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Available to Beginner & Experienced Students alike
Ages 8 to 19
August 3 – 14, 2015
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The NH Theatre Factory is building something unique and exciting right
here in your own backyard. This is an opportunity for you to help create
art in NH like no one has ever seen, and a chance to bring culture and
beauty through education and presentation to children and adults alike.
We are already a registered 501(c)3
non-profit organization here in the
state of NH so all contributions are
fully tax deductible. We are currently
beginning to reach out to potential
supporters for startup funding,
corporate sponsorship support, and
material donations. Concurrently we
are on the lookout for a building of
our own, board members, volunteers, and enthusiastic patrons. We are
looking forward to sharing with you the creative and inventive ways we
plan to connect to our community and recognize the individual and
corporate sponsors who believed in and supported us from the start. We
can guarantee that if you support us you will not only be part of
something special, but you will grow with us on this exciting journey.
A Special Thanks to our Members & Sponsors:
Miki Berg
Debra Buckley
Aaron Compagna
Connie Greenhill
Nash Klardie
Marjorie Murphy
Bridget Paquette
Fran White
Lisa Atkinson
Joan Dow
Beth Fenske
Bryan & Johanna Halperin
Jennifer Brown
Shawn & Lauren Koczarski
Connie Mercier
David Nelson
Betty Thomson
John & Jean Conlon
Alan Stein & Sue Kunkle
Armand & Claire Dorval
The Barrette Foundation
The Halprin Foundation
First Sign, Inc.
Auburn Montessori School
“There is no exercise better for the heart
than reaching down and lifting people up.”
A Note from the Artistic Director
ctor
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It is my great pleasure as Artistic Director to
welcome you to the NH Theatre Factory! We
are a young company with some exciting plans
for the future and by joining us for today’s
show you are taking the first step in learning
what we are all about.
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Today’s programming is very special to us
because it is the Stage Setters Youth Program’s
inaugural production, and I personally feel that
it could not have been a bigger success! We
started building our Education Program a little
over a year ago and produced a summer training program. The excitement of
that program prompted us to produce a youth show as a way for our young
students to apply the training they had received. The result has been 21
incredibly talented and excited youth performers pouring their hearts out into
this fun, uplifting, and slightly spooky production of The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow, based on the famous Washington Irving classic.
We selected this piece because we wanted a story that had name recognition,
yet a theatrical piece that our students had never seen before. This way our
actors have the exiting opportunity to build the show and their characters
from scratch rather than coming in with a performance they had already seen
in mind. The result has been fantastic! We have spent the past eight weeks
diving into these characters and building our quaint community of the
fictitious town of Sleepy Hollow.
I could not be more proud of the work our young actors have put into this
project and I think the result will speak for itself, so sit back and enjoy our
spooky and spectacular production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,
performed by 21 of the Granite State’s most talented and dedicated young
performers.
Joel Mercier
Artistic Director
MEET OUR HARD WORKING BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
NH Theatre Factory
PO Box 923
Londonderry, NH
03053
Please make checks payable to NH Theatre Factory
Wallace J. Pineault
Manchester, NH
Scott Aubertin
Manchester, NH
Connie Compagna
Manchester, NH
Starr Fair
Boscawen, NH
Beth Fenske
Weare, NH
Cathy McKay
Amherst, NH
Joel Mercier
Concord, NH
About NH Theatre Factory
The NH Theatre Factory presents bold
programming that ignites a fresh and
impressionable theatrical experience for both
artist and audience through three branches of
operation: the Main Stage Season, Education
Training Program, and New Works
Development.
Stage Setters Youth Program
The Stage Setters Youth Program is NHTF’s
Youth Education branch dedicated to
professional theatrical training for aspiring
artists ages 8 through 19. The goal of the
Stage Setters Youth Program is to train
students to develop a craft through classes
and performance:
Classes…
While performance is an important part of learning, we believe that
understanding the process of building a craft is best taught in a classroom
setting. Our classes and theatre intensives are curriculum-based and
taught by instructors with professional theater training and education.
