Charles Lathrop grew up in the Pecos Valley. He has long been involved in the communities of Dexter, Hagerman, and Roswell. Patrons of Roswell Community Little Theatre (RCLT) will remember his performances. As Professor Moriarity in a Sherlock Holmes play, Charles became known for his talent in portraying the criminal mastermind.
In 2008, Charles attended “Acting for the Camera,” summer acting camp with the US Performing Arts. The camp was inspiring and helped Charles to become the talented actor that he is today. Those who have seen him on stage know that he has a gift for comedic timing and a powerful stage presence. He also has an understanding of working with cast and crew to make the whole performance shine.
The stage suits Charles. He likes to be out of the box and plays the audience best for the lines that surprise and the characters that are most rambunctious. One of his favorite performances was “The 39 Steps.” Charles said that the cast a crew worked well together and there were no weak links. The costumes and set were fabulous, and it was a delight to be a part of the production.
Charles plays the unflappable Phileas Fogg in Mark Brown’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel, Around the World in Eighty Days. You won’t want to miss this fast and fabulous trip around the world, compliments of the Roswell Community Little Theatre. Opening night is February 8th at 7:30 p.m. in the Roswell Community Little Theatre and runs for two weekends. For more information and to buy tickets go to Roswell Community Little Theatre https://roswelltheatre.com/. Tickets will also be available at the door each night. Thank you for supporting the performing arts.
Keaton Hartwell has been in the dramatic arts since he was a child. He began in KAPS (Kids Arts Programs) when it was located at the First Presbyterian Church of Roswell prior to 2013. As Mayor of Munchkin City with his first role at Roswell Community Little Theatre, Hartwell took the reins of acting and stage presence, and he never looked back. Hartwell is a natural on stage. His comedic timing is spot-on and his awareness of and interaction with the audience makes his performances shine. Hartwell began working with the Improv Ensemble at Roswell Community Little Theatre (RCLT) in 2021. Hartwell's mother, Alethea Hartwell, is the Improvisation troupe leader and Keaton's first and best teacher on and off stage. RCLT owes her a debt of gratitude not only for her tireless work but for encouraging her son and her daughter to perform with RCLT.
Hartwell has been around the theater so much that is a talent off stage and on stage. You may find him in the sound booth managing sound and lights or assisting with a set strike or set build. In 2021, Hartwell joined RCLT’s Improv troupe and add another talent for physical comedy to a strong suite of actors.
Hartwell enjoys delighting the audience. He is well suited to it. Between his timing and line delivery, his athletic talents and understanding of all aspects of the stage, Hartwell is a joy to work with and a favorite of audiences in Roswell.
Hartwell's next role is in Every Christmas Story Ever Told, a comedy by Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald, John K. Alvarez. Hartwell performs alongside Michael Bozeman and Jacob Sanders. They make for a fabulous team in this crazy whirlwind of Christmas stories. All three actors are gifted in physical comedy as well as timing and delivery. As the threesome decide not to yet again perform the Charles Dickens' classic, they storm through every Christmas story they can think of and throw a few international Christmas traditions into the mix.
You won’t want to miss this funny look at our holiday madness through the eyes of the stage. The Liberty is once again hosting RCLT for this production. Tickets are available through The Liberty’s website. Come join us for a great evening of Christmas fun on December 7, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Ray Aragon, a native of New Mexico, went to college in Kansas on a football scholarship and remained in Kansas to raise his family. Aragon returned to New Mexico and the Roswell Community Little Theatre, (RCLT) is glad he did.
In August of this year, Aragon played O’Shaughnessy in the modernized adaptation of Mark Twain’s Is He Dead. Aragon picked up an Irish accent and a jig to go with it, taking to the role with gusto and leaving the audience laughing because of his antics and performance delivery. In an interview for this article, Aragon revealed that he tells a silly Irish joke in character at least once a year. When he was cast as O’Shaughnessy, he watched tutorials and practiced diction. But he also states that it doesn’t have to be perfect to work well.
Aragon said that he enjoys the teamwork of theater where the people involved work together to make the performance a success and make everyone shine. For him, theater is a creative outlet. In each rehearsal, he tries to tease out a little more of the character and make way for the entire cast to enjoy the experience and do their best. He hopes the audience will enjoy the performance as much as he does.
Aragon felt at home quickly in the RCLT community. He is supportive of the stage crew as well as the cast. Ray is also a huge help during set building and set strike. He is quick to learn his lines so that he has ample time to polish and add details that raise the standards for the entire cast and crew.
