Strollers Theatre, Ltd.

Meet Erich Evered!

Erich plays many of the civil servants that find themselves at odds with the reclusiveness of the Collyer Brothers. See him as an IRS agent attempting explain tax law to Langley, a gas company workman who's busy schedule is upended by Langley's demand to keep the Model T a secret, and a policeman who just wants to find the truth about a brick.

Erich returns to the stage after a long hiatus for family and career. He previously played a lead or supporting role in a wide range of plays and musicals, including "Les Liaisons Dangereuses", "The Sound of Music", "I Hate Hamlet", "Dracula", "Oklahoma!", "Antigone", and "Plaza Suite", among others. Erich is a newcomer to Madison, and says he is thrilled to participate in this production of Collyer Brothers, and to become a part of
the fabulous local theatre community.

See Erich onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Meet Emma Katz!

Emma plays many of the New Yorkers that find themselves wrapped up in Collyermania™.

She stars as a wealthy woman hoping to catch a glimpse inside Collyer Mansion, a mover of one of Langley's 14 pianos, a Catholic Daughter looking for some Collyer charity, a bank teller charged with collecting a piece of the Collyer fortune, and a member of a gang of mischievous children.

Emma is very excited to be back on stage. She spends most of her time on the other side of the curtain working in technical theatre, most often designing strange and unusual props. She would like to thank Casper and Vinny for putting up with the late dinners during rehearsals and tech.

See Emma onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Meet Young Homer himself, Peter Olson!

Peter also portrays a newspaper photographer ready to capture the interior of Collyer mansion, a wealthy young man, a member of a group of mischievous children, and a security guard who winds up in a confrontation with Langley Collyer.

"Peter is honored to be part of this production. Past shows include 'Harvey', 'Henry IV', and Broom Street Theater's 'Our Home States'. He hopes all of you enjoy the show!"

See Peter onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.
Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Meet Young Langley himself, Michael Kelley!

Michael also portrays a silver tongued, ambulance chasing lawyer and a member of a group of mischievious children.

Michael Kelley is a Baritone singer, actor and local music teacher. He has previously starred in Into the Woods (The Baker), Tragedy: a Tragedy (John in the Field), and The 39 Steps (Clown/Foley artist) among numerous other roles, both on stage and behind the scenes. His most recent credits include assistant directing Steel Magnolias with Middleton Players Theatre and debuting the role of Lord Dennington in The Heiress of Hawtry Hall with City of Fairfax Theatre Company. He would like to thank Finn, Thomas Kasdorf, and Stephanie Monday for helping him get involved with Madison Public Theatre.

See Michael onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Strollers Theatre d/b/a Madison Public Theatre

Meet matriarch Susie Collyer herself, Stephanie Albrecht!

Stephanie also portrays two New York denizens, the "Bag Lady" and one the gas company workman trying to remove the Collyer brothers' gas meter.

"Stephanie Albrecht graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and currently works as a project manager for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Her most recent performances include Doed Koecks at Broom Street Theatre, participating with Rotate Theatre’s Mini-Fest, and writing and acting in Ghosts with Are We Delicious?. She loves being part of the ensemble for The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers and working with different local theatres. Stephanie continues to write and act in her free time and is currently authoring a mini-play."

See Stephanie onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Meet "New York Herald-Tribune" reporter, Helen Worden, played by Julia Verstraete!

Julia is delighted to be making her on-stage debut with Madison Public Theater. She previously worked with Strollers Theater running wardrobe and makeup for Mother Courage. Julia most recently appeared as Anna in Madison Shakespeare Company’s Dido: Queen of Carthage and made her Madison theater debut directing A Timely Intervention by the Former Barber of Seville for Falconbridge Players in 2023. Julia originally hails from West Michigan where she appeared in Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Co.’s Blue-Eyed Hag (Sycorax) and Grand Rapids Civic Theater’s Shakespeare in Love (Molly/Ensemble). She holds a B.A. in Literature with a minor in Theater from Calvin University. Julia spent much of her time in college working with Calvin Theatre Co., directing “Tall Tales” from The Kentucky Cycle and appearing in "The Tempest" (Prospero), "Seven" (Mu Sochua), "Precious Bane" (Jancis Beguildy), and "Sense and Sensibility"(Elinor Dashwood), among others.

See Julia onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Meet Langley Collyer himself, Travis Bedard!

