The Wilton Playshop | Wilton’s Community Theatre since 1937

March 15, 2008

Celebrating 70 years: Wilton Playshop’s ‘Rebirth’ Ushers in a New Era

The Wilton Playshop’s benefit production, “Celebrate! 70 Years of Theatrical Magic” took place on Saturday, March 8. Members of the cast in the opening number, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” include from left: Victor Tenore, Kirby Ward, Danielle DeCrette, Bob Filipowich, Beverly Ward, Meg Fuentes, Sarah Michaels and John Congdon. —Susan Lash photosThe Wilton Playshop’s benefit production, “Celebrate! 70 Years of Theatrical Magic” took place on Saturday, March 8. Members of the cast in the opening number, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” include from left: Victor Tenore, Kirby Ward, Danielle DeCrette, Bob Filipowich, Beverly Ward, Meg Fuentes, Sarah Michaels and John Congdon. —Susan Lash photos

The audience was visibly and audibly thrilled with the program of songs from seven decades of Playshop productions and the treasure of talented Wiltonians on stage, not only singers and dancers, but, in many cases, neighbors who also sing with St. Matthew’s choir (Megan Fuentes) and Our Lady of Fatima choir (Janice Dehn), as well as the music director of the Wilton Children’s Theater (Al Galletly) and the director of development of ABC of Wilton (Adrienne Reedy), to name just a few.

There were many in the audience who were longtime sustainers of the Playshop’s history. Peg Ploss, Karen Young, Carin Freidag (who is a vice president of the new board), Susie Gross, and Diane Keeping were working backstage. They were celebrants of the theater’s rejuvenation, but also somewhat wistful, agreeing that the near demise of the Playshop had been a matter of money.

“The curtain is new, rich burgundy velvet, the walls freshly painted, deep, dramatic blue, but the stage itself is layered with a history of 70 years of comedy, drama, musical theater, and extraordinary talent and devotion.

This past Saturday, March 8, that history was honored when a refurbished Wilton Playshop opened its doors. The legacy of resilient community theater in Wilton is alive, well and filled with promise, organizers said.

The Playshop’s inaugural benefit, “70 Years of Theatrical Magic, A Musical Journey,” was seen as a resounding comeback. Featuring songs from many of the Playshop’s past musical productions, it was a showcase of talent, all connected to Wilton, skilled professionals with credits from Broadway, national and international tours, regional theater, off Broadway, and more.

Bev and Kirby Ward stop the show with a tap number set to George Gershwin’s “ ’Swonderful” at The Wilton Playshop’s benefit production “Celebrate! 70 Years of Theatrical Magic.” —Susan Lash photoBev and Kirby Ward stop the show with a tap number set to George Gershwin’s “ ’Swonderful” at The Wilton Playshop’s benefit production “Celebrate! 70 Years of Theatrical Magic.” —Susan Lash photo

It was, down to the last detail, a mighty classy event, with a pre-performance cocktail reception and a champagne-and-chocolate intermission. Greeting the audience, Zelie Pforzheimer, board president, said the theater’s rejuvenation had taken nine months and thanked the dozens of individuals and businesses and hundreds of donors and volunteers who had helped “in the birth of the baby.”

“It was nothing that past boards did wrong, said Ms. Freidag. “We learned we had to be financially minded as well as artistically minded.”

Peg Ploss, who, along with her son Skip, kept the Playshop going in the hardest of times, agreed that money was the problem. “We didn’t know how bad the side wall was.” One entire side of the building has been replaced, along with a section of the roof.

Ronald Dobey, the Playshop’s new treasurer, is a partner at Price Waterhouse and seems to have no anxiety about the Playshop’s financial future. He is a composer and a photographer and is on many committees of cultural organizations like the Museum of Modern Art. “It will be easier to work with small groups like the Playshop,” he commented.

During The Wilton Playshop’s weekend production Janice Dehn, from left, Sarah Michaels and Ralph Pastore perform a scene from “Getting Married Today.”During The Wilton Playshop’s weekend production Janice Dehn, from left, Sarah Michaels and Ralph Pastore perform a scene from “Getting Married Today.”

There were many in the audience who had never been to the Playshop before, though they’d been living in Wilton several years.

“We’re here for the first time, but we’re big supporters,” said Chris Kelley. “My son auditioned here but they couldn’t put on the play because the theater wasn’t up to standard.”

“It’s amazing what they’ve done,” said Alison Mark.

“Seeing it now, I wish I’d been here before,” was heard from several people at the Playshop for the first time.

“We’ve supported the place for years, but this comeback is great,” said Dori and Tim Seamans.

“It’s like a Phoenix rising,” was overheard during intermission.

“We’ve been subscribers since 1997,” said Genia Meinhold. “With three other couples, we’d have dinner and come to the Playshop. It was a great evening, and it didn’t cost $200!”

Two of the youngest in the audience, Meghan Herlyn, 11, and her friend Alexandra Rossi, 10, sat in the front row. They came to see the superb tap dancing of Kirby Ward and his wife, Beverly, who live in Wilton with their three sons. Meghan’s mother, Kris, knew several of the performers. “She’s in my book club, and she’s my best friend,” she whispered.

“I’ve been involved with the Playshop for 30 years,” said Gail Moskow. “It’s an asset to the town. Community theater is so important.”

“This year has been about rebuilding and reclamation, Ms. Prozheimer said. “Our next year will hopefully be about quality theater and theater programs.”

The Playshop plans to be a year-round resource of theater, film, readings, classes, workshops, and more. A committee is meeting this week to schedule the next season of plays.

The playbill’s cast and crew biograhies, its lists of donors of carpeting and flagstones and of caterers, builders, contributors, including Rotary and HSBC Bank, and volunteers from schools, churches and clubs of Wilton, everything from printing to pizza, show how this gem of Wilton, the longest running volunteer-owned and -operated community theater in Connecticut, came to be polished and poised for at least another 70 years.