Rochester Premiere!
Wife to James Whelan
by Teresa Deevy
April 9 – 18, 2026
The second RCP show this year will be the Rochester premiere of Wife to James Whelan by Irish playwright Teresa Deevy and directed by Jean Gordon Ryon.
In the small Irish village of Kilbeggan, an ambitious James Whelan lands a prestigious professional opportunity in Dublin. However, leaving the village will separate him from Nan Bowers, the woman he loves, unless she agrees to go with him or wait for his return. As the story unfolds, their relationship after seven years and his eventual return to Kilbeggan is shared. Will they end up together?
The Odd Couple (Female Version)
Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple (Female Version) started our 101st Season with lots of laughs!
In this laugh-filled comedy directed by Mary Krickmire, Olive Madison and Florence Ungar are certainly an “odd couple”—two women with very different personalities. Facing the sometimes funny complications of friendship, challenges of difficult divorces, and often hilarious consequences of dating again, their lives may not be easy but they are definitely entertaining!
Rochester Community Players first produced this play in November 1988 with Krickmire playing Olive and Peggy Mayer as Florence. Now as the show’s director, she says, “Simon’s play is reminiscent of the popular, laugh-a-minute TV sit-coms in the 1960s with humor coming from situations, physical comedy, verbal exchanges, and even facial expressions. Audiences can also anticipate what will be happening at times, even before they find themselves laughing!”
The Odd Couple (Female Version) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Taking a break between the final two performances are from left to right (front row) Kayla Perconti (Sylvie), Kimberly Day (Olive), Dawn Sargent (Florence), Lisa Ann Frisone (Vera) and (second row) Christine Wade (Renee), Kaleab Wiggins (Manalo), Jonathan Lewit (Jesus), Kesha Sharee Hartzog (Mickey).
Checking out the Trivial Pursuit game from the show are (left to right) Elyse Pommenville (Assistant Stage Manager), Katie Maya (Assistant Stage Manager), Katie Garver (Production Stage Manager), and Kate Quinn (Board Operator).
Remaining RCP Productions in 2026
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
July 9 – 25, 2026
A Good Farmer by Sharyn Rothstein
October 16 – 24, 2026
A Look at RCP’s Two Final Centennial Season Events
Mimi Kennedy: Author Talk & Book Signing
Presented by Rochester Community Players and Writers & Books on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Mimi Kennedy entertained a sold-out audience with readings from her memoir, Taken to the Stage: The Education of an Actress. This was followed by a conversation with Mark Boylan about her career, questions from the audience, and book signing.
Recording of Mimi Kennedy’s Author Talk & Conversation with Mark Boylan on Nov. 8, 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIleLNyxLI
Rochester Community Players Centennial Soirée
Sunday, November 9, 2025, brought the Centennial Season of Rochester Community Players to a stylish close with Honorary Chairperson Mimi Kennedy and a lively gathering of people celebrating Rochester’s first and oldest community theatre!
The Century Club on East Avenue was the appropriately named setting for this final event of 2025 featuring a “Rochester Community Players: 100 Years in Photos!” exhibit; displays of historic clothing from RCP’s costume collection; selections from musicals produced by RCP performed by Jim Schmitt, Kathryn Rebholz, Mary Krickmire, and Debbie Schmitt; a Theatrical Raffle; a special Centennial Souvenir booklet, conversations everywhere, and more! More photos!