Sixty years after the founding of Saint Anselm College, in 1949, the Abbey Players produced their first performance, Gerard M. Murray’s Career Angel. Seventy-five years later, the Abbeys are far from dropping the curtain, bringing energy and joy to campus through over 175 productions. 

As the Abbey Players continue their 75th season this spring semester, they do so with pride and excitement, celebrating the present moment and honoring their rich history. With plans as vibrant as their performances (and performers), the upcoming season promises to be a tribute to the legacy and future of the Abbeys.

Under the guidance of director and English department professor Jesse Saywell, alongside the enthusiastic participation of students, such as board member Kathryn Langille, the Abbey Players have set forth an ambitious spring agenda.

“This semester is an exciting celebration of the past, present, and future for the Abbey Players,” says Langille. The season kicked off with the adrenaline-fueled and caffeinated creativity of the 24 Hour Play Festival, where students showcased their varied talents by writing, producing, directing, and performing 3 short one-act plays within a single day. Students were split into teams, one writer and one director working with an team of three actors

Rome Spiniello ’26 wrote a one-act play for the festival and said about his experience, “It’s really fun. I did it last year, and I had a lot of fun, healthy work on my writing skills because I like to write and it makes me force myself to do a new practice within the writing world.” Duke Addy ’27 acted in Meg Query ’24’s play and said, “The 24 hour play festival was a lot of fun to both put on, and watch my peers perform in. It had some laugh out loud moments and even some engaging drama.”

This was Langille’s second 24-hour festival and she said, “Every single year my overall takeaway is pride.” She described a sense of pride in herself, in other participants in the festival, and in the work invested into bringing a series of short plays to life overnight. She was proud of “what we’re able to achieve in that 24 hours, and the bonds that we’re able to create, because our teams are randomized and our scripts and prompts are completely randomized, so we’re able to think that up right on the fly and create something really, really incredible.”

Meanwhile, anticipation is mounting for the spring musical, which will be the timeless Little Shop of Horrors. With rehearsals well underway, the Abbeys exude enthusiasm, with Langille declaring, “I’m so incredibly excited for the Saint Anselm community to experience this hilariously fun and heartbreakingly poignant show.” Set to be a testament to the remarkable talent of new and veteran Hawks, the musical promises to captivate audiences with its lively and horrific humor from April 12-14th. 

Looking further ahead, the most unique of the semester’s festivities lies in the Abbey Players’ 75th Anniversary celebration on April 27th at 7:00 PM. The commemoration will feature performances by Abbey Players alumni and current members, promising an evening filled with nostalgia, camaraderie, and, of course, exceptional talent.

Reflecting on her involvement as a member of the 75th Anniversary Board, Langille emphasizes the sense of community fostered within the Abbey Players. “A love for the performing arts has brought people together for 75 years at Saint Anselm College,” she remarks, highlighting the Abbeys’ unique ability to unite individuals through a shared passion.

In addition to the celebratory events, Langille underscores the profound impact of the Abbey Players beyond the stage. “Beyond the productions themselves, the community that has been built within the Abbey Players is the ultimate reason for all of this,” she reflects, emphasizing the priceless friendships cultivated through involvement in the theater.

As the Abbey Players sing and dance through their 75th year, they do so with a sense of gratitude for the past, enthusiasm for the present, and anticipation for the future. With a season brimming with creativity and celebration, the Abbeys continue to exemplify the enduring, joyful spirit of artistic expression at Saint Anselm College.