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FCT's 46th Anniversary Season!

FAUQUIER COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTS

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Fridays and Weekends

Through February 18, 2024

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A comedy! In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare’s “merry wives” are Mistress Ford and Mistress Page of the town of Windsor. They compare love letters they have received from the same person, and so it begins! The two play practical jokes on Mistress Ford’s jealous husband and a visiting knight, Sir John Falstaff. Merry wives, jealous husbands, and opportunist knights were common in a kind of play called “citizen comedy” or “city comedy.”

Mistress Page on the left (Krista Poole) and Mistress Ford on the right (Sharon Ray) plan their responses after they receive the same “valentine” from the same man, at the same time. Photo credit: Debra Liberman Photography.

Fauquier Community Theatre’s Merry Wives

Bring New Comedy to a Classic!

Come see what all the laughter is about that includes disguises, elaborate pranks, and unforgettable characters performed by a cast of 15 actors who will have you laughing throughout!

The Merry Wives of Windsor is known as one of William Shakespeare’s most playful comedies. Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth I commissioned

Shakespeare to write this play. She supposedly wanted a comedy with audience favorite Sir John Falstaff, who first appeared in Henry IV, Part I. The rabble-rousing knight is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s best characters and a comedy is the perfect place for him.

In the hopes of receiving gifts to pay off his debts, Falstaff (Kevin Stokker) sends two married women Mistress Page (Krista Poole) and Mistress Ford (Sharon Ray) the exact same love letter. This time of year, we call it a Valentine. The wives, outraged at his forwardness and laziness in wooing them, plot multiple pranks as revenge. Each plot becomes more elaborate than the last wich fast comedic timing!

But it’s not just the wives who are playing tricks on their fellow Windsor citizens. Nym and Pistol (Bobb Jordan and Sallie Willows), friends of Falstaff, are tired of his antics. They decide to warn the not-so-merry husbands Master Page (Gregory Leggott) and Master Ford (Peter Mumford) of Falstaff’s romantic intentions towards their wives. Master Ford hopes he will find out more from Falstaff about what his wife is up to. He’s not always happy with what he hears,

but he doesn’t realize his wife is capable of defending herself. She may have sent for Falstaff, but she isn’t planning to woo him–she’s planning to toss him out to the curb.

With a total of 15 actors, the play is set in the more modern time period of mid-twentieth century. Director Maggie Mumford says, “Merry Wives is an underappreciated Shakespeare comedy and quite the ensemble piece. I couldn’t be happier with the comedic talents of this cast. It is such a laugh riot and a collaboration from start to finish at rehearsals. Everyone is contributing their ideas for funny bits, character quirks, and sight gags. I am over the moon with how it has turned out and can’t wait for everyone to be rewarded with laughter. I know there will be a lot of it.”

Audiences will recognize local FCT actors Lawrence Finkel (as Shallow) and Dawn Gaynor (as Mistress Quickly). Both actors earned coveted Lofty Awards last year for their outstanding performances in the musical, “Holiday Inn.”

Mistress Quickly (Dawn Gaynor) sees if Sir John Falstaff (Kevin Stokker) measures up in the comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. Photo credit: Debra Liberman Photography.

The Merry Wives of Windsor is a laugh-a-minute farce from centuries past. Does all turn out well for the people of Windsor? Audiences will find out on Fridays and weekends through February 18 at the Vint Hill Theater on the Green located at 4225 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, Virginia. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees are at 2 pm. All tickets ($16 students/senior citizens, $18 adults) are for reserved seating and may be purchased online at www.FCTstage.org or by calling 540-349-8760.

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Fauquier Community Theatre's

46th Anniversary Season

2023 - 2024 Main Stage Shows Continue

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Fauquier Community Theatre presents

Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry

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THE STORY: The place is the Deep South, the time 1948, just prior to the civil rights movement. Having recently demolished another car, Daisy Werthan, a rich, sharp-tongued widow of seventy-two, is informed by her son, Boolie, that henceforth she must rely on the services of a chauffeur. The person he hires for the job is a thoughtful, unemployed man named Hoke, whom Miss Daisy immediately regards with disdain and who, in turn, is not impressed with his employer’s patronizing tone and, he believes, her latent prejudice. But, in a series of absorbing scenes spanning twenty-five years, the two, despite their mutual differences, grow ever closer to, and more dependent on, each other.

Daisy Werthan (Tina Mullins) and her son Boolie Werthan (Wilson Johnson) do not always see eye to eye! Photo credit: Debra Liberman Photography.

Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the play is a warm-hearted, humorous and affecting study of the unlikely relationship between Daisy and Hoke. A long-run Off-Broadway success and an Academy Award-winning film. “The play is sweet without being mawkish, ameliorative, without being sanctimonious.” —NY Times.

Hoke Colburn (Kevin Sockwell) and Daisy Werthan (Tina Mullins) have many conversations over 25 years. Photo credit: Debra Liberman Photography.

The play Driving Miss Daisy was inspired by Alfred Uhry's grandmother, Lena Fox, her chauffeur, Will Coleman, and his father. His grandmother, a woman who lived in Atlanta during the 1960s, had to give up driving after a car accident, and hired Coleman, who drove her for 25 years.

