THE EAGLET

The Episcopal Actors’ Guild | Est. 1923 | For All Faiths, and None

Vol. 30, No. 4 | November 2018

Take a deep breath. Now, read this I consider the charitable services
The Episcopal Actors’ Guild of America
sentence: The holiday season is we provide at the Guild to be more
1 East 29th Street, New York, NY 10016
upon us. “light” work than social work. 212.685.2927 | [email protected]
When performers come to apply for www.actorsguild.org
How does that make you feel? If it
a grant at EAG, they are
conjures warm visions of sugar Officers
experiencing a hard time. Elowyn Castle | President
plums dancing in your head, that’s
Weathering a crisis takes strength, Father John David van Dooren | Warden/Vice President
wonderful. But maybe it brings up Nicholas Pavlik | Vice President
and the simple act of asking for Peter Von Berg | Vice President
anxious feelings of walking through
help can sometimes be an even Suzannah Grady | Treasurer
Midtown with its bottleneck of Robert Hampton | Recording Secretary
heavier burden to bear.
tourists while you are trying to nd
Staff
just the right gift for your aunt That is why we make the asking so Karen Lehman Foster | Executive Director
Sally* who is always the one who easy and treat every individual who Rebecca Lovett | Assistant Director
Jamie Soltis | Office Manager
asks if you’re pregnant again when walks through our door with the
you haven’t lost the weight from dignity they deserve. We invite
your rst child who is now three… them to lay down their burdens and Council
Mierre Eric Kuzmuk
not that I would know anything share our light, allowing those we Amelia Anderson Laurel Lockhart
about that. help to go out into the world and Tecla Armstrong Julia McLaughlin
Margot Astrachan Leslie Middlebrook
shine more brightly. Paul Cardile Anthony Newfield
I do know how I can turn my Anstice Carroll Richard Olson
holiday blues around. I think about Our Guild members are amazing Ruthann Daniels
Claudia Dumschat
Tina Prins
Rev. Gerardo Ramirez
how I can bring light into my light workers, too. Donating, Bernadette Fiorella Sarah Ann Rodgers
Jennifer Fouché Louis Scheeder
circumstances. Maybe I offer a volunteering, and celebrating with Sam Fortenbaugh Sally Sherwood
smile to those tourists or even ask us at every turn. If you are Meryl Goodfader
Steven Hayes
leslie Shreve
Deborah T. Shull
if they want to release their sel e interested in how you can give your Robert M. Hefley Ted Story
Evangeline Johns Webb Turner
sticks and have me take their photo time, or a can of food, or a check,
Advisory Board
for them. or your brilliant presence at our Elizabeth Ashley Rev. Dr. James Kowalski
holiday events, turn to pages 4 and Zoe Caldwell Swoosie Kurtz
It can also be helpful for me to not Jim Dale Angela Lansbury
5 for more details. Elizabeth Franz Campbell Scott
let things get to the point where my Rosemary Harris Frances Sternhagen
head feels like it will explode. I try It is in giving that we receive. Dana Ivey Richard Thomas

to bank my light by volunteering,

Happy holidays,
going for a walk, or practicing The Eaglet is a publication of EAG and may not be
reproduced without permission.
loving-kindness meditation by Karen Anthony Newfield, Mervyn Kaufman | Editors
thinking, “May you be happy. May Rebecca Lovett, Jamie Soltis | Layout & Content
Karen Lehman Foster | Cover
you be well. May you be safe. May Publications Committee | Anthony Newfield, Rick Reiners,
your life unfold with ease.” You * name changed to protect well- Jerry Vermilye

can exchange the “you” for “I” or meaning aunties everywhere.

insert any person or thing that you
think may need light shone on
them: “May the world be happy. Karen Lehman Foster
May politicians be well. May NYC Executive Director
be safe. May Aunt Sally’s life @careandfoster
EAG is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City
unfold with ease.” Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council
and New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
 Bill Irwin to Speak at Annual Memorial Service
Sunday, Nov. 11th | 3:00 pm | Little Church
Shiner, won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue.

Bill won the Tony Award (Best Actor) for his role in Who's
Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway in 2005. Children know
him as the beloved Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street's “Elmo's
World.”

