The History of The Milton Players: 89 Years in the Making
By Marguerite Chapman, Peggy Murphy and Stephen Hamilton
- 1933
1933 – Ronald Bridges
1933 – Ronald Bridges
January 1, 1933
Ronald Bridges, Director of the Association - 1934
1933-1934 – Louise B. Draper
1933-1934 – Louise B. Draper
April 12, 1934
Three One-Act Plays:
“Where But In America” Louise Draper
“The Man Who Wouldn’t Go To Heaven” Jessica Scannell
“Miltopia” (by A.E. Watts) Mary E. Keating - 1934
1934-1935 – Louise B. Draper
1934-1935 – Louise B. Draper
October 16, 193410/16/34 “You And I” Frank Russell
1/25,26/35 “Gold In The Hills” Louise Draper
5/18/35 “Hawk Island” Louise Draper - 1935
1935-1936 – Louise B. Draper
1935-1936 – Louise B. Draper
October 29, 193510/29,30/35 “Little Shot” Louise Draper
4/24/36 “Outward Bound” Louise Draper
- 1936
1936-1937 – Louise B. Draper
1936-1937 – Louise B. Draper
November 13, 193611/13/36 “The Stars May Change” Louise Draper
2/18/37 “Meet The Prince” Louise Draper
4/13/37 “Another Language” Louise Draper
- 1937
1937-1938 – Louise B. Draper
1937-1938 – Louise B. Draper
October 13, 193710/13/37 “The Church Mouse” Louise Draper
12/8/37 “Post Road” Louise Draper
2/9/38 “Wings of the Morning” Louise Draper
4/13/38 “The Pursuit of Happiness” Louise Draper - 1938
1938-1939 – Louise B. Draper
1938-1939 – Louise B. Draper
October 19, 193810/19/38 “Stage Door” Louise Draper
12/14/38 “Charity Begins” James McLaughlin
2/8/39 “Death Takes A Holiday” Louise Draper
4/12/39 “Double Door” Louise Draper - 1939
1939-1940 – James W. McLaughlin
1939-1940 – James W. McLaughlin
October 25, 193910/25/39 “Room Service” James McLaughlin
12/13/39 “The Ghost Train” Louise Draper
2/23/40 “Kind Lady” James McLaughlin
4/10/40 “Berkeley Square” James McLaughlin - 1940
1940-1941 – James W. McLaughlin
1940-1941 – James W. McLaughlin
October 23, 194010/23/40 “First Lady” James McLaughlin
12/11/40 “Ladies of the Jury” Albert E. Watts
3/4/41 “The Late Christopher Bean” James McLaughlin
4/16/41 “Hay Fever” James McLaughlin - 1942
1941-1942 – James W. McLaughlin
1941-1942 – James W. McLaughlin
May 3, 19425/3/42 “Fresh Fields” Margaret Beck
- 1946
1946 – Albert E. Watts / Ada F. Iselin
1946 – Albert E. Watts / Ada F. Iselin
March 27, 19463/27/46 “Return Engagement” James McLaughlin
- 1947
1947 – Doris L. Jenkins
1947 – Doris L. Jenkins
January 10, 19471/10/47 “Angel Street” James McLaughlin
4/24,25/47 “George Washington Slept Here” Robert Williams
5/27/47 “Personal Appearance” Robert Williams/Louise Draper - 1948
1948-1949 – Doris L. Jenkins
1948-1949 – Doris L. Jenkins
December 3, 194812/3/48 “Love From A Stranger” James McLaughlin
5/6/49 “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” Louise Draper - 1949
1949-1950 – L. Gordon Swan
