Digital Program: The Minutes
The Minutes
by Tracy Letts
THE MINUTES is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals
on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
“The world premiere of THE MINUTES was produced and presented at
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL;
Anna D. Shapiro, Artistic Director and David Schmitz, Executive Director.”
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited
Time: Today; Location: Council Chambers in Big Cherry, USA
The Minutes runs for approximately 110 minutes; no intermission
CONTENT WARNING: Please be advised that this production features blood effects, strong language, and provocative content, including the use of a racial slur, reference to a sexual assault, and racist stereotyping, appropriation, and representation.
The Minutes is a sharp, fast-paced comedy by Tracy Letts that turns a routine small-town city council meeting into a hilarious display of political absurdity, as hidden agendas clash and alliances twist unexpectedly. Beneath the charming facade of the quaint town of Big Cherry USA lie dark secrets. Blending sharp satire and gripping psychological mystery, the play reveals deeper questions about how communities tell their own stories and how far a community will go to defend its version of reality.
Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Information: 617-524-3200
The Footlight Club is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the state of Massachusetts administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Footlight Club is also supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events.
Our newly accessible Eliot Hall, completed in February 2021, is supported by grants from
the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund, the Community Preservation Fund, and the George B. Henderson Foundation.
Assistant Director’s Note
What caught my interest in Letts’ script was the way it captures the painfully universal struggle between our inherent desire to belong, and our desire for moral courage; to move through the world with integrity and stand firm in our convictions in the face of scrutiny.
As a proud granddaughter of immigrants from the Philippines and Hawai’i, I have been especially grateful to work on a script, and with an organization that does not shy away from the uncomfortable truths of colonialism. Our country’s history of violence and exploitation has been largely rewritten or erased entirely, voices from marginalized communities are often ridiculed, and speaking up can feel like shouting into a void, or worse, potentially unsafe.
In 2026, as misinformation spreads like wildfire and faith in institutions erodes, our story explores just how far institutions will go to control narratives in order to preserve their own interests. In our current political climate, where facts are twisted to devastating effect on a daily basis, the play reminds us how easily truth can be manipulated.
The Minutes is an opportunity to reflect upon the distortion and weaponization of information, the cost of silence, the fallacy of progress, and how we cope with uncomfortable truths. It invites us to ask: What are we willing to ignore to maintain the illusion of order? What (or who) are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect our own comfort?
I hope our show invigorates audiences, and reminds us that the fight for justice and truth is a worthy one, and not a spectator sport.
Thank you for supporting live theater. Enjoy the show!
Gabrielle Hatcher, Assistant Director
Cast
Mayor Superba: Richard Stiles
Ms. Johnson: Jennifer Bean
Mr. Carp: Jon Myers
Ms. Matz: Marie Siopy
Mr. Peel: Ryan Kenney
Ms. Innes: Meg Dussault
Mr. Oldfield: Neil Lasky
Mr. Breeding: Chantha Luk
Mr. Blake: Oscar Villeda-Estrada
Mr. Hanratty: Sophie Irina Pels
Mr. Assalone: Kenny Kelleher
Production Team
Director: Fern Roberts
Producer: Valerie Tracy
Producer: Hutch (Kate) Hutchinson
Stage Manager: Bea Life
Set Designer/Master Carpenter: Betsy Flowers
Lighting Designer: Mark Whipple
Sound Designer: Fern Roberts
Costume Designer: Meredith Weaver
Properties Master: James Boggie
Set Dressing: Zach Trznadel
Hair & Makeup: Hannah Tweedy
Assistant Director: Gabrielle Hatcher
Assistant Stage Manager: Rueben McDur
Costume Assistant: Sherilyn Levy
Sound Assistant/Sound Board Operator: Alex Ruiz
Special Effects: Clifton Golz
Fight Coordinator: Cari Keebaugh
Intimacy Choreographer: Shira Helena Gitlin
Poster Designer: Matt McKee
Set Construction Crew
Caroline Alessi, Zach Best, Zachary Dawson, Judy House, Kate Hutchinson,Theo Hutchinson-Curtis, Cayley Hyers, Tapley Jaczon, Masin Kearney, Becca Lees, Darcy Miller, Raghuram Muralikrishnan, Iván Pérez, Leonardo Richard, Tyler Richard, Glenn Singer, Danny Tovar, Monica Tovar, Anna Tovar
Special Thanks
Audition Monitors: Christian Bauer, Fiona Broadie, Susan Harrington, Alex Ruiz, Jeffrey Snyder, Sally Stratman; Casting Committee: David Alger, Michael Colford; Original Song Composition: Anna Fisher-Roberts; Props Loan: Cathie Regan at Umbrella Stage Co
Cast and Crew Biographies
Jennifer Bean (Ms. Johnson) is a long-time member of the Footlight Club and has enjoyed performing on both the main stage and in the 7A Series. She was most recently seen as Mel in the 7A Black Box production of After the Revolution by Amy Herzog. Many thanks to her husband and to Penelope Mews.
