Terry Sands, Director

Terry has been directing plays (in his childhood neighborhood) since he was 8 years old, the first being Shakespeare’s MacBeth. Most recently he has directed the Annisquam Village Players annual summer musical from 1990 to the present time. Each summer Terry works with a cast and crew of almost 100, ages 5-90, with backgrounds as varied as doctor, lawyer, judge, artist, CEO, student, businessperson, professional actor, and everything in between. Over the past 30 years, the AVP has produced many of Broadway’s musical classics, repeating only one show, The Sound of Music, which was written in Annisquam. Terry often takes to the stage in the AVP productions, either playing a cast part, such as D’Arque in Beauty and the Beast, or a self-created part. When not directing, Terry has been a judge on the Massachusetts Land Court for fifteen years, retiring from the bench several years ago, and now mediating cases in Boston and teaching at several Massachusetts law schools, and before that a Boston real estate lawyer for 32 years. He has also performed over the years in a number of productions on the North Shore, a judge in The Crucible and To Kill a Mockingbird, a juror in 12 Angry Men, a tailor in the Finnish play The Betrothal, and Camillo (an unappreciated politician) in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. He also wrote and produced several children’s shows, performing as Narrator with the Cape Ann Symphony in Gloucester, and participated in several Shakespeare staged readings in Boston, performing as Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet with the Federalist Society’s Shakespeare and the Law. He also wrote and produced an original musical in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Annisquam Yacht Club. To keep in shape for the active rehearsal schedules, Terry has also run the Boston Marathon annually from 1991 to 2007, as well as the Washington DC Marine Corps Marathon and the New York City Marathon. Terry has also written two mystery novels, which he eventually hopes to get published when he slows down. Perhaps Terry’s greatest drama was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s tallest mountain) in February of 2016.

Stevie Neal, Treasurer

Been Treasurer for over 25 years and continue to be fascinated and in awe of what an extraordinarily talented and professional community theater group the AVP has become!

Victoria Fortune, Secretary

Like many members, Victoria was led to the AVP through her children. She was involved in community theater throughout her own childhood, then got sidetracked by life, until her daughter Denby landed a role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2009. The next thing she knew, Victoria was part of the cast as well. Having rediscovered an old passion, she quickly became addicted. Some of her favorite parts have been Lily in Annie, Annie Oakley in Annie Get your Gun, Roxie in Chicago, and Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain. Her son, Talman, and daughter, Kryn, have also joined the ranks of the AVP, and she is thrilled that her children love theater, too. Wanting to do more to support an organization that brings so much joy to the Annisquam community, Victoria joined the board in 2010. She particularly enjoys working on the AVP scholarship committee and the AVP newsletter. When not on stage, or performing behind-the scenes for the AVP, Victoria is a writer and editor, and an avid dancer and skier.

Linette French

Having no desire or (ability) to appear on stage with the Annisquam Village Players, Linette decided it would be fun to get involved by becoming the “ Ticket Master” of Annisquam. Progressing from hand-written lists and charts to using the computer, she has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the children and their parents. Everyone has been so patient and understanding with her, as she endeavored to give each of them the “Best Seat in the House.”
Linettes’s only appearance on stage was as a nun (in the back row) in the opening scene of the AVP’s first production of The Sound of Music!!!!!

Jim Frick

Jim has been participating in the Annisquam Village Players. on and off the stage, for the past five years. Productions include Singin’ In The Rain and The Little Mermaid, where Jim reveled in his many character performances. In Singin’ In the Rain, Jim was responsible for the infamous rain scene onstage, setting new technical standards for the AVP. Jim has also appeared in the guys’ group in many Cabaret performances. During the Pandemic, Jim has hosted the Board Zoom meetings for the last several years.

Val Gilman

Board Member Val Gilman got involved with AVP in 2009 because her then 9-year-old son, Jared, had his AVP debut as “Sandy the dog” in Annie. Her personal involvement in AVP summer theatre began as a chorus member in Annie Get Your Gun and Camelot. She played the role of Auntie Em in Wizard of Oz, and, Mrs. Darling, in Peter Pan. Val accepted a spot on the AVP board because she believes that family performing arts opportunities are alive and well here in Annisquam.

Val is currently President of the Gloucester City Council and she has served as an elected official for 13 years, six on the School Committee and seven as our Ward 4 City Councilor. She enjoys performing in our impromptu politician scenes that has become an Annisquam tradition.

Sally Hatch

My first connection to AVP came in 2018 with their production of The Little Mermaid. I offered to help set up the sails for the boat which I constructed for my school’s show. Everyone was so friendly and made me feel welcome. I am thrilled to be around such wonderful people. Then the next summer Terry said to me “You’re going to help with our show – right?!” Well, needless to say I was hooked and have enjoyed being part of AVP. I now look forward to the show every summer.

Kathryn (Chicki) Hollett

My professional career is in Interior Design, residential and commercial, often “staging” spaces for marketing purposes.
My official introduction to set design was an original musical by Ricardo Marquez held at Club Cafe in Boston, then on the set of the Cinderella Ball at the Copley Plaza Hotel, a fundraiser for the Hospice at Mission Hill. That same year my granddaughter Carla, a cast member in the ’92 production of The Sound of Music, let it slip to Terry that I was experienced in set design.

I’ve enjoyed being a part of the AVP family ever since!

Sara Lehman

Sarah started her involvement with the Annisquam Village Players in the 2008 production of The Sound of Music, where she appeared as one of the Von Trapp kids. Sarah recently was a huge contributor to the 2020 online production of songs from Mary Poppins, where she was a tech guru in having the production put on UTube. She appeared in this year’s Cabaret, where she participated in her first year Columbia Medical School class production of a musical version of the theme song from In The Heights.

