Events

The Oswego Players are on the lookout for budding playwrights eager to see their creations brought to life on stage. The Donald J. McCann Memorial One-Act Playwriting Contest, dedicated to spotlighting local talent, is now accepting submissions. President Norman Berlin III urges, "If you've ever felt the urge to write a play, now's the time to take that leap and submit your work!" Anyone interested in submitting an original One-Act Play script for the 2024 contest should contact Osweplay@yahoo.com for a complete set of rules and guidelines. All submissions for this year’s contest must be received by June 15th and sent either electronically to osweplay@yahoo.com or through the mail, Playwriting Contest, P.O. Box 183, Oswego, NY 13126. Pictured are the hilarious cast of “Old Money, New Habits” by Alexis Martin, co-winner of 2023 Playwriting Contest. From left to right are Kevin Colvin, Gina Mazzoli, Matthew Fleming, Scott Bandla and Tammy Thompson. Anyone interested in submitting an original One-Act Play script for the 2024 contest should contact Osweplay@yahoo.com for a complete set of rules and guidelines.

The Oswego Players will hold open auditions on for its July production “The Man Who Killed The Cure” a 2017 play by Luke Yankee inspired by the work of Dr. Max Gerson, one of the fathers of natural healing. Auditions will be Monday and Wednesday, April 8th and 10th from 7-9PM each evening at the Frances Marion Brown Theater, Fort Ontario in Oswego. No preparation is necessary; auditionees will read sides from the script. Rehearsals will begin mid-May, 2024. Performance dates are weekends July 12-21, 2024. The production is under the direction of William Edward White, who directed last season’s record-attendance and TANYS-award-winning production of “The Last Lifeboat”, also written by Luke Yankee.

In a thrilling twist, the Oswego Players have announced the winners of the 2023 Don McCann One-Act Playwriting Contest, and this year’s competition witnessed a remarkable tie for the coveted first-place spot. This exciting development comes on the heels of an unprecedented surge in submissions, highlighting the enthusiasm of local artists and the organization's commitment to fostering original playwriting. Claiming the top prize of $250.00 each are "Game of the Week" by Aaron Buitron and Phil Gross and "Old Money, New Habits" by Alexis Martin. These outstanding works captivated the judges with their unique narratives and creative brilliance. "Game of the Week" is a thought-provoking dramedy that delves into the intricacies of human relationships, while "Old Money, New Habits" is a farcical whodunnit set in a grand mansion, promising an engaging theatrical experience.

When an ensemble of Oswego Players take the stage to recreate Orson Welles’1938 Martian invasion of Earth they will be doing more than just offering a great Halloween-eve’s bit of entertainment; they will be raising funds for the next generation of Theater and Writing students. The “Two Tales of Terror” combination of “The War of the Worlds” and “The Monkey’s Paw” will run as a one-night-only event on Monday, October 30, 2023 – the 85th anniversary of the original CBS Mercury Theatre radio program. Curtain time is 7 PM on stage at the Frances Marion Brown Theater at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY. Tickets are $10 a piece and may be obtained by calling the box office at 315-343-5138 or visiting the Oswego Players' website at https://oswegoplayers.org/tickets. This special addition to the Players’ 85th–anniversary season is being presented as a benefit, with all proceeds going to help fund the organization’s annual scholarship programs, which yearly gives awards to college-bound Oswego County High School Seniors intent on studying Theatrical and English Writing Arts. The programs are named for and honor the memory of two Oswego Players members: Lawrence E. Rose and Marion Green.

The second production of the Oswego Players 85th season is Scenes of the Crime. This production is a showcase that features the two standout one-act plays that placed in 2022 Don McCann Memorial Playwriting Contest. These two one-act plays are written and brought to life by local, talented individuals. The first play featured in this showcase is “Kleptocracy” by Anton Porcari and guest directed by Donald Crowe. The second play being presented is “Crimes of Passion” written and guest directed by Nicholas Gentile. The dates of Scenes of the Crime are March 10th and March 11th at 7:30 pm and March 12th at 2:00 pm. This production is pay what you wish with all of the proceeds going towards the Don McCann Memorial Playwriting Contest fund. Tickets are now on sale at the box office. You can make a reservation by calling the box office at 315-343-5138, or you can purchase tickets online at www.oswegoplayers.org.

Celebrate the summer by going back in time to the 1813! The Oswego Players presents the romantic comedy “Pride and Prejudice” on August 5th and 6th at 6:30 pm. This special theatrical event will be taking place outside, presented within the walls of Fort Ontario. The Oswego Players is partnering with New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Friends of Fort Ontario for this production. The performances will be outdoors; feel free to bring your own comfortable chair. “Pride and Prejudice” is adapted by Jon Jory from Jane Austen’s novel. Tickets are now on sale at the box office. You can make a reservation by calling the box office at 315-343-5138, or you can make reservations online by credit card at www.oswegoplayers.org. “Pride and Prejudice” is presented by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.

