The Boxcar Children by Barbara Field
Based on the stories of Gertrude Chandler Warner, a
lifelong Putnam, CT resident, author & teacher
September 2004
Directed by Emily Westbrook  Assistant Director - Nicole Panteleakos
Set Design & Artistry - Diana Lee
The "real" Boxcar children at right clockwise
from the bottom:
Thomas Beebe, Brittany Bissonette, Chris
Wester & Rochelle Graveline.
The "kids" have flown the
coop, and Sarah Calder, the
social worker (Jess van der
Swaagh), the school principle
(Carol Bachman), and the
local police chief (Will Child)
are full of consternation!
Above, The Bakery Woman (Kathy Woods)
admonishes the kids to keep their "dirty fingers"
off her stale wares.
It's raining!!
A buddy romance is portrayed between Dr.
Sam Morse (Adam van der Swaagh) and Sarah
Calder (Jessica van der Swaagh) - a real
married couple!
The kids get a Tom Sawyer bedtime story from
Henry (Chris Wester) around their new campfire.
The Alden children remember and mourn for
their parents at right.
At left, Violet Alden (Brittany
Bissonette) surprises her long lost
grandfather (Jim Weigel) with an
impromtu kiss.
At right, Henry comes clean with
Dr. Morse about his identity and
swears him to secrecy.
At right, the children serve Sunday
dinner to Sarah, Sam and Mrs. Morse
(Marian Marchesseault - far right),
once they realize the adults intend to
"do right by them".
An exuberant scene change! From left
to right: Brittany Bissonnette, Rochelle
Graveline, Kathy Woods, Stephanie
Brine (Stage Manager), Steve
Marchesseault and Mike
Marchesseault ("engineers"), TChris
Wester and Thomas Beebe.
The cast and crew of The Boxcar
Children!
The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at
The Bradley Playhouse


Below: Jessie listens to Big Mike (Jim
Weigel), Cookie (Carol Bachman)  and "The
Kid", (Abilgail Beauregard), bemoan their
depression era fate.