Audience Appreciation       —     The Cast Soaks it Up

Murder on the Menu

Saturday, May 20, 6 pm sharp at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St. 

THANK YOU, ALL AUDIENCE, ACTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS.  IT WAS A SUPERB EVENING OF DELICIOUS FOOD AND A COMIC PLAY.

Murder on the Menu–– We had delicious dinner prepared by chef David Hansen and other volunteers, and  watched the cast of real “characters” as they present a play with a little slapstick, a little wordplay, a little confusion, a few twists, and lots of fun.  Five winners figured out whodunit, why and how!    They won season tickets to Freeport Players’ 2023 plays.

Big thank you to 3 Robbers Pub, Bowdoinham, for assistance with food orders.

Supported by Mainely Hair, and Harrasseeket Information Services, and donations from Linda Bean’s Tavern.

Directed by Linda Duarte.  Cast: Henry Quintal, Kathleen Brainerd, Dorothy Shull, David Wallace, Andy Mass, Shirley Bernier, and Peter Nicoll.  Presented by arrangement with Pioneer Drama Services.

Judy Lloyd, Producer–  jelloyd68@yahoo.com

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Planning now underway for Love & Lobsters, summer musical by John Linscott (presented in his memory).  Romantic, comic, dramatic, and very musical.  Planned for August 11-13, and 18-20 at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St.

Director: Tammy Verrault                Music Director: Marcia Gallagher

AUDITIONS to be announced soon.

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Connection, Creativity, & Conversation. 2023 Season Announced!

Let’s re-connect as we come back from the pandemic.  The season features opportunities to socialize, converse, and create theater together. First up:  Murder mystery dinner theater.

May 20, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater–Murder on the Menu.   6 pm at Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St. 

August 11-13, and 18-20 — Musical at Freeport Performing Arts Center

Love & Lobsters, summer musical by John Linscott (presented in his memory).  Romantic, comic, dramatic, and very musical.  Planned for August 11-13, and 18-20 at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St.  (Photos from our 2015 presentation are below.)

December 1-3 — “Radio” at FPAC

WFCP Hometime Radio Hour XVIII.  Our 18^th annual variety show of comic sketches, live music with a band and singers, and the incomparable sound effects table, is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and always a big treat, presented on the first weekend of December, 1-3, at FPAC.

Other programs may include Readers’ Theater, historical figures’ monologues, group trips to other theaters.  TBA.

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In Memoriam–John H. Linscott, 1929-2022

Scenes from John Linscott’s Love & Lobsters, Freeport Players, 2015

   We remember and mourn John Linscott– jazz musician, composer, and all-around super person–and send our condolences to his family.  John was involved in many Radio shows as composer, member of the band, and source of inspiration.  He was part of the creative team that wrote and produced the idea of FP’s Radio show–with an announcer introducing sketch comedy and funny product ads (backed by hilarious sound effects Foley artists), taking turns with the “Hit Parade” music of the 1930s-1950s, sung and played by local vocalists and musicians.  The live band on stage was his natural habitat, and he provided music (playing the sax, clarinet,        ), arranged musical numbers, and wrote a theme song for Radio, used for many years: “Up With the Curtain.”    He wrote the musical, Love & Lobsters, which Freeport Players produced in 2015.  It was one our most popular shows ever.  We are pleased and grateful that John’s family has designated Freeport Players to receive memorial contributions.

 Please consider making a donation to the Players to support our efforts to sustain live theater in the greater Freeport area.  Donations may be made online by clicking the donation link below or by sending a check to Freeport Players, P.O. Box 483, Freeport, Maine 04032.

DONATE to Freeport Players — click here.  We appreciate your support!

Some of our Players share the following stories about John:

Johannah DeGrandpre–“During a dress rehearsal when Radio was performing exclusively the 1940’s and 1950’s songs and skits, I sang a song called “Dream” (When You’re Feeling Blue). It was an early time for me singing on stage and I was so nervous I would not do the lovely song justice. John found me during an intermission and explained that this was a popular song during wartime and when he heard it again he got teary-eyed remembering the times in his life when the song was popular and the sentiment it held for him. I too got teary-eyed at his story and we both agreed how powerful songs can be! He encouraged me like he did many others and I was so blessed to work with such a talented and passionate man of jazz. I will be raising a glass and singing the above song in his honor from now on!”

