SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – By now I am sure everyone is familiar with the story about a certain boy wizard, but this show isn’t about that boy. This tale is about a certain school of magic, and what really happened – but from the Puffs point of view. Join the Springfield Community Players as the Puffs lead you through the Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at this Certain School of Magic and Magic, where each year the Puffs show you that, well, they were there, too.
“Puffs” is a comedy written by Matthew Cox, to run as five performances at The Peoples Improv Theater in New York City. Now, many years later, this show has been produced off-Broadway for more than 600 performances. It was also filmed and shown in movie theaters nationwide. In the foreword from the author, Matthew Cox says, “This thing with words on it you hold is a culmination of lots of love, care, friendship, and oh-so-much work…”
“Puffs” is the next performance for the Springfield Community Players 2023 season, and also the first show to be directed by Kallah Turner. Turner’s first performance with the Players was as Marcy Park in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” in November of 2021.
“I moved to Vermont from Maine in early 2020, and attended the 2020 season auditions before the season was canceled. It was really hard to leave the Community Theatre family I built back home, but I could tell that the Players would be so welcoming, and I couldn’t wait to work with everyone,” says Turner.
When the show was unfortunately canceled last May due to a Covid outbreak among the cast, Turner was devastated. “It’s rough to wake up the morning of opening night and know exactly how sick you are, but also to know what this means in regards to the show. So when we decided to put the show on again this fall, I was thrilled.”
When the original director unfortunately had to step down, Turner decided to take the risk and direct the show herself. “This show really came to mean a lot to me, and I couldn’t bear to see it not take the stage again. A few of us are returning for the second time around, and I wanted us all to have the chance to make this show happen. So why not reprise my role and also direct? I loved directing in college, so I’m really excited to have the opportunity to do it again.”
In addition to Kallah Turner returning from last year, Laura Carbonneau, Xzavior Fitzwater, and Julian Leon are also coming back, with new castmates Jim Fog, Ezra Leonard, Tera Murray, Janet Trimboli-Gage, Josie Munroe, Tristian DeZaine, and Garrett Corliss, so they can bring this quirky, hysterical show to life.
“Puffs” will run at the Springfield Community Theater for two weekends, Sept. 9 and 16, with a 7:30 p.m. start time, and Sept. 10 and 17, with a 2 p.m. start time. Tickets can be purchased online at www.springfieldcommunityplayers.org, or by calling the theater at 802-885-4098 to make reservations. This show is rated for mature audiences due to language and sexual innuendo.