Welcome to The Rockville Public Library  and Evergreen Family Theatre’s production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. This piece explores what it means to love and live, and how life can change in an instant. The delecate blend of reality and makebelieve in designs and character portrayal allow the artists to explore themes that children inherently understand- like how to love and why it’s important.  And some that they may find challenging- when people are cruel or when someone passes away. By adding elements of laughter and color, we can visit important emotions and allow them to stay for just a short while.  We hope you enjoy the show as much as we do. 

Marie R. Altenor is ecstatic to be part of Evergreen Family Theatre’s production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane as the “Woman”. Some recent credits include “Weird Sister#3/Murderer#3” in Capital Classic Theatre Company’s Macbeth, “Kendra Ellis-Connor” in Original Entertainment Group’s American Son, “Liz” in Hole in the Wall Theater’s Wife/Worker/Whore and “Barbara” in Hole in the Wall Theater’s Barbecue.  Marie has studied at both The Hartford Stage Company and The Complete Actor’s Studio to develop her skills. After years in the legal field, Marie joyfully entered semi-retirement in 2019 and is grateful to be able to now pass on her love of theater to school aged children as a teaching artist with local theater groups.

Barbara Gallow (Traveler) has performed throughout the state in such shows as Rear Window (Hartford Stage), The Children (Drama Works Theatre), Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike and Blithe Spirit (Castle Craig Players), I Hate Hamlet (Somers Village Players), Calendar Girls (LTM), 20th Century Blues and Morning’s at Seven (Farmington Valley Stage), The 39 Steps and These Shining Lives (Suffield Players), Noises Off (CT Theatre Company), The Sisters Rosenzweig (Meetinghouse Players), King Lear and Macbeth (Flock Theatre). Her primary theatrical home, though, is Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain, where she has acted in shows including The Niceties, The Trouble with Space Cannibals, Heartless, Marjorie Prime, Champagne & Licorice, Keely & Du, School for Manners, The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Winter’s Tale, Tartuffe, Twelfth Night and Equus. By day, Barbara can sometimes be seen as English housemaid Lizzie Wills at the Mark Twain House. She is thrilled to help tell this beautiful story and is grateful to Heather, Jim, Terry, and her castmates for giving her this opportunity.

Jonathan Gonzalez (he/him/his) was born and raised in Stamford, CT. He attended Central Connecticut State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theater. Recent credits include Claudio/Sexton at the Saratoga Shakespeare Company and Oliver/Silvius at the Time’s Fool Company. He is stoked to make his Evergreen Family Theatre debut and to perform in his home state of Connecticut. Huge thanks to Trinidad and Wilfredo Gonzalez.

Instagram: @jongonz203

Samantha Lee is a theatrical designer based in Syracuse, NY. She moonlights as a worldbuilder, but is otherwise a Financial Coordinator in Refugee Resettlement. After a brief hiatus, Samantha is honored to debut her first work since COVID with Evergreen Family Theatre. She hopes you, the audience, will love this wonderful world of Edward Tulane we’ve come together to create.

Patryk Mathieu is ecstatic to be able to bring Edward’s beautiful story to life for Evergreen Family Theatre. He is a graduate of CCSU’s BFA Acting program and has appeared in a number of productions both in and out of college. He does regular work with ACME Mystery Co. and also appeared in Evergreen’s production of The Tempest last year as Antonio. He is also a writer and a musician who writes his own material.

Jim Ryan (Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Heather and Evergreen Family Theatre on this magical show. Jim has been (not) seen backstage with Spotlight Stage Company, No Boundaries Youth Theater, and his friend Mr. Holly can been seen on the North Pole Express in Essex CT. Jim will be directing a free staged reading of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) at the Little Theater of Manchester on December 12th.

Heather Spiegel studied Theater at San Diego State University and Vocal Performance at HARTT School of music. Heather has stayed active in the artistic community for the past 30 years as an actor, director, choreographer and music director as well as designing set, light and sound, as the full time Assistant Production Manager at Goodspeed Musicals, and currently Production and Company Manager for the North Pole Express. Heather is honored that Evergreen Family Theater has invited her to direct such a beautiful and heartwarming play and knows this incredibly talented cast and crew will create magic for kids and adults alike.

Evergreen is fully sustained through unearned income. In other words, donations allow events like this to happen. Did you know that nearly 85% of our funding employs our artists? It’s true.  If you have the capacity to give monthly, this is HUGE.  By the end of 2023 our goal is to have 50 monthly donors. You see, after this performance, we will have performed for over 1000 people across New England and New York. If each person gave only $25 we would pay for the entire 2024 season! So please, consider joining our roots system of monthly donors today and help us ensure that all people have access to live theatre right here in Vernon. Want to learn more about your impact? Click here>>

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and EFT’s Sprouts program were made possible through a generous grant from the Vernon Greater Together Community Fund and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts.