In the Black Box at Cotuit Center for the Arts
4404 Falmouth Road, Cotuit, MA
December 8-18, 2022
Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00
Tickets $25 ($20 for CCftA members)
Extended by popular demand!
Dec 29-30, Thursday & Friday at 7:30pm!
4404 Falmouth Road, Cotuit, MA
December 8-18, 2022
Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00
Tickets $25 ($20 for CCftA members)
Extended by popular demand!
Dec 29-30, Thursday & Friday at 7:30pm!
what's the buzz?
The ensemble cast ... are uniformly wonderful, especially in creating their own world in this tiny theater where they are barely five feet away from the front row of audience members... There is not one false note as the story of this loving, elbows-on-the-table family unfolds. Definitely go... this warm, emotionally complex story is a gift.
- The Cape Cod Times
Watermelon Alligator Theatre Company is back at the Cotuit Center for the Arts with ...a heartfelt and humorous look at family dynamics and family lore. - Falmouth Enterprise
A rollicking comedy where one revelation builds on another to an unexpected and thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Best to order tickets before it sells out. - The Journal News
Best comedy of the year. You have to see it to believe it. - The Connecticut Examiner
A sprightly, gentle comedy. - The New York Times
- The Cape Cod Times
Watermelon Alligator Theatre Company is back at the Cotuit Center for the Arts with ...a heartfelt and humorous look at family dynamics and family lore. - Falmouth Enterprise
A rollicking comedy where one revelation builds on another to an unexpected and thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Best to order tickets before it sells out. - The Journal News
Best comedy of the year. You have to see it to believe it. - The Connecticut Examiner
A sprightly, gentle comedy. - The New York Times
photos
(L-R) Ruth (Jess Wilson), Jimmy (Garrett Olson), Beverly (Victoria Smith), and Clara (Stephanie Clark) uncover a beloved treasure in Tom Dudzick’s Miracle On South Division Street. Photo by V Smith and S Salvesen.
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(L-R) Ruth (Jess Wilson) reveals a long-held family secret to siblings Beverly (Victoria Smith) and Jimmy (Garrett Olson) and mom Clara (Stephanie Clark). Photo by V Smith and S Salvesen.
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(L-R) Clara (Stephanie Clark) comforts daughter Ruth (Jess Wilson) following a family revelation. Photo by V Smith.
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Ruth (Jess Wilson, seated left) tries to convince mom Clara (Stephanie Clark, seated right) about the family legend while siblings Jimmy and Beverly (Garrett Olson and Victoria Smith, L-R standing) bicker. Photo by V Smith and S Salvesen.
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(L-R) Clara (Stephanie Clark) and Ruth (Jess Wilson) share an embrace in Tom Dudzick’s Miracle on South Division Street. Photo by V Smith.
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Stephanie Clark (standing) and Jess Wilson, Garrett Olson, and Victoria Smith (seated, L-R) appear in WatermelonAlligator’s production of Tom Dudzick’s Miracle on South Division Street at Cotuit Center for the Arts. Photo by V Smith and S Salvesen.
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synopsis
Miracle on South Division Street finds the working-class Nowak family, of Buffalo’s East Side, performing their unique Christmas ritual of gathering at the shabby old homestead to commemorate the family “miracle.” According to legend, on Christmas Eve in 1942 the Blessed Mother herself appeared to Grandpa in the family barbershop. Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks’ 20-foot commemorative shrine to the Virgin Mary as a beacon of hope and faith amidst the urban rubble.
Now, family matriarch Clara (played by Stephanie Clark of Mattapoisett), the daughter of the now-deceased barber, believes strongly that the family miracle should acknowledged by the Church. “It was a good, old-fashioned Christmas miracle!” she declares.
As the play develops, daughter Ruth (played by Jess Wilson of Onset) divulges her plan to finally “go public” with the miracle by creating a one-woman Christmas show about the sacred event, much to the surprise of her siblings Beverly (played by Victoria Smith of Cotuit) and Jimmy (played by Garrett Olson of Pembroke). But during the course of the meeting, the entire family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious!
