MATILDA The Musical JR.

PLAYBILL

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of The Depot Theatre is to entertain, enrich, and educate through professional theatrical arts and related programs based in a historic train station.

VISION STATEMENT

The Depot Theatre will have a robust, regional, and year-round presence by creating the highest of quality programs, building strong partnerships, and enhancing community engagement while promoting diversity in all that we do.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

PARKING:

Parking attendants will be on hand to provide direction!

QUIET PLEASE:

Please turn off all cell phones prior to the start of the performance. Please do not use your mobile device during the performance as the light emitted from the screen can be distracting to patrons seated around you.

LATE ARRIVALS:

Latecomers are seated at the discretion of house management and may be seated in an alternate location until an appropriate break in the performance.

REFRESHMENTS:

Concessions, are available before the show and during intermission.

NO SMOKING:

Smoking is prohibited by federal, state and local regulations. When smoking outdoors, please maintain an appropriate distance from entrances and open windows.

PLEASE NOTE:

Feel free to “Follow” us later!

@depotbackstage

Taking photographs or video recording during the performance is STRICTLY PROHIBITED BY LAW.

TEXT MESSAGING during the performance is not allowed. Please TURN OFF all mobile devices.

THANK

YOU TO OUR GENEROUS 2023 SEASON SPONSORS

SEASON SPONSOR

Rogers-Carroll Family Foundation

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

Mountain Lake PBS

CHESAPEAKE

The Mountain Dog Pub & Restaurant

THE FANTASTICKS

Chazy and Westport Communications/Westelcom

PREVIEW NIGHT SPONSOR

Champlain National Bank

DIGITAL MARKETING SPONSOR

Arts Spark

EXCLUSIVE AND EXTRAORDINARY CRAFT BEER SPONSOR

Ledge Hill Brewing Company

PLAYBILL SPONSOR

Sylvamo

DEPOT ACADEMY THEATRE PROGRAM SPONSORS

UNDERWRITER

Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation

SUMMER PROGRAM SPONSOR

TrailNorth Federal Credit Union

The Depot Theatre receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor and the New York State Legislature.

www.DepotTheatre.org

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

Fellow Depot Patrons,

45 years.

45 years have sped by since Carol Buchanan led a group of local Historical Society members to preserve and re-purpose the Westport Train Depot. What a stroke of luck that those folks conceived a theater.

At first, the Depot housed a community theater. Many of you will have spent a scene or two on the stage. As time went by, under the direction of numerous talented individuals (the Jones family featuring prominently), the Depot Theatre earned Equity status. That was a game changer, responsible for attracting theater professionals from near and far to Westport and making the Depot Theatre unique, the sole Actors’ Equity Association-affiliated professional theater in the Adirondack Park.

As we celebrate our 45th season it is impossible not to thank all of you for filling our seats, our coffers, and our hearts with your generous attendance, donations, and moral support. Our gratitude is boundless.

Here’s to the next 45!!

Cheri Phillips

Depot Theatre Board President

WELCOME!

THE ACTORS’ EQUITY DIFFERENCE

Since 1988, the Depot has maintained an active relationship with Actors’ Equity Association – the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

The Depot Theatre is committed to bringing professional theatre artists – actors, directors, stage managers, technicians, choreographers, and designers – to the Adirondacks.

By maintaining its Equity status, as well as being a Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) affiliated theatre company, the Depot Theatre has built a reputation for producing high quality performances in a unique performance space, in a very rural area in the Adirondacks.

The Depot Theatre employs members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 Actors and Stage Managers. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks.

SUPPORT

THANK YOU

The Depot Theatre’s continued success is a testament to the support we receive from our subscribers, donors, sponsors, grantors, friends, local businesses and partners.

We RELY on your generous contributions, just as you rely on us to deliver on our mission to “entertain, enrich, and educate through professional theatrical arts and related programs based in a historic train station.”

KEEP US STRONG

Recent years illustrated the need for us to ensure that we can weather another unforeseen derailment AND continue to pursue our long-term strategic goals. By remaining financially secure, we can do both.

Here are some ways for YOU to have a long-term impact on the Depot’s success:

• Recurring Gift

One of the simplest ways to support the Depot Theatre is to make a monthly recurring gift using a credit card.

• Multi-Year Pledge

We’d love for you to consider pledging a certain level of support for multiple years. A multi-year pledge is a great way to make a significant impact on the future of the Depot Theatre by strengthening our ability to plan budgets and programming.

• Planned Giving - support the ongoing work of the Depot Theatre with a planned gift in your will or trust.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Kim Rielly, Executive Director, at krielly@depottheatre.org or 518.962.4449 x2.

You, our investors, continue to help keep us strong, and we cannot thank you enough for your generosity!

www.DepotTheatre.org

The Depot Theatre Academy presents

Roald Dahl’s

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, JR

BOOK BY DENNIS KELLY MUSIC & LYRICS BY TIM MINCHIN

Orchestrations and Additional Music – Chris Nightingale

Directed by GIGI MASON

Music Director/Accompanist - GERALD STEICHEN

Choreographer - ALEE REED

Assistant Director/Activities Director - ALYSSA CARROLL

Assistant Director/Activities Director - PHOEBE DAVIS

Assistant Director/Costume Design/Props - AMY FITTS

Light/Scenic Design - BONNIE B. BREWER

Master Carpenter - KEVIN BOYLE

Stage CrewKEENAN DUSO, CALEN DUSO, CHAVON PATTERSON, ALYSSA CARROL, COOPER HALLORAN

Front of House - PHOEBE DAVIS, GIGI MASON

Backstage Assistant/Followspot/ “therapy puppy” wranglerCOOPER HALLORAN

There will be one 15-minute intermission

MATILDA was first commissioned and produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, England on 9 November 2010. It transferred to the Cambridge Theatre in the West End of London on 25 October 2011 and received its US premiere at the Shubert Theatre, Broadway, USA on 4 March 2013.

