Ripcord Program

RIPCORD

CAST

ABBY BINDER .............................................................. Pamela Abernethy

MARILYN DUNNE Deborah Goins Johansen

SCOTTY ..........................................................................Anthony Barghini

BENJAMIN, LEWIS, CLOWN .......................................... Charles K. Carter

DEREK, ZOMBIE BUTLER ............................................... Alec Zitzelberger

COLLEEN, WOMAN IN WHITE ........................................ Jennifer Killikelly

TIME & PLACE

Bristol Place Senior Living Facility in suburban New Jersey

The show runs approximately 1 hours, 45 minutes. There will be a 20 minute intermission.

RIPCORD is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

PRODUCTION STAFF

DIRECTOR .........................................................................Karen McCarty

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Tom Wrosch

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ........................................................ Chris Benham

STAGE MANAGER Melody Smith

PROPS MASTER ............................................................... Patti Hasbrouck

SPECIAL PROPS ....................................... Quinn Connolly, Chris McCarty

PROJECTION DESIGN ......................................... Jordan Kulm, Liz Rogers

PROJECTONS ....................................................................Tiernan Lanoie

SOUND DESIGN ....................................................................... Liz Rogers

SOUND & LIGHTS OPERATOR ............................................Tiernan Lanoie

LIGHTING DESIGN .............................................................. Chris Benham

LIGHT HANG ................................................................................ Rob Sim

COSTUME DESIGN .................................................................. Sandy Gray

COSTUME TEAM ............................................... Robin Bower, Alexa Gray, Patti Hasbrouck, Joyce Kemp, Melody Smith

HAIR/WIGS......................................................... Doug Gray, Scott Ramp

SET DESIGN ........................................................................ Chris Benham

SET CONSTRUCTION ........... Finch Lappinbusch, Chris McCarty, Rob Sim, Becky Tei, Elizabeth Tei, Cast and Crew

STRIKE CREW ............................... Finch Lappinbusch, Antonio Schoaps, Rob Sim, Becky Tei, Elizabeth Tei

BACKSTAGE CREW .......................... Beverly Freitas, Melody Smith, Cast

PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE ..........................Cynthia Dewey, Joyce Kemp

PHOTOGRAPHY .....................................................................Vicki Woods

POSTER DESIGN ..................................................................Isaac Mitchell

PROGRAM DESIGN ............................................................ Carlee Wright

HOUSE MANAGER .............................................................. Chris McCarty

BOARD LIAISON ..................................................................Ken Hermens

Reunite with friends from near & far to celebrate all the wonderful memories from years past and all the new ones to be made!

Chemeketa Cellars Tasting Room, 215 Doaks Ferry Rd NW

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. | Program begins at 7:30 p.m.

Pentacle Member Price: $35 | Non-Member Price: $40

Tickets can be purchased at 503-485-4300, in person Wed-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Pentacle's box office, or online at tickets.pentacletheatre.org

Cheers to 70 years!

When I first saw Ripcord performed at another theater, I instantly fell in love with the story. Yes, it’s an entertaining show about two women who find themselves sharing a room at a senior living facility and how they navigate their new normal. But there’s so much more to this story than just the pranks they pull on each other to gain the bed by the window or a private room. There’s support from their family and friends, memories of wonderful times in their lives, and bravery as they navigate new territories.

Pentacle Theatre is 70 years old this year. My husband and I have been part of the Pentacle Theatre family for almost 25 years, pulling in our children and many of our friends to be part of this wonderful network of volunteers. The last 70 years has seen over 22,000 volunteers who worked tirelessly to provide over 600 shows for your entertainment and enrichment.

As volunteers putting on a show at Pentacle Theatre, or working with hospitality, or giving our time to one of the many committees that keep Pentacle Theatre running, we support each other, we meet and make new friends, we create wonderful memories, and we’re brave enough to try something new. Together we mourn the loss of familiar faces from stage or in the audience. We see people move away, and when we’re lucky, we see some of them return to Pentacle Theatre.

I hope you can relate to the characters in Ripcord the way I do. Feel the joy they share with their family and friends and appreciate their bravery. Maybe you’ll be encouraged to revisit an old memory, make a new friend or try something new. “You’ve got to pull the ripcord, Baby. Slow yourself down and look around while you can.”

