Producer
Sharon Harvey

Directors
Candy Smith
Kim Gellatly
Brigid Carney

Stage Managers
Brigid Carney
Candy Smith

Publicity
Kim Gellatly
Jessica Stewart

Graphics, Design & Programs
Kim Gellatly

Music Coordinators
Franz Ryerson
Chris Smith

Back Drops
Bill Harvey
Carl Dill
Jean Jusko
Sharon Harvey

Costumes
Sharon Harvey
Peggy Anson

Properties
Monsie Hobbs
Kevin Hobbs
Bill Harvey
Amy Cox

Lights
Emma Barlow
Mike Josefson

Sound
Emma Barlow
Mike Josefson
Dennis MacDonald

Prompter
Amy Cox

Script Consultants
Stu Rapp
Peter Hammond

Video
Ted Anson

Ushers
Peter Hammond
Ken Esposito
Carl Dill
Bill Harvey

Tickets
Wendy Jones

Head Chefs
Diane Wilson
Jane Storrs

Dinner Manager
Jane Storrs

Desserts Manager
Lisa Klein

Decorators
Jean Jusko
Monsie Hobbs
Pamela Hochstetter
Maryia Anson

Maître d’s
Alan Smith
Ted Anson

Wine Stewards
Helen Jackson
Chris Smith
Ed & MaureenTerry

Waitstaff
Alfred Anson
Andrew Stern
Annie Smith
Emma Barlow
Kaitlin Hulce
Kate Barlow
Kylie Gellatly
Matthew Carlson

Kitchen Staff
Dan Storrs
Barbara Stern
Dick Jones

Clean Up Crew
Michael Anson
Kitchen staff

The part of Eve was played by Linda Burton. Linda lives in Bridgewater with her husband, Josef. She has been a member of the Bridgewater Congregational Church since 1991. She is a deacon at the Church, directs the choir, (with the help of the choir!!) and rings bells. A classically trained lyric soprano she teaches voice in Connecticut and sings in New York.

The part of Noah’s Wife was played by Sharon Harvey. Sharon lives in Bridgewater with her husband, Bill, and is a Deacon in the Bridgewater Congregational Church, as well as a member of the vocal and hand-bell choirs. She works as the manager of marketing for a manufacturer of electronic connectors in Mount Kisco, New York.

The part of Sarah was played by Marjorie Rapp. Marge lives in Bethel with her husband Stuart and is the owner of The Linen Ladies, an antique linen business. She is active in the Bridgewater Congregational church as a member of the bell choir and the Benevolence and Stewardship Committee.

The part of Deborah was played by Josephine Dill. Josephine lives in New Milford with her husband, Carl, and has served on many committees in the Bridgewater Congregational Church. She is currently Clerk of the church. Until very recently she was vice president of a small chain of building material stores in NY State.

The part of Delilah was played by Jessica Stewart. Jessica is a new member of the Bridgewater Congregational Church and is thrilled to be acting alongside such talented women. When she's not seducing Biblical heroes, Jessica is a high school teacher and can occasionally be seen in other local theatres.

The part of Ruth was played by Ann Pratt. Ann is the Executive Director of a statewide parent led organization committed to influencing state policy to put children first. She has worked as a community organizer for the past 30 years. Ann lives in Bridgewater with her husband Ken Esposito and their 16-year-old son, Eliot Esposito.

The part of Jezebel was played by Peggy Anson. Peggy has been a member of this church for 20 years. She commutes to Hartford several times weekly to her job as an HR executive in a financial services company headquartered there. Peggy’s most favorite indulgences are Bridgewater chocolates (dark with almonds!), music and theater. She wants to emphasize that being assigned this particular role is NOT typecasting!

The part of Elizabeth was played by Heather Detrick. Heather is a life-long Bridgewater resident, as well as a life-long church member. She is a member of the fellowship and sanctuary committees for the Bridgewater Congregational Church, as well as a member of the vocal and hand-bell choirs. She works as the manager of the paint department at Home Depot. In her off-time, Heather is a tireless recruiter for the annual Shepaug Valley Relay for Life. This is her first acting performance.

Mary Magdalene was played by Kim Gellatly. Kim had some acting experience half a lifetime ago. Since then she has put her talents to work in her favorite role as mother to her children, 17-year-old Kylie and 15-year-old Luke. She is married to our minister, Peter Hammond, and serves as the church office secretary. After15 years in publishing, Kim dabbles in graphic design and writing, hoping to seriously pursue one or the other when time stands still!

Mary was played by Brigid Buchheit Carney. Brigid has been acting since the age of 8. Her roles have included Lucy in "you're a good man, Charlie Brown", Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors" and Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet". She performed in the New York Renaissance Faire for 5 years. She was Mrs. Congeniality for Mrs. Connecticut America. In her off-stage life, Brigid is a real estate agent with William Raveis. She dedicates her performance this evening to her loving husband, Tim, and her new baby girl, Flynn.

