History

The Regatta Players theater group started off as small ensemble of passionate people who were interested in filling an artistic void existing in the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Former students of Shrewsbury High, who weren't necessarily pursuing a career in music or theater, often found that they had no outlet in the area for creative expression once they graduated. Thus, The Regatta Players was born.

The group started out by producing a well-received cabaret featuring many talented alum of Shrewsbury High School in 2009. This paved the way for the actual "birth" of the company in 2010, kicked off by their first full-length musical - the appropriately-titled "Baby." After the success of "Baby," The Regatta Players opened up to the larger community of artists in and around Central Massachusetts.
 
In 2012, the group held its first annual fundraising Cabaret and Gala; a fundraising event that continued through 2016. It has since evolved into the group's Opening Night Celebrations that now include wine, cheese, and prizes. With an eye on developing a full season of programming, The Regatta Players piloted its first winter production, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in 2016.
 
The group is proud to be the theater company in residence at the warm and friendly Flanagan Theater in Southgate at Shrewsbury, where it continues to grow with each production. With over 80 on and off-stage participants from all over Massachusetts since its inception, TheRegatta Players has developed into a true community theater.

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Flanagan Theater

SOUTHGATE AT SHREWSBURY

Regatta Players is fortunate to be the theater company in-residence at Southgate at Shrewsbury’s gorgeous Flanagan Theater.
 
Southgate at Shrewsbury is a Continuing Care Retirement Community located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Providing their residents with unparalleled amenities, Southgate houses the impressive Flanagan Theater, a 150-seat auditorium featuring orchestra and balcony seating.
 
Director of Programming for Southgate at Shrewsbury, Deanna Swan, is the driving force that makes Regatta’s partnership with the Southgate community possible. An actress herself, Swan understands the length of resources required to produce top-quality theater.
 
Throughout The Regatta Players' production-processes, residents of Southgate at Shrewsbury are invited to sit in on auditions and rehearsals, often offering valuable feedback to the creative team. All shows have to meet the standards of the seasoned theater crowd that call Southgate home. Residents are presented with an exclusive performance of all main stage productions. 

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Mission Statement

The Regatta Players offers a professional environment to those seeking theatrical endeavors in and around Central Massachusetts. Operating under the model of a true “ensemble”, the group crafts large-scale productions to feature small troupes of actors, creating abundant opportunities for artistic development and achievement with every production. With a constant eye toward expansion, The Regatta Players hold long-term goals of growing the artistic community in Central Massachusetts by honing local talent and cultivating a diverse audience-base to appreciate it.

Board of Directors

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Doug Buell

Director

Doug is a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, is no stranger to the theater and has worn many hats. He as played a wide range of parts in his career, from an evil garbage can to a cowardly lion. "I love this stuff...I even got paid once!...just once though..." In the summer of 2012, Doug  took part in his first on-stage appearance with Regatta Players, though he had been the group's technical director since it's beginning in 2010. 

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Scott Caron

Director
Founding Member

Scott could not be prouder to sit on the board of Regatta Players, a group that he has watched blossom before his eyes since its inception. A degree in Music Theatre from The University of Hartford’s Hartt School has helped him to carve a career path in the performing arts. He has recently been seen on-stage in Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Fiddlehead Theatre Co.), A Christmas Carol (Hanover Theater), and workshop productions of The Nose (Midtown International Theater Festival) and Finish Line (Boston Theater Company). He made his directorial debut with Regatta with their 2017 production of First Date. Scott is also an assistant coach for Shrewsbury High School’s Speech and Debate Team, where he has mentored state-level and national finalists in areas of dramatic performance and public speaking. www.ScottCaron.com

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Krissi Forgues

Secretary

Krissi is thrilled to be picking things up and putting them down for Regatta Players once again. Hopefully, if she did her job well, you do NOT remember her moving sets last year for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. She has also been seen actually ON stages throughout central Massachusetts, most recently in Beauty and the Beast (Madame D’Arque), Sweeney Todd (Ensemble), and The Wedding Singer (Ensemble)

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Bonnie Narcisi

Chairman of The Board
Founding Member

Bonnie has been heavily immersed in drama & musical theatre since her high school days. She currently serves as K-12 Music and Theatre Director for the Shrewsbury Public Schools, where she has steadily promoted the growth of arts education and performance for the past twelve years.  Bonnie has directed the music and/or staging of numerous productions during her fulfilling and lively career. Favorite works include: Children of Eden, Jekyll & Hyde, Beauty & the Beast, Suessical, Property Rites, Anything Goes, Leader of the Pack, Guys & Dolls, Brigadoon, Godspell and, of course Baby, the premier production of RePlay. She is thrilled to be working with aspiring actors of Shrewsbury and surrounding communities, and foresees a promising future for this fledgling theatre company!

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Joanne Smith

Treasurer

I have always loved theater.  Heck, I’ve been involved since in utero as mom was directing while dad was set construction for a small community theater in Brockton MA.  So, I guess it was destined that I become involved with Regatta and have been since their summer of 2014 production of Godspell.  I am always truly excited to watch the theater process of audition to performance first hand and now I’m a board member and the production manager for all their shows.  What could be any better than to be a part of this innovative, creative and true community theater group and to help it thrive and grow?!  I’ve lived in Shrewsbury for 20 years with my husband, George and son, Justin.  We are all involved in theater in some way, either backstage, on stage or behind the scenes making it all work.  It’s a true family endeavor!  ​

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Kira TROILO

Director
Founding Member

Kira is an editor/feature writer for a personal finance website by day and theater person by night. A graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Kira performed in and choreographed shows for both Emerson Stage and the Musical Theater Society (including Ex Dance concerts, Equity Fights Aids galas, and musicals such as Children of Eden and Newsies). She has been extremely active in the community theater scene in the Boston area, having performed with F.U.D.G.E. Theater Company (The Wedding Singer (Julia Sullivan), bare (Tanya), and Nevermore (The Whore), Turtle Lane Players Rent (Seasons of Love soloist), The Drowsy Chaperone (Trix the Aviatrix)), Blue Spruce Theater (Once on This Island (Ti Moune)) and more. Recently, she also performed at the prestigious Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine in their production of All Shook Up starring Sally Struthers. Though she remains busy, Kira never wanders far from her hometown. She has served as choreographer for 6 Shrewsbury High School spring musicals and several more summer theater productions, most recently having choreographed and assistant directed the school's production of Curtains. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring more quality theater to the Shrewsbury community!

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