James Boggie (Properties Master) is excited to work with the Footlight Club on his first production! He works as an event planner at Harvard Medical School where he designs immersive experiential events to build community. He looks forward to helping bring The Minutes to life.
Meg Dussault (Ms. Innes) is a graduate of the Trinity Rep Conservatory where she earned her M.F.A in Acting and of Northeastern University where she earned her doctorate in education. Meg is an award-winning director of musical theatre, but is thoroughly enjoying this return to acting. She has been an adjudicator for NATS Boston, the Massachusetts High School Theater Guild, and is a D.A.S.H consultant for the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theater. In addition to being a director and adjudicator, Meg teaches in theater at several local Universities. To Mike, Sadie, Charlotte, and the rest of her family and friends who are in the know, thank you for getting me to the point where we can laugh about it all
Betsy Flowers (Set Designer and Master Carpenter) is excited to be back at Footlight Club. She’d like to thank all of the many volunteers who turned up to make this set! A special thanks to her husband, Tyler, for all of his help making this set possible and to her 3-year-old, Leo, for his attempts to help. Come see her in the ensemble of Jagged Little Pill at Arlington Friends of the Drama starting September 19!
Shira Helena Gitlin (they/them, Intimacy Choreographer) is a trans, nonbinary director, gender consultant, intimacy professional, dramaturg, and musical theater enthusiast. Select intimacy credits include: The Antiquities, Lizard Boy (SpeakEasy Stage Company), Kayfabe (Fresh Ink), The Ballad of Little Jo (The Treehouse Collective), The Great Reveal (Lyric Stage), Upside Down (AMT Theatre), The Cake (Walpole Footlighters), The Interrobangers (Company One), Legally Blonde (Moonbox Productions), The Rocky Horror Show (Central Square Theatre), and Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare & Co). Shira has trained with both Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) and Intimacy Directors & Coordinators (IDC). They are currently an MFA Directing candidate at Boston University. For more info: shirahelenagitlin.com.
Hannah Glori (she/her, Hair & Makeup Artist) is thrilled to be involved in her first show at The Footlight! She recently moved to JP after ten years in LA’s post production industry. Hannah is a proud Illinois Wesleyan Theater and English alum and has loved all things showbiz for as long as she can remember. Her directing credits include Float, Steel Magnolias, and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. Hannah’s favorite acting credit thus far is The Hag in the Little Women musical – fitting for a Halloween enthusiast. She’d like to thank her cats, Ivy Lynn, Ramses, and Binx for their input on her makeup sketches. And special thanks to her wife, Addison, for her unwavering support and for embodying the handsomest practice canvas imaginable.
Gabrielle Hatcher (she/her, Assistant Director) is a Cambridge-based interdisciplinary artist, actor, and educator. She most recently assistant directed Thanksgiving Play at Burlington Players. Favorite onstage roles include Lucy Westenra in Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy (Umbrella Stage Company), Sara in Stop Kiss, and Reggie in Some Girl(s) (Hovey Players). Recent design roles include costumes for Appropriate (Hovey Players), Hair & Makeup for Sense and Sensibility (Concord Players) for which she won a DASH Award, Middleton Heights, and Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy (Umbrella Stage Company). She is grateful to be a part of this production with such a welcoming and talented team.
