Message from the Providence Players Board President, Kevin Harnisch
As we approach the end of our 2024 – 2025 season I want you to know that a lot is still happening with Providence Players! We remain grateful for all the patrons who came to enjoy our most recent production, 2 Across and we hope to see everyone back for our third and final play of the season. See details below and please make your plans to see the funny, bittersweet romantic comedy Shooting Star which opens June 6th.
We are not only working on this final production. Our annual scholarship applications for college bound students are due by the end of May. We are also planning a fantastic, upcoming 2025 – 2026 theater season and, at our annual membership meeting on June 9th, we will announce the plays and introduce the directors!
Finally, I want to highlight our continued advocacy and support of our Fairfax arts community through our work with ArtsFairfax. ArtsFairfax is a 501(c)(3), funded in part by Fairfax County. It manages and distributes grants to organizations, including Providence Players. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I recently participated in support of ArtsFairfax budget hearings (pictured below). Additionally, I supported former Mason Supervisor, Penny Gross’ testimony to restore funding for the Arts in the Parks Summer Entertainment Program. As you might recall, our wonderful James Lee Theater is now in the Mason District, having been rezoned from the Providence District. We are happy to expand our support of the arts with my participation on the Mason District Arts Advisory Committee.
Kevin Harnisch
President, Board of Directors
Coming Attraction: Shooting Star, by Steven Dietz
Directed by John Coscia
In this funny, bittersweet romantic comedy college lovers Elena and Reed have an unexpected and life-altering reunion when snowed in at the airport. Elena has stayed true to her hippie-ish, counter-culture path while Reed has gone predictably corporate and conservative. As the night gives way to teasing, banter, remembrance and alcohol, they revisit a past that holds more surprises than they imagined—and a present that neither of them could have predicted. Shooting Star explores the middle days of our lives, and how we get there.
According to a review of the play in the Austin Chronicle: “We humans love stories. And every once in a while, if you’re lucky, you see a story that stands out from all the others. Steven Dietz’s Shooting Star is one of those stories. There are plenty of laughs in Dietz’s humorous tale, but at every important moment, every emotional high, every startling revelation, the theatre grows utterly silent. Stories told this well don’t come around very often.”
Performance Dates and Times:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
June 6 – 21
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
June 8 & 15
In the Spotlight: Director, John Coscia
Well-known to longtime Providence Players audiences, John Coscia is a founding member of the company. In the past 26 years he has designed and built over 25 sets and acted in over 20 productions. He is the recipient of multiple WATCH awards and garnered the prestigious Ruby Griffith Award for Best Achievement in a Play as the director of the Providence 2014 production of Of Mice and Men, adapted from the John Steinbeck classic novel. Since that production he has chosen to focus on acting, set design and set construction. When asked why he chose to direct this play he replied:
“I really like this play. It’s about my generation. The characters reminisce about a college experience that I recognize as my own. It feels like the play was written about me and my friends. So many college kids then embraced the counterculture. We shared our lives, our ideals, concerns, our ambitions and, of course, we shared all this as well as our deepest secrets with those we loved most.
However, life rarely provides you with the opportunity to fulfill your ambitions and dreams. You have to make adjustments – compromises. So how would two people account for themselves if they ran into their “special love” 30 years later?
I love the premise of this play. I love the way it is written. I also love the opportunity to use music – the music of my generation. I think it is a play that will resonate with all adult audiences, and I really look forward to having people come see it.”
Behind the Scenes
Ever been stuck waiting in an airport? Creating an airport waiting area on the James Lee theater stage turned out to be a lot of fun. We thank designer John Coscia and the rest of the crew (Patrick David, Chip Gertzog, Chris Persil, Andra Whitt, and Janet Bartlemay) for building a great performance space! We also thank costumer Robbie Snow and music coordinator John Smith for using the set build day to work on their part of the production. (All photos by Tina Thronson.)
The Gerry Connolly Scholarship for the Performing Arts
In honor of longtime member and ardent supporter of the Providence Players Gerry Connolly, the Providence Players of Fairfax has established The Gerry Connolly Scholarship for the Performing Arts program that provides scholarships to college-bound students from area high schools. To nurture future theater artists and recognize the contributions of graduating high school seniors to the arts community, we anticipate offering two $2,000 scholarships this year. Each scholarship will be awarded to 2025 graduating seniors with a demonstrated commitment to theater arts and who have been accepted to a U.S. accredited college, university or conservatory program with an intent to further contribute to theater arts.
