ON GOLDEN POND
by Ernest Thompson
Directed by John Sowle
Sets and Sound by Carmen Borgia
Costumes by Michelle Rogers
Stage Manager-Hannarose Manning
Ernest Thompson’s contemporary American classic is a heartwarming and poignant work of a family struggling with age, rage, regret, love withheld, love unspoken, disappointment and ultimately (if they’re lucky) forgiveness, acceptance, and renewal.
For decades, Norman and Ethel Thayer have spent their summers in a rustic lakeside family cabin in Maine. But this year is different. While Ethel remains a warm, ever-optimistic companion, Norman has started experiencing frightening lapses of memory. Things take an unexpected turn when their estranged daughter, Chelsea, arrives with her new fiancé and his teenage son in tow. Long-standing tensions between Norman and Chelsea rise to the surface, forcing them to confront past wounds and to attempt some kind of reconciliation before it’s too late.
Suffused with humor and deep emotional resonance, ON GOLDEN POND is a touching meditation on family bonds, second chances, and the enduring power of love.
Bios
Steven Patterson (Norman) has performed in NYC both Off- and Off-Off-Broadway, as well as with theaters such as South Coast Repertory, Capital Repertory Theatre, TheatreWorks/Silicon Valley, freeFall Theatre, Kaliyuga Arts, Lexington Conservatory Theatre, Chenango River Theatre, Centenary Stage Company, and the Orlando, Oregon, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Utah, Tennessee, Richmond, and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festivals. Some of his favorite non-BST roles have included Austin Wiggin in The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World, Lear in King Lear, David in Poor Super Man, Judi Boswell in How to Pray, Zach in A Chorus Line, and Rob in King of the Crystal Palace. He also created, performed, and toured internationally for four years with Beauty, a one-man play inspired by the life and works of Jean Genet. He currently resides in Catskill, NY, where he is the co-founder (with John Sowle) of Bridge Street Theatre, where he has appeared in The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Killing & The Love Death, Grinder’s Stand, Lucky Lindy, Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus, Holiday Memories, How to Pray, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Revenge of the Space Pandas, Shylock, There Is A Happiness That Morning Is, Miss Gulch Returns! (2021 “Berkie” Award for Best Solo Performance), Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Shelley’s Shadow, The Lion in Winter, Rude Mechanics, Sympathetic Magic, Uncle Vanya, and Polishing Shakespeare, and has directed The Tavern, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, The Revenge of the Space Pandas, and The Glass Menagerie.
Lora Lee Ecobelli (Ethel) is thrilled to be back at Bridge Street Theatre. Some of her favorite productions include: Broadway- A Christmas Carol staring Eli Wallach and directed by Zoe Caldwell. Off-Broadway- Antigone (Jocasta), Hamlet (Gertrude), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania), The Trojan Women (Andromache). She is the recipient of the Harold Clurman Award for Best Leading Actress in The Vice by Luigi Pirandello. Regionally- A Cherry Orchard (Ranevskaya), The Three Sisters (Masha),The Seagull ( Nina), Blithe Spirit (Elvira), Good People (Margaret), and Suddenly Last Summer (Mrs. Venable). At Bridge Street: 4 by Tennessee (Mrs. Hardshell Moore), Leading Ladies (Katherine), Lark Eden (Emily), The Subject Was Roses (Nettie) and Driving Miss Daisy (Daisy). She can also be seen in many independent films. Most recently: Between the Temples starring Carol Kane. As a filmmaker and director, she is committed to telling personal women’s stories. Her experimental film La Transazione has stacked up awards at festivals around the globe, including the Cannes Short Film Festival. Her latest film, Laurina, is currently streaming nationwide. Lora Lee is the Artistic Director of The Blue Horse Repertory Company and teaches acting at The Theatre Institute at Sage College. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG/ AFTRA.
Caitlin McColl (Chelsea) is thrilled to be making her Bridge Street debut! She is a member of Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA and holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s program at George Washington University. Some favorite previous roles include: River in Appropriate (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, DC), playing a sobbing teenager opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus on VEEP, and playing Henry Percy in Richard II (twice)! Caitlin is also the founder of the Lexington Film Festival, celebrating Catskills-centric films and artists, and she is the curator and moderator for the monthly Independent Film Series at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Doctorow theater in Hunter. She is a resident of Lexington, and owns Van Dusen’s general store with her husband, Will.
Nico Ager (Charlie) is thrilled to join Bridge Street for a second time. He previously could be seen as Mickey in Sympathetic Magic and also currently serves as the vice president of the board of directors. Before moving to Catskill, he performed across the country including the Detroit/Ann Arbor, Michigan areas as well as Chicago, LA, and NYC. He is best known for his time with Starkid Productions, most notably in Holy Musical B@tman! This one is for his wife of a decade, Anna, and his one-year-old energy boy, Frankie.
Brody Shaver (Billy Ray) is very excited to make his debut with Bridge Street Theatre. Brody has been performing since he was 8 years old and he has been in 22 productions. Brody enjoys many different things, but his favorite is being on any stage. One of his favorite stages to perform on is the Main Stage at Proctor’s Theatre. Some of his favorite roles have been Sheldon Saperstein in The Prom, Lawrence in The School of Rock, Enjoulras in Les Mis, Shrek in Shrek Jr and Junior Claus in Junior Claus. Outside of theatre, Brody loves taking vocal lessons, dance classes, piano lessons, learning about aviation, playing multiple instruments (piano, clarinet, flute & French horn) and watching videos and teaching himself how to do crochet. He is a National Jr Honor Society and FFA member at GCS and participates annually in NYSSMA, All County, Area Allstate and The Melodies of Christmas Chorale.
Zach Gibson (Bill Ray) is blessed to be making his Bridge Street debut. Zach is a muslim actor, director and multi-hyphenate artist. This past spring he directed Shrek the Musical at SUNY New Paltz. He has trained with Shakespeare & Company, Soho Shakespeare and received his bachelor’s from SUNY New Paltz in performance. He is the casting director and a company member of Columbia County Players in Hudson, N.Y. He has worked at Shadowland Stages, St. Michael’s Playhouse, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, Advice to the Players & Columbia County Players, among others. Following his instagram for updates @zgibbydoesart or www.zachgibsonactor.com. Alhamdulillah lil-hidayah wa as-sabr khilal hadha al-‘amali.