Written by John Pielmeier
Directed by Jeff Sprague
Performance Dates:
March 17 - April 2, 2022
Run time: 2h (including intermission)
Our next venture takes us on an exploration of faith and memory. Court-appointed psychiatrist Martha Livingstone is tasked with assessing the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her newborn. Livingstone’s suspicions deepen as the mother superior keeps the young nun from the doctor. Who killed the infant, and who fathered the tiny victim? The doctor’s questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax.
To download the production postcard for Agnes of God to share with your friends, visit the Downloads page of our website and look under the Production Postcard heading. A PDF of the playbill is also available in the same location under the Production Playbills heading!
About the Director
After a break of eight years, Agnes of God marks Jeff Sprague's second mainstage directorial effort at The Colonial Players. Previously, he directed 2014’s A Few Good Men (WATCH nominee for Best Play). In addition, Jeff directed Terrence McNally’s Botticelli for CP’s 2010 one act play festival. As an actor, Jeff has appeared in significantly more productions with CP, with credits including: The Babylon Line; The City of Conversation; The Liar (WATCH nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Play); Coyote on a Fence; 1776; Chapter Two; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Over My Dead Body; Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Kiss Me, Kate; Kindertransport (WATCH winner for Best Cameo in a Play); and Jekyll and Hyde. Other area credits include: Blue/Orange, The Crucible, and Sight Unseen at Dignity Players of Annapolis and Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hairspray, and Anything Goes at ASGT. By day, Jeff is an attorney with the federal government. A gigantic “thank you” goes to CP’s Board for supporting our production throughout all the COVID-19 delays, and also to my staff for all their help in mounting a live performance in these unprecedented times. A special "thank you" to my producer, Paul Valleau, who has been the behind-the-scenes wizard throughout the process. Thanks also to Greg, Herb, and Mary W. for all your insights during the auditions and rehearsals. Of course, thank you to Laura, Mary, and Ashleigh for your dedication to Martha, Miriam, and Agnes. Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my family for supporting my theatrical hobby for all these years, and my most loving appreciation goes out to my beautiful wife, Kathleen, adorable son, Ollie, and precocious Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Simon.
About the Playwright
John Leonard Pielmeier is an American writer and actor with a long list of credits in theater, movies, and television. He is best known for his acclaimed drama, Agnes of God, which opened in March, 1982 at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for 599 performances. The Broadway production and national tour featured famous actresses such as Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Ashley, Amanda Plummer, Mercedes McCambridge, and Diahann Carroll. Pielmeier also wrote the screenplay for the movie version starring Anne Bancroft, Jane Fonda, and Meg Tilly. He wrote more than 25 movies and nonfiction works for television, winning many awards along the way. He is especially proud of his adaptation of The Pillars of the Earth, an eight-hour series based on Ken Follett’s bestselling novel that received three Golden Globe nominations, an Emmy nomination, and his fifth nomination for a Writers Guild Award. He also received an Emmy nomination for Hitler: The Rise of Evil. Pielmeier began his career as an actor, performing at regional theaters, including Baltimore’s Center Stage. But as someone who began writing plays as a small child, he was destined to curtail his acting career and concentrate on his first love of writing.
Director's Notes
I wI want you to feel a little uncomfortable watching this show; maybe more than a little uncomfortable. This is a heavy show and it deals with deeply personal issues; that much will become obvious. About all I can say is that it’s not a show about easy answers. The cast and crew have dedicated a tremendous amount of time and energy to bring this to life at a time of great uncertainty. Perhaps it’s fitting that this play was chosen for such a time. Listen to the lines and listen to the music. Look at the lights and see how they integrate with the set. Feel and appreciate the nuance in the performances. When you’ve finished with all that, and the curtain call is complete, talk about it with people. Ask what they thought. Debate it. Remember it. Challenge your brain. Come to your own conclusions. Thanks for coming."
- Jeff Sprague
The Cast
Ashleigh Bayer (Sister Agnes) - Ashleigh is delighted to be making her acting debut in the production of Agnes of God. She is incredibly thankful to director Jeff Sprague, assistant director Greg Jones Ellis, and play consultant Mary Watko for believing in her and casting her in this riveting and powerful play alongside a talented cast of ladies. She is grateful for the opportunity to play a "Courageous and Multi-dimensional" character and hopes you leave the theater with questions, while also feeling moved by the performances. "Lastly, I want to thank God for the talent he has given me and this moment I will never forget. I also want to thank my Aunt Nancy, my Mom, and my boyfriend, Brandon, for their unconditional support."
Laura Gayvert (Dr. Martha Livingstone) - Laura is incredibly thankful to Jeff Sprague and Greg Jones Ellis for casting her in this thought-provoking play along with this amazingly talented cast. Most recently at The Colonial Players, she played Lizzie in Maytag Virgin. Prior to that, she performed in The Trip to Bountiful, Moon Over Buffalo, Wonder of the World, Rocket Man, Calendar Girls, Frozen (NOT the Disney musical), and Casa Valentina, the last two earning her nominations for a Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. Other local credits include Crimes of the Heart and Sordid Lives at Dignity Players and Seven Year Itch at Bowie Community Theatre. “Above all, I am thankful for the love and support of my husband, David, as well as family and friends who help me in so many ways, big and small."