Irwin's performance credits are seemingly endless—his rst

featured lm role was in 1980, appearing as Ham Gravy in
Robert Altman's Popeye starring Robin Williams. Since then, he
has appeared in dozens of movies: Higher Ground, Across the
Universe, Lady in the Water, My Blue Heaven, Eight Men Out…
he tap danced in Stepping Out with Liza Minnelli, appeared as
For over fty years, members of the performing arts a mime in the Scenes from a Mall alongside Woody Allen and
community have gathered in the landmarked Little Church Bette Midler; his authentic vaudevillian skills landed him a role
Around the Corner to honor and celebrate those colleagues we in the Sam Shepard lm Silent Tongue in 1994, and he
have lost in the previous year. This heartfelt event will include appeared in lm adaptations of How The Grinch Stole
music by Claudia Dumschat and the Men & Boys Choir, Christmas, The Laramie Project and A Midsummer Night's
reflection, a reading of the names, and one nal standing Dream. He played an ex-brain surgeon and house salesman in
ovation. The service will be led by Father John David van Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete. He received
Dooren; a reception will follow. critical acclaim for his role as Paul in Rachel Getting Married.
He also voices the robot TARS in Interstellar and puppeteers
We're honored that this year's Memorial Address will be given
the robot in most scenes.
by Tony Award-winner Bill Irwin. Bill is an American actor,
clown, and comedian. He is best known for creating incredibly Theatre credits include Waiting for Godot (as Lucky, with Robin
creative shows peppered with elements of clowning, often in Williams and Steve Martin, and as Vladimir in the 2009
collaboration with composer Doug Skinner. Some of these Broadway revival), The Goat or Who is Sylvia? (Martin) with
works include The Regard of Flight (1982), Largely New York Sally Field, Bye Bye Birdie (Mr. McAfee in the Broadway
(1989), Fool Moon (1993), The Harlequin Studies (2003), Mr. revival), and King Lear (the Fool) at The Public Theatre. Bill
Fox: A Rumination (2004), and The Happiness Lecture (2008). also directed Roundabout’s A Flea in Her Ear and recently
In 2013, his creation of Old Hats, with occasional partner David developed On Beckett at Irish Rep.

EAG Dedicates Scott Glascock Stage at Guild Hall

Scott Glascock truly believed in the mission of the Guild. Not
only did he serve as our treasurer, he was also a life member,
a member of the George Holland Society, and a member of
many of our committees. Scott had the heart of an actor, and
his talent and joy entranced every lucky audience.
When we moved back into Guild Hall in 2009, Scott was at
the helm of making sure that we had a proper theatre space.
After his passing, Scott left EAG a sizeable portion of his
estate.
Thanks to his generosity and yours, we were able to rebuild
our stage, now known as The Scott Glascock Stage. And we
will continue with our mission to improve Guild Hall until we
have a state-of-the-art theatrical space for you, our beloved
performing-arts community. A donors’ group gathered to dedicate the new stage on October 22,
2018. (Photo by Ahron R. Foster)

Would you prefer to receive your future issues of The Eaglet online instead of through the mail?
You can now opt out of receiving a hard copy and opt in to receive a link to a downloadable PDF version,
by emailing EAG’s Of ce Manager Jamie Soltis at [email protected].
 S Y Li h
D na
I think it's no accident that the Guild was founded in the started offering them a "holiday meal in a bag" when
month of December way back in 1923. This is a time of they came to pick up their grants. Each reusable
year when it makes us especially happy to be able to grocery bag contains all of the xings for an easy-to-
give to others. As holiday decorations start to go up and prepare traditional holiday meal. This treat from the
many of us are enjoying checking out the latest Actors Pantry was so well-received by our CHF families
production of A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker, the that, last year, we started offering meals to some of our
whole EAG family can feel good that for nearly 100 senior clients as well. It brought a smile to their faces,
years the Episcopal Actors’ Guild has been here to help and to ours.
make this season a bit brighter for the actors, singers,
Want to help us ll some stockings…I mean, grocery
and dancers who are instrumental in creating so many
bags? Now through Monday, November 26, we are
of the things that bring us joy all year round.
collecting the following items to complete this year's
Unfortunately, for many of the performers we assist, this holiday meal bags: mashed potatoes, stuf ng, gravy,
season is as stressful as it is magical. Thanks to the honey, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Bring one (or
Florence James Children's Holiday Fund (CHF), EAG is more) of these items to our next Tired Old Queen Movie
able to make things merrier by offering additional Night (Monday, November 5), to the Memorial Service,
nancial grants to clients with children at home to or to Actors Night (Tuesday, November 20). Can't make
address holiday needs. Funding for this amazing it here in person? You can order non-perishable food
program comes from the generous donations of items to be shipped directly to Guild Hall. (If you order
members like you, as well as from the collections taken from smile.amazon.com and designate EAG as your
in the Little Church during our Annual Memorial Service charity of choice, Amazon will donate a portion of the
(Sunday, November 11, at 3 pm) and Lessons & Carols purchase price back to the Guild!)
service (Monday, December 17, at 6 pm).
We promise, just like the song says, if you help us to
Three years ago, we thought it would be nice to do a “make someone happy” this holiday season, “you’ll be
little something extra for our CHF recipients, so we happy, too.” —Rebecca Lovett

