Theatre Company of Saugus

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.

In addition to putting on shows, the mission of Theatre Company of Saugus (TCS) has been to educate our membership about theatre.  We have done this through many workshops over the years, as well as through our annual summer Youth Theatre Workshop.

For many years TCS has awarded a modest scholarship to a graduating college-bound senior at Saugus High School (SHS).  With the recognition that many TCS members do not live in Saugus, we are initiating a new additional scholarship intended for TCS members that do not go to SHS. 

The new scholarship amount is $300, and is intended for those who will be attending college or graduate school in the fall of 2023.  The recipient should be a participant in past or current TCS productions or activities.  Preference is given to those who intend to study theatre or related arts.

Applications for the first award of the new scholarship are now being accepted.  The online application form asks questions about your plans for school, and your experience with TCS.  The application must be completed by June 30, 2023.  The winning recipient will be announced in mid-July.

Access the application by clicking on this link.

If you have any questions about the new scholarship or the application, please write to us at:  tcsaugus@gmail.com.  (The recipient of the original scholarship has been selected and will be announced by SHS.)

The Theatre Company of Saugus joins many others in mourning the unexpected passing, on April 16, 2023, of Jaie Deschene, a director and actress active with several community theaters in our area. She directed This Getting Old is Getting Old, which was part of our short play festival Lovely Thoughts and Other Stories, presented in March 2022. She was also cast in the role of Nell in our March 2023 production of The Comedy of Errors, but left the production because of other commitments.

Click here for the obituary and visitation information.