New Canaan's MacKay Mumford Cast in DAC Stage Production of 'On Golden Pond'

Darien Arts Center Stage has cast young New Canaan resident MacKay Mumford in its spring production of On Golden Pond at the DAC Weatherstone Studio.

Mumford, a 7th grader at Saxe Middle School, will play Billy Ray, a teenager left for the summer in the care of Norman Thayer, played by veteran actor, Will Jeffries. This heartwarming production of the 1979 classic is the first of many events planned to mark the 40th anniversary of the Darien Arts Center in 2015.

On Golden Pond focuses on aging couple Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on the pond. As the story unfolds, daughter Chelsea and her fiancé Billy Ray, Sr. and his son, Billy Ray, visit the Thayers at their summer home.

The couple asks Ethel and Norman to watch Billy Ray Jr. for an extended time while they visit Europe. This leads to an unexpected and unlikely bonding between Norman and the boy. The play explores the often-turbulent relationship Chelsea shared with her father growing up, and the difficulties faced by the older couple in their twilight years.

MacKay was thrilled when he got the call from director, Patrick Kiley, to portray Billy Ray and to expand his experience on stage with the reputable community theatre group, “The opportunity to be in this incredible production with such natural and experienced actors has been far more than I could have ever hoped for right at the beginning of my career.”

After seeing his sister Emilia in the lead role of Peter Pan in Manhattan last spring, MacKay decided that acting was for him. Since then, he has ventured out into the world of performing and has become part of the Western Regional choir and secured the roles of Mr. Mayor in the 7th grade play, Suessical and Trevor Grayden in Thoroughly Modern Millie at The Studio in New Canaan.

His interests include literature and reading, particularly favoring the Harry Potter series and Greek Mythology. He is passionate about his step-dad’s nonprofit organization, Be Water For Life, where he volunteers and helps to manage social media.

He hopes to one day deliver water filters to villages in desperate need of clean, safe drinking water. MacKay currently resides in New Canaan with his mom, step-dad and siblings Emilia and Miles. He was born in Utah, and has previously lived in Las Vegas and Manhattan.

The cast of On Golden Pond includes David Jackins as Charlie Martin, the local postman, Nancy Sinacori as Ethel Thayer, Robertson as Chelsea Thayer Wayne, Jeffries as Norman Thayer, MacKay Mumford as Billy Ray, and Eric Dino as Bill Ray, Sr. Performances are on March 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at darienarts.org or by calling the DAC box office at (203) 655-5414. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Darien Town Hall.