Some of The Company: clockwise from lower left: Natalee Drissell (seated,) Bella Drissell, Gregg Jarrette, Sarah Thrasher, Patrick Kosiorek, Hallie Harris, Phyllis McQuaide, Billy Dominguez, Finley Drissell, Alireza “Farhad” Arasteh (guitar.)“On May Day weekend (Friday, April 28, through Monday, May 1) Silver City Community Theatre (SCCT) is celebrating Shakespeare and spring in The Big Ditch,” according to Hallie Harris, director of the program called Ditch-Speare. “We’re celebrating Shakespeare’s works in a playful way with sonnets and short pieces from his plays and live music from Shakespeare’s time. The tone is lighthearted and fun. There is a little ‘naughty’ Shakespearean language and some very mild violence (no blood, no guns). It is suitable for most audiences.
“Ditch-Speare runs less than an hour. Admission is free—although donations are appreciated. The actors will pass the hat during the show so don’t hurt their feelings by holding out! Bring cash!” Harris jokes. “However, be prepared to hang out in the great outdoors,” she adds. “Bring your own chairs, sunscreen, and bug spray.
“The show starts at 7 pm on Friday, 2 pm and 7 pm on Saturday, and 6 pm on Sunday and Monday. Enter The Big Ditch on the path at the north end of MainStreet Plaza, 704 N Bullard St, downtown Silver City. Please note, the path into the ditch is unpaved and sloped.
Shakespeare in the Park, Again!
“In 2019 SCCT presented a similar Shakespeare celebration in Gough Park, organized, written and directed by Frost McGahey, Shakespeare instructor for WILL (Western Institute for Life Long Learning) and author of the play Who Invited Falstaff? It included sonnets and information on Shakespeare’s life and time. The community really turned out and had a good time. This year, the production is moving to The Big Ditch during Bike Race weekend.
“I wanted to do it again,” said Harris, this year’s director and a member of the ensemble, “I reached out to Frost who’s been a great supporter and source of inspiration and knowledge. I’ve put my own twist on it, of course. I bring my love of improv, variety, comedy, and physical theater to this year’s show. It’s less informative and more playful. Mostly it’s a way for some of us local actors and performers to shake the dust of the past years off and bring some beloved pieces together. We’re trying to keep it simple and focus on the joy and beauty of the words.
“Ditch-Speare is sort of a variety show! There is a certain amount of trust in putting on a variety show–I should have asked [$1.98 Show director, Ward] Ruddick, to do this! What was I thinking?” laughed Harris. “You have to trust that the throughline is there. Find the things in a bunch of disparate pieces of art that tell a story, then pay attention to the timing and the feel of it all–it’s a little bit like making a good mixtape. The theatrics come from the actors rather than big set pieces or lights and sound. It’s just a lovely day out in the park in which you happen to stumble upon a really good show.
The Ensemble
“We as a community are blessed to have so many people who are dedicated to the arts. This cast is a bunch of hard-working performers, musicians, directors, and writers who want to share the love and hopefully inspire someone in the audience who doesn’t know there’s an actor inside them,” said Harris.
“The cast is made up of local volunteers: Billy Dominguez, Bella Drissell, Natalee Drissell, Finley Drissell, Hallie Harris, Gregg Jarrette, Patrick Kosiorek, Wendy Spurgeon, Sarah Thrasher, and Ana Trinidad. With music by Billy Dominquez and Sarah Thrasher of Blacklight and baroque guitar played by Farhad.
Wendy Spurgeon, 2022-23 SCCT Artistic Director, says, "It's really exciting to be mingling with this company of tremendously talented scallywags and rogues. It's magical, pop-up theatre and a joy to play with Hallie Harris and the crew in The Big Ditch over May Day weekend. Don't miss it!"
“Ditch-Speare is produced by SCCT and brings together performers and resources from a variety of local organizations.” Harris notes, “We really appreciate the invaluable support of Virus Theatre, for loaning us costumes, and of Oasis Coffee and Tea House, for providing rehearsal and storage space. Our community makes art projects like this possible, and I speak for all of us in expressing exuberant gratitude.”
Silver City Community Theatre, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is committed to promoting community-based performing arts opportunities for residents of Southwest New Mexico in all aspects of theatre – behind the scenes, lighting and sound, publicity, acting, costuming and makeup – including voice acting for radio and recording. SCCT’s objective is to enrich, educate, and entertain with a vibrant range of stage and voice acting performing experiences and training for adults and youth year around.