Thanks so much for coming out and supporting live theatre. Without you, we’d… well, we’d probably still be doing this for an empty room, but that’s not nearly as fun for anyone. Your presence makes the chaos worthwhile.
The Play That Goes Wrong is a unique kind of beast—a show where everything falls apart on purpose, but still needs to be razor-sharp to land just right. It’s a heck of a challenge, and I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible cast and crew who dove in headfirst, embraced the madness, and made this disaster of a play a smashing success.
A huge shoutout to David Jolly and his team for building a set that’s practically a character of its own. You’ll see what I mean soon enough. It’s an architectural marvel… that occasionally tries to eat people.
This is the third show I’ve had the pleasure of directing, and every time I’m reminded just how much talent, energy, and heart goes into making local theatre happen. Please keep coming out, keep cheering us on, and keep supporting the arts in any way you can.
While we’re on that note—if you’re looking for more theatre-adjacent goodness in the area, check out the2nd Annual Green Bay Fringe Festival coming this July www.gbfringe.com
And while we’re on the topic of supporting the arts, come join my secret club.
Enjoy the show (and try not to get too close to the set—it has a mind of its own).
Prepare yourself for a riot of laughter with “The Play That Goes Wrong,” a comedic masterpiece that has captivated audiences since its debut in 2012. Penned by the talented trio of Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, this brilliantly chaotic production takes you behind the curtain of a fictional amateur theater company, where a group of well-meaning yet utterly clumsy actors attempt to stage a murder mystery. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything!
From props that refuse to cooperate to actors getting tangled in ludicrous scenarios, this play serves up an endless parade of comedic calamities that will have you doubled over in laughter. The chemistry among the characters, mixed with impeccable comic timing, draws the audience into a whirlwind of hilarity.
But the real magic goes beyond the actors—the technical elements of this production are nothing short of a hidden treasure! The clever design of malfunctioning sets requires not just creativity but also precision and safety measures to ensure the actors can thrive amidst the chaos. Every fall, every mishap, every moment of pandemonium is baked into the script, making the cast’s ability to keep their composure all the more impressive. It’s a feat that involves a team of technical wizards and skilled carpenters who breathe life into their wildest ideas.
One standout moment involves the clever use of a window, which becomes the comedic centerpiece when one of the actresses unexpectedly gets knocked unconscious mid-show. With her character unable to exit the stage, the entire cast (and crew!) finds themselves in a hilarious scramble to figure out how to remove her from the spotlight. Cue the antics!
Speaking of the crew, they aren’t just behind-the-scenes heroes; they’re an integral part of the performance! Audiences delight in watching these four crew members navigate the chaos on and off stage, working tirelessly to fix every misstep. With each show, you never quite know what surprises might unfold!
“The Play That Goes Wrong” is more than just a comedy; it’s a jubilant celebration of the theater itself, reminding us that sometimes, a well-executed disaster can outshine a flawless performance. Whether you’re a theater aficionado or simply someone in need of a good laugh, this play delivers a heartwarming experience that revels in the beauty of imperfection. With its unmatched wit and charm, it’s no surprise that “The Play That Goes Wrong” has become a cherished staple on stages around the world. Get ready for a night of uproarious fun!
Let’s set the stage for ASPI’s upcoming production, The Play That Goes Wrong!
After benefitting from a large and sudden inheritance, the inept and accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society embark on producing an ambitious 1920s murder mystery, ‘Murder at Haversham Manor’. The production begins before the curtain has even been raised. With the audience present while the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society prepares to stage their new production, props start to disappear, actors go missing, and the set begins to collapse around, and often on, the cast. Mayhem ensues!
To bring this comedic chaos to the stage, a great deal of time, engineering, and experimentation was necessary for ASPI’s tech team! The humor of the show is that the cast bravely present the story almost oblivious to the technical failures, while the audience is wondering what will go wrong next and how will the cast improvise amidst those challenges.
There are many set “failures” that are written into the script to propel the story! Many of these technical failures are what we would call stunts, gags, or tricks. In order for these stunts to be executed safely for both the cast and crew, it required creative thinking and engineering!
The most engineered trick is a falling second floor level! At one point in the show, two cast members are on a second floor platform that is four feet off of the stage level. The support for this platform is inadvertently (on purpose) kicked out and the platform is to fall in a series of inclines while the actors soldier on. This amounts to a very serious engineering feat that requires equipment and design to execute safely. In this instance, David Jolly (Tech Director) chose pneumatic support of the platform. This provides the necessary support while exhibiting a bouncy, unpredictable visual as it is allowed to fall to increasingly steep angles. Anchoring this platform so that it is appropriately supported was a very difficult proposition!
