LONG TRAIL'S DISTINGUISHED DRAMA HISTORY
YEARS OF SUPPORT AND THEATER SPACE
The Dorset Playhouse, the Dorset Sportsman's Club, and Burr and Burton Academy provided rehearsal and performance space before Long Trail had its own theater. For years the Vermont Country Store sponsored the LTS drama program. On-campus performances on a professional stage began in 2003 in LTS's new Riley Levin Theater.
DIRECTORS
Actors at Long Trail took the stage in March 2006 for their 17th year with a director. Directors over the years include Dawne Polis, Patricia Carmichael, Mary Okin, Tracey Wesley, and Dee Tigue (music). Tracey directed "The Life & Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" at Long Trail in 1995-96 and has been resident LTS drama director ever since.
FRINGE FESTIVAL 2005 IN SCOTLAND
From a group of nearly 1500 high school drama departments nationwide nominated by theater professionals and college faculty, only 37 were invited to represent the United States at the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August 2005. Long Trail is the second Vermont school to receive this honor. Drama students Russell Appelman, Christine Blust, Ashley Eaton, Nora Fiore, Dana Haley, Katharine Maness, Chelsea Tschorn, Ashley Waite, and Hilary Wartinger, accompanied by Tracey Wesley, Dave Wesley, Rene Wilson, and parent chaperones Colleen Fiore and Angela Appelman, fundraised throughout the year to reach their goal.
TRACEY WESLEY, LTS drama director, has a bachelor's degree in theater and literature from Castleton State College and studied at Weber Douglas Academy in London and at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin. A voice student for 20 years, she participated in the Vermont Opera Theater for two summers. Being invited to the international Fringe Festival is another feather in Tracey's cap.
REGIONAL AND STATE FESTIVAL AWARDS
Performers in LTS one-act plays have received awards at the Vermont Drama Council Regional Festivals since 1990. In 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 LTS one-acts were selected to be performed at the Vermont Drama Council State Festivals, where they received awards.
ALUMNI
In 1998-99 "Actors Anonymous" appeared on posters for "Harvey" — Julie Graham, Kate Fish, Rebecca Johntra, and Jennie Marrone (all class of 1999); and Meredith Bogonovich (class of 2001) founded the group a year earlier. LTS alums Katha Washburn (class of 1990), Elizabeth Assenza (class of 2000), and Jennie Marrone have majored in theater at college.
LTS PRODUCTIONS 1989-2005
| 1989-90 |
"RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER" by Blake Edwards |
| 1990-91 |
"BASIL, THE RAT" from Fawlty Towers by John Cleese and Connie Booth
"THIS IS A TEST" by Stephen Gregg
"TOMMY AND THE TV TEMPTRESS" by Dawne Polis |
| 1991-92 |
"THE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF" by Moliere |
| 1992-93 |
"LILY DAW AND THE THREE LADIES" by Eudora Welty adapted by Ruth Perry |
| 1993-94 |
"GREATER TUNA" by Jason Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard |
| 1994-95 |
"ANTIGONE" by Jean Anovich adapted by Lewis Calantiero |
| 1995-96 |
"THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY" by Charles Dickens adapted by David Edgar, at the Dorset Playhouse |
| 1996-97 |
"TALL MEN OF AVERAGE HEIGHT" by John David Ballam
"LEPERS" by Robert G. Barone
"BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, DANGEROUS RHYTHM" arrangements by Dee Tigue at the Dorset Playhouse |
| 1997-98 |
"THE INSANITY OF MARY GIRARD" by Lanie Robertson and
"HAMLET ABRIDGED" by William Shakespeare, directed by Tracey Wesley, at the Dorset Playhouse on March 27 & 28
"BABY, ONE MORE TIME Version 2.0" written and directed by Dee Tigue, at Burr and Burton Seminary's Smith Center on May 1 & 2 |
| 1998-99 |
"AGNES OF GOD" by John Pielmeier and
"LAUNDRY AND BOURBON" by James McClure, directed by Tracey Wesley, at the Dorset Playhouse on March 5 & 6
"HARVEY" by Mary Chase, directed by Tracey Wesley, at the Dorset Playhouse on March 26, 27 & 28 |
| 1999-2000 |
"WIDOW'S MITE" by C.B. Gilford and Elizabeth Gibson and
 "CAGEBIRDS" by David Campton, directed by Tracey Wesley, at the Dorset Playhouse on March 3 & 4.
"Cagebirds" selected at Regionals at Whitcomb HS in Bethel on March 11 to go to STATES at Hartford HS on April 8.
 Awards at Regionals: Excellence in Acting to Meredith Bogonovich, Nicole Ihasz, and Stephanie Spencer. Awards at States: Excellence in Acting to Meredith Bogonovich and Nicole Ihasz;
Movement Award to the entire cast; Set Design to Charles Ullman.
