Guild brings theater back to the Brookfields
BY TERESA A. FRANCO
NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER
NORTH BROOKFIELD - When people think of the theater,cities like Boston, New York or Worcester might come to mind. A local group is hoping they think of North Brookfield the same way. About two years ago, Joseph Chenevert and his nephew, Jay Valencourt, decided to resurrect the North Brookfield Theatre Guild. Since that time the group has put on three shows and gained about 25 members. The most recent show the guild performed was "Acting Can Be Murder" last weekend. Valencourt describes the guild as "small but growing" and "very dedicated." "There's no problem trying to find talent. The problem is trying to find space to do the shows," said Valencourt, who is vice president of the guild.

He added that the company would like to eventually have its own space, instead of using North Brookfield Elementary School's facilities. Valencourt said the guild attracts members from not only North Brookfield, but surrounding areas as well, such as Leicester, Barre, Warren and Hardwick.
Valencourt has been involved in the theatre business for quite some time. His first play was when he was in the third grade, and from there he went on to do plays at North Brookfield High School and while attending college at Franklin Pierce in Rindge, N.H.

"I started in the third grade in a play called ‘The Mouse that Soared,' and as soon as I went on stage I said to myself, ‘There's nothing else I want to do,' and ever since I've been involved in theater," he said. Theatre Guild member Anne Adams said she thinks the guild is a good thing to have in the community because it raises awareness about culture and arts. "There is not enough of [the arts]," Adams said. "They've already eliminated it from the schools so having a group like this based in the school is a great way to get the kids interested because they see the set and it gets them interested.
It's important to keep the arts alive in the community." Adams had been involved with the original theatre guild before it became defunct. She was involved with theater while attending North Brookfield High School and Southern Vermont College in Bennington, Vt. Adams said she enjoys participating in theater because it gives her a chance to "be something she is not."

Theatre Guild member Steve Caputo is getting back into the swing of acting after a hiatus. Like Valencourt and Adams, Caputo performed in shows with North Brookfield High School while attending school there. He started to study theater at Mount Wachusett Community College. "I ended up getting side tracked and just stopped doing shows, so this is my first show back," he said. "I feel like I'm picking up where I left off." Caputo heard by word of mouth the guild was starting up again and decided to take the opportunity to rekindle his acting career. He said he thinks the guild is great because it gives people "a creative outlet."

"I think a lot of people don't think they have it in them but when you've got something like this, whether it be a small show like this or a big musical, it gets people interested and they realize, ‘Hey, I didn't know this was something I could do,' and that's how the bug gets you," Caputo said.
Darlene Shatos of Barre has been involved with the guild for a year and a half and said her experience so far has been "excellent." She said she heard good things about the guild and decided to give it a shot. "It brings true meaning to community theater," Shatos said. Chenevert, who is the guild's president, was the original founder of the guild that started up in 1986. He said he would like to eventually expand the group to include children as well.

Chenevert also noted the guild only charges $7, which he said is rare for theatrical performances. "I think it benefits everyone in town and surrounding towns. It gives you a venue to go to at a reasonable price," he said. Chenevert said the purpose of the guild is for fun. The members are not "business people or professionals," he said, but rather "strictly amateur community theater."

Chenevert said he was drawn to the acting world because of the reaction after his first show. "There's nothing like the applause when you're performing. I always tell people the first time they hear that applause they'll be hooked," he said.
Teresa A. Franco may be reached at 508-909-4136 or e-mail her at tfranco@stonebridgepress.com.