Roald Dahl’s MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR

Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Erica.................................................................................................................Zoe Hadden

Tommy..........................................................................................................Jay McDaniel

Amanda....................................................................................................Tatum Brearton

Bruce...................................................................................Claudia Halloran-Donaldson

Lavender.........................................................................................................Eloise Woolf

Alice..............................................................................................................Violet Hadden

Hortensia.........................................................................................................Maple Judd

Nigel...............................................................................................................Felix Haskins

Sally................................................................................................................Nicole Cogan

Winifred.............................................................................................................Finley Lipa

Abigail.......................................................................................................Attalie Gleason

Beatrix........................................................................................................Aliyah Gleason

Carmel................................................................................................................Anna Duso

Agnes................................................................................................................Chloe Allen

Clara.........................................................................................................Sabine Brearton

Edwina........................................................................................................Amelia Hyman

Elsa....................................................................................................................Asha Heller

Darcy...........................................................................................................Ansa Melewski

Arthur.....................................................................................................Lewis Henderson

Matilda.....................................................................................................Jianna Giovacco

Mr. Wormwood.............................................................................................Hanna Bailey

Mrs. Wormwood....................................................................................Natalie McDaniel

Michael.......................................................................................................Wilder Stewart

Miss Phelps...................................................................................................Olive Stewart

Escapologist.................................................................................................Nicole Cogan

Acrobat..............................................................................................................Finley Lipa

Miss Honey.........................................................................................................Gwen Lipa

Agatha Trunchbull.........................................................................................Ella Lobdell

Truchbull’s Assistant Ethel..............................................................................Erica Klein

Rudolpho......................................................................................................Jay McDaniel

Mechanic.......................................................................................................Felix Haskins

Parents

Nicole Cogan, Finley Lipa, Attalie Gleason, Aliyah Gleason, Anna Duso, Chloe Allen, Hanna Bailey, Natalie McDaniel, Olive Stewart, Gwen Lipa, Erica Klein

Russians

Anna Duso, Attalie Gleason, Aliyah Gleason, Chloe Allen

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was the author of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, MATILDA, THE BFG and many more of the world’s best-loved children’s stories. He remains one of the world’s greatest storytellers and is celebrated annually by the world’s biggest author-based event, Roald Dahl Day – which is recognised across the globe on 13th September.

His first children’s story, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, published in 1961 and was a huge hit. Every subsequent book became a best-seller.

Today, his stories are available in 59 languages and, by a conservative estimate, he has sold more than 250 million books. Many of these stories have also been adapted for stage and screen, including the 1971 film classic WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Wes Anderson’s acclaimed FANTASTIC MR. FOX, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award winning production of MATILDA THE MUSICAL.

https://www.roalddahl.com • www.facebook.com/roalddahl

http://www.twitter.com/roald_dahl • www.instagram.com/roald_dahl/

Dennis Kelly: Work for theatre includes DEBRIS, OSAMA THE HERO, AFTER THE END, LOVE AND MONEY, TAKING CARE OF BABY, DNA, ORPHANS, THE GODS WEEP, and THE RITUAL SLAUGHTER OF GORGE MASTROMAS. He has written the book for the new musical of PINOCCHIO which opens at the National Theatre at the end of 2017, and in 2018 his new play GIRLS AND BOYS opens at the Royal Court. His plays have been performed worldwide and to date have been translated into nearly forty languages. For television he co-wrote and co-created Pulling and wrote and created Utopia, and for film he wrote the screenplay for BLACK SEA, directed by Kevin MacDonald. He also wrote the book for the Olivier and Tony winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL. In 2010 DNA became a set text on the GCSE English Literature syllabus. Tim Minchin: Tim is a musician, actor, comedian, writer and director. He’s toured extensively in the US, UK and Australia, performing solo, with bands, and with symphony orchestras. He’s released five DVDs, the most recent recorded with the Heritage Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Screen acting credits include ROBIN HOOD ORIGINS (2018), SECRET RIVER (2015), and CALIFORNICATION (Season 62013). Stage acting credits include ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Sydney Theatre Company) and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (UK/Australia tours). Tim has written extensively for theatre, and is the composer-lyricist of MATILDA THE MUSICAL (with Dennis Kelly) and GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL (with Danny Rubin).

www.DepotTheatre.org

BIOS

Chloe Allen Age 11 Moriah Central School, 7th grade

Previous shows: THE WIZARD OF OZ, MATILDA JR

Interests, likes, dislikes: I like hard shoe Irish and I dislike installation.

Future Plans: No clue.

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you mom and dad for giving me life.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Friends can be anywhere you just have to look.

Hanna Bailey Age 16 Genesee Community College

Previous shows: GOOD QUEEN BESS ( Shakespeare Lady in Waiting), ALICE

IN WONDERLAN D (Cheshire Cat), INTO THE WOODS (Cinderella’s Mother)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love reading writing (but never finishing) books and drawing fantasy-themed people.

Future Plans: I have plans of publishing books one day.

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you to my parents who encouraged me playing a sleazy car salesman and my brother who always listened when I has new theater drama to share.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: To memorize lines as quickly as possible and that knowing how to do a British accent can actually come in handy.

Sabine Brearton Age 8 Boquet Valley Central School,

Previous shows: PETER PAN, MATILDA

Interests, likes, dislikes: Getting another pup. I like pizza. I dislike not seeing my family.

Future Plans: Moving to Florida

Shout outs/thank you: Amy, Gigi and Alyssa

What has the Depot Academy taught you: To sing loud and proud.

Tatum Elizabeth Brearton Age 11 Boquet Valley, 6th Grade

Previous shows: Talent show, SKIP IT , playing the Witch in NARNIA

Interests, likes, dislikes: Interests: Nature, Acting, and Zoology. Like: food fashion being happy. Dislike: sadness being annoyed.

Future Plans: Being Zoologist

Shout outs/thank you: Mom, Dad thank you for helping me through everything in life. What has the Depot Academy taught you: To be strong not shy and to do more than I think.

Sadie Burgess Age 15 Boquet Valley CSD, 9th grade

Previous shows: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, LITTLE WOMEN, TREASURE ISLAND

Interests, likes, dislikes: Likes: reading, sewing, singing, purple. Dislikes: Noise

Future Plans: I’m not sure, something related to history or art.

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you so much to Amy, Cooper and Skipper. What has the Depot Academy taught you: I have learned so much about being prepared and ready and knowing what’s happening.

Nicole Corrigan Cogan Age 13 Lake Champlain Waldorf School, 8th grade

Previous shows: INTO THE WOODS (Bakers Wife), Finding Neverland (Wendy), PETER PAN (Mrs. Darling), OTHELLO (Janny)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love skincare, cleaning, baking, and silly things. I play the violin and also play basketball and soccer.

Future Plans: I want to run for president. You better vote for me.

Shout outs/thank you: Thanks a million to Stiles and Laura McDaniel, as well as Catherine and Taylor Haslans for welcoming me into their house this week. Thank you as well to Gigi, Alee, Jerry, Amy, Alyssa and Phoebe. Thanks for making this a truly special experience. What has the Depot Academy taught you: How to work and be in an ensemble. As well as the amount of work and effort that goes into a production.

