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ABOUT THE PORT TOBACCO PLAYERS

“The Port Tobacco Players is an all-volunteer organization that puts the performing arts within reach of our community by offering quality productions that are entertaining, educational and though provoking. We train, invest in and support the next generation of theatre artists.”

It was in the days following the Second World War, when a weary America turned its eyes toward rebuilding, that the residents of the small but history-laden town of Port Tobacco looked across their town square at the burned rubble of their once-proud courthouse and decided to rebuild. During the winter of 1947, in the drawing room of Stagg Hall, a plan was conceived to raise money to aid the Port Tobacco Restoration Society in returning their town to its former glory. This group of artists, from Port Tobacco and nearby La Plata, set out to bring to the stage entertainment that would earn enough profit to continue their endeavor and provide for their cause. They spent the next twenty years performing in high school auditoriums, court rooms, village green... where anyone who wanted to see a play could do so. Their efforts paid off and the courthouse was restored.

In 1974 they found a new home—an old 1940’s movie theater owned by a local pharmacist was the ideal spot for a new beginning. They evolved into what they are known as today, a cultural staple in Charles County’s historic landscape. In 2002 another page turned in history when they raised the money to purchase and renovate their home. Returning to their roots, they performed on the road for two years before returning to 508 Charles Street in 2005. And in 2010, their home expanded to include a much needed rehearsal hall and space to store and construct costumes in-house.

Today the Port Tobacco Players perform six shows on their main stage and countless road productions with various ENCORE touring companies. The Port Tobacco Players are dedicated to continuing the tradition of providing quality theater to the citizens of Southern Maryland.

Board of Directors

President - Tara Waters
Vice President - Mike Gahan
Treasurer - Kyle Rappe
Secretary - Tiffany Behning
Kim Moore Bessler
Carol Charnock
Kim Danek
Benjamin Simpson
Stacey Swickert

Port Tobacco Players is proud to be a charter member of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors. www.washingtontheater.org

Director's Note

Farce is one of theatre’s most joyful—and demanding—forms. It thrives on precision, timing, and an ever-escalating series of misunderstandings that push characters to their most heightened, ridiculous extremes. In Lend Me a Soprano, Ken Ludwig embraces the full spirit of farce: doors slam, identities blur, and chaos reigns. But beneath all that lies something deeply human—the desire to be seen, to be valued, and to take control of one’s own story.

This play acts as a companion—and clever inversion—of Ludwig’s earlier hit, Lend Me a Tenor. By reimagining that classic farce through a gender-flipped perspective, Lend Me a Soprano doesn’t just retell a familiar comedic structure; it transforms it. The shift allows women to occupy roles traditionally written for men in farce, giving them the agency to instigate the chaos, manipulate the stakes, and ultimately drive the story forward.

What makes this especially thrilling is how fully the female characters embrace that power. They are clever, determined, and unapologetically bold, shaping the action in ways that continually upend expectations. Our goal in this production is to honor the classic mechanics of farce while celebrating the strength, wit, and agency of these characters. The comedy may be heightened, but the commitment must be real—because the bigger the stakes feel to the characters, the funnier the journey becomes for us.

Thank you for joining us in this fast-paced, laughter-filled world, where timing is everything—and this time, the women are very much in charge. Enjoy!

Tessa N. Silvestro
Director

SPECIAL THANKS

La Plata United Methodist Church, Kathy Mead, Connie Murphy, PTP Board of Directors, PTP Publicity, House Managers, the volunteer box office staff and ushers, and all who pitched in after the program went to print!

