New Avon Theater Group Reflects On Its First Production

Playhouse 44

Editor's Note: Playhouse 44, Avon’s new community theater group, completed its debut production on Aug. 11 — a series of short plays collectively called "9 Tens on 44." It took place at Avon High School over three days and reactions were positive and encouraging. Author and culture commentator Gibbs Williams interviewed Playhouse 44 founder and President Joel Samberg about Playhouse 44 and its ambitious goal.

Gibbs Williams: "9 Tens on 44" had a very respectable attendance of several hundred audience members over the three days. How did you promote the show, given that Playhouse 44 is still an unknown entity that put on something no one ever heard of before?

Joel Samberg: Between Facebook, grassroots marketing, media interviews, word-of-mouth, and the efforts of our large troupe of actors and directors, we managed to make a major ripple. We were unable to raise enough money for conventional advertising, which would have helped, so I put on my public relations hat and managed to get newspaper, television, and radio coverage. I had anticipated an uphill climb, and that's one reason I opted to do a production with more than 20 actors and several directors; I knew a big group could help spread the word. After all, a sizable audience would help build our reputation, and a growing reputation in turn should make it easier for the next time.

GW: Was it an enormous challenge coordinating all that onstage and backstage personnel?

JS: Challenging and thrilling. It was like one of those old Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movies where they say, “Hey, let’s put on a show!” We had nine separate casts who, led by their directors, rehearsed at homes, at the library, in driveways, anywhere they could. Meanwhile, our technical director George Murphy worked overtime on sets, lighting, and effects, and had the help of four super-talented Avon High School students who became our indispensable crew. The best thing of all is that dozens of new friendships were forged, and many of our actors said they were thrilled to get back on stage, where lots of magic always happens.

GW: What’s next for Playhouse 44?

JS: We have a board of directors meeting soon where we will discuss our follow-up. One ultimate and admittedly most ambitious goal is to have an intimate performance space of our very own one day so that we can put on as many productions as we’d like. Comedies, dramas, classics, small musicals... (No more driveway rehearsals) How awesome would that be—a little theater space of our own, maybe on Route 44 for that matter, where we can make even more magic happen? My fantasy is that someone—a person or a company—might come through with an idea or a plan to turn that fantasy into a reality. But fantasies can come true, can’t they?

GW: Absolutely, with hard work, skill, dedication, and a little luck. I wish you and your team the best so that Playhouse 44 can be all that you want and know it can be.

Write to Playhouse 44 at AvonPlayhouse44@gmail.com.

For more information on Avon's Playhouse 44 theater group, click on this link.