The Traveling Troupe visits Shaftsbury, VT.

The Theatre Adventure Traveling Troupe had a great time in Shaftsbury, Vermont. They shared their love of theater and their skills as storytellers—- all while being “cool as cucumbers” performing in front of 230 elementary school children.

"The troupe handled this very large group of students with incredible ease, and grace, capturing their interest and creating an interactive experience that lasted throughout the performance.  It brings me to tears to think about it. I was so touched by it.  Listening to and watching the room of over 200 k-6th graders interacting with these 5 actors in a joyous and attentive way was priceless.  Your and our host's parts in the introduction were an important piece of that connection yet it didn’t feel like you were teaching these young students tolerance and inclusiveness, it was more that you were allowing them to experience it.  That was truly the beauty of it all."

~Elisabeth  (Troupe Member's family member)

Welcoming Two New Board Members

We are thrilled to announce that Theatre Adventure has two new Members of the Board.

Wendy Pauloo

Wendy spent most of her childhood as a member of a traveling troupe of young actors in South Orange NJ.  Steeped in the teachings of Viola Spolin, a proponent of Creative Drama, she brought those passions to Northern NH and taught Creative Drama to children for over 30 years.  Upon moving to Easthampton Ma, she became the Assistant Production Manager at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School, where the youngest of her 4 children was a student actor.  

While still in NH she earned a BS in Human Services and worked with children and families in distress, formed a foster care program for high-risk children, and was a Support Services Coordinator and Domestic Violence Advocate at a Domestic Violence shelter for women and children.

Moving to Guilford Vermont she spent the next 8 years caring for her husband, Dan, who was suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. During that time she met Melody Squires and through that friendship heard about Theatre Adventure.

She joined the Board of Directors towards the end of 2022 after seeing a few of the productions and being moved and amazed at the extraordinary skill. love, and passion of the actors and teachers.  She is honored to be part of this life-changing theatre.

Ora Grodsky

Ora has consulted with organizations that work for social change for over 25 years. She’s a skillful facilitator, trainer and guide with a creative, empathetic approach, engaging groups to increase their alignment, optimism, and sense of direction. She co-founded Just Works Consulting in 2000.

Ora grounds her work in her deep commitment to racial, social, environmental and economic justice, and inner attention and healing.  

Ora is married to Jonathan Rosenthal. They live near Boston, Massachusetts (USA) and are the parents of two amazing adult daughters and the caretakers of one feisty cat. She is the author of several white papers and a forthcoming book on transformational organizational consulting. 

Meet Theatre Adventure’s Board of Directors

The Theatre Adventure’s Traveling Troupe at the Manchester Community Library

The Theatre Adventure Traveling Troupe will be visiting the Manchester Community Library to lead an interactive theater experience appropriate for all ages and abilities. They will share briefly about their own lives, lead warm-up activities for all, guide fun improvisational games, and perform a short sketch from a previous show.

Thursday, March 16th, 5-6 pm

Brattleboro Food Co-ops Round Up for Change

Theatre Adventure is featured in this month’s Round Up for Change at the Brattleboro Food Co-op!

Through March, you can turn your extra nickels and dimes into inclusive arts programming!

Brattleboro Food Co-op’s Round Up For Change program aims to raise funds for initiatives in Windham County. It’s easy to participate. At check-out, their cashiers will ask you if you would like to “round up” your purchase total to the nearest dollar allowing you to conveniently support a community contribution to the two organizations they feature each month. March will feature Vermont Jazz Center and Theatre Adventure.

Special Screening of "Champions" with Casey Metcalfe

Theatre Adventure Alum Casey Metcalfe will be on the silver screen in the movie Champions!

Join us for a Benefit Screening and Q&A with Casey at the Latchis Theater

Sunday, March 12 at 4 pm ET

Champions stars Woody Harrelson and Kaitlin Olson. Woody plays a minor-league basketball coach, who is court-ordered to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined. After securing the part of Marlon, one of the team members, Casey spent two months in Canada, filming with Woody, Kaitlin, and other cast members who included Cheech Marin (of Cheech and Chong), Ernie Hudson and Matt Cook, as well as nine other team players with intellectual disabilities who are now lifelong friends.

