Very few years can be seen as more emblematic of the growth, development and evolution of the Providence Players as was 2014. Our 10th year at the James Lee Community Center Theater and our 17th season as a company, PPF shined in 2014 with four outstanding audience and critically acclaimed productions indicative of our commitment to artistic excellence as well as our commitment to creative expression and personal fulfillment for our company members. Moreover, we successfully continued our commitment to the broader community in many ways in 2014. Join us as we take a brief look back on ’14 and a look forward to what’s next in 2015 AND how you can be a part of the PPF experience!
But, first things first – We thank and honor all of you! We could not do it without you – our patrons, donors and members. Again this year, we offer you a chance to support the company with a tax-deductible contribution. Ticket sales alone cannot cover all of our costs and we rely on our generous donors to help make all of this possible. New for 2015 is the ability to make a secure tax-deductible contribution online if you choose. Many of you have donated in 2014 and we thank you for your patronage and support of Providence Players and we hope it will continue in 2015. Make a Donation Online Today
Last January, we opened calendar 2014 with the news that PPF had garnered seven WATCH award nominations for calendar 2013 productions with our production of Is He Dead? receiving six nominations (and one award) from the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors. WATCH Nominations for 2014 will be announced later this January.
Our 2014 winter production of John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves marked Michael Donahue’s PPF directorial debut.
DcMetroTheaterArts said “Well directed by Michael P. Donahue and performed by a super cast.. Providence Players of Fairfax once again offers audiences a chance to revisit a classic and provides a funny, yet poignant production, featuring fine performances by a very talented cast. Don’t miss it.” DCMTA Full Review Here – Falls Church News Press Here – Connection Newspapers Here
Audiences loved the production and it was honored by a runner-up designation from the Ruby Griffith awards for Outstanding Achievement in a Play. Recently, DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with six ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:
PPF’s The House of Blue Leaves Best of 2014
DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – The House of Blue Leaves
Michael P. Donahue Best Director of a Play – Community Theater
Acting Honors:
Best Scenic Design – John Coscia
Our 2014 spring production of Neil Simon’s Rumors was also a directorial debut, this time for Liz Mykietyn.
DCMetroTheaterArts.com reviewer Francine Schwartz echoed audience sentiments with a GLOWING 5 Star “Its’ A Blast” review. She sums it up with “Providence Players of Fairfax’s Rumors is a blast! Rumor has it that you will have a belly-laughed filled time in the theatre. And rumor has it that Mr. Simon would be beaming! The Providence Players of Fairfax wring every possible laugh out of it. The zingers fly everywhere, and Director Liz Mykietyn and her hilarious and hard-working cast make sure those funny one-liners land-and land they do. At the performance I attended, the audience was howling! So if you need a good laugh or several dozen-make your way to the James Lee Community Center.” DCMTA Full Review Here – Falls Church News Press Here – Connection Newspapers Here
Also an audience favorite, DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with no less than ten ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:
PPF’s Rumors Best of 2014
DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – Rumors
Liz Mykietyn Best Director of a Play – Community Theater
Acting Honors:
Best Costume Design – Robbie Snow and Courtney Fonnesbeck
Best Lighting Design – Chip Gertzog
Best Scenic Design – John Coscia
Our 2014 fall production of John Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men was yet another directorial debut for PPF. John Coscia, multiple WATCH award winning actor, set designer and one of the company’s founders, took the directorial reins for the first time and touched audiences and critics alike.
In their five star review of the production, DCMetroTheaterArts said “Providence Players of Fairfax’s Of Mice and Men is a superb production. I encourage anyone, especially if you have not had the chance to see the stage production of the show, to take a trip out to see it. The top-notch design and direction by John Coscia, his designers and team of actors, make this a ‘must-see’ impressive production.” DCMTA Full Review Here – Connection Newspapers Here
DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with five ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:
PPF’s Of Mice and Men Best of 2014
DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – Of Mice and Men
John Coscia Best Director of a Play – Community Theater
Acting Honors:
We closed a diverse and entertaining 2014 in December with our holiday season offering of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the C.S Lewis classic adapted by award winning playwright Joseph Robinette. Veteran PPF holiday show director Brian O’Connor returned with another outstanding family production. As always, Brian’s shows are rich in inventiveness with strong performances and an outstanding directorial touch. Once again, PPF partnered with The Young Hearts Foundation on the holiday production to raise money to improve the lives of young people and their families affected by long-term illness. And once again, the production was both a critical and audience hit.
