Gateway Players Theatre, Inc. is an all-volunteer community theater providing quality live theatre performances and workshops to Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Charlton, Massachusetts and surrounding areas.

Gateway offers a full season of productions, usually held at the Elm Street Congregational Church, 61 Elm Street, in Southbridge, MA, as well as workshops for youths and adults. Auditions are open to all, and new members are always welcome.

    

Gateway Players Theatre presents "Alice @ Wonderland". Book by Jonathan Yukich, Music by Bill Francoeur, Lyrics by Scott Deturk, Additional lyrics by Bill Francoeur. Based on the works of Lewis Carroll. Performances are on Thursday, December 5 th at 7pm, Friday, December 6 th at 7pm, Saturday, December 7 th at 7pm, and Sunday, December 8 th at 2pm. The performances are held at Fellowship Hall of Elm Street Congregational Church, 61 Elm Street in Southbridge, MA. Entrance is on Park Street (around the corner). Directed by Lou-Ellen Corkum, Produced by Stephanie Ruggiere. And the Music Director is Chris Rubenacker.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth under 18. Tickets may be reserved by calling Gateway at 508-764-4531. Online credit card ticket sales are available HERE

Presented by permission through special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service. This program is supported by a grant from the Southbridge Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.�

Synopsis: The folly of the 21st century collides with the madness of Wonderland in this rockin' musical adaptation that remains fairly faithful to Lewis Carroll's original tale. The twist? Alice is a texting, tweeting, and Googling girl of the modern digital era, yet she finds herself in the Wonderland of old. With all of the characters you know and love including the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts, this musical imagines a present-day Alice encountering the Wonderland so many of us treasure. Meanwhile, the younger generation will appreciate and relate to the many references to texting and social networking. And the contemporary sounding new score by beloved composer Bill Francoeur and lyricist Scott DeTurk will delight all. A sharply told, crisply paced ride, this quality adaptation has been praised for its humor, artistic modern style, and appeal to both children and adults.

    

"Plaza Suite" February 21. 22. 28 and March 1 and 2
Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at The Plaza. A suburban couple take the suite while their house is being painted and it turns out to be the one in which they honeymooned 23 (or was it 24?) years before and was yesterday the anniversary, or is it today? This wry tale of marriage in tatters is followed by the exploits of a Hollywood producer who, after three marriages, is looking for fresh fields. He calls a childhood sweetheart, now a suburban housewife, for a little sexual diversion. Over the years she has idolized him from afar and is now more than the match he bargained for. The last couple is a mother and father fighting about the best way to get their daughter out of the bathroom and down to the ballroom where guests await her or as Mother yells, "I want you to come out of that bathroom and get married!" Written by Neil Simon. Directed by Mike Dupuis. Adult Cast.

"On Golden Pond" May 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10.
This is the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the forty-eighth year. He is a retired professor, nearing eighty, with heart palpitations and a failing memory�but still as tart-tongued, observant, and eager for life as ever. Ethel, ten years younger, and the perfect foil for Norman, delights in all the small things that have enriched and continue to enrich their long life together. They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her dentist fianc�, who then go off to Europe, leaving his teenage son behind for the summer. The boy quickly becomes the "grandchild" the elderly couple have longed for, and as Norman revels in taking his ward fishing and thrusting good books at him, he also learns some lessons about modern teenage awareness�and slang�in return. Written by Ernest Thompson. Directed by Patrick Bracken. Adult Cast with one Teen role.

"Fiddler on the Roof" August 1, 2 and 3.
Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler on the Roof's universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Written by Joseph Stein. Music by Jerry Bock. Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Directed by Patricia Haddock. Adult and Teen cast.

"The Clumsy Custard Horror Show" October 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12.
The audience will get into the act (as they do in The Rocky Horror Picture Show) in this hilarious comedy. King Dumb is ready for his daughter to select a husband and all the Knights of the Realm are anxious to claim her hand. But the sweet Princess Prince has fallen for a gentle yet courageous lad she assumes to be a pauper. Not so! Little does she know that this scruffy stranger is Swashbuck Valpariso, bearer of the magic sword and Master of Fast Feet. With audience participation throughout, the play will leave you breathless with anticipation, reckless with abandon and proud to be a Zobian. Written by William Gleason. Directed by Mikey Dearn. Adult and Youth cast.

"A Candle in the Window". December 5, 6 and 7.
A small group of weary travelers discover the power of the season while trapped in a lonely train station on Christmas Eve. As a blizzard rages outside, the troubled people are forced to turn to each other for companionship. Trying to make them more comfortable is the old stationmaster, Charlie. When the clock strikes midnight, there is a knock on the station door and seven youngsters appear. They've seen the station lights from the nearby church where, in secret, they've been practicing the story of the nativity which they plan to present at regular service. They offer to perform their play for the travelers and afterward, speak to the travelers individually, giving advice which is seemingly wise beyond their years. The next morning, as a new, younger stationmaster lights a Christmas candle, we realize the mysterious stop in the travelers' journey was more than accidental and has given them a renewed spirit and resolve. Written by L. Don Swartz. Directed by Eric Hart. Adult and Youth cast.

    

Starting with our next production "Christmas Shorts", we will be offering Show Attendance Discount Cards. Attend 5 shows and you will receive 50% off for an individual ticket at the next show you attend.

Dear Friend,

Each Spring, Gateway Players Theatre runs a Sustaining Member Drive. It is through your contributions that we are able to perform a full season of community theater shows and other events. As a thank you for your sustaining member donation we are pleased to offer complimentary tickets to an upcoming Gateway production and your name will appear in all Gateway Players show programs. This form can be completed and mailed to Gateway Players PO Box 171 Southbridge, Ma 01550 or given to any board member.

Have you ever thought about joining a community theater? You probably think, �I can�t be an actor, I couldn�t stand on stage and see all the people looking at me�. There are so many other volunteer opportunities available! If you are artistic, we always need people to build and/or decorate our sets. If you like to bargain hunt, we need people to help with costumes and props. Creative? We can teach you how to direct your own show. Organized � you could produce, or stage manage a show. If you are a technical person, we need people to run lights and sound for each of our shows. Have I sparked your interest? If so, please get in touch with me or any member of our board for more information.

We invite you to enjoy live theater with us again in 2024. Our performances include: Death by Chocolate in February/March, Off She Goes in May, Escape to Margaritaville in August, Spreading It Around in September/October and Alice @ Wonderland in December. Follow us on Facebook or visit our website for more information.

Over the past 48 years, we have been a part of the Southbridge community, producing many comedy, dramatic, youth, mystery, and musical productions. It has given countless number of people the opportunity to explore and develop their interests and talents. We are proud of our history and look forward to many more years. The Gateway Players Theatre Board of Directors appreciate your ongoing support and invite you to come along with us, as Thornton Wilder says, on our artistic journey to sense what it is to be human.

Sincerely,
Lou-Ellen Corkum
Lou-Ellen Corkum- President, Gateway Players

What good is sitting alone In your room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a cabaret, old chum,
Come to the cabaret.
-"Cabaret," from Cabaret