Read an interview with Casey Metcalfe

The Screening Raises Funds for Theatre Adventure, NEYT, and Special Olympics

The audience will have the opportunity to meet Casey in person and win raffle prizes that include a basketball signed by the cast, and movie posters signed by Casey.

Tickets will be available the day of the show at the box office beginning at 3 p.m. 

• $25 for a raffle and movie ticket.

• $20 for raffle ticket only

• $7 matinee ticket for those who don't want to enter the raffle.

No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For more information, contact Jon Potter at 802-254-1109, ext. 3. 

Watch the Trailer!

The Costume Shop was a great success!

The hybrid cast of “The Costume Shop” posed in front of a scenic painting of Navin.

We are so grateful to everyone who watched in-person and online.

“Absolutely wonderful, just when I think I have seen and heard the best, you have proven me wrong, it was terrific.”

~ Online Audience Member

“The Costume Shop" was a musical and thematic gem. The trial songs especially Amal's were great.  I liked the screen transformation scene.  Elijah's reaction was priceless...and how much of the show was held together by the troupe.”

~ Online Audience Member

“This was a great play. The actors displayed some amazing skill growth. The amount of narrator presence you worked out allowed the actors to shine and carry the action, but not flounder. Thank you and thank ALL your team.” 

~ Online Audience Member

2023 Summer Expressive Arts Camps

Theatre Adventure’s

2023 Summer Expressive Arts

Immersive One-Week Camps

Join us for three weeks of dynamic and multi-disciplinary theater arts designed for a mixed ages group. Creativity and inspired teamwork will rule in our inclusive and welcoming environment!

Each week will feature a specific art discipline and focus

All Ages Welcome

Attend Online or In-person!

In-person classes are held at West Village Meeting House 29 South Street West Brattleboro, Vermont

• Monday, June 19th – Friday, June 23rd 

• Monday, June 26th – Friday, June 30th 

• Monday, July 10th – Friday, July 14th 

8:30 am – 12:00 pm ET

Sign up for one, two, or all three weeks!

PART-TIME ENROLLMENT EACH WEEK IS AVAILABLE

We will enjoy one another’s artistry and expressions of self in a nurturing and creative community. Summer troupe members will experience story-telling, acting, sound, percussion, singing, song-writing, movement, yoga, stories, poetry, puppetry, painting, costuming, and collage.

Tuition

• $300.00 for one week 

• $400.00 for two weeks 

• $475.00 for all three weeks 

Financial aid is available

For more information contact Directors: Laura Lawson Tucker and Darlene Jenson 802-387-0765 info@theatreadventure.org 

Theatre Adventure receives a Grant from the Vermont Arts Council

Theatre Adventure, Inc. received a $15,000 Creative Futures Grant from The Vermont Arts Council, to create innovative performances throughout the pandemic. "In response to creating and developing our hybrid program, the students have risen to new levels of independence and leadership, as they present seamless hybrid performances," said Julianne Kaplan, a board director, during a Theatre Adventure presentation on the organization's growth and change at The West Village Meeting House. The hybrid model has also expanded our opportunities for participation in community events, and marketing and outreach.

The Vermont Arts Council Creative Futures Grants provide funding for creative programs impacted by the pandemic, empowering artistic organizations to thrive in creating new performance models both in person and online. The Vermont Arts Council envisions "a Vermont where everyone has access to the arts and creativity in their life, education, and community," wrote Amy Cunningham, Interim Executive Director, in her letter awarding the grant. 

Theatre Adventure was on the News!

Thank you WCAX and Elissa Borden!

We are also so grateful for the encouraging comments we have since received. We would love for our Theatre Adventure community to grow.

“This is so amazing! And they gave it a long amount of time to present it. It is also good news and we don't get enough good news.” ~P.L. Alpharetta, Ga.

“Wow! How exciting and creative! I applaud you for creating so much art.”

~M.S. Boston, Ma.