Often we bring in guest teachers from NYC and other major theatre hubs
in order to expose our students to different styles, methods, and to share
real-world experience first hand from industry professionals in the
business. Our programs cover the gambit of theater studies, including
Acting, Auditioning, Music & Harmonies, Theater History, Shakespeare,
Scenic & Lighting Design, Movement & Choreography, Special Effects
Make Up, and more! We love glitzy costumes and fancy sets, but firmly
believe that craft comes first.
Performance…
Practical experience is a fantastic way to apply what you've learned, and
what better way than under the guidance of our professional staff! Our
Youth Production Series offers full productions specifically selected with
youth education in mind. Even though our productions are first and
foremost about producing a product and experiencing a rehearsal process,
we still tie in education at every turn, including special master classes
and group exercises that go beyond just rehearsing the show.
Shout Outs!
Out
Br_[k [ l_g, Emily! Lov_, Momm[ & D[^^y
Break a Leg C J !! We love you Colleen Joy, Love from your
fan club.
Chris Graham - We are so inspired by your hard work and
dedication. You will rock the stage this weekend, and Break-ALeg!! We Love you, Mom, Whit, Brendan, Dad, Auntie, Uncle
Todd, Michael, Maggie-Lin, Grandad, Gramma Chelle, Grampy
Charlie and of course Grammie :)
We’d like to take this opportunity to give a special thank you
To Brady Sullivan Properties for generously donating a
rehearsal space for Sleepy Hollow’s 8-week rehearsal process.
As a new company still in need of a home, donations like this are
invaluable to our success and we are extremely appreciative.
Who’s Who Backstage
Master Classes are a big part of NHTF’s mission of education. It’s
important to us that our students work with many different
experienced professionals during the process. To accomplish this, we
bring in Guest Master Class Instructors who can teach a Master
Class to the entire company on a specific theatrical discipline, and
then use those disciplines specifically for the production at hand. For
Sleepy Hollow, we were excited to bring Choreographer Andrew
Charter from NYC and Fight Choreographer Alex Jacobs from
Boston in to work with our students.
Andrew Chartier (Town Dance Choreographer) is
happy to be returning NHTF, after teaching the
inaugural Summer Musical Theatre program last
summer (2014). As a choreographer, his work has
been seen in Anything Goes, I Left My Heart, and a
particular favorite of his, Irving Berlin's Call Me
Madam for Ocean Professional Theatre Co. in New
Jersey. In New York City, he has choreographed for
benefit performances, and most recently as part of the
New York Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab. Later this summer Andrew
will be choreographing Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, and Oliver! for
the Forestburgh Playhouse. As a performer, Andrew is known for his
work as a "song and dance man." Andrew would like to thank Joel, the
NHTF team, and especially you, the audience, for supporting local
theatre, and NHTF's mission to educate and inspire our special young,
talented performers. Enjoy the show!
Alex Jacobs (Fight Choreographer) originally
hails from Aylesbury just NW of London,
England. He received his BA in Theatre from
The university of Leeds in 2001 and his MFA
in Acting from Brandeis University in 2014.
Alex has been involved in NH theatre since
2005 working for The Hampstead Stage Co. in
Barnstead NH and The Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, earning
four NHTA nominations and one win in 2012 for best supporting Actor
in “Animals out of Paper”. Alex holds certifications from the Society of
American Fight Directors in Rapier, Hand to Hand and Knife
(distinction), and has choreographed staged violence for many
productions including, “Treasure Island” and “The Adventures of Mr.
Toad” (Hampstead stage Co.), “1984” Brandeis Undergraduate Theatre
Collective, “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Fantastiks” Winnipesaukee
Playhouse. Alex now lives in Boston with his beautiful wife Drew,
where he is an Actor and adjunct theatre professor at Brandeis.
