Dark of the Moon
August 2-5, 9-11
Kicking off CBMT's 40th Anniversary celebration in August was Dark of the Moon, first performed in 1972 as CBMT's premiere production. The play, by Howard Richardson and William Berney in cooperation with The Richardson/Yale Property Trust, is based on the legendary folk ballad “Barbara Allen” from the Smoky Mountain region. LIVE Bluegrass and gospel music set the tone for the Appalachian tale set in the 1920’s with a witch-boy from the mountains who falls in love with the all too human Barbara Allen. Richly imagined characters, hypnotic language, great LIVE music and a timeless message. This Crested Butte Mountain Theatre production, directed by Barbara Segal, was performed at the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre August 2-5 and 9-11 with a Sunday matinee on August 5th.
Other celebratory events to round out our anniversary festivities include our 40th Anniversary Picnic in the Park in Crested Butte Town Park on SATURDAY, August 11th and a Champagne Sunday Brunch on August 12th. Please join us as we celebrate 40 years of community theatre, laughs and cheers!
Other celebratory events to round out our anniversary festivities include our 40th Anniversary Picnic in the Park in Crested Butte Town Park on SATURDAY, August 11th and a Champagne Sunday Brunch on August 12th. Please join us as we celebrate 40 years of community theatre, laughs and cheers!
Director's Notes:
Barbara Segal
Forty years ago this summer, a talented and energetic group of people, led by the inspirational Tom Towler, chose to produce Dark of the Moon as the first show of the newly created Crested Butte Mountain Theatre. The show proved to be a brilliant choice. Performed against a backdrop of Crested Butte Mountain on a structural set built behind the old Crested Butte School house, Dark of the Moon, a play about a small community, brought our small community together in awe and wonder, cooperation and collaboration, dreams and delight. I was, at that time, a theatre student at Western State, and I volunteered to do anything needed on the show. I was assigned to create the make-up for the witches, and it was in this way I met that first core group of CBMT actors.
Since that time, I have gone on to pursue a wonderful career in the theatre, but I always credit that moment in time as my beginning as well. Dark of the Moon has remained a very special and haunting play for me. Originally produced in 1945, its prescient subject matter – how we treat those who are different than us; how fear and ignorance breed their own special brand of evil- hinted at the McCarthy whirlwind of “commie hunting” to come. It remains timeless as each successive generation finds its own “enemies” to the status quo to target and attempt to destroy.
Dark of the Moon is set in a remote town in the Smokey Mountains where god-fearing, good people, are shepherded by a charismatic fire and brimstone preacher. Their faith is mixed with ancient superstitions and fears that lead them to reject a stranger who comes into their midst; a witch boy wanting to be human for the love of Barbara Allen. Barbara herself has been “branded” as somewhat of an outsider, flaunting her free spirit in the face of conservative values. The story of their pure, but doomed, love unfolds against a background of original bluegrass music expertly played by Crested Butte’s finest musicians. Dark of the Moon is a beautiful, haunting piece of theatre that has stood the test of time, having been produced in nearly every country in the world since its premiere. I hope our contemporary community will find it as compelling as we all did on that first night, under the magical full moon above Crested Butte Mountain.
Since that time, I have gone on to pursue a wonderful career in the theatre, but I always credit that moment in time as my beginning as well. Dark of the Moon has remained a very special and haunting play for me. Originally produced in 1945, its prescient subject matter – how we treat those who are different than us; how fear and ignorance breed their own special brand of evil- hinted at the McCarthy whirlwind of “commie hunting” to come. It remains timeless as each successive generation finds its own “enemies” to the status quo to target and attempt to destroy.
Dark of the Moon is set in a remote town in the Smokey Mountains where god-fearing, good people, are shepherded by a charismatic fire and brimstone preacher. Their faith is mixed with ancient superstitions and fears that lead them to reject a stranger who comes into their midst; a witch boy wanting to be human for the love of Barbara Allen. Barbara herself has been “branded” as somewhat of an outsider, flaunting her free spirit in the face of conservative values. The story of their pure, but doomed, love unfolds against a background of original bluegrass music expertly played by Crested Butte’s finest musicians. Dark of the Moon is a beautiful, haunting piece of theatre that has stood the test of time, having been produced in nearly every country in the world since its premiere. I hope our contemporary community will find it as compelling as we all did on that first night, under the magical full moon above Crested Butte Mountain.