Anna Duso Age 11 Boquet Valley Central School, 6th grade

Previous shows: PETER PAN JR.

Interests, likes, dislikes: Likes- Nature, Animals, Art, Acting, Zoology, helping the SPCA. Dislikes- School

Future Plans: Traveling, Zoology, Theater

Shout outs/thank you: My family and friends

What has the Depot Academy taught you: New acting skills and to be crazy.

Calen Duso Age 11 Boquet Valley Central School, 6th grade

Previous shows: PETER PAN JR

Interests, likes, dislikes: Like- Tech art

Future Plans: Chef

Shout outs/thank you: Diana McGuigan-George

Keenan Duso Age 9 Boquet Valley Central School, 4th grade

Previous shows: PETER PAN JR

Interests, likes, dislikes: Video Games, TV

Future Plans Video Games

Jianna Giovacco Age 13 Ausable Middle High School, 8th grade

Previous shows: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Lady Lucas) (Mr. Denny), PETER PAN (Tiger Lilly), GREASE (Eugene), MATILDA (Matilda), TREASURE ISLAND (Mother Hawkins)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I like soccer, I also love sushi and I do like iced tea, and really really love coffee

Future Plans: Broadway and future TV shows

Shout outs/thank you: Shout out to my mom for her motivation and support to get Matilda

What has the Depot Academy taught you: The Depot Academy taught me more confidence than I think I have.

Aliyah Gleason Age 13 North Warren Central School, 8th grade

Previous shows: INTO THE WOODS

Interests, likes, dislikes: Interests- Softball, Horseback Riding

Shout outs/thank you: My Mom, my dad, Jill, Ryan, Connie, Gary

Attalie Gleason Age 11 North Warren Central School, 6th grade

Future Plans: Be a good actress

Shout outs/thank you:my mom, dad and everybody who drove us here.

Zoë Hadden Age 11 Lake Placid High School, 6th grade

Previous shows: LITTLE WOMEN (Amy), PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Jane), ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Mad Hatter), TREASURE ISLAND (Jim H), HANSEL & GRETEL (Hansel), SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK JR (Zoe)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love dogs and the ocean and music and I hate mean people.

Future Plans: Be a Marine Biologist and be rich

Shout outs/thank you: Shout out for my mom and dad and grandma also the biggest shout out to my dog, Beckett.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: How to dance

Violet Hadden Age 8 Lake Placid Elementary, 3rd grade

Previous shows: TREASURE ISLAND, SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK JR

Interests, likes, dislikes: Like Skateboarding, hate vomit

Future Plans: Coder at Nasa or Actor

Shout outs/thank you: Mom because you help me with moves

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Songs

Cooper Danger Halloran Age 17 Boquet Valley High School, Senior

Previous shows: PETER PAN JR, LITTLE MERMAID JR, SEUSSICAL JR, MADAGASCAR JR, THE BOYFRIEND, WILLY WONKA JR, INTO THE WOODS JR, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, PRIDE AND PREDJUDICE, LITTLE WOMEN, TREASURE ISLAND

Interests, likes, dislikes: Skipper, my beloved, mon petit cher. He is my baby boy and I love him more than anything in the world.

Future Plans: Hopefully something with great people like the people here.

Shout outs/thank you: Gigi, for being an ever present force for creative outlets in my life; Amy, for being an okay “boss” and great friend; everyone else who has helped with the show, could not have done it without every single one of you. and of course Skipper, for being the absolute best puppy I could ask for and for being the absolute worst rehearsal assistant anyone could have.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Never bring your puppy to work.

Claudia Halloran-Donaldson Age 10 Minerva Central School, 5th grade

Previous shows: PETER PAN JR

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love to paint, draw, and color. I don’t like bullies. I like oreos

Future Plans: I am going to become an artist but, if there’s an opportunity, I would gladly be in another show.

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you to Mary and Steve Halloran for letting me stay at their house these 3 weeks.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: I have learned the British accent, (sort of) and I have learned acting skills.

Felix Haskins Age 13 Sheburne Community School, 8th grade

Previous shows: WILLY WONKA JR., THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE RETRIAL OF JOAN OF ARC, INTO THE WOODS, JR. JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE, THE LION KING JR.

Interests: Playing the cello, baking, making art.

Future Plans: I’m not sure yet.

Shout outs/thank you: My mom and dad for always supporting me, and everyone at the Depot for making this opportunity possible.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: The patience and collaboration it takes to perform in a theatre program.

Asha Heller Age 10 Boquet Valley Central School, 5th grade

Previous shows: MATILDA (little kid ensemble)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I like horseback riding, tacos, Shirley Temple. I hate brussels sprouts.

Future Plans: Go to Hawaii, professional horse trainer

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you to my mom, dad, sister and Ginger my dog

What has the Depot Academy taught you: To be brave and courageous.

Lewis Henderson Age 8 Lakeside School, 3rd grade

Previous shows: PETER PAN (Michael)

Interests, likes, dislikes: Likes theater/ Magic the Gathering. Dislikes bullies

Future Plans: Explorer

Shout outs/thank you: Mom

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Acting

Amelia Hyman Age 8 Keene Central School, 4th grade

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love skiing and going on my trampoline. I don’t like strawberry jelly and kale. I also love sushi.

Future Plans: Try to make it to nationals in Skiing

Shout outs/thank you: To my friends for being so funny and nice and my parents for all the support and the best parents ever.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Even when stuff is hard to keep going no matter what.

Maple Judd Age 9 Keene Central School, 4th grade

Previous shows: LITTLE WOMEN, PETER PAN, INTO THE WOODS

Interests, likes, dislikes: Likes: llamas, sushi, books, dogs Dislikes: peanut butter, math

Future Plans: I don’t really know but I will keep acting

Shout outs/thank you: To my parent for supporting me, my brothers for helping me and my dog for snuggles

What has the Depot Academy taught you: To work with a team and to never give up.

Erica Klein Age 17 Suny Clinton Applied Psych

Previous shows: INTO THE WOODS JR, TIGERS BE STILL

Interests, likes, dislikes: Art, Writing. Linguistics, Music Gaming

Shout outs/thank you: Everyone that has worked at the academy or BRTF all these years

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Growth sneaks up on you.

Gwen Lipa Age 15 North Warren Central School, 11th grade

Previous shows: MARY POPPINS, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, ADDAMS FAMILY, INTO THE WOODS, FROZEN

Interests, likes, dislikes: Like: music, science, math, dance Dislikes: tomatoes, spiders

Future Plans: Finishing high school and then going to college for engineering

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you to my family for always pushing me to do my best. What has the Depot Academy taught you: How to adapt to a new space.