"Travis Bedard is an award winning performer and puppeteer currently encamped in Madison, Wisconsin. From NH by way of San Francisco, Austin, TX, & the Twin Cities, he has proudly performed in parks and prisons, cafeterias and churches… even a few theatres. He plays a lot of very bad people very well. Most recently he has performed Sir Toby in '12th Night' and Boyet in 'Love's Labours Lost' for Madison Shakespeare Company, Count Almaviva in Falconbridge Players premiere of 'A Timely Intervention…', and Luke in the Broom Street Theatre premiere of 'Doed Koecks'. Read the play Coyote Song by Hailey Bachrach. C=MMR"

See Travis onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.
Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Meet Homer Collyer himself, Karl Stoll!

Karl is delighted to return to the stage with this unique story. He has performed primarily in the Madison area for the past several decades. Over the years he has enjoyed playing such characters as Tobias in A Delicate Balance, Salieri in Amadeus (1996), Oscar in The Odd Couple, the Marquis de Sade in Marat/Sade, and Andre (the father) in The Father. More recently he has been seen in The Birds, Welcome to Our Village Please Invade Carefully, and Dido Queen of Carthage. Many thanks to friends and family for all your love and kind support.

See Karl onstage in the THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS beginning October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!!!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/...

Writer and director of "The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers", Finn Gallagher, went to Collyer Park back in 2021! He was on a visit to the Norwegian Consulate in New York, but had a free day and took the train to Harlem to see it. The city tore the original brownstone down after the brothers died because of its poor condition. Rather than rebuilding anything on top, the former site of Collyer Mansion was turned into a pocket park. Hundreds walk by the site every day without knowing the story of the men who once resided there.

Find out what became of the Collyer Brothers starting October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are available NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Did you know that firefighters on the East Coast call a hoarding situation a "Collyer's Mansion"?

It's no wonder. It took the authorities over three week to clear out the Collyer brownstone.

See "The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers", written and directed by Finn Gallagher, opening October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre!

Show runs through October 26th.

Tickets 🎟 are on sale NOW: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

Catch Homer Collyer Himself, Karl Stoll, and Madison Public Theatre's publicity manager, Dillon Sheehan, at 7:30 tonight on WORT FM!!! They will be interviewed on Radio Literature by the one and only Jason Compton!

Link to Listen: https://www.wortfm.org/listen-live/

Support WORT!!!
https://www.wortfm.org/pledge-drive-support/

Pledge Drive Support - WORT-FM 89.9 Each year, WORT’s three Pledge Drives in February, June, and October account for roughly 75% of WORT’s income. Business support for the drives is vital to their success. You can […]

Pictured: New York City Marshal, James Larkin, takes matters into his own hands to remove the Collyer mansion's gas meters, after Homer and Langley barred him entry.

And for what reason did the Collyer brothers refuse to let the city remove their gas meters?

You'll have to come see the show to find out!

"The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers", written and directed by Finn Gallagher, opens October 11th at the Bartell Community Theatre

Tickets are on sale NOW 🎟: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA\

Shows runs through October 26th.

Now announcing the cast of Madison Public Theatre’s* and Oracular Studios’ production of THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS! We look forward to seeing how this talented group of actors bring these real people to life onstage!

Homer Collyer: Karl Stoll
Langley Collyer: Travis Bedard
Helen Worden: Julia Verstraete
Young Homer, and others: Peter Olson
Young Langley, and others: Michael Kelley
Mrs. Collyer, and others: Stephanie Albrecht
Ensemble: Erich Evered, Emma Katz

Performances run October 11th - 26th on the Evjue Stage at the Bartell Community Theatre

Tickets are on sale NOW!

🎟: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

*Strollers Theatre d/b/a Madison Public Theatre

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS opens October 11th on the Evjue Stage at the Bartell Community Theatre!

Madison Public Theatre's* first show of the season is a co-production with Oracular Studios, who previously mounted "Orson Welles Presents: An Evening With Nixon" last December.

Written and Directed by Finn Gallagher, this is an original play by an emerging Madison based playwright.

Homer and Langley Collyer live in 1930s Harlem and are famous for their hoarding and eccentric tendencies. Newspaper reporters scheme for an interview or even just a photograph inside their brownstone. Homer, the elder brother hasn’t been seen publicly in years. Langley is even rebuilding a Model T Ford in the living room. What’s most interesting about this story? It’s true!

The Collyer brothers were real media sensations for many years, until their own tripwires unfortunately got the best of them…

2 brothers, one hundred tons of junk, and one sensational story!

We are also very excited to announce that we are renaming to Madison Public Theatre! More details will be announced very soon, but in changing to Madison Public Theatre, we hold the conviction that artistic expression is civic engagement and access to a creative forum is essential to the wellness and health of our community.

Tickets to THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLLYER BROTHERS are on sale now!

