Holliston Resident in featured role in Next Fall for the Wellesley Players

The Wellesley Players are currently in rehearsal for Next Fall.  The Play features both new faces and seasoned Wellesley Players in this Tony Award-nominated and stunning play.   Currently in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, the Players will perform Next Fall in the Black Box Theatre May 2-11, 2014.  Tickets are now on sale.  The Black Box Theatre is an intimate space and a perfect environment for exploring this lighthearted, yet thoughtful, play.  Please purchase tickets early.  This is a must see this season! 

Geoffrey Nauffts’ NEXT FALL takes a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love. The play’s central story focuses on the five-year relationship between Adam and Luke, exploring the internal, social, and familial obstacles faced by a same-sex interfaith couple. One an atheist and one a devout Christian, the two men struggle to reconcile their differences and accept themselves and each other.  This timely and compelling new American play forces us all to examine what it means to “believe” and what it might cost us not to. 

Holliston resident Paul Gillespie is cast as Butch, Luke’s right-wing, born again father, who is unaware of his son’s homosexuality.  He is excited to come to this theater group and this specific play.   He was drawn to Wellesley Players for its reputation and his experience with director Todd Sandstrom, and this play for its “complex interplay of religion, and family politics.”  This play “adeptly depicts the delicate balance of personal beliefs and commitment to another. It’s rare to find this kind of meaty topic in the cannons of community theater.”  The topics explored in this play are complex, often avoided in our everyday lives.  “Growing up conversation at our dinner table could not touch on sex, politics, or religion.  That’s ALL this show is about so it’s great to be steeped in it for the entire run of the production.” 

Paul was one of the founders of Washington Street Players in Holliston.  Since starting that group in 1995 he has looked for projects that tackle challenging subjects, meaty material, and complex dramas that are also appealing to audiences.  “I think community theater can be so much more than warmed over popular plays and musical everyone has seen before.  I’m so happy to help bring a show like this to life with Wellesley Players.” 

Besides working for RR Donnelley Global Outsourcing in business development, Paul rides the Pan-Mass Challenge, a 192 mile, 2-day bike ride that raises money for the Dana Farber.  He is also a newly certified scuba diver, and has dived a dozen or more sites off Rockport and Gloucester and hopes to dive the Maldives this spring. 

Performances: May 2-4 and 8-11, 2014.  Performances will be at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre.  Tickets are now available.  www.ticketstage.com/WP.  Reserve your seat early!