9/12
by Walter Freeman

Directed by Matthew Parent

On the day after the World Trade Center attacks, a conflicted Boston couple proceed with their plan to host a birthday party for their two-year-old daughter, but the fragile veneer of normalcy is shattered as an unexpected visitor and the enormity of the tragedy awakens the guests to their own helplessness, anger, internal resentments, and shocking beliefs.

Hatbox Theatre
Concord NH
November 12-21, 2021

Starring...

Jacob Zentis ------------------------- DANIEL
Nicole Jones / Geehae Moon --- SUSANNA
Kate Gilbert ------------------------- CONNIE
Mark Nichols ----------------------- JACKSON
Eric Lamarche --------------------- BECKETT
Tana Eriksen ----------------------- CHARLOTTE
James Grillo ------------------------ HARRY

Production Team...

Matthew Parent ------------- Director
Donald Tongue -------------- Producer
Stage Manager -------------- Emily Zentis
Jacob Zentis ---------------- Fight Director
Director's Assistant ---------- Geehae Moon

Designers...

Bretton Reis ------- Lighting
Justin Lahue ------  Scenic
Emily Zentis ------- Costumes
Donald Tongue ---  Sound/Props

Walter Freeman (Playwright) is a New Hampshire playwright, teacher, freelance writer, and drama director who has been working in school and community theater for over three decades.  His original play The Final Reel, co-authored with William Ivers, and his adaptation of Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus, have been fully produced by NH theatre companies. He has published poems in the Cube literary magazine, written a collection of short stories and a novel on The Trojan War. His short story The Last Tree on the Planet won second place in the Pennsylvania Manuscript Contest. Walter is a founding member of the NWT Playwrights’ Collective.

Matthew Parent (Director) is thrilled to be directing at The Ring. He was the Producing Artistic Director of the American Stage Festival and Company where he produced and/or directed nearly 100 productions, including All Under Heaven with Valerie Harper, Private Lives with Kier Dullea, and The Gingerbread Lady and the American premiere of Double Act, both with Bonnie Franklin. He is currently the Managing Director of The Players Ring.

Jacob J. Zentis (DANIEL) is an Actor, Director, and Theatre Maker excited to be working with New World Theatre for the first time. He recently returned back to the New England area after spending some time in New York. He holds an MFA in Acting from Long Island University-Post and BA in Theatre Arts in Acting with a Minor in Arts Management from Dean College. He is incredibly grateful to be working with this incredible cast and production team who shares his dedication of allowing new works to not only be heard but seen. When not on stage, he's enjoying taking in New England again with family, friends, and his dog Bergy. Check out his website to find out more and about his upcoming projects jacobjzentis.com

Nicole Jones (SUSANNA) is thrilled to be back to live theater at the Players Ring. Some of her favorite past roles are: Kate in Seminar, Catherine in Proof, Jenny/Bart in Mr.Burns, a Post-Electric Play (NHTA best actress finalist), and Tracy in Some Holiday. She is forever grateful for her friends and family for their constant support and for putting up with her constant singing (often at inappropriate times).

Kate Gilbert (CONNIE) is delighted to be performing again at the Players’ Ring (RUSH)! From Amesbury, Massachusetts, her favorite roles include: Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest,  Raymonde in A Flea In Her Ear (Nominated for Best Actress, NH Theater Awards), Molly in The Mousetrap, The Mute in The Fantastiks, and Belinda in RUSH here at the Players’ Ring. Most recently, she performed in Dracula at the Strand Theater in Dover. For Kimmy, For Always.

Mark Nichols (JACKSON) is thrilled to be among such a talented cast, with such a powerful script. Mark is a professional actor who has performed all over the country over the last many, many years. NH audiences may have seen him in one of his numerous appearances at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, including A Christmas Carol, Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Chicago, Footloose, All Shook Up, and Rock of Ages, among others. He has also performed at the Players’ Ring and at Seacoast Rep. Mark is also a self-described professional IT nerd, for an IT services provider in Lexington, MA.

