Blue Fire Stage Company will be presenting “[Title of Show]” on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights April 23 – May 2, 2021 outdoors at Parmelee Farm pavilion in Killingworth.
The actual title of the show is [title of show]. Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen, book by Hunter Bell. According to Rebecca Degnan, “[title of show] is a comedic show with a great heart. Jeff and Hunter set out to write an original musical to submit to a festival. The only catch? The deadline is in three weeks! They gather their two actress friends, Susan and Heidi, and set up a keyboard and four chairs. But what to write about? Jeff and Hunter decide to follow the old age, ‘write what you know,’ and set off on a unique musical adventure: writing a musical about writing a musical.”
This show will be directed by Haddam resident Christa Douyard, and the musical director will be Haddam resident Rebecca Degnan.
Last year, Blue Fire produced the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” also at Parmelee Farm, and it was a huge hit. People were ecstatic to be able to see a live production in the midst of COVID in a safe manner. “No cases were reported to us as a result of our show last summer,” said Rebecca. “And approximately 500 people attended over the course of two weekends, in the height of the pandemic.”
“As far as we know, we are one of the only theatres in the state who has produced live theatrical events over the past year, and we are doing it successfully and safely,” said Rebecca, who is also the President of the Board for the Stage Company. “We have many processes and contingencies in place, and have learned to roll with the punches. These two productions were our first two mainstage productions as a new theatre company. We figure if we can keep theatre going through this past year, we can do anything.”
Last year, they didn’t have just COVID to deal with. A huge storm hit last July between the two performance weekends of Spelling Bee. For the opening night of the second weekend, Parmelee Farm had no power! “Thanks in large part to the expertise and generosity of Scott Hawkins and other volunteers at Parmelee Farm, we performed that Friday night via generator power,” explained Rebecca.
Left to right: Kristina, John-Michael, Melissa, Paul
For this production, the audience is allowed to bring food and drink (if you’re 21+, you can BYOB). This show is recommended for ages 16+ due to strong language.
The cast includes Paul Lietz as Jeff, and John-Michael Whitney as Hunter. Kristina Pugatch will play Heidi, and Melissa Rostkoski will play Susan. Rebecca Degnan will play the onstage accompanist Mary.
You can purchase an individual seat (set 6′ apart) for $20, or a table for six ($120) or a table for eight ($160). The tables are intended for groups who don’t need to socially distance from one another, according to Rebecca. Tickets must be purchased in advance, due to health department regulations and can be purchased online at bluefirestage.ticketleap.com/tos Any questions about the event, ticket purchasing, or safety procedures can be emailed to bluefirestage@gmail.com. They ask that you please do not contact Parmelee Farm.
Blue Stage Fire Company is also looking for local businesses and individuals for sponsorship opportunities. Details can be found at bluefirestage.org/sponsorship Likewise, if anyone is interested in volunteering to help out during performances they can contact Blue Stage Fire Company at bluefirestage@gmail.com
Because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, there are additional requirements. The staff will be disinfecting all chairs, tables, and restrooms before each performance. Check-in will be contactless, and even the programs and 50/50 raffle will be contactless. During rehearsals, the cast and crew follow all health department guidelines. Their cast will be fully vaccinated by the time performances are scheduled.
There are also some health department requirements that must be followed for audience members: audience members will be required to wear masks when not in their seats. Social distancing will be enforced and the audience must maintain 6′ distance between themselves and others. Do not attend the performance if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. Ticket refunds will be available, or tickets may be transferred to another date, based on availability.
Do you want to find out how this story ends? As the deadline looms, insecurities creep in and jealousies flare. Will the team succeed? Will they make it to Broadway? Rebecca said, “In this intelligent, playful, lovable musical, the audience is treated to an inside look at the tough work of being a creative artist. Frequently hilarious, occasionally heartbreaking, and thoroughly inspiring, [title of show] is a love story celebrating friendship, creativity, and the pursuit of dreams.”