Now, family matriarch Clara (played by Stephanie Clark of Mattapoisett), the daughter of the now-deceased barber, believes strongly that the family miracle should acknowledged by the Church. “It was a good, old-fashioned Christmas miracle!” she declares.
As the play develops, daughter Ruth (played by Jess Wilson of Onset) divulges her plan to finally “go public” with the miracle by creating a one-woman Christmas show about the sacred event, much to the surprise of her siblings Beverly (played by Victoria Smith of Cotuit) and Jimmy (played by Garrett Olson of Pembroke). But during the course of the meeting, the entire family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious!
cast and crew
Cast in order of appearance:
Jimmy -------- Garrett Olson
Clara ---------- Stephanie Clark
Ruth ---------- Jess Wilson
Beverly ------ Victoria Smith
Crew:
Director ---------------------------------------Tony Ferreira, Jr
Asst Director/Stage Manager ---- Sue Salvesen
Set Design --------------------------------- Garrett Olson and Tony Ferreira, Jr
Sound Design ---------------------------- Jess Wilson
Technical Direction -------------------- Erin Trainor
Makeup Consultant ------------------- TC Crutchfield
Producers --------------------------------- Jason Mellin, Garrett Olson, Jess Wilson
Jimmy -------- Garrett Olson
Clara ---------- Stephanie Clark
Ruth ---------- Jess Wilson
Beverly ------ Victoria Smith
Crew:
Director ---------------------------------------Tony Ferreira, Jr
Asst Director/Stage Manager ---- Sue Salvesen
Set Design --------------------------------- Garrett Olson and Tony Ferreira, Jr
Sound Design ---------------------------- Jess Wilson
Technical Direction -------------------- Erin Trainor
Makeup Consultant ------------------- TC Crutchfield
Producers --------------------------------- Jason Mellin, Garrett Olson, Jess Wilson
special thanks
Jack Clark, Jason Clark, Bonnie Corliss, Michael Ernst, Vivi Ferreira,
David Kuehn, Sean MacIsaac, Jason Mellin, Martha Rogers, Cody Salvesen
David Kuehn, Sean MacIsaac, Jason Mellin, Martha Rogers, Cody Salvesen
press release
“Miracle On South Division Street” at Cotuit Center for the Arts
WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company presents “Miracle On South Division Street,” by Tom Dudzick, at Cotuit Center for the Arts’s Black Box Theater December 8th through 18th. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM. Tony Ferreira of Swansea directs, assisted by Sue Salvesen of Plymouth.
“This holiday comedy is about a blue-collar family – Clara Nowak & her three adult children - in a rundown section of Buffalo, NY, as their faith and religious foundation, around a self-professed ‘miracle’ appearance of the Virgin Mary to their patriarch, a Polish immigrant barber, is tested on Christmas Eve,” says Ferreira. He continues, “Nobody likes change, especially Clara, the barber’s daughter, but change is inevitable when long-held secrets are revealed and true meaning of the holiday miracle comes to light! Laughter ensues as the family members try to make sense of what the ‘miracle’ means for them.”
Salvesen agrees, adding, “This is the story of a family; adult siblings who are still children to their mother, and often regress to acting like children when they are together. Those moments provide the humor found between the seriousness as the family comes to terms with the revelation of a secret that shakes their personal beliefs and their own sense of self. Our four actors give us a very real glimpse into this tight-knit family; the squabbles, the confidences, and the deep love they share.”
“Miracle on South Division Street” finds the working-class Nowak family, of Buffalo’s East Side, performing their unique Christmas ritual of gathering at the shabby old homestead to commemorate the family “miracle.” According to legend, on Christmas Eve in 1942 the Blessed Mother herself appeared to Grandpa in the family barbershop. Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks’ 20-foot commemorative shrine to the Virgin Mary as a beacon of hope and faith amidst the urban rubble.
Now, family matriarch Clara (played by Stephanie Clark of Mattapoisett), the daughter of the now-deceased barber, believes strongly that the family miracle should acknowledged by the Church. “It was a good, old-fashioned Christmas miracle!” she declares.
