Portraiture
A new play written & directed by Margaret Van Sant
Helltown Players is proud to present the world premiere of Portraiture, a sharp, witty, and thought-provoking new play by Margaret Van Sant.
Set in the Rare Reading Room of Yale’s Beinecke Library, Portraiture follows art historian Sylvia Santos as she leads a tour through a striking new exhibit. On display: portraits of three extraordinary women—Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, and Mabel Dodge Luhan—captured by modernist painters at the height of their influence.
But as Sylvia delves into their stories, the room fills with questions. What do these portraits reveal? What do they leave out? And who gets the final say on how a life is remembered?
With humor, intelligence, and a deep curiosity about art and identity, Portraiture invites us to reexamine the lives behind the legends—and the stories we tell about them.
Critical Raves…
“‘Portraiture’ gives contemporary audiences a thoroughly entertaining opportunity to see how the lives of three brilliant, trailblazing women not only changed the course of history, but continue to inform and impact contemporary culture. Exactly what our troubled world needs right now.”
- Boston Spirit Magazine
Anna Botsford is deliciously bold as Mabel Dodge Luhan in what Boston Spirit Magazine called a “saucy, bravura performance.”
Karen McPherson brings warmth and wit as Alice B. Toklas, “rendered with heart-melting humor.” (Boston Spirit Magazine)
Kathleen Larson Day delivers Gertrude Stein with “sharp-tongued perfection.” (Boston Spirit Magazine)
Kristin Stewart anchors the production as Sylvia Santos, an art historian caught between the past and present—“brilliantly refereeing the heated passions and personal revelations of the resurrected trio.” (Boston Spirit Magazine)
Venue:
Cotuit Center for the Arts
(The Sigel Black Box Theater)
4404 Falmouth Rd, Cotuit, MA 02635
Dates / Times:
May 22 - 24 (Thurs. - Sat.) at 7:30pm
May 29 - 31 (Thurs. - Sat.) at 7:30pm
June 1 (Sun.) at 2:00pm
Tickets:
Tickets: $15.00 - $50.00
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Portraiture is also being performed at the Cape Cod Museum of Art (May 2 - 4, 2025.) You may purchase tickets to that performance with the following link: Tickets to the Cape Cod Museum of Art Shows >>
Creative Team:
Margaret Van Sant - Playwright & Director
Jim Dalglish - Dramaturge / Producer
John Killwey - Set Design & Construction
Caitlin Nicholson - Lighting Design / Stage Manager
Tami Trask - Costume Design
Cast:
Kristin Stewart as Sylvia Santos
Kathleen Larson Day as Gertrude Stein
Karen McPherson as Alice B. Toklas (May 22 - 24)
Bonnie Fairbanks as Alice B. Toklas (May 29 - June 1)
Anna Botsford as Mabel Dodge Luhan
Creative Team Bios
(Alphabetical by last name:)
Anna Botsford
Mabel Dodge Luhan
Anna was most recently seen at Cape Cod Theatre Company in The Jungle Book and Dracula, as well as at Cotuit Center for the Arts in The Helltown Players production of the one woman show, The Playground. Before that she performed the one-woman show Grounded (2021 & 2017, Winner: Best Actress - Broadway World). Other CCftA Credits include: A Talented Woman, Unsafe (IRNE Nomination), Boston Marriage, and The 39 Steps. Other Cape area credits include Bedside Manners at BCC, Church at Harbor Stage Company and The Lear Project at CCTC. Anna is a graduate of the Emerson College Theatre Education Program and is a former company member of Theatre Espresso in Boston and a founding member of ASA Theatre Company here on Cape. She is currently the IB Theatre teacher and STAGE Director at the Sturgis Charter Public School West Campus.