1949-1950 – L. Gordon Swan
November 15, 194911/15,16/49 “The Cat and the Canary” James McLaughlin
2/9,10/50 “Ah! Wilderness” Louise Draper
5/11,12/50 “You Can’t Take It With You” Edith Chute - 1950
1950-1951 – L. Gordon Swan
1950-1951 – L. Gordon Swan
November 16, 195011/16,17/50 “Guest In The House” James Brokaw
2/8,9,10/51 “The Late George Apley” Jessica Scannell
5/10,11,12/51 “The Royal Family” James McLaughlin - 1950
1955-1956 – Alice Flynn
1955-1956 – Alice Flynn
November 18, 195011/18,19/55 “Jane” Christine Harding
2/10,11/56 “Arsenic and Old Lace” James McLaughlin
5/11,12/56 “The White Sheep of the Family” Olivia Pearson - 1951
1951-1952 – Marjorie R. Hain
1951-1952 – Marjorie R. Hain
November 15, 195111/15,16/51 “Laura” James Brokaw
2/14,15,16/52 “Harvey” James McLaughlin
5/1,2/52 “Pygmalion” Louise Draper - 1952
1952-1953 – Richard H. Schmidt
1952-1953 – Richard H. Schmidt
November 13, 195211/13,14/52 “The Skull” John Hezlitt
2/12,13/53 “The Heiress” James McLaughlin
5/14,15/53 “Good-Bye My Fancy” John Hezlitt - 1953
1953-1954 – Marguerite Chapman
1953-1954 – Marguerite Chapman
November 5, 195311/5,6/53 “The Curious Savage” Olivia Pearson
2/19,20/54 “Our Town” James McLaughlin
4/30 & 5/1/54 “Father of the Bride” Jeannette Peverly - 1954
1954-1955 – John Hezlitt
1954-1955 – John Hezlitt
November 12, 195411/12,13/54 “Bell, Book and Candle” James McLaughlin
2/18,19/55 “Gold In The Hills” ✧ Frances Roberts
5/13,14/55 “My Three Angels” Olivia Pearson - 1956
1956-1957 – Evans O. Schwarz
1956-1957 – Evans O. Schwarz
November 9, 195611/9,10/56 “The Solid Gold Cadillac” John Hezlitt
2/15,16/57 “Gently Does It” Christine Harding
5/10,11/57 “Sabrina Fair” Louise Draper - 1957
1957-1958 – Nancy Vappi – Celebration 25
1957-1958 – Nancy Vappi – Celebration 25
November 7, 195711/7,8,9/57 “The Teahouse of the August Moon” Olivia Pearson
1/30,31 & 2/1/58 “Witness for the Prosecution” James McLaughlin
4/24,25,26/58 “Big Hearted Herbert” Louise Draper - 1958
1958-1959 – Charles Hackley
1958-1959 – Charles Hackley
November 20, 195811/20,21,22/58 “The Desperate Hours” John Hezlitt
1/22,23,24/59 “The Happiest Millionaire” Nancy Vappi
4/9,10,11/59 “The Women” Christine Harding - 1959
1959-1960 – Elinor Roulston
1959-1960 – Elinor Roulston
November 19, 195911/19,20,21/59 “The Desk Set” Louise Draper
2/25,26,27/60 “Ten Little Indians” James McLaughlin
4/21,22,23/60 “Visit To A Small Planet” Olivia Pearson - 1960
1960-1961 – Peter Scoville
1960-1961 – Peter Scoville
November 17, 196011/17,18,19/60 “The Girls in 509” Christine Harding
2/23,24,25/61 “The Gazebo” Louise Draper
4/20,21,22/61 “Separate Tables” James McLaughlin - 1961
1961-1962 – Helen Byrne
1961-1962 – Helen Byrne
November 16, 196111/16,17,18/61 “Auntie Mame” Olivia Pearson Lawson