NH Theatre Factory’s
Stage Setters Youth Program
presents
the legend of
Sleepy Hollow
Book by VERRA MORRIS
Music & Lyrics by BILL FRANCOEUR
Based on the WASHINGTON IRVING classic
Louisa Amaral
Cami Carpenter
Chris Couto
Christopher Graham
Noah Negron
Meghan O'Neill
Christopher Renaud
Alora Bergethon
Emily Casko
Nick Couto
Maddy J. Johnson
Sebastian Negron
C J Paquette
Colby Russel
Madison Bergethon
Maggie Connolly
Margaret Fair
Julius LaFlamme
Sammy O’Neil
Samantha Perry
Augusta Truesdale
Horse Design
Fight Choreographer
Scott Aubertin
Alex Jacobs
Square Dance
Choreography
Andrew Chartier
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Scenic Design
Lorraine Louie
Wallace J.
Pineault
Joel Mercier
Directed by
Joel Mercier
Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Services, Inc. Englewood, CO
NO PHOTOGRAPHY DURING THE PERFORMANCE
Who’s Who Backstage
Info
Production Info
Cast List
(in order of appearance)
Captain Jordan, a ghost ………………..…….……. Christopher Renaud
Indian Shaman, a ghost ……………..…………...……. Meghan O’Neill
Woman in White, a ghost ………...………. …………. Augusta Truesdale
Mrs. Trenkler, an out-of-town relative ……………..…... Louisa Amaral
Servant ……...…………………………………..……. Maddy J. Johnson
Farmer Stuyvesant, a member of the town council ………… Nick Couto
Mrs. Van Tassel, the wealthiest woman in town ………. Samantha Perry
Mrs. Van Hudson, the town gossip ………….……..……. Margaret Fair
Widow Van Doorn, the oldest woman in town ……. Madison Bergethon
Katrina Van Tassel, a wealthy debutant …....……….……. Emily Casko
Hilda, one of Katrina’s best friends ……..………………. Sammy O’Neil
Greta, one of Katrina’s best friends …………….……. Maggie Connolly
Brom Bones, a handsome trouble-maker …………..…. Julius LaFlamme
Yost, his dim-witted sidekick …………………..………...…. Chris Couto
Ichabod Crane, an awkward schoolmaster ……..… Christopher Graham
Ichabod’s Pupils:
Wilda ………………………………….…….……… Alora Bergethon
Francisca ……………………………….…………… Cami Carpenter
Gusta ……………………………………………… Maddy J. Johnson
Hendrick ……………………….…………….………... Noah Negron
Berg ………………………..…………..……...…… Sebastian Negron
Hester …..……………..……………………….……. Meghan O’Neill
Johanna ………….……………………… Colleen Joy “C J” Paquette
Frederick …………….…………………………. Christopher Renaud
Dedrick …………..…….…………………...………..… Colby Russel
Ingrid ……….……………………………………. Augusta Truesdale
Production Staff
Director & Music Director ……………………….………… Joel Mercier
Town Square Dance Choreography …………..………... Andrew Chartier
Fight Choreography ……………………….……...………… Alex Jacobs
Scenic Design ………………………….…………………… Joel Mercier
Lighting Design …………………..……………….… Wallace J. Pineault
Costume Design ……………..…………………………… Lorraine Louie
Horse Design ……………..………………………………. Scott Aubertin
Master Carpenter …….………………………………………... Chris Fair
Parent Coordinator & House Manager …………………..…..… Starr Fair
Business Manager ……………………………...…….. Connie Compagna
Production Assistance ……………………..………….. Barbara Finamore
Joel Mercier (Director & Music Director), a graduate of the Hartt
School of Music and a member of Actors' Equity Association, has wore
many hats throughout his career. Recent local directing credits include
the New London Barn Playhouse's Annual Straw Hat Revue, Bat Boy and
A New Brain for the New Thalian Players at Southern NH University,
Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre, and the world premiere of A
Christmas Carol: The Musical Ghost Story, an original musical
adaptation of the classic, and NHTF’s original musical murder mystery,
Ghost Hunting. Prior to relocating to NH, Joel's work in NYC comprised
of assisting numerous shows, readings, and concerts, including OffBroadway, as Music Director, AMD, & Supervisor, as well as acting
credits ranging from nationally recognized theaters, summer stock, and
national tours to numerous companies here in NH. Joel is also a private
voice teacher and acting coach, an award-winning composer, and most
recently a Guest Music Director in the Department of Theatre at
Dartmouth and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Idaho. He is
thrilled and humbled to be working with such a talented groups of young
actors for NHTF’s inaugural Youth Program production. Luv2MQ&K.