Keith McCarthy, Board Member Emeritus

Keith McCarthy has been involved with AVP in roles both onstage and off since he made his AVP debut as Jeff in Brigadoon in 2004. On stage, Keith’s favorite AVP roles include Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Pelinore in Camelot, Chief Sitting Bull in Annie Get Your Gun, and Amos in Chicago. Offstage, Keith was an active member of the AVP board from 2009 to 2020. Since 2020, he has served in an advisory capacity, helping AVP with special projects such as editing the online video productions during the pandemic, updating the sound system, and serving as the AVP liaison to the Annisquam Village Hall Association during the 2022 renovations.
In addition to his work with AVP, Keith teaches 7th grade English and directs the musicals and plays at Rockport Middle School, narrates audiobooks and educational texts for a number of major publishers, serves on the council of the musical theater division of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild, and serves on school accreditation site visit teams for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Kerry McKenna

Kerry McKenna is the recent-past Director of Events for the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, with responsibility for planning, executing and follow through of 70+ events each year.
Kerry started her business career in Marketing, as an Assistant Product Manager for Christian Dior’s Baby Dior clothing line. Other notable positions include various Development and Marketing roles during an eight-year career at Parker Brothers.
Kerry was an at-home Mom for 24 years, volunteering for pretty much anything and everything at her children’s schools, as well as local organizations. Once the little ones were off to college she started working in the non-profit world of Chambers where she brought her organizational and communication skills in the hopes of helping to create an atmosphere of cooperation and growth within the local business community.
Kerry spent the summers of her life in Annisquam and moved here permanently, from New Hampshire, about 10 years ago. She loves living and working in Gloucester and helping to make this community a better place for all. She is a trustee for the Awesome Gloucester Foundation, a member of Wellspring’s Scholarship Committee, a driver for SeniorCare’s Meals on Wheels program and is on the Board of Directors for Discover Gloucester.
In her free time Kerry enjoys hanging out with her three adult children, her Grandson Jake and Granddaughter Emily! Gardening, paddleboarding, kayaking and skiing are also on her list of fun things to do.

Deborah Michel

Deborah Michel has been involved with music, dance and theater her entire life in one form or another. Growing up in the same home as Mary Curtis made it inevitable that all of the Curtis sisters would end up loving music and theater! Deborah has been with the AVP for approximately 12 years working both on stage and backstage. Either way — it’s always fun! She feels The Annisquam Village Players is a wonderful group to be a part of because everyone involved, both young and old, are phenomenal and just plain great to be with! They have become like family to her. Deborah has two children and five grandchildren and is currently living with one of her sisters, Pamela, over near Good Harbor Beach.

Tom Moriarty

Tom wandered in off the street one day while we were rehearsing for The Wizard of Oz. He looked cold and hungry and we let him in. Because we have been feeding him and giving him shelter, he keeps coming back. In exchange for offerings, Tom helps AVP by building sets and playing the odd character part in our plays. We don’t know what Tom does when he’s not with AVP because he’s always here.

Daphne Papp

Daphne started her days at AVP with Damn Yankees. At least one of her daughters -Charlotte, Abby, and Gracie- have been involved in each show since… and so has their mom!
She organizes the Bi-annual AVP Porch Tour Fundraiser. Porch-goers saunter through Annisquam Village, socialize with neighbors and meet new friends. The tour highlights private porches with fabulous views of Lobster cove, Annisquam river, and Ipswich bay. The tour concludes with a sunset porch serenade from the cast of the AVP’s current summer show!
When not recruiting porches, hawking tickets, helping prepare the float for the Horribles Parade, hanging signs at the 128 rotary, painting sets in Chicki’s garage, taking photos, and putting together the behind-the-scene’s video for the Cast Party – Daphne is preparing for her World Famous Christmas Display of “Barbie World” – which attracts visitors from around the globe!

Tim Reilly

Tim became involved with AVP through his daughter Morgan’s roles in Beauty and the Beast, Singing in the Rain, Mama Mia and Nothing to Hyde. Tim has built pieces and parts of the sets for most of these shows, and even had a cameo appearance as a (poorly) dancing monster in Nothing to Hyde – against his better judgment. Tim and Morgan are pleased to continue supporting community theater in Annisquam. When Tim is not a line-dancing monster or set building, he restores degraded habitats and conducts climate change mitigation projects.

Evy Stewart

Evy Stewart, an artist/potter, lives in Annisquam where she has her studio. She has participated in one way or another in all AVP productions since Brigadoon. Lured to the tryouts by her granddaughter, she soon became part of the cast as the Candy Lady. Being part of the AVP family, onstage, backstage, working on the sets, backdrops, and props, has come to mean summer in Annisquam. It’s like being part of a new unique family with each production. She enjoys working with so many creative and talented people of all ages and being in on it from start to finish, always happily amazed at the quality of each show.

Anne Williams

Anne has enjoyed being part of the theater scene since her high school days when she helped with costumes for the play The Boyfriend. She’s been involved with AVP since 2003 when her daughter, Daria Whittaker, was performing in The Music Man and a massive cast required lots of costume help. Since then, Anne’s assisted with AVP’s costume needs and she loves the entire process of costuming a show. But mostly she enjoys being a part of the friendly, fun and talented AVP community.

Bill Wrinn

Bill has been a member of the AVP since 2018 when he and his daughter got tired of just attending the shows every year and decided it was time to join in. Since then he’s played various roles in Little Mermaid, Mama Mia!, Nothing to Hyde, and Mary Poppins, along with getting roped into a few embarrassing winter Cabaret numbers. A marketing and communications professional for over 30 years, Bill helps manage the AVP’s website and social media and creates the content to make it all happen. When he has even more time than he knows what to do with, you can sometimes find him being the Host with The Most at the Emerson Inn in Rockport.