Working Theater
By Ronald R. Blais, Staff Reporter
Theatre Works of Woonsocket is a long way from the bright lights of Broadway.
But passion for the stage burns as brightly at the local theater company, perhaps even more so, as it does along the Great White Way.
But like Broadway, that is profit motivated, Theatre Works' thespians pour out their energies for the love of it, not money. The local company is nonprofit.
"It's all volunteers. Nobody gets paid in our organization. It's been that way since day one,"
explained Evelyn Zifcak, Theatre Works' founder and president. The only exception is the musicians hired for musica1s, she added. Their contract requires they be paid, she points out.
20th Season
Located on the second floor of the First Universalist Church, 78 Earle St., the community theater is celebrating a milestone this season, its 20th anniversary.
Each season, the company produces four shows, two straight and two musicals, Zifcak said.
This season's offerings include "Annie" November," A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" in March and "God's Favorite" in May. "Arsenic & Old Lace" was offered last month.
Subscribers can see all four productions for $40. Subscribers also receive preferred seating, automatic entry in a dinner raffle, free beverage with subscriber card and advance mailing on all shows.
Theatre Works' goal is twofold, to entertain and to educate, Zifcak pointed out.
"It's a community theater. Its purpose is to promote culture in the area and introduce the theater arts to the populace," the founder explained.
And one of the most rewarding aspects of the small company, she adds, is that it "opens up theater to young people interested in the arts."
"Community theater develops a love of theater with young people," she points out. "It's addictive. Once you get involved with theater, you fall in love with it."
Theatre Works is not only about entertainment. The company is striving to expand its repertoire.
"We're trying to work in more educational programs," Zifcak explained, such as acting and directing workshops.
Encouraging young people to participate in the arts is another Theatre Works goal. The local company reaches out to youths by offering a $1,000 scholarship to a high school student interested in the arts, that is, music, theater, painting etc.
Because Theatre Works' members give of themselves for the sheer love of entertaining, and not money, loyalty is strong among the staff.
"Some people have been with me from day one," Zifcak said proudly of some of the current 35 active members of the troupe.
"The love of the theater," she says succinctly, in explaining why the troupe remains so loyal.
Although small and composed of volunteers, Zifcak emphasized the company is, nevertheless, big on quality.
"The quality of the productions is very good. We have a good mix (of experienced and young performers) when we put on a show. They (patrons) see a quality show. We have good directors," she stressed.
To buttress her point, she emphasizes many of the company's couple of hundred subscribers are repeat patrons.
"We have old timers who've stayed over the years and are still with us," she says proudly.
The company's door is always open to new talent. Zifcak points out. In its quest for new talent, a play selection committee "puts out feelers to anyone interested in directing," Zifcak explained. The company also advertises in "The Board," a community theater newspaper.
Theatre Works traces its roots to 1983. At that time, Zifcak recalls, she met many people who expressed an interest in theater. As a test, she decided to see just how profound that interest was by taking out a newspaper ad regarding a new theater company.
"The first night, 60 people showed up at the hall," she remembers. "It showed me there was a real interest in theater."
Theatre Works was picked as a name because of the mill atmosphere pervading Woonsocket at that time, she explained.
At first, the troupe trudged from hall to hall to put on performances, not an ideal scenario, Zifcak recalls. Each hall had its own idiosyncrasies that added to the challenge of putting on a show.
Stability arrived about 10 years ago when the company began renting the Universalist Church hall, its present location.
Today, performances are offered Friday and Saturday nights and a matinee on Sunday. However, the company is going to experiment with "Annie" for the first time by offering two performances on Sunday, a matinee and evening show. A dinner theater arrangement with a nearby restaurant is also in the works.
It gives me a thrill to see talent evolve," Zifcak said of one of the rewards she garners from her association with Theatre Works.
"To see ordinary people put it together and make it work is very gratifying," she adds.
"To take it form the page to the stage," is exciting, she continued. "I feel very good after a show."
She also finds it "heartwarming" to see young people progress in theater.
"I like to see young people get involved and see where they go," she emphasized.
Zifcak's love of the stage can be traced to her childhood while living in the Western Hotel, Nasonville, owned by her grandfather, Benjamin Whittaker.
She, her brothers and sisters, and friends would put on small skits on an upstairs stage for hotel patrons and family, she recalled.
At other times, she would be summonsed downstairs by then bartender Jack Dwyer and the duo would perform a tap dance routine for customers, she also remembers.
"I was rich with a quarter in those days," she recalls of her reward for dancing.
Her appetite for theater was further nourished when she became a founder of the Assembly Players of Burrillville, she notes, with whom she polished her acting and directing skills.
Despite not doing any acting or directing since founding Theatre Works, the love of both still tugs at her heart strings.
The "grand dame of Theatre Works confesses she's "getting itchy" to return to the director's chair.
Although it's "a little scary 'cause I haven't done it in 20 years," she, nevertheless still has a "yearn to do it (direct)," she explained.
For Zifcak, theater has been a livelong passion, and that love hasn't dimmed yet.
Those desiring more information on subscriptions can call (401) 766-1898.
Neighbors, October 16, 2002.