Behind the Scenes: Nicole Nolan

OHA is very lucky to be located on an island chock-full of talented, involved students. They take part in our educational program, they shine on our stage and they work behind our counters.

Deer Isle-Stonington High School junior Nicole Nolan has performed in three shows at the Opera House — Men’s Lives, R&J&Z, and Romeo and Juliet. Not to mention that Nicole is one of our wonderful Assistant House Managers, has been an OHA intern two summers running and is about to embark on her third. Today she’s here to fill us in on a few more details….

Nicole in last summer’s production of Romeo & Juliet.

1. What’s your favorite part about growing up in Stonington?

Growing up here, there isn’t a lot to do, so I had to find ways to not be bored. I spent most of my time with my family because they all live on the island. That was my favorite part about growing up on the island because I could see my family when ever I wanted to, particularly my grandmother who lived across the road from me.

2. What one word would your friends use to describe you?

Crazy.

3. If you were a cartoon character, which cartoon character would you be?

I would be Yogi Bear because I would love to eat all the food he finds in those pic-i-nic baskets.

4. When did you fall in love with theater?

I loved theater all through out elementary school, but I fell in love with it after 2 years of working at the Opera House. I was around people who shared the same passion as myself, and I’d never had that before.

Nicole is currently directing the student-run “Our Own” Staged Community Playreading of columbinus. Come out and support our amazing students next Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28 at 7pm!

Look for Nicole on stage again this summer as Lady Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Jeffrey Frace.

Throwback Thursday

Nicole Nolan, Peter Richards and Per Janson in the 2014 Shakespeare in Stonington production of Romeo & Juliet.

Nicole and Per are pairing up again in next week’s student-run “Our Own” Staged Community Playreading of columbinus, directed by Nicole and featuring Per alongside talented current and former area students. Join us on Wednesday, May 27 or Thursday, May 28 at 7pm!

Peter Richards returns to the island this summer to direct an exciting site-specific production of Chekhov’s The Seagull, as well as the next in the “Our Own” series – Dylan Thomas’ Under Milkwood. Email info@operahousearts.org to get on this list to read this community classic, August 5-6.

And, of course, Shakespeare in Stonington will be back strong this year, with a mischievous and merry rendition of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Get your tickets here!

Behind the Scenes: Bob Tobin

Today we welcome Bob Tobin – Episcopal priest, retired educator, OHA’s new Board Chair, and all-around swell guy – to give us insight into his elementary school years, his love for the theater and why his elevator is so very crowded…

1. Where did you grow up?

Austin, Texas.

2. How would your elementary school classmates remember you?

Probably as a semi-nerd. I did better after I got to junior high and high school.

3. Name four fictional characters with whom you’d be okay being stuck in an elevator. Why them?

Zorba the Greek (Zorba the Greek) – He would raise my spirits. He’s a character who fills the room. Very positive and adventuresome.

Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye) – He was sort of a rebel.

Randle McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)– Probably the same reason as Holden. He wanted to defy authority in a strange but positive way.

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan (The Help) – She had courage to face any situation.

Minny Jackson (The Help) – She was another one who defied authority.

Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) – He was steady, smart, committed and compassionate.

4. If you were a cartoon character, what cartoon character would you be?

The Phantom, he’s mysterious.

5. When did you fall in love with theater?

Probably when I was helping backstage at some summer programs in high school out at Barton Springs, in Austin.

Come say hi to Bob at this weekend’s CAB meeting, followed by OHA’s Annual Volunteer Clean Up and Maintenance Day from 1pm to 4pm. For more information, email info@operahousearts.org, call 367-2788, or just stop by the theater in your cleaning or gardening clothes on Saturday May 16.

Throwback Thursday

 Peter Boie masters the straight jacket during his 2011 “Live! for $5″ performance.

We have some great acts on tap for this year’s “Live! for $5.” Click here to see them all!