Enjoy,

Karen McCartyDirector

Every five years the Pentacle Theatre Governing Board honors as Lifetime Members five people who have been active in Pentacle Theatre for at least 20 years. We also remember fondly those Lifetime Members who are no longer with us.

Lifetime Members

Pamela Abernethy

Dick Bond

Robin Bower

Maggie Dayton

Jo Dodge

Chris Fletcher

Lois Hanson

Ken Hermens

Robert Herzog

Deborah Johansen

Cec Koontz

Dave Leonard

Katie Lindbeck

Pauli Long

IN LOVING MEMORY

Wayne Ballantyne

Dean Bartell

Jack Bellamy

Dr. E.B. Bossatti

Edith Bossatti

Benny Bower

Virginia Choate

Ken Collins

David Cristobal

Bill Cross

Phyllis Cross

Dave Davis

Ron Fox

Rose Ann Hansell

Mrs. Ray Loter

Marian Milligan

Nancy Moen

Debbie Neel

Jeff Sanders

Ed Schoaps

Susan Schoaps

Larry Stevens

Kathryn Straton

Faye Trupka

Cherie Ulmer

Jeffrey D. Witt

De Zajic

Tony Zandol

Alice Norton

Peg Pink

Bob Putnam

Margaret Ringnalda

Murco Ringnalda

Larry Roach

Dick Schmidt

Pat Schmidt

Helen Shepard

Meryl (Bill) Smith

Barbara Sullivan

Tom Ulmer

Claytene Vick

Madison Vick

Stephen Warnock

Rollie Zajic

Honoring the generous individuals who have made a provision in their estate plans for Pentacle Theatre:

Anonymous

Pamela Abernethy & Chris Fletcher

Robin Bower

Laurene & Roger Brousseau

Eden Rose Brown

Cherie & Craig Cline

Susan Elliott

Linda Gilbert

Kelli & Ron Jaecks

Ed Kramer

MaryKate Lindbeck

Dennis & Linda McIntire

Jackie B. Miller

Jeanne M. Miller

Janet Neuburg

Jackie & Al Pierce

Laurelyn Schellin

Cesie & Tom Delve Scheuermann

Barbara & Bruce Thompson

IN MEMORIAM

Virginia Choate

Carol Farber

Lois Harris

Louise Larsen

Larry Roach

If you have included Pentacle Theatre in your estate plans, we’d like to know and honor you here. Contact 503-485-4300 or email Steven; Executive_Director@PentacleTheatre.org.

Karen McCarty Director

Karen has been part of Pentacle Theatre since the year 2000, where she and her husband, Chris, have served on the Hospitality Guild as the Chair and house managers, as well as serving and seating our patrons. Karen wanted to get more involved with the productions, so she started assistant directing and working on the stage and costume crews in 2008. Karen started directing in 2011, with this being her seventh show. Her most recent production was Exit Laughing. She previously directed Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and two fundraiser musicals, The Little Mermaid and Cinderella

After 33 years, Karen is pretty much retired from the State of Oregon (still working on some special projects) and has recently started volunteering for the Assistance League of Salem-Keizer. She also enjoys playing handbells at several churches in the Salem area. Karen would like to thank all the directors who have mentored her over the years, giving her the confidence and skillset to do what she loves. She also sends a very special thank you to her family who have always supported her in every way.

Tom Wrosch Assistant Director

In more than 20 years at Pentacle, Tom has appeared in anything from chorus to lead, from musicals to mysteries. Some fondly-remembered roles include Alfie Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Judge Wargraves in Then There Were None, and Mr. Paravincini in The Mousetrap. He's worked in the booth for several shows at Pentacle. At Gallery Theatre, he played Harry Brock in Born Yesterday, and directed Love, Loss and What I Wore Last year, he was fortunate to assist Karen McCarty in Exit Laughing and is thrilled to be by her side again in Ripcord

Tom grew up in and still lives in Salem, and works as policy analyst for the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. He is humbly grateful to his theatre widow, Elizabeth, for putting up with his absences as the chores pile up.

UPCOMING AUDITIONS

Auditions: May 18

Show Dates: Aug 23 to Sept 14

Dance Auditions: July 6

Vocal Auditions: July 20

Show Dates: Oct 11 to Nov 2

Learn more at pentacletheatre.org/auditions

Pamela Abernethy Abby Binder

Pamela Abernethy has been an actress and director for more than 40 years. She has appeared in, or directed, over 25 productions at Pentacle Theatre, most recently playing Katherine Gerard in the 2019 production of Terrance McNally’s Mothers and Sons.

