North Fork Community Theatre: A Place For Everyone

In 1986, when she was 14 years old, Mary Kalich attended the “Youth on Stage” summer program offered by North Fork Community Theatre.

She had no way of knowing, at that time, that nearly 40 years later, the community theater on Old Sound Avenue in Mattituck would still be such a big part of her life.

Kalich, now in her mid-50s, currently serves as president of the all volunteer, nonprofit theater’s board of directors. For as long as anyone can remember, the theater has truly embodied the spirit of community, and has taken seriously its mission to promote an interest in and passion for dramatic arts for people of all ages, from all walks of life, in the Town of Southold and throughout the North Fork.

North Fork Community Theatre — both the organization and the building it calls home — has a rich and long history.

In the fall of 1956, Orient couple Jim and Doris McCammond decided to start a theater company, placing an ad in The Suffolk Times seeking actors and those who wanted to be involved. Around the same time, a group of Greenport teachers were looking to put on a fundraising event, so they joined forces with the small group that the McCammonds had brought together and put on a production of “The Man Who Came to Dinner” at the high school, according to an accounting of the organization’s early days written by Sydney Breese in 1968.

The theater company took off from there, and after staging productions at Greenport High School for many years, began using the small stage and auditorium at Mechanics Hall in Orient.

Since 1962, the community theater has called home a former Presbyterian Church that was originally built in the 1850s. For many years, the Mattituck Presbyterian Church had let North Fork Community Theatre reside rent free in the space, but in 2008, that arrangement ended, and so the dedicated members of the theater company decided to raise money to buy the building.

“We had never raised money before that,” Kalich said, referencing the group’s spirit of volunteerism and ability to put on shows and provide entertainment to the community without having to break the bank. “But we said, this is really important, for the theater to have a home in the community, so we reached out to all the people we knew who cared and said, we’d like to save this, and we need to buy the building.”

The community responded.

Kalish said the support was “overwhelming and incredible,” and before long the group had raised a half-million dollars, enough to make the building the theater company’s permanent home, no mortgage necessary.

Of course, then there was the matter of fixing up and maintaining a building that was constructed in the mid-1800s. Another capital campaign that led to an additional million dollars of funds allowed for renovations and upgrades, including a live orchestra pit underneath the stage, new rigging, new lighting and sound panels, a rehearsal space in the basement, and more. That was all completed in 2018.

Throughout it all, North Fork Community Theatre has stayed true to its mission. To this day, it still hosts the “Youth on Stage” summer program, offering a 10-week run, free of charge, where kids learn everything from acting, singing and dancing to lighting, set design, stage management and more.

“We’re so immersed in the community,” Kalich said. “Everyone out here knows someone who will say, oh yeah, my next door neighbor’s kid was in that show. In addition to people being on stage, we also have a lot of volunteers involved, whether it’s ushers, people working the box office, or helping out with our big fundraising gala we have every year, or even helping us come clean out the shed or paint the floors.”

The productions put on by the theater company provide an accessible, affordable and local form of entertainment on a year-round basis, but the group is maybe even more important because of the way it allows community members to connect with each other.

“I always say there are two very big parts of the theater,” Kalich said. “One is the theatrical and artistic component, and that’s obviously important when you’re putting on live performances, but it’s also equally important to have a community of people that allows you to contribute. Whether you’re a new family to the area looking for ways to connect, or an empty-nester, or any of these things, you go through different personal relationships, maybe you need something new. This provides people with purpose. They can say, I’m being part of this group that creates these amazing productions and they’re part of our community, and they’re doing something really good.”

As far as those who do end up under the bright lights on the stage, there’s a wide range of talent and diversity in terms of age and experience at North Fork Community Theatre. While some actors have considerable experience and impressive resumes, having performed in high level productions throughout the region, and with sometimes extensive formal training, there are plenty of novices in the mix as well.

“Some people have extensive experience. But at the same time, it’s also an opportunity for someone who might say, ‘I really like singing in the choir at church, maybe I would like that,’” Kalich said. “You try one show, and as you do more and more, you gain more experience. That’s the lovely thing about this, is that you’re building up your capability as you participate. I have never studied theater, but I started here when I was 14, and now I’ve directed, produced and been in dozens of shows. Across time, you learn from others around you.”

Laurel resident Stuart Whalen will play Ben Stone, one of the leads in North Fork Theatre Company’s production of the classic Steven Sondheim musical “Follies,” set to run through June 2.

Whalen, in many ways, is the kind of actor who embodies what North Fork Community Theatre is all about. He and his wife have had a home on the North Fork for several years, but became year-rounders in 2019.

He’s a self-described “computer geek,” who studied economics and finance in college, and used to teach statistics and computer science at NYU and Malloy College. He always had a love for theater and performance, but said it was mainly a “hobby.” Now, retired at age 67, Whalen can fully lean in to that aspect of his personality, and he said that’s exactly what he’s been doing with North Fork Community Theatre since he joined the group in 2018.

“I was so happy to find this theater,” he said. “I had seen some of their shows, and then I joined the cast of ‘The Drowsy Chaperone,’ and it was so much fun.”

In addition to performing in several shows, Whalen also helps out behind the scenes, like many of the dedicated members. In addition to learning more and more about the lighting and sound operations, Whalen is also currently helping Kalich develop a customer relationship management system, to help the group keep better track of patrons, donors and members, and make the communications seamless.

He said earlier this spring he was excited for the community to see the theater’s production of “Follies.”

“I love Sondheim,” he said. “It’s a very interesting story, and it’s really an ensemble show, so many parts you could call leads.”

Because so many of the North Fork Community Theatre members have taken the lead, so to speak, on helping out in so many areas in addition to performing, the theater has thrived, and should continue to be a strong presence on the North Fork for years to come.

Continued investment in the future is a big priority for everyone involved, according to Kalich.

“Since 2018, we have been committed to improving both the building and our theater technology,” she said. “And we continue to engage the community and talk about different projects we feel need to get done.”

Now that major issues related to the building’s infrastructure have been addressed, Kalich said the organization is turning its attention to renovating the auditorium space, including plans to replace the well-worn seats, which are hand-me-downs from the 106th Air National Guard Base at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton that were donated to the theater group in the early 1980s.

Further improvements to theater tech are always on the horizon as well, to make for an even more enriching and exciting experience for audience members.

North Fork Community Theatre is partnering this year with another well-loved North Fork nonprofit, the Hallockville Museum Farm, and together they will host a fundraiser at the farm on June 8 at 6 p.m.

The “Youth on Stage” crew will present its production of “Cinderella” on July 18, running through August 4.

In between hosting its own plays and musicals, North Fork Community Theatre also collaborates with other like-minded organizations throughout the area. This spring, they opened their doors to East End Special Players, a theater group for adults with varied needs and abilities, giving them the space to put on one of their productions. North Fork Community Theatre has also partnered with Peconic Ballet Theatre, and has hosted other acts, including magician Jim Vines, who will put on a set of performances on August 16, 17 and 18. Vines, a nationally recognized musician who has performed at large venues throughout the country, donates the proceeds of his shows in the area to North Fork Community Theatre.

His willingness to do that is another example of the spirit of the theater that has remained strong since it was created decades ago.

“It’s just a wonderful community, and so many people find their home here, their spiritual home away from home,” Kalich said, before adding, “And there’s always more to do, and more volunteers are always welcome.”