Peninsula Players Theatre Announces The Cast Of APPARITIONS Play Reading

Peninsula Players Theatre presents a reading of Kristine Thatcher's "Apparitions." Thatcher was commissioned by the Peninsula Players in the mid-1990s to write a play using Door County's history and unique character as its major influence. "Apparitions" will be performed February 4 at 7 p.m. at Björklunden, located at 7590 Boynton Lane, Baileys Harbor. "Apparitions" is produced with support from and in coordination with Door County Reads and its exploration of its book selections "The Death and Life of the Great Lakes" by Dan Egan and "Wintering" by Peter Geye. Admission is free.

"Apparitions," which made its world première in 1995 at Peninsula Players, centers on some well-known and lesser-known stories of Death's Door, including early Door County explorers and settlers such as Roy Thorp, Kee-wau-nay, a Potawatomi Indian, Robert Noble, Joseph Judson Lobdell, Mrs. Dalbert (Eva) Ranney, Coyren Kealiher and Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. These seven characters tell their often grim stories and help bring some of Door County's history and legends to life.
One should not underestimate the power of Mother Nature around Plum and Washington Islands. If you do, perilous situations arise - a ship goes down in the treacherous waters, people break through the ice - and harsh games of life and death result.

In "Apparitions" it is when these precarious moments occur that the "Guardians of the Door," as Thatcher calls them, gather to help those who find themselves in dire peril near Death's Door. "Apparitions" visits moments in Door County's history when some people were tested with severe hardships, and either survived and went on to live productive lives here - or didn't.

"Apparitions," a Door County themed play, was commissioned and premiered at Peninsula Players in 1995. Pictured are actors William Brown as French explorer Robert La Salle and Howard Platt as the clairvoyant Roy Thorp in the 1995 production.

Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler directs "Apparitions." The cast is under the direction of Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler, who directed its world première and is thrilled to bring "Apparitions" to Door County audiences once again.

"I love the play because it is not only about the incredible history of Door County and some amazing real characters who lived here, but it captures the indomitability of the human spirit and the bravery and the heart of so many people who have passed through this area," Vinkler said.

Cast in the reading of "Apparitions" are Peninsula Players veteran actors Cassandra Bissell ("Miss Holmes," "Around the World in 80 Days"); Neil Brookshire ("Miss Holmes," "The 39 Steps"), Mark Moede ("The Full Monty," "And Then There Were None"); Noah Simon ("A Trick of the Light," the reading, "Once a Ponzi Time"); Barbara Simpson Fuhrmann ("The Trip to Bountiful," "Waiting for Tina Myer" the readings); Larry "Thor" Thoreson ("Population 485" the reading); and newcomers Sam Hubbard, David Stobbe and Matthew C. Yee.

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