DCMetroTheaterArts said “FIVE STARS! “As a treat for the entire family, or an early Christmas gift, there is none better than C.S. Lewis’ classic tale of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe now playing at Providence Players of Fairfax…Providence Players of Fairfax’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a ‘must see’ production this holiday season that the entire family will enjoy.” DCMTA Full Review Here – Connection Newspapers Here
DcMetroTheaterArts further recognized the play with eight ‘Best of 2014″ Awards:
PPF’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Best of 2014
DCMTA Best Plays in 2014 – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Brian O’Connor Best Director of a Play – Community Theater
Acting Honors:
Best Scenic Design – Brian O’Connor
Best Costume Design – Robbie Snow
Best Lighting Design – Jimmy Gertzog and Jason Hamrick
Four out of four productions garnered DCMTA’s Best of 2014 Best Play honors and all four directors were recognized for their artistic achievements. Sixteen actors and 9 designers were also recognized by DCMTA for “Best Of” achievements. Coupled with the audience reception of these productions, 2014 was an outstanding year artistically for PPF.
Strengthening Our Link to the Community
We continue to develop strong ties to the community, and are so proud of the organizations we work with. Here are just a few of the wonderful offerings we provide students and underserved members of our community:
Scholarship Program – Working with community leaders, PPF will again offer awards to students who have demonstrated leadership within their respective theater programs or contributed to the theater arts in some way and plan to do so in the future.
Free Tickets – We continue to promote our free ticket program to community organizations that reach underserved members of our community. We ask for your help in identifying reputable organizations that serve those who may be unable to afford the price of admission. Please send an email to providenceplayers@cox.net with your ideas or suggestions.
Free Previews – We remain committed to and continue to grow our preview audience of students, teachers and parents. This special Thursday performance (the night before opening) is free and helps encourage our young people to experience live theater. Attendees participate in a post-show discussion with the director, actors and production team as well as a backstage tour.
As we noted above, PPF again joined up with The Young Hearts Foundation, to create the magical and meaningful world of Narnia on the James Lee stage and provide a quality holiday production in support of those young people in our community struggling with leukemia. It is unfortunate that we know so many who are in a fight for their life, and Young Hearts is there to help. Prior to the December production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (LWW), PPF and Young Hearts together had leveraged more than $16,000 toward the cause. With the tremendous audience success of LWW this year, and with half of all net proceeds from the holiday production once again supporting the Young Hearts important work, that figure will grow. PPF remains committed to its community, and this continuing collaboration is just one small way of demonstrating it.
We are honored to have been recognized with a “2014 Best of Special Award” by DcMetroTheaterArts.com for our community commitment. DCMTA said:
“We honor Providence Players of Fairfax not only for its high-quality productions, but also for its community outreach with its Theater Community Inclusion Project. “To serve, providing quality, affordable theater to existing patrons while building new audiences for the future, particularly youth and underserved communities.” They provide concessions for each mainstage production, where the proceeds from concession sales are donated to that organization. They provide free tickets to students and their teachers and families and guests and work local non-profit partners- including Young Hearts and Capital Caring. In fact, their current production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is raising money for Young Hearts). We salute Providence Players of Fairfax for their fine work and for their generosity.
A Stronger Financial Base Today and for the Future
The company remains in a strong financial position. Again, the board’s focus on artistic quality and sound financial management helped create a small surplus at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2014. The generous support of our patrons and donors helps make that possible. A copy of the company’s financials can be found on our website at www.providenceplayers.org.
More Great Shows to Come
We are proud of our successes this past year, and have an exciting season remaining for 2015:
OPENS March 13, 2015 – Order Tickets Online Now
March 13 – March 28, 2015
Other Desert Cities, by John Robin Baitz and directed by Tina Thronson. In this searing comedy-drama, young writer Brooke Wyeth returns home to Palm Springs to celebrate Christmas with her politically-connected parents, and announces her plans to publish a tell-it-all memoir of crucial events in the family’s past. This riveting new play was nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for Best Play and a Finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize.
OPENS May 29, 2015 – Order Tickets Online Now
May 29 – June 13, 2015
The Glass Mendacity, by Maureen Morley and Tom Willmorth, and directed by Jayne Victor. A hilarious comedy that parodies some of Tennessee Williams’ most popular southern dramas. It’s Big Daddy’s birthday and the entire blended family have gathered at Belle Reve to celebrate with sweet tea, cheese balls, cards and brutish, unfettered, southern charm. If you don’t know Williams’ work, don’t fret. These off-kilter and dysfunctional family shenanigans can be enjoyed by all!
And, we will be announcing our 2015- 2016 season in the near future!
Becoming a Part of the PPF Experience
Once again, we thank you for a wonderful 2014 and we look forward to seeing you in this new year. As we say JOIN US! On Stage, Back Stage, or In the Audience! We could not do it without you – our patrons, donors and members.
(New for 2015, we now offer you a chance to support the company with a tax-deductible contribution that can be made securely online. Ticket sales alone cannot cover all of our costs and we rely on our generous donors to help make all of this possible. Thanks again for your patronage and support of Providence Players, and we look forward to seeing you at the theater soon)