Kate “Hutch” Hutchinson (she/her, Producer) has worked at the Footlight Club since 2023, where she started as part of the set crew. In the past year she has been Master Carpenter for Matilda and Head Over Heels. She was appointed as Productions Deputy on the Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 season, and The Minutes is her first show as a producer. It’s been a fantastic experience collaborating with this cast and crew, and she is thrilled to bring this piece to life to open the Footlight Club’s 150th season.
Cari Keebaugh (Violence Designer) loves to help actors tell stories, from silly to serious and everything in between, through the performance of choreographed violence. She’s a certified Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, and most recently, she created the stage combat for Blood & Water (Breaking Light Productions), A King and No King (Theatre@First), Verona Falls (Footlight Club), and Macbeth (Dream Role Players). Follow her adventures at http://www.VeryCari.com!
Kenny Kelleher (Mr. Assalone) is happy to be back at The Footlight Club for its 150th! Credits include Something Rotten! (Lyric Stage), A Few Good Men (Marblehead Little Theater), The Thanksgiving Play (Burlington Players), Stage Kiss (Psych Drama Co.), Bright Star (Footlight Club). Thanks to the cast and to everyone for being here and for supporting Boston theater!
Ryan Kenney (Mr. Peel) is thrilled to be making his Footlight Club debut in The Minutes. His previous credits include Tom in Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall with Boston Gay Men’s Chorus; Drs. Breed and Königswald in an original adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle; and multiple roles in Shoot, Get Treasure, Repeat, both with Northwestern University Student Theatre. Earlier credits with Lincoln-Sudbury Boston Players include George Gibbs in Our Town, Willard in Footloose, and Bernardo in West Side Story. He is grateful to the cast, creative team, and everyone at the Footlight Club for this timely production.
Neil Lasky (Mr. Oldfield) has studied and performed at various San Francisco Bay Area theatres during the Eighties and Nineties. This is his first play in 30 years.
Sherilyn Levy (Costume Assistant) has been a member of the FLC for more than 40 years. She has designed costumes for many shows at the FLC such as: Boys in the Band, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, West Side Story, Annie, Company. Her favorite show was The Women. Happy to fill the role of costume assistant. Thanks to husband David for making life fun and putting up with major apartment disruption for the sake of the show.
Bea Life (she/her - Stage Manager) is happy to be back at The Footlight Club, continuing to haunt as many productions as she possibly can. She would like to thank this wonderful cast & crew for making this show such a fun experience. She would also like to thank her friends, especially Milka and Robbie, for continuing to support her crippling theater addiction and emotionally supporting her through the unpredictable, cascading effects it has on her life.
Chantha Luk (Mr. Breeding) has been a Boston-area actor since 2001 and has performed with The Burlington Players, Footlight Club, Quannapowitt Players, Dragonfly Theater, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, and Chuang Stage. Credits include Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night, Carlos/Padamadan in Legally Blonde, and NWOAOC in Yellow Face (Footlight). As rapper and producer, C.Luk shared stages with KRS-One, EPMD, and Meek Mill, and was signed to Koch Records, then a top independent label and hip hop distributor. He is an award-winning screenwriter and director of Anti-Gravitas and The Golden Age: An Unlikely Romcom. He created Boston Freedom Tales, a theatrical hip-hop audio app now available for download that guides listeners through Boston’s history through song and rhyme. When not onstage, Chantha writes and films with Blatant Product Placement Productions or sings for preschoolers across the North Shore with Sound Play Music.
Rueben “Rue” MacDur (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be a part of his first Footlight Club production as the Assistant Stage Manager (ASM). He is visiting from the Walpole Footlighters, where he serves on the board in addition to being the head usher for shows and in the past being the ASM for Into the Breeches and Into the Woods. He encourages others to get involved in their local community theater in some capacity and hopefully find their third place in these spaces.
Matt McKee (he/him - Poster Photography) is thrilled to be creating posters and character portraits with the amazing talent (both on and off stage) at The Footlight Club. With over 80 Footlight Club poster productions, and counting, spanning 25 years, every new production brings an opportunity to help show the world live theater. He loves applying the imaging and marketing principles he uses for his corporate clients to promoting the performing arts. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the amazing world that is the Footlight Club!
