Community Theatre at Woodbury Presents The Gin Game

Press release

Community Theatre at Woodbury Presents The Gin Game
Pulitzer Prize–Winning Drama Opens March 13

Woodbury, CT — The Community Theatre at Woodbury (CTAW) proudly announces its upcoming production of The Gin Game by D.L. Coburn, opening March 13, 2026. This Pulitzer Prize–winning play delivers a sharp, funny, and emotionally gripping portrait of two strangers whose competitive card games reveal far more than either intends. Set in the dayroom of a modest retirement facility, The Gin Game centers on Weller Martin and Fonsia Dorsey, two strong-willed residents who begin playing gin rummy to pass the time. What starts as light entertainment quickly escalates into a battle of pride, memory, resentment, and vulnerability. As the games unfold, so do the characters’ life stories, regrets, and desperate need for connection.

Directed by Gus Bottazzi, this intimate production features Bottazzi as Weller Martin opposite Noel Desiato as Fonsia Dorsey. With only two actors on stage, the play demands emotional precision, razor-sharp timing, and complete authenticity. Qualities that promise audiences a powerful and immersive theatrical experience. “Two-character plays leave nowhere to hide,” says director Gus Bottazzi. “Every word matters. Every silence matters. The Gin Game is about pride, loneliness, and the deep human need to be seen, even when we resist it. It’s funny, uncomfortable, and ultimately very moving.”

Originally premiering in 1976, The Gin Game won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and has remained a staple of American theater for nearly five decades. Its themes of aging, independence, dignity, and human connection continue to resonate strongly with contemporary audiences. Bottazzi's intimate staging draws audiences directly into the psychological and emotional stakes of the story. The close-up setting enhances the tension and intimacy, making viewers feel as though they are seated at the card table themselves.

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Performance Details
March 13-March 22, 2026
Location: Woodbury Old Town Hall, 5 Mountain Rd. Woodbury, CT 06798
Performance times and ticket information are available at ctaw-ct.org
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Community Theatre at Woodbury (CTAW) was founded in 2013 in response to the community’s expressed desire for quality, live theater. As an all-volunteer, non-profit, and self-supporting program of the Woodbury Parks and Recreation Department, CTAW established a home in one of Woodbury’s most distinguished buildings: The Historic Old Town Hall, at 5 Mountain Road, Woodbury, Connecticut. In July 2018, after five successful years with the Woodbury Parks and Recreation Department, the Community Theatre at Woodbury became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Historic Old Town Hall continues to be CTAW’s home, where we offer quality performances as an all-volunteer theater company.

Mission
To foster an environment that promotes Theatre Arts within the greater Woodbury community.