Behind the Scenes: Pam Getto

Whether you’ve hung out with her in OHA’s box office or seen her on stage at either the Opera House or in her many Cabin Fever roles, if you’re a lover of theater on the island, you know Pam Getto. Today, however, we offer you the special chance to find out what cartoon hybrid she would be. As well as why her elevator wouldn’t be all that crowded….

1. Where did you grow up?

Stonington, Maine. It was a great place to grow up, very safe. All my family was here. My mother’s the oldest of 12, so I had a lot of cousins and family around all the time, which was great. And you go to school with the same 30 kids through high school, so you’re all like one big, happy family. Most of the time.

2. How would your elementary school classmates remember you?

I was never shy. I was never quiet. I was very bossy. Who would believe it? They’re all still living here, so you could ask them.

3. Name four fictional characters with whom you’d be okay being stuck in an elevator. Why them?

Don Draper from Mad Men. And no one else. It would be weird if there was anyone else in there with us. Nudge, nudge. Wink, Wink. But he couldn’t smoke in there.

4. If you were a cartoon character, which cartoon character would you be?

Marge Simpson mixed with Jane Jetson mixed with Jessie.

5. When did you fall in love with theater?

I always have been. I love being on stage. I was always fighting to have the solo in the chorus, but since I was the only one who wanted it, that was pretty easy. And then I was in a commercial in third grade. I got to see the whole process. So then all that summer I directed my brother and cousins in “commercials.” I just fell in love with it.


You can catch up with Pam this weekend at While We Were Young, or visit her during the week in the box office and find out about our upcoming summer season!

Throwback Thursday

Bob Burke and Larry Estey lending a helping hand at Volunteer Day, 2014. 

Want to join the ranks of these illustrious individuals? Volunteer Day is Saturday, May 16 from 1pm to 4pm. If you’re interested in helping out, call 367-2788, email info@operahousearts.org, or just stop by the theater in your cleaning or gardening clothes on the 16th.

Behind the Scene: Joshua McCarey

There are two sides to every coin. While we’re all very sorry, down here at the Opera House, that we won’t be working with former Education Associate Robin Cust on a regular basis anymore, we are all so excited to welcome Joshua McCarey to the position! Especially now that we know he’s a James and the Giant Peach fan…

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a neighborhood called “The Grove” on the city limits of Boston. Though downtown was just 20 minutes away by train, my house was surrounded by trees and a circuit of winding dirt roads. This made playing, exploring, and also some scandalous behavior possible and routine. We played kickball behind my house, made forts between oaks and maples and raced down hills on our bicycles. I realize now that it was a blessing for city kid.

2. How would your elementary classmates remember you?

It seems sad to say, but they may remember me as sick! I was in and out of Boston Children’s Hospital for severe asthma and allergies. Though I wasn’t well, it was a cool place to be! There were clowns and kind nurses- I was treated so well. I remember my classmates would craft personalized get-well cards on colored construction paper. It made me feel so special. They drew a skinny boy smiling from a hospital bed…with bright suns and seagulls flying around the room.

3. Name four fictional characters with whom you’d be ok being stuck in an elevator. Why them?

James could tell me about his adventure from inside the Giant Peach, and help to scheme a plan to get the elevator unstuck. If that doesn’t work, Sir Toby Belch would be fun for joking and singing to pass the time. Anybody from the unpredictable and fantastic world of Daniil Kharms would be welcome; the situation itself being so absurd. I was always moved by Louis, the Trumpeter Swan. He could inspire us to find alternate forms of communication when words are not enough.

4. Which cartoon character would you be?

Charlie Brown. (Borrowing Linus’ security blanket)

5. When did you fall in love with theater?

At 12 years old, I was cast as Bottom the Weaver in a community production of A Mid Summer Night’s Dream. That character literally plucked me out of all my closets. He was just so outrageous; and taught me that I could be outrageous, too. I think I learned that theatre does that- plucks us out of the closet. I was frightened and enamored by it.

Joshua will be back on the island in a couple of weeks. Make sure you stop in and say hi!