ETC Takes Theater to Next Level: Southeastern CT theater company seeks to entertain and inspire

By Amy J. Barry
Special to the Times

Southeastern Connecticut is home to a new professional theater company: the Emerson Theater Collaborative (ETC.). The company’s first production, Doubt—the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by John Patrick Shanley—opens at the Union Baptist Church in Mystic on Aug. 15 and runs through Aug. 23.

ETC. was founded by two local alumnae of Boston’s Emerson College—Camilla Ross of Colchester and Emma Palzere-Rae of Groton. The concept of ETC. is to develop and nurture emerging and professional artists by collaborating with alumni and students of Emerson, known for its outstanding theater program, and to serve youth, underrepresented communities, and artists with an emphasis on diversity.

Ross and Palzere-Rae each have more than 20 years of experience in many areas of professional theater. Ross is the theatrical adviser and acting coach for the SPAG Players at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich and sings with the Connecticut Lyric Opera of New London. Palzere-Rae has appeared at the New Gate Theatre in Providence and is the founder of Be Well Productions, which brings critically acclaimed one-woman plays to schools, libraries, senior centers, and other venues.The women looked at the theater being offered in southeastern Connecticut, considered the people who both live and visit the area, and felt there was an opportunity that had been overlooked, which is “to present quality, professional theater that entertains, inspires, and gets people talking and thinking,” says Ross.

“Certainly there is theater happening in the area, but it’s all a little different than what we’re attempting to do,” adds Palzere-Rae. “We want to fill that niche of off-Broadway and new plays. We think there’s an audience here for substantive drama.

“To all of us in the company, it’s very important that we reach out to youth in the area who may not be exposed to professional theater,” Palzere-Rae continues, “as well as being a stepping stone to Emerson College students and others pursuing the theater.”

She explains that ETC.’s emphasis on diversity will translate, for example, into taking modern American classics by Eugene O’Neill or
Tennessee Williams and setting or casting them in a way that explores issues pertinent to today—what happens if a certain character is African-American, not white—and how that affects the story.

Doubt: A Parable
It was serendipitous that Doubt, a play about a crisis of faith in a Catholic school, is being performed in a local church. Ross happens to be a member of Mystic’s Union Baptist Church and when they learned that ETC. was looking for a space to perform the play, the trustees of the church were very happy to provide the rehearsal and production space.

Palzere-Rae says ETC.’s production of Doubt is a perfect example of the company’s emphasis on exploring timely themes and issues through dramatic works.

“Doubt is a well-written and well-received play,” she says. “On the surface it may look like it’s about Irish and Italian Catholic families, but what is amazing is all the underlying racial and gender issues within the
story-line. It takes place in 1964, which was a pivotal time in our country in many ways.”

The Rev. Stacy E.F. Emerson of Union Baptist Church says the church is pleased to host the inaugural production of ETC. and notes, “Doubt makes a significant comment on the power of suggestion and the subtle and possibly insidious effect it can have on self and others. Shanley’s work is not only profound psychologically and spiritually but relevant to the ongoing life of churches and of our communities.”

Cast/crew members include director Albert Cremin, a veteran actor from Boston; executive producer Lisa Giordano of Stonington; producer Vic Panciera of Groton; Emma Palzere-Rae as Sister Aloysius; Stephen Daniel Sherman of New York as Father Flynn; Camilla Ross as Mrs. Muller; and Heidi Harger of Stonington as Sister James. Palzere-Rae, Sherman, and Harger are Equity actors.

Palzere-Rae says that ETC. plans to present three or four shows a season. The next production will be during the holidays—the play and location are to be determined.

If You Go

What: ETC.’s inaugural production, Doubt: A Parable, by John Patrick Shanley.

When: Aug. 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23. All performances are at 8 p.m., except Sunday, Aug. 17 at 4 p.m.

Where: Union Baptist Church, 119 High Street, Mystic.

How: Tickets are $18 ($16 for students and seniors) and can be purchased by calling 860-705-9711. Proceeds benefit Noank Baptist Group Homes, Inc., serving the youth of southeastern Connecticut. More information is available online at www.EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org.