The Thursday Troupe Fall 2025 Show
The Stone Soup Cast Rocked the House!
November 5th, 6th and 7th
The Thursday Troupe adapted the classic folktale Stone Soup. This tale is about a community that confronts barriers and difficulties and discovers that by uniting, they are able to overcome them.
“The Stone Soup play seems like it was a breakthrough experience for [cast member] as well as the other actors. She (and they) memorized complex lines and delivered them with confidence and mastery. The actors appeared to be very much a cohesive team.”
—Audience Member
“I wanted to congratulate you one more time on your beautiful production of Stone Soup. My mother used to read that story to me when I was a little girl, and I used to read it to [cast member]. It’s such a perfect example of how kindness and sharing can overcome any obstacle. Your actors conveyed those qualities perfectly, in voices that were distinctly their own. How wonderful to see them shine while supporting each other.
Thank you also for giving [cast member] the chance to be a part of the troupe. By working with them and being a mentor, Tanya discovered qualities in herself that will last a lifetime. My husband and I will always be grateful to you for giving her that experience.”
—Parent of Cast Member
Photo by Kristopher Radder
Photo by Kristopher Radder
Photo by Kristopher Radder
Stone Soup Credits
FEATURING
Thursday Troupe Cast Members
Mayor ~ Mike
Councilors ~ Elijah, Jenny, Peter
Villagers ~ Jess, Katharine, Leif, Phil, Robert, Susan, Tanya
Travelers ~ Alauna, Brian, Evan, Harry, Josh
This performance is dedicated to the memory of actor
Danny Sullivan
SHOW SPONSORS
Against the Grain
Brattleboro Savings & Loan
Community Bank, N.A.
802 Credit Union
Richard’s Insurance
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
A theater troupe gathers. They greet one another, happy to come together for the beginning of the semester. A story is introduced, the characters are cast. Conversation begins about a classic folk tale. Over time, questions are posed, what does it mean to not welcome people from another village? How is it that people are afraid of newcomers and hide their food? Other characters are introduced. In particular, the character who causes the trouble of the story. Troupe members identify that character as a bully. An actor gets inspired to write her own lines when her character confronts the individual who is causing the conflict in the story. Discussion occurs regarding people changing their attitudes. How is that shown dramatically on stage? Rehearsals continue. And here we are, ready to present the story of “Stone Soup” adapted by the Thursday Troupe, for you the audience.
With perseverance, listening, and of course some carrots, potatoes, and onions, the actors together chant, “Soup from a stone? Imagine that!”
And then, with compassion for those known and unknown, the actors call out, “Bring what you’ve got and put it in the pot!”
We end the story by asking, “What might you bring to your community?”
We each have different gifts that enrich and bring nourishment to our neighbors, friends, family, and folks we do not know, yet!
~Laura Lawson Tucker
OUR GENEROUS FUNDERS
Agnes Lindsay Trust
Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation
Ben & Jerry’s Community Action Team
Brattleboro Music Center
Brattleboro Town Human Services Fund
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Clear Solutions
Price Chopper Golub Foundation
Puffin Foundation
Shapiro Family Foundation
SPIN Foundation
Thomas Thompson Trust
Vermont Arts Council
Vermont Humanities
SHOUT OUT TO OUR MONTHLY
SUSTAINING SUPPORTERS
Ashok Agarwal, Rene Carranza, Anna Chin,
Steve Holmes, Elijah Jenson, Mollie Montgomery,
Sally Morris, Liron Strothman, Sharon & Jan Surma,
Ben Tucker, Sandy Wyckoff
COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist
at the West Village Meeting House
Families First
Frances Hicks Memorial Fund
Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern VT
Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
THEATRE ADVENTURE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Geoff Burgess, President
Ora Grodsky, Vice President
Steve Kappel, Treasurer
Mary Traver, Secretary
Julianne Kaplan
STAFF
Lori Angell ~ Costumer
Catherine Diduk ~ Outreach Coordinator
Laura Howe ~ Substitute Teacher
Darlene Jenson ~ Director/Disability Specialist
Leslie Kinney ~ Teacher, Tech Support
Mike Mrowicki ~ Development Coordinator
Maria Pugnetti ~ Technical Director/Designer, Videographer
Jenny Rainville ~ Assistant Teacher
Laura Lawson Tucker ~ Director
Tanya Wummer ~ Intern, Landmark College
American Sign Language Interpreter ~ Janet Dickinson
SUPPORT TEAM
Jamie Cansler-John, Heather Carter, Tim Clough, Corey Gallup, Tanner Karg, Melissa Kunesch, Tina Mattison, Rob Pagan, Nicole Randall, Abdul Sultant, Annabell Vigneault, Jess Winchester, Christine Young, Phil Zachariah
MUSIC CREDITS
Becky Tracy, Performer
“Fiddler Around the Fairy Tree” and “John Henry’s Reel”
from the album Evergreen
Lizzy Mandell, Composer and Performer
“Brightest Star” from the album To the Moon