Lighting Equipment

The lighting dimmer that the Theatre Company of Saugus has been using for the past 25 years has broken and is not repairable.  It is time for us to invest in new modern digital Lighting Equipment, including dimmers, and a control board that can record the hundreds of cues used in a musical.  We expect that this will cost us $5000. 

This investment should last us for many years, but this is a bit much to fit into our current operating budget.  We are renting equipment for the time being, but this will cost us more in the long run.  So, we are starting a fundraising campaign.  Please help us out with a contribution that will allow this 45-year-old arts organization to continue to put on quality entertainment in the future. 

Any amount is appreciated.  All contributors will be recognized in our programs for the next season.  We are a non-profit corporation, and your contribution is tax-deductible.  You may send checks, payable to Theatre Company of Saugus, and marked “Lighting Equipment Fund”.  Send to:  Theatre Company of Saugus  /  PO Box 1058  /  Saugus, MA  01906.

Click here to contribute using a credit card.

Here is an update:  In June 2013 TCS got a good deal on the purchase of a used but very sophisticated lighting control board.  It will be employed by us for the first time for our summer 2013 shows at ESUMC.  We now have to pay for it, and several fundraising events are in the works.  Thanks very much to those who helped with the purchase, testing, accessories, and setup:  James Wlodyka, Mike Teixeira and others at ALPS, Rob MacRobbie, and Larry Segel.  And to Nancy Welch, who has been driving back and forth to ALPS to pick up and drop off the dimmers that we have been renting.

Youth Theatre Activities Summer 2013

The Theatre Company of Saugus committee on Youth Theatre Activities is working on planning two events for the summer of 2013.

Youth Talent Show “Hey, Look What I Can Do!”.  Performances planned for Friday & Saturday 14 & 15 June 2013.  Performers are kids ages 18 and under.  We are looking for talents of all kinds, including but not limited to singing, dancing, improvisation, martial arts, story telling, etc.  Rehearsals will occur during May and June, in one hour increments on a schedule to be determined.  Rehearsals will be during our usual time slots:  Sundays 6-9 PM, Tuesdays 7-10 PM, Thursdays 7-10 PM.  The facilitator will be Jessica Stockton, with help from other TCS members and parents.  Tickets for the performances will cost $10.  A fundraiser for our next event …

Youth Summer Theatre Workshop.  A return of our successful summer camp, culminating in performances of a musical show, to be determined.  (In 2012 we did Godspell.)  Two weeks Monday through Friday all day morning and afternoon.  July 15-19 & 22-26, 2013.  Performances on July 26 & 27.  Staffed by three experienced teachers:  For Drama, Britt Mitchell.  For Music, Sean Gelzleichter.  For Dance, Thea Wigglesworth.  This year we also plan to add more Technical Theatre elements to the workshop, teaching the kids about stage management, set design and building, lighting, makeup, etc.  Watch this website for further info about fees and applications.

Both events will be at ESUMC in Saugus, Massachusetts; please see our Directions page.  All staff members are credentialed to work with children.

For more info or to sign up, please send us an email at tcsaugus@gmail.com.

Rich Italiano

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.

New England Regional Festival (NERF) 2013

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.

Cast announced for A Year With Frog and Toad

We are pleased to announce the cast of our spring family musical A Year With Frog and Toad.  For complete details, please see our Frog and Toad page.

Performances are the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May 2013. 

YearWithFrogAndToadLogo1

 

Artistic Staff for 2013-14 Season

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 2013The 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.

2013-14 Season

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.

Thank you for watching our hit The Producers

Audiences love this show and have given it unqualified praise.  Performances are also on Saturday 17 November at 8:00 PM, and on Sunday 18 November at 2:00 PM.

Visit our Tickets page to purchase tickets in advance online, or to learn about other methods of reserving seats.

Click here for more information about the show.

Click here for a gallery of photos taken during the first weekend.