Any OLLI member may be considered for casting in an OLLI Players production. These presentations may be staged with readers at music stands or may be staged with movement with actors working “book in hand.” Lines do not need to be memorized, and the process requires from one to three weeks, depending upon the particular play being read and the choice of the Artistic Director. All actors, stage managers, and directors are volunteer positions.

See the next sections of this Padlet for information on past works and what is coming up in the near future.

Dr. Jeannie Marlin Woods and Dr. Barbara Waldinger are co-artistic directors.

More information about the OLLI Players and the directors will be found on the main OLLI website: https://berkshireolli.org/OLLIPlayers.

About the Play

The next play reading from OLLI Players will be INTO THE BREECHES by George Brant. Jeannie Marlin Woods will direct this play that was described in Broadway World as “An absolute delight…thought-provoking and heartwarming.” The comedy is set in 1942 somewhere in the Berkshires. The local theatre is struggling as the theatre’s director and leading men are away, fighting at the Front in World War II. The director’s wife sets out to produce an all-female version of “The Henriad”, two of the Shakespeare’s Henry plays, assembling an increasing unlikely cast that comes together to prove that the show must go on!

The next play reading for OLLI Players will be INTO THE BREECHES by George Brant. 

Auditions are open to all members of OLLI. The auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 8^th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Berkshire Community College in Room F102. Auditioners must register for a one-hour slot at this link:

Note, for this production: one role is for an African American woman and there are three other female roles and two male roles (one of whom is a gay man); a narrator (male or female) will be cast to read the stage directions. 

No prepared audition pieces are necessary. Auditioners will be given a scene to read during their assigned hour. Rehearsals will be during the week prior to the reading beginning Saturday September 26^th. Those auditioning should bring their personal calendars and fill out a form indicating their availability for rehearsals. Rehearsals will be scheduled according to the availability of the cast.

If you cannot attend this evening of auditions or if you have questions about the audition process, contact director Jeannie Woods at olli players.jeannie@gmail.com.

Karen Erickson...............Mary

Amanda Schenker.........Alex

Lisken Van Pelt Dus......Fanny

Dan Woods...Alphonse, Mme Nhu, Nicky, Narrator #1

Adrian Alcala....Grover, Yeti, Gorge Troll, Narrator #2

Stephen Goodman.......Mr. Coffee, Gus, Narrator #3

Robin Dore........Stage Manager/Director's Assistant

Director: Jeannie Marlin Woods

Ralph...................Dan Woods

Rose....................Paula Kaplan-Reiss

Carol...................Jeannie Marlin Woods

The Singer.........John Hansen

Pianist................Rosemary Stone

Narrator.............Karen Curlee

by Jesse Waldinger

Director: Barbara Waldinger

The reading of Six Grandfathers and Rabbi Franklin's Model T was intended to be part of OLLI's 1920's project to address the ongoing stubble of minorities to secure their rights.

SIX GRANDFATHERS

Lucy.........................Mary Anne Grammer

Gutzon Borglum.....Gail Ryan

Peter Norbeck........William Newman

Narrator...................Brandon Pantorno

RABBI FRANKLIN'S MODEL T

Rabbi Franklin.........Allan Greenberg

Henry Ford..............Max Vogler

E.G. Liebold.............Paula Kaplan-Reiss

Narrator....................An Krawet

Stage Manager........Linda Halpern