The Hellions Are Coming!
A New Theatre Collaborative on Cape Cod Is Born
We are pleased to announce the birth of a new play production entity on Cape Cod We call ourselves Helltown Players and we are going to raise a little hell!
Helltown Players is a new theatrical production entity whose mission is to develop and produce theatrical works created by Cape Cod dramatists. Helltown Players was formed by eight Cape Cod playwrights (our Trustees) who recognized that homegrown plays are often overlooked by the theatre companies sprinkled across the length of the Cape. We want to fix that problem!
Our Inspiration…
Original performance of Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles,” with Marjorie Vonnegut, Elinor M. Cox, John King, Arthur E. Hohl, and T.W. Gibson, from The Theatre, Jan. 1917. – From the Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library at Lincoln Center
We find our inspiration from the ground-breaking endeavors of the Provincetown Players. Tired of the silly comedies and stale melodramas that dominated theatre of their day, these theatre revolutionaries began writing and staging new, homegrown plays in Provincetown in the summer of 1915. Their continued efforts gave birth to a new approach to playwriting that would soon become the backbone of the great American dramatic writing tradition.
Eugene O’Neill, Susan Glaspell, Hutchins and Neith Boyce Hapgood, John Reed, Louise Bryant, Mabel Dodge, and other visionaries created and produced plays in their homes and backyards, and in a fishing shack dangling over Provincetown Harbor on Lewis Wharf. Our vision is to channel the spirit and passion of these theatrical revolutionaries and produce plays written by – and performed for – the people of Cape Cod.
New Productions of Cape Cod Plays…
Not only will we produce new theatrical works of playwrights who have meaningful connections to Cape Cod, we will also engage performers, directors, producers, designers, technicians, promoters, and other people from the Cape Cod community who wish to collaborate with us.
How Helltown Players Is Unique…
Cape Cod is filled with wonderful theatres doing incredible work. Some of them offer a great opportunities for Cape playwrights to see their work come to life.
“I started thinking about creating a new play production entity on the Outer Cape after I had seen the success of a new reading series created by Joseph M. Paprzycki,” said Jim Dalglish, the founder and president of Helltown Players. The Truro Playwright Collective offers seven local playwrights a chance to read their work at the Truro Public Library. “Joe had standing room only for most of these fantastic play readings,” said Dalglish.
“Joe told me his mission did not include fully staged productions of plays. I thought here is a chance to provide that for our Cape Cod playwright colleagues,” said Dalglish. Three of the Helltown Players Trustees are Truro Playwright Collective members - Gary Garrison, John Dennis Anderson, and Fermin Rojas. Two other trustees, Meryl Cohn and Jim Dalglish have been added to the roster for this coming season. Helltown Players is excited about collaborating with the Truro playwrights.
Other Performing Venues
Other wonderful theatre groups on Cape also offer productions for local playwrights. The Provincetown Theater offers a playwrights lab and a reading series. Provincetown Dramatic Arts — led by Helltown Players Trustee Margaret Van Sant — often includes original work in its seasons. David Kuehn leads an amazing theater — Cotuit Center for the Arts - that includes opportunities for local playwrights as well. Jim Dalglish has seen six of his works premiere at CCftA.
But all of these organizations have broader missions that include producing work by establish playwrights from off Cape. CCftA’s facility even includes an art gallery, music series, pottery facility, and a wide range of courses and lessons.
Our mission is simpler. We are a nonprofit that will develop and produce the work of Cape Cod playwrights.
Who We Are…
Helltown Players was founded by eight Cape Cod dramatists who have extensive experience with writing, development, producing, and promoting plays. But we are more than just playwrights, directors, and producers. Our Trustees include people with experience in business, finance, law, software, marketing, higher education, arts administration, and the military. These experiences lend breadth as well as depth to our expertise.
Helltown Players Trustees:
Jim Dalglish — Founder, President, & Trustee. Jim has extensive experience with writing, directing and producing theatre. He has also written, directed, edited, and produced an award-winning feature film. Jim is the former managing director of Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.
Ian Ryan — Secretary, Treasurer, & Trustee. Ian has been seen as an actor on the Cape for more than a decade. He also has extensive experience in theatre administration, serving as the president of the Cape Rep Theatre board of directors.
Gary Garrison — Trustee. Gary is the former executive director of creative affairs for the Dramatists Guild of America. He is an award-winning playwright and author of seminal books about writing and producing ten-minute plays. He is a former theatre instructor at NYU.
