The Rural We: Caroline Kinsolving
Stage and screen actor/yoga instructor Caroline Kinsolving has resolved to spread goodness in all of her many disciplines. Almost two years ago, the Washington, Conn. resident started Theatre for Good (TGF) because she saw Litchfield County was full of talented and cultured people who wanted to perform and others who wanted to watch. Inspired by the beautiful venues in the area, she gathered community actors and produced the first performed reading. It was a community effort that yielded such great feedback that she's produced five others since then. In fact, "Our Town," the latest play, was so well received that it will return as a one-night reprise on May 25 at Washington Montessori School at 8 p.m.
I grew up in Bridgewater, Conn., but went to the Montessori School in Washington. When I was 13, I left for boarding school, then college, followed by London, New York, and then Los Angeles, where I lived for 12 years.
While I was living in LA, the Washington Montessori School did a WMS Presents production of “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” with Mia Farrow, Christine Baranski, Dorothy Lyman and Susan Saint James. They called me in to join the production. That’s when I realized that the stage at the school was great. In Manhattan, it would be a coveted theater space. The arts are so big in this area. I saw we’ve got the theater and there’s a lot of talent out there, so let’s do something about it.
Around the same time we were establishing Theatre for Good, I was asked by the owner of Waldingfield Farm to teach yoga in his barn. I told him I wanted the classes to be open to the public and I would take and distribute donations, which was fine with him. The class really took off. We’ve had up to 40 people in a class, and the class donated over $13,000 last year. We just applied that idea to the theater: create a piece or a play, open it to the public, people can donate, and we’ll donate the proceeds to the school and to wherever we can.
So for Theatre for Good, I started gathering up local people who had expressed interest, who had studied theater or who were professional actors. Our first play was “The Cherry Orchard” by Chekhov. I was drawn to it because people around here value their land, like the characters in the play do. The actors really came together and opened up — we’ve had some of the most gorgeous rehearsals. They revived the sense of why I do this — the delight of acting and rehearsing.
We’ve done “Much Ado About Nothing,” “A Midsummer Night's Dream” (at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens, which was magical), as well as John Cariani’s “Almost, Maine,” Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” and most recently, “Our Town.” These are performed readings. I’ve always been a big fan of bare bones productions. Costumes and sets are lovely, but not necessary for thoughtful, moving theater.
It was important to me that any proceeds would be donated to the venue and local or international causes. The actors have a say in where the money goes. Last year we donated over $4,000 to organizations like The Steep Rock Association, Emerge America, Susan B. Anthony Organization, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Friends of Animals.
My favorite saying is from Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I really do believe that if everyone looked at what they love to do and are good at and offer it to the community, this world would turn more easily.
In July, I’m going to be playing Monica Lewinsky in a new play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and New York. I would love to be able to bring a version of it to Theatre for Good in June. I’m working with the producer now and hope to make that happen.
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