Windham Actors Guild was pleased to bring its production of
The Actor’s Nightmare
by Christopher Durang
to the Regional Competition (NERF) in Torrington, CT on March 9, 2019 at the Warner Theater
Produced by Special Arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc
CONGRATULATIONS to Colleen Strang for her Best Supporting Actor Award; and to Colleen Strang & Emily Fitzgerald for Best Costumes.
Windham Actors Guild is very proud of our Cast and Crew for their amazing work and Thanks them all for the commitment, time and energy to bring this production to the competition.
We had continued to NERF (The Regional Competition) due to the awards at the New Hampshire State Competition below
“Best Production – Runner Up“; “Excellence in Creative Ensemble Work“; and individual awards to Colleen Strang & Emily Fitzgerald for “Excellence in Costuming”; and to Liz Fontanella for “Excellence in a supporting Role”
CAST:
George Spelvin: Keith Strang
Sarah Siddons: Mary Fraser
Henry Irving III: Steve Kalter
Ellen Terry: Liz Fontanella
Meg: Colleen Strang
Producer: Keith Strang ; Director: Jackie Fitzgerald-Boyd; Lighting: Dan Merriman; Sound: Keith Strang; Tech: Brad Fitzgerald; Costumes: Colleen Strang & Emily Fitzgerald; Props: Rana Ata; Set Build: Richard Bouchard; Stage Manager: Colleen Strang
About the Show: Having casually wandered onstage, George is informed that one of the actors, Eddie, has been in an auto accident and he must replace him immediately. Apparently no one is sure of what play is being performed but George (costumed as Hamlet) seems to find himself in the middle of a scene from Private Lives, surrounded by such luminaries as Sarah Siddons, Dame Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. As he fumbles through one missed cue after another the other actors shift to Hamlet, then a play by Samuel Beckett, and then a climactic scene from what might well be A Man for All Seasons—by which time the disconcerted George has lost all sense of contact with his fellow performers. Yet, in the closing moments of the play, he rises to the occasion and finally says the right lines, whereupon make-believe suddenly gives way to reality as the executioner’s axe (meant for Sir Thomas Moore) instead sends poor George to oblivion—denying him a well-earned curtain call.
Character Descriptions
George Spelvin: An accountant with a calm demeanor and dry sense of humor – his acting has been limited to a required course in college to obtain an arts credit and his stint as “George” in his high school production of Our Town. He attends shows and has a fair knowledge of the classics and enjoys keeping up with current productions but has never had a real ambition to be an actor, outside of a flight of fancy … he likes number crunching and the thrill of tax time. Since he isn’t an actor he breaks (gasp!) the 4th wall.
Meg: The Stage Manager has a quick wit. She is sarcastic, intelligent and wonderful at holding things together. She has been back stage for a few years doing technical work. She had aspirations of being on stage, but no one sees her in this role … she is just such a damn good stage manager! She has a fine arts degree, is dependable and organized. She has become a little jaded and is irritated by Divas AND has little patience for those who arrive late or don’t take their duties seriously.
Sarah Siddons: A Grand Actress, especially in her own mind. She played the ingénue parts of most shows in High School, College, Community Theater and in small professional shows. She was cast as “Jo March” in Little Women, “Alice” in Alice in Wonderland, Emily in Our Town and Abigail Williams” in The Crucible (which she played opposite Henry). A little older now but still dedicated to her art, she is dramatic and takes each role seriously and expects those around her to so as well. After all, you never know when Broadway will call.
Ellen Terry: A Character Actress who is used to playing the odd ball parts and the jilted lover role. She has not headlined a show, nor ever been a star. Often overlooked even though she has far more talent than others she has auditioned against for the same roles. She has been designated the understudy in many productions (but never got to actually play the role). She has been acting in shows since the age of 8 in community theater, grammar school (she played “Grass”), high school, college and small professional shows.
Henry Irving: A Grand Actor, also, especially in his own mind. (The male version of Sarah.) He played a critically acclaimed “Willy Loman” in Death of a Salesman at the finest dinner theater in Boca Raton, Florida. In his younger days his roles have included “Hamlet” in Hamlet, “John Proctor” in The Crucible (which he played opposite of Sarah), and “Bob Cratchit” in A Christmas Carol. He wanted to produce a one-man show of A Christmas Carol, but no one would help him finance it, so he ended up taking the role of Ebenezer Scrooge (he paid hefty to do so). No formal education but he has been acting since he was a young man and has much experience.
Want to help backstage by helping paint, build sets, props and costumes? Let us know – we’re always looking for techies. Questions or comments please contact [email protected]