2/15,16,17/62 “Kind Sir” John Hezlitt
4/12,13,14/62 “The Man in the Dog Suit” Louise Draper - 1962
1962-1963 – Helen Byrne
1962-1963 – Helen Byrne
November 15, 196211/15,16,17/62 “Breath of Spring” Margaret Daly
2/21,22,23/63 “House Without Windows” Nancy Vappi
4/18,19,20/63 “Send Me No Flowers” Margaret Daly - 1963
1963-1964 – Ronald W. Jensen
1963-1964 – Ronald W. Jensen
November 21, 196311/21,22,23/63 “The Philadelphia Story” Louise Draper
2/13,14,15/64 “Everybody Loves Opal” Margaret Daly
4/9,10,11/64 “Born Yesterday” James McLaughlin - 1964
1964-1965 – Ronald W. Jensen
1964-1965 – Ronald W. Jensen
November 19, 196411/19,20,21/64 “The Best Man” James McLaughlin
2/11,12,13/65 “The Tender Trap” Shirley Turner
4/8,9,10/65 “A Streetcar Named Desire” Christine Harding - 1965
1965-1966 – Doris Schmidt
1965-1966 – Doris Schmidt
November 18, 196511/18,19,20/65 “The Man Who Came To Dinner” James McLaughlin
2/17,18,19/66 “Mary, Mary” Margaret Daly
4/21,22,23/66 “Once Upon A Mattress” ❧ Robert Guest - 1966
1966-1967 – Doris Schmidt
1966-1967 – Doris Schmidt
November 10, 196611/10,11,12/66 “The Country Girl” Christine Harding
2/9,10,11/67 “See How They Run” James McLaughlin
4/13,14,15/67 “Never Too Late” Margaret Daly - 1967
1967-1968 – L. Carleton Power
1967-1968 – L. Carleton Power
November 9, 196711/9,10,11/67 “My Sister Eileen” Olivia Lawson
2/8,9,10/68 “Picnic” James McLaughlin
4/25,26,27/68 “Barefoot in the Park” Margaret Daly - 1968
1968-1969 – Margaret Daly
1968-1969 – Margaret Daly
November 14, 196811/14,15,16/68 “Any Wednesday” Louise Draper
2/27,28 & 3/1/69 “The Time of the Cuckoo” James McLaughlin
4/24,25,26/69 “The Odd Couple” (Original Version) Christine Harding
5/30/69 “Mary, Queen of Scots” ◆ Marguerite Chapman - 1969
1969-1970 – Charles Whelpley
1969-1970 – Charles Whelpley
November 13, 196911/13,14,15/69 “The Lion in Winter” Margaret Daly
2,26,27,28/70 “Don’t Drink The Water” Harriet Hamilton/Shirley Turner
4/22,23,24/70 “Wait Until Dark” Olivia Lawson - 1970
1970-1971 – George A. Peters
1970-1971 – George A. Peters
November 12, 197011/12,13,14/70 “Cactus Flower” Margaret Daly
2/25,26,27/71 “Bus Stop” Richard Guerrera
4/22,23,24/71 “Come Blow Your Horn” John Anderson - 1971
1971-1972 – Sally Guerrera
1971-1972 – Sally Guerrera
November 12, 197111/12,13,14/71 “The Matchmaker” Margaret Daly
2/24,25,26/72 “The Bad Seed” Olivia Lawson
4/13,14,15/72 “Plaza Suite” Richard Guerrera - 1972
1972-1973 – Harriet Ryan
1972-1973 – Harriet Ryan
November 9, 197211/9,10,11/72 “A Majority of One” Olivia Lawson
2/23,24,25/73 “A Rainy Day in Newark” Richard Guerrera
4/26,27,28/73 “An Inspector Calls” Margaret Daly - 1973
1973-1974 – Louis H. Jacobs, Jr.
1973-1974 – Louis H. Jacobs, Jr.
