Town Players Ready For Virtual Holiday Fundraiser
The Town Players of Newtown are in final rehearsal for their new event for this season-that-wasn’t: a virtual holiday fundraiser scheduled for Sunday, December 20, at 2 pm.
The special event will include Always, Anastasia, a one-act play written and directed by Michele Leigh, to be followed by an old-fashioned carol sing.
The public is invited to enjoy the performances through donations. Those who donate $10 or more to the theater will receive a link to watch the show online. Visit newtownplayers.org for details and to make a donation.
The play — about a disillusioned cop on the verge of a nervous breakdown who believes he is being tormented by a narcissistic psychopath — features three actors.
John Squires is playing Nick, who fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a New York City police officer but now feels disappointed by the reality of it.
Nikki Yatsenick is playing Grace, Nick’s wife, a very talented but unambitious singer.
Joy Harris is Danni, Nick’s partner, a good cop who always feels the need to prove herself.
Writer and director Leigh is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University, where she earned a liberal arts degree. She is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America and the Dramatist Guild.
Always, Anastasia was first performed at Riant Theater’s 2008 Strawberry Festival in New York City. It was selected to participate in the Wild Night series, with Armin Parsanejad in the role of Nick, Chiara Montalto as Danni, and Jennie West as Grace.
The script was subsequently selected for publication in The Best Plays from the Strawberry Festival, Volume Five.
The one-act play on Sunday afternoon will be followed by a sing-along of “Joy to The World,” “Jingle Bells,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Auld Lang Syne.”
Amy Cabot and Leif and Clara Smith will lead the caroling.