Author Archives: lsegel

The Theatre Company of Saugus regrets the passing of Lance Norris, on December 10, 2023. He was an actor, director, and radio personality. He directed the TCS production of the play Sabrina Fair in November 2009. Here is a link to his Wikipedia page. 

Here is a link to obituary information.

The Theatre Company of Saugus is managed by a Board of Directors. There are nine members serving staggered three-year terms. Each year we hold an election to fill vacant positions.

This year three board members are retiring at the end of their terms, and one open term has a year to go because of a resignation. We thank Matt Garlin, Victoria Isotti, Lauren Lyon, and Deirdre Shaw for their service on the board the past several years. Those continuing on the board include Jeff Bliss, Billy Jenkins, Sherri Raftery, Larry Segel, and Ben Tan.

We are nominating three people for election to the board: Mark Damon, Lauren Thompson, and Kaycee Wilson. We are also still seeking an additional person to fill the fourth opening on the board. We need knowledgeable and responsible theater people to help manage the company.

Additional nominations can be made from the floor prior to the election vote. This will happen in person at our Annual Membership Meeting, which is during our holiday party event next Sunday 10 December 2023 starting at 2:00 PM at the American Legion Post 210 / 44 Taylor Street / Saugus, Massachusetts 01906. All members of the company for 2023 are eligible to vote.

Mark Damon and Lauren Thompson were in our recent production of Little Shop of Horrors, and have been in previous TCS shows. Kaycee Wilson was the director of Zombie Prom and was in Comedy of Errors.

Following the election, the board will meet and elect the officers of the company: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary. This meeting will be on Wednesday 13 December at 7:30 PM via Zoom. The meeting includes all retiring, continuing, and newly elected board members.

In addition to the regular Board of Directors, we also have Alternate Board Members. They also attend board meetings and can vote if we need additional people to make up a quorum.

Want to get involved but not yet ready to commit to several years? Alternate board members serve for one-year terms. Alternate board members for 2024 will also be selected at the Annual Meeting/Party. Current Alternate members include: Heather Beatty, Dylan Bushe, Rosemary DeGregorio, and Jill Sliby. Deirdre Shaw is interested in joining the Alternate board.

What is required of regular board members?

• Attendance at monthly board meetings, at which we decide what shows to do, interview and hire directors and other staff, plan events, etc. Currently these meetings have been on Wednesday evenings starting at 7:30 PM, via Zoom. Meetings usually last one to two hours.
• Some of the board members are Officers, serving one-year terms: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary.
• Serving on committees: Play Reading / Production Planning, Nominating, Scholarship, Finance, etc. This requires just a few extra meetings.
• Being available to work on shows, during Auditions and from Load-In to Strike.
• Other tasks for which you have a skill or interest: Publicity, Marketing, Recruiting good talent, Technical Theater, Producing

Board members are not always exclusive to TCS, they may work for other theatre groups, as long as they can fulfill their obligations to TCS.

Please contact us ASAP if you have any questions or interest. Write to us at TCSaugus@gmail.com and we will get back to you.

All are invited to our Big Event. This is our Holiday-Season Party, celebrating our successful shows in 2023, combined with a Celebration of the 55th year of our business entertaining the region with great musicals, comedies, and dramas, and training the next generation of theatre kids. It is also our Annual Membership Meeting and election of Board of Directors members. And it is a Cabaret for anyone who wants to perform.

The event is on Sunday 10 December 2023, from 2 PM to 6 PM. At our home at the American Legion Post 210 / 44 Taylor Street / Saugus, Massachusetts 01906. It’s a potluck, bring your favorite food to share. The bar will be open, featuring inexpensive beverages, both liquors and soft drinks.

The casts and staff of all our shows in 2023 are invited to reunite at the event, including Comedy of Errors, Peter and the Starcatcher, Wizard of Oz, Shrek, and Little Shop of Horrors.

Please contact us if you have any questions or want to help set up the party. Write to us at TCSaugus@gmail.com and we will get back to you.

The nominations for the 2022-23 EMACT DASH Awards were announced on July 23, 2023. EMACT is the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres, and the DASH awards are like the local Tony awards.

The Theatre Company of Saugus production of Zombie Prom, presented in October 2022, received seven nominations, and was the winner of one of the awards:

• WINNER! – Supporting Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Musical – Sean Perry as Eddie Flagrante
• Lead Performer in a Female-Identifying Role in a Musical – Mia Mercurio as Toffee
• Sound Design for a Musical – Shawn Gelzleichter, Tyler Bliss, and James Wlodyka
• Hair and Makeup Design for a Musical – James Valentin and Kaycee Wilson
• Props Design for a Musical – Lauren Lyons
• Musical Direction – Shawn Gelzleichter
• Best Musical Production

The TCS production of Peter and the Starcatcher, presented in May 2023, earned an acting nomination:

• Lead Performer in a Male-Identifying Role in a Play – Kaleigh Ryan as Black Stache

Other current or former TCS members were nominated for their work at other theatre companies:

• Lead Female Role in a Play – Allison Rudmann Putnam for Handbagged at The Hovey Players
• Lead Female Role in a Play – Michelle Mount for Dancing at Lughnasa at Arlington Friends of the Drama
• Supporting Female Role in a Play – Rebecca Greene for Equivocation at Marblehead Little Theatre
• Lead Female Role in a Musical – Emily Sheeran for Bat Boy The Musical at The Burlington Players
• Director of a Musical – Paul Gymziak for Next to Normal at Dramatically Incorrect Theater Group & Dance Company
• Choreography – Will Fafard for Tuck Everlasting at Marblehead Little Theatre
• Set Design for a Play – Nathan Fogg-DeSisto for A Christmas Story at Massasoit Theatre Company
• Makeup and Hair Design for a Musical – Will Farfard for Bat Boy: The Musical at Burlington Players
• WINNER! – Makeup and Hair Design for a Musical – Will Fafard for Chicago at Pentucket Players
• WINNER! – Consultant Choice Award – Dom Pappagallo for “Outstanding Solo” in Rent at Riverside Theatre Works

The cast of Zombie Prom performed at the DASH Gala on Saturday 19 August 2023, at which the winners of each award were announced. Click here for the complete list of nominations and awards. Click here for information about the gala.