V n Dec ra
T esd ,N 27 2-5 We esd , De 12 10:30

On Giving Tuesday (aka the Tuesday after Haul out the holly! One of our best traditions at the
Thanksgiving, November 27), we'll need all elves on Guild is decorating the large tree in the Church every
deck to help: year. Join Guild President Elowyn Castle and all your
Guild friends as we make this year’s tree the most
 Assemble this year's holiday meals
spectacular ever.
 Decorate Guild Hall
We will provide bagels, coffee, holiday music, and lots
 AND make cards for clients and members who of great conversation.
could use a pick-me-up around this time of year.

If you can help on 11/27 or 12/12, email [email protected] to let us know!

i H id Seas !
C ra
M nd , De 10 ,7 M nd , De 17 ,6
S Ros n Sh n F Le s n & C r l S i f l e
O F v i T ng H id P /O Mi

Shana Farr and Steve Ross are teaming up to Welcome another holiday season with music and
bring in the holiday season with a mix of seasonal reflection in the Little Church, then head upstairs
and Christmas classics with some favorites from for a festive open mic. Please consider bringing
the Great American Songbook. a food item to be enjoyed at the party!
Guild Hall | Suggested: $20 ($15 EAG) Little Church | Free and Open to All

B ea G
Yog M nd y a 1
If holiday shopping makes you want to break out in
At the beginning of our yoga classes, we are en- hives, we’ve got you covered with options for every-
couraged to set an intention for the class, dedicat- one on your list:
ing our practice to someone. This lovely tradition
 Give an EAG membership. Starting at just $30,
helps us raise our own frequency and helps us
this affordable gift is for everyone!
shine our light into the world.
 Make a donation in someone’s name. We’ll send
If you are looking for an actor-friendly (and budget-
your recipient a lovely holiday card on your be-
friendly) place to practice, join us every Monday at
half.
1 pm for $10. Actor, dancer, and yoga teacher Jes-
sica Cadden Osborne leads our class with grace  New EAG “Starving Artists” tote bags. Our new
and wisdom. And you will leave feeling as if you’ve version is bigger and better (see below left) and
taken a vacation. can be yours for just $15. Proceeds go to the
If you’ve never taken a class, this is a good one to Actors Pantry.
start with. Appropriate for all levels (you can even  Our New “Mans eld” Umbrella will feature this
sit in a chair). We also have mats you can borrow. snappy design (by Matt Roberson) and keep your
RSVP at [email protected]. spirits up on the rainiest of days: $25.
Congrats to our Open Stage Recipients! Meet Your Fellow Guilder | Mierre
Rebecca Lovett “My foray into acting was playing
young Heathcliff (10 yrs. old) in the
After an extremely competitive application and interview
senior class production of Wuthering
process, EAG would like to congratulate Theater in Asylum and
Heights. Once I heard applause, I
Ripple Effect Artists on being selected to receive our 2019
was bitten. It reinforced my desire
Open Stage space grants.
to become an actor. Between my
Each recipient company receives 48 hours of free rehearsal studies in Theology and English
time in Guild Hall over the course of a six-week residency, Literature in college, I went to study
which culminates in a limited run of the production of their at LAMDA in London. When I came
choosing. All proceeds from these productions will be split back to New York, I continued my
