Gossip: Updates on Daniel Howard, Strawbery Banke, George Hosker Bouley and Anthropocene – Foster’s Daily Democrat

Danielle Howard now at Hackmatack

Hackmatack Playhouse’s new artistic director is Danielle Howard, “and we’re very, very excited to have her step up,” Executive Director Michael Guptill says.

Howard is no newcomer to the Maine theater. She’s directed three shows at the venue the past three years, the latest, its very successful “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night.”

“She’s actually worked with us for years. She worked with my dad (Carlton, Hackmatack’s founder). I probably don’t want to tell you how many years that is. She might be embarrassed,” he says laughing. “So, she understands what Hackmatack is and what we do  – our philosophy.”

Guptill and Howard have been talking since Crystal Lisbon announced her decision to depart. She’d given herself a five-year mark for moving on.

“Danielle was indeed my first choice and she came highly recommend by Crystal, too,” he says. “She’s one of the best in the area.”

The team has already announced its 2020 season. This summer they’ll produce “The Foreigner,”  “Legally Blonde” and “The Spitfire Grill.”

If you’ve kept track, that’s one less than earlier years.

“It’s a personal decision. I want to slow down a little bit,” Guptill says. “Usually there’s four and we start in the middle of June, which takes us to July 4th, which is always a hard time to draw audiences. So I decided to just forego that headache … and  give a little more flex time for me, and the family.”

The Guptill family lives on the theater property, which is filled with people “100 percent of the time” in the summer months.

“We love it. But it’s like the in-laws,” he says. “You love it when they come, love it when they leave.”

Strawbery Banke needs sewing help

Maddie Biehl initially started at the Banke managing the costumes for its performers. During her time at the Banke, the Historical Role Playing Program has grown “a lot,” Biehl says.

These days the players’ garments are starting to look like survivors from the periods they depict.

“The program has been going on for 26 years, and all that time we’ve been basically using the original costuming,” Biehl says. “So we’re getting to the point that we need to get to replacing things. But, it’s hard to find someone that knows how to sew an 18th century outfit”

So the call is out for skilled seamstresses.

“One of the biggest things we’re looking for is someone who can alter patterns. Because we have a lot of patterns that are taken directly from historical garments, they’re  usually very, very small and hard to fit to a modern person,” she says. “We’re also looking of someone who can hand sew to a reasonable extent.”‘

Theater and role-playing costumes are not the same animal, she explains. For the most part, theater just has to look good at a distance. With museum attire, it has to pass muster up close.

The seamstresses would be contract workers. The museum pays labor and hours and provides all material and patterns, she says. “We just need someone with expertise to get the sewing done.”

The Banke covers 300 years of history, and is looking largely at 18th and 19th century costumes.

In addition to new adult ensembles, they plan to build new items for the junior role-players. The goal is a costume collection for each age group, “that ranges from six to 80 at this point.”

“We don’t have the budget to replace all at once unless we got a grant, so we’re looking at ‘one Mrs. Goodwin dress’ at a time.”

Finally, the Banke is still looking for non-costumed volunteers for its upcoming Candlelight Stroll. If interested in volunteering, see application at http://www.strawberybanke.org/people/volunteers.cfm or email [email protected]; for sewing, write [email protected].

Hosker Bouley celebrates a decade at York Rec

George Hosker Bouley is marking his tenth year as Director of the York Recreation Department’s production of “A Dickens Christmas Carol” (https://www.facebook.com/YorkMaine).

The piece is adapted by Hosker Bouley and this year features 94 cast members.

“It is my policy to take everyone,” he says. “So, we have people who are in first grade and my eldest is 69 years old. It’s wonderful. I love doing this show. “

That’s not his only November and December projects. During this period, for nine weeks, Hosker Bouley, who also directs at the York High and Middle School, will juggle four plays – plus a few private projects.

“So, starting three weeks ago, I’m opening a new play every three weeks.”

The plays include “Beyond the Sea (Isadore),” and “Civil Tongue,” both Hosker Bouley originals;  “then just for fun … we’ll do ‘A Children’s Christmas in Wales.'”

In addition, Carpe Diem, his production company, is marking its sixteenth year presenting “Dickens of a Christmas” at the Old Salt in Hampton (Dec. 9 to 12).

“This is my normal schedule for the fall, and then I throw a Christmas party for 200 people on Dec. 15,” Hosker Bouley says. “It’s always been my favorite season – and always been very busy. I like doing the holiday soup to nuts.”

‘Anthropocene’ at NHTP

“Anthropocene: A Love Story” is in New Hampshire Theater Project’s 2019-20 lineup and is slated to be directed by its new Artistic Director Catherine Stewart. As to what it will be, well, your guess is as good as any, Stewart’s included.

The sure thing is “Anthropocene” will focus on the environment and humans’ love for it. Beyond that, there’s no way to know what the heck it’s about, or what shape it will take, until it’s written by the as-yet-to-be-cast six performers.

For now. Stewart is concentrating on gathering stories, both on the Seacoast and beyond, that will be used in the piece.

“What we’re doing is creating the piece as a company. We know the theme. … The word devising is a word we use here,” she says. “So what I hope to do is gather lots of stories from people in our community, or farther afield and weave those together …  into a single piece.”

The cast will be comprised of multi-talented performers “who act, dance, sing and move” allowing them to work as a team and create something unique.

Stewart plans to seek out a variety of organizations to help gather the required stories.

“I believe that the conversation around the planet and its future has become incredibly divisive. NHTP doesn’t shy away from tricky topics, we face them head on,” she says. “So I wanted to frame this piece with that idea – of a love affair. We’ve all stood in nature and been awestruck by its beauty or vastness. And so tapping into those ideas, I think we can have a meaningful conversation.”

Next up at NHTP, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show Radio.” Visit www.nhtheatreproject.org for more information.

Jeanné McCartin keeps her eyes and ears open for gossip at [email protected].

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