NEWS LETTER
"THE BACKSTAGE PASS"
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COMING..DR EXPERIMENTOR
AND THE LEAGUE EOF EVIL
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Players Workshop will present the 2026 Young Actor Production Dr. Experimentor and the League of Evil by Charlotte Nixon from June 25 through June 28, 2026, at the Workshop, 1431 Grove St., Burlington.
Dr. Experimentor and the League of Evil introduces us to Dr. Experimentor, a supervillainous mastermind, who must fight to maintain his membership in the infamous League of Evil; however, membership means defeating superhero Extremo, who happens to be his best friend! To make matters worse, Dr. Experimentor faces relentless pressure from Agnes and
Abigail Anarchy, ambitious upstart villains eager for his downfall. Armed with his arsenal of ingenious inventions — minions, Vegetarian Zombies, Pacifist Ninjas, and Robot Soldiers — Dr. Experimentor faces an impossible choice: defeat his superhero or suffer at the hands of the League!
The cast is as follows: Will Baker plays Extremo, and Sam Reckling is Dr. Experimentor. The League of Evil is comprised of Abram Hartje, Avery Irish, and Austyn Deuitch. Quinn Pranger, Madison Mitchell, and Chloe Williams are The Minions, while Laylianna Burk-Forsyth, Noah Snyder, Regina Critser, Ian Franklin, and Harlee Ayer are The Zombies. The Mutant Ninja Bunnies are played by Gianna Vaughn, Victoria Anderson, Ella Joyce, and Alla Plein; The Robot Soldiers are played by Chloe Carter, DonnaLynne Pappalardo, Seth Hansen, Cecellia Jefferson; The Street Toughs are Isla Heckert, Journey Carr, and Nora Brakeville; and The Mad Scientists are portrayed by Allyson Hamilton,, Lily O’Brien, and George Baker.
Show Director Anika Morton is assisted by Matt Poling and Zach Hite-Reckling, and by junior assistant directors Brady Lenahan, Islia Rodeffer, and Sean Hansen. Robbin Poling is the producer.
Crew members include Alexis Rosler, Steve Poling, Krystal Johnson, Sophia May, Kaitlyn Broeg, Julie Hamilton, Nikki Critser, Aurora Critser, Cori Copeland, and Dave Beckman.
Shows will be at 7:00 p.m. on June 25, 26, and 27; the June 28 show will be a 2:00 p.m. matinee.
Tickets are available for purchase online and will also be available at the door on the days of the performances. Prices are $5.00 for students and $10.00 for adults. The box office opens at 6:00 p.m., except for the Sunday matinee when it opens at 1:00 p.m. All seating is assigned.
Dr. Experimentor and the League of Evil is presented with permission of Pioneer Drama Service.
For more information, call the Workshop at 319-753-6623, go to the Workshop’s Facebook page, or go to www.playersworkshoptheater.com.
IT'S GARAGE SALE TIME AGAIN​​​​​​​​
It’s time again to go through those closets, basements, and attics because Players Workshop’s annual garage sale fund-raiser will run two days, July 17-18, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. each day at the Workshop, 1431 Grove St., and donations are needed.
Workshop representatives will be at PW on July 12-16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., to accept donations. Help will be needed prior to that time to help set up tables, and many hands will be needed to get ready for the sale itself, even though nothing is pre-priced—customers simply give what they feel the purchase is worth. People are asked to contact Libba Flores, if they can give any assistance.
Also, if you need help with your pickups or have to drop off your items at a different time, please text or call Libba at 319-750-3533, to arrange a time.
People with trucks and SUV’s are needed on Monday, July 20, to help clean up and haul leftover merchandise to Hopefully Yours and Goodwill; again, please contact Libba Flores if you can help.
Players Workshop thanks you for your donations and your help in making this work.
PW ANNUAL MEETING REPORT
Players Workshop held its Annual General Membership Meeting on Wed., May 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Workshop.
The following were elected to serve 3-year terms on the Board of Directors: Nikki Critser, Lee Franklin, Brittany Gerst, Anika Morton, and Njeri Patric. Congratulations to all of them. PW thanks all who ran for the Board.
Pres. Mary Fox was elected by acclamation to another 1-year term.
Cody Flietner won the coveted Cuthbert award for a very late entrance during Something Rotten—an entrance so late that Tommy Caruso crossed the stage in character calling for someone to distract the audience from the long wait.
Pres. Fox reported on the Workshop’s successful 2025-26 year. Below are some of the highlights:
1—ALL evening performances will now begin at 7:00 p.m.
2—Ticket price increases begin with the 2026-27 season. Individual tickets are $18/adults, $16/seniors, and $12/students. Season ticket prices will be $60/adults, $55/seniors, and $40/students. There will also be a Throwback Thursday when individual prices will revert to $15/adults and $10/students.
3—Improvements: new lobby flooring, new cabinets in make-up area, widened sidewalks; handrails coming.
4—Supporting Cast donations netted over $12,000, the art raffle brought in $1600, the garage sale resulted in $3200, the costume sale earned $2300, and there were miscellaneous donations of $2000. PW also received $1500 from Rollen Giffin for the make-up cabinets, $1000 from Bob Klein for Something Rotten costumes, and $750 from Burlington Golf Club for the murder mystery.
6—The PW Mission Statement now reads, To enrich the cultural life of Burlington and the surrounding area and to encourage social connection by entertaining, enlightening, and educating through quality live theater. The phrase “to encourage social connection” was added.
