A modern, comedic take on a classic Shakespearean tragedy

Actors Theater of Orcas Island (ATOI) delivers a very clever funny modern comedy about an old tragedy in the upcoming production of Women Playing Hamlet at the Grange for two consecutive weekends: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: November 10, 11, and 12; and 17, 18, and 19.

Hamlet is a challenge for any actor, but when Jessica is cast as the titular character in a New York production, it sends her into an existential tailspin. It doesn’t help that her acting coach is borderline abusive, or that every Starbucks barista with an MFA tells her she’s too young for the role. Or that she’s somehow managed to make Sir Patrick Stewart her nemesis. Not to mention the fact that she’s a woman. How can Jessica figure out “to be or not to be,” when she can’t even figure out herself? Featuring an all-female cast performing multiple roles, Woman Playing Hamlet is rip-roaring fun for Shakespeare fans and haters alike.  Some material may  not be suitable for younger children.

The cast features Alyssa Burnet as Jessica and Valerie Bauxbaum as her acting coach plus 19 other characters played by Isabella “Bee” Schermerhorn, Luann Pamatian, Susan Hampel, Liz Doane, and Diane Craig.

The play calls for a selection of four different types of purses. Each purse will be crafted by one of the island’s premier quilters, Maggie Kaplan. Each purse will be raffled off on the last night of the play, Nov. 19. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase each night of the production.

Doug Bechtel is the director of ATOI’s production of Women Playing Hamlet, Dorrie Braun is the stage manager; Bechtel also provides Audio and Lighting Design; and Larry Hampel, Projection Design and Tech Operations. Tasty cookies will be provided by Paula Capaitano with proceeds going to support the Grange.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Grange door, Darvill’s and orcasactors.org.  

To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

Actors Theater of Orcas Island looks forward to seeing you at the Grange!

Next up at the Actors Theater of Orcas Island:

The Outrageous Adventures of Sheldon and Mrs. Levine
by
Sam Bobrick and Julie Stein
Directed by Suzanne Gropper

Come share in the laughter and antics as an overbearing mother and her 31 year old son each attempt to “find their true purpose” in this roller coaster ride called Life.

Loads of one liners and two great characters will keep you laughing till the end.  Presented as a staged reading: just like a regular performance, but the actors will be carrying scripts.

New to the Actors Theater is Woody Ciskowski, as Sheldon.  Mrs. Levine is played by Luann Pamatian a veteran performer of countless wonderful roles. Come see them bring these characters to life!

The play runs at The Grange, 3252 Orcas Rd., Friday June 30, Saturday July 1, Friday July 7 and Saturday July 8, and starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 each and are available at: 
Darvill’s Bookstore, and at the door before the performance.

Ticket may also be purchased by clicking  HERE.

Coming up next at the Grange The Actors Theater of Orca Island will present  “The Outrageous Adventures Of Sheldon and Mrs Levine” written by Sam Bobrick and Julie Stein and directed by Suzanne Gropper.    This production will be presented as a staged reading.  This is the same as other plays except that the actors will carry their scripts.

Come and share in the laughter and antics as an overbearing mother and her 31 year old son each attempt to “find their true purpose” in the roller coaster ride they call life.

New to The Actors Theater is Woody Ciskowski playing the son and a veteran of many roles is Luann Pamatian playing Mrs  Levine.

Lots of one-liners and wonderful characters will keep you laughing ’till the end.

The play runs two weekends:  Friday, June 30th and Saturday, Jul1 1st nd Friday, July 7th and Saturday, July 8th.  Curtain is at 7:30pm.  Tickets are $10 and are available at Orcasactors.org, Darvill’s Book Store and at the door on the evening of the performance.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Grange.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Told with humor and compassion, The Tin Woman is the story of Joy, a young woman who receives a heart transplant from Jack, a young man killed in an automobile accident. As Joy (played by Mary Taylor) learns to adjust to her new life, so too the family of Jack (played by Morgan Dews) adjusts to living with their loss.

The Actors Theater welcomes several actors new to the Grange stage. Besides Mary and Morgan, other cast members include Valerie Buxbaum, Marjorie Blaine, Dorrie Braun and Tom Fiscus. The Tin Woman is suitable for all ages, although it might not appeal to pre-teens.

Please join us at the Orcas Grange at 7:30 pm for The Tin Woman over three weekends (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) in May: May 12, 13, 14, May 19, 20, 21, and May 26, 27, 28. Tickets are $10, and can be purchased locally at Darvill’s Book Store, online at www.orcasactors.org, and at the stage door the night of the performance.

For additional information please contact the Director, Doug Bechtel at 360-317-5601.

To purchase tickets click here.