November 8, 197311/8,9,10/73 “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” Richard Guerrera
2/14,15,16/74 “Best of Friends” Margaret Daly
4/11,12,13/74 “Arsenic and Old Lace” ✧ Harriet Ryan - 1974
1974-1975 – Glenn A. Ryan
1974-1975 – Glenn A. Ryan
November 14, 197411/14,15,16/74 “You Can’t Take It With You” ✧ Margaret Daly
2/13,14,15/75 “No Sex Please, We’re British” Harriet Ryan
4/10,11,12/75 “Prisoner of Second Avenue” Richard Guerrera - 1975
1975-1976 – Richard Gaughen
1975-1976 – Richard Gaughen
November 13, 197511/13,14,15/75 “Harvey” ✧ Harriet Ryan
2/11,12,13/76 “Critic’s Choice” Richard Guerrera
4/8,9,10/76 “Night Watch” Margaret Daly - 1976
1976-1977 – Claire Crowell
1976-1977 – Claire Crowell
November 11, 197611/11,12,13/76 “The Gingerbread Lady” Harriet Ryan
2/11,12,13/77 “The Sunshine Boys” Margaret Daly
4/14,15,16/77 “Pygmalion” ✧ Richard Guerrera
5/27/77 “Harlequinade” ◆ Harriet Ryan - 1977
1977-1978 – Claire Crowell
1977-1978 – Claire Crowell
November 10, 197711/10,11,12/77 “Harlequinade” / “Next” Harriet Ryan
& “I’m Herbert” Glenn Ryan
3/23,24,25/78 “Absurd Person Singular” Terry Halula
4/13,14,15/78 “A Thousand Clowns” Stephen Hamilton
5/20,21/78 “The Norman Conquests: Table Manners” ❖ Harriet Ryan - 1978
1978-1979 – Richard T. Guerrera / Deborah Field
1978-1979 – Richard T. Guerrera / Deborah Field
November 9, 197811/9,10,11/78 “Play It Again, Sam” Stephen Hamilton
2/15,16,17/79 “6 Rms Riv Vu” Barry Kennedy
4/26,27,28/79 “Blithe Spirit” Margaret Daly
5/20*/79 “The Zoo Story” ❖ Harriet Ryan - 1979
1979-1980 – Ronald W. Jensen
1979-1980 – Ronald W. Jensen
November 8, 197911/8,9,10/79 “The Importance of Being Earnest” Ronald Jensen
2/14,15,16/80 “That Championship Season” Joseph Sapienza
4/17,18,19/80 “California Suite” Margaret Daly - 1980
1980-1981 – Jay Sabatino
1980-1981 – Jay Sabatino
November 13, 198011/13,14,15/80 “Forty Carats” Barry Kennedy
2/12,13,14/81 “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” Joseph Sapienza
4/2,3,4,9,10,11/81 “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” ❧ Margaret Kenneally Spencer - 1981
1981-1982 – Stephen W. Hamilton
1981-1982 – Stephen W. Hamilton
November 5, 198111/5,6,7/81 “The Royal Family” ✧ Margaret Daly
3/10,11,12/82 “Tribute” Harriet Ryan
5/14,15,16,21,22,23/82 “Pippin” ❧ Stephen Hamilton - 1982
1982-1983 – Stephen W. Hamilton – Celebration 50
1982-1983 – Stephen W. Hamilton – Celebration 50
November 11, 198211/11,12,13/82 “Lunch Hour” Barry Kennedy
3/11,12,13/83 “Uproar in the House” Harriet Ryan
5/12,13,14,15,20,21/83 “Chicago” ❧ Joseph Cacciola - 1983
1983-1984 – Jeannette DeJong
1983-1984 – Jeannette DeJong
November 10, 198311/10,11,12,13/83 “Deathtrap” Harriet Ryan
3/8,9,10,11,16,17/84 “Company” ❧ Eugene Blackman
5/17,18,19,20/84 “How The Other Half Loves” Ronald Jensen - 1984
1984-1985 – Lilyan Bohn
1984-1985 – Lilyan Bohn
November 15, 198411/15,16,17,18/84 “Shut Your Eyes and Think of England” Harriet Ryan
3/7,8,9/85 “Morning’s at Seven” Ronald Jensen
5/2,3,4,5,10,11/85 “The Boy Friend” ❧ Joseph Cacciola
