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.
“When Don McCann died in 2004, he left a void in the Oswego Players. As a former officer, historian, actor, director and playwright, he embodied all that is community theater. The plays he chose to direct were often new and controversial; yet he felt their message needed to be heard and the Players needed to stretch themselves in their acting and staging abilities.
After Don’s passing, it seemed only appropriate that the Players establish some kind of fund to encourage new playwrights and the Don McCann fund was born. Funded by donations from members of Players and the community as well as friends of Don, the fund has remained a lasting memorial to a man who believed so strongly in community theater, who encouraged and mentored new “life” in the theater.
Don’s legacy remains today. He, like so many others who saw the Players come to life and ultimately move into the Arts Center, are now gone, but their presence lingers still. I am especially pleased and honored to have called Don a very close friend and to have spearheaded the efforts to begin this playwrighting fund. My congratulations to this year’s winner and continued encouragement to all future applicants and winners.”
The public is invited to a fun filled evening on March 4th at 7:30 pm in the Frances Marion Brown Theater, Civic Art Center, 30 Donahue Drive, Oswego, NY. Admission is free. Patrons will be able to make a voluntary donation to the McCann Fund that evening or via the Oswego Players website: oswegoplayers.org. Please call the OP box office to make a reservation at 315- 343-5138