Wallace J. Pineaut (Lighting Design) This is Pineault’s third
collaboration with Joel Mercier, A Christmas Carol: The Musical Ghost
Story, Ghost Hunting and now Sleepy Hollow. Other productions:
Philadelphia Story, The Drowsy Chaperon, Almost Maine, and Charles
Dickens Ghosts Stories (Winner of the NH Theatre Award for Lighting
Design) all with the Community Players of Concord, Man of La Mancha
at the Winnie Playhouse, Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean
at the Nashua Theatre Guild, Boomers at the Brauer Center (Fort
Lauderdale, FL), and The History of Women and Business at the National
Professional Business Women’s Conference, Hartford Civic Center. He
has also designed for The New England Repertory Theatre Company’s
tour of Laundry & Bourbon/Lone Star, The Good Doctor, and Little
Victories throughout England, Scotland and Wales. For the past fifteen
years he has been in-house lighting designer for the Southern New
Hampshire Dance Theatre designing for numerous ballets including
Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker (performed annually at the
Palace Theatre in Manchester).
Lorraine Louie (Costume Design) This is Lorraine’s first show with
NHTF and is thrilled to be working with this group. This is her 13th year
working with community theatre helping with costumes from altering to
sewing from scratch. She looks forward to helping again with NHTF
future plays.
Production Info
Info
Who’s Who in the Cast
Meghan O'Neill (Indian Shaman / Hester) This is Meg’s first show with NHTF,
but she is very excited to do so. She went to the summer program and instantly
fell in love with it. This will be Meg’s 3rd show in all. The other two musicals
she has done were Bye Bye Birdie and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Meg plays
trumpet and also loves being the bad guy. She loves this play very much, and
hopes to do it again next year!
Colleen Joy “C J” Paquette (Johanna / Ghost) is proud to be part of NHTF’s
Stage Setters Youth Program and to be under the direction of Joel Mercier again.
Some of her favorite roles have been Belinda Cratchit in A Christmas Carol: A
Musical Ghost Story, Princess Right in The Princess and the Pea and an orphan
in Annie. C J also plays lacrosse & enjoys taking selfies, texting and instagram.
Samantha Perry (Mrs. Van Tassel) loves to be involved in theater, and she
works really hard at everything she does. This is her first show with NHTF, and it
is also her 13th show. She would like to thank her family for always pushing her
to do her best.
Christopher Renaud (Captain Jordan / Frederick) is thrilled to be in his first
performance with NH Theatre Factory! This show marks Christopher’s 15th
production, with his favorite role to date being Alladin. Christopher enjoys
playing the cello and drums, making movies, skiing and swimming when he’s not
in rehearsals. Christopher would like to thank Joel for this opportunity and his
family and friends for always supporting him in all that he does!
Colby Russel (Dedrick / Ghost) is a 5th grader at Memorial School in Hooksett,
NH. He made his debut in theatre with the Palace Theatre in the production
Aladdin Jr. He went on to perform in Winnie the Pooh and A Christmas Carol.
Colby has had training in hip hop and breakdancing and plays the clarinet in his
school band. This is Colby's first performance with NHTF.
Augusta Truesdale (Woman in White / Ingrid) has performed in several plays,
five in Hungary, and has lived in Europe for nine years. She’s played Ariel in The
Tempest and was a main character in Scheherazade. She loves to read, write, and
sing. Special thanks to her mom, Jacqueline, for driving her to rehearsals and
coming to her plays.
