A Message from Kevin Harnisch, Board of Directors President
We kick off our new, exciting season with a witty romantic comedy. Like an episode of “Mad Men” or a rerun of “Laugh-In,” Abe Burrows’ fizzy comedy Cactus Flower is rooted in the sixties. Set in 1960s Manhattan, the story became a massive Broadway hit and was later adapted into a 1969 film. Directed by Jayne Victor, Cactus Flower brings this lighthearted, classic comedy to vibrant life.
Our second show is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This unconventional interpretation of the Christmas story challenges the community’s perceptions and ultimately leads to a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of the nativity.
Continuing our strong commitment to community engagement and youth development, PPF sustained its community outreach initiatives, including:
- The Gerry Connolly Scholarship for the Performing Arts: In 2026, PPF awarded three $2,000 scholarships to college-bound seniors with a demonstrated commitment to theater arts, supporting the next generation of theater artists.
- Free Tickets and Student Previews: Recognizing financial barriers to the arts, PPF provided free tickets to underserved youth and their families, along with special free student previews to ensure accessibility to theater experiences. Additionally, we provided free tickets to the Lincolnia Senior Center for a fun and well-appreciated night out.
- Mason Arts Council: Providence Players is a proud member of the Mason District Arts Council and a sponsor of the Mason Art Festival scheduled for October 17th. More details can be found in this Webletter.
As many of you might have already noticed, our ticketing platform has changed. The new box office software is intended to set the stage for patron engagement from the first interaction. The software integrates online ticket sales, digital check-ins, real-time tracking, and automated marketing into a centralized operational hub to improve the patron experience.
Establishing box office best practices is essential for our organization’s success. Our intention is to:
- Elevate your patron experience with accurate seating charts, ticket scanning, and mobile-friendly e-tickets.
- Streamline your processes by managing all your front-of-house needs in one consolidated box office management platform.
Community Theater success relies on you—our dedicated members, our patrons, and fantastic audiences! Thank you for your patronage.
Looking forward to seeing you at the theater!
Kevin Harnisch
President, Board of Directors
Our October Production!
Cactus Flower
by Abe Burrows
Directed by Jayne Victor
A charming tangle of love, lies, and unexpected truths, Cactus Flower brings classic screwball comedy to vibrant life. When a smooth-talking dentist invents a fictional wife to avoid committing to his young girlfriend, he never imagines she’ll insist on meeting this elusive spouse. Enter his devoted (and secretly smitten) assistant, who is recruited to play the part.
What follows is a delightful game of disguise and discovery, where hearts are revealed in the most surprising ways. Witty, romantic, and irresistibly fun, this beloved comedy reminds us that love has a way of blooming when we least expect it.
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 thru Oct. 24
Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 18
James Lee Community Center Theater: 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA, 22042
Spotlight on the Director: Jayne Victor
by Tina Thronson
Have you met my friend the irrepressible Jayne Victor? You wouldn’t forget her if you had. She is smart, dynamic, multi-talented and one of the funniest women I know. For the sake of this discussion, funny is the most important quality since she has either directed or acted in some of our most hilarious productions. As examples I give you The Glass Mendacity the Tennessee Williams parody in which one of the characters was a mannequin and the amusing yet moving Surviving Grace which she directed as a TV sit-com. Happily, Jayne is bringing her creative talent to directing our October production, Cactus Flower, by Abe Burrows.
When I asked her why she chose to direct this lightweight period piece, she straightened me right out.
“Don’t call this a lightweight period piece! I view it as a modern play that happens to have been written during a pivotal time in our history, the 1960s. The recent passing of Gloria Steinem should remind us of the significant changes taking place for women in the ‘60s. Rules started to shift, women were gaining more control of their lives, they were starting to stick up for themselves, and men were having to face this new reality. The play is about transformation. It mirrors these changes but in a very clever and witty manner”.
I asked if she was tempted to update the timeframe of the show. Her reply?
