As you walk from the lobby into the 180-seat Colonial Players Theater on East Street in the heart of downtown Annapolis, there is a sense of great anticipation that something very cool is about to take place. The set on the stage is surrounded by three rows of seats and features randomly placed tables, doors, couches, chairs, desks, lamps, and often odd objects hanging from the ceiling. Subtle music playing in the background adds to the intrigue. This has been the scene since the theater company’s first production in 1949. Now in its 71st year, The Colonial Players is thriving with an eclectic roster of productions every season. At just $20, the tickets are inexpensive and the live shows are always first rate. Impressively, the entire cast and back stage support group is 100 percent volunteer driven. About 300 members pay $10 in annual dues. The largest donation accepted is $200 and yet eight shows are presented every season, which runs from September through the following June. Most plays have a 16-show performance run over a three-week period. Shows take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings along with a Sunday matinee. The Colonial Players is an important local gem that entertains and provokes thought. Their motto says it all, “For the Love of It.”
Shirley Panek is the current president of the 10-member Board of Directors. Prior to being elected as President she served as the Human Resources director. Just before the current season started, she spent time explaining the mission and operation that included a “behind the curtain” tour of the facility. She described the organization as a, “Big family, that cares about each other.” In fact, Panek volunteered that she met her husband, Jeff Mocho, on the stage of the Colonial Players. She added, “There are several love matches that happened here.” A few nights earlier, we attended the annual pre-season party for all the volunteers and cast members. The word “family” is a good definition of the group. Almost everyone we spoke to went out of their way to mention the director of a production. For most of us in the audience, we might read a few paragraphs about the director and the production staff, but it’s the actors that always get the most attention.
Getting the green light to join a cast is no small feat. Panek took her time telling us about the process, “The director will hold several auditions. No one is ever pre-cast. The director has the final say. Auditions take place six to eight weeks before the opening night.” That does not seem like a very long time for rehearsals and preparation. It’s a marvel how actors can memorize so many lines and remember where to stand or walk during a show. Panek explained they rehearse three or four times per week. She adds, “We do a lot of blocking so everyone knows their lines, and where they are supposed to be. To memorize the lines, it helps to focus on specific words or phrases. I like to find a thread.” We asked if any actors miss their cues or forget their lines. She told me, “It happens and they will cover for each other by picking up a line, or asking a question. The audience never really knows, unless they come see a play for a second time.” But she adds, “It is important that everyone knows the script really well.”
There are a wide range of actors who are cast. The Colonial Players tries to include productions that appeal to younger people, as well as the mature audiences that we usually see at the plays. Panek said they attract about 20,000 people each season and that the theater is usually about 90 percent full. This indicates that The Colonial Players has a loyal following. My wife and I have enjoyed many shows over the 42 years we have lived in Annapolis.
There are countless, dedicated volunteers that play a role including the producer, stage manager, lighting and set designers, music engineer (if necessary), choreographer, stage crew, marketing manager, box office workers, carpenters, and other assistants. When asked how plays are selected Panek says there is a long process. They look for shows that are new to The Colonial Players. A “rights fee” must be paid for the show and music. The entire budget for a year is about $245,000. “Musicals tend to have higher ‘rights fees’ as do some of the more popular shows,” Panek says. “A few shows are difficult to get if they are playing at another theater in the region. Usually, a professional theater will take precedence over a community theater.” Panek said she prefers to call it a “non-professional” theater and not a “community” theater.
The unique shape of the theater presents special challenges. It’s often described as a “Theater in the Round,” but Panek suggests that it’s a “Theater in a Rectangle.” With only three rows of seating, everyone in the audience is close to the action. Panek says the actors were well aware of an audience’s response, “In the back we have a television monitor to watch the audience to see how they are reacting to a performance. We love the intimacy. It’s a small venue but you get real energy from the audience. The actors are at one with the audience.” I had to smile because I like to sit in the front row and, often, we have an actor performing a few feet away. It feels like the play is taking place in your own living room.
The dressing rooms and carpentry shop are well-organized and modern. While the building was constructed from an old car repair shop in 1955, the lighting and sound equipment uses modern technology. All the scenery and costumes are housed in a building in an industrial center on General’s Highway. Rehearsals often take place at the ancillary building. The space on East Street is limited in size, and yet it is a miracle that such a nifty theater exists within walking distance from any downtown location.
The Colonial Players selects plays that examine life, and humanity. Some are funny and others are dark. Many plays make you think about the time period in which the plays were set and how they relate to our modern-day world. In the organization’s promotional materials, they describe the current season as follows, “Join us through trips to the absurd, the sobering, the riotously funny, and well…freaky.” That description alone is reason to purchase a season of tickets. The shows this season have some intriguing titles including: “The White Rose,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” “The Children,” “Book of Days,” “Freaky Friday,” and “The Revolutionist.” If any salty language or risqué scenes are included, theater goers are warned in advance. Based on my experience, however, it is in good fun.
Shirley Panek proudly spoke about a number of awards The Colonial Players has received over the years. Two of the more prominent recognitions have come from the Ruby Griffith Awards and the Washington Area Theater Community Honors (WATCH). The Colonial Players has received more than 20 Ruby Awards and has been nominated for dozens of WATCH awards over the years. The Colonial Players has a clear mission to educate and encourage all members of our community to participate in the dramatic arts. Quality is a fundamental value of the organization. If you have never been to a Colonial Players production, I recommend giving it a try. If you do, I am confident you will return frequently. In our fast-paced, technologically-driven world it is refreshing to watch passionate actors giving it their all for those of in the audience to enjoy.
After a few minutes of sitting in our seats while waiting for the show to begin, and having read the play’s synopsis and the biographies of the characters, an authoritative voice makes a few announcements, and then the lights go dark. A few moments later the stage lights up and the actors take you for a joyous ride of make-believe.