Special Thanks
Brady Sullivan Properties
The Greater Derry Arts Council
Community Players of Concord
ActorSingers
Southern NH Dance Theatre
New England College &
the Open Door Theatre
Gretchen Gray
Beth Fenske
Clint Close
Lacy Long
David B. Nelson
Aaron Compagna
All of our Parent Volunteers
Scenes & Songs
Time: Early 1800s, not too long after the Revolutionary War
Place: Sleepy Hollow, NY
Act I
Scene 1: The Graveyard, right before the sun comes up
“Sleepy Hollow” ……………………………………………… Ghosts
Scene 2: The Town Square, early in the morning
“Superstitious Yankee Folk” …………...…….. Farmer Stuyevesant &
Town Folk
“Brom Bones” ….……………… Katrina, Brom, Yost, Greta & Hilda
Scene 3: The Schoolhouse, the next morning
“A Man of Means” ………...…. Mrs. Van Tassel & Mrs. Van Hudson
“Spare the Rod & Spoil the Child” ………………... Ichabod & Pupils
Scene 4: The Graveyard, later that day
Scene 5: Mrs. Van Tassel’s Parlor, that evening
“Ghosts in the Graveyard” …….. Mrs. Van Tassel, Mrs. Van Hudson,
Mrs. Trenkler, Widow Van Doorn,
Katrina, Hilda & Greta
Scene 6: The Graveyard, moments later
“Sleepy Hollow Reprise 1” ………………………………….... Ghosts
(There will be a 15 minute Intermission)
Act II
Scene 1: Mrs. Van Tassel’s Parlor & outside the house, moments later
“Ichabod Crane Must Go” ………...…. Brom, Yost, Mrs. Van Tassel,
Mrs. Van Hudson, Mrs. Trenkler,
Widow Van Doorn, Katrina,
Hilda & Greta
Scene 2: The Schoolhouse, the next morning
Scene 3: Widow Van Doorn’s Home, later that day
Scene 4: The Town Hall, that evening
“Town Square Dance” ……………………………………... Company
“The Headless Horseman Rides” ………………… Brom & Company
Scene 5: The Graveyard, moments later
“Sleepy Hollow Reprise 2 ………………………………….… Ghosts
Scene 6: The Graveyard, the next morning
“Finale” ……………………………………………………. Company
Please be advised that Sleepy Hollow utilizes Smoke, Haze, & Strobe Lights.
Who’s Who in the Cast
Louisa Amaral (Mrs. Trenkler) After attending NHTF’s 2014 summer intensive,
Louisa is excited to be in NHTF’s first youth production, The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow. She has been in around 30 Palace Youth shows and started theatre at age
6. She is a 7th grader at Merrimack Middle School and has attended Peacock
Players summer camp for many years. She would like to thank her friends and
family for supporting her and Joel for guiding her in the show and voice lessons.
Alora Bergethon (Wilda / Ghost) is celebrating her 14th birthday this weekend
by appearing in this, her fifth theatrical performance. Outside of theater she
enjoys reading, nordic skiing, rock climbing and field hockey. She would like to
thank her parents and her sister for supporting her.
Madison Bergethon (Widow Van Doorn) is a proud graduate of Hopkinton High
School. The first half of the year she spent exploring Europe but now she is back
state-side and excited to share with you her debut theatrical performance.
Cami Carpenter (Francisca / Ghost) has performed at the Palace Youth Theatre
for five years, her favorite role being Vlad Vladikoff in Suessical. She’s also been
in the Palace’s professional production of A Christmas Carol for the past five
years and in the children’s choir of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat.
Emily Casko (Katrina Van Tassel) is extremely excited to be participating in her
first show with NHTF. She has been performing since she was six years old.
Some favorite productions include Once on This Island Jr. (Ti Moune), Fiddler
on the Roof Jr. (Golde), and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Lucy). She
would like to thank her parents for supporting her always.
