Oddfellows Playhouse Fall Classes 2022!!!

Registration is now open for Fall Classes at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning September 17th, classes in theater, dance, circus, music and visual art will be offered for ages 3 - 20. Teenagers are invited to audition for our fall mainstage production.

Teen Repertory Company (ages 14 - 20) will hold auditions for Journey to the West on September 12th & 15th, from 6:30 - 9 pm. Teens are asked to pre-register for one of the two audition evenings, to arrive on time, and plan to stay for the entire time. Everyone who auditions and commits to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast in the show. Regular rehearsals will be Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm. Performances will be November 10th - 12th & 18th - 19th.

Circophony Teen Circus (ages 12 - 20) offers fall circus training in preparation for a winter mainstage production. Acro Focus! will be held on Tuesdays evenings 6:30 - 8:30pm and Juggling+ on Wednesday evenings 6:30 - 8:30pm, culminating in a Fall Circus Showcase on December 2nd. Students may register for one or both classes! No previous experience is required. Classes run September 20th - November 30th (10 weeks.)

For our youngest Oddfellows, Saturday Classes feature Circrobatics (ages 3 - 5 and 6 - 8) combining circus, acrobatics and creative movement. Other classes include Faerie Tale Theater (for ages 3 - 5) as well as Circro-Balance (ages 6 - 8) with a focus on stilting, unicycling, rolling globe, tight rope, and spool. Classes start September 17th and continue through November 19th (10 weeks.)

Musical Mentoring, which offers students one-on-one music lessons with Wesleyan Music students, will be held on Saturdays this fall for students ages 6 - 8 and 9 - 11. Classes will be held October 1st - November 19th (8 weeks.)

Technical Theater & Design (ages 14 - 20) will be held on Sundays, 4 - 6 pm, September 25th - October 30th (6 classes & Practicum).

This year, the Fall after-school program will be split into two 6-week sessions. Session one runs September 19th - October 27th, culminating in a Share Day on Friday, October 28th. Session two runs October 31st - December 8th, with Share Day on Saturday, December 10th.

Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Circus I, Visual Expressions, Creative Movement, Fairy Tale Theater, and Hip Hop Dance, Musical Theater (ages 6 - 11).

Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Circus II, Whole Body Acting, Culture Tuesdays, Into the Story, Theater Improv, Watercolor Painting, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Musical Theater (ages 6 - 11,) Hip Hop Dance (ages 9-14,) and a Mini Production of James and the Giant Peach (ages 9 - 14.)

Stage Three classes for ages 12 - 14 include Clowning and Physical Comedy, Scene Study, and Hip Hop Dance (ages 9 - 14,) Musical Theater, Advanced Acting: Michael Chekhov Technique, and a Mini-Production of James and the Giant Peach.

Most after-school classes run from 4:45 - 5:45 pm, though the Stage Three classes and James and the Giant Peach Mini-Production run a bit longer. Middletown Public School students may complement their class experience with Oddbridge, an extended day program which provides transport from Middletown schools to the Playhouse, a snack, and supervised arts activities, games and homework help before classes start. This year Oddbridge will extend throughout the school year, providing special programs and field trips on early dismissal days or days when regular Oddfellows’ classes are not in session.

For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CHEFA Cultural Relief Grant; New England Foundation for the Arts/New England Arts Resilience Fund; George & Grace Long Foundation; and many generous individual donors.

Photo attached by Bill De Kine of Teen Repertory Company 2021 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Auditions for Teens and Adults for Oliver!

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and Connecticut Heritage Productions are again joining creative forces this holiday season with a co-production of OLIVER!  the Tony-Award winning musical based on Dicken’s classic novel .  Adult and teens are invited to audition for this up-coming production.

OLIVER!, directed by Peter Lofreddo will feature a multi-generational cast of actors.  As in last year’s A Civil War Christmas, which involved Oddfellows’ Teen Repertory Company and adult actors, actors and the community will reap the rewards of this unique partnership to produce a tremendous musical.  “Oliver contains some of the best known standards in the Broadway show tune canon, ”Consider Yourself at Home”, “Food, Glorious Food,”, “You Can Go but Be Back Soon “and the haunting love ballad, “As Long As He Needs Me.” – Director Peter Lofreddo.

