Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

The Providence Players of Fairfax (PPF), an award winning non-profit community theater troupe serving Northern Virginia and the DC Metropolitan area, closes its 19th season with Christopher Durang’s Tony Award winning comedy, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. The production runs from June 2 through June 17 at the James Lee Community Center Theater at 2855 Annandale Road in Falls Church.

The Providence Players Vanya Sonia Masha and Spike 5 Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — L to R: Connie Shabshab as Masha, Christian Faulkner as Vanya and Jayne Victor as Sonia in the PPF Production of Christopher Durang’s Tony Award winning comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Tickets Here

Performance Dates and Times:

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
June 2 – June 17

Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
June 4 and June 11

Adults $20 Seniors (62+)/Students $17

Location: James Lee Community Center Theater, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042

Not for Young Audiences – Mature Themes and Language

Master of comedy Christopher Durang blends middle-age despair, dashed dreams, and squandered hopes into a hilarious farcical comedy. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, skewers the classic dramas of Chekhov through an absurdist tale of family dysfunction. But you don’t have to be a student of Russian literature to appreciate this hilarious play. Siblings Vanya and Sonia live a quiet life in the Bucks County farmhouse where they grew up. But when their movie-star sister Masha swoops in unannounced with Spike, her 20-something boy toy, an unforgettable weekend ensues. Add a clairvoyant cleaning lady, someone named Hootie Pie, a sweet young aspiring actress, and plans that could devastate the family, and you have a laugh-out-loud stage offering that will be a sure-fire audience favorite.

The Providence Players Vanya Sonia Masha and Spike 4 Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — A scene from the Providence Players production of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. At the James Lee Community Center Theater in Falls Chutch. June 2 through June 17, 2017

Meet the Cast of the PPF Production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Vanya – Christian Faulkner

Christian is excited to return to the PPF Stage. Previous PPF roles include: The Mirror in Snow White and the Family Dwarf; Jonas Slonaker/Greg Pierotti, The Laramie Project; Lieutenant McElroy, Rehearsal for Murder. Past favorite roles: Mordred, Camelot; Mortimer, Arsenic and Old Lace; Action, West Side Story; Dorn, The Seagull; The Rev. David Lee, The Foreigner; and Casanova, Camino Real. PPF production service: Costume Design for Calendar Girls, The Glass Mendacity, House of Blue Leaves, Side Man, & Auntie Mame (WATCH nomination); Costume Assistant, The Shadow Box; Assistant to the Director, Waiting in the Wings.

Christian Faulkner as Vanya Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players 2 — “VSMS is a very funny well written play–audience members are sure to identify with the sibling rivalry and crazy family dysfunction and will enjoy the comedic family situations.” – Christian Faulkner. Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players

Sonia – Jayne Victor

Jayne is also excited to be part of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike especially in the role of Sonia. Her prior acting credits include Red Herring, Calendar Girls, House of Blue Leaves, Dinner With Friends, The Shadowbox, All My Sons (WATCH nomination), Big Tree Falls and Moon Over Buffalo (PPF); Auntie Mame (LTA) and Hexagon. Jayne is the current President of PPF and an accomplished director as well as actor. Jayne’s dream is to be a guest star on Dancing With The Stars!

Jayne Victor as Sonia Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — “The play has heart and lots of different emotions, but mostly it will make audiences laugh. And really is there anything better for the soul?” – Jayne Victor. Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players

Masha – Connie Shabshab

Connie is making her Providence Players debut in VSMS as Masha. She is a native of the metropolitan D.C. area who studied theater at the University of Maryland. On other local stages Connie has played Jessie in Night, Mother at Dominion Stage, for which she was nominated for outstanding lead actress in a play. Victoria in Victor Victoria, Annie Brooks in The Art of Murder, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in The Music Man, and Queenie/Grace in Honk!

Connie Shabshab as Masha Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — “On the heels of performing in a serious drama- the fun, vivacious, attention seeking Masha was very appealing” [Connie was recently in ‘night, Mother’ at Dominion Stage]. Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players

Spike – Ari Post

Ari first joined Providence Players to fulfill community service requirements for his high school civics class. Fifteen years later and he’s still here, though it is far from an obligation. He was last seen in their 2012 production of Side Man, and has appeared in The Shadow Box and The Laramie Project over theyears. A special thanks to his director, Jimmy, who caters to his theatrical hysteria as no one else would, and to Liz, his rose of a different name.

Ari Post as Spike Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — “This show rewards a sensitive audience, those who appreciate theater as a window into the soul. It is so full of life, love and humanity. If you like reading novels, you will love this play. And, you will laugh!” – Ari Post. Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players

Casandra – Rachel Arling Samson

Rachel hails from South Carolina, where she most recently appeared in productions with the SC Shakespeare Company and Columbia Children’s Theatre. Some of her favorite past credits include Metamorphoses, Silence, Cymbeline, The Clean House, and Evil Dead: The Musical. Rachel earned a B.A. in Theatre at Wofford College and studied abroad at the Gaiety School of Acting—National Theatre School of Ireland. She is delighted to be making her Providence Players debut.

Rachel Arling Samson as Casandra Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — “I first read the play after it won the Tony in 2013, and I’ve wanted to act in it ever since. I think it’s one of Durang’s funniest works yet. It’s also full of relatable themes that deal with navigating family relationships and confronting the fear of wasting one’s life. The Chekhov references are a nice touch (though you don’t need to understand them to enjoy the play).” – Rachel Arling Samson. Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players

Nina – Lindsey Doane

Lindsey graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA where she performed in main stage productions including Uncommon Women and Others (Kate Quin), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Henrietta Iscariot/Mary Magdalene) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Philostrate). She attended the Virginia Governor’s School for Theatre and enjoyed taking classes through the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC). While at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology she performed in numerous plays and musicals and assistant directed Into The Woods. Lindsey is honored to make her PPF debut while working for Chairman Sharon Bulova of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Lindsey Doane as Nina Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — “Who wouldn’t want to dive into such outrageous characters and a plot full of mayhem? What fun!” – Lindsey Doane. Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players

Tickets Here

Nominated for six Tony Awards in 2013, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is one of the most lauded, beloved and decorated Broadway plays of recent years. The Broadway production won 2013 “Best Play” honors from all the major New York awards programs (Tony Awards, Drama Desk, Drama League and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards) as well as numerous other awards.

The Providence Players production of Vanya is directed by Jimmy Gertzog whose 2012 PPF directorial debut production of Side Man garnered 10 WATCH Award nominations including nominations for Best Play and Best Director. Jimmy is a PPF Board Member and has been active with the company since its inception. He has artistic credits for lighting design, sound design, technical direction, and stage management for numerous PPF productions. He has also acted for the company.

The Providence Players Vanya Sonia Masha and Spike Photo by Chip Gertzog Providence Players — L to R: Connie Shabshab (Masha), Ari Post (Spike) and Jayne Victor (Sonia) in the Providence Players Production of ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”. June 2 through June 17, 2017

Join Us For The Laughter!

Ticket Information:

Adults $20 Seniors (62+)/Students $17

All Seating is Reserved

Order Online (No Fee): www.providenceplayers.org

Reserve by Email: providenceplayerstickets@cox.net

Reserve by Phone: 703-425-6782