Share love stories, discover a new play, learn acting, book summer camp—all with the Grange Hall & New Stage Players
January 27, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout The Grange Hall Cultural Center has a busy few weeks ahead, starting this Saturday with the New Stage Players reading the play “Almost Maine,” by John Cariani.
Waterbury’s new theater company invites the community to this gathering starting at 7 p.m.
The play is a composite of nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical “almost town” called Almost, Maine. It premiered at the Portland Theater Company in Portland, Maine, in 2004, where it broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim. Published by Dramatist Play Services in 2007, it has become one of the most popular plays in the United States, with nearly 100 professional productions and over 5,000 community, university, and high school productions to date.
Anyone who would like to read the script, hear the play, and/or join in discussion of the play in a short conversation is invited to attend. There are roles for all ages and abilities. No knowledge of the play or acting experience is necessary to participate. Casting the roles will begin at 6:30 p.m. so that the reading can begin at 7 p.m.
Some copies of the play are available to borrow from the Waterbury Public Library. Registration is encouraged to help organizers plan ahead. Do so with an email or call to info.acrossroads@gmail.com or 802-244-4168.
Sponsored by the Grange Hall and Across Roads Center for the Arts, this event is free, with donations accepted.
Youth Ensemble Summer Camp
The New Stage Players invite community youth to jump into the world of theater this summer at the NSP Youth Ensemble Summer Camp, July 6-17. The camp will be held at the Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center and registration is now open.
This two-week camp invites students in grades 1-8 to become part of an original production of their own design. Intended to be a fun, creative, and unique learning experience, the emphasis is not on perfection or pressure, but on the collaborative process of making theater together. Through theater games, improvisation, and collaborative storytelling, a script will emerge and then be brought to life with costume and set construction.
While no prior theater experience is required, this camp is designed for youth who are curious and excited to participate in an immersive theatrical experience. Campers should come ready to support one another, engage in group activities, try new things, and share their creativity.
They will leave with team-building skills, new friends, and confidence to share their voices and talents. Camp will close with a presentation for invited family and friends.
The camp will be organized into two sessions.
A maximum of 12 students entering grades 4-8 in the fall will meet July 6-17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
The first week invites older campers who will begin shaping the core elements of the final production. Throughout the week, campers will learn some foundations of theater through improvisation, games, and design workshops. Cost: $650.
A group of six campers headed to grades 1-3 in the fall will join the group for one week, July 13-17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The younger campers will collaborate to build the final production, sharing their ideas, designing costumes and sets, and rehearsing for the final show. Cost: $350.
Campers will need to bring snacks and lunches each day. There are limited scholarships available. Registration is online here. For more information, call 802-244-4168 or email info.acrossroads@gmail.com
Share the Love Fest: Workshops + Open Mic
Saturday, Feb. 14, is Valentine’s Day and the Grange Hall is hosting an evening of all kinds of expressions of love.
Share the LOVE Fest: A Community Open Mic welcomes all ages, experiences, and devotions to listen, present, and share the love, starting at 7 p.m.
Jeanne Beckwith. Courtesy photo
This warm, welcoming community open mic festival will celebrate love in all its forms: romantic, familial, platonic, declared, secret, self-love, remembered love, and love that changed a life. Attendees/participants are encouraged to gather your courage,creativity, humor and your heart to share at this storytelling event.
Consider sharing original love letters, music, poetry, stories, comedy, as well as historical or family love letters, sonnets, and other written works that inspired a seminal act of love in your life.
This night is not about perfection, it’s about connection. And listening. About remembering that love is not just something we feel, but something we do by showing up, by telling the truth, by sharing our stories with one another.
$10 suggested donation. For more information or to sign up, call 802-244-4168, or just show up at the door! Light refreshments will be served.
Wait! Interested but not sure what to share? Two workshops will happen in advance of Feb. 14 to help with inspiration.
Harmony Devoe. Courtesy photo
Feb. 1 and 14: 2-5 p.m. each day with novelist and playwright Jeanne Beckwith who will help you finesse the story, letter, or unveiled whimsy that lives in your heart. Beckwith will coach participants to prep to deliver their stories at the open mic event. This is a two-meeting workshop and the $45 fee includes admission to the open mic evening event. Register online here. This is a two-phase workshop. Plan to attend both classes.
Feb. 14: 2-5 p.m. offers one session with Harmony Devoe, Inaugural Vermont Youth Poet Laureate and spoken word performer who will help participants craft poetic pieces to share their love. Devoe will share techniques and poetry forms to prompt unique expressions. The $25 workshop fee includes admission to this event. Register online here.
Limited scholarships are available for both workshops. For more information, email or call info.acrossroads@gmail.com or 802-244-4168.
A call for new comedic plays by Feb. 15
Grange Hall Cultural Center and New Stage Players are seeking short comedic play submissions for the 2026 Comedy Play Fest, with a deadline of Feb. 15. The production is scheduled for May 10-17.
All types of comedy will be considered. Auditions for the production will be held March 6-7.
Some key criteria: Plays must be within a 10-12 minute run time with simple production and no more than five characters.
Writers must agree to grant New Stage Players/Grange Hall Cultural Center full license to produce their play.
Submissions must be made digitally. For complete instructions and criteria, contact grangehallcc@gmail.com with “2026 NSP Comedy Festival Submission” in the subject line. All submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15.
Directors, actors, and technicians are invited to get involved. Email grangehallcc@gmail.com.
Feb. 17-April 7: New Stage Players Theater Lab
Courtesy photo
New Stage Players is offering an eight-week scene study workshop for adults and teens from Feb. 17 to April 7 at Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center.
Designed for ages 15 and up, the group will meet on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
This workshop series will help you develop skills that will build confidence, understand where your natural performance strengths lie, and allow you to have fun and perform better at auditions as well as deliver results when you are cast in a role.
Participants will learn how to analyze a script for its greater acting potential, apply techniques from a variety of proven acting methods, and liberate body, mind, and creativity in the process. This class is for anyone who just wants to have fun, but also for those who are serious about upping their acting chops. It’s also a great way to practice your craft between roles.
Everyone’s path is individual, so there isn’t a set formula, except to stay committed to finding the best way for you. This workshop can provide you with a foundation to build your own process or add tools to your performance toolbox in a safe, respectful environment. Memorization, time outside of class, and communication will be required.
Instructors will be Monical Callan and Karin Shearer.
Callan has more than 45 years of experience in theater-making and education. She acts, directs, produces, designs, and writes, and has been seen onstage or backstage in New York City, Vermont, Boston, regional theaters in New England, and many films.
Shearer has been involved in theater, as an actor, director, and teacher, for 50 years, appearing onstage in New York City, Cleveland, Bangor, Maine, Albany, New York, and with various theater companies in Vermont. She’s taught scene study and improvisation in New York City and directed several shows for Lamoille County Players. She’s acted in films in New York City, California, and Vermont. (SAG).
All levels welcome. Enrollment is limited and scholarships are available. Cost: $160. Proceeds to benefit the Grange Hall Renovation Fund. Register online here. For more information or to register info.acrossroads@gmail.com or 802-244-4168.