 Classic songs, indelible characters and a rich world will offer an entertaining and engaging show this holiday season, with performances December 5-17, 2013.   This production is being supported in part by the generous donation from John and Mary Murphy.

Auditions will be held at Oddfellows Playhouse from 7pm – 9pm on Monday September 16th and Wednesday September 18th.  Teens and Adults from all backgrounds are encouraged to audition. 

Additionally interested teens are invited to attend a pre-audition workshop at Oddfellows on Wednesday, September 11th.  This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the artistic staff and learn songs, scenes and dances from the show in a fun, introductory session.  There is no fee for the workshop or auditions.

Tuition is charged for the Teen Rep program for students. Pre-registration and scholarship applications are available at Oddfellows.org.

Oddfellows and CHP have joined forces on various projects in the past including Higher Ground: an original play dramatizing the long struggle of African-Americans for freedom and equality, and the Connecticut Valley Student Playwriting Competition.  They approach this production with the goal of bringing together various perspectives and members of the community to explore themes of juvenile justice, historical views of economic inequity and a youth’s search for family.

“Oddfellows and CHP thought this was a great production to approach with a multigenerational cast because of the age range of characters in the play.  There is a lot to learn as an actor when you are portraying a character your own age, rather than someone 20 or 30 years older.  Equally as important is the different point of views that a cast with different life experiences brings to a production.  It is important that we teach our young people different points of view on the world,” said Oddfellows’ Executive Director Matt Pugliese. 

Connecticut Heritage Productions' mission is to inspire, nurture, and sustain an appreciation of the performing arts by entertaining, enlightening, and connecting our audiences to the ever-changing sensibilities of our times. Their work is a collaborative effort of artists, professional staff, board members, and the community.

Comedy, Drama - All in One Evening

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater's 
Teen Repertory Company presents

Nightmares & Streetscapes:

An Evening of One-Act Student Directed Plays

The Actor's Nightmare by Christopher Durang

Friday May 3
Saturday May 4
Thursday May 9
Friday May 10
Saturday May 11

All performances at 7:30pm

Call 860-347-6143 for tickets or purchase online.

Pillow Talk by Peter Tolan

Luis Serazo in The Zoo Story by Edward Albee

“Nightmares & Streetscapes: An Evening of One Act Plays”

Oddfellows Playhouse’s Teen Repertory Company
presents Nightmares & Streetscapes: An Evening of One Act Plays

Middletown, Conn. –  Oddfellows Playhouse’s Teen Repertory Company will present Nightmares & Streetscapes: An Evening of One Act Plays.   The evening features comedies and dramas by Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, Eric Lane and Peter Tolan and runs May 3-4, 9-11 at 7:30pm.

The evening consists of four student directed one-act plays, including the dark comedies “The Actor’s Nightmare” by Christopher Durang, “Dancing on Checker’s Grave” by Eric Lane and the light hearted “Pillow Talk” by Peter Tolan.  The evening is appropriate for high school students and older, with some of the plays touching on mature themes and humor.  The project is the first time in several years that members of the Teen Repertory Company have had the opportunity to direct.  The process has been guided by director Ken O’Brien.

The Teen Repertory Company is comprised of students in grades 9-12, from 10 different towns throughout central Connecticut.  The Teen Repertory Company brings to life challenging and fun theatrical productions appropriate for audiences of all ages.  

The production runs Friday and Saturday May 3 and 4, 2013 and Thursday through Saturday May 9-11.  All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15 for Adults and $8 for Students/Seniors.  Anyone brining a canned food item for Amazing Grace Food Pantry will receive a $2 discount on their ticket.  Tickets are available online at www.oddfellows.org or by calling 860-347-6143.  

The production is made possible by major support from CT State Department of Education, Middlesex United Way, The Stare Fund, Pratt & Whitney, the Middletown Commission on the Arts and Daphne Sebolt Culpeper Foundation.   Media support is provided by WESU 88.1FM.