between the company and the charitable programs of EAG. studies with Bobby Lewis and Earle
Hyman and secured work in soap
operas leading to a role in The
Guiding Light. Some of my work, past and present, has
included roles in The Thomas Crown Affair, The Devil Wears
Prada, The Blacklist and Madame Secretary.”
Our Winter 2019 grantee is Theater in Asylum, which provides
insight to highly charged characters and subjects. Their Why did you join EAG? I was a member of a theatre group
ensemble-driven performances inspire curiosity, empathy, and known as The Little French Church Players, and at the same
action. Theater in Asylum will be presenting Totally Wholesome time I was also in a play with the late George Grizzard who
Foods, February 17-23. informed me that if I and other members of the theatre group
Totally Wholesome Foods, written by Alice Pencavel and joined EAG, we would have another outlet in which to express
directed by Paul Bedard, is a totally subversive, totally hilarious, ourselves.
totally prescient satire. Set in Gowanus, this wild play follows Favorite Guild memory? I was very fortunate to see Jim
Wendy and her community from the excitement of the re- Dale present clips from the Carry On movies he performed in.
opening of their beloved community garden to the chaos and They were some of the funniest moments that induced me to
frenzied terror of watching their garden, once destroyed by dig up previous Carry On movies to view.
Hurricane Bobby, be destroyed again by a global wellness
franchise, Totally Wholesome Foods. Performer, living or dead, whom you would like to
see at Guild Hall? Peter Von Berg, very much alive. I can’t
Our Summer 2019 grantee is Ripple Effect Artists (REA). REA begin to thank Peter enough for creating “Actors Night,” an on
addresses injustice and causes social impact through art— -going laboratory where a performer can experiment doing a
primarily by producing masterful plays—presenting them along monologue, song, or scene from a play or movie. He has
with talk-back discussions in partnership with educators and created a non-judgmental atmosphere where creativity flows
advocacy groups. Through theatre and the arts, their goal is to every third Tuesday of the month
cultivate empathy, shift audiences from apathy to action, and
create a ripple effect in the larger community. Favorite line from a movie or play? The opening line
from the movie The Go-Between: “The past is a foreign
REA will be presenting 2071: The World We'll Leave Our country: they do things differently there.” This movie was
Grandchildren, co-authored by climate scientist Chris Rapley directed by Joseph Losey, with a screenplay by Harold Pinter,
and playwright Duncan McMillan. (2071 was rst performed in from a novel by L.P. Hartley. It’s a richly layered, spellbinding
2014 at the Royal Court Theatre in London.) This play story about the past, the present, and the mysteries of the
illuminates a timely and serious issue by asking the questions: human heart.
How has the climate changed in the past? How is it changing
now? How do we know? And what kind of a future do we want In heaven, there’s a Sardi’s. Who is at your table?
to create? REA’s 2071 will be running August 1-11. Jesus, Montgomery Clift, Tennessee Williams, Bobby Lewis,
Sir Ralph Richardson, Peter Sellers, Jeanne Moreau.
Stay tuned for details on show times and ticket prices.

Join Us in Welcoming Our New Members!