“Absolutely not! I loved Peter Max’s artwork, was into flower power, the British invasion, and I thought Twiggy was totally cool. The script is a perfect reflection of the times and is so beautifully written that I won’t change a word. Anyone who doesn’t like it needs to realize it echoes the time in which it was written.
The playwright was comedy legend Abe Burrows who co-wrote Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Can-Can. Cactus Flower is incredibly well written. It provides comedic gold and human gold on almost every page”.
“I return home from each rehearsal more energized than when I left and the actors seem to be having a ball too. I hope the audience will have fun as well. I think they will enjoy the foibles of these characters but also be able to relate to them. It’s not a play about misogyny or men vs women, it’s about humanity. It’s about self-discovery, love, deception, the jams we get into, and the ridiculous lengths people go to in the pursuit of happiness”.
Spotlight on the Set Designer: Kevin Jahns
by Tina Thronson
Kevin and Sheryl Jahns began their PPF journey as audience members. After all, they did not want to miss any opportunity to see their friends, longtime PPF members Mike Donahue and Jayne Victor, on stage. It was with this introduction that Kevin became intrigued by the sets. He was particularly fascinated by how they were built, especially given the limited space available on stage.
Along with wife Sheryl, they busied themselves in DIY home improvement projects like building a treehouse for their sons and found creative expression in making Halloween costumes and the accompanying “vehicles” such as a fireman and dalmatian in a firetruck, and Batman and Robin in the Batmobile. However, when Jayne asked Kevin to help out at a set build, he found that he enjoyed both the work and the group.
“I met some of the creative people behind the sets and they really made me feel welcome so I continued to volunteer on set builds whenever I could.
When Jayne directed Surviving Grace, she took a chance and asked me to design the set. This was my first venture into theater, and with Mike’s and her guidance—and patience—it was both educational and fun to see the design come together.
So, when Jayne asked me to design the set again for Cactus Flower, I didn’t hesitate. I’m really happy with the way the set turned out, thanks in large part to the creative input from both Jayne and Ali Zaikouk, our set decorator. Once again, it took a large group of both seasoned and new volunteers to bring it all together, but it worked!
I hope everyone enjoys the show!”
Remember, dear Reader, it all began with DIY projects!
Spotlight on the Set Decorator: Ali Zaikouk
by Tina Thronson
Talk about creative! Ali Zaikouk has been a longtime member of PPF and has been the set decorator for multiple productions including Rough Crossing, Lovers and Executioners, And Then There Were None, Rumors, and our parking lot pop-up Lone Star, to name just a few.
Although from Arlington VA, his creativity and theatrical flair have doubtless been impacted by having lived on three continents. While abroad he has developed a keen sense of style, making him a versatile designer and chameleon – absorbing different styles, cultures, and the latest trends.
We always feel lucky when he says “yes”. Not only is he delightful to work with, he is actually a well-known, distinguished interior designer. Along with theater set design, his 24 years of experience range from complex federal government projects, commercial design, high-end residential properties, and large-scale events. He shared with us that he is currently working hard in Washington, D.C., making his contribution “to beautifying the Nation’s Capitol!”
Behind the Scenes – Another Successful Set Build!
PPF volunteers came out in full force, for two days, in September to begin to recreate an eye-catching 1960s set for our October production. Thank you, friends!
Behind the Scenes (But in Front of the Theater)
This season we will be asking your opinion at each performance by implementing our new PPF Audience Surveys! You can make your voice heard by completing a paper survey at the theater or by visiting this link: https://forms.gle/HnCGWUW4sHLGtkio6
Please share your thoughts on Cactus Flower so that we can improve your theater experience!
Grant Awarded to Providence Players
Providence Players is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a 2027 ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grant, which will further its mission to bring quality community theater to our area.
Kevin Harnisch, PPF President, stated, “The ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grant is an important representation of local leadership’s investment in our work to bring theater to life and involve community members in this effort. Operating Support Grants are foundational to the stability of local nonprofit arts and culture organizations. We are grateful to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (especially Mason District Supervisor Jimenez and Providence District Supervisor Palchik), as well as ArtsFairfax, for supporting Providence Players.”
