A moment to give thanks

Another year has come to this season of giving and understanding of what
is really important when all is said and done. I really enjoy this time of year.

my son Joe is now in college and learning what life is all about. Finding his way to what he will be when he becomes a full fledged adult. He fashions himself to the liking of Jim Hendrix in his dress of the day one day and the next he is dressed as a business casual yet charming to the eye. He has taken to helping me backstage at the Emerson Theater Collaborative.

Speaking of that! The Emerson Theater Collaborative is coming into year four in April 2012. What a journey it has been. I cannot stop now. The road has been hard but I will continue because I know what I do affects the human condition. when we produce great works of theater that inspire people to do what needs to be done automatically...that is to FEEL. A basic instinct that seems to be missing is so many people. It brings a sadness to me at times to know that this exist.

The last show of the season was the Spitting Image by Sophie Klein

I have posted my producers note from the final season show program. I hope that it finds you well. Be at peace with yourself and others for you have the potential to change the world.

The wilderness can be a scary place when you are lost. I should know. I have been there.
We have all been there. Trying to figure out who we are and what makes us. US! Each day I am discovering more about who I am and what makes me happy. I am so thankful to be able to find new discoveries about who I am and who I am becoming. When I look back to my teenage years, and remember – I have so much to be thankful for.

• I thankful for my mother who taught me how to be strong and to care about people.

• I am thankful for my son who continues to be such a blessing in my life. Thank you for shaping me into a better human being.

• I am thankful for a husband who is gentle, loving and caring and allows me to be who I am.

• I am thankful for my Emerson Theater Collaborative family who are 65 people strong and who continue to help me create great theater. Giving me room to lead, and to fail and picking me back up, dusting me off with a smile and saying continue, your doing a great job.

• I am thankful for my dad who gave me games to play with and allowed me to be a child and to imagine the things I could be.


As for me Thanksgiving is everyday. I find a moment everyday to say thankful for all that I have, all that I am. I am thankful today to be able to be here with you to share in this amazing production, with such talented people. The Emerson Theater Collaborative started in April of 2008 to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in Southeastern Connecticut. Everyday since our opening production of Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, we have been able to bring great theater to the region. We have been able to help our youth grow into adults with a new sense of self and pride in what they do. But none of this could have been done without you our patrons, volunteers, friends and family. I am so thankful for all of you.

As we approach the season of Thanksgiving find many moments to be thankful for all that you have. The most important moments in our lives are moments around friends and family. They are the ones that matter most.

Thank you Sarah, Joshua, Roy, Joe, Jack, Jeanette, Julia, Alex, Kelly, Gail and FUMC for helping to create moments that will change lives forever.

2nd Annual Comedy for a Cause

Emerson Theatre Collaborative Presents Comedy for a Cause


October 2011, New London, CT. Emerson Theater Collaborative presents the Second Annual Comedy for a Cause starring Eddie Brill from the Late Show with David Letterman and featuring Bob Gautreau, Clay Miles and Max Goldberg on October 9th, 2011 at Harbour Towers, 461 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 (In The Ball Room on the 4th floor). The doors open at 3 pm, and the show starts at 4 pm. Tickets are $20.00 and $15.00 for students. Military personnel get a 10 % discount. There will be a cash bar and silent and live auction as well. More information can be found at .

Living In The Wind by Michael Bradford

Emerson Theatre Collaborative Announces Production of Living in the Wind

March 11, 2011, Mystic CT…Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC) announces the production of MichaelBradford’s play, Living in the Wind, directed by Theresa Broach and produced by ETC’s Camilla Ross.  The play takes place on a front porch in Georgia and opens in the hot stretch of June. Married as slaves and separated on the night of their marriage, Sarah and Isaiah are reunited after twelve years. They attempt to salvage a past amidst the constant reminders from the dead who are just as real as the living and breathing reminders of Hattie and Vance Williams, who live just down the road. And all of this is done for the sake of possibilities, for the future. At stake is a chance to be whole, to be treated as necessary as the space that one occupies. At stake is the ability to love completely and to have the capacity to be loved.

Performances run from March 11 - March 20, 2011 at the Union Baptist Church in Mystic, CT.  This production will be under the direction of Theresa Broach. Performance information and tickets for Living in the Wind be can be obtained by visiting EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org.  Tickets are $25 ($23 for students and seniors).

Love Letters By A.R. Gurney

Welcome to the Emerson Theater Collaborative in 2011.