The voice of God was played by Bill Harvey. Bill is a native of Massachusetts but loves his adopted state of Connectict. He has done a first-rate job of helping to build the scenery and keeping the producer from having a meltdown through the preparations for this play. He is the owner of Bridgewater Computer which specializes in helping local business owners avoid similar meltdowns.

The voice of the Serpent was played by Peter Hammond. When not peddling forbidden fruit, Peter is the minister of the Bridgewater Congregational Church.

The part of Samson was played by Matt Johnson. Matt is the sole proprietor of Aspetuck Tree and Landscape LLC. This is Matt's first foray into acting and he is pleased to be helping out the Bridgewater Congregational Church in a non-tree capacity!

The part of the Lord of the Philistines was played by Carl Dill. Carl is a recently retired businessman who builds stone walls for exercise and fun, loves Irish culture and history, plays a mean harmonica, and is a regular reader to pre-school children.

The part of Boaz was played by Ken Esposito. Ken lives in Bridgewater and is married to Ann Pratt and they have a 16-year-old son. Ken is the Congregational Organizer for the Christian Activities Council, working with UCC congregations throughout Connecticut on a Universal Health Care Initiative.

The part of Naomi was played by Diane Monti-Catania. Diane lives in Bridgewater and is married to Dr. Joesph Cataina. She has two sons, 18 and 15 years of age. Diane is the Associate Pastor at Roxbury Congregational Church.

The parts of the slave girls were played by Annie Smith and Kaitlin Hulce. Annie is a sophomore in high school. She has performed in over ten musicals throughout Connecticut and is currently in rehearsals for “Bye-Bye Birdie” and “Harvey.” Kaitlin is also a high-school sophomore. She has recently performed in “Camelot” and “The High School Musical,” and is currently assisting backstage for her school's production of “Harvey.”

The music was provided by
The Shepaug Piano Trio:
Friso Hermans, violinist, has performed and taught music in the Bridgewater area for the past 13 years. As a violinist, he has performed in recital and at English country dances and square dances, and he has taken top prizes at the Roxbury fiddling contest. He has performed on concert programs with a diverse group of musicians, including Guy Wolf and Helen Armstrong. As a vocalist, he has given solo recitals of Schumann lieder and American songs. Friso currently teaches instrumental music at Shepaug Valley school. He teaches band in addition to inaugurating Shepaug's new strings program.

Sandy Kleisner, pianist, is active in the region as a pianist, music teacher, and choir director. She is the minister of Music at Roxbury Congregational Church, K-8 music teacher at Kent Center School, and teaches music at Fineline Theatre arts school in New Milford, as well as private piano students at home. Favorite on her list are solo piano playing and chamber music.

Franz Ryerson, cellist, studied with Fritz Magg and Aldo Parisot. She received her degrees from Western Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart University. Presently she is the string teacher and orchestra director at Weston Middle School where she directs five orchestras. Franz has been a member of the Ridgefield and Bridgeport Symphonies, the New England Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, the Amadeus Trio and the Candlewood Chamber Players. In addition to commercial recording, she has performed with numerous classical chamber ensembles throughout Connecticut, Westchester, New Hampshire, and Belgium. Franz, a member of the Bridgewater Congregational Church, also lends her
beautiful violoncello performance to special services at the church.

Guest Musicians
Excerpts from “Playera, opus 23” by Pablo de Sarasate were played by Zoe Miller and Chris Smith.

Zoe is 14 years old and an 8th grade student at the Whisconier Middle School in Brookfield. She has been studying violin for 8 years, first with Alison Briesler in Danbury and more recently with Aysia Mishberg in Darien. She has attended strings summer camps at Western Connecticut State University and Bryn Mawr College. She has participated in strings programs at the Danbury Music Center and has been a member of the Norwalk Youth Symphony for the past 4 years.

Chris Smith has been playing the piano since she was 7. Her mother bribed her to practice by refusing to let her ride her horse until after daily piano practice. She studied piano until she was 20. A few years ago, Chris started playing the piano again more seriously when our church needed someone to play for choir rehearsals and fill for Sunday morning services. Look at her now!

The inspiration for this play came from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The original scripts were written by Dave and Cheryl Bingham. Although those scripts have been greatly altered by our team of readers, writers, and editors, we are grateful to them for sharing their motivational work with us and giving us the much needed seed from which this wonderful play has grown.

The Shepaug Piano Trio generously donated their time and energy to providing the wonderful prelude, finale and much of the music to keep the actresses moving along and our audience entertained.

A very special “Thank You” goes to the Shepaug High School Drama Department for the loan of our microphones, headsets and spotlights, and to Doug Winkel for his gracious support of our efforts here, and to Mike Josefson and Emma Barlow for their expertise in setting up and using the equipment.