As the play develops, daughter Ruth (played by Jess Wilson of Onset) divulges her plan to finally “go public” with the miracle by creating a one-woman Christmas show about the sacred event, much to the surprise of her siblings Beverly (played by Victoria Smith of Cotuit) and Jimmy (played by Garrett Olson of Pembroke). But during the course of the meeting, the entire family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious!
The Journal News wrote, “A rollicking comedy where one revelation builds on another to an unexpected and thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Best to order tickets before it sells out." The Connecticut Examiner wrote, “Best comedy of the year. You have to see it to believe it.” The New York Times agreed, calling it “a sprightly, gentle comedy.”
Garrett Olson, WatermelonAlligator’s Associate Artistic Director and Technical Director, adds, “Everyone knows and loves the classics. A Christmas Carol. It's a Wonderful Life. We get to see them every year. I'm excited to bring a different holiday story to the Black Box! Hopefully, it will become a “new classic” to enjoy as well!”
“Miracle On South Division Street,” by Tom Dudzick, at Cotuit Center for the Arts’s Black Box Theater, runs December 8th through 18th. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.
Tickets are $25, $20 for members. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit. For more information, visit artsonthecape.org or call 508-428-0669.
WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company presents “Miracle On South Division Street,” by Tom Dudzick, at Cotuit Center for the Arts’s Black Box Theater December 8th through 18th. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM. Tony Ferreira of Swansea directs, assisted by Sue Salvesen of Plymouth.
“This holiday comedy is about a blue-collar family – Clara Nowak & her three adult children - in a rundown section of Buffalo, NY, as their faith and religious foundation, around a self-professed ‘miracle’ appearance of the Virgin Mary to their patriarch, a Polish immigrant barber, is tested on Christmas Eve,” says Ferreira. He continues, “Nobody likes change, especially Clara, the barber’s daughter, but change is inevitable when long-held secrets are revealed and true meaning of the holiday miracle comes to light! Laughter ensues as the family members try to make sense of what the ‘miracle’ means for them.”
Salvesen agrees, adding, “This is the story of a family; adult siblings who are still children to their mother, and often regress to acting like children when they are together. Those moments provide the humor found between the seriousness as the family comes to terms with the revelation of a secret that shakes their personal beliefs and their own sense of self. Our four actors give us a very real glimpse into this tight-knit family; the squabbles, the confidences, and the deep love they share.”
“Miracle on South Division Street” finds the working-class Nowak family, of Buffalo’s East Side, performing their unique Christmas ritual of gathering at the shabby old homestead to commemorate the family “miracle.” According to legend, on Christmas Eve in 1942 the Blessed Mother herself appeared to Grandpa in the family barbershop. Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks’ 20-foot commemorative shrine to the Virgin Mary as a beacon of hope and faith amidst the urban rubble.
Now, family matriarch Clara (played by Stephanie Clark of Mattapoisett), the daughter of the now-deceased barber, believes strongly that the family miracle should acknowledged by the Church. “It was a good, old-fashioned Christmas miracle!” she declares.
As the play develops, daughter Ruth (played by Jess Wilson of Onset) divulges her plan to finally “go public” with the miracle by creating a one-woman Christmas show about the sacred event, much to the surprise of her siblings Beverly (played by Victoria Smith of Cotuit) and Jimmy (played by Garrett Olson of Pembroke). But during the course of the meeting, the entire family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious!
The Journal News wrote, “A rollicking comedy where one revelation builds on another to an unexpected and thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Best to order tickets before it sells out." The Connecticut Examiner wrote, “Best comedy of the year. You have to see it to believe it.” The New York Times agreed, calling it “a sprightly, gentle comedy.”
Garrett Olson, WatermelonAlligator’s Associate Artistic Director and Technical Director, adds, “Everyone knows and loves the classics. A Christmas Carol. It's a Wonderful Life. We get to see them every year. I'm excited to bring a different holiday story to the Black Box! Hopefully, it will become a “new classic” to enjoy as well!”
“Miracle On South Division Street,” by Tom Dudzick, at Cotuit Center for the Arts’s Black Box Theater, runs December 8th through 18th. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.
Tickets are $25, $20 for members. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit. For more information, visit artsonthecape.org or call 508-428-0669.