Dramatic Repertory Company On Stage

Fabuloso
FABULOSO
Performance Times

Fri. March 8 @7:30pm
Sat. March 9 @7:30pm
Sun. March 10 @7:30pm

Tues. March 12 @7:30pm**
Wed. March 13 – SOLD OUT!
Thurs. March 14 @7:30pm
Fri. March 15 @7:30pm
Sat. March 16 @7:30pm
Sun. March 17 @7:30pm

** Discount Tuesday/Wednesdays

FREE for 25 & Under with ID


Peter BrownPeter Brown (Teddy / Arthur). Peter is a Portland-based actor, director, theater educator, and proud dad, who has appeared in Dramatic Repertory Company's productions of Equivocation, Swimming In The Shallows and Life During Wartime. He also co-directed their production of Venus in Fur. He is the director of the Portland High School Shakespeare Club, an Affiliate Artist at Portland Stage Company and former Associate Artistic Director of Mad Horse Theatre Company. A few of his MHTC credits include acting in The Normal Heart, The Pillowman and Long Day's Journey Into Night, and directing The History Boys and Six Degrees Of Separation. He frequently collaborates with Fenix Theatre Company, having performed in Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night and Taming Of The Shrew, and directed As You Like It and A Midsummer Night's Dream. For Crosby & R.J., whose love and support make this possible.

Christopher HoltChristopher Holt (Teddy / Arthur) is having his 5th showversary with DRC! Previous DRC shows have been Swimming in the Shallows, Equivocation, The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence, and Year of the Rooster. He has also recently performed with Portland Stage Company (The Importance of Being Earnest, A Christmas Carol, and Sex and Other Disturbances), Good Theater (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, An Inspector Calls, The Trip To Bountiful, and The Rainmaker), and Theater At Monmouth (2016 season).

Janice O'RourkeJanice O'Rourke (Kate / Samantha) most recently appeared in the PSC studio theater in The Roommate by Jen Silverman, directed/ produced by Eileen Phelan. She has done several shows with DRC including The Watson Intelligence where she played three women in three distinct time periods, Fringe Festival production of Contractions where she played a cruel manager following strict HR policies. Other DRC appearances include Carla Carla in Swimming in the Shallows (yes, her character had two names.) Janice has appeared at Portland Stage Company in Blithe Spirit, Comedy of Errors, Lend Me a Tenor, Iron Kisses, Out of Sterno and in numerous Little Festivals of the Unexpected. Other theater appearances include Actors Theatre of Louisville KY, Adobe Theater Company NYC, Ontological Theater NYC, Shenandoah Shakespeare international tour. Most recently Janice is exercising her voice as a storyteller in Moth-like events produced by Soundbites soon to air on Maine Public radio. Thank you Darren, Ryan and Conor for love and support to pursue her passions.

Bess WeldenBess Welden (Kate / Samantha) has been making theater as a performer, writer, and educator for nearly 25 years. She has previously appeared with DRC in Swimming in the Shallows, A Bright New Boise (co-production with Fenix Theatre), Gidion's Knot, and False Flag. As a performer (MFA, National Theater Conservatory) she has worked with the Denver Center Theater Company, Williamstown Theater Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Hangar Theater, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Portland Stage, the Opera House at Boothbay, Mad Horse Theatre, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony, White Plains Performing Arts Center, Commonweal Theater, among many others. In October/November 2018, Portland Stage produced the world premiere of her play REFUGE MALJA in its mainstage season. Her one-act MADELEINES (2015) and her solo comedies BIG MOUTH THUNDER THIGHS (2013) and THE PASSION OF THE HAUSFRAU (2009) premiered in the PS Studio Theater. In 2017, her original multi-disciplinary performance project, LEGBALA IS A RIVER, premiered at Mayo Street Arts, and she directed NOT ALWAYS HAPPY, written and performed by Portland memoirist/social justice storyteller, Kari Wagner-Peck. Bess has been a Teaching Artist in Colby College's Department of Theater and Dance since 2010. She is a long-time Portland Stage Affiliate Artist and Teaching Artist. She is the proud president of DRC's Board of Directors. www.besswelden.com


John Kolvenbach (Playwright) is the author of GOLDFISH, MRS. WHITNEY, LOVE SONG, ON AN AVERAGE DAY, GIZMO LOVE, and FABULOSO. GOLDFISH premiered at South Coast Repertory in the spring of 2009. LOVE SONG premiered at Steppenwolf in Chicago in the spring of 2006, directed by Austin Pendleton. LOVE SONG went on to the West End, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award for best new comedy. The London production was directed by John Crowley, with Neve Campbell, Cillian Murphy, Kristen Johnston, and Michael McKean. ON AN AVERAGE DAY premiered at the Comedy Theatre on the West End in 2002, with Woody Harrelson and Kyle MacLachlan, also directed by Mr. Crowley. FABULOSO premiered at the Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre in 2008, directed by Mr. Kolvenbach.

Daniel Burson (Director) is a freelance director and dramaturg living in Portland, who previously directed A Number and Swimming in the Shallows with DRC. His local directing credits include this season's Ben Butler, as well as Mary's Wedding, The Santaland Diaries, Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh, and Hound of the Baskervilles at Portland Stage, where he was Literary & Education Manager for nine seasons. Other Maine credits include Papermaker and the world premiere of One Blue Tarp at Penobscot Theatre, and productions at the Boothbay Opera House, AIRE, and Deertrees Theatre, among others. As a dramaturg, Dan is the Artistic Director of the Maine Playwrights Festival, a member of Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas, and has developed new work for companies including Saco River Theatre, Portland Stage, and Boston Playwrights Theater.