Another trick that needed planning to execute was items “falling” off the walls. This was not an easy trick considering that many items fall off the walls in unison and some are replaced only to fall off again. If this wasn’t enough of a challenge, the walls that hold these items eventually fall themselves!
As an audience member, you will be able to see the ASPI backstage crew on stage throughout the performance. The crew is actually cast in the show to participate and execute the stunts in full view of the audience.
Many thanks go to David Jolly and Cyndee Sweetland for their set design, Cyndee and her A team (painting crew) who provided the rich colors and visual interest in creating the look of Haversham manor, and to David Jolly, Vince Baudry, and Al Steeno for building the set and gags! Also many thanks to all who assisted with props!
Any audience members that are intrigued and would like to learn more about the execution of the engineering and students in The Play That Goes Wrong are encouraged to reach out to a cast member, staff member, or David Jolly after the performance for a tour and further explanation.
Tickets are on sale NOW! Showtimes for The Play That Goes Wrong are 7pm on May 8-10 and May 15-17 and 1pm on May 11 and May 18. Don’t miss the hijinks in this truly unique ASPI production.
We invite you to witness the chaos of its spring comedy, “The Play That Goes Wrong.” ASPI will present the show May 8-11 and May 15-18 at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams.
Mike Eserkaln, the artistic director of Comedy City in De Pere, directs the show. He said audiences are going to love the physical comedy. “There’s never a point where something or someone is not moving during the show, often with hilarious and catastrophic results,” Eserkaln said. “The actors are earnestly trying to perform a play while every conceivable thing that can go wrong, does. Every choice the actors make to fix things is the wrong choice.”
“The Play That Goes Wrong” describes the inept and accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s attempt to produce an ambitious 1920s murder mystery. Unfortunately, the set is not yet complete, the props start to disappear, actors go missing, and the set begins to collapse. Mayhem ensues, the acting gets worse, and the set becomes increasingly dangerous. The question is whether any of the cast and crew will remain standing, or conscious, by the final curtain! “This show is really an experience, something only live theatre can do,” Eserkaln said. “A number of gags are going to rely on gravity, so each show is going to be a little different.”
The set for the show is a character all by itself. Everything – paintings, furniture, walls, the fireplace – is a thought-out prop that has a hilarious moment of going wrong. Cyndy Sweetland designed the set, and David Jolly engineered it.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” features an ensemble cast, and all of the actors are well-versed in comedy. Eserkaln said his favorite character is Trevor the Lights and Sound guy. “He participates in the chaos just as much as everyone but has the cool-headed detachment that I love about theatre tech people,” he said.
Tickets on sale now by grabbing them on our website or by calling the box office at 920-826-5852.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
“The theater is a communal event, like church. The playwright constructs a mass to be performed for a lot of people. She writes a prayer, which is really just the longings of one heart.” – Marsha Norman, playwright
As we put away the costumes and lights, and our actors return to their lives, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the ASPI theater community for the overwhelming support of our production of Godspell. This unique experience not only featured a more intimate seating arrangement but, more importantly, we hope it inspired our audiences to seek out their own communities in the pursuit of creating a “Beautiful City.”
Here are some answers to your burning questions….
1) How can I get involved in an ASPI show? When is your next audition opportunity?
The Play that Goes Wrong is our next production and will be presented May 8th-18th. Follow us on our social media platforms for more information! We also have non-show-related volunteering opportunities available. For more information, please contact us at theater.aspi@gmail.com or call us at 920-826-5852!
2) How can I support ASPI financially?
ASPI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that depends on community support, both through volunteers and financial contributions. We have various funds available for donations, each offering Spotlight Sponsor benefits based on the level of donation. Some ongoing campaigns include our “Light the Way” Capital Campaign and the Hollie Surber Memorial Scholarship fund. To donate today or to learn more about our campaigns and Spotlight Sponsor membership benefits, click the link below or visit our website.
3) When do “The Play that Goes Wrong” tickets go on sale?
Tickets for the general public are on sale now! Click on the link below!
If you have any other questions not addressed here, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at theater.aspi@gmail.com or by calling our box office at 920-826-5852. We are looking forward to speaking with you!
Get your tickets now for a night of mishaps, mischief, and madcap mania! It’s the opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” and things have quickly gone from bad…to utterly disastrous. The troupe’s ambitious 1920s whodunit has everything you never want in a show: falling props, collapsing scenery, an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything…including their lines. How will this eager ensemble battle against all of the disastrous odds? Will they make it to the final curtain call?
An international hit that’s equal parts Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes – The Play That Goes Wrong is full of hilarious perfection.
Abrams Spotlight Productions is thrilled to introduce our cast of “The Play that Goes Wrong”. As the Director says “it’s gonna be a WILD show!”