Ken Lloyd–“It was my pleasure to play music with John Linscott for 7 or 8 years when he was in his 80s.  He was incredibly creative, and to illustrate, my story is about him and me carpooling to a summer afternoon gig in Rockland where he spent the entire 90 minutes thumbing through his thick notebook of original songs, describing each style, singing the melody and reading with a grin the always smart and often funny lyrics.  It was a great ride.”

Joe Quinn– “A fun, kind, creative man.  We were lucky to have his company on the FPAC stage.  Now he’ll be teaching the stars to swing!”

Montage of this year’s “Radio” show

 Thanks to our supportive and appreciative audiences!  We’re glad you were there.

The return of “Radio”–WFCP Home Time Radio Hour, XVI.  Set in the Golden Age of Radio, 1940s to 1970s.

Live, on stage.  Original comedy sketches, Live band, Music of the 1940s-1970s, Hilarious sound effects!

New this year: a generous donor is providing a $100 door prize to one lucky audience member at each performance.

at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St, Freeport

Dec. 2-4, 2022

Directors:  Linda Duarte, Alicia Ouelette Belmore, Bernie Horowitz

Music Director: Mike Banas

Sound Effects: Maryellen Carew and Sam Hunneman

 COMEDY—MUSIC—LAUGHTER—ACME! Products–

and more COMEDY–MUSIC– and LAUGHTER!

Radio is a beloved variety show set in the golden age of Radio, the 1940s to the 1970s–including comedy sketches, a live band and music of the era, and hilarious sound effects. The “live studio audience” enjoys the show in person. Performances are at the FPAC, 30 Holbrook St, Freeport, on Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 4 at 2 pm.    Tickets were Advance: $20 adult, $10 student.  At Door: $22 adult, $12 student.

Fans of Radio were excited to see the return of Joe Tanner, PI, and the intrepid crew of Rocket Space Quest, along with other comedy sketches–Fine & Dandy, and At Home with the Bakers.  Lots of great music, from composers Irving Berlin to Burt Bacharach to Brian Wilson–performed by the WFCP live band and singers.    And, no Radio would be complete without the hysterical sound effects ladies!  They were in fine form.

Thanks to our cast and crew:

Radio Cast and Crew: Paul Andriulli, singer; Mike Banas, Music Director, Guitar; Sandy Banas, singer; Alicia Ouellette Belmore, Sketch Director (Wandering Wombat, Joe Tanner, P.I., Fine & Dandy); Maryellen Carew, Sam Hunneman, Sound Effects; Chalmers; Phil Chin, actor, singer;  Giz Daniels, Sound designer and ops;  Johanna DeGrandpre, Choreographer, singer;  Penny Davis-Dublin, actor; Linda Duarte, Stage Manager, Sketch Director (The Bakers, Moose-Calling Champion, Rocket Space Quest); Kelly Greenlee, actor;  Lori Grotz, Costume designer, Hair, Makeup;  Bernie Horowitz, Sketch Director (Mouserator, 3rd Arm, Stuck-on Glue, Death of a Music Man, Pest Treatment), actor, singer; Paul Kane, actor; Don Labbe, actor, singer; Judy Lloyd, Producer, Costumes, PR, actor, singer; Ken Lloyd, announcer; Andy Mass, actor, singer; Scott Miller, Light board ops; Andrea Myles-Hunkin, actor; Peter Nicoll, actor, singer; Kendall Penndorf, singer; Joe Quinn, actor; Betsy Roper, actor, singer; Dorothy Shull, actor, singer; Erica Swan, singer; Marguerite Walker, singer; David Wallace, Producer, actor, singer; Thomas Watson, actor; M W, actor; Paul Wyman, Lighting designer

WFCP Band:  Mike Banas, Guitar, vocals; Rick Bernard, Bass; Kenny Gaspar, Piano; Rusty Quinn, Drums, Tom Dube, Guitar, vocals; Diane Whitmore, Saxophone.

                 Thanks to Show Sponsor: 

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DONATE to Freeport Players — click here.  We appreciate your support!

THANK YOU to our 2021-22 Season Sponsors:

Mainely Hair

Kennebec Savings Bank      

THANK YOU to our 2022 advertisers: 

Maine Wicked Goods Mercantile, Catrina Milliman State Farm Insurance, Petrillo’s Restaurant, Harraseeket Information Providers, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., The Wescott Family, Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub, Bath Savings Institution, Pet Pantry, Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, Ring’s Marine Service, Maine SeniorGuide, Maine Idyll Motor Court, Antiquities Refuge League, Greater Freeport Community Chorus, Freeport Physical Therapy.