1973
Van McLeod opens the 369 Center for the Performing Arts
at 369 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, Massachusetts.
Classes in acting taught by Van
Mime taught by Maidee Bouchery
Dance taught by Francine Mills
Yoga taught by Jane Paddock.
November
16th: An outside group rents the space for THREE BOARDS AND A PASSION,
the first play ever performed at 369.
December
RIDERS TO THE SEA and IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN,
a double bill of one acts directed by Francine Mills
is the first production mounted by 369.
1974
March
IN THE JUNGLE OF CITIES by Bertolt Brecht,
directed by Van McLeod,
is the first full-length play produced by 369.
May
BOW STREET,
an original soap opera for Somerville Cablevision, videotapes its initial episode.
Written by Jack Wells based on improvisations by the cast,
directed by Van McLeod, video direction by Nick Champion.
Cast: Juliette Bouchery, Maidee Bouchery, Ann Beerhorst, Cia Chester,
Robert Deveau, Buffy Groves, David Lebow, Van McLeod and Jack Wells.
JACK AND THE EGGPLANT,
a fractured fairytale, is 369’s first children’s’ show.
It is later followed by THE KNIGHT OF THE YUCKY LADLE and RUMPLESTILTSKIN.
June
GRAB BAG,
an evening of monologues and scenes from the 369 acting classes.
July
ANYTHING GOES,
the first of four planned productions of the Somerstock season (summer stock in the city),
and 369’s first musical,
directed by Van McLeod, musical direction by Michael Edelstein.
Also performs at
the Somerville Holiday Inn’s Opera House restaurant
as part of a dinner theatre package.
When Jim Butterfield’s lung collapses during opening week,
Peter Haydu steps into Jim’s role and Van steps into Peter’s for the remainder of the run.
BLOOD DRIVE TELETHON, Ch. 27, Worcester.
Maidee Bouchery performs a mime piece;
Michael Maroney, Marilyn Bass, and Sean Hartley
perform a medley of songs from ANYTHING GOES.
The studio audience gasps when Michael, as gangster Moonface Martin,
aims his machine gun at the camera and demands blood:
“Or I’ll splatter yours all over the screen!”
August
THE DRUNKARD,
directed by Van McLeod with musical direction by Michael Edelstein,
is the second (and final) production of the Somerstock season.
When the run is extended beyond its initial two weeks,
Jim Butterfield steps into Sean Hartley’s role
and Mary Riley into Marilyn Bass’ role.
CABARET and THREE MEN ON A HORSE go into rehearsal but are cancelled;
MUSICAL, a scheduled history of the American musical, never gets that far.
NEWSBEAT, Ch. 13, Somerville. Hosted by Daniel Geuwirtz.
Harry Cooper discusses THE DRUNKARD.
The Somerstock Apprentices
[Brady Fowler, David Kieran, Jim Allen, Marva Wooden – is that right?]
perform an evening of songs and scenes.
NEWSBEAT, Ch. 13, Somerville. Hosted by Daniel Geuwirtz.
Jim Allen and Maidee Bouchery perform scenes from UNDER MILK WOOD.
September
THE MISS SOMERVILLE BEAUTY PAGEANT, Ch. 13, Somerville.
Peter Haydu, Jennifer Levit, and pianist Michael Edelstein
perform songs from ANYTHING GOES and CABARET.
UNDER MILK WOOD, directed by Jim Butterfield, opens for a two [?] week run.
When it is extended into October, Paul Miller replaces Brady Fowler.
October
DRACULA
opens Halloween night and plays every night except Mondays,
with a midnight show on Fridays, through December.
The script is an original adaptation from the novel
by director James Butterfield and actor Robert Deveau.
When the script is re-worked,
Van McLeod directs the new scenes written by Juliette Bouchery,
and Jim Allen replaces Paul Miller as Dr. Seward.
The visual concept of the show is entirely in black and white (except for the red blood),
pre-dating the famous Edward Gorey version by three years.
December
THE PAUL BENZAQUIN SHOW, WNAC-TV Ch. 7, Boston.
Robert Deveau, John Adair, Peter Haydu, Jim Allen, Bill Barnum and Mary Riley
in scenes from DRACULA and discussion of the show.
1975
THE SILENCE FROM WITHIN,
an evening of mime created by Maidee Bouchery,
features Maidee, Juliette Bouchery and Bill Barnum.
[I’m not sure when this ran. Was it after JUNGLE?]
March
MASS REACTION, WNAC-TV Ch. 7, Boston.
Van McLeod discusses entertainment in Boston.
April
UNDER BEN BULBEN,
an evening of one act plays and poetry
by William Butler Yeats, directed by Edie Adair:
THE ONLY JEALOUSY OF EMIR, A POT OF BROTH and PURGATORY.
THE DANCE COLLECTIVE and AN EVENING OF SHORT FILMS.
May
NEWSBEAT, Ch. 13, Somerville. Hosted by Daniel Geuwirtz.