“So awesome to get some recognition for Theatre Adventure and to spread the word of the possibilities for people with disabilities!” R.C. Harrison, Maine

“That was really great!!!” ~Y.Z. Montpelier, Vermont

“This is so neat!!! I bet a new student will come from this.” ~G.D. Seattle, Washington

“The students did an amazing job! We should be extremely proud of them! ~M.S. Brattleboro, Vermont

“Go Theatre Adventure!!! Congrats! ~J.W. Charlestown, New Hampshire

“Congratulations, that is fantastic!” ~B.M. Tahoe, California

“Just watched the video!  Fantastic!  Hopefully it will help spread the word.” ~W.P. Brattleboro, Vermont

“What a great news story acknowledging your wonderful program!  ~S.B. Dillwyn, Virginia

“Wonderful! Congratulations on this great publicity. I hope that others who would enjoy and benefit from being a part of Theatre Adventure will reach out to you and join in.” ~R.R Inverness, California

“How WONDERFUL......Great job!!!” ~A.F. Guilford, Vermont

“Fantastic program. Great going.” ~S.T. Belfast, Maine

“Wonderful piece about Theatre Adventure on the Burlington news. Yay Theatre Adventure!" ~J.C. Oakridge, Tennessee

"Congratulations! that is a very good (and well deserved) representation of Theater Adventure."  ~R.S. VT

Let the Magic Begin...

With great energy and anticipation our students are clearly ready to explore their new slate of theater adventures for this semester. The teachers are greeting the actors with beautiful commitment and an abundance of creativity.

Sher, a Theatre Adventure teacher and movement/sound artist, is leading a very exciting project funded by the Christopher Reeve Foundation. She is guiding the students through an in-depth movement curriculum. We know everyone will benefit.

In-person and online students raise their arms up during a movement exercise.

Tickets are now available for the Wednesday Troupe’s spring production,

The Seeking Traveler and the Cloudworld

The Wednesday Troupe is creating a new spring production, written for us by Maia Gilmour, The Seeking Traveler and the Cloudworld. The Curious Child from last year’s show has grown up and become the Seeking Traveler. With great courage and the aid of many magical characters, the Seeking Traveler searches the ocean-wide world for “the most beautiful art for all to enjoy.”

Magical flying characters drifting in a circular shape with flowing gowns.

For the first time ever, The Thursday Troupe will not be working on an April production, but rather will have the freedom of time to explore stagecraft skills, troupe skills, story development, costuming, and more, as we construct our November 2023 production, The Story of Navin. The actors will be considering the leading question, “What happens now with the Village of Navin?” 

Two Thursday Troupe Actors look toward one another with open arms and hands in a questioning manner.

Join this Summer’s Expressive Arts Camp

Theatre Adventure 2022 Hybrid Summer 

Expressive Arts Camp

June 20 - July 8 (mornings)

Soon we will find ourselves at the threshold of summer. Come be part of our creative and inclusive summer troupe!  We will gather online and in-person on the Summer Solstice and for three weeks we will partake in a fruitful and abundant expressive arts camp. In a nurturing and creative community, Theatre Adventure summer troupe members will experience story-telling, acting, sound, percussion, singing, song-writing, movement, yoga, stories, poetry, puppetry, painting, costuming, and collage.

Laughter, friendships, and creating art in all forms will be our guide. The turning wheel of the seasons, the fullness of summer, will inspire us. We will be together online AND in-person mornings for three weeks.  Part-time attendance is an option. Financial aid is available.

Ode to Theatre Adventure

Watch our actors in action in a new Theatre Adventure music video!

“Ode to Theatre Adventure”

Music by Leslie Kinney and Rich Nethercott

Announcing our April Production!

