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The Forge Theater Lab, in residence at Fitchburg State University, develops new plays that ignite passionate conversations. |
Matt Cogswell in the filmed performance of his solo show ONE ANGRY GAY MAN.
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Samantha deManbey in a reading of THE LOWELL OFFERING by Andy Bayiates and Genevra Gallo-Bayiates.
Cheyenne Winley and Noah Dawson in CHASING THE GHOST by Ashley Lauren Rogers.
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Our HistoryThe Forge Theater Lab began in December 2018 with Generations. This night of ten short plays, showcased the wealth of talent that has been associated with the Fitchburg State University theater program over the past 20+ years. Season 1 continued in 2019 with a series of staged readings of new plays in progress by Ashley Lauren Rogers, Samantha deManbey, Mary Darling, and Andy Bayiates and Genevra Gallo-Bayiates.
Season 2 under the leadership of artistic director Samantha deManbey began with The Forge's first production of a full-length play, On Our Terms by Mary Darling. Next, the development process of Chasing the Ghost by Ashley Lauren Rogers culminated with a fully staged production. Season 2 wrapped up with a workshop of two plays by Matt Cogswell and an online reading of LifeBlood by Erik Nikander. During Season 3 we kept active during the pandemic by holding online events, including a reading of Perfect Fifths by Bret Bucci, various development rehearsals, and Past Tense: Six Short Plays, a showcase of recorded pieces by Steven Beck, Matt Cogswell, Cayenne Douglass, Ken Green, and Ashley Lauren Rogers. Charlene Kennedy joined The Forge as managing director in September 2021, kicking off her tenure with Pride Pieces, a night of readings, in October. Our full return to in-person theater will continue with more events to be announced in 2022. |
Partnering with Fitchburg State UniversityThe Forge Theater Lab is proud to be in residence at Fitchburg State University, a center for education and culture in north central Massachusetts. FSU offers a range of a degree programs, including concentrations in theater, technical theater, and other fields that lead to careers in performance and the arts. Now housed within the Communications Media department, the FSU theater program has been offering award-winning productions of classical, contemporary, and new plays for decades. Click here to read more about FSU's theater program.
Fitchburg State University is currently renovating the Theater Block, a building with a rich history in downtown Fitchburg that will now become a vital part of both the university and the continuing revitalization of the city. Click here to read more about the Theater Block project. |
Kevin Boudreau in ON OUR TERMS by Mary Darling.
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The Staff
Managing Director Charlene Kennedy is a Professor Emerita of Theatre. Her teaching focused on courses in acting, directing, Shakespeare, and public speaking. She is a national award recipient for teaching excellence, her work on behalf of the American College Theatre Festival earned her a Kennedy Center Medallion, she was awarded an NEH fellowship to study Shakespeare at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA, and she was a Directing Fellow at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Directing credits involve better than 100 productions. Personal favorites include Blood Brothers, Avenue Q, Noises Off, The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, A Midsummer’s Night Dream and King Lear. As an actor Charlene has performed in a range of genres from contemporary comedies and dramas to Elizabethan.
Literary Manager Erik Nikander is a playwright, theater critic, director, and filmmaker who has been working with The Forge Theater Lab since its inception. He currently serves as the company’s Literary Manager, and is an active member of its board. His most recent credits with the company include an online reading of his play LifeBlood and his contributions to Generations as a writer and director (for “27” and “Copley,” respectively). His ten-minute play “The Lady Killer” was performed as part of the 2020 Boston Theater Marathon. Erik is also an Artistic Associate at NewYorkRep, and has worked as a dramaturg and script reader for local companies such as the Nora Theatre Company and Fresh Ink Theatre. His theater criticism can be read in The Arts Fuse and HowlRound.
Marketing Manager: Angela Renzi.
Director of Development and Outreach Pamela Kathleen Hill has over 40 years of theater experience in the area, having worked as actor, producer and director for such groups as The Forge Theater Lab, Pocket Theatre, Cornucopia Theatre, Theater at the Mount, Masque Rep Company, Central Mass Rep Company, Guild Players, and AmeriCulture. Previously a secondary English/Theater teacher, Hill was the first Education Director for Huntington Theatre Company where she designed and implemented model theater education programs, which garnered national recognition. Her grant writing garnered funding from the National Endowment of the Arts, National Endowment of the Humanities, and Massachusetts Cultural Council, among others. While a professor at Fitchburg State University, Dr. Hill used drama in her research on young adolescent social issues and received the Dean’s Creative Activity Award and Research Fellow Award for her work. She retired as Dean of Education at the University.
Production Assistant and Webmaster Jack Crory is the president of The Forge's board of trustees, and was the company's managing director for its first three seasons.
Literary Manager Erik Nikander is a playwright, theater critic, director, and filmmaker who has been working with The Forge Theater Lab since its inception. He currently serves as the company’s Literary Manager, and is an active member of its board. His most recent credits with the company include an online reading of his play LifeBlood and his contributions to Generations as a writer and director (for “27” and “Copley,” respectively). His ten-minute play “The Lady Killer” was performed as part of the 2020 Boston Theater Marathon. Erik is also an Artistic Associate at NewYorkRep, and has worked as a dramaturg and script reader for local companies such as the Nora Theatre Company and Fresh Ink Theatre. His theater criticism can be read in The Arts Fuse and HowlRound.
Marketing Manager: Angela Renzi.
Director of Development and Outreach Pamela Kathleen Hill has over 40 years of theater experience in the area, having worked as actor, producer and director for such groups as The Forge Theater Lab, Pocket Theatre, Cornucopia Theatre, Theater at the Mount, Masque Rep Company, Central Mass Rep Company, Guild Players, and AmeriCulture. Previously a secondary English/Theater teacher, Hill was the first Education Director for Huntington Theatre Company where she designed and implemented model theater education programs, which garnered national recognition. Her grant writing garnered funding from the National Endowment of the Arts, National Endowment of the Humanities, and Massachusetts Cultural Council, among others. While a professor at Fitchburg State University, Dr. Hill used drama in her research on young adolescent social issues and received the Dean’s Creative Activity Award and Research Fellow Award for her work. She retired as Dean of Education at the University.
Production Assistant and Webmaster Jack Crory is the president of The Forge's board of trustees, and was the company's managing director for its first three seasons.
Brittany Messuri Rechenberger in CHASING THE GHOST by Ashley Lauren Rogers.
Rachael Miles, Jim Douglas, and Daniel T. Hankins in rehearsal for LIFEBLOOD by Erik Nikander.
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The Start-up Group
The Forge Theater Lab was founded by a "start-up group" of Fitchburg State University alumni, convened by an open invitation from Professor Kelly Morgan in April 2018. This group decided on the initial mission and core values for the company, wrote its bylaws, and selected the plays to be performed in the kickoff event Generations.
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Denise Alexander
Charles Amaral Peter Anderegg Andy Bayiates Sharon Bernard Kevin Boudreau Matt Cogswell McKegg Collins Jack Crory Noah Dawson Samantha deManbey |
Amy DeMar-DuBois
Lindsay Flathers Friend Tommy Karner Jessica Killam Michael Knight Kelly Morgan, Founder Erik Nikander Erica Gilbert Angela Renzi Kelly Stowell |
Company Founder Kelly Morgan
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