Van McLeod, Peter Haydu, Dawn Thomas, Robert Deveau,
Lyn Caliva, Jack Sheridan, Michael Jensen and Gardner Tillson
discuss Theatre 369 and its production of THE CARETAKER.
THE CARETAKER by Harold Pinter,
directed by Van McLeod.
With Jack Sheridan, Michael Jensen and Gardner Tillson
June
URBAN ARTS, WNAC-TV Ch. 7, Boston. Hosted by Jaqui Adams.
Dennis Hall (Dash), Terry Stoecker (Bubbles), Peter Haydu (Ahab),
Robert Deveau (Ferdinand) and director Van McLeod
perform and discuss CIRCUS THEATRE.
Summer:
369 tours two productions around Somerville and the greater Boston area:
CIRCUS THEATRE (which also plays matinees at Theatre 369), originally comprised of
Maidee Bouchery (clown name?), Juliette Bouchery (clown name?),
Van McLeod ( Professor von Quacker), Dennis Hall (Dash), Peter Haydu (J. Herman Crisp),
Amanda Freymann (Mrs. Duddy Fuddy/Mazoli Creamcheese),
Robert Deveau (Ferdinand), Donald Lehn (Alf), Terry Stoecker (Bubbles),
and [woman whose name I can never recall – her clown was Ping-Pong].
YESTERDAY IN CELEBRATION,
an original history of the city of Somerville (which also performs at Somerville High School).
Dialogue coach Peter Haydu is driven to distraction by one of the High School students acting in the production, whose Boston accent renders his big line as “We can’t fight them with brooms and pitchfox”.
August
CATCH 44, WGBH and WGBX-TV, Ch. 2 and Ch. 44, Boston. Hosted by Larry Stark.
Director Van McLeod, Peter Haydu (J. Herman Crisp), Ping-Pong [what was her name?],
Robert Deveau (Ferdinand), Donald Lehn (Alf) and Terry Stoecker (Bubbles)
perform and discuss CIRCUS THEATRE for a full half hour.
December
CIRCUS THEATRE
opens for an unlimited run of weekend matinees at the Charles Playhouse.
Cast at various times consists of
Peter Haydu (J. Herman Crisp), Terry Stoecker (Bubbles),
Gallagher the Wonder Dog (as Himself), Amanda Freymann (Mazoli Creamcheese),
Robert Deveau (Ferdinand), Donald Lehn (Alf), Ralph [last name?],
Brady Fowler (Waldo Whippoorwill), Van McLeod (Professor von Quacker & Ringmaster).
[Anybody remember how long we played at the Charles?]
WNAC-TV NEWS, Ch. 7, Boston. Hosted by Jaqui Adams.
News spot of CIRCUS THEATRE taped at the Charles Playhouse.
1976
CIRCUS THEATRE continues to run weekends at The Charles Playhouse
and to tour around the New England area.
KISS MEEE!, an evening of two one acts:
VENUS AND ADONIS by Shakespeare and KISS MEEE [by ?]
directed by Gardner Tillson.
April
CIRCUS THEATRE, Ch. 10, Plymouth, New Hampshire.
A complete Circus Theatre show with Ringmaster Jelly-Belly,
Ferdinand, J. Herman Crisp, Mazolie Creamcheese and Waldo Whippoorwill.
May
THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND & AFTER MAGRITTE by Tom Stoppard,
produced by the M.I.T. Community Players at Kresge Auditorium.
Although not a 369 production, 369 regulars Peter Haydu, Jim Allen,
Juliette Bouchery and Robert Deveau audition together and are all cast,
making it something of an unofficial 369 off-shoot.
THE CLOWN AT MIDNIGHT,
a short film written and directed by Robert Deveau.
Also something of an unofficial 369 production, it features 369 regulars
John Adair, Peter Haydu, Juliette Bouchery, Maidee Bouchery,
Marva Wooden, Brady Fowler, Van McLeod, David Keiran, and Amanda Freymann,
with clown makeup by Terry Stoecker and juggling by Donald Lehn.
Several scenes are shot in and around the theatre, where it also has its premiere public screening.
June
SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE, WHDH-TV Ch. 5, Boston. Hosted by Norm Nathan and Neila Smith.
J. Herman Crisp, Waldo Whipporwill and Ferdinand perform.
July
THE BOB HILTON SHOW, WNAC-TV Ch. 7, Boston. Hosted by Bob Hilton.
J. Herman Crisp, Waldo Whipporwill, Ferdinand, and Mazolie Creamcheese perform.
Van McLeod discusses CIRCUS THEATRE and SUMMERTHING.
THE BOB HILTON SHOW, WNAC-TV Ch. 7, Boston.
All of the above minus J. Herman Crisp.
Fall:
A late-night fire breaks out at 369 Somerville Avenue, damaging the theatre.
1977
January
Because of the fire, Theatre 369 closes its doors.
Fall:
CIRCUS THEATRE performs at the Warner, N.H. Fall Foliage Festival.
1978
August
CIRCUS THEATRE performs at Kearsarge Theatre Company in Warner NH. A summer stock theatre.