Riverbank Productions

by Lorraine Payette, written October 17, 2014

Have you ever wanted to be a star? Get up on the boards and speak those amazing words, then have everyone respond in thunderous applause?

Perhaps you’ve felt held back by a poor memory, or a fear that you simply couldn’t act. Could there ever be a place for you on stage?

“Riverbank Productions presents staged readings of different plays and other literature,” said Diane Stapley, co-founder of the company. “Last year we did ‘On Golden Pond’, ‘South Pacific’, and readings of several Christmas stories.”

Unlike a standard stage play, a staged reading has the performers reading from scripts in front of them as they use their voices to convey the action of the work. Much like old fashioned radio, the readings leave all of the visual activity to the imagination of the listeners, while still keeping them entertained and involved. Unlike story telling, this is the actual reading aloud of selected works on an appropriately decorated stage using just enough costume to set the mood, and can involve many players instead of a single voice. There is no memorization, and the acting is all done with the voice.

In short, staged reading is unlike any other form of entertainment.

The cast is made up of a mixture of professional performers and members of the local community. Professionals Mo Bock and Stapley headline the cast, which will include people of all ages from the local area depending on the roles available. Peter McKenty (known for his work at Dreams in Motion), Craig Walker (Queen’s professor and actor/director), Maureen Dixon (community theatre actress), and Luke Young (Dreams in Motion participant, student actor and singer) are only a few of the talents who graced the stage last season.

“Riverbank Productions is looking for people of all ages to participate in three play readings and a musical to be staged at the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque, one performance each,” said Mo Bock, co-founder.

Readings will be performed at 2:30 pm on these Sundays:

• Christmas Reading: December 21
• Twelve Angry Jurors: February 15
• Celebration of International Womens’ Day: March 8
• Oklahoma: April 19

Pros and amateurs welcome!

If you wish to audition, please go to Christ Church Parish Hall, 35 Princess St. Gananoque on Thursday October 23 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm and/or Saturday October 25 from 2:00 – 5:00 pm.

“We will have scripts available, but feel free to bring something of your own to read,” said Bock. “A short acapella song will be required for those interested in doing ‘Oklahoma’.”

Be sure to contact Mo Bock at mohbock@gmail.com to let them know you are coming. For more information, please contact Diane Stapley at stapley.diane@gmail.com or 613-463-9505.