Finley Lipa Age 13 North Warren Central School

Previous shows: CABARET 2020, FROZEN JR (Ensemble), INTO THE WOODS (Steward)

Interests, likes, dislikes: Interests- Softball basketball, theater. Likes- friends, family

Future Plans: To become a vet or an actress on Broadway

Shout outs/thank you: My Nana, Papa, Dad, Crystal, Jill, Ryan, Dan, for all of the help with carpool and motivation.

What has the Depot Academy taught you: To have 100% focus and practice makes perfect

Ella Lobdell Age 16 Boquet Valley Central School, 12th grade

Previous shows: ADDAMS FAMILY (Depot), DEPOT ACADEMY CABARET (2 years), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Academy) & more.

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love basketball, going to the beach with friends, spike ball and volleyball. I don’t like negativity.

Future Plans: Playing basketball in college & majoring in Math

Shout outs/thank you: My amazing Mom, Jill for being the strongest person I know What has the Depot Academy taught you: How to tap into my inner theater kid.

Natalie McDaniel Age 13 Lake Champlain Waldorf School, 8th grade

Previous shows: WILLY WONKA (Oompaloompa), THE LION KING ( Hyena 1), INTO THE WOODS (The Witch), CABARET 2020, FINDING NEVERLAND (Michael), JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE (Atalanta), PETER PAN (Captain Hook)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I like horses, the color green, acting, being at the beach, milk chocolate, and sleeping

Future Plans: I hope to continue in theater as well as working and taming horses

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you to my family for horses. Always supporting my acting my friends (obviously) thanks to my brother Jay for helping me practice my lines and all for being here.

What has the Depot Academy taught you : Depot Academy has taught me so much about acting, singing and how to be part of a team and that I’m really great at playing villians.

Jay McDaniel Age 10 Lake Champlain Waldorf School, 5th grade

Previous shows: INTO THE WOODS, PETER PAN, DIANA AND THE GOLDEN APPLES

Interests, likes, dislikes: I like Harry Potter, Sloths and Koalas

Shout outs/thank you: Thank you to Zoe for being helpful and nice. What has the Depot Academy taught you: How to dance.

Ansa Melewski Age 8 Boquet Valley School, 3rd grade

Previous shows: POLAR BEAR, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Interests, likes, dislikes: Running around, yoga, going down slides

Future Plans: Be an artist

Shout outs/thank you: Hi to Daphne! Hi to Maggie!

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Songs and most of the dances.

Wilder Stewart Age 12 Lake Champlain Waldorf School, 6th grade

Previous shows: PETER PAN (Smee), TREASURE ISLAND ( Doctor Livsily)

Interests, likes, dislikes: Loves the arts (of all sorts) soccer, rock climbing, down hill skiing

Future Plans: Astrophysicist/ Artist

Shout outs/thank you: Skipper

What has the Depot Academy taught you: Work together, public speaking

Olive Stewart Age 14 Boquet Valley Central School

Previous shows: MADAGASCAR (Ensemble), LEND ME A TENOR (Ensemble,Police Officer), PIANO PORTAL (Ava), PRIDE & PREJUDICE (Lydia), INTO THE WOODS (Rapunzel), LITTLE WOMEN (Meg), REUNION, TREASURE ISLAND A MUSICAL REINVENTION (Aunt Charlotte, Private)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I love reading, singing, acting, and being with animals. I love AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

Future Plans: Social Justice Lawyer; actor; big cat wild conservation

Shout outs/thank you: I would like to thank Gigi, Jerry, Alee, Phoebe, Alyssa, Amy, Sadie, and Cooper for making this show possible

Eloise Woolf Age 12 Speyer School, 7th grade

Previous shows: WILLY WONKA (Mrs. Gloop), LION KING (ZaZa), CABARET 2020, INTO THE WOODS (Cinderella), PETER PAN (Wendy)

Interests, likes, dislikes: I like sushi, skincare, music, turquoise, acting, figure skating, and my friends

Future Plans: Have a good life

Shout outs/thank you: My parents for taking me to camp every day and putting up with me. Trucker for being snuggly

What has the Depot Academy taught you: The Depot Academy has taught me how we can all work together as a team to create something amazing.

Act I

Prologue

Miracle ……………………………………………………..Erica, Tommy, Amanda, Bruce, Lavender, Alice, Hortensia, Nigel, Parents, Little Kids, Matilda

Scene 1 : The Wormwood’s Living Room

Scene 2 : The Wormwood House

Naughty…………………………………….…………………. Matilda

Scene 3: The Library

Acrobat Story I (Part 1 & 2)..............Matilda, Miss Phelps, Acrobat, Escapologist, Circus Performers

Scene 4: Outside the School Gates /Miss Honey’s Classroom/ Trunchbull’s Office

School Song…………………………….……. Nigel, Tommy, Lavender, Erica, Amanda, Alice, Ethel, Kids

The Hammer…………………………………..Trunchbull, Ethel, Miss Honey, Kids

Scene 5: The Wormwood’s House

Naughty – (Part 2)....................................Matilda

Scene 6: The School Yard

Chokey Chant……………………………………….. Nigel, Kids

Scene 7: Wormwood Motors

Scene 8: Wormwood House

This Little Girl…………………………………………….Miss Honey

Scene 9: Library

Acrobat Story II……………Miss Phelps, Matilda, Acrobat, Escapologist

www.DepotTheatre.org

Scene 10: Miss Honey’s Classroom

Bruce……………………………….. Bruce, Truchbull, Ethel, Miss Honey, Kids

Scene 11: The Library

Acrobat Story III…………Miss Phelps, Matilda, Acrobat, Escapologist

Scene 12: The School Yard

When I Grow Up…………………………..Bruce, Tommy, Amanda, Erica, Lavender, Nigel, Hortensia,Alice, Big and Little Kids

Miss Honey, Matilda

Intermission - 15 minute Act II

Scene 1: Wormwood House

Telly………………………..Mr. Wormwood, Mrs. Wormwood, Michael

Acrobat Story IV…………Matilda, Trunchbull, Escapologist

Scene 2: School Gymnasium

The Smell of Rebellion…………Trunchbull, Ethel, All Kids, Miss Honey

Quiet………………………………………..Matilda

Scene 3: Walk to Miss Honey’s Shed

My House……………………………….Miss Honey

Scene 4: Miss Honey’s Classroom

Revolting Children ……………………..Bruce, All Kids, Miss Honey

Epilogue

Bows and Naughty Reprise…………The Company

DEPOT ACADEMY STAFF AND WORKSHOP ARTISTS

Jerry Steichen - Music Director appeared on Broadway conducting CATS, keyboards for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and PETER PAN, onstage in MASTER CLASS. National tours: THE KING AND I, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE SECRET GARDEN and Western Opera Theater’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY. For New York City Opera: LA BOHÈME, L’ELISIR D’AMORE, DEAD MAN WALKING, THE LITTLE PRINCE, THE MIKADO, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, CINDERELLA; Also Utah, Virginia, Anchorage, Longview, New Jersey, Glimmerglass Operas. He has appeared on THE TODAY SHOW and GOOD MORNING AMERICA.

