dark and stormy night. Mac, our guide, is a private detective haunted by the greatest unsolved mystery of their career. Cosmo St. Charles, a well-renowned archeologist and academic, dies of mysterious causes in his own home while hosting a dinner party for colorful characters. Surrounded by his elegant wife, prodigious research assistant, aviatrix fighter pilot niece, and his “colleague� Dr. Dutch Ralston; Cosmo reveals a shocking secret that ends in his demise. This outlandish dinner party is a hilarious who-dun-it harkening back to Agatha Christie, CLUE, and film noir murder mysteries. Join us for an evening swimming in rum punch that leads to a night of deaths, discoveries, and deceit.
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ON SALE NOW DEBORAH By Elizabeth A. M. Keel Streaming Only Available: SEPT 25 & OCT 2, 9 7PM EDT | $10 A mostly true tale of a revolutionary woman. This play is a feisty reimagining of the life of Deborah Sampson, a real woman who dressed as a man and fought in the Revolutionary War alongside soldiers like Paul Revere. Inspired by the infamous British sailor Hannah Snell, she chooses to swap her fate for a man’s and enlists in the Continental Army. Despite its difficulties, she proves a fantastic soldier. After the war she squeezes uncomfortably into the role of wife and mother and saves the family farm by becoming a successful author. This rebellious drama vivifies her astonishing journey straddling the realms of both genders embodying mother and warrior, loner and celebrity, wild rover and wife.
SEASON 5 | Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History TICKETS ON SALE NOW
SPIKE SPIKE HEELS S HEEL
PIPELINE LINE PIPE
ADA & THE ENGINE
BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU
BY THERESA REBECK
BY LAUREN GUNDERSON MUSIC & LYRICS BY DOLLY PARTON
BOOK BY PATRICIA RESNICK
BASED ON THE 20TH CENTURY FOX PICTURE ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY BY ROBERT GREENBLATT, APRIL 2009
“Spike Heels” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
9/22/20-10/24/20
“Pipeline” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
11/18/20-12/12/20
9 TO 5, THE MUSICAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
1/26/21-3/13/21
4/6/21-5/8/21
NOW APPEARING ON THE SHARON STAGE!
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ROBERTA EMERSON (Tish) is a Director, Actor and Producer, and teacher among many other hats she proudly wears. She is a graduate of both the University of Minnesota with BFA in Acting and Theatre Management and New York University with an MFA in Acting. She has worked as and actor and director in many regional theaters around the country, has done extensive voice over commercial and film work, and has been a teaching artist both state side and in Europe. She is currently the Director of Theatre for Montverde Academy's Theatre Conservatory and is repped by Lock Talent. ALYSON JOHNSON (Des) has performed for nearly 20 years in Central Florida regional and community theatres. Favorites at The Studio include Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement, A Doll's House, It Shoulda Been You, Stop Kiss, and Next to Normal. Graduate of University of Central Florida, 2001 and 2019. She has spent this time of uncertainty mostly homeschooling and staring at books, and is eternally grateful to everyone at The Studio for giving her and the community some art and comfort right now. LESLIE MUNSON (Bex) is delighted to be appearing at The Studio Theatre. Some of her favorite acting credits include The Tin Woman, I Love You Because, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The Black Box Theater, IL), and Rocky Horror Show (Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, IL). Leslie has also enjoyed bringing kooky characters to life performing with It’s A Mystery, professional dinner theatre back home in the Midwest. Most recently she can be found behind the scenes with her talented work family at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Art Center. Thank you to The Studio Theatre and their wonderful team for the opportunity and for keeping art alive when we need it the most.
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MATIA PRESCOTT (Anne) is thrilled to be making her debut at The Studio Theatre! Matia is a senior at The Villages Charter High school. She is active in the music department as the current Choir President and Tri Music Honor Society President. Her most recent roles include The Witch in Into the Woods and Morticia in The Addams Family. Matia is prepping for college and plans to major in Musical Theatre. She wants to thank The Villages for helping her kickstart her professional career in performing. Instagram: @matia.pres NATHANIEL NIEMI (Director) is thrilled to be directing The Auntie Network! He previously directed The Studio's virtual play reading of Lysistrata, A Woman of No Importance, Tartuffe and The Violet Sisters. Recent credits include Sparkle at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hawaii: Thumbelina, Ouch!, Elephant and Piggie's We Are in a Play (Honolulu Theatre for Youth), Noodle Doodle Box (Hawaii Theatre). Chicago: How to Survive a Fairy Tale, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Musical, Dooby Dooby Moo, Duck for President, Click Clack Boo (Lifeline Theatre), The Baker's Wife (Circle Theatre), Into the Woods (Quest), Hey Dancin'! Hey Musical! (Factory Theatre). TV: "Hawaii 5-O". Nathaniel holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and is a recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Directing Award. Nathaniel is currently the Resident Director at The Studio Theatre and the Director of Education at The Sharon. ELENNA STAUFFER (Playwright) Hysterical! (NY Fringe Festival, UC Davis Ground & Field Festival, Second Act New Works), Woman’s Work (Warner International Playwrights Festival Semi-Finalist), and B-Roll (Primary Stages’ ESPA Detention, InspiraTO! Festival winner, Short +Sweet Sydney and Hollywood Festivals). Studied at Yale (BA) and Columbia (MFA). Playwright 862 in Adam Szymkowicz' 1000 playwright interviews series (http://aszym.blogspot.com/2016/07/i-interview-playwrightspart-862-elenna.html). As an actress Elenna has recorded hundreds of radio and TV commercials, promos, and audiobooks. And like most parents in 2020, she’s an accidental part-time homeschooling mom. elennastauffer.wordpress.com
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CAST Tish......................................................................................... Roberta Emerson Bex.............................................................................................. Leslie Munson Anne............................................................................................Matia Prescott Des.............................................................................................Alyson Johnson
PRODUCTION TEAM Director...................................................................................Nathaniel Niemi Video Producer/Company Manager.............................................. Ryan Loeckel Set Designer.......................................................................... Kenneth Constant Lighting Designer.........................................................................David Krupla Sound Designer............................................................................Nick Erickson Master Electrician....................................................................... Lindsey Young Production Manager............................................................... Danielle Paccione Technical Director...................................................................... Clayton Becker Stage Manager................................................................................ Grace Zottig Assistant Production Manager.....................................................Layna Hoopfer Assistant Production Manager..................................................... Leslie Munson Video Assistant..................................................................................David Bost Audio Engineer.................................................................................Luke Bezio Assistant Stage Manager............................................................ Stephanie Horn Read more about our production team and designers at www.TheSharonStudio.com
SPECIAL THANKS The VillagesÂŽ Marketing
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New
Digital Offerings Page! All of our upcoming virtual & streaming offerings in one convenient location.
www.TheSharon.com/Schedule-Digital-Offerings
Stay safe & enjoy the show!
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