This will be a year filled with original works by great playwrights!

Coming on  February 14th  2011 LOVE LETTERS by A. R. Gurney

February 14, 2011, Mystic, CT…Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC) announces the dinner theater production of A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters directed by Joshua Ramos at River Walk restaurant. Performance information and tickets for Love Letters be can be obtained by visiting EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org. Tickets are $50.

The play centers on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. A.R. Gurney has the characters sit side by side and read the notes, letters and cards they wrote to each other over a time period of nearly 50 years. In these letters, they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, and victories and defeats throughout their lives.

Emerson Theater Collaborative’s mission is to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in Southeastern Connecticut. ETC explores timely themes and issues through new, original works and modern theatrical classics. The company develops and nurtures both emerging and professional artists, and collaborates with the Emerson College network of alumni and students. ETC’s goals include reaching inner city youth through educational theatrical programming and to support local communities by providing free admission to low-income families and donating profits to humanitarian causes.

Joshua Lee Ramos (Director) is a native of Hartford, CT and a graduate of University of Hartford where he received a BA in Drama and Film.  In 2008 he made his professional theatre directorial debut with Princebury Productions directing A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters. Joshua brought the revival of Maria Irene Fornes’ The Conduct of Life to Off-Broadway’s June Havoc Theatre as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival in summer of 2008 serving as director, lighting designer and sound designer. Additional regional professional credits include working as a director for New Works New Britain Theatre Festival, as well as having been a lighting designer for CONNetic Dance in Hartford and for their regional tour. In 2010, he directed Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale for the Hartford Children’s Theatre. For Emerson Theater Collaborative, he directed Spinning Into Butter and Hate Mail, as well ass serving as Assistant Director for the premiere of Chestina Vanessa Poulson and Stage Manager for Harriet2. For more information, visit joshualeeramos.webs.com

Cast: Dan Mauro and Carolyn Paine

Dan Mauro (Andrew) is a Connecticut native with a BS in Film from Emerson College in Boston. His acting career began when a close friend pushed him onstage for an audition at what he thought was a crew meeting. This led to his being cast in Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner”. Dan spent several seasons as a member of the New Haven based, non-profit theatre group Mastermind Productions. While raising thousands of dollars for charity, he built sets and appeared in numerous shows including Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and as Rick Steadman in Shue’s “The Nerd”. He has also appeared in New Haven Theater Company’s “The Wake of Pedro de Urdemalas” and unique “Meter Theater” bits during the New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas. Training at the Actors Gym in Hamden, CT has recently led him to regional commercial work. Dan is excited to work with ETC and is very happy to be onboard for “Love Letters”.

Carolyn Paine (Melissa) is delighted to be performing with E.T.C. for the Second time. She has BA in Drama from University of Hartford, where she performed in such plays as The Philadelphia Story, Noises Off and Measure for Measure. Most recently she could be found in the premiere of Christmas Blessing at The Where Eagles Dare Theatre in NYC. She is acting Company Member of New York Playwrights and has previously performed Off-Broadway in NYC at the June Havoc Theatre in the revival of Maria Irene Fornes’ intense drama The Conduct of Life. On stage, her regional and professional credits include working with Chelsea Rep Lab in NYC, Shakespeare Now Theatre Company in Boston, Square One Theatre in Stratford, New Works New Haven, Peripitus Theatre Company in the world premiere of 3′s, Park Road Playhouse in the award winning The Foreigner, and with Princebury Productions in Love Letters. She has also toured with Classical Players in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Carolyn can be found in numerous regional and national commercials and has had featured appearances on television and in independent film. She also had fun appearing as a case model in the live casino tour of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” featuring Howie Mandel. Carolyn has been a professional dancer and choreographer as well and has performed with Hartford’s Ballet Theatre, CONNetic Dance, Boston’s BalletRox, and several choreographers and companies in NYC. For more visitwww.carolynpaine.com!

Key Dates and Information

What: Emerson Theatre Collaborative’s production of Love Letters.
When: February 14 at 6:00 PM.
Where: How: River Walk Restaurant, 14 Holmes St., Mystic, CT. Tickets are $50 and can be obtained online at www.emersontheatercollaborative.org

Additional information is available at www.EmersonTheatreCollaborative.org or by calling (860) 705-9711

# # # # #

Contact: Lisa Giordano, giordano9@rocketmail.com

Photos are available upon request.

The Creative Team available for interviews by appointment.

www.EmersonTheatreCollaborative.org