Most reviews examine a production from the audience’s perspective. This one comes from a different point of view—the view from under the lights, behind the curtain, and in those final moments before stepping onto the stage. As both an actor and a theatre lover, I wanted to share the journey of this production from the inside out.
Written by Allan Ball in the early 1990s, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress centers on five bridesmaids who find themselves gathered in the childhood bedroom of Meredith, the disgruntled sister of the bride. As the wedding festivities continue downstairs, the women discover they have far more in common than matching dresses. Through honest conversations, humor, conflict, and unexpected friendships, they begin to navigate their relationships with one another—and with themselves.
I have the pleasure of portraying Georgeann, one of the show’s most colorful characters. Georgeann has a remarkable talent for finding herself in difficult situations, often of her own making. She has a weakness for the opposite sex, a tendency toward self-sabotage, and enough confidence to keep moving forward despite her mistakes. Beneath all of that, however, is a woman with a genuinely kind heart who gradually develops a deep affection for the other women in the room. The more I explored Georgeann, the more I found pieces of myself in her. Like many of us, she sometimes gets in her own way, but she never stops searching for happiness and connection.
This production also reunited me with director Eva Gray for the first time since we worked together in South Pacific following my return to theatre in 2014. That production remains one of my favorite theatrical memories, and reconnecting with Eva has felt like no time has passed at all. That’s one of the beautiful things about theatre—it has a way of bringing people together and keeping those connections alive long after the curtain falls.
The Journey to Opening Night
This production is being staged at Portsmouth Little Theatre, a small-town community theatre with an incredibly rich history and a dedicated group of volunteers who keep the arts alive in our community.
At Portsmouth Little Theatre, auditions for the next production are often held shortly after the opening weekend of the current show. Five Women Wearing the Same Dress followed that tradition. Auditions were scheduled on a Monday and Tuesday evening, and I attended on Tuesday. My advice to anyone considering auditioning in the future is simple: attend both nights if possible. Directors often discover new ideas as auditions progress, and you never know what role they may envision for you.
When I first read the script, my reaction was surprise. The dialogue is bold, honest, and occasionally shocking—especially for a theatre located in the heart of Appalachia. As I spent more time with the material, however, I came to appreciate what Allan Ball was trying to accomplish. The conversations may be candid, and the language may occasionally push boundaries, but at its heart, this play is about friendship, healing, and the relationships that sustain us through life’s challenges.
The women in this story speak the way many close friends speak when no one else is listening. Their conversations are messy, hilarious, vulnerable, and real. If audiences approach the show with an open mind, I believe they’ll leave with plenty of laughs and perhaps a renewed appreciation for the friendships in their own lives.
The audition process itself was straightforward. Prospective actors completed an information form, listed any scheduling conflicts, and then read selections from the script. One of the most important things any actor can do is be honest about their availability. Directors spend countless hours building rehearsal schedules around the lives of volunteers, and accurate information helps everyone succeed.
One thing I love about Portsmouth Little Theatre is that newcomers are always welcome. Some of the most memorable performances I’ve seen have come from people stepping onto a stage for the very first time.
Eva made casting decisions quickly. Within a day, she had contacted the actors she wanted for each role, and rehearsals began almost immediately. Our first rehearsal was a full table read, where the cast gathered to read the script together and record lines if desired. It was our first opportunity to hear these characters come to life, and from that moment forward, the journey toward opening night officially began.
Rehearsals: Challenges, Discoveries, and Growth
Every production presents its own unique challenges. In community theatre, every actor, director, stage manager, and crew member is a volunteer, balancing rehearsals with careers, families, and daily responsibilities. Because of that, every minute of rehearsal matters.
With only seven weeks to prepare, missing even a single rehearsal can feel significant. Fortunately, I was able to memorize my lines early in the process, which helped me stay on track. The larger challenge was learning how each actor worked and discovering how Georgeann would relate to each of the other characters.
The relationship Georgeann has with Meredith is different from the relationship she has with Trisha. Her interactions with Mindy are different again. Every actor brings unique energy to the stage, and part of the process is learning how your character responds to that energy.
Character development became one of my favorite aspects of rehearsal. I spent a great deal of time asking questions about Georgeann: Who is she? What motivates her? Who does she remind me of? How does she carry herself? How does she react when she’s hurt, embarrassed, or happy? The answers weren’t always obvious, but they helped transform words on a page into a living, breathing person.
Some of my favorite rehearsal moments had nothing to do with blocking or line readings. They came from reconnecting with friends I hadn’t seen in years and building new friendships with cast members I’d never worked alongside before. Those unexpected moments of connection are part of what makes theatre such a special experience.
The Fifth Row 
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