Cast Name (Role)
Chris Mayse (Chris/Director)
Maddie Pamperin (Annie/Stage Manager)
Jerah Doxtator (Trevor/Lights and Sound Guy)
Maggie Monte-Knaapen (Sandra/Florence)
Bobby Buffington (Max/Cecil/Arthur the Gardener)
Eric Westphal (Perkins/Dennis)
Erick Gyrion (Thomas Colleymore/Robert Grove)
Matt Worzala (Jonathan/Charles Haversham)
Will Knaapen (Stage Crew)
Marly Thomson (Stage Crew)
Julie Johannas-Frohlinger (Stage Crew)
Mike Eserkaln (The Director, for real, he’s really the director of the show)
Maggie Dernehl (Assistant Director, the one helping Mike)
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
“The theater is a communal event, like church. The playwright constructs a mass to be performed for a lot of people. She writes a prayer, which is really just the longings of one heart.” – Marsha Norman, playwright
“What is community?” “What does it mean to be a part of a community?” “How does tragedy affect a community?” These are some of the questions Godspell asks. In tandem, I ask “What does it mean to do theater?” “What is necessary to put on a show?” Although I had a deceptively religious upbringing – a grade school so Lutheran that it broke away from the synod because the synod wasn’t Lutheran enough, a devoutly Catholic grandma with whom I was very close – the place I found the feelings of a religious community was theater. We didn’t attend church on Sundays, but we did have Sunday matinee tickets to the Weidner center. We usually prayed before meals, but my family was most connected when watching old musicals or movies. And, strangely, at my very Lutheran grade school, we put on full scale secular musicals every year. These musicals were the main times I felt like I fit in or could contribute something to that community.
So for this production, I took Stephen Schwartz’s note about Godspell not being a literal playing out of the book of Matthew but as a formation of a community, and set it in my/our/your community – Abrams Spotlight Productions, now, mid-rehearsal process for an upcoming show. You will not find finished sets, costumes, disco balls, confetti cannons, or magical flying cars (whichistotally sacrilege for me), but you will find the essence of performing: actors trying to get their message to the audience and holding the mirror up to nature (paraphrasing Hamlet). The answers to those questions above and what is that message? Just as we interpret the bible, that is for you, the audience, to come to individually. Now more than ever, community is important. Wanting to spread one’s messages, one’s “gospel,” not isolate ourselves from those who do not agree, is vital. “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” – Micah 6:6 (NIV)
“Whatever we accomplish belongs to our entire group, a tribute to our combined effort” – Walt Disney – and I would be remiss if I did not say that Godspell, despite the note above, where I talk about me, is surely the effort of every single person you see here today, and many you don’t see, and many who have influenced and taught me.
Thank you for being a part of our community, even if only for this performance, and enjoy the show!
Godspell is a timeless tale of friendship and love based on the Gospel of Matthew. In this new age production, Jesus’ message of kindness, tolerance, and love plays out onstage using a blend of parables, songs, games, and dare we say tomfoolery!
Liz Jolly-Haslitt offers insight into the upcoming production as only the director can! Liz shares that an incredibly unique element of Godspell’s script is that it is pretty open-ended, which means it is up to the theater putting on the production to determine the setting of the show. So the setting that will be seen on stage will be none other than our very own community!
The production setting will be set in our very own theater, as a kind of rehearsal for a production. This unique spin will create a one of a kind theater experience for the audiences! Firstly, the costumes will be pieces pulled from ASPI’s stock from past shows. Secondly, the theater will be utilizing their seating in a unique way! Not only will actors be playing in the house at times, there will also be some audience seating on the stage.
In addition to the significant creativity from the openness of the script, the production is also extremely lucky to have such a talented cast! They are really working well as an ensemble and meeting the challenge of the advanced listening to each other required of this show.
Purchase your tickets NOW! Showtimes are March 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, and 22 at 7pm and March 16 and 23 at 1pm. For more information please visit https://abramsspotlightproductions.com/ and call the Box Office with any questions, 920-826-5852.
ASPI is honored to feature Leah Tomesek (née Wons) in this month’s Spotlight!
Leah became first involved in ASPI back in 2007! At the age of 8 years old, Leah graced the stage as “Ticklish”, one of the dwarfs, in ASPI’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
After that first production, Leah became involved in as many shows as possible, up until her 2016 high school graduation. Some of her favorite shows that she’s been cast in include: Into the Woods in the role of “Little Red Riding Hood” and Shrek: the Musical in the role of “Gingy” and other various ensemble roles. As a kid, the theater felt like a second home to her. She learned about handling performance nerves, memorizing lines, and expressing herself. Her passion for performing started at the theater and the trajectory of her life was changed because of her young years spent at ASPI. Leah’s whole family did shows together and she will always hold onto those memories!
