Actresses of The Edge Ensemble Theater Company Bare All in "Marked Women" Monologues

Opening the 2026 season, The Edge Ensemble presents "Marked Women," a bold and contemporary work featuring 11 women performing original monologues. Each piece centers on a defining moment that marked a character's life, shaping her identity and sense of self. Founding artistic director, actor and educator Kim Dupuis of Keene, directs each actor in performing her own monologue. The actors range in age from early 30s to late 80s and are all from the Monadnock Region except for Cynthia Austin who lives in New York City. Dupuis founded The Edge Ensemble in 1989, and the company began performing in the Monadnock Region in 1990. The Edge typically produces four plays each year, along with several Edge Café productions featuring a range of theatrical presentations, including staged readings. Dupuis received her MFA in acting from the University of Florida in 1989. "I knew early on that I wanted to become a director," she explains, "so I also took as many graduate-level directing classes as I could." When asked what makes a good director, Dupuis says, "A good director shapes every moment — everything that happens on the stage. You're working with all this talent like paint on a canvas, and you can't do it alone because it's all about collaboration. You cast the actors, and then you work together to get the performances where they need to be. Design elements also play a role. It's all part of a wonderful collaboration, and a good director knows how to pull it all together." She continues, "The founding principle of The Edge Ensemble Theater Company is the spirit of ensemble, which to me means nurturing and supporting one another and encouraging each other to strive for ever-higher levels of artistry." In this production, many of the ensemble members are near and dear to Dupuis' heart. "It has been a very special experience to watch these 11 remarkable people bring 11 powerful stories to life. I am deeply moved by their work and by the stories themselves." The actors in this production are: Cynthia Austin, Catherine Behrens, Veda Crewe, Adriana Elliot, Taryn Fisher, Grace Johnson, Judy Keenan, Molly McMillan, Melanie Plenda-Washer, Cynthia Rodier and Catherine Verow. The concept for the production was inspired by a show Dupuis had previously directed, "There's a play called 'Talking With…' by Jane Martin that features 11 women speaking directly to the audience. When I directed it, I was thrilled by the entire process and by the power of having these women tell their stories in that way. I wanted to recreate that experience using local playwrights and actors," explains Dupuis. Dupuis later produced "Marked Men," a production created with 11 local playwright-actors. "We developed 11 monologues using the 'Talking With…' model — each centered on a defining moment that had a huge impact on the character. The community really responded to it, and I loved that. So, I decided to use the same format with 11 women." The ensemble met for seven months and collaborated together to create works of fiction that draw heavily on personal experience. Cast member Molly McMillan of Keene wrote in an email to The Keene Sentinel, "The collaborative writing process was fantastic! We worked together, each woman reading what she had written, then receiving supportive and encouraging feedback. We laughed, we cried. Kim Dupuis, our director, did a great job of helping us direct our monologues toward their most powerful finish. Writing and performing our stories has felt deeply vulnerable at times too. I think we all look forward to performing this for our community." Cast member Cynthia Austin of New York City wrote, "My husband and I helped create the dream of The Edge back when we were all earning our MFA degrees from the University of Florida and then Kim Dupuis brought it into being. After 35 years, it's wonderful to finally be performing as part of the ensemble." Dupuis says the audience can expect 11 powerful monologues "from a diverse range of voices and life experiences. Some are funny, some are dramatic and some are both — you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll be deeply moved. It feels like your neighbors have stepped onto the stage to share their most personal stories, and it's an experience you won't forget." IF YOU GO: WHAT: The Edge Theater Company presents "Marked Women" WHERE: The Edge Theater, 310 Marlboro St., Suite 112, Keene WHEN: Feb. 12, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. TICKETS: $20 general admission; $18 for seniors and students. Tickets must be purchased at the door by cash or check only. No credit cards. MORE INFO: For reservations, call 603-352-5657 or email theedgeensemble@aol.com Visit The Edge's website at www.edgeensemble.org.