Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Narcisi.
The Regatta Players theater group started off as small ensemble of passionate people who were interested in filling an artistic void existing in the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Former students of Shrewsbury High, who weren’t necessarily pursuing a career in music or theater, often found that they had no outlet in the area for creative expression once they graduated. Thus, The Regatta Players was born.
The group started out by producing a well-received cabaret featuring many talented alumni of Shrewsbury High School in 2009. This paved the way for the actual “birth” of the company in 2010, kicked off by their first full-length musical – the appropriately-titled “Baby.” After the success of “Baby,” The Regatta Players opened up to the larger community of artists in and around Central Massachusetts and the greater Boston area.
Summer shows continued annually generating success and expansion with each production including: “Godspell”, “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”, “The Wedding Singer”, and “9 to 5”. With an eye on developing a full season of programming, The Regatta Players piloted its first winter production, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in 2016. Our 2017 season featured “First Date” and “Evita”!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any Community Theatre Company, there have been struggles along the way, but we have continued to persevere and rise above them. Finances are never easy with the birth of a fledgling artistic business, however through creative fundraising and increased patronage, we have successfully managed to keep growing and thriving as a vital theatre presence in the community. We are also grateful for annual support from the Shrewsbury branch of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Regatta Players is fortunate to be the theater company in-residence at Southgate at Shrewsbury’s gorgeous Flanagan Theater. With each production there have been lessons to be learned and obstacles to overcome and we have discovered that communication is the key to moving forward. We have been extremely lucky that the quality of our directors, production team, and actors continues to be outstanding, well supported by technical crew and musicians.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Regatta Players – what should we know?
The Regatta Players offers a professional environment to those seeking theatrical endeavors in and around Central Massachusetts. Operating under the model of a true “ensemble”, the group crafts large-scale productions to feature small troupes of actors, creating abundant opportunities for artistic development and achievement with every production. We are most proud of our commitment toward challenging our company with varied genres of shows that stretch our talents to new heights. With a constant eye toward expansion, The Regatta Players hold long-term goals of growing the artistic community in Central Massachusetts by honing local talent and cultivating a diverse audience-base to appreciate it.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Right from the starting point of auditions, our company endeavors to create a supportive environment that allows actors to be creative and step out of their shell, while simultaneously promoting performance excellence. We have been told that our approach is conducive to higher level learning and promotion of a close knit team. Our collective nurturing stance has proven to be a key factor to the recipe of our success.
Pricing:
- General admission to each show is currently $18
- Senior citizens and students may attend for $15
Contact Info:
- Address: Regatta Players
Southgate at Shrewsbury (Flanagan Theatre)
30 Julio Drive Shrewsbury, MA 01545 - Website: www.RegattaPlayers.com
- Phone: 508-925-0583
- Email: info@RegattaPlayers.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regattaplayerstheater/
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