Aragon is able to transfer much of what he learned on the football field to the stage. He said that performing live is like “game day” because some nervousness sharpens your effort, but being prepared takes over when the curtain goes up.
Aragon is pleased to be cast in the upcoming RCLT play, Farce of Habit. This play is a comedy and Aragon’s talents both on stage and behind the scenes will help make the show something you won’t want to miss.
Farce of Habit is a James Hope and Wooten comedy set at the Reel ‘Em Inn fishing lodge. Ray plays the villainous Jock McNair who is a relationship guru with an ego the size of Texas. This comedy is perfect for RCLT, with a fabulous cast and crew. It is directed by one of our greatest directors, Louise Montague, and opens on Friday October the 13th. For a great “laugh out loud” evening, don’t miss Farce of Habit.
Shaylee O’Dwyer has been participating in Kids Arts Program (KAPS) since she was eight years old. She enjoys theater and is pleased to be cast in the lead role in Roswell Community Little Theatre's and KAPS' next production, opening May 12th.
Shaylee will star as Mary Call in the dramatic adaptation of "Where the Lilies Bloom," a young adult novel by Bill and Vera Cleaver. The story takes place in rural Appalachia, and Shaylee has risen to the challenge of dialect immersion. Shaylee is particularly excited to learn how to act as a different character - as Mary Call, she is absolutely learning a new persona.
Shaylee recently hammed it up in the KAPS improv troupe. She recalls being the 'two headed expert,' live on stage. The point of the game is to think and listen on your feet; two people are the two-heads of an expert being interviewed. Each person can only say one word at a time as the interview moves forward. Laughing at the memory, Shaylee recalls the interview going something like, "Well… we… wake… and… we… cry." The audience laughed themselves hoarse on that occasion.
Another of Shaylee’s favorite memories is her earlier role in "Crisis Incorporated." She playacted as one of the people who get to panic for hire. It was great fun.
The more Shaylee performs in new roles, the greater the empathy and compassion she develops for daily life. She also says that theater helps her listen to others and step outside of herself.
You won’t want to miss Shaylee in "Where the Lilies Bloom." Opening on May 12th at the Roswell Community Little theatre. The play will run for two weekends, with performances on Friday and Saturday nights and a Sunday matinee. For more information, or tickets, go to Roswell Community Little Theatre.
Speaking of his favorite things, Brice Hagar quickly turns to the art of story. It is what draws him to the theater, both as audience and as performer. He remarks that storytelling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment, education, inspiration, and fun.
Brice joined Roswell Community Little Theatre, RCLT, in the fall of 2022. He was cast as the inspector in Unexpected Guest, an Agatha Christie murder mystery. He was professional and a pleasure to work with both on stage, and behind the scenes.
In 2023, Brice played the lead role as the affable gad-about Bertie in Jeeves Intervenes, from the P.G. Wodehouse 1920 British comedy series, Jeeves. His timing, physical comedy, and joy for the dramatic arts shined in this play. He worked well with the cast and director and was instrumental in the building of the set. He brought a strong sense of fun to the play and worked diligently to make each scene better or funnier or larger than life.
A game of "Switch," with Brice Hagar and Jacob Sanders.
Recognizing his talent, sense of fun, and sharp wit, the theater quickly asked him to join the improv troupe at RCLT. An avid fan of Who’s Line is it Anyway Brice has enjoyed being a part of the troupe. A sometimes student of this form of the dramatic arts, Brice remarks, “Humor is about subverting expectations.” He explains that the humor and the joke sneak up on you, and as he speaks about it, he is clearly delighted at the prospect of sneaking humor subverting expectations. That delight is contagious.
Whether he has a script or in improv, Brice is a fabulous dramatist. His quick wit and thoughtful approach as well as his talent at physical comedy make for a great performance.
For a wonderful evening of laughs and the unexpected humor that may just sneak up on you, join Brice Hagar and the RCLT for Mission Improvable this coming Friday night.
Charles Lathrop grew up in the Pecos Valley. He has long been involved in the communities of Dexter, Hagerman, and Roswell. Patrons of Roswell Community Little Theatre (RCLT) will remember his performances. As Professor Moriarity in a Sherlock Holmes play, Charles became known for his talent in portraying the criminal mastermind.
I am a mother, author, engineer, farmer, occasional actress, and incurable dog-sap. I think things and write things and embarrass myself often.