Emily M. Dixon (Scenic Design) returns to the area after teaching theater at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT and MoCo Arts in Keene, NH. She is thrilled to be working with DRC again. Recent credits include: The Language Archive (Mad Horse, Light Design), Deer (Mad Horse, Scenic Design), Willy Wonka (STAGES, Scenic Design). When not designing, Emily works as a carpenter at Portland Stage. She can often be found on a snowboard, hanging out with her cats, or counting down the days until CAKE Summer Camp, her most favorite place in the world. Thanks to the cast and creative team for their patience and dedication, and huge props (pun intended) to KatieDay for being the most amazing partner in work and in life

Christine Nilles (Costume Design) is a costume designer, fiber artist and illustrator. She has exhibited her cloth sculptures and fiber art in galleries across the United States and has won many awards, most notably twice for The Arkansas Arts Center's 'Toys Designed by Artists' competition. Her work is in the Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection. Christine has designed costumes for Colby Theater and Dance, The Waterville Opera House, Studio Theater at Portland Stage and Theater at Monmouth. She is a member of the Costume Society of America.

MICHAELA WIRTH (Lighting Design). Rarely seen in the full light of day, this designer is delighted to be working once again with DRC. When not in the darkness of the theatre, she can often be found in the darkness of the projection booth of the Nickelodeon... planning the lights for the next DRC show!

Matt Kennedy (Sound Design) is thrilled to be designing again for DRC. Past sound designs have included work for Fenix Theater, Stephen Madigan's Richard III, and Freeport Factory Stage. He also performs regularly as a saxophonist and arranger throughout Maine and New England. He credits DRC's Year of the Rooster for his four-year-old son's love of Pantera.

Katie Day (Props Design) is thrilled to be participating in her first show with DRC. Katie can typically be found behind a camera at Anania Media, a marketing agency out of Westbrook. She enjoys taking pictures, spending time with family, and watching 'The Office' on repeat. Katie would like to thank Emily for her constant encouragement and guidance through this experience.

Vanessa SW Beyland (Choreography) is a professional dancer, instructor and choreographer living in Portland. She has a BFA in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and is on the USM faculty teaching Musical Theater Dance. Her credits include work in NY, NJ, CT, PA, CA, NH and ME with school, community and professional companies.


MARCH 8 - 17, 2019


“It’s an extra layer of fun in what's already a
GLITTERY, OVER-THE-TOP SHOW OF HIJINKS AND TRANSFORMATION!!!
....so perfectly cast and executed ...that it was fascinating to imagine how the show might play with the roles reversed ...(Actors alternate roles each performance) luckily, you needn't just imagine: seeing FABULOSO twice is just the kind of decadence this show piques.”

- Portland Phoenix, March 14, 2019
(read more >>)




Maine Premiere
FABULOSO
by John Kolvenbach
directed by Daniel Burson

with Peter Brown, Christopher Holt,
Janice O'Rourke and Bess Welden





Kate works in a bank. Teddy is an uninspired kids’ soccer coach. They are feeling trapped in an ordinary apartment and their ordinary marriage. Then Teddy's long-lost friend Arthur arrives after a 20-year absence. He bursts into their home with nonstop games, ruses, schemes, not to mention knives, songs, cocktails for all, and his wildly dramatic fiancée, Samantha. FABULOSO is a madcap and surprisingly touching farce about the pleasures of bedlam and the far-from-ordinary feeling of being needed. DRC’s production of this zany comedy even more delightful chaos: the cast will switch roles each night.

Featuring DRC veterans Peter Brown, Chris Holt, Janice O’Rourke, and Bess Welden, directed by Daniel Burson. The stellar design team includes Emily Dixon (set), Christine Nilles (costumes), Matt Kennedy (sound), Michaela Wirth (lights), Vanessa SW Beyland (Choreography) and Katie Day (props).


In this unique DRC production, the actors will alternate roles during the performance schedule.

X Cast:
Bess + Chris = Kate & Teddy
Peter + Janice = Arthur & Samantha
3/8, 3/10, 3/12, 3/14, 3/16

Y Cast:
Peter + Janice = Kate & Teddy
Bess + Chris = Arthur & Samantha
3/9, 3/13, 3/15, 3/17




at the
PSC STUDIO THEATER
25A Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine

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“This high-energy farce is good for more than laughs. It succeeds where so many fail because of an unusually effective emotional component that's just touching enough. It's perfect ballast for the madcap farcical elements, which are executed with precision and a pounding heart. FABULOSO is near-perfect summer entertainment. Playwright John Kolvenbach keeps you guessing while you're laughing. He's a playwright's playwright, sending his well-drawn characters down a carefully plotted structure that reveals its craft only in hindsight.”
- Eye Weekly (Canada)









PREMIUM SEATING – Get a reserved Front & Center seat without having to arrive early! Select Premium Seating and we will reserve your seat up until 5 minutes prior to the printed curtain time. If you arrive after that time, your reserved seat may be released, but you will still be able to see the show. There will be no refunds for late arrivals. $15 of your Premium Seat purchase counts as a tax-deductible donation to Dramatic Repertory Company.

DISCOUNT WEDNESDAYS – All seats to Wednesday Evening performances are $10!

FuturePatrons – if you are age 25 or under, see DRC shows for FREE!! FuturePatron tickets are available day-of only, and require government-issued photo ID as proof of age. Seating is first-come, first-served and subject to availability.





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