Jon Myers (Mr. Carp) has been acting for over 30 years, including Footlight Club involvement since around 2006. He was a member of the first class to receive an MFA in Creative Writing from Boston Playwright's Theater (BU). Most recently he played Bob in the 7A production of Swimming in the Shallows. He is Jenn Bean's husband.
Sophie Irina Pels (she/her, Mr. Hanratty) is very excited to be returning to the Footlight Club after previously performing in Out of Sight, Out of Murder. She is an actor and, a playwright, whose one-act, It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times, is receiving a staged reading this November.
Fern Roberts (Director, Sound Designer) is happy to return as a director for The Footlight Club’s 150th season; they recently directed Into the Breeches here in February 2026. Other notable productions include; Jane Austen’s Emma the Musical at AFD, Radium Girls at Theatre III in Acton and Don Quixote De la Center at QP. Outside of theater they practice procrastination, and training their two cats to be MMA fighters. They dedicate their efforts in this production in memory of their grandfather Ray, who always advocated for them to do the right thing.
Alex Ruiz (Sound Coordinator) The Minutes marks Alex's first production, both with the Footlight Club and as a theater technician. He has previously dabbled in performing at the Disneyland Resort and is excited to transition into a backstage role. Outside of the theatre, Alex enjoys painting and reading, and the occasional brunch on the beach.
Marie Siopy (she/her - Ms. Matz) is a theater and film artist based in the Boston area with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Film Studies from Northeastern University. Marie has worked with the Footlight Club several times over the years, including After the Revolution (2026) and Stepping Out (2023). In the past, she has also worked with the Milton Players, Queer Theatre Collective, Northeastern University, and Moonbox Productions. Her film credentials include starring in Homespun with Hazel, which was recently nominated for Best Student Film in the New York International Film Awards, directing the TV pilot "Joe’s Pizza," and producing and starring in Louzr Creative’s series “Jude and Julia”. Marie would like to thank her encouraging partner, parents, friends, and cat for their constant support, and is so glad to be back at the Footlight Club with this amazing cast.
Rich Stiles (Mayor Supberba) is happy to be part of his first production at the Footlight Club. Some favorite past roles are The Bald Soprano (The Fire Chief), The Poet and the Rent (The Poet), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Cheswick), Tea and Sympathy (Herb Lee), and The Duchess of Malfi (The Cardinal). Thank you to the cast and crew for making this an enjoyable return to theater, and thank you to my family, especially Shannon, for the love and support.
Valerie Tracy-Indrakaran (Producer) been lending her skills to community theater productions since 2013, which she is shocked to realize was over a decade ago. Producing, building sets, taking photos, doing props or acting, she loves all of it. As well as bringing this relevant and subversive piece to the stage, she's proud to serve as the Productions Director for the Footlight. She'd like to thank her husband, Laks and her son, Pierogi (who is a cat). Congratulations to this incredible cast and crew!
Zachary Trznadel (Set Dresser)
Oscar Villeda-Estrada (Mr. Blake) loves acting, loves building community, and loves bringing out emotions–not only in my characters, but in the audience as well. He enjoys the process of acting in theater so, so much. It’s a combined effort from everyone involved that brings the audience a unique experience every night. You’re in for a treat with this play He hopes you enjoy!
Meredith Weaver (Costume Designer) Following many years of childhood ballet performances with much refitting of tutus, Meredith is very excited to be costuming The Minutes. Previously she was Assistant Stage Manager for Stepping Out (featuring Marie!) and Miss Holmes (featuring Jenn!) at the Footlight in February, and produced Swimming in the Shallows (with Jenn and Jonathan!). She also serves as the Footlight Club’s Membership Director. Many thanks to the production team for all their support and instruction and to the cast for being such a delight!
Mark Whipple (Lighting Designer) is excited to be working on his first show at the Footlight Club! He has designed lights for productions at many other local venues including Milton Players, Riverside Theatreworks, Mass Arts Center and numerous schools. Some of the shows Mark has designed recently include Little Shop of Horrors (MelOMusical), Ride the Cyclone (Curtain Call) and Hadestown (Hingham HS). He was nominated for a DASH award in Lighting Design for his work on She Loves Me! at Walpole Footlighters. Mark would like to thank his wife (who is a well-known theatrical pianist and musical director) for her support.