Link to tickets 🎟: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVm00000523a1MAA

*Strollers Theatre d/b/a Madison Public Theatre

You have until 10PM tonight to snag the two-for-one ticket offer for Madison Shakespeare Company's production of Love’s Labour’s Lost! The offer is for the Saturday 5PM performance only. Valid for online purchases. Promo code COLLYER or use the link below!

(P.S. can you guess how many tons of junk the Collyer Brothers kept in their Harlem brownstone?)

https://www.eventbrite.com/.../loves-labours-lost-tickets...

Friends of Strollers are starring and working on Madison Shakespeare Company's production of Love’s Labour’s Lost! The show runs through this Sunday and there’s a two-for-one ticket offer for the Saturday 5PM performance. Valid for online purchases through Thursday night at 10 PM. Promo code COLLYER or use the link below!

(P.S. Google the Collyer Brothers to get a hint at Strollers’ first show of the 2024-2025 season)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/loves-labours-lost-tickets-907142336147?discount=FALCONFRIEND&fbclid=IwY2xjawEpp4BleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTPfdhQkRwUaX9MKfuBfGGL0aTE6B4FIw03UXkG3u5hFv1DSEdUDWmVqcA_aem_qFrpvyYZCpCSqK4bTtIgGQ

Friends of Strollers are starring and working on Madison Shakespeare Company's production of Love’s Labour’s Lost! The show runs through this Sunday and there’s a two-for-one ticket offer for the Saturday 5PM performance. Valid for online purchases through Thursday night at 10 PM. Promo code COLLYER or use the link below!

(P.S. Google the Collyer Brothers to get a hint at Strollers’ first show of the 2024-2025 season)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/loves-labours-lost-tickets-907142336147?discount=FALCONFRIEND&fbclid=IwY2xjawEpp4BleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTPfdhQkRwUaX9MKfuBfGGL0aTE6B4FIw03UXkG3u5hFv1DSEdUDWmVqcA_aem_qFrpvyYZCpCSqK4bTtIgGQ

Funniest show I have ever directed

What is the Presidential Secretary (Carol Robinson) up to and why does the Chief-of-Staff (Stephanie Monday) look worried?

Only TWO MORE CHANCES to see POTUS at the Bartell Community Theatre to find out!

Performances are this TONIGHT starting at 7:30pm, and this Saturday afternoon starting at 2:00pm.

🎟️POTUS TICKETS: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

📸 Photography by Benjamin Barlow

White House Press Secretary, Jean (Cassie Carney) wants to let you know that you only have ONE MORE CHANCE to see POTUS at the Bartell Community Theatre!

The FINAL PERFORMANCE is TODAY at 2:00 pm. You don’t want to miss having a laugh with these amazing women!

🎟️POTUS TICKETS: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

📸 Photography by Benjamin Barlow

What is the Presidential Secretary (Carol Robinson) up to and why does the Chief-of-Staff (Stephanie Monday) look worried?

Only TWO MORE CHANCES to see POTUS at the Bartell Community Theatre to find out!

Performances are this TONIGHT starting at 7:30pm, and this Saturday afternoon starting at 2:00pm.

🎟️POTUS TICKETS: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

📸 Photography by Benjamin Barlow

Last 3 performances!!!

Get your tickets at: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

Why is the Secretary to the President wearing an inner tube? The Chief of Staff is just as curious as you. Get your tickets for Strollers' production of POTUS, May 30th-June 15th and find out!

🎟Tickets available here: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

📷Photo: Benjamin Barlow

What is “Bitch Beats” and what does it have to do with what POTUS’ dalliance (Abigail Hindle) and the presidential secretary (Carol Robinson) are doing in the bathroom?

Only THREE MORE CHANCES to see POTUS at the Bartell Community Theatre to find out!

Performances are TONIGHT and Friday evening starting at 7:30pm; and this Saturday afternoon starting at 2:00pm.

🎟️POTUS TICKETS: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ /a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

📸 Photography by Benjamin Barlow

ONLY 3 MORE CHANCES to see POTUS at the Bartell!!!

Watch the First Lady's address to the nation go not at all according plan!

Performances are this Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 2:00 pm.

🎟 POTUS Tickets: https://bartelltheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0S8W00000gc5HyUAI

📷 Photo by Benjamin Barlow

What are the White House Press Secretary (Cassie Carney) and a White House reporter (Kendra James) going toe-to-toe about, and why is POTUS’ sister (Julia Houck) getting involved?

There are three more chances to find out! You don’t want to miss it!
http://bartelltheatre.org/2024/potus-or-behind-every-great-dumbass-are-seven-women-trying-to-keep-him-alive/

Tickets are still available for Thursday and Friday night at 7:30pm and on Saturday at 2:00pm.

Photography by Benjamin Barlow