Gateway Players Theatre kicked off their 50th season with a performance of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite. This year the Board of Directors decided to fill the season with shows that had been performed during one of the decades that Gateway Players had been in existence.
In 1975 the Tri-Community Theater Association, soon renamed to Gateway Players Theatre, held auditions for its first ever production. Charles F. Russell, Jr., director of Plaza Suite, led the auditions at the AO auditorium. After discussions between Russell and Aileen Lau, show producer, the following cast was set. Chris Castendyk (Bellhop), Phyllis McNitt (Karen Nash), Wade Cloyd (Sam Nash), Sofoclis Kollios (Waiter), Lonalee Berkowitz (Jean McCormack), Kinson Perry (Bellhop), Charles Hesse (Jesse Kiplinger), Sally Seelig (Muriel Tate), Pauline Julien (Norma Hubley), Micheal Dube (Roy Hubley), Andrew Simpson (Borden Eisler), and Carol Dietrich (Mimsey Hubley). Members of the theatre group soon began working on the Plaza Suite set in an AO donated shop. Construction would continue every Saturday until production time. Once built the sets would be transported to Southbridge High where the show would be performed. The show was performed on May 8-10, 1975.
Occasionally a community theater produces a show more than once. So was the case with Plaza Suite. In 1987 Plaza Suite was performed at the Gateway Barn located behind the Dresser House, now home to the Ruth Wells Center at 111 Main Street, Southbridge. The production team consisted of Carole Hayes, Director and Jane Clarke-Loretz as stage manager. The cast for this production included: Cathy Righi, Dick Reardon, Peter Proulx, Larry Day, Wendy Blizzard, Sally Seelig, Al Cook, Ross Dixon, Pauline Julien, and Lorna Bumpus. Production dates were June 19, 20, 26 & 27, 1987.
This year’s production directed by Mike Dupuis and produced by Jeanne Dupuis brought the story back to life in Gateway’s current home – Elm Street Congregational Church. Appearing in this production was: John Golden (Jesse Kiplinger), William Bolster (Waiter), Kevin McGee (Roy Hubley and Sam Nash), Hillary Robertson (Jean McCormick and Muriel Tate), Deb Hollett (Karen Nash), Asher McCoy (Borden Eisler), Cynthia Claudio (Norma Hubley), and Chamira Santiago Flores (Bell Hop and Mimsie Hubley). The show dates were February 21, 22, 28 and March 1 & 2.
Coming up next at Gateway Players Theatre will be On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson, May 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10.