The Westminster Players
Mission Statement
The Westminster Players strive to create a collaborative community for exploring theater. Theater, like religion, is a spiritual and noble quest for the truth. Through theatrical experience we examine the purpose of life and the essence of God in our existence. As a ministry, participation in the Westminster Players provides opportunities for personal development, exploration of artistic growth, fellowship, and camaraderie. The Westminster Players encourage the active participation of all members of the congregation on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. It is the mission of the Westminster Players to celebrate human dignity through compassionate and joyful participation in the performing arts.
About the Westminster Players
The church's drama group, the Westminster Players, presents one or more productions a year. Repertoire is wide-ranging. Among the plays we've done in recent years are Brigadoon, The Glass Menagerie, Steel Magnolias, On Golden Pond, The Miracle Worker, and The Diary of Anne Frank. In March of 2006 was a first for the Westminster Players: a play by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. In March of 2007, the Westminster Players presented the female version of The Odd Couple. The Westminster Players' winter play was Marvin's Room by Scott McPherson.
In May 2001 we presented our first-ever musical, The Music Man. This musical was such a success that we've continued with an annual production, presenting Fiddler on the Roof in 2002, Oklahoma! in 2003, Guys and Dolls in 2004, and The Sound of Music in 2005. The 2006 offering was South Pacific. The music has included an instrumental ensemble as well as piano. (No musical was planned for 2007 because of scheduling conflicts involving essential personnel.) The Westminster Players presented the delightfully zany musical Once Upon a Mattress in May 2008. The musical was an updated and very funny version of the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea."
Drama at Westminster is a group activity, and if you have an interest, you are encouraged to try various roles, both onstage and behind the scenes. The exciting and challenging mixture of seasoned, first-time, and "everything in-between" actors and production teams has brought amazing results. (There are also additional opportunities for youth to participate in drama.)
2009-2010 Season
Westminster Players
The Trip to Bountiful
The drama The Trip to Bountiful by Horton Foote will be presented by the Westminster Players on March 5, 6, 7, 2010. The play is about an elderly woman who outwits her bossy daughter-in-law and overprotective son to board a bus alone to travel back to the small southern town where she was raised. Along this sentimental journey she befriends a young woman just starting out in life. Among other themes, the play explores the power of place and the comfort of memories. Bountiful was made as a movie in 1985 and starred Geraldine Page, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Musical Revue
In the spring, the Players will present a Cabaret-style musical revue, featuring a variety of Broadway and Off (the wall) Broadway material. Director Annie Millett says,"I'd like to find out how each Player would like to be involved with the revue, especially their ideas for group numbers. In the beginning, I'll consider suggestions for material, either taking them literally or using them as a starting point to build an entertaining and touching evening. (Of course I've got ideas of my own, too!)
The dates of the show are: April 30, May 1, and May 2. There will be auditions on March 14th and 15th, with more details to follow. If you don't want to be in the lights, but would like to be involved in the production, come to the audition as well.
It is the mission of Westminster Players to celebrate human dignity through compassionate and joyful participation in the performing arts. Come play with us!
Youth Drama Camps
Occasionally Westminster offers a youth drama day camp. In the summers of 2003 and 2004, Westminster had a one-week Youth Drama Camp for children in rising first through sixth grades. In addition to learning and developing performance skills, participants had fun playing games and enjoying snacks. There was a performance at the conclusion of each camp.
A youth drama camp focusing on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was held Monday through Thursday, December 19-22, 2005. Each day there were activities and light snacks. Here is what the schedule was like. Monday. How many kids does it take to put on a play? Reading and speaking from the stage; games. Tuesday. Staging and action: Speaking from the stage; stage games and movement. Wednesday. Costumes and makeup; improvisation; speaking from the stage. Thursday: Putting it all together! We were in costume and had fun on the stage. (It was not a performance with memorized lines. There was no pressure, just a fun time to put it together for parents to see.)
