Barnstormers Theatre Home - Established in 1952

June 14 - 30, 2013
Tomatoes
by Diane Nichols
Diane Nichols, director
World premiere

In this light-hearted comedy Kelly Bennett has her hands full with a precocious eight-year-old son and a 20 year-old vegan daughter who wants to change the world with the mysterious new boyfriend she just picked up at Burning Man. Kelly's perfectly healthy father is busy planning every detail of his funeral, but not too busy to fix his daughter up with a middle-aged pirate he met in line at the drugstore. When an unexpected visitor arrives and reveals secrets from the past, the entire family is turned upside down. Can true love be found at any age?

PURCHASE TICKETS

To purchase tickets online, click ticket link above.
Or call 541-479-3557, Extension 2, to leave a message. One of our box officers will contact you, usually within 24 hours.

Regular admission: $18
Groups of 10 or more: $12 each; one payment only

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Director’s Notes

We live in uncertain, fast-paced times, and like Henry Harris in our play, we may occasionally feel overwhelmed by it all. Yet in spite of the daily news and our personal ups and downs, aren’t we blessed to live in such a unique place and time? We’re surrounded by intense beauty wherever we look. We live in a community that places high value on people and the arts. We care about each other. We see the good through the murky fog. This is the crux of our play. No matter how bad things get, we always have a choice in how we react. We can choose to love and be loved, to enjoy the creative expressions of others, even if they may not match our own, to focus on joy.
The characters in Tomatoes live in a multi-generational household where very different philosophies coexist. It works because they don’t take themselves too seriously. They see beyond their superficial differences to the core of the human beings within. They face surprises and challenges with aplomb, which allows them to ultimately connect on a deeper level. And they have a pretty good time while they’re at it.
I hope you enjoy our play as much as we enjoy presenting it you. Working with the Barnstormers clan on this world premiere has been a pure delight. I am grateful for their boundless energy and dedication to the project, and I’m grateful to you for supporting the theatre with your patronage. Have fun!

Tomatoes Cast (in alphabetical order)

Amelia Caldwell (Emily) is 20 years old and is still surprised she got this role. She is a newcomer to the theater world, and playing a Wicked Stepsister in One Eleven’s Cinderella is the extent of her acting career. Off stage, Amelia aspires to be a professional Cheese Monger, Fantasy Author, and Community Theater Participant. She sincerely hopes that you fall head over heels for the characters and story as much as she has and wishes to congratulate you in an excellent choice in entertainment.

Elise Epstein (Kelly) Elise is happy to be having another enjoyable experience, in another meaningful play, with another lovely cast and crew at Barnstormers. She would like to thank the talented and delightful Diane Nichols, along with the Tomatoes cast and crew, for warmly welcoming her son, Jamy, into the Barnstormers family.

Jamy Epstein (Sean) is in his first Barnstormers play. The plays he has already been in are Snow White and the Seven Dwarves as the Magic Mirror (at Evans Valley Elementary School) and Down By the Creek Bank as the Boot Boy (at Evans Valley Bible Church). He also was briefly with Storytime Theatre as the Bluebird in Christmas Around the World and the Cat in Cinderfella. Jamy has watched his parents in a lot of plays and is glad that he gets to be in the play, Tomatoes.

Kent Prickett (Harry) is happy to be involved in such a wonderful play with such a delightful and talented cast. Hope you will enjoy the show!

Nancy Ryan (Lacie) was seen earlier this season as Anna in the premiere of The Angel Capone. She is a veteran at Barnstormers having served on the Board and the Artistic Committee. She has also enjoy acting on the stage and working behind the scenes. She directed Steel Magnolias last season as well as many scenes in Imagine. One of her favorite accomplishments is working on the Angus Bowmer stage at OSF in Light up the Sky.

David Tannarome (Karma) has been acting locally for the past five years. That is a whole hand's worth of years! He's excited to be a part of Barnstormers Theatre’s second premiere show this year and thanks you most humbly and sincerely for coming. In turn, he would like to thank his cast for being amazing, his crew for being incredible, and his special somepony for being… well… special. He only hopes you can find it in yourself to relax, take in the splendor of the show, and truly just enjoy yourself to your heart's content. He also doesn't know about you, but something about this show makes him hungry. He's not sure what it is....

Jerry Terry (Mike) is excited about doing another production with Barnstormers. He has been blessed to have worked with Diane Nichols in the past, during the production of Enemy of the People where he played Hovstad. He is so excited to work with such a talented person again. Jerry has played multiple roles in the past with a local dinner theater group and had such a blast in his last stage play. Jerry would like to thank his family for all of their support during the many hours of rehearsal time. He thinks they enjoy his time out of the house?

Crew

Diane Nichols (Playwright and Director) started her directing career on the second grade playground, much to the chagrin of several classmates she recruited to play colorfully clad harem dancers and camels. She went on to direct puppets (who were much easier to manage) for 11 years in her professional company, Taffytoad Productions. Forced into adulthood at a ridiculously early age (mid-forties), Diane dropped the puppets (literally), and turned to directing adults in stunningly successful plays in Seattle, Edmonds and Portland. She moved to Southern Oregon and found her theater family at Barnstormers. She is thrilled to be working with such an enthusiastic, talented cast and crew on Tomatoes and hopes you will enjoy the show.

Adelle Cottrell (Assistant Director) A transplant from Atlanta, Adelle’s acting credits include Daisy Mae in Li’l Abner and Laurie in Oklahoma with Embry Hills Players in Atlanta, and Mrs. Pert in Look Homeward, Angel and Truvy in Steel Magnolias here at Barnstormers. She served as assistant director for A Delicate Balance, as production coordinator/dramaturge for Crimes of the Heart and dialect coach for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She is currently serving as treasurer for the Barnstormers board.

Stephanie Malone (Stage Manager) has also enjoyed working with Katie Skudstad at the Performing Arts Center. Some of her personal favorites are Comedy of Errors, Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls and Scapino. She feels blessed to be a part of this show and to have the privilege to work with Diane. She would like to thank God, her Dad, and her amazingly talented Karma. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Marcus Hardesty (Assistant Stage Manager) is delighted to be teching Tomatoes. He has acted in a few plays: Fiddler on the Roof and Almost Maine at Grants Pass High School, One Eleven's Cinderella and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Marcus enjoys frolicking through a wooded area singing "What a Wonderful World" while wearing bright colored clothing. When he's not dressed in brightly colored clothing, you can usually find him walking around Grants Pass during the days. He hopes you enjoy the show and L'chaim!

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