Yoh Theatre Players Take the Stage to Preview Their 2025 Season
The Yoh Theatre Players took their home stage at Woodstock Union High School and Middle School (WUHSMS) last week under the direction of Marcia Bender, WUHS Theatre Director, to perform five separate vignettes before an enthusiastic audience. The vignettes – each an actual scene from one of the five shows selected for presentation during the 2025 school year – served to reveal the wide range of works, both plays and musicals, that the Yoh Players will perform from early October through the end of May.
Working without notes or prompts, the players flawlessly delivered both lines and songs – audience applause provided the only breaks -- despite extremely limited time to rehearse. The players had just recently returned from four sold-out performances at the Fringe Arts Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Fringe is the largest performing arts festival in the world.
Lydia Bennet (Libby Fraga) wails with despair at the thought of becoming a penniless spinster. Looking on: Lizzy (Tilly Richardson), Jane (Ella Hardy), Mrs. Bennet (Lia Gugliotta), Mary (Ana Salisbury), and Mr Bennet (Sam Hauze). From Pride and Prejudice, by Kate Hammill, based on the novel by Jane Austin. Photo by Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
The five performances selected for the coming 2025 season include:
Elektra by Sophocles, translated by Anne Carlson, October 3, 4, and 5
Alice By Heart Musical, by Steven Satar, Duncan Sheik, and Jesse Nelson, December 12, 13, and 14
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, adapted by Mary Zimmerman, March 6, 7, and 8
Pride and Prejudice, by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austin, May 1, 2, and 3
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare, adapted by Abbie Levision, a 7th , 8th, and 9th -grade show, May 22.
Tickets for Elektra will be available online at yohtheatre.com starting on Thursday, September 12.
The Yoh Theatre players are drawn from both Woodstock Union High School and Middle School, as well as from the surrounding community.
“Here at Yoh, our students can discover the joy of bringing stories to life together. Every student can explore their passion, whether it's acting in the spotlight, designing the perfect lighting cue, building innovative sets, or choreographing the next show-stopping number,” said Director Bender.
“We're a community where everyone's voice matters and every perspective brings something special to the stage,” she said. “When you join Yoh Theatre, you're not just joining a production; you're becoming part of a tradition that celebrates creativity, embraces individual growth, and creates unforgettable memories both on stage and off.”
Old Buccaneer Billy Bones (Sam Hauze) enlists young Jim (Jay Allen) to keep watch for a sign of Long John Silver. From Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, adapted by Mary Zimmerman. Photo by Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
About the Yoh Theatre: The story of Yoh Theatre begins with a vision: that theatre could be more than just performances—it could be a home where students discover themselves through creativity and collaboration. This vision found its champion in Harriet Worrell, a remarkable educator whose dedication would forever change the landscape of theatre education in our community.
About Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU): Located in Central Vermont’s Green Mountains, Mountain Views Supervisory Union serves students from Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, Woodstock, and other neighboring school-choice communities. For more information, please visit the MVSU Website.