Jim Dalglish
Dramaturge / Founder / Producing Artistic Director / Trustee
Jim is a playwright, director, filmmaker, and producer with more than 30 plays and films to his credit. These works have been produced and screened around the world and have won awards in New York, Boston, London, and Dublin. A few of his plays have been anthologized in best play collections. Jim has directed more than two dozen theatrical productions, five of which he also independently produced. He has been employed by a variety of theaters in New England as a managing director, marketing director, and box office manager. Jim has a master’s degree in creative writing/ playwriting from Brown University. His thesis advisor was Paula Vogel. When he isn’t busy writing, directing, or producing plays and films, he and his husband Rob Phelps enjoy sailing Delphina – their 17-foot O’Day Daysailer – along the sheltered harbors of New England.
Kathleen Larson Day
Gertrude Stein
Kathleen is a wash ashore from the Boston MetroWest area. Prior to reluctantly adulting, she performed professionally in theater and opera houses throughout the US. Kathleen feels incredibly lucky to be welcomed into the Cape Cod theater family and privileged to be back on stage in this important play with this talented cast and team. Locally, she has performed at CotuitCenter for the Arts (Grease, The World Goes Round) and The Eventide Theatre Company (A Grand Night for Singing, The Importance of Being Earnest, The World Goes Round, Blithe Spirit, Company, Our Town). Thank you Helltown Players, Jim, Margaret, Chuck and of course, Gertie.
Bonnie Fairbanks
Alice B. Toklas (May 29 - June 1)
Bonnie is thrilled to appear as Alice B. Toklas in “Portraiture” for the Helltown Players. This is Bonnie’s second performance with Helltown, having appeared in the February 2024 inaugural performance of “Little Devils” as Mary in “Double D” (written by founder Jim Dalglish). Previous Cotuit performances include Emma Arkadina in “Stupid Fucking Bird” (2024), Marty in “Grease” (2023), Theresa in “Circle Mirror Transformation” (2022), Principal Edwards in the world premiere video-drama “Teacher of the Year” (2021), Mrs Lovett in “Sweeney Todd” (2019), Mary-Marie in “Cougar the Musical” (2018), Yvonne/Harriet in “Sunday in the Park with George” (2017), Dr. Eve Bolinger/Juanita in “Sordid Lives” (2016), Barb in “Absence” (2016), and Mama Rose in “Gypsy” (2015), among many others. Bonnie has also appeared in productions at the Falmouth Theatre Guild, Eventide Theater Co., the Woods Hole Theater Company, and Cape Rep. Bonnie’s performance is dedicated, as always, to The Parentals.
Tami Trask Good
Costume Design
Tami has been costuming productions at various local theaters for more than 30 years, including recently Pippin and The Importance of Being Earnest at Eventide Theatre Company and Fiddler on the Roof and Always, Patsy Cline at Cotuit Center for the Arts. When she’s not working in the theater, Tami works with private clients, specializing in creating custom garments, or is planning her latest home renovation project. It’s been a pleasure working with Jim again and for the first time with Margaret, and has enjoyed spending time with this talented and lovely cast!
Bill Jacobs
Design and Construction Assistant
Bill Jacobs is a director, writer, cinematographer and producer living full-time in Wellfleet, MA. Bill worked many years at Columbia, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles before starting his media production company, Shooting Star Creativeworks. Currently, Bill is in the final stages of postproduction on the independent feature film, When the Moon Was Twice as Big, a project that he wrote and directed, and coproduced with his husband, John Killwey.
John G. Killwey
Set Design & Construction
After 23 years in corporate business focusing on claims legal, John transitioned into the entertainment industry, co-producing the independent feature film When the Moon Was Twice as Big with his husband, Bill Jacobs. As co-owner of Shooting Star Creativeworks, a media production company, John has coordinated with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG/AFTRA), scouted locations, and used his expertise in carpentry and design to craft exceptional movie sets and props. Since relocating to Cape Cod, John has expanded his creative pursuits, producing set pieces for critically acclaimed theatrical productions. For him, life is a creative adventure—and he's loving every moment of it!
