By DAVID LEE
THERE IS A new theater group in the area. It is called the Columbia County Players Theatre. Its mission, to use the potent social tool of communal theater-making to bridge divides in Columbia County and the region at large. “We offer new opportunities for those living and working in the Hudson Valley by creating integrated theater audiences as well as diverse casts and crews, all sharing the commune experience in theater from both sides of the curtain. Our open audition processes and hiring practices rethink traditional theater norms by considering individuals’ potential as important as their apparent ability. We believe this iterative and ever-evolving process invites egalitarian mutuality and encourages individual expression and discovery of ourselves in a pluralistic world.”
Director Carol Rusoff with director’s notes after rehearsal. Photo by David Lee
It is the inspiration of theater director Carol Rusoff with her colleagues Zach Gibson and Frank Segro. The company’s emphasis is on diversity both in its players and the audience it hopes to attract. A community theater with an emphasis on community, their mission is to “engage a broad and inclusive audience which reaches beyond usual theatergoers.”“As a long-time Columbia County resident,” Rusoff said, “I worry about Hudson and all of Columbia County being a divided region— socially, economically and culturally— with few bridges to span the divides. The collaborative nature of theater, among cast, crew and audience, is indeed a bridge, a social tool of togetherness and change.”
The Columbia County Players recently concluded a successful four-night run of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night, or What You Will” that was unique in many respects: most obvious is the stage, which is built at the center of the large round timber frame barn of the Churchtown Dairy. Curtained and lit, with a 36 foot domed ceiling, it puts one in mind of the Globe Theater in London where Shakespeare’s plays were originally staged 400 years ago. The stage is dismantled during the winter months for the cows, and re-installed when the cows are out to pasture in the warmer months from April to November.
In addition to this annual free summer Shakespeare production at the Churchtown Dairy Globe, the Columbia County Players Theatre plans to present theater year-round in various venues throughout the Hudson Valley region. Next up is the premiere of local playwright John Paul Porter’s “The Clan of the MacQuillins.” A free staged reading will be presented by the players on September 21 and 22 at 3 pm at the Churchtown Dairy Round Barn.
The story is an epic tale set in Scotland, Ireland and the New World of the 17th Century based on a legend in the playwright’s family. The press release describes “a grant of land, a broken romance, a blood feud, a grand adventure and fate, which always makes certain each of us will have to shoulder at least one unique burden in life— the one most difficult for each of us to bear.”Last month’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” was the second production by the group. The first, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was presented last year for a very successful run at the Churchtown Dairy Globe. As with this latter, “Twelfth Night” was presented free and open to everybody. All 225 seats were filled each of the four nights with waiting lists for each night. For the Friday night performance, a free round trip bus was provided from Hudson.
Members of the cast for both productions all came from the region and most from Columbia County and they were both seasoned professionals and first time actors.
“Our open auditions are such an important element in our quest for a diverse-in-every-way cast,” Rusoff said. She is hoping that a diverse cast will bring in an audience to match. An old hippie at heart, she says she prefers to sit and laugh or cry among an audience of assorted humans, rather than in a space that remains exclusive only to those who can afford tickets in fancy venues at exorbitant prices.
“That’s why this show, thanks to the generosity of Abby Rockefeller of the Churchtown Dairy, is free to all, skipping over the income barrier,” said Rusoff.
Many of the actors and production team share Rusoff’s enthusiasm for the project. New managing producer Frank Segro said he is “deeply excited to continue to advance and grow this organization’s work as he believes engagement with the arts in community with others is a crucial tactic to foster the kind of thinkers and organizers that make the world a more hopeful and visionary place.”
Andrew Joffe, who played Sir Andrew in “Twelfth Night,” is a veteran actor and director. He said, “I love working with this diverse cast, especially those who are new to theater in general, and Shakespeare in particular!”
Tristan Geary, who played Sebastian, said, “I am elated to be part of a production that pushes me outside of my comfort zone. Working with supportive and inquisitive directors Zach and Carol has urged me into moments of eureka— invoking learning, injecting the whole experience with discovery and a life affirming spirit. “
T. Boris-Schacter, who played Orsino, Duke of Illyria, said, “Performing Shakespeare at the Churchtown Dairy exemplifies the magic that can be created and shared in a Hudson Valley Summer. Speaking these ancient words in the beautiful round barn, surrounded by cats, cows, pigs and a medicinal garden, is an experience I will always cherish.“
Nick Miscusi who played Curio and the priest in “Twelfth Night” has been a Columbia and Greene County resident for over 20 years. He said, “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform Shakespeare for the first time with such a talented and dedicated group of people. Onward with courage and inspiration!”
And first time actor Ashley Hill of Craryville played Viola, one of the main characters of “Twelfth Night.” She had a great deal to say about the process of learning to act on stage.
“Though I am not new to a stage, I am new to talking on one,” she said. “When I attended the open call for ‘Twelfth Night,’ I set an intention to go in confidently, be bold, and have a bit of fun. To put it lightly, I was overjoyed to receive a callback for the role of Viola. Through Carol and Zach’s coaching, I have come to realize that articulating the story is the essential priority for stage acting.”