5/26*/85 “Between Mouthfuls” ❖ Harriet Ryan - 1985
1985-1986 – Lilyan Bohn
1985-1986 – Lilyan Bohn
November 21, 198511/21,22,23*/85 “84, Charing Cross Road” Ronald Jensen
2/20,21,22*/86 “The Hollow” Joseph McAlarney
5/1,2,3*,8,9,10/86 “Anything Goes” ❧ George Stevens - 1986
1986-1987 – Stephen W. Hamilton
1986-1987 – Stephen W. Hamilton
November 13, 198611/13,14,15*,21,22/86 “Girl Crazy” ❧ Joseph Cacciola
2/26,27,28*/87 “Sly Fox” Janice Stephen
5/14,15,16*/87 “Ten Times Table” Ronald Jensen - 1987
1987-1988 – Janice Stephen
1987-1988 – Janice Stephen
November 18, 198711/18,19,20,21*,22/87 “The Odd Couple” (Original Version)✧ Harriet Ryan
2/26,27,28*/88 “Corpse!” Stephen Hamilton
4/28,29,30*/88 “Cheaters” Stephanie Beynon - 1988
1988-1989 – Glee Brown
1988-1989 – Glee Brown
November 10, 198811/10,11,12*,18,19/88 “Love Rides The Rails” Janice Stephen
2/23,24,25*,26 & 3/3,4,5/89 “The Foreigner” Harriet Ryan
4/20,21,22*,28,29/89 “Taking Steps” Ronald Jensen - 1989
1989-1990 – Dawn Crowell
1989-1990 – Dawn Crowell
November 9, 198911/9,10,11*/89 “On Golden Pond” Kevin LaCount
2/15,16,17*/90 “Sherlock’s Last Case” Stephen Hamilton
4/26,27,28*/90 “Present Laughter” Stephanie Beynon - 1990
1990-1991 – Dawn Crowell
1990-1991 – Dawn Crowell
November 8, 199011/8,9,10*/90 “Run For Your Wife” Harriet Ryan
2/14,15,16*/91 “The Mousetrap” Jim Sullivan
4/18,19,20*/91 “Bedroom Farce” Ronald Jensen - 1991
1991-1992 – Erica Prussmann
1991-1992 – Erica Prussmann
October 24, 199110/24,25,26*/91 “Steel Magnolias” Janice Stephen
2/13,14,15*/92 “Don’t Drink The Water” ✧ Kevin LaCount
4/30 & 5/1,2*,7,8,9/92 “Little Shop of Horrors” ❧ Stephen Hamilton - 1992
1992-1993 – Joseph B. Lutz
1992-1993 – Joseph B. Lutz
October 15, 199210/15,16,17*/92 “Woman in Mind” Ronald Jensen
2/11,12,13*/93 “I Hate Hamlet” John Hurley
4/29,30 & 5/1*/93 “Rumors” Stephanie Beynon - 1993
1993-1994 – Jeannette DeJong
1993-1994 – Jeannette DeJong
October 28, 199310/28,29,30*/93 “The Odd Couple” (Female Version) Jim Sullivan
2/24,25,26*/94 “Night of January 16th” Dee Chaput
4/28,29,30* & 5/7/94 “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” Stephen Hamilton - 1994
1994-1995 – Jeannette DeJong
1994-1995 – Jeannette DeJong
October 27, 199410/27,28,29*/94 “The Haunting of Hill House” Stephanie Beynon
2/9,10,11*/95 “Lend Me A Tenor” Pam McArdle
5/4,5,6*/95 “The Dining Room” Ronald Jensen - 1995
1995-1996 – Jim Sullivan
1995-1996 – Jim Sullivan
October 25, 199510/25,26,27,28*/95 “Twelve Angry Men” Harriet Ryan
2/29 & 3/1,2*/96 “Accomplice” Stephen Hamilton
5/2,3,4*/96 “Laffing Room Only” Dee Chaput - 1996
1996-1997 – Rosemary Hamilton
1996-1997 – Rosemary Hamilton
November 14, 199611/14,15,16*/96 “Sabrina Fair” ✧ Ronald Jensen
2/27,28 & 3/1*/97 “Lost In Yonkers” Pam McArdle
5/1,2,3*,4/97 “Angel Street” ✧ Harriet Ryan - 1997
1997-1998 – Rosemary Hamilton
1997-1998 – Rosemary Hamilton
November 13, 199711/13,14,15*/97 “Moon Over Buffalo” Stephen Hamilton
2/26,27,28*/98 “The Sisters Rosensweig” Sue Bennett Fielding
4/30 & 5/1,2*/98 “Wrong Turn at Lungfish” Dee Chaput - 1998
