Wild Goose Players Debut New Theater Space with "Year One"

Last week marked a significant milestone for the Wild Goose Players as they celebrated not only the premiere of their latest production, "Year One," but also the grand opening of their new theater space. After months of meticulous planning and construction, the transition from a rehearsal space to a fully-fledged performance venue was realized. The new theater, a cozy storefront with a capacity of 40 seats, stands as a testament to the dedication and vision of the Wild Goose Players. "They did the conversion over the summer. They have taken their rehearsal space and turned it into a performance place," said Erik Gernand, playwright and director. "Year One," is a drama about a family struggling with the rise of extremism. Anna, a doctor, struggles to stay afloat amid the rise of political instability across the nation. When her brother Max arrives unexpectedly from out of town, Anna's life is thrown into even greater turmoil when the true reason for his visit is uncovered and she's forced to choose between family and country. This is only the second production of this play. "They've been doing an incubator series, and this play started in their incubator series. I am glad to get a chance to jump into the play again," explained Gernand. Wild Goose Players' incubator series is a writing workshop featuring un-produced works from area playwrights. The Incubator is designed as an exploratory space, allowing playwrights the freedom to develop original texts within a supportive, creative community. The Incubator Series has been instrumental in fostering a vibrant community of theater artists and has played a crucial role in the company's artistic output. "Year One," is written and directed by Erik Gernand. Gernand's plays have been in production and/or development at theaters including Premiere Stages (Union, N.J.), Redtwist, American Theater Company and Chicago Dramatists (all Chicago), Actors Theatre of Louisville, as well as The Barrow Group (New York City). As a filmmaker, his award-winning short films have screened at more than 100 film festivals around the world including SXSW, Chicago International Film Festival and Cinequest, as well as been broadcast on IFC, PBS and the Logo Channel. Gernand is a graduate of Ball State University and a professor of instruction in radio-TV-film at Northwestern University. David Stern is the artistic director and the cast includes local actors: Colleen Harris, Marilyn Tullgren, Dennis Scott, Kristina Meima and Andrew Freeman. The play opened on Sept. 13 and the next performances will be held on Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 21 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Wild Goose Players, 13 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, Vt. The Wild Goose Players have built a reputation for their innovative and community-driven approach to theater. Founded in 2010, the group began with a vision to create a space where new and emerging works could be developed and presented to the public. Their name, based on the concept of the theater company being like a flock of wild geese who collectively lift themselves up as they fly along, encouraging each other toward future artistic endeavors, reflects their commitment to artistic adventure and growth. For more information on the Wild Goose Players and to purchase tickets to "Year One" or future performances visit www.wildgooseplayers.com.