Cast

Production Crew

Producer........................................................Leilani Friday

Director............................................................Tessa N. Silvestro

Assistant Director..................................Jayden Holmes

Stage Manager.......................................Stacey Swickert

Assistant Stage Manager..............Tiffany Behning

Set Design.....................................................Chris Magee

Master Carpenter..................................Chris Magee

     Set Construction Crew .............Chip Murphy, Duke Berry, James Berry

Set Painting...................................................Tessa N. Silvestro, Tiffany Behning

Lighting Design..........................................Tommy Scott

Sound Design.............................................Amanda Hastings

Set Decoration Design......................Tessa N. Silvestro, Tiffany Behning

Property Design.......................................Joanne Fuesel

Costume Design......................................Lisa Magee

Hair & Make Up Design......................Kristina Faison

Intimacy Coach........................................Kelly Carlson

Program Design.......................................Jason Klonkowski

Photography...............................................Mary DeMarco-Logue, Jason Klonkowski

Headshots.....................................................Mary DeMarco-Logue

Meet the Company

Heather Wetherald

Elena

Heather is excited to be back upon the PTP stage! Some of their previous roles include Una in Blackbird (HBP), Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (HBP), Veronica in God of Carnage (PTP), Judith in Equivocation (HBP), Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible (PTP), Li’l Bit in How I Learned To Drive (CSM), The Woman in Death of a Salesman (PTP), Desdemona in Othello (PTP), and Betty in The Gulf (HBP). They would like to thank their husband, Alan, and their cats, Marty & Nadja, and Edain for being so amazing and all their family and friends for their support. Mi mancate tanto mamma e papà.

Lamont “Amon Amahl” McCreary

Pasquale

Lamont has been featured in many stage plays working with A Company of Saints Theatre Company. He then went on to study Art and Theatre. He continues to pursue acting even now in television and film. Othello was his debut with Port Tobacco Players, with whom he later performed in Airness. He continued his acting journey by performing in Save My Black Soul at the Laurel Mills playhouse and now with Lend me a Soprano.

Gavin Willis

Leo

Gavin is thrilled to be a part of his first production with PTP after a long break from performing. You may have previously seen him in St. Mary’s Ryken High School’s productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Hello, Dolly! (Ambrose Kemper), and Seussical the Musical (Cat in the Hat). His senior-year production of The Little Mermaid, in which he was cast as Prince Eric, was cut short by COVID before he left for Pennsylvania State University—so he’s especially excited to be back onstage. He hopes you enjoy the show as much as he’s loved performing it!

 

Caroline House

Jo

Caroline is very excited to be back on the Port Tobacco Players stage for Lend Me a Soprano. She was previously in Hello, Dolly and Once Upon a Mattress. She would like to thank the cast and crew for a wonderful time putting this show together. She would also like to thank her fiance, Jacob who she hopes didn’t mind spending so much time on this show with her!

Jacob Lejeune

Jerry

Jacob is extremely excited to be back on the PTP stage. You may recognize him from his numerous productions throughout the years, notably as Robin in The Adventures of Sherwood at NTP, Jester in Once Upon a Mattress at PTP, and Scrooge in Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol at PTP. He hopes you enjoy the show and would like to thank his friends and family for all of the endless support. Especially to his fiance Caroline who he hopes doesn’t mind being so close to him for this show. Remember, you are enough, and tomorrow is always another day!

Charlotte Flade

Bell Hop

Charlotte is a college graduate from the College of Southern Maryland with an Associates degree in Theatre and Dance. Being an avid participant of theatre since middle school, she has found her rhythm lately acting in plays and then technically assisting with musicals. Onstage, you might have recently seen her as Bianca in Othello at PTP. She would like to thank her family and friends for their consistent attendance to her performances, it’s always so special. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Elena Galbraith

Mrs. Wiley

Elena is excited to be performing for the first time with PTP! Elena and her husband moved to Lusby two years ago from Tucson, Arizona and are loving Southern Maryland life. She appeared with Newtowne Players in their collaboration A Night on Broadway with COSMIC Symphony last year and sings with St. Maries Choral Arts. Elena is a graduate of Cornell University and has a Masters in Vocal Performance from Peabody Conservatory. She was a winner of the Northeast Region of the Metropolitan Opera Competition and the Pavarotti International Opera Competition and has appeared with Muhlenberg Summer Theater, Philadelphia Opera, Washington Civic Opera, Miami Opera and Tulsa’s Discoveryland Theater. Her love of the theater runs in the family, with her father being her first director and both parents being actors. She is having the time of her life playing Mrs. Wylie! (Hugs to her husband and 2 darling kitties).