Footlight Club Board of Directors
Michael Colford, David Alger, Chris Stuck-Girard, Zachary Trznadel, Jim Ansart, Jerry Wheelock, Rachel Veto, Val Tracy, Meredith Weaver, Elizabeth Curran, Courtney Breslin, Juliette McClendon, Zach Best, Ryder Nguyen
TRUSTEES OF ELIOT HALL
Paul Campbell, Shannon Daly, Shelly Norton Icaza, Stephen Lussier, Lorie Komlyn, Jerry Wheelock, Jason Sheehan, Bill Shamlian, Matt McKee
Promotions and Publicity
Elizabeth Curran, Promotions Director
Chris Stern
Kristin MacDougall
Michael Colford
David Alger
Matt McKee, Photographer
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Juliette (Jules) McClendon, Michael Colford, Kara Chu Nelson, Ally Rzesa,
Amanda Bedford, Melissa Paz, Mordecai Choi, Steven Key
Special thanks to all our dedicated volunteers who continue to help keep the Footlight Club running day in and day out, from front of house, to club clean-outs, we appreciate you!
If you are interesting in becoming a volunteer, please contact us at volunteers@footlight.org
And to our loyal members and patrons, thank you for continuing to support the Footlight Club!
Thank You to Our Footlight Family
We Are So Grateful for Your Support
As you walked in this evening, you no doubt noticed the beautiful new accessible entrance to the Footlight. This project – a new exterior ADA-compliant ramp and interior elevator to all four floors of Eliot Hall – ensures that all our guests can fully access all our spaces. Along the way, extensive repairs needed to be made to the foundation and existing chimneys. New spaces in our basement and on the third floor will provide essential props storage, and we’re already feeling warmer with an upgraded furnace system.
These upgrades were only possible through the generous financial support of our community partners. We extend our thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund, the Community Preservation Fund, and the George B. Henderson Foundation. Most of our funding came from donations large and small from our Footlight Family. Thank you to everyone who donated.
We are kicking off our 150th season and we hope to make this season a major year-long fund-raising event! We are still working on the restoration of our exterior façade, [carpentry, building envelope repairs, and more] to ensure the historic character of Eliot Hall is preserved and to keep our building strong and safe. This work will improve energy efficiency, safety and security; present the building as a welcoming neighborhood landmark; and ensure future generations enjoy the benefit of this important community resource.
Nurturing Tomorrow's Artists
Even as we celebrate our and maintain our storied history, we're turning our attention to the future — and to the next generation of artists, storytellers, and creative technicians we can help shape. That starts at home. Eliot Hall should be a comfortable, safe, and welcoming place to learn, and we have the talent within our walls to make it happen.
We envision
Apprenticeships
Workshops
Classes
demonstrations for all ages
children's dance classes
acting workshops for BIPOC communities
creative leadership training
design internships
We are a microcosm of the theater world, and we want to open our doors to anyone who wants to be part of it. But we need your help to get there.
The Footlight Club is ready to train the next generation of theater-makers — and make those opportunities accessible to everyone.
That only happens with the support of our Footlight Community. Your investment funds the programs that keep us at the forefront of community theater nationwide — and ensures that the future of this art form has a home right here.
We have made it as easy as possible for you to help support our vision. Visit our donations page at www.footlight.org/donate to make a tax deductable donation.
The continued revitalization and restoration of Eliot Hall will always be one of Footlight’s top priorities, and we are also looking carefully at our future progra offerings. Your contributions will continue to make it possible to take on large-and-small-scale restoration projects, as well as maintaining the day-to-day operations of the building.
Every Gift Counts
If you are thinking about making your first gift, now is the time to make a gift in any amount.
Please give now at: www.footlight.org/donate
Or mail a check payable to The Footlight Club to:
Treasurer, The Footlight Club, 7A Eliot Street , Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Other Ways to Give
Email Treasurer@Footlight.org to make a gift of stock.
Become a Footlight Club Monthly Sustainer. For gift of over $500, your donation will renew, and your credit or debit card will automatically be billed each month. Please email Development@Footlight.org for more details.
