Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT), the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, presents Ernest Thompson’s On Golden Pond. This touching drama runs June 17 and 18, 23-24 and June 29-July 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a Pay-What-You-Can Preview Performance on June 16 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee performance June 25 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for general admission, $27 for seniors and $20 for children/students. For tickets or more information, call GVT’s Box Office at 304-645-3838 or visit www.gvtheatre.org.
Two-time Emmy Award winner Stuart Margolin returns to GVT’s stage alongside his former Rockford Files co-star Gretchen Corbett in On Golden Pond. Married for 48 years, Ethel and Norman Thayer spend their summers serenely at their lake house. However, when their estranged daughter leaves the Thayers with her fiancé’s teen-aged son, their quiet lives are turned upside down. Through moments both moving and humorous, the summer becomes one of new and reconciled relationships.
This is Margolin and Corbett’s first project together since The Rockford Files, where they shared the screen for four years. After Corbett was cast in the show, they became good friends, and Margolin is excited to work with her again.
“It is a true joy to bring her to the local audience’s attention and especially fun to be on stage with her in this sweet play,” Margolin said.
Corbett’s career began in New York City where she lived and worked on and off Broadway before she signed a contract with Universal Studios. After Corbett appeared on various TV shows, the writers for The Rockford Files wrote the part of Beth Davenport for her.
“She was the first smart woman who didn’t wear glasses. [It was] a groundbreaking role,” Corbett said.
Both actors have remained active in theater with writing, directing, acting and producing. Corbett travels to various theaters across the country to work both on stage and behind the scenes. Most recently she directed the world premiere play Not Medea at Amphibian Stage Productions in Fort Worth, TX. The show opened just eight days before she came to Lewisburg for the chance to star alongside Margolin in this classic drama.
“[This is] an old chestnut. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry. That’s what I call good theater,” Corbett said.
Her costar, who will portray Norman Thayer, has also stayed busy within the acting community. The Emmy Award winner has written both a feature film and a TV pilot since his 2015 GVT debut in Laughter on the 23rd Floor.
Performing at GVT has become an important part of Margolin’s life. He has even stepped away from his movie project What the Night Can Do, set to start filming this fall in Monroe County, so he could be a part of this production, giving him the chance to work close to home.
“Lewisburg is home now and it feels good to work here,” Margolin said.