Noah’s wife would like to offer a profuse thanks to Sharon Carlson and her wonderful store, Geppeto’s, for the gift of the wild kingdom, especially the boa constrictor, Bo. These delightful critters will be auctioned off after the play in the parish house. They are brand-spanking new! They were only taken out of their plastic bags to come aboard the ark!

The very generous donation of wigs for Eve and Samson are thanks to Terrie Cooke and the Praxair Center of the Danbury Hospital’s “Look Good, Feel Better” program which provides complimentary wigs to newly diagnosed cancer patients.

The most excellent lasagna for our elegant dinner was made by Diane Wilson and a dedicated staff of cooks. We thank all our cooks, and servers, our matre d’s and wine stewards, and all the support behind the scenes who made this wonderful dinner happen.

Wildflowers flower shop in Woodbury provided the dinner flowers and Monsie Hobbs arranged them for us. Thank you, all!

Last, but never least, we thank the members of our church for their donations of props, food, time, talent, energy and their constant and continuing support of this project. Without you, it couldn’t have happened. You are the best!

Thanks to Ted Anson, Rick and Jean Jusko, Gillian Burriack, and Kim Gellatly for all the photos!

Eve
In the Garden of Eden — God created Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. God then created the animals, and Adam named them. Finally God created Eve from Adam’s rib. Eve means “mother of all living.” She tells of her life in the Garden of Eden with Adam and God and of the price she paid for yielding to temptation.

Noah’s Wife
Near the Mountains of Ararat — Noah’s wife was a woman of great determination and perserverence in the face of difficulties. She raised a family, helped build an ark, and then started all over again in a new neighborhood when the ark landed near Mt. Ararat. She was the woman most responsible for the survival of the human race — from her descendants all the nations of the earth originated.

Sarah
The Land of Canaan — Sarah (originally Sarai) means "princess.” She had not been able to bear a child for her husband Abraham through all her fruitful years. At the age
of 90, she gave birth to Isaac, the child God promised her. Sarah was the mother of nations through Isaac.

Deborah
Israel — Deborah was a judge and prophetess. The spirit of patriotism seemed crushed out of her land, Israel. Deborah (which means “bee”) roused the people from their lethargy. She organized their army and even went into battle with them. Her fame spread far and wide. She became a "mother in Israel" and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment as she sat in her tent under a palm tree.

Delilah
The Land of the Philistines — Delilah, which means “languishing,” was a Philistine woman who was bribed by the “lords of the Philistines” to obtain from Samson the secret of his strength and the means of overcoming it. Samson had a long-standing vendetta against the Philistines and wreaked havoc upon them at every opportunity. They needed to capture him. Delilah finally found the secret of Samson’s great God-given strength, and he was imprisoned by the Philistines.

Ruth
Bethlehem — In the days when the Judges ruled, an Israelite woman named Naomi moved from Bethlehem to Moab to escape a famine. There her two sons married Moabite women, Gentiles. When Naomi's husband and sons died she decided to
return to Bethlehem. One of her daughters-in-law remained in Moab, but the other, Ruth, whose name means “friendship,” insisted on staying with Naomi. In Bethlehem, she married Boaz. She was an ancestor of King David and of Jesus.

Jezebel
Israel — Jezebel was a Phoenician princess who married King Ahab. She turned Ahab away from the God of the Israelites and toward the worship of her god, Baal. Ahab allowed temples of Baal to open in Israel. Jezebel used her control over Ahab
to subject Israel to tyranny. After she slaughtered the prophets of the Lord, the prophet Elijah confronted her to charge her with abominations. She responded by threatening to kill him as well. After Ahab's death, Jezebel continued to rule through her sons. Her last son was killed byJehu, who confronted the insolent Jezebel and told her servants to throw her out a window. They complied, tossing her out the window and leaving her corpse in the street to be eaten by dogs; only her skull, feet, and hands remained, in fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy.

Elisabeth
Judah — Elisabeth was a relative of Mary, the mother of Christ. She and her husband Zechariah, had prayed for a child for many years, but remained childless. The years of waiting had caused their hope to fade. One day Zechariah was visited by the angel Gabriel, who told him his wife would have a son who “will be great in the sight of the Lord.” In her old age, Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist.

Mary Magdalene
Golgatha — Mary Magdalene was from Magdala, a fishing village in Galilee. Jesus had healed her from an illness by casting demons from her. She became a devoted disciple of Jesus and followed him and his disciples on their journeys, along with other women who aided his mission. She was a witness to the Crucifixion. She remained at the cross until the body was taken and laid in a tomb prepared for Joseph of Arimathia.

Mary
Golgatha — Mary was the mother of Jesus. She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. Mary resided in Nazareth with her parents before she became the wife of Joseph. There, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah. She paid a visit to her relative Elisabeth who confirmed what the angel had told her. Joseph made Mary his wife and took her to his home in Galilee. They were required by the ruler of the land to go to Bethlehem (the city of David since Joseph was also of the lineage of David) to be taxed. There, Jesus was born.