At Theater 33, The Verona Studio, and Keizer Home Grown Theater she has been privileged to play other roles, including Joan Didion in The Year of Magical Thinking and Ms. Havisham in Miss Havisham’s Wedding Cake

Pamela is a retired Marion County Circuit Court judge who now works as a mediator of civil lawsuits. She is grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with this talented cast and crew and also thanks her wife Chris and daughter Rose for their love and support.

Anthony Barghini Scotty

After joining the Pentacle family last year, Anthony is excited to be making his onstage debut in Ripcord! His introduction to the theater was as stage manager for Exit Laughing, and he quickly became hooked. He has also volunteered doing costume quick changes for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, as well as being the co-chair of the 2025 Script Reading Committee. He has definitely found his home here, and is excited to explore what’s to come.

When not at work, Anthony spends his free time with his amazingly supportive husband Chace, and their two fur children.

Charles K. Carter

Benjamin, Lewis, Clown

Charles K. Carter (they/him) is a queer performer, poet, and educator from Iowa who currently lives in Oregon. Carter has taken part in college, high school, and community theatre productions. They have also performed their original poetry in a variety of venues. Carter has an MFA in writing from Lindenwood University as well as undergraduate degrees in English, education, and theatre. They are the author of several poetry collections including Read My Lips and If the World Were a Quilt. This is Carter's Pentacle debut.

Deborah Goins Johansen

Marilyn Dunne

Deborah's first show at Pentacle was Celebration in September 1979 which means that as Pentacle is celebrating it's 70th year, Deborah is celebrating her 45th year of involvement with this lovely little theater in the woods! A retired middle and high school drama teacher, Deborah has enjoyed participating as both a performer and director over those 45 years. From a young bright-eyed Angel in Celebration to bet-making, sky diving senior citizen Marilyn in Ripcord, it has been quite a ride! She is forever grateful that there are roles out there for actresses, in their golden years, to have fun playing!

She hopes to see you at Chemeketa Cellars Tasting Room on July 13 to help celebrate Pentacle Theater's 70th anniversary!

Jennifer Killikelly

Colleen, Woman in White

Jennifer is thrilled to be back at Pentacle Theater in her second onstage performance. She made her acting debut playing Izzy in Rabbit Hole (2023). Jennifer was assistant director in Over the River and Through the Woods (2022), and supported Brighton Beach as crew (2024). She is an active Pentacle Theater volunteer and a regular acting workshop student.

Jennifer works as a social worker at the Oregon State Hospital. She lives in Salem with her husband and children. Her hobbies include urban hiking, Goodwill shopping, and spoiling her two chihuahuas. She wishes to thank her families both at home and at the Pentacle Theater for their support and encouragement.

Alec Zitzelberger Derek, Zombie Butler

This is Alec's debut show at the Pentacle Theatre, and he is incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity. He began his experience with theater acting in several shows for Silverton High School, such as The Crucible, The Tempest, Arms and the Man, and others. After high school, he took a sizeable hiatus, before returning to the stage to play roles in the 2023 Brush Creek Playhouse productions of The Rustler's Revenge, and Ebeneezer: A Ghost Story of Christmas

In his personal life, Alec enjoys a plethora of other creative endeavors, such as drawing and painting. His favorite pastime is playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends.

He would like to give thanks to the person who has most supported his pursuits in theater, always pushing him onward, the remarkable Ginni.

If you spend much time around Pentacle Theatre, at performances or simply walking around the lobby and surveying the pictures and other images posted on the walls, you can hardly help but reflect back on the history of this amazing place and the volunteers who have sustained its existence for 70 years. At its genesis, virtually all aspects of the Theatre’s operations were orchestrated by an army of volunteers, unpaid, joyfully giving of their time and resources to provide this creative outlet for Salem and its surrounding communities.

And even though over the years we have added salaried staff to address the complexities of Theatre operations, the importance of volunteerism at Pentacle has not diminished. Simply put, volunteers remain the life’s blood of our little theater in the woods.

The benefits of volunteers to Pentacle are clear: productions get mounted, sets are built and decorated, audiences get served and seated, work parties keep the facility and grounds welcoming to our patrons.

But what are the benefits for our volunteers? These are more difficult to articulate, because they are less tangible, but I’ll take a shot at one small part of it.