Symphonic positions: Principal Pops Conductor: Utah and New Haven Symphonies, Boston Pops, New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, New Jersey, Detroit, Indianapolis, Naples, Portland (OR), Florida (Tampa), Cincinnati, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Hartford, Longview and Pueblo. Internationally: Hong Kong, Tokyo, NDR Philharmonie - Hannover, Norwegian Radio Symphony. Upcoming: Grant Park Orchestra (Chicago) and Phoenix Symphony.

A native of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Maestro Steichen lives in New York City.

Alee Reed - Choreographer is a musical theater performer, choreographer, and arts educator. Favorite performing credits include the European Tour of 42nd STREET, the National Tours of MAME, GYPSY, BIG, and JOLSON, as well as many regional productions, industrials, and reviews across the country. As a choreographer and instructor, Alee has led workshops for Camp Broadway, US Performing Arts, Bravo On With the Show, Oklahoma Arts Institute, the Omega Institute, School of American Ballet, NYU Tisch New Studio on Broadway, Carnegie Hall, Western Connecticut State University, and the Karmiel Dance Festival in Israel. As the Artistic Director of the Dancing Classrooms Youth Dance Company, Alee’s works have been presented at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, New York City Center, the Kennedy Center,

Jacobs Pillow (Inside/Out), the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda, and the Karmiel Dance Festival. Alee is proud to have been featured on the cover of DANCE TEACHER magazine for her work in arts education, teaching ballroom dance to New York City school children, and training and supervising teaching artists internationally. Alee is thrilled to be joining the creative team at the Depot Theatre’s Summer Academy, knowing how important and inspiring summer intensives were to her as a budding musical theater performer.

Gigi Mason - Director, Academy Outreach and Education Director has just completed her first year as Academy Outreach and Education Director. Gigi has been enthusiastically pursuing new and exciting educational opportunities for North Country students in the theatre arts. Gigi is extremely excited to be directing MATILDA JR at the Academy this summer. Gigi is a school administrator with over 30 years of experience, and has always been a passionate supporter of children and theatre. She has produced, directed, and choreographed shows for children since 1996 in local schools, community theaters and the Boquet River Theatre Festival. Mason has also been involved with the Depot Theatre as a Board member, Advisory Board member and Education Committee member. gmason@depottheatre.org

Alyssa Carroll - Assistant Director and Activities Director is thrilled to be back at the Whallonsburg Grange! She spent much of her childhood in shows here. Shows included GUYS AND DOLLS, FOOTLOOSE , and PIPPIN. Nowadays, Alyssa is a television editor best known for her work on A MILLION LITTLE THINGS on ABC. Alyssa recently published a book to help people who are early in their post production career: The Post PA Handbook - Your Guide to Life as a Post Production Assistant in Television and Movies. Her book is available on Amazon and Bookshop.org. Alyssa is excited about being back in the Adirondacks and working with such a talented cast for MATILDA! www.alyssacarroll.com

www.DepotTheatre.org

Phoebe Davis, Assistant Director and Activities Director is thrilled to be working with the Depot Academy again this summer as one of the activities directors! Some of her fondest memories come from participating in the Boquet River Theater Festival shows which she started doing when she was just 7 years old. Her favorite roles included Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Trix the Aviatrix in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE , and Tinker Bell in PETER PAN . She grew up in New York City where she graduated from the Spence School. It was there that her love for theater and music flourished as she participated in various theatrical productions, sang in the choir, and led our prestigious acapella club, Triple Trio. She currently attends Middlebury College in Vermont studying music with a focus on education and composition. She is the president and musical director of The Middlebury Bobolinks–her college’s oldest gender-inclusive acapella group. She is delighted to be working with a group of such outstanding young actors and hopes to pass on some of her musical knowledge to them throughout the summer.

Amy Fitts, Assistant Director and Costumer is thrilled to be involved in the Youth Academy. A proud member of Actor’s Equity since 2001, Amy has been involved with youth education for over 20 years. She earned her Master’s degree in Applied Theatre Education from CUNY and has been a drama teacher at Riverdale Country School in NYC for the past 11 years. Prior to that she taught at Hunter College Elementary, and Grace Church School. Amy seeks out the education department of any theatre that hires her onstage and has been lucky enough to do outreach with Texas Shakespeare Festival, Weston Playhouse, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Peterborough Players, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble and more. She’s been a teaching artist with Manhattan Theatre Club, and Theatre Development Fund in NYC. (Truthfully, Amy is just really immature for her age and loves hanging out with people who still laugh at her jokes).

WORKSHOP ARTISTS

Michael Glavan- Careers in the Theatre

See bio under Depot Staff.

Alisa Endsley- Vocal Workshops

Alisa Endsley has worked with some of the biggest names on Broadway including composer, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, director, Trevor Nunn, and Tony-winning actors, Patti Lupone, George Hearn, and Betty Buckley. She has portrayed numerous leading ladies of the musical stage from Eva Peron in Evita to Sandy and Rizzo in Grease, and Norma Desmond in the original company of Sunset Boulevard in London’s West End as well as on Broadway.

As a lead vocalist Alisa has sung with the BBC Orchestra, recorded in the famous Abbey Road Studios, and been the featured guest on many radio and television shows in the United Kingdom as well as here in the United States.

As a classical actress she has portrayed several of Shakespeare’s leading ladies including Juliet, Cleopatra, Taming of the Shrew’s Kate and Henry VI’s Queen Margaret to mention a few. As a teaching artist Alisa has worked with Camp Broadway, US Performing Arts Camp, The Johnny Mercer Foundation’s Accentuate the Positive program, teaching song and lyric-writing workshops in schools throughout America, as well as creating a theater camp for young performers in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay Music School. Alisa has been featured on several Mountain Lakes PBS segments covering aspects of her work as a Broadway and West End performer, as an expert panelist for America’s Hamilton, and for her work with regional organizations and productions such as Book & Blanket Players, the Russell Ames tribute, Thank You Mister Ames, and her public speaking workshops for Girl Scouts of America.