Maggie Connolly (Greta) is an 8th grader at St. John Regional School, where she
began her acting career in 6th grade. Since then, she's participated in all of the
school shows and community theatre. Some of Maggie’s favorite roles include
The Lady In Waiting (The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood), Sally Brown
(You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown), and Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof). Outside
of acting, Maggie loves to play sports. She’d like to send a special thanks to her
Mom and Dad for their time and endless support, and Joel for his dedication to
the cast. Break a leg everyone!
Chris Couto (Yost) was only 5 when he started dancing, and his feet just won’t
stop! In fact, Chris will soon be back in the Opera house dancing the role of
Prince Charming in Dance Progressions, Don’t Eat That Apple! He is an 8th
grader at the Academy for Science and Design, where his favorite classes are
Chemistry and Spanish.
Nick Couto (Farmer Stuyvesant) has never acted with NHTF before, but this
isn’t his debut at the Opera House! He was last here in 2013, when his hip hop
group took 2nd place in the Greater Derry’s Got Talent show. Nick attends middle
school at the Academy for Science and Design, and when not doing homework,
he enjoys hanging out with friends and gymnastics.
Who’s Who in the Cast
Info
Margaret Fair (Mrs. Van Hudson) is thrilled to be in Sleepy Hollow at the NH
Theatre Factory. Previously, she has been in productions at The Palace Theatre
(PYT, PTAC, and professional) and the Concord Community Players. Some of
her favorite roles include Kanga in Winnie the Pooh, Alice Lewis in Bye Bye
Birdie, Blind Mouse 3 in Shrek, and the Day by Day soloist in Godspell. She
would like to send out a big “Thank You” to all those who have supported her in
her theatrical journey thus far.
Christopher Graham (Ichabod Crane) is very excited to be making his NHTF
debut as Ichabod Crane. He has been involved with the Palace Youth Theatre
Company for the past two years, performing in such productions as Annie (Daddy
Warbucks), High School Musical (Chad), Aladdin (Sultan) and Once on This
Island (Daniel), and has also performed in the Palace Theatre’s professional
production of A Christmas Carol for the past two years. Chris would like to thank
his parents for their patience and daily shuttle service to Manchester. Enjoy the
show!!
Maddy J. Johnson (Gusta / Ghost) is thrilled to be making her theatrical debut
with NH Theatre Factory in this production of Sleepy Hollow and has enjoyed
every aspect of it. In her real life she is a full time 5th grader at KRES in New
London, and enjoys singing in a children’s choir, swimming, biking and training
dogs. She thanks her mum and dad and G&G for getting her back and forth to
rehearsals and would like to add a shout out to Neveah and Abby.
Julius LaFlamme (Brom Bones) is very exited to be in his first show at NHTF.
He has done many shows at the Palace Theater, Leddy Center, and The Rep.
some recent roles include Albert Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie), Pinocchio (Shrek),
and Papa Ge (Once on this Island).
Noah Negron (Hendrick / Ghost) This is Noah’s first theatrical experience and
he is enjoying it very much. He loves art in general, drawing, especially. Noah is
a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He would like to thank his parents for constant
support and encouragement, and dedicate his first theatrical appearance to his
homeschool mom.
Sebastian Negron (Berg / Ghost) is very thrilled about his first stage
performance, and he already knows it won’t be his last. He likes to explore the
outdoors, making bows and arrows. He also likes to read a lot. Sebastian has a
black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He would like to dedicate his first theatrical
experience to his dad, and thank his parents for constant support and
encouragement.
Sammy O’Neil (Hilda) is thrilled to be a part of the first Stage Setter’s
production at the NH Theatre Factory. Some of her favorite roles include Mary
Lennox in Secret Garden (NPTG), Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern
Millie Jr. (PYT), Fern in Charlotte’s Web (Barn), Brigitta Von Trapp in Sound of
Music (Actorsingers), Ida in Honk Jr. (Majestic), Young Eponine in Les Miz
(Interlakes) and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (PTAC). Thank you to Joel, the
staff and the cast for making this an incredible experience. Enjoy the show!