New, Exciting Teen Repertory Experience

This season adventurous, committed teenagers can experience cutting-edge theater in a challenging, new way.  The winter/spring Teen Repertory Company will be not be approaching theater in the same old way.  Students in grades 9-12 will have the unique opportunity to expand not only their acting skills, but their directing, designing and producing skills as well.  

Theater Master Class Series Announced

 Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater announces a Master Class series that will take place beginning in February for middle school, high school students and adults.   Additional Master Classes will also be announced shortly for the spring. 

The series begins with The Art of the Monologue on Saturday February 2 from 11am-2pm, with guest artist Emily Hope Webster.  This class will allow middle and high school students to explore opportunities for storytelling and character development in this classic theatrical device.  The class will cover aspects of the monologue from selection of the piece to analyzing text to performance.  Participants should prepare a classic or contemporary monologue to work with.  The cost of the master class is $50.

 Emily Hope Webster is a thirty-year veteran of the entertinament world, finding her earliest success in front of the camera.  As a child actress her television credits include a five year run on the FOX hit Small Wonder, starring roles in such films as Troop Beverly Hills and Caddie Woodlawn and the Emmy-award winning series Christy.  She also worked on the New York City stage at WPA and with playwright John Guare at Lincoln Center. 

The series will continue with Improv Bootcamp on Saturday February 16 and Sunday February 17 from 12-4pm.  This two day bootcamp is led by Sam Shaw, founder of the San Francisco Improv Festival.  A alumnus of Middletown High School, Wesleyan University, and Oddfellows Playhouse, Sam has a 25+ year career in improvisational theater, performing and leading dozens of comedy troupes. 

In this two day multi-generational improv boot camp, actors will throw the script out the window, set the improve games aside, and teach students how to improvise truthful scenes from their own experiences and to collaborate effectively as an ensemble.  Learn how to say “yes-and”, “play to the top of your intelligence” and most importantly, “play hard!”.   The cost of the workshop is $90, and it will end with a performance for friends and families at 7pm on Sunday February 17, joined by some of central CT and Wesleyan’s finest improv groups. 

Interested students should visit www.oddfellows.org to sign up for the Master Class.  The Master Classes are limited to 20 students.  Call 860-347-6143 to register or to find out more information. 

Teen Rep Season Comes to Life...or Death

To Be or Not To Be...Eaten Alive by Zombies.  That is the question!

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater will open William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead: A True and Accurate Account of the 1599 Zombie Plague by John Heimbuch on Friday November 9 at 7:30pm  The talented Teen Repertory Company under the direction of Hannah Simms, brings this frightful and enjoyable play to life for two weekends.  The play is appropriate for students 13 and older. 

The production runs November 9, 10, 15, 16, 17.  All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15 for Adults and $8 for Students/Seniors.  Anyone bringing a canned food item for Amazing Grace Food Pantry will receive a $2 discount on their ticket.  Tickets are available online or by calling 860-347-6143. 

This production is being produced by the generous support of Beverley and Tony Bellisio and Eli Cannon’s Tap Room. The production is made possible by major support from CT State Department of Education, Middlesex United Way, The Stare Fund, Pratt & Whitney, the Middletown Commission on the Arts, and Daphne Sebolt Culpeper Foundation.   Media support provided by Comcast and WESU 88.1FM.

About Oddfellows Playhouse:

Oddfellows Playhouse is located at 128 Washington Street, Middletown.   For more than 35 years Oddfellows Playhouse has been more than just a performing arts program.  It aims to make a positive difference in the lives of 1,500 young people each year by using the arts as tools to build self-confidence, communication skills, a sense of responsibility, and an appreciation for the richness and diversity of the world in which we live. 

Help Keep Shakespeare Alive!

Oddfellows Playhouse is excited to announce that it is working with Kickstarter to help fund their ambitious and exciting Teen Repertory Company show:  William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead:  True Account of the Zombie Plague of 1599.

