Corchaug Repertory Theatre may be the latest addition to the North Fork’s growing theater scene, but with a lineup of new works and lesser-known pieces by famed playwrights, it’s aiming to differentiate itself from the performing pack.
“One of the things that made us want to create this group was specifically to give an avenue for work that you wouldn’t see performed on Long Island if we weren’t producing it,” says founder and artistic director Colin Palmer. “It’s a mixture of giving local playwrights an option to be able to have their original work performed, and then plays [from known playwrights] that people aren’t really that familiar with.”
Now in its second season, this year Corchaug Rep will host its second annual One-Act Festival, a weekend of original and rarely produced plays on Sept. 13 and 14 at the Jamesport Meeting House (1590 Main Road, Jamesport). But they’re also working on a special presentation to be held on one of the nation’s most difficult days.
On Sept. 11, Corchaug Rep will perform “The Guys” by Anne Nelson at Center for Advocacy Support and Transformation (53930 Main Road, Southold). “The Guys” is a two-person, one-act play that originally premiered just months after Sept. 11, 2001. The story is about Nick, an New York City fire department captain who has been tasked with writing eulogies for firefighters who died on that fateful day. Directed by Christian Lepore, the Corchaug Rep’s production stars local actress Eileen Trilli as a journalist, Joan, who helps Nick through his difficult task. The role of Nick is being played by real-life former FDNY first responder Kevin Shea of Baiting Hollow, who was part of a 9/11 rescue team.
Palmer is a well-known figure in the North Fork theater community, and from a young age. He was a member of the Blue Masques theater group at Riverhead High School, and performed in and directed many North Fork Community Theatre and Northeast Stage productions, such as the latter’s recent run of “Hamlet” in August.
But Corchaug Rep is a real passion project for Palmer, who had a vision to bring off-the-beaten-path works local theatergoers.
“Years ago, there weren’t many opportunities [for unique productions] on the North Fork,” he says. “Everyone ends up doing a production of ‘Arsenic and Old Lace.’ Everyone does a production of ‘Oklahoma.’ They’re great shows, but now the selections are getting more varied.”
Since its 2023 founding, Corchaug Rep has certainly gone off the beaten path, with several original works and a recent production of the riotous comedy “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” in collaboration with the Northeast Stage. Corchaug Rep also has its roots in a project Palmer produced in 2017.
“[The Corchaug Rep] mostly stems from a production ‘Richard III’ in 2017 that has a lot of the same members of this group involved,” says Palmer. “Having this really collaborative process to do something you wouldn’t see normally…now that we have an established [troupe], we can try new things.”
This year’s season of shows was chosen around the theme “to live and to die for.” All the plays deal with death as a part of life and life as a part of death. Early next year, Corchaug Rep will present two lesser-known shows by storied playwrights, including “Man from Nebraska” by Tracy Letts and “Exit the King” by Eugene Ionesco.
“In the past, there’s been a thought that if you [started a new group] it was looked at as competition,” he says. “The arts out on the North Fork have become so much more collaborative, and there’s so much more camaraderie with it, which have allowed new things to be tried. It helps to make sure the arts don’t get stale.”
For more, visit corchaugrep.org.