Many attendees stayed for social time after the meeting and enjoyed treats provided by some of the board members.
PW will be conducting an IVRS workshop on July 9. Krystal Johnson is coordinating the event. Please say “yes” when she calls—it takes a lot of people to accomplish this event and it means so much to the participants.
AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR
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Director Lee Franklin has set the audition dates for the first show of the 2026-27 PW theatrical season. Auditions for Angel Street, a Victorian suspense thriller by Patrick Hamilton, will be held July 26 and 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Workshop, 1431 Grove St.
Angel Street is the play which gave us the term “gaslight;” in fact, that was the original name of the play, which was subsequently adapted to the Academy Award nominated film Gaslight in 1944.
It centers around a woman manipulated into questioning her sanity, due to her diabolical husband. The woman is aided by a loyal maid and a detective, while another young maid seeks to take advantage of the woman’s situation.
Roles are available for 3 adult women and 2 adult men. Male age ranges are from 30 to 50; female age ranges are from 18 to 70.
Scene clips, which will be used for auditions, will be available in early July; you may contact the director about these and any other inquiries at gleef1966@gmail.com, or call Players Workshop at 319-753-6623.
Angel Street is slated for production on Oct. 2-4 and 8-11, 2026.
Angel Street is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
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DON’T FORGET SMUGMUG
SmugMug is an online platform (website) for photographers to store, share, and sell their photos.
This includes longtime PW photographer DAVID BECKMAN, and he has many PW production pictures available. David is also donating any proceeds from the sale of his pictures to PW.
If you would like to view or purchase photos of any of our recent plays, scan the QR code above and go to www.davidbeckman.smugmug.com. If you would like photos from an earlier performance, send your request to pw6623@gmail.com, and we will see if we have photos from that show.
Please remember that these photos are copyrighted and not to be shared. Proceeds help Players Workshop.
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PW SUPPORTING CAST 2025-2026
Players Workshop invites you to join the Supporting Cast for 2025-2026 season.
This one-time financial donation runs for the theatrical season, contributing significantly to the financial stability of PW.
All those who join will have their names listed in each play program and newsletter, as well as on the PW website, for 2025-26.
You may join the Honorary Supporting Cast for 2025-2026 by completing the form at the end of this newsletter or the form in your play program.
Donations may be made in one of the following categories:
Usher $25-$99 Stage Crew $100-$249
Supporting Actor $250-$499 Star $500-$999
Director $1000-$2499 Producer $2500+
The following have already joined for 2025-2026.
Director
Barb Bonnett (in memory of George Bonnett)
George & Clara Klein
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Star
Tonja & Tim Binder
Mary Boeding
Mary Fox
Lillian Robbin
Supporting Actor
Carolyn Dorting
Bonnie Downes
Barbara Drozdz (in memory of Jim Drozdz)
Dr. Amy Groeltz -- The Smile Shoppe
Jon & Peggy Hart
Judy Johnson
Brian & Sara Sink
Duane & Bev Sherbondy
Kathy & Kevin Wolfskill
Stage Crew
Cindy & Darrell Bachtell
Connie Bowen
Tristan Brooks
Don & Kathy Butler
Dan & Kathy Cahill
Lois Close
Carol Copeland
Robert Haines
Kay Hanna & Tim Hutchins
(in memory of Susan Diehl & Bobbie Hillard)
Dean & Karen Hurliman
Charlotte James
Carol Janosik
Renita Jarrett & Dave Dorethy
Mike & Kren Johnston
C. M. Leonard
Cynthia Leonard
Donna & Jan Logan
Dean & Pam Marshall
Keith McNeil (in memory of Maxine)
Ralph Parish
PEO Chapter N.H.
Lori Moore
Prugh Funeral Service
Jim Raudabaugh
Chip & Dana Readinger
Carol Reed
Marlis Robberts
Tim Roberts
Kathy & Kevin Schneider
Matt & Mary Shivers
Peggy Stott
Olive Sullivan (in memory of Mary Krohlow & Rod Reeves)
Henry Villareal
Kay Wilson
Megan Wind
Merry Wiseman (in memory of Rod Reeves)
Tammy Kimmel-Wunderlich
Usher
Judith Bartachek
Jill Baumert
Sally Bird
Jacquelyn Edwards (in memory of Dave Edwards)
KC & Beth Fleming
Barbara Hahn
Barara Hahn
Zachary Hall
Scott Hartje
Karen Hassel
Laurie Hempen
Pat Mayle
Scott Hartje
Karen Hassel
Melinda & Dave Hentzel
Linda Hoenig
Marleen Holsteen
Katherine Hoth
Maureen Hutchcroft
Jessica Irish
Ladonna Kitch
Faith Krause
Shylah Lenahan
Pat Mayle
Linda Messer
Kenneth Morris
Linda Peitz
Pamela Pinkston
Steve & Robbin Poling
John & Lisa Pomberg
Connie Quee (in memory of Rod Reeves)
Robert Roy
Jeff Rucker
Jane Sanford
Kathleen Schier
Dorothy Schulte
Anita Stapleton
Lora Turner
Kathryn Waterhouse
Martha Wolf
Calley Yaegar
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The 2026-2027 Supporting Cast List will begin July 1, 2026.
PLAYERS WORKSHOP sends sincere thanks to the following who made general donations since the last newsletter: Lori Muntz, Kerri Neil, Emma Reynolds, Kevin Levins, Mallory Vance, & Margie Gossage.​​​
For past newsletters click here