Outside of ASPI, Leah was involved in her high school’s productions as well as Missoula’s Children’s Theater shows. Upon high school graduation, Leah then went to college to study vocal performance where she performed in every opera and cabaret show she was able to! Her favorite role in college was “Gretel” in Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, Hansel and Gretel. She was also involved in her university’s show choir, Platinum Edition, and many different choral ensembles. In 2020, Leah graduated (over Zoom) with a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance from Viterbo University, located in La Crosse Wisconsin.
A few months before college graduation, Leah landed a position at Choral Tracks, a company that produces full vocal rehearsal tracks. She works as a full time, salaried recording artist and audio engineer! She has a portable studio setup that she uses to sing 4-5 hours a day and fills in the rest of her day with audio engineering. Her singing consists of sight reading around 8-10 choral pieces a day (singing all women’s parts) and using a pitch correction software for another 3-6 choral pieces. Leah is very proud and grateful to work for Choral Tracks! They make rehearsal tracks for ensembles around the world, and record all languages and all styles of music!
Outside of the theater, Leah loves reading, fitness, and video games. On October 6th, she ran her first marathon, the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon! Leah and her husband have also been living in a camper and traveling for his work. She has been enjoying trying a new lifestyle and traveling across the US!
Leah has made her return to working with ASPI in the role of music director! Most recently, she was part time music director for Gypsy and full time music director for Oklahoma, Seussical, and the upcoming production of Godspell. Leah’s wealth of knowledge and experience in music has made her an incredible asset to ASPI!
With her job, Leah has access to many different music industry programs that allow her to make rehearsal tracks for ASPI. For the theater, she will record herself singing all the parts, audio engineer her singing, and mix the tracks. The tracks make rehearsing significantly easier and allow the cast members to sing harder music without needing to play piano or read music. This creates a more inclusive musical environment!
As an adult, Leah sees the massive benefits of feeling part of a community. Cast members become close friends and spend time together outside of rehearsal doing things like karaoke, bowling, and sharing meals. She would encourage anyone with an interest to come out and audition for a show. Theater is for everyone and the impact of these shows is not to be underestimated!
Come out to witness the amazing work and passion of Leah and the ASPI cast and crew in the upcoming production Godspell! Purchase your tickets NOW! Showtimes are March 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, and 22 at 7pm and March 16 and 23 at 1pm. For more information please visit https://abramsspotlightproductions.com/ and call the Box Office with any questions, 920-826-5852.
I can still remember the drive home from the last flag football game of my first-grade year. I tried to hide my tears from my dad but ultimately failed, spending most of the drive crying loudly. I had made so many great friends, had a few moments of triumph, and was even awarded a weekly MVP award by the coach. Then, suddenly, with the shutting of a car door, it was all over.
That was the first of many goodbyes I would experience in my life. Being a theater kid (now a theater adult) has made farewells a regular occurrence over the last 20 years. You spend a tremendous amount of time with a special group of people, pouring your heart and talents into creating a show, only for it to suddenly end. The same group of people is unlikely to be all together again.
Every post-show goodbye hurts in its own way, but some take much longer to get over. I think back to my experience doing “Guys & Dolls” at ASPI in 2021. It was a really fun show, but there was something about that particular group of people that made the experience especially memorable. Many of us were around the same age, grappling with similar challenges, and gradually emerging into the world—dramatically changed by COVID-19. The beautiful thing about these kinds of groups is that they don’t completely fade away. Since “Guys & Dolls” ended, many of us from the cast have stayed closely in touch.
Whether it’s doing more shows together, hanging out at karaoke, or embarking on summer adventures down the Peshtigo River, the group that officially ended with the final curtain of “Guys & Dolls” has continued to thrive in the world outside the theater. Every group of friends begins with some unifying force or message. In the case of “Guys & Dolls,” it was the shared desire to create great art, inspire the community, and build meaningful relationships with one another.
I believe this core message is what the writers of “Godspell” aimed to capture when they created the show. “Godspell” tells the story of a group of people in a chaotic world, united by the message of Jesus. Just as their community reaches a peak of connection, Jesus is taken from them, leaving them to venture into the world without the very thing that united them. This is a feeling we can all relate to—whether it’s losing friends after moving to a new city, the end of a musical, or the final game of a first-grade flag football season.
We sadly live in a world of constant endings, but if we allow ourselves to be immersed in the unity of past experiences, we also recognize that we live in a world of endless beginnings.
Join us for an unforgettable experience as we bring “Godspell” to life from March 13th to 23rd! Dive into this vibrant, fast-paced production that celebrates love, hope, and the spirit of togetherness. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our community and witness a performance filled with joy, emotion, and inspiration. Come and be inspired!