Kickstarter is one of many “crowdfunding” social vehicles that exist online.  Kickstarter is all or nothing funding.  Backers pledge dollars towards a goal, and if the goal is reached, the funding is secured.   Oddfellows is working to secure at least $3,500 by Tuesday, October 30 towards their production.  Check out the campaign video here. (Note - this is not the cast of the show, but it is an amusing diversion for 2 minutes.)

William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead: A True and Accurate Account of the 1599 Zombie Plague by John Heimbuch is a new and thrilling Teen Repertory Company production that is sure to get audiences jumping.   A relatively new play from last year’s NYC International Fringe Festival, it takes place backstage on the opening night of Shakespeare’s Henry V.   Dealing with drama behind the scenes becomes more complicated when an afflicted madman enters the Globe and attacks.  As the affliction spreads through London, the Globe is placed in quarantine and the survivors within must fight for their lives.

Donations would help us to support the cast of students (in grades 9-12) in the show.  Oddfellows provides scholarships to students—49% of our students last year—and funding allows Oddfellows Playhouse to continue to give kids access, education and training in the theatrical arts. Your donations also go to support all the individual artists and professionals who make this show possible.  Oddfellows uses local artists on all their productions and Land of the Dead.  

Feeling a Little Un-Dead Lately?

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater is looking for zombie extras of all ages and abilities for their upcoming production of William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead: A True and Accurate Account of the 1599 Zombie Plague by John Heimbuch.  Cause 3 zombies are not scary.  30 zombies?  Scary!

• Zombie extras must be willing to wear some makeup, appear in one performance (11/9, 11/10, 11/15, 11/16, 11/17 at 7:30pm) attend one tech/dress rehearsal (11/6, 11/7, or 11/8 - 6:30-10:30pm).  
• Zombie extras can perform more than one night.  
• Zombie extras will be required to stagger and wander about on stage with a lust to consume human flesh/brains.  
• Zombie extras will not look attractive on stage.  
• Zombie extras will not be allowed to eat the audience, only the actors.

Interested zombies can contact Oddfellows Playhouse at 860-347-6143 to sign up for a performance and rehearsal slot.  Call soon and get 'em while they're still warm!

Auditions at Oddfellows

Auditions are taking place this week at Oddfellows Playhouse on Tuesday September 18 and Wednesday September 19 from 7:00-9:00pm for the Oddfellows' Teen Repertory Company (Grades 9-12).  Update:  A Civil War Christmas is a multi-generational production - so actors of all ages and ethnicities are encouraged to come out Tuesday and Wednesday to audition specifically for that show.

For auditioning students:
1. Students must be able to attend rehearsals on either Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs beginning the week of September 24.
2. Students should arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire evening.
3. Dress to move.
4. Be prepared to read from the script with others, improvise and have fun!
5. There is no cost to audition.

The Teen Rep will begin with a “historical” piece by John Heimbuch, William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead: A True Account of the Zombie Plague of 1599, takes the stage from November 9-17 at 7:30pm.  This play from the NY Fringe Festival takes place backstage on the opening night of Shakespeare’s Henry V.   Dealing with drama behind the scenes becomes more complicated when an afflicted madman enters the Globe and attacks.  As the affliction spreads through London, the Globe is placed in quarantine and the survivors within must fight for their lives.   This production is being produced by the generous support of Beverley and Tony Bellisio.

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and Connecticut Heritage Productions are joining creative forces this holiday season with a co-production of A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel.  The play will perform at Oddfellows Playhouse from December 6-15 at 7:30pm.  A Civil War Christmas received its world premiere at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven in 2008.  The play is by Paula Vogel, with music by Daryl Waters.



There are also auditions on Wednesday September 19 from 6:30-8:30pm and Friday September 21from 4-6pm for the ARTFARM/Oddfellows Playhouse circus group - Circophony: A Youth Circus Roadshow for students ages 12 and up.