There are three more performances ready for audiences to enjoy as the Oswego Players close out their season opener this weekend. Tickets are still available for April 8th, 9th, and 10th in the Frances Marion Brown Theater by calling the box office at 315-343-5138 or making reservations online at: oswegoplayers.org. The comedy production features four local talents who join together for two hours of great laughs and a couple of tears. Sherri Metz plays the role of Randa Covington, Beth DeRousie takes on the character of Dot Haigler, Gina Mazzoli Wentworth portrays Jinx Jenkins, and Beverly Murtha becomes Marlafaye Mosley, four strangers who become fast friends over a series of funny life escapades.

She cloisters herself in a space no larger than 6’ x 6’. She is surrounded by costumes, fabric, buttons, bows, and sparkly things. The machine in front of her hums for hours and hours guided by her watchful eye, and skillful hands. She is a creative magician who often takes shapeless pieces of cloth and makes hats and masks and skirts and lots of pretty things. She’s our very own Marie Sterphone, Costume Lady Extraordinaire.

The Oswego Players’ production of their season opener brings together two talented actresses who create magic on the Frances Marion Brown Theater Stage. Beverly Murtha plays, Marlafaye Mosley a no-nonsense Texas gal, who can hold her own in a good argument. Sherri Metz takes on the role of Randa Covington a charming Georgia woman who was recently let go from her high-profile job. Together the sparks fly as these two go “toe to toe” now and then throughout the play with high energy and laughs galore.

When Sara Galvin’s one act comedy, “Candy” is presented at the Oswego Players’ Open House this Friday, it will be the result of her winning the Don McCann Playwriting Competition for 2021. Don was a lifelong resident of Oswego, a former advertising manager for the Palladium Times, and a lover of community theater. The Players recently received a tribute to Don from Richard Sivers, a member of the Oswego Players and longtime friend of Don’s. It will be shared at this year’s presentation.

Gina Wentworth loves community theater and has graced the stage of the Oswego Players, Frances Marion Brown Theater numerous times. Most recently she held a major role in their production of “Dearly Departed.” And in 2019, she portrayed Annie Oakley in the OP production of “Annie Get Your Gun” for which she was nominated for a SALT award for best actress in a musical. It's no surprise that this time around, Gina will be taking on the responsibility of directing the Don McCann Playwriting winning one act play, “Candy” by awardee Sara Galvin. The production will be part of the Oswego Players’ Open House Celebration on March 4th when the public will be invited to an informal reception and program to include two one act plays, and a fun session of improvisations.

In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by chance and decide it’s high time to lend a supporting word to one another over a weekly gab fab they call the Savannah Sipping Society.

Have we got a show for you! The Oswego Players had great fun with the production of Dearly Departed this fall. The playwright Jessie Jones gave us a hilarious play that delighted all those who attended a performance. Jones, along with her colleague writers Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, has done it again. This time, we meet four unique Southern women who are unexpectedly drawn together and decide it is high time they reclaim the excitement for life they seem to have lost through the years.

The Oswego Players is excited to announce auditions for their Spring comedy production of the Savannah Sipping Society January 8th and 9th from 1 to 3 pm in the Frances Marion Brown Theater, Civic Art Center, 30 Donahue Dr. Oswego, NY. Here’s a little information to spark your interest.

So, let’s say you invite a famous person to your house for dinner. Let’s say he agrees to come.. Then let’s say, when he arrives, he slips on your front steps, breaks his hip, and ends up in a wheel chair. But even worse, let’s say he decides to stay until he recuperates fully. OK, so maybe you can deal with that, right? But then you find out that he is a grumpy, angry, demanding invader into your life. Hey, some would say you have the makings of a funny play. “The Man Who Came to Dinner” is just such a play. And all you have to do to experience it, is buy a ticket, get to the Frances Marion Brown Theater, sit back, and laugh a lot. Easy, isn’t it? When these three actors take the stage, you can wallow in the delight of a popular Christmas performance that will kick off your Christmas Season. These pivotal actors include Robert Novak as Sheridan Whiteside, Lori Blackburn as Ms. Stanley, and George Valentine as Mr. Stanley.

Window Sills Productions brings two performances to the Frances Marion Brown Theater on Saturday, November 13th for a 2 pm matinee and a 7:30 evening show. Based in Cortland, Window Sills Productions is honored to offer these performances to the Oswego community as an encouragement to attend a live theater play after a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the Oswego Players. Jack Carr and Nancy Kane, members of WSP, will take the stage for both performances.

When Jack Carr approached the Oswego Players with his idea of bringing A.R. Guerney’s play “Love Letters,” to the Frances Marion Brown Theater, it came as a great surprise. And, when Jack shared that he had been a part of the Players some time ago, the idea began to grow and soon developed into a firm date, time, and cast. On November 13th Jack and his actress colleague, Nancy Kane, will make the idea a reality.

“Now Ray, there’s not going to be any problems, are there?” Jennifer Waugh (Lucille) asks Eric Cronk playing Ray-Bud Turpin in “Dearly Departed.” Poor Ray-Bud has to handle everything and everybody in the Turpin family, and his wife Lucille has to handle Ray-Bud. Which she does with a firm hand and a soothing voice. As the comedy unfolds Ray-Bud just can’t contain himself when it comes to dealing with his younger brother Junior, played by Joshua DeLorenzo.  And the sparks fly from beginning to the hilarious ending of this timely family comedy by playwrights David Bottrell and Jessie Jones.