2012 Cast List
|
John, the Witch Boy: Kevin Taylor
Preacher Haggler: Brian McLain Conjur Man: Brady Snow Marvin Hudgens: Stephen Hattendorf Uncle Smelicue: Daniel Benoit Mr. Jenkins: George Sibley Floyd Allen: Jeph Hargrove Mr. Allen: Thomas Hoeflinger Mr. Summey: Rob Wilbanks Mr. Atkins: George Sibley Hank Gudgens: Patrick Ring/ Braden Rudzinski Bertie Dinwitty: Kylie Sargent Mr. Bergen: Harvey Castro |
Barbara Allen: Donielle Carr
Conjur Woman: Adele Bachman Dark Witch: Lori Duncan Fair Witch: Ingrid Gebavi Edna Summey: Danielle Gillman/Caitlin Caccavari Miss Metcalf: Ann Sharkey Mrs. Summey: Deborah Gillman Mrs. Bergen: Kaleta Amemiya Mrs. Allen: Martha Keen Click HERE for rehearsal schedule 1 Click HERE for rehearsal schedule 2 |
MUSICIANS:
Katharine Taylor: Musical Director Jamie Ubalde Jon Meckes CREW: Larry Tanning: Stage Manager Kristi Sargent: Costume Designer Joyce Rossiter: Choreographer Linda Wilson: Make-up Barbara Mason: Set Design/Painting Diane Kahn: Set Painter Gene Mason: Set Construction Scott Little: Lighting Designer |
Larry Tanning, Diane Kahn, Barbara Segal, Barbara Mason
|
George, Barbara S, Adele, Barbara M, Diane, Gene, Joyce. Alumni of the 1972 production.
|
Scenes from 2012 Rehearsal
Witch Boy and Conjur Woman
|
Cast of Dark of the Moon
|
John (Witch Boy)
and Barbara Allen
|
Looking Back...
1972 Cast & Crew & Images
'72 cast on the outdoor stage. Photo: Sandra Cortner.
John, the Witch Boy: Victor Shepard
Preacher Haggler: James Peters Conjur Man: Eric Ross Marvin Hudgens: Al Houseworth Uncle Smelicue: Gene Griffiths Floyd Allen: Bob Smith Mr. Allen: James Adams Mr. Summey: Calvin Queal Mr. Atkins: Ron Makela Hank Gudgens: Frank George 
The witches of '72. Photo: Sandra Cortner.
|
Mr. Bergen: George L Sibley Square Dance Caller: Butch Clark Peter: Peter Queal Barbara Allen: Randi Stillman Conjur Woman: Terry Turner The Witches: Elsa Con, Sandra Hickok, Barbara Sibley, Joyce Waltz. Edna Summey: Holly Owens Miss Metcalf: Louise Hickok Mrs. Summey: Adele Bachman Mrs. Bergen: Chris Tilger Greeny Gorman: Colleen Queal Mrs. Allen: Nancy Standish Leafy: Debbie Stupple The Kids: Sherry Stupple, Cass & Melissa Adams, Lisa & Andre Straubhaar, Steve Reycraft, Kibber Crank. 
Adele Bachman and Calvin Queal.
|
CREW: Directed by: Tom Towler Set Design by: Diane Kahn Music: Bob Smith & Tim Reed Choreography: Shirley Straubhaar Costumes: Chris Tilger Stage Manager: George Lionel Sibley Asst. Stage Manager: Jane (the Silent Helper) Wichita Lineman: Ken Miller Prop Mistress: Rosemary Hamm Asst Prop Mistress: Gumper Wardrobe Mistress: Adele Bachman Make-up: Barbara Fitzsimmons Sound & Lights: Jim & Terry Recording Engineer: Magic Sally Set Crew: Gene Mason, Lee Wiggins, John Livvsay, Laurie & Paul |
