Actors Guild of Parkersburg opens ‘Sylvia’ on Friday
Photo Provided From left, Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as the stray dog Sylvia, Brent Null as Greg and Charlie Smith as Tom in a scene from “Sylvia” that opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg where tickets are $20 each, but two-for-one on opening night. Numerous tickets remain available for Friday and for other shows and can be purchased online at www.actors-guild.com or two hours prior to each show at the box office.
Photo Provided Brent Null, Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow and Erin O’Neill in "Sylvia,” the next production of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg that opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are available at the guild website, https://www.actors-guild.com, or prior to the performances on show nights at the box office. Tickets – $20 each but two-for-one on opening night – are available for all the shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, June 19, 20 and 21.
Photo Provided Rehearsing a scene from “Sylvia,” the next show by the Actors Guild of Parkersburg, are, from left, Erin O’Neill as Kate, Brent Null as her husband Greg and Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as the stray dog Sylvia. “Sylvia” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $20 each, two-for-one on opening night. Buy tickets online at https://www.actors-guild.com or at the box office for two hours prior to curtain on performance nights. Shows also are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. June 19 and 20 and 2:30 p.m. June 21.
Photo Provided Brent Null as Greg bonds with Sylvia, played by Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow, the stray dog he finds and takes home, initially to the chagrin of his wife. “Sylvia” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Tickets are available at the guild website, https://www.actors-guild.com, or prior to the performances on show nights at the box office. Tickets – $20 each but two-for-one on opening night – are available for all shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, June 19, 20 and 21.
Photo Provided From left, Erin O’Neill as Kate and Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as Sylvia the stray dog butt heads while Brent Null as Greg looks on in a scene from “Sylvia,” the next production of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday for a six-show schedule.
Photo Provided From left, Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as the stray dog Sylvia, Brent Null as Greg and Charlie Smith as Tom in a scene from “Sylvia” that opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg where tickets are $20 each, but two-for-one on opening night. Numerous tickets remain available for Friday and for other shows and can be purchased online at www.actors-guild.com or two hours prior to each show at the box office.
Photo Provided Brent Null, Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow and Erin O’Neill in "Sylvia,” the next production of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg that opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are available at the guild website, https://www.actors-guild.com, or prior to the performances on show nights at the box office. Tickets – $20 each but two-for-one on opening night – are available for all the shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, June 19, 20 and 21.
Photo Provided Rehearsing a scene from “Sylvia,” the next show by the Actors Guild of Parkersburg, are, from left, Erin O’Neill as Kate, Brent Null as her husband Greg and Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as the stray dog Sylvia. “Sylvia” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $20 each, two-for-one on opening night. Buy tickets online at https://www.actors-guild.com or at the box office for two hours prior to curtain on performance nights. Shows also are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. June 19 and 20 and 2:30 p.m. June 21.
Photo Provided Brent Null as Greg bonds with Sylvia, played by Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow, the stray dog he finds and takes home, initially to the chagrin of his wife. “Sylvia” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Tickets are available at the guild website, https://www.actors-guild.com, or prior to the performances on show nights at the box office. Tickets – $20 each but two-for-one on opening night – are available for all shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, June 19, 20 and 21.
Photo Provided From left, Erin O’Neill as Kate and Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as Sylvia the stray dog butt heads while Brent Null as Greg looks on in a scene from “Sylvia,” the next production of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday for a six-show schedule.
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"Sylvia" opens Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg for a two-week run.
The show is about Greg and Kate who moved to Manhattan after 22 years of raising their children in the suburbs. Greg's career is winding down while Kate's is beginning to offer her more opportunities.
Greg brings home a dog, Sylvia, which he found in Central Park. Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife.
"Directors often choose to stage 'Sylvia' by AR Gurney because it masterfully uses the absurd, comic premise of a woman portraying a talking dog to explore profound themes like mid-life crisis, marital stagnation and the human need for unconditional love," Director Charlie Matthews said. "Our audiences will enjoy the humor and, more importantly, the heart that are most definitely abundant in 'Sylvia.'"
The show is rated R due to adult themes and strong language.
"Sylvia" will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with other shows scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19 and 20, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday and June 21. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors and are available now on the Guild website at www.actors-guild.com.
Tickets can also be purchased at the box office two hours prior to each show.
The cast is Brent Null as Greg, Erin O'Neill as Kate, Morgan Stubbe-Fearnow as Sylvia and Charlie Smith as Tom, Phyllis and Leslie.
"I have enjoyed working with four great actors who are tremendously committed to bringing this show to life," Matthews said.
Stubbe-Fearnow said she enjoys the intimacy of a small cast.
"Not only have I been able to get to know my fellow actors better, but there has also been more time to discuss character development and plot with the director and cast that doesn't usually happen in larger shows," she said. "Sylvia has been such a different role than any I've played before. I've loved the challenge particularly in how she is almost always moving, sniffing, exploring."
O'Neill said she also enjoyed developing her character.
"You can tell she loves her husband, but she thinks what he is doing is kind of selfish. She is ambitious, but she's not cold," O'Neill said. "In fact, it turns out she does have a soft spot or two. I loved getting to play those different sides of Kate. She's a real human, dealing with real-life issues and emotions."
O'Neill agreed with Matthews that audiences will connect with the characters.
"We all go through these trials and tribulations in life. The show runs the gamut of emotions. It is very, very funny, and it is quite frustrating and touching, all at the same time," she said. "If audiences want a different kind of theater experience with a lot of heart and a lot of love for our four-legged friends, they won't want to miss 'Sylvia.'"
With the show centering on a family pet, the Actors Guild is partnering with the Humane Society of Parkersburg to collect donations in the theater lobby prior to "Sylvia" performances. Suggested donation items include:
Purina Dog Chow, Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin Dog Food, Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food, Purina Cat Chow, Royal Canin Mother and Babycat Dry Food, Royal Canin Mother and Babycat Canned Mousse Food, Purina One Healthy Kitten Food, Pedigree Canned Dog Food, Milkbone Treats, Soft Treats, peanut butter, liquid puppy and kitten milk replacer, Friskees canned cat food, non-clumping cat litter, Fresh News Cat litter, cat carriers, large kong toys/durable dog toys/jumbler balls, cat toys, blankets, towels without holes or frays, Miracle Nipples, rabbit food, hamster and guinea pig food, Timothy Hay.
Cleaning supplies: high efficiency liquid detergent, dryer sheets, bleach, Odoban, paper towel rolls, toilet paper, trash bags – white kitchen bags or 55 gallon bags, Dawn dish soap.
Office Supplies: pens, copy paper, Sharpies, manilla file folders, legal pads, postage stamps, bank boxes.
Miscellaneous: hand sanitizer, liquid hand soap, “safe paws” ice melt, gas cards and gift cards.
If unable to bring donations to the guild, go to the Humane Society website at https://www.hsop.org/donate for how to assist.
Joining Matthews on the production staff are: Emily Biles, assistant director and costumer; Nathan Arnold, technical director; Marsha Mueller, stage manager; Marsha Parsons, music coordinator; Terri Borrelli, production assistant; and David Rexroad, adviser. The corporate sponsor is First Settlement Physical Therapy.