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The Lancaster Players The Cast of “Nunsense”, left to right, Susan Robertson, Anita Mergener, Amy Lewis, the late Sandie Turner, Doreen Robertson.
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Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts Sons of Serendip’s soulful performance wowed the RFA audience in April 2018.
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Northern Neck Orchestra Music Director Michael Repper will begin his third season conducting the orchestra at its opening concert on October 27.
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Westmoreland Players The Cast of “Heaven Can Wait”, left to right, Jordan Rice, John Pitman, Gernard Reed.
When Winston Churchill was asked to cut arts funding in favor of the war effort, he simply replied, “Then what are we fighting for?” Major cities have long regarded the arts as an essential part of modern life, but it’s safe to say they matter just as much, if not more, in less populated regions like the Northern Neck, which has a rich history of arts organizations founded by community members. Throughout the year, theater and music abound on the Northern Neck, thanks to these local groups.
The Lancaster Players
Theater for the People
Because they are a true community theater, the Lancaster Players have always been an all-volunteer organization.
Begun in 1970 by a group of mothers, the group’s program of children’s plays and puppet shows gave way to plays and musicals with wider appeal. During its second decade, the Lancaster Players found a home in a former White Stone fire station converted to an intimate playhouse.
As a means of offering something that people want and can’t find elsewhere in the area, they’ve been willing to take an occasional risk with some productions that might push a few buttons. According to director and actor Mari Bonomi, part of the theater’s appeal is that they offer bistro seating and a social hour, complete with complimentary fruit, cheese and cracker plates. The cash bar uses real glassware and offers a special drink themed to each production.
Successful productions depend on the quality of each performance as well as audience response. If a play has difficult subject matter, it may not fill the house every night, but according to Bonomi, it will fill the hearts and minds of those who attend.
According to director and actress Amy Lewis, success is measured by the impression it leaves. “How memorable are the images created? How long does the conversation continue after the curtain’s fallen? If you’re able to bring out a strongly positive or even negative response—because apathy is, hopefully, avoided—your work is resonating, in some way. That’s success to me.”
Looking at what’s in store for the next 30 years, the Lancaster Players intend to produce more plays as well as an annual readers’ theatre along with the three full productions. In doing so, they hope to attract a younger audience in addition to their core group of retirees and come-heres.
Mainly, they hope to entertain.
Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts
Making the arts possible
Formed in 1986, the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts originated as a funding source for local arts performances.
Before long, it was offering performances by volunteers at a nearby gymnasium and local venues. What began as a small venture has now grown into a leading arts organization in the Northern Neck, featuring performers from around the world, Grammy-award winning artists, dance companies and professional musicians.
Through joint efforts with the Lancaster County School superintendent, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and scores of volunteers, the RFA helped acquire the necessary equipment and funding to assist with the construction of Lancaster Middle School’s theater in 1992, which now provides a venue for many community productions. That same year, the RFA sponsored the Community Concert and Showcase in the new theater and the following year, launched its On Stage concert series of five annual concerts.
The RFA continues to fund repairs, equipment and technology for the theater, including upkeep on resources like the piano, microphones, stage lights, curtains and sound system. But it’s the donations and grant funding they receive from residents, businesses, local community foundations, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts that make it all possible.
Over the next quarter century, the RFA’s goal is providing exceptional performing arts experiences and broadening their outreach to additional areas. With many ideas on the drawing board, they’re pursuing additional funding sources in hopes of establishing a strong revenue stream to underwrite special concerts, joint activities with other arts organizations, arts workshops for students and support for other art organizations’ events in the community.
In celebration of their 25th silver anniversary season, they’re thanking subscribers with five performances and a sixth grand finale concert featuring songstress Judy Collins.
The Northern NeckOrchestra
Small Town, Big Sounds
Founded in 1991 by a group of volunteer local musicians, the Kilmarnock-based Northern NeckOrchestra performed their first concert at the Kilmarnock Center for the Arts.
In 1993, the all-volunteer orchestra was reorganized under co-sponsorship of the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts and the Kilmarnock Center for the Arts. Music director and conductor Celeste Gates led the 35-piece orchestra in concerts at venues as varied as Reedville’s Festival Hall and on the deck of the Tides Inn yacht, Miss Ann.
The Northern Neck Orchestra now performs four concerts a year, often joined by guest soloists and the Chesapeake Chorale. Smaller musical events sponsored by the orchestra are also held in informal local venues.
The size of the orchestra has grown to perform an expanded repertory of symphonic works. Today it often includes more than 50 talented professional, amateur and student musicians. As the orchestra expanded in size, it secured professional musicians who played instruments underrepresented by volunteers.
The orchestra’s audience continues to grow in number and enthusiasm, peaking at 300 last season. Much of that growth can be attributed to the exceptional talent of 28-year-oldMichael Repper, who was named Music Director in June 2016. The musicians immediately responded to his youthful energy and vibrancy to reach new heights of musical performance, resulting in larger audiences.
“When a near capacity audience rises to its feet to cheer an outstanding performance of classical music at a middle school auditorium in this remote part of the country, that’s miraculous,” says president Michelle Lybarger. “Sometimes, you just have to pinch yourself and ask, is this really happening here?”
With a population of 1,500 people, Kilmarnock may be the smallest U.S. community hosting a full-sized symphony orchestra. “A symphony orchestra that gives everyone in our community the opportunity to enjoy, support and perform orchestral music enriches the community’s cultural and civic life.”
Westmoreland Players
The Play’s the Thing
Begun in 1979 by a group of theatre enthusiasts, the nomadic troupe dubbed the Westmoreland Players performed one or two plays a year.Theater veterans Glenn and Joy Evans came on board in 1997, he as artistic director and she as costume designer, after running several professional theatres in south Florida. With the enthusiastic cooperation of their volunteer base, they created an environment that raised the quality of the company’s productions beyond amateur level.
In 2001, the company moved to its current location in Callao inNorthumberland County. Currently, they stage four major productions a year, plus a director’s showcase, a children’s theatre camp and musical concerts. In summer 2005, the group was named “Best Community Theatre in Virginia” by Cooperative Living magazine readers.
“The Players are a professional quality performance group who aim high with challenging shows,” says Glenn Evans. “We strive to surprise our audience with outstanding plays. Some are well-known titles, others little known gems, but all are chosen to give the audience something to think about as well as be entertained.”
After nearly four decades, the Westmoreland Players’ audiences have come to expect a high standard of visual elements—sets, costumes and props—from the talented crew who design and create them. The Players’ hospitality staff aims to make every audience member feel like family and their lobby has become a lively meeting place where theater patrons congregate before shows.
Going forward, their major goal is the recruitment of additional helping hands to supplement and replace a talented but aging volunteer base. Until now, the company has been able to deliver noteworthy performances, costumes and sets that rival the best professional theatre companies, but the future will rely on new blood. The Evans are stepping down after20 years.
“The Westmoreland Players have been identified as “a jewel box between two cow pastures,” Evans says. “Not a bad moniker.”