The Brown Grand Players will present the production of “A Bench in Dragonfly Park” at the Brown Grand Theatre on April 24-26, 2025.
The play was written by Alice Burke and Scott Mullen, with vignettes by local playwrite Kristina Frost and directed by Whitney Jones, president of the Grand Brown Players.
The Brown Grand Players will be the very first group to perform “A Bench in Dragonfly Park” in its entirety.
Jones has been directing since 2019 and has directed over 15 plays. She joined the Brown Grand Players in 2008. She also serves on the Brown Grand Board of Directors.
Jones said, “I’ve loved directing this play, so far. It’s so different from everything else I have directed. We have so many new faces as well as returning performers. It’s an exciting time for the Players. As a bonus, I get to direct skits written by my mother and direct so many wonderful friends and family members. This is my happy place.”
The synopsis for the play states: “In a quiet park, odd things take place around a typical park bench; from unexpected encounters to wedding proposals to parallel universes and a surprising murder plan. It’s been mentioned that there is a big plot twist in the play.”
The play is PG 13, viewer discretion advised. There is some language, and sensitive topics, not appropriate for younger children.
The play has many of the cast members playing multiple roles. The cast consists of Avery Brown, Isaiah Ridgeway, Abigail Grable, Katie Jones, Ethan Evert, Sue Edington, Katarina Howell, Jason Mitchell, Clarity Anise, Joey Hopkins, Mason Knudsen, Amanda Morgan, Christopher Shane, Vic Koch and Mikki Nelson.
Shane said this is his first play ever, “but my entire family is in theater. The director is my sister.” He said it was an opportunity to be part of something fun and interesting. “The play has beauty in simplicity, but keep an open mind,” said Shane. “It is an enlightening experience of what could happen in a day at a park bench.”
Nelson has been acting in plays for 43 years. She has been in plays with the Brown Grand Theatre, Brown Grand Players, Cloud County Community College, and in Beloit. She said the play, “A Bench in Dragonfly Park,” is unique with the vignettes and is not conventional.
The play, “A Bench in Dragonfly Park,” runs from April 24-26, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the Brown Grand Theatre. Tickets will be available for $10, $5 for students.
