Drama Circle Opens at the Village Lyceum, Petersham Massachusetts

The Drama Circle Opens at the Village Lyceum, Petersham Massachusetts

Genevieve Fraser, artistic director of the Drama Circle has announced the organizational rebirth of the Drama Circle at the Village Lyceum in Petersham, MA.  The Drama Circle is dedicated to showcasing original scripts for the stage and screen.  The organization also plans to sponsor readings of Shakespeare and other classical works. Events are free and open to the public with audience members often enlisted to read and comment on scripts.  

The Drama Circle which originated at Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA reviewed dozens of original scripts throughout New England during it's eight year run and offered staged readings for a dozen more. One of the scripts, "Lincoln: The Musical" by Dr. Michael Riccards went through readings and staged readings and was ultimately showcased as a full scale production at the Town Hall in Orange, MA in 2012. 

Josef DellaGrotte

Sunday, May 21, 2017, Michael Riccards original play, The Poor Man of Assisi was presented. Nearly all those who attended participated in the reading and the discussion that followed. The Poor Man of Assisi follows in historical sequence the life of the Catholic saint, Francis of Assisi who founded the Franciscan Order of monks.

Charles Tower

A special thanks to Josef DellaGrotte for playing the part of St. Francis and Charles Tower who played several of the major roles, along with Phil Hubbard. Both actors, Charles and Phil, had also appeared in Lincoln: The Musical.  Charles played John Wilkes Booth and Phil was Secretary of State Seward who survived an assassination attack in his home at the same time that Lincoln was assassinated in the Ford Theater.

James Carmody (rt) with Phil Hubbard and Charles Tower

Additional readers for The Poor Man of Assisi included Janet Lawson, Melody Salvadore, James McCrohon and his father, Jim McCrohon. James Carmody read the part of Pope Innocent. I had cast Jim Carmody many years ago as the Duke of Norfolk in A Man for All Seasons. It's always wonderful to have former cast members join in the readings, but people of all ages and abilities are welcome.

Once a script is accepted and scheduled, the writer is expected to provide scripts for the reading. The Drama Circle will be held in the Davis Memorial Hall in back of the Petersham Unitarian Church on the Town Common. Dates for future readings, to be announced. For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser at FraserGenevieve@gmail.com or call (978)-544-1872.

Janet Lawson, Genevieve Fraser and Melody Salvadore, readers at the Poor Man  of Assisi by Dr. Michael Riccards.

Village Lyceum reading of Michael Riccards play, “The Poor Man of Assisi,” Sunday, May 21 at Davis Memorial, Petersham, MA

Village Lyceum reading of Michael Riccards play, “The Poor Man of Assisi,” Sunday, May 21 at Davis Memorial, Petersham, MA

The Village Lyceum is inviting audience participation in a reading of Dr. Michael Riccard's original drama, "The Poor Man of Assisi," to be held in the Davis Memorial building, in back of the Petersham Unitarian Church on Sunday, May 21 at 2:00 pm. A discussion will follow the reading. Dr. Riccards is a past president of Fitchburg State College and author of "Lincoln: The Musical" which was performed at the Orange Town Hall as part of the Quabbin Civil War Remembrance in 2012 with Genevieve Fraser directing.

According to the playwright, "This play predates the pope's use of the name and describes one of the most popular Catholic and Protestant saints in history. Francis, the son of a wealthy merchant, was a soldier and troubadour who came home from captivity after fighting for Assisi and heard God tell him to fix his church. He thought God meant a local rundown church, but it was a call to fix the Roman Church," Riccards explained.

"His gospel was one of poverty, chastity and Christ's admonitions. His rule was too strict for some but after generations had passed was respected throughout western Europe. On one occasion, he avoided the commitment of the Crusades and sought to go to visit the Mohammedans and convert them to Christianity. He was not successful but won the respect of leaders of Islam," Riccards said. Saint Francis died young and was quickly canonized. He is frequently seen as the patron saint of the environment, of animals and of the poor and needy.

For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser at FraserGenevieve@gmail.com or Telephone (978) 544-1872.

PHOTO: Dr. Michael Riccards, as seen in a televised interview by the Hall Institute of Public Policy on great presidents, is the author of the play, "The Poor Man of Assisi," to be read in the Davis Memorial building, in back of the Petersham Unitarian Church on Sunday, May 21 at 2:00 pm. A discussion will follow the reading. Dr. Riccards also wrote the play. "Lincoln: the Musical" whivch was performed at the Orange Town Hall in 2010.