A newsletter from your friends at Pull-Tight Theatre
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In This Issue
- A Letter From the President
- New Board Members and 2026-27 Officers
- Watch for Your 2026-2027 Season Brochure
- Join Pull-Tight Players at Franklin Pride
- Coming Soon – Once Upon a Mattress
- Come From Away Cast Announcement
- Volunteer Spotlight – Mark Mason
A Letter from the President
I will warn you that with this being my last Curtain Call letter, I am in a bit of a reflective mood.
It has been an honor to serve as the President of Pull-Tight, and I am very proud of the commitment invested into what’s best for our theatre community by my fellow Board members throughout the year. Iain Macpherson, Stephanie Dillard, Pat Street, Jeanne Drone, Joey Echeverria, Lenny West, Carly Gresham, Myna Sowell, Glenn Whelan and Johnny Peppers were, in my opinion, extraordinary in faithfully serving an institution—strike that, faithfully serving a treasure—that is priceless to each of us.
Joining the May Board meeting were the newly elected Board members who will help comprise the roster of the 2026-2027 Board of Directors, and a priority on the May agenda was the election of officers to serve in these important capacities beginning July 1. See below for a spotlight on these new Board members and officers, and please extend your heartfelt congratulations and thanks to each of them when you see them next. It is an impressive slate, to be certain, one that promises to serve the Board, their fellow Artist Members and the entire Pull-Tight community with integrity and enthusiasm.
There are so many images associated with Pull-Tight. For me the most precious ones are the cast and crew group photos posted online at the conclusion of a show. The photo that brought Harvey to a close is a classic example of that.
Live theatre is a creative force of art that seeks to entertain, inspire, and perhaps even provoke at times. And quite frankly, tapping the fullest potential engraved in the DNA of that calls for our recognizing that Pull-Tight is built on and sustained by unique talents, relationships, dedication, and, most of all, a currency of trust.
We see it time and again on the Pull-Tight stage. We foster a priceless kind of brilliance when diverse backgrounds, thoughts, experiences, and skills come together for a single purpose—the telling of a story worth telling and telling it well.
That is the most profound script of all. And it is one written on our hearts as a covenant with every single person who finds a cherished sense of dignity, encouragement, and harmony in the Theatre Community we call Pull-Tight Players. I have come to think of it as our welcome mat.
My heartfelt thanks to you all. It has been fun, and your support has been essential and very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Cabot
New Board Members and 2026-27 Officers
At its May 3rd Artist Membership meeting, the membership elected four new Board members. Carmela Hofstee, Cindy Davis Massey, and Lenny West were elected to three-year terms. Lenny just completed a one-year term to fill a Board vacancy, and was eligible for re-election. Mark Mason was elected to a one-year term to complete a Board vacancy, and will be eligible to run for a three-year term at the next membership meeting. Congratulations to all, and thank you for your service to Pull-Tight!
Join Pull-Tight Players at Franklin Pride!
June 6, 2026 | 11am – 6pm
Volunteer Spotlight
MARK MASON
Newly Elected Board Member/
Board Secretary
What first inspired you to get involved with Pull-Tight, and how long have you been with us? I had just finished directing a production of Oklahoma! when I was made aware of auditions at Pull-Tight for the same show. I was encouraged to audition, even though I had a broken ankle and was in a boot from my toes to my knee. I was cast as Slim, and continued a 10-year close affiliation with the theater that began in 1989. After a 20-year hiatus due to job constraints, I returned in 2019 and have remained extremely active ever since.
Can you share a favorite memory or moment from your time here? One of my best memories, aside from all the friendships I have made, would be winning the award for Best Lead Actor in Rumors. It was an incredible production and I was very proud of the final product.
What roles or tasks do you enjoy most when volunteering, and why? I thoroughly enjoy dressing sets, producing, directing, and now, serving as a member of the Board of Directors. Newly elected, I am excited to represent the membership in this capacity.
What has volunteering at Pull-Tight Theatre taught you or brought into your life? Volunteering with Pull-Tight allows me to use my years of theater experience to help create a realistic artistic experience for our patrons and our membership. My almost 40 years as a dealer in antiques and vintage décor allows me to use my creative juices to dress many of our varying sets with attention to detail and era-appropriate props and furnishings. Through my consistent volunteering with Pull-Tight, I am reminded of the importance of providing an outlet for those of us with other professions to fulfill our need for performance and creativity in a positive manner to entertain and enrich our community through the performing arts.
If you could play any role on stage or in a production crew, what would it be—and why? Having performed in theater since the age of seven, I have played every role I have ever dreamed of over the course of time, and many characters multiple times. I truly love directing and producing, though I am selective at this juncture in my life as to what I am interested in directing, as I have been fortunate enough to lead multiple productions throughout my career as a theater and music teacher and my time spent with several local community theaters. One role I have not filled in recent years is serving as musical director for a production, and I would enjoy that opportunity.