Pascale Armand Sergei Burbank Steven Fales Kingmelvin Katie Palmer Jamal Rana
Jason Babinsky Ray Claiborne Steven Finkelstein Rachel Leslie Alice Pencavel Sam Rosenthal
Paul Bedard Elaine Clayman Judith Heineman Ernest Morrow Margarett Perry Courtney Sweeting
Matthew Boston Matilde Deferrari Tyrone Henderson Mark Nadler Christine Powers Jo Marie Triolo
 Turnley’s Turns… EAG Members Appear on Stage and Screen | Rebecca Lovett
...Linda Amiel Burn's November/December ...Judy Frank will be reprising her one- ...Camille Savitz was back at Parnell's with
The Singing Experience workshop ('Tis woman show Notes to Wherever at Cherry Camille's Great Sing-a-long and Open Mic
The Season) takes place on Thursday Lane Theatre this December 11-22 as a on October 4...
evenings (6:30-9:30) beginning on bene t for The Actors Fund... ...Leslie Middlebrook was part of the cast
November 8. Space is limited. For more ...Laura Shapiro performed Last Gasp! at of Opera After Hours' Sweet Surrender at
information or to register, please visit Jamaica Performing Arts Center as part of the Bernie Wohl Center on October 6...
www.SingingExperience.com... the Making Moves Dance Festival on ...Scenes from Grisela Steiner's
...Sally Sherwood is a part of the cast of September 21 and at the Bronx Academy screenplay The Goddess in Exile were
Noises Off (a Snarks/Amateur Comedy of Arts and Dance as part of BAAD! and continued in the October online issue of
Club co-production) playing now through Reimaging Present "Persistent Voices" on Scene4...
November 17 at Amateur Comedy Club. October 28...
Directed by Elowyn Castle. Costumes by ...The original Off Broadway cast recording
… Mark Nadler appeared in Gaby, Mon of Wicked Clone (written, arranged, and
Liz Apgar… Amour at the Théâtre Déjazet in Paris on performed by Gabriela and Mihaela
...Don’t miss St. Mark’s Gospel: Onstage, September 24 and 25, with KT Sullivan in Modorcea – the multi-talented Indiggo
The Performance and Seminar Event with Almost Like Being in Love at Greenroom Twins) was released in September...
Tom Bair at Saint Thomas Church. On 42 here in NYC on October 14, and at
November 14, Tom presents a storytelling Dino's Backstage in Philadelphia in I Love … The second (soft-cover) edition of
performance of the entirety of the Gospel a Piano on October 19 and 20... William Raucher’s The Death Camp
of Saint Mark. Then, on November 15, Magicians, and the hard-cover edition of
...Richard Holbrook performed in his show his tribute to one of the world’s greatest
Tom presents a seminar exploring the Richard Holbrook: It's Time for a Love
genius and impact of this gospel... escape artists, Hardeen: Monarch of
Song: The Lyrics of Alan Jay Lerner: A Manacles, are both available now at
...Teri Black and Eric Kuzmuk will appear Centennial Celebration at Don't Tell Mama www.1878press.com…
in Break A Leg Productions’ reading of on September 24, October 1, 8, and 15...
Light Up the Sky at the Bloomingdale ...Jessica Sherr was nominated for Best
...Steve Ross was back at Birdland with his Actress at the Cutting Room International
Library on November 17… show Steve Ross: An American in Paris on Film Festival for her work in the short lm
October 1... Scratch This…

Two on the Aisle | Jerry Vermilye Beyond the Fourth Wall | Mervyn Kaufman
In 2010, your columnist published The Boothbay The holidays were coming, and visiting college friends
Playhouse, a volume detailing the history (1937-1974) of a asked me to join them at a preview of Oliver!, a hit musical
noteworthy Maine stock venue wherein he had once from London. My classmate, Larry, was an earnest and
happily toiled. Nowadays, the Playhouse remains quiet but incisive theatre critic; his wife, Ellie, an aspiring actress
noticeable on Route 27 between Boothbay and eager to see Joe, an old high school friend, onstage. He'd
Edgecomb, its façade well maintained, but its interior now been recruited to join the cast of mostly transplanted Brits.
utilized as a storage facility. As the house lights dimmed, Ellie whispered that Joe had
said working with Georgia Brown, one of the stars, was
Eighty-one years ago, before the advent of multiple-choice
dif cult. "Watch for him—he plays the bartender."
home entertainment, there was the “Strawhat Circuit,”
consisting of summer theatres that sprang up during the Joe's scene involved an angry confrontation during which
Twenties and Thirties. The Boothbay Playhouse was the Bill Sikes beats and throws Nancy to the ground. The
inspiration of two stage-struck Boston men who, with the lights dimmed, and Ms. Brown—looking appropriately
backing of one’s indulgent father, purchased an old farm anguished—rose to her feet and began her signature
property, razed the barn and replaced it with a barnlike, number, "As Long as He Needs Me." Behind her, I saw the
state-of-the-art theatre. bartender carefully collecting barware on a tray and
tiptoeing off the stage. He lifted each bottle and glass as
With a roster of fteen non-union actors, some of whom
though it was precious.
would double “behind the scenes,” the producer-directors
mapped out an inaugural season of ten plays in ten weeks, I started to laugh—uncontrollably—and was roundly
opening with Eugene O’Neill’s atypical family comedy, Ah, shushed. I mean, if there was anyone in the company that
Wilderness!. Each play would have four weekend Georgia Brown would've been dif cult with, it was poor
performances, including a matinee. Unbelievably, tickets Joe! At some performance, he must've let the glassware
ranged from fty cents to a dollar, plus tax. As for the clink during her number—and was severely admonished.
resident company, they received room and board, plus
I hope he was paid well for the abuse he suffered.
$1.50 per week for “incidentals”! Imagine that today.
 X
New York, NY 10016
1 East 29th Street
The Episcopal Actors’ Guild
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