Harmony: A Portrait of Friendship

Online and In-Person

~~~~~

Wednesday April 6 at 10:30 AM

Thursday April 7 at 10:30 AM

Friday April 8 at 7 PMHarmony

A show poster featuring two actors in silhouette leaning shoulder to shoulder affectionately.

Come to the Harmony Cafe!

Please join the actors and experience life in the Harmony Cafe. Our show, Harmony: A Portrait of Friendship is set in the Cafe.

Dear Audience Members, both online and in-person, we invite you to bring your favorite beverage and yummy food, sit at your cafe table, and join us for a full experience that will include conversation, story, song, and dance. The Troupe members' ideas, feelings, and memories about friendship are the heart of our show.

In-person audience members must show proof of vaccinations and wear a mask. The mask may be removed briefly when eating and drinking. Audience members will be seated at cafe tables in small groups, preferably in their pods.

There’s tricks to making a friend

Don’t rush, there’s time you can spend

To learn and to share

To show that you care

And nurture like gardens you tend.

~ Part of Marjorie's friendship story

crafted into a limerick by Leslie

---

Tony Barrand—The Singing Mentor of Theatre Adventure

Tony and Adam making their entrance during Theatre Adventure’s Fall Finery in 2012.

Tony Barrand will be remembered as a renowned Academic scholar and widely acclaimed musician who was active in the traditional folk scene since 1967.

To Theatre Adventure he was a regarded friend and collaborator.

Tony Barrand singing with John Roberts.

In 2008 Tony Barrand was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Country Dance & Song Society. The CDSS writes: “Tony’s contributions have been numerous: he is a founder of the Marlboro Morris Ale; an archivist, historian and author on Morris dance; and a singer of English and American song, both with John Roberts and as a member of the ensemble, Nowell Sing We Clear.”

If Tony wasn’t on stage performing with Theatre Adventure, he was always in the audience to cheer for our actors.

Tony singing with Liz and Carol in our 2013 production “Enchantment”

He was a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University. To our Theatre Adventure community he was someone who loved to play theater games with plenty of humor and laughter.

We send this message to our friend who has left a lasting mark on our hearts and minds.

Hey Tony! 

We remember so many years ago when we asked you if you would come aboard Theatre Adventure as a volunteer once you retired as a college professor…and without missing a beat, you replied, “Of course!” Soon thereafter you starting arriving to class in your specially equipped van---which many of our students thought was so cool----and motored into our classroom and into our lives in your power chair. Very quickly you became our Singing Mentor and you developed very close relationships with Theatre Adventure students.

Tony singing on stage during one of our shows. Tony the Singing Mentor performing with Susan.

Tony singing in our 2011 Production of “Imagine That Our Stories Take Flight.”

You sang in many of our performances with Liz and Carol, you read poetry in our “Alice in Wonderland” show, you composed original songs for some of our productions---and maybe most importantly, you believed in all of our students and in their ability to learn skills as actors. 

You recognized their passion for performing---and we think, our students recognized your passion for performing as well.

Tony and Cathy performing in our 2018 production of “Twelfth Night.”

So….a perfect Mentoring role for you with us was born and, you know what’s pretty amazing, (did you notice, I just avoided using the word awesome---which you coached me to do!) your presence, your mentoring to “be your best showing up for your life” lives on with proper style in Theatre Adventure---just as in your jaunty beret-wearing!

Thank you Tony!

A Young Tony Barrand in Vermont with an upright broom and a straw hat interwoven with flowers and leaves.

For forty years, Nowell Sing We Clear presented seasonal concerts across New England and beyond.

Visit the website to watch, listen and learn more.

Welcoming the New!

Reflecting and Anticipating

THANK YOU ever so much for helping us sustain the financial health of Theatre Adventure as we head into a new year of inclusive expressive arts programming.

We surpassed our Year End Appeal goal!

Image features a grid of video conferencing windows showing students and teachers smiling and reaching forward while holding their thumbs up.

Celebrating our Successes

Here are some of our accomplishments from this past year:

• Purchased the equipment and set up a hybrid approach to our programming and performances;

• Produced three full online productions, the third being our new hybrid model that includes both online and in-person actors and audience members;

• Welcomed four different visiting artists who inspired great creativity with puppets, movement, music, and story-telling;

• Workshopped the rich topic of "friendship" and uncovered a myriad of feelings, ideas, and memories. This content was the heartbeat of our fall show, Friendship: An Invitation to Connect and becomes the springboard for our upcoming April show, Harmony: a Portrait of Friendship;