Alisa is thrilled to serve as Co-Chair of the Depot Theatre Academy’s Education Committee and she is devoted to the students of her private vocal studio, Sing for the Stage. During the course of

her professional performance career Alisa has always felt it important to work with youth. She has found enormous joy and sense of purpose in mentorship, while passing along the craft and giving young people the tools to not only create effective, healthy vocal, audition, and performance skills, but also to thrive as human beings in the theatrical profession, and to have a balanced, positive perspective about themselves and the unique talents they have to share as artists. (singforthestage.com)

Aaron Jodoin- Audition for Broadway workshop is the founder of SaveMYAudition (savemyaudition.com), a company whose mission is to partner with the top casting offices and theatre in NYC to provide affordable classes to actors. Since 2005, he has worked as an audition pianist, vocal coach, music director, orchestrator, and has been a substitute musician on 14 broadway shows. He is fortunate enough to be married to Amy Fitts, who is currently writing this bio while he sleeps.

THANKS TO:

Parents, Mary-Nell Bockman and the Whallonsburg Grange, Middlebury Town Hall Theatre Young Company, Lindsay Pontius, Jennifer Allred, Mary Longey, Betsy Bacot, Jennifer Moore, Stites McDaniel and all of the lovely folks at Whitcombs, Morgan and Tom Conley at River and Rails, Carolyn Sicher for coordinating the cast party,

THANKS FOR COSTUME DONATIONS

Mount Abraham ELP in Bristol, VT*, Jennifer Allred, Mary Longey, Lindsay Pontius, Caroline Woolf, Maya Judd, Gary and Connie Pogozelski, Matthew and Wendy Courtright

MANY THANKS TO OUR ACADEMY WORKSHOP ARTISTS

Alisa Endsley, Kevin Szemis, Michael Glavan, Aaron Jodoin

www.DepotTheatre.org

DEPOT THEATRE STAFF

KIM

RIELLY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) Kim Rielly (Executive Director) is thrilled to be at the helm for her SIXTH season! As ED, she provides comprehensive theatre management and oversight of staff, budget, programs, marketing, audience development, and community relations.

Rielly’s experience includes more than 20 years of marketing and communications, most recently as the longtime director of communications for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.

A native of Westport, she is no stranger to the Depot, having lived in the region for the majority of her life, and volunteered for several terms as a board trustee, including one year as president. As a trustee, she was directly involved in the development of the strategic plan to grow the organization’s artistic and educational offerings within the scale of the rural market it serves.

Rielly is committed to continuing to expand the Depot’s impact on the economic vitality of the region and the community, and grateful for the tremendous support and generosity of the organization’s Trustees, Advisory Council, staff, donors, grantors, volunteers, and organizational partners.

MICHAEL GLAVAN (ARTISTIC PRODUCTION MANAGER) is energized to back at the Depot donning a new hat as Artistic Production Manager after appearing on stage last summer in RED and as Lurch in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. He is an actor, director, writer, and teacher who has worked regionally across the country and in NYC. Directing: JOEY AND RON (NYC), MACBETH: TWO TRUTHS (NYC), several performance pieces in the FAST AND FURIOUS series at the Tank

(NYC), RICHARD III (Milwaukee, WI), MISERY (Canton, OH), assistant direction for THE OTHER PLACE (Cleveland, Ohio). Educational: SHE KILLS MONSTERS (Laurel School), GODSPELL and [ TITLE OF SHOW] (Kent State University), Marilyn Bianchi Kid’s Playwrighting Festival (Dobama Theatre). Michael will be directing with Seat of the Pants, a process-forward professional theatre company, for their production of BACH AT LEIPZIG this spring. Michael is a proud member of The Greenhouse, a theatremakers’ collective. Catch him before or after the show—he is an extrovert and loves meeting fellow theatre makers, enthusiasts, and patrons.

KEVIN BOYLE (MASTER CARPENTER)

runs a small woodworking business and brings a wealth of building experience and creative solutions to support both the technical and set design team and many infrastructure projects at the Depot.

Though he describes himself as lacking a background in theatre, he enjoys the “fleeting nature” of live performances, and has seen every main stage production at the Depot since 2010. He has been a longtime supporter and volunteer, with a 2015 Volunteer of the Year award to prove it.

BONNIE B. BREWER (OPERATIONS MANAGER/ SET DESIGN/PROPS) has been working the professional theatre circuit for over 36 years now. Directing projects include: DAMN YANKEES!, SANTALAND DIARIES, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, URINETOWN, ANNIE, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, THE LAST ROMANCE, ALMOST MAINE, AGNES OF GOD, OTHER DESERT CITIES, ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S THE 39 STEPS, THE GIN GAME, EVITA, SYLVIA, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED (and a few of their

other abridged shows too), ALL MY SONS, WAIT UNTIL DARK, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, AND LEND ME A TENOR. Light and set designs include: ACT OF GOD, WORLD GOES ROUND, FOREVER PLAID, URINETOWN, ANNIE, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, THE LITTLE MERMAID, AMADEUS, CHICAGO, OTHER DESERT CITIES, BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY, and …more than I can remember at present. Thank you to the entire Depot Theatre Family -- it is great collaborating with you to make professional theatre a reality in the Adirondacks. BIG SHOUT OUT to Mr. Depotcarpenter ex·tra·or·di·naire!

AMY FITTS (COSTUME DESIGNER) has worn many costumes on the Depot stage from 1998 - current. She’s thrilled to be on the “other side” costume designing this season! She has been a drama teacher in NYC since 2001 and costumed 20+ years worth of shows!

DAVID HOWSON (COMPANY MANAGER)

teaches in and directs the Arts Administration Program at Skidmore College. He is very happy to be working with this incredible team of professionals at Depot. Training: MFA, David Geffen School of Drama at Yale.

ELLA LOBDELL (BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE) is a rising senior locally at Boquet Valley Central School. This is her second year working for the Depot Theatre and her 10th summer participating in the Depot Academy (formally known as the Boquet River Theatre Festival).

