HISTORY

The Colonial Chorus Players

In the late 1950’s there was a group of people who presented Gilbert & Sullivan operettas through the Birch Meadow PTA. One of the members, George Nicholaides, dreamed of creating a community musical theater group. He aroused enough interest to call a meeting at “The Old Hose House” on May 22, 1961. On that spring evening the Colonial Chorus was born. Elected as the first president of the Chorus, Don Mitchell also served the Town of Reading as its Fire Chief.

Incorporated as a non-profit organization dedicated to “bringing musicals of a more advanced type” to Reading and surrounding areas, the Colonial Chorus began rehearsing in Reading's Community Center. After more than 11 1/2 years of renting rehearsal space, we purchased a house from the Northern Residents Association, which had bought the building from the town of Reading in order to preserve it as a historical landmark. On December 14th, 1972 with the passing of papers on “The Old Hose House,” we were blessed with our first real “home”.

Our first theatrical venture, performed in March of 1962, was an original show called “Music For The Left Elbow”. The show featured what Chorus members considered to be the best music from popular shows of the past 80 years, ranging from Gilbert & Sullivan to “My Fair Lady”. It was a resounding success and encouraged us toward greater endeavors. We began a long series of Broadway shows starting with “Pajama Game” and have continued to grace local stages with such memorable productions as “Oklahoma!”, “Carousel”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Kiss Me Kate”, “South Pacific”, “Music Man”, ”Mame”, “My Fair Lady”, and “Fiddler on the Roof” to name just a few.

The Chorus is comprised of talented people from many North Shore communities and beyond. In addition to our main productions, we have had acting, dancing, and technical workshops; summer children's theatre workshops; and smaller troupes who have entertained various local organizations. Having acquired a permanent home and an admirable reputation, we expect that the voices of the Chorus will be entertaining local theatergoers for many years.

The Old Hose House

Now known as the Old Hose House, the building located at 1249 Main Street was originally the home of Fountain Engine No. 3. In 1902, the town bought the land for this building for $10 and erected the building at a cost of $1,180.50. It was built in the residential Colonial Revival style, with a flared gambrel roof and lunette gable window. In 1904, the tower was added with an alarm striker and a bell that came from the John Street School. The bell was cast by Henry N. Hooper & Co., Boston, in 1849. Born in 1799, Hooper was apprenticed as a young man in the shop of Paul Revere. Upon Revere’s retirement, he purchased the shop and ran the business from 1830–1860. [In 1984, the Old Hose House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.]

On January 9, 1933, the Northern Residents Association (NRA) purchased the Old Hose House from the town for $225. The NRA was first envisioned in 1931 by Elmer Batchelder, the founder and first President, who felt that the Great Depression had sparked a need for unity and mutual support. Boundaries were established in the northern part of Reading and all interested persons within these parameters were invited to purchase shares in the NRA for one dollar.

After renovation of the Hose House through volunteer labor, the Association began to use the building for inexpensive forms of entertainment featuring local talent. Activities included plays, minstrel shows, chaperoned dances, an in-house orchestra, spelling bees, and bean suppers. “Major Arrows and His Unoriginal Amateur Hour and One Half” provided amusement and activities for many who had no car and limited financial resources. The NRA also sponsored annual fairs featuring live animals, field days with greased pig and greased pole competitions, treasure hunts, a May Pole, and the presentation of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas.

A business meeting for all ages was held on the second Saturday of each month. No politics were allowed. This was a family-oriented gathering followed by entertainment and refreshments. Passing the hat at each meeting took care of the club's finances and the anonymity of the hat made the penniless feel welcome just for their presence. A sunshine committee spread cheer and support to members in need. Voluntary contributions and free labor allowed the group to improve the building, dig a cellar, hang drapes, and install toilets.

The NRA flourished for nearly four decades until summer homes, two-car families, and increased transportation diminished the need and desire for local entertainment. In 1972, the handful of remaining stockholding families voted to sell the Hose House to the Colonial Chorus, another local organization whose purpose was determined to be closest to that of the NRA. The club's antique “hand-pumper” fire engine (circa 1837) was sold for $3,000 and proceeds were turned over to the Reading Antiquarian Society. The money from the Hose House sale was donated to the Reading Scholarship Foundation and the interest accrued is used annually for the awarding of two scholarships.