A view from the shore of a tranquil pond with a blue sunny sky and green forest reflected on the surface of the water.

• Developed three original stories inspired by mythology from a variety of cultures. Music and puppets were created which will help us prepare for the upcoming May show, The Curious Child and the Flying Horses;

• The Mentors are acquiring a depth of skills in role modeling, observation, reflective thinking, and planning while building leadership skills; and

• Created a Traveling Troupe of six experienced actors who were paid to perform for Sandglass Theater's Puppets in Paradise. As a result, they were asked to perform at Gallery Walk in downtown Brattleboro.

Image of actors in farmer costumes with their farmer puppets. They are framed in their online performance windows. Next to each window is an image of their supporters assisting behind the scenes.

Thank you for believing in the work of Theatre Adventure to help empower individuals with disabilities to have a place at the table---to claim their role as vibrant and energized community members.

Theatre Adventure Winter Solstice Tale

Just as autumn slowly folds into winter and the nights are gently growing longer, feelings of connecting with self and others, with a sweetness of caring and empathy, have been growing in Theatre Adventure all year.

Just as we seek to capture moments of sunbeams during this Winter Solstice season, so too, throughout the year, have we been capturing actors during moments of triumph calling out, “I did it!”

Just as the darkness of this season invites reflection, our Mentors are being introspective and revealing new insights, “Oh! Now I understand!”

Just as the seeds are now settled into the depths of the earth to build their resiliency throughout this winter season, so too, our actors are building a sturdy belief in self each time they speak out, reach out, and express their personhood.

Just as stories nourish us during this quieter season of circling around and gathering in, so too Theatre Adventure storytellers have been riding flying horses, venturing underseas with Selkies, and laughing and making plans to meet at the park with friends.

Just as the squirrels seem quite mischievous as if they are storing up playfulness as well as acorns for the winter, so too imaginations and playfulness have carried us well throughout the year.

Just as the all-knowing cycle of seasons guides our annual rhythms of activity, so too have we learned that when we come together, we express ourselves artistically, we connect with each other and with audiences, and in time our actors arrive and say enthusiastically,

“I am here!”

Friends posing backstage in the Green Room before showtime.

Our Message of Thanksgiving

Harmony: Different and Together

We have harmony within ourselves

Different and Together

Our actors have harmony with one another

Different and Together

Our audiences have harmony with the performers

Different and Together

Our supporters have harmony with the Theatre Adventure community

Different and Together

Three people sitting together outside during snack time in their harmonizing purple attire.

We celebrate that we are different and that we are together

As in musical harmonizing, there is joy to be felt, connections to be made,

and surprises to be appreciated in theater, as well as in life.

Nate enjoying his family during outside snack time.

Thank you for what you give to the Theatre Adventure community,

Darlene and Laura

What a glorious fall we all enjoyed together! The Wednesday Troupe had so much fun exploring our new story for their upcoming spring production, The Curious Child and the Flying Horses. Movement, percussion, silhouette puppets, shadow screen work, and theater games were enjoyed by all---both in-person and online students and teachers!

Listen to an original song, “Curious Child” written by Rich Nethercott for our Spring production.

The Thursday Troupe co-created our preview fall fundraising show, Friendship: An Invitation to Connect. What triumph for all of us to begin learning the ins and the outs to hybrid programming AND to a live streamed show!

Gandalf setting off magic fireworks for his friend Bilbo.

You can now watch our Fall Production, Friendship: An Invitation to Connect on Vimeo.

Wishing Everyone Togetherness and Creativity!

“Ode to Theatre Adventure” A Song

"Ode to Theatre Adventure"

Lyrics by Leslie Kinney

Music by Rich Nethercott

Two years in and we’re here to stay

Thanks to your support we’ll put on a play

To act and to sing and move with delight

Our confidence builds, ain’t no stage-fright

And thanks to Zoom we can come from afar

If we’ve got our screens, no need for a car.

Planning, rehearsing for twenty twenty-two

Got some great shows to put on for you

The Curious Child’s gonna travel the world

With magical horses the tale’s unfurled 

A time to discover and learn without rest

Returning to family and home which is best.

The Harmony of Friends with laughter galore 

Meeting and greeting, conversation and more

Plus other emotions when friends gather ‘round

Sometimes there’s sadness and even a frown

But still we’re together through good times or bad

Friendship’s our thing, it makes us real glad. 

We’ve got actors online, with puppets and art

And actors on stage, performing with heart