"THE MATCHMAKER" by Thornton Wilder, directed by Tracey Wesley, at the Dorset Playhouse on March 24, 25 & 26 and at Burr and Burton Academy's Riley Center for the Arts on May 5 & 7.
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| 2000-01 |
 "THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW" by Washington Irving adapted by Kathryn Schultz Miller, directed by Tracey Wesley, at LTS on October 23 and On the Road October 24, 27, 30, 31: Shaftsbury Elementary School, Manchester Elementary & Middle School, Maple Street School, Mettawee Community School with Wells, the Mountain School, Flood Brook Union School.
"THE CATECHISM OF GRACIOUS MARY SENSIBLE" by Alan Haehnel, directed by Tracey Wesley, at LTS on March 14 & 15. "Gracious Mary" selected at Regionals at Fair Haven UHS on March 17 to go to STATES at Randolph on April 7. Awards at States: Excellence in Acting to Meredith Bogonovich and Tracy Hall.
"I KNOW I SAW GYPSIES" by many young writers adapted by Tom Erhard, directed by Tracey Wesley, at LTS on April 3 and On the Road in April to Flood Brook Union School and Arlington Church. |
| 2001-02 |
 "RIP VAN WINKLE" by Washington Irving adapted by Herman Ould, directed by Tracey Wesley, at LTS October 31 and On the Road November 1, 5 & 6: Shaftsbury Elementary School, Flood Brook Union School, the Mountain School, Equinox Terrace, Mettawee Community School. Maple Street School, Manchester Elementary & Middle School.
"OMNIPOTENCE & THE WHEELBARROW MAN" by Alan Haehnel, directed by Julie Graham, and "ONE AND ALL: A SCHIZOPHRENIC COMEDY" by Alan Haehnel, directed by Tracey Wesley, at the Dorset Theater on March 8 & 9.
"Omnipotence" On the Road at Equinox Terrace on March 14.
 "One and All" selected at Regionals at Mill River UHS on March 23 to go to STATES at Castleton State College on April 6.
Awards at Regionals: Excellence in Acting to Andy McQuerrey, Sam Merwin, Stephanie Spencer, and Alicia Upchurch; The Show Must Go On award to Alicia Upchurch; Stage Manager to Ashley Waite; Lighting Master to Brooke Page Rosenbauer; and Comic Timing Production to the entire cast.
Awards at States: Excellence in Acting to Andy McQuerrey, Sam Merwin, and Stephanie Spencer. |
| 2002-03 |
 "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" by Lewis Carroll adapted by Charlotte Chorpenning, directed by Tracey Wesley, On the Road in October & November.
Grand Opening of the LTS Riley Levin Theater for LTS productions: "COMPETITION PIECE" by John S. Wells and  "THE CASE OF ALEX HANSEN" by Alan Haehnel, directed by Tracey Wesley, March 14 & 15 at LTS.
"Alex Hansen" performed at Regionals at Peoples Academy in Morrisville on March 22.  Awards at Regionals: Excellence in Acting to Andy McQuerrey and Stephanie Spencer.
"IT'S A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING: AN LTS BROADWAY REVUE" was the first musical production in the LTS Riley Levin Theater on May 2 & 3. |
| 2003-04 |
 "GUYS & DOLLS" book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, based on story by Damon Runyon  and originally directed on Broadway by George S. Kaufman, directed by Tracey Wesley, musical director Melissa Chesnut-Tangerman, November 21, 22 & 23 in the LTS Riley Levin Theater.
 "SORRY, WRONG NUMBER" by Lucille Fletcher, directed by senior Vanessa Rundle, and
"PROPERTY RITES" by Alan Haehnel, directed by Tracey Wesley, in the LTS Riley Levin Theater on March 12 & 13.
The Vermont Drama Council Regional Festival was hosted by LTS for the first time and sponsored by the Vermont Country Store.
"Property Rites" selected at Regionals at LTS on March 20 to perform at STATES in Randolph on March 27.
Awards at Regional: Excellence in Acting: to Will Colson and Stephanie Spencer. Awards at States: Excellence in Acting to Will Colson, Stephanie Spencer, and Christine Blust; Movement Award to the entire cast.
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| 2004-05 |
 "AUNTIE MAME" by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, directed by Tracey Wesley, November 19, 20 & 21 in the LTS Riley Levin Theater.
"HARD CANDY" by Jonathan Rand and
 "15 REASONS NOT TO BE IN A PLAY" by Alan Haehnel, directed by Tracey Wesley, March 11 & 12 in the LTS Riley Levin Theater.
"15 Reasons" selected at Regionals at LTS on March 19 to perform at STATES at St. Johnsbury Academy on April 9. 
Awards at Regionals: Excellence in Acting to Nora Fiore, Devin Johnson, Drew Johnson, and Stephanie Spencer.  Awards at States: Excellence in Ensemble Acting and Excellence in Acting to Dana Haley, Devin Johnson, Stephanie Spencer, and Hilary Wartinger. |
| 2005-06 |
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