Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism program, for the White River Valley Herald
RANDOLPH — On a Wednesday evening in late March, a flower farmer, a bowling alley owner, and a dietician stood on the 119-year-old stage at the Chandler Center for the Arts. The reason they were there had nothing to do with their day jobs: this unlikely group of community members had gathered to rehearse their acts for the upcoming Mud Season Variety Show.
The Variety Show is this spring’s premier production for the Chandler Players, a community theater troupe founded in 2025. The troupe is part of a burgeoning community theater scene in Randolph, which provides an opportunity for local residents to come together through theater.
The troupe is led by Ben Rapson, who works in marketing for the Chandler Center for the Arts and serves as the vice president of their board. In 2025, he directed a production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” at the Chandler with a cast of 36. Over 2,000 people came to see the show, according to Rapson, including Strafford singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, whose music was featured in it.
Following the success of “Our Town,” Rapson wanted to create a learning environment to allow more people to have an opportunity to be involved in local theater. He, with several other local theater artists, founded Chandler Players.
“‘Our Town’ needed multiple producers and directors,” Rapson said. “We wanted to grow a group so lots of people can be involved in performing arts.”
The Chandler Players now includes over 20 members, according to Rapson. They meet for weekly workshops where members learn about all aspects of theater, including acting, directing, and producing. The group is intergenerational, bringing in people of many ages and walks of life.
Annie Hutchinson grew up in Randolph and remembers going to watch the Mud Season Variety Show as a child. Hutchinson performed in “Our Town” last year, and took part in youth musicals when she was young, but this is her first time performing in the variety show. She is one of the founding members of Chandler Players.
“I wanted a creative outlet,” Hutchinson said. “It’s an opportunity for people in the community to perform and it’s informal enough that it is approachable. It’s just a fun way for the community to get together.”
58-year-old April Lopez is also a founding member. She moved to Bethel three years ago and has worked with Chandler Center for the Arts since 2023 producing an annual theater camp for children. She is one of the producers of this year’s Mud Season Variety Show, which she also produced in 2024.
“Community is a way to stay strong,” said Lopez. “I think people need that right now.”
This year, over 30 acts are scheduled to perform at the Mud Season Variety Show. This is the highest participation the show has seen since it was revived in 2024 from a hiatus brought on by COVID-19, according to the theater.
Rapson’s long-term goal is to grow the Chandler Players enough to be able to put on four productions a year. For now, they have plans to put on a show this fall written by local Vermont playwrights about immigration and social justice. After that, they plan to put on a classic play and a small-scale musical. All community members will be able to audition for the upcoming productions.
“Theater is the antidote for isolation,” Rapson said. “Anyone can do it.”