We’ve now gone hybrid, tech’s our means

To offer our shows on stage and screens 

Your support is essential, there is no doubt

We dedicate this song and are sending it out.

We could not perform if it weren’t for you

Our performers need an audience or two

We’ll keep on acting, without much pause

But truth to tell, it’s more fun with applause

Or with comments left for us in a chat 

To our watchers online, we give a tip of the hat. 

So come on now, we won’t confound

Our story’s simple and yet profound

Everyone’s included, no one’s left out

Respect all abilities, our joyful shout

We kindly invite you to join our community

Theatre Adventure’s got the spirit of unity. 

Show Day in the Life of Theatre Adventure

Maria was testing the audio for in-person and live-streaming audiences, the live-streaming cameras, Zoom settings, and her own boosting of her own batteries;

Leslie was testing and setting up the mics for the in-person actors, the cues in QLab in her laptop, and her own cues with her fellow tech wizards;

Laura Howe was taking pre-show photos of the in-person actors while they were preparing for the show, and checking in about management of the Zoom meeting room as seen on her laptop;

Darlene was online checking in with all of the online actors in Zoom making sure that their lighting was set up properly, that they were prepared for their lines, and that they were ready to be engaged during the show;

Sher was busy online finishing final finishing touches to her beautiful sound studio and practicing her original soundscapes for the show;

Rich was online connecting with each actor on Zoom, role modeling being responsive, vibrant, and ready to rock out to his songs during the show;

Rachel was helping each online actor become embodied and prepared to express themselves fully with their bodies with their own physicality throughout the show;

Laura was going over new blocking with some of the in-person actors, making sure that each actor was greeted and understood what was needed from them in preparation with the show;

Lori was earlier in the day driving to a few online actors’ houses and helping them with their hair styling, later she was helping each in-person actor get costumed and looking fabulous for the show;

All of the actors (online and in-person) were bursting with anticipation as they arrived for cast call, they focused on their costumes, studied their lines, and interacted with one another with happy and expectant energy;

All of the Support Professionals both online and in-person were helping their actor stay focused and energized for their performance;

Board Members and Volunteers were helping with parking cars, box office, front of house, selling Theatre Adventure T-shirts, and online being prepared to facilitate active messaging in Chat Box during the show.

Family Members were purchasing tickets, helping with transportation to and from the show, taking photographs for us during the show, offering encouragement nearby for the online actors and cheering and applauding for the actors.

ALL AGREE IT WAS A MANY THUMBS UP PERFORMANCE that was only possible with everyone’s support, love, and expertise!  What an absolutely beautiful circle of care and empowerment. THANK YOU!

Announcing Our Fall Fundraising Show!

Friendship: An Invitation to Connect

What a wonderfully exhilarating time we are having experiencing the ins and outs of our new hybrid theater. We are learning how to integrate both in-person and online actors in an experimental theater setting. Students and teachers alike are brimming over with the buzz and head spinning.

Actor’s silhouettes behind a shadow screen reaching out to hold hands during rehearsal.

We are fortunate to have a skillful and talented team. Lori is crafting glorious costuming, Sher is creating sumptuous soundscapes, Maria is managing mountains of technical design, Rich has written fabulous friendship inspired songs, Darlene is guiding the online actors with their beautiful paintings and drawings, Leslie is designing poetic student-inspired slide shows, Laura Howe is gently facilitating actors connecting with one another, and Rachel is artistically inspiring movement and acting.

In-person and online Actors connecting with hands outstretched.

Our actors are expressing their artistry with spunk, passion, and courage----from our online and in-person environments----in our hybrid theater.

We are discovering new forms of self-expression, several of which we are utilizing for our upcoming show, Friendship: An Invitation to Connect. Our rolling cart with the monitor featuring our online actors will move, turn, and be interactive as a means to bring human qualities from the monitor to our production. A few in-person actors will share in a living room style conversation with actors who are online. 

We are having a great time forging ahead in a new frontier knowing we are creating experimental theater that knows no limits and boundaries!

Please join us and share in our mind-bending new forms of artistic expression.  You will be supporting theater that holds up its actors as the great pioneers and artists they are!

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12TH 2021 AT 7PM.

The show will be in-person with limited seating at the West Village Meeting House and streamed live online for remote viewers.