Eligible graduating seniors must (1) reside within the school boundaries of Annandale, Fairfax, Falls Church OR (2) have been a member of Providence Players for at least one year. It is not required that applicants commit to a theater arts major in college, only that they plan on continuing their involvement and contribution to theater arts in the future. Download the 2025 Scholarship Application Form (in Word or .pdf formats). Applications must be completed and emailed to info@providenceplayers.org Supplementary materials, listed on the application form, must be emailed to info@providenceplayers.org or mailed to Providence Players at the address shown on the application. Providence Players must receive these supplementary materials by the end of May 2025. Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Providence Players of Fairfax Board of Directors. The criteria for the awards and additional information can be found on our website. Decisions on the scholarship awards will be announced in June 2025.
Donation to local charities
Over the years Providence Players has collected numerous costumes, props and pieces of furniture. As stewards of our financial resources the Board of Directors has recognized that the expense has begun to outweigh the usefulness of these items. It was decided to cull the inventory to keep the most unusual pieces and to donate the rest. Recently a team of Providence Players’ bravest members faced the costume collection. Thanks to Beth Whitehead, Robbie Snow, Kathi Ranowsky, Amanda Ranowsky and Roxanne Waite for their hard work. The bulk of our donation will go to the Clock Tower Thrift Shop which supports Northern Virginia Family Service. A special rack of party dresses and gowns has been set aside for Becca’s Closet, a charity which collects potential prom and party dresses for young women.
Save the Date
June 9: The Annual General Membership Meeting – The Board of Directors of the Providence Players will host the annual membership meeting on Monday, June 9th, 2025, at The Italian Café which is located at 7161 Lee Highway, Falls Church VA. Doors open at 6:30pm and the meeting will begin at 7:00pm. This is an opportunity to meet and greet old friends and new ones while conducting some important business. We will provide an update on current and future Providence Players activities, elect or re-elect three members to the Board of Directors, and announce the new 2025 – 2026 season and the names of the plays’ directors. Please add this meeting to your calendar– we would love to have you join us.
June 7th: Shooting Star Opening Party – The opening event will take place on Saturday, June 7th at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack which is located at 130 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA. It will begin when the Saturday performance ends (approximately 9:15). The charge for both members and non-members will be $15 per person and will include one beverage ticket for wine, beer, or a soft drink. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will also be served. Street parking is limited but there is public parking across the street on Level 2 of the Kaiser Permanente Falls Church Medical Center (201 N Washington St). Please come and join us to celebrate another terrific production.
June 11 – Special Sensory-Friendly Performance – We are excited to announce that Providence Players will offer a sensory-friendly performance of Shooting Star on Wednesday, June 11th at 7:00 PM. This performance is designed to welcome anyone who might benefit from an adjusted theater environment, including those on the autism spectrum or others with sensory sensitivities. Considerations are made for sound levels and lighting to ensure a comfortable experience for all. Guests are encouraged to bring comfort materials and may come and go as needed. Those who wish to attend this performance may RSVP at this link.
As for the Upcoming Season
The game is afoot, and the mystery at hand for Providence Players in 2025 – 2026! The clues: a quiet gathering with a hidden dark secret, a family wrestling with loss and the ties that bind, a romance that’ll leave your heart racing, and a holiday classic with an unexpected twist. Can you crack the case? Stay sharp—our season announcement is coming soon!
Member Updates
The Washington Area Theatre Community Honors, better known as the WATCH Awards, which recognizes excellence in Community theater has honored long-time member Robbie Snow. She won the award for Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play for her work on The Explorers Club for Little Theatre of Alexandria. Congratulations Robbie! Happily, she is back with us now and working on Shooting Star.- Make a note! After performing in the Tony Award winning revival of the musical Parade, PPF alumna Sophia Manicone has been performing around the USA in the Parade touring company. If you missed it on Broadway, you have a chance to see it, and Sophia, at the Kennedy Center where it will be playing from August 19th thru September 7th. We wish you the best – and – you know – break a leg!
- Congratulations go to Sarah Baczewski who was recently named the Artistic Director of the NOVA NightSky Theater and to Jaclyn Robertson who headed the cast of their production of Fool for Love. They just won the prestigious Ruby Griffith Award for Best Achievement in a Play. Awesome!
- Welcome New members: Susi Mattheisen & Fran Millhouser. Welcome to Providence Players!
- Renewing members include: Clyde Miller & John Smith.
- If your membership is lapsed and you wish to renew, you can click here.
If you love this company, we need your help! We love our auditioners but we also need help with box office, marketing, production volunteers, house managers, ushers and more playbill advertisers. We are happy to train you. Come Volunteer!
To let us know of your interests:
Since our Member Interest Survey is currently under re-construction, please email directly to info@providenceplayers.org to share a bit about your theater experience and how you would like to volunteer. We will review your comments, pass along your interest to Producers and Directors, and reach out to you when opportunities present themselves.
We look forward to working and playing with you!
Final Curtain?
(Have an update you would like to share with your fellow members? Please send an email to members@providenceplayers.org with the subject line “Member Update” and we will include it!)
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