GIGI MASON (ACADEMY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION DIRECTOR) has just completed her first year in this new position, and she has been enthusiastically pursuing new and exciting educational opportunities for North Country

students in the theatre arts. Mason is extremely excited to lead the academy program this summer! Mason, a retired school administrator with over 30 years of experience, has always been a passionate supporter of children and theatre. She has produced, directed, and choreographed shows for children since 1996 in local schools, community theaters and the Boquet River Theatre Festival. Mason has also been involved with the Depot Theatre as a Board member, Advisory Board member, and Education Committee member. gmason@depottheatre.org

CHAVON PATTERSON (ADMINISTRATIVE INTERN) is currently a student at Skidmore College. She plans to graduate with a degree in Theater as well as a minor in Arts Administration. She has worked as the front-of-house manager in the Skidmore College theater department and is looking forward to working as the general manager there in the fall. This is Chavon’s first time in Westport, and she looks forward to enjoying the Adirondacks and its nature.

KATIE SHEPARD (BOX OFFICE & HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER) began working in the Depot Theatre’s Box Office in 2012, and she became the Box Office Manager in 2014. Last year, she took on more administrative responsibilities as the HR Manager. She is the co-founder of Essex Editions (essexeditions.com), a small artisanal publishing and author services company in Essex, NY. In 2016, she published her first book Essex, New York Architecture: A Doodler’s Field Guide cocreated with Geo Davis. Currently, she is also the Managing Editor for Rewilding Earth (rewilding. org).

JACK SCHOONOVER (SOUND DESIGNER)

is a sound designer, engineer, and instrument builder based in Essex, NY. His previous theater credits include the Depot Theatre productions of PUTTING IT TOGETHER, RED, and THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Jack also runs the Westport-based synthesizer company SetonixSynth.

MARGARET SWICK (LIGHT DESIGN/ MASTER ELECTRICIAN) During the year she works through IATSE at the Flynn as a production electrician. She also currently works at the Strand and is excited to return to SUNY Plattsburgh as an adjunct instructor and Production Manager in the fall. She is excited to be returning for her tenth season at the Depot!

JORDAN TANNEBERGER (PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER) lives in Brooklyn, NY and is grateful to be returning to The Depot for her fourth season as Stage Manager. Previous credits include: PUTTING IT TOGETHER (SM), RED (Deck Crew), and THE ADDAMS FAMILY (SM). Other credits include Deck Crew for Red Bull Theater and Stage Manager for AMDA College. She is excited to continue working with talented casts and hardworking crews for The Depot’s 45th season! Thank you all for making it happen!

in Concert

June 30 through August 9

Sundays 5pm

Wednesdays & Fridays 7:30 pm

Campe Concert Hall 1424 County Route 10, Westport, NY

find more information at meadowmount.org/events

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

ADMINISTRATION

Executive Director: Kim Rielly

Operations Manager/Graphic Designer:

Bonnie B. Brewer

Academy Outreach and Education Director: Ginene Mason

Box Office/ Human Resources Manager: Katie Shepard

Company Manager: David Howson

Administrative Intern: Chavon Patterson

Bookkeeper: Teresa Cummings

Auditor: Joseph P. Lafiura, CPA P.C.

MAIN STAGE PRODUCTION TEAM

Artistic Production Manager: Michael Glavan

Set Design/Properties:

Bonnie B. Brewer

Master Electrician/Lighting Designer: Margaret Swick

Sound Technician/Designer: Jack Schoonover

Costume Designer: Amy Fitts

Stage Manager: Jordan Tanneberger (Member, Actors’ Equity Association)

Master Carpenter: Kevin Boyle

DEPOT THEATRE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Cheri Phillips (President)

Scott Gibree (Vice President)

Lindy Flanagan (Secretary)

Alexandra Henderson (Treasurer)

Betsy Bacot

Maureen Carlo

Jim Carroll

Catherine Conover Covert

Alisa Endsley

Jonathan Hadley

Jen Kelly

Lawrence Masle

Bill McColgan

Amy McNamara

Kathy Recchia

Liz Spitler

DEPOT THEATRE ADVISORY COUNCIL

David Howson (Honorary Chair)

Dee Carroll

George Davis

Melissa Davis

Margaret “Beth” Glover

Amy Guglielmo

Daniel Keegan

Karen L. Lewis

Jennifer Moore

Mary Ellen O’Loughlin

Jane Preston

Annie Scavo

Joan Simon

Sally Struthers

Michael Thomas

ROGERS-CARROLL FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Depot Theatre is grateful for the longtime support of the Carroll family.

Dee Carroll, her late husband Bob, and sons Jim and Larry, have made incredible contributions of time and treasure to the arts in the region through their businesses, their foundation, and as individuals. Their contributions to the Westport Chamber of commerce and other regional tourism efforts alone are significant!

And, through their monetary support through via The Galley Restaurant & Bar, Westport Marina, and the Family Foundation, they have bolstered the Depot, the Academy (formerly the Boquet River Theatre Festival), and other arts organizations with sponsorships and gifts every single year since before they moved to the area in the early 1980s.

In addition to being advocates for Westport and the greater community, they are true champions for the arts, and their consistent support continues to have a tremendous impact.

THANK YOU.

LAND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Depot Theatre wishes to acknowledge that we are operating on the traditional and unceded homeland of the Mohawk or Kanienkehaka people, who oversaw a gathering place for many Iroquoian and Algonquian peoples in this space. We honor the Kanienkehaka ancestors who took great care of this land and their present-day descendants who continue to teach us the importance of land stewardship and community. With great respect and gratitude to the Kanienkehaka, we express our desire to align with their teachings to protect the land the theater is located on and to create community to the best of our abilities.

www.DepotTheatre.org

SPECIAL THANKS

Adirondack Stage Rats

Stephanie Ames

AMTRAK

Artistry Community Theatre

Ausable Central School

Judy Bertsche

Bessboro Builders

Bob’s Music

Book & Blanket Players

Kevin Boyle

Jim Carroll

Champlain National Bank

Cloudsplitter Foundation

Coakley’s Home & Hardware

Compass Printing Plus

Dead Vision Productions

The Deer’s Head Inn

Essex County Arts Council

Beth Glover

Greg Harper

Derrick A. Hopkins

David Howson

Dave and Cynthia Johnston, DaCy Meadow Farm

The Galley Restaurant and Bar at Westport Marina

William Johnston

Debbie Kanze

Lake Placid High School

Karen Lewis

Luna Rhythm

Gigi and Ed Mason

J.M. McDonald Foundation

Amy & David McNamara

The Mill

Jennifer Moore

New York State

Council on the Arts

Glenn & Carol Pearsall

Adirondack Foundation

Melissa Otis

Pendragon Theatre

Cheri Phillips

Kevin Raines & Katie Hearn

Kathleen Recchia

Don Rusch

Saranac Lake High School

SAranac Village at Will Rogers

Alfred Z. Solomon Trust

Justin Stearns, Mac’s Safe & Lock

Stewart’s Foundation

Kent Streed

Carolyn Vanderhoof at Ledge Hill Studio

Vaughn’s Custom Sawing

Town of Westport

Susan Weinrich, NYCON

Westelcom

Charles R. Wood Foundation

Steve Van Nort

Westport Central School

Westport Chamber of Commerce

Willsboro Central School

Whallonsburg Grange Hall

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Welcome to Westport, NY And the Depot Theatre

