Press Release**
Townshippers' Association
(**Written by Stevenson & Writers / Published as part of the Association's "Townships Success Stories" initiative)

Knowlton Players Puts the Community On Stage

After over a decade of rousing ovations, Beverly Pascoe is thrilled that the Knowlton Players community theatre troupe is being applauded in another venue - as a Townships Success Story.

"It's marvellous…we've been doing this so long, and it's nice to see our efforts recognized," she says. Pascoe is both the current president of the Players and one of its founders.

"I was the founding President back in 1989 or '90, when we started as an amateur troupe," she says. "It was decided that we should have an executive, so we formed one. We needed to have meetings to decide what was going to go on the stage."

The budding Players knew that some structure would be necessary, both to decide what plays to mount and what to do with their box-office receipts. "Part of what we make goes into donations, and opening night is always a fundraiser, so we have to decide what cause the proceeds are going to," Pascoe says. "Monthly meetings became necessary to decide what would happen."

And the Knowlton Players have grown and flourished since those early days: their annual schedule - featuring local thespians who donate their time and energy to theatre - now usually comprises three performances: a mystery, a comedy, and a musical.

Planning all this involves some thinking ahead. "We're already looking forward to Spring 2005 and our production of Singing in the Rain", Pascoe says. "We have plays booked to October 2005."

And there's no shortage of help to keep the plays coming. "If we put on an ordinary play, like a mystery, we'll have a cast of 4-13," Pascoe says. "But a musical… we've had musicals with over 30 children and a dozen adults, like Annie," she says. "We like to include lots of children. We've had some who have gone on to study theatre in CEGEP, and it's great to watch them bloom."

The Players' success has also allowed them to expand slightly beyond an all-volunteer crew. "Lately, if we wind up making money, we may give honoraria to people like a choreographer, a director, or anybody who has worked hard," Pascoe says. These honoraria are never salaries - just recognition for those who go the extra mile. "For instance, when we did The Mousetrap, somebody stepped in at the last minute but had to come every day from Sherbrooke, so we helped with gas money."

The Knowlton Players can now afford that generosity; community support, both on stage and in the seats, has made a success of the local theatre troupe. And this success, according to the Players' president, is mirrored in a sense of fellowship in Knowlton as a whole. "We involve the whole community," Pascoe says. "People don't expect professionalism - they come to see their neighbours and friends. And whenever we want something - when we ask for suggestions, or conduct surveys, the response is always just great."

The Knowlton Players. (Photo: The Knowlton Players)