Pentacle Theatre volunteers become part of a community, a family of sorts, working together toward a shared goal of elevating the performing arts in our community. The people you work beside frequently become lifelong friends and members of your closest social circles. And, of course, there is the personal satisfaction that comes with contributing, in large or small ways, to the creative process of making theater happen.

So I encourage you to find opportunities to participate as Pentacle volunteers, whether onstage as a performer, backstage as a crew member, front stage as a hospitality worker, or offstage as a committee member. Help carry Pentacle forward toward the next 70 years!

Ken Hermens Governing Board President

Mission Statement

Pentacle Theatre provides community members a collaborative opportunity to create and experience theater in an atmosphere of respect, support and enjoyment.

ADVERTISING

Advertise in Pentacle Theatre programs; all proceeds will be directed to bringing back our printed programs! Contact the office for more information. Call 503-485-4300, or email executive_director@pentacletheatre.org for more information.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for upcoming productions are available online at pentacletheatre.org, in person at the box office (197 Liberty St. SE, Salem), or by phone (503) 485-4300. Box office hours are (Wednesday through Sunday, 11am – 5pm.

CONCESSIONS

Concessions are available in the lobby. Wine and beer can be purchased along with an assortment of other beverages and brought with you to enjoy during the show. Food is not permitted in the auditorium. Purchase a souvenir cup and receive $1 off your next drink.

NO LATE SEATING

Once the production begins, the theater doors will be closed for further seating. If you arrive after the doors have been closed, you are welcome to view the production on the monitors in the lobby downstairs until you are able to enter the theater at intermission.

If you need to leave the theater during the performance, you can view the production on the monitors in the downstairs lobby and reenter during intermission, or catch up with your party when they exit at the end of the show.

SMOKING

Smoking is allowed only in the designated area outside the lobby.

NO RECORDING DEVICES

Cameras (with or without flash) and recording devices are strictly prohibited. Please turn off cell phones during the performance.

HOW TO REACH US

Pentacle Theatre office: 503-485-4300.

Box office hours: Wednesday through Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.

Online at: www.pentacletheatre.org.

MANY, MANY THANKS…

To our ushers. Pentacle Theatre could not be successful without the continued and dedicated help of our community.

PENTACLE THEATRE GOVERNING BOARD

Pentacle Theatre is an established not-forprofit theater company, providing a sevenplay season. A nine-member governing board assisted by committee chairpersons and countless other volunteers run the theater.

Membership is open to all.

2024 GOVERNING BOARD AND STAFF

Secretary

Treasurer

Katie Lindbeck

Kaelyn Kappes

Chris Benham

Box Office Manager

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Pentacle Theatre in Salem is located within the ancestral homelands of the Kalapuya, Yamhill, and Luckiamute people who have lived here since time immemorial.

In the 1850s, these tribes were displaced by colonization and were eventually resettled on reservations. We celebrate and honor the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz members, their resilience, and their present and future right to this land.

THANK YOU!

Ticket sales alone do not cover the cost of our productions. Your membership and donations help make this theater possible. Thank you! This list represents gifts between 3/1/2023 and 3/25/2024.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ($2,000+)

American Endowment Foundation

Business Oregon, State of Oregon

Fidelity Charitable

Lisa & Marty Johnson

Oregon Arts Commission

Robin Bower

Robin & Benny Bower

Schwab Charitable

Betsy & Richard Scott

Barbara & Bruce W. Thompson

Patricia Jennison Wickum

PRODUCER ($1,000+)

Pamela Abernethy & Chris Fletcher

Chris Fletcher & Pamela Abernethy

Sharlen R. Bennett

Beverly & Michael Carrick

Sherry Collins

Jo Dodge

Beverly Lynn Freitas

Linda & Joe Hillesum

Sally & Ray Hollemon

Kelli & Ron Jaecks

Katie & Laslo Kolta

Katie Lindbeck

Judith & Greg Linder

Jennifer Martinak

Rus McCracken

Patrick Moser

Beverly A. North

Lizabeth Ann Rogers

DIRECTOR ($500+)

Allegheny Technologies in Honor of Emma Thurston

Penny Blackwell

Alex & Virginia Bourdeau

Eden Rose Brown

Grover & Cheryl Carter

Mike Cechovic & Diane Highberger

Cherie & Craig Cline

Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Collada

Judy C. Colvin

Chris Davidson

Oddny Everson

Jody & Mark Gordon

Lois Hanson

Paula Hartwig

Shirley Koontz

Lynelle Littke

Rachel McMillen Pratt

Doug and Jennifer Meltzer

Judith Morris

Vanessa Nordyke

Oregon Community Foundation

Susan & Richard Ray

Joan Robinson

Kathy Saviers

Kathy D. Saviers

Juanita & Lloyd Weigel

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ($250+)