AWARDS

The Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters' (EMACT) Distinguished Awards and Special Honors (DASH) program is a competitive, peer-adjudicated awards program. CCP's shows that received nominations include:

2022–2023 DASH Nominations:

• LEAD PERFORMER (MUSICAL)
  Jeff Mitchell for tick, tick... BOOM! ***WINNER***
• DIRECTOR (MUSICAL)
  Caitlin Beckman for tick, tick... BOOM! ***WINNER***
• PRODUCTION (MUSICAL)
  tick, tick... BOOM!
• SUPPORTING PERFORMER (MUSICAL)
  Kara Chu Nelson for tick, tick... BOOM!
• ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (MUSICAL)
  Cast of tick, tick... BOOM!
• CHOREOGRAPHY
  Caitlin Beckman for tick, tick... BOOM!
• MUSIC DIRECTION
  Kristin Killian for tick, tick... BOOM!
• SET DRESSING (MUSICAL)
  Caitlin Beckman and Fred Gallagher for tick, tick... BOOM!
• LIGHTING DESIGN
  Tim Gregor for tick, tick... BOOM!
• MAKEUP/HAIR DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Cara Guappone for Into the Woods
• STAGE MANAGEMENT (MUSICAL)
  Heather Hamilton for tick, tick... BOOM!
• PROPS DESIGN (PLAY)
  Josh Hyatt for Deathtrap
• PROPS DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Gaby Estabrooks, Jennifer Estabrooks, Scott Estabrooks, Josh Hyatt, Ken McElroy, Judy Taylor, Debra Tucker, Lance Arnold, and Crystal VanArtsdalen for Into the Woods

2021–2022 DASH Nominations:

• BEST LEAD ACTOR (PLAY)
  Bryan Deroo for Drinking Habits***WINNER***
• BEST LEAD ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
  Caitlin Beckman for Guys and Dolls
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (PLAY)
  John Pease for Drinking Habits

2019–2020 DASH Outstanding Achievement Awards:

• SET DESIGN (PLAY)
  Fred Gallagher for The Smell of the Kill ***RECIPIENT***
• SET DRESSING (PLAY)
  Judy Taylor for The Smell of the Kill ***RECIPIENT***
• YOUTH ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
  Madeleine Penafiel for Ruthless! The Musical ***RECIPIENT***
• PROP COORDINATION (PLAY)
  Judy Taylor for The Smell of the Kill ***RECIPIENT***
• ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (PLAY)
  Cast of The Smell of the Kill ***RECIPIENT***

2017-2018 DASH Nominations:

• BEST SET DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Fred Gallagher - Side by Side by Sondheim
• BEST SET DRESSING (PLAY)
  Fred Gallagher - Over the River and Through the Woods
• BEST SET DRESSING (MUSICAL)
  Fred Gallagher & Bob Beckman - Side by Side by Sondheim
• BEST PROP COORDINATION (PLAY)
  Judy Taylor - Over the River and Through the Woods

2015-2016 DASH Nominations:

• BEST SET DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Pam Denning - Oliver!
• BEST SET DRESSING (MUSICAL)
  Kirsten Brown, Barbara Beake, & Judy Taylor - Oliver!
• BEST SPECIALTY ENSEMBLE (MUSICAL)
  Fagin's Pickpockets - Oliver!

2013-2014 DASH Nominations:

• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MUSICAL)
  Chad Moores - Young Frankenstein

2011-2012 DASH Nominations:

• BEST SET DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Adam Schuler - The Wizard Of Oz
• BEST SET DRESSING (MUSICAL)
  Jamie McDonough & Adam Schuler - The Wizard Of Oz

2010-2011 DASH Nominations:

• BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION (MUSICAL)
  Lianne Goodwin - Curtains

2009-2010 DASH Nominations:

• BEST LEAD ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
  Janet Ferreri - Mame

2007-2008 DASH Nominations:

• BEST ACTOR (MUSICAL)
  Jim Fitzpatrick - My Favorite Year
• BEST PROPS (MUSICAL)
  Kris Cataldo - My Favorite Year

2006-2007 DASH Nominations:

• BEST LIGHTING DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Mike McTeague - A... My Name is Alice
• BEST PROPS COORDINATION (MUSICAL)
  Judy Taylor - Pajama Game
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
  Anita Kelly - Pajama Game
  Kathleen Wackowski - A... My Name is Alice
• BEST SOUND DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Mike McTeague - Pajama Game

2005-2006 DASH Nominations:

• BEST ACTOR (MUSICAL)
  Jim Fitzpatrick - Me and My Girl *** WINNER***
• BEST ACTRESS (MUSICAL)
  Maureen Pilot - Me and My Girl
• BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (MUSICAL)
  Amy Wilkins Blanchette, Harriet Friedman - Me and My Girl
• BEST COSTUME DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Harriet Friedman, Barbara Malek - Me and My Girl
• BEST MAKE UP AND HAIR DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  The Cast - Me and My Girl
• BEST SET DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Barbara Beake, Judy Taylor - Me and My Girl
• BEST SET DRESSING (MUSICAL)
  Barbara Beake, Judy Taylor, Harriet Friedman - Me and My Girl
• BEST STAGE MANAGEMENT (MUSICAL)
  Janet McLaughlin - Me and My Girl

2004-2005 DASH Nominations:

• BEST SET DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Jack Ryan - Cinderella
• BEST YOUTH ACTOR (PLAY or MUSICAL)
  Kim Pomerleau - Once On This Island
• BEST COSTUME DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  Barbara Malek - Cinderella*** WINNER ****
• BEST MAKE UP AND HAIR DESIGN (MUSICAL)
  David Stanford - Cinderella
• BEST PROPS COORDINATION (MUSICAL)
  Judy Taylor - Cinderella