CIRCOPHONY: A Youth Circus Roadshow
Auditions: Wed., 9/19, 6:30 – 8:30 pm or Friday, 9/21, 4 – 6 pm.
Rehearsals will be Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:15 – 8:45 pm beginning October 1. (No rehearsal Nov. 21. Last pre-Christmas rehearsal Wed., 12/19; January rehearsals M & W 1/7 & 9 plus Jan. 14 – 17)
(Additional rehearsals December 29 & 30 for Middnight on Main performances December 31.)
Show premieres January 18 & 19 at Oddfellows Playhouse.
Tour availability January through June.

To prepare for the audition:
1. Contact ARTFARM (860.346.4390 or info@art-farm.org) to register for one of the two audition dates.
2. Arrive on time and plan on staying for the entire two hours.
3. Prepare a one minute solo showcasing your best skills.
4. Dress to move.
5. Be prepared to dance, improvise, work hard, play nicely with others and have fun.

Winter Acting Programs Begin Next Week

Winter classes and programs staring soon!

Oddfellows Playhouse is pleased to announce its winter classes and programs. Oddfellows uses high quality arts programs, classes and performances to help young people ages 3 to 20 build self confidence and learn teamwork, cooperation, self-discipline and respect for others.

Oddfellows' Little Fellows (Ages 3-4) and First Act (Ages 5-6) classes are designed to introduce pre-K and kindergarten children to the world of theater through creative play activities, art, movement and song. Students interested in acting for the first time will be able to build their skills in the introductory Complete Actor 1 (grades 1-3) or Complete Actor 2 (grades 4-5).

Students interested in learning how to juggle, unicycle, stilt, balance, clown and perform acrobatics should be sure to catch the performance and register for the CT School of Circus Arts (Ages 12-20). Led by the creative circus artists of ARTFARM and Matica Arts, the program is the premiere youth circus program in the area. The winter/spring sessions focuses on training and skill development and concludes with the performance of an evening of original circus acts on May 25 & 26.

Oddfellows Playhouse also produces top-quality original theater. This winter the Teen Repertory Company (High School students) will offer Thorton Wilder’s Our Town. Auditions for Our Town will be held January 24–25 from 6:30–9:30pm at the Playhouse. Before that, Oddfellows is offering pre-audition workshops to prepare teens for the auditions on January 18 from 6:30–8:30pm. There is no charge to audition.

Teen Repertory Company Auditions

Pre-Audition Workshops and Auditions for the Oddfellows Playhouse production of Our Town are coming up!
Directed by Missy Burmeister

WORKSHOPS: January 17 & 18 – 6:30-8:30pm

AUDITIONS: January 24 & 25 – 6:30-9:30pm

REHEARSALS: Tuesday & Thursday evenings, January 24 – May 10, 6:30 - 9:30pm
Some additional rehearsals as scheduled.

PERFORMANCES: May 11-12, 17-19
All performances at 7:30pm

For more information, contact Joanna Perricone, Program Coordinator at 860-347-6143.

Slaughterhouse 5

Last weekend audiences came out and enjoyed performances by the Teen Repertory Company of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5 adapted by Eric Simonson at Oddfellows Playhouse. The production continues this weekend with performances tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Tickets are available online here or by calling 860-347-6143.

Slaughterhouse 5 tells the story of optometrist and veteran Billy Pilgrim who has become unstuck in time. His fate is decreed, and there is nothing he can do about it. Vonnegut's novel addresses the horrors of war as experienced during the firebombing of Dresden. With dark humor, Vonnegut challenges us to question our place in the universe, the role of fate vs. free will, and serves up a searing testament against the horrors of war. Join the Teen Rep as they take on this modern classic, first produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Slaughterhouse 5

Thursday 11/17- Saturday 11/19

All performances at 7:30pm

Tickets: Adults $15 / Students & Seniors $8
Oddfellows Playhouse

128 Washington Street

www.oddfellows.org

Photo credit to Rob McGuinness.