Westport. The earliest record of Westport as a location occurs on 18th Century French maps. Though the bay on which Westport sits was known as Northwest Bay, a 1779 map by French Surveyor and cartographer, Claude Joseph Sauthier, lists it as “Baie des Rocher Fendus” or Bay of the Split Rocks after a geological feature along the lakeshore between Westport and Essex. Essex County’s early settler William Gilliland, christened the area Bessboro, in honor of his wife, Elizabeth. The town was not settled again until 1804 when Charles Hatch made his way to North West Bay from Elizabethtown. It took four men two days to hack their way through the eight miles of forest between Elizabethtown and the bay. The town was officially named Westport in 1815 when it separated from Elizabethtown. The early character of the town is evidenced by a vote at the first town meeting “to raise double the sum allowed by the State for the support of common schools” and “to raise twenty dollars for the support of the poor”. By then, there existed a considerable settlement, with grist, saw and pulp mills, as well as stores, taverns, a tannery and a cloth factory.

Westport’s early iron industry was based on three beds of ore, the Campbell bed, the Merriam bed and the Jackson bed. Francis Jackson built the Sisco furnace, at a cost of $100,000, which in 1846 was one of the most expensive and technologically advanced furnaces of its day. Furnace Point Road, Merriam Forge Road, and Sisco Street memorialize this early industry in Westport.

Beginning in 1906, Westport was accessed on Lake Champlain by passage on the steamboat Ticonderoga, which docked every night in Westport meeting the train from New York City to transport passengers, farm produce, livestock, and dry goods up the lake to other towns. The Ticonderoga ended service in the 1950’s but it lives on today as one of only two remaining side-paddle-wheel passenger steamers, and is a feature of the Shelburne Museum in VT.

Westport is a charming lakeside community with year-round and seasonal residents, vacationers, and a growing farm-to-table agricultural industry. It is home to outdoor recreation enthusiasts, artists, musicians, actors, and business owners. It is also home to one of the few remaining hand-wound town clocks in America, at the Westport Library. Champlain Area Trails (CATS), headquartered in Westport, creates and maintains hiking and cross-country ski trails in the Champlain Valley. CATS has developed 42 miles of trails and is working to create trails that make it possible for people to “Hike the Lake” by walking from hamlet-to-hamlet.

Nearby Camp Dudley is the oldest, continuously run camp in America. For over 130 years Camp Dudley & Kiniya have provided boys and girls (ages 10 to 15) with the opportunity to develop as individuals through a balanced program of arts, athletics, outdoor exploration, and spirituality.

Wadhams! (It deserves an exclamation point) Nearby Wadhams, also part of the Westport Township, was formerly known as Wadhams Mills. It takes its name from the Wadhams family who, as early as 1825, began constructing mills at this location. “The Falls” as they continue to be known, supplied the waterpower that was the incentive for the settlement. That waterpower continues to be utilized

today, producing electricity sold to power companies. Just below the falls is an area known locally as the “Old Indian Burying Ground” for the number of arrowheads found there. Long before the settlers’ rafts, ferries, canal boats and steamships travelled the lake and streams; the Native Americans used the waterways as a thoroughfare.

The Depot Theatre. IT ALL STARTED WITH THE BUILDING. Nestled between the shores of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, The Depot Theatre originated out of a community-wide effort in 1978 to save the historic Westport train station (circa 1876) from demolition. Initially, the Westport Historical Society maintained stewardship over the historic station. The Historical Society saw the potential for cultural activity in the partially renovated station and they decided to begin presenting theatre in the space.

They turned to a unique funding solution to accomplish that goal: Wednesday Night Bingo. Initially this venture raised the tidy sum of nearly $3,000. In 1985, The Depot Theatre stepped out from under the Historical Society’s umbrella to become its own separate not-for-profit entity. In 1988, it became a professional theatre company operating under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.

Today, The Depot Theatre is the only professional Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) affiliated theatre company in the Adirondack Park, a 6 million-acre publicly and privately held natural resource, that includes many small communities like Westport.

We are grateful to the minds and energy of people like Carol Buchanan and Shami McCormick, who were catalysts for the creation and evolution of a high-quality, live professional theatre in a historic train depot.

About the Historic Train Station. The Delaware and Hudson Railway built this historic train station in 1876. It was expanded twice in 1891 and in 1908. D&H sold the building to the Town of Westport in 1974. Though Delaware and Hudson is no longer in operation, this historic train depot serves Amtrak passengers between New York City and Montreal providing important gateway access for travelers coming to the Adirondack region. The Town of Westport, Canadian Pacific Railway, Amtrak and the Depot Theatre have developed a unique partnership to keep this historical space actively used and maintained.

Today, the entire Depot Theatre community embraces that metaphor, and invites all to… “Take a journey without leaving the station.”

Depot Theatre Inc.

is a 501(c)3, non-profit corporation.

P.O. Box 414 ▪ 6705 Main Street

Westport, New York 12993

www.DepotTheatre.org

Lovingly hand-prepared, locally-sourced food served with a gorgeous lakeside view.

Restauranteurs Scott Brankman and Emily Farnsworth-Brankman are excited to welcome all to Westport Yacht Club for a sixth season!

DINNER: T TUE

AT 5:00 PM

Please Support Our Advertisers

The organizations who have purchased ads in our program are supporters of the Arts.

We encourage you to utilize their services. If you would like to advertise in future programs or sponsor a future production, please contact the theatre.

45 45 MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE

In celebration of our 45th anniversary, a generous donor has pledged to match every dollar donated to the Depot, up to $45,000.

Thank you to Betsy Bacot, who is committed to the Depot not only as a patron, but as a dedicated volunteer and board trustee. She is donating this pledge in honor of her mother, Shirley Bacot Shamel, who was a treasured friend and mentor, and a longtime board member who lent us her generous support and expertise for decades.

THANK YOU for participating in the Matching Gift Challenge: your gift, and its impact, will be doubled!