Genesis of Blueberry
The Ensemble had its origin in the summer of 2001 at the Croton-on-Hudson estate of Blueberry Pond, the residence of Stephan Summa, a businessman, and Jean-Paul DeVellard, a writer, food critic and playwright. According to Mr. DeVellard, "We knew a group of very talented artists, and my idea was to bring them together as the nucleus of a theatrical ensemble along the lines of the original Actors Studio. We all knew ----playwrights, actors, directors--- that it would take a cooperative effort to bring our dream of original and bold...indeed provocative theater...to life. Our commitment is to creative cooperation and support for new and exciting visions which reflect the world in which we live." From an initial gathering of writers, directors and actors who performed on the front lawn of the residence, the group began meeting once a month at the estate to hear and critique new works. By November, the group was able to produce a benefit performance for the victims of 9/11, raising $4,000. This was the last major benefit cosponsored by the late Kim Hunter, a founder of Blueberry Pond, whose 60-year career in stage, films and television included an Oscar for her role as Stella in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.
Creative Leadership
Award-winning writer Jeffrey Sweet’s position as Playwright-in-Residence of Blueberry plays a significant part in our effort to seek the highest standards of craftsmanship for all of our new work. Mr. Sweet leads a weekly professional lab where actors, directors, and writers develop original plays by using techniques he developed during his decade-long leadership of the Writers' Bloc, the alumni of which include Donald Margulies (Pulitzer Prize for DINNER WITH FRIENDS) and Jane Anderson (WGA Award, multiple Emmy nominee). Mr. Sweet is developing his own work at Blueberry and hopes to offer a new play for our mainstage in the future. Mr. Sweet has also donated to Blueberry an invaluable collection of reference and archival materials including rare performance footage of theatre groups such as Steppenwolf in Chicago and taped interviews with Second City stars like Elaine May, Mike Nichols, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and others, used in his writing a history of that group, SOMETHING WONDERFUL RIGHT AWAY.
Youth Program
Blueberry continues to explore ways to improve community outreach, with our Young People's Program (YPP) a crucial part of our offerings. YPP Director Gayle Hudson leads ongoing workshops for young theatre aspirants, and in 2005 offered public staged readings of the winning entries in our First Annual Young Playwrights Short Play Competition for fledgling area writers.
What Have You Done Lately?
Blueberry has produced a one-act festival in Briarcliff, a fundraiser gala in Tarrytown, and numerous public staged readings at various county venues. For the past four years we were included as finalists in the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Original Short Play Festival, sponsored in New York City by the noted publishing house, with four plays selected for the final round of competition. We completed our first mainstage production, OFFSPRING, a provocative examination of race, power, and obsession by Pleasantville’s Jimmy Barden, visiting at Fleetwood Stage while our theatre renovations were under way. Finally in permanent residence in Ossining, the Ensemble proudly offered its inaugural mainstage production in its new home in Cedar Lane Park, Mr. DeVellard’s EDEN’S END. The story of a beautiful Southern woman who finds salvation through a life-changing encounter with a devilishly good-looking and equally dark-spirited stranger, EDEN closed on June 19 to end the 2004-05 season. Blueberry Pond is proud to have been named “Best Venue For Original Theater” by Westchester Magazine for 2005. Following EDEN’S END, Blueberry produced an original musical, OUTLOUD, a provocative look at the issues facing teen women, including suicide, cutting, body image and other sensitive matters. On the heels of OUTLOUD, we launched our first comedy, SUBURBAN LEGEND. Based upon a true story of a Connecticut Assistant District Attorney, mad with power it explored classic issues of alienation in the suburbs. Spring of 2006 we opened WITH AND WITHOUT, a personal look at modern relationships by our Playwright-in-Residence, Jeff Sweet. In the fall, Jean-Paul DeVellard’s THROUGH NOVEMBER MOONLIGHT explored the difficult dynamic of assisted suicide.
We invite you to click on past shows under the news tab on this web site to see our reviews, download music from OUTLOUD and learn more about the exciting main stage productions at Blueberry. To see our 2007/2008 Season, please click on the tab current season under the news tab. You will notice under our current season that we offer a regular program of readings, main stage samplers, and one-act play events in addition to our mainstage events. These additional events are exclusively limited to our Membership customers. Memberships also receive a one-third discount on tickets, no ticket agent surcharge on ticket purchases and first ticket free with the $25 paid Membership. To learn more and purchase your Membership, click on subscriber membership under donate now!/volunteer tab.
What the Critics Say About Blueberry
Blueberry is an exciting place and has been widely covered by local media in addition to The New York Times, Westchester Magazine, and the Journal News. A variety of articles about Blueberry can be found by clicking on the buzz under the news tab. You will also find reviews under each of the past shows page.
Here are a few things the media has to say about Blueberry…
Reviewing Blueberry Pond’s first Mainstage production in its new home, New York Times critic Anita Gates writes: “The production of Edens End is definitely to be admired…members decided to concentrate on original works, rather than staging old favorites…This brave decision should be encouraged…”
NEW YORK TIMES
“If you enjoy extraordinary playwriting and top notch acting, run—do not walk—to the Blueberry Pond Theater…Critics have been enthusiastic, hailing Blueberry’s productions as bold, inventive and often lyrical. The votes are in, and all agree---Blueberry Pond has to be on the must-see list of serious theatre-goers in Westchester.”
GETTING TO KNOW MAGAZINE
Who needs Broadway? Much closer to home (and much easier on the wallet), there’s the Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble…It’s thought provoking, award winning and totally new theater—and it’s all ous.
WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE
Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble has a smart, new venue for presenting original professional theatre. If you want to be provoked and entertained, it is happening right here in Westchester.
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Who Sponsors Blueberry?
In addition to our many local merchant sponsors and individual donors, Blueberry receives additional funding and support from: |