Meryl Cohn — Trustee. Meryl is well-known on the Outer Cape for her sparkling wit and brilliant plays. She has seen more than a dozen of her plays produced in Provincetown. These have gone on to productions across America and beyond. For many years, she had a syndicated advice column with the moniker Ms Behavior. Meryl has an MFA in playwriting from NYU. (Gary Garrison was one of her instructors.)
Margaret Van Sant — Trustee. Margaret is the founder and producing artistic director for Provincetown Dramatic Arts. She has extensive experience as a dramaturg, playwright, director, and producer, having been employed at Long Wharf Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Festival, among others.
Fermin Rojas — Trustee. Fermin is a playwright and an award-winning filmmaker, composer, director, and actor. He is the founder/director of DKR Films. Fermin was born in Cuba and spent much of his childhood in Miami, Florida.
Lynda Sturner — Trustee. Lynda was a featured actress in the first Broadway production of “Oliver.” As an actress, playwright, director, and producer she is well known to Cape Cod audiences. She is the former artistic director of the Provincetown Rep.
John Dennis Anderson — Trustee. John is a playwright, actor, director, and Professor Emeritus at Emerson College. John is well-known for his Chautauqua performances of his plays about Henry James, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, among others.
Our First Full Production…
How does a new theatre group dedicated to staging Cape Cod plays decide what to produce for their inaugural show?
How about eight short plays by eight Cape Cod playwrights?
Helltown Players is excited to announce that our first full production will be a collection of short plays written by the eight Helltown Player Trustees. We figured this would be a great way to introduce you to us and our mission in a way that will engage the Cape Cod theatrical community. Helltown Players would love to share this collection of short plays with the people of Provincetown as well as the rest of the Cape. We are currently engaged in discussions with The Provincetown Theater about producing the collection at the theater in February 2024. We are thrilled to report that things are looking positive.
We are also in discussions with the Academy Playhouse about taking the production on the road and staging it at the Playhouse later in February or early March.
We are thrilled and honored to receive such a warm welcome from such well-respected and exceptional theatres. We will make further announcements as details of these collaborative opportunities solidify.
Readings Featuring Helltown Trustees
Three of the Helltown Players Trustuees have plays that have been selected as finalists in the 2023 Kaplan New Play Prize. The are Jim Dalglish, Lynda Sturner, and Margaret Van Sant.
Public readings of their plays are part of the Kaplan Prize process.
“Portraiture,” by Margaret Van Sant, Friday, July 7 at 7 p.m.
“Starkweather,” by Jim Dalglish, Friday, July 14 at 7 p.m.
“No Show Baby,” by Lynda Sturner, Friday, July 21 at 7 p.m.
All three readings will be held at the 2nd floor studios of WOMR Radio in Provincetown. (494 Commercial St., Provincetown)
Our Name…
For a long time Provincetown was referred to by the Puritans as Helltown. They regarded it as a wicked, outlaw community beyond their narrow-minded influence. We think it is an excellent monicker for a group of Cape Cod playwrights and theatre professionals who want to do things their way - write the plays they want to write, help local playwrights realize their own creative visions, work with theatrical artists they want to collaborate with, and produce the plays by Cape Cod playwrights that they feel must be performed.
Courses, Seminars, Festivals, Labs, and More!
In addition to the plays we will be producing, Helltown Players will be offering courses, seminars, festivals, and playwriting labs that will engage dramatists and theatre enthusiasts within the Cape Cod community and beyond. We can’t wait to begin to collaborate with theatres, arts organizations, and performance venues on Cape and off to develop and promote the works of Cape Cod playwrights.
How We Were Founded…
Helltown Players was founded in the Spring of 2023 by eight playwrights and theatre enthusiasts with Outer Cape connections who wished to support local, home-grown theatre. These eight playwrights are the trustees of the organization. Helltown Players is a registered non-profit corporation with the State of Massachusetts. The organization has submitted an application to the IRS to receive its 501(c)(3) status. The organization expects a response from the IRS sometime in the Fall of 2023.
Become a Hellion…
You are welcome to become a Hellion and join us in our theatrical endeavors. We will need your help to pull it off! There are so many ways you can help. Donate to the cause. We are a non-profit and need financial assistance.
Become a sponsor and partner with us and we will help you promote your business or organization.
Become a Hellion by providing financial assistance or by volunteering in some way to help us get our shows and artistic programs up and running.
Attend our events, seminars, readings, and plays. Discover the details by checking out our Community Engagement page.
Get involved artistically. Would you like to attend a seminar or class dedicated o the art of playwriting? Would you like to apply to an open spot in our Playwright Lab? Do you think you have a play that merits our review? Check out Playwright Resources.
There are dozens of ways for you to participate in our mission. Reach out and let us know your ideas!