Eric Lamarche (BECKETT) is excited to be making his debut with New World Theatre at The Players’ Ring. Eric has most recently been seen in the Burlington Players production of Women in Jeopardy.  Other roles include Pentucket Players production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat as Brother Naphtali. The Boys Next Door as Lucien P. Smith, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as Freddy Benson with the Burlington Players, Of Mice and Men as George Milton with the Quannapowitt Players, and The Shadow Box as Brian with the Winthrop Playmakers. He would like to thank the entire production crew and cast for the opportunity to share the stage in this production. Eric is proud of his Eastern Mass. D.A.S.H. awards for his performances in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, and The Boys Next Door. By Day, Eric serves as the Director of Veterans services, for the City of Lowell Mass.

Tana Eriksen (CHARLOTTE)  is a Danish-American actress and voiceover artist who is very passionate about gender and racial equality, animal welfare, and the environment. She began her acting training at The American Stage Theatre focusing on the Viola Spolin method of Improv. She then went on to a two-year Stella Adler technique program at The Company Acting Studio with Lisina Stoneburner and is currently training with Tim Phillips. Tana is a six year member of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festivals film evaluation committee and is proud to be a part of sharing many important and diverse stories. For more information, visit tanaeriksen.com.

James Grillo (HARRY)  began taking Cold Reading and Scene Study courses at the Actor’s Studio of Newburyport in 2017. James has also had the privilege of studying at Lemon Punch Theatre Lab in Amesbury, Massachusetts. James has been a life long musician, and performs on both the Piano and Guitar. He earned his B.A. in Music Performance at the University of New Hampshire. James has a passion for Eastern & Western Philosophy, Physical Fitness, and Classic American Literature.

Geehae Moon (SUSANNA) is thrilled to be making her Players’ Ring debut as the understudy for Susanna. An actor, director, designer and theater artist, some of her favorite projects include playing Christmas Eve in Avenue Q and stage managing The Glass Menagerie at Firehouse Center for the Arts, light design for Love/sick and directing Edges at Northern Essex Community College, and costume design for Seminar at RGC Theatrical.

Emily Zentis (Stage Manager/Costumes) is an Actor, Music Director, Voice Teacher, and Theatre Artist who graduated from LIU Post with her MFA in Acting. Some of Emily’s most recent projects were the completion of her Master’s thesis, which was a devised piece entitled transitory and “Effy” in The Spitfire Grill at Hackmatack Playhouse. For more information and contact, please visit emilyzentis.com.

Jacob Zentis (Fight Director)

Bretton Reis (Lighting Design) is delighted to be working with this cast and crew.  Since earning his MSc from the U. of Edinburgh, he has worked in many theatres throughout New England, designing, acting in, and/or directing about 200 productions. Some favorite credits include playing Pip in Great Expectations at NHTP, designing lights and projections for "Bridges of Madison County" at Hackmatack, and directing Marat/Sade right here at the Ring. Thank you to his friends and family for their support. For more, check out brettonreis.com

Justin Lahue (Scenic Design) is a designer, director, and interdisciplinary theatre artist based out of Boston, Massachusetts. After several years performing, he shifted his focus into design and direction, collaborating with companies including: the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Hub Theatre Company of Boston, Break a Leg Theater Works, StageWright Films, and Portsmouth Public Media TV. Visit justinlahue.com.

Donald Tongue (Sound Design/Props) is an award-winning sound designer who has created the soundscape for numerous productions: Truth Will Spring Yuh, 2014 NH Community Theater Festival (Best Sound Design winner), Scene Changes, 2015 Leddy Center for the Performing Arts, Candid Candidate, 2016 New World Theatre. A Christmas Carol, 2016 Hatbox Theatre, Truth Will Spring Yuh, 2017 New World Theatre, When Colossus Falls, 2018 New World Theatre, and How It Works, 2020 Truepenny Arts.