Open Book Players

Another Dragon story being featured in our upcoming production of “Let’s Talk About Dragons!” is “The Reluctant Dragon” by Kenneth Grahame.
In this beloved classic story, a young boy befriends a poetry-loving dragon living in the Downs above his home. When the town-folk send for St. George to slay the dragon, the boy needs to come up with a clever plan to save his friend and convince the townsfolk to accept him.
AUDITIONS: March 5th, 6:30 p.m., Oak Hill High School, Wales, ME

One of our stories being featured in our upcoming production of “Let’s Talk About Dragons” is “The Fifty-First Dragon” by Heywood Broun.
It is about a young knight who is a failure in everything except the slaying of dragons, an activity in which he succeeds because of a certain “magic” word.
Hope to see you at Auditions on March 5th at 6:30 p.m. at Oak Hill High School in Wales, Maine.

Open Book Players is holding AUDITIONS for “Let’s Talk About Dragons” on March 5th at 6:30 p.m. at Oak Hill High School in Wales, ME, featuring the following stories:

“The Reluctant Dragon” by Kenneth Grahame

“The Fifty-First Dragon” by Heywood Broun

“The Tale of Custard the Dragon” by Ogden Nash

There are parts available for 5-10 readers/actors (ages 12 and up) and performances will be on April 1 & 2 at Oak Hill High School.

A proposed rehearsal schedule will be available at Auditions. For more information, you can contact Lucy Rioux, Artistic Director, at lucyrioux@gmail.com.

“Hi! My name is Sarah Rossignol and I am currently a high school junior. I am the student representative for the Open Book Players board. Aside from taking part in various reader’s theater performances, I enjoy taking part in drama, dance, my school’s Tennis team, skiing, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Academic Decathlon, and Girl Scouts. My favorite part of reader’s theater is meeting new people of all ages. Not only do I get to perform, I get to hear stories from people of all ages. Reader’s Theater is a very eye opening experience that I love to share with others!”

Richard Bostwick lives in Hallowell and has been active in theater for awhile. Like most, Richard caught the Theater bug in High School. But that was a very long time ago. He moved to the Augusta are in the Late 1970s and became active with The Gaslight Theater in Hallowell. He estimates that he has acted, directed, run tech, and sung in over 125 productions since then. He became introduced to Reader’s Theater during Maine One Act Festivals. He has since performed in about half a dozen and likes the chance to perform in this other form.

“ Hi! My name is Sherry Rossignol and I am the mother of Sarah Rossignol. I enjoy helping out with various Open Book Players shows and events. Ever since my daughter joined drama and theater in 2nd grade, I’ve always gone to her shows and supported the arts in anyway I can. While I do not take part in theater, I enjoy taking part in other arts such as scrapbooking, sewing, and crocheting! “

Bob Giroux…Bob’s is a semi-retired Paramedic/Operations Director who now lives in Belgrade with his fiancé, Kathy and 1 year old yellow lab, Belle and works part time teaching American Heart CPR/First Aid. He loves working on and improving woods trails, to be used for walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
and traveling to Cambridge, Ma to visit his son and daughter, Wyatt and Annie.
He has worked with Open Book Players now since 2013 and has taken parts in many of the productions but really enjoys working on the musical scores and technical support. Bob’s hobbies are working with his tractor, yard improvement/beautification, playing guitar/banjo, and getting exercise through running, hiking or working in the woods with Kathy and Belle.

Bob McIntire…Bob McIntire is a Hallowell-based media producer presently documenting and editing local historical programs for web presentation and digital archiving. He began his dramatic career in junior high school staring in a musical adaptation of Charley’s Aunt for which he won the somewhat coveted Hammy Award. Fortunately, the role didn’t require him to sing. It was downhill after that. Following a theatrical hiatus of four decades, he returned to the stage joining Open Book Players. The time in between was taken up with a career in marketing and communications. The final twenty-two years of gainful employment were spent at the Maine Department of Education from which he retired before anyone could figure out exactly what he was doing there.

Meet our next two Board Members…Cindy Turcotte (Treasurer) and Kathy Levasseur (Secretary)…

Cindy Turcotte…I have been a part of Open Book Players since it began in 1996. It is and has been such a pleasure to work with all of the board members who have graced us over the years. One of my greatest pleasures is getting to bring to life the words that are written on the pages of such wonderful author/illustrators. Secondly, getting to work with amazing people who work so hard to offer you the joys of Reader’s Theatre. In the past I’ve been president of Monmouth Community Players, and even acted in a few of their shows. Open Book Players is where my heart is.

Kathy Levasseur…My involvement in Open Book Players is being an active member of the board of directors and my current role is Secretary. My interest in OBP started with my first ever performance in ‘An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving’. Since then, I have enjoyed assisting the OBP Artistic Director in ‘Twain by The Tale’ and ‘A Christmas Carol and More’. My most recent duties have included technical lighting at the performances.

We currently have nine Open Book Players board members and we would like to introduce you to our first two members…Andy Tolman (President) and Ginger Smith (Vice-President)…

Andy Tolman has been involved with Open Book Players since the turn of the century. He’s portrayed a wide variety of characters, often within moments of each other. He’s been clerk of the Open Book board since 2003, and recently was also promoted to President. Andy started his theater career quite late in life, and has enjoyed the last 25 years of amusing audiences at Cumston Hall, Lakewood, and
Gaslight, as well as Johnson Hall and various Open Book tour stops.

Ginger Smith…When I retired I felt I finally had the time to pursue my love of theater.  Lucy Rioux gave me an opportunity to perform in the Miracle Worker at Cumston Hall.  After that I went to an Open Book Workshop hosted by Lucy who asked me if I’d like to audition for one of their productions.  I’ve never looked back and have been involved with  the Open Book Players ever since.; as a performer and a member of the board of directors; currently as Vice Chairman.  Open Book Players is a wonderful group of talented performers who enjoy mentoring new performers and performing for adults and children.  Please join us for auditions or catching one of their outstanding performances.  You’ll be glad you did!

Who’s Who On The Open Book Players Board and Information Regarding Our Next Production, “Let’s Talk About Dragons.”

Join us on Saturday, Dec. 3rd at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, Dec. 4th at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Hill High School in Wales for a wonderful holiday program presented by a truly talented cast! Help us spread the word…hope to see many of you there!

Here is our Cast for “A Christmas Carol & More”…come join us on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, Dec. 4th at 2:00 p.m. You will have such a wonderful time!!

Larry Vinal

Sarah Rossignol

Addison Lilly

Jonah Schultz

Andy Tolman

Jen Schultz

Kathy Scribner-Levasseur

Bob Giroux

Cindy Turcotte

Simon Golob

Gabby Greenwood

Nik Peterson

Destiney Samare

Isabella Coulombe

Duncan Picher