by Ceci LeBeau
4/7/2016

The Washington Street Players Celebrate Twenty-First Season

From left to right, TOP ROW, Dave Suwalski, Karen Dinehart, Mary Lyons, Ed Council, Lavonne Suwalski, MIDDLE ROW, Lanie Wish, Kat Suwalski, Terri Chamberlain, Cindy Bell, David Silber

BOTTOM ROW Lynna Henderson (with trophy)

In 1995 a star was born here in Holliston -- The Washington Street Players. A community group organized to provide quality, affordable theater right here in town, WSP has an impressive list of performances to its credit as it begins its twenty-first season. They have mounted serious dramas such as 12 Angry Men, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Nuts and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; uproarious comedies such as Nunsense 1 and 2; heartwarming stories such as Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music; touching love stories such as Love Letters; spine tinglers such as Dracula, and just about everything in between.

I was able to sit down with two of their long standing members, Karen Dinehart and Larry Wise, recently to look back. While Larry has served as their treasurer almost from the start, he also was president for a year, was in charge of tickets, worked on sound and lighting, organized the house and was in four plays, although he acted in only three. A pair of crutches got in the way. Karen Dinehart has been more in front of the curtain. While she has acted in productions too numerous to list, she has also served on the play reading committee, and has been the librarian, director, producer and artistic director. She has also worked on props, set design, costumes, lighting and sound. In 2013, after a year long hiatus, WSP was essentially re-booted with a series of 10 minute plays called Ten Minutes At a Time, and Karen was the driving force behind this rejuvenation, along with long time member, Deborah Gray Bloom.

Chip Winslow,  Nate Callahan, Alecia Thomas, Jim Glidden and Brad Walker

The group has been nominated for and won many awards. Among the 12 -15 community theater groups from Eastern MA who presented at the EMACT competition in 2008, WSP's When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet took home top honors for both best ensemble and best makeup. (See photo at top.) Sylvia, Close Ties and Greetings, as well as their versions of Nunsense 1 and 2, The Sound of Music and The Vagina Monologues also garnered them critical acclaim.

Their many years have not gone by without incident, however. During the production of Neil Simon's Cactus Flower, Karen got a call that a young actor with a leading part had been rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. Cast member Leigh Alexander's boyfriend, who had been in the audience on Friday night, bravely volunteered to take over the part. He read it completely from a script on Saturday night, proving once again that the show must go on.

                                                                            l-r   Sueanne Czotter and Chrissy Peterson

Since their inception, WSP has tried to involve the whole community. Its opening season, in 1995, they asked my husband, former town administrator Paul LeBeau, to play a role in a short play called The Audition, which he agreed to because he could deliver his lines off stage. Our son, Chris, greatly enjoyed two summers in their An Evening of Cabaret shows in 1995 and 1996 with a raft of other youngsters, directed by Cindy Bell. I have been an avid fan. I was extremely moved by their 1999 production of The Shadow Box and its portrayal of the last stages of life of three cancer patients. Their most recent dinner theater production, peppered with Holliston references, was the delightful 2013 Middlesex Murder. Held at the Glen Ellen Country Club, it was a complete sell out.

Because they are a non-profit, they face steep production costs. So they are always looking for new faces to keep the magic alive. Their message to anyone in the community is to come and enjoy. No experience is necessary to help selling tickets, or working on props and scenery.

Their website is wsplayers.net.

From l. to r., TOP ROW, Karen Dinehart, Jill Eastlake, Dawn Anderson, Deborah Grey Bloom BOTTOM ROW Lynna Henderson, Kathy Bouchard, Lorri Alexander

Twenty years after their 1996 production, they will be remounting The Fantasticks this spring. On April 22, 23, 29, 30 and May 1 they will give their sparkling interpretation of this record breaking Off-Broadway hit at the Dancing Arts Center in Holliston. Don't miss it!

L to R:    Front Row: Jared Leonard, Amy Morgado, Don Buell
                Middle: Kathleen Sulwalski, Scott Gilbert
                Back:  Jesse Cohen, Scott Barrington, Jeff Swaebe, John Leonard