Fauquier Community Theatre's production of Driving Miss Daisy is directed by Jeff Walker and produced by Stub Estey. The production is with special permission by Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Original music in the play is composed by Robert Waldman who won Chicago's Jefferson Award for Best Music in a Dramatic for the Pulitzer Prize-Winning New York and National Productions of Driving Miss Daisy.

Driving Miss Daisy will be presented on Fridays and weekends between March 8 - 24, 2024 at the Vint Hill Theater on the Green at 4225 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, VA. All tickets are for reserved seating and available online now: FCTstage.org/

THE MUSICAL "TUCK EVERLASTING"

The production of Tuck Everlasting is based on the award-winning novel by Natalie Babbitt. Book is by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, music by Chris Miller, and lyrics by Nathan Tysen.

Director Jack Tessier remarks, "There are so many great leads and supporting characters, as well as a critical ensemble that adds so much to the dance, vocal, and emotional foundation of the show. The music is equal parts energetic and heartfelt, moving the show along the percussive ticking of a clock."

Tuck Everlasting is an energetic show with a profound and heartfelt core. With a cast of 28, FCT has a strong ensemble, who play circus performers, nature spirits, and visions of characters' past and futures - basically the vocal, dance, and emotional backbone of the show. Their involvement starts with the folksy tune in "Live Like This," to the high-energy dance numbers like "Partner in Crime," all the way to the beautiful 6 minute ballet - the story of a whole life told entirely through dance. Congratulations to the cast! The entire cast list can be seen in the post on the home page of FCT's website.

Fauquier Community Theatre's production team of Tuck Everlasting includes director Jack Tessier, assistant director Michael Pryor, vocal director Cate Murray, and choreographer Gabrielle Tessier. Costumes will be by Claire Anderson and set design by Morgan Gallagher. Samantha Wong is the producer/production manager and Ryan Balint is the producer/stage manager. Lex Hartung is the properties manager.

Performances will take place on Fridays and weekends May 3 - 19, 2024 at the Vint Hill Theater on the Green. Tickets are available online now at www.FCTstage.org.

The musical is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. A special thank you to the community sponsor Wakefield School for their support of this musical production.

TWO-WEEK SUMMER MUSICAL THEATRE INTENSIVE

Les Misérables School Edition

JUNE 17 – 30, 2024

(includes performance dates)

Ages: Middle School and High School

Directed by Jeff and Doray Walker

Registration is open! FCT Summer Musical Theatre Intensive presents Les Misérables School Edition (2 hour 15 min fully staged version) directed by Jeff Walker and music director Doray Walker.

This two-week program is geared for older youth for a Summer Musical Theatre Intensive of two weeks: June 17 - 21 and June 24 - 28 from 9 am to 3 pm, with a total of 4 performances June 28 - 30. Ages: Rising middle school students - graduating high school seniors, although no older than 18. The venue for the musical theatre intensive and all performances is the Vint Hill Theater on the Green located at 4225 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, VA.

Participation in the FCT Summer Musical Theatre Intensive program is by audition. For more information including tuition details, visit Fauquier Community Theatre's website www.FCTstage.org and select the Summer Youth Programs tab.

Winner of over 100 international awards and seen by over 70 million, this musical phenomenon is an epic tale of passion and redemption in the throes of revolution.

Les Misérables is the world’s longest running musical - a true modern classic based on Victor Hugo's novel and featuring one of the most memorable scores of all time. The multi-award-winning Les Misérables is as groundbreaking today as it was when it first premiered in London in 1985. The production is by special arrangement with Music Theater International.

REGISTRATION TO CAPACITY

ONLY WAITLIST OPTIONS AVAILABLE

ONE-WEEK MUSICAL THEATRE SUMMER CAMP

SEUSSICAL JR.

JULY 29 – AUGUST 4, 2024

(includes performance dates)

Ages 8 - 18

Dates: July 29 - August 2, 2024 from 9 am to 5 pm plus 4 performances from August 2 - 4, 2024. All auditions will take place the first day of summer camp.

The venue for the musical theatre camp and all performances is the Vint Hill Theater on the Green located at 4225 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, VA. For more information including tuition details and to register, click on the Summer Youth Programs tab on the Fauquier Community Theatre website at www.FCTstage.org.

Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant!

Space is limited and registrations fill quickly. Come celebrate summer with Fauquier Community Theatre's musical theatre youth programs!

The production is by special arrangement with Music Theater International.

FAUQUIER COMMUNITY THEATRE

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

 APPLICATION DUE NO LATER THAN APRIL 1, 2024



Fauquier Community Theatre invites college-bound high school seniors with demonstrated abilities in the performing arts to apply for scholarships. The Scholarship Application for 2024 scholarships is due no later than April 1, 2024. There is a “Save and Continue” option to complete the application over time.

Fauquier Community Theatre (FCT) offers financial scholarships for local high school seniors who desire to pursue further education in the theatre arts. With the help of an FCT scholarship, young aspiring actors, actresses, musicians, and theatre technicians are aided in deferring the cost of higher education as they seek to acquire further training.

All applications are reviewed by the scholarship committee. The scholarship awards will be based on a rubric of scores that include grade point average, interest in a career in theatre, participation in Fauquier Community Theatre activities, other theater experience, short essay questions on the form, letters of recommendation, etc

.

There will be at least two $1000 - $1500 scholarships awarded in 2024. These scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school of choice to cover tuition, books, fees, or room and board. For more information, click on the Scholarships tab at the FCT website: www.FCTstage.org