1998-1999 – Dee Chaput / Glee Brown
1998-1999 – Dee Chaput / Glee Brown
November 13, 199811/13,14*,20,21/98 “Broadway Bound” Sue Bennett Fielding
2/5,6*,7,12,13/99 “Don’t Dress For Dinner” David Edge
4/16,17*,23,24/99 “Wait Until Dark” ✧ Stephanie Beynon - 1999
1999-2000 – Michael Bradley
1999-2000 – Michael Bradley
November 12, 199911/12,13*,21,22/99 “It Runs In The Family” Stephen Hamilton
2/4,5*,11,12/00 “Godspell” ❧ Raymond J. Possick
4/7,8*,9,14,15/00 “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” Pam McArdle - 2000
2000-2001 – Michael Bradley
2000-2001 – Michael Bradley
November 10, 200011/10,11*,17,18/00 “Fiddler on the Roof” ❧ Raymond J. Possick
2/2,3*,9,10/01 “Dancing at Lughnasa” Pam McArdle
4/20,21*,27,28/01 “Move Over Mrs. Markham” Roger Campbell - 2001
2001-2002 – Pat Brawley
2001-2002 – Pat Brawley
November 9, 200111/9,10*,16,17/01 “Whose Wife Is It Anyway?” (“Out of Order”) Frank Moffett
2/8,9*,13,15,16/02 “To Kill A Mockingbird” Stephen Hamilton
4/26,27* & 5/3,4/02 “London Suite” Dee Chaput - 2002
2002-2003 – Pat Brawley
2002-2003 – Pat Brawley
November 15, 200211/15,16*,21,22,23,24/02 “The Music Man” ❧ Raymond J. Possick
2/7,8*,14,15/03 “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” ✧ Roger Campbell
4/4,5*,11,12/03 “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” Paul Conroy - 2003
2003-2004 – Stephen W. Hamilton
2003-2004 – Stephen W. Hamilton
November 14, 200311/14,15,16,21,22/03 “Arsenic and Old Lace” ✧ Glenn W. Kane
2/27,28,29 & 3/4,5,6/04 “Guys and Dolls” ❧ Pam McArdle
4/30 & 5/1,2,7,8/04 “The Ritz” Stephen Hamilton - 2004
2004-2005 – Raymond J. Possick
2004-2005 – Raymond J. Possick
November 12, 200411/12,13,19,20,21/04 “Annie” ❧ Glenn W. Kane
2/18,19,25,26/05 “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” Paul Conroy
4/22,23,29,30 & 5/1/05 “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” ❧ Kami Crary - 2005
2005-2006 – Erica Prussmann
2005-2006 – Erica Prussmann
November 11, 200511/11,12,13,19,20,21/05 “Cabaret” ❧ Paul Conroy
2/17,18,24,25/06 “A View from the Bridge” Frank Moffett
5/5,6,12,13/06 “Blithe Spirit” ✧ Thomas Coon - 2006
2006-2007 – Frank Moffett / Brian Delaney
2006-2007 – Frank Moffett / Brian Delaney
October 21, 200610/21,22,27,28,29/06 “Dracula” Edward Eaton
2/2,3,9,10,11/07 “Noises Off” Frank Moffett
4/13,14,20,21,22/07 “And Then There Were None” (“Ten Little Indians”) ✧ Caitlin Lowans - 2007
2007-2008 – Frank Moffett / Brian Delaney – Celebration 75
2007-2008 – Frank Moffett / Brian Delaney – Celebration 75
November 2, 200711/2,3,9,10,11/07 “Brighton Beach Memoirs” Frank Moffett
2/1,2,8,9,10/08 “Columbo: Prescription Murder” Brian Delaney
4/25,26 & 5/2,3,4/08 “Play It Again, Sam” ✧ Richard White - 2008
2008-2009 – Laura Dunkum
2008-2009 – Laura Dunkum
November 7, 200811/7,8,14,15,16/08 “Rumors” ✧ Frank Moffett
1/30,31 & 2/6,7,8/09 “The Shadow Box” Don Pinelle
4/17,18,19,24,25,26/09 “Seussical the Musical” ❧ Justin McCoubry - 2009
2009-2010 – Laura Dunkum
2009-2010 – Laura Dunkum
