SNOWFLAKE AZ - Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama comes to life with Northland Pioneer College (NPC) Performing Arts Department’s spring performances of the American classic Our Town beginning Thursday, March 23, 2023. Additional showings will be held on March 24, 25, 30, 31, and April 1.
Originally produced and published in 1938, Our Town centers on life in the small village of Grover’s Corners, a fictional New England town at the beginning of the twentieth century. The play focuses on the relationship of two young neighbors, George Gibbs and Emily Webb, whose childhood friendship grows romantic. “Our Town is the story of every individual,” states the production’s director, Carson Saline, NPC faculty in theatre. “It is impactful on a very personal level,” he says. Thornton Wilder crafted a masterpiece with this script. He explains, “It's an exploration of the human experience and relationships. Relationships between parents and children, parents and parents, neighbors, children as they grow up and develop their relationships with other people, and of siblings.”
NPC’s production of Our Town offers an immersive experience for the audience.“The goal is to invite the audience into our world,” says Saline. “Members of the audience are not merely observers but are the inhabitants of Grover’s Corners New Hampshire. They are the town folk, or at least visitors there, not simply observing the story, but taking part in it.” The stage manager and narrator, played by NPC performing arts major Kellie Stanton, guides the audience (or “tourists”) through Our Town. She leads the audience through the experience, explaining life in Our Town and who they meet along the way. The audience explores love and marriage and how relationships develop among the actors and then dives into the final act, where a member of Our Town dies.
Through the story, “we ultimately realize that the time we have is all that we are guaranteed,” Saline relates. “we don’t know when our time will be over and it’s up to us to use every moment of it to the absolute greatest as we pursue the very best possible objective in our lives.” He continues, “It’s up to us to appreciate the little moments and the time that we get to spend with those around us, and with those about whom we care and love.”
Although the characters experience personal revelations and discoveries through the exploration of their relationships on stage, Our Town is not a sad show. According to Saline, while there are somber tones, it is “riddled with comedy and there are a lot of funny moments. It is actually very hopeful,” he says.
The cast includes a strong group of NPC students as well as actors from the surrounding community. The production’s main characters, George and Emily, are played by NPC students Gideon Brimhall and Emily Baughman who, according to Saline, “give very strong, emotional performances.” Our Town includes a wide range of characters. The youngest actor, Lilly Scott of Taylor is only nine-years-old and plays the young Rebecca Gibbs. “It has been an absolute joy to work with members of the community and our students and see these actors rally around this show,” says Saline. “Watching young actors who have never heard of Our Town, or seen the play until now, react to it, has been amazing,” He says, “hearing comments like ‘wow that’s really deep…’ or ‘this hit me in a really intense way...’ seeing these actors tackle this somewhat weighty subject matter and really ‘get it’ is impactful,” he says. “I’ve seen eyes light up and have experienced many ‘light bulb’ moments as the actors learn from their discoveries and life experiences and try to personalize the script.”
Cast members Baughman, Brimhall, Scott, and Stanton are joined by fellow actors and actresses (in alphabetical order): Kegan Bjorn (as Constable Warren/BB player/Sam Craig), Strider Brewer (as Howie Newsome/Joe Stoddard), Cruz Denetso (as Dr. Gibs), Elena Martinez (as Mrs. Soames Mackenzie Stuart (Woman on balcony/woman among the dead), Charlotte Merrill (as Lady on Box/woman among the dead), Basil Monahan (as Professor Willard/women among the dead), Ethan Nicoll (as Simon Stinson/BB player), Dennis Pawlik (as Mr. Webb), Savannah Penrod (as Mrs. Webb), Landon Scott (Wally Webb/Si Crowell, LauraLyn Scott (as Mrs. Gibbs), and Beth Trembley (as Joe Crowell).
Technical direction for Our Town is by the Emmy-award-winning Patrick Day. The lighting and set design are by Ashley Nudson. Rounding out the production team is stage manager Janetzy Gonzalez.
Showings will run Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for two consecutive weeks. Showtime is 7 p.m. on March 23, 24, 30, 31, and on April 1. The 2 p.m. matinee performances will be held on March 25 and April 1. Tickets are $11 per person and are available at the door only. Senior citizens 60+, and NPC students and staff receive a $1 discount. All showings will be held at the Performing Arts Center, 1611 S. Main in Snowflake.
NPC’s production of Our Town is made possible by a special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com. Questions can be addressed to Carson Saline, at (928) 536-6217 or by email at carson.saline@npc.edu.