ArtsFairfax is the nonprofit designated as Fairfax County’s local arts agency. It is funded in part by the County, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as by corporations, foundations, and individuals. Dedicated to the belief that arts are essential to a thriving community, its mission is to expand support for and access to arts and cultural opportunities for the more than 1.2 million residents across Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church.
For FY27, ArtsFairfax aimed to provide all eligible Operating Support applicants with a portion of their requested funding. A total of $601,900 was available to distribute among 65 eligible applicants, who collectively requested over $1.4 million in awards. Providence Players is grateful to have been among the eligible applicants and recipients of a grant.
Providence Players’ Community Outreach
ArtsFairfax invites you to “Fall into the Arts” with artoberVA
This is a month-long celebration of local arts and culture in Fairfax!
From October 1 – 31, 2026, ArtsFairfax wants you to stay curious and stay local to take advantage of arts and culture deals and free events for National Arts and Humanities Month.
For more details check the following website: artsfairfax.org/artoberVA
Mason District Art Festival
Providence Players is a proud member of the Mason District Arts Council and a sponsor of the Mason District Art Festival – one of the events during artoberVA. Through the Art Festival, we, the members of the Mason District Art Festival Committee, hope to bring beauty and a stronger sense of neighborliness to our community.
The 2026 festival is the result of more than a year’s effort and planning by the Mason District Arts Council, formed in 2024 by local group of artists and supporters in the Mason District of Fairfax County as an all-volunteer effort. The Council seeks to increase the role of culture in our community through the support of visual and performing artists of by promoting community activities, social events, and arts-focused events.
We look forward to seeing you on October 17, 2026, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Rain or shine at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in downtown Annandale: 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA
Details can be found on the following link: Mason District Art Festival
Save the Date
Oct. 24, 2026, Closing Night Party
Rather than an opening night party, we will be having our celebration after the final performance, on the closing night of Cactus Flower. The party will take place 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 9:30).
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!
Coming Attractions!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
Directed by Beth Gilles-Whitehead
What happens when the most unruly kids in town take over the Christmas story? Chaos… and something unexpectedly beautiful. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a heartwarming holiday tale that turns tradition on its head, as the infamous Herdman siblings crash the annual pageant and challenge a community’s assumptions about what the story really means. Funny, tender, and deeply human, this joyful production invites us to see the nativity—and each other—with fresh eyes. It’s a celebration of grace, empathy, and the magic that can emerge from even the most unlikely places.
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
December 11 – 19
Saturday & Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
December 12, 13, 19 & 20
The Father: A Tragic Farce
by Florian Zeller
Directed by Michael P. Donahue
A profoundly moving and innovative theatrical experience, The Father places audiences inside the shifting reality of a man confronting dementia. As André struggles to hold onto his sense of self, time fractures, memories blur, and familiar faces turn into strangers. With remarkable emotional precision, the play immerses us in both his disorientation and his daughter’s quiet heartbreak as she tries to care for him. By turns unsettling and deeply compassionate, this acclaimed work is a powerful exploration of memory, identity, and the fragile bonds that anchor us to one another.
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
April 9 – 24
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
April 11 & 18
Volunteering with Providence Players
To all our members, longstanding and new, we extend a message of gratitude for your participation in our theater community. We are nothing without the people who bring our productions to life, onstage and off, and the people who come to see the shows we work so hard to produce!
If you would like to volunteer, we would love to hear from you!!
We love our auditioners but we could also use help with lights and sound, box office management, marketing, house management and ushering.
We are happy to train you. Come Volunteer
To let us know your interests:
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. Join us!
Welcome to New and Renewing Members
If you wish to renew, you can click on the following link: providenceplayers.org. Click on Come Volunteer and then the Members Resources page.
Share the news!
Do you have an update you would like to share with your fellow members? Please send an email to info@providenceplayers.org with the subject line “Member Update” and we will include it!
Are you in a show with another company? Join our Facebook Group page.
Thanks for reading the WEBLetter!
Editor: Tina Hodge Thronson
Providence Players is funded in part by ArtsFairfax.