Casey Cleary

Julia

Casey is excited to return to the PTP stage in this fabulous role. This season, Casey played Charlotte Corday in The Revolutionists (CSM), Judge Wainwright in Witness for the Prosecution (CSM), and Cannibal Queen in Airness (PTP). She is so grateful to her husband for supporting her through her crazy rehearsal schedule and pushing her to grow as an actor. When Casey isn’t acting, you can also see her putting on a show every day as a math teacher at Stoddert Middle School. Enjoy the show!

Tiffany Behning

Asst. Stage Manager

Tiffany is always excited to be backstage. This is her 10th PTP show. Previously, she has stage managed Hello, Dolly!, 9 to 5, The Wizard of Oz and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. She has also been backstage as ASM and A2 Sound for a few productions in the last couple of years. She made her directorial debut with PTP’s Airness last fall. As always, thanks to her family and friends for feeding her theatre habit, and all her love to Nick and Mischa.

Kristina Faison

Hair and Makeup Design

Kristina is pleased to be working with the Port Tobacco Players again. This is her second time working as a part of a PTP production team. You may have last seen her further south on the Newtowne Players stage as Ensemble in Big Fish, Pearl in These Shining Lives, or her costume work with Into the Woods and Noises Off. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their continued support, and she hopes you enjoy this amazing show.

Joanne Fussel

Properties

Joanne hopes you enjoy the show!

Leilani Friday

Producer

Leilani is excited to return for her 5th production with PTP and her first time as the producer. She is a graduate of Penn State University’s Engineering Science program and a life-long lover of the theater. Leilani has previously worked on Bye Bye Birdie (Sound Crew, PTP), Airness (Asst. Producer, PTP), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Set Decorator, PTP), and Into The Woods (Granny/Cinderella’s Mom/Giant, CSM). Outside of the theater, Leilani coaches gymnastics and enjoys expressing herself creatively through writing and music. Leilani would like to thank her friends, family, and mentors for all of their support. Leilani looks forward to producing again for PTP’s Steel Magnolias this September!

Amanda Hastings

Sound Designer

Amanda is a regular performer on the PTP stage and is thrilled to be stepping up to her first sound design position at the theater. She has previously worked as a sound tech for Young Frankenstein, Wizard of Oz, and Twelfth Night at PTP and on Matilda at NTP. She is also the resident sound design teacher at Lackey High School and for Charles County All County Theater. Outside of sound design she teaches chemistry and loves to sing and direct a cappella music. She wants to thank her girlfriend for the opportunity and her family and friends for their support. Enjoy the show!!

Jayden Holmes

Asst. Director

Jayden is excited to work with this cast and crew as a first time assistant director! Recent credits include: CSM’s Into the Woods (Steward/Jack u/s/Dance Captain), PTP’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Naphtali/Baker/Dance Captain), PTP’s Bye Bye Birdie (Freddie/Ensemble/Dance Captain), CSM’s The Prom (Kevin/Swing/Dance Captain), PTP’s The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge (Fred/Ghost of Christmas Future), PTP’s The Wizard of Oz (Featured Ensemble), and Divine Dance Institute’s The Real Wiz: Returns (Tinneman-Tribe Member/Ensemble/Assistant Artistic Director Int.). Recently he graduated from the Theater and Dance program at CSM, where he is Vice President of the Drama Club. Offstage, he works as a Hip-Hop teacher at B. Funk Dance Company South and Creative Arts Director for the non-profit Elevated Levels Foundation. Jayden wants to thank his family, mentors, and friends for the support!