Mary MacLeod (Mother Miriam Ruth) - Mary is beyond thrilled to be joining Laura Gayvert and Ashleigh Bayer in this production of Agnes of God. She has acted in many theater productions in the Washington, DC/Annapolis area over the years, but some of her favorite roles include the aging British rocker in VVVC Production’s Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, Sister Aloysius in Dignity Players’ production of Doubt, and, at Colonial Players, Hazel in The Children, Eileen Osbourne in The Cripple of Inishmaan, Terry Glimmer in Side Man (DC Metro Theater Arts 2015 List of Best Performances in Community Theater - Actress in a Play), Lady Boyle in Superior Donuts (WATCH Award Nominee-Cameo), Lettice Douffet in Lettice and Lovage, Nancy Shirley in Frozen (WATCH Award Nominee-Lead Actress), and Marjorie Taub in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. She thanks Jeff Sprague for casting her and, as always, thanks her husband, Alan, for his support.
The Production Staff
Terry Averill (Set Designer) Terry's happy to be designing again at The Colonial Players and working with such a talented cast and crew. He’s acted, directed, and designed numerous shows over the past 20 years. His favorite role was Arthur in Superior Donuts in 2014, but his biggest challenge was directing and designing 33 Variations in 2017. Terry enjoyed being CP’s president from 2010 to 2014. He has been an architect in Annapolis since 1995 and enjoys teaching architectural design and history at AACC. But designing for the stage is his passion. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to work with Jeff Sprague again and the rest of the talented cast and crew of Agnes of God.”
Kaelynn Bedsworth (Costume Designer) Kaelynn has volunteered both on the stage and off in a variety of roles for more than a decade, from actress to go-button pusher to steampunk wig maker to Looney Tunes sound effect specialist to smushed banana cleaner. You may have seen her grace the stage in multiple productions of A Christmas Carol, The Secret Garden, 1776, Annie, Moonlight and Magnolias, and Little Women. Behind the scenes, she has produced, costume designed, sound designed, and scene painted for many shows over the past 12...or is it 13 now?...years. Kaelynn sends her love to her husband, Wes, who shares this crazy theater world with her on a daily basis.
Herb Elkin (Stage Manager) Herb has been an active Colonial Players member and volunteer for over 25 years. Having appeared onstage in several CP and other area productions, he now most enjoys stage-managing and relishes his continuing role in sustaining live theater on our stage. Recent CP credits include Maytag Virgin (2021), The Children (2020), Toward Zero (2019), Quartet (2018), 33 Variations (2017), Good People (2016), Side Man (2015), Rocket Man (2014), Coyote on a Fence (2014), Trying (2013), and Going to St. Ives (2012)...which received a regional WATCH award as Outstanding Play. He thanks CP's many volunteers and supporters who make everything possible, worthwhile...and enjoyable!
Greg Jones Ellis (Assistant Director) Greg is delighted to have the opportunity to assist Jeff and his talented cast, crew, designers, and consultants. Greg’s CP credits began with his appearance in 1978’s Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and then skipped to 2015’s Ernest in Love. After these musicals, he hung up his dancing shoes to appear in 33 Variations as Beethoven and The Children as Robin. Other local musical appearances include Brigadoon (Compass Rose), 1776 and Sister Act (Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre), Titanic (Theatre Lab), Sweeney Todd (Opera AACC) and Oliver! (Classic Theatre of Maryland). He has directed staged readings at Virginia’s North Street Playhouse, including Neil Simon’s God’s Favorite, Noel Coward’s Suite in Two Keys, and Donald Margulies’s Dinner with Friends. He is a produced playwright whose award-winning comedy/drama All Save One premiered at the Washington Stage Guild. He has directed readings of his two most recent scripts at the Kennedy Center (live), the Dramatists Guild (Zoom) and the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (Zoom). “Here’s to live theater!”
Eric Hufford (Lighting Designer) Eric is happy to come back to the theater and do something new this time! Last time he was on stage, Eric was the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol. Favorite roles include Jerry in The Full Monty and Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Backstage Eric has done numerous special effects and projections for various shows. He also directed Lucky Stiff at The Colonial Players in 2018.
Robin Schwartz (Sound Designer, Props Designer, Set Dressing) Robin is delighted to be a part of the team for this production. After graduating from Goucher College with a BA in Theatre, she directed and produced plays at Red Branch Theatre Company and Drama Learning Center. Robin recently directed Love, Loss, and What I Wore for Colonial Players last summer and produced The Revolutionists in fall 2021. She was last seen on the CP stage as Ruth Hoch in Book of Days. Favorite credits include Dawn in The Universal Language (Outstanding Performance from the Maryland Community Theatre Festival), Thea Elvsted in Hedda Gabler, and Joan Dellamond in The Babylon Line. "So much gratitude to the whole CP team for the opportunity to create theater with some truly amazing people."
Paul Valleau (Producer) Paul is so proud of this team. It has been such a reward to support this production of Agnes of God. He has been involved in many productions in the Baltimore/ Annapolis area over the past decade, allowing him the opportunity to work with some of the best talent our area has to offer, including everyone in this production. Some of his favorite roles include Michal Katurian, The Pillowman (Vagabond Players), Lt. Kaffee, A Few Good Men (Colonial Players), Leo Bloom, The Producers, and Robert, Don’t Dress for Dinner (The Des Moines Playhouse). Other productions include, at Colonial Players, Book of Days, 33 Variations, In the Next Room, Morning’s at Seven (WATCH nomination for Best Actor). Productions at The Des Moines Playhouse include The Wizard of Oz, Next Fall, Reasons to Be Pretty, and Three Changes. Paul has also directed The Crucible and Talk Radio at Vagabond Players and Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll at Colonial Players. “Congratulations to Jeff, Greg, the staff, and this tremendous ensemble.”