Karen McPherson
Alice B. Toklas (May 22 - 24)
Karen has been performing on Cape Cod stages from Provincetown to Cotuit since washing ashore in 1996. She is delighted to work with this amazing cast and join the Helltown Players. Among her favorite roles are Daisy (Driving Miss Daisy APA, CCftA, BCC), Professor van Helsing (Passion of Dracula, CDG), Lady Bracknell (Importance of Being Earnest, APA), Linda Loman (Death of a Salesman, ETC), Nurse (Romeo and Juliet, CCCC), Pip (Moby Dick, the Musical CCftA), Mother (Sunday in the Park with George, CCftA), and…well, there have been over 75 shows in 29 years, and, frankly, they are ALL favorites! Karen is a happy Cape Cod actor. I just want to thank everyone in the cast and crew for their help, as I came to the cast late. I also want to thank Margaret and Jim for introducing me to a deeper appreciation of earlier 20th century women who changed literature!
Robin Joyce Miller
Script Consultant
Robin Joyce Miller is a retired educator, artist, author, poet, and public speaker, who taught for 30+ years in the NYC school system. She spent the first half of her career teaching learning disabled students and the next half as an art teacher. Miller was also a NYC Blueprint for the Arts Facilitator, leading workshops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum.
After retirement she and her husband have maintained two residences in NYC and Cape Cod. After George Floyd’s murder, Robin and her husband, James, began presenting a BLM Series with the Cotuit Center for the Arts. These programs focus on African/African American history and are available to the public on Cotuit on Demand - YouTube. She is on the Bd of Directors at the Cotuit Center. Miller is also a Peace and Racial Harmony advocate. She speaks at churches, schools, universities, and libraries on the subject of race. You can view more of Robin’s work on www.robinjoycemillerart.com.
Cait Nicholson
Lighting Designer / Stage Manager
Cait Nicholson (She/They) is a lighting designer and technician based on Cape Cod. With over a decade of experience in the theater industry, Cait has worked across a range of venues including the Cape Cod Melody Tent, Cotuit Center for the Arts, and several local theater companies. They specialize in lighting design, operation, and stage management, and are passionate about creating immersive, visually striking experiences. Cait is excited to be a part of this show and honored to work with such an amazing group of women.
Kristin Stewart
Sylvia Santos
Kristin has been a performer since her start at the Harwich Junior Theatre in 1983. She has worked professionally as a circus clown with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus and in many theaters across the country. She has performed at Cotuit Center for the Arts in Black Comedy, A Tuna Christmas, and Much Ado About Nothing. A firm believer in laughter as the best medicine, she was also a proud member of the Laughter League, bringing light and joy into area children's hospitals. Kristin is a founding member of ASA theatre ensemble. She is delighted to be working with this incredible group of women and to be a part of the Helltown Players.
Margaret Van Sant
Playwright / Director
Margaret is the Artistic Director of Provincetown Dramatic Arts and a Trustee of Helltown Players. She established the PDA development project, the O’Neill Festival of New Works. Margaret has directed classic and contemporary theater, but has a special focus on the development of new scripts. At Long Wharf Theater she managed the Stage II program of new script development, and at the PTC she established the Playwright’s Lab and the Provincetown Playwright’s Festival. She has directed at Virginia Stage Company, Long Wharf Theater, Arena Stage, Yale University (National Conference on Portuguese Theater), Yale Cabaret, Berkshire Theater Festival, University of Massachusetts/ Dartmouth, City Studio Theater, Payomet Center for the Performing Arts, and Provincetown Theater. For the past four years she has taken a play by a Cape playwright to the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. A special thanks to Jim Dalglish, my dramaturge (who makes it fun), Helltown Players, Will and Vanessa.
Portrait Permissions…
Gertrude Stein painted by Francis Picabia, Alice B. Toklas by Dora Maar, and Mabel Dodge Luhan by Mary Foote. Images used with the permission of the Yale University Library.Images used with the permission of the Yale University Library.
Produced in partnership with:
