ATHOL — For anyone who has ever wanted to write an original play, the Drama Circle is dedicated to supporting and developing that vision. “Drama Circle plays are meant to be produced,” said artistic director Genevieve Fraser of Orange.
While it takes a long time between conception and putting an actual play together, the Drama Circle “is an invitation to people who are interested in theater to have something read, or if someone wants to experiment in writing,” Fraser said. “We attract people who have never been involved with theater and those who actually have a background in it.”
On Sunday, March 10, the Drama Circle will feature a reading of a full-length, original play at AOTV Community Television, 163 South Main St. starting at 2 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
The play, “Camp Wonder,” was written by Vicki Meagher of New Hampshire. “Camp Wonder” is a political thriller/love story that takes place in a totalitarian regime that has instituted mandatory allegiance. Rebellious Derinda is committed to free thought and free speech and ends up in a reeducation camp where she and three others meet different fates.
Fraser, who writes business articles and is a substitute teacher at Fisher Hill Elementary School, started the Drama Circle at Mount Wachusett Community College in 1996. During its run through 2003, the group did one act plays, stage readings and productions. The group was resurrected a few more times over the years, most recently last summer.
Fraser holds a BA (dual major) in Theater and Communications and a MFA in Theater and Writing, and directed the play, “Lincoln: The Musical” performed at Orange Town Hall in 2012. The musical was written by one of the Drama Circle’s charter members, Dr. Michael P. Riccards, former president of Fitchburg State University.
Riccards wrote a play about baseball legend Ty Cobb and along with a cast of seven people, the Drama Circle will soon be producing it as a 1 ½ hour radio drama for WVAO 105.9 FM radio.
The play takes place in Cobb’s mind as he is dying. “All the characters in the play other than him are his memories and working through his life story, his driving ambition and how it helped him and destroyed him,” including his struggle with being a racist and his love/hate relationship with Babe Ruth.
The Drama Circle meets once a month for readings at AOTV on the second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. The public is invited to stop by to listen. For more information contact Genevieve Fraser at 978-544-1872.