November 6, 200911/6,7,13,14,15/09 “The Importance of Being Earnest” ✧ Frank Moffett
1/29.30 & 2/5,6,7/10 “The Left Hand Singing” Brian Delaney
4/16,17,23,24,25/10 “Leading Ladies” Richard Alvin White - 2010
2010-2011 – Dawn Labrie
2010-2011 – Dawn Labrie
November 5, 201011/5,12,13,14/10 “A Streetcar Named Desire” ✧ Frederick Fairbanks
1/28,29 & 2/4,5,6/11 “Let’s Murder Marsha” Thomas Coon
4/8,9,10,15,16,17/11 “The Secret Garden” ❧ Vickie Kirichok - 2011
2011-2012 – Dawn Labrie
2011-2012 – Dawn Labrie
November 4, 201111/4,5,11,12,13/11 “Lend Me A Tenor” ✧ Frank Moffett
1/27,28 & 2/3,4,5/12 “The Odd Couple” (Original Version) ✧ Donald Capen
4/14,15,16,21,22,23/12 “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” ❧ Glenn W. Kane - 2012
2012-2013 – Frank Moffett
2012-2013 – Frank Moffett
November 2, 201211/2,3,9,10,11/12 “Steel Magnolias” ✧ Glenn W. Kane
2/1,2,15,16,17/13 “Moon Over Buffalo” ✧ Victoria Kirichok
4/12,13,19,20,21/13 “The Unexpected Guest” Frank Moffett - 2013
2013-2014 – Frank Moffett
2013-2014 – Frank Moffett
November 1, 201311/1,2,8,9,10/13 “The Diary of Anne Frank” Frank Moffett
1/31 & 2/1,7,8,9/14 “Don’t Drink the Water” ✧ Richard Alvin White
4/25,26 & 5/2,3,4/14 “Laura” ✧ Thomas Coon - 2014
2014-2015 – Erin Stulb
2014-2015 – Erin Stulb
October 31, 201410/31 & 11/1,7,8,9/14 “Inherit the Wind” Victoria Kirichok
1/30,31 & 2/6,7,8/15 “Caught in the Net” Peter Kates
4/24,25 & 5/1,2,3/15 “The Dixie Swim Club” Frank Moffett - 2015
2015-2016 – Erin Stulb
2015-2016 – Erin Stulb
October 30, 201510/30, 31 & 11/1, 6,7,8,9/15 “The Addams Family” ❧ Donald Capen
1/29,30 & 2/5,6,7/16 “Becky’s New Car” Dan Delaporta
4/22,23,29,30 & 5/1/16 “On Golden Pond” ✧ Frank Moffett - 2016
2016-2017 – Erin Stulb
2016-2017 – Erin Stulb
October 28, 201610/28,29 & 11/4,5,6/16 “Lie, Cheat and Genuflect” Frank Moffett
1/27,28 & 2/3,4,5/17 “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” Wendy Stuart
4/28,29 & 5/5,6,7/17 “Dial M For Murder” Erin Stulb - 2017
2017-2018 – Frank Moffett / Catherine McLaughlin
2017-2018 – Frank Moffett / Catherine McLaughlin
October 27, 201710/27,28,29 & 11/3,4,5/17 “Blood Brothers” ❧ Frank Moffett
1/26,27 & 2/2,3,4/18 “You Can’t Take It With You” ✧ Ed Churchill
4/27,28 & 5/4,5,6/18 “Return Engagements” Marianne Phinney - 2018
2018-2019 – Dawn Labrie
2018-2019 – Dawn Labrie
October 26, 201810/26,27 & 11/2,3,4/18 “The Lion in Winter” ✧ Kevin C. Groppe
1/25,26 & 2/1,2,3/19 “Ripcord” Peter McElhinney
4/26,27 & 5/3,4,5/19 “Murder Once Removed” Ed Churchill
Early in 1933, three young Milton men – John Powers, Roland Strong and Chandler Garland – with an intense interest in dramatic arts, set about contacting various residents with the idea of creating a theatre group within the town. Of inestimable value to them was the advice and assistance of Mr. Ronald Bridges, a teacher at Milton High School. Enthusiasm grew among others in the town who were interested in all phases of drama.
