The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company
Keene, New Hampshire's resident theatre company ... 'Take me to THE EDGE...'
The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company
Keene, New Hampshire's resident theatre company... 'Take me to THE EDGE...'
Our Current Season
THE EDGE ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
CALENDAR GIRLS BY TIM FIRTH
In its final show of the 2024 season, The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company will present Calendar Girls by Tim Firth at The Edge Theater, 310 Marlboro Street, Suite 112, Keene. Performances will be at 7:30 PM on November 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, and at 2:00 PM on November 17 and 24.
Calendar Girls is based on true life events in Yorkshire, England. In 1998, John Baker passed away at age 54. His wife and fellow Women’s Institute members decided to raise money for a new sofa on the ward where John had been treated. They came up with the idea of a nude calendar as a playful twist on traditional WI calendars, which typically involved hills, sheep and village greens. The calendar was a huge success. A film adaptation of the story was made in 2003, with Helen Mirren and Julie Walters in the cast. In 2009, it was adapted into a hit stage play, and later a musical.
The play, while very funny, is also quite poignant and illustrates the oft-neglected beauty of the aging female body apropos modern society’s obsession with body perfection.
In conjunction with the play, The Edge will also be producing a “discreetly nude” calendar of its own as a fundraiser. Six Edge actresses from our upcoming production have posed for the calendar, representing the characters they portray in the play.
Kim Dupuis will direct a cast of 14, comprising Molly McMillan, Lindsay Bartlett, Veda Crewe, Catherine Behrens, Carin Torp, Jennifer Garrettson, Melanie Plenda-Washer, Rob Gray, Andrew Bosworth, Scott Rodenhauser, Mary Armstrong, Judy Keenan, Nico McMillan, and Roberta Barnes. Zarya Washer will be stage managing for the first time with The Edge.
In conjunction with the play, The Edge will also be producing a “discreetly nude” calendar of its own as a fundraiser. Six Edge actresses from our upcoming production have posed for the calendar, representing the characters they portray in the play. The Edge Calendar is available now for $20 and may be ordered by contacting theedgeensemble@aol.com.
Tickets are $20 general admission, $18 for seniors and students. Tickets must be purchased at the door by cash or check. No credit cards at this time. For reservations, call 603-352-5657 or send an email to theedgeensemble@aol.com.
Pictured left to right are Veda Crewe as Ruth, Carin Torp as Cora, Lindsay Bartlett as Annie, Molly McMillan as Chris, Catherine Behrens as Jessie, and Jennifer Arrow as Celia. David Teubner is the photographer for all of the pictures in our Edge Calendar Girls 2025 Calendar.
THE EDGE ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
STEEL MAGNOLIAS BY ROBERT HARLING
In its third show of the 2024 season, The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company will present Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling at The Edge Theater, 310 Marlboro Street, Suite 112, Keene. Performances will be at 7:30 PM on August 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, and at 2 PM on August 18 and 25.
This moving comedy/drama, set in a Louisiana hair salon in the 1980s, is based on Robert Harling’s experience with his sister’s death – from diabetic complications after the birth of her son and the failure of a family-member-donated kidney. By turns hilarious and poignant, the play focuses on these gossipy, funny and loving women as they call upon all their strength and resilience to combat the tragedies of life. The play premiered off Broadway in 1987 and was made into a film in 1989. Its Broadway debut was in 2005, and there was a television version in 2012.
Kim Dupuis will direct a cast of six women. In the cast are Kenzie Yelin, Asah Cramer, Cynthia Rodier, Grace Johnson, Veda Crewe and Catherine Behrens. Taryn Fisher is making her debut as stage manager for The Edge in this production. Damien Licata will be assistant stage manager. Set designer is Andrew Bosworth. Costume designer is Mary Kirk. Assistant costume designer and props designer is Judith Keenan. Lights, sound, and poster designer is David Teubner. Photographs by David Teubner.
Tickets are $20 general admission, $18 for seniors and students. Tickets must be purchased at the door by cash or check. No credit cards at this time. For reservations, call 603-352-5657 or email theedgeensemble@aol.com. Visit The Edge’s website at www.edgeensemble.org for more information.
THE EDGE ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
INHERIT THE WIND BY JEROME LAWRENCE AND ROBERT E. LEE
Performances will be at 7:30 PM on April 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 and at 2 PM on April 21 and 28.
In its second show of the 2024 season, The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company will present Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee at The Edge Theater, 310 Marlboro Street, Suite 112, Keene.
The Edge chooses to do this play at a time when our country is again at a crossroads, divided by passionate differences of opinion on religion, rights and intellectual freedom. The play is based on the famous “Monkey” trial of 1925, when a high school teacher in Dayton, Tennessee was convicted of teaching the theory of evolution in a science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law. The play premiered in Dallas in 1955 – a year when the country was roiled with McCarthyism and its devastating consequences for people simply exercising their rights of free speech. The play received rave reviews, which led to a Broadway production starring Paul Muni, Ed Begley and Tony Randall in the same year. A film was made in 1960 starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March and Gene Kelly. In an interview in 1996, when the play was being revived on Broadway, Jerome Lawrence stressed that the play is not about science versus religion, but about the right to think.
A talkback with the audience will be held after the Sunday matinee on April 21 and again on April 26 after the Friday evening performance. Audience members are encouraged to stay and discuss the timely issues raised by this play.
CRIMES OF THE HEART BY BETH HENLEY
JANUARY 26, 27, FEBRUARY 1-3 @ 7:30 PM
JANUARY 28 & FEBRUARY 4 @ 2:00 PM
In its first show of the 2024 season, The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company will present Beth Henley’s comedy-drama Crimes of the Heart at The Edge Theater, 310 Marlboro Street, Suite 112, Keene. Performances will be at 7:30 PM on January 26, 27, February 1-3, and at 2 PM on January 28 and February 4.
Set in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in the mid-20th century, the play focuses on three sisters who reunite as the youngest sister is about to stand trial for one of the title’s “crimes of the heart.” The sisters’ capacity for laughter and passion provides many hilarious and genuinely touching moments throughout the play.
Henley’s play opened on Broadway in 1981 and won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 1986, an Academy Award-nominated film adaptation starred Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, and Diane Keaton.
Kim Dupuis will direct a cast of 6, comprising Charlotte Traas, Kenzie Yelin, Roberta Barnes, Paige Johnson, Mark DiPietro, and Andrew Bosworth.
Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for seniors and students. Tickets must be purchased at the door by cash or check. No credit cards at this time. For reservations, call 603-352-5657 or email theedgeensemble@aol.com, or visit The Edge’s website at www.edgeensemble.org.
