How much are you willing to invest in friendship?

In August 1969, at the Woodstock Music Festival, Roberta, BJ, Trudy, Veronika and Shelley were brought together by Valerie, a free soul who was unafraid to talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything. Now, 50 years later, Valerie is dead, and the gals are beginning to sense that their bond is in danger. With a wide variety of life experiences and world views, is there something that will keep them from drifting apart?

An early iteration (above) of “The Woodstock Tontine” was produced as part of the 2017 Women’s Theatre Fringe (Raleigh, NC). It featured Lisa Leonard, Judy McCord, Jennifer Kuzma, Julie Oliver and Verlene Oates.

In August 2018, an updated version was performed in a staged reading at the Road Theatre Company’s Summer Playwrights Festival (North Hollywood, CA). The reading featured Laura Gardener*, Julia Sanford*, Amy Tolsky*, Janet Chamberlain and Mary Sala. (*courtesy of Actor’s Equity Assn.)

Roberta, Trudy, BJ, Shelley and Veronika ponder the outcome of the tontine.

In November 2020, when theatres were closed and Zoom was all we had, five fabulous actors through Mad Cow Theatre Company (Orlando, FL) tackled The WoodStock Tontine online. Remarkably, they brought a level of craft and commitment I never thought possible under those circumstances. Brava! to Charlotte McCormick, Robin Olson, Avis Marie Barnes, Peg O’Keef and Kate Young and thanks to director Monica Tamborello for her keen insight and sure hand.

To read the script or reviews of THE WOOD$TOCK TONTINE, please go to my page on New Play Exchange.

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