BENNINGTON, Vt. — “Judevine,†the most requested production in Oldcastle Theatre Company’s 33 year history, will open its 2004 five-play season on June 11 at the Bennington Center for the Natural and Cultural Arts.
The season will also include “The Novelist†by Howard Fast, the Neil Simon comedy “I Oughta be in Pictures,†the world premiere of Jay Parini’s “An American Revolution†and the Arthur Miller classic “All My Sons.â€
Parini’s play will also be performed by the company at Middlebury College, and “All My Sons†will be presented at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland.
“We are expanding our Vermont audience by bringing shows to Middlebury and Rutland,†Oldcastle Producing Artistic Director Eric Peterson said in a news release. “We expect the alliance with the Paramount to become a long-term residency.â€
Oldcastle first performed “Judevine†in 1988. This will be the company’s fourth production of the play that sees Vermont as a Third World nation. David Budbill, a Vermont poet, has seen his play performed throughout the United States.
The cast will include three actors who have appeared in each of the Oldcastle productions of the play, Richard Howe, Joe Butler and Willy Jones, as well as three Oldcastle veterans who will be discovering the play for the first time, Mark Irish, Katrina Ferguson and Sophia Garder.
“Everytime I return to “Judevine,†I rediscover the heart and soul of David Budbill’s amazing cast of characters,†Jones said in the release. “I’m so proud to be part of, and to share, this touching, boisterous, heartbreaking and most satisfying theatrical experience with our audience.â€
“The Novelist,†which premiered in 1991 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, is a portrait of Jane Austen during the final year of her life. To her amazement, the reclusive English author is being courted by a retired sea captain who has read all her books and feels she is a kindred spirit. The cast will include Grace Kiley, making her Oldcastle debut, and Peterson, making a rare acting appearance.
“I Oughta be in Pictures†was called “a holiday of laughter†by NBC television when it opened on Broadway. It later became a hit movie starring Walter Matthau. The story concerns a once successful Hollywood screenwriter who is suddenly confronted with his distant and almost-forgotten daughter who has trekked from Brooklyn to Hollywood to meet him.
In “An American Revolution,†nationally acclaimed Vermont novelist, biographer, poet, screenwriter and playwright Parini has written a thought-provoking, sly comedy, according to Peterson. Parini has written acclaimed biographies of John Steinbeck and Robert Frost as well as such novels as “The Last Station†and “Benjamin’s Crossing.â€
The play is set in the Green Mountain State and concerns political intrigue, romance, a dysfunctional family and a ghostly mother.
“We first did a reading of “An American Revolution three years ago and have been working with Jay ever since,†Peterson said. “This is a play that will make audiences think and, perhaps, argue a bit.†Peterson said.
“All My Sons†opened on Broadway following World War II, but is just as relevant today, Peterson said. The play is set during the war and concerns war profiteering. The cast will include Paul Falzone, a founding member of Oldcastle who played Eddie Carbone in its acclaimed production of Miller’s “A View From the Bridge.â€
Information: Oldcastle’s new Web site, www.oldcastletheatreco.org, or 802-447-0564. Performances at the Bennington Center for the Arts will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
New this year at Oldcastle will be a planned series of special performances for children on Saturday mornings at the Art Center by the Bennington Actors‚ Express — Oldcastle’s second company, which has toured area elementary schools.
This is the theater company’s 10th anniversary season at the Bennington Center for the Arts. Founded in 1972, Oldcastle was in residence for many years at Southern Vermont College. It has toured in five states, performed before the Vermont Legislature and on Vermont Public Television, and been honored by the New England Theatre Conference.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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