The Auburn Players Community Theatre will be performing To Kill a Mockingbird April 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th. Some members of our very talented cast have been Auburn Players mainstays for decades, and we had a chance to catch up with two of them, Marty Petrosino and Thames Nolan. Both Marty and Thames have been performing with us for a very long time. Marty is a 42 year Auburn Player!

Most recently Marty performed the role of Thelma in Night, Mother a role that gained her much acclaim at the Theatre Association of New York State(TANYS) festival and the Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA) festival. Thames last role with the Players came in 2009, when he was delightful in the role of Fagan in Oliver. We are very lucky to have them as part of this fantastic cast.

AuburnPlayers.org: What was your favorite memory of the Auburn Players?

Marty: I’ve been a member of the Players for 42 years, so it’s really hard to pick one memory. Much of my family’s memories have been populated by “Players’ moments” , so they are, as they say, “the fabric of my life”. But the one that comes to mind right now is the finale, “Children Will Listen” when I directed “Into the Woods”. The song really resonates with me, and my cast was so adept at executing the visual and emotional picture I was seeking. I was so moved and proud of them. Of course, there are so many other moments….silly and serious. They are replayed, and expanded upon, at any cast party. It’s like folklore. We all remember the stories, and repeat them, and repeat them…and add new, funny dramatic touches that make them better than they were in the first place!

Thames: I would have to say directing “Baylin’s Monster”. We had a huge and very talented cast and the friendships that were formed during that production are still a big part of my life today.

AuburnPlayers.org:  What has changed or what has stayed the same with the Players through the years?

Marty: We have been blessed with a longer life than most community theatres. And every community theatre goes through cycles, up and down, seasons of amazing shows and seasons we’d rather forget. What is the same is that it’s a great environment to learn the craft, meet new people, and pursue a passion. What’s different is that we have a much better grasp of stagecraft and technical finesse (think grey-painted box set vs. scrim and/or cyclorama, lights up/lights down vs. moods by design). We have a larger pool of talent at this point in time, onstage and backstage, and we draw on that. But again, it goes in cycles. We learn, we stretch, we grow. Then those that have experienced that move on to other venues, other lives. And we start over. That’s the magic of having a community theatre that has been so long-lasting. When the talent pool moves on with their lives, new members of the community jump in, to learn, to try new things, and to build us up again.

Thames: The talent of the people in this group has never ceased to amaze me. The people have changed but the talent hasn’t. It is always a thrill seeing the young ones grow through the years, some of who will go on to pursue careers in the theatre. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I have been very fortunate to have raised mine in this one.

AuburnPlayers.org: What are you looking forward to most for this production?

Thames: Getting together with friends and fellow actors that I have not worked with in a very long time. Also, meeting some of the new folks and making new friends. It’s been awhile since I have played with this group and it feels good to be back home.

Marty: Lights up!

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