Member: Stephen Strenio

Stephen Strenio is a current member of the CTC. He is a recent addition to the CTC and has been featured as an actor in a few recent shows.

Stephen is an undergraduate at Princeton University. He is majoring in Philosophy and will be receiving a certificate in Theater and Dance. He has been involved in theater on campus as both an actor and as a member of the board of Theatre Intime, Princeton's sole undergraduate-run theater.

CTC Credits:

4th 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2009 - Actor
Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind - August 2008 - Actor, Ensemble

Other Notable Theater Credits:

A Streetcar Named Desire, Princeton Program in Theater and Dance - March 2009 - Pablo
Othello, Princeton Program in Theater and Dance - February 2009 - Roderigo
Hamlet, Princeton Shakespeare Company - April 2008 - Horatio
The Violet Hour, Theatre Intime - September 2007 - John Pace Seavering

Statement of Objectives

The CTC's ultimate goal is to foster the arts and to promote art as an accessible means of self-expression and self-understanding for all members of our community. Our primary vision is the use of theater programming and education to develop an appreciation of performance and to encourage people of all socio-economic backgrounds to think creatively within their own lives, on scales both large and small. Within this mission there is a heightened emphasis on youth and typically under-represented demographics.  With that in mind:

The company’s primary objective is the production of a year-long theater program with numerous full-scale “main stage” productions with an emphasis on making theater a viable component of every citizen’s regular entertainment options. We de-mystify and de-marginalize theater by presenting relevant and accessible productions with extremely affordable ticket prices.

The second objective is the production of smaller scale “second stage” productions, one week-end guest shows, workshop pieces, and new works. Where the main stage season is intended to present the possibilities of performance to our community, the second stage season is intended to facilitate greater amateur involvement, offer insight into the creative process, and create exposure for newer and more radical ideas.

The third objective is to offer educational programming. Members and guests will offer occasional lectures on various theatrical topics. We will offer workshops for youth and community members to be engaged in the process of creating theater, some of which may grown into “second stage” productions. We will offer after-school and summertime youth classes in acting, reading, and special theatrical topics.  

The fourth objective is to provide a forum for other modes of artistic expression. This will be facilitated with occasional use of the theater as gallery space, dance hall, or recital space. We will also actively pursue the development of after-school visual art programs for students and the inclusion of local visual artists in the theatrical scenic process.

Member: Lily Mathews

Lily Mathews is currently a member of the CTC. One of the company's actresses, Lily was a founding member in 2005 and served on the Board of Directors from 2006-2008.

At the moment, Lily is a student at Brown University concentrating in Environmental Science with a focus on food policy and community health. She currently has an active role in the campus Sustainable Food Initiative, and works with the Real Food Challenge campaign. Aside from this, Lily has committed to continuing her work with the arts by acting and providing technical assistance for Brown theater and by collaborating with other performance and visual artists across campus. Additionally, Lily loves to explore yoga, rock climbing, and slacklining. Silly as it may sound, Lily strongly advocates for taking the longer route if it has a prettier view of the sun setting over the city skyline.

CTC Credits:

4th 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2009 - Actress, Winner: Best Actress
Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind - August 2008 - Actress, Ensemble
3rd 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2008 - Actress, Winner: Best Actress
Set & Drift - August 2007 - Olivia Bay-Katzen
The Matchmaker - July 2007 - Dolly Levi
Scenes on the Green - June 2007 - Actress
2nd 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2007 - Actress, Winner: Best Actress
You Can't Take It With You - August 2006 - Alice Sycamore
1st 24 Hour Play Festival - July 2006 - Actress, Winner: Best Actress
Proof - July 2006 - Catherine
Rumors - August 2005 - Cassie Cooper

Other Notable Theater Credits:

Pleasure Dome, Brown Production Workshop - February 2009 - Ensemble
RI High School Drama Festival - April 2008 - Winner: All State Acting
Deliver Us Not, South Kingstown Theater Dept. - April 2008 - Fetus 1
Bye Bye Birdie, South Kingstown Theater Dept. - February 2008 - Mae Peterson
Princeton University 24-Hour Play Festival - April 2007 - Actress, Winner: Best Actress
Once Upon A Mattress, South Kingstown Theater Dept. - February 2007 - Winnifred
Oliver!, South Kingstown Theater Dept. - February 2006- Mrs. Sowerberry
Loving Lives, South Kingstown Theater Dept. - January 2005 - Abigail

Member: Nicholas O'Brien

Nicholas O'Brien has historically been the CTC's Photographer and Graphic Designer. He has recently committed more to performance and administration. He has served as a company member and board member since 2006. 

Nicholas O'Brien is a senior Philosophy major, Women's Studies minor, and Honors student at URI.  During his time in college, he has worked as a videographer, 3D animator, and organizer. In his junior year, he produced "Greece: My Modern Odyssey," a film detailing the study abroad experience. The next year Nicholas focused locally, organizing URI's first Dormitory Energy Contest and Campus Clean Up. Nicholas looks forward to finishing his Honors Project, a 3D animation detailing Prozac's mechanism, as well as starting the production of his Costa Rican film on sustainable agriculture. Nick wants to be a Spanish rock climber when he "grows up."

CTC Credits:

4th 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2009 - Organizer, Poster Design, Photographer, Extra.
Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind - August 2008 - Actor, Poster/Shirt Design, Photographer. 
Color Theory - March 2008 - Poster design.
3rd 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2008 - Actor, Photographer.
Set & Drift - August 2007 - Poster design, Photographer.
The Matchmaker - July 2007 - Poster design, Photographer.
Scenes on the Green - June 2007 - Shirt design, Photographer.
2nd 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2007 - Poster design, Photographer.
You Can't Take It With You - August 2006 - Photographer.
1st 24 Hour Play Festival - July 2006 - Photographer.
Proof - July 2006 - Poster design, Photographer.