There were eighteen people present at the first meeting on October 6, 1933 at Mr. Bridges’ home. The purpose of the group was discussed, and it was decided to study all areas of drama production with the view of having a well-rounded organization. Mr. Bridges was unanimously elected “Director of the Association,” and he, in turn, appointed Chandler Garland as Secretary and Roland Strong as Treasurer. Meeting dates were set up and the new organization was on its way! Thus, The Milton Players were first established as a “study group.”
Among several early problems to be solved was the need of funds for play books and materials for the model stage. It was voted to charge $2.00 per year for membership.
By the group’s eighth meeting in January 1934, the lure of the greasepaint and the “call of the boards” had become irresistible. It was then unanimously voted to accept an offer to perform three one-act plays to be presented in the Milton Woman’s Clubhouse for the benefit of the club’s scholarship fund. Mrs. Howard Draper was instrumental in bringing this action about, and she continued to contribute an inordinate amount over the years to the growth of The Milton Players.
If only those original three young men could only have had a crystal ball! They would have seen that from 1933 to 2020 there would be over 860 performances of some 233 plays (of which 23 were revivals) and 21 musicals (including 1 revival, “Little Shop of Horrors”) Click here for a full list of dates and shows. Along with these productions of which the Players are rightfully proud, they participated in many drama competitions, flea markets, craft fairs and parades. The Players also portrayed “Founders of the Town” in a performance in front of the Town Hall at Milton’s 325th Anniversary Celebration in 1987 and they even presented one production, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” “in the round!”
The group’s founders would also be proud of the philanthropic accomplishments of The Milton Players. Scholarships for Milton and Canton High School students, as well as equipment donations to the Milton Hospital, books gifted to the Milton Public Library, a playground for the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children and various other donations to other non-profit organizations throughout the South Shore offer evidence as to the Players’ support of the ever-growing community.
There have been a few changes over the past 87 years. Incorporation occurred in 1982, ticket prices have inflated from the original 50¢ to $20.00 ($25.00 for musicals)
In 2013, the Milton Players probably made their biggest change – moving from their long-time home, the Milton Woman’s Club, to their new theatre, the Brayton School Auditorium at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton.
But whether it be 1933, ’63, ’83 or 2020, The Milton Players have always shared the same interest – love of the theatre, devotion to the community and a deep affection for other people. And the Players are very proud to continue to provide “Great Live Theatre Close to Home!”
(Originally written for the Milton Players Celebration 50, June 4, 1983, and updated August 8, 2019.)