Chris Magee

Set Designer, Master Carpenter

Dit is onze laatste voorstelling met PTP. Met een dankbaar hart kijken we terug op 14 onvergetelijke jaren. Het was een eer en een voorrecht om samen met jullie zulke prachtige kunst te creëren. Van het ontwerpen en bouwen van decors tot het maken van kostuums, en zelfs het ontdekken van special effects—elk moment was bijzonder. We zullen niet alleen de samenwerking missen, maar vooral ook elkaar. In de loop der jaren zijn er dierbare vriendschappen ontstaan die we voor altijd zullen koesteren. Jullie hebben een blijvende plek in ons hart. We hopen jullie ooit weer in Nederland terug te zien. Tot die tijd wensen we jullie alle succes en inspiratie voor de toekomst. Dank jullie wel voor alles.

Lisa Magee

Costume Designer

See Chris Magee's bio.

Tommy Scott

Lighting Design

As a wee lad Tommy’s love for community theater began because of his family’s involvement at the District Heights Theater of the Arts. It was a wonderful experience which continues today. Lighting design for other local community theaters includes TCP (Into the Woods, Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Little Shop of Horrors). TAP (Sweeney Todd, Damn Yankees). LTA (Grey Gardens). This is Tommy’s 14th season and 50th show here at PTP. Favorites include Into the Woods, The Who’s Tommy, Sister Act, Next to Normal, Deathtrap, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Macbeth, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, and Ragtime. WATCH nominations include The Sound of Music (PTP), Brighten Beach Memoirs (PTP), Dixie Swim Club (PTP), Blithe Spirit (PTP), 1776 (PTP), Christmas Schooner (PTP), Wait Until Dark (PTP), Young Frankenstein (PTP), and Othello (PTP). WATCH Awards include Fiddler on the Roof (PTP), Spamalot (PTP), and Macbeth (PTP). Tommy is grateful to his husband Michael for understanding that all life outside of the theater ceases to exist during tech weeks.

Tessa N. Silvestro

Director

Tessa is glad to be back in the director’s chair after having last directed the musical Ragtime in the summer of 2023. A longtime member of PTP, Tessa can be found taking on many different jobs around the theatre. Favorite past onstage performances include Othello (Emilia, PTP), The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch, PTP), 9 to 5 (Roz Keith, PTP), Freaky Friday (Torrey, NTP), Matilda (Mrs. Phelps, NTP), Hello, Dolly! (Dolly Levi, PTP), and Boeing, Boeing (Berthe, PTP, WATCH Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play). Tessa has also directed PTP’s productions of Beauty and the Beast, Elf the Musical, White Christmas, The Christmas Schooner, and Annie, as well as Puffs, These Shining Lives, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood for the Newtowne Players. She sends all her love to her girlfriend, Amanda for being the most supportive person ever. Next up for Tessa is stage managing the PTP summer musical Legally Blonde and then jumping back into the director’s chair in 2027 for FROZEN!

Stacy Swickert

Stage Manager

A longtime member of Port Tobacco Players, Stacey is excited to be working with Tessa Silvestro again. Some of her on-stage credits include Suzanna in Bedroom Farce and Jennifer in Paint Your Wagon and most recently Penny in You Can’t Take it With You. In the last few seasons she has also stage managed for Othello, Twelfth Night, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Move over Mrs. Markham, and Elf. She has worked on stage, as well as on stage crew, lights, sound, producer and even house management. She has also directed one act for the Players and assistant directed in the past. Stacey was awarded The West Valley of Phoenix Fine Art Scholarship for her work including dramatic arts in education and is currently a member of the board of directors. She is so very proud of this cast and team!

Donors

The Charles

We need You!

Upcoming Shows

CCAS

Green Turtle

Parking

Curtain Call Cinema

Encore Kids

Chris & Lisa Magee

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