Auditions for Slaughterhouse 5

Oddfellows Playhouse
Monday 9/12 - 6:30-8:30pm
Tuesday 9/13 - 6:30-8:30pm
First Rehearsal Thursday 9/15 - 6:30-9:30pm
Rehearsals: Tuesdays thru Thursdays 6:30-9:30pm
Performance Dates: November 11-12, 17-19 7:30pm
Directed by Daniel Nischan

Billy Pilgrim is unstuck in time. His fate is decreed, and there is nothing he can do about it. Join the Teen Rep as they take on this modern classic, first produced by the legendary Steppenwolf Theater Company. This adaptation retains the core of the original novel, challenging us to question our place in the universe, the role of fate vs. free will and serves as a searing testament against the horrors of war.

Oddfellows Playhouse
128 Washington Street
860-347-6143 for more information

Friends and Foes

Henrik Ibsen (pictured left) is not necessarily thought of as a "political" playwright but, in fact, his works created so much scandal in his homeland of Norway that he spend the majority of his productive years "in exile" living in Italy and Germany.

Why?  Because Ibsen (1828-1906) dared write about the foibles, the mores, the morality of everyday people as well as the divisiveness of the government and the church.  In the space of 25 years (1867-1892), he wrote 12 plays, 7 of which are considered to be among the finest of the 19th Century (including "Peer Gynt", "A Doll's House", and "Ghosts.")  In reaction to the savage reviews for "Ghost" in 1881, a year later he produced "An Enemy of the People", a play set in a small Norwegian town that has just begun to win fame and wealth as a result of its medicinal spring waters. Unfortunately, resident physician Dr. Thomas Stockmann discovers that the water is actually poisoned. When he tries to tell the townspeople, the Mayor, who happens to be his brother, does his best to discredit the good doctor.  The Mayor scares the people into believing he would have to tax them heavily to repair the damage caused by the original error in designing the mechanisms that bring the water to town. The play, adapted by Arthur Miller during the McCarthy era, criticizes short-sighted politicians, the media, and the mob mentality.

The Teen Repertory Company of Oddfellows Playhouse just began its 5-performance run of "An Enemy of the People" tonight (3/31).  Directed by Missy Burmeister, the cast started slowly but the energy soon picked up, buoyed by several of the lead characters. By the end of the first act, the play had become riveting.  An indictment of corporate greed and the half-truths that people believe as "gospel", the work makes one uneasy, especially in the light of nuclear mishaps, mortgage scandals, and governments run by special interests.

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (4/1, 2, 8, and 9) at 7:30 p.m. on the OP Main Stage, 128 Washington Street.  Call 860-347-6143 for tickets.  For more information, go to www.oddfellows.org.

Ethics of Environment vs. Economy Tackled at Oddfellows

Oddfellows Playhouse's Teen Repertory presents An Enemy of the People written by Henrik Ibsen and adapted by Arthur Miller.

Renowned for its medicinal waters, a small Norwegian coastal town is enjoying the fruit of its economic boom. When Dr. Thomas Stockman discovers the waters are in fact poisoned by waste products from industry, his attempts to alert the unknowing public are met with tremendous force and resistance from those in power. Written in 1882, the drama is as relevant today as it was when first performed to a shocked Victorian audience...as the continual struggles between the environment and economy play out in our own backyard.

The production opened Thursday night to a warm house of family and friends. Here are a couple of shots from photographer Ofer Levy.

March 31, April 1-2, 8-9
All performances at 7:30pm
Ticket Reservations: 860-347-6143

Audition Update

With all of the snow and ice over the last several weeks, Oddfellows Playhouse has been forced to cancel several pre-audition workshops for the Teen Repertory Company. We want to make sure interested students have a chance to get involved. We are extending the audition process, and will be holding auditions on Thursday 1/20, Tuesday 1/25 and Wednesday 1/26 from 7-9:30 pm. Students are welcome to attend auditions more than once.

The first production is Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen and adapted by Arthur Miller. Renowned for its medicinal waters, a small Norwegian coastal town is enjoying the fruits of this economic boom. When Dr. Thomas Stockman discovers the waters are in fact poisoned by waste products from industry. His attempts to alert the unknowing public are met with tremendous force and resistance from those in power.
Directed by Missy Burmeister, opening night is March 31.