Other Notable Credits:

Co-Director, The Vagina Monologues URI, Feb. 2009

Actor, The Vagina Monologues. URI, Feb. 2009

Videographer, The Vagina Monologues. URI, Feb. 2009

History: 2005

In May of 2005, Christopher Simpson approached the directors of the Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston, Rhode Island, asking for permission to direct a production of Neil Simon's Rumors, a play he had seen that spring at Princeton.  Eager to have a theatrical production in their space, the CCA agreed.  And so the Courthouse Summer Theater Company was born.  

Featuring an ensemble drawn entirely from recent members of the South Kingstown High School Drama Club, the show was powered by little more than excitement and will-power.  Lacking any serious theatrical training, technical experience, or even a business plan, the company prospered on a groundswell of volunteer effort and the trust and support of the CCA and our earliest sponsors (Including Town Meats, Lila Delman Real Estate, South County Newspapers, and AAA Southern New England.)  Thanks to this support and the talent of the ensemble itself,  the production was a tremendous box office success.

Over 250 people attended the three 8pm shows that August, and with the boost of confidence and newfound financial stability, a future for the company was assured.

Rumors

by Neil Simon

August 18th, 19th, 20th

Directed by Christopher Simpson

Featuring:

Katie Jones

Justin Kandler

Adora Wilson-Eye

Josh Short

Maggie Brown

Christian Tamez

Lillian Mathews

Michael Boyce

Corey Sickinger

Katelyn Moretti

Stage Manager - Caitlin Manning-Riley

Technician - Maxwell Mathews

Sound Design - Chris Gilroy

Props Master - Christine Pezzi

Our Evolving Mission

The Courthouse Summer Theater Company was founded in June of 2005 as a collaborative project between young local artists who were interested in restoring the once vibrant theater scene of Southern Rhode Island.  After one successful year the name was changed to the Courthouse Theater Company, the vision matured, and our development began to follow our stated mission of "bringing professional quality theater to South County [and] exploring the possibilities of live performance, making it an accessible component of our community and providing a unique and engaging theater-going experience for all."  

For four seasons the company prospered, producing 11 full-length shows and numerous smaller productions and events.  As our talent level and experience have expanded, so too has our vision for the future.  As we embark upon our 5th season with a full schedule of eight productions in a fully-independent new location, the CTC - now the Contemporary Theater Company - is once again ready to refine it's mission.  The dedication to accessibility is still a central part of who we are, but with a new emphasis on artistic integrity and social engagement:

The CTC is dedicated to bringing exciting, relevant, professional-quality theater to southern Rhode Island.  By applying modern performance techniques to a wide array of texts from all genres, periods, and styles, the CTC will be the artistic centerpiece of our community and an avenue for progressive thought, political engagement, and reflective contemplation, always by providing a unique and engaging theater-going experience for all members of our community.

Member: Christopher Simpson

Christopher J Simpson is the Artistic Director of the CTC.  A founding member, he has also served as President of the Board since 2006. 

Chris will graduate from Princeton University in May 2009 with a degree in Comparative Literature and Certificates in Theater and African Studies.  His work has focused on language, literature, and the arts, and his coursework has emphasized Swahili, Spanish, and Theater.  He has been employed by the Princeton University Program and Theater and Dance as an electrician, carpenter, and technician since the spring of 2007, and has also worked professionally on the Berlind stage of the McCarter Theater, also in Princeton.  He served two years as a Residential Adviser, and is a leading member of the Rock Climbing group and a staff member at the University climbing wall.

Chris' most notable achievement at Princeton will be the April submission of his senior thesis, a project that includes the translation and publication of the seminal East African play "Amezidi", and the direction of its first-ever English-language production.  It is the culmination of his four years of study in Theater and Swahili language and literature, as well as a full year spent away from the university doing independent work.  Of this leave, taken between his junior and senior years, three months were spent in Kenya working with a group of theater artists performing for social betterment and health education in urban slums.  The rest of this time was spent working on the translation of "Amezidi" and on other theatrical projects.

Outside of theater, Chris' primary interests are Swahili literature and African sociopolitical development, sustainable development and food practices in the United States, and rock climbing and mountaineering.

A lifelong resident of South Kingstown, Chris graduated in 2004 from South Kingstown High School, where he was an active member of the Drama Club, Orchestra, Band, Chorus, Jazz Choir, Student Council, Renaissance Team, and Honors Society.  He also participated in the teen theater group Standing Ovation and was a founding member of the a cappella group SoundCheck.

CTC Credits:

4th 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2009 - Director, Winner: Best Overall

Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind - August 2008 - Director, Ensemble

Color Theory - March 2008 - Director, Ensemble

3rd 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2008 - Producer

Set & Drift - August 2007 - Director

The Matchmaker - July 2007 - Director

Scenes on the Green - June 2007 - Director

2nd 24 Hour Play Festival - January 2007 - Director, Winner: Best Overall

You Can't Take It With You - August 2006 - Director

1st 24 Hour Play Festival - July 2006 - Producer

Proof - July 2006 - Director

Rumors - August 2005 - Director

Other Notable Theater Credits:

Flammentangel Kabarett, Princeton University Program in Theater and Dance - December 2008 - Lighting Design

Amezidi, Princeton University Program in Theater and Dance - October 2008 - Translator, Director

Hamlet, Princeton Shakespeare Company - April 2008 - Director

Amezidi, Nakuru Players' Theater - October 2007 - Director

The Thousand Stringed Instrument, World Premiere, Princeton University Program in Theater and Dance - May 2006 - "Hans"