Edna & Richard Anderson

Paul D. Andrews

Steven Barlow

Katy & Charles Bayless

Linda Bednarz

Aaron and Diane Clingerman

Dennis & Barbara Curtin

Miles

Jeanne & Bill Dalton

Dick Day

Cesie Delve Scheuermann

Lois & Dale Derouin

Dean & Beth Vargas Duncan

Joyce & Mark Eklund

Bates Family

Darlene Fletcher

Valorie A. Freeman

Jo Rita Gann

Robynn & John L. Hayek

Tom M. Hewitt

Jay Howe & Janet Gros

Jacques

David & Shirley Kavanaugh in Memory of Vivienne Sornson

Norma Jean Standlea & Hank Keeton

Paul Allen Kyllo

Ellen Langsather

Jonathan Logan

Pauli Long

Sherry & Terry L. Lowells

Pentacle Theatre would not be possible without the support of the following grantors:

Lpl Financial

Betsy McDowell

Lorene McMurrin

Hinrich Muller

Ruthie Murphy

Debbie Neel

Liz & Don Oswalt

Louise & Keith Putman

Kara Quello & Karl Anderson

Kay & Scott Reichlin

Rosanne Richard

Carol Kay Riedl

Susanna Rose

Paul & Tracey Saucy

Lisa Godwin & Rick Segal

Herb & Connie Sims

Christie L. Smith

Joanna & Ronald Stout

Jeff Witt & Jon Stuber

Jim & Rhonda Lyn Thompson

Heather & Bryan Toller

Steven K. Wollenburg

Penny & Bill Wylie

LEADING ACTOR ($100+)

Dave and Vicki Bailey

David R. Ballantyne

Loni J. Barrett

Kenn & Nancy Battaile

Leora Berger

Blackbaud Giving Fund

Megan Brazo-Erickson in Memory of Charlene Riley

Sandra Brown

Marlene Buker

Larry & Tracie Burger

John Carone

Barbara Castle

Susan F. Christensen

Emerson Collins

Gretchen Coppedge, in

Memory of Dr. Jack

Bellamy

Edna Denton & Carel

Dewinkel

Caitlin Claire Diehl

Terrence Dolan

Dorothy H. Driscoll

Patricia Ehrlich & James Willhite

Pam & Roger Elliott

Susan Elliott

Carolyn & Bob Engle

Albert & Ginny Furtwangler

Carol Gehring

Holly Giesbrecht

Leslie & Bill Glassmire

Candace Reed and Steven Gorham

Thomas & Margaret Grove

Walt Haight & Dawn Graff-Haight

Ryan Hanauska

Ann & Dave Hanus

Gail A. Harbert

Franca Hernandez

Cathleen and Dave Hockman-Wert

Gloria & Alan Holland

Billie Houghton

Karen L. Houle

Lyndsey & Jerry Houser

Nancy Hull

Gail & Roland Isaac

Cathy Jensen

Lesley Lynn Johnson

Susan Johnson

Cathy Jones-Foster

Mary & Larry Krumdieck

Cheri K. Lentz

MaryKate Lindbeck

Linda Ann Lockwood

Nancy D. Mayo

Ruth McGuire

Dennis McIntire

Jude & Gary Mollgaard

Ruth & Roger Monette

Sharon L. Moore

Cindy L. Mulligan

Beth I. Nevue

Lisa J. Norris-Lampe

Cheryl Apker Parkinson

Jackie & Al Pierce

Omar D. Quintero

Lana & John Radosta

Jason Ramey

Kristin Ramstad

Marjorie Reuling

Donald & Lizabeth Rogers

Brigitte Rolph

Winifred Sangirardi

Lauren Saucy

Jan Schaefer

Ann & Jim Scheppke

James Snyder

E T. Sornson

Susan & Toru E. Tanabe

Allen Vail

Nancy Walker

Beverley Ward

Penelope White

Lori Woodbury in Memory of Vivienne Sornson

Tom Wrosch

Autumn Lynn Yongchu

Mark and Sharon Zielinski