Theatre Company of Saugus

We are saddened to report the passing of former TCS member Richard Italiano, Jr., on 21 February 2013.  (Cancer, only 41 years old.) 

Rich was active with Theatre Company of Saugus in 2002 and 2003.  He had supporting roles in the drama To Kill a Mockingbird and in the version of Interview that went to Belgium.  He played the male lead in two shows, the comedy Lend Me a Tenor, and the musical She Loves Me.  A professional chef, he is also gratefully remembered for his cooking for a dinner fundraiser in support of the Belgium trip.  In more recent years Rich was seen in small roles in films and television shows.

Click here for the obituary and information about funeral arrangements.

Click here for info about a fundraiser to support his family.

The New England Regional Festival (NERF), hosted by Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres (EMACT), with the support of New England Theatre Conference (NETC) was held on Saturday 23 February 2013.  Because of an impending snowstorm, the schedule was compressed and advanced. 

TCS member William Fafard Jr. was featured in the Harvard Community Theatre presentation of Crossing Brooklyn, an original musical drama.  This show won the Best Ensemble award.

The Best Show award went to Radium Girls, presented by the Burlington Players.  This drama will go to the AACT Fest 2013 national festival competition, scheduled for June 2013 in Carmel, Indiana.  Congratulations to all winners and participants:

1. Harvard Community Theater (Mass.) – Crossing Brooklyn
2. Milford Area Players (N.H.) – Cabin 12
3. Nashua Theatre Guild (N.H.) – City of Bones
4. Burlington Players (Mass.) – Radium Girls

Click here for a list of all the award winners. 

The Burlington Players could use some help bringing their production of Radium Girls to the national festival.   Their total budget to get the cast, crew and set out to Carmel, Indiana, and put everyone up while there, is $32,000.   While this may seem an unbelievable number, their team is 27 strong.  Getting them and the set half-way across the country, and then paying for room accommodations, food, and festival passes, is being done as economically as possible – but the numbers are a little staggering.   Multiple fundraising events are planned and each of them is reaching out to family and friends.  The response thus far has been humbling as people are generously donating what they can as individuals.   They are reaching out to you, the members and leaders of the community theater companies of Eastern Massachusetts, and hoping that you might also be able to support their journey.  They realize that times are difficult for our companies, and appreciate any amount you are able to give.  You will receive a tax deductible letter to use for your 2013 taxes as they are a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Every bit helps!  They are so grateful for any support you can give us!  You can follow this link and donate via PayPal at this link.  Or, you may mail a check to:  The Burlington Players / PO Box 1617 / Concord, NH  03302.

Update 4 May 2013.  The TCS Board has selected the artistic staff for the coming season.  Look for a forthcoming announcement.  Thank you to all our excellent applicants.

Because of a number of risk factors around trying to do Grapes of Wrath outdoors, we have decided that our summer 2013 show will be Glass Menagerie.  We would still like to do Grapes of Wrath in a future season.

The Theatre Company of Saugus is currently accepting artistic staff resumes and proposals for their 2013-14 season.

Summer 2013:  The Grapes of Wrath, a drama by Frank Galati, based on the novel by John Steinbeck. This will be performed outdoors, pending suitable venue.

Summer 2013 (alternate):  The Glass Menagerie, a drama by Tennessee Williams. This will be performed indoors, instead of The Grapes of Wrath if we cannot find a suitable outdoor venue.

The company is accepting resumes and proposals for the position of director for the summer production until January 31, 2013.  Applicants interested in directing either of these productions are preferred. Please submit all materials to tcsaugus@gmail.com. Interviews will be scheduled after the listing has closed.

Fall 2013:  Finian’s Rainbow, a musical by Harburg, Saidy, and Lane.   The company is accepting resumes and proposals for the positions of:

• Director;
• Music Director; and
• Choreographer

until January 31, 2013. Please submit all materials to tcsaugus@gmail.com. Interviews will be scheduled after the listing has closed.

Winter 2014. [title of show], a musical by Bowen and Bell.  The company is accepting resumes and proposals for the positions of:

• Director; and
• Music Director

until February 28, 2013. Please submit all materials to tcsaugus@gmail.com. Interviews will be scheduled after the listing has closed.

Spring 2014. Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare.  The company is accepting resumes and proposals for the position of Director until March 31, 2013. Please submit all materials to tcsaugus@gmail.com. Interviews will be scheduled after the listing has closed.

We now have a lineup of four main shows planned for our 2013-14 season.

• Summer 2013.  The Grapes of Wrath, a drama by Frank Galati, based on the novel by John Steinbeck.  This will be performed outdoors, if we can find a suitable venue.
• Summer 2013 alternate plan.  The Glass Menagerie, a drama by Tennessee Williams.  This will be performed indoors at East Saugus United Methodist Church (ESUMC), instead of Grapes of Wrath if we cannot find a suitable outdoor venue.
• Fall 2013.  Finian’s Rainbow, a musical by Harburg, Saidy, and Lane.  This would probably be performed at Saugus High School.
• Winter 2014.  [title of show], a musical by Bowen and Bell.  This will be performed at ESUMC.
• Spring 2014.  Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare.  This will be performed at ESUMC.

Look for more info on our Auditions page as the season develops.  Also watch this website for announcements about Workshops, Holiday Shows, Fundraisers, etc.

The 2012-13 season.

William will be given a citation from the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Saugus, at their meeting on Tuesday 23 October 2012, starting at 7:30 PM, in recognition of his DASH award.

We are proud and happy to announce that our very own William Fafard is the WINNER of the DASH award for Best Youth Actor in a Musical, for playing the title role in the Theatre Company of Saugus production of Oliver! in November 2011.

Each year EMACT (Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres) reviews and rates dozens of shows through its DASH (Distinguished Achievement and Special Honors) program.  The best groups or individuals in many categories are nominated for awards.  The nominations for 2011-12 were announced on July 11, including William’s nomination.  The award ceremony was on Saturday 25 August 2012.  The Fafard family and several other TCS members were on hand to see him presented with the award.

For the complete list of nominees and winners, click here.  Other TCS members who were nominated include Chip Sheeran and Elizabeth Sheeran for Best Prop Coordination for a Play for the Quannapowitt Players production of The Foreigner, and Chip Sheeran for Best Direction of a Play for The Foreigner.  Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners!

Gala co-host Judson Pierce congratulates William Fafard on his award.