The second mainstage performance of the Teen Rep Company is The Farnsworth Invention. Written by Aaron Sorkin, whose The Social Network just won a Golden Globe, The Farnsworth Invention continues Oddfellows dedication to bringing cutting edge and relevant works to our community.

With a successful run on Broadway, The Farnsworth Invention is about two men and their race for the rights to one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century: the television.
As noteworthy as the selection is the director. Marcy Arlin, Artistic Director of the OBIE award winning Immigrant’s Theatre in New York City, will direct. Arlin is also a Fulbright Senior Specialist and member of the Lincoln Center Theatre.

Opening night is set for Apr. 28.

Teen Repertory Company Auditions

Oddfellows Playhouse, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown announced its upcoming Teen Repertory Company’s selected shows and audition dates.

The first production is Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen and adapted by Arthur Miller. Renowned for its medicinal waters, a small Norwegian coastal town is enjoying the fruits of this economic boom. When Dr. Thomas Stockman discovers the waters are in fact poisoned by waste products from industry. His attempts to alert the unknowing public are met with tremendous force and resistance from those in power. Written in 1882, this titan of modern theater is as relevant today as it was when first performed to a shocked Victorian audience. Directed by Missy Burmeister, opening night is March 31.

The second mainstage performance of the Teen Rep Company is The Farnsworth Invention. Written by Aaron Sorkin, whose credits include The Social Network, The West Wing and A Few Good Men, The Farnsworth Invention continues Oddfellows dedication to bringing cutting edge and relevant works to our community. With a successful run on Broadway, The Farnsworth Invention is about two men and their race for the rights to one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century: the television.

As noteworthy as the selection is the director. Oddfellows is pleased to announce Marcy Arlin, Artistic Director of the OBIE award winning Immigrant’s Theatre Project in New York City, will direct. Arlin is also a Fulbright Senior Specialist and member of the Lincoln Center Theater. Opening night is set for Apr. 28.

Pre-audition workshops are set for January 11, 12, 13 from 7–9pm. Pre-auditions workshops are a chance for students to check out Oddfellows, meet the directors and learn about the plays to prepare for auditions. We recommend students attend at least one pre-audition workshop. Auditions will be held at Oddfellows Playhouse at 128 Washington Street, Middletown, on January 18, 19, 20 from 7–9:30pm. Appointments are not necessary - but they are helpful!

More information is available by calling Oddfellows Playhouse at (860) 347-6143 or at www.oddfellows.org.

Oddfellows programming is made possible through the generous support of the CT Department of Education, the CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, The Stare Fund, the Middletown Commission on the Arts, Pratt & Whitney-Middletown, the Irving Kohn Foundation and the Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Fund.

Life of Galileo - Final Weekend

“The Life of Galileo”, by Bertolt Brecht, is not simply a biographic play about a famous scientist. This is a drama about the progress of science in our world and the struggle for truth. The Teen Repertory Company succeeds wildly in staging Brecht's epic play, which poses questions about knowledge and power that are still relevant today. Catch this fantastic production onstage this weekend.

Performances are Friday and Saturday December 10-11 at Oddfellows Playhouse. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The running time is 90 minutes, and the show is performed without an intermission. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (860) 347-6143 or by e-mail at tickets@oddfellows.org.

Photos by Ofer Levy.

Robot Uprising

As RUR enters its final weekend, the Main Stage at Oddfellows Playhouse is just getting warmed up, with productions of Galileo and Santaland Diaries getting set to open in December. The last two performances of RUR are set for Nov. 19-20. Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

RUR (which stands for Rossum's Universal Robots) tells the story of the Rossum Company's quest to solve the world's labor demand by creating an android workforce, so that humanity can sit back and enjoy an easier life. Rossum's Robots look and sound like humans, but are made of manufactured flesh. The inevitable robot uprising and its results set the stage for the exploration of relevant ethical questions about the progress of science and the value of jobs.

Tickets are still available for this science fiction tale, staged by the Teen Repertory Company, by